Bikeshaws & Next Leg of My Journey

Until this morning, I had forgotten that of the dozens of pics of Saigon on this blog during the past 1.5 yrs I had never included a pic of the cheapest mode of public transportation in HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) - the "modern-version" rickshaw or "bikeshaw". Hence the above pic. Fares = about 25 cents/kilometer (.6 miles). Given the heat/humidity, up to 4-passenger capacity + any "cargo" & low-gear ratio on these bikes - their "drivers" are in remarkable condition!
Many of you have asked about my future travel plans. My current Vietnam visa expires July 10 - so it is time for me to start planning my next stop.
I have definitely decided to eventually return to US by heading west from Vietnam - thereby circumnavigating the globe by the time I return to the US.
India will definitely be one of my stops - so I spent a major part of today at the India Consulate applying for an India visa - which will take a week to process. The India Consulate website said it was possible to get & I wanted a 6-month, multi-entry visa. But, they "just changed" their visa regs & I was only able to get a 3-month, SINGLE-entry tourist visa. This severely restricts a liberal travel itinerary bc I can only enter India once! I also discovered that the fee for such visas is US$60 for citizens of ALL countries EXCEPT US citizens who must pay US$80!?!? And, of course, all visa fees, regardless of your nationality, MUST be paid in US$'s!
I am still exploring other stops & visa requirements for possible "visit" locations both pre- (e.g., Malaysia, Tahiti, Borneo) & post-India (e.g., Sri Lanka, Maldives, Jordan). So - stay tuned.

Goodbye & Salamat White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

The Philippines were named by Magellan in honor of Prince Phillip of Spain. It is comprised of 7,000+ islands of which only half have been named & only 1,000 are inhabited. Of these, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan no doubt has the best beach - appropriately named White Beach. I have tremendously enjoyed my 2-week visit here - primarily because of my adopted, very shy (no pics allowed) hostess - Mary Grace who showed me all that the island had to offer - culture, cuisine, & wonderful people. The above pics are of 2 of the many beautiful Boracay Island sunsets that we shared. Salamat ("thank you" in Tagalog) Mary Grace & the many people I've met on this leg of my journey.
I will spend most of today (Monday, June 21) traveling from Caticlan to Manila and then from Manila to Saigon.

Prawa & Other Questions

Many of you have asked questions about Boracay Island. Below are answers to some of the most asked questions:
1. " What are those boats that appear in many of your pics"? These double-outrigger sail boats are called Prawa's. Their hulls are very narrow with mahogany frames covered with marine plywood siding. The outriggers are made with bamboo - with a nylon mesh stretched between each where passengers ride. They have a very shallow draft - < 12 inches. They are almost identical to boats found throughout the South Pacific.. The above pics were taken in front of the only Starbucks on Boracay Island <-- best view I've ever seen from any Starbucks & I've been to many around the world! Motorized versions without sails are called Bangka's.
2. "What about "ladies" on Boracay Island?" Being a predominantly Catholic country, prostitution is outlawed. But these laws are not vigorously enforced. You can easily "hire" a lady for about Php500/24 hours - a little more than US$10. These woman are not very attractive. I was very lucky to find a lady that worked at my hotel who became my friend & island guide. Because she could get fired for fratinizing with guests - she would not allow me to take any pics of her.
3. "Is the island as clean as it appears in pics?" Yes - beaches, streets & even interior parts of the island are very clean. This is a recent "event" pushed by a newly-elected mayor about a year ago who began vigorously enforcing littering laws. About the same time, National Geographic sponsored an "island clean-up campaign". There are very unsightly & smelly dump sites in the island's interior - which I stumbled upon during my motorbike road trip.
4. "What language do they speak?" Tagalog is their official language - a kind of weird mixture of Polynesian & Spanish.
5. "Chop sticks?" None except those found in Japanese & Chinese restaurants. But unlike us - the spoon rather than fork is their primary eating utensil.
6. "What's the strangest thing you've seen on the island?" Nothing really "strange" but one thing has kinda stood out - there are many Filipino "little people" working & playing on Boracay Island. Tonight I am going to eat at what is supposed to be the best steak house on the island. It's called "The Hobbit Steakhouse" & is owned/managed/operated by "little people"!

Another Island & ?

The top pic is of the very small Mother Mary Island located just off the shoreline on the north end of White Beach. There is a small shrine dedicated to Mother Mary on the right side (in the top pic) of the island. White Beach is known for this shrine & you see people wading to the island everyday paying homage. Btw - > 85% of Filipinos are Catholic.
The 2nd pic above is additional proof that I am here!

Another Food Favorite & Me

I forgot to mention my other favorite Filipino food - Pork Adobo shown in top pic. It is pork chopped into bite-size pieces cooked in a somewhat spicy sauce always served with rice & those small limes in small bowel @ top of pic. It is delicious w the very stronge-flavored lime juice & several other sauces they serve on the side. No mango shakes at my favorite beach side restaurant where I always buy this dish - so had to settle for iced tea.
Several have said they doubted I was actually on Boracay Island because they had not seen me in any pics - hence the 2nd pic above of me on White Beach.

