Bohol's Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground

If you want tranquility and solitude in your next island getaway, consider Bohol's Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground located at Panglao Island. It is located about an hour away from tourist-heavy Alona Beach

Panglao is derived from "panggaw," a fishing device. Aside from being a tourism hotspot, Panglao is also a  marine biodiversity center after numerous species of crustaceans and mollusks were discovered around the island in late 2000s. 

Obviously the owner is a tennis freak--Flushing Meadows Corona Park is where the US Open Tennis Tournament has been held since 1978. Wonder no more why the facilities are named after tennis greats, i.e. the Graf Conference Room. 

even though it was raining when we arrived, i was impressed with the place

love the mural adorning the main door

closer look

i wanted to read a book in this corner

i was there for work, and this was my room

flipflops in summery colors

view from my door

golden papayas

what the frack?

geckos! they were ginormous, and everywhere 

from the conference room, to the beach

on the last day of work i woke up early to take some last shots of the resort 

a chapel inside the compound

the restaurant. nearby, obscured, is the pool

yonder looks interesting

crystal clear water--those specks make up a school of tiny fish

because of the rain, we missed having our meals here

money shot

Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground 

Brgy. Dao, Dauis, Panglao Island

Manila Office Contact No.: (+63) 02 892-4961

Half Day Bohol Tour Part 4: the Loboc River Cruise

The essential trip to Bohol would not be complete without having at least these items: tarsier-sightings, viewing the Chocolate Hills, and going on the Loboc River Cruise.

Our cruise started from Loboc town. One can also have as jump-off point Loay Bridge. A group of around twenty can charter a floating restaurant  with lunch or dinner served buffet-style, with a singer serenading the passengers throughout the hour-long trip.

The people of Loboc are a a musical lot, the town being known as the musical capital of Bohol, and its Children's Choir is quite renowned, with wins both here and abroad. Our guide told us that many in Loboc are either singers or adept in musical instruments, or both.

the ubiquitous papaya

a glimpse of the convent of Loboc church, the Church of San Pedro,
the second oldest church in Bohol

our cruise begins

a salad of seaweed, chopped tomatoes and onions

sisig!

fresh coconut topped with hibiscus

the view was awesome

i hope the riverside remain lush when you visit 

at this point the boat headed back

we stopped by for some song and dance

some of the members of our group joined the fun

back at the docking station

nipa palm trees

the fruit cluster of the nipa palm, used as decor detail in the floating retaurant

bye bohol--hope to see you soon!

Half Day Bohol Tour Part 3: Mint Choco Hills

Let's continue with our quick trip around Bohol. Last time we visited the tarsiers in the newly built conservation area and considered some items in the Bohol Bee Farm's Gift Shop. For today we'll drive up the town of Carmen to view the Chocolate Hills. En route we passed by the magical man-made forest, comprised mostly of mahogany trees. Lately they have planted more indigenous tree species.

our faces lit up when we saw this sign

we passed by a few solitary hills, like this one, on our way to the viewing point

the hills are green during this time of year

to get to the viewing point, one can either take the stairs or the ramp

I've learned in my visits that the Boholanos are very religious. I don't know if this
has anything to do with the proliferation of papaya trees wherever we go. 

Bohol is usually spared  visits from typhoons, but during our visit the sky was overcast.
Luckily the sun appeared briefly for a few minutes.