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Glimpses of Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City on a Motorbike

Destination: Dauis

Two weeks before I will facilitate a team building program in Bohol, I was to do an ocular inspection. So I embarked on a trip to Bohol to arrange my clients' trip: hotel accommodations, catering arrangements, transportation arrangements, and countryside tour booking.













Accommodations: La Veranda Beach Resort

I booked a deluxe room for 2 nights at the La Veranda Beach Resort in Catarman, Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines. I got the room for a discounted price of PHP 1,300 a night with free breakfast. The regular rate is PHP 1,500 per night for a deluxe room.

Related article: La Veranda Resort in Dauis, Bohol



Transportation

Arriving at the Tagbilaran port very early at dawn, I did not disembark the vessel until it was around 5:30 a.m. From the port, I hailed a cab to a Jollibee fast food branch in downtown Tagbilaran City before I hopped on a tricycle that took me to the Island City Mall in Dao, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines.

See also: Tricycles in Tagbilaran

I requested La Veranda Beach Resort to pick me up at Tagbilaran City. Traditionally, one way transfer on a 4-seater sedan costs PHP 400. They waived the fees for me this time. They picked me up at the Island City Mall in Dao, Tagbilaran

Since I wanted to be more free and flexible while I move around Bohol, I requested to rent a motorbike. I rented a Yamaha XRM bike for PHP 500 for every 24 hours. Since I was going to use it for 2 days, I rented it out for PHP 1,000 plus the gas I will be using up.

Motorbike rental shops are actually a walking distance from the Port of Tagbilaran City, right at the mouth of the road that leads to the port. Should you need a recommendation, you may call Mario at 0929 855 6357 or 0915 690 9866. He has several scooters and motorbikes for rent. Mario can also arrange for car and van rentals.

Food Trips 

La Veranda Beach Resort Bar & Restaurant 

I had most of my meals at the bar and restaurant of La Veranda Beach Resort. My first meal was grilled tangigue steak to go along with shanghai rice and calamansi juice. The highlight meal was the dinner on my first night when I had lechon kawali, Bohol express, and seafood rice. All these dishes were a must try when you are in Bohol and all sell for less than PHP 200 for a serving that can feed two or three. When you do dine at La Veranda, it will be best when the chef on duty is Chef Dodong.

Seafood rice at La Veranda Resort, Bar, and Restaurant in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Seafood rice at La Veranda Resort, Bar, and Restaurant in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines



Bohol Express at La Veranda Resort, Bar, and Restaurant in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Bohol Express at La Veranda Resort, Bar, and Restaurant in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

The Prawn Farm

I had my Saturday lunch at The Prawn Farm at the Island City Mall in Dao, Tagbilaran City. Luckily, I chanced upon their weekend-only  buffet which featured ebi tempura, stir fry vegetables, fish kilawin with cucumber, pork with pineapple, fish fillet with sweet and sour sauce, shrimp halabos, chicken barbecue, and fresh fruits. Since I m a sucker for ebi tempura, this was almost all I ate at the Prawn Farm!

Related article: The Prawn Farm

Cafe Lawis 

I had a serving of Cafe Lawis' souffle cake with Ube Kinampay filling that went along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It took about 20 minutes to prepare, but the wait was well worth it.

Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City Bohol Philippines
Souffle cake at Cafe Lawis



The Buzzz Cafe

Before I left Bohol, I went to the Bohol Bee Farm to have lunch at The Buzzz Cafe. I had a taste of their famed garden salad with indigenous flower petals. They also gave me a complimentary serving of their squash bread with pesto and mango spread as well as cabcab, or dried cassava paste made into taco-like chips with green tomato, parmesan cheese, and vinaigrette dressing. For my meal, I had a serving of prawns and grilled fish. I wished I could have tasted their organic ice cream on a cassava cone but I was just too full already.

grilled prawns at The Buzzz Cafe in Bohol Bee Farm, Panglao Island, Philippines
Grilled prawns


Grilled tangigue fish at The Buzzz Cafe in Bohol Bee Farm, Panglao Island, Philippines
Grilled tangigue fish at at The Buzzz Cafe in Bohol Bee Farm, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines


Bee Fi + Honeyed Fruit Veggie + Organic Garden Salad at The Buzzz Cafe in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Bee Fi + Honeyed Fruit Veggie + Organic Garden Salad at The Buzzz Cafe in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines


Complimentary Squash Bread and Cabcab at The Buzzz Cafe in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Complimentary Squash Bread and Cabcab at The Buzzz Cafe in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Related article: The Buzzz Cafe

Places of Interest

The Dauis Church Complex and Municipal Hall

The Dauis Church Complex which is right behind the Dauis Municipal Hall and town plaza includes the Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Belfry, and the Convent. The convent also houses Cafe Lawis and the Handumanan Souvenir Shop.

Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City Bohol Philippines
Dauis Convent
Related article: Dauis Church Complex

Mayacabac Man-made Forest

A man-made forest does not only exist in Bilar, Bohol but one can also be found at Mayacabac, Dauis town, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines. Well, it's but a collection of trees, nothing spectacular really. I just checked it out as it appeared on Google Maps.

Mayacabac man-made forest in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Mayacabac man-made forest in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Borja Bridge

The Spanish-era Borja Bridge is one of two bridges that connect Panglao Island to mainland Bohol, the other being Suarez Bridge. The Borja Bridge connects the Dauis Poblacion to the Bool Junction at mainland Bohol.

Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City Bohol Philippines
Borja Bridge

Alona Beach

Would you believe that at the end of a long, quiet road is a party place at Alona Beach? I drove 14 kilometers from my hotel in Catarman, Dauis to dine at the famous Alona Beach of Panglao. It was an eerie drive on a motorbike totaling 28 kilometers back and forth in the dead of night. I was all alone and even had a dog chase me on my way back to the hotel.

Alona Beach on Panglao Island Bohol Philippines
Alona Beach at night


Alona Beach was definitely alive. I ate at one of the restaurants by the beach. There was party music and dancing nearby while on the waters there were people who were doing SUP (Stand Up Paddle). But since I was too scared to drive back to the hotel too late, I didn't stay long after dinner. I also wasn't able to snap some shots as I was conserving my phone batteries since I was relying on Google Maps for directions. Even then, I lost my phone batteries while I was still 4 kilometers away from my hotel.


Plans for Future Visits

I wasn't able to fully explore Dauis in my recent Bohol trip. When given another chance I will explore the following places:
  1. Bikini Beach
  2. Bingag Beach
  3. Bohol Bee Farm (I was here but it wasn't the total experience)
  4. Dao Beach
  5. Hinagdanan Cave
  6. Songculan Lake
  7. Search for the 1900 well in Upper Songculan
  8. Visit Bayoyoy the Dwarf (if he still accepts visitors)


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