Chocolate Hills (Bohol)

...the late afternoon to the chocolate hills. All villages of the islands are in reach by bus or jeepney at ease. If you take the bus at 4 p.m. you are at dusk at the chocolate hills. Take a tricycle (30 Peso) to the bus stop and take a bus to Carmen (1,5 hours). Ask the bus driver or the cashier in the bus to let you out at the chocolate hills. Some motorbikes (20 Peso) are waiting for you to bring you up to the resort. They also offer round trips ...
...viewpoint (2 minutes) over the chocolate hills.

There are two versions of a legend, to explain the form of the hills. The first is that two giants were throwing stones, which were left at the battlefield. The second legend tells that the giant Aroyo shed tears, which turned into hills. He cried, because Aloya had been died, an ordinary mortal, in who he had been fallen in love. The real explanation of the form of the limestone hills ... more

Bohol is one of the many islands of the Visayas. It is known for the brown seared hemispheric hills, called "chocolate hills". Otherwise the tropical temperatures let grow palm and banana trees. You can look for the “tarsier”, the smallest monkey of the world with big eyes and a long tail. There are also some old colonial churches and Alona beach at the peninsula Paloa Island is a nice beach resort, with bamboo huts, palm trees and some pubs, restaurants and dive bases. The danger of an attack from the Abu Sayaff is very slight, people are catholic, very friendly and open minded to tourists and Bohol has no tourist centers.

The speed ferry boats takes only 1,5 hour from Cebu to Bohol. Don't get wheedled into the very expensive offers, when you leave the ferry. There are still buses in the late afternoon to the chocolate hills. All villages of the islands are in reach by bus or jeepney at ease. If you take the bus at 4 p.m. you are at dusk at the chocolate hills. Take a tricycle (30 Peso) to the bus stop and take a bus to Carmen (1,5 hours). Ask the bus driver or the cashier in the bus to let you out at the chocolate hills. Some motorbikes (20 Peso) are waiting for you to bring you up to the resort. They also offer round trips to reasonable prices for the next day, which you can accept. The simple rooms at the state owned resort were 7 Dollars and more. At the entrance of the resort at the right side there are steps to the viewpoint (2 minutes) over the chocolate hills.

There are two versions of a legend, to explain the form of the hills. The first is that two giants were throwing stones, which were left at the battlefield. The second legend tells that the giant Aroyo shed tears, which turned into hills. He cried, because Aloya had been died, an ordinary mortal, in who he had been fallen in love. The real explanation of the form of the limestone hills is in dispute and unclear.

In Tagbilaran there are some Internet Cafes (30 Peso/hour).

From Tagbilaran you can take a tricycle or jeepney to Alona Beach at Peninsula Paloa Island (1 hour). Accommodation in a bamboo hut costs about 7 Dollars and more. It is very nice there. The sea urchins in the water are a disadvantage, you have to rent diving shoes or better swim directly from the beach. This is fussy, but possible. After hundred meters swimming you reach a coral reef, where you can snorkel and watch small fishes. In town there are some Pubs, Restaurants and a more expensive Internet Access (80 Peso/h).

For more general informations (unfortunatly there is no category in ciao!) about the Philippines and other travel destinations (Peru, Nepal) have a look at my homepage http:// home.freiepresse.de/uwdel

Thank you!
 

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