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April 1-4, 2006 Saturday - Tuesday

Boracay

Boracay conjures imagery of polvoron-fine white sand, vibrant night life, bars, and an upscale crowd dining in beach-front restaurants. Well, that hasn't changed. It's Makati on the beach. It was even more so this time with the airline, Sea Air, hosting a party and flying in some of Manila's top models to walk the runway...by the beach - no bad seat on this one. Manila's best and finest were visible in the skimpiest of swimwear.

Explosive Growth
It's has been only a year since I'd been to Bora and the changes are already apparent. D' Mall now extends to the other side of the street. D' Palengke has been moved to a new location. It's orderly, clean, with prices to rival Manila. D' Talipapa is likewise at par with the rest with manicured stores and get this: clean washrooms that better some washrooms of Manila's trendy shops. Construction for more beach resorts is in full swing. More upscale restaurants line up the sandy 'boardwalk'. It would seem Bora is bursting at the seams.

Parao Ride
One of the few highlights was the parao (sailboat) ride. With no engine to shatter the tranquility of the calm sea, it was similar to gliding on ice with a skate...except it was hot and sunny. There is a netted area to lounge on while watching the sunset...just like in the movies.

Overheard
The night party was in full swing at the Parao Bar and everyone was loose and hammered. A few good fellas had more than they could hold...and laid across the sand barfing. It's all good. The beach cops were there but were cool about it. One guy who came alone now had his tongue stuck in some girl's mouth...no biggie here either. However, 2 girls were walking down the beach, apparently very hammered from the club and the conversation went like this: "Well, I told this guy I love him...and he smiled and said 'Thank you'. Why are guys like that?". Ha-ha. That's one for the books.

Nigi-Nigi Bar
Competition is stiff for tourism-money. Resort/bar owners know this and they put in the little extras to gain that competitive edge...good for us. One such bar is Nigi-Nigi. I like these guys. Happy hour is buy 1 - take 1, and a server was just walking around giving away free canapés. In Bora, everything costs an arm and a leg but this place is a class act. I didn't expect that. The operative word here is: unexpected. I left the place feeling good. Certainly, I'd go back there the next time. The cost of the little perks is a small step back, but my coming back to the place with my friends (and the fact I'm writing about it here) is leaps and bounds forward. And that's what it's all about. Very few business owners seem to realize that.

Provincial Shakedown
You know the place is racking up some serious money when a bigger cheese muscles-in on the action. Before, tourists take the boat ride back to Caticlan from any of the 3 boat piers conveniently spaced along the beach where most cottages are. It was a town thing. With Bora's explosive growth, the province did a shake-down so that all boat passengers leaving Bora will now have to spend additionally on a long tricycle ride to a port in Cagban for the ferry. Of course, this diverts the money along the many hands it passes through. What's in it for the tourist? They now have to load all their luggage on a tricycle and take that land trip before they can board the ferry instead of boarding the ferry a few steps away from their cottages. The message that comes across is this: 'You'll come back anyway if we gouge you...so we'll gouge you'.

Ending Thoughts
I'm not sure if I can get enough of Bora. Increasingly, this town is becoming a working city. Read: I can work and live here. Bora in on the brink of crass commercialization...but so far, it still works. The town still has its act together and the good vibe is still there. Unfortunately, this growth is coupled with the inevitable increase in the cost of living. Next you head out, leave the attitude, put the party hat on...and bring your wallet.

--- TheLoneRider