Boracay, no backpackers but plenty of pearls
Trip Start
Jun 06, 2008
1
18
23
Trip End
Aug 06, 2008
Where I stayed
Boracay,
Visayas,
Philippines
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
At this point we went straight through security, paid the most random taxs that you can only find in the Philippines and are a huge scam like extra money for havign a bag heavier than 10 kilos, exit taxes even though your are not leaving the Philippines, enviroment taxes even though you are taking an airplane that is killing the environment. So 10 dollars later we were waiting for Asian Spirit to start boarding so we could head to the island of Boracay...on a propeller-powered airplane of course
So picturesque
.Finally at 9 we make to Boracay where there are mroe fees! A green fee, an airport fee, tuk tuk fees, well 5 dollars in total. We ehad straight to Isla Bonita since the Irish guys from Halong Bay had reccomended it and we got an AC room for 8 dollars each (after that night we moved next door to a fan room for half the price literally). As soon as we arrived and dropped our bags I walked around, changed money, we went to the beach wich has emerald blue water. It's absolutely gorgeous. Even better than paintings or postcards. Truly the best. I don't think anything can beat it. I hope the pics I uploaded can show you but you won't know until you get on the sand or jump in the water. That night we had dinner and then to bed after a walk on the beach for a bit because we were exhausted.
The following day we decided to have a fun day with some summer beer (a mixture of beer, vodka, sprite and ice tea) so at about noon we went on the beach with our drinks and 10 cent nuts and enjoyed a nice day (and a nice burn) at the beach staring into the beautiful water and being harrassed every second from locals asking if we wanted to go snorklin or sailing. We spent the whoel day bumming around (in Shady's and Dom's case shopping for bracelets, anklets, bags, etc) and then at night we found this awesome restaurant called Ole where a meal is less than 2 dollars and it's simply amazing
Sunset
! Needless to say we have been at that restaurant for dinner every night since and by now when we walk by the waitresses wave at us and know we want to eat there. After dinner we went to this bar on the beach and hung out on bean bags listening to a really amazing cover band. After that we went to some clubs where it is packed with locals which are made up of 40% lady-boys (trans), 20% homosexuals, 20% older philippinos dancing like they were 20 years old, adn finally 20% normal locals. Therefore, while I kept getting looks from lady-boys everywhere, Shady and Dom were attracting creepos on the dance floor.The next day we went on the tour we booked the day before and again got slightly screwed. When they say no more than 16 people on a boat to go around the island and snorkling, I guess they don't count the other 5 to 10 people that make teh group at least 25 and make everyone on the boat tight like sardines! Other than that though we paid 10 dollars for an amazing lunch buffet, amazing views of the island, and most of all incredible snorkling! The fish, the starfish, the coral, they all were the bluest of blues, most vivid yellows and oranges (the clown fish especially), amazing greens, pitch blacks, etc. I have never seen such amazing colors in nature (I wish I had an underwater camera to show you all). Once we got back, we showered, ate and went to those creepy clubs again
The beach outside our hotel
!The next day Shady left us for good as she flew to Manila and the next day (acutally as I am writing this we should be on a plane home) she'd be on a flight home to the good old US of A. As far as Dom and I go, we have had to more days in thsi heavenly place called Boracay where we have been eating amazing pineapples and mangos for lunch, slept in rooms infested by cocroaches (killed 3 in 5 minutes last night) and simply enjoyed the amaznig beach, Ole's food, and serious relaxing (oh and a 1 hour massage for 5 dollars).
And finally I am here, writing and all caught up on my blog in Borocay, leaving for Manila in a couple of hours and with only Manila and Hong Kong between today and the day of my departure!
Hope all is well wherever who is reading this is...
ciao
