jezzdoitSep 22, 2020 5:37am0 Comments

Things To Do in Bohol

So, this is my Bohol Vacation Story. If you’re reading this blog prior to my Cebu City Blog, then you might want to read that blog first because this whole day in Bohol is part of my one-week vacation in Cebu Itinerary.


But it’s okay if you want to read it first, remember, it’s okay not to be okay. LoL! So, let me start my story by saying that going to Bohol is really an adventure. Why? Here is my story…


On our fifth day in Cebu, my relatives and I decided to go to Bohol. It’s not all of a sudden, it was planned. LoL! I just want to use the word decided haha. So, at 4 AM on our 5th day, we left Mactan Cebu for Bohol. We rented a speed boat with a 15-person capacity but we’re just 10, or maybe the crew is counted, too. I don’t know, but I remember it was spacious. LoL! So, we left at dawn.


CEBU TO BOHOL


I can still remember how cold it was at that time. I’m wearing a jacket and I only brought a neck bag because we planned to stay in Bohol for the whole day only.


If I remember correctly, the boat that we rented is a package that comes with a Service Van that will pick us up when we arrived in Bohol. I think it costs P7,000 for the boat (back and forth) and the Service Van for the whole day.


BOAT RIDE

The first THING TO DO IN BOHOL is a boat ride. It was a super-duper-long journey. I think it took us 3 hours to get to Bohol. We had to do a stopover to take our lunch in the middle of the sea. It wasn’t really in the middle but it’s 50 to 100 meters away from the seashore.


It was suggested by the boatmen so we decided to try and eat at “Arnold And Candie Stilt Live Seafood Restaurant.” The boat stopped in the middle of the sea then a small boat came near our boat to pick us up.


It was a very challenging moment for us because it was windy and the boat was rocking so hard because of the waves and I don’t have an Insurance Policy yet at that time.


We’re not wearing life vests and we’re only holding on to bamboo while crossing on a branch of wood from the big boat to the small boat.


We arrived at the restaurant, alive. LoL! It was challenging, right? But wait til’ the end. It hasn’t even started yet.


At the restaurant, they offer live and fresh seafood that they will catch for you. They have an aquarium (LoL) underneath the restaurant and they get the seafood there.


They have shrimps, crabs, fish, squids, and seashells. Once you have decided what you want to eat, they’ll cook it for you. The food was cooked really fast, maybe because we were the only customers there at that time or maybe because it’s in the middle of the sea.


FOOD TRIP

The best THING TO DO IN BOHOL is to eat. We ordered a set of meals like grilled shrimp on a stick, fish soup, crab, and squid. It was okay but not as good as what I’ve tried in Cebu. It’s fresh but I think it’s lacking something, or maybe it’s just me, I don’t know. Also, the serving is smaller than I expected because we paid so much for it. I can remember it clearly because we paid P5,000 for that meal which is not even half of what we eat in SuTuKil in Mactan Cebu which also offered the same seafood choices and even more.

But it’s okay, I understand that only a few people can go there because it’s not a typical restaurant and there are no other restaurants there. I mean there are plenty of restaurants there but I guess they offer the same price. And I remember that a portion of what we ordered was given to the boatmen which is also okay and understandable, perhaps it’s a commission because they brought us there.

I guess it’s enough for the food, let’s continue our journey. So, after we eat, we continue our journey to Bohol and after 2 hours, we reached the famous Bohol where CHOCOLATE HILLS are located, only in the Philippines. Lol!


THE CHOCOLATE HILLS

The Van pick us up at the port and we went straight to… (Drumroll) The CHOCOLATE HILLS, baby! Don't forget to include CHOCOLATE HILLS in your list of THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL. I can still remember my excitement during that time. On our way to the CHOCOLATE HILLS, I can already see some of them on the roadside. They look like rocks. I was disappointed because they were color green at that time. I imagined seeing them color brown like chocolates but the locals said that they only turn brown when wet. It makes sense because the soil will become darker when it’s wet.


We reached the location and we went straight to the ticketing booth to pay the entrance fee. And I forgot how much was it. Maybe I never really knew because I did not pay for it. LoL! But I know it’s cheap so don’t worry about it. You’ll pay a cheap price for hills of chocolate, how about that? Haha.


