Our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 2- Bohol Countryside Tour, August 29

After our lunch buffet at the Loboc River cruise, we immediately continued our countryside tour, it was already 3PM so we need to hurry.

Second stop was at the Sevilla Hanging Bridge, from Loboc River we arrived at the Hanging Bridge in around 20 minutes.

Wifey at the first hanging bridge

The entrance fee to the hanging bridge was Php 10.00 each. There's two hanging bridge, one going to the other side of the river (entrance), and another one going back to the road (exit).The hanging bridges are kinda freaky especially when it sways while you walk, the steps was only made up of  bamboo that add up to the freaky feeling.

At the other side of the river, there are several stalls selling souvenirs and native food. We took this  opportunity to buy our souvenir "pasalubong " for our friends then we resumed our tour.

Third stop was at the Tarsier Conservation Center. It was a 15-minutes ride from the hanging bridge.

The smallest primate in the world, only in the Philippines!

I observed that the conservation center was a new one, works for the pathway and other amenities was still on going. And no entrance fee yet but there are donation boxes.

No camera flash was required and touching the Tarsiers were also prohibited. But in other zoos or areas in Bohol were there are Tarsiers, I heard that they allow touching these tiny creatures.

Fourth stop was at the Bilar Man-made Forest, thousands of mahogany trees were planter in the hillside along the road going to Carmen (Chocolate Hills). We arrived there at past 4PM which make our ride from the Tarsier Conservation Center less than 10 minutes.

At the Man-made Forest in Bilar

Fifth stop was at the Simply Butterflies Sanctuary, the entrance fee was Php 30.00 per pax. But the nice part was that every visitor were given a tour guide inside the sanctuary who explains everything inside and also served as cameraman :-)

Instant camera effects? :-)

Inside the live butterflies garden

At the sanctuary, we learned the life cycle of the butterflies as well as the moths. Moths are much bigger than the butterflies but not that attractive and colorful.

I would love to share more on butterflies in a new blog post (soon).

Sixth stop was at the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol. This time it took us a 20 minutes travel to the overlooking deck. Entrance fee was Php 50.00 per pax.

The majestic Chocolate Hills

On top of the world, este chocolate hills!

The breath-taking view of the thousand Chocolate Hills was awesome! It took us a while to climb the stairs up to the top of the overlooking deck, we took every opportunity to pose for a pic with the help of our tripod.

We spent around 30 minutes for going up and down the overlooking deck that includes our pictorials. Then we are back again on the road, back to the city or to the beach of Panglao or Dimaluan? A question we kept on arguing while on the way from Carmen, Bohol.

Seventh stop was at the Batuan Ship Haus, the house was already featured to Rated K and other TV programs.

At the ship haus in Batuan, Bohol

Our eight stop was at the Dimaluan Beach, where we supposed to have our overnight stay. But unfortunately, all rooms were reserved. So we have no more option but to proceed to Tagbilaran City. We did not opt to consider Panglao beach anymore because for sure all rooms were also taken as it is more popular than Dimaluan beach.

On our way back to the city, we passed by the towns of Dauis, Baclayon and Albuquerque. In Baclayon, we supposed to also visit the Baclayon Church but due to time constraints, it was already 7PM. We decided to return the next day also to visit the Blood Compact Shrine before departing back to Cebu.

Our last and ninth stop for the day was at the Dao Diamond Hotel in Tagbilaran City. Where we stayed overnight at around Php 1,300.00 for a couple's room.

At the hotel's reception area

I will also feature Dao Diamond Hotel in my next blog post. Rest time for we will still have our Day 3 of our Cebu-Bohol Trip.

For more photos of our Day 2 of Cebu-Bohol Trip, please click HERE.

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 2-Buffet Lunch at Loboc River Cruise, August 29

After our arrival at the Port of Tagbilaran City, and after buying our return tickets to Cebu at the passenger terminal, we got out of the port's vicinity to find our ride around the city and other tourist spots of Bohol.

We were greeted by excited tricycle drivers as well as van for hire drivers offering their services at different rates. We negotiated for a while, also we discuss of what to do. The tricycle drivers offered lower price at around Php 1, 800. 00 for the countryside tour, van for hire drivers counter offered the same tour at Php 2, 200.00. Considering the difference of a tricycle and an aircon van, we opted for the van at a negotiated price of Php 2, 000.00 which will cover tour to Loboc River, Sevilla Hanging Bridge, Bilar Man-made Forest, Simply Butterflies Sanctuary, Tarsier Conservation Center, Chocolate Hills, Baclayon Church and the Blood Compact Shrine.

