Boracay 2014: The Morning Walk

For a vacation weekend, we started out stressed: our wailing dog had to be taken to a boarding vet, house/car keys to be entrusted to neighbors, last minute packing, with Pop and Star coming from night duties (no sleep!). Pop's flight is at 6am (Cebu Pacific), mine at 9am and Star's at 11am (PAL) -- different flights because we need at least one of us to stay alive if one plane crashes or something. Kidding. Blame it on promo fares. Pop lined up at the check in counter for a whole hour, and was told that she, together with 7 other passengers, could no longer be accommodated in the flight because they were late. Everyone's stress level shot up, and one caucasian guy wanted to punch the lady officer, who dilly-dallied in checking them in (looong story).   It was all sorted out, without violence, and everyone was able to board.

Star and I checked in at the same time, despite the different flight schedule. The check-in personnel asked me if I wanted to board an earlier flight, at 7am., instead of 9am. I said yes, thinking I could meet up with Pop at Caticlan, instead of getting to Boracay by my lonesome. Then I remembered I have another sister waiting behind me, and I asked the nice check-in girl if Star could be with me in the flight too. She said yes. Then seemed to change her mind, and said, "would you two like to be on the 630am flight instead? But you need to hurry because boarding starts soon." Who says no to that?

Star and I were all smiles when we met up with Pop at Caticlan airport an hour later. We can have breakfast, in Boracay! Every extra hour we could squeeze in Boracay is very much welcome. 

Day Off ng mga manangs: milking Mesa's bottomless lemonade for all its worth.

Every morning I spent on the island is awesome. I'd wake up early, and shake the sisters awake, only to be met with such hostility that I did not try it again the next day. Then I'd take a long walks, envying those taking jogs (why, oh why did I not pack my rubber shoes sportsbra). There's this group of guys doing cross-fit training (I think).

The Lord of the Flies crowd. 

The dragon boat (?) people. They would heave and move it a few inches. Stop. Then lift it again. And there's like, ten of them lifting. Like the boat's made of lead. I figure they would have it on the waters by noontime. 

I'd park my ass at a nearby Jonah's (they're everywhere!) and take a wildly zoomed in shot of Willy's Rock, because everyone has to have a picture of it.  

Boats for island hopping. We didn't see any need to visit the nearby islands twice in our lifetime.

I forgot to bring slippers to the beach (what??) but my adventure shoes are more up to the job.

The Great Sandsifter.

The adventure shoes in this obligatory/tradition shot.

I didn't know boats dock in Station 1. This was near TGIF, and I was saddened to see that side of the beach a little unkept, littered with these slimy green algae(?). The other beachfront resorts take pains to remove these every morning, and rake away the small, sharp stones in the sand. What, you think you Station 1 looks picturesque au naturel? 

By mid-morning, I would start stalking people. This is the little star of Honesto, staying in the same resort as ours. 

 Grandpa Tirol and granddaughter in pampers.

Push mo yang satin-white high-heeled shoes mo, 'te.

And some randoms strangers, so I can caption the picture with banat lines I read on twitter.

"Ayoko ng katulad mo. Gusto ko ikaw mismo."

And my favorite shot of the trip:

Thank you, Manong Vendor, for passing by so often I was finally able to take a good shot of you. 

Boracay 2014

I have only one mission in Boracay: to have a real vacation. One without a lot of water activities (no paragliding, helmet diving, etc.) except to languidly float in its bluest water, lie in beach beds, and soak the harmful rays of the sun, while sipping fresh fruit drinks with that little umbrella on the side. Honestly, the last one is more of my sister's idea.

And one more thing: I have to be in Station 1, because I am so freaking annoyed when we try to swim in Station 1 and we're driven away like pulubi's because we're not allowed to leave our stuff in the sand (not even on their beach chairs, ha) in front of their resort/hotel. This happens every time we are in Bora (and staying at cheap accommodations in Station 2). In fact, I was so incensed last time that I did a research on res nullius and the boundaries of the  rights of beachfront property owners (kaninong sand ba talaga yan, ha?). I found out there's a lot of debate on that, and the rules actually vary from state to state, so the only real solution to my vexation is to stop being a cheapskate and get a Station 1 hotel.  

Behold, Residencia Boracay: 

One sister taking endless selfies.

Residencia is everything I dreamed of, with beach chairs under huge umbrellas facing this view:

Papa Americano! 

And these hammocks! They make me wanna grow palm trees on my porch so I can hang a hammock between them. (What am I talking about, I don't even have a porch).

I loooove these hammocks. One night, after a very full dinner and a long walk from Station 1 to 3 and back, I laid here, with A Feast of Crows on my kindle, and fell asleep while reading. I woke up at around 1am, shivering, and was momentarily disoriented because the first thing I saw were the blackest skies, and stars. Stars! I don't see a lot of stars in the city because the skies are always lit up by orange lamp posts. A few weeks later, Calla Lily performed in Boracay and stayed at Residencia (I think), and here's Kean in the same hammock I slept in, bwahaha.

From his instagram, taken without permission. Ack.
Sorry, Kean, that duyan is probably much lower now.

In the mornings, I am treated to a buffet of danggit, tomatoes, and fried eggplants. They also have  longanisa and tocino and pancakes. Pancakes, I almost forgot. The chef will cook it for you on the spot, and also prepare your eggs, however you like it.

Ang totoong bakasyon, laging may extra rice. 

But before the buffet breakfast, I would take my usual morning walk along the beach, take awesome pics,

Been to Boracay several times and didn't realize it's actually lined with coconut trees from Station 1 to 3. My mind only saw the shops, bars, and restaurants.

and give in to irresistible Starbucks (because hey, I'm on vacation!).

Apparently, my vacation name is Shona.

Boracay sunsets are not to be missed of course, and I waited every day for that moment when the beach would be bathed in warm orange hues and for everyone to have that trance-like look as they watch the sun goes down. But no, I did not get that because a typhoon came in on the second day, and it was almost always downcast, if not raining. My sister rejoiced because it meant it would not be too hot, and she won't have a tan to explain to her boss (naka sick leave lang kasi!). Oh well, maybe next time, Boracay. I'm pretty much happy with this sunset:

I am having a throwback moment here because Kororo proposed to me in Boracay, at sunset, on his birthday, three years ago. I was urging him to swim, and he was just looking so uncomfortable, he won't even float. He couldn't move around much because he might lose the ring inside his pocket. We've been going out for seven years at that time and he doesn't want me to think he's an asshole for dating me that long without formally popping the question (even though we both know it's not what we want). Wait, he didn't even ask the question. He said, "[preliminary niceties where he summarized our years of togetherness, then] whenever you're ready, I'm just here." Then gave me the ring. O di ba, he didn't even give me the chance to reject him, haha. How can I not keep on coming back to Boracay, with memories like that? 

Aaaaand because we saved a lot in foregoing the water activities, we splurged on food and drinks. Yey, no more Andok's! But we still could not resist the cheese buns from Julie's -- still the perfect pamatid-gutom on a short notice.

Buffet Dinner at the Sea Breeze of Boracay Regency.

The dancing cooks of Sea Breeze buffet dinner. We suspect they've been hired more for their dancing skills, rather than their culinary prowess. We were greatly entertained though.

Last hirit at White House, before leaving for the airport. 

Truffle pasta with crispy tilapia fillet. I recommend. 

Sisterhood of the traveling RB3025's.