Part 1: Visiting the City of Friendship - BOHOL!

Ate Aissa work at Cebu Pacific as Reservation Officer and because of that, she has a privilege to have a free Domestic and International ticket as well, not only that we also have a free ticket from Cebu Pacific. So last May 21 - 23, we planned to have our 1st ever major out of town and visit the city of friendship, Bohol!

Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines and lies in the middle of the Visayas. Bohol perhaps is the number one tourist spot in the Philippines. You can see here the oldest stone Church, the Baclayon Church. You can also visit the white sandy of Panglao Beach. Bohol for me is like a slice of heaven, the people are very friendly and hospitable that is why they called "The City of Friendship!".

We left our house around 6:30am, my sister check and have our free tickets approved by the management. By the way, this is the first time that JM and my mom to ride on a plane that is why they are so excited about this trip.

After waiting for 1.5 hours, we checked-in our baggage not knowing that we are only a chance passenger; you heard it right! Cebu Pacific give this privilege to the immediate family of their employee but no guarantee seats! What if there are no seats available for us, we will wait for another available flight schedule! Damn! We only have 10 minutes left before the boarding close, with the help of one staff form Cebu Pacific, we rush to the second stage running and running and running. We didn't fall in line for the payment of the terminal fee as well as in the final check-in of our hand carry. We run until we reached the gate where the bus that will carry us to the plane was waiting for us. I can't imagine that this will happen to us, hassle but I think positive that we will have this trip memorable.

You can see on my mom and JM's face, that is why I make sure to capture this one of a kind experience.

JM and Mommy

We arrived at Tagbilaran airport 15 minutes earlier to the expected time of arrival. We picked up by a van that Ate Aissa's rented for us. Actually, she knows this driver before when she together with her office mates visit Bohol 2 months ago. We decided to do city tour first. Our destinations as follows:

1. Blood Compact - this ritual made between the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol and Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and Rajah Humabon the chieftain of Cebu last 16th Century.

Blood Compact

My Family :)

2. Loboc River (Floating Restaurant) - this is one of the major tourist spot in Bohol. This is where we ate our Buffet Lunch while cruising. They offer Filipino foods and local delicacies that offers Php 300.00 / person plus Php 100.00 for government taxes. They also sings Bohol songs during the said cruise.

the scenery :)

During the cruise

3. Chocolate Hills - Here in Bohol you can see the famous Chocolate Hills, this was declared as Country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. To reach the peak, you need 214 steps hill that gives you viewer a panoramic vista of the exquisite beauty of chocolate hills. Since my mom is too tired, she opt not to join with us in the peak.

with my dad ^_^

dad and mom

4. Tarsiers - You can also visit the Tarsiers. The smallest animals with enormous eyes and have a very long hind limbs. The tarsiers are very soft, velvety fur, which generates buff, beige or ochre in color.

ate aissa with tarsier

Jm with her friend.. Hehe

my mom and dad

of course, me ^_^

5. Hanging Bridge - It is a hanging bamboo bridge which is also one of the major tourist attraction in Bohol. You need to pay Php 20.00 to experience this. Be ready for the sways back and forth as you walked across the bridge.

6. Man-Made Forest - is a man-made mahogany forest stretching in two kilometer stretch of densely planted mahogany trees located in the border of Bilar and Loboc town.

7. Baclayon Church - the oldest stone church in the Philippines. This is one of the best preserved Jesuit - built churches in the region.

After our very tiring city tour, finally we settled for our rented house. The Chrisah Apartelle. Php 2,000.00 / night with 2 double size bed and 1 single size bed, with private comfort room, cable t.v and refrigerator. This appartelle is suitable for a small family like us.

our room ^_^

clean comfort room

to be continue...