All things in here are all based on my experiences only. It doesn't affect the whole... you know my point.
Woke up very early to get to the Domestic Airport early (of course). This is the very first time that I rode an airplane. I was really really really excited. Imagine all the excitement that I had. Imagine lang a.
What I learned: Place all metallic objects in your hand-carry bag. As in everything including cellphone. It would be much easier for you. There is a terminal fee. Don't fret, you have no choice. =) {Terminal Fee: Php 200 pax}. Bring something to read or bring an mp3 player during the wait and wait near the "working" tv sets with the schedule of flights. Domestic airport is kinda sucky.
"Look! That's mini-plane."
So, boarding starts and went inside the plane. Still very excited. Very. Read all the manuals.
What I learned: Airplane food is costly. Cebu Pacific offers sandwiches for a hundred bucks and a bottle of C2 for 50 pesos. Eat before you fly.
We entered Cebu and people are starting to remove their seatbelts. What's wrong with you people? Can't you read signs. Oh, I know you don't. And the kids who turned on their players during the flight (or on the tarmac), die! (that includes to all the cellphone users too!). Picked-up our luggage (what me and my baby did was to have a roller luggage an a hand-carry for a trip) and headed outside to get a cab. Our trip to Bohol consists of Manila-Cebu-Tagbilaran and vice-versa. It was cheaper than straight Manila to Tagbilaran. Going back to the cab, we were able to arrive to the seaport. I forgot to add, Cebu airport is awesome.
What I learned: Taxi drivers offer 350 bucks for a ride from the airport to the seaport. Try to go outside or someplace near the airport. You might meet drivers who can offer a cheaper fare (we got it down to 250, colorum though).
Looks big. It ain't.
The original plan was to ride a ferry at around ten in the morning. When we got to Port 1, we ran out of tickets. So, we looked for other options and waited for the 12 pm ferry. We strolled around cebu for the meantime. Dropped by the Magellan's cross and ate brunch at Chowking. And then we went back to the ports.
What I learned: Call the ticketing office for the seaports, know the schedule, price, and the type of vessel (you wouldn't want to go to Tagbilaran in three days via sea). Bring backpacks for travel, it would be easy for you to enter churches in Cebu (may guard kasi). Magellan's cross is not that big, don't expect. Ate Dangsilog at Chowkings, sarap!!!! If you happen to ride by a big bridge take a picture of it, astig yung bridge. Promise!
The decision for the ferries on Port 1 were cancelled. We were spending too much time in Cebu and we don't want that, right? Proceeded to Port 4 for more ferries.
What I learned: We should've ended with Port 4. All the passenger ferries were there. Weesam, Ocean Jet and Supercat. Browse the internet for the schedule. Be sure that you'll be able to catch the check-in time. It's hard to miss the trip. They usually do check-in's before take-offs of ferries.
King Kong's habitat.
After Cebu, Tagbilaran Bohol's seaport. Area feels very familiar, Puerto Galera is that you? Looked for our driver and off we go to our resort.
What I learned: During the short trip from Cebu to Tagbi (around 2 hours max), be sure to go outside the ferry (if you can), and feel nature. You can also take pictures of the islands during the trip. Seaport Tagbi, be sure that you've contacted somebody to fetch you from the port to the resort. If you don't have that, you'll be having problems (scenario: you are very hungry and you are still looking for a vehicle to go to the resort).
Traveled for around 40 more minutes and arrived at our destination, Amorita resort, Panglaw Island. Here's the catch, the resort is in its soft opening. No landscape, no fancy buildings, not much yet. only the room that we'll be staying, lobby, some villas, an infinity pool, and a semi-built cafe by the ruins. We got the place cheap, around 1500 per day =).
What I learned: Boholanios are really nice. Very corteous and tourist-oriented. They always have this smile and that could've be a big factor on why we had a nice time in Bohol. An infinity pool is a pool is an optical illusion of a pool connecting to the beach.
The beach (or what's right of it).
Around 3 when we arrived. Trooped down to the beach and tried to familiarize ourselves of the area. Asked around for the Dolphin tour and the land tour. We ended up with manong chuva (forgot his name, wait... i don't even know his name) and we got a deal for the land tour (1800 bucks for seven destinations). We didn't pursue the dolphin tour, found out that the dolphins were on strike. And then we ate dinner and then swam in the pool and then lights off.
What I learned: Tour the area. Try to talk to locales (ask and they will answer, Tagalog is fine). I noticed that Bohol is also a diving haven, it would be nice if you have an agenda. Let's say your first trip to Bohol consists of Land tours, second trip for swimming, and third trip for diving and snorkeling (vacation haven talaga). Don't forget to haggle. Hotel land tour costs 3000 and we ended up with 1800 in the process. Regarding the dolphins, I never got a positive answer for this one, from what I heard and read, mostly the dolphins weren't there. Regarding food, it wasn't that fabulous (sorry) or is it because i'm comparing this with the food in Puerto. We also had a problem with their cooking. Patience is really a virtue. And if you really want good food, you'll really wait for it. The longer the food is cooked, the better. We only ate on those "cheap-looking" eateries, it could've been different if we ate high-falluting.
Fun Fact: No heavy typhoons in Bohol! Hooray!
0 Statements:
Post a Comment