My Panglao Detox (ish)!

"Here I go again on my own"! After touching down in Cebu I made my way to the ferry terminal & hopped aboard a fast ferry to Tagbilaran on the island of Bohol. Once there I jumped into a cyclo which took me to Alona Beach on Punglao Island some 30 minutes away. Prices for accommodation were extortionate here, by far the most expensive I have come across in SE Asia on my trip. I managed to negotiate a deal in one place and finally found somewhere to rest my weary head after the days travelling.

Compared to Boracay, Alona beach really doesn't have much going on which wasn't necessarily a bad thing giving the hectic partying of the last two weeks. Most people come here to dive so having been out of the water for nearly a week I decided it was time to get back in and done a really cool coral dive one of the afternoons. I got  to see lots of cool fish, none of which I know the name of apart from Nemo!

The teacher had me stand in front of the class and say a few words - most of which I am sure the kids didn't understand.

Of course my main reason for coming to this area was to visit the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol. I befriended a local guy called JC who was my personal driver for the day. It was a good 1 1/2 hour bike ride there one way and it was a really good way to see the countryside as he was taking all sorts of short cuts that only a local could know about. The hills themselves are pretty spectacular so we spent a bit of time up at the viewpoint taking it all in and of course posing for photos. We made several stops on the way there and back, the most exciting being a visit to see the famous Tersier monkeys. They are incredible to see, clinging onto a branch in the manner of a koala, no bigger than my hand and with massive protruding eyes. We also stopped off at the oldest Catholic church in the country where I said a quick prayer of course (that's twice now in as many weeks mother)!

We stopped for a break at one point on the way back and I realised we were outside a primary school so asked JC would it be ok for me to go inside and visit. We met one of the teachers outside and she led me into her 1st grade class of 5-6 year olds. They were really well behaved and acted as though I was some important visitor! The teacher had me stand in front of the class and say a few words - most of which I am sure the kids didn't understand.

I tended to favour one restaurant on the beach for all my meals and drinks while here, Alona Vida, mainly because the staff were so nice and remembered your name. It was here that I spent my last night in the Philippines, drinking beer and playing shithead with Philip and Werner, 2 Austrian guys I had made friends with while here. We had lots of fun cruising about on motorbikes earlier on that day (well I was perched on back as per usual) in Tagbilaran - I don't think they would have made it back to Alona beach had it not been for my keen sense of direction!

So after 5 relaxing days and relatively calm nights (apart from the last), it is time to move on yet again. I have just had a farewell brekkie with Philipp and Werner and am about to make the trek back to Cebu airport where I shall be waving goodbye to the Philippines and hello to Hong Kong!