Boracay Island Roadtrip 4

There are many unnamed beaches on Boracay Island. The top pic is of one such beach. The bottom pic is of Puka Shell Beach - many shells but difficult to get to - so not many people around.
A few of you have asked about how clean the island is. It is very clean - streets & beaches.

Boracay Island Roadtrip 3

Boracay is known for 2 caves - both requiring a trek through what is pretty much a jungle. The top pic is of the entrance to Bat Cave & the bottom pic is of the entrance to Crystal Cave. Not very interesting pics but thought that I should include them. Many bats & swallows flying around in both caves.

Boracay Island Roadtrip 2

The top pic is another taken from Mt Luho. The bottom pic is of a traditional thatched house - there are many on the island.
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Boracay Island Roadtrip 1

Yesterday I did a 2-dive trip - 1 wall & 1 wreck. Not many fish & reef was in poor condition. But visibility was better than I expected.
Today I rented a motorbike & explored Boracay Island. Above pics were taken from Mt Luho - the highest point on Boracay Island. The beaches shown are not named. White Beach is on the other side of the island & cannot be seen from Mt Luho.
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Boracay Island - Favorite Foods

Several of you have asked "Why no food pics!?" Filipinos do have a unique cuisine - most of it has never been appealing to me. BUT - they do love their pork dishes - almost as much as I do! The top pic is Litson Baboy - suckling pig slowly cooked over an open charcoal file & literally chopped to pieces & served with a thick pepper/lime juice/bbq sauce. Delicious. The lower pic is Liempo - pork belly which is a thick slice of bacon with lots of fat cooked over a charcoal fire normally served with a soup and rice. And that's my favorite drink - a mango shake. A Litson Baboy dinner is rather expensive - about $6. The entire Liempo meal as shown is about $1.50
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More White Beach

I have now walked, several times, the entire 7km (4+ miles) length of White Beach.. The above pics are of my 2 favorite areas - both located on the south end of beach. Both ends of the beach abruptly end with rock walls. The narrow island has a mountain ridge in the middle of it that runs its length ending at the sea. Btw - on world maps this sea is identified as the South China Sea. On more detailed Philippine maps, Boracay is located where 3 seas intersect - the South China, Sulu, & Philippine Seas.
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My Nemesis on White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

I thought that mango & banana fruit shakes would easily replace my iced vente lattes. But when I suddenly spotted my nemesis above on White Beach's foot path (the only one on Boracay Island) - I couldn't resist. Prices were about the same as in US - very, very expensive by Philippine standards - fruit shakes are < US$1 - iced vente lattes are over US$3.50!.

Tricycle Bikes - Boracay Island, Philippines

The primary public mode of transportation are Tricycle Bikes. They are basically low cc motorbikes with a "side car" which has both front & back seats. They stuff as many as 10+ passengers in them. They drop people off at various locations in whatever direction they are going. There are really no set fares. - but they are cheap - I pay 10 PHP (Philippine Pesos) or less than 25 cents to travel about 2 miles <- about the maximum distance anyone can travel on Boracay.
Btw - there is really only 1 paved road on the island - running north/south the entire length (6-7 miles) of Boracay Island - that is it in the above pics! Not much room to maneuver!

White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

The above pics were taken on the beach in front of my hotel. The sand is very fine & almost as white as Caribbean beaches. Water is very warm & visibility (clarity) is very good. Beach is almost empty - but hotels are full!? I believe this is because most of the visitors here are apparently Chinese and a surprising number of Russians!? Neither like exposing their fair skin to the hot sun. I wish there were more Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis or even US folks around!
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White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

There are restaurants, bars, hotels along the entire length of White Beach. There is a "foot path" between the beach & the bars/restaurants/hotels. It is always shaded by coconut trees during the day. The above pics give you some idea what I'm talking about. The bars are packed every night - most are open until 1 or 4AM, have loud live bands & some very attractive ladies.
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Boracay Island - One MGM Resort

I am staying at the One MGM Resort on Boracay Island. My room is on the ground floor of the building to the left in above pic. My room is near 1 of 2 swimming pools. The 2nd swimming pool is to the right in the background behind the thatched-covered area where breakfast buffets (included in room price.) are served daily. The hotel has a "private section" with bar on White Beach - just 35 meters from my room. Very nice property & moderately-priced @ $40/night. Very hot here - 90+F.
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White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

The above pic is of Boracay Island, Philippines - 7km (4+ mi) long & 4km (2.5 mi) at its widest. Can you find White Beach?
I have been traveling most of the day arriving here late this afternoon: 3-hour flight from Saigon to Manila where I got visa/luggage & went through customs, then boarded a 1-hour flight from Manila to Caticlan, then a 30-minute boat taxi to Boracay Island. Connection in Manila was a hassle - very little time to get checked baggage, clear customs, get visa & go to another terminal!
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