A DAY OUT ON BOHOL. PART 2

 18th Dec 2025

The Tarsiers sanctuary.

Antonio, my helpful driver and guide, then took me to the 'Tarsier Sanctuary'. This is in quite a large wooded area and seemed to attract a fair amount of tourists. 

I had no idea of what a tarsier is and, at the entrance, is a dummy tarsier (left) and I was told it is a form of nocturnal monkey and an endangered species. From the size of the 'dummy' I assumed it was quite a large creature.

We followed a path around the outside of a  bit of dense woodland fenced in with wire netting. Myself and several other 'tarsier watchers' were peering in and unable to see any signs of life. Eventually someone whispered (silence please!) that they had seen one. We all moved to join him and peered through the netting. 

.

Left: ......and with great difficulty saw it. A tiny creature, the size of your fist, with big goggly eyes, staring myopically out from inside a bush. Rather disappointing in my opinion! I think we saw another one at some point. Not exactly the spectacular animal I had imagined!

Right: A better photo (not mine) of a tarsier. They didn't move, but then as they are 'nocturnal' perhaps they only came alive and leapt about with all the joys of spring after dark? I now can't download photos! To be rectified, I hope. Anyway, not much more to report from the tarsier sanctuary!

We then moved on to an Adventure Park (not the same as the first place on the previous blog). En-route we stopped at a place which offered 'quad-bike' tours. They looked rather fun, but would have taken too long (half the afternoon) so I just sat on one for the sake of it.

Left: The entrance to the Adventure Perk. This offered zip-wire rides. I couldn't resist trying that.

A climb up to the start point (right). There was a couple ahead of me. I was undecided as to whether to keep my i-phone in my hand to record the trip, but as I had lost the strap to secure it to my wrist I didn't want to risk dropping it, so kept it in my pocket.

Left: We were laid out in a kind of sling and fired off over a very deep valley for the half-mile trip.

Right: This was the valley below. It was about 800ft down to the Loboc river. This photo was taken from a cable-car in which I returned.

Left: Someone coming in to land.

Right: ....and someone in mid-flight. It was quite an exhilarating short ride.

Left: There was the opportunity to zip-wire back to another station or, as I chose, to take a more sedate cable car ride..to let me get some photos of the valley below. Apparently there are several other zip-wire sites on the island.

That was about it for my day out on Bohol and we drove back over the causeway to Panglao. All most enjoyable and perhaps I should have given myself more time to see some of the other sights on the island.....

I had most of the next day to do a bit of pleasant lounging around the Alona beach before getting a flight back to Manila. Plenty more to report from there.

However, I think I have a problem. For some reason 'Google' will not let me download photos at the moment. I hope that can be resolved, but until it is I will not be able to proceed with future blogs! 😱

A DAY OUT ON BOHOL ISLAND. PART 1

18th Dec 2025

Some of the 'Chocolate Hills' on Bohol Island.

I left the hotel at 8.30am in a car driven by a very amicable chap called Antonio, who spoke good English (as most of the locals do). We crossed the causeway onto Bohol and proceeded to visit some of the many sights and 'experiences' on the island. Many things like caves, waterfalls, bee farms, beaches etc. we didn't have time for. You could amuse your self here for a few days.

Left: Bohol Island with the places I visited marked. As with all these photos; click on to enlarge and read.

The first port of call was the famed Chocolate Hills. They attract many tourists. People were queueing up to have 'group' photos taken behind this sign (right). I did a bit of 'tactical barging'.

Left: A steep climb up 584 steps to the higher viewpoint. Good exercise if nothing else.

Right: A description of how these hills were formed. They turn a chocolate brown colour in the 'dry' season, hence the name. Click on to enlarge and read.

Next onwards to the 'Eco-Adventure' park near the town of Loboc. This consisted of several 'zoo-like' enclosures. Below: At the entrance was a rather nice café with this couple playing 'jolly' Christmas tunes on bamboo instruments. Very talented I thought.

