BOHOL - Day 1
This is my third visit to Bohol. I have been going there for three consecutive years now since year 2007, and obviously, I never grew tired of visiting Bohol over and over and over again. There is something enthralling in an island so small yet so rich with history, culture, natural and man-made wonders, not to mention the heartwarming Boholanos.
My first visit to Bohol was a mere day tour at the countryside. I was in Cebu for business and having the weekend off, we crossed to Bohol to go around the island. On my second visit, my friends and I stayed at Panglao Island for two days and we were able to snorkel at Balicasag Island. My third visit was just May of this year and this was my longest stay by far, being four days. Here are some highlights of the first day of our Bohol Tour.
Upon our arrival at the Tagbilaran Port from Cebu, our Bohol-based friend, Simon, picked us up and we went straight away not to any of Bohol's tourist destinations, but to an airsoft war site. From the port, we rushed to get to the war site before the sun would set, as we arrived at Bohol late in the afternoon. This is definitely not your ordinary Bohol Tour.
Airsoft was technically not part of our itinerary. But I was already expecting this to happen as all the boys with me are airsoft addicts! They were, however, not all too willing to let me join the games fearing that I might not take the pellet shots easily. So I contented myself staying in the sidelines clicking photos of them here and there. I didn't mind, really, since I was able to fire a few shots myself---not just in the actual game, though. Interestingly, the war site was an abandoned resort with a magnificent view of the sea en route to Balicasag Island.
It was already sun down by the time their games ended. What stopped them actually was the absence of electricity in the area. Plus, they finally, FINALLY felt tired and hungry! Before we left, we had our first airsoft group picture taken.
On our way to dinner, we took a detour and went to Panglao Island to visit the Dauis Church Complex. Since it was already night time when we got there, we went inside the neighboring the convent instead. For first time vistors like myself, a coffee shop inside what used to be the convent's refectory wouldn't exactly cross your mind.
Because indeed, Cafe Lawis sits inside the ground floor of the church's convent, beside the Handumanan Souvenir Shop, and extends outside to an open deck canopied by an acacia tree. "Lawis" is said to be an old term of the town of Dauis. What is worth noting is that the souvenir shop uses old wooden door frames as display cases of their products. Items sold here are all Bohol originals.
But what I really loved about Cafe Lawis is the lighted acacia tree outside the convent that provides a beautiful canopy for the wide circular wooden deck. From the convent, rectangular stone steps would lead you to the awe-striking beauty with a stunning view overlooking the Tagbilaran Straight. This is really a perfect spot to set up a romantic dinner.
We then returned to Tagbilaran City and had diner at Shiang MaNou, probably the best Chinese restaurant in the whole of Bohol. Of course, I didn't miss ordering my favorite Beef with Broccoli and Bird's Nest Soup. Our dinner really filled our empty stomachs to the brim. *burp!*
This sums up the first day of our Bohol Tour. It was an action packed afternoon complete with sightseeing and food exploration. We went to bed early right after dinner and took a much needed rest in preparation for our whole day countryside tour the following day (Day 2).
~sunnyprincess
My first visit to Bohol was a mere day tour at the countryside. I was in Cebu for business and having the weekend off, we crossed to Bohol to go around the island. On my second visit, my friends and I stayed at Panglao Island for two days and we were able to snorkel at Balicasag Island. My third visit was just May of this year and this was my longest stay by far, being four days. Here are some highlights of the first day of our Bohol Tour.
Upon our arrival at the Tagbilaran Port from Cebu, our Bohol-based friend, Simon, picked us up and we went straight away not to any of Bohol's tourist destinations, but to an airsoft war site. From the port, we rushed to get to the war site before the sun would set, as we arrived at Bohol late in the afternoon. This is definitely not your ordinary Bohol Tour.
Airsoft was technically not part of our itinerary. But I was already expecting this to happen as all the boys with me are airsoft addicts! They were, however, not all too willing to let me join the games fearing that I might not take the pellet shots easily. So I contented myself staying in the sidelines clicking photos of them here and there. I didn't mind, really, since I was able to fire a few shots myself---not just in the actual game, though. Interestingly, the war site was an abandoned resort with a magnificent view of the sea en route to Balicasag Island.
It was already sun down by the time their games ended. What stopped them actually was the absence of electricity in the area. Plus, they finally, FINALLY felt tired and hungry! Before we left, we had our first airsoft group picture taken.
On our way to dinner, we took a detour and went to Panglao Island to visit the Dauis Church Complex. Since it was already night time when we got there, we went inside the neighboring the convent instead. For first time vistors like myself, a coffee shop inside what used to be the convent's refectory wouldn't exactly cross your mind.
Because indeed, Cafe Lawis sits inside the ground floor of the church's convent, beside the Handumanan Souvenir Shop, and extends outside to an open deck canopied by an acacia tree. "Lawis" is said to be an old term of the town of Dauis. What is worth noting is that the souvenir shop uses old wooden door frames as display cases of their products. Items sold here are all Bohol originals.
But what I really loved about Cafe Lawis is the lighted acacia tree outside the convent that provides a beautiful canopy for the wide circular wooden deck. From the convent, rectangular stone steps would lead you to the awe-striking beauty with a stunning view overlooking the Tagbilaran Straight. This is really a perfect spot to set up a romantic dinner.
We then returned to Tagbilaran City and had diner at Shiang MaNou, probably the best Chinese restaurant in the whole of Bohol. Of course, I didn't miss ordering my favorite Beef with Broccoli and Bird's Nest Soup. Our dinner really filled our empty stomachs to the brim. *burp!*
This sums up the first day of our Bohol Tour. It was an action packed afternoon complete with sightseeing and food exploration. We went to bed early right after dinner and took a much needed rest in preparation for our whole day countryside tour the following day (Day 2).
~sunnyprincess
I love bird nest soup too. I used to buy bottles of bird nest soup like this as it is healthy and convenient:
hongkong-bird-nest.50webs.com
Shiang MaNou looks really good! I should have been there before. Do we need to make reservation?