Typhoon Glenda (International Name: Rammasun) has come and gone, at least in my part of the country. But the rains and strong winds are still here. And another storm is set to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility. ‘Tis the way of things in my country during this time of the year. The only thing we can do is be prepared, pray, and have faith. And go on as before. Or try to.
Back when we were in elementary school and first learned of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, I bet we all imagined giant Hershey’s Kisses that we can lick and gobble up. “Giant chocolates! What fun!”
And then we grow older, and we know better.
Cue to this video of the adorable #kendrasuperstar of #TeamKramer.
As the decades (decades talaga!) passed, we all heard about the state of the Bohol Chocolate Hills deteriorating. No longer as “chocolate-y” as it was back when we were wee kids. But it remains, to this day, one of the main attractions in Bohol. And that’s where we headed after our lunch at the Loboc River, which I blogged about here.
The entire spread of the Chocolate Hills spans three barangays: Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan (where the Shiphaus was located). This geological formation is comprised of more or less 1268 hills shaped like moles or resembling those chocolate kisses we love so much. Instead of chocolate, however, it turns out that these hills are mainly made of limestone, covered with grass that are colored green during the wet season. In the dry heat of summer, however, they turn brown, hence the name.
We were there at a time when summer is drawing to a close and the rainy season is edging in.
The Chocolate Hills complex has a main reception-slash-parking area. Visitors who brought their own vehicles will leave them there, pay the entrance fee (Php 50.00 per person), and then climb quite a long flight of stone stairs carved on a small hill to get to the viewdeck on top.
At the viewdeck, there are a series of bronze plaques set on stone, explaining the geological phenomenon that resulted to the formation of the hills. Quite deep stuff. Interesting enough, and I remember being slightly engrossed. Then the bean counter in me promptly forgot all about it. Tee-hee.
The viewdeck also had its version of a leaning tower. With a huge bell. There was a considerable tourist crowd when we were there.
Unfortunately, the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 2013 destroyed the viewing deck of the Chocolate Hills. Right now, however, it seems that they have established a new viewing deck at the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP). Oh, lookie, another place worth checking it if you find yourself in the neighborhood!
Ok, so perhaps there will be a bit of disappointment for those who rely too much on those postcards with brown chocolate hills. But before you go off ranting that it was a disappointment, consider the time you actually went there, wontcha? I didn’t need it to look postcard-perfect to be amazed at how this natural wonder.
And there is a spot for taking photos. And trick shots. Or attempts at trick shots. And you cannot NOT attempt jump shots. Torture when you’ve got the beginnings of a migraine coming on, but oh so worth it.
The Bohol Chocolate Hills was, for lack of a better word, breathtaking, and I can only hope it remains that way for kids and kids-at-heart 30, 50, 100 years in the future, to be able to enjoy viewing it from afar.
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