A Boracay Memoir

Today's weather is as perfect as yesterday and its even more pleasant because the moon is at its biggest and brightest full moon glow. Times like these bring back fond memories, it makes me think of Boracay. Every time its nice and windy or so sunny that I could feel so warm to the bone or whenever the moon looks so dashingly handsome... such nights send me back to the island I just need to close my eyes and I know its real and tonight is one of those very nights.

I leave my little hut perched up in the hill, secured my key in my pocket and took my trusty lighter with a built in flashlight --oh what a firefly this is. I turned to face the narrow path that would lead to the main road and it was already illuminated,no need for firefly then, so I just light a cig. It's a pleasant night, I opt to walk the entire way. Its so quiet that I could hear the island in orchestra -the sound of the wind against the leaf blades of the grass and bamboo trees; tricycles and motorbikes slowing down offering a ride, I decline and they go like resonating notes of violas and cellos, the distant videoke singer (probably drunk) reaches for the high notes falters and tries again and it goes on like shreiking violin but distance is a friend, it sounds good; then I hear the cicada's love song --the erotic call for a mate, but the cicada is not alone, everyone is seeking a match. Driven by insatiable lust, crickets, cicadas and God knows even butterflies and fireflies have songs of love --all of them sing in chorus (no shame in sex). I could stay and listen to this exclusive six-legged insect band and learn from them but in fact, my mind has drifted off already about human sexuality and *bang* the cymbals, I hear the crashing of the waves and my side tracking ends. The waves can be predictable at nights like this one, they just crash within a definite time or interval or momentum or pace. The waves make a hushing sound when it withdraws and moans loud when it claws back to shore. The hushes and moans of the sea and shore an incesant erotic love affair.

Someone is playing the didgeridoo, that means the party is about to start and I'm not missing it.
Red Pirates Pub Full Moon Parties are nothing like anything else in the island and for that it has a special charm to backpackers. Its a place where people come barefoot, dressed down, guards off, all-pretentions stripped-off and sometimes just plain stripped off. Its a very secluded nook where people come for chats, drinks, fire dance and live drum jams of Boracay's very own. I come here often for the very same reasons plus mango rhum, a game of poker or two, scrabble and dinners. Joey and Jen (the pub's owners) are very generous with their Friday dinners and I am very grateful.

I love nights like this one.


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Asian Spirit 6k Seat Sale

Well yeah. It is the the season again of limited period seat sales, this time I was suprised because Asian Spirit joined the bandwagon on giving REAL seat sales. To be honest, I doubted the validity of it but it is real but only for very very very short while. Imagine as low as Php991 from Manila to Caticlan, when Manila-Kalibo only went as low as Php999.

So what's the catch on this miraculous event?

Well, the cheapest rate is the Php0 fare round trip which cost about Php2888. ROUND TRIP MANILA-CATICLAN and BACK. So when I tried to book a group of 10. on this promo sadly I don't have the list of the names of the passengers. It's a missed cheap fare opportunity but it's ok. And the seat sale go so quickly! Without exaggeration, they change in less than 1 minute.

I haven't slept yet for the last 36 hours and so did my laptop and did nothing but scheme up the lowest airfare for clients. But the sad end to that is, after I've fished a low, if not the lowest fare for some clients, I get bypassed. Not just once, i must add. That's really a loophole in what I do. Of course it is easy to retrieve info from the net but to get it on the perfect time to fish cheap deals to ditch the one who saw an opening, seems unfair. But then again, we learn from our mistakes. Adding accommodation with airfare is a loopy business.

Maybe all these trouble aren't worth it at all. It's not that easy to book the cheapest fare, it takes time and patience. So there goes my tip for all of you who wants to get the cheapest fare... as Professor Mad-eye Moody always say..."constant vigilance".

So there.

I'm just so tired.

One last yosi.

Sleep.

Maybe all these is just a bad dream.

Boracay Travel Expenses: A Budget Guide

Boracay is in every Filipino's must visit list and budget is always keeping us so away from the destination.
So plan your trip early to save money or save money to start planning your trip. hmmm? Either way, just save up and go when it is cheapest. And you are so lucky because its off season!

So you're still calculating your travel expenses but still clueless of the various fees and taxes you might come by to get here? Lem'me help.

There are various ways to get to Boracay by plane (Kalibo and Caticlan). Kalibo is my favorite because it is relatively much cheaper than Caticlan. But some would prefer Caticlan over Kalibo because it is the fastest way to the island. SO it's really up to you.

Now, get your calculator and compute with me.
(PER PERSON QUOTATION ON 3 Days 2 Nights)

MANILA-KALIBO RoundTrip
Php5500 Airfare (Average of lowest-Php2000 and highest-Php9000)
Php 200 Airport Terminal Fee
Php 150 Kalibo - Caticlan van ride; inclusive of boat fare and jetty port terminal fee)
Php 75 Environmental Fee
Php 100 Special Tricycle fare from jetty port to resort/hotel/hostel
Php2200 Cheapest 3 Days 2 Nights beachfront Lodging
Php 20 Tricycle fare to Boracay Jettyport
Php 40 Boat fare and Terminal fee to Caticlan Jettyport

TOTAL: More or less Php8285 per person/3Days 2 Nights Accommodation

MANILA-CATICLAN Roundtrip
Php8000 Airfare (Average of lowest-Ph4000 and highest-Php12000)
Php 200 Airport Terminal Fee
Php 40 Boat fare and Jetty Port Terminal Fee
Php 75 Environmental Fee
Php 100 Special Tricycle fare from jetty port to resort/hotel/hostel
Php2200 Cheapest 3 Days 2 Nights beachfront Lodging
Php 20 Tricycle fare to Boracay Jettyport
Php 40 Boat fare and Terminal fee to Caticlan Jettyport

TOTAL: More or less Php10675 per person/3Days 2 Nights Accommodation

So raise that travel money and hit Boracay soon!

