D'Mall's Boracay

D'Mall is  Boracay Island's tourist trap. D'Mall strip is laden with shops selling all sorts of beach stuffs you can think off (but beware that prices here are quite steep compared to Boracay's D'Talipapa)

 

 

If you are going pasalubong shopping, I suggest you skip D'Mall and head straight to D'Talipapa.  There are more choices there at half the price. 

Wiling-Wili sa Willy's Rock

My 5 year old calls it, a "huge rock - with trees".

We were quite fascinated with this unique rock formation found 30+ meters away from the beach front.   You literally would have to wade across into a waist deep water to reach Willy's Rock.  It was quite fun really and my boys were giggling as we made our way towards the rock.

Water was just about hip deep and there were plenty of small fishes swimming around Willy's Rock.  My boys were excited they finally got to use their snorkels and play freely around the rock (water was the calmest ever...).  "Sayang" we should have bought bread for fish feeding with us.

Best time to go there is in the morning, while there are still few people. It can get pretty crowded mid-day and late afternoon. 

Buggy Adventure

 

The boys so enjoyed this thrill ride! 

It was really fun and a good treasure moment to look back to when they are older.

 

I can still hear the kids - shrieking from too much laughing...

 

 

CAUTION: The drive up Mt. Luho could be a little tricky as there are steep curbs and other vehicles driving along the ATV/buggy trail, so please be careful!

 

 

Boracay Beach Club

The decision to stay at Boracay Beach Club (BBC) was primarily influenced by the high ratings I have read about BBC on the net.

As we were travelling with kids, the hotel were are to stay in needs to be accessible, secured and children's friendly. I saw just that at BBC. 

• BBC is located at Station I (meaning less crowd and more of the tranquil Boracay experience that we have been dreaming...)
• The hotel is not beach front, which was away from the rowdy night crowd, perfect for peaceful night sleep especially for the kids. 
• However, it does have a beach front restaurant "Ariel's Pub" which gives you a spectacular view of the beach. 
• Breakfast that come with the room package were very good (hefty serving and complete meals). 
• The hotel has a pool, perfect for after beach dip.  Water was warm and we have it mostly to ourselves for the duration of our stay there.
• We got family rooms at the ground floor (since we wanted direct pool access). The room we stayed in was basic, but clean and spotless.
• The hotel owner is very hospitable, she made us feel so much at home.
• Staff were also great (really friendly and accommodating). 

 We enjoyed every bit of our stay in BBC. 

It is as they say, "Your Home Away from Home".

Boracay Beach Club
Malay, Aklan, Philippines 5608

Phone: +63.36.288.6770 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting

Fax: +63.36.288.4854

boracaybeachclub@gmail.com

Boracay - Last Summer 2013 Hooray!!!

I am ashamed to admit that I have not set foot in Boracay - I simply shun away from Boracay small talks. So when the chance finally came ~  I never thought twice and booked my family airplane tickets to this esteemed piece of paradise.

Day 1 (Friday)

• 1pm - Arrived at Kalibo Airport - We took Zest Air (Our first time and our LAST ~ bad-bad-bad experience. A 7am flight turned into an 11am flight, with no reason!  The kids were already irritable and tired by the time we boarded.) from Manila via Kalibo.
• 4pm - Arrived at Caticlan (We have pre-arranged our transfers from Kalibo to Caticlan through the hotel.  I found out after that it is cheaper, if you arrange transfers on your own, however, this could be troublesome especially if you have kids travelling along, so we opted for the hassle free transfers)
• 4pm - So tired and hungry, we finally reached our destination. Our home in Boracay "Boracay Beach Club (BBC), Station 1". The owner was there to greet us. She was so nice and felt sorry for our uneventful journey.  She offered us cold towels and complimentary merienda.  It was really nice of her.
• 5pm - White Beach walk 
• 6pm - Dinner at Red Coconut, Station 2  
• 7pm - D' Mall for some pasalubong window shopping (prices here is quite touristy, suggest you go to the D' Talipapa for better bargains). While there, we munched on real yummy crepes from Crazy Crepes.   
• 8pm - Budget Mart to get some supplies (mineral water, etc. for the kids)  
• 9pm - Back to base (big day tomorrow) 

