First Thoughts On Boracay

Landing at Caticlan Airport you realize quickly that you're on a tourist conveyor belt until you get to Boracay. On the way to the island you'll pay tricycle fees, boat fees, port fees and environmental fee for using the port; people will offer to help you find a hotel also, I'm sure this comes with a fee also but I opted to find my own. After the boat ride a second tricycle ride runs you up the center of the island and eventually to your destination, in my case this was Boat Station 2.

My initial thought about Boracay after moseying about my first day is that it's an extreme tourist trap, however a pleasant one. Just like Phan Thiet and Lung Prabang, as soon as you enter the city you're enveloped in a micro-economic cloud of tourism.  The main difference here is that you're on a island, so options become limited and prices are driven higher.

Aside from the touristy aspect of the island, my initial impression is that this is one of the more beautiful beach destinations I've been to. This is the rainy season here in the Philippines, however even when it started raining tonight, the beach still looked pretty spectacular in its clouded over state. I cant say the same for places like Nha Trang.

4 Pines Brewing Company

This weekend was another rainy one, despite the rain I managed to get back to Manly. My goal on this day was to try out 4 Pines Brewing Company which TNA recommended. After arriving on the fairy I found my way across the street and up the stairs into the venue, which is like a 50 yard walk from the ferry. It was packed inside and I was forced to steal a seat sandwiched between two couples. I went right ahead with the beer sampler to get a taste of the whole menu and ordered some pork belly to go along with. Of the beer I tried, the Irish Stout was the best, and Hefeweizen stood out out as my second favorite.

4 Pines from outside

Rainy Day at Manly

It was a rainy day which otherwise would have been spent on my computer or at the local bar, however I decided I would venture out anyway and take the ferry ride over to Manly. The place was pretty dead when I got there and my options for food were slim. The only thing opened that looked slightly appealing was this hole in the wall sea food restaurant inappropriately named Watervue. I got the calamari plus fish combo and this filled me up, nothing too special about this place really, well they at least serve beer.