A Tropical Paradise Called Bohol - Essay Example

A Tropical Paradise Called Bohol Visiting a foreign place always gets butterflies fluttering in one’s guts due to the excitement and anxiety of the unfamiliar environment he or she is about to experience. The thought of a far-off tropical paradise usually arouses much thrill. This is what I feel right now as I embark on a tour of a province in the Philippines called Bohol, situated in the Visayas, the second largest group of islands in this Asian country (Lonely Planet Travel Information). I have heard much about the tourist spots in the Philippines, and Bohol is one place garnering much praise. Perhaps that is why I am among a plane filled with foreigners from America and Europe and yes, also Asia, to visit this pristine place that promises one to forget his worries and indulge in the pleasures it offers weary bodies and souls. The Philippines is a small country in Asia rich in history and culture. The brown-skinned people have survived centuries of subjugation from foreign invaders. Three hundred thirty years as a colony of Spain, forty years of the USA and three years of Japan right before the second World War. Before colonization, a variety of foreign traders and settlers such as the Malays, the Indonesians, Arabs, Chinese, etc. migrated to the Philippines and left their influences on the people (Lonely Planet Travel Information “History of Philippines”). At present, Philippine culture boasts of a cornucopia of languages and dialects from its people, such as Pampangueno from the province of Pampanga, Ilonggo from the province of Iloilo, Visayan from Cebu, Samar, Leyte and the other Visayan provinces. The colloquial language is Tagalog, and this is mostly spoken in their national language which is called Filipino (Lonely Planet Travel Information). Food dishes from various provinces abound, tickling the palate with exotic tastes. A common favorite is Adobo, a meat dish marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, peppercorns and garlic, and Pancit, a noodle dish filled with meat and vegetables (Lonely Planet Travel Information). During special celebrations and fiestas, roasted pig is the centerpiece of the dinner table where guests feast on the crunchy skin and succulent meat of the tenderized pork. The country is also rich in art. One of their earlier heroes, Juan Luna, painted the “Spoilarium”, a renowned masterpiece that has won many awards all over the world (Spoliarium Wikipedia). Music and dance are likewise enjoyed immensely, as a host of native songs, instrumental music and dances are perennially present in programs showcasing the culture of the place the art originated from. The Philippines is home to several tourist destinations. It has many natural wonders such as the Mayon Volcano, which has an almost-perfect cone shape (Mahalo.com). It also has the eighth wonder of the world - a man-made rice terraces called Banaue Rice Terraces, which is a mountainous region built by hand and about 2,000 years ago by the Ifugaos, natives of Banaue in the highlands (Banaue Rice Terraces).It was for their rice supply, rice, being the staple food of Filipinos, the people of the Philippines. The country surely has a variety of land and water forms with its rich natural resources. Boracay is a famous beach in the Philippines with powdery-white sands. It is rivaled by the beaches of Bohol, which is my destination now. Touching down at the Bohol Airport, my eyes are refreshed by all the greenery that embraces the city. Driven around the countryside by my hotel’s chauffer, I am amazed by hills on one side of the car and the promise of blue waters on the other side. As we approach my beach hotel, the azure sea beckons and the white sands echo the invitation. If not for my heavy luggage, I would have stripped down to my swimsuit right there and then and run to the playful waves. Never have I seen such a magnificent seashore! Upon unpacking my things, I rest for an hour before my Bohol adventure begins. My slumber was deep and rejuvenating even if it was just for an hour. I am just so excited for the tour around town! The call from the front desk was right on time. I just finished dressing up when I was requested to come down to the lobby to board the tour bus. Our first stop was the Church of Immaculada Concepcion in Baclayon town, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines which began construction in 1717 and completed in 1727, during the Spanish regime. Two hundred native laborers were forced to cut and drag coral blocks from the sea using only bamboos in moving and lifting the stones in position. The stones were cemented using millions of egg whites. It had a small museum at the back showcasing historical and religious artifacts (bohol-philippines.com., “Baclayon Church”). As with any museum visit, I am left pondering, overwhelmed at the way things from the past have been preserved for people of the present to see and appreciate their history. The Tarsier is the smallest primate in the world and they exist in Bohol. It is a nocturnal animal with very big round eyes, a long tail and long finger-like tarsals on its feet. Our group visited the Tarsiers perched on trees. We can come near them without fear of being hurt by these little creatures, but we are prohibited from touching them, as they have very sensitive fontanelles on their heads, which, when tapped, can cause their death (The Philippine Tarsier). Since they look so cute and cuddly, it takes great effort not to go near them. The highlight of this trip is going to the Chocolate Hills, Bohol’s most famous attraction. This geological phenomenon consists of no less than 1268 hills, uniform in shape and mostly between 30 to 50 meters high. These hills are covered with grass and trees, which turn chocolate brown at the end of the dry season, hence, its name (Hellingman, “The Chocolate Hills”). Tourists climb 214 steps to reach the peak of the observation station to be awed by the majesty of this divine masterpiece. By this time, all of us in the tour group are famished and our hunger comes just in time for lunch at the Loboc River Cruise. We embark on a small riverboat, furnished with a buffet table at the center, so