Bohol: The land of the chocolate hills
Trip Start
Mar 16, 2012
1
16
55
Trip End
Sep 14, 2012
Where I stayed
Tagbilaran City, Visayas, Philippines
Monday, April 30, 2012
The next day (May 1st) we got up to a very hot day, it was the day we went to visit the chocolate hills. We got a busy non-AC bus to Carmen in the middle of the island. The bus was playing loud music, the driver though didn't strike me as the person to like the Spice Girls and Vengaboys to name a few. We made it to the Chocolate Hills in under 2 hours. We hired a motorbike and driver to take us around the hills, although, 3 of us on this bike was a tight squeeze. We climbed up one of the hills, although sweaty work and wearing flip flops made it a difficult climb the views of the 1000+ hills were brilliant. By 10.30am it was boiling hot. It was great to go through the little villages and seeing the countryside. There was a little cloud in the air and it made the hills turn different colours, although the majority were green, I think I only saw one or two brown 'chocolate' hills. When we made it back to Tagbilaran where we are staying, we went out to dinner to find there is only one restaurant and fast food in the little town. Really not good, but we went to Pizza Hut. So disappointed, especially as we have been having some amazing seafood in the Philippines.
The following day we spent at the beach. We went across to Panglao island. The cheapest option was to get a jeepney, but they were so full, there is no way myself and Sarah would fit. There was also a lady from the Philippines who was there on vacation who was also waiting and she managed to organised a private ride across and included the 2 westerners waiting. Sometimes it pays to be different. The beach although not in the same league as Boracay, was pretty but the sun soon went in. It was great to just sit and relax and before we knew it, we had talked our way through the afternoon. We decided to stay and have dinner on the island as there were options, so another amazing seafood dinner later and we went to try to find a way back to our hotel. We managed to get a tricycle back, although it was a spine shattering journey. So pleased we went to Bohol to see another side of the Philippines.
The next 3 days will now be travel days.
