Back in Boracay - Relaxing stay in the island

A beach vacation doing nothing was something Mijo and I have been craving for and Boracay island is a place we wanted to go back to. That is just what we did when we went back to Manila.

It was such a relaxing trip and I wouldn't mind doing it all over again.

Mijo and I arrived in Manila on a Saturday morning. After a full day's time to settle in at my mom's house, Mijo and I were up for our next destination - a short trip to Boracay island.

[read my Boracay blog, May 2014]

We got to the airport three hours early. Just as we thought we were early, everyone got there early as well judging by the lines going inside the airport for check in.

The lines went fast thanks to the Cebu Pacific Airlines' automated check-in. We were flying on a morning flight with the thought of  getting to the island early to spend more time there.

The flight to Caticlan airport from Manila is just less than an hour. We still needed to take a 10 minute van ride from Caticlan airport to the ferry station.

In case you didn't know, Boracay island was closed for several months of hiatus from tourists and visitors to allow for the cleanup of the island and for it to heal naturally. It was reopened to the visitors recently but with a catch. The local government has installed checker at the ferry to ensure that any visitors going to the island has proper hotel reservations. I am assumming this is to limit who goes in and out of the island.

I had to take a picture of this ferry schedule out of Boracay to make sure that Mijo and I give ourselves enough time to leave the island and get to Caticlan airport for our flight back to Manila.
The ferry ride from Caticlan to Boracay island was a short 20 minute ride.

Mijo and I have been to the island three times and during those times we have either pre-arranged our airport-hotel transport via a travel agency or one of my brothers took care of logistics during our trip with the entire family. Because of this, I have not really been directly involved in getting procuring any tickets to get to the island.

This time, I was the one who bought the tickets without any help from anyone. I never thought it would be this difficult and it would involved this many legs and a variety of forms of transport - an airplane ride to Caticlan airport, a van ride from the airport to the ferry terminal, a ferry ride to the island and then a tricycle ride to the hotel.

We finally reached the Two Seasons Hotel and this view of the sea. The hotel is located in a part of the island that is called Station 1. The quality of the sand in Boracay island is considered by many to be the best anywhere. However, many consider the quality of the sand in Station 1 to be more fine and more white than anywhere in the island and I can confirm that that is true. Mijo and I were pretty happy with our choice of hotel.

Since the hotel couldn't check us in right away, Mijo and I decided to walk on the beach to get the needed vitamin sea.

The sand felt like flour on my feet, the sun and the sea breeze felt so relaxing.

We kept on walking and walking until we reached an area in the island called D'Mall. It is located in Station 2 going toward Station 3.

This is the part where we decided to have lunch. We found this restaurant called Pamana.  We are not sure if this restaurant is the same as the Pamana restaurant we've been to in Makati.

We had a delicious lunch of seafood.

Afterward, we headed back to the hotel to check in and then we took a nap outside by the beach on the lounging chairs provided by the hotel with this stunning views.
 

There was a peanut vendor walking on the beach selling packs of freshly cooked peanuts for snacks.

It was cloudy that afternoon so the sunset was blocked by this group of comulus clouds. The sunset was still romantic and beautiful despite of the clouds.

We were still full from the lunch earlier, so we decided to go back to D'Mall to grab a dessert of lemon tart and coffee from Lemoni Cafe. We haven't been in the island for a full day and yet we felt like we've been there for a while. The day was absolutely relaxing.

The next morning was looking like it was going to be another relaxing day. The hotel row is on the western side of the island so there were no sunrise views. It was low tide that morning so there were more parts of the white beach exposed that morning.

The restaurant was serving Filipino and Western breakfast in the buffet table. I opted for a light breakfast of Filipino congee or locally called lugaw or arroz caldo and a cup of coffee.

Mijo and I have been to the island many times but we've never explored on foot the part where Diniwid beach is at. We thought spending the late morning strolling on the beach going beyond Station 1.

Mijo and I followed a trail by the cliffs to go to the other side of this hill.

I had originally thought the trail was going to be challenging and but it was at all difficult once we got there. The only catch was the trail was a little slippery at times so please be very careful when you go there.

I imagine this little blowhole was part of a small cave created by years and years of erosion caused by the waves. It provided me a great frame to compose this shot of a boat and the water.

This part of the trail was slippery and got us a little wet.

Behind the blowhole is a grotto of the Virgin Mary. I didn't investigate what is the significance of the grotto in that place but it looked like people go there frequently judging by the fresh flowers adorning the place.

We finally reached Diniwid. It is a quiet and secluded beach. There were only a handful of tourists on the beach when we got there.

The next time Mijo and I are in Boracay, I'll go back to Diniwid with a good book, a botte of wine and a beach blanket for a party for two. We learned that there are a couple more beaches north of Diniwid and I hope I get to explore those beaches if there is another chance to travel to Boracay in the future.

We took a tricycle to go to D'Mall to continue our relaxing stroll. It was actually a nice slow ride through places in the island we haven't seen before. We passed by the City Mall and the Fairways and Bluewater hotel.

We were back at D'Mall after that relaxing tricycle ride.  Mijo, my family and I were in Boracay in 2014 and this place was very crowded at that time. We also thought it may be because we were there during the week so there were more tourists from outside the Philippines versus local tourists at that time.

We actually enjoyed this scene with less people because we actually were able to explore the stores and the shops. We enjoyed checking out the shops especially those selling souvenirs, flip flops and beach wears.

I didn't ask around what these blue sails are but they are pretty next to these coconut trees and while sand beach.

The sand just feels so good on my feet.

We were back in Station 1 and at the hotel to meet up with my cousin who lives in Malay, a city in the mainland near Caticlan.

After our delicious lunch with my cousin, we napped by the beach and then we were greeted with this scenery.

Finally, the clouds cleared a little bit to show us this picturesque Boracay sunset.

It not like there is anything metaphysical about sunsets, but the folks on the beach at that time stopped and stared as if they were under a spell. Everyone, including Mijo and I, was savoring every bit of that fleeting moment.

Two Seasons hotel was a small but cute boutique hotel. I forgot to take a picture of their modest rooms but I did take photos of the other areas. The best part of this hotel is the beach front and the hotel staff's friendly service.

Here's the lobby and the sofa for guest waiting for their loved ones to get ready.

Here's what the ornate ceilings look like.



Here's what the hallway looks like.


Here's what the hotel restaurant looks like.




Here's what beachfront looks like.



Another breakfast of Filipino selection and a cup of coffee on our 3rd day.


Fresh mangoes, pineapple and watermelon for desserts.




We checked out on our third day. But before that, we had time to do another stroll on the beach.


The sun was out early that day.


However short our trip to Boracay maybe, it was sweet. The government's efforts to clean up this island was successful and commendable. I hope to go back to the island again in the future to explore its other equally beautiful beaches.

~rl