Boracay

When you’ve been away from your happy place for so long, all you can do is daydream about the time you’re wearing dress and slip-ons… back when one can have shrimp and lobster feast without hurting one’s pocket that badly because where you came from, you can just get it from the sea…

TODAY, I live in a place where oil is supposed to be cheap, being that people used to believe that oil flows from our faucets. Shockingly, oil price hiked quite significantly yet again, but what can we do? That’s life and we have to take what it gives.

I went to Boracay with my husband some time back, of course, we were younger.

My husband having been raised overseas have not gone to Boracay yet so he really had the wonderful first time experience.

It was not my first time though. I went to Boracay while on poorman’s budget, from when I was still unable to afford a decent plane ride hence, deciding to ride on a totally scary plane that offered cheapest rates!

During the trip with the husband, we were able to book better planes, the flight had been fun and felt safer! We were also able to ride a speedboat to transport us to the island as opposed to an old fishing boat I rode back in the day.

We were also able to book a quaint hotel, the Real Maris Resort and Hotel which we have booked from a travel agent that offered us an excellent package. We did not avail the full board because we wanted to explore other amenities and restaurants while in Boracay. I believe we only availed breakfast from the hotel. Real Maris Resort and Hotel is in Station 1: White Beach Path, Malay, Aklan, Philippines (+63 36 288 4144)

Boracay Island is one of the Philippines’ most popular destinations. It highlights the island’s white sand beaches. There are several beaches to choose from; there’s  Yapak Beach with its white shells, White Beach (where we stayed) with its super awesome sunsets/parties, and the secluded Balinghai Beach.

The Island has an excellent commercial pull. It offers amazing products being sold as souvenirs, its restaurants serve the freshest and most delectable dishes ever, and of course, they’re also proud of its very active night scene! Clubs and bars are enticing. Many city dwellers are often being snapped partying in “Bora.” That is probably why youngsters still prefer Boracay over other Philippine beaches because others do not offer the same hyped up nightlife!

When I was a kid, I knew of Boracay through an RPN 9 mini-series called “Boracay.” It aired in 1991 starring Dina Bonnevie, Fe Delos Reyes, Joel Torre, Rollie Quizon and Noel Trinidad (the fictional resort owner). It was a “dramedy” and I really enjoyed watching it as a kid. I was nine when it aired. The mini-series was set in a resort called Club Panoly. According to old articles, Club Panoly opened around November 1989, a 4-hectare, Singaporean-owned and operated resort, the first triple AAA resort in Boracay. Over the years, this resort has rebranded several times and I bet it is no longer the same as it was 30 years ago (last I heard, it is now under the operations of Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts group).

While in Bora, we enjoyed Paraw Sailing, Zipline, Buggy Rides among others. It was indeed more fun in the Philippines! Boracay at some point had been notorious because of the environmental issues, sex scandals mostly by celebrities, sex trades, human rights violation, etc. It was closed for some time and reopened with a cleaner yet impure version of its old self.

I believe it’s still fun in the Philippines!

It’s Sunday today and I thank the Lord for His goodness and mercy. His power truly is awesome and His love is steadfast and never ceases. They are new every morning, GREAT IS THY faithfulness.