Beaches and Beyond

After 2 months in the Philippines I finally got to take my long awaited getaway, with my cousin Ana, to Bohol. For those of you who don't know, Bohol is famous for two things: The Chocolate hills and Tarsiers. For those of you who still don't know, read on.

But first... some pictures:

Ana and the mighty Loboc River
The Loboc and I
Our boat ride to Nuts Huts (our 'resort')
The Loboc river
Nuts Huts

The Loboc River at sunset
Our primary modes of transport around Bohol:

Chcolate hills:

It's said that a during the formation of the earth a lovelorn giant cried tear drops that later solidified to form Bohol Island's famous chocolate hills. Twelve hundred and sixty eight tear drops to be exact. All approximately the same size and shape. When viewed from the top It's really kind of weird.

Tarsiers:
Similar to what you might expect if you cross bred an owl with a mouse, a koala bear, and a tree frog. The tarsier is the world's smallest primate and an endangered species. These bite size tree dwellers are fiercely territorial and independent. So much so that the trauma of being taken out of their natural environment and placed in a viewing cage, where they are endlessly poked at and prodded at by humans, can shorten their life span by years. It is even said that the tarsier finds being held in captivity so unbearable that it will commit suicide! So to play it on the safe side Ana and I decided to visit the Philippines Tarsier Foundation, rather then risk the life another one of these precious little aliens by visiting an independent captive tarsier farm... even if we didn't get to gobble one up at the end. Just joking.
Aloha Alona:
After our hectic day of sight seeing Ana and I decided that two days and nights of sun and luxury at near by Panglao Island's Alona Beach was well deserved.

Our Resort - the Alona Kew White Beach
My freshly pedicured toes on the beach
I recycled one of Andreas' old uniforms to make this bikini
Up early for some sunrise Dolphin watching
If you look closely , a dolphin has just submerged, causing the small splash in the upper right hand corner of this picture...
Alona Beach at sunset

Bye Bye Baby

On a sad note, my sweet boy Andreas left for Iraq last weekend. Please send lots of positive energy and prayers his way so that he can come home safe to me in one years time. Sniff.

How we're spending the next year together

Andreas in his barracks in Kansas

Our favourite picture together
(obviously Korean socks!)

Sagada

January 27 to 28, 2007

Since I was already cold and wet and north, I decided to keep going. Sagada is a small tourist town even deeper into the mountain province. The only way to get there is by rickety 'Jeep' on narrow, winding, gravel mountain roads. Sagada's famous for its ancient burial caves and hanging coffins. It's also full of wood houses and restaurants that feel like muskoka cottages. I loved it!

Our sweet ride

the road there
Me and my fellow Korean countrymen
Me in a native hat

The Lumiang Burial cave

The steps down and the mouth of the Sumaging Cave:
On our way down there was a group coming up from their own cave tour. Upon emerging from the cave several shouted 'thank God we made it'. Others were doing the sign of the cross. I, in turn told the guide that I'd changed my mind. He said it was too late.

(you can't see them, but I estimate that there were at least a million bats living in there. At least.)
Bingy, our fearless guide, lighting our single gas lantern

It's like I'm Laura Croft.
A rock formation that looks like the rice terraces
The Sugong Hanging Coffins