My Love Affair with Boracay

My love affair with Boracay is a "love and hate" relationship. But mostly.... LOVE.

I would like to chronicle all my trips in one post. This could serve as a guide or as a source of entertainment that will make you laugh or cry.

1st March 2, 2010

Prequel: Boracay... It Was not LOVE at first sight.

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2015/05/prequel-boracay-it-was-not-love-at.html

I had very high expectations when I first visited the island.

Hotel: Beachcomber

2nd August 27, 2010

Boracay Birthday Weekend Parts 1 and 2

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2010/08/boracay-birthday-weekend-day-1.html

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2010/08/boracay-birthday-weekend-part-2.html

My Ate and I went to Boracay, it was her birthday treat to me. I had a wardrobe malfunction! Several times!

Hahahaha!

Whenever a huge wave would crash towards the shore, my tankini bottom would roll down to my knees and my takini top would roll up to my chin!

Hotel: Seawind

This was when I started loving Boracay.

3rd December 8, 2010

Early Christmas in Boracay

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2010/12/early-christmas-in-boracay.html

This trip was my Christmas gift to myself.

Hotel: Hey!Jude

4th March 3, 2011

Boracay... The surprise... And the degree of happiness

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2011/03/boracay-journey-surprise-and-degree-of.html

Celina was my surprise! She just came home from Canada.

Hotel: Boracay Beach Resort

5th March 30, 2011

Boracay Again

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2011/04/boracay-again.html

Mimi and Sam invited me to join them in Boracay because it was their first time.

Hotel: Astoria

6th June 2, 2011

Boracay... My Happy Place

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2011/06/boracay-my-happy-place.html

It was Mona's first time in Boracay.

We met up with our travel buddies, Cristina, Miko and Jodie with their families.

Hotel: Boracay Haven

7th August 27, 2011

Happy Birthday Lia.... In Boracay!

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2011/08/happy-birthday-lia-in-boracay.html

Another year older, another birthday treat by Ate.

It was this time when I injured my back because I was silly and played in the ocean while the huge waves crashed against my back. I had to undergo physical therapy for several weeks.

Hotel: Two Seasons

8th November 12, 2011

Boracay! Yay!

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2011/11/boracay-yay.html

Celina and Mona were my travel companions.

Hotel: Willy's Beach Club

9th February 2, 2012

Boracay with Lisa

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/02/boracay-with-lisa.html

My BFF is home from the U.S.!

Beautiful shot of the sunset.

Hotel: Willy's Beach Club

10th March 12, 2012

Boracay... My Alternate Reality

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/03/boracay-my-alternate-reality.html

Celina, Mona, Mimi and David were with me.

Hotel: Milfores

11th May 31, 2012

Boracay with Kids

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/06/boracay-with-kids.html

Finally! My dream was to be with my nieces in Boracay!

I was going to wait until they are 18, but it happened several years in advance!

My Ate and her family invited Sophie and I to join them for a holiday.

Hotel: Ambassador in Paradise

12th June 5, 2012

Happiness... Boracay Part 1

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/06/happiness-boracay-part-1.html

I only had a few days, less than a week, to have my vacation clothes washed because I was off to Boracay again!

I went with the Avancenas! Tita Cena, Corry and Mona.

Hotel: Willy's Beach Club

Happiness ... At Discovery Shores Part 2

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/06/happiness-at-discovery-shores-boracay.html

The hotel stay was Corry's treat!

My dream came true! Again!

Every time I would go to Boracay, I would always look at Discovery Shores longingly, wondering when will I be able to stay there.

So.... No more dreaming!

Hotel: Discovery Shores

13th November 11, 2012

Boracay the 13th

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2012/11/boracay-13th.html

I met a newly married couple at Mama's Austrian restaurant owned by Marcus. The woman is a reader of Lia's Food Journey.

I felt I was "jinxed" because it was my 13th visit.

I was so sad when I left the island because I did not feel the "spark" anymore.

The photograph below captured the emotion I was feeling back then.

Hotel: Hey!Jude

14th June 8, 2014

My Boracay Food Trip

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-boracay-food-journey.html

After a year and a half, I was back!

