A Bohol Christmas 2016
We have not been for many years now. See a couple of the previous trips here on the blog site; blog1, blog2. So after 4 year s of not having been for a long period we decided it was time to go. Christmas, Mary’s Mum’s birthday, get the kids together, relax, see beautiful sites and eat some delicious food. This is the Kennett travelogue for A Bohol Christmas 2016.
A whole heap of photos and the occasional video clip to come, as we meander through Bohol, Philippines. The capital city of Bohol is Tagbilaran, and my Mary originates from Mabini Province. Bohol is a 1st provincial income class island province of the Philippines it seems. It sits in what is called the Central Visayas Region. Bohol is the main island and 75 others around it, and it is large at 4,821 sq Km, and having a coastline of 261Km – WOW!
We fly to Cebu to the West at a very early 0600am departure, and fast-ferry it in to Tagbilaran. Apparently in a year or so there will be a new airport opened on Panglau, one of those islands. Its a very popular island with Japanese and Koreans for holidaying, and diving, it continually being voted within the top 10 diving locations in the World. It is also of great interest to Japanese and Korean’s from corporate investment too. The Kew Hotel we stayed at is Japanese for example.
Sadly though in Oct’13 it got devastated by a 7.2 earthquake, taking 156 people’s lives and injuring many many more. A lot of historical architecture got decimated too that day, but the Boholanos have bounced back and are active in the re-builds of families and buildings alike, as you’ll see in my blog below.
But this blog is about our trip and experiences, for which we arrived on 21/12/16 for Christmas with our Philippines family. This was a fantastic vacation, A Bohol Christmas 2016. We crammed in just so so much with as many family and friends as we could. There was no rest. We traveled near and far, up and down, North and South, East and West, by tricycle, bicycle, plane, ferry, boat, multi-cab, tuk-tuk, car and bus. We ate like Kings and Queens, and there is much much more of that on Islifearecipe.net as that is the food trip experience – find that blog here. In fact we were treated like Kings and Queens, not just eating like them.
So here comes the journey. We hope you like it. Yes a picture paints a thousand words, but you still need a few words for context – right?
Day No.1; 21/12/16
Up early at 0500am having packed the night before. Gathering the troops, making sure they have everything. Making sure I have everything. Passports were the last minute check. To Ollie and Amy; “Which passport do you want to use? Japanese or English?” Both decided on Japanese. One short cab ride later, we’re at the terminal and 30 minutes later watch our bags moving on the conveyor. We’re all good, or so we thought.
“Excuse me Sir this UK passport for Oliver Kennett has less than 6 months validity left, its not good.” Says the check-in lady. I then remembered exactly that and the reason we had renewed Ollie’s Japanese passport recently. So glad we live in Siglap. So off goes Ollie after we had all finished the check-in to get his Japanese one and join us again. All was good, safely checked in with us with time to spare. Phew! Not what you need at 0600am. But hey it keeps the blood flowing.
Three and a half hours later we touch down at Cebu, and run out to grab a cab laden with luggage to try to make the early fast ferry to Tagbilaran. Traffic though caused that to not happen and we ended actually having quite a chill-out time at Cebu Ocean Fast Ferry Terminal for an hour or so waiting for the next availability. So funny in this terminal as you can here cockerels crowing continually. Why, I hear you ask? We’re nowhere near a farm. Let me just say cock-fighting is BIG in Philippines and these birds travel island-wide for competitions. Still very unusual to hear crowing continually whilst sat waiting for a boat.
What amazed me here at the terminal was the investment that has been made in infrastructure since we were last here. New terminal buildings, proper check-in, luggage handovers and ticketing, cafes, nice toilets etc. What a difference to the chaos of the last time we frequented here.
Here is a travel tip for anyone with a height above 5′, and if you have any young family traveling with you. Book business class on any fast ferry from any Philippines Island. Cebu to Tagbilaran is about a 2 hour trip on the ferry. Business class will cost you about $100 SGD for a family of 5 for that trip. Believe me for the leg-room and seat comfort that is a pittance to pay – make sure you do this!