Left: There was a display of various snakes. This is, I think, an Albino Burmese Python. It seemed very docile (but it was alive!). I gave it a delicate pat on the back. It just stuck its tongue out at me. I'm told they are fed a chicken a week. 

Right: More snakes but mostly in these cages so not easy to see. They didn't 'do' much. Sleeping mostly.

Left: Exotic small parrot-like birds.

Right: A dozy couple of buffalo were wallowing in a small pond.

Left: A statue of a ........??

Right: ...and a large 'shoe' on display. Not sure of its significance.

Left: It was, in parts, a somewhat 'untidy' and litter-strewn area. Can't think how this 'toilet' ended up here.

 

Right: A rather scrawny small horse. There was sign next to it saying 'For Sale. 23,000 Pesos'. That is approx £285. I know a racehorse trainer in UK who is always on the lookout for a good deal. I'm not sure if he would be interested.

Left: Another nag saddled up and ready to go. I resisted the temptation.

Right: An enclosure contained butterflies like this. There were several flitting around. I haven't a clue what they all were (I am not a 'lepidopterist'). Rather dull to be honest.

Below: Another compound contained these delightful little creatures. They are 'Sugar Gliders'; a sort of 'nocturnal gliding possum' I read somewhere. They have a predilection for sugary foods, hence their name, and the ability to glide through the air, like a flying squirrel. I didn't have any sweeties to offer them.

Wandering on further I came across this ominous sign (left). What on earth could they have here to warrant a risk to 'minors below 18 years old'?!

I went over the bridge to be confronted by this! Right: For the life of me I couldn't understand why it was in a nature park! They obviously have a robust sense of humour around here.

Left: The explanation of its significance. How interesting.

I was by no means finished with places to go and things to do on the island. I will, however, be wary of meeting any lady called Mana. So leave you now on this happy note and will continue my Bohol tour on the next......

PANGLAO

 16th - 19th Dec 2025

Panglao and Bohol in the southern part of the Philippines. I stayed on Alona Beach.

By efficient Grab taxi to the airport for the domestic flight to Bohol. The 'Domestic' airport terminal was crowded, chaotic, with long queues and few 'facilities' in which to relax. No bar! Not only that but I was under the impression that I could take a cabin bag weighing up to 7kg with my small backpack to go under the seat in front, as had been fine with China Airways to Manila. No such luck! They weighed the backpack with the cabin bag and it came to 9kg. I had to pay 1,400 Pesos (£18 equivalent) and put my cabin bag in the hold. I am always loathe to have 'hold' baggage as there are many stories about people who had lost these in transit. What a rip-off! But that is airlines for you.

Following on from this, I noticed this fellow passenger (left) who must have weighed in at about 200kg. There is something illogical about penalties on small cabin baggage overweight.......but they make money out of it. There should be a maximum weight allowance for passenger plus cabin bag. It's a scam!

Anyway, it was an uneventful 1hr 30min flight to the airport at Tagbilaran on the south-west tip of the island of Bohol. Then a Grab taxi, over the causeway to Alona Beach on Panglao and to the hotel I had booked, the Alona Swiss Resort, up a quiet alleyway about 200yds from the beach.

It was lovely little hotel with a comfortable large 'en-suite' room (with all mod cons) and for the price of 2300 Pesos per night (about £28 pn). Great value, with very charming and helpful staff at reception. I would be here for 3 nights. The rooms surrounded a courtyard in which was a bubbly water-jet pool (right). Of course I had to give it a go!

Left: The beach is a pleasant long stretch of white sand and crystal clear blue sea. It was lined by a plethora of very pleasant and varied bars, cafés and restaurants (plus the ubiquitous 7-Eleven shop of course). Did I mention in an earlier 'blog' that there are over 4000 of these very useful shops in the country?

