Don't ask me why, but, I've always wanted to come to the Philippines! However, after the best part of 8 hours from Melbourne to Malaysia, followed by 4 hours to Clark (Air Asia going all Ryanair on us, as its two hours from Manila, which it used to claim it was) I'm now doubting my enthusiasm! However, I've used the time to read my reading group assignment for the month....
We passed through KL for the second time, of four occasions, visiting the same veggie Indian restaurant and Starbucks, not avoiding tax in Malaysia, therefore acceptable. It's funny to get recognised and we look forward, as creatures of habit, to revisiting. I'll have so many in and out stamps of Malaysia in my passport I might apply for citizenship!
We experienced our first hitch which was a delayed flight, by 40 minutes, no big deal but when you get in at 1.00am! This was compounded by immigration at Clark, an ex US airforce base, taking 2 hours! You'd think that as they know what flights are coming, how many passengers etc. However, we've booked a safe driver from our hotel in Manilla and checked in at 4.45am.... to then leave at 9.00 to fly to Caticlan. The Philippines is an archipelago and consists of over 7000 islands. This is very apparent when you fly! We are staying on Boracay and you get there by tuk tuk and ferry. You are instantly in the Caribbean, but, without the hassle. Our hotel is a really small spa resort with free yoga, massages, laundry and, the clincher, mangoes! Charming people, very chilled and.. perfect. The beach is lots of shacks serving cold beer, seafood etc and it's a pleasant unwind. Dinner is in the nearby town with gastronomic feasts on the beach, you chose your fish or cut, they BBQ it and you sit down to enjoy in an open tent with the sea lapping up. It's very vibey and really interesting and it's noticeable that there is no music being hammered out. The tents are ornately decorated, the beach looks like a street of wedding receptions! You get to and from by moped with sidecar, it's elaborate and you just squeeze on, we had 7 on ours. It cost 25p each!
Yoga, on a glorious, sunny Sunday morning turned out to be Qi (chi) Gong, a sort of fusion of yoga and martial arts. It's amazing how strenuous moving so slowly, and controlled, can be. They don't have spring and autumn here, just sun and rain. The monsoon season is June - October and the hottest month is March. As you move around Asia, realising how fortunate we are to be born into the English language, the accent varies from English to American. Here in the Philippines it's very American.
This place really feels like a holiday, walking the beaches, which are gorgeous, eating and drinking too much and, generally, having very good time in a lovely spot. Dinner of fresh seafood, table on the beach, up lit palm trees and fire dancers to Gangham style! another "different" yoga class and .....
Next stop, Manila.