Unique Chocolate Hills at Bohol

Bohol is a prime eco-cultural tourism destination. My friend and I rented a car to reach one of the most famous tourism place in Bohol, the Chocolate Hills. Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is the province's signature attraction. They were similar to giant mole hills, consist of more than 1268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses" hence the name. From this color, the hills derive their name. When I arrived there, the hills are green, because it's not a dry season.



On the way, we stopped by at a photo corner among the kiosks selling souvenirs. There was a giant screen with chocolate hills picture. A photographer with digital camera were ready to take our action who stood right in front of the backdrop picture. He gave us a broom, first I didn't understand what it was for. He asked us to act as if we rode the broom, and jump as high as we could. Amazingly we were like Harry Porter who could fly with the broom among the hills. He had a small printer, we could select which pictures we would like to print, it cost 100 Peso per piece. The paper quality was not too good, but the idea was quite bright.


Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with facilities such as a restaurant, hostel and view deck. We went to one of them, entrance fee was Php 50.00/person. My friend has been visited a few times, she prefered to wait me in the park area than accompanying me to reach the top. The very long stairs were discouraged me of tiring walk to the viewing deck, but my friend pushed me to go up, she said it's worthy to see the scenery from the deck. The driver was kind enough to follow me climbing the 214 steps of the observation hill, to take my picture. I had to stop a few times before reaching the top, to take a rest, catching my breath.


There is an explanation on a bronze plaque at the end of the stairs. My friend is right, the scenery from the viewing deck was very remarkable. As far as my eyes could see the scenic panorama of Chocolate Hills. At the edge of the deck, there was no fence, but the scenery was very beautiful. You had to be careful to take picture, don't jump as the land was very narrow, and the ravine was very steep and deep, it would be dangerous if you slip.


The unique land form known as the Chocolate Hills of Bohol was formed ages ago by the uplift of coral deposits and the action of rain water and erosion. Self-published, popular web pages present a variety of fanciful and less credible explanations about how these hills formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay.


In the middle of the viewing deck, there is a wishing bell among trees, you could make a wish by throwing a coin and ring the bell.


Going down was easier than going up, it's getting dark already. At the parking lot, I went to the toilet, as our journey back to town would take around 1-2 hours. There was no water at the closet, you had to fill the bucket with water from outside the toilet. It seems the water was very difficult to get there. The restaurant was also very quiet, I did


Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement. The Chocolate Hills is another contender to become one of the natural wonders of the world.

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