superproxy

One morning, while I was preparing for work, I was listening to the radio too. The DJ said, "here is something from Francis and Eli...."  then played Superproxy. Then I smiled.

Boracay for the nth time (May 23-25, 2011)

So this is the nth time I had gone to the island of Boracay.  Let me share my travel notes.

May 23.

Cel and I agreed to meet up at NAIA 3.  I dialled for a cab, Dollar Taxi, which I normally take whenever I need to go to the airport.  It arrived on time and the driver asked if we are to take C5 route and I replied in the affirmative.  While there were bottlenecks around the Pasig area, the ride was a good one.  What I did not like about it though was the meter ticking like crazy ! As we know, some taxi meters are rigged in Metro Manila. Such a dishonest means to earn a living I would say.  When I arrived at NAIA 3, the meter was at P 345.00 ! WTF !  Worse, when I handed a P 500 bill, the driver gave me a P 100 as change. Hmm.. I did not bother argue with the speedy meter (since that will not get me anywhere at that time), but to shortchange me?!  So I asked the driver how much my fare was, then he sort of just handed me an additional P 50 bill as change.

In fairness to the cab company, not all of their meters are rigged.  I had gone several places using their cab service, some came clean... but there were a few which charged more than necessary.  Is it the driver's wrongdoing then?  Maybe... but I do not wish to talk about that now.

Going back to Cel and Franco (the hubby), I met up with them and we were ready to check-in.  We were to take the Manila-Caticlan flight via Cebu Pacific 5J 901.  We learned that all Cebu Pac domestic flights maybe checked-in from any counter.  So, people travelling to various destinations lined up at any counter they wish to.  This was kinda chaotic for me.  What if my bag goes to a flight bound for Davao ?  Nonetheless, that was the way it is.

Terminal fee was P 200. We proceeded to our gate and waited for boarding. (I didn’t encounter any possible detention this time, hahaha, I remembered my Bali trip with Cel last year.)

Take-off.  I felt the pilot was too excited to lift up. Anyway, after that, the flight was ok, no turbulence whatsoever.

It was a 1 hour flight, no food served.

Time to land. Bump, bump.  Screech.  I neither commend this pilot for his take off, nor his landing skills either, probably a rookie ?

From Caticlan airport, we took the tricycle to get to the jetty port.  We paid P 50 for the very short ride.

We reached the jetty port which was teeming with a lot of people wearing pink shirts that say Biggest Loser - Philippines.  I surmised that they are taping something in Boracay.  One has to pay the terminal fee, environmental fee and of course the banca fare.  All these cost about P 100 / pax.

We then took the banca to get to Boracay island, a 15 minute boat ride.  From the port, we had to again take a tricycle ride to get to our resort.  This was about 15 minutes and we were charged P100.00.  We had to walk a bit from the back street to get to the resort.

Bans Resort is a very old place, nothing flashy like the newer hotels, but we have stayed here on several occasions.  Rates are affordable, the rooms are comfortable enough.  We had the room closest to the beach with a double bed (for the couple) and a single bed (for me), just right for our group.

First agenda, lunch.  Andok's at the back street.  Second agenda, rest.  Third agenda, Jonah's.

Jonah's fruit shake is an institution in Boracay. Your trip will never be complete without it.  We had a shake each; each had his preference for fruit combination.

Afterwards, we decided to walk along the shore.  There were locals who approached us for a paraw ride and we took the mobile number of one, Raffy, as we had inked a deal. A 1-hour paraw ride for P550 for the following day.  We also had the chance to see some local skimboarders and asked if we can try skim boarding.  They gladly showed us how and we also learned that we can have a 1-hour tutorial for P 250.  Again, we inked a deal and got the mobile number of Carlos. (so I remember their names)

I had my right back side tattooed this time.  (I always get a henna tattoo every Boracay visit).  Note to self, never again on this part of the body, I get so ticklish.

Back at Jonah’s for light dinner.  Cel and Franco were craving for pancit.  Unfortunately, when the order came, it had shrimps, which I am allergic to, so I had to settle for something else.  I recognize the same Manang server, maybe she is head server now.

Back at the resort, we freshened up and prepared to go out for the night.  We checked out the restos and bars, and we ended up at Red Coconut since we were attracted by the 2-male acoustic act singing Maroon 5’s Sunday Morning.  We took a table and had a bottle of beer each (except for Cel)  and listened to some cool music.  We even requested for some songs.

Band break and we were done with our beers.  We went to D Mall to buy some toiletries. It rained and we were trapped !  Stayed a bit, but we had no choice but to brave the rain to get back to the resort.  It was nearly 12mn.

May 24.

