the story so far [boracay-iloilo 2012]

May 15, 2012 · by · in , , ,

I confess: Every thing [1] I’ve written about love going awry against the backdrop of soft sand, clear seas and chaotic shores, I set in Boracay. [2] [3]

And this is a Boracay I remember from 2005. (Remember that? I lost a phone and a girl?) 2005 — which is seven years ago. It was May, right after graduation, and right before employment. We drove from Manila, to Batangas, to Mindoro and to Panay Island — it was INSANE.

Why we hadn’t just booked a flight, I can’t remember — I guess Dad just wanted to try the Roro thing, which at the time was really the Arroyo administration’s flagship program or something. Having said that, Boracay was just a side-trip: We stayed only for a night with relatives. But then: WHAT A NIGHT. (See also: I LOST MY PHONE. Conclude as you may, that night has been buried in the sand. HAHA.)

Anyway.

So, this year I managed to: 1) Hang onto my phone! and 2) Not get too sunburnt. I guess the judicious over-application of sunblock did us some good.

Here, have a quick photo of me and my siblings on these sacred shores before the cut:

Holding onto my phone, as mentioned. With Krista and Wy here.

(More photos under cut)

Also — wow, this Boracay is different. Well, not exactly unrecognizable — but still: Different. In my head, I was like: Now I have to revise everything I’ve written about this place. And I will — one of these days, when I’m not lazy BUSY. (Sure.)

But then, it was not altogether ~strange. Save for the language barrier (I understand Ilonggo, but only the basics, and only when my father is speaking to someone on the phone? Haha) it felt a lot like Makati, only I wasn’t two blocks away from work, and to get anywhere you had to walk through sand and MAN, my feet and ALL THIS WEIGHT. We stayed in Station 3 and everything else felt too far away. Noting this for next time.

Anyway — I’m happy though that there are more food stalls. D’mall feels more BHS-/Eastwood-like than anything.

AND MAN THE CROWD. Heh. Relatively thinner in the early mornings, which was when we preferred to walk around, and getting more horrible after lunch, toward nightfall (as expected).

Apart from the insane crowd, this place was also so exhausting — halfway through the second day, I was already wheezing from too much 1) dust 2) smoke 3) exhaustion, and I had to resort to Allerta — which a pharmacy in D’Mall thankfully sells. Works like a charm, this one, and this is not a paid ad.

Activities-wise, we only tried one, which was island-hopping. At P700/head, it was a group-thing na pwede na — there was snorkeling (it was my first time! I was terrified!), and there was Puka Beach (Which was bliss. Man, we could stay here ALL DAY) and there was lunch (which was bottomless barbecue and rice and shrimp and veggies, drinks, etc). The whole thing lasted for six hours. Not bad.

Speaking of activities: While walking through the busy main street, Auntie and I noticed that if it was Krista being offered something, the barkers’ standard offer was “ma’am, banana boat?” But when it was MY turn to walk past, their standard offer for me was, “ma’am, ATV? ATV?” AH GANON?? HAHAHA.

Anyway, from Boracay we rode a bus to Iloilo, and during the six-hour trip I was able to read through half of Carlos Zafon’s “The Shadow of the Wind.” FUCKING FANTASTIC. I am doing this slowly. Fucking delicious, this book.

Anyway — As planned, we met up with relatives in Iloilo before boarding our flight to Manila on Monday morning.

That said: Of course there are more pictures.

Touchdown at the resort.

View of the shore from the resort lobby. This is the quiet side of the shore, which also explains why it's mostly empty.

Requisite Mr Clean pose in front of the resort.

Shady individuals. Also, my hair is weird. Also, Wy's shades are from Cebu Pacific TRUE STORY.

Auntie wanted to pose behind a coconut tree. Yes.

Here with Wy, who's using sand to exfoliate his face. YES.

Posing by the shore with Krista.

L-R Krista, Wy, Auntie, Me. Auntie was in a shirt because we totally had not planned to go into the water. But yeah, fuck plans, right? =)

KAINIS PHOTO 2012. Yes, this is my sister. But no, we don't share a refrigerator. Which explains the discrepancy in weight and figure. My only comforting thought: I took this photo. I can make anyone look swimsuit model-y, apparently. It's my gift.

Auntie, directing this photo: "O ayan. Diyan ka sa dulo Ate Kate. Ayan, 118 ang number niyo. Haha." // KAINIS. Anyway -- look at that SKY. I mean, we are.

I love the colors in this one.

Quiet shores at noontime.

Auntie and I had this crazy idea of walking all the way to Station 1. Apparently, insanity runs in the family.

In this photo with that famous fruit shake. Yummy but overpriced, but yeah. Also: Obviously, I'm not the main subject of this photo.

With Auntie. So early in the morning.

This one's at Crystal Cove.

Snorkeling sibs. Krista's actually a somewhat-trained diver. She kept wanting to remove her vest so she can go nearer to the seafloor! LORD MY PANICKING HEART.

Not really fond of underwater creatures, and my first snorkeling experience was borderline terrifying. But it's all good!

This place. I'll come back and shack up nearer this place, seriously.

Walang papalag! Wy, Me, Krista. Ah, so I have discovered the proper way of placing myself in a photo with my siblings.

The foursome in the water. Krista, Wy, Auntie, Me.

This is the closest we got to a "Temptation Island"-esque photo shoot.

Mandatory jump shot at Puka.

View from the picnic hut.

 

Dinner at Army Navy with Auntie.

My siblings when awake: Trolls. Hahaha. At Army Navy.

My siblings when ASLEEP LOL: My sibs have superpowers. They can sleep WHEREVER THEY WANT TO. True story.

Notes:

[1] See also: The maps part in Maps, letters…

[2] And the third portion of Apartment story

[3] It feels like I’ve written more, though I cannot locate them. LOL baka di ko natapos.

Technicals:

i. Villa Camilla is in Station 3. We rented their family room, which is good for five pax. 3,600/night, no breakfast. Their room has 2 queen sized beds, a single bed, closets, a/c, hot water, wifi, cable TV for American Idol (LOL), a refrigerator which is stocked with beer (P50/bottle), bottled water (P30/bottle) and softdrinks in can (P50 din ata?) Not bad.

ii. Jetty: P100 terminal fee, P25 boat fare. (one way, per head)

iii.  Tricycle from Cagban Jetty Port to D’mall: P25/head

iv. Club Manila East (Station 2) room for four: P3,750/night. Very simple accommodations, 2 queen beds with a/c, refrigerator, hot water, wifi, TV with cable.

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