Day 2 (Saturday)

• 630am - Breakfast at Ariel's Pub (Breakfast was hefty and very filling)
• 7am - White Beach walk ritual (We enjoyed the morning walks better.  People are mostly still asleep from the previous night's partying. The crowd tends to come in, mid-day to late afternoon and the beach stretch almost impossible to navigate night time).
• 9am - Island Hopping (Went to Giligiligan Beach and Puka Beach - we enjoyed Giligiligan more as it was secluded and simply serene!)
• 11am - Back to base to freshen up
• 12nn - Jonah's Fruitshake (I had to try and taste for myself)
• 1230pm - Aqua Fresh Paluto - D' Talipapa for lunch (There goes my diet...)
• 2pm -  More shopping at D' Talipapa (it is a whole lot cheaper to buy your pasalubong here - nice buys include: shell paper weights, Boracay shirts and beach dresses)
• 3pm - Buggy trek to Mt. Luho (This was a real thrill for my boys.  I was, however, a little disappointed to see piles of trash dumped on the side of the trail). 
• 5pm - Back to base to freshen up
• 7pm - Dinner at Aria Cucina at D' Mall
• 8pm - Walk back to BBC via White Beach
• 9pm - Coffee at the BBC Restaurant (We were meaning to go to Real Coffee to try the much raved "calamansi muffin", but it was already closed when we got there - so sad...)
• 10pm - Off to dreamland (Zzzzzzzz...)

Day 3 (Sunday)

• 7am - Breakfast at Ariel's Pub (again...)
• 830am - Willy's Rock
• 10am - Back to hotel (ready our baggage for a 4pm flight)
• 11am - Lunch at BBC Restaurant
• 12nn - Off to Kalibo
• 4pm - An unbelievable on time flight via Zest out of Kalibo back to Manila

View from the Top (Mt. Luho View Point)

 

Mt. Luho is the highest point in Boracay.

It gives you a 360degrees view of the entire island.

 

We made the climb using rented car buggys and paid extra to enter the view point.

 

The vista from above was sure worth the extra pesos...

View from the top ~ simply breath-taking!!!

 

 

 

 

Red Coconut Boracay

Boracay's White Beach stretch is actually a stroll along numerous resorts, hotels and restaurants.  Deciding where to eat was simply nerve racking.

 

For our first night in Boracay, we gave Red Coconut (I was looking for red coconuts or slightest hints why the name Red Coconut, didn't find any) a try.

 

Red Coconut is located at the beach front of Station 2 and is just a few steps away D'Mall.

 

 

Red Coconut's facade...

The bar. Too bad we never got to try it  -
with kids, our drinks are mostly limited to water and shakes :P

My boys had strawberry and choco-banana shakes. 

Both were spot on, up to the last drop! 

 

We ordered fish and chips (which my youngest wouldn't share) and spiced sea food viand (it was very tasty, what a shame I can't remember what it is called...)

My family love Red Coconut, I don't mind going back and tasting their other dishes. 

I have read, they also serve superb oven-baked pizza.

 

For certain there is going to be a next time.

OMJ (Oh my JONAH's)

Oh, I was so excited to see the well reviewed "Jonah's" fruitshake.  I was so thrilled when I walked in to get my first famous Banana-Peanut Shake.

 

I was a little worried to see, that they serve their shakes in take-out plastic bottles.  Hmm, so much for going green...

 

 

My order was a little too sweet for my taste. 

Maybe I should have just ordered a less fancy fruit shake, maybe then I would have enjoyed it more.

 

VERDICT: Just average!

 

I have honestly tasted better shakes... elsewhere... (Red Coconut's Banana-Peanut was way so much better. We also tried their Strawberry, worth every penny.)

 

Haiz, I passed on my half-finished bottle to my hubby and went our way.

 

 

 

 

 

Aqua Fresh - Paluto Restaurant

Two words for Aqua Fresh Boracay: Fresh and Deliciously Sinful (Opps I guess that's three words already)!