As with many of the other islands in this country it was noted for all sorts of aquatic entertainment. Predominantly scuba diving, snorkelling, porpoise, and other sea life watching. I'm not a very aquatic person. Right: There were many of these boats taking divers out to sea. The Philippines are, apparently, a diver's paradise.

Left: An example of a typical smart and hospitable bar/restaurant.

Right: This one, the Okyanus Lounge Bar, made a fine dry martini cocktail.......two for the price of one during 'Happy Hour' (3pm - 7pm), and you couldn't escape the 'festive' headgear on most of the staff! 

Left: As with these two charming ladies at one of the cafés (good Shepherds' Pie here).

Right: .....and even I succumbed to joining in. We were far off 'celebrating' the New Year.

Left: Bar service at the beach...plus more Filipino dogs.

Right: .....and of course the mandatory 'Oirish Bear'; 'Paddy's Irish Pub'.....which actually served some Irish beer, and even Guiness. (non-existent in Manila).

Left: Which I sampled in this quaint corner; 'The Pisshead Corner' as it was designated.

Right: I was intrigued by this sign outside the front door. I did not venture up to the 2nd floor.

Left: Another amusing watering-hole. These places became very active, and loud, at night. I must be getting old because I rather tend to miss out on late-night activities nowadays. I prefer the daytime relative peace and quiet.

Right: Another typical Filipino dog, probably feral, engaged in their customary pursuit of scratching themselves.

I must say, the weather down here was always sunny and warm. A rather pleasant change from the often drizzly overcast Manila.

I don't think I mentioned previously the scraggy feral cats which inhabited the streets of Manila. I'm afraid I am not a cat lover and didn't see many around this place. However, the locals must like them as this box (left) was on prominent display on the desk at my hotel reception. I could give a few chosen 'tips' on what to do with them! 

Right: There were advertisements such as these for 'activities' and 'tours' on display all over the town, and with eager touts trying to sell them at, I discovered, rather inflated prices.

Left: More of the tours and activities on sale.

As it happened I did arrange a tour around the neighbouring island of Bohol. I organised this via the helpful girls at my hotel reception and the cost for a full day with a driver to myself was considerably cheaper than those advertised! 

The day on Bohol, and I only managed a few of the many sights and entertainments on offer there, deserves a blog of its own. 

I will continue with this in the next thrilling edition.....

ON UP TO MAYANTOC

13th - 15th Dec 2025

A hilltop view looking south-east from the Baag campsite

It was another 4 hour journey on the splendid Victory Liner bus north from Olongapo, initially to Tarlac via San Fernando and Clark (international airport). There were only three of us on the bus to begin with but it became full up, to packed, after various stops. The roads were good and relatively traffic free. Again, we passed-by many poor looking and dilapidated shanty villages, with cheap grotty breeze-block and corrugated iron stalls, houses and shops lining the roads en-route. The roadsides tended to be littered with garbage and plastic rubbish. This was the start of my visit to a farm in Myantoc owned by relatives of the Filipina wife of my friend in London.

On arrival at Tarlac I was met by Bong (my faithful guide for the visit) in a car with four other family members plus driver. We then drove to the small town of Myantoc, 45 mins to the north-west. 

Left: My very comfortable accommodation at the farm on the outskirts of Myantoc which had another couple of houses in the  smart compound. I was greeted heartily by Paulina, the sister of the London based Filipina lady mentioned above, and her husband Norman, but I was never sure who lived in which house. There were various other relatives and friends present. Bong is a nephew who works as a hospital theatre nurse in Hamburg (Germany) and was on 'leave'. They farmed rice and cattle and had no less than six dogs, a dozen cats and 32 chickens free-roaming the place!

After some generously supplied refreshments, it was an early night for me before the next day's activities. These started with the same car and driver (never sure who he was) and contained Bong, Paulina's daughter Angeline (a trainee medic), a cousin Jeremy and myself. We drove for over an hour up into the hills/mountains to the north-west. Can't be sure what the range is called but it has some dramatic peaks. 

