Boracay, Here I Come

     Rise and shine.  4:00 a.m., shower, dress, and out the door at 5.  It was about a 30 minute drive from Green Hills to the domestic airport.  The security was tight.  You had to get screened before receiving your boarding pass.  There was a short line outside the airport.  Your bags were scanned prior to entering the airport.  Then, another screening and an exit fee.  *Keep this in mind when Boracay and Manilla.  They only take cash and charge you as you leave the country.  I also had to hand over my umbrella, later receiving it in Calibo.

     The flight was brief, about an hour until I arrived in Calibo.  The airport was small and untidy.  The perfect setting for a tropical island.  Next, I jumped on a bus and took a long, winding road through the countryside.  It was perfect.  The left side had the best views (I lucked out).  I saw rice paties, huts on stilts, and many natives.  It really made the 1 1/2 hour bus ride bearable. 

 

   






      Upon arriving at the port, you will board a small cataclan.  Beware of the porters.  They will take your bag from you and expect more than a few dollars in exchange.  They tried to do this at the airport and the port.  I tried to manage by myself, which was very difficult.  I had to manuever down a narrow ramp, with a bulky suit case (anything to save a few bucks).  Their ship hands also throw your luggage on top of the boat.  This made me a nervous wreck, but it managed to stay on.

     After a 20 minute boat ride and 8 minute transfer (by golf cart) to the hotel and dragging my luggage through sand for about 10 minutes, I had finally arrived.

     I was greeted with a shell necklace and fruit drink.  Then off to a lunch on the beach.  The rest of the day was spent drinking mojitos in the afternoon sun.  The beach was a fine white sand, that never gets hot!! 
     As I watched the sun set in the bay, I thought....This is paradise.

View from our balcony