Days In Bora

Day 1 

On the way to the airport after just an hour of sleep. Grace and Henry are probably silently cursing at me. I assume both are paranoid that we won't make the flight (Flight's at 7:30 AM. It's still 5:15AM). As if I haven't been there before. Okay, we're now in the airport. Saw Ma'am Anne who is also on vacation. First time I've been back in the airport since 2009. Nothing's changed, though. Liftoff. Tried a variety of things to pass time. Read a book (but stopped because I was too sleepy. Read the inflight magazine (same thing). Settled for taking a nap. Touchdown. Iloilo. Went to the dormitory to freshen up. Deposited our luggage. Rested for awhile. Time to stroll. Breakfast at Andok's (Just like Manila eh?). Picture taking at the nearby plaza and church. Went back to the dorm to catch some more sleep. On the way to SM Iloilo. Brought with us our pasalubong for Ma'am Miren. Lunch at Punsyon based in Plazuela. First oyster (talaba) experience. Off to the Business Center. Nice office. Better than Davao's, I believe. Greeted Ma'am Miren. Had a chitchat with Sarah, their marketing assistant for Housing, over a possible collaboration on a TQ project I had in mind. Whiled away the time. Being introduced to the Operations Team. Having coffee at Coffeebreak, waiting for Ma'am Miren after office hours. Dinner with the rest of the BC team at Y2K. More oysters. Then drinking session at Lanai in Smallville. with the BC team. Then off to Aura for some music. At near dawn, we're busy sipping batchoy at Ted's. Off to the dorm once again for some shuteye. 

Day 2 

Couldn't sleep still. Woke up a shade before 3 AM. Tried waking up everyone. At 5 AM, in a van on the way to Kalibo. Almost slept through the whole trip. Breakfast at Jollibee's then it's off to Caticlan. On a boat bound for Boracay. This is it. Upon reaching the island, we went straight to B & B. Tried to recover lost sleep but had to wake up for lunch. Strolled down White Beach, gawking at the many shops and restaurants lined across the shoreline. Lunch at Mang Inasal (Grrgghh. We're here to sample food! Not visit the same restaurants you can see in Davao!). Observing Sir Ramy negotiate our rides. Off to the other side of the town. Now the sky is weeping. Great, sunburn won't be a problem. First speedboat experience. First helmet diving/reef walking experience. Nice. Couldn't wipe off my smile for the whole duration of the dive. Back to the island. A brief swim, sampling Bora's beach. Many people, despite this being the off-peak season. On to B& B for a shower. Dinner at Andok's (Aarrghghgh!). A night spent watching MYX, Bubble Gang, etc. Zzzz... 

Day 3 

Woke up early again, this time for our island hopping trip. Boatman gave us a roundabout of the nearby island before settling in on a dive spot. Then, we're off to Boca Beach, which is more pristine by the way compared to White Beach. Early lunch at a nearby restaurant. Back to civilization, after a morning of island/s touring. Onwards to riding the ATVs. Fun ride, although the guide could have given us a bit of leeway (like allowing us to overtake and do other things with the ATVs). Then another swim, this time our last. Off to shower. Took awhile since there were now seven of us for the only bathroom in our room, having checked out of our first room early that morning. Last stroll along White Beach. Had a henna tattoo, which spelled "Life" in Kanji (or so they tell me). Buffet dinner at a nearby hotel. 

Day 4

Early again for our boat ride back to Caticlan. Breakfast at a karinderya near the wharf (nice food). Then, the long trip to Iloilo. Had to stop somewhere because Sir Ramy had an emergency. Back to dorm. Slept again. Then off to church for my first Ilonggo mass. Proceeded to SM to meet up with the rest of the gang. Really late lunch/Dinner at Ocean City. Last stroll at Smallville. Listening to live music at Pirates. Back to dorm. 

Day 5

Early at the airport. Breakfast at the airport lounge. Boarding for Davao City. Met clients Sir Rommel and Ma'am Cindy, now a freshly minted couple. Visited Davao BC to drop off our pasalubong. On a trip back home with Henry and Anton. Bora trip officially over.