After breakfast at Dad’s ancestral home in Malay, we boarded the L-200 and were driven, along 6 kms. of dirt road, to the makeshift jetty port at Brgy. Caticlan. Here, we boarded a big outrigger boat for Boracay Island. Our 15-min. pumpboat ride to the island was smooth all the way and soon the crystal blue waters turned sparklingly clear as we approached the island’s famous White Beach. It was just about noontime and the palm-fringed beach’s dazzlingly white sand was practically deserted and enchanting.
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| On our way |
Our boat docked at Boat Station 2, actually just an open beach point without piers where boats land. All passengers, including us, have to alight the boat via a narrow gangplank then wade a short distance through the shallow water to the beach. Others, however, hired brawny porters to carry them to shore on their shoulders. From the beach, we walked a short distance to a narrow alley. From the alley entrance, we walked a further 100 m. to Lion’s Den Resort on our left.
This rustic resort, owned and managed by Lowell A. Talamisan, an apo (grandnephew) of my father-in-law and a nephew of my wife Grace, is conveniently located midway between the beach and Main Road. Here, we stayed at one of the resort’s quaint and cozy nipa and bamboo cottages with private bath. Our cottage also had a verandah with a nice hammock slung at the posts.
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| Jandy and his lola relaxing at the verandah |
Boracay Island then was without electricity and our cottage was lit at night with gas lanterns. Other high-end resorts were powered by generators. This didn’t matter to us then, since food and accommodation were inexpensive and the people were friendly. Sometimes we would dine on grilled blue marlin at the resort or dine out at the restaurant of the nearby Red Coconut Resort.
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| White Beach circa 1990 |
The most exhilarating portion of our 3-day stay on the island was the feel of the sand of White Beach, snow white and fine as sifted confectionary sugar, top-grade cake flour or baby powder. It was so white you can get a total suntan due to the sun’s reflection on the sand. The aquamarine water was shallow and clear and the sunset was always magnificent.
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| Sand, sea and sky at Boracay |
Up north along White Beach, across Willy’s Beach Resort, is Willy’s Rock, the familiar and frequently photographed landmark that dominates the seascape. This large, castle-like natural boulder rises 7 m. (23 ft.) from the sand.
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| Posing by the much photographed Willy’s Rock |
you are so masuerte sir seeing boracay na hindi pa magulo..
It’s a big help if your father-in-law is a native of the place. Boracay today is a shadow of its former pristine self. Too much commercialism, not much environmental concern.