Tavelogue: Bohol Diaries Day 3 Good-bye paradise

Since it was my last day in Bohol, I took my morning free time to be in Alona again and do couple of beach shots. Early mornings are great because of the sunrise scenery but sad to say Alona is not blessed with perfect view scape.

Sun rise at Alona

Sunrise at Alona

In Alona shores you wont be getting a perfect sunset or sunrise if you are facing towards the sea since it all happens on its left side, bit frustrating.

The right side of Alona on mornings, i love the sea breeze.

Ang bangka sa laot.

Early people along the shores.

Over-all had a great time in Bohol – surely it was a nice experience to see all the wonders, feel a slightly different culture and be friends with people who has been kind enough to treat you like real brothers – definitely it was a fun time at a place called Bohol.  :)

Travelogue: Bohol Diaries Day 2 – Part 1 Trudi’s Place, Hinagdanan Cave, Blood Compact Site & Baclayon Church

One way to explore Bohol is by doing a country-side tour. Doing so allows you to experience remarkable and notable sites that Bohol got to offer. Generally this kind of tours are offered in most hotels and resorts all over Bohol, but if you want to save up you may hire a tricycle to do the tour for you. But as for us we have settled what Paragayo had offered.

So the tour lasted more than 8 hours, starting as early as 9am and ended minutes after the sun sets as I remembered. But before we hit the road we satisfied our hungry big stomachs at Trudi’s Place. Trudi’s Place is just 2-3 minutes away from where we stay, located right along Alona Beach which is really really perfect for breezy morning beach view. Food is usual nothing fancy at all, most of it are in combo-set which varies from all Filipino, American to Intercontinental meals. Cheapest is roughly at P75 and can go high as P150. Staffs were trained to be neutral, sometimes they take the effort to smile, be polite and accommodating but sometimes not.  If you are in a budget then Trudi’s is the place for you, but if you want to have more than the usual on food then you might be needing to walk somewhere else.

Plain Pancakes with Honey Syrup

Chocolate Pancakes

And so we started our country-side tour by first visiting Hinagdanan Cave. The site is located in the Northern part of Panglao, 15-20 mins drive from the resort.  Its a natural lighted cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Sunlight passes through big and small holes inside the cave which allows birds as well to nest on high edgy rocks.  As we were told by one of the cave’s attendants, it is strictly prohibited to hunt and harvest the bird’s nest since Hinagdanan is considered as a bird sanctuary. Well it’s sure not bad to taste some Nido’s soup. :D

Hinagdanan Cave as light passes through the holes giving natural light

cave's high ceilings with many large stalactites

Next on the list was the Blood Compact Site and this time we went out of Panglao. Strategically speaking the site is located along the road going to the Northern part of Bohol. It was said that the area might not be the exact site where Datu Sikatuna and Legazpi made a friendship pact, but at least it is somehow closer from the original site. Until now the pact between the Spaniards and Boholano’s is being celebrated in Bohol, known as the Sandugo (One Blood) Festival where the town hosts dances, sport events, beauty pageants, community fairs and reenactment  to commemorate the pact that held 2 different nationalities into one.

Blood Compact Site commemorates the friendship pact between Spaniards and Boholano's

The view at the Blood Compact Site, just cant resist to take a picture of it.

Since our way is going to the Northern part, we headed straight to the famous tourist site – the Baclayon Church. Built in the late 15th century, Baclayon is considered as one of the oldest Catholic church in the Philippines.  The entire church was built out of coral stones which were skillfully cut, erected and arranged as bricks .  To be honest I was completely bedazzled when I walk through the church’s main altar. The natural lights created from the reflection of the glass windows and sun’s ray captured my heart as I deeply felt God’s presence in the place. It felt warm, silent and so secure when I sit and walk through the stoned cold walls. Though the whole place can be physically old, Baclayon stands out to be the most beautiful piece that both man and God ever created in Bohol. Definitely a must to see!

Baclayon Church on side view. Most of the stones errected are the original ones that were built in the late 15th century

Baclayon Church in the inside. Sunlight passes through the glass windows creating a more of holistic ambiance inside.

The inside of the church is a real reflection on how old Baclayon really is.

Travelogue: Bohol Diaries Day 1, Paragayo Resort & Alona Beach

Its been 3 months when I visited the white powdery fine shores of Panglao and  believe me getting there was hell lot of fun. The getaway was a treat for myself, as I marked another year old on my age calendar. I remember it was raining moderately when we left Manila, but when the plane touched down at Tagbilaran we were greeted by a sunny fine weather. Surprisingly, it didn’t rain in the entire Bohol for a week even if Manila was badly hit by typhoon Jolina.

 

Tagbilaran Airport

Taken moments after we landed, located in Bohol's capital state - Tagbilaran City.

I had our accommodation reserved in Panglao Island specifically in Paragayo Resort instead at Tagbilaran. Adventurously speaking for beach bums and party goers like us the island is a good catch, consider as well that it takes another hour just to get to the nearest beach if you are coming from the city.

Anyway, Paragayo is located right in the heart of Brgy. Tawala and would only require 2-3 minutes of walking to the coolest beach strip  of Panglao – the Alona Beach. Basically the resort is way smaller compare to other neighboring resorts, it has no pool, great lounge area, no spacious dining hall and definitely not a beachfront resort. Though the rooms didn’t look so elegant, it was still decent enough to stay. Paragayo is a budget friendly resort, as it is being labeled by most people who visited the place. But what truly swept me off was the garden ambiance that the resort offers.

Paragayo Resort

huts in the garden area

Paragayo Resort

Hanging around the hammock early in the morning is a nice and easy way to get a sunburn.

Paragayo Resort

pathways going to the rooms

Aside from being affordable, they have excellent customer service as well. I admire the whole crew for having a winning customer satisfaction perspective from the management Thelma Kilroy, front desk staffs down to the trusted driver Mang Fred and the room cleaners – they all delivered an excellent working attitude. Kudos to all of you! I forget to mention that I love the moments I used to wonder and sit on their native chairs, it felt really relaxing and so peaceful thinking that the resort was along the main street.

Paragayo Resort

old rocking chair

Paragayo Resort

native bamboo chairs

After we settled our luggage and refreshed ourselves, it was time to hit Alona beach line. It was  nearing 5pm when we arrived and a lot of people mostly foreign tourists who are walking back and forth the shore lines. It was pretty how big and long the shore was,

Alona Beach

along the shoreline

Don’t be surprise if you’ll see a lot of people wearing a 2pc and trunks suits. Just by mere observation Panglao has the greatest number of foreign tourists over the local ones. Bottom line  is when Alona is being talked about it is associated with fun.

 

Paragayo Resort
Brgy. Tawala Panglao Island Bohol
http://www.paragayoresort-panglao.com/ppc/