Paradise Unforseen in Pandan, Antique, Philippines

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines Part 2

2:00:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 2 Comments

So, you've successfully landed on arguably the best beach in the world. Tap on the back, my friend. Even if everyone is saying Boracay is overrated, it's nothing that'll come close to let's say Phuket or Krabi. Boracay is like a small kid who's wondering around in his pubescent youth. Searching for something, making friends, making out haha..


Where to go at night?
Boracay is a sleepless island - 24 hours there's something goin' on. You just have to know where the smoke is, fire must be burnin' yerp. There are a couple of bars/discotheques around stations 1-2-3. But mostly eateries/restaurants/cafes whatever you want to call it are sprouted across white beach. I let you in on a secret, walk. Walk around north to south, for sure you will find a spot you like. If you are the romantic, the quiet type or the party animal, there's a place for everyone. I want to suggest a couple of places i like. Sure there are new clubs opening every now and then, but these three are somewhat the places i highly recommend for any traveler because who wants to go to a party island with no soul in sight right? Have a drink, make friends, don't swim on the waters (or maybe you can) just close your eyes on exhibitionists in the beach if you're to find one.

Cocomangas

"To the official website of COCOMANGAS SHOOTER BAR. One of the first party bars on the island of Boracay,in the Philppines. Cocomangas Shooter Bar, est.1987, is now the oldest original running bar on the Island (22 years old and counting), and which many refer to as an institution on the island, and a trip to Boracay is not complete without a trip to Cocomangas Shooter Bar. Famous for it's "Still Standing After 15..." drinking challenge where customers drink 15 different shots of assorted booze , and if you're still standing, you receive one number for your country , a free t - shirt or jersey, and your name engraved on the bar's wall of fame. Do it for your country!!!

Cocomangas is also famous for Jam Jars , which are oversized cocktal jars containing potent mixes of alcohol. The best selling cocktail jars at Cocomangas are the Frozen Margarita's, Kamakazi's, Bailey's Shakes , Pinacolada's, Long Island Ice Tea's, and our original Jam Jar mix.If you're in the mood , try them all ... Also try the shakers which come in twenty different flavours and colors, all served with five shots of alcohol in every shaker at a reasonable price o$4.00 dollars(refill price) a shaker."

Juice Bar

Relatively new, but a sport place to go to where people are now flocking. As of late, my last trip to the beach, this is where the mad people go, house music, overflowing cocktails and beers, a nice spot to check out girls if you like them and guys if you like them. Quite a spot minutes away from station 2 central. Starts early, closes late or when there's still people drinking it depends.

And of course, Hey Jude

I like the place a lot. I've been going here since i can't remember when. It's a place where DJ's play really good house music, where waiters talk to you when you're traveling alone, where people cheers with you their drinks, where you can be crazy because it's free to do so, but mostly the ambiance is impeccable. There's something about the set-up that makes you feel at home, in a far-away tropical beach, there's Hey Jude. Vodka redbulls, rhum cockes, san miguel light. What is there not to like.

If you like Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand my friends.. this is like his little brother, a take out paradise with good vibes and awesome beats. Not much people, no twenty-thousand worshipers for the full moon party, no peeing punks on the beach, no fuck buckets, we have san miguel. Good clean fun. Mostly. And of course, the beach here is incomparable. If you're lucky enough to survive the night without passing out, try to wait for the sun to rise, the beach is c'est magnifique. Water is greener, sand is whiter, sky is bluer. And your face will light up because you know you've found paradise in the Philippines. 

For more information about Boracay and wanna' go there on your next backpacking trip, visit these sites so you have accurate information on what's going on in this lovely lovely little place. Or send a comment would be more than happy to help out. FOR NO FEE AT ALL. 

http://www.boracayisland.org/




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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines Part 1

9:00:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 0 Comments

Boracay Island is undoubtedly the number 1 tourist destination in the Philippines. Often called "the best beach in the world", Bora as familiarly called by local and foreigners lies in the pristine islands of Panay in the Visayan region. Boracay is an island in the province of Aklan. Friends of mine here and abroad always ask me where is the best place to go to in the country, i always say there are loads of places here the problem is do you have the time?

