mangroves, mangoes and miracles

Sneaking out of our Manila hotel first thing in the morning to take a quick peak at the city before our connection to Bohol island, I quickly hit morning traffic - Philippine style.

The following morning, from the balcony of our b&b in Baclayon.

And then down to the beach.

The Bohol islanders have planted a huge quantity of new mangroves around their coast.

Foraging on the beach and returning from the morning's fishing.

Bohol, like elsewhere in the Philippines, has more than its fair share of churches.

Built of coral rock, Baclayon church is one of the oldest institutions in the country. See if you can spot the 'miraculous' image on the column below.

We took a boat out to Balicasag island for dolphin-watching (not very successful) and snorkling (quite wonderful!).

The 'chocolate hills' are probably the main attraction of Bohol island - a karst landscape of masses of coral-formed limestone eroded into hundreds of perfect cones. The ph-balance of the soil is such that large vegetation is unable to grow on them, and the grass dies quickly in the summer, turning the cones brown (hence the name 'chocolate').

Below, Chuck bounces Greta on a bamboo bridge while Julie cautiously waits for the mischief to end.

Below, a tiny tarsier - one of the smallest primates in the world, and the only solely carnivorous one -  eyes up a tasty ant.

On the walls of Manila's old city (Intramuros) students rehearse for a traditional performance.

St Augustine's, Intramuros, a combination of european and chinese influences (for instance the stone lion between the white columns below).