Chocolate Hills, Whale Sharks and Sardines 
Our trip to the tropical paradise of the Philippines started with Cebu Pacific midnight flight from Melbourne to Manila and whilst the red-eye flight was smooth with friendly staff, none of us got much sleep on the plane. However, soon enough we touched down in Manila, the bustling capital city of the Philippines.
Immigration was quick, we got jumped up the line as we travelled with kids (they do come in handy when you fly) and after getting some cash our from a local ATM, using a Wise card for the first time, we passed through the next security check onto the Domestic Terminal where we waited for our second flight of the day, this time just a short hop over to the Island of Panglao and Bohol. After securing a taxi, we arrived at our accomodation, the ‘Panglao Regents Park Resort’, located near Alona Beach.
However, upon arrival, it was a tad too early to check into so, what to do for about two hours? Well, we did what any hungry traveler would do, head straight to Jollibee to try some Filipino fast food. After placing our orders we took our seats and waited for the buzzer to ring, which it didn’t do. After enquiring what the problem was we were told that they had run our of chicken (figures). Anyway, after a wait that felt like an eternity (okay, maybe just 50 minutes), we finally got our hands on some fried chicken, fries, rice and Jolly Spaghetti (it’s pasta with their signature sweet-style sauce and meats, not bad but nothing I need to try again).
After this we were able to check-in to our accomodation and after a change of clothes to something lighter and better suited to the hot and humid weather, we went for a walk to explore the area. First impression of Alona beach is that it’s like stepping into a postcard with its pristine powdery white sand beaches and crystal-clear azure waters. And yes, whilst there was plenty of green algae, this didn’t stop us getting into the water for a refreshing and well deserved first swim in the Philippines.
After a swim, we continued strolling along the shore, taking part in the vibrant atmosphere which includes beach front cafes, bars, dive centres and of course, all the persons that are looking at selling you a tour or different types of trinkets and jewellery. One of these persons that approached us offered us a good deal on a private car for a tour of the island which we agreed upon and booked for the following day.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at the hotel near the pool where we took full advantage of their 2-for-1 cocktail options and later made our way out to try and locate some local cousine. We found a restaurant where the kids had the traditional chicken and rice (not very adventurous these ones quite yet, but we’ll get there). Suz and I tried the legendary lechón – a succulent roasted pig that’s was amazing and we all enjoyed some fresh fruit shakes.
That night we all fell asleep early as we had been on the go for a long time and the next morning, our driver Francis, arrived to collect us for our tour. Having a private driver meant that we could decide what we wanted and didn’t want to see which was great. Francis took us past the Bilar Man-Made Forest, a mahogany forest stretching for 2km where everyone steps out for a mandatory photo (which our driver had us do as well).
We then reached the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, a little gem nestled amidst the iconic Chocolate Hills of Bohol that contain a range of different adventures for children and adults alike and that we initially found out through the travel show ‘Travel Guides‘. Both Xander and Eloise started by doing the Tarzan Park where they both climb and walked along ropes, nets, and obstacles, before being asked to unleash their inner Tarzan or Jane by swinging off a rope, which was great to see.
After that was completed, Suz, Xander and Eloise all opted to take part in the Bike Zip (I had to stay behind as I didn’t quite pass the weight restriction, ah well at least I could enjoy seeing them take part). There was a lot of stairs to reach the starting point and at the top we were able to see the beautiful landscape with row upon row of cone-shaped hills, resembling mounds of chocolate.
The three of them climbed the tower and after being hooked in, they all pedaled their way over the lush landscape, whilst suspended high in the ground, soaring through the sky. After they reached the other end, the bike was changed over and back again they came, this time a bit faster as they had a slight decline coming back.
The adventure park was great and I believe that this will be a memory that Xander and Eloise will cherish. If you’re ever in the area, don’t hesitate and take part of this great little park amongst the chocolate hills.
After this we reached the top viewing point of the Chocolate Hills which was great to see but after the Adventure Park, we felt that we had already explored and experienced it better. On our way back we first stopped at the Tarsier Conservation Centre, a haven for the elusive and small primates. We were able to walk around and observe these tiny creatures in their natural habitat, although as they are nocturnal creatures, all the ones we saw were sleeping and we all walked around in silence.
After we got back in the car, the initial plan was to stop and take part of the Loboc River Cruise, which is a cruise that offers food and entertainment along the river and is said to be a highlight. However, there were hundreds of people waiting and we realised that there would be at least three hours before we got on the boat so we skipped the cruise and went somewhere else for lunch.
Lastly on our trip, we made a quick stop at the Blood Compact Shrine, a historical site that shows the peace and friendship ceremony between the Spanish and the locals on Bohol in 1565. Once back at our accomodation we relaxed in the pool and after a long but exciting day exploring the island of Bohol.
The following day we were up for an adventure, and what an adventure it was, I was finally going to tick one of my bucket list items off, swimming with Whale Sharks, the largest fish in the ocean! I have long tried to swim with these magnificent creatures but have yet to come across them so to say that I was a bit excited is an understatement. We arrived at the VicTour’s Recreational Hub near Santa Fe Beach where we were given a quick briefing, setup with life jackets and snorkelling gear and then taken on a small boat onto the ocean.
Whilst waiting to get off the boat, we saw our first Whale Shark as it gracefully glided under the surface, right under our boat with their distinctive spotted patterns almost shining in the sunlight. We quickly jumped into the water with nil sightings initially, however we soon heard the shouts “Whale Sharks” and then they were there, these magnificent creatures gliding effortlessly through the water. We initially saw one or two that we thought were really big, however, not long after a fully adult one came along and made these initial ones seem small in comparison. It was a humbling experience to swim near these creatures and something that I’ve wanted to do for some time.
Once we finished our swim, we headed back in and made for the Napaling Reef. This time Suz and the kids decided to stay on dry land whilst I went snorkelling along the sardine run. The initial swim showed me the normal tropical underworld that I’ve come to expect, with a range of different fished in different colours (and yes, I did find Nemo again). However, I eventually encountered the million of sardines that cling together and swim, as one. It’s like a curtain of shimmering silver in front of you, and as you swim through it, it opens up and closes around you, completely surrounding you on all sides.
On our final day, we rested and spent most of our time alongside the pool, just enjoying a day of peace and quiet.
A quick note on Filipino cuisine, throughout these days, we were trying to find some local Filipino food and whilst we managed to find plenty of Lechon, roasted pig and tastes great, we have been unsuccessful in tracking down a classical brekkie dish like tasilog or sasilog. I did however try a Sisig one night, basically a dish made from left overs of pork belly, ears, jowls etc and seasoned. And whilst it was ok, it was not something I would try again. So we have some food to track down still during our holidays here.
And now, onwards to Boracay!