So we are on the ferry. A movie is on. Another quick tip – BRING A JUMPER – they whack the aircon up to UNBEARABLE. It’s nuts. Despite asking they seemingly can do nothing about this. A case of the only temperature control they have is on or off. It hits you as you travel just how quickly it gets dark here in comparison to Singapore. At about 1700 we’re looking out the windows at the most amazing sunsets as we speed our way to our island paradise. Ollie took these photos through the ferry window – I am impressed!!!
Check out that sun set – and this taken through a window on the ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran
Stunning views on the way down from Cebu to Tagbilaran
An eventful trip from ferry terminal to hotel, and the dining experience of our first night. Read the food blog on Islifearecipe.net for that as it relates to food and service as well. But I will now close out any more discussion re our poor choice of hotel, as you can read my TripAdvisor review here. I advise you to have a really good think before staying where we did at Sherwood Bay. I do not really wish to mention it again.
Day No.2; 22/12/16
Squeal piggy squeal
Beach dining, Philippines style
The beautiful, nay stunning Anda Beach on Bohol
Yes she is very proud of her new shirt
“We haven’t got a nice photo of each other yet this holiday.” says Mary.
“Hmmmmm” says I.
OK that’s better…
And a nice one of us with our driver, Danny’s wife
Here she is again!!!
Kids having fun in the topaz seas
Daddy having fun with some local liquids of a different kind and colour
Dogs have Christmas too you know
It truly is just so beautiful here – and it is indeed a long beach
Uncles, Aunts, Mums, Sisters, brothers and more
Happy Birthday to Mary’s Mum
What an amazing ‘baby-sitter’ Jhea is – I think they’re both having fun though…
Kids just chilling – not an iPad in sight…
Ollie just found out there’s no WIFI
Even a splash of Indie BritPop from yours truly when doing some beach karaoke – Oasis goes large in Anda, but sadly Marvin bottled out from joining me.
Back at the hotel, its Jude’s turn to show off with his amazing new dancing techniques. What a little mover.
I like my bed Dad, but I think it might be a little small for me
Day No.3; 23/12/16
Our first lunch in Bohol, at one of my favourite restaurants, Payag, in Tagbilaran City. Just so great to have the family with us all together.
Another restaurant, another dinner – this time at Fiesta Filipina Restaurant
Not a bad view from the restaurant balcony
And the same the other way
More of this on food blog of the same trip – but just to say I can kind of sense this is going to be good
Day No.4; 24/12/16
Not a bad little view from the patio area of our 1st hotel
With about 65 islands making up Bohol, you get these views wherever you are. Just stunning.
I watched these guys fishing in the shallows just outside the hotel. The guy to the right is not a gondolier, but is actually whacking the pole in to the sea bed to scare the fish in to the net.
Good luck guys…
Jude having some fun after Christmas shopping – thanks to family for donating cash for the kids. They all loved shopping in Philippines
A fun day splashing about in the pool – a beautifully sunny day too.
Here’s the view of The Sherwood Bay from the coast, not beach here sadly so just this grassy bit and the pool, jacuzzi was even broken. Shame!
We were the only guests for a while, but a Korean family moved in to so the kids all played together – yep this kid’s soup was way better than the French Onion at this hotel…
Love this one, what a great shot.
Thank goodness the Korean family did check in and also come with foot pump. This is another of Jude’s chosen Xmas presents, Terry the T-Rex, classic fun in the pool.
What a poser…
Hands off Terry, she’s mine!
But then poor old Terry the T-Rex got upset and so so clingy, bless him.
BFF’s chillaxing
“Good night Terry, I love you.” “Good night Baby Jude, I love you too!”
Day No.5; 25/12/16
Today we escaped from Sherwood Bay Hotel for a few nights. We just had to get out of there. Xmas day today too, and family dinner planned. Off to Kew Hotel, which is an awesome joint in Tagbilaran city centre. Its only about 6 months old so it is modern and rather funky, food good, rates amazing, near to everything and family rooms for the kids with 4 beds in them – just wonderful. Thanks to Kew for perking up the experience.
“I like it here Dad,” said Baby Jude.
Not bad views from up the top right? This is from the hotel 7th floor offering spectacular views of the coast for Bohol. If you look right to the left I think that is where Sherwood Bay is, yep the place escaped from, and down below the new City Hall, built to replace the old one that got damaged in the earthquake’13.
