Island Hopping

 Hi Everyone!

Today we woke up bright and early so we could get to the dock on time…the only thing we forgot was that we were in the Philippines and everyone is on Filipino time, which meant we got there at 8:20 am sharp, ten minutes before role call, and didn’t actually get on the boat until 10 am. Such a rookie move for an Asian lol. 

The dock was made out of plastic containers and was really hard to walk on because like a waterbed it moved with the waves, bounced with the different weight distributions, and was also super uneven. So our first challenge was actually to get to the boat without tripping! Happy to report we all made it in one piece. 

The first stop was Puka Beach and the island really didn’t seem that inhabited since it was so wild and full of nature. It really was something to see, these pictures don’t do it justice. We walked most of the beach before boarding the boat to get to our next destination. 

Our second stop was in the middle of the ocean to go snorkeling. I had a great time and there were so many fish thanks to the boat hands throwing bits of bread lol. At first I was scared to take my life vest off because I wasn’t sure how the waters were but afterwards I got brave, ditched the vest, and swam further down into the ocean so I could say hi to the bigger fish. You see the fish and I have a deal, I don’t eat them so they can’t eat me…or at least that’s what I told them before swimming closer to the reefs.

We then went to another island for lunch and immediately a bunch of local kids hopped on board to play on the boat while it was docked. This island is really poor and were it not for the tourism, I don’t think they would have any steady source of income. It was a hard reality check on my privilege, as we walked the bamboo bridges and passed the slums just to get to our lunch gazebo which by far was the nicest building of the entire village. It was so hot Isabel and I indulged in some fresh coconut right off the tree! We also had to ride a tricycle back to the docks in which we were packed like sardines in a can, I can’t believe no one fell out during the bumpy ride!

Our final stop on the tour was at Crystal Cove. We had to walk up to the cliffs only to take the stairs down to the coves. The views up top were amazing! 

The first cove had the most impressive waves but the crowds made the tiny space pretty suffocating. So we took our pictures and then quickly got out of there, especially with the waves fiercely crashing against the rocks! 

The next cove you had to crawl through a tunnel to get to, which was quite an adventure and reminded me of the time the Frenchies and I crawled and rock climbed in the bat caves up north. I loved the walk in between the coves because it was so lush and you could hear the roaring ocean as you walked through the paved jungle. Nature is so awesome, who knew that the same high schooler who faked feeling unwell so she wouldn’t have to go snorkeling again at night in Catalina during a school trip would later become someone who loved going on hikes and exploring wild spaces. Don’t get me wrong, I still strongly prefer glamping, but I’d say I’ve come a long ways since I was 16.

By the time our boat navigated back to Boracay, it was 3:30 pm and we were starving. We stopped at the first restaurant we saw in the D mall which was Italian! I couldn’t even look away from my pasta for the picture, that’s how hungry I was! 

Bellies full we decided to walk the market before catching a shuttle back to our hotel.

Despite the busy day, Isabel and I went down to the hotel’s beach patio to have some appetizers while we watched the sunset. We talked about everything and nothing, and had the best time hanging out and catching up on our lives. I ended the night feeling so lucky and grateful to be here. 

Sending you all lots of love, 

Carolyn