One thing I look forward to on our upcoming vacation is to have a nice massage in front of the beach with palm trees covering the sun. Years of office and computer work has taken its toll and having a massage helps alleviate the stress that I accumulate every work week.

My wife has been bugging me to try getting massaged by blind masseurs, and I’m thinking yeah, maybe. Or Maybe I should try something more high tech like orthaheel shoes. The bottom line however, and we both know it, is that we need a more physically active lifestyle!

Well not all of them, but particularly those that have no regard to traffic rules and ethics. They just overtake without any signal and abruptly cut you at dangerously close distances. They also don’t obey street signs and street lights – they are simply accidents that are waiting to happen!

Ever since the invasion of cheap China made motorcycles, they are quickly becoming one of the major transportation vehicles and a major source of headache here in our City.

Combining motorcycles’ inherently unstable design and unruly drivers will simply mean more accidents. Even the best online motorcycle helmets will not save them if they drive too fast and overtake without proper precautions.

I hope that our government does not overlook this dangerous trend and apply stricter policies on these unruly two wheeled monstrosities.

The kalesa is an old form of transportation that has survived up to the present and is a common tourist attraction in the old Manila area. I’ve ridden on them a few times and so have my son, so looking at this before and after picture makes me realize some of the changes in its design.

Just like houses may change while their address sign remain the same, I hope that the humble Kalesa will survive for more generations to enjoy the feeling of bio transportation. And I also hope that these Kalesa drivers and owners learn to take care of their horses.

When I was younger our house was built near a rice field which is also called “bukid”. And we normally see a Kalabaw or carabao helping out farmers as well as cows and goats. Two decades later having gone back to the same house that I grew up on, its sad to see our street and our area full of houses – to the point that there are very few trees. The once lush green rice field where kalabaws work are now stone houses and streets.

My son was even surprised when he saw a carabao in person while vacationing at Bohol. I felt sad because he did not experience the same old school childhood as I did.

We experience a different kind of service with Dao Diamond Hotel. Since they support deaf students, they also employ qualified deaf personnel making the hotel elegantly quiet. At first it will feel awkward when you are trying to make sign language to ask for things but soon you will understand a little bit of their sign language and you will appreciate the professionalism and hospitality that they offer.

The hotel also looks real nice, with its laminate flooring, wonderful displays and Polynesian theme. Highly recommended in case you need a place to stay in Tagbilaran Bohol.

One of the best part of our trip is the tour of the many historical and tourist destinations found within the Island of Bohol. Our hotel hired for us a car with a driver that will take us around Bohol for P2500. The car was good and the driver was nice and explains to us a lot of things about the landmarks and the people that live in Bohol. The roads were quiet and empty which is a far cry from what were used at in cities. I just hope that there is an emergency road service available that will help people that will experience car problems. We visited the Blood Compact Statue, Baclayon Church, Chocolate Hills, Butterfly Garden, Tarsier Conservation Area and Loboc River Cruise.