Next stop – Bohol. Panglao, Virgin & Balicasag Islands
March 5 -11, 2017
Journey to Bohol Of course, it couldn't be without its mishaps. We flew with Air Asia, one of the largest airlines in Asia and quite reputable for Asia. We had booked a ticket for the Manila-Bohol-Manila route, but about a month before departure, we received information that only the return flight had been canceled. Changing it wasn't an option because we would have missed our next flight to Coron, so I filled out a refund form for the Bohol-Manila leg only. For a long time, I didn't receive any response. A few days before departure, I contacted the airline and was told the matter would be forwarded to the appropriate department. In the meantime, I checked in as usual for the flight from Manila to Bohol, got a seat and a boarding pass. Apparently, only then did someone "handle" the refund and instead cancel the entire ticket, which I only learned when checking in luggage at the airport. After waiting in line, the lady at check-in was surprised to announce that... I didn't have a ticket. The boarding pass was correct, the date was correct, the flight number and destination were correct, but the ticket wasn't in the system. Fortunately, there were free seats on the plane, and I received a handwritten boarding pass. Pure Asia.
The flight was short and uneventful. Once there, we found a taxi for 300 pesos, or about 20 złoty and 4 pounds, which took us to Sunside Beach Resort On the island of Panglao. The hotel is co-owned by a Pole, a former drummer for Lombard. The hotel itself was okay. Clean, with a nice bathroom, comfortable beds, and cheap laundry at 60 pesos per kilogram. The problem was the air conditioning, which wasn't working, so we had a sauna in our room. We reported it and went sightseeing. It was supposed to be fixed while we were gone, but no one showed up. They offered us a room change, but we were already unpacking and hoping someone would show up. They didn't. That evening, I ran into the hotel co-owner, a German beer and nudity enthusiast, who rather brusquely told us it wasn't their fault; a part was missing and no one knew when it would be available. Besides, we could have moved. Zero manners or sensitivity; definitely not the right person to interact with guests. The hotel's second drawback was its location. The nearest beach, Alona Beach, was about 2.5 kilometers away. The walk took 25-30 minutes, or a tricycle for 40-50 pesos.
Alone Alona Beach I was very disappointed. It was narrow, short, crowded, and quite dirty, and the water was rather average. It was possible to swim, but nothing special. On the plus side, there were massages on the beach and restaurants where you could eat or take shelter from the downpours. I was pleased that even the stray dogs there were clearly cared for by the local restaurateurs. It's clear no one is chasing them away, they look well-groomed, and they wear collars with their names and the words "Alona Beach Dog.".
The other day we went to the beach Danao, which looked very promising in the photos. The tricycle ride took about 20 minutes and ended in complete desolation, dirt, garbage, and a landfill. We continued on, passing a small resort, a diving center, and a manual shipyard where men built and repaired boats. A bit further on stretched hundreds of coconut palms. A beach with enormous potential, unfortunately completely untapped. With a little effort and determination, it could be turned into a truly magnificent place.
It's worth dedicating a day to a trip to the surrounding islands. Tour operators and hotels offer such trips to the "virgin island" (Virgin Island) and Balicasag Island, We decided to rent a private boat for a few hours. The weather was terrible, but luckily we weren't with a group, as we could decide when to leave each spot ourselves. The rental fee was 1,600 pesos, or about 130 złoty. There are two great snorkeling spots near Balicasag, one with turtles, the other with a reef and fish. Apparently, you need a guide and pay to jump into the water at these specific spots. We paid 500 pesos each, but I must say the guide was good, and we managed to see some great turtles and frog fish. The water wasn't cold, but once we got out onto the island, it wasn't pleasant; the prices for coconuts and food were absurd, so we skipped the food and headed to Virgin Island. It turned out to be a stretch of sand jutting out above the turquoise water. It's probably impressive in nice weather.
The very center Panglao It's tiny and sparsely developed, with a few shops, restaurants, and diving centers. In my opinion, it's a great base for trips to the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Sanctuary (more on that in the next post). We were here for five days, a bit too long; the beach is much better in El Nido. The weather wasn't our cup of tea; it rained constantly, was overcast, and I even managed to get cold! However, I did find a great vegan restaurant, Shaka. They have delicious breakfasts, juices, smoothies, and vegan burgers.
Next stop – Corona!
