Happy Chinese New Year!!! And one place we never seem to be during this holiday to celebrate IS China! Its a good time to get away because the locals celebrate all week and set off fireworks all night long. The fireworks are nice at first, but it gets old after a while and the resulting smoke can really get thick in the city really raising the pollution index even worse.
No doubt we have found paradise in the Philippines as this is our second trip back to Boracay!
While it takes two plane rides, an hour and a half bus trip, a boat and a Tuk Tuk transfer (think rustic motorcycle side car) Never in the US! -- once you arrive on this small island -- the pain from the endless journey dissolves quickly as you sink you feet in the white sugar sand. With all of the amazing beaches we could explore on this side of the world, you know it has to be good for us to come back.
For an island that isn’t that far a flight away from Shanghai, it sure takes an all day adventure to get to. This is boat ride we take as the second to last leg of the journey. The 15 minute boat ride takes us to our destination island of Boracay.
Boracay is a tropical paradise that is an hour flight south of Manilla (about 4 hours plan ride from Shanghai) The crystal clear water and white beaches puts it on Forbes top 10 beaches in the world. You shed your shoes the moment you arrive as the sand starts at your front door!
Our youngest surfer girl is the first in her bathing suit and out the door. Last year she was still recovering from a broken ankle so it was great to see her fully healed and running at full speed. You can almost see her imaginary wings spread wide as she heads off running for the water. It didn’t take Ayden long to find someone to braid her hair. At dinner the first night, Ayden mysteriously disappeared. We spied her talking to a couple of local women with a small tent full of beads and threads set up near the restaurant… she came back with a skip asking for some cheap money. She came back 20 minutes later with a smile on her face and many braids in her hair. To see her negotiate and independently arrange this was awesome. Garrett never far was close by pacing the perimeter of the tent until she was done… she was in good hands.
We spent one day on a scavenger hunt which included a ride on a zip line overlooking the Western side of the island known around the world for it’s windsurfing and kite boarding. Garrett ever our adventurer loved the zip lining. He may be afraid of his own shadow sometimes but there is no thrill ride he will turn down.
Garrett loved the chance to hold this crocodile, but we decided to keep it quick with the mama crock close by...
One great thing about Boracay is the dive sites are very close to the resort and there is a dive shop on site. Fortunately Chris and I were able to get away for a few dives on our own. The kids were begging us to go so we put them in a class of their own. They can’t get certified until they turn 12, but we did find out that they LOVED it and plan to join us in our adventures in the future.
No doubt… the beach just brings out the best in everyone…
The kids got to pick out a gift for themselves and decided on a skim board. The flat beach was perfect for it and after a few bumps and bruises they managed to really pick it up and enjoy it. The adults quickly decided they were better off with volleyball and happy hour...
Let the adventures continue as we explore the world on the other side….
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