Bohol Trip Day 2: Bohol Bee Farm, Island Hopping at Balicasag and Virgin Island, and Hinagdanan Cave (July 6, 2013)

* Bohol Bee Farm

We left our hotel at about 6:00 am and went to Bohol Bee Farm where my uncle and his friend were staying to have our breakfast there. Their buffet-breakfast valued at 350.00 Php is a must-try. The ham is not too salty and the pancake is not too sweet or greasy. The food is devoid of the usual preservatives you taste in food. The vegetable salad, fresh fruits and juice are very refreshing. Their pesto was not overpowered with olive oil, it's just right to the taste and is not cloying. It was also my first time to eat brown rice which is not hard to acquire a taste for. Their buffet-breakfast is something i look forward to trying again. The breakfast area's location which is overlooking the sea is sure to whet your appetite as well. 

                                       Breakfast at Bohol Bee Farm overlooking the beach

                                                                        delicious :)

After breakfast, we went to our uncle's room to see what their room looks like. 

                                          One of Bohol Bee Farm's nicely-decorated rooms

serene view from the room's balcony

At around 8:00 am, we boarded the multicab we rented which brought us to Alona Beach which is about 20 minutes or so away from Bohol Bee Farm. From there, we rented a big boat that brought us to Balicasag and Virgin Island. 

                                         I love Alona Beach's fine sand

                                 Picture-taking before the boat leaves the shore

                                 this part of the boat is not as steady as I thought

*Island Hopping at Balicasag and Virgin Island

The trip from Alona Beach to Balicasag Island took about 30 minutes. We were in the verge of sleeping. Unlike Hundred Islands, the snorkeling area in Balicasag Island doesn't have a rope marker that marks the area where the corals are. Also, it seems like in Hundred Islands there are more corals while in Balicasag there are more colorful fishes.

                                            

                                                       Balicasag Island's shore is made of coarsely-powdered shells

                          the small boat that we transferred to that brought as to the snorkeling area

                                                                         posing underwater

One problem that we encountered is because we are wearing a life jacket we can't submerge underwater to see the fishes and the corals. I don't know but in Hundred Islands it's easier to see the corals but in Balicasag I can't seem to see them well. I'm not sure if it's because of the water, if it's the quality of the corals or if it's my state of mind that time. But one thing's for sure, we should learn how to swim so we can take better underwater pictures on our next snorkeling trip.

                                           Don't forget bringing bread to attract the fishes

                                                

                                                      exhausted and sunburned

Virgin Island was next. 

                                                        Virgin Island

                                they sell sea shells by the seashore

                                     quenching our thirst with coconut juice

Virgin Island is open-spaced, there are no trees aside from that spot behind us which do have clumps of trees but is restricted because it's private property (which explains the fence around it. How ironic.) Since the sun is scorching hot that day we also left quickly after an hour of walking and looking around. 

Our boat took us back to the shore of Alona Beach then we went to eat at a carinderia and then went to see Hinagdanan Cave.