But number one on the list of must visit places in the Philippine Archipelago is Boracay.

How to get there:
Traveling is cheap in the country through Western standards so if you're a foreigner and want to go to this place, fly my friend. As of late, there are no direct flights going here from anywhere in Asia but from the capital city Manila.

From Manila to Boracay flying is best advised. You have two choices.

One: Manila to Kalibo
Two: Manila to Caticlan

Airline Companies in the Philippines en route to Boracay Island

Zest Air

As for me, never will i fly to Kalibo because it takes longer about two to three hours more drive to the jetty port as compared to Caticlan wherein, you count 1-100 and you're in the jetty port already.

UPDATED: With better service and more efficient transportation system, Kalibo has become a major gateway to Boracay.

Once you've arrived in Caticlan airport, you hire a tricycle/multicab for about P15-25 that's half cent a dollar you're in the jetty port. If you're traveling alone, you don't need to pay anymore tax just the boat ride. If you're traveling in group you just need to a few dollars. A foreign friend of mine i brought to Boracay asked "why do we have to pay separately lose changes, why can't we pay all just once?" I don't know.

A few years back, tourists, islanders, heck everyone is dropped off right at the white sand beach of Boracay now everyone is dropped off at the back of the island along the already paved roads. Wherein they hire another tricycle to get to anywhere in the three stations of Boracay, don't worry it takes less than 15 minutes.

Where to stay?

Station 1: This station is where big bets stay. Resorts and hotels here are far more expensive than in the other stations. The big names such as Fridays, Cocomangas, and the newly built Discovery Shores.

Station 2: This station is where i stay most of the time. There are loads of resorts to stay like Red Coconut and others. What's cool about this station is it's in the center of everything happening. There are lots of restaurants, eateries, D'mall is here, and of course for me still the number bar/club in Boracay "hey jude".

Station 3: This station is on the far south of the island, forgive me for the lack of a better term but this side is class C. A couple of inns, huts, hotels and resorts, frequented by locals, and their foreign boyfriends.

If you're like me who can go anywhere and doesn't care much, i strongly advise to visit those at the back of the beach. Some rooms offer cheaper because they're not located beach front as if 2 minutes walk is such a pain in the ass. As for me, i always stay in Seabird International Hotel, it's in station 2 at the back of Red Coconut hotel. I like the location because it's near the beach, near the now defunct "Hey Jude", near d'mall. So i can get drunk and not worry about long walks.

Photobucket


The last time i was in Boracay this year was May after my birthday, me and foreign friends stayed in this bed and breakfast inn called Lazy Dog, about P1000/night roughly around $10. Each room can accommodate two people but you can try to squeeze in one more person or just pay some charge for extra bed. There's air condition, cable television, clean bathrooms, sliding doors to get you to your mini veranda/terrace and with free breakfast. Oh, and those cute little heart shaped towels. 

It has a very nice atmosphere, with an outdoor veranda with couches and pillows. Nice lovely place to sit around, chill, eat breakfast, have a few cocktails. Mind you, Lazy Dog is located in the back of the white beach in Bulabog, about 5-10 minute walk going to station 2. But i like it a lot because it's more quiet, more cheap, more chilled-out. Oh, and the big cute dog of the owner playing around. When we were there, we were well-taken care of. Next time i go there, i'll probably stay in Lazy Dog again.

