Eating is not cheating… The Philippines, Panglao
I’ll be sharing now the few days of fun that we had on a recent trip to our house, this March 2019. This is going to be a food segment for sure, but not the restaurant reviews, as that I will be doing on isLifeaRecipe.net. This is family food times, and fun and so is called Eating is not cheating… The Philippines, Panglao. Have a little look at the few days we had together. Not many tourist snaps this trip, as to be honest we were so busy back and forth to the city getting the final few things sorted for the house. Manic to say the least.
1st night and 1st meal. Wifey found this amazing looking new restaurant outside Tagbilaran City on Bohol. Having seen the photos on Facebook it became a must, and we were not disappointed. This turned in to an amazing family dining experience.
The boys about to tuck into some amazing food at Smoque Bistro & Cafe Bar. Yes indeed we are happy chappies.
I gained Jude Jude back as my son and then lost him immediately when YanYan arrived ha ha. His favourite Uncle. It was a lovely 1st night. A chance for us to have some family time together over a bloody brilliant dinner, listening to some really nice music too. Although Papang did say; “If she keeps singing like this I am going to fall asleep!”
Too early to get into the shops this day. Yep more bloody shopping. Landscaping stuff today. So as the shops are not open, and the kids are thirsty we pop for a refreshing beverage across the road. Something new for me today. In front of you is Panglao Island where the house and the new International Airport is. To the right is the Tagbilaran City seaport, where we come in from Cebu. Can you see that white sandy looking area? That is the start of the construction of a bridge from Tagbilaran City to Panglao Island to make it easier for tourists to get to and from. When this opens it is so so easy for us too to get to the house. Berth at the ferry and 10 minutes later we’re in the house. Loving that!
Yeah baby, mango smoothies all round, please! Delicious. We really are enjoying home #2. How can you not love this place? It’s just a brilliant place. Some much welcomed chaos too, that we miss sometimes in Singapore.
Next day now. Ollie and BeBe have left us. Goodbyes at the ferry terminal early in the morning. More shopping to be done. Off today to Mandaue Foam for last house furniture and decoration shopping, quick flit to a builders merchants for paint search and bar tops (for future), congratulations present shopping for Jhea, and of course yet another new handbag for wifey. Oh yeah, we’d better eat as well. So off to a favourite of ours for a smashing lunch at Gerarde’s. Let’s go to style Filipina for lunch. Oooooh yes, please. I think Jude is the happiest about the potential.
Another dinner, another new place. Remember when we were in Cebu for my 40th, and the gang and I went to Lantaw Restaurant? Remember the amazing 10,000 roses (NOT!!!). Remember the incredible Chorizo? Well they have just opened a branch on Bohol now, funnily enough just down the road from Smoque. Cracking view of the waterfront. We’re literally sat looking at Panglao Island across the water, in a location that is about half-way between the two causeways.
Funny thing was that once a week they have a Beatles night. Jude was desperate to come back on Wednesday to have them play; Hey Jude and Yellow Submarine.
Liking this little view. Down below us are guys waste deep in the water fishing for Gong Gong and the like before the light leaves the day.Buzzing of tricycles back and forth. Twinkly lights kicking in following the stunning sunset. Yeah here is definitely home one day.
More on the food in another blog coming soon, but suffice to say we are having a lovely time together. The picture paints a 1,000 words.
As does this picture. Holy cow what the hell is that thing? Alien meets The Philippines.
Alien meets The Philippines Part II. Michelle has left. Holy crap, that thing looks even worse now. Sort of a freaky melted candle. But a certain person things they are delicious. What’s that saying, don’t eat with your eyes… I couldn’t eat this if I was blind…
Yeap this place is stunning. Sun is setting over Tagbilaran City, and funnily enough the house. Both are over to the right of this photo. This is our neighbourhood, and we love it.
Next day. Yep more flipping shopping. And off to one of my favourite little restaurants in the city. It is so no frills, cheap, swamped busy, just so family and so so good. It’s bloody brilliant. Packed again today, as always.
We even managed to drag Jimmers from his massively hectic school schedule today. Family lunch sat, again, overlooking a beautifully busy seascape. People-watching Kennett is a very happy man.
Dinner tonight at our mate Marjoe’s, @ Persona Mesa, one of our big favourites in Bohol. must try if ever you come. We did get to see her too as we were leaving. Lovely to say Hi. This place is right next to a frequently visited by family Kennett hotel, Kew. It’s a cracker, but now not really needed with the house. Well, maybe not 100% not needed, see Jimboy’s graduation blog.
