Hyper Glorious Boracay, Philippines

Welcome to Boracay

So we landed in Manila just long enough to stay one night and make arrangements to head out. We arrived at night so we didn't get a great view of things, but I was completely surprised at what I did see. Big buildings and giant billboards dotted the city as we headed to the business district where we spent the evening. It was immediately apparent there is quite a bit of wealth here, more than we both expected. Because we've heard from many people that certain areas can be dangerous and traveling for foreigners can be difficult, we opted to high tail it to Boracay.

Boy did we make the right decision there!!! Arriving late in the day we sauntered off the plane and caught a quick boat to the island. After taking a tricycle (a motorbike attached to a sidecar) we found the beach. We settled for a hotel about 50 feet off the beach as accommodations are a bit more expensive here than they are in Thailand.

When we awoke on our first morning we headed (where else?) for the beach... and oh my god!!! You'd almost think that by this point we are so ridiculously spoiled that we'd merely take the vast beauty of the ocean for granted, but no. It's insanely gorgeous here!!! The water is three shades of the most perfect color blue I've ever seen. We both stopped, starred, and breathed in the beauty of Boracay. The beach is named White Sand beach for obvious reasons. The sand is so fine and soft and for some reason it doesn't burn your feet the way it did in Thailand. Miguel and I looked at each other and I think in that instant we both knew how lucky we were to be here. This meant quite alot to Miguel. This Philippines were a place he had dreamed about since he was a child. He had heard stories about the country where his father's ancestors came from, and to finally set foot here was a real highlight. As I glanced over the see his expression I could tell his eyes were begining to gloss over. The shear joy of the moment was quickly appearent on his face. We had finally made it.

Another thing that's really cool about this place is despite the fact that it's a vacation destination, it's full of locals. The Filippinos out number the tourists for once. In Thailand nearly all the beach goers were foreigners. It's really great also, because we don't have to struggle with a language barrier here, everybody (many locals even) speak English.

We spent one afternoon taking a speed boat out to sea to go para sailing. Miguel and I went first. After fitting into our diaper-like harnesses, the giant sail afloat behind us, we started to go up. Up, up, and a little higher. About 40 feet above the water the ropes settled, making an 'eerrrrr' sound and shifting our weight sideways.

"Ahhhh," Lonnie gasped. I could see his heart sink into his stomach in that brief moment filled
with pure uncertainty. But that moment soon passed and as it did it was replaced with awe and excitement.

"Whoo hooo!" we shouted. "Fly like a birdie!" By now we were getting really high, the boat towing us looking more and more ant like.

"No hands!" With giants grins spanning from ear to ear we spent 15 minutes soaring 100 meters above the bright blue sea. My bare feet sailing in the breeze, I felt free. I felt happy. I felt alive. And there's a lot to be said for that. A couple times our speed boat got insanely close to other speed boats also towing para sailors.

"Why do they have to get so close?" Miguel asked.

"To give you the ride of a lifetime," I thought.

It was good. It was really good. I had the luxury of para sailing off Hamilton island, Australia with my cousin Rob back in '01, but we certainly never got 300 feet into the air! You feel so free up there and the view is utterly breathtaking.

We also decided to spend a day island hopping. Besides the two guys who manned the boat, Miguel and I had the whole boat to ourselves. We first went to a place called the Crystal Cave. We got to the top of the cave and then descended a spiral staircase down into the water. Armed with goggles and a snorkel we set out to enjoy the view. There weren't too many others around and as soon as we swam out a bit we were on our own. So we swam around starring down in awe at the coral and sea life around us. I'd be visually captured by the beauty of the coral and suddenly find myself a part of a school of tiny fish, glittering silver and green beneath the sun. Again I felt so free. What is it about going up above the ground and down into the sea that makes you that way? Whatever it is, I love it.

Just after getting out of the water we started to make our way up when an old Filippina woman kindly grabbed me by the arm. She was speaking to someone behind me in Tagalog, so I had no idea what she was saying. The only word I caught was 'American'. She just kept speaking and every so often she would smile at me as I stood sopping wet in nothing but my swim suit. For nearly a minute she had a good hold of my arm, attaching herself to me like I was the only visible life savor and we were still in the ocean. Having no clue what she wanted and hearing Miguel say, "let's go," I pryed myself free from her and made my way up the steep staircase. I heard him call my name again shortly after, but I was already on top of the cave.

Later once our boat was in motion I asked Miguel, "I wonder what that little old woman wanted with me?" "She wanted a picture with you," he replied. "Because you are American." Surprised and touched, I immediately wished I had made my way back down into the cave. I still feel bad I didn't let her take a photo of me. How sweet and endearing. It seems the Filipinos still have a very strong connection to America, dating back to the second world war. This was the first country on our trip we saw many locals wearing clothes with American emblems on them.

The water here is truly crystal clear. You can literally see down probably 20 - 30 feet or so. On our trip around the island we never lost sight of the bottom. It makes for great snorkeling and boating. It makes any water sport quite great actually.

We spent most of the days laying on the beach and wandering from bar to bar in search of the best happy hour, which is on offer pretty much all day every day. Our last meal was spent at a restaurant called the Hobbit house. Its a restaurant in which all of the employees are dwarfs (I'm not sure what is PC here) or little people. This place would never fly in the states. It was a really fun place to dine though, great atmosphere with live music.

We thoroughly enjoyed Boracay. How could you not? It's one incredible place, one that I will never forget. We desperately hope to return here at some point.

Leaving the Philippines we flew out of Manila. On our way to the airport I caught a glimpse of the city in the light. There is definitely alot of poverty here as well as wealth. We drove by a river and literally half of it was filled to the brim with trash. It was equally sad and disgusting. We also passed a few neighborhoods we agreed we wouldn't want to be dropped off in. As we lifted off the ground you got a view of the many large slums. It appears that their is a huge gap in between the rich and poor. Considering all the we know and have heard, I am glad we opted to high tail it to Boracay. Still, there's a little part of me that feels like we copped out. I really have no idea what the majority of the Philippines is like at all.

As I think back on Boracay I think of the crystal blue waters and the white sandy beaches. Endlessly beautiful, endlessly unforgettable.

p.s. Miguel here.. Just wanted to let all of you know I did try Balut, as well as some other interesting cuisine, while I was there. For those of you who don't know what it is, allow me to explain. Its basically a hard boiled duck egg with a partially developed duck inside. It sounds a lot worse then it is. The way to eat it is you crack open the top then drink the soup (embryotic fluid) sprinkle with salt and vinegar and dig in. If you closed your eyes while you're at it, which I would suggest, all you would taste is a strong slightly gamey egg flavour. I ate two because a local next to me said they were good for your knees and since you have two knees... well, you get the idea. I have to say that I would eat it again. It really was not bad at all. An experience I am glad I had while I was there. You can imagine I didn't recieve too many kisses from Kristen that night.

pictures of Kanchanburi now up!