Up early on our second full day here. Real early. 5:30. Not quite used to the time change yet I guess. We are off to Boracay today but not until noon. A couple off coffees and we went for a walk to get some Pan De Sal. As small sweet breakfast roll that you buy warm right from the bakery. Mmmmmmm.

The town early morning is quite quiet . Not many people around but early mass was happening. Back home breakfast was ready.

We finished packing (again) and the van we had rented to bring us to Caticlan had arrived. The Toyota L300 is a basic form of public transportation in the Philippines. Mostly privately owned they are used on longer route, but for the local trips. They are a 10 passenger van and boy are the seats tight. For that reason we usually just book an entire van, usually driven by a friend of Allan's parents. Now I think I have talked about driving habits here before,, but as the guide book said, the rules of the road here are merely a suggestion. Our van was on the wrong side of the road as often as the right side. Slow down ? Nah, just honk the horn to get out of the way. Passing on a hairpin turn? Sure! Its almost as good as a roller coaster ride!

About 90 minutes later we arrive at Caticlan and prepare to get our tickets to Boracay.

This years trip to Boracay was fairly uneventful . We didn't go out of our way to do anything special, but we also had tons of fun and found the beach just as beautiful as always. And the time flew faster than we wanted it to.

So we brought Andoy of course, and also Allan's Mom and Rudy, Katherine, Alvin and Kyle and Indak and Poten.   At the Jetty we bought our tickets and away we went. I wanted to the open Banca - it just seems more authentic. So we got our tickets for the boat, and then the enviromental fee and then the jetty fee. Through the terminal and the small band, down the hallway and out of the dock. Down the narrow rickity rocky gangplank and on the boat. (tall white guys watch you don't bang your head) (ouch) It is about at 20 minute ride, then up that rickitly gangplank and on the dock and we are on Boracay. We grabbed a small bus to get us to La Carmela, and boy they were busy there. After waiting a bit to get our rooms, we got checked in and to our rooms. Us three guys had one room and the rest in the other just down the hall (quietly because we had more in the room than allowed)

So over the three days we spent a lot of time swimming - we ate lots and drank lots .   The Lemon Cafe is great for breakfast as is Casa Pilar.   We had dinner one night at Smoke Restaurant and another at Messa at the Boracay Regency. Both were great, Smoke affordable, and Messa a bit more high end.

We had lunch one day at the Nagisa Coffee Shop, a japanese place. Far up Station Three it is outdoors under a log roof and like a rustic patio, and the food was great. Another day for lunch we went to a place which I forget the name of, but is owned by a Canadian. The advertised the best burger on Boracay, and it was pretty good.

Evenings we started off at the Victory Dive Bar. Victor and Ramon are still there, and they both are still just as great as every other year.   Great Drinks, Great prices and a wobbly walk home each time.   Got to see old friend Gerald and spent time with Andoy's friend Craky. We had a great time there...unfortunately it put us to sleep so no late night parties. hahaha  

We did a trip to Puka beach with the family and another with just Toni, our friend from previous trips, so we could do a photo shoot. Some of the pics are posted here.

All too soon it was time to go, We packed up and found a couple of tricycles back to the dock and on a banca to Panay.   Our driver was waiting for us, and soon we were on our way back to Lezo.