At the core of the central Visayan region of the Philippines rests the beautiful paradise of the province of Bohol. Location-wise, it's Cebu island’s eastern neighbor on the map and is conveniently accessible to reach via land, sea, or air transportation.
Despite being a tragic victim of the catastrophic 7.2-magnitude earthquake of 2013, Bohol miraculously emerged from the rubble, currently thriving as a prosperous haven of commerce, cuisine, history, tourism, architecture, wildlife, culture, and more.
But it clearly didn't stop there.
Apart from these valuable assets, are you aware of what really catapulted this humble settlement into a world-class destination that has frequently attracted millions of local and foreign visitors?
Allow me to introduce to you the obvious culprit behind its international success - a geological wonder that has continuously mesmerized tourists, residents, and folks from all walks of life since time immemorial.
Meet the astonishing Chocolate Hills of Bohol!
Aren't they incredibly fascinating creations of Mother Nature?
However before anything else, would you like to listen to an interesting tale about its outrageous legendary origins? I've heard countless versions of this mythical story shared to me from friends, relatives, and of course from the heartwarming Boholanos themselves. Yet, they all surprisingly converged into one common plot.
Its enigmatic beginnings narrated about a colossal human being (probably a mystical behemoth from alien habitats) who became extremely obsessed with a normal local woman. Like many mysterious love stories of weird endings, their short-lived relationship suddenly turned for the worst, terminating their unusual bond. As a result, this particular male giant kept crying for long periods of time with his humongous tears scattered all over Bohol island, eventually transforming them into the now-famous Chocolate Hills.
Unbelievable, isn't it?
From a more realistic perspective, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol are fundamentally geological abnormalities of the Earth, producing distinctive mounds, and easily capturing the eyes of any curious onlooker or passerby. And I was definitely blessed to savor the unforgettable opportunity of experiencing these natural marvels face to face during my periodic travels to Bohol.
You see, their local government’s tourism authority converted one special Chocolate Hill into their official viewing deck for visiting tourists and other guests.
From that elevated level, one can fully immerse in the picturesque, hypnotizing, and breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding environment, most especially the adjacent Chocolate Hills plus others nearby and beyond. The unobstructed views were absolutely stunning!
From that raised platform, I also stumbled upon its inaugural marker as well as metal information boards that scientifically explained how the Chocolate Hills came into existence. It was surely an eye-opening nugget of knowledge.
Now, you might be wondering why they're called Chocolate Hills, right? Here's the most logical explanation:
Since this tropical country is geographically situated close to the planet’s equator, the Philippines only sustains 2 annual climates: dry and wet.
During the wet (or rainy) season, these massive humps of soil turn green, thanks to the fertile layers of lush vegetation covering their outer shells.
On the other hand, the dry (or summer) season dramatically changes the appearance of these curvaceous natural formations due to the scorching weather, thereby drying up the green sheets of plants, shrubs, and foliage that cover them. Hence, this remarkable transformation exposes their naked brownish to light beige upper soil mass, projecting the monumental impression of unwrapped Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses. This is most likely the best metaphor to describe their unique comparison. Do you follow?
Experiencing the iconic Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the flesh has been one of the most thrilling sensory encounters I had with the natural world. Although I've already connected with these extraordinary landmarks several times in the past, I always look forward to physically engaging with them again, perhaps with a fresh outlook, a novel viewpoint, a different context - probably in the not-so-distant tomorrow.
Have you already set foot on this enchanting travel address?
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