it is like a floating restaurant with a singer on board to entertain all the diners. As the boat moves around the river, stretches of the green trees and river embrace us making everyone feel relaxed. The food served is Filipino, and I sample the tasty delicacies which are all foreign to me, but pleasantly surprised that my palate agrees with it. I love the crispy fried fish, sautéed vegetables, steamed rice, saucy meats marinated in tomato sauce and soy sauce and other sweet and salty viands which were typically Filipino. The dessert table had a variety of rice cakes and tropical fruits, all of which make my mouth water with its delectable tastes. A few stops of the cruise had children and ladies singing and dancing for the tourists. Some even went down the boat to dance with the performers. Tinikling, a native dance with bamboo sticks opening and closing while daring and graceful dancers try to go over them without their feet getting caught, was an exciting dance to watch. Despite the risk of being hurt by the bamboo sticks closing on their feet, the dancers were able to keep to the beat, flashing beautiful smiles all around (Hellingman, “A Cruise on Loboc River”). Having enjoyed the Loboc River Cruise, we now board the tour bus to go to the Sandugo Shrine or the Blood Compact Shrine. It is the spot overlooking the Bohol Sea where the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Filipino native leader, Rajah Sikatuna shed drops of their blood in their drink as a symbolic ritual of friendship and to end the hostilities between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. The bronze statues of the key players in the Blood compact ritual was created by Filipino national artist Napoleon Abueva (Bohol-beach-resorts.com, “A must see tourist spot”). Our last stop for the day’s tour is shopping for souvenirs. The bus stopped at a local shop for everyone and I got my fill of nice t-shirts with prints of Bohol’s attractions, soft stuffed replicas of tarsiers and a whole lot of delicious pastries. Now we head back to the hotel for a well- deserved rest after an exciting day. I need to sleep early because tomorrow promises to be an even more action-packed day as we go whale and dolphin watching and snorkeling. My alarm goes off at five in the morning and as I open my eyes, the day’s agenda played in my mind. I immediately go change and rush to the hotel’s dining area for a quick breakfast before riding a rented boat heading out to sea. We leave the shore at 5:45, with the hum of the motorboat gently nudging me back to sleep. However, I was suddenly awakened by the shrieks from the boat as my co-passengers gleefully point out to a group of small dolphins swimming together (Bohol Board, “Dolphin and Whale Watching in Bohol”). In droves, they swim up and down the surface of the waters, seeming to be small waves that come alive intermittently. Our guide said dolphins were fully awake at this time of the day when we were only half-awake, as it is just the break of dawn. They are nocturnal creatures like the tarsiers, hence that explains why we had to be in the middle of the sea at this time. It is heartening to see several dolphins swimming by and that underneath those swimming on the surface are a lot more. They are not threatening to the people who have come to see them. Balicasag island is known for its colorful and virginal reefs (Bohol Board, “Balicasag Island”). It is one destination of divers and non-divers alike to view their amazing fish and coral underneath the surface of the water. For a nominal fee, the natives rent out snorkeling gears and bring the tourists a few meters from the shore to snorkel and marvel at its abundant sea life. One does not need to swim deeply to experience a rainbow of colors – schools of fish swimming by and equally colorful corals a few feet down under. Giving in to the call of the sea is my final indulgence for the day. Its warm blue waters comfort me as the view of tall coconut trees by the immaculately white shore lure me to relax every tired muscle and just enjoy the moment. It really feels great to be alive! My stay in beautiful Bohol is capped by a visit to the Bohol Bee Farm (Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant). It is another sanctuary for people craving for quiet time. It is such an awesome experience for one who is continually harassed by city living and all he sees is the urban jungle and not much of nature’s wonders. At the Bee Farm, cottages are built around the forest, maintaining its balance with nature. Hammocks all around for guests to enjoy and the sounds of birds and insects fill the air, punctuated with the sounds of the sea waves nearby. Sumptuous, organic food is served and this in itself is a pleasure to the senses, as colorful vegetables are carefully embellished with edible flower petals. The food and drinks are strange but oh so delicious concoctions composed by only the wisest of chefs! My Philippine experience in Bohol is really unforgettable! It is a testament that communing with nature truly soothes the weary soul! I am making a vow to come back, this time with my loved ones, if only to make them appreciate life and nature once again! Works Cited Page Banaue Rice Terraces, 2006. Web. 19 July 2010 < http://www.visitbanaue.com/> Bohol-beach-resorts.com, “A must see tourist spot” (n.d.) Web 20 July 2010. Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant. (n.d.) Web. 20 July 2010 Bohol Board. Balicasag Island(n.d.) Web 19 2010 < http://www.boholboard.com/balicasagisland.php> Bohol Board. Dolphin and Whale Watching in Bohol (n.d.) Web 19 2010 Hellingman, Jeroen. A Cruise on Loboc River, 27 July 2006. Web. 19 July 2010 Hellingman, Jeroen . The Chocolate Hills, 31 March 2002. Web. 19 July 2010. < http://www.bohol.ph/article6.html> Lonely Planet Travel Information, History of Philippines. Web. 18 July 2010 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/history Mahalo.com. Mayon Volcano. 2010 Web. 19 July 2010 Spoliarium, Wikipedia, Spoliarium,. 09 July 2010. Web 20 July 2010 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoliarium The Philippine Tarsier. 24 April 2004. Web. 19 July 2010 < http://www.bohol.ph/article15.html> Read More