Boracay part 2

April 17:

To try and beat at least some of the other tourists I got up at 8am, had breakfast and grabbed a motor with side car and headed to Puka beach in the north. The island is about 7km long so the ride didn't take too long. The further north you go the more secluded it gets. Most people hit Puka beach on a island hopping tour and reach it by water. I actually liked the ride, you get to see more real life this way. Once we arrived I thanked my driver and walked towards the white sandy beach in front of me. Breathtaking, gorgeous views made me stop and stand there in awe for a minute or two I wanted to snorkel a bit so rented equipment for the hour and plunged into the blue water. About five steps in I couldn't stand any more and two more stokes the water dropped to a depth I wasn't used to which was kind of unsettling for a bit. The water is so incredibly clear that you can see the bottom without any trouble. I didn't seem to see any fish though. I started to Swim towards a bunch of kids who were snorkeling and think the might know where to go. One of the boys was kind enough to go under rocks and chase some fish around, but there weren't that many. Maybe a good thing since fish actually freak me out. This is an easy and slow start up for tomorrow, since I'll go on a snorkeling trip to crocodile island where there are many fish.
After Returning the equipment and a fresh mango shake I started walking down the beach a bit. Just amazed by the beach and the sea I settled down and went back in the water. Since this beach is in the north and unprotected from any type of wind the current was a bit strong. Good for exercise I guess since you can swim at a good pace and not move an inch. I just drifted a bit, making sure I wasn't too far out (too many boats out) or to far down. Boats with island hoppers are now coming in which was my cue to leave again. But what to do now? Heading back to the hotel? Walking down white beach? The latter is what I did since I hadn't had lunch yet. The afternoon was spend next to the pool.
Most hotels are located along white beach since this is where the sun sets. I had to see that too of course, so after I had been dropped of at D-mall and had some dinner I headed for the beach. White beach has been plagued with green algae the last few years which make the beach not look as good as Puka beach, but the sand is just amazingly soft and comfortable. It also doesn't take away the beauty of the sunset. Walking back to the hotel I noticed that I might need to try and find another restaurant on the beach tomorrow. The smells in the air of all the buffets and various restaurants was just fantastic. One more refreshing dip in the pool to cool down my immensely burned body (PF 30 sun block didn't seem to work for me) and back to my air-conditioned cabana.

April 18:
Getting up a bit earlier and going down for breakfast so I can make it over to the tourist information center for my trip was what I did today. Of course I got there way too early and than I was asked if I had a reservation, something the lady failed to mention to me the day before. Not a problem apparently since I booked it right there and than. I was going to be picked up at 10am for island hopping. The highlight for me was going to be snorkeling. I had heard many good stories about crocodile island and was looking forward to this. I got picked up right on time and started heading for boat station 3 while picking up some other people on the way. The group was a bit larger than I expected, about 20 some people, mostly couples and families. I ended up spending most of the day chatting with a German named Claudia and an American named Rachel. They both traveled by themselves as well.
First stop was crocodile island. The name doesn't imply there are crocodiles on the island but merely that it is shaped like one. Lots of boats were anchored in front of the coast and once our boat found a nice spot as well we were able to dive in. It just amazes me still how deep the waters are and you can still see the bottom. It was about 10m deep which is quite unnerving. You also have to understand that fish kind of freak me out, so snorkeling is probably not something I should have been doing, but boy was it beautiful. I kept in constant motion so no fish would come near, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. The diversity of the fish was just stunning. The Australian girl was complaining about all the dead coral down there, but I had nothing to compare it too let alone seen coral ever before, so I was just intensely happy being in the water and swimming around
After about 45 min. of snorkeling we climbed back on board to go to our next stop, Crystal Cove. This cove is located on a private island. A few of us weren't interested in paying an additional 200 pesos so we stayed on the beach. Awkwardly aware of my burned back I stayed in the shade and chatted with Claudia. Stayed on the beach for nearly 2 hours before heading to out lunch spot on the next beach over.
after lunch we were heading to another spot for snorkeling, but since the currents were too strong we kept going and docked on Puka beach. I went there yesterday and knew how pretty is was going to be. We docked a bit further than I had walked the previous day and I decided to grab my snorkeling gear and swim out a bit. I saw a few schools of fishes and a dead tuna, but all in all not that many. Swimming back to shore I bumped into a few guys from our boat and stuck around chatting with them. They were from the UK and Venezuela but have lived in Amsterdam for the past 7 years.
since we skipped the last bay to snorkel in our guide decided to take us to Balinghai for our second snorkeling trip. Once I got in the water I wished I had been a bit more conservative with my pictures on the underwater camera I got. I ran out of film at crocodile island and didn't have a back-up. Balinghai was a much better spot to snorkel at. I saw Clownfish (Nemo?) and Blue Tang (like Dory) and Idol fish (like Gill) (clearly I can only indicate them by referencing Nemo) and many more. It was even more diverse than Crocodile island and the sea floor was much more interesting. This was the end of our tour so we headed we headed back to boat station 3.
Claudia was interested in dinner and asked if Rachel and I wanted to join her. First we were going to have some cocktails and watch the sunset. It was happy hour so we ordered our drinks and enjoyed the view. There was only one thing I hadn't though of. We hadn't had anything to eat since lunch and I do not drink. So after starting my second cocktail I started to feel woozy. So this is what it feels like to be buzzed, I thought. I felt kind of pathetic that I couldn't even drink two drinks. Both Claudia and Rachel said that dinner might help, so after we went back to our hotels to freshen up we walked down to D-mall and had dinner. It was nice to not spend the evening by myself and just chat and enjoy each others company. Rachel will be flying out tomorrow, but maybe I'll bump into Claudia again, especially since she is in a hostel right down the alley from my hotel.