Clearly another advantage of Kew Hotel was this joint, the 7th floor bar called Sky. At night it was amazing up here, DJ sounds drifting out, 299 peso for all you can drink 6 hour happy hour – OMG. I love this hotel.
Jude and I were messing about and he wanted me to take a snap of him with the cockerels behind him. Cut Jude…
See what I mean about the edgy and arty side of this hotel. Jude called these the donuts. There were beautiful at night as they all light up, simply stunning.
We even had film stars staying at the hotel. Here I was lucky enough to bump in to The Hulk.
“Jude, I think The Hulk would be green with envy (ha ha ha), now having seen your amazing impersonation!”
Day No.6; 26/12/16
A little bit of shopping this morning for which we literally just walked round the corner of the hotel. But then later on we booked out this cabana and spent the day at JL’s Slides. Brilliant little place. Apparently a Filipina seaman built it for his kids originally, but loads asked about entrance so he expanded it and now has retired from seamanship because he make more money doing this. What a great story.
This really was such a great day. The kids played and played and played. We had massive pizzas for lunch, cold cold drinks and fun!!!
Amy showing off the speed of the big slide – weeeeeeeee!
But Jimboy & Jhea got stuck – now using a more manual process to disembark ha ha
And here is No1 and No1 son up in the top pool. Two pools and two slides at the top. One deeper and larger pool up top with one big slide.
I love this setting on the camera – he comes Amy top to bottom, double weeeeee
Careful you don’t bit your tongue Amy, even on a slide you can’t keep your tongue still ha ha
And the judges go wild, it’s perfect 10’s across the board…
This was Jude’s favourite game, which went on for hours and hours. Stopping the water jet, then having you to go to stand where the water would arch over and then he’d let the water go of course straight in to you face ha ha.
Nice on of wifey and No.2 son having fun too
Looks like a huge piece of watermelon but actually it is Mum’s hat
Kids galore, wow, how many…?
And now here is the same time capture thing for Ollie and Baby Jude, again down the big fast slide – check the faces, ha ha. Yep they were seriously enjoying themselves
SPLASH!!!
My dates for dinner tonight, at the reputedly best restaurant in Tagbilaran, Gerardas. And I say dates because Mary sent us to the wrong location when everyone one else was a different location – yes there are two Gerardas restaurants in Tagbilaran.
You have to have a read of this. Proudly displayed on the wall in the restaurant.
You think going out with 7 every day was fun, how about 14 (a few were missing from the photo)? A fantastic meal for 14 for under $200 SGD, can you believe it?
Rivrav, a wonderful little chap. The son of Mary’s brother Marvin. Big smiler, so cute.
Day No.7; 27/12/16
Now this was a BIG day. 14 of us on a day trip, with Danny at the helm as your guide today. We all cram in and off we jolly well go. What an action packed and wonderful day we had.
1st up was to go an view a potential house I am looking to buy with Mary. Nice right. 4/5 bedrooms, 10 minutes from city centre, 10 minutes to beaches, club house, pool etc. all for less than $200k SGD. Yep I think I will definitely be buying this place, or one very similar to it in the complex
Not a bad little retirement location methinks.
The Sandugo was a blood compact performed here in Bohol, between the Spanish explorer namely Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the Chief-tan of Bohol. This was done way back in March, 1565. It was done to seal their freindship as part of tribal tradition. Sandugo is A Visayan word meaning “one blood” How about that.
But then off for the tour of interesting locations. This is 1st stop called ‘Blood Pact’.
Family photo without me.
A family photo with me. Man it was flipping hot today, believe me!
And what the guys from the Blood Pact were looking at when they drank each others blood. I’d seriously sit here with a Pilsen in preference, and we almost stayed at the hotel to the left through AirBnB, beautiful!
Getting a tad artsy, but I do love this photo – Spain & Philippines unite!
Baclayon Ecclesiastical Church next
You know me guys, I am not in the slightest bit religious but this church is stunning. One of the oldest in The Philippines being built in 1797, but sadly it got really badly damaged in Oct’2013 with a size 7 earthquake. You walk in there and get that quasi-eary feeling, its damp in here too as it is made from coral rock, which I presume is petrified coral from the Chocolate Hills nearby. So I went a tad arty with the photographs like above and below. So beautiful in there, but very badly in repair mode.
