At Momo Beach, we were unloaded from the ferry and asked to line up our hand luggage and then main luggage for the police to pass over their sniffer dog. He seemed much more interested in his ball but did eventually take a good sniff and then we were then allowed to collect our belongings.
Haggling for a ride 6km to our accommodation in Danao Beach had commenced but all the drivers were sticking to P150 per person. Two older ladies joined our quest and they found a guy who agreed to P100 each for the 6 of us. Still much more than a local would pay but a slight victory to the tourists. Once en-route, the driver started saying he wouldn’t drop off at three different places for that price but Pete managed to talk him round and asked for us to be dropped off last as the ladies were worried aboutgettingovercharged. He looked very grumpy when we got out last but while I was in reception checking in, he called Pete back asking if we wanted to go on a tour with him the following day. We can’t have insulted him too much 🤣
We just made it to our beach in time for a lovely sunset and then went out for tea.
Bizarrely, we ended up in another Mexican place chatting to the Candian/Italian owner. He has heart problems and, for the last 9 years, had been living life to the max (in Spain and now here). He has decided to seek quality of life, not quantity – fair enough. His place sells the cheapest beers yet – at 78 pence a bottle, I’ve a feeling we may be back.
After one lazy day trying to kick the headcolds into touch, we rented a motorbike to explore Bohol. The forecast was for odd showers but it was still hot. We first visited the Tarsier Sanctuary and got to see four little tarsiers, tucked up for their day of sleeping.
The sanctuary has done a lot to protect the habitat for the animals and saved them from extinction. They are the oldest surviving primate on the planet. The sanctuary has worked with locals to educate and see the value in eco-tourism. A great scheme.
Next, we rode to Chocolate Hills. It took a little while as we stopped for a couple of heavy rain showers.
Luckily the second stop coincided with a bakery – Petes’ Fillipino favourite.
The Chocolate Hills were once coral reef under the sea then the sea level dropped and rain, rivers etc created erosion through the limescale leaving these cones of limestone.
Next we planned to kayak in Loboc on the mangrove edged river, but more shower delays meant we were getting close to sunset, so we pushed on. We took a quick stop at the Blood Compact Monument where Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Rajah Sikatuna drank a cup of each others blood on March 16, 1565 to signify peace between the Bohol people and the Spanish.
And then we headed back for a peaceful sunset, only to find that the Filipinos had arrived for the weekend and karaoke was at full blast. We got changed and headed out quickly.
The following day, we left the Filipino birthday party and headed on the bike to White Beach.
With it being Sunday, there were lots of Filipino families enjoying the lovely white sand, sea and a few drinks (and the odd bit of karaoke). It was fab to watch the kids playing in the sand, burying each other, making seaweed pies – the same the world over.
We checked out Alona Beach on the way through and decided we were glad we had selected the quieter Danao Beach to stay at.
In a crazy flash moment, we decided to go to a rooftop bar on top of the 4 star El Solea Hotel. The bar, called Salt & Sky was lovely. Nice vibes, good tunes, a beautiful sunset with 360 views, some yummy food and cocktails. There was also lots of entertainment as the Asians performed their own group photo shoots!
Our last morning, Janet decided to go on an Island Hopping tour. Struggling to get on a group tour, a private tour seemed the only option, but how flash and bad for the environment for one person to go on one boat! So while having a beer at the Mexican Cantina, we got talking to 2 Irish girls and I asked if they wanted to join me the next morning – so I didn’t look like the Queenn of Sheba. They accepted, so after a few more beers and some good craic, we headed to bed for a 5.45am start.
The boat trip first went to find dolphins and there was 2 short glimpses of a pod but among so many bangas boats, it wasn’t amazing. Our captain decided, too many boats, and we left for Balicasag Island. The girls decided not to snorkel and went for a walk but I snorkelled for over an hour above the basilica fault, where the sea floor drops by about 1,000 meters and the Balicasag reef. Oh how amazing!! I saw 5 turtles, clown fish, angel fish, parrot fish, blue starfish, many violet fish, massive shoals of Jack fish and so much more. It was fantastic!
Next, we stopped at Virgin Island which is a sand bar that was quickly disappearing before our eyes.
A few photos and then back Panglao. We said our goodbyes and I met Pete to devour one last local breakfast at our hotel. Then it was sadly time to set off for the airport in a tricycle I haggled down to 150 pesos.
We were sad to leave Bohol. I think if we hadn’t have struggled to find flight availability, we may have stayed a few more days…. but now, on more tropical white beaches at El Nido.
