Boracay, and all that it’s done to me
“March 25, 2015 – another dream come true. This is it. I will finally be able to see and feel the white sand, see the fire dancers by the beach, be able to listen to loud house music, and experience a fun, away-from-the-metro night life – Boracay.
The plane took off. I put on my earphones, looked out the window, clueless about what kind of life I’d have during my three months stay there. But you know what, I honestly feel excited because I will be having an opportunity to live in Boracay. I guess there won’t be a single night that I’ll cry and feel homesick as I could party all the time or go home to my boarding house drunk every night, or swim in the beach whenever I want because duh! It’s Boracay, the Boracay everyone dreams of going to for vacations and partying, and it of course is a pleasure given the opportunity to stay there for a long time. I thought, three months of vacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation ya’ll!”
That’s what I used to think of.
Boracay sure is a paradise especially because of the scenery and night life it could give you, but at some point, it could be a hell-in-disguise.
Yes I stayed there for 3 months. And you know what? It’s the EXACT opposite of what I used to think of. No, I did not party much. For the long time I stayed, I only partied twice. During the late nights, we just go out to get a not-so-decent, Mount-Everest-high-priced meal, and then go home right after. We just maximized the usage of wi-fi of the quarters, stayed indoors and locked ourselves like a nerd. During my whole stay I was also just able to swim for just 5 to 6 times. And no, honestly I did not feel like having my days off because even if it’s my RD still we have to do errands related to work. Plus, the quarters is just within the branch, so it feels like I can’t fully detach myself from work even if I want to. In short, NO. It was not fun.
However, it is a very remarkable experience. Because of too much pain, hatred, crying and longing I became who I am today. I was formerly the pa-sweet, timid, awkward, teenager-looking girl. But because that time I had to lead and head the branch, I had to be strong, assertive, decisive, a problem-solver and most of all be matured. For all the times people dearest to me visited me there and eventually already had to go, I always drop them off to the jetty port. I’ll never, ever forget the feeling of watching them walk away from my sight, I always wanting to go with them, thinking of how long do I still have to feel this before I could finally walk the same path and leave this deserted place. But as I mentioned, I have to be strong. So I kept myself motivated. This as well is the reason behind my stand for spending more time with my family, friends and loved ones first before work. I still am a little bit soft and awkward today, but if I know where I’m coming from, I have to let everyone know. I have more definite views, plans and beliefs now. I’ll always thank everyone in-charge (by everyone in-charge I mean my bosses and God) for letting me experience this. Even up to this time whenever I remember my Boracay experience, while typing I still get teary-eyed for mixed emotions.
But this post is not solely about voicing out my isolated case of staying in the island and is also not intended to give a bad impression towards Boracay. As how it’s always said, experience is [one of] the best teacher[s]. So even if it’s personally not fun, I could at least share with you random tips based on what I learned, and how you could possibly enjoy in little ways. But this is not limited to just budgeting tips or just for tourists, but this could also help employees who might be assigned in the island for a long time (just like me!) to become much wiser:
1. Air BnB is your best friend. If you want to look for a cheaper place to stay, you can use the app or search it on your desktop. It could also filter the results based on what you need. For example, you have two companions with you and you’ll have to stay there for three weeks and you only have less than 1000 pesos a night as budget, adjust the settings so it wouldn’t have to give you suggestions like a castle-looking place that’s worth 10,000 pesos a night. However, it could also charge you an additional fee for using the app. The best you can do not to be charged is to message the host and ask if you could possibly negotiate via other means, like by Facebook or Viber. And yes, they could offer you to stay there for a long time depending on the place’s availability
2. If you have free time, try exploring the locals’ side. You would see karinderias so you do not have to go to DMall everyday to eat fast food. It’s indeed relatively cheaper and worth it. Plus you could buy fruits as desserts!
3. The front beach is for swimming, relaxing and chilling; the back beach is more intended for watersports. The front beach is where tourists would primarily go. However, the front beach closes at a certain season of the year and businesses and establishments would be more alive in the back beach by that time. Also try visiting Puka beach. Personally, it’s more preferred if you wear slippers because the sand is not as fine as the one in front beach, but it gives you the same view, only it has lesser people and establishments.
4. In buying groceries and home supplies, it’s much better to go to station 3. Stations 1 and 2 have a higher price of goods because that’s where (foreign) tourists flock, and Station 3 is the locals’ place.
5. Be more cautious and specific when you ride tricycles. If you rode a tricycle on a certain side and then he makes a U-turn to transfer to the other side, that would be considered a special ride worth 100 pesos. So it’s more advisable if you ride a tricycle on the side where you should go. And if you’re the first passenger of the tricycle and you don’t have much baggage with you, better make yourself clear to the driver. Tell him, “hindi po special, kuya,” so he’d let others ride as well.
6. Might as well consider walking by the beach. It’s not as if walking very long, and on busy and polluted streets. Just enjoy the view, and then you’ll suddenly find yourself already in station 3 when you came from station 1! It’s not very far though, you know. It’s a healthy exercise for your body too.
7. LaBoracay week sure is the peak of the summer season, causing above-mountain-top rates/prices especially for hotels and plane tickets. For cheaper places to stay in, refer to number 1 again. For the search of the least expensive plane tickets, Sky Scanner is your go-to app/website. However if your LaBoracay trip is already planned ever since January, better reserve your slots and tickets already on the said apps/websites for lesser cost, as what you also did with your previous trips.
8. Eat Chori burger or Isaw burger. Those are Boracay’s exclusives. Those are their street-food there.
9. If you are also into adventure, try the watersports such as Banana Boat, Sailing, Jet Ski, Cliff Diving, and if you have enough money try Parasailing (this is my dream!), helmet diving, and Extreme Sports, the one where you could use a device (that uses water) like your jetpack!
10. For employment, you will need a lot of papers. More papers to process, more expenses for fees. You could consider getting a Barangay Clearance ID, so for your next visit you don’t need to pay a terminal fee and environmental fee. Like what my companion without that ID said, “Wow special treatment!” But remember it just has 3 years validity.
11. Capture as many photos as you could. If you want to capture underwater photos and you don’t have the sports camera, you could buy the transparent bag where you could use your phone underwater. Just make sure it’s double ziplocked!
12. At least once, try to lie down on the sand and look at the stars. The breeze from the sea gives a relaxing feeling, and adds a romantic ambiance. I remember my boyfriend, he told me he’s about to officially ask me if he could court me while we’re lying on the sand, but he couldn’t because we have a third-wheeler. So just a friendly reminder for dates or anything like that, to make full, good use of the sea side’s “romantic ambiance,” do not have friends around. Instead ask them to go party to the nearest club.
I hope this would highly help you on your visit in Boracay. If you have other questions you could always Ask me. One advantage is that I know someone close to me who lives in Boracay where we could possibly get a discount.
