TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
BOHOL
First
Story &
Timers
Photography by Maria
In
Tajanlangit
Known as the 10th biggest island in the archipelago, the land where their hills are so perfectly designed they look like Hershey kisses; and their biodiversity so diverse that the smallest primate, the tarsier, is a local resident.
I thought that this is pretty much what I would expect from the island: One-day tour to see the typical sites, and another day tour to watch out for dolphins and do some island exploring, and that would wrap up my threeday Bohol itinerary. I’ m happily mistaken.
Before heading to Bohol I was searching for something different, something not yet familiar to the majority of the traveling population. I received some suggestions here and there – try ATV trekking in the Chocolate hills and the ice cream at the Bohol Bee Farm – the ATV we had to reserve for next time and we did try the Bohol Bee Farm’ s ice cream and it was delicious( weirdly flavored but really creamily yummy).
First Day, First Time & We’ re Running Late
Our flight is delayed. The clouds are quite thick and it’ s a bumpidee-bumpy ride in this La Niña weather. However, the sky looks promising. Above the thick nimbus bed of clouds is a bright summery sun. What I love about this Air Philippines pilot, who is navigating us in this cotton candy terrain, is that he acts as a tour guide as well. If it weren’ t for him I would’ ve assumed the island of Cebu as our destination. He points out Cebu, Siquijor, and some of the islands within the vicinity and we click away at our cameras, eager to catch a glimpse of the islands without the clouds.
Bohol is one island destination amidst many. By fast craft it is two hours away from Cebu and Dumaguete, as well as Camiguin or Cagayan de Oro. If you have extra dough to spare there is an air taxi that can take you to Bohol from Cebu within minutes.
Since the Tagbilaran Airport runway is quite short, it can only accommodate two airplanes at a time so our pilot tells us that we will have to wait a while. Below I can see the short strip and ahead of it the Tagbilaran Pier, and the two bridges that connect the mainland to Panglao Island. Cruising on air,
( Top) Aerial view of Panglao and Bohol strait;( Above) The bridge connecting to
Panglao;( Right) The coast of Panglao.
we watch the landscape of Panglao, the rural towns are green with a long road cutting the center. The coastline suggests an island with white-sand beaches and coves, and a wider area for snorkeling. The waters are emerald and sapphire mixed with the rocks and the white beach. In a glance it seems like a relaxing place to live in. The plane skims above
58 7107 ISLAND TRAVEL