We land into Caticlan
Airport (from Manila) at 11.54am on Saturday 16 November. I feel like I’ve been
up for hours!
After collecting my suitcase I head to window 10 where I give my name and am
then taken to a minibus. We have a short wait, for other passengers, before
driving to the port.
On arrival at the hotel “port” I show my passport then sit down. A few minutes
later we are walking down to the boat. It’s not even 50 meters away. Paradise
is getting closer.
It’s a very short boat ride to Boracay.
Back onto a bus we go and as we drive away from the port I realise that Boracay
is definitely bigger than I expected.
On arrival at the hotel I go through all the check-in procedures without
getting my room key. Time for lunch. I decide day 1 I’ll eat at the hotel.
The front desk call me at 2.20pm to say my room is now ready. Great service! I
had fully expected not be too able to enter the room to 3pm.
After cooling off I head down to the beach for a walk. There are soooo many people around, but it’s actually nice.
I can totally see why people rave about Boracay. It really is beautiful.
Once the sun has gone, I find a bar / restaurant to watch the sky turn from red / orange to dark. It’s stunning. Shame it’s still so humid. I want to be still swimming this time tomorrow. Although the beers are ridiculously cheap before 6pm (~NZD 2.30 / ~USD 1.37) so perhaps not.
In the end the mozzies get to me, time to move inside. Must remember to spray my legs tomorrow as well as carry mopidick with me.
Shortly after sitting down a guy with a guitar turns up. Yes, a live band!! I had forgotten how amazing Filipinos are at singing.
Sunday 10 November the roosters wake me at some good godly hour! I do manage to go back to sleep though and wake again just before 7am. Far too early for a holiday!
Of course once I’m awake I work out how to close the shutters……at least tonight it won’t be so light when the sun wakes.
When I checked in yesterday, I was asked what time I wanted breakfast – zero idea, can I decide tomorrow? I was told there are two times, 6am to 8am and 8am to 10pm. Blimey that’s too much for me on holiday. She agreed I could go whenever.
Thankfully there was no wait when I finally arrived just before 9am. No need to rush on holiday!!!
The tide is up this morning. Wow!
As the coffee at breakfast wasn’t the best I decide to have another cup on my balcony before going down to the swimming pool.
It was a relaxing few hours – reading / sudoku / swimming then lunch.
Late afternoon head back to my balcony.
It had been basically cloudy all day so I decided to head to beach just after sun set time. It’s still super pretty.
The number of people on the beach is definitely less than yesterday. I’m hoping tomorrow (being Monday) there will be even less.
Watching the sky turn from red / orange to dark while listening to the waves (and the music) is super soothing. I need to do this type of holiday more often and can’t believe it’s taken me years and years to get to Boracay.
After dinner I walk along the beach back to the hotel. There is hardly anyone around which is lovely.
Monday 11 November I’m woken by the bloody roosters again. One positive of being awake early is I’m up and out on the beach at 7.30am for a walk. It’s also quite breezy which is nice to take the heat of the sun down.
While there are people around it’s definitely super quiet compared to what Saturday was.
The dark clouds seem to be getting closer. Within minutes the staff are leaning the doors up. And then the rain begins, well I say rain more like drops. But with the breeze it’s enough to have the rain coming inside.
I enjoy coffee back on my balcony.
When I head back to the beach all the seats are taken. Right, I must be earlier tomorrow, it’s to the pool I go.
The day is spent reading and swimming. Pure bliss!
It’s cloudy early evening. I’m not expecting a stunning sun set like it was on Saturday night.
Kat had recommended a pizza restaurant which happens to be super close to my hotel. As the sky darkens I wander down there.
Goodness me, the beer is more than 3 times what I paid last night. I guess that’s what’s happens when you are at a real 5 star hotel. It’s still cheap compared with Hong Kong.
Dinner is pizza and beer. What else do you need??!
I wander back along the beach and back to my balcony.
I’m on the beach at 7.15am on Tuesday 12 November. This is what happens when you wake at 6am then again at 6.30am. Plus I don’t want to miss out on a beach seat today.
Aah this is the life!!! Sitting watching the sea.
