Destination: South Bohemia

Czech Republic is divided into two regions; Bohemia and Moravia. A and I were on the road for two days this week to explore South Bohemia's most talked about towns. The sights that met us took our breath away...

Červena Lhota - awesome beauty of the red castle on a lake. Buying a postcard for Tatay and Botong. Having a blast canoeing with A though getting cooked by a 34-degree scorcher of a day. Storks on a chimney. Two boys tumbling over a root of an old tree within 10 seconds interval.



Červena Lhota castle. One of the most beautiful castles I've visited in this country. The village is less than an hour away from Jindřichův Hradec. You can rent a boat to row on the lake and around the castle for 80kč/hour.

Jindřichův Hradec - a town which looks like Znojmo, a Moravian town we visited last year. Melon and lemon icecream. Drinking bottles of water and still thirsty. Waiting for eternity for the pizza to be served at Padrino's Pizzeria whose website address according to their place mats is www.pizza-pardino.cz. Padrino or Pardino? Huge castle. Huge aquariums. Staying in town only for two hours.

Třeboň - a lovely town with huge man-made lakes which Czechs fondly
call "ponds." Amazing how people centuries ago can "build" huge bodies of water. Calling 10 pension houses before finding an available room. Pension Sport—quiet, clean, free breakfast for 800kč, a bargain in summer. Bikes, bikes, people on bikes. A peacock walking confidently down the street to the delight of tourists. Yummy dinner. Mosquitos almost eating A alive. Vowing to come back to stay for a couple of days to go fishing on the lakes. Newly mowed parks. Telč deja vu. A naked kid sitting on a bench with no parents on sight.

Český Krumlov- oh my. The most magical place I've ever been to in my life.
Like a town straight from a fairytale. Lunch on a terrace of a restaurant. European serving is HUGE even if you ordered a meal for children. Breathtaking view of the town from the viewing tower. Immaculate gardens with exotic flowers in full bloom. Japanese tourists with umbrellas. Pension houses everywhere. Hundreds of kayakers having the time of their lives.

The awesome sights of Český Krumlov from the town's viewing tower. Somebody once told me this town is his most favorite in the world. And yes, he's been around it.

There will always be more beautiful places in the world than those I love in the Philippines. Even so, I will always, always hold Surigao and Cebu close to my heart.