"Suroy" (Bohol Part 2)

Categories: Anything Goes, Voyager;
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Like I said, there is much to be done in Bohol.  This part continues my recommendations for “suroy“. 🙂

4. Dolphin Watching

This was the highlight of my trip in terms of sightseeing because a dolphin is one of my favorite animals.

We left the city at 5:30am to make it to Alona beach by 6am.  According to the locals, the dolphins come out during the 7-10am window.

I boarded the boat scared that I wouldn’t even see one dolphin.  So the very first group we sighted took my breath away.  Forgotten was my fear of falling into the water because I actually got up and stayed at the ship’s prow.  They’re just really graceful creatures of the sea.

The only problem was that there were so many boats already in one area that you can’t blame the dolphins for not staying on the surface too long.  Some boats are not trained well to keep the standard distance from them.  It’s a bit hard to get photos and videos of the dolphins also given the distance and the rocking of the boat.

But I still highly recommend this.  Your costs will include paying for the boat and if you stay in the city, you will need transfers to and from the beach.  Best to go straight to the bangkeros who usually hang out along the beach anyway looking for tourists who want to go dolphin watching the next day because the hotel or travel agent will always have a cut in it.

5. Man-made Forest

This is a two-kilometer stretch that is filled with tall, looming mahogany trees.  You will pass this on your way to other towns like Bilar from Loboc.  The winding roads prove exciting for those who love to drive and the lush greenery and shade it provides calms and soothes the mind.

Mahogany trees grow relatively faster compared to most trees.  You will see hundreds and hundreds of them on either side of the road.  You will also feel the temperature drop once you enter the canopy of leaves.

According to a local, part of the reason for planting all these trees was to help avoid floods in the area.  Now, how come we can’t do that elsewhere in the Philippines?

6. Loboc Firefly Watching

Loboc has always been famous for its river cruises and floating restaurants.  They’re also actually famous for their Loboc Children’s Choir which has won contests around the world.

This cruise, however, has a certain twist.  You take it at night and you cruise in darkness along the banks of the river.  Eventually, you will come across trees that look like they have Christmas lights on them.  The leaves will be twinkling from the many fireflies that inhabit them.

This process of bioluminescence apparently, comes about when the firefly breathes.  Once they stop blinking, that means they cannot breathe.  This also plays a part in their mating ritual.  The males usually take up the upper portion while the females occupy the lower bushes.  The blinking of their lights will help in attracting a mate.  Once they select the partner that has the best blinking pattern, the female will “eat” the male to sustain her as she reproduces.  A firefly’s lifespan is only about three months so they have to reproduce often so as not to die out.

This won’t be my last visit to Bohol.

I love the Philippines.

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3 comments

  1. rowena marie says:

    suroy Bohol part 2

    Thanks again for the appreciation and nice review on your visit to Bohol.

    You can see a lot of dolphins in the sorrounding waters of Bohol. Once in my trip going home from Cebu, dolphins joyfully plays beside the boat we’re riding. Passengers cheers aloud. As if they have it’s own minds like human beings, they keep “pakitang gilas” to those who cheer them.

    Have you gone to Pamilacan Island? That island just in front of old Baclayon church. You can’t only see dolphins but friendly whales. Yeah, they are big creatures in the see that makes me frightened at first. I was thinking that our boat will turn upside down if in case they are just below us. But bangkeros know how to navigate if that they don’t go near to the whales.

    Sand are also white and fine there just as Panglao. I think its February to summer are the mating season of whales. That they love to display themselves to tourists.

    I love Bohol…

    • lynneenroute says:

      I actually only saw very few dolphins when I went there. 🙁 Is February the peak season for dolphin-watching? I want to be able to see dolphins swimming beside the boat! Yeah, Bohol has really nice beaches also. And what’s better is that they’re not so commercialized yet so you can really appreciate the beauty of the place.

      I love Bohol also. 🙂

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