THE
LONELY
PLANET
guidebook on the Philippines
has one of the best one-liner descriptions of Boracay: "Delicately
poised between paradise and pandemonium." Welcome to Boracay!
Without any doubt, one of the best beaches in the world. Here you
can move around just in your sandals or barefooted. The main beach
is unbelievable. It is always nice to observe the reactions of first
time travelers. Once the outrigger boat nears the island, you will
begin to see their excitement with everyone exclaiming "oohs" and
"ahs" and "wows!" especially when they see how the water turns from
blue-green to crystal clear and when the glorious sight of a long
stretch of white sand beach becomes nearer and closer. Truly
unbelievable and amazing. How many islands in the world can have a
beach that is four glorious kilometers long with white sand that is
so fine that it has the consistency of powder? How many beaches
would have such a gradual depth throughout that even 50 meters away
from shore, the depth is only about three feet or waist
high?
The action in Boracay is
along the main beach. You can swim, sunbathe (nude if you wish),
sail, parasail, jet ski, take a long walk (best during sunrise) or
simply watch a parade of people of all sizes, shapes, nationalities,
age and fashion pass before your eyes while holding a cold bottle of
beer or an oversized fruit shake. And the action doesn't dip
when the sunsets rather, it enters to another phase. Not as
abandoned as the parties of Spain's Ibiza or the famous rave parties
of Thailand, Boracay nightlife makes it to the top of the list as
the country's "party island" with a wide assortment of bars to
choose from ranging from a simple round bar wrapped around a coconut
tree to bars that dish out the latest techno music and on some
occasions like the forthcoming Holy Week, DJs from Manila and
abroad.
Here on this spread are
snapshots of Boracay captured by the country's top travel
photographer, George Tapan.
— JUN VENTURA
