21 Sept 2012 Lapu Lapu

21 Sept 2012 Lapu Lapu Friday up at 4am for 4.30 breakfast, 4.45 taxi and 6am two hour ferry to Bohol Island. This time everything goes to plan and the three of us are met by driver Ray, pre-arranged by Grant. First we have a long drive to the Chocolate Hills in the centre of Bohol. There are 1260 of these dome shaped hills that are lumps of coral from when this area was lying in shallow seas thousands of years ago. Volcanic eruptions created the hills. Rain eroded them and created swamps then plains around them. The soil on the hills never achieved sufficient thickness for anything other than grass to grow on them. In the dry season, the grass turns brown. Hence Chocolate Hills. I am very disappointed. I love chocolate and thought there would be loads of it here. Maybe even chocolate mines. But there is no chocolate, so I eat one of my apples instead.

On the way back down, we drive through a 3000ha man-made mahogany forest, planted by boy scouts and girl guides. It's traditional to stand in the middle of the road for a photo here. Not a good idea anywhere, but especially in the Philippines.

We visit a butterfly farm where there are many beautifully coloured species. Our guide shows us some trans-gender butterflies. One wing has male colouring, the other female, he calls them lady-boys. Later I pet a giant caterpillar closely watched by its angry mother.

Next we visit the Tarsier Reserve in Loboc. These monkeys are the smallest primate in the world. There are 113 of them in this 16ha wooded enclosure and we see about ten, none of them moving, just sitting quietly on a branch. We can got very close to them for photos. Remembering John Cleese and the parrot, I ask the keeper if these monkeys are stuffed and nailed to the trees. No, she said, they are sleeping.

A short drive further, and we get to walk across a very dodgy bamboo bridge over a raging torrent some distance below. I don't like heights but inexplicably, I can handle then better when over water. We meet an American gentleman who wins the worst dressed tourist prize. we chatted and I liked him. Hans didn't. Here he is on the bridge with his girlfriend whose hat has just blown into the river. He didn't jump in after it. Neither did I.

Now at last we go for lunch, on a boat as it chugs up the river and back. A buffet, OK, but followed by some delicious brown sweet soft tartlets, I sneak five of them including the last one, maybe more than my share but the last group to board were late eating their main course so I managed to go back to the table a few times before they could get to them. There was a bunch of traditional singer/dancers on a pontoon half way up the river, very entertaining. This is s video but I don't know if it will work on the blog, please do let me know.

Next more Python, a real one, not Monty but Prudence. She is 250 kilos and 26 feet. A meal is one live pig or two goats. She has never eaten a keeper or tourist.

Next Baclayon Church, built of coral in 1724.

Lastly a statue of the Spanish making peace with the local chief just before they knocked seven bells out of each other in a viscous war.

r A long trip back followed by dinner with Hans and Lily in Diones. A very enjoyable day. Bye for now, John