While the sun was still setting and we were a few kilometers away from the port of Jolo, I noticed the big picture of and the stunning view of Sulu - an island province in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Honestly, this province is always associated with "war." With my statement "I will be traveling to Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan," I always receive a response like "it's not safe, don't go there." Sad to hear right? But that's the reality. My solo-backpacking in the province is the proof that traveling to Jolo, Sulu is safe and I discovered that the people here are friendly and accommodating. Below are the must do and must visit tourist spots and destinations in Jolo, Sulu.
EXPERIENCE BREAKFAST WITH A TRAY OF SUMPTUOUS DELICACIES: We had our breakfast at one of the local restaurants in Jolo and I discovered something interesting. The food server gave us a tray of different dishes (photo above). As Rhu-Rhu (my guide) said, we are not forced to eat all the food that are served. You can eat what you like and pay what you eat.
VISIT THE ARTISTIC SULU PROVINCIAL CAPITOL: Your visit in Jolo will not be completed without visiting the beautiful and artistic Sulu Provincial Capitol which houses the political seats and power in the province. In front of the building is a park with an open and wide area. The ambiance is relaxing because it is surrounded by greens and the wind is cool.
VISIT AND DISCOVER THE ANCIENT MEMORABILIA IN SULU NATIONAL MUSEUM: It is a two-story building that houses the relics, documents, paintings and other historical memorabilia of Sulu. What's interesting inside are the Chinese wares and documents such as the 1878 Land Lease Agreement between the sultanate of Sulu and British North Borneo Chartered Co.
VISIT MAJID TULAY, THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN SULU: 99 percent of the people in Sulu practice Islam - according to Google. Did you know that the first Filipinos who adopted Island were the Tausugs? This is when Karim ul-Makhdum (a Muslim missionary) came to Sulu in 1380. Anyways, Masjid Tulay is situated in the center of Jolo.
TOUCH THE PORTION OF THE REMAINING JOLO WALLED CITY: Others claim that Jolo Walled City is the smallest city in the world, of its kind. Historically speaking, these walls were constructed to protect Jolo from the outside attacks, with gates on different sides that serve as an opening for trades and the likes. Today, during my visit, I only saw a portion of these walls located inside Jolo Arcade.
ENJOY THE RELAXING AMBIANCE BY THE MAUBOH BEACH: One of the finest white sand beaches in Sulu is Mauboh Beach. The area is open and with the residents houses by the shore. There's a long stretch of fine white sand soaked in a cool crystal clear waters. If you have more time and budget, the nearby islands can also be visited, of course, with a proper coordination with the tourism office.
WHERE TO STAY AND CHEAP HOTEL IN JOLO,SULU: There are a few hotels in Jolo, Sulu. One of these is Sulu Peacekeepers In located inside Camp Asturias. For an overnight stay, I paid 950 pesos for a single bed, with aircon, tv and toilet and bath. This is the safest place because it is being run by a cooperative owned by the peacekeepers (uniformed personnel).
HOW TO GET TO JOLO,SULU: In my case, from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, I took a ferry to Jolo, Sulu. However, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have their daily trips to Zamboanga City International Airport. Then, a ferry ride from Zamboanga City Port to Bongao (9 hours travel time). For schedule of trips, you can check Aleson Shipping Lines's facebook page.
TO CONSIDER BEFORE TRAVELING TO JOLO, SULU: They have a protocol that all tourists MUST COORDINATE WITH THE TOURISM OFFICE. READ: Solo-Backpacking in ZamBaSulTa, Zamboanga Provinces and Misamis Occidental.