Lemery, Batangas

TRAVEL DATE: October 30 - 31, 2011

Part I: "The Unplanned Trip" Escapade

This is how it all started.

"The loooong vacation is coming"... and a day before the 30th of October, we decided to meet and  plan our travel outing to treat ourselves with a worthy relaxation day. Batangas was the place we instantly had in mind because it's near Metro Manila and the fare was cheap.

We searched the internet and found the place Lemery in Batangas. All of us didn't know where the hell this place was located but all we know was that its van terminal was located in Starmall Edsa. We looked for some places to stay and saved the places' contact details. And there we go, all set for the unplanned trip!

Call Time was 2PM but since we have the Filipino habit, we all arrived at 3PM! We then boarded the van to Lemery, Batangas and it took us about 3 hours going there. Well, we had fun moments and chit-chats inside the van and at the same time, we we're still contacting various resorts for a place to stay good for 6 persons. Text message sent, call here, call there!

We arrived Lemery Public Market at around 6:30PM and it was already dark. We rode the Tricycle going to "Villa Leonor", the place we all chose. Villa Leonor is a 15-minute tricycle ride from the Lemery market and the fare is around PHP 30 each.

TRAVEL TIP: Don't expect much from Villa Leonor since it's only an ordinary outing place for families and friends but it's not that bad though. :)

Pictures!

We stayed in a single non-airconditioned room with electric fan and a double-deck that can accommodate 4 persons and we asked for additional 2 mattresses with pillows and linens. The resort staff was very accommodating and very kind to us and that's a plus factor.

Room Accommodation

It was my colleague's 23rd Birthday so we also brought some cakes and drinks to celebrate it. Our purpose of getting here was to only relax and unwind, and escape from the busy Manila life, and the place was just perfectly right.

The next morning, we woke up kinda late and well, since it's an unplanned trip, we basically did not have any plans.

Since the place was just beside the seashore, we talked to some local fishermen and asked them if we could rent their boats and have a boat ride. Well, we had a good deal because we only paid PHP 50 per person for 30-minute tour. It's pretty cheap!

 

 After the short boat-trip, we joined a volleyball game together with other guests, and we also grabbed the chance to swim in the swimming pool and played water charades! (Please comment on this post if you want to know the mechanics of Water Charade!)

The experience was fun and carefree. On our way home, we passed by the famous Mang Inasal Restaurant along Lemery Public Market and we had lunch first. For everybody's information, Mang Inasal first popularized the "Kanin-all-you-can" promo or the rice-all-you-can promo in the Philippines.
 

We chose another route going home by the way. We rode the jeepney going to Tagaytay, where the famous Taal Volcano is located, and there we continued our journey...with our tired faces... :)

Travel Budget: PHP 1,100.00 all in!

Bohol Island

TRAVEL DATE: March 24 - 26, 2010

Bohol Province is located at the heart of the Philippines and its capital city is Tagbilaran. It is famous for its world-renowned Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, and Tarsier. Due to its proximity to Cebu Island, the language widely spoken here is Cebuano, though they also have their own Boholano dialect.

"Sun, sand, swim" best describes Bohol Island because of its crystal clear white sand beaches, tropical climate matched with beautiful tall trees, and of course the added warm hospitality of the local "Bol-anons". 

It was during our university educational tour that I had the chance to visit Bohol Island. It was a two-hour ferry boat ride from Cebu port and the fare was around PHP 400 for one-way. The ferry-boat was well air-conditioned and has a viewing deck outside to which you can take photographs of the islands nearby, up-close and personal.

We were also given the opportunity to enter the Captain's Deck and they gave us a short tour about the deck and the equipment being used:

  

Upon arriving Bohol Port, we surely witnessed how clear the water was and how clean the place was. Kudos to all local government official who imposed strict rules and regulations in taking good care of the environment. From the pier, we were fetched by our hotel van since the hotel was located at the "mountainous" part of Panglao Island, the famous Island beside the main island of Tagbilaran.

Bohol Pier

It was already 6PM when we arrived at the hotel. Bohol Plaza was the name and it was a huge hotel and what's most interesting about this hotel was that the reception area was their fourth floor and the elevator service was going down (can you picture it out?). Since it's located beside the mountain, its hotel rooms were located downhill.  

Here are some photos so you can visualize it:
 

 

 

 Bohol Plaza Hotel

On our first night, we just relaxed and had some fun moments on their wide swimming pool!

The next day, we visited a lot of tourist destinations and here's a rundown of some places to visit:

1.) Chocolate Hills
2.) Loboc River Cruise
3.) Tarsier-watching
4.) Panglao Beach
5.) Sikatuna Blood Compact
6.) Danao Adventure Park - E.A.T. Danao
7.) Bohol Beach Club
8.) Aproniana Souvenir Shop
9.) Baclayon Church
10.) Bohol Plaza Hotel
11.) Dawis Church
12.) Hinagdanan Cave
13.) Man-made Forest     

 

 Panglao Beach 

Chocolate Hills

 Bohol Churches

Tarsier-watching

 

 

Loboc River Cruise

  Hinagdanan Cave

   

  

Man-made Forest

 

  

 Bus Pictures

TRAVEL TIP: Ceres Bus Liner Co. offers a lot of trips from Negros Occidental to Cebu City starting at 11PM until 6PM. Cebu City is the gateway province going to Bohol Island.

Traveling is much fun when you're with a company of happy people. An educational tripped turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable escapade Bohol is such a place worthy to spend time with!