 

Hubby ordered buttered lobster, grilled shrimp and tempura... a little much for two adults really!  But we manage to finish everything (takaw max!)

 

I can just imagine how much calories there is... 

 

 

 

 

Aqua Fresh has a branch at

Boracay D' Talipapa, Station 2

Tel. No. 2881636

Giligiligan Beach

 

 

We reached Giligiligan Beach via an Island Hopping tour we

commissioned.  There were very few people in Giligiligan in contrast to the White Beach and Puca Beach, which were loaded with tourists (locals and foreigners). 

 

We were happy we were the only ones around.  Sand was a little bit rough, but that was okay in exchange for some peace and quiet.

 

Now this is paradise - serene, calm and peaceful!

 

water was warm and very inviting

 

 

There were about 2-3 restaurants in Giligiligan where you can feast on seafoods by "paluto".  We just had our breakfast and were not really hungry so we just had fruit shakes...

see nobody is here...

just our banca - all alone :D

my son enjoying the feel of warm sand under his feet

We love Giligiligan!

This beach was all ours!

Island Hopping in Boracay

 

 

Island hopping (Actually, since we were touring just one island -Boracay, the correct term really, should be: Beach Hopping.) was obviously the best way to see Boracay.  For only P1500-P2000 (depending on how good you haggle) you can get a small boat that fits 4-5 people and go on beach hopping.

 

 

D' Pacman Boracay Mansion (very impressive)!

Coconut ("Buko") costs about P100 bucks along the White Beach. 
Hubby got his from a hawker on a row boat at 3 for P100 (still expensive considering you can get it for a little over P20 in Manila, but somehow, on a banca, buko juice seems to taste better :P).

My son loving the view...

Lovely-lovely sight!

Breath taking...

The seawind has a very calming effect...

My youngest wants to try snorkeling and fish feeding...

 

The entire tour included snorkeling and visits to 2 beaches (Giligiligan and Puca) and lasted for a little under 3 hours.  

 

After snorkeling and fish feeding, we were taken to the first beach on our list:

 

Giligiligan is secluded.  We had the entire beach to ourselves ~ it was just us and the beach (pure serenity). Water was calm and crystal clear, although sand here was slightly rough compared to the White Beach.  My boys enjoyed Giligiligan - away from the noisy and crowded White Beach.

 

  The second beach Puca we went to was a haven for pasalubong shoppers.  The boys didn't like it here, but I did... I had so much fun checking the shops. And ended P1500 poorer and about a pound or so heavier (pasalubong on hand).  Goods are cheaper here in Puca compared to D'Mall, but a little higher compared to D'Talipapa. 

 

 

Please see my related blogs on Giligiligan Beach and Puca Beach.

  

Aria Cucina Italia D'Mall Boracay

I was here with my boys for dinner.  I guess I just had to see and "taste" for myself what so many others have been raving about.

 

I was with real hungry boys and ended up ordering Aria pizza, Rissotto allo Scoglio (seafood risotto), carbonara (which was my kids' favorite pasta dish and recently a staple order whenever we eat Italian), mozzarella sticks and tropical shakes.

 

Price was quite touristy, but I expected that already. Ambience when you walk-in was expensive and there were only a handful of guests (mostly foreigners) inside - so you really chillax, while you wait for your order.

 

Food quality was good and we enjoyed our meal! 

 

I loved my seafood risotto the most

(keeping the dish mostly to my side of the table - "takaw"). 

It was very tasty.

 

The boys finished everything and with just enough space left for dessert. 

 

Oh yeah!  This kid is HUNGGGRY!!!

 

 

If you have a couple of bucks to splurge,  try Aria Cucina Italia.

 

Aria Cucina Italiana is located at

busy D'Mall, Boracay (036) 288-6223 

 



White Beach Boracay

We were truly impressed with Boracay's white beach. My boys spent hours strolling and frolicking along Boracay's shorelines!  

Unfortunately Boracay White Beach gets a bit crowded midday, late afternoon until late night.  If you want to enjoy the White Beach, I suggest you go there early morning while the rest of Boracay still sleeps.