It's more fun in the Philippines
It’s always more fun in the Philippines, at least that’s what they’re marketing department say. But From first hand experience I can say they’re not exactly wrong.
I've never travelled this south of the Philippines, or ever been quite this touristy when here. Far from the northern mountains where my family comes from, I'm in Boracay, the paradise jewel of the Philippines. Here every day is a Saturday, life's so chilled its on ice. Boracay is just one of the hundreds of islands that makes up the Philippine archipelago, it's reached by ferry after an hours flight from Manila.
A long strip of pristine white sand beach is lined by palm tree after palm tree, azure waters and cloudless skies are in every direction you look, and when the sun beats down it's practically blinding. This is all met by an adjacent boulevard of hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and vendors trying to make theirs and take advantage of the flooding amounts of tourists. Where hidden from view behind the towering hotels, a mere 10 meters away a sorer sight is seen as local life continues to bustle seemingly unaffected by the riches next door. This is the Philippines, this is South East Asia, pockets of wealth mixed in with province and overcrowded urban sprawl in countries finding their way in a world moving faster than their known way of life.
Fresh coconuts and rice filled breakfasts are the norm, with rum being the popular choice of drink here as seafaring towns do drink along with the local San Miguel and Redhorse beer. Fruit juices and shakes take the place of coffee and tea, sand is always between your toes and every where really and you can't take a bad photo around here if you tried. Welcome to the Philippines, where V's are pronounced like B's, F's like P's, the cars sound like they're talking to each other with the constant beeps, the humidity hits you like a wall, it's where a cousin can be found on every corner and every women treats you like her own child.
Our days go a little something like this. Wake up and slowly make our way to the hotel breakfast just in time before it finishes, by the time we end that meal we're getting ready for the next. The biggest challenge we face is choosing where to eat amongst the varying selection of places that serve rice. Each meal was a feast as our appetites never seemed to waiver. My top choice in Boracay, Paradiso Grill. After a good few hours of getting our act together with a nap in between we get on with the day. We take on the sun soaked days like kids high on energy drinks, choosing to only do things that had a chance of risking our lives. Paddle boarding, scuba diving, cliff jumping, quad biking, it was amazing we fit in as many naps as we did. And I've never signed so many waiver forms. On our slower days, typically our hangover days, energy escapes us. Somehow exhausted from a day of doing nothing. The fresh coconut water helps. Here may I mention the best massages in Boracay are at Yasuragi Relaxation Spa, a hidden gem in station three.
As slow as time is around here in a blink of an eye my week here is up and I have tanned too quickly and too much. Endless amounts of fruit shakes are in my tummy, I think I've still got sand in my hair and water in my ears. I've got another ukulele, 6 new novelty shirts including matching father daughter Jack Daniels shirts and 10 or so magnets.
Before I call it quits I have to tick off two challenges set to me by some friends.
1. Balut
A somewhat delicacy of the Philippines, is a developing duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell. It is commonly sold as streetfood. Vendors walk the strip yelling out the known call 'BA-LUT!' When we gathered the courage and pulled one over, I ask for the youngest they have, 16 days. It's kind of like an Oreo, First you crack it open, then you suck out the liquid and finish off by downing the embryo and in my own personal experience but 'you can have the rest of my yolk'. A bit tough, quite chewy and better off without the vinegar. In the end nothing to be scared of. I ended up having two.
2. Cocomungas' 15 shots
A bar with a challenge, it's as simple as 'still be standing after 15 shots'. The menu is set, tequila appears several times as does Baileys and even Tabasco sauce, thank fully so does my favourite whisky, yet also my most feared liquor, Sambucca. My strategy, take five at a time, we re-arrange the shots to my strengths and weaknesses. There is no time limit but if I know myself well, the longer I wait the less likely I'll get to the 15th. From first to last shot it took me an hour and I got the shirt! I also vomitted - a ridiculous amount and ran around what seemed to be the entire Boracay beach drunk.
Boracay is well travelled to for a reason, it's a beautiful, fun with a chill atmosphere running on its own happy energy. Although it is different from the Philippines I know, I'm happy to of had my time here. I can't wait to return and discover another island and visit my provincial town in the mountains reunited with family and a simpler way of life. But that will have to be another story.
