Bohol-Cebu Escapade

            March 2-6, 2011, a supposedly 5 day tour that was cut off to 4 days by cebu pacific, nevertheless I enjoyed it . I went home with a hole on my pocket ,a bulge on my stomach , a sun-kissed skin which would have been great if evenly distributed not looking like I'm wearing a swimwear on my birthday suit.
             Grateful as I am for having experienced this kind of trip which was totally unexpected and unplanned , I want to share with you helpful tips just in case you found yourself on the same situation.

My Do's and Dont's  for Bohol-Cebu Trip

1. Wait for Piso fare promo of Cebu Pacific . It usually occurs just once a year, so better subscribe to their website ( Cebu Pacific Website)  to keep you updated. My friend just spent around 700 for four round trip tickets. If you have tickets but your friends you reserved cannot come , don't fret you can always ask others to join you , just use the names on the tickets....enough said

2. Cebu Pacific usually have delays. We waited an extra 2 hours for our flight. The foods inside the airport are expensive. Drinks are sold at 50 pesos. If the guard tells you that you have to finish your packed drinks before boarding the plane, that's not entirely true, no more inspection during boarding. That saved us from buying drinks from stewardess.

3. After landing at Tagbilaran Airport, take a tricycle to go to Island City Mall,  from.here you can buy pasalubong at a cheap price.

4. Try to experience riding a minibus. We were jampacked like a sardines,with additional chairs on the middle of the bus and kids even climb on top of the bus. For a while I thought I have to use the bus window to be able to get out. It was a rough ride, with lots of swerving and prayers.
 

5. Since we arrived on weekdays, we are lucky to rent 2 rooms near beach front at affordable price. Yes ,you can still haggle (tawad)  for a cheaper price of the room.

6. At beachfront some people approached us to offer tour guide services. We haggled and won so we just spent 1200 for the sea tour for the whole day. Regular price range (1500-2000).

7. Try to wake up as early as 5:30 am, to catch a glimpse of dolphins.

8. If you plan on snorkeling at Balicasag Island, buy your own aqua shoes instead of renting. We bought ours at SM department store for only Php 250.Just borrow goggles from manong boat driver. Manong let us borrowed his SPEEDO snorkels.
9. Don't forget to bring bread for the fish.

Balicasag Island

10. Enjoy collecting and posing with starfish but remember to bring them back on the sea or else they will dehydrate and die. Remember to "handle them with care".

11. Enjoy the Sandbar at the Virgin Island. Natives will lure you to taste sea urchin , after seeing their spikes underwater on the way to the island, no way would I force myself to have a bite.

12. Sea urchins are everywhere, so better be looking underwater while walking/swimming on the beach, good thing the water is so clear like it was chlorinated.

Virgin Island

Sea urchins (spikes removed)

 13. If you love night life, Alona beach is the place to be. Lots of bars, restaurant at beach front. Lots of foreigners too. Fire dance, live bands, henna tatoo, souvenir shops , diving center, and resorts surround the island.

Fire Dance-don't forget to give a tip :-)

night life

14. Tatsky has the lowest countryside tour. We were quite satisfied with the tour of our tourguide/ driver/photographer.  We only paid for 1800 for the tour (car included)

Blood Compact site

original site of the blood compact

Just Php 100 for a picture then you can take as many pics as you can with your own camera using their props.

Take the spiral pathway instead of the stairs,

Chocolate Hills (the real thing)

Man-made forest-looks like a rip from twilight movie

15. Do not touch the tarsiers. They get depress easily and might commit suicide by banging their heads. Caretakers do not directly touch them, they usually use leaves to get their attention.

tarsier

16. Get cozy with the python, visit Prony.

Prony eats a goat/pig a month

17. Test your courage and try crossing the Hanging Bridge. It is quite slippery when wet. My friend has to remove her slippers to pass the bridge...alive. At the end of the bridge,lots of pasalubong stalls can be found.

Hanging Bridge

18. Try the lunch buffet at Riverwatch floating restaurant at Loboc River. At Php 400 , you get 1 round of drinks and lots of food selection. Enjoy the live band and natives singing and dancing. One offiicial  photographer took our group picture but we never really got any printed copy....

19. It is better to go here during summer, the river is green , here, the river looks muddy.

not my plate

20. It is better to tour the Hinagdan cave in the morning ,tourist often swim inside the cave.

Drawings inside the cave

preserved moth and butterflies displayed at butterfly garden

live butterflies and moth inside the garden

21. Be sure to tour the Bohol Bee farm (before 4:30 pm) At sundown no more guided tours.Try their restaurant, or just have a free taste of almost everything offered on their souvenir shop and ice cream shop. I said taste not eat.  Lots of ice cream flavors to select (nipa, durian, chocolate, spicy ginger ).

free salad for every order of pasta ( we can eat whatever bees eat)

Just Php 50 fo a delicious unique flavored 2 scoops of ice cream

22. Try CnT Lechon. the famous lechon in Cebu. No need for sarsa.

23. Buy pasalubong at SM Cebu. We bought danggit, otap, dried mangoes etc.  My friend called Cebu Pacific to inform our check in baggage since danggit is not allowed to be included in carry on baggage.

On March 6, 2011, we ended our Bohol-Cebu Vacation and we vowed to return maybe after 10 years...Palawan next.