We left the airport at Cagayan de Oro at about 08:30 and arrived in Cebu for a 4.5 hour stayover to wait for the connecting flight to Kalibo. We decided to use that short time and take a taxi to the Ayala mall, which isn't too far away, and do a little shopping for some things that we might need on the beach in Boracay. Of course, because Cebu is a bigger city than CDO, the mall has more to offer. The Cebu airport has a place where you can store your luggage while you're out and about for a reasonable price, and the taxi fares are good.
We returned and caught our connecting flight to Kalibo. After landing in Kalibo, the "journey" to Boracay went from relaxing, to painful at times.
Upon arriving in Kalibo, we got some pictures in front of the giant, colourful "Kalibo" sign which is before you go into the airport building, but after getting off the plane. People seem to begin rushing at this point, like as if there is a race. We went inside and retrieved our luggage, while the usual porters were offering a little too much help. We went outside with our luggage, and there was a barrage of vehicles. Cars, busses, taxis, vans, etc who all were competing to take us to the Jettiport, which is about 2 hours away. We opted fot the air conditioned bus.
There are also vendors outside the airport selling bottled water and food. I bought a bottle of water. Because it seemed like there was a race to get out of the airport, I didn't think about using the bathroom. I don't remember for sure, but I likely had a coffee with breakfast and a drink on the plane.
The bus ride was like a race also. The driver didn't seem to care about any damage that he might cause to the tires or suspension/steering components of the vehicle. At points, I thought I was going to be sick. A little over half way through the bus ride, the bumpy ride made me realize that my bladder was full. The bus doesn't stop between the Kalibo airport and the Jettiport in Caticlan. At this point, I was hoping that the bus was going to make a stop soon, or I wishing that we had chosen a different vehicle for the journey - one which might be able to make a quick stop to accomodate us. The road condition seemed to worsen towards the end of the bus ride, but maybe that is just because I was beginning to feel pain.
Once thankfully arriving in Caticlan, we retrieved our baggage. I was looking around for a bathroom, but couldn't find one. There are vendors everywhere. There is a bathroom in the Jettiport, but first you must stand in a long lineup outside and pay for your boat tickets, then stand in line to get through the door at the Jettiport and produce your ticket for clearance. I don't understand why it is made to be so complicated. Why can't I go online, pay one price, print off my passes, and not worry about a lineup? Oh well. It probably has something to do with keeping people employed.
So I let my girl stand in the lineups, while I skipped the lineups and ran for the bathroom. Once past the lineup at the Jettiport, there is only one or two ticket processors, and no security. Just pure bathroom relief finally lol.
The lineups must have moved along fairly quickly, as by the time I was out, she was almost through the second lineup. I got my pass from her, and we borded the "Jetti", such a cute and deceiving name for a boat
The boats are handbuilt from marine plywood, bamboo, rope and other timber, and powered by whatever engine they can find to make work. The lifejackets are questionable, and there is standing headroom onboard if you're 5'7" at the most. I hit my head on a crossbeam, ouch.
We arrived at Boracay a short while later. It was already getting dark, and there was only a few tricycle drivers left there once the boat had emptied off, and our luggage was the last to come off the boat. The tricycle drivers in Boracay are not at all like the drivers in Cagayan de Oro. There were not very helpful at all. They didn't offer us a ride, we had to ask. They didn't help us with our bags at all. The fare was high. Our destination was the Chinese Mandarin. There is no direct vehicle access to the hotel. The tricycle driver brought us to a pathway that leads out onto the beach. I guess that is as far as we can go. He didn't offer to help with the baggage again.
So we departed from our friendly tricycle driver and carried/dragged our baggage down the pathway to the beach. Once we got to the beach, there were no porters to help us with the baggage. The Mandarin is several hotels north from the pathway where we were dropped off. It's night time, and we have never been to this place before. It seems so inviting so far.
We carried and dragged our baggage from the pathway to our hotel. Dragged through the thick white sand, as there is no concrete pathway which is fine, but it would be nice to not have to drag my baggage through the sand.
We arrived at the Mandarin, and I told them my name at the front desk. I had made a reservation several months ahead, as I'm from Canada and planning is necessary for granting time off from work, planning vaccinations for international travel and planning to travel to an equatorial region during the cold winter months in Canada can be a challenge.
They didn't seem to be expecting us. I showed them the receipt which I printed off the "myboracayguide" website, and then they were happy to help us. Don't buy anything from myboracayguide, or prepay for a hotel in boracay. It is not necessary, and they will overcharge you by several times, as I found out. If there is a nicer hotel with lots of vacancies, and you are not a foreigner, you can often negotiate a much cheaper price.
Our room was wonderful though. Nice view, good service at the hotel. The restaurant at the hotel is also quite nice. They have a great cook, and the waiters are excellent. In the mornings, is the best time to get any amount of quiet time on the beach. Sometime just before noon, the noise begins, and doesn't end until midnight. Everywhere along the beach there is either a band playing, drunk people singing karaoke, or loud music. During the day, if you are a foreigner, you will be constantly assaulted by vendors who are trying to sell you activities. Again, they are overpriced for the foreigners, and they will try their very best to make you pay full price. As my girl is from CDO, and we met an event manager who was also from there, we were able to work something out.
During our stay at the Mandarin, at least two pieces of clothing were mysteriously "lost". We suspect that at least one of those pieces was stolen from our hotel room while it was being cleaned. It would be very difficult to lose a brand new bra while out in public, especially as she was wearing a swimsuit for most of the time.
There are firedancers on the beach. They are mostly gays and ladyboys. That's ok, they're great entertainment. People love to watch them. The bars all close at midnight except fot a couple skanky places. That's where you'll find the foreigners picking up the prostitutes and ladyboys. Despite what people may think, there are lots of ladyboys and women looking for prostitution at Boracay. I only know this because I am a foreigner there, and my girl would point out to me, which ones were ladyboys and which ones were prostitutes. She also made me aware about how much attention I was receiving from people and I didn't even notice. We wanted to see what happened on the beach after midnight, so we found out and we were disappointed. The ladyboy prostitutes are not allowed on the beach before midnight, so you likely won't ever see them, unless you make the effort.
The vendors on the beach wear shirts that label them as "Muslim Vendors Association". I find it strange that people would label themselves this way. Muslim people in the Philippines are often discriminated against, as the country is mostly Catholic. Judgement begins with labels. If there were no labels, then there would be no judgement. Even I used labels in this blog, and it likely made you, the reader, feel differently.
Overall, the Boracay experience wasn't really worth it. I enjoyed my time much more as a foreigner, simply spending time with my girl, her family and friends, in the wonderful city of Cagayan de Oro. Lower key places are more fun, less money, and you can meet lots of interesting people from many different walks of life.
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