Sunday 4 January 2009

Trip to Bohol :)

Yes our trip started at 6 AM on 25th of December. After nice Christmas Eve we took taxi to the airport to fly to Bohol with Cebu Pacific Airlines. We reach our destination at 10 AM, weather was very nice. We went for some breakfast and think what we want to do and see during next days. There were 3 people joining us later (Katherine, Natalia and her boyfriend), they are having internship in Davao. After some discussions we decided to go to Alona Beach on Panglao Island



We found there nice accommodation and of course went for beach. Unfortunately we were so tired that all of us slept almost all day :) Next day we rent a van for two days which took us for a trip around Bohol. We see Blood Compact , Baclayon Church Loboc river and Man- made forest in Billar. After around 5 PM we reach Chocolate Hills, unfortunately it was too late to see them because it was already dark, so we stayed in the top of one of the hill for a night. In the morning we weren’t very happy because it was raining L so again no of Chocolate Hills. L But after around 1, 5 H sun rise up and in front of our eyes amazing view appear. It is very interesting how the Hills looks like. Our next stop was Tarsiers Visitors Center. Those are cute animals which looks like Gremlin and ET :) This little crazy animal can fit in the palm of your hand, rotate its head almost 360 degrees, move its ears in the direction of sound and has huge eyes, 150 biggest than a human’s in relation to its body size :). You can’t touch them because they will die very fast by making suicide. After those nice 2 days of trip we drive back to Alona beach and stayed at the same place as before. Our next 4 days were to relax on beach. Because most of us were not very into just chilling and doing nothing on the beach we decided to take Diving Course :) Yes!!! It was one of my best decisions ever! The Philippines are one of the most beautiful countries to dive so being here 1 year it will be silly not to use this chance. Our course took 3 days and it was unforgettable experience. You can’t even image how much you can learn about yourself. We had a great instructor Alex which made this experience both very useful and fun at the same time. We started with theory and movie than get to know equipment and first pool session. After first session and practicing some skills we went for Open Water :) Wow! For a first time I saw the underwater world in reality! IT is even hard to describe how beautiful it is. All those magnificent, colorful fishes and corals! During next two days we had more theory, tests, pool session and next 3 dives. The deepest that we went was 20 m! Now I have my license and can go diving in many places, can’t wait to do it next time :) If you will have chance to do your license don’t think to much just do it! On the last day which was 31st of December we had finally J some time to lay on beach and relax :) For New Year Eve first we were have some drinks in our room with some friends and then we went for beach :) Yes for the first time I spent NY on beach when it was around 25 degrees :) On the 1st of January we had fly back at 11 AM so we come back to Manila around noon and at the same day one hour later new trainee from Peru came :) So now I have new flat matte – Karla.

That was story about my last week :) if you are interested to read more about Bohol visit this page:
www.bohol.ph

Christmas with Filipino Family


When you are so far from home, in such tropical country it is hard to feel Christmas spirit. It is around 26-28 C every day, sun and even all the Christmas decoration, songs, shopping mania is not helping. Sometime I think that maybe it is better not to feel that this is special time, it is helping me not to miss much family and be sad. Together with other trainee we decided to go for a trip about of Manila to Bohol. It is island which is part of Visayas Islands about 1 h by plane. Our trip was from 25th morning till 1st of January. I will write more about this trip in next post ;)



What was very nice is the fact that we had chance to spend Christmas Eve with Filipino Family (of my work friend). We (me, Eva and her boyfriend, Milan) went there around 9.30 PM. We were first guests (as always :) ) Whole family gathered around 11PM. We were waiting till Midnight and start the evening :) we started with short pray and thanks for the food and all the good things. Later we started dinner. As always a lot of delicious food but nothing special (traditional) for this evening. After dinner we had some time to talk and after short second prayer. At the end around 1.30 AM it was time to give presents. It happens in the same way as in Poland. Whole evening finished around 2 AM. It was very nice experience to see how Family is important in the Philippines. When we reach home it was already 2.30 AM and we had around 3 h of sleep because at 6 AM we needed to go for an airport and start our trip to Bohol.