Boracay Vacation

Hi!

I've just returned from a fabulous long weekend in the Philappines! I not only had an amazing time, but I also just completed my first solo vacation. Go me. I headed to Incheon Friday after school to catch my flight to Manila. I flew Cebu Pacific which was really questionable. Not only was I quite certain the plane was going to fall apart any second, but I've never been so cramped up on a plane. And I'm not even a big person. I luckily landed safely in Manila about 12:30 Friday night and had a 5 hour layover in the airport. I had planned to sleep on the floor somewhere while clutching my purse, but because Manila is maybe the sketchiest place I've ever been, I instead made friends with the graveyard shift airport staff who let me charge my ipod and sit behind a counter with them. At 5:30, I then boarded an even more questionable Cebu Pacific Puddle Jumper for a short flight to Caticlan. After our plane smacked and skidded across the shortest runway at the smallest airport I've ever seen, I followed my fellow passengers to the Caticlan jetty port where I then boarded a "ferry" for the island of Boracay.

Airport in Caticlan

The extent of the runway at the Caticlan Airport

The ferry from Caticlan to Boracay!

Once on the island, I hired a tricycle to take me to my hostel. The tricycle is akin to the tuktuk - a mode of transportation I have grown accustomed to over the past year. The tricycle, however, really takes the prize for being the most ridiculous. It is essentially a motorbike with a cart attached to the side of it with a couple benches in it for passengers to sit. My tricycle that morning was filled with me and six Filipino men. The side of the tricycle said, "Elegant, Durable, Safe," and I remember thinking that it was absolutely none of those things as we careened across the island. It was only 7AM, and it was already swelteringly hot.

I checked into my hostel - a charming little resort a couple minutes from the beach. I ate breakfast with the owner then went to my dorm room to put my stuff down. The room didn't have airconditioning (SOOO hot in there), but besides that it was really comfortable. I put on my bathing suit and headed for the beach. After being briefly chased by three goats, I finally made it. The trip was absolutely worth it - I was in paradise. The water was crystal clear, there were only a few puffy white clouds in the sky, the sand was fine and white, and there were plenty of palms swaying in the breeze.

I laid on the beach all day Saturday while alternating between putting my umbrella up or down for sun or shade. I was quite content just sunbathing, staring at the ocean, catching the breeze, and taking pictures of the beach. I had Jane Austen and Chelsea Handler on my Kindle to keep my company and I alternated between fresh fruit shakes and margaritas as I enjoyed my vacation.

Saturday night, I went back to the hostel to enjoy a fresh seafood dinner and hopefully make myself some friends for my long weekend. The dinner was delicious, and I met about 8 other travelers who I then spent the next three days with on the island. I was the only American of the group - the others consisted of Australians, Canadians, Germans, Mexicans, a couple girls from London, and a French Girl. Several of the group had just finished teaching contracts in Korea and were heading back home. It was nice to meet new people, and every night I went out with the group to experience the vibrant Boracay nightlife.

A bar on the beach on Boracay

Sunday, I laid on the beach all day until afternoon when the French girl, Alex, and I headed to a mountain on the island to see the views. We were escorted by a passle of Filipino children that had begun hanging out with some girls in our group. They were really amazing kids - smart and sweet, and although they walked the beach selling jewelry all day, they naturally made time to escape and spend time with us. Six of us set out from the beach in a tricycle, but, unfortunately, the tricycle could not make it up the mountain and at one point started rolling backwards down the steep hill. I was just about to bail from the cart to escape my untimely Tricycle Philippines Death, when the driver got ahold of his motorbike and ordered us to jump out and walk. The mountain had stunning views, monkeys, and a nice breeze so it was definitely worth the trek.

Sunday night, our group watched more fireshows (mostly done by Khalid - one of our Filipino children) and stayed out most of the night just enjoying the live music on the beach, drinks, fireshows, and crowds of travelers. Boracay is amazing. Monday, I continued my lazy vacation by laying on the beach again all day followed by a night out with new friends.

This is Halida - she wrote all our names in the sand the last night I was there. I think I am supposed to be "Indy."

I returned to Seoul late Tuesday night, and now I am getting ready for tomorrow when the Vaughn's arrive to see Korea!
Have a great weekend!
-Andie