On our way to Loboc

Our contracted driver, Kuya Bernie was friendly, as a tourist guide should really be. He told us that though we arrived at past 11AM, we can still catch up the Lunch Buffet at the Loboc River Day Cruise. And really we were like flying from Tagbilaran City passing Albuquerque, Baclayon and Loay. Finally we reached our first stop, Loboc River.

The big boats used as floating resto at Loboc River

Kuya Bernie handled the booking of our Lunch Buffet at the operator he said served best food, the Riverwatch at per pax rate of Php 300.00. Aside from the buffet budget, every person also pays an entrance fee at Php 100.00. But due to the influx of tourists, we were made to wait for almost an hour prior to boarding the assigned floating resto. At 1:30 PM, we were instructed to board, at last!

Just boarded, taken before departure

Now sailing along Loboc River, wow!

Lunch Buffet food selection. Yummy!

After loading food at the riverside food station of the operator, Riverwatch. Lunch was ready to be served at long last! Really I was so hungry, our breakfast that day was at the Cebu City port at around 6:30 AM.

My big plate, dig in!

Going back to the Loboc River Cruise terminal, we stopped to see a performance from the local people of Loboc.

Give me some goodie show :-)

I would love to share more pics here but due to limited storage of my Blogger account, please feel free to visit my FB account or click HERE.

More of our Bohol Countryside tour next post ;-)

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 2-Trip to Bohol via Fastcraft, August 29

After a great and lovely wedding reception dinner at Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa of the Ouano and Nogoy Nuptial. We woke up very early the next day, August 29, 2011 to catch the fastcraft first trip to Tagbilaran City at 6AM. But unluckily, when we arrived at Pier 1, OceanJet Terminal, the 6AM trip was already fully booked! We were unable to book our tickets in advance due to our busy itinerary upon arrival in Cebu the previous day.

So we decided to try our luck at Pier 2, for the Super Cat 8:30 AM trip but also it was fully booked. Our last option was at the nearby Weesam Express which first trip is at 9AM.

Fastcraft regular fares (economy) of all the shipping companies going to Tagbilaran City are almost the same at Php 500.00 per pax, business class is a little bit higher at around Php 650.00 per pax. And the terminal fee is Php 25.00 per pax.

While waiting for our 9AM trip, we had our light breakfast at Tyke's Cafe inside the Weesam Express terminal. We ordered chorizo meal and longganisa meal, prices are reasonable at below Php 100. each order.

Breakfast at Tyke's Cafe, Weesam Express Terminal

Longganisa and Chorizo meal

After 3 hours of waiting, the fastcraft already arrived at the terminal and we boarded at past 9AM. Travel time is at average 2 hours.

Boarding time

On board Weesam Express 6

The sea travel was calm and fast, though some says that the fastest travel time to Tagbilaran City from Cebu via fastcraft is only 1 hour and 30 minutes.

More than halfway to Tagbilaran

At last Tagbilaran City, Bohol here we are!

Arrival at the Port of Tagbilaran

After our arrival at the Port of Tagbilaran, we immediately purchased our return tickets to ensure our travel back to Cebu the following day.

Our countryside tour will be shared in my next blog post. For more photos of our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 2, please click HERE.

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 1-Ouano and Nogoy Wedding, August 28

Last week-end, we had a long holiday here in the Philippines in celebration of the National Heroes Day last August 29 (Monday) and the Eid'l Fitr or Feast of Ramadhan last August 30 (Tuesday). Few months backwards, me and wifey already filed our respective work leave because of a scheduled appointment on August 28 at Cebu City, the Church wedding of Dr. Phillip Ouano and Dra. Michelle Nogoy.

With the declared long week-end, we got our chance to have a out-of-town trip covering from Manila to Cebu, then Cebu to Bohol, Bohol to Cebu and back to Manila in less than four days time.

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip Day 1 on August 28, 2011 (Sunday) started with our early morning flight to Cebu via Cebu Pacific flight 5J 559 at 4:40 AM.

Pre-departure pic at NAIA Terminal 3

Arrival at Mactan, Cebu International Airport

Day 1, at 3PM we are at the Church Wedding of Phillip and Michelle at the Cebu Bethel Temple.

The groom, Dr. Phillip

The bride, Dra. Michelle and her parents

The newlyweds first kiss!

The wedding reception followed at the Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa, Ballroom 3 and 4. Shangri-la Mactan is an hour or less travel from Cebu City proper. My first visit to this resort was seven years ago, last September 2004. So long it has been.

The couple's first dance

The cutting of the wedding cake

The couple's prosperity dance

Congratulations to Dr. Phillip and Dra. Michelle Ouano! Best wishes and may God Bless you always!

For more wedding pictures, please visit my FB account or click HERE.