Before Boracay

I used to believe Baguio was the summer capital of the Philippines. That belief has been shattered and turned into a myth since I set foot on the white sands of the island of Boracay last April 29. Our timing was perfect since we got there a week before Holy Week. That time of the year when practically the whole of Manila and the rest of the world tramp to Boracay, officially signaling the start of summer.

This is the first family vacation we’ve had after three years. We’ve been planning for this trip several months back. My newly-wed niece from Seattle, WA, with her American husband initially planned on having their delayed honeymoon in Tahiti or Bali. When we found out about it we insisted that they spent it here instead so they could also spend time with the family members who didn’t make it to their wedding last year.

When they gave in they said they wanted to stay near the beach. So we made arrangements as early as January, considered several places, until Boracay got the final vote since it was going to be first for all of us ( including my four-year-old daughter).

Upon our guests’ arrival, we were shocked to find the whole world in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport! The traffic was horrendous inside and outside of the airport! We had to park in the jam-packed parking lot. I waited in the vehicle while my sister and her brother-in-law went down and searched for my niece and her husband in the throng of people. I was almost afraid to think that this multitude was all going to Boracay. For a moment, I almost backed out!

When we got home they had their fill of sinigang na baboy which my niece loved. She said that she was already having withdrawal pangs from “kanin”.

Everyone was just excited on D-day. Our flight at 9:30 am via Asian Spirit is one of the reasons why I was not keen on going to Boracay. I don’t like small planes. Finally, I said to myself, “Ok girl! Get a grip of yourself and deal with this.” Not wanting to be bumped off because of my indecision, I finally agreed, reluctantly (and with much prayer!)

When we arrived at the Domestic airport, lo and behold! I was right! The whole world is going on a vacation!!!! Inside, the lines were just crazy. I almost freaked out. First, we couldn’t find the queue for the check-in counter. Finding the line to pay the terminal fee was another story. I was almost tempted to defend the undisciplined Filipinos called my “kababayans” to my niece and her husband but I might sound pathetic so I just kept quiet.

Things could have been better if our flight wasn’t delayed. When we finally boarded and settled in our seats, my four-year-old daughter was so elated and kept saying, “This is so much fun!” After that one hour or so plane ride, we took a tricycle, then a multicab (sort of like a jeep but smaller) and several boat rides, until finally reached our destination! The island of Boracay!

I was really looking forward to this vacation. Spending sometime with my family and just lazing around…ahhhh, the mere thought of it is just divine.

The Island Itself
Boracay Island is situated at the northwestern tip of Panay, a large Island in Western Visayas. It is part of the town of Malay in Aklan Province. It is famous for its powdery white sand beach stretching almost four kilometers long. Its whiteness and texture is said to be found nowhere else.

Just a little trivia, our second day in Bora, my husband woke up early and walked by the seashore. He found green algae being swept by the waves towards the shore line. He saw the locals burying them on the ground. Out of curiosity he asked why and they said that it is the algae that turns into white sand as it dries up. Whoa! Cool! But the Nancy Drew in me started to research and I found out that this is totally incorrect.

Although there are species of green algae that turn white and turn into sand when they die, “they do not float, and they are being overgrown by non sand producing weedy species.”1 The particular algae found by the shores of Boracay “does turn white when it dies, but this is because the green chlorophyll is rapidly destroyed, and the resulting material rots before it can dry, and ultimately decomposes completely.” (2)

Sunshine, Sunshine and Lots of Sunshine
The weather was just fantastic! The sun was shining the whole time we were there. The island boasts of glorious sunsets which I can attest to. The summer atmosphere was every where and one wonders if it’s like this the whole year. One of the amazing things I found out is that one can walk on the sand barefooted even under the scorching heat in the middle of the day without burning one’s feet! Now, that is cool!

The azure crystal clear waters reflected the blue sky during the day and at night the moonlit sky gave the white sand a magical glow. The perfect weather was very suitable for various water sports like sailing, parasailing, diving, etc. It’s also perfect for snorkeling which my family did except me, because it was that time of the month (get my drift??). We also went island hopping and we had lunch in an island where the Crystal Cave can be found. It is called such because you can find white glazed crystals inside and outside the cave.

Chow and Night Life
There’s a great variety of food. One can find all sorts. Italian, French, Japanese, you name it. Chinese dimsum, Korean, Indian, Mongolian (eat-all-you-can), but I was particularly glad to find Andok’s manok. I heard from a friend that there was a place there somewhere near the small wet market where one can buy raw food and have it cooked at a very cheap price in one of the small restaurants.

After a hard day of swimming, snorkeling, diving, and sailing, one can just lounge in one of the bars and listen to light and easy music and get comfy in the evening. Or one can go reggae, or alternative or watch one of the sponsored shows by the beach. Or just simply go back to the room and watch plenty of TV and get that much needed sleep.

Folks and Fashion
There were people of all colors, shapes and sizes wearing everything to almost nothing. Many were showing off their newly-styled braided hair which one can get for about PhP200 and their new henna-tattoo design which costs about a PhP100.

Boracay next Summer
This is one vacation all of us enjoyed. My niece and her husband surely did and never regretted coming over. I guess their Bora vacation has outweighed the nasty “airport” experience because they’re planning to come back next year.

Baguio holds a dear place in my heart and will forever be my favorite place to get a breather. But if I’d want to just laze around in a picture perfect setting, then Boracay is the place to be!

Bon voyage!

Scarlet
Just like yin-yang, the author has two sides. A feisty woman as fondly described by her husband and a self-proclaimed ‘warrior princess’ but with the gracefulness of a swan that glides in the calm water of a pond. She is also an animated-film freak.

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