Glow in the Dark Experience : I ♥ Bohol

Aside from the usual networking site bumming that I do on a daily basis, another staple in my computer monitor is the windows allotted for budget airline websites. I get giddy everytime I see the words "PROMO FARES" flashing incessantly on the screen, as if trying to lure me to book another flight to a place I have never been before. Needless to say, there's a certain kind of euphoria in knowing that I can get a cheap flight to a destination of my choice. However, getting that deal is sometimes likened to a commuter who races to the MRT during rush hours. You have to compete with everyone else in order to get a comfortable seat. Well, that is, if you have a lot of patience in tow.

Good thing, I was patient enough to search for the best possible deal for our Bohol trip a few weeks ago. We were lucky to find a very accommodating tour guide (Mr. Bert Gacerra and his son Kim) who made our first visit to Bohol a truly memorable one.

For this trip, we flew via Air Asia to Tagbilaran City. The service was not so bad, except for the one-hour delay which was pretty much expected of some airlines.

It took us almost 20 minutes to get to Bohol Regents Park Hotel from the Tagbilaran Airport. The hotel was located a few minutes away from Alona Beach in Panglao Island. Since it was almost dark, right after checking in and getting all our stuff in, we headed to the beach for dinner. Alona is much like the white beach of Boracay, except that it was more peaceful and serene, and surprisingly not too crowded. It doesn't have the party-like atmosphere that Boracay is known for. If you want a quiet beach that can still offer the right amount of fun and pleasure, Alona is the place to be.



Immediately after dinner, we headed to our first stop, the Firefly Tour along Loboc River. This was Dan's special request. I wanted him to turn his childhood dream into reality. We had a private boat all to ourselves. Our boatman, Kuya Joseph, was very passionate about fireflies. Incidentally, he was the pioneer of this tour in Bohol. We traversed the placid and eeriely dark waters of Loboc. I wasn't too excited for this itinerary because when faced with total darkness, my rich imagination gets the better of me. Just when I was about to have a panic attack, our boatman brought us closer to a tree adorned with numerous fireflies. It seemed like having stars in the sky just within your reach. All too suddenly, the disturbing images that were playing in my head vanished. It was truly a sight to behold!

Sea, Sand, Sun

Summer won't be fun without water! And since my better half loves the beach, I gave in to his plea that we spend one weekend in, you guessed it, Boracay. I nearly declined because admittedly, I'm not a beach person. But since I made a pact with myself to try to do something different and go out of my comfort zone once in a while, I said YES!

I've heard so much about Boracay. I can only count with my ten fingers the few people who haven't been in the island. It has become overrated, so to speak. However, I wanted to see firsthand what the fuss is about. I wonder why people keep coming back to this "paradise."



We opted to stay in the island for 3 nights and 4 days. That way, we can spend more time checking out the "watering holes" in Bora. It was my first time (definitely, not my last) so I wanted to play the "tourist" for a few days. My better half had been in this beach twice, I think. So he had no other choice but to show me around.

The flight going there was hassle-free. Thanks to the very efficient crew of SEAIR. We departed way ahead of schedule, and we arrived in Kalibo 10 minutes earlier than what was printed in our ticket.



After touchdown, the van ride going to Caticlan took 2 hours. We basically slept through the entire trip. When we reached Caticlan jetty port, it was almost 6PM. By the time we reached the island, we were starving to death but we still had to look for the hotel where we were booked. For this particular trip, we have come to the mutual decision to spend less on hotel accommodation. I'm not ashamed to say that I am a budget traveler. It's not practical to spend so much on a sleeping quarters that we'd only get to see in the morning and at night. We could spend the money for more worthwhile activities or better, on food!!!

Here's a photo of our hotel, Victory Beach Resort, which is located along Station 2. It's a stone's throw away from where the action is. It has a homey feel, and you won't even notice that you are so far away from your real home.



Any traveler going to Boracay will never have the time to get bored as there are a whole lot of activities in store for everyone. If you're the adventurous type, you can try the water activities such as parasailing, zorb, banana boat ride, jet ski, etc. If you simply want to see the beauty of the nearby islands, you can sign up for a three-hour or six-hour island hopping adventure. If you're a certified foodie, you will never run out of restaurants to satisfy your gastronomic cravings. You can go from an ultimate budget fare to the super pricey ones, depending on how much you want to spend. If you love to party, Boracay has the best bars and clubs. Plus, it's a bonus that the crowd is there for one thing --- party all night! But more than all these, the best thing about the place is the beach itself. Its beauty is beyond words, especially when you catch the sunset in its full glory. Allow me to share with you some of our photos during the trip.


BASKING IN THE SUN



FOOD SATISFACTION GUARANTEED



THE VIEW

I need to be back! Piso Fare, asan ka?

Hitched!

Now it can be told, I am officially married!

Who would have thought I will ever get married? When I reached 25, I knew I was on the brink of becoming an old maid. I endured the annoying questions often asked of me about my status -- SINGLE for the longest time. Everyone seems to be so "concerned" about my refusal to get hitched. I wish it crossed their minds that perhaps I wasn't ready to settle down or that I haven't found the one God has chosen for me. (Read on after viewing the pics)

I have always believed in perfect timing. I was not meant to be married in my 20s, so it had to be in my 30s. I have no regrets though. I was at a place where I knew exactly what I want. It was a long wait, no doubt. But the wait was all worth it.

People close to me had no idea I was getting married until they received the invites. Unknown to them, the preparations started in the first quarter of 2012. We have booked the church and reception venues as early as March 2012. (Kami na ang excited!) We came up with the mutual decision to go hands-on with our wedding. We did practically everything -- extensive internet research for the best suppliers who would give good deals for their services, numerous meetings with the suppliers which involved endless haggling, and the task of getting all our documents organized so we could comply with the church requirements.

I had no idea getting married was that tedious. Perhaps because when I attend a wedding, I only see the "finished product." Whew, it takes a lot of work to make it look perfect!

Six months before the "big day," we have already booked our chosen suppliers -- videographer, musicians, bridal designer, ring designer,cake supplier, invites and giveaways supplier, florist, make-up artist, to name a few. By November, we had nothing left to do but wait for the wedding date. It was only two weeks before the wedding that we decided to get on-the-day wedding coordinators (binarat pa namin) to make sure that everything we envisioned for our special day will be carried out in a very orderly fashion.

So far, the guests we have invited have nothing but good words to say about their experience. That alone is proof enough that our efforts and hard work have paid off.

Cheers!