Stunning, but plain stained glass windows, throwing beautiful colour in to the church. Simply stunning.
The woodwork carvings were incredible too. II had to do this in B&W as it alone is a piece of art.
And of course my little mate Jude wants to get in on the a action too, ha ha! Nice photo Baby Jude.
Hold on a minute, who is listening to who’s confession here? Who’s been naughtiest do you think?
I know lets ask Sean Connery, man he gets everywhere. Or should I say Sean Connery, AKA Saint Pin of Putultina.
Yeap Jude up again – he loved this gate and garden so of course out came the camera again.
A beauty of the bell tower, see that coral rock being used again.
Back in the buss now and off to see The Tarsier. The world’s smallest monkey, only residing on Bohol. So flipping cute these things are, nocturnal hence the big puppy dog eyes and seriously no bigger than the size of the photos below. You can’t handle them, as they commit suicide. They are loners with them needing about 1 hectare per Tarsier to live comfortably. Sadly yes they are endangered.Why something this size needs so so much space is puzzling, they’d really struggle in condo living in Singapore ha ha.
I mean seriously look at how cute this little guy is, I could have sat for hours staring at these amazing creatures
I want one for Christmas!!!
This little cutey was posing big time, but then had to scratch his ear hence his little pink hand being up – Amy said he was waving!
Don’t you just want to hug him?
And some stunning flora and fauna too where these little chaps are residing – oh yeah and mosquitos, ouch!
Bye bye my small monkey friends, see you soon. Mwah, sooooo cute!
Off now to Loboc and a short river cruise lunch down the lazy river. But first up I spotted this rather beautiful specimen. Check out green his head is, WOW!
And off we go down this amazing, lush river, being sung too, sipping Pilsen and quaffing down loads of local food in the buffet on board.
It was packed here, so prepare to wait guys. Worth doing it though as it is a beautiful trip. Sadly you get to see more churches that have been decimated by the earthquake, Stunning scenery.
Chomping on a rather scrumptious luncheon. But looks like rain is a looming.
Here’s another of the boats up ahead of us. You also stop on the way to watch this kids perform local singing and folk dancing – almost Polynesian in style, with the kids jumping in and out of bamboo poles being whacked together.
OK, OK arty
Me and my mate having fun staring at the world going by.
Thanks for this one Ollie, a cracker of us three having a rather blissful time of it all
Mary and the boys…
This is a cracker. As we came back to dock I spotted these little kids just playing their heart out. Stark naked and without a care in the world, and not an iPad in sight. So I took some shots and didn’t realise I had the little boy staring at me and his had perfectly placed to hide any embarrassment ha ha. Yes Amy was like oooey Dad!!!
Off to Chocolate Hills now. Originally volcanic and residing on the ocean floor. So when you dig down in to the earth a little you find sea shells as the top of a mountain. And this is where I believe that coral rock comes from for building the churches. It is God’s country here believe me. But we did two things at once here, Chocolate Hills but also Chocolate Hills Adventure Park. Very cool as you’ll see.
Following some training for the kids, and with harnesses and helmets on off we go to cross a rope-bridge and start the adventure.
1st up is Spiderman Wall and off go Amy and Jhea. Looking confident girls…
And they’re off….
Amy had a melt-down but Jhea got all the way to the top to ring the bell, quite amazing
Next up is JimBoy & Rhai Rhai. Let me just state that Rhai Rhai is a tiny little thing.
Again weird was that the left lane crumpled and the right lane succeeded with bell ringing at the top. Rhai Rhai was literally like a spider too she shot up the wall double fast.
She was incredible!
See what I mean, how can you not look at this and only describe it as breath-taking. It is absolutely stunning to look at. Here we are at the top of a Chocolate Hill, for Ollie to undertake his adventure.
Chocolate Hills is the name because apparently the volcanic soil is black in colour just like the local Bohol chocolate. Hey presto Chocolate Hills.
So we climb to the top of this ‘hill’ and then Ollie has to climb to the top of this tower. Looks interesting right.
There he is. Hold on a minute is that bike?
Yes indeed it was and here he is off on his bike-ride, mountain to mountain. Looks a tad scary doesn’t it. Bouncing and wobbling he said were real scary bits.
Can you make Ollie out about half way across the canyon?