I tell you what it is a tough life in paradise sometimes. Oh dear, a short van ride from the house to The Bellevue Resort for lunch. Remember Amy and I stayed here last August before Mary’s sisters’ wedding. This is the new life of house living. No need to pay for staying at the hotel, but 90% of them allow you to come and use the beach and have lunch. My wife’s first time here, and what a stunning lunch in a stunning part of this planet. I am such a lucky boy!!!
How could you not just sit here in silence, sigh, and soak it up? It’s just stunning.
Yeah, I am not certain but I think Jude might have been a little hungry for his lunch. What do you think?
Very local shopping centres today, sorting out cable connectivity for us and our forthcoming guests. So as we are local local, there is only one breakfast to have – bloody JolliBee. Man I hate this stuff, but the kids love it. So in we go.
But we make amends by visiting one of my all-time favourites, Payag. Just down the road from where Mary stayed when at University, this is the 1st of many Payag’s now. The 1st is our favourite, and we come here every single trip. The kids had bought some cheap remote controlled cars at local local shop centre, and because we walked in at 1130 for lunch they were able to own the floor space to play before any other guests arrived.
We have photos sat at this very table going back 9 years now. We even had my UK mates sit here with us – remember Coleman’s and Paine’s in June’18 for my 50th. Yep, that was this table, and we also did the let’s do lunch on the beach at a resort. Living the dream before we were living in the house.
Finally, we manage to drop the house for 2 days as it is being skimmed and painted. We are so lucky that Jhea is with us too, so a little change to the room and we add one to the vacation party for the next three days at Bohol Beach Club (BBC – yeap being British I just had to stay here – the Aunty Hotel). Very exclusive is BBC, one of the only resorts on Panglao that does not allow walk-ins. You actually have to book for lunch or dinner unless you are a guest.
It’s a lovely place, but not a great deal to do like you have at the likes of Hennan, Bellevue and Amorita. Sparse is the word I would use. One restaurant. A quasi-bar come pizza place. A games room. A monster beach. One pool. And shed loads of grass. Entertainment each night but it finishes when dinner is over. So not really a place to go sit at a cool bar overlooking the sea and chill. Sparse is it, maybe limited is another word. But we had fun nonetheless. I doubt I’ll be choosing here again though. It’s the first resort on the island and has had many refurbs, perhaps the time is now to have another. Read on folks, it was fun.
Don’t get me wrong it is simply stunning. Yes, I could sit and stare all day at this skyline. Boats chugging back and forth, divers onboard, snorkelling happening all over. It is very beautiful.
Another lunch on paradise. Yeah, I could get used to this. Come on kids hurry up and grow up so I can retire and have fun with Mum.
Even the chilling items at the hotel are related to food. Here is one of the huge Hammocks. I said; “Why not make them real ham?”
Now that is not a bad little beach, is it? The light topaz sea goes out about 200 yards or so, and you never get above your waist deep. It’s amazing. Then you hit some rocks where there are loads of fish, sea cucumbers, the occasional sea snake, corals, anemones, and the like. We know this because I took Amy and Jhea snorkelling, and we saw the lot. Go about 15-20 yards further and there is a shelf that you hit, that just drops away into the dark. I have no idea how deep that goes, suffice to say it is DEEP. We saw that from the glass bottom boat trip. Cool!
This is incredible. Just beyond those palm trees is the very place we had Mary’s 40th birthday family beach party. We had no idea that the BBC was right next door. Incredible. We did indeed pop down the beach to reminisce. What fun that day was. Did you see the blog?
I know I will probably sound like an idiot now. It is stunning here at the BBC, but really there is not a lot to do for the gang.
Here is the pool. Again for the $$$ you are paying it isn’t exactly that flash, it’s just a nice pool. A couple of umbrellas, and a jacuzzi style thing. An enclosed bar, yeah not even a pool bar, that serves pizzas and I think is supposed to be the evening entertainment after the restaurant entertainment finishes. Hmmmm.
