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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