Cities We've Been

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Philippines - Alona Beach 2 (Chocolate Hill)

Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Philippines Day 77 (April 17)

Philippine Map - We are in Alona Beach, Bohol

Today we take hire a car for the tourist day trip in Bohol; see the Chocolate Hills, take the lunch riverboat cruise, and see the tarsier - the smallest monkey in the world. (a kind of cute and creepy cross between a gremlin and ET).

man-made rosewood forest

Chocolate Hills - It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.

Bamboo bridge

Tarsier

The smallest monkey on the planet - about your palm size

Fruit bats

lunch boat

Happy time entertainment - Filipino dance, but very Spanish

Church

Sculpture in the Church front

Historical sculpture from when Philippines still Spanish colony


CLICK HERE to see more picture from this trip.


Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Philippines Day 78 (April 18)

Today, we take the day off, relax, wait for our laundry, and plan travel to our next destination.

Sleeping sounds good

Travel to Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, Philippines Day 79 (April 19)

We travel from Alone Beach to South of Leyte island. It's a long day!

Today we take a bit of a travel adventure; from Alona Beach to Padre Burgos on Leyte. We start at 7AM in the morning, and arrive 9 hours later at 4PM. We travel by private car, air con van, tricycle, Bangka boat, tricycle, public bus, and jeepnie. The travel is chaotic, but it works. Only the boat really has a set schedule, and everything else leaves around the hour, or when they are full; which doesn’t take long.

The air con van is packed; with 19 people stuffed into a 15 passenger mini-van, including bags, mail, and a live chicken. Our baggage occupied one of the “seats”, and we had to pay for an extra person. Special thanks to the tricycle fellows, who were really helpful transferring us between the boat dock and bus terminals.

The public busses and jeepnies are pretty cool. They pickup anywhere along the road, and you tap on the roof or whistle when you want to get off. In one of the bus terminals, we are disappointed that we actually have to wait, but before long, a jeepnie drives by with a sign of our destination. We think it’s odd that the jeepnie is empty, but one loop around town solves that problem.

We finally get to see the real Philippines, which feels to us like an Asian tropical Mexico; perhaps from the historical Spanish influence. The roads travel along scenic coast, and the villages are attractive and have a proud look. We didn’t have any negative experiences like Manila or Cebu. For some reason traveling here made me think of the story in the gospel when they pass around the bread, break in half each time; but there’s enough to feed everyone. Likewise, when the jeepnie looks full, people keep piling in, everyone moves a little bit, and there’s always room.

Private car

Air con Van

tricycle

Bangka boat

tricycle again

public bus in bus terminals

jeepnie (are we there yet?!)

It's a ferocious speed demon

Kid playing in the empty Jeepnie


We arrive and stay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, recommended by some a German couple we met in Alona Beach. It’s a small quiet place, on a pebble beach consisting of dead coral, with a beautiful view of Sogod Bay.

Sogod Bay Scuba Resort (it's a cute guest house own by a English retiree and an Australian guy)

I'll show you your room sir

Short beds good for smelly feet

Beach in front of our hotel

dead coral beach. so pretty! It makes a crispy sound when you walk on it

Sogod Bay View

Sogod Bay View

Local kids playing on the rock

with 7,107 islands, surprisingly, only few Filipino know how to swim

Bus station - pretty chill

7 comments:

Kevin and Vana said...

Hi Vana,

It is good to hear from you. I hope that you and Kevin are having loads of
fun.

I haven't been to my house since Tuesday afternoon. I packed a few shirts,
some underware and socks. Also I saved the Quilts that my Mom made and a
couple of stain glass pieces from my Dad. Right now, I believe that my house
is okay. Based on the geography of the area, it is a good bet that my house
will make it through the fire untouched. However, that is not guaranteed.

I figured I will not know for a few days yet. In the mean time, I will have
to find a way to do some laundry. :)

I will send you an update when I know more.

Enjoy your travels.

-dl

Kevin and Vana said...

Hi Vana,

Just a little update. I think my house is still okay. Although a house about 1000 feet away burned down. The weather seems to be better for fire fighting today. So hopefully, I will be able to make it back to my house sometime next week. Right now, David Wong, Matt Randmaa, Mark Paul, Jessica, Cindy, and Farshad are all evacuated. The important thing is everyone is fine. Jessica is down in Camarillo. Farshad is in LA. David Wong in Ventura. Mark is up in Palo Alto. Matt is currently hosting a bunch of family that may have to move. I am moving from hotel to hotel based on air quality and cost.

So things are not a bleak as they appear on the news. But it is a dangerous situation.

Let you know when I have more info.

-dl

Kevin and Vana said...

Hi sweety ;-) Uhh I really enjoyed your photos from the Philippines!! :-) wow that litle monkey is such a cutie ;-). Everything is going fine, just very busy with my final exam paper of my BA-degree. Uh it must be nice to be back in Cali, whish it could be the same weather here as well. What is your next destination? keep in contact babe!

Jinni

Kevin and Vana said...

笑笑:
看到你们在菲律宾的相片,玩得真开心啊!
今年5.12日是地震一周年,包括九寨沟在内的所有景点都免费,我将于明天出发,一路游玩,5.12在九寨沟玩,大约16日回到成都。
你们现在应该是已经回到美国,手续办得如何?期待着你们6、7回来。
大舅舅

Kevin and Vana said...

Hi Vana,
How wonderful to hear from you guys. Yes, the fire...it is bad, but not for us. The winds have picked up again, but I do think tonight is better than last night. Folks may loose homes again tonight, but not as many, I believe. Thank you for your concern. It is very sad...the area burned is so beautiful and so many wild and domesticated animals have lost their lives. Homes can be rebuilt and the vegetation will come back prettier than before, but the lose of these animals breaks my heart.

So where are you guys? When do you come home? Are you having fun? I hear from others that you are!!! We look forward to seeing you and hearing your tales. Take care of yourself most sweet Vana.

Cheers,
Patty

Kevin and Vana said...

Hi Vana
Ya at this point house is ok. Fire has been close, but at this time seems to be moving away. Been evacuated since Monday.
Your pics are amazing!!!
Look forward to seeing you when you guys get back.

Tim

Erin said...

Hey guys!

That is so cool that you got to see the tarsiers! I watched a special about them. I think they kind of look like little kittens.

The jeepnie looks like something out of Mad Max. Pimp.

I love the posts. Glad you guys are having a great time!

-Erin