Philippines, Part 2
*Continued from previous post (day 15)*
So we thought we were about to board. Instead they moved our flight to another gate and delayed it by 30 minutes. When it was finally time to board they put us all on a shuttle and took us over to the plane.
This is how I have to sit with all the bags on
Once on the plane, we sat on there for about another 45 minutes so now at this point we were delayed close to 2 hours from our original departure time.
This was the first flight that we were all 3 on at the same time so, of course, I had to document it.
I really enjoyed this airline, Cebu Pacific, despite their reputation of also being delayed. The flight attendants played this game where they would ask if you had a certain item on you. They asked if anyone could show them the latest issue of their Cebu Pacific magazine and so I reached over to Taryn’s seat and held it up and won the prize! It’s a free shuttle ride in Manila.
I WON!
It was a quick flight, only an hour long. Our delay was longer than our actual flight. Once we landed, they put us on another shuttle to take us over to the baggage claim area since we were just on the runaway. It’s a very, very small island so things operate a little differently.
When we got to the baggage claim area we were also able to buy our ticket for the boat that we had to take to get to the island and our hostel.
But to get to the dock to board the boat we had to take another bus ride. We finally got to the dock and went through security and then loaded up on the boat.
Precious little old men playing music while everyone goes through security to get onto the boat
Not our boat but I liked that it said our island we were going to
Our boat
It was only a 15 minute ride to the island but I started feeling a bit queasy so I kept my head down most of the ride.
We arrived at our island and then had to take another car ride to our hostel.
The driver pulled up and told us our hostel was towards the back and to just walk down this alley. So we got off along with a family of 4 and walked down to the end only to find out there were 2 hostels by the same name and we were at the wrong one.
So we had to go back to the main street and get into a little go-cart type taxi thing. We allowed the family to join us on the taxi so we were really, really crammed in there.
7 of us crammed into this little bad boy
We finally got to the right hostel and checked in. Our room is a 4 bed room (2 bunk beds) so we have a random guy in our room. We found out later that he is from Finland and he told me his name but I couldn’t understand him.
Name of our hostel
Once we dropped our bags off we made a beeline to find the nearest restaurant. We found some Filipino/ Korean place.
After eating we decided to go to the White Sand Beaches. The only thing we brought was my GoPro so we could take some photos since it was waterproof.
We splashed around in the water for a little bit and then decided to walk down the beach some more and see what shops they had.
We’re so happy to finally be in Boracay after our adventure getting here. Oh and we love the color black.
I probably told her a really funny joke here
And a quick GoPro selfie
These kids are sandcastle building prodigies
Taryn got tricked into telling them her name and then having to give a tip
After we saw a good majority of their food selection we decided on what we were going to have for dinner, went back to the room to change and then head back out to the beach in time to catch a little of the sunset.
We ate at this “Mexican” restaurant. The chips and salsa were not bottomless nor free but were really good.
Hook ’em!
I got what would be considered fajitas but they call it sizzling plate. It came out with an egg on it and white rice. It was basically what I had gotten for lunch but it was still really good.
This is not fajitas. This is the sizzling plate.
We sat around after dinner and watched the kids from this afternoon build another amazing sandcastle. They were the cutest, most hard working little guys and we’re certain at least one will grow up to be some kind of artist.
One of the many castles the little kids built
After our dinner and a show, we walked around so we could get more water bottles because we can’t drink the water here either so we need many bottles.
Randomly, we came across a Texas themed restaurant.
Then it was back to our room by 9pm. Traveling days are always an adventure but wear us out.
Day 16, January 13
I didn’t really sleep well last night because I was on the top bunk and had to keep climbing up and down to go to the bathroom and it was really hot and humid in our room.
We finally all got up and went to have breakfast that consisted of one egg and 2 pieces of toast.
