BOHOL-PANGLAO ISLAND,

So we arrive at the Port of Tagbiliran, The capital of Bohol, after an hour or so ferry ride from Cebu City. We go straight to the tourist office as quoted "this is what we should do upon arrival" from our lonely planet book, very helpful this turned out to be.

So after the friendly help at tabliran tourist office /stall and 20 minutes of indicision by myself and Jade, we are taking a taxi ride to Panglao Island just of the south west of Bohol and connected by a bridge.

We are really relieved to be in the a/c taxi as it is now a blistering 30 degrees outside and what with our bags it makes it feel a whole lot hotter; We don't have a clue as to where were staying but we do know we are heading to Alona beach! The taxi ride gives a short insight to Tagbiliran City which is nothing like the busyness of Cebu City but looks quite quaint with a picturesque Catholic Church and piazza right in the centre. Scattered around are the obligortary street vendors again selling everything you can you can imagine. So out of the City we head accross the bridge and the landscape opens up to show the sea seeming with fishing boats.

Once on Panglao Island we notice this area is much wealthier as the houses seem to have gates and a lot of land and the owners have animals whether it be goat, chicken or a cow. We're really excited to reach our destination , who knows where we will be staying ??!!

Our 20 minute taxi ride is complete and our driver stops so we can look at the first accommodation, Its great. Citadel Alona will be our home for the next 3 days.

So after Jades approval of the room it's straight down to the beach, Its "love at first sight" and I think is going to be mentioned quite alot in these blogs. We pitch up in a spot in the centre of the beach. By the time i have placed my bag on the sand Jade is already submerging herself in the turquoise sea... I join her and it is warm, yet so refreshing.

The beach, with its golden sands, is just what the doctor ordered. Alona Beach it self has seafront restaurants stretched all the way down and a few beach resorts inbetween. There are plenty of other filapinas selling delicious delights from mangoes and buko (coconuts) to the not so delicious Balut (duck embryoes), which the filapinas go mad for. After sitting on the beach for half an hour, Kate an american girl we met at the tourist office (which i failed to mention before) comes to join us and tell us all about her travels. Kate had just been teaching English in Korea, so jade was obviously very intrigued to here all about this. The sun is now starting to set...magnificent colours stretch across the horizon. We then decide for the three of us to go and eat on one of the waterside restaurants, So with a beer sunk and our Pork Adobo, sweet and sour chicken, Filapina Curry and a gargantuan amount of fried rice we head back to our home for the night.

So again another beach day,Testing out the underwater camera which is fantastic, cant wait to don a snorkel and get some pictures of the bright and colourful fish. we find there are masseuses scattered all over offering their services for a mere 300p (£5) its a bargain so jade and and I are extremely excited (me more so the fact that i won't have to massage Jade for a long while)... We bump into our American friend again today and we all decide on sharing a privately hired taxi and driver for the day tomorrow to see all of the Tourist Attractions that Bohol has to offer; Jade is super excited about the Tarsiers. We cooked our own dinner tonight; chicken and veg stir fry as it is quite pricey to eat on the seafront.

Another sublime day in the Philippines, giving us a great glow and plenty of smiles.