Habagat Series 1

Its 4pm and there's no sun but still we're having so much fun! Feeling tourista ulit with all the photo-taking among friends at Bombom bar.

and the boys pose

Lody and I posing a classic tourista pose hehe

Summer Left the Island

I heard around the island that when the sun sets at its fullest and brightest yellow orange glow, summer is about to end.

And so the day came, the sun set its last glorious show for the year. It was really different. The sun was 5 times bigger than usual. It splashed the island to the orange tinge. Nothing escaped its rays. Then the show came to an end. And indeed, it was the last sunset show.

Days after that, it started pouring like 3 times a week, then it became 4 nights a week. But this week, the sun hardly shone. It was raining all day since yesterday...and today is a same story.

Summer ended so quickly this year. Habagat xame too early and low season is here.

This is what D'mall beachfront at Habagat looks like:

the empty beach front

the umbrella display

Bombar waiters turned People watches (hehehe)

the unusuall empty bombom bar

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Ati-atihan Patikim

Wow! I got wifi at home (boracay). This so unexpected and I am really thankful that I have it now. I admit, it is hard for me to do away with the internet. I'm so used to getting online almost 24/7 back in Manila and now I am able to have this luxury back!! Oh my! It's like I never left Manila at all!

And this would also mean, I'd be blogging more often again. hahaha. I'm so happy, so so happy!

Just a quick update of what I have been upto:
1. I went to Kalibo for the Ati-atihan Festival
2. I didn't know that Brownman Revival would be playing for the festival (but lucky jammy, was in town too and didn't miss it)
3. Aside from BMR, Mar Roxas, Nel"Crushie" PBB Housemate and MMDA's Bayani Fernando joined the parade.

hmmm, but doesn't it make you wonder??? What business does MMDA got to do with Kalibo's Ati-atihan? Imagine the unnecessary cost of flying a full drum and lyre band from Manila to Boracay and back? The talent fee for the band, the pink sneakers and pink suit? Hotel accomodations? It's a distasteful show of extravagance from a government agency in a third-world country paying first-world tax. Just distasteful at least to me and most of the Aklanons I met in Kalibo.

Haaay, yan muna.

hmmm, did I just admit I crush Nel?

lando

bagyo kung bagyo. party parin sa boracay

I can't believe I am having these thoughts and that I am venting it out here for everyone to read.

I don't like working on holidays especially when it is a legal holiday declared by the President. Yes, I am to report for work on the 29th of October. What happened to my citizenship rights? I feel naked.

But on the other hand, what am I complaining about? I'm already on the island! I get to wear my Halloween costume to school. I get to play...Play...PLAY!!!

***jammygrl08 inhales deeply and exhales completely.

I feel better now.

hehehe

BORACAY

Im missing everything about Boracay now. Three days and two nights aren't enough to spend on a fine beach --atleast not for me. How I wish I could stay for 2 weeks to a month.

On the lighter side though, the trip is just what I need to escape the work jitters. I'm as eager as my students for school closing day to come and start summer beach bumming. What else can I say, I just love sun, sand, beach and skim...(ok, beachbum hunting too)

Beach bum hunting. Something about the local guy-skimmer-henna tattoo artist - reggae band guy that makes me weak --kilig weak. But it ends there. There are no future plans attached --just the present.

I mostly bummed solo during my stay on Bora. I like it that way than go girl-talk *shivers*. I basked on the sun like 'daing'. But unlike the 'daing'; mine was self-imposed, the daing was deprived of the ocean and executed to death to feed mankind *nyak, corny*.

Since I kept a hurried vacation, I promised myself that I'll do the most out of the trip. So I mingled with the locals. I just find it much interesting to experience the trip the local way. Since as I have mentioned previously --i hate girl talk.

I found skimmers along shore and I stalked one of them. I really must be enchanted because I stalked him from Station 1 upto the long stretch of Station 3 ( I AM NOT KIDDING) . He skimmed from the first station to the last. If he can skim that far -- I can stalk that far too. AHEM!

My housemates aka college friends are wondering where I am (while stalking) and what was I doing. I didn't lie.. I told them I have gone --hunting. They left the house to meet me somewhere on Station 2. I found another interesting thing to do --beach football with the locals ofcourse (well, mostly at least).

I didn't hesitate to pass the ball back to William (local guy) and chatted with him while juggling and passing balls. He offered skimming lessons but I couldn't pass up playing beach football 3 on 3. I didn't mind if I was the only girl. I played mostly 'last man' but I scored a goal too. So fun.

I got acquainted with several foreigners of different nationalities --Koreans, Bulgarianss, Norwegians, Australians and Americans.