The Queen of the South, Cebu City! ( SUGBU)

" DAYON KAMO! "

GETTING THERE: by plane
Davao City ( Francisco Bangoy International Airport ) - Mactan International Airport )
Airline: Cebu Pacific Air ( P3500 ) roundtrip

ATTRACTIONS:

• Taoist Temple
• Guitar Factories
• University of San Carlos
• Lapu-Lapu Monument ( Mactan Shrine )
• Magellans Cross
• Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
• Casa Gorordo Museum
• Fort San Pedro
• Basilica Minore del Santo Niño 

PEOPLE: Local people in Cebu speaks " Visayan " dialect. They also speak Tagalog and English.


GETTING AROUND: Taxi, Jeepney, Buses

I've been here in this place for so many times but unfortunately before I didn't manage to look around if what to see in this what they called " Queen of the South ". Yes, this is the place were history meets tomorrow. A city which is Philippines oldest city and carries some of the priceless historical relics and monuments. Here are some of my photos taken in Cebu:

Cebu City Hall

 

Magellan Cross

View of Basilica Minore del Santo Nino

Inside of Basilica del Santo Nino

This is in the Basilica Santo Nino

The Cebu Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral

The Virgin Mary's Grotto In the Cathedral

View of the lawn in the Cathedral

The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral was established as a diocese on August 14, 1595 and it was elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese on April 28, 1934. The construction of this church took many years due to the interruptions and luck of funds. The architecture of the church is typically Spanish Colonial churches in the country.

I don’t actually remember if how many churches they have, but this is all I can say It was so amazing. Night time and it’s time to find some place which we can drink and relax. As I read in the internet that there is place where families, kids, couples, friends are there a bar called Sunflower. Am a bit curious about the place cause it’s not only youngsters are there. As we arrive there, there was live band playing disco and pop music while some people dancing on the dance floor. At the beginning  there are only few couples but later on I was so amazed when I saw the families with their babies on the strollers. Wow! And there are some kids also dancing with their dad and mom! That was so amazing. 

People Dancing in dance floor

The next day we planned to go in some of the Island closed to Cebu. Our choices is either Malapascua Island and Camotes Island. And since that I know if how to get there in Camotes Island so I guess it’s my choice at all. Follow my next update regarding Camotes Island.

" LOBOC RIVER CRUISE in Bohol "

RIVERWATCH BOAT:
P450/1pax

One of the must tourist visited place in Bohol is the Loboc River Cruise located in the Municipality of Loboc, Bohol. This has been promoted by the Bohol Eco Tourism and being popular more than with their floating restaurant in a small bancas with their delicious buffet of foods. In the entrance you can choose if which boat you will choose but of course it depends of what foods they will serve. I chose Riverwatch boat, they serve a delicious big buffet of foods.

The cruise will start at the Laoy bridge and will take 50mins. to 1 hour, the cruise will ends at the Busay falls. On the cruise while enjoying with their big buffet of foods with all their local delicacies you will be entertained with the bands who will serenade you while eating and mostly enjoyed with the breathtaking magnificent views of the river . Surrounded with the beautiful green trees. While on cruise the boat will stop in small kubo with the local people entertained by singing local songs and wearing same old style clothing with their ukelele guitar.

 They will start at 11pm for lunch and for dinner is 6pm. I suggest that you will come earlier so you can enjoyed first the food before second batch will come. The earlier the better. It's a perfect lunch and dinner in Loboc River Cruise. While on the cruise one of the staff on the boat will take a photo each guest for souvenir but it's up to you if you will buy it price is P150 each copy of the photo. According to the other guest Loboc River Cruise is more better when it's night time or dinner time, you can see the fire flies and the reflection of the lights on the water. That is what I want to experience next time that I will visit Bohol.

Celebrities who visited Bohol won't really missed this Loboc River Cruise. I highly recommend to visit this place, come, experience and see for yourself.

 

" Cute TARSIERS and PHYTON the Prony in Bohol "

“ Smallest primate, TARSIER in Bohol ”

In my  journey in Bohol, one of the species that I really wanted to see in Bohol was the TARSIERS. Bohol is famous for many tarsiers though you can see Tarsiers in some places in Philippines. When I was a small kid I only saw a Tarsier photos on the book and when Philippines had a computer I also saw their photos in computer. I was really hoping that one day I could see this smallest primate in nature. Here it is, I saw it with my pair of eyes. Yes, it is very small with the big eyes and super cute. From toe-to-head, tarsiers measure only between 8 to 16 cm. That’s just about the size of a phone! but despite of being small they can do amazing things like spinning their head and jumping so fast and quiet far distance from branches to branches. I was really disappointed because I really wanted to touch the Tarsier but unfortunately they will not allowed us to touch the Tarsier. According to them the Tarsier will be stressed out if we touch them.  Noise and camera flash are strictly prohibited. I tried it once taking pictures to Tarsier with flash, yes it’s true they are scared of flash. Here are some photos: 

who is the cutest?

