Cyril's New Friends - Part Dalawa

By popular demand, here are a couple of more pals I encountered in the Philippines!!!

In between visiting my friends, I had to take a break in one of these!!!

Bohol Island Excursions

The second week of our vacation we travelled from the island of Cebu to Bohol. We stayed at a small resort on Panglao island. It was beautiful in Bohol and one of the best parts of our trip. Our second day we took an island tour to all the popular tourist sites.

The Tarsier is one of the smallest monkeys in the world. So cute!

We could just reach out and touch them...but watch out they bite!Our first time on a Zipline - over the Loboc River valley. It was really scary but so much Fun!

Cyril and Mateya on the way back.

Jaidyn and I flying high.

After the zipline we took a cable car ride over the valley. Holton liked it but we thought the zipline was more fun!The view of the Loboc valley from the cable car. We were very high up!

Going to lunch at the floating restaurant along the Loboc river.

Along the river was lush and green. It was really beautiful.

Enjoying the music on the river cruise.We stopped at a local village for a photo opportunity. The money raised goes to improve their way of life.
Learning about butterflies and moths at the Butterfly Sanctuary.
Touching the cocoons.

Playing with butterflies.The Chocolate Hills in Bohol. In the summer months they are brown so they look like chocolate chips or Hershey kisses .

All of us at the Chocolate Hills.Although we live in Alberta and have been around horses alot it wasn't until we travelled half way around the world that we all rode a horse for the first time. We went for an hour long trail ride. It had rained a lot earlier in the day so the trails were muddy and slippery. I was really scared the horse would slip and we would fall but we all made it safely back. I was so relieved when it was finally over!

Holton riding a horse for the first time. I ended up riding with him.
Mateya enjoyed her first horseback ride but had a hard time controlling her horse.
Jaidyn thought the trail ride was awesome and loved her horse who even galloped for her.
Holton and I ready to go.Cyril's first time on a horse. His horse didn't cooperate with him and he was also happy when it was over. We both weren't meant to be cowboys!
After the trail ride we stopped at a mall to get a few things before went back to our hotel for dinner.

Adventures in Tabogon

On December 11-12, the whole Managase family (Belen's side of the family) went to Tabogon for a Funeral/Memorial Service for Cyril's grandparents who died in the past couple of years. We brought their ashes from Canada back to the Philippines where they will stay. Tabogon is the town on Cebu Island about 2 hours from Cebu City, where Cyril's mom (Belen) was born and grew up. The family still owns the property up on a mountain where the original house was and where Belen was born. It was about 20 min drive out of town and then we had to hike for about 30 mins to reach the homestead. We first went to a farm in Tabogon owned by Belen's cousin where we hung out and ate lunch and dinner. It was a busy 2 days meeting family and learning all about our heritage. It was a great weekend.

On the way to Tabogon we stopped for lunch at this fishport.

Some of the food we ate for lunch... well everyone but us Canadians!
The Managase family having lunch.

Group photo of all of us at the Fishport.

Arriving at the farm.
The pig we will eat for dinner.
Cyril in front of the main house.
The pigs on the farm.
Checking out the baby pigs.
Holton holding a rooster for the first time.
Cyril heading to the toilet. It was behind that door.
Cleaning off all the mud from their shoes.The family watching a photo montage.

Mateya, our city girl, not really enjoying the farm. It was too hot, stinky and muddy for her. She actually did enjoy herself, it just took a while.Holton trying buko (young coconut) for the first time. He didn't really like it.

At the memorial service for Lolo and Lola Managase....the main reason why we came to the Philippines. The shelves behind us is where the ashes will remain.

Some of the family at the service.

Karla and the Managase girls. Look at how tall I am!!

Swimming at the local cold springs to cool off before dinner.Some local kids showing off for us.

The cold springs from the outside.Our dinner!

Little lizards were crawling on the ceiling. They eat the flies and mosquitos so we were happy to have them there.Dinner is served!

Belen with her cousins and other family members.

Jaidyn was so tired she fell asleep on the sofa.

Holton and his new friend/cousin Angelo.
Belen's cousin named Ditdit (I think) telling Holton all about cockfighting. He told him he would show him in the morning.

A cozy night sleep! All 5 of us slept on this double bed for one night. Cyril and I didn't sleep very well but the kids did! I fit in between Mateya and Holton.
Bringing two of the roosters for Holton.
Holton learning how cock fighting is done.
Cyril's second cousin climbing the palm tree to get coconuts for everyone.
Cutting the coconuts for us to try.
The kids trying to pet the baby goat.
Bananas just cut from the tree.
Cyril got to ride on the motorbike all the way to the start of our hike. He had a blast!The kids enjoying the hike. It was very HOT but we all had fun!
Hiking up the mountain.
The place where the original house used to be and where Belen was born.

The kitchen.Holton playing in the mud.

Group picture of all the family who came on the hike.
Some of the buildings on the property.

A Chocolate tree!

Cyril with his mom's cousin Nuyen.Some of the family hiking through the Managase property.

On our way back from the homestead.Resting in the shade after our hike up the mountain.

Karla taking a ride on a motorbike. The driver (Ditdit) is the owner of the farm.Some of the Managase Clan picking up another Auntie to take her for lunch.Our new family band.
There is a town named after us. Barangay means town. This was our last stop on our way back to Cebu and the end of the Managase Family reunion.