There is a reason White Beach on Boracay island makes the top 10 of best beaches in the world, it's spectacular. The sand is white, the water is azure in color, and there are many palm trees to shield you from the HOT sun. It's #1 on my list of best beaches. The plane ride here was short from Manila, but it was terrifying. There was lots of turbulence and it was the smallest plane I've ever been on. Not to mention they seated me in the exit row meaning if there was an emergency I'd be in charge of opening it up and ensuring people get out. It was the first time I listened to every word of the safety message.
I arrive at the hostel I have booked for the first 3 days, I'm not impressed so I search for another. A local woman takes it upon herself to help me, we spend the next hour talking and looking for another place for me to lay my head. She does some wheeling and dealing and snags me a great room in a great location at an awesome price, <3 her! The next couple days are spent wandering around the island and chatting with the locals. I have a lengthy chat with one guy and I tell him how lucky he is to live in Boracay, he tells me I'm the lucky one as he will never make enough money to travel, heartbreaking but ultimately true.
Boracay has cuisine from all over the world, mostly because people come here, love it, then move here and open up a restaurant. The choices are endless and it is something one ponders everyday.
On my 3rd day I move to hostel #2 for the remaining 4 nights. I can not find the place for the life of me, I'm carrying my day pack and my backpack (which is lighter after leaving stuff in Manila) and it's at least 30 degrees. A local comes to my rescue (without my asking) takes my bag and leads me to my hostel <3. Hostel is amazing unbeknown to me there is a rooster right next door that squaks his damn head off from 5am-9pm. There was some plotting on how to shut him up, however I ended up sleeping with earplugs and pillows over my head (1$ store earplugs SUCK!!). I spend the next 4 days basically on the beach,(my dermatologist is going to yell at me), I must say I got a pretty wicked tan tho :) I also read The Help (amazing), got massages (also amazing) and made friends with more locals that I would swap stories with everyday. One local and his brother take me around the island on their boat. The other side is famous for kite surfing as it is so windy there. The waves are insane and while there walking on ledges, I'm sitting there gripping my seat, praying to not fall overboard. The island is beautiful, 30 some years ago it was a well kept secret not known to many, now every part of the island has a hotel, cottage, home, etc. I become a little disappointed in humanity while on my boat trip, I see a lot of plastic bottles in the ocean and other garbage :(
I'm quite happy I chose to come to Boracay (and grateful that my mom helped me out), I learned so much from the local people about growing up, family, life on the island and that will be one of my most treasured memories. The Filipino people have to be some of the most kind hearted, beautiful, inspiring people I have ever met <3 Although I was lonely at times, I'm somewhat glad I came here alone otherwise I may not have spent as much time with the locals as I did. One more gripe with humanity there are many vendors here trying to earn a living by selling people stuff a simple no thank-you usually does the trick no need to be rude. Also if you tell a vendor you'll be back in 10 minutes to go on his boat trip, come back, or at least be honest and say your not interested. My buddy's friend waited over an hour for these people to come back :(. It's one of those things were creating harm to their environment and changing their way of life, the least we can do is be respectful to them and their home!!
Next stop Manila for a day then Hong Kong!!!
FYI: I'll post pics when I get home, my iPad can only do so much.