I leave my stuff then head off for a walk along the beach. Its high tide so less people are sitting on the beach which is nice.
I have a few hours in and out of the sea. The water is super warm, definitely not refreshing on this hot day.
After lunch the sun is getting too much. Time to head to the pool.
4.45pm it’s time to head back to the beach to watch the sunset. It doesn’t disappoint!!
Once the sun sets, I head to my “local” bar – where I’ve been twice already before. It’s super chilled and friendly.
San Miguel is ordered. Time to lie back and watch the sky change colour.
I get chatting to a couple from Germany and their daughter. Nice to converse easily with people.
For dinner I head to Kazbar – a Moroccan restaurant. The reviews on google were amazing. The German couple told me a couple of dishes to order and a few not to order.
I get the last seat outside. Beer is ordered.
In the end I decide on a chicken tagine. It’s very tasty.
Sitting here listening to the live music and seeing the tide come in I realize how lucky I am. I must return to Boracay!
I arrive at the beach at 7.25am on Wednesday 13 November and all the beach seats are taken. Most annoying! It’s high tide in another good hour.
After a few minutes I spy people leaving and I pounce! Seat found!!!
I go for a walk along the beach. Being so close to high tide and it still being early there isn’t that many people around which is lovely.
Post breakfast it’s another busy day……swimming, admiring the view and relaxing (and repeat).
As the sun starts to turn it’s time to get out of the sun. After lunch I head to the pool for a bit.
I head back to the beach much earlier than I have done in the last couple of days. I manage to get the last free seat, which is right at the back.
As I’m spraying mozzie spray on my legs one of the beach hawkers comes up to sell my real pearls. No thanks I’ll pass. I’ll give you a good price. No thanks. You are my first customer today. Still no thanks. In the end I tell him I don’t like pearls. He then informs me the real pearls here will be cheaper than back home. Yes maybe, but I don’t like pearls. Finally, he leaves me alone.
Wandering along the beach I wonder how good the sun set will be as it’s very cloudy.
Patience finally pays off!! A seat in the front row becomes free. I throw down my hat then go and get my things.
Well the sunset did not disappoint. It’s a sight I will never ever get sick off. I can assure you no two sun sets look the same….although you might think so.
At 5.30pm I wander three doors down to my “local”. I chat to a lady I’d met earlier in the sea. They had been at the same hotel as me then moved this afternoon to The Lind Hotel. I had researched it when looking for somewhere to stay but it was outrageously expensive! After having pizza and beer there the other night I am glad I didn’t stay there.
For dinner I head to Percy’s Seafood. I’d seen it on my walk on the first day and the German couple last night also recommended it. Let’s hope it’s good.
Deciding what to eat is hard! In the end I choose a tuna ceviche then fish tacos.
They do not disappoint.
It’s a dark walk along the beach back to the hotel, not once do I feel unsafe though.
When I get back to the hotel there is a very loud party going on at the property two down. Let’s hope it doesn’t go all night long.
The bloody roosters wake me on Thursday 14 November. Between them and the party last night it feels like it was a short night.
I take the last free beach seat. It’s super cloudy today. Hopefully that means less people on the beach later on 😀
I head off for my walk along the beach. High tide is in 1.5 hours so there are less people sitting on the beach.
Breakfast is a slow affair like the other days. My view is fairly open most of the time.
Because it’s cloudy all day I remain at the beach. There is definitely a down period on the beach. Shame it doesn’t last longer!
The sun lights up after the sun set, it’s stunning.
Time for happy hour. I wander three doors down to my “local”.
Because I hadn’t returned to the pool or room (and my seat doesn’t get the WiFi) I wasn’t planned for dinner. The Canadian / Filipino family I’d been speaking with throughout the afternoon said the restaurant at Two Seasons Hotel is good. Right let me try that.
It’s an hours wait so that’s a big N O. Hmmmmm. Right let’s try Kazbar again.
Perfect, I get the last outside seat.
Unsure what to eat I decide on hummus and vegetable cigars with a beer.
The hummus is so so, although it does get better after the first mouthful. Marks and Spencer’s do it much better.
Friday 15 November I’m woken before 6am by children and roosters. Aaah! Thankfully I managed to go back to sleep for a little bit.
