Reminders:
To get to the airport, you need to ride a taxi from MIA road or pasay. The fare depends on your location. Since I was in MIA road, I paid 100php.
You need to pay 200 for the terminal fee
Though I arrived early, it was quite late already when I discovered that I need to board.... good thing I'm observant with the people around me...I rode a mini bus, it brought us near the airplane...........
The airplane that brought me to KALIBO AKLAN...
Inside the plane, good thing I was just right beside the window....
I was in cloud 9 the moment the plane took off. I was amazed with the beautiful scenery up there in the sky. I adored the different cloud formations that I saw. Then after that, I looked down and observed the shape of the land. I was recalling also the map of the Philippines and tried to identify it. It was a cool and awesome afternoon
I arrived the airport (KALIBO) around 7:15 PM. I made an arrangement with someone that they will fetch me there because I still need to travel going to CATICLAN PORT. Good thing that the person waiting for me was there already waiting and waving a paper where my name is written. I told the guy to wait for me for a while coz I really need to pee.
I was surprised when I learned that I'm the only passenger for that big tourist bus! Wow! It seems that I rented it just only for me.
Note: If your destination is in KALIBO AKLAN, better have an earlier flight because during that time (past 7pm) there are only few people going to caticlan unless you're a big group. I did not even see some vans around. I made an arrangement to pick me up at the airport so I won't have a hard time since I know that it's late already. I paid an additional 650 php for it, but accdng to the driver, the hotel shouldered the other expenses.
It was a long travel. I noticed that the people in KALIBO are not really active at night. It's only 7pm but you can see that the place is clear. There are only few people outside even in town proper even though there are a lot of establishments around.
I never thought that the travel would last that long... knowing that there's no traffic and the bus was moving fast. It's really a province..... I saw some isolated houses, and some are in the middle of forest.... I couldn't imagine myself living in that place far from the civilization.
After more than 2 hours, we finally arrived at CATICLAN PORT......, again I was endorsed to another person. The guy borrowed 200php from me to pay for the environmental fee and boat fee (but for me it is included already in 650, the guy said he will just return it as soon as we arrived at the island). I rested for a while. There were a lot of people there like me having a post vacation..... After few minutes, the guy came back and assisted me, we rode in a boat. It lasted for 10-15 minutes only. After getting off the boat, I was endorsed again with 3 people and rode a cab. I saw some white sands, I told myself this is it!!!
Note:
Environmental fee: (sorry I forgot)
Terminal fee: 50php I think
Boat fee: 25php
Van from kalibo airport to caticlan: 160php
One of the people brought me to the place where I will stay. As we walked along the shore (around 10pm) I saw a lot of people, the night was so fun and active during that time!
Reminder:
If you want a cheaper accommodation, then search in STATION 3. I think there are also cheap inn near the highway.
Before I thought, station 1 is a different place compared to stations 2 and 3 because most of the people say that it's better to stay in station 1 and that station 3 is the dirtiest etc... well well well.... it doesn't matter, because you're there for the beach and not only for the hotel. if you can afford then go, stay in station 1, if not 2 and 3 will do.... anyway, you can go anytime to station 1 and 2... you just need to walk...
I stayed in BONZAI, station 2, 800 per night. It's a typical nipa hut-style room. I chose only the fan room to save money. It's very simple and relaxing. There is DUYAN in the veranda where you rest and feel that you are in a safe place.So far the room where I stayed for 3 nights and 2 days is good, it's big, good for 2 persons, with tv, fan and cr. There's also wifi but I don't why it was so slow, so I still need to use my broadband. After arriving the place, I instantly changed my clothes and walk along the shore. There were still a lot of people around. Mostly Europeans, Americans and Koreans/Taiwanese.
DAY 1
I woke up early and took an early walk along the shore... There were some people already around. i grabbed the opportunity to take pictures.
I bought LEYLAM SHAWARMA and hamburger for my early morning foods. I really wanted to save so I'm only choosing the food to buy...
I swam in the morning. The water is crystal clear... I saw some fish.... it was so nice. The island was so nice... but of course, it's really different from the pictures that we see.
It was so hot as time passes by so I decided to walk, I reached the famous D'MALL..... I really thought that it is a mall... but unfortunately, it's not. There you can buy souvenirs, a lot of restaurants and stores. It's like a sossy tyangian, palengke. I continued walking, in a few minutes, I reached station 1. I saw the stone/rock that symbolizes BORACAY.
I tried helmet diving and snorkeling. I paid a total amount of 700 if I can still remember. First I joined a group of 6 in helmet diving. Actually I don't know if they find it weird that I was the only one who will try it. There was a brief briefing of the do's and don'ts so we listened carefully. After that, we finally took the moment and had a great time experiencing it.
After helmet diving, my next activity was snorkeling. Would you believe that I was only the one on the boat? Yes, I was only the one, it seems that I rented it. We went to the middle part of the sea, they gave the life jacket and goggles. I swam there, over viewing the corals and the fishes. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring food (bread) to feed the fishes. It was a very fascinating moment, seeing those creatures and suddenly, I saw this white big jelly fish. I feel so afraid and swam as fast as I could towards the boat. I told the boatman that "it's ok now, let's go back."
It was really a great experience visiting Boracay. Thank you to my sponsor! Till next time!