Boracay part 1

April 15, 2011:

English radio, buses that look like they came out of a Jamaican movie (at least that is what I think), fresh smell in the air, palm trees, humidity and smiles are a few of the things I notice instantly after the plane had touched down in Manila, the Philippines. I am here to treat myself for my 30th birthday. Traveling alone and on my way to Boracay I am spending a night in the Orchid Garden Suites not far from the airport. The hotel is quite convenient and tucked away in a corner behind palm trees, so it seems. The room is small and the shower only has scorching hot water and the A/C rattles noisily. The staff is friendly and are at your service. It's only for the night, so it will do.

After I had checked in and dropped all my luggage, which isn't much, in the room I exchange some of my dollars and hunt for some food. The Philippines is notorious for good food and therefore it shouldn't be a problem. Walking down the street I found a shopping mall where I wandered around. Not much here and a bit disappointed I settled for pizza, Boracay is going to be better if I may believe my colleagues. However the trip wasn't in vain. A large supermarket was located across from the restaurant and I am in need of breakfast for tomorrow. Since the hotel doesn't start serving until 6am, which is when I am being picked up, I need to get something myself. Quite satisfied I leave the store with papaya, mango, water and caramel timtams. This should do for now and I headed back to the hotel to settle in an get some sleep. It will be an early morning.

April 16:

After a night of somewhat restless sleep I decided to just get up, although it was only 4.40am. Maybe I could just check out and sit in the lobby and use the hotel's wifi for a little while before my 6am pick-up. However to my surprise the limo was waiting, and I mean THE LIMO was waiting. No a stretch, but definitely a limo was standing outside the hotel to take me to the airport. After a quick FB update we went on our way. With soothing Christian music on the radio and a quiet streets the ride to the airport was swift and comfortable. Not seeing much of Manila since the darkness is still covering the city we arrive at terminal 2, the hub of Philippine airlines. It didn't take too long to check in, pay terminal tax and get luggage scanned. The terminal is quite small and birds are coming in and out flying around freely. After hanging around for a bit I settled in near the gate. An American Philippina thought I might be lonely and started a conversation with me. We ended up talking until boarding time. At 9am we took off, heading south to Kalibo. After a smooth flight we landed at Kalibo airport an hour later.

Since I am traveling light (carry on luggage only) I walked out of the airport less than a minute later and boarded the bus. The only thing between me and the island is an hour and half on the bus and a boat ride. The bus ride was a bumpy one, but filled with new impressions to store away for future stories. The surroundings were lush and green. Dozens and dozens of palm trees, huts with saw roofs and when we did go through villages we would see nice free standing houses in a rainbow of bright colors. We passed a numb of cemeteries, including a Chinese one and tons of primary schools. Here you really see the influence of the catholic church. Primary schools named after saints and clinics founded and supported by missionaries are numerous. But not only did I see a huge catholic influence, we also passed a number of Christian churches, a jehovah's witness building and a plot owned by the Mormons. It is refreshing to be somewhere where religion is a freedom of choice.

Over the mountains we went and than...there it was...the blue sea. I know that white sand and blue seas are the signature paradise items, but even in Hainan, which is the closest I got to paradise in my life, did not have a blue sea (although some would disagree with you). The sea here really is blue and crystal clear, just amazing. Once at the port someone from the hotel pick me up and took me to the boat for a 5 minute cross over. I was the only passenger and enjoyed the trip very much. Wind blowing through my hair and salt water on my lips with a view on the island, not bad, not bad at all. An open minivan type of car drove us to the hotel. After looking at pictures and listening to stories I was looking forward to this holiday a lot and was somewhat afraid I would over estimate the beauty and that it was all going to be better in my mind than in real life, but my mind could never have imagined anything like this. Instead of a deluxe room that was booked for me I got a cabana. A private room with a balcony with couch and hammock (which I am using now to write this) and a room I have never ever had in my life. A view on the pool that is snuggly fit in the middle in between the palm trees. A true tropical paradise.

Now that I am checked in I should explore at least a little bit. Walking down to the beach, since the hotel is not a beach front hotel I had to walk down there. The walk only takes a minute or three and once I arrived I popped into the tourism office for information on snorkeling trips. I might just book that trip to crocodile island for Monday. I would have liked to take a dip in the sea, but I carried my purse and camera and didn't want to leave it unprotected so just wandered down the beach in search of a place to eat. Lunch time had passed and my stomach was letting me know I forgot. Once food had been found and eaten I continued down the beach a nit further and stumbled upon the mall. Well....if you can call it that. D-mall is I think what the Americans call a strip mall but it circles. And doesn't look like a mall at all. It is an area with shops surrounded by greenery, just stunning to walk through. I found an underwater camera for my snorkeling trip and headed back to the resort for a dip in the pool. This is where I stayed for the rest of the afternoon. In a bliss of happiness I was laying in the pool or on a lounge chair reading and sipping my mango shake which is being served with a smile. Life can not be better.