So, we had to climb up the stairs to get to the viewing point and it was not easy. I did not expect that we had to do that. It’s really true that we only see the tip of success and not the hard work underneath it. I remember I had to stop 5 to 10 times to breathe. So, bring some extra energy when you go there because you’ll need it.


But it’s worth it. I got to see the famous CHOCOLATE HILLS that I had only seen in books and postcards before. What a dream come true. I was so happy and sad at that time. I was happy because I got to see it but also disappointed because it’s not like the pictures I saw. Perhaps, my eyes and the camera are really different. It really is. LoL! But I really enjoyed it.

The excitement, the adrenaline rush, and the happiness that I felt when I reached the top (not what I saw LoL) were worth it. LoL! I’m not saying that I did not like the CHOCOLATE HILLS, maybe I wasn’t surprised anymore because I saw a lot of them on our way to the location. I was already fascinated at that time and it ruined the surprise. However, you must still visit it because the world is changing so fast. Those CHOCOLATE HILLS might become a chocolate dip in the future if we do not protect them today. It’s funny but it’s true. Let’s protect our world. We only have one.


THE TARSIER SANCTUARY

So, after CHOCOLATE HILLS, we visited my friend, THE TARSIER. Again, only in the Philippines. Look what rare places and species you can find here. It’s cool, right? So, do not forget to include THE TARSIER SANCTUARY in your list of THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL.


It’s not that far from the CHOCOLATE HILLS viewing site and there are no cars on the road. I feel like I own the road and it was closed for me. LoL!


Then we arrived at the TARSIER SANCTUARY and went straight to the ticketing booth, very touristy. Tickets, tickets, tickets, and more tickets. Haha! Again, I can’t remember the price because I did not pay for it but I know it was cheap. You’ll pay a cheap price to see the only living TARSIERS in the world, it’s worth it, right?


So, we went inside. We had to follow a trail to see the TARSIERS. Too much noise is not allowed and even the camera flash needs to be turned off, too. Tarsier’s eyes are so sensitive to the light so it’s not allowed. But taking a picture is allowed. Touching them and talking to them is strictly prohibited because they might answer back. LoL!


It’s hard to notice them because they’re so tiny, they’re as small as an adult fist and their color is blending with the three branches.


Are you still there? Okay, are you hungry? Because I am. So, we’re hungry after doing a lot of exercise. We went to Loboc Floating restaurant to eat, it's also one of the best THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL. It was a little bit far from the TARSIER SANCTUARY because I remember I was so hungry at that time and it feels like forever to get there. Or, maybe I was just so hungry that I thought it was far.


But the good thing is, it’s a buffet. Yes, Loboc Floating Restaurant is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Cool, right? I’m drooling now just thinking about what I ate at that time. But… before we can eat, we had to wait for a long queue and guess why? Of course, to buy a ticket. A never-ending ticket. LoL! But literally, the line there was never-ending. I never thought that we’ll make it for lunch, perhaps dinner was more possible haha. But we managed to get a ticket and eat lunch. Magic and Skills… LoL!


LOBOC RIVER CRUISE

There are plenty of floating restaurants in Loboc and one can accommodate a lot so don’t worry about not being able to hop on. I’m sure they’ll accommodate all and the long wait will be worth it. At that time, the buffet costs P500 to P1000. It was 3 years ago so maybe they have increased already.


They offer Filipino food and drinks so you’ll really feel the culture while being serenaded by Filipino Musicians. I like the vibes there because the people are really friendly. It felt like they feel you for being able to survive the long queue and now you became friends for having the same experience because you understand each other haha.


I forgot to say that the floating restaurant was moving, it’s being pushed by a motorboat and it will take you to different locations (stops) to watch performances by the locals. The boat will travel I think 1 kilometer then back to where you started after you eat.


Once you’re done, there are plenty of “Pasalubong” stores outside where you can find the good stuff.


After our Lunch at Loboc, we went straight to the Adventure that I was talking about at the beginning of this blog. The Zipline adventure. The best of the best THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL. I can still feel my excitement at that time but I never thought that something will happen.


We arrived at the location really fast because it was so near to Loboc River Cruise, it’s like a zip line away LoL. The river where Loboc River Cruise is cruising is the same river underneath the zipline. It's 520 meters in length and 120 meters high. If I remember correctly, it was the longest zipline adventure in the Philippines during that time. It’s also high like your dreams. What I mean is, that you should dream high. LoL!



