Bohol at sunrise

Sunrise at Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, fireflies and the green banks of Loboc River.

Philippines201910 photographs

By Julius Uy2 min read

The rising sun lights clouds above the Chocolate Hills, with mist between green slopes and trees.

We went to the Chocolate Hills for sunrise. My verdict was simple: “Beautiful and majestic.”

Our Bohol trip also took in tarsiers and fireflies, Loboc River, Hinagdanan Cave, Alona Beach and Panglao Church.

Chocolate Hills

The sun sits just above the horizon, lighting the clouds in gold and orange. Mist lies between the hills, while the nearest slopes and trees are green. Rounded hills continue far beyond the first rows, fading into the distance.

The surrounding countryside has its own layers: palms, fields and pockets of woodland beneath the open sky.

Rounded grassy hills rise above dense green trees beneath blue sky and pale clouds. — Green slopes and layers of rounded hills.

Palm trees, green fields and patches of mist stretch towards rows of rounded hills beneath a pale blue sky. — Fields and palms below the Chocolate Hills.

Tarsiers in Bohol

Seeing tarsiers was part of our Bohol trip. Two cling closely to a tree trunk, their wide eyes looking out from beneath the leaves. Their small hands and feet grip the bark.

Two brown tarsiers with large eyes cling to a tree trunk among green leaves. — Two tarsiers tucked against a tree trunk.

Fireflies in Bohol

We also went to see the fireflies. Tiny points of light scatter across the darkness, with some appearing as short, bright trails.

Many tiny points and short streaks of pale light appear against an almost black background. — Fireflies in the darkness.

Loboc River

Loboc River was another stop. Green water runs beside banks thick with palms and other vegetation, with trees reaching from the water’s edge up the surrounding slopes.

Green river water curves beside dense vegetation, with tall palms rising from the bank. — Palms along Loboc River.

Hinagdanan Cave

We visited Hinagdanan Cave, where pointed formations hang in dense clusters from the ceiling. Pale surfaces catch the light against the rough brown rock.

Pale pointed rock formations hang from a rough brown cave ceiling. — Rock formations inside Hinagdanan Cave.

Alona Beach

The trip included a visit to Alona Beach.

Panglao Church

Panglao Church was among the places we visited. Nearby, the white watchtower rises above the grass and trees, its walls darkened in patches and its roof catching the low sunlight.

A tall white tower with dark weathering and a red roof stands beside trees and a grassy area in low sunlight. — The watchtower beside Panglao Church.

Bohol Bee Farm

At Bohol Bee Farm, pots of herbs line a narrow path beneath the wooden sign. Labels identify plants on the shelves, while more greenery grows from reused tyres below.

A meal in Bohol

A salad brings another burst of colour: purple, pink, red and yellow flowers piled over lettuce. An orange-coloured drink, a bowl of rice and a small dish of sauce share the table.

Purple, pink, red and yellow flowers cover a lettuce salad beside an orange-coloured drink, rice and a small bowl of sauce. — A flower-covered salad and the rest of the table.