Recently, I saw many people spend their vacation in Bohol. Seeing how happy everyone looked made me want to travel to Bohol someday. Now that I have people to go with, we've decided to go this summer. Since we are traveling in the middle of summer, I was worried it might be too hot. Fortunately, it's the rainy season, so the temperature is lower than in Korea. This was my first trip away from my family, so I took the night flight with nervous excitement and arrived at Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines.

  In the morning, we took to the streets to exchange some money. Even though I had left Korea, I could easily see Koreans and Hangul everywhere, and it made me feel as if I was still in Korea. After exchanging my money, we headed to a fast-food restaurant to avoid the annoying street vendors and hot weather. A guard stationed to prevent street vendors from coming in opened the door for travelers at the entrance. After a quick meal, we went to Alona Beach. From the moment we arrived, we could see the view in front of us was breathtaking. The clear weather, the gentle waves mixed with emerald hues, and palm trees on the white sand created a beachscape with distinct shade and sunlight. There was a sense of awe that couldn’t be captured in a photograph. The wonderful impression of this beach will never be unforgettable, even after the trip is over.

  Soon, we set off for the sardine run tour at Napaling Reef. We saw stray dogs sleeping on the sand. In the Philippines, it’s common to see stray dogs and livestock roaming the streets, but it's best to avoid them in order to not be bitten by any biting incidents. While we were on the boat heading to the snorkeling point, we received a brief tutorial on how to use the snorkeling equipment. I felt a bit anxious about jumping into the deep sea. However, the water was warmer than I expected, making me comfortable to swim. When we approached the reef, the guide signaled us to look into the water. 

  As soon as I lowered my head, I could clearly see small fish swimming and the swaying seaweed! Soon, a school of silver sardines passed beneath my feet. Watching the small fish filling the deep sea made me feel like I was in the ocean. Although I often struggled and swallowed saltwater, the photos taken by the guide seemed to be quite atmospheric. Swimming in the sea was a delightful experience and completely different from swimming in a pool. On the way back, I also took pictures with the sunset in the background. When we arrived at the beach, the water had receded quite a bit. The boat couldn't go any further, so we had to walk the rest of the way. It seems that the sea has low tides at certain times of the day. The sand revealed beach marks and the breathing holes of clams. After returning to the accommodation and enjoying a bit of play in the pool, we went out for dinner. A fire show was taking place in the large plaza, and we enjoyed watching it while waiting in line at the restaurant. We ordered four dishes. It took an entire hour for the food to arrive, but the meal was very satisfying and delicious.

  The following day, we woke up early for a hopping tour. I was really excited about seeing whale sharks and turtles. It felt different from yesterday; it felt more like we were diving into a real adventure. Our first stop was to see the whale sharks. When we arrived at the snorkeling point, one of the guides was feeding the whale shark with shrimp paste to keep it swimming nearby. We floated and waited quietly until the whale shark approached us. The whale shark glided just below the surface. Observing this massive creature so close was incredible. Since touching or harming the whale shark deliberately would result in paying a huge fine, I made sure to keep my distance. I had imagined swimming alongside the shark, but in reality, I was just following its tail.

  Our next destination was Virgin Island. It is called that because it is a small island that only appears during low tide. It’s known as a photo spot. The revealed island was filled with beautiful vegetation that has never been seen in Korea. There were many structures and blooming flowers, and it was hard to believe it would be submerged again.

  The turtle snorkeling point had cold water and choppy waves. Although reviews said people saw seven or eight turtles, we only saw one. The fortunate part was that the turtle came up to the surface, a rare action, so we could see it closely. It was a lot of fun to see so many different kinds of tropical fish swimming around us. After the tour, we got a massage that felt wonderful and completely relieved our fatigue. 

  On the third day, we had no specific tour plans, so we decided to use a local operator for a land tour. We went to see the tarsier monkeys. After only riding tuk-tuks during the trip, riding in a car with air conditioning felt like heaven. The tarsiers, known as the glasses monkeys in Korea, were being protected in a lush garden after many had disappeared due to a typhoon. We had to stay quiet while observing them. They had very large eyes, crouched, and the body size seemed about the size of a human fist. They were so tiny and cute that finding them with our eyes was challenging. Unfortunately, most of them were sleeping during our visit, so we only saw a few of them with their faces hidden.

  A little further up from the tarsier park, we visited the Chocolate Hills. These naturally formed hills are named for their chocolate-like appearance. It was astonishing to see that the conical hills were naturally formed and clustered together neatly. They somewhat resembled enormous royal tombs. After enjoying the stunning scenery, we went shopping at a mall and ate some last local mangoes before boarding our flight back to Korea.

  Bohol, where we traveled, is a typical destination in the Philippines famous for its diverse marine life and beautiful natural landscapes. Snorkeling and diving to see various marine creatures are particularly popular, and unique natural sights like the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Monkey Sanctuary offer a unique experience with nature. If you are planning to visit Bohol, you can look forward to an extraordinary adventure in harmony with nature.

Park Jiwon Trainee Reporter

fieso03@mail.ulsan.ac.kr