When I arrive at the beach just after 7.30am there are no seats. The sun is wide awake already and has some heat. I decide to leave my bag and go off for a walk. I did get some sun yesterday so perhaps it won’t be a bad thing if I’m by the pool for the morning.
I leave my bag on a table and head off for a walk.
When I return, I spy a free seat. Bingo! I’m in.
Siting here drinking my coffee while looking out at the beautiful sea it’s hard to believe this time tomorrow I’ll be on the way to the airport. I’m now regretting the early departure. But does mean I don’t have to clock watch!
After a couple of hours the heat gets to me. Time to head to the pool and in the shade.
Before coming to the beach at 4pm I stop at reception to confirm my transfer tomorrow morning. They tell me 3 hours before my flight, ok so 8.15am. No, 8am. I stare at them blankly….so it’s not 8.15am. Aah. Sadj you are in Asia. Right to the beach I go.
There are a few empty seats which surprises me then within minutes I see why. It’s still so very hot.
I wander down the beach, putting my feet into the cool sea.
As the sun disappears for the day so do lots of people. Perfect, bye bye.
As I’m wandering to my “local” I run into the German couple. So nice to run into people I know.
Then at my “local” I see the family I’d met at the hotel the other day.
Tonight I’m off to the Spanish restaurant so after one beer I’m off.
Deciding what to eat is hard when there is soooo many things that are jumping out.
Dinner is super tasty!
I pay my hotel bill when I return. 7 lunches and a couple of soda waters was dirt cheap (compared to HK!!). ~NZD 121 / ~USD 72. I need to come here more often!
When I get back to the room there is a letter there informing me my transfer to the airport leaves at 8.30am. You can’t make this up! Hey ho, I’ll be going with the 8.30am timing.
Saturday 16 November I wake just before 6am. Can’t believe I’m leaving today but I feel ready.
I go for my final walk along the beach. It’s amazing how many people are here already at 6.30am.
Final pack up, shower and coffee before I check out.
At 8am front desk calls me to inform me my airport transfer is at 8.30am and that I need to be in the lobby at 8.15am.
When I hand over my keys at front desk they then inform me they will do a room check for 10 minutes. Ok. Unsure why it will take that long but hey ho! Once that is done they will need my credit card that I paid with to give me back the deposit. Wow this is complicated!
A few minutes later someone comes over and tells me front desk…..we get there in the end. I’m to go to the front desk. My room has been cleared and my deposit given back. I’m then ushered to the van. We depart 6 minutes early – buggar!
Driving through the town I see a different Boracay to what I’ve been experiencing. While it would have been nice to go exploring I don’t need to be looking into tourist shops. My end of the beach was just perfect for me.
It seems to take no time at all to get to the port. But of course there is waiting around.
We board the boat at 8.50am, less than 9 minutes later we arrive at the Port at Malay Town.
It’s what I would call very rolling when we need to get off the boat. I’m very glad I took a motion sickness pill! Luckily we don’t need to take our luggage, the staff do that for us.
Literally 2 minutes after getting on the mini bus we pull up at the terminal. It absolutely wasn’t like this arriving! I could have easily walked.
After putting my bags through a security check, I proceed to check-in. Everything goes smoothly, typical when you have lots of time!!
I then need to go through another security. How odd, or perhaps not as well.
Less than one hour from leaving the hotel I find a seat in the departure hall. Now the waiting begins! Thank goodness I have a book and download shows on Netflix.
They start boarding one hour before our departure time. That’s a strong N O from me. The previous announcements had advised there will be a long wait as we need to take a bus to the plane so use the bathroom now. Ok, thanks. Regardless I’ll be waiting for the last group to board. My backpack will fit under the seat in front of me so no need to get space above the seats.
At 10.31am they call all remaining passengers. Far out, it’s still far too early. Let’s hope we can take off early….
I take the last seat on the bus. Very glad I didn’t board earlier as we sit here for 10 minutes before departing.
We push back from the parking bay 9 minutes early, I’m shocked! Totally didn’t expect this.
Boracay, you have been amazing. I will absolutely return!!! Goodbye for now.
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