Posted by: Jenn
Wow huh! Can you believe the photos from Camiguin! Just when you think things can't get better...BAM - they do! Man, I still can't get over how beautiful that place was. Jonathan and I have looked through the photos (all of which we swear we took - we know, they look fake!) over and over again and each time our jaws drop. It has got to be the most amazing place on our RTW trip so far. Man oh man! So after we drug ourselves onto the cargo ferry, we looked at each other and asked why we were leaving. Well, if the Philippines keeps getting better with each island, why would we stop there?! So we headed to Bohol. We didn't go to Bohol for the beaches or to stay for a relaxing week in a bamboo bungalow. We went for two days to see some of the crazy landscape and creatures that this island has to offer because it was a convenient stop on our way to our next beach destination. Although bringing forth a different type of beauty, we still enjoyed this stop very much.
As soon as our taxi driver dropped us off at our hotel I knew it would be a good two days. Right across from our hotel was a mall, a McDonald's, and a Jollibee. Jollibee is the Filipino version of McDonald's but it has a couple more local platters. Anyways, I can't say that I am a fan of Filipino food (that might be an understatement). So having a mall food court, which is usually more touristy food, McDonald's fries and cokes, and Jollibee's ice cream, I was set! We hooked ourselves us with some unhealthy-ness and then took advantage of our hotels super speedy WIFI.
The next day we rented a motoscooter so that we could do all of our site seeing. Our first stop was the home of Bohol's overly huge python. Jonathan loved this! The python was taken into captivity at a very young age and a very short length and it is now 5 years old, 23 feet long and 661 lbs! This snake would have eaten Rosco and me for an afternoon snack. It's normal food consists of a large pink pig or a medium sized goat. It was pretty intimidating walking into its cage.
Wow huh! Can you believe the photos from Camiguin! Just when you think things can't get better...BAM - they do! Man, I still can't get over how beautiful that place was. Jonathan and I have looked through the photos (all of which we swear we took - we know, they look fake!) over and over again and each time our jaws drop. It has got to be the most amazing place on our RTW trip so far. Man oh man! So after we drug ourselves onto the cargo ferry, we looked at each other and asked why we were leaving. Well, if the Philippines keeps getting better with each island, why would we stop there?! So we headed to Bohol. We didn't go to Bohol for the beaches or to stay for a relaxing week in a bamboo bungalow. We went for two days to see some of the crazy landscape and creatures that this island has to offer because it was a convenient stop on our way to our next beach destination. Although bringing forth a different type of beauty, we still enjoyed this stop very much.
As soon as our taxi driver dropped us off at our hotel I knew it would be a good two days. Right across from our hotel was a mall, a McDonald's, and a Jollibee. Jollibee is the Filipino version of McDonald's but it has a couple more local platters. Anyways, I can't say that I am a fan of Filipino food (that might be an understatement). So having a mall food court, which is usually more touristy food, McDonald's fries and cokes, and Jollibee's ice cream, I was set! We hooked ourselves us with some unhealthy-ness and then took advantage of our hotels super speedy WIFI.
The next day we rented a motoscooter so that we could do all of our site seeing. Our first stop was the home of Bohol's overly huge python. Jonathan loved this! The python was taken into captivity at a very young age and a very short length and it is now 5 years old, 23 feet long and 661 lbs! This snake would have eaten Rosco and me for an afternoon snack. It's normal food consists of a large pink pig or a medium sized goat. It was pretty intimidating walking into its cage.
We hopped back onto the scooter and headed towards the islands main attraction - the chocolate hills. We didn't have super high expectations for seeing a bunch of hills but we were pretty impressed when we got to the lookout point. Although they are green instead of chocolate colored because it is rainy season, we felt as if we were looking at a different planet.
It is said that the hills were formed by teardrops from a lovelorn giant and over time they solidified. Another theory consists of a giant that wanted to lose weight for it's lover so it excreted all of it's food and his fecal matter covered the land in little giant hills. I personally think the hills were formed by the uplift of coral deposits and erosion from rainwater but that's just me.
Our final stop of the day was put on hold for a few minutes as we weathered a downpour. After getting pelted with huge raindrops that stung like crazy when they hit our faces we decided to pull over and wait out the storm. It let up soon after we found shelter and we continued on to a Tarsier sanctuary, soaking wet. Again, we weren't really sure what to expect but had heard good things. Our guide took us through a fenced in area where he pointed out several of these alien like creatures.
Our final stop of the day was put on hold for a few minutes as we weathered a downpour. After getting pelted with huge raindrops that stung like crazy when they hit our faces we decided to pull over and wait out the storm. It let up soon after we found shelter and we continued on to a Tarsier sanctuary, soaking wet. Again, we weren't really sure what to expect but had heard good things. Our guide took us through a fenced in area where he pointed out several of these alien like creatures.
They are one of the world's smallest primates, fitting in the palm of a human hand, and have been around for over 45 million years. As you can see in the photo, their eyes are huge! They are 150 times bigger than a humans eyes relative to its body size. Unfortunately, due to several factors such as destruction of their habitat and being used as pets for tourist attractions they are also very endangered. Being nocturnal animals, when taken captive and used so tourists can pay to hold them during the day, they become very depressed and will even commit suicide. The constant handling is also very detrimental to their fragile bone structures.
It was a very informational visit and we really enjoyed seeing the little guys up close. If you ever get a chance to hold a Tarsier - DON'T! Go to a real research center or sanctuary and see them in their natural habitat!
For lunch before we headed out to catch our ferry onward we hit up a country and western themed restaurant called the Garden Cafe that employs deaf waiters and waitresses. It was a really cute joint and it felt like we were in Texas with the cowboy decor and country music. I enjoyed my little piece of home over a plate of fajitas (don't worry dad, they were no where near as good as yours) followed by a mango pie.
For lunch before we headed out to catch our ferry onward we hit up a country and western themed restaurant called the Garden Cafe that employs deaf waiters and waitresses. It was a really cute joint and it felt like we were in Texas with the cowboy decor and country music. I enjoyed my little piece of home over a plate of fajitas (don't worry dad, they were no where near as good as yours) followed by a mango pie.
Like I said, no beautiful beaches, but still cool sights right? A crazy huge snake, unearthly like landscape, and alien like primates. Once again, the Philippines has not let us down. We are now catching a boat to Siquijor Island so we can get back to the sun, sand, and salty sea!