HOT TIP: Just use one compact bag to bring all your stuff in. If you feel you might be buying something on your way back, bring an extra bag which you can fold and keep inside your carry-on bag. No need to check it in at the airport, too!
THE CATICLAN JETTY PORT
Nice and clean terminal. You'd hardly stay ten minutes in it.
Leaving Caticlan now.
And finally, Station 3 where we got off
G.G.G. has landed! Everything written about this island's sand is true: powdery white (it looked beige to me), the finest i've ever seen. I can't seem to recall Bohol's at the moment but i'm sure it comes close to this. Geez, what horrible dirty feet! Is this sand good enough for foot scrubbing?!
A must-have, if only to complete the island get-up (haggle, haggle!)
Fine screens are put up to prevent sand from being blown by the
hanging habagat into buildings and restos. It's that time of the year when the wind's really, really strong.
Welcome to Boracay!
THE DAY I DIED (WELL, ALMOST).
On our 2nd day, we decided to bike to the spot where The Mango Farm bought land on which a sister resort will be built soon. I didn't realize how hilly Boracay's terrain was and when was the last I did a routine like this in Cebu? 8, 10 years ago? I almost died. I was breathless to the end. Palpitations. Wheezing. I'm way too fat for this sport!
Thank God for
sari-sari stores like this one... Lovely
Hibiscus species in the foreground, too. You hardly see those these days.
ATVs (all terrain vehicle) are now the hottest thing on the island, the business of which is mostly propelled by the Koreans. My source said this can be rented at Php 1,500 / hour (rought US$ 29.4 / hour). How frightening.
...and for ice-cold Royal (un)true Orange.
We went down this rough road on the last leg of our trip.
At the end of the bike trip, here's the reward...
The placid waters of Boracay's other side, shielded from the
hanging habagat (monsoon winds?) which is battering the coast on the other side. Isn't this beautiful? Look at how those clouds in the distance form rolling layers!
Oh...my...God... *gush*
Boracay is a paradise for many different people. For the beach addicts, for those who seek to forget, escape, get lost, for those who want to get a different kick or a take a new look on their life ahead (and the one they left behind).
For me, it's simply a chance to look at things and people on a different light: through the lens. Comments are welcome
(Note: Photos were sharpened for those with dim monitors).
Is their future beyond this island, too?
"To the bat cove, Robin!"
An island lass.
And we need Php 50 to clean up all this trash?
This is an English Editor's nightmare.
The obligatory shot at FRIDAY's
Mongolian BBQ dinner for our 1st night in Bora! Put things together in a bowl and hand it to the cook.
WHAT I MADE: The problem with eating Mongolian is that using the wrong sauce will always result in a disaster. You can never go wrong with pineapple when there's chicken and veggies available. Try using sesame oil, hoisin sauce (or a little soy sauce) and top with ground peanuts and chili for that little familiar taste and kick.
That's dinner even if it doesn't look like it from here!
Nice ambience. Very island-y, for the lack of a better word.
Young Koreans are everywhere - in the Philippines, that is. My country is host to the largest Korean community in the whole of Souteast Asia. They learn English here, study and have fun, too! I think they're boosting the tourism industry, with the Japanese coming in second.
AFTER: Verdict? It was very good! (I am very biased). The trick is to trust your kitchen instincts (or whatever is left of it). At Php 218 / person, you can eat all you can. Stiff,
'no?
SHOPS AND FOOD CHOICES IN d*MALL
This is Station 3's mall. There are other mall-like places along this side of the island but this one appears to be the best (I believe it's owned by the Zobels but I may be mistaken).
There's a wet market behind the main mall where veggies, fresh meat and fish can be bought. Also, there's a small section shops selling super cheap clothes. It's like Manila's Divisoria!
After a long day of walking around in the heat, I got attracted to this signboard which promised to serve the BIGGEST BURGERS on the island. I got a quarter pounder with roasted garlic and cheese gravy. For Php 105, it's ot bad but could be better. The patty is grilled, by the way. Sorry but I can't recall the name of the store (bad, bad!).
Was finishing this burger to the beat of "California Dreaming" and "Can't Buy Me Love" from the nearby
lemon/cafe, one of the most stylish cafes on these parts. I didn't go because it's too embarrassing to eat there alone.
This is d*Mall at night. It's an avenue of shops and restos in Station 3. It's just like being in a quaint place in Manila except that the ground you walk on is part white sand, part concrete.
Flooded portion of
d*Mall
Hot choco and a rich slice of decadence in paradise... That's a choco-marble cheesecake (Php 110) good for sharing. It's too rich to eat alone. In fact, I finished it all up. The rain took so long to stop
kasi.
This is the Lonely Planet shop. Cigars, anyone? The saleladies were the first and only people I heard speak in Cebuano in my entire stay here. It pays to know several local dialects (ehem!)
T-shirts for sale! The most expensive ones (Php 400-700) are handpainted or airbrushed. You can have them personalized like having your name painted on the front.
FAREWELL, BORA! 'TILL NEXT TIME!
The sun tries to shine through the trees...
"Magandang umaga po, Mamang driver! Gising na!"
Typical Boracay hut.
Languid mornings.... a normal scene you can see anywhere you go in Las Islas Filipinas!
"Be brave, little one..."
Goodbye, Boracay!
TO CATICLAN
A massage anyone?
PR arrives from Manila
What a beautiful bird *sigh*
5J arrives a few minutes after
All that oranges spells "fun"!
Front seat to the best (and noisiest) show on earth!
Green, green, green...
Heavily silted river in Kalibo
MANILA, MY MANILA
A braided kid's hair; a sweet reminder of beach days
5J FA selling 5J paraphernalia (nice wallets sell at php 80 / per).
Wait, I have to voice this out. 5J's flight attendants seem to have lost that "fun character" which they used to have when they were still using the DC9s. They now seem arrogant and airy and are given to small talk even when at work. Stiff smiles, trying very hard to get things over with so they can retire to the galley. Why, they didn't even stand at the exits to say goodbye when passengers deplaned! They were, in fact, looking for their replacement shoes. Does this have anything to do with the new planes (because they are now using better machines than the leading carried PAL? I don't want to think about it that way).
SMILE, ladies!
The majestic Taal Volcano
The coast of Cavite enters my visual field
How is that piece of land able to support that many residents?!
The other airfield civilians never use: the
Sangley Point Naval Base, a military facility
Houses of fishermen dot the sea surrounding Manila and Cavite
Clumps of mangrove trees: a good sign but for how long?
Parañaque City up close
PR's Centennial Terminal
The old NAIA full of Asian carriers (Note the 2 CX 744s from HK)
Manila is home to classic aircraft like this Constellation, designed by Howard Hughes himself...
...and several DC3s in one place!
"O, ano na? Dito na lang ba tayo forever?"
"Kakasawa na nga mga mukna nyo, eh!"
The tarmac of the old domestic
If you have friends or relatives waiting for you, chances are they are here.
Welcome back to Manila - where you are left to fend for yourself.
Only the old domestic terminal has a taxi stand. Always remind the drivers to use the meter. It's not a bad idea to tip them a
minimum of Php 20.00 over the standard fare.
Otherwise, you can always get coupon taxis but they charge 400% more than the usual fare.
Thanks, Lord, for the chance to travel again.
Special thanks to Mike Santos and The Mango Farm for making this trip possible.
