The Next Boracay

The main driver to stay on Panglao island accessed only via it’s bigger brother Bohol Island was to carry out our work at the orphanage. We then heard that it was the next Boracay and we loved Boracay so we became excited. Checking it out we decided the only place to stay was Alona beach.

As Nana was with us we had a few boxes to tick and as we have already found out traveling to unknown places this is always a gamble. However, Good Coffee shop “tick”, Good Beach “tick”, Good cake and treat cafes “tick”, Good seafood restaurants on the beach “tick”, Cold Beer “tick” (well that was really for me but Nana did join me a couple of times. Or did the family dynamics sometimes drive her to a cold one? I hope not. The biggest tick to cover of all, especially after the five star Crimson was accommodation.

We struck this one with a gold tick. The Tamarind Hotel. The building on the left was a brand new set of three two-story two bedroom apartments and we were only the second occupants since completion. The hotel was wonderful, the owners were magic, the staff were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and everyone loved the boys playing outside in the pool. Even the restaurant was one of our best places to eat.

We were lucky the hotel was located within an easy walking distance to almost everything we needed except the main city mall. Out came my negotiation skills and for $3 a day we hired a scooter or mokibike as the boys called.

The boys had a blast, the front was nearly almost reserved for Charlie and Ashy felt more comfortable in between either Kristi or Lara and myself. This way we were able to ferry everyone everywhere and take quick trips to the mall.

We spent nearly all of the time hanging out at the beach or the pool. Again, after so long in one place you begin to enjoy your “Norm”. For us, here, this included daily muffins and juice shakes. the boys were in heaven.

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The beaches were gorgeous and once we got our pre teen into gear for the day she found relaxation in routine. Deciding to do some beach art she gathered a lot of local following. With it being Chinese new year her piece of art attracted lots of V for victory signs in selfies. We counted ten in about the same amount of minutes.

Beach life suits us and we were lucky that Alona was very family friendly. Even the boys had their chance to get in on the local sea life. Holding their first starfish.

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We did venture away from the beach and hotel pool a few times. We had to take the bike to the local city, mall, about a 30 minute ride away. The boys knew instantly they were off to the playground. All Asian malls seem to have an indoor play ground, where at three years old you can leave most and go about your business as long as you come back for them. For our guys this was a time to ride………..

The shopping mall was pretty good actually. Completely guarded by some pretty heavily armed guards on all of the doors as well as the bank entrance ways. A clear sign of the religious unrest that had made its way to even this part of the world, literally no one is safe.

Our favorite trip was probably still while Pam was with us and it was either to the cave pool or the waterfall. Both days were quite different. The Hinagdanan Cave is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is lit by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling. The pool swim was well worth the experience.

The other favorite was the Ingkumhan Falls. Nana took a jump off the cliff edge and Lara really enjoyed the waterfall climb. The area is lovely. Not populated, not over crowded and you can stay as long as you like.

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We were waiting for Bohol to be able to take our second location dive now we were certified and boy it did not disappoint. We took advantage of the traveling sitter, ala Nana and headed off to first explore the reef. Getting on a boat and traveling for about three minutes you kind of think “Is this is?” But stepping off the boat you have an automatic 5 meter ground level so great for a safety stop coming back up. Take a few strokes out to sea and woosh! The sea bed just drops over a cliff to a depth of who knows what. We spent 45 minutes or so just exploring the wall, teaming with life.

Our second location was the gorgeous Balicasag Island. A marine reserve about an hour from Alona beach. Again you have your natural 5-meter reef depth until it falls but the sealife in and around that 5 meters or so was so special. Literally, dozens of turtles, schools of fish and that didn’t seem in the least bit scared of us.

You cannot and must not get complacent on such experiences as this and after seeing what seemed to be about 50 turtles, to me it was just like seeing the first one. We were privileged to the highest degree today and we feel like this most days on our experience around the world.

The boys continued to grow up and develop at a rapid rate. The two areas we notice the most is sleeping and swimming. As most people know we invested in little pop-up tents we call pee pods. They started to learn how to unzip the door. Then when we tie it shut they learned how to break out by ripping the material. Out comes the cotton and needle to sew it back up but they kept protesting. Eventually, during afternoon nap time we checked on Ashton to see if he had broken out. Indeed he had and crept into Lara’s bed. He was trying t tell us something. The picture at the top is his little pee pod.

The Tamarind became the first place our boys really decided it was bedtime for real. We have since made up beds between pee pods being open and pillows outside to full-size mattresses on the floor.

The boys swimming has come on leaps and bounds. We were so lucky for the toddler pool at The Tamarind that was just deep enough for them to touch and therefore practice. Their confidence levels grew immensely and we are trying to work on this before leaving warm Asia and pools on our doorstep.

We loved Alona beach, made wonderful by the owners an staff of the Tamraind. We had to leave a few times because during the month of February we had booked another apartment but after seeing it we were shocked how dirty it was. Cut a long story short we cancelled that and asked to stay at The Tamarind for another month. They were thrilled but there were about ten nights we had to leave because they were booked. Even though the others looked great, they were not the Tamarind.

When we returned for a final ten days. We were greeted by a “welcome home” and two fire engine toys for the boys. Eating in their outdoor restaurant was great, in exoensive and the staff just doted on the boys.

All in all, we loved The Philippines, not to the extent of Koh Lanta but it certainly has a special place in our hearts.Would we come back, absolutely.…..

For a full photo gallery on Bohol & Pangloa Islands, click here