My first time

[marine6357]

Well it has been 1 week since my return to the US and I miss it already. I Just completed and 2.5 week stay in the Philippines and all I can say is what Gen. Macarthur said "I came through and I shall return".  

My trip began in Buffalo, NY with my flight to JFK from there it was a grueling 15 hour flight to Taipei with a 2 hour layover to Cebu. Total flight and layover time was just under 25 hours.

Landed in Cebu around 10am local Had no problems clearing customs or immigration and was at the Taxi stand by 11am.

During my ride to my hotel Crown Regency it took about 1.5 hours and I think I fell in love with about 10 different women on the street. lol

I met the Girl I came to see there and we hit it off immediately. So right away i felt as I had made the right choice on coming.

We spent 2 days in Cebu but really didn't do much because of my jet lag so just relaxed and tried to get turn around with my schedule of sleep.

We then made our way to Alona Beach in Bohol via ferry. It was a pleasant trip and was nice to get some fresh ocean air. Our arrival in Tagbilaran saw us getting a taxi for a ride to Alona and our Hotel.(Vanilla Sky Dive resort) We had our room at a place a little off the  beach and didn't really it finding to our liking so After walking the beach we found another place right on the beach and switched places to it.(Lost Horizon Resort). Wow what a difference that made. . All I can say is if you are planning to go here stay as close to the beach as possible.

During this stay we did the usual day trips we did a land tour and and an Island tour. Which included Balicasag and Virgin Island

This is a crazy place with food stands and other vendors set right up on this sand bar water to your knees and all.

The next day we just hung out at the beach and explored Alona beach and all her restobars. Food was decent but nothing compared to what we found in Siargao. On our 3rd day we decided to take and Bohol Island tour which was quite an experience We took in the Chocolate Hills, Bilar's Man-Made Forest, Tarsier sanctuary,  Floating restaurant along the Loboc River, Blood compact site, Hanging bridge 

and last to Baclayon Church . One of the oldest churches in the Philippines. I really enjoyed this part of the trip

The next 2 days were spent just eating drinking and relaxing here in Panglao.

I will post more of my trip over the next few days. But will say this I have no regrets whatsoever on my choice to visit here and looking more and more like my final retirement place of the future.

Edited October 16, 2018 by marine6357
Filled in the names of places we stayed

[Jake]

22 minutes ago, marine6357 said:

Well it has been 1 week since my return to the US and I miss it already. I Just completed and 2.5 week stay in the Philippines and all I can say is what Gen. Macarthur said "I came through and I shall return".  

I will post more of my trip over the next few days. But will say this I have no regrets whatsoever on my choice to visit here and looking more and more like my final retirement place of the future.

Excellent "after action report".  Well done Marine!  Respectfully Jake  

[Reboot]

Went there for my 43rd b-day. Amorita there at the end of the beach is seriously the nicest hotel I have stayed in while in the Ph, and it ranks up there overall internationally IMHO. Beautiful place and great service. The man that manages the place approached and  asked me what I thought and he beamed with pride when I told him so. Didn't do the boat tour, but rented a scooter and rode up to the Chocolate Hills which was a great experience. Was just a couple days' trip and back on the ferry to Cebu City. If you want off the beaten path next time you are there then I highly recommend the other side of Bohol with Anda Beach. This was a different trip where google maps led us wrong and we had to get out and push a toyota through mud. But the  place was worth it. White sand cerulean sea. A well maintained statue of a US Marine making a landing right there on that gorgeous beach. I will try to find the picture.

Edited October 16, 2018 by Reboot

[Reboot]

Went to the cockfight in Jetafe. My BiL was a cop there before he transferred. The guy running the event pointed at me in the crowd and said how much do I bet?

"QUINIENTOS!" I shouted (500) after indicating the bird I preferred. The whole place roared. I won that bet but I lost 2500 on my BiL's bird (the one being prepped with a steel spur).

Bohol is my favorite place in the Philippines so far.

 

Edited October 16, 2018 by Jollygoodfellow
rotated video

[Jollygoodfellow]

1 hour ago, marine6357 said:

( if anyone wants to know of any places we stayed just pm me).(don't want to break any rules by mentioning them on the forum).

There is a huge misconception regarding this. You can mention, link or whatever as long as you dont own or have some sort of financial investment in what is mentioned or linked to with the sole purpose of free advertising. 

So go ahead and share 

[marine6357]

15 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

There is a huge misconception regarding this. You can mention, link or whatever as long as you dont own or have some sort of financial investment in what is mentioned or linked to with the sole purpose of free advertising. 

So go ahead and share 

Thanks JGF I will give the good and bad of the places as I see them.

 

[marine6357]

1 hour ago, Jake said:

Excellent "after action report".  Well done Marine!  Respectfully Jake  

Thanks Jake

[marine6357]

1 hour ago, Reboot said:

If you want off the beaten path next time you are there then I highly recommend the other side of Bohol with Anda Beach.

I will have to check that out next time. Should be returning in late January early February We will see if we make it back to Bohol. So many other places to visit so little time. We mainly stayed in the southern part this trip but looking at a northern areas next time Hopefully Baguio Naga and NCR area.

[marine6357]

Leaving Bohol we then took the ferry back to Cebu and made our way to Mactan Airport for our flight to Siargao. Siargao airport is just a tiny little airport they bring your bags right to you after the flight so didnt really have to wait long. You can catch a van from there to reach any of the resorts near or in General Luna about and hours drive with them stopping off at many resorts. We arrived at our resort Malinao View (https://malinaoviewsiargao.com/) This was a nice place run by an American Expat and his wife. A little further out from the bustle of of General Luna but only a short trike ride to everything. I cant say enough about the hospitality of our hosts they made us feel more like friends then guest. The owners were very friendly and even gave a lift into town a few times when trikes or Haba-lhabals weren't around. Eric was able to help us find tours and other suggestions on things to do while there. Our first night was very relaxing even a small private beach across the road that we were able to swim and relax on.

We spent the next few days doing a few tours Water tour of 3 islands Naked Daku and Guyam. Got some great sunset photos leaving Guyam.

 P1500 for this tour with a new friend we made Christine.

Anyone that needs contact info for her please pm me.

We spent some time at Cloud 9 area and caught The World Cup of Surfing. Pretty intense waves there and saw some great rides by International and Filipino surfers. Side note Guy from California won and a Filipino came in 2nd. 

On our 3rd night there we ate at A place called Altrove Siargao honestly some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten anywhere.

The next morning we decided to do a land tour Of the island and rented a Binggo https://binggoride.com/ with driver who drove us all over the Island to such places as this  and this

 

Our last full day here my GF decided to try her hand at surfing and we schedule a lesson for her  I think she did good her first time and told her if it was me I don't need any help learning to drown.

Only regret was we weren't able to stay longer here. Really thinking this island might be where I will retire to. They will soon be getting a new international airport and plans for a few more modern conveniences. Was sad to leave here but on to my last few days in the Philippines and off  back to Cebu for the last few days of my trip.

To be continued.....

[Jollygoodfellow]

2 hours ago, marine6357 said:

To be continued.....

Can you please upload future images to the forum as some dont work when enlarging and its best if they are here.