a girl in the world

finding beauty, pleasure and grace on the road less traveled

Back from the beach

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We’re back from our few days getaway to Boracay.  I have to say, that place is amazing.  I’ve been to many beaches before but seriously, Boracay ranks as one of my top 5 favourites.  It’s so clean, warm and safe.  The music is amazing, the food so so cheap and the hospitality exceptional.  I would definitely go back.

Some highlights below:


Boating video – halfway through we all got seasick and had to go back to shore!

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A sunset walk on the beach with Dad

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With everyone

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Daddy Dearest

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Snorkeling with Mum and cousin Sam

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the Family

Some favourite tidbits:

  • Super clear refreshing water.  Not as warm as Thailand, but warmer than Hawaii.
  • Cheap water sports (compared with other tourist-heavy beach towns). 
  • Fresh coconut juice, straight from the coconut.  I LOVE ASIA because of these perks.  Fresh fruits everywhere, all the time!
  • Great house music.  Actually, great entertainment in general.  We ate fresh seafood for 10 people and watched a live band play for 2 hours in an outdoor beach restaurant for a TOTAL of 60 USD.  The band did acoustic covers of Poker Face, Nobody, Miss Independent and other Top 40 hits.  So talented!
  • Massages.  An hour for 6 dollars.  On the beach, with a professional masseuse.  
  • No hookers, or gigolos.  Or at least we couldn’t see them anywhere on the main strip.  It’s a clean, family-friendly, high entertainment island.  So great.
  • Did I mention the fresh fruit juices?  Coconut, mango, banana, pineapples?  TO DIE FOR!

Sighhhhhhh.  So beautiful.  I would HIGHLY recommend this place.  

Oh traffic

Traffic in this country is horrendous.  There is ZERO discipline on the roads.  Double lines, dashed lines, yellow or white – none of it matters.  It's everyone for themselves – trikes, trucks, buses, cars, bikes, all on single-lane highways on roads that are nearly as bad as those we traveled through in East Africa.  Seriously.  I don't want to complain but the traffic here is enough to kill you.  Such a test of patience.  True, unyielding, tried and tested patience.  =)

Thank You Lord for traffic laws and traffic law enforcement and the countries where these things exist.  

BORACAY!

Greetings from beautiful Boracay!  We are spending the next few days here, after a looooong journey from San Fernando.  IT IS BEAUTIFUL!  I've been to several Asian beach destinations before but this place is every bit the paradise that they say.  The beaches are stunning white, the water so clear and the food and nightlife are top notch.  There isn't the sleaze that is so prevalent in places like Thailand and Cambodia and there is an abundance of things to do.

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Today, we rented a private boat and went snorkeling around the island.  Though most of us got seasick (we really aren't a water family), the experience was good fun (reminded me a lot of my time in Zanzibar).  Last night we went for an incredibly affordable dinner (a whole meal for 80 pesos each!  That's about 2 dollars US) and then sat on the beach listening to a live band.  Beers are a dollar a bottle and the beach entertainment is FREE!   I love that this place is clean and very family-oriented.  

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Tonight, we're going to hit the beach bars.  Filipino DJ's know how to keep a crowd bumpin' to the wee hours of the morning.  We're going to go see what all the fuss is about. =)

Hi, I'm Denise. I'm a writer, artist and photographer. This is where I share what I'm seeing, learning and making.
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