By JOLEEN LUNJEW
http://thestar.com.my/

White sands, idyllic beaches, water sports and lots of sun – welcome to the island paradise of Boracay, the Philippines.

Just an hour’s flight south from Manila is the Philippine’s most popular tourist island, Boracay (Bo-ra-cai), a haven for beach bums looking for just about anything you can do under the sun.

Located in the Western Visayas province, Boracay is only about 9km long and 1km wide at its narrow midriff, but that doesn’t stop the little island from garnering a larger-than-life personality.

Part of its charm is due to the people. Filipinos are, after all, known to be among the world’s most friendly people. They go out of their way to ensure that your stay in their country is a pleasant one.

Mabuhay (ma-boo-hai), a traditional greeting used to say hello, goodbye, and welcome, is probably be the first word you will hear, and you will hear it often – from airport officials to taxi drivers to the folk out on the street.

Boracay really only started receiving visitors in the 70s, but since then, more than 300 resorts and hotels have been built on this once quiet island. Most visitors flock to White Beach, a 4km stretch of fine white sand, where all the action is. This sandy pedestrian highway is closed to all motorised vehicles, and it is almost compulsory to go barefoot here.

Popular resorts dot White Beach but there are other accommodations elsewhere if you want something different, like Fairways & Bluewater Resort Golf & Country Club on the other side of the island, where most golfers check in for a round on its18-hole course.

Some resorts, like the Sea Wind Boracay Resort, offer lovely candlelight dinners on their beach. The only thing missing is a violinist serenading the guests. Pray that the rain doesn’t interrupt your romantic affair!

I checked into the newly opened The Tides, a trendy boutique hotel located right in the heart of D’Mall, an outdoors pedestrian mall a few minutes’ walk to White Beach. The hotel uses clean, symmetrical lines to create a minimalist effect, and the quirky one-liners pasted here and there, such as abcdefg…zzzzzzz placed on the ceiling above the bed, add to its charm.

Keep a lookout for similar one-liners scattered throughout the hotel. It’s actually quite amusing to read.

D’Mall is a haven for shoppers with its rows and rows of small shops selling items like trinkets, clothing and even funky lighting. Its lanes are interlinked in a maze-like fashion, so that you never really know where D’Mall ends and where White Beach begins!

Sometimes you find yourself walking out towards the beach and going back in again to continue shopping.

I was quite surprised to discover that unlike similar markets in South-East Asia, D’Mall is not a place for bargain hunters. The prices on most items are fixed, but you could always try your luck, as there are shops that may give you a discount.

What I like about the whole area is that it is alive with activity no matter the time, whether day or night. You can choose to relax with drinks on beanbags strewn along the beach as talented musician serenade you, or you could dance the night away barefoot at the many open-air night outlets.

The live bands are also a favourite with tourists. The cafes open early, and I mean early – at the break of dawn (sunrise is about 5.30am), while the bars operate late into the night, usually closing just as the cafes are opening up for breakfast. You can party throughout the night and have a big hearty meal before retiring exhausted to your room, if you so desire.

During the day, peddlers roam the beaches selling their wares, and eager boat operators will approach beach strollers to entice them to sign up for a tour of the island, a romp on a banana boat, or just about anything you can do on, in and above water. Diving, snorkelling trips and island hopping are the most popular choices.

Despite the hive of activity, however, you can still find respite sunbathing on the fine soft sand or relaxing under a coconut tree with a good book in hand.

For those who have had enough of sand and sun, there are plenty of alternatives. Nothing beats the feeling of wind in your hair as you canter along the beach on the back of a horse with sea mist in your face. If you like engines, you can always opt for a bumpy ride on one of the many all-terrain vehicles and buggy rentals available.

There are several routes on the island but the most popular one is the one-hour ride up Mt Luho, from where you can take in the whole of Boracay Island and its surrounding neighbours.

Four days and three nights were not enough for me. Given a choice, I would have spent at least a week on this gorgeous island. But beggars can’t be choosers, and I guess it was enough to be able to catch a glimpse of Philippine’s treasured getaway island.

Mabuhay Boracay, till we meet again.

The trip was sponsored by the Department Of Tourism, Philippines. For more info, visit www.wowphilippines.com.ph.

To get to Boracay: Fly Malaysia Airlines or Philippine Airlines direct to Manila. Then take a two hour shuttle to Manila. From Manila, fly to Caticlan Airport via any of their domestic airlines.

Take a bus/tricycle from there to the boat pier. A 15-minute boat ride will take you to Boracay.

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