Bohol - My Dear Glorious Land

The primary reason most people visit the Philippines is for the beaches, and for I were no exception also. That said, there is far more to this diverse country than white sand and aqua waters and it would be a shame not to venture past the tourist spots.

After doing quite a bit of research for destinations “off the beaten path”, my family decided to make the journey to Bohol.

Our first stop was to see tarsiers.

What is a tarsier, you ask? They are one of the world’s smallest primates. Though they used to be found around much of the world, tarsiers are currently nearing extinction and can only be found in Southeast Asia. They have long, spindly fingers, furry bodies, and tails. Their distinguishing feature though, is their gigantic, bulging eyes. I’ve heard them described as looking like a “teddy bear getting a colonoscopy”. Just Google them. Cute, huh? In captivity these furry little guys are said to commit suicide, yet sadly, many places still keep them in cages to attract paying tourists. The sanctuary we visited is one of the only places you can view these nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat. They are also working to restore the population of this critically endangered animal. 

Second is the Chocolate Hills

After seeing a few tarsiers, we hopped back on our Toyota Hiace and rode on to the famous Chocolate Hills. In the center of Bohol, stand more than one thousand huge, dome-shaped piles of dirt. They received the tantalizing name due to the brown color of the grass during dry season. Not quite as sweet of a name anymore, is it? 

LaStly, We went Firefly Kayaking

We’ve been lucky enough to experience some incredible natural wonders. Now we can add another phenomenon to our list: seeing a "firefly tree". It's a rare occurrence, but when conditions are just right, fireflies will gather on one tree and illuminate it in an undulating glow.  We booked our trip through Kayakasia, an eco-friendly company that organizes all sorts of kayaking adventures around Bohol. It was the Most Magical Night in the Philippines.