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Published: October 6th 2007
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Paradise
Paraw (outrigger sailing boat) off White Beach near Station 3 in Boracay The beach has always been a special place for me. From my early years of building sand castles, boogie boarding, and digging up sand crabs on the beaches of Orange County (So Cal, USA) to more recent years of playing volleyball or relaxing on beaches from all over Southern California to the Caribbean to Thailand. I've seen quite a few beaches in my life.
Yesterday I arrived at the most popular beach in the Philippines, "White Beach" on the island of Boracay. This beach is often included in top 10 lists of the best beaches in the world. Unfortunately, my first view of it was in the rain. It is the rainy season in the Philippines, and I have experienced plenty of it in my 5 days in this country. Still, I can see the appeal of Boracay, and this particular beach. White Beach is naturally beautiful. Fine white sand, clear turquoise water, and palm trees lining the beach...that's a great start. Plus, there are plenty of facilities (resorts, restaurants, shops) and activities (diving, snorkeling, ATV, horse-back riding, jet-skiing, etc) for tourists. There are busy parts and quiet parts. Something for everyone.
The only challenge for tourists is getting
White Beach
near Station 3 looking towards Station 1 during high tide to the island. It's only a little over an hour from Manila if you arrive at the closest air strip (Caticlan; 45 minutes from Manila), and then take a small boat over to the island (15 minutes). However, there is no pier for the boats, and it may be a little rough for some going through the process. Still, there are plenty of people here. It's the low season, and therefore, things aren't nearly as busy, but I can imagine how crazy it could get during the peak season. Until the change of the seasons (and the shifting of the wind from the west to the east), it's not an ideal time to visit. "White Beach" is on the west side of the island, and now the wind is strong, storms are plenty, and the ocean is choppy. Give it another few weeks though when the wind changes (never know exactly when that will happen), and the crowds will come (peak season around November - February).
Prices appear to be about the same as Manila (expensive for the Philippines, but very reasonable for many tourists). For example, I got a cheeseburger with fries for dinner last night (ok, I
Storm Is Coming...
More rain on the way! was kind of missing a good burger) and it was 260 pesos (about $6). I got chicken curry for lunch today and it was 240 pesos.
Ok, let me back up. I'm getting ahead of myself.
In my last blog, I was in Manila. I'll give some more details. I left Thursday afternoon (October 4) and arrived in Kalibo around 4:30 p.m. Kalibo is about a 2 hour drive from the port at Caticlan, where boats depart to get to the small island of Boracay (there is no airport on Boracay). I opted to go to Kalibo due to the cost. It was twice as expensive to fly to the closer airport in Caticlan than to Kalibo (only $37 to Kalibo). I could have taken a bus directly from the airport to Caticlan, but I decided to spend the night in Kalibo. I figured I wouldn't get to Boracay until dark, and lodging would be more expensive there than in Kalibo. Plus, it was a chance to see a small town I knew very little about. Therefore, I took a tricycle (motorcycle with a covered carriage on the side) into town to Garcia Legaspi Mansion, a place that
Parade in Kalibo
captured while on a tricycle...no, not that kind of tricycle. was recommended to me. It turned out to be very basic, but it was enough. Only 850 pesos (less than $20) for a large room with A/C, cable TV, and hot water. Definitely outdated, and worn, but again, I didn't need much. As for Kalibo, there didn't appear to be much to see. I walked around a bit, ate a Filipino prawn dish for dinner, gelato for dessert (hard to believe they had an Italian gelato shop here), got a haircut (50 pesos; little over $1), and used the internet (15 pesos per hour). Everything was inexpensive.
The next morning, I got up early, and took a tricycle to the bus station (Ceres), and passed a parade (no idea what the occasion was) on the way. The bus was a little bit of an adventure (75 pesos - less than $2 for the 2 hour trip; no a/c; several random stops, turned around at one point to go back to Kalibo...you know, that kind of stuff). Kind of liked it. I wasn't in a hurry. Once in Caticlan, I took the boat over to Boracay, and then another tricycle/pedal bike combo on the island to get to my hotel
(Dave's Straw Hat Inn - no, it's not mine).
I did tons of research in picking a hotel. Dave's Straw Hat has a great reputation. It's in the budget category, but they offer clean rooms, great service, and extra perks. I'm paying under $30 per night, and only a 90 second walk from the beach near Station 3 (I timed it...really). There are only 9 rooms, and they are usually fully booked. It's only been 2 days/1 night but I really like this place so far. It has free wi-fi (not fast, but hey, it's free!), reasonably priced food in their small patio restaurant (big fan of the mango ice tea smoothie they give free on arrival - 60 pesos to buy later), clean rooms, well maintained, fresh towels and sheets every day, hot water, a/c, book exchange, friendly staff...ummm, lots of reasons. I'm here until October 10th...only booked 4 nights in advance, and then added a day after I checked out the place...I would have reserved more but they are booked from the 10th-13th. I'm not sure whether I will stay in Boracay longer, but I'm leaning in that direction. I'll have to find other lodging though after
checking out on the 10th.
Anyway, after all the rain on the day of my arrival, I woke up to sun this morning (Saturday, October 6) and enjoyed about 4 hours of sun before the rains came again around 11:30. I haven't taken many pictures yet, but just wait. More will be coming.
My time in Boracay is just beginning...
Thanks for reading. Look! There goes Dave!
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Cousin Mark
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Amazing...
Foiling Malaysian muggers, followed by amphibious landings on Boracay... Just another day for Diamond Dave. Any word on the job search? Mark D