Smallest Primate " TARSIER "

Two cute Tarsier

Camera Shy Tarsier

Whose that cute little thing?

Human Tarsier! :)

Me and my friend Tarsier

The first Tarsier place that I visited was in Corella, Bohol the Tarsier Sanctuary , entrance fee is only P30 but the location is too far. It was so hard to get there.  The second one is the Agape,  if your heading to Loboc, Bohol it is located at the right side you can see the big sign of Agape.  There’s no entrance fee it’s up to your heart if how much donation you want to give. There are also Bohol souvenir items inside.

" PHYTON the Prony in Bohol "

I heard that there is a biggest snake in Bohol. I am not interested to see that snake because somehow I really don't like snakes. But I have no choice but to go there since am already in Bohol. Getting there is a very small rough road. Entrance fee is only P10/1pax, inside there other animals, like birds monkeys etc. The place is like a small zoo. I went inside the small cage, I face my fear and I finally made to come closer to the snake and took some photos. Here it is:

Entrance in Small Zoo in Bohol

Sleepyhead Phyton

Meet my friend " Prony "

Prony was named after the person who captured this biggest snake. This snake is 5 years old in existence with the length of 23 feet and an estimated weigh of 300 kg. According to the woman who's there or shall we say who took care of that snake, they feed the snake with a pig, goat or dog. The time we visited there the snake was about to change skin the reason why were not allowed to touch his skin because according to them the skin of the snake is hurting. That's why snake is only sleeping at that moment. Whew! one of the toughest fear that I faced and survive.

 Here is the amazing bastard who jumped on me and pulled my hair on my way out of the cage. According to the owner of it that she's just jealous on me that I come closer to his man, funny monkey but it's not funny for me at all. Am totally scared and I didn't know if how to get rid with that bastard. She's cute and lively monkey anyways.

Scariest face ever!

It was the first time that I saw a biggest snake ever in nature.  After that scariest moment and funniest moment with Prony and small bastard Monkey I noticed that there is a ladyboy whose performing in a small cottage. He's so funny, he entertained us there. The show lasted for a few minutes everybody was laughing seemed like they are all enjoyed with the show.

" Chocolate Hills, Simply Butterfly and Danao Adventure Park "

SIMPLY BUTTERFLY: BILAR, BOHOL

Entrance Fee: P20/1pax

Heading to Chocolate Hills in Carmen we dropped by to simply butterfly conservations. It is located in Pilar, Bohol.  Each group has had a guide inside the butterfly garden. Before we enter in the garden there’s a demonstration and information about butterflies .  Inside, I saw a lot of colorful butterflies flying around.  It was so beautiful, I was exactly thinking that I am on Paradise garden. Butterflies sex lasted 2days, It’s a bit surprising for me and yes I saw butterflies who stick together. Here are some of my photos:

Entance of Simply butterfly

Souvenir items inside Simply butterfly

Me and butterfly beside me

Biggest butterfly ever :)

  

There are some butterflies who smells like chocolate, that is their pheromone. And some also attracts the other butterflies with their colors. And also there are tricky butterfly also that if you catch them and put it on your palm, it won't moves to pretend that they're dead but when you throw it they will fly, silly creatures. I learned so many things about butterflies in that place. Now, time to move to the next destination.

CHOCOLATE HILLS complex in Carmen, Bohol:

Entrance Fee: P50/1pax

Chocolate Hills is one of the famous tourist attraction in Bohol. It is located in the town of Carmen, Bohol around 50km. from Tagbilaran City. Actually there are two places where you can see the chocolate hills, the Chocolate Hills Complex and Sagbayan Peak. We chose Chocolate Hills complex because according to the local people there, you can see so many hills from that place. On this place there are small hotel, restaurant and souvenir shop. I survive the 214 steps of stairs going up to the view deck of chocolate hills. On the top there is a wishing wheel where kids usually throw coins and ring the bell there. My leg was hurting but it's worth it, the most exciting was the view of the Chocolate Hills, it was so amazing. Philippines were so blessed with all of this fantastic God's gift. It was the perfect time to visit and see that chocolate hills because it was summer time, from green turns to brown. Here are some of my photos:

Entrance to the View deck of chocolate hills

View of Chocolate hills from View deck

View of Chocolate hills from View deck

I survive the 214 steps up to view deck of Chocolate Hills. I dare you to come, visit and see for yourself this amazing views.We are only 1hour in that place, picture taking and rest for awhile and then drove in the next destination.

