BOHOL, without the adds!

Bohol is perhaps one of the most favorite island destinations among locals and tourists in the Philippines. Thanks to its fine stretch of white sand beaches, a province and a paradise at once. Parallel to these is the best choice for Bohol to be one of the most heavily studied and fought between business sharks and active environmentalists. Your Bohol trip won't be complete without the tarsier encounter, which by  the way is not a monkey. It is a primate and its not endemic to Bohol. So now lets travel Bohol minus the beaches and Chocolate hills but still get the same fulfilling experience. First is the travel from Tagbilaran going to Bilar, one of Bohol's biodiversity pride. It will pass through the man-made forest which is a project of DENR. That was a very sunny day but being in the forest feels like the sun is about to set. 

Then we reach the Bohol Biodiversity Complex, which is maintained by the SWCF.

Here you can hold conferences, workshops etc. at a very low price. Guaranteed no mosquitoes because the ecosystem they have is completely balanced. So there is enough frogs to kill the dengue causing insects.

Nothing energizes your day, than a load of delicious breakfast. Together with the friendly people, we dig in to a sumptuous egg omelet and freshly baked bread the Bohol way. You can also try the native cake exclusive only to Bilar, which is a cassava mixed with rice and coconut.  

Then the trail starts. In some instances, we have to cross small tributaries of the Bilar river. 

We also passed the entrance to the Bilar cave but since we did not have the equipment we were not able to take a glimpse of the treasure down below. Along the way, we spotted beautiful wild plants as well as fauna. 

We saw a very huge centipede, which already has a body about 1 inch wide. This species is an indicator of a healthy environment. I saw one of this kind in only the forest of Leyte and beside the river of Matutinao, Badian in Cebu. 

It is also in the Biodiversity complex I saw a Kaong tree, and its the real thing.

Not those canned by Dole ready for fruit salad on Christmas eve. The best way to end a trip in Bilar is to have a memory tree. It is called as such because you get to put your name beside on the tree and its guaranteed to be there till your grandson's generation.