9am. We woke up.  Such late risers.  (We are on a holiday, so that should be alright)

What’s for breakfast?  Swiss miss cocoa drink courtesy of Rowena and some Goldilock’s mamon.

Time for the paraw ride. Raffy met us up and the paraw driver was a teenager named Jaeryl.  I later learned that it was his father who owns the paraw, thus the paraw named after him.

No wind. Boring.  The 2 younglings had to row.

We anchored at a snorkeling spot. No fishes. Boring.

So we headed back, still the wind wasn’t strong enough.

I had a small talk with Raffy and Jaeryl, learning that a paraw and license to operate will cost 200k.  That Jaeryl’s father now owned 2 paraws…

Time for lunch.  Mang Inasal at D Mall was the resto of choice.  No, I do not like chicken.  It was the pork barbeque meal and bottomless iced tea for me.  Cel had the chicken barbeque, while Franco had lechon kawali take out from Andok’s.  Hmm..haven’t we just had Andok;s for yesterday’s lunch ?  Anyway …

Since we were already at D Mall, what else to do ? Shopping.

Do not refer to my shopaholic blogs and assume that I went shopping crazy.  I did not.  I only got two necklaces, 2 tops and a bathing suit for Amara (who looks like, Ninang Chacha ! – that’s me).  I got bored over the items, so I did not shop.  Blame me, but I did not have pasalubong for other family members and friends at work.

Franco was able to get some board shorts at very reasonable prices.  Cel ? Nah..she did not shop at all.

Again we headed back to the resort to rest. a bit, but no nap time.

Obama Grill. Bucket of beer in the afternoon while waiting for Carlos, the skimboarder and the sun to set.  The life.  Beer on hand by the white seashore…. Cel does not drink alcohol, so she took out some Jonah’s avocado shake instead.  Franco, excited over innards, went to order some isaw and I do not recognize what else, as pulutan. 

Carlos arrived and it was time for the skimboarding tutorial.  I volunteered to go first, despite the alcohol content that I have already.  Guess what ? I didn’t fall or injure myself.  I learned the basics.  Everyone was supposed to try it out, but I ended doing it alone while the couple just went out for a swim.

It was fun for me.  I almost ordered my own skim board from Carlos. Maybe it was the alcohol in my body that made me almost buy (or the shopaholic in me?).  Learning to skim board while intoxicated, not bad at all.

Back to the resort, time to shower up.

Cel insisted to bring the umbrella, because of the experience the night before.  Franco had to bring the umbrella. Hahaha.

Time for dinner.  We walked from Bans to station  2 area checking out the offers of different resorts/restos. A lot of buffet dinners.  We just ended up at D Mall, Jammers as I settled for tacos only.  Franco took out some innards again and just brought it to Jammers.  Cel again, did not eat. Jammers claim to be open 24 hours.

One favorite past time, people watching ...

We walked towards station 1, checking out the fire dancers practicing.  Then chanced upon an actual fire dance presentation in one of the restaurants. Carla  was the star of the show, performing to the tune of “I Have Nothing.”  If there were fire dancing lessons at that time, I might have tried it.

We walked again and ended up just near Bans, where there were food stalls. Street food again for Franco. .Ice cream for me. Cel still did not want to eat.

Sleep.

May 25.

8am, I woke up. The couple still asleep, so I prepared my Swiss miss. 

9am, I woke the two up. I went to swim.  I didn’t enjoy it much.  One, the water was itchy.  Two, boat traffic irritated me.  If I want some peace while swimming, I have to go some meters away from the beach front.

The couple followed soon after, but I already preferred to sun bathe.

Lunch. Crispy pata.  Franco was so craving for pork because in Qatar, they do not get to enjoy this, so they took advantage.

As appetizer, I got taho form the peddler which cost P 30.

After a sumptuous lunch where nothing was left of the crispy pork knuckles, we headed to Starbucks. I just had to.  This was something new for me. Starbucks? No.  Starbucks at Boracay, Yes.

140pm, got to go back to the resort and prepare to leave.  The couple and I had different itineraries, they were to proceed to Cebu after Boracay while I head back to Manila.

230pm, off I go. I had to take a tricycle to the port, P 100 ! Again, no more arguing.

The port was busy, but tolerable. Terminal fee, P50, banca ride, P25.  I got my tickets and headed to the banca.  Waited for about 5 minutes only and off we go ! Banca ride from Boracay to Caticlan and vice versa –at an interval of about 10 to 15 mins. Trips start as early as 5am, last trip at 10pm.  So one needs not worry about not getting a ride or waiting to get a ride too long.

