Tanawan, Oslob, Cebu

Po rajskem otočju sva se odločila za mazohistično vožnjo do Osloba oziroma kraja Tanawan, kjer sva hotela videti, kako je plavati s kitovci. Glede tega sva se sicer dolgo časa odločala, saj je plavanje s kitovci v poletnih mesecih mogoče le zato, ker jih domačini hranijo. S tem kitovci ostajajo ves čas na istem mestu (v njihovi naravi je, da se selijo), še najbolj zaskrbljujoče pa je, da postajajo zelo odvisni od človeka. Sicer je bilo noro videti te velike živali (med 7 in 12 metri - za boljšo predstavo, približno velikosti avtobusa), toda za takšen izlet se ne bi ponovno odločila. Sama sem bila v vodi kakšnih pet minut (kitovci namreč prosto plavajo povsem blizu človeka), fant pa je z njimi plaval kakšno uro. Že naslednji dan sva odšla do glavnega mesta otoka Cebu (ki se prav tako imenuje Cebu). Popoldne sva preživela v mestu, ki je gosto naseljeno, ima pa tudi nekatere fascinantne zgodovinske spomenike - iz začetkov pokristjanjevanja in španske kolonizacije.

After being totally fascinated by the paradise on Malapascua, we continued our journey to Oslob or rather Tanawan, where we wanted to try swimming in the sea with whale sharks. At first we weren't sure if we want to go there and try it out. It was mainly an ethical question. Whale sharks shouldn't be around Oslob in summer months, but the locals keep feeding them, so they stay and attract turist. It's not common for whale shark to stay in one place throughout the year. It's in their nature to migrate. But the scariest part about the feeding is that whale sharks are becoming more and more dependent of human. Despite all that we finally decided to go and it was truly fascinating experience - but i don't think i would do it again. Whale sharks are really big (from 7 to 12 meters - it's like swimming with the bus). I was in the water for around 5 minutes (it was scary swimming in open sea with such giants), but my boyfriend didn't mind it - he was in the water with them for an hour. Day after swimming with whale sharks we visit Cebu, where we spend an afternoon visiting sights from the time of christianization and Spanish colonization.

 Off we go... Next stop: Boracy! Stay tuned :)