on the other side of BORACAY......

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For many reasons,
it took me a long time before
finally deciding to do some post
about my trip in this beautiful
island......
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First, my motivation. I love promoting the country. We have this ESL material in my former company where topic 2 is about places and countries and topic 3 is about traveling. I make it a point that during that time, I make intensive promotions of the PHILIPPINES. My friends thought I was more of an ambassador of the DOT rather than a teacher. With all due respect, I admire secretary Ace Durano's effort and say ambitious goal of attracting 10 million tourists by 2010 ( I heard that they slashed it to 5M--too bad, just bad)

Well, as I was saying, I always flood their skype with websites of Cebu, Bohol, Eli Nido and of coarse lovely BORA. Who doesn't know the island? Only me. Yeah, good thing Koreans are polite, only a few managed to ask me if I have been there. And the answer is always NO. Shame.

I therefore included in my 2008 resolution to finally set on a journey to BORA. The time came too soon. My friend Josh told me that her mom from HK came back for a vacation and the whole family will go to BORA to visit a relative. Excited as a 10 year old I asked if I can join them. You see I went to Northern Mindanao in 1997 under the protection of my coach. After that, I only traveled around Manila and Pangasinan with Saryaya Quezon being the farthest. I have a lot of apprehensions about going far. Then again, Josh said yes. My fear though is that I am not sure if I am emotionally prepared for the trip.......

The date was Feb. 6 Wed.( Korean New Year kasi). Since they also decided to go there on the last minute, RORO is the viable choice. The fun trip started in a bus ride from CUBAO then came the ferry from Batangas port to Northern Mindoro.

...that's me on the left the Josh and the rest of his family. BTW, the date in the cam is crazy okay.

The ferry ride is something like 3 hours. It was dark when we got to Calapan Port. The bus set off again to the southern tip of the island for 2 hours. We reached Roxas Port at around 10pm but we had to wait for the next ship. We left at around 11pm for a supposed 4.5 hours trip but the ship was a floating metal junk so it took us more than 5 hours. It was dawn when we got to Caticlan port. The long beach area is not facing the mainland Panay island so you will not notice it. I was surprised to know that there are so many locals in the island. We went straight to one side of the Island called Bulabog where the windsurfers gather during this time of the year to take advantage of the Amihan. It was fun watching them.



The long beach is exactly on the opposite side. We went there at around 1pm so the beach was glowing. It was really white as white. And there are many Caucasians. I have never seen so many foreigners in a single place before. As I said I was not emotionally prepared for the whole thing so I didn't have the courage to strip and take pictures. I missed it. Damn insecurity!!!

Good thing there was this part they call PUKA beach. It's in the northern side of the island.

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...........I did manage to show some muscles here..kkkk.


....oh, where is it? it's supposed to be here. Damn muscles, you don't getvto see them the way you want it.kkk

syempre di magpapahuli yung isa.....si JOSH. ( my travel buddy and best-friend)


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.....doing some posing on the rocks with CARABAO Island on the backgroud.

....I never though I look so malnourished....kkk



.....maybe a darker view would be more desirable.kekeke



The entire trip was fun. We managed to stay in the island for 4 days. During our last night, we had a walk along long beach for the last time then went back to BULABOG with a couple of beer and chips and we drank like whores in the seaside with the tide high and the wind blowing in our face. It was really great.

....Oh. BTW, if you get the chance, try to go to the highest peak in the island if you go there. It will give you a very good view of the mountains in mainland Aklan island and the entire Boracay itself. Enjoy.