Where to eat?
I have to agree that food is quite expensive if you eat at those fancy looking restaurants with buffets and seafood galore. Try the back of d'mall where there bluefish, a couple of grillery, or you can go for fast food at Andoks, etc. A hearty meal shouldn't cost you more than $4. Walk around at night and try to scoot where the party is at. They tend to change, it depends. Some bars/clubs have events so more or less people are in there. As of late, there's Juice Bar, Cocomangas, and heaps of other drink out places. I happen to find my spot right in "Hey Jude" - friendly people, efficient bar tenders, awesome DJ's and an atmosphere you can't find anywhere else.

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines Part 2

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Top 25 Best Travel Anthems of All Time (2009 Edition)

7:30:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 5 Comments


Today, i have a special treat as i will write about music - the music in our iPods/mp3 players that we listen to during our travel trips. Be it on a skiing trip, a backpacking expedition, a trek to the mountains, or some fun time chilling' at the beach, indeed music and traveling really go together. They create a harmony of symphony - scenery and sounds. Now, i will share with you my Top Travel Anthems for 2009. Let's put it this way, in my opinion, these tracks have been tried and tested to make journeys more memorable and more exciting. Some may disagree as music is subjective. If you have these tracks, we have the same wavelength. If not, try to listen to it. So the next time you head to the great unknown, you can plug your iPod to iTunes, upload tracks to your monster player, and you can listen away.

STEP 1 - Download these tracks. STEP 2 - Upload it to your iPod. STEP 3 - Tell me what you think. 



1. Moby - Porcelain
The best music to listen to while riding the long tail boat to the islands south of Thailand.



2. Chicane - No Ordinary Morning
The best music to listen in KL when you miss your girlfriend/boyfriend back home.



3. Bliss - Kissing
The best music to listen to, holding hands at a cocktail sunset by the beach in Singapore.



4. Bob Sinclair - Sound of Freedom
The best music to listen to before the party starts in Koh Phangan, Thailand.



5.Republica - Ready To Go
The best music to listen to before heading to the aiport for your great journey in Asia.



6. The Killers - Mr. Brightside
The best music to listen to and sing when you're drunk in Hong Kong.



7. Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier
The best music to listen to when you're "happy" in the mountain. 



8. M.I.A - Bamboo Banga
The best music to listen to while you're trekking to the hill tribes in Northern Thailand.



9.   Fools Garden - Lemon Tree
The best music to sing in a karaoke/videoke somewhere unexpected in Malate, Manila.



10. Dario G. - Voices
The best music to listen to when you're on the boat leaving the islands in Koh Phi Phi.



11. Jean Elan - Where's your head at?
The best Koh Pha Ngan Party Anthem at 7AM Sunrise.



12. Estelle - American Boy
The best party tune at a club in Shanghai.



13.LMFAO Ft. Pitbull - I'm in Miami Trick
The best music to listen to when you're out dancing with a hot chick in Saigon.



14. Bjork - New World
The best music to listen to when you're on top of a mountain writing your journal.



15. Young Joc - It's Going Gown
The best music to listen to walking around South East Asia, cocky farang!



16. Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA
The best music to listen to landing in LAX.



17. Moby - Slipping Away (Crier Le Vie)
The best music to listen to while looking at the photos of your trip. Hold your tears!



18. Chris Botti - The Look of Love
The best music to listen to at night in bed. Hands down, the sexiest track ever.




19. Beatles - Happy Together
The best music to listen to while you're legs are hurting from the long walks. 



20. Nalin and Kane - Just Cruising
The best music to listen in the morning looking over the Visayan sea from your balcony.



21.Global Deejays - California Dreaming
The best music to listen to on the first night of your backpacking expedition.



22. Alejandro de Pinedo - Sex on the Beach
The best music to listen to while drinking sex on the beach in Boracay.



23. Dido - Here with me (Remix)
The best music to listen to when missing your girlfriend/boyfriend in Guimaras.



24. The Killers - Somebody Told Me
The best music to listen to while on a road trip cross country in sunny Australia.



25. Robert Miles - One on One
The best music to listen to on the plane back home. Shit. My all time favorite track. This song is forever.

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