TRAVEL: Bohol, Philippines

SOMETHING OTHER THAT RELAXING in Alona Beach and seeing the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers made me remember why I need to travel. Here are stories from my Labor Day weekend in Bohol, Philippines.

If there’s anything I learned from public school where we had 100 kids in one classroom, or going to a US college with towering foreigners, or attending free walking tours in San Francisco with either middle-aged Europeans or American elderly, it’s this – always stick next to the teacher/speaker/tour guide. They know best and they’ll make one’s learning richer.

That’s my thought early morning of May 2nd. 

I’m in Bohol and about to take a Day Tour. Determined to explore and get to know the island as much as I can, I have forgone my sleeping girlfriends (Nelia, G., and Melanie), my own fatigue, and spending more than I budgeted. “I’m going by myself,” I said. I planned to sit next to the driver for the next 8-hours of the tour.

What To Do In Bohol

The famous Chocolate Hills, dome-shaped hills made of grass-covered limestone

Wikipedia describes Bohol as, “a first-income class island in the South of the Philippines.” (I wonder what this means – is it ‘less rural’ than most, you mean?) From Cebu, where I live, Bohol is just a short 2-hour boat ride. I know people who take this trip almost weekly, so I was sure it wouldn’t be a hassle of the ride. I paid P950 pesos for round trip tickets.

                                                               Map of Cebu and Bohol

From the pier in Cebu to Tagbilaran (the capital city of Bohol), my friends and I took a 40-minute tricycle ride to Panglao. The girls wanted to go there for the beach and resorts, which Bohol is known for. I also heard today it’s like the “second Boracay.”

I’m really not that crazy for beaches – I’ve lived in California for five years, after all – so my game plan is to explore. On the way to lunch at Alona Beach, I saw a sign:

Bohol Group Tour - 400 pesos only 

• Chocolate Hills
• Tarsier
• Baclayon Church
• Loboc River Cruise & Buffet Lunch
• Man-made forest
• Butterly sanctuary
• Python
• Bamboo 
• Hanging Bridge

Tip: They advertise P400 pesos but including entrance fees, cost would go up to P1,100+.

“Omg, count me in!,” I said to myself. I slept in early while my friends painted the town red that night.

Lounging at Alona Beach wth friends Melanie and Nelia. I'm the one with the hat.

Lessons From Traveling

It’s the end of the long day and we’re heading back to Panglao. I started a conversation with the driver, whose name escapes me right now.

“Kuya, anong mga trabaho meron dito sa Bohol?,” (Brother, what kind of jobs are common here in Bohol?) I asked. I’ve always been curious how others could live simply  – no internet or air conditioning, just honest, back-breaking, hand-to-mouth living.

“Depende kung may pera yung pamilya nila. Kung kaya, magtatapos ng college tapos yung trabaho eh hotel, IT or seaman,” says Kuya driver.  (It depends what their family can afford. For those who can, the kids usually could go to college and work in the hotel, IT or seafarer industry.) “Kapag walang natapos, edi sa sales sa mall or dun sila sa resorts.” (If they have no degree, they usually work in the mall or resorts.)

I told him about my uncle who is a seaman and how hard it must be like to be away from family 6-9 months of the year. We both agreed that the job is, ‘madaming pera pag baba, pero ubos pagsakay.’ (There’s money when you get off the boat, and there’s none of it left when you ride again.)

In this snippet of a conversation, I realized why I love traveling in the first place – it makes me get out of own bubble. The me-me-me problem of eating too well and too much, stress, failing to finish my to-do list, worrying about which boats to rent on my wedding weekend, pulling my hair when Google Docs won’t load, etc.

All of those seem nothing when I’m slapped by the reality of others people’s hardship.

It’s a good feeling. It’s a good reminder. I’m glad I forged ahead about going on a day tour by myself. Best of all, I was able to snag the best seat on the house: right beside the driver.

Man-made forest :: Loboc, Bohol

                                                                            -----

Crystal Superal handles JFDI Asia's social media and makes sure they awesome content. She’s a reader and writer on startups, life hacks and travel. Say hi to her on Twitter @crystalsuperal.