Air Transat Star Tag

Seen at GC9AZC6 Cabbage Tree Swamp 5* Trackable Hotel. ⭐

歡迎返嚟香港! Welcome back to Hong Kong. You took the train to Kowloon since it’s an area I don’t know and wanted to explore. Kowloon is located directly north of Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbour. The name 'Kowloon' (Chinese: 九龍; lit. 'nine dragons') alludes to eight mountains and a Chinese emperor, Zhao Song. The emperor was the last of the Song Dynasty and was only seven when he died after defeat by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty so I’m not sure how he managed to be included as a dragon. You had a walk through Kowloon Park, saw flamingos, ate some cheung fun, marvelled at all the guest houses crammed in the infamous Chungking Mansions, and then headed back to the airport. 🇭🇰

Off to the Chocolate Hiils which sadly are made of limestone and not chocolate. The hills are covered in green grass that turns a chocolate-brown during the dry season, hence the name. There is a minimum of 1,260 hills and possibly up to 1,776, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. The area is protected and yet in March 2024, a resort was built between the Chocolate Hills, sparking controversy. Sixty-eight local officials, including Bohol governor, were suspended six months. I’m sure that really taught them a lesson…… 🍫

Today’s excursion was to the village of Loboc which is known for its lunch cruises along the scenic and winding Loboc River. Very pretty with all the lush rainforest. The cruise was better than I thought it would be and the organisation was first class, not something I often experience in the Philippines. Full credit to them. ⛴️

Picked up the hire car and made our way to Bohol Island to see Philippine Tarsiers (*Carlito syrichta*). The tarsier is named for its elongated "tarsus" or ankle bone which allows it to jump at least 3 metres from tree to tree. The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates, measures 85 to 160 mm in height, approx human fist sized. Their eyes are fixed in its skull; they cannot move in their sockets. But can rote their necks nearly all the way around. The eyes are disproportionately large and tarsiers have the largest eye-to-body weight ratio of all mammals. The Philippine tarsier’s diet consists of insects, spiders, small crustaceans, and small vertebrates such as small lizards and birds. 🐵