Philippine Travel Notes

Party like there's no tomorrow! Aherm... I would have said that years ago, for in fact that was what I would usually do. Years ago haha! But I guess this thing does not even have to do with age. It's more on the "sawa factor" - meaning you have had enough! Kind of a 'the-same-old-nightlife-on-the-island-fatigue'! It is true. I'm not bragging! Don't get me wrong.., there are too many nightlife options on the island, sometimes even too many of the same. But if you've been visiting at say 2X or 3X a year, at times even 4X or 5X (kasal dito, birthday doon, team building nanaman, and relatives na nagpapasama), it becomes harder to find excitement! Not that I've literally been to all those places. But for me (I think for many of us) Boracay Nights does fall under the "law of diminishing returns" reality! Sorry po, estudyante ako ni Kumareng Winnie nyo! Anyway, since it now appears to be my 'responsibility' to keep telli...

It is common among Boracay visitors that they "explore" the evening & night scene, especially during their first night upon arrival on the island. Right? Same with us, even if it's our nth time being around! There is always a plethora of dinner options, that you can openly say no two nights are ever the same . And that includes unexpected or accidental choices (it happened to us) but w/ no regrets whatsoever. Here was the plan: After the sunset watch, that we did at Villa De Oro, we headed back to Astoria Current, supposedly to change into our "dinner wear" and hit the beach again. Well yes, this friend is 'outfit concious', though I find it fun 'abiding' by his kind of social etiquette hehe! Iba ang suot each time we sit on a table. Da! Anyway, the plan was... hit a real restaurant first (for dinner), and then hop among as many bars as we could, for drinks and music! We and other friends usually do that. A drink or 2 at a bar then ...

Sunsets are one of the best times to laze-around on Boracay's White Beach, and that was incidentally where we were! But we just checked-in past 4PM and were not yet in our beach garbs, said the friend! True! We just threw our bags to our beds and rushed out of Astoria (as I demanded so), to once again witness the golden sunset of Boracay. The protesting friend wanted to "change first", I said "no need"! We have both been on this island a number of times, and we like to sit & chill during sunset. The only big difference is: this friend likes to "see and be seen", while I want to "see and be unnoticed". Ganun! He associates chilling on the beach with being 'outfitted', or should I say 'dressed down' in expensive sosyalin beach wearables. I said no need for that, so we walked on clothes we trvelled in: naka-jeans! At least we kicked the shoes away and wore "sinelas". The friend said "okay lang naka-m...

After the meetup with a friend at a nearby mall, going back to my hotel, Taipei 101 was along the way. I was walking to that end (after those people) where the stairs down to MRT Station R03 are located. But I asked my self "why not check out the evening views of Taipei". Okay. I did. Just like that hahaha! The easiest way to the observatory - enter the mall then take the escalators to the 5F ticket counters. You can roam the 5th floor before or after the observatory. This is, after all, still part of the mall! I noticed this part of the mall sell very high-end Taiwan products. Souvenirs yes, but the prices, OMG! But if you're like me, wala pambili ng souvenir, and want to get ahead of the crowds, fall-in-line agad! That's their way of ensuring that all who go up are ticketed - since there's no more checking up there! There's always a line of folks waiting for the elevator. It could get crowded and chaotic at peak hours. Note that ther...