BEACH BUM ON BORACAY
I’m slumped on a cozy chair gazing at the sunset. A glass of frozen Mojito is lodged in one hand, a Gabriel Garcia Marquez book in the other. A beautiful blond just entered my peripheral vision. Which hand should give way to grab the camera?
A nanosecond later
Sorry, Marquez, all due respect to your Literature Nobel prize, Cold Mojito wins over “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. Down the paper-cover book drops as my hand reaches to my Nikon.
I’m wasting my days away in Boracay island, perched beside a beach bar whose name encapsulates the very essence of the place. It’s called Friday. So simple, so accurate. I’ll be damned if I could have come with a batter designation. I watch the sun as it dips slowly into the Sulu sea. Two boats on the horizon frame it rather nicely.
Boracay is a tiny speck of land, just 7km long and less than 1km wide, one of more than 7,000 island that makes up the Philippines. The western side of it is famous for its long, white, sandy beaches, dotted by countless small resorts, and bars. Its windy and rocky eastern side is popular with kite and windsurfers.
Award Island
In 2012 Boracay was awarded the “Best Island in the World” by the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure. In 2014, it won the title “Best Islands in the World” list published by the international magazine Conde Nast Traveler.
Clearly, there’s something about this place, what it is? I guess I’m too indifferent to say.
Time to chill and have another sip. “What do you know”, my inner monologue interrupts, “my glass is empty”. I wish I could have another one. I raise my hand and a few seconds later help is on its way. At Friday’s you don’t need to do much more than that. God bless this sacred land.
Fascinated about The Philippines? Read the below
The Most Beautiful Small Island in the World
Filipino Terrace People vs Mother Nature
Swimming in Disaster
The Land of Amazing Sunsets & sharks – Part I
The Land of Amazing Sunsets & sharks – Part II
Resting place
There’s a sign on the way back from the beach. It points to the ocean and reads “In case of fire”. Another one points to the exact opposite with the inscription “In case of an earthquake”. My brain is too exhausted to digest the conflicting data. I don’t smoke. Let’s hope no tsunami is scheduled for the next couple of days. I carry myself back to the cabin for a nice shower and a splash of mosquito repellant.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not the restive type. On the contrary. But after two weeks of exploring this island nation, I am in a mode of doing nothing. That’s because the previous two weeks have been anything but.
My buddy and I ran amok all over the Philippines. We descended down the rice terraces of Banta-an, Batad, and Banawe, Climbed the notorious Pinatubo volcano and swam inside its caldera, planted rice in northern Luzon Island, explored the darkest seediest corners of Angeles City, Rowed Palawan’s underground river, and sailed through the gorgeously beautiful lagoon outside El Nido. Yup, we did it all, and then some. Now it’s time to read a book, drink some cold alcohol, and watch the carefully-constructed, environmentally-friendly “Friday” sign change colors with the passage of the day.
Yes, I visited Boracay and did nothing*.
In my dreams, I’m going back there, ‘cause wasting four days is not enough!
* Almost nothing, to be frank