Welcome Home Bol-anon!!!

Here we come Bohol!!!

At the break of dawn on March 13, 2014, me and my friends went straight to Cebu Pier 1 to purchase Fast Craft tickets going to Tagbilaran Bohol.

On our way to Bohol

Upon arrival at Tagbilaran Pier, we waited a little while for our rented van to take us to our Countryside Tour. There was a mixed up of the scheduled arrival and I was a little stupid to forget to inform our driver.

On our way to the Carmen Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck, we passed through the famous Bilar Man Made Forest.

Bilar Man Made Forest

The Bilar Man Made Forest is a long stretch of mahogany trees. It's a perfect backdrop for picture taking!!! The place is a mix of isolation, tranquility, and eerie. (It actually kind of reminded me of the movie The Blairwitch Project. :D)

The fog spoiled our view of the Chocolate Hills!!!!

On the day of our tour, it was raining the whole morning. So when we got to the Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck at Carmen, we never got to see the majestic view of Bohol's pride! (Very disappointing)

Photo bombing

Despite the appearance of thick fog, we didn't let it put our high hopes down. We still enjoyed taking photos of the "now you see, now you don't" chocolate hills (and lots of photo bombing).

Butterfly Sanctuary

Our next stop was at the Butterfly Sanctuary. The guides were funny and very talkative. Unfortunately, I wasn't so impressed here because they do not have that many (alive) butterflies.

Family portrait

Tarsier Conservation Center

Next Stop: the Tarsier Conservation Center. I was a little bit disappointed after touring this conservation center because I was expecting to see lots of Tarsiers. Sadly, the tour only have more or less six Tarsiers to showcase. I saw lots of trees though (which was also a good thing)

Loboc River Cruise

After half day of traveling, we were all famished! So we headed for Loboc River to have our lunch. The food was good but not exactly excellent. A local singer serenaded us while we enjoyed our lunch. Then at the end of the cruise we docked for a few minutes at an area where Bohol's indigenous people resides.

Loboc River

Giant Crab

After lunch we stopped by at the souvenir shop to buy our pasalubong! I bought peanut kisses, calamay, tank top for my baby girl, and a "chocolate hill" chocolate (unfortunately I wasn't able to taste it because my baby ate everything)

Blood Compact Site

Our last stop was at the Blood Compact Site. Nothing so special here, really. Just statues of the blood compact between the Spaniards and the Datu of Bohol.

The view of the sea was great though. It's a great backdrop for picture taking.

Bohol: The Last Day. Here are photos of our beach excursion at Baclayon. After an hour of beach bumming we head back to Tagbilaran Pier to catch our trip back to Cebu. Bye BOHOL!!!

Feeling the moment at Baclayon Beach

Not all happy endings....

I guess everyone is aware of the devastating earthquake that hit Bohol in October of 2013. It is devastating to see the damage in TV but it is more overwhelming in person. Below is a photo of Baclayon Church. The tour guide said they are currently under renovation.

Ruins of Baclayon Church :(

2013 was indeed a year filled of horrific calamities especially for the Visayas region but as the whole world know, the Filipinos can surpass it all with a smile on their faces!! Bangon Bohol! Bangon Visayas!