ZIPLINE ADVENTURE

So, there are only a few people there, and the queue at the ticketing booth is not that long. Just to mention, the CR has an entrance fee but you can use it all day as long as you keep the ticket.


The ticket to the zipline costs P400 at that time. You can also pay for the pictures after. If I remember correctly, we paid P500 for the pictures but that’s for the whole group already. The photos were stored on a CD.


The ticketing booth is a little bit far from the zipline point, I don’t know what it’s called but you know my point, right? It’s the beginning of your end. LoL! I was so excited while hiking then I hear people screaming while getting near the zipline.


When we arrived, there was already a group of beautiful people there. There are foreigners who look like a doll. They’re Russians, I knew because of their language, hearing them was mind-blowing, but they’re gorgeous.


I don’t feel nervous yet while watching them because they look like actors filming a movie, they’re pore-less. How to be them? LoL!


So, their screaming stopped, I guess it's my time to scream. I’m nervous already but I was glad that my cousins were the first to try it because they’re younger than me. They had to obey. LoL!


So, I heard them scream and I started to tremble. I was really shaking like I’m cold and inside a freezer. I don’t know if I’m going to back out or what.


But I decided to do it. It’s now or never, I said. So, it’s time. They put me in a cloth or whatever it was that smells so bad, it smells like sweat from 10 years ago LoL. I guess that distracted me and turn my nervousness away. But it was still exciting.


So, I was planking on the cloth, it was a very safe cloth and I don’t know what it’s called. LoL. Safety belts are all set up and I’m good to go.


I can still remember what I was thinking at that time. I was thinking that no matter what happens, I’ll open my eyes and enjoy the view because it will only take a few seconds and I don’t want to waste the moment and ruin the experience.


Then they pushed me. Of course, I screamed so loud but when I saw the view, Wow, it was magical. I felt like a divergent in the “Divergent” movie. There was a scene in the movie where they also do zipline.


Being up there with the wind on your face and seeing the trees and the river below was really satisfying and refreshing. I felt strong and brave. Being up there made me realize that life is full of opportunities and you can do more. You just have to look around you and try.


So, I reached the end. But of course, it’s not going to end there. I had to do it again to go back. But at that time, I wasn’t that nervous. See, we just have to try the things that we’re afraid of because our emotions are just trying to hinder us.

Doing the things that we’re afraid of are the most fulfilling thing to do. And once we’ve done it, we’re becoming better, a newer version of ourselves.


So, it’s time to go back to Cebu but we visited another tourist destination along the way, it’s the twin bamboo bridge, another destination that you can add to your list of THINGS TO DO IN BOHOL. It’s a famous bridge in Bohol made of Bamboo. And located at the end of the bridge are Pasalubong Stores. It’s called direct selling; the bridge will direct you to the sellers. LoL!

SIPATAN TWIN HANGING BRIDGE

We left the bridge and headed to the port. The boat was there waiting for us. We left Bohol with a little bit of Sun above us until the Sun left while we were in the middle of the sea.


It was the longest journey for me during that time. I can still remember that I was more nervous at that time in the middle of the sea than when I did the zipline. The waves are big and I can’t see any lights. It means we’re literally in the middle of nowhere.


I remember the boatmen shouting that some of us had to transfer to the other side of the boat for it to be balanced. It was scary at that time. We’re not even wearing life vests. I was thinking a lot of scary things at that time and I think it’s inevitable when you are in that situation. But I don’t suggest doing what I did because we should think positively all the time cause’ you might scare the people around you and it’s not good.


But I’ve changed. I’ve learned that our minds are very powerful. What we think becomes our reality so think good!


After our long journey, we finally arrived in Cebu. It was a very tiring journey but it was worth it. If you really want to see and experience good things you really have to do the work. After that, reward yourself with good sleep. And that’s what we did.


Tomorrow is another day. Another day of travel in Cebu.



Thank you for taking the time to read my Bohol Travel Blog. I hope you enjoyed it and learned something from it. Please connect with me through my social media accounts. Also, please watch my vlogs on YouTube and Subscribe to my “jezzdoit VLOG” YouTube Channel, too.


Stay safe and remember; if you wanna do something, #jezzdoit! Spread Good Vibes and be KIND. See you on my next blog.


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