At last, a proper place to stay! Bamboo Oasis was a breath of fresh air—spacious, complete with a kitchen, and a swimming pool right outside our door. It was exactly what we needed to recover from El Nido.
- We took full advantage of the chill vibe, spending most of our time cooking, lounging by the pool, going for a Thai massage, and indulging in pure relaxation. For the first time during this trip, I actually sat down and read a book (The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil), and let me tell you, it was glorious.
We managed to muster the energy for one countryside tour, which hit some interesting (and not-so-interesting) notes:
- Chocolate Hills – Hands down my favorite. These rolling mounds lived up to their fame. They weren’t chocolaty (they get this color sometime after dry season), but they were lovely nonetheless.
- Suspension Bridge – Wobbly fun and a nice change of scenery.
- Man-Made Forest – A stretch of trees along the road that, despite the name, didn’t quite scream “forest.”
- Zip Line – The boys loved it; I preferred to keep my feet firmly on the ground.
- Mini Zoo – A surprising hit! The pythons were cool, but the star of the show was a parrot who greeted us with a cheery “hello!” and even mimicked our laughs. Instant heart-stealer.
- 1595 Church – A lovely historic site, though our timing was off—it was closed for lunch when we arrived.
Overall, Bamboo Oasis was more than just a stay; it was a well-earned reset.