DANAO ADVENTURE PARK:
Entrance Fee: P25/1pax + motorcycle P5

Danao Adventure is too far, I don't know exactly if how long we travel from Carmen Bohol to Danao. It's very difficult to find this place but still we manage to get there with the help of the local people there. I don't know exactly if how many times am asking about directions. It's almost 4pm when we get there, it's very late. I was really excited on zipping the line P350/1pax. It was so scary but later on I enjoyed my ride.

Entance of Danao Adventure park

Activities to do in Danao Adventure Park

Attitude! :)

Zipping the line

That was extremely fun and a shoot in my head. It's really a suicide for me while zipping the line. Can you imagine, zipping the line of the 480 meters long with the altitude of 200 meters. Wow! that was extremely awesome. This is the longest and the tallest zipline in the Philippines. Guys, I dare you to come and experienced this suicide or suislide in Danao Adventure Park.

" Bohol, Philippines God's little Paradise "

GETTING THERE: ( by boat )

CEBU - TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL: Weesan Express ( 500/ 1 pax )

Date of trip : April 04, 2011 - April 10, 2011

Accommodations:  

• PARAGAYO RESORT, PANGLAO ISLAND ( 5mins. walk to beach )
• ISIS RESORT, ALONA BEACH  ( beach front )

ATTRACTIONS that I visited:

• Chocolate hills - ( Carmen )
• Simply Butterfly
• Danao Adventure Park
• Tarsier Sanctuary - ( Corella )
• Loboc River Cruise
• Agape 

ALONA BEACH, PANGLAO ISLAND:

As we arrive in Tagbilaran Port, we have no idea where to go but then we just follow the flow. Our destination is Alona Beach which is in Panglao Island. Getting there by taxi is a bit expensive it cost P 450.00 but since we don't know anything so we just take it, we have no choice. We don't have any reservations yet but am glad that the taxi driver was a good samaritan when we ask him to take us to the affordable and reasonable price of hotel. Am glad that PARAGAYO RESORT has available room at that time. Room is spacious, nice and clean indeed it was a reasonable price. Outside of the room are so many small coconut trees and flowers. It's a perfect place for me. Distance from hotel to the beach is just only 5 mins. walk. Not really bad.

Welcome to the white sand beach, Alona Beach Panglao Island, Bohol. It is located in Central Visayas, in southwest in the Island of Bohol and east of Cebu. Currently Panglao is one of the top tourist destination in Philippines. Panglao is famous for it's white sand beach and beautiful dive spots in reef dives.

For the food and drinks, you have nothing to worry they have so many restaurants who serves delicious foods specially seafoods. During night time you will not be get bored, there's so many programs on the beach. About the people there, there are mixed of people that I saw that time in Panglao there are group of Koreans, Foreigners, Chinese. I guess it's pretty normal to see many tourist because it's high season. Here are some of my photos:

Alona Beach, Panglao Island

On deck of the boat heading to Tagbilaran City

A view of Tagbilaran City Port, Bohol

T

Comfortably lying on Beach Chair

Comfortably sitting on the wood chair

Just walking around on the beach

Sunset in Alona Beach

The night life in Alona Beach is not boring. There's a lot of programs specially this Sacrifice band. They played acoustic foreign songs and also local songs. They have a very good and strong voice, I love it because played all of my favorite songs. All of them can sing well, as you see from the photo below their instrument is very simple yet they can played a good music. The Spikes bar with Sacrifice was our favorite hangout during night time in Alona Beach.

The Sacrifice band in Spikes bar

Freshen up with Pina Colada

Isis Thai Restaurant was indeed my favorite Thai reataurant in Alona Beach. They serve a very good hot thai foods, it was very delicious. Here in the photo below we always ate breakfast, I love their food. Regarding staff, well not bad service. I recommend this place, come and see for yourself.

My favorite Thai Restaurant in Alona Beach

When it comes to food, am always first! :)

Alona Beach is another Boracay in Philippines but the best thing there is that there's not much crowd compared to Boracay. Not much tourist in Alona Beach, it's a peaceful and beautiful place. Everybody loves Alona Beach, families, couples, lovers and kids. It's quite far from the other tourist attractions but I suggest to rent a motorbike. P450/ day of renting a motorbike so you can see the places around Bohol. Time to see places, Next destination was the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol. That is in my next blog update.