What Up Happy New Years everyone.
Sorry, Sorry. Its been a while since an update but things are busy over here. I think I mentioned before but sometimes it takes all day to get laundry dropped off. Not because I'm busy taking care of important stuff but things come up during the day, like sitting on the beach, having coffee, or watching the sunset with happy hour. Some day's start off with the intention of doing something and that usually never happens. We start the afternoon with a coffee in the main junction from the beach to the mall. Poke fun at the tourists and shoot the shit for a few hours. Then take a walk down the beach to do whatever minor task that was the plan for the day. End up running into a few people we know and next thing you know its 4am. Next day, start off trying to finish the task from the day before. Time fly's by quick here. Now I see how some people are stuck here. Days, weeks, months, are just gone. Had some fun a few weeks back when the typhoon Megi came by. The local kiteboarders finally had a chance to get out and rip. Other than some wind it was too far to the north to really give us any troubles. Towards the end, a good friend of mine came to visit from the states and she got a first hand view of how easily time slips away. Wake up have lunch, run into some friends and there you go another day gone.
Got a chance to do some touristy stuff when my friend came into town. First I meet her in Manila for a few nights. That was the first time I left the island since August when I arrived. As soon as I got to Manila, I want to get back to the island. I forgot how difficult it is to get things done here. I got into a one sided argument with airport security. I say one sided because it was just me talking and they conveniently forgot English and wouldn't look at me anymore. What a pain to deal with. Back to navigating the streets of Manila, there was another headache. We started playing the taxi cab game. 90% of the taxi cab drivers don't want to use their meters, they want to charge an excessive flat rate. The other 5% want to charge the meter + extra fee, the next 4% will actually use the meter but don't want to take you where you want to go because there is traffic or its too far. WTF? I thought it was your job to drive in traffic!! Then there is the 1% that will pick you up and take you where you want to go on the meter, but 50% of those doesn't know the location your trying to go. So we usually stop about 15 or so taxis before we find one of the 1%ers.
After a quick tour of the highlights of Manila and some more time with my boys from the local Ducati clubs it was back to the island. Not a whole lot to see in Manila besides the malls and a lot of shopping. First night on the island we started thing off with a bang. Hit a bunch of the local spots for some drinks, then packed two trikes full with 8 people each and headed to the full moon party where hilarity ensued until the sunrise. Next we picked a day to relax on Puka beach, which I believe is the nicest beach on the island. Its away from white-beach so no vendors trying to sell you anything. This is the beach to go to if you want to be left alone. Not really marketed or promoted, because all the money is on White Beach. The water is clean and drops off faster so you don't have to walk for 100m before you get to chest deep water. My favorite spot to vacation on the island.
If your into food, the Talipapa fish market is a fun stop. Buy your fresh seafood from the market and bring it to the store across the street to be cooked anyway you choose. Or have them do all the hard work and just order from the menu. Halloween weekend was crazy fun. Found out that many of the countries represented by the tourists don't celebrate Halloween. Seems like its primarily a US celebration, who knew. Here on the island, there are big all night parties, after which everyone hibernates for three days. Can't find any of the locals for a few days. Only the tourists roaming around. But things seem to be back to business as usual now. On the last day we rented a boat to take us to the popular snorkel and dive spots. Crocodile island and Ilg Ilgan were the two places we stopped. Also stopped for a quick tour of Crystal Cove...skip it. Well that wrapped the two week vacation for my friend. Packed her bags and got her off to the jetty port for the long flight home. It was great to see a familiar face and a good friend to share this little trip of mine. Fun and funny thing about the island, its so small. They few days she was here, she already had a few friends on the island. Her last nigh going away party, she had a whole list of people to invite out. I think that's what pulled me to the island in the first place. In a short time you get to know a lot of people. I guess its like college, walk around campus and you get to know or recognize everyone.
Well back to the island. Can't believe its November. Seems like eternal summer here. Think I'm going to be in sever shock if i get home during winter.
Back to the island
Local kids playing on the front porch
Local rum Tanduay
Local, not sure what this does...yoga master masseuse?
Popular sport, Cock fighting
The betting gets intense
Puka beach
Puka
Sunset at Puka
Boat trip around the island
Traditional local boat
Sailing the seas, my friend came to visit.
The resort owners puppy, they grow up so quickly! Already smoking.
Halloween
Picking up her costume from the tailor
Halloween video from my friend Chad
www.chadshomepage.comBoracay Halloween Madness 2010One of the many buffets
Deuce it up with the nice Koreans!
Deuce
Deuce
Deuce, not sure why my finger is in her nose
And the new "peace sign" photo, the Jump Photo! Everyone does the jump photo these days, so weve been making it a point to take jump photos with everyone.
Talipapa, Before, live crab, name: Bob
After
Bob and friends
Monster Lobster
Fish
Squid stuffed with veggies
Scalops
Butter Garlic shrimp
Squid Adobo
Calamanci, it tastes like a mix of lime and tangerine
Me with traditional floppy hat
Me with traditional Bat Hat
Trike traffic Jam. This is the main transportation on the island, and these guys are everywhere. Annoying but necessary...sometimes.
We can squeeze about 8 full size people in these
stay out of the sun! Umbrellas are used rain or shine here.
Local chicken named Pedro. Do not throw him at the bartender to get their attention.
Sandcastles
Local Sari-Sari store. The owner of this one tried to marry me to her daughter.
Anyone know the game Edward 40 hands? This was our attempt to get someone to do it.
Kiting during the Typhoon
Kiteboarding Typhoon Megi - Boracay Philippines - Oct 2010No more!
