Boracay Sept 2015

[beerlaodrinker]

Boat looks really clean and comfortable...even cattle class. Except for that abomination of a cursed videoke machine...which should be chucked overboard.

I like it when Filipino ferries have videoke machines on board. In fact once I was in a taxi in Cebu and trying to find out departure times of a ferry to CDO or somewhere on the phone. I asked them if they had a videoke machine on board, to help while away the 10-12 hour ferry ride. They said no so i hung up and rang another ferry that said that yes, they did have a videoke machine on board. I said great, reserve me the stateroom.

the taxi driver, overhearing, thought that this was totally hilarious.

you mad c
Katie you have jogged my memory now, I recall taking the overnight ferry from a port near busuan city,(can't remember the name of the port)Heading for Cebu city where I planned a couple of nights of RnR
I had booked the stateroom as the company were paying, good decision. That room was luxurious , I couldn't believe my luck. Anyway to cut a short story long I found the bar on another deck and there was the inevitable Karaoke going on, I had been working in Mindanao for about 6 months at that time so was no stranger to karaoke, my Filipino co workers used to take me to a karaoke every night , then suddenly they stopped taking me? It turns out I'm the worst karaoke singer they ever met. Apparently I was "Hurting there ears" But in that bar on the top deck I met the most beautiful Filipino girl I've ever seen and we got on like a house on fire, one thing led to another and as she was sleeping in cattle class I invited her to share my luxurious digsshe agreed that would be a good idea indeed, sadly nothing ever came of it, otherwise I might of been living in the Philippines. I was 29 at the time and brutally handsomelol, funny how life works itself out. Married to lovely Lao girl now , no regrets

Thanks for the memory jog, a lot of people shitcan the Philippines but there is some amazing things to see and do there, the inter island ferries are a blast, just don't take them in typhoon season and it's all good

[katie23]

@BLD - I think it's Butuan city, not Busuan, but no matter. I haven't been to Butuan, but I know people who are from there. They speak Bisaya/Cebuano, not Tagalog, as their mother tongue. Since my dad is from the Tagalog region, I don't speak other dialects aside from Tagalog, which I find a bit sad, as I know some people who can speak 3 dialects - mom's, dad's & Tagalog.

But anyway, re: Butuan, I haven't been there, but would like to, in the future. In Mindanao, I've only been to Zamboanga city, Cagayan de Oro City, and Camiguin island. I don't have pics from Zamboanga as that was a long time ago, but I have some pics from last year's CDO-Camiguin trip, and if I ever get the time & inclination (and my net cooperates with me), then I might bung up another thread. Camiguin is a nice, small, sleepy island and might go the way of Boracay (in terms of commercialization) so I'm glad that I was able to visit it while it was still relatively unspoiled. I think you've been to Camiguin too, when it was still very primitive? Nowadays there are resorts, but more of homestyle resorts and not 5-star or international chains.

LOL again re: karaoke machines. In my area, the neighbors usually have videoke days or nights during weekends. You'll also see the guys (and a few girls) on plastic tables and chairs, either inside or outside their house gates, with a couple of Ginebra gin or Red Horse beer, as they sing their hearts out. It's usually somebody's birthday during a weekend, so sometimes the singing is in the east, sometimes in the west. The people don't complain since they take turns in being noisy. Oh well. Live and let live.

The ferry from Cagayan de Oro city to Camiguin didn't have a karaoke machine on deck, as it was only a 2-hour travel. There were just seats - no bed. Cattle class was on deck. They had "poorer" class of chairs (I think no cushions?) and they had the sea breeze - no aircon. My group took the A/C option.

Interesting story re: the girl. I guess during that time there was no internet, email or cellphones (or they weren't so popular yet) so nothing came of it. Reminds me of a story from one of my more senior colleagues re: a girl he met on a plane during the pre-internet/cellphone days. Were you already a "large mammal" during that time?

[beerlaodrinker]

Yes, it was butuan city, nice place btw. there definately wasnt any cellphones or internet going on then , at that time i was only a medium sized mammel

[katie23]

^Cheers, BLD.

Some bonus tracks (like the dvd version of a movie, lol)

After disembarking from the ship at Batangas port
Please don't quote this post or copy the pic, thanks.

[katie23]

More beach pics

[katie23]

After the Boracay trip, I had a craving for longsilog (silog with longganisa sausage) from my fave eatery in my hometown, so I went there and had one. Costed only P35 (was P60 in Boracay)

[katie23]

These were the breakfast stuff being offered. Different kinds of silog meals.



My fave eatery in my hometown. I don't eat here often anymore since I'm only in my hometown during weekends or holidays. Might as well give them free advert, I'm friendly with the owner.

[katie23]

Another eatery in my hometown offering silog meals

[katie23]

In Boracay, my group had Taho after the boat trip, as we saw a Taho vendor along the beach. Taho is a sweet/snack made of soybean curd, sugar syrup & tapioca pearls (sago). It's usually sold by a Taho vendor (man), going around and shouting, "Taho- oooo". This is not the taho from the Boracay trip but of Taho that I bought for my mom & myself. I loved taho as a kid.

[katie23]

Another dessert that I had after the trip is Halo-Halo (mix-mix). It's a desert or snack made of crushed ice, sweetened beans, different colored gelatin, tapioca (sago) pearls. It may or may not have rice puffs, leche flan (custard) and a scoop of ice cream.