Not that filling but just grateful our hostel gives us breakfast
After that we decided that we desperately needed to do some laundry. Everything was starting to smell really bad. So we walked down a little ways and found a coin operated laundry mat. A lot of them are ones where you have to drop your clothes off and let them do it so it really wasn’t easy to find a self-serve one. But we lucked out and where able to put our clothes in the wash while we went and grabbed a coffee from the Starbucks that was on the beach. When they gave me my drink the lady asked what my name was. I told her and she got all excited and said they had a barista that worked their also named Jillian but that she spells it Gellian. I guess that’s the Filipino way to spell it.
Even Filipinos love Meryl Streep
After coffee we went and got our clothes. We then walked to the other side of the island to the Bulabog Beach. It was only like a 10 minute walk. We didn’t care for that side though because there were a lot of wind surfers and pretty much that’s all.
Windsurfing is an activity I have no desire to try
So after checking that side of the island out we headed back to the White Beach area.
Came across their high school while walking back
I love this scene so much. These men were enjoying each others company and the little kid was entertaining himself in the bucket of water. They all seemed to be content with what they had.
It started to sprinkle so we decided it was a perfect time to stop and eat lunch. We found this Mediterranean restaurant that still overlooked the beach.
Hummus with ham (we think)
Watermelon and feta salad with bell pepper rice (I haven’t had a day without rice yet)
After lunch Taryn wanted to sit out on the beach and my sister wanted to do a massage. So we went our own ways for a little bit and decided to meet back up at our room at 5pm.
I walked around for a while trying to decide what to do. It was overcast that day so I didn’t have much interest in the beach. I found a place that did cupping and then a massage so I opted for that. I’ve been curious about cupping for a while and figured I should be adventurous and try it over here.
The experience was really interesting. My lady brought out the cups and a lit candle and set it next to me.
She then massaged my back for about 15 minutes and then started applying the cups. To do that, she lit a q-tip and put the fire in the cup and quickly turned it upside down on my back.
Afraid to move my head
Every 5 or so minutes she would move the cups around. I think she did that for 30 minutes and then after she removed the cups, gave me an hour massage.
At that point it was time to head back to the room to meet back up with the others. It started to rain so I took my laptop outside to sit underneath the beautiful cabana to blog and listen to the rain.
We sat out the rain and then went to eat dinner.
We came across this Hawaiian BBQ place that had fire throwers for entertainment and we were immediately drawn into the show.
I got the mushroom and macadamia nut soup with a beer. It was so, so good!
They put a ladle in there thinking I was going to share
But back to the fire entertainment…there were these boys that had major sass and would come out dressed as a character from a movie or song. Then they would rip the outfit off and perform with the fire. I really felt like these boys lived for this part of the show. And I loved every bit of it!
He was performing to “Listen” by Beyonce. Shortly after he ripped the dress off.
He was performing to “Let It Go” dressed as Elsa. Again, shortly after the dress was ripped away.
At several points during the show they’d walk around and swing the fire balls over your head.
My favorite little sassy guy
Towards the end they had an audience participation part and Taryn pointed to me to go up there so of course one of the girls came and grabbed me. They slapped a hula skirt on me and I had to follow what they were doing. I gotta say, I don’t think I did too bad. The other girl they pulled up there was not doing much of anything so compared to her, I was killing it.
Me killing the hula dance
After all that excitement it was time to head back to our room. I realize that I much prefer the island nightlife to the day life.
Jamecia Blount
January 15, 2017
1. You sure the Starbucks girl’s name wasn’t JulliAnne? Lol lol
2. I’m s little uncomfortable view the top half of your butt for the cupping photo op. Lol lol
3. I would do anything to see you up there doing the hula moves!!
* thanks for providing tonight’s entertainment 🙂
Xoxo,
Mecia
Jillian
January 15, 2017
Haha, Mecia. Even the Starbucks lady knows my name is not JulliAnne. That is not my butt, it’s my hips. And my sister recorded the hula dance. I think you would have been proud of me.
Momma Payne
January 16, 2017
I’m so glad you are finally there. I feel like it has taken you a week to get there. The night life definitely looks like a lot of fun.
Jillian
January 16, 2017
Our night life cuts off around 9. We get so tired so early now. I’m sure it’s all the traveling and not that we are old ladies at heart.