First stop was this picturesque campsite (right) at, I think, a place called Baag. There was a higher viewpoint but it was blocked for traffic. The view is back towards Tarlac.

Left: Us at the campsite: Lt to Rt. The driver, Angeline, Bong, myself, Jeremy.

We then drove on to the Tarlac Monastery (right), about 30 mins away. This is not inhabited by monks. It was a popular tourist spot and difficult to find a vacant parking place.

Left: The chapel inside. Not exactly overcrowded at this time of day.

Right: A rather impressive statue outside it.

Left: ......and another good viewpoint looking south-east. Another statue in the middle distance.

Now on again for a fairly tortuous long drive, up some difficult dirt tracks at times, to another viewpoint and café (right) at, I think, somewhere called Dueg. On arrival here there was a 'kiosk' collecting money (a compulsory donation) for 'environmental fees'. To do what? Certainly not clear the roadside garbage. As we all suspected it is a means by which a probably corrupt organisation can ungainfully profit!

Left: These typical 'Filipino' dogs were in attendance. They are everywhere and all of the same type of stocky 'corgi sized' creatures in various colours. Some are pets and some, I think, just feral. They seem to spend a lot of time scratching themselves. The only other type of dogs I saw were of the small white fluffy and cuddly variety often carried in the arms of Filipina ladies. Photos of those later.

Right: Another viewpoint to the east from here.

That was about it for the day and an amusing trip. Left: Bong seemed a little tired and overcome by the excitement of it all.

Right: I saw many of these typical Philippine  cows in the fields. They do not live in herds and either dotted wildly around the countryside (with plenty of grazing available) or tethered solo. I asked what they were bred for. Meat, I was told. If this example is anything to go by one cow's meat would hardly fill a sandwich.

Left: Another typical cow.

So back to the 'ranch' and an amusing evening spent with the family. Right: Edna (a cousin on holiday from Alaska where she lives), Bong, Angeline, Paulina, and Norman (he has a dry sense of humour and enjoys a cigarette!). They were most generous and amusing hosts and my thanks to them all.

Early the next morning (6.00am) we; myself, Bong, Norman, Angeline and the same driver and car (I never did discover where they came from) set off back to Manila. Bong had kindly offered to give me a lift as he was returning there. We stopped somewhere to buy some snacks and dropped off Norman and Angeline in Tarlac where she attends a medical training college. 

One interesting sight was at 7.00am, in Tarlac, where immaculately uniformed schoolchildren (aged 5-13) were walking alongside the very busy roads to go to school. This would not be allowed to happen in 'elf 'n safety' addicted UK and our schoolchildren would not be so immaculately dressed! I suspect their education is much better disciplined and the pupils are well behaved and keen to learn.

Another incidental 'observation' I made was that many young Filipinos (the pretty Angeline is an example) sport very large sparkly and conspicuous tooth braces. One is tempted to think it is a fashion statement rather than a dental fix.

.....and the dialect they speak in and around Mayantoc is 'llocano' (not the national language 'Tagalog')....and they all speak English!

Left: We passed this interesting statue outside a museum in San Miguel. I discovered it is in commemoration of the battle of Binakayan-Dalahican in 1896 as part of the revolution against the Spanish government. See 'Katipunan Revolutionary Monument' in previous blog.

We stopped for a refuel at some point. The filling stations have staff who refill your car for you and bring out bills for payment. This service has been lost in the UK.

It was a 6 hour journey and we arrived in the Manila traffic jam at about 12.00pm. I was dropped off somewhere in Makati and wended my way back to the Nino Suites hotel where I was given a room on the 3rd floor this time and told that the previous early morning dog/rooster cacophony should not be a problem...hopefully.

We are getting there slowly. Off next to one of the islands........stand-by for more fascinating reports.