The terrible twosome daughters. Mischief written all over their face. Where are the bubble behind you girls coming from. You are not in the jacuzzi…
Yes I was there too. Finally a shot of us all, well Amy is in a coma, so only there in body. Funny thing. Can you see the band behind> Great music with a warty sea Breeze and waves crashing. But notice the guitarist. Yep the very same guy that entertained us on night number one at Smoque. Small worlds, or rather small islands…
Next day is adventure time, so snorkel gear all rented for the girls and me, and we are exploring. Such clear seas here, it’s insane visibility. I think some of the fish were spawning as when you got near to their little hideouts in the rock they were darting out all aggressive like. It’s a Mum thing!!! Loving Jude’s outfit, another photo coming soon re that.
World ping pong championships featuring The Philippines, Japan and UK (it’s a mixed bag – and that’s just the kids!)
Grand-master Jude Kennett delivers a speed blinding cross net smash to the Japanese/UK contender Amy Kennett. Kapow!!! Take that sis…
Whilst over in the crucible it is the World Pool Championships between Japan and The Philippines. Seeing a common theme here. Miss Philippines is looking over-relaxed and over-confident, but let’s see how this game pans out. Join the cue!!!
She who laughs last laughs longest. Actually, these two were so bad it was I who laughed the most, first and last. It was hysterical.
A quick sprint outside for Team Philippines selfies… I tell you those sponsors are so demanding!
Now it is Amy time for the video links. Here she is, pulled from the audience yet again, to perform alongside the Hawaiin dancers. Well, Hawaiin dancers from Panglao, Bohol, The Philippines. Hey, come on we needed some entertainment at this hotel. CLICK HERE to watch Amy in action. I think the performer was a little shocked – little did she know Amy is a dancer already ha ha!!!
It’s a Hawaiin buffet dinner at The BBC. Dancing to start, watch that video of Amy and you’ll get the drift. Then out come the men to do FIRE DANCING. Have to say these were spectacular. Slipped that camera on to sports mode and grabbed some amazing snaps. Love these!!!
Yeah, cool right?
Amaze-Balls. Even security is transfixed. Mind you he was like that all night, especially when the food was served…
Holy crap I think he’s forgotten his hot air balloon… You sure can tell how much the prioce of petrol is in The Philippines. So cheap!!!
These boys were really good, especially on such a dark night!
I don’t know if the things got too hot or what, but boy did this lad throw them high in the air. “Hot, hot, hot…”
Now he’s spinning the things. Multi-tasking, multi-talented. Cool show indeed!!!
And then one of them disappears on to the beach and creates this Catherine Wheel effect. OMG. All you could smell was burning hair, ha ha ha…
Yes, a little photo-shopping here with this rather cool new App I have. So Jude is now Scuba Diving with the Whale Sharks. Very Jude Bond.
A little bit of glass-bottom boating now. This was really rather cool. We saw loads of stuff, and the most interesting was just how deep the water was after the topaz blue shallow piece. It just dropped and dropped down to darker and darker to black.
So whilst we were on this little boat it was an amazing chance to look back at the very beach where Mary’s 40th beach party was. This is literally right next door to The BBC, but cos we’re all exclusive like security will not allow you to meander past…
Last day now for Amy and I, so let’s leave The BBC and go for lunch at the very hotel I ever stayed at on Bohol, Panglao. The Amorita Resort. Unrecognizable now to that time 9 years or so ago, with it almost tripling in size. But it is still a stunner, and an amazing last lunch to boot. My beautiful kids all having fun together, before we scoot home and have the last supper and then Amy and I have to fly back 5 days earlier than wifey, Jude and Jimboy & Jhea.
And The Beard with wifey in his new Telly Savalas glasses – looking a tad like a beach pimp. Lovely lunch, lovely family. I am so going to miss this when back to work. Dear me.
How could you not be absolutely besotted with this view…?
Waiting for our ride home, Jude practices making the hoooooo noise by blowing on an empty bottle. I promise it was empty. I promise he was blowing it not drinking. Despite what the photo looks like!!!
And that was that. Our last support together with the family. A thank you to Mum, Dad, YanYan and Mae again for their amazing support for us. A song or two from Jhea. An amazing dinner from our mate the Chef and an early night as Amy and I are up early tomorrow – boo hoo!!!
This night not only did we have a very special treat from Chef Raphael, but we had a massive treat from our very own Jhea. Up she jumps and knocks two amazing songs out of the park in front of the restaurant goers. Have a CLICK HERE to watch her in action. Amazi Jhea, just amazing, no wonder you got an award.
Thanks, Chef Raphael. Cracking cakes thank you! Most unexpected.
