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.

 

 

 

 

 

It is what they call a ~ Luau Baby Shower!

 

 

What is a more beautiful theme to celebrate a coming baby girl, but through some SEXY hula party... Luau is just so festive, colorful and really girlie!!!

 

                         So when I hosted a baby shower for my sister, who is having a princess :D, a Luau Party was a homerun.

    

You can't have a luau party without leis. 
I got these on line for P35 a piece. 
I bought 20 and the seller gave me 5 wrist leis for free.

 

I went on art attack mode and made these Hawaiian paper flowers,
we copied from the internet to decorate the house.

Cutee Hawaiian Girl standee...

Give-aways were personalized sandal key chains and phone accessories from Boracay.

A big hit among the guests, is this tarp of Hawaiian lovers dancing :P 
(That's my preggy sister - at the sexiest she can get and her husband). The guests were giggling the whole time while taking pictures.  

 

 

The sweets bar - not very Tiki-Tiki though!

 

 

For activities, we had:

(1) Hula dancing (this was so much fun, everyone was up on their feet swaying their hips and all - funny watching a pregnant woman dancing hula!)

 

(2) DIY luau diapers (funny but weird!)



(3) Beer "bottle" drinking contest  (It was a lot harder than you think)!

 



 

 

(4) Smell my nappies (We poured various cooking condiments into baby diapers. We blindfolded the players and asked them to name the condiments used) - really yucky...

We feasted on seafood pasta, pork bbq, fruit salad, fresh lumpia, nachos and dips - and crabs :P 

 

I made Hawaiian punch from pineapple juice, raspberry mix and 7up and placed wines at the side, for those who wants to amp up their drinks.



 

For dessert we served a customized cake (I stole the idea from the internet and asked a friend to do it for me) ~ preggy lady in coconut bra and grass skirt (do you see the baby footprint sticking out her tummy?) 

So cute!  But it felt a little weird slicing the first piece.... 

 

 

My tired sister with her loot!!! 

Thanks for coming!  XOXO Ayla...

If you want affordable customized delicious cakes and cupcakes I recommend Toy Cakes (toycakes@facebook.com). 

For Hawaiian themed party leis you can not go wrong with Hawaiian Leis and Costume Philippines (shaneshawaiianlei@facebook.com).

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

The "Momo Cafe" Experience

What was a supposedly Banapple lunch, turned out to be an unexpected trip to Momo Café.  Banapple was as always full house and the Momo Café's half empty seating and inviting ambiance lured me and my lunch buddy-husband to Momo.

 

The restaurant is classy and hip, with prices a little upscale for most Juans, although for the serving sizes and food quality, I think pricing is just right. 

 

Momo serves international dishes ~ which all seems delicious based on the menu...

 

 

We were served garlic bread with special pimiento dip while we wait for our orders.

 

We ordered, melted crab and spinach 3 cheese dips for starters, followed by slow roasted herbs US roast beef fingers.  Love them both!  Writing this blog, makes me want to go back!!!

 



The crab, spinach and cheese dip was simply divine. I can't believe it has spinach in it (even my boys will love this concoction) .  Their roast beef fingers melts in my mouth - just heavenly. 

 

We finished with a dessert called "Milo and Mamon MMMmmmm Good", for obvious reasons.  Never knew before that your regular mamon, topped with whipped cream, condensada and Milo could taste this good. 

VERDICT:  Thumbs up!  Good place for a date with your special someone (buti nalang full house and Banapple  :P)!!!