Caticlan jetty port. As I exited,  I immediately spotted the vans (L300) going to Kalibo so I secured my seat.  Fare was P 100 for Kalibo proper, P 175 for Kalibo Airport. Waiting of about 30 minutes to fill the van up, 12 pax to get off.

While idle and waiting, the A/C was turned on, but why do they turn off the A/C during the ride?

 It was a 1.5 hour ride to Kalibo.  There was an accident in one of the intersections which appeared gruesome, but I didn’t actually see it.  I heard the van driver say that surely there was a casualty. (Bless his / their soul)

Traffic in Kalibo proper, another road accident?  I arrived at the airport at  510pm, saw the line at the departure that I decided there was no time to buy pasalubong (which I originally planned to do so).  Flight PR 326 was scheduled to depart at 6:00pm.

So I lined up and checked in immediately.  Simultaneous check-in for other carriers like Zest Air and Airphil Express, so it was kinda crowded.

P40 terminal fee.  Strangely, terminal at the Jetty port was more expensive !

Over the PA, it was announced that PAL flight was slightly delayed due to weather in Manila.  We boarded at 6pm.  I got a window seat and no seatmates !  If this was a long haul I would surely appreciated it, because I can lie down and sleep.  But it was not, so I just sat comfortably and read my book throughout the flight.

There was “snack” served, that is, a packet of blueberry cream cookies, roasted peanuts and choice of coffee, tea or water.  “Packet” by Philippine standards would mean 3 little cookies and half-palm a plenty of peanuts.

PAL pilots are known for the suave take-off and landing.  I can’t say enough, it was just, suave.  We arrived at NAIA 2 at 645pm.  I should not have checked-in my back pack as I had to wait for almost 30 minutes in the carousel.

It was difficult to hail a cab at NAIA 2 departure area as there was no taxi queue.  It was like hoping that a departing passenger on a cab halts in front of you so you can get the cab.  Thing is, one can get off at different bays, so which bay do you wait ?  I hesitantly took the airport taxi, fixed rate.  P990 for my area ! Darn.  But I can’t wait to get home so I took it.  Traffic at Edsa was horrible, the ride was for 1.5 hours and I arrive slightly before 9pm.

I unpacked the wet clothes, took a shower, changed into house clothes, had dinner, rested a bit, then slept.  For tomorrow is another work day.

(Btw, I used Sunplay SPF 130 and it surely worked.  No tan lines, very minimal skin darkening.  But I hope I get hold of a bedbug repellant somehow as I brought home about 45 bedbug bites all over my body.)





Shopaholic ?

Did you ever have that kind of feeling, when you are restless at work and cannot think straight because you want some new shoes?  When your officemates ask you what you want to have for dinner and you say, "shoes?"  

I just had that feeling yesterday.

If you have read the Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic books, you know what I am talking about and will perfectly understand what I was going through yesterday. Sigh.

How do you resolve such restlessness and unproductivity at work ?  Take a break  ! 

The mall is just 2 train stations away from work, just about 15 minutes travel time, very convenient.  So I took advantage of my 1 hour break and headed off to the mall. I had some shoe brands and styles in mind, but no particular pair that I want.  I went in and out several stores and finally found a pair I like.

A simple, black peep-toe  pair.  3-in heels, velvety with a ribbon, minus the Ferragamo etching.  I asked for my size (37), fitted and when it felt good, checked out.  Towing a carrier bag, I headed back to work via the train.  I got back just in time.

Restlessness cured. No need for Valium.

Back to work.

Shopping and me

May 15, 2011.
I started shopping again. 

Operative word, “again.”

Abstinence from shopping.

That was my sacrifice during the past Lenten season.

Aside from Starbucks.

So today I went shopping, not splurging.

I got myself new swimwear.

Getting ready for a Boracay trip.

I got myself a hoola hoop.

Getting ready for the same Boracay trip.

I got myself some lingerie.

Uhm, not necessarily for the Boracay trip.

How do I define shopping ?

A friend defines it as buying at least 3 items on the same day.

Someone else may define it as simply going to the mall and getting an item.

My personal definition of shopping is buying things which are not necessities.

So why is the new swimmear not a necessity?

If you have at least a dozen others in your closet, then it’s not.

How about the hoola hoop ?

It’s just a fancy.

And the lingerie ?

Uhm, similar to the first reason, there is probably 4 dozen pairs in the closet (at the very least).

When I got home, I tried on the new swimwear.

Damn, I looked good !

Tried the hoola hoop, in my new swimwear.

Damn, I looked better !

Shopping gives me a natural high.

Pacquiao Vs Mosley

Manny Pacquiao does it again, winning the bout by defeating Mosley by unanimous decision.  He surely is a Filipino icon, admired by every Filipino and uniting a so divided nation every time he has a bout.