marinegirl

Just back from a survey trip to Southern Bohol. Unlike nearby Alona Beach, there is very little tourist or dive infrastructure here. Fortunately my colleague Brian has influential contacts in the area, who managed to arrange a very unique trip for us - sleeping in haunted ancestral houses and dining with Spanish-Filipino ‘Old Money’ at ridiculously extravagant resorts!

We stayed at the ‘Malon House’ - an ancestral home in Baclayon, which dates back to the late 19th century. It is now run as homestay accommodation. Very different to the beach resorts we’ve become accustomed to - antique furniture, a light-up baby jesus above the door (some confusion with the bathroom light) and proper Filipino breakfasts with dried fish and rice (and, thankfully, all sorts of exotic fruits from the garden). Apparently the house is haunted, but I reckon the rumours come from the numerous children who play hide and seek with you, popping out of all sorts of hidden doors and windows to say hello.

It’s actually a great project - several ancestral homes in the area have been set up as homestay accommodation to provide income for their upkeep and repair. Looking at the guestbook, most of the visitors are Filipino, there were very few other foreigners. I took a lot of photos.