Bohol - Philippines
April 25th 2011 01:53
The morning greets me with a warm, smug hug. At 6:00am, the humidity in the air is still low, so it's not uncomfortable. The sun is already visible on the horizon, but it lacks the glory that it shared at sunset the night before, when it turned the skies a rainbow of orange and pink; kissed by purple velvet.
The tide is low at the moment, but it is the perfect time to wade through the tropical water and have a look at the offerings of the ocean. It's a photographers dream. Just watch out for the moisture that may gather on the lens (though it does give a nice dreamy feel).
Time gives way to breathtaking white sand beaches and clear blue skies. The water is the colour the ocean should be; layers of every shade of blue, and the day's temperature is just right to laze on a hammock or a lounge chair while sipping an icy drink. Glass boats take people out to see the coral reef and the sudden drop into deep ocean (picture nemo swimming away from the reef to touch the butt...erh boat). The sun is too intense for a midday swim, but the sun doesn't set until late and the water stays warm throughout, so an afternoon dip is perfect after a hot day out (not to mention your skin will thank you for waiting until later).
A visit to a Tarsier sanctuary is not quite what the name describes. It's actually more like someone's backyard with a few trees and a vendor out the front selling tarsier merchandise. Still it's probably the only way to spot a tarsier without hiking through the jungle.
These fist-sized, furry critters look like they stepped right out of a gremlins movie (before gizmo hatched gremlins of course!). Their eyes; that fill the expanse of their face, stare me down as if it's a competition of sorts. They're not hostile though; being nocturnal it's clear they just want to get back to sleep. A few pesos to the caretaker buys a worm on a stick. The tarsier snatches it in a flash and is back to sleep before it's digested.
Feeling a bit peckish myself, I head off to visit the Sepatan river for a lunch cruise. The boats serve a delicious buffet lunch of local foods such as chicken adobo (slices of chicken in a vinger, soy sauce) and caldereta (beef stew).
A band sings ballads accompanied by acoustic guitars as the boat meanders leisurely along the emerald green river. It's the first time I've seen water like this; a result of the algae beneath the surface.
There are plenty of other things to do at Bohol and it's only a short 1 1/2hr flight from Manila. It boasts the beauty of popular Phuket; without the crowds.
If the soul demands a "night out" though, don't be dismayed. There's a whole strip of restaurants set up right on the sand where one can overindulge on cheap and delicious food, then sleep it off on a beach hammock.
The tide is low at the moment, but it is the perfect time to wade through the tropical water and have a look at the offerings of the ocean. It's a photographers dream. Just watch out for the moisture that may gather on the lens (though it does give a nice dreamy feel).
Time gives way to breathtaking white sand beaches and clear blue skies. The water is the colour the ocean should be; layers of every shade of blue, and the day's temperature is just right to laze on a hammock or a lounge chair while sipping an icy drink. Glass boats take people out to see the coral reef and the sudden drop into deep ocean (picture nemo swimming away from the reef to touch the butt...erh boat). The sun is too intense for a midday swim, but the sun doesn't set until late and the water stays warm throughout, so an afternoon dip is perfect after a hot day out (not to mention your skin will thank you for waiting until later).
A visit to a Tarsier sanctuary is not quite what the name describes. It's actually more like someone's backyard with a few trees and a vendor out the front selling tarsier merchandise. Still it's probably the only way to spot a tarsier without hiking through the jungle.
These fist-sized, furry critters look like they stepped right out of a gremlins movie (before gizmo hatched gremlins of course!). Their eyes; that fill the expanse of their face, stare me down as if it's a competition of sorts. They're not hostile though; being nocturnal it's clear they just want to get back to sleep. A few pesos to the caretaker buys a worm on a stick. The tarsier snatches it in a flash and is back to sleep before it's digested.
Feeling a bit peckish myself, I head off to visit the Sepatan river for a lunch cruise. The boats serve a delicious buffet lunch of local foods such as chicken adobo (slices of chicken in a vinger, soy sauce) and caldereta (beef stew).
A band sings ballads accompanied by acoustic guitars as the boat meanders leisurely along the emerald green river. It's the first time I've seen water like this; a result of the algae beneath the surface.
There are plenty of other things to do at Bohol and it's only a short 1 1/2hr flight from Manila. It boasts the beauty of popular Phuket; without the crowds.
If the soul demands a "night out" though, don't be dismayed. There's a whole strip of restaurants set up right on the sand where one can overindulge on cheap and delicious food, then sleep it off on a beach hammock.
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