Just the most amazing views. The Hill to the left is the one we climbed many years ago when we last visited. Sadly a few Hills are missing now as again that bloody volcano caused a few to collapse.
Here he comes, home straight now.
Even pausing for a no hands-shot. Great work Ollie!
Just had to have a shot of me with these beauties in the background.
Wow!
This is so funny as if you look up the 1Km walk way to the top what you will see is generations for Mary’s family, literally 5 groups. Believe me in the heat that climb and descent took some doing!
A weary trip home, staring at at all the Christmas fairy lights as we passed through towns and villages. A massive take-way from Jollibee which we ate all sitting on the floor in our room at The Sherwood. Yep restaurant was closed so nowhere to eat our food. Last night in this place as we’re off to Kew Hotel again tomorrow morning, hallelujah.
Day No.8; 28/12/16
Again today we escaped from The Sherwood, and traveled to Alona Beach and the newly opened Hennan Resort. Wow. A Chinese and Philippines investment, and holy cow is this place good. We paid to go in as guests and then basically spent the whole day in the pool, eating, drinking and playing. What a fantastic last day at the beach, seriously check this gaff out.
5 minute walk from the pool and here’s the beac. You have to love this about Philippines, and Bohol. No crowding, look at the space. A few beach beds not 1,000’s like you know get at Phuket and the like.
And its all topaz and more topaz. This is all coral, so clear seas, great fishing, diving, snorkelling and white powdery beaches. Heaven!
Can’t believe it that the kids actually made it to the bar before I did ha ha. Yep its that time. We had lunch sat here too. Absolutely incredible food at such reasonable prices.
We could not get this little bloke out of the water. He was swimming, splashing, playing, laughing – what a great day.
This was a human train in the swimming pool with Jude being the driver – noises and all.
A simply gorgeous beach at Alona that goes on and on and on.
Ollie’s turn to get arty and take some snaps for the next few.
Very nicely done Ollie.
Even I get the chance to be in a photo for once.
And of course Baby Jude, clearly still having fun by the looks of it. Check out though that is also Amy and I in this shot. Great picture.
The wife showing off her new swimming cossie. Looking good babes!
There was this major fish pond full of Koi Carp as you exit the hotel. Seriously check those colours out. Stunning.
And yes a little arty one too – might make this one in to a canvas for the wall, love it.
Funny we bumped in to the other guests at Sherwood Bay at Hennan, and they were also doing nothing but complaining. Their words were; “Shameful”. Dear me. Hennan was anything but that.
Day No.9; 29/12/16
Our final day folks. Off to Kew Hotel again, for final fun and a family meal as the next day was up very very early to get the ferry and flight home. Sadly, very sadly indeed.
Not sure but I think Jude is thinking to fly straight home and let us bring all the luggage and his things…
A day of shopping for final few bits. Snack at the hotel with a brunchy breakfast. And dinner at a place I found, Asian Fusion of local favourites and 5 minutes from the hotel. Yep happy with that. Here we are sitting outside Persona Mesa about to engage in some amazing food consumption. Sadly the gang of 7 that has been together for the past 9 days is no longer following this meal. Love you all guys and will miss the fun we have together. It was a truly wonderful Christmas – thank you.
Here’s the gang of 7 one last time, sat outside this rather special restaurant down the road from the Kew Hotel.
And a lovely one of the wife with her Brother’s mate’s baby that they are looking after. Very cute little guy.
Our first lunch in Bohol, at my favourite Payag, Tagbilaran City
I finish on a double up of the same photo from the top. Why? Well because this one signifies to me the whole holiday. ALL our kids together in one place. The total family. All having fun, and all chatting (well nearly all). This is why we came. We miss these guys, they miss us, they miss each other. We had such fun for 10 days together camping out in fairly cramped hotel conditions, some good and some clearly bad. We ate three times a day together and giggled lots. We really and truthfully did just have fun. I cannot thank Mary, Jimboy, Jhea, Ollie, Amy, Jude and the rest of our family and friends in Bohol. You make us so happy and so welcome, and that means so much to these ‘aliens’ that invade once in a while. Thank you. We will see you soon, but for now that was A Bohol Christmas 2016 – ENJOY!!!
Is Life a Recipe YouTube Channel
