Our holiday at Boracay has come to an end. Today we had to leave. We got a ride by the hotel open minivan to the harbor. Someone came and picked up our bags before the car even came to a stop. Then, when we got onto the boat they wanted money for it, of course.

One of the people working at the hotel joined us all the way with the boat and the short trip from where we stranded with the boat to the airport. We gave him and the guy helping him carrying the bags some tip. Then we entered the airport.

Although the airport was small it was still kind of unorganized. First we had to pass a security check to get into the airport. Then check in. Then pay the airport fee. Then show the tickets and payed airport fee recites to get into the waiting hall. A hall for about 60-100 people for all gates (maybe 3 gates totally). Then the two different airline companies had their own loud speakers where they announced the flights. Usually at the same time so it was impossible to hear what they said.

Our flight was never called. And our departure time came and went. Finally I had enough of waiting and asked someone and they told me it was delayed. Eventually, about an hour late, we could board. First, out of the waiting hall and across the area where the planes are parked. Then up into the airplane, a small Fokker twin turbo prop.

After taxiing out on the runway the pilots set full throttle and waited to build up the turbine pressure I guess. Then they released the breaks and we were shot forward. I guess they have to do it like that because the runway was kind of short.

35 minutes later we landed in Manila. Took a coupon taxi to the Pan Pacific hotel. And got ready to go to a department store that Chie wanted to visit. We told the hotel limousine (its called like that even though it was an ordinary Toyota) driver where to go and off we went. To the wrong place. We found that out after we could not find the store Chie wanted to check. Unfortunately we had not enough time to go to the right department store so instead we went back to the hotel.

Almost at once we went to a Japanese restaurant in the same building as the hotel. It was great food, but of course not as great as in Japan. Still we enjoyed to eat it.

After dinner we went back to our room to repack our things and get ready for the departure the next day.

At 10 am we got picked up outside the hotel. Renz (or Lorenzo) at the hotel had arranged for his brother in law to take us on a boat trip around the island. His brother in law brought us down to boat station 1 at the beach. From there his brother took us out on his boat.

First stop was on Crystal island. Here we had a short walk from the beach to a cave were we could swim. After a cooling swim we continued our walk to another cave. The second cave could be entered by first wading through chest deep water and then crawl through a 10 meters long tunnel. We had another swim.

Then we had a walk back to the beach to get on the boat again. Then off to Crocodile island. Sounds scary, huh? But it is just the shape of it. It looks like a giant crocodile head in the water. We passed the island and anchored so that we could snorkel for a while. It was hard getting into the water since it was full of fishes everywhere. Some of them mistook me for fish food.

After we got tired from all the snorkeling we continued our boat trip to Puka-Shell beach. It was quite a long ride along the east side of the island. It was fun to watch.

We arrived at the Puka-Shell beach but entered the beach at the end. Far away from where we stayed earlier. We had something o drink and relaxed in the sand. Occasionally we went into the water to cool off. All along our boat crew stayed on the boat in the shadow. I believe that most Philippines think that we tourists are crazy. Because we stay in the hot sun when there is shadow available.

After spending an hour or so in the hot sun we entered the boat again and went back to White Sand beach. We thanked our boat crew and had a short walk from the boat station back to the Paradise Garden beach. It’s actually not our hotels beach, they just have a few sun chairs there and parasols. We relaxed and enjoyed our last day in Boracay.

Then we decided to go back to the pool at the hotel. I guess we wanted to enjoy all the things we have done in Boracay on our last day.

After spending time at the poolside we went back to our room and got ready for dinner. This last night we wanted to relive our first night so we went back to Aria again. We really like their food. We also wanted to say goodbye to all the friendly people there.