|
Southern Paradise
Guest Traveler: Blondie Perez
Our plane trip to Boracay was rainy with no sight of sunshine. It was mid-March and tropical showers were quite a nuisance. Upon arrival at the airport, the clouds cast a pall of gloom and all hopes for a glowing tan diminished as droplets of rain were already oblivious against the mini runway of Caticlan. Nonetheless, my excitement was brewing as we boarded an outrigger bound for Boracay island. My boyfriend and I were seated next to the owners of Seawind Resort where we were booked for 4 days and 3 nights. As our banca docked, we waded through cold waters and were met by Seawind's welcoming party with tropical drinks on-hand. Initially ignoring the resort's facade, my attention w as focused on a naked woman holding a video-cam. My boyfriend gleefully pointed her to me and I was secretly amused at his growing excitement. Never mind if she was naked. I was positive we would see more of these unclothed creatures in the following days. Shifting my attention now to the resort which we were fast approaching, I realized that we had just made reservations to paradise.
Similar to most resorts in Boracay, Seawind is set within sprawling pristine white sands where the hotel is just a few strides away from the beach. But unlike the adjoining resorts along the upper-end of the island, Seawind is nestled amidst a symmetry of coconut trees, small, open bamboo huts and a clutter of native lounging chairs. The bar is a creative structure of bamboo and nipa with high chairs surrounding the bar counters. Of course, the centerpiece of this all-too attractive quadrangle is a floor-to-ceiling shelf filled with an endless supply of booze. The dining area is a semi-al fresco setting with the chairs and tables surrounded by a small pond where over-sized Japanese carps swim as if in tune with the mainstream music heard above the din of cascading water in the pond. Instantly, our disappointment over the weather was overcome by satisfaction as a number of foreign vacationers came out of the hotel proving that this haven is truly world-class.
Unsuspecting of our room accommodations, we were pleasantly surprised at the size of our not-so-simple abode. Twin cots adjoined together to form a king-sized bed, cable-wired television, a mini refrigerator and a spic-and-span bathroom were all we needed to evoke a triumphant hug for each other. Quickly, we changed to swimsuits, he, in screaming orange surf shorts and I, in an all too skimpy aqua bikini. This was Boracay and one-piece suits were a thing of the past. Despite the gray clouds and the strong rush of waves, we frolicked in the beach while carefully absorbing every beauteous detail that our paradise offered.
Boracay is brimming with sailboats and hobie cats and my boyfriend and I had several shots taken beside so many colorful sails. The navy striped ones I loved during my first Boracay trip were nothing compared to the pinks, yellows, baby blues, and purples all lined up and beckoning for a ride or two. We were pleased to find a couple of kayaks and pedal bikes which we rode alternately until our arms and legs hurt from the exercise. It seemed that we had all the time in the world for all these as time in Boracay was slow and generous to our whims. We made a side-trip to Crystal Cove, a 30-minute banca ride to a separate islet near the famous Crocodile Island. In Crystal Cove, we took several photos beside stone-carved animals and trekked through short tunnels leading to tiny caves.
Back in the island, we rode a pedal bike eastward to find Friday's Boracay at the farthest end of the shoreline. We docked our water bike and noticed that the sand here was whiter and finer. This time, the sun sparkled in the sky and everywhere, foreigners were either loafing around the beach or relaxing on lounging chairs. We had lunch at Friday's where the menu was so much different from the one in Manila. While the food was good, the glare of the afternoon sun beckoned us to scramble out of the restaurant and head for shore. Going back to Seawind, we made a beeline for the beach and sunbathed ourselves red until late in the afternoon.
Nights were romantic and inviting for long walks along the beach. Hand in hand, we strolled all the way past the popular bars and resorts--Coco Manggas, Moondogs, Willy's and further down to Le Soleil, past the dive shops and the market then back to Seawind. Because the weather was cool at night, we'd sit back against the lounging chairs sipping a couple of beers and re-telling the day's adventures. Mornings were greeted with continental breakfast buffet and a one-hour massage while sprawled on the
sand. Lunch and dinner varied everyday from French cuisine to Greek concoctions and to Seawind's sumptuous grill. Luckily, we had prepared well for this trip so we had the luxury of dining as we pleased, enjoying the resort facilities and shopping for souvenirs and tie-dyed house dresses to no end.
But all good things come to an end so we made a vow to return. Since promises are not meant to be broken, we vowed to re-visit the same resort, the same picturesque view of sailboats and hobie cats, the same immaculately white sand against the same backdrop of sparkling blue waters amid a glowing summer sky.
Blondie Perez is a stock market analyst, although she says she'd rather be underwater than working in an office 9 hours a day. Her biggest dream is to go to Egypt to see the Pyramids of Giza, and to visit Kenya for a year-long safari. Her recent adventures include visits to Bicol, Cebu, Baguio, and some dive spots in Anilao, Lemery, and Puerto Galera. She and her boyfriend plan to tour the entire archipelago starting next month, the first stop being Banaue and Sagada in Northern Luzon.
|