This was Halo-halo from Chowking, a Chinese fastfood resto - same owner as Jollibee. Had it during an office trip while waiting for colleagues.



You can buy halo-halo from street stalls, fastfood outlets or hi-so restos - depends on you.
It's refreshing to eat when it's so hot outside.

That's it for the thread. Some Pinoy beach, food and culture for you.

[Exit Strategy]

Thanks Katie, much appreciated, photos and especially info. Having been to PH so many times I realize I have much to learn, and that's what I will do.

[Baas Babelaas]

Katie - check your inbox. Have some questions about Cebu, Bohol, etc.

[Davis Knowlton]

^She's in the province for the holidays mate; not sure that she has internet.

[Baas Babelaas]

Shite - no rush. Planning a holiday down that way.

[Davis Knowlton]

She'll be back next week; school starts on the 5th.

[katie23]

^ I was surprised for the bump. I thought Davis just wished me "happy holidays".

@BB - I answered your PM. Will try to log in again, when I can. If not, then it will be after the New Year, as I'm in the province.

Happy Holidays to all! Wish everyone a safe, blessed and prosperous New Year!

[katie23]

Updating this thread with some info...

I saw this travel agency across the Caticlan port as I was going back to Manila after the holidays. They cater mostly to foreigners, I think. I saw some foreigners led by a tour guide to their office. I guess they waited in the office for more clients before they were taken by bus to Kalibo Airport.

For those interested, see www southwesttoursboracay dot com





If you don't want to use a travel agency, you can fly into Clark or Manila, then get another flight to Kalibo airport. From Kalibo, you can take a van/minivan or bus (~1.5h) to Caticlan port, then travel by speedboat or pump boat to Boracay island. Upon reaching Boracay island, you can take a trike to your hotel/resort, or have a pre-arranged pick-up from your hotel.

[katie23]

Update to the thread:

Flew in to Boracay recently for a short R&R, as well as a late celeb for my birthday.

Boracay Island was closed off to tourists for 6 months last year. It reopened in ~ Nov 2018.

I went back to some of the old haunts from 4 years ago. Some places were the same, some were different (changed owners, closed off, etc). I didn't take too many pics this time, but will post a few when time & Internet permits.

[katie23]

Beach was much cleaner & more beautiful than before - no filter or editing



This pic was taken in late afternoon - lots of signage about prohibitions on the beach - no smoking, eating or drinking on the beach, etc. Lots of police presence, so I wouldn't recommend violating the rules.


Edit - what happened there? I see thumbnails only. Does anyone need to quote or repost? Thanks!

[katie23]

Since it was low season, there were relatively few local tourists. Some whites, many Koreans and Chinese.

Chinese...


Koreans...

[katie23]

More beach pics

[Cujo]

Katie good thread and when I went to green you somehow I redded you by mistake. Solly. Soon as I can I'll make it up to you.

[katie23]

^no problem, Cujo. We're still friends.

Arrival in Caticlan Airport. It's a small airport, only 1 runway. They've improved/renovated it recently. Before, only Bombardier type airplanes could land in it. Now, it can handle A320s. Three airlines fly to Caticlan: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. There are flights from Manila, as well as from Clark and Cebu. The arrival hall is in a different building from the departure hall - opposite ends. On our return flight, we were transported by bus from Departure Hall to Arrival Hall (1-2 min ride).

[katie23]

From Caticlan Airport (which is on the island of Panay), you need to get to the seaport, which is ~10 min drive. You can go there by minivan or tricycle. At the airport, there are various travel/ transport agencies that can bring you to the seaport. An alternative is to walk out of the airport and there are tricycles which can transport you. We took a minivan, Php 100 each. At the seaport, it was Php 50 each for the boat ride (10 minutes) to Boracay Island. (1 USD ~ 52 Php now)

An alternative is to get a Klook transfer - a colleague did that recently, Php 300 each. You can buy the Klook voucher online, then present it to the Klook desk at the airport.

Tabon Port in Panay Island (5-10 min away from Caticlan airport)


Boat ride to Boracay Island


Arrival in Boracay island - the sand was a beautiful cream color.






Then you'd have to walk on the sand to get to the main building, where you'll have to pay the fees (tourism, environmental, etc).

In my travels around the country, I've found it easier to travel with a small backpack because it's easier to lug around when using public transport like buses, jeepneys or tricycles. I saw lots of tourists (usually Chinese) struggle with their heavy cases as they wheeled them on the sand.

[katie23]

Fees to pay upon arriving in Boracay: Php 75 environmental fee + 100 terminal fee. You can go out of the port and hire/haggle for a trike or motorbike taxi, or you can get a transfer service from an agency. We chose the latter, for Php 350/ person, so 175 goes to the govt & 175 to the agency. If you go through the agency route, a staff member will accompany you to your resort/ hotel. Or you could book a transfer/pickup from your hotel/resort.

New rule in Boracay: you must also have/ show prior reservations for accommodation; walk-in isn't allowed. For day trippers to the island, you'll pay different fees and you'll get a stamp on your wrist which signifies that you're there on day trip only - another colleague of mine did that earlier this year. They visited family in Iloilo and went to Boracay Island on a day trip.