Imprisoned in a garden,
My eyes darted between flickering wings.
Luxurious colours, like fragile petals
floating all around me,
skipping on air with purpose.
Meandering thin paths
cleared through tropical forest,
our tour group held their breath.
Rustic bamboo homes.
I stared out the van window
Wondering about sylvan living.
Desirous of a taste;
an opportunity to escape my own.
Climbing stairs, we reached a look-out.
Two years, i’ve yearned for this moment.
Hungry eyes affectionately drank in splendor.
Pines and emeralds, and pistachio greens,
Walnuts and caramels, and hickory browns.
Clumsy technology inadequate
to truely capture my sight.
I put my camera down.
My eyes twinkling,
staring out as far as I could see.
The moment imprinted forever in my mind.
We soon pulled into a car park.
Tourist vans, adults and children,
excited, but hushed,
as we entered a micro jungle.
Mini monkeys, ‘Tarsiers’, trying to sleep.
Nocturnal fur balls with owl eyes,
camouflaged and clinging to their own homes.
Guardians watching over them.
We encroach on their habitats
and ‘preserve’ by putting them on display
Only this way, we slip into their space.
They have no choice.
I imagine they are happiest at night,
when tourists are snoring away.
Loboc river cruise, I hear, was to be the best of all.
Provided with music and buffett
bustling tourists, eager to refill their plates.
I felt strange, sitting there, like a Tarsier, expected to play along.
The chatter died away as I stretched my neck out,
Seeking the river we apparently traversed.
Tropical trees parted by Loboc.
The water, a murky olivegreen.
Zoning out from the sounds,
a banquet of revelers,
I saw a bamboo structure in the distance.
Our captain steered us toward
what would become the highlight of my day.
By coincidence, I had the best view.
By the edge of our boat, I stared.
Dancer feet drumming the wooden floor,
imbibing watchers mezmorised.
A choreographed dance,
complete with pretty dresses.
Beside a graceful dancer, another
dancing as as though she were clubbing on a Saturday night.
My smile spread. My heart delighted.
My hands could barely hold my recorder still.
We had a driver, but no guide.
We guessed at details.
“Here’s Baclayon Church, built by Spanish Colonists!”
We didn’t care.
Heading for a breakwater, we found other treasures.
Sea gems and local children.
My hand suddenly filled with a starfish.
Heavy and rubbery, with quivering’feet’
I marveled at its mechanics.
Our new sea friends safely tossed to sea,
we stopped to sample bitter mango pleasures.
Thank you, Bohol, for the memories.
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I’ve never heard of Bohol, but it looks really nice! A chance to get out of the cities and experience nature and local culture.
Oh wow! When are you going back? I ‘m glad you like Bohol. Tarsiers are one of our treasures. I just hope they don’t get stressed out too much and all tourists would take extra good care of them.
I was watching the dance before I read your poem and I was like…”no!!! this is not how we dance our Philippine dances”, hahaha… oh well, at least you got entertained.
“I imagine they are happiest at night, when the tourists are snoring away.” – my favorite line and it rings so true of any places that has been taken over by tourists with our hungry eyes and clumsy technology. Yet again, perhaps a place as beautiful as that will remain under the preservation of the Philippines and their authorities instead of being overrun by construction, deforestation, etc.
Wow, looks gorgeous! Why is it called the chocolate hills ?
Sounds like it was a great time. I like the more poetic way you shared this trip. Those starfish were so big too!
What a beautiful way to describe your trip! You explained your experience so beautifully! This looks like a great place to go! I’m definitely going to add it to my list! Thanks for sharing!
I recently visited the Philippines but chose to do El Nido isntead. Bohol was my second option and hopefully i’ll return to the beautiful country sometime soon to check it out!
Bohol is on my list!! Glad that the views of the chocolate hills did not disappoint you after waiting so long to see them.
WoW, Bohol comes extremely attractive place while I read your poem!
I wanna book a ticket to fly there right now, and jump into the chocolate hills!
Thank you Sue! I did just book another ticket back! XX
What a wonderful experience !!!
Thank you, Papa… it was amazing, and i’m heading back there soon! XX