The highlight of my trip was the pizza at Two Seasons Hotel, Shrimp with Brie and Goat's Cheese Pizza.

I also loved my hotel because when I opened the sliding door, the beach was just a few feet away!

Hotel: Watercolor Divers Beach Resort

15th March 24, 2015

Happy Days in Boracay with Pinky

http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2015/03/happy-days-in-boracay-with-pinky.html

I invited myself to join Pinky in Boracay! She also loves the island.

We tried several new restaurants.

We met up with a balikbayan classmate, Ems, who is now residing in Australia.

Hotel: Astoria

Whew!!!!

15 times in 5 years! It really goes to show how much I love Boracay.

I am just enjoying the island while I still can.

Soon, it will be overcrowded already and I shudder in revulsion whenever I think about how the government will be able to preserve its natural beauty.

I am excited because I am going back to Boracay again with Pinky and this time with Dodai as well!

Hahahahaha I do not feel a "forever after" anymore with Boracay.

Relationship status with Boracay: Friends with Benefits!

I just plan to savor each moment while it lasts.

 

 

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Prequel: Boracay.... It was not LOVE at first sight.

My very first trip to Boracay was March 2, 2010.

Just a few weeks shy of starting my blog last March 29, 2010. I feel that I have to write a short prequel so all my trips are chronicled.

I remember my flight going to Boracay was via Caticlan. I was so scared because the turbo prop was as small as a bus! I could hear all the parts rattling! I was "white knuckling" it all the way.

Then when we were about to land, I thought all the screws of the plane would become loose!!!

We were flying so low, so near the ocean! I was not prepared for the landing! When the plane hit its brakes, my purse was thrown towards the cockpit!

Hahaha that was for being a Newbie.

I was a little apprehensive about the banca ride but I got to my destination.

The hotel I booked online was Beachcomer. It was right beside Jony's.

My very first glimpsed of the beach was such a nightmare!!!! The water was emerald green!

I thought to myself.... What happened to the beautiful azure waters of Boracay?!?

I was expecting the waters to be crystal clear and blue!

Then, I learned about the sad truth of the algae.

I did my online research where to eat in Boracay.

I had my very first lunch at Aria.

I ordered the pizza. It was a "must try".

Did I mention it was so hot?!?! Extremely hot? I already applied sunblock because back then I did not want to get dark.

I really cannot recall much anymore.

Just that I was so disappointed because my expectations were too high.

But did it stop me from going back to the island of Boracay?!?

From then on end.... The rest is what they call, history.

 

 

 

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Blanched Vegetables with Oyster Sauce and Fried Shallots

My favorite vegetable dish these days is Blanched Vegetables with Oyster Sauce and Fried Shallots.

You can use any green leafy vegetables or even broccoli florets.

But today I used broccoli leaves.

Fry the sliced shallots in oil over low heat until golden brown. Set aside the oil.

Blanch the leaves in boiling water with 1 t. salt and onion oil for 2 minutes.

Put on a serving plate. Pour the sauce and garnish with fried shallots.

Sauce:

2 T. Pantai Oyster Sauce

1 t. Sugar

1/2 t. Sesame oil

Mix all ingredients of the sauce in a bowl.

 

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Harold and Koumar

Harold and Koumar..... This sounds like a title of a reality show!

Well, THEY could have a show of their own! These two are such characters!

They are Dodai's rescue dogs who came all the way from Florida, USA!

Harold is the shorter one... A mix of Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua.

Koumar is the Kuya. A poodle mix.

They just transferred to their new digs! The dogs love the new place because of the abundance of sunlight.

Their favorite activity is sunbathing.

I baked Cinnamon Rolls for my childhood friends, Dodai and Eileen.

I was going crazy because of the aroma of the bread in the oven!!!! I could not eat it because I am doing LCHF - low carb high fat diet now.

Even Koumar could not stop taking his eyes off of the cinnamon rolls.

He would just stare at it longingly.

It did not help that Eileen

And Dodai were enjoying the rolls in front of Koumar!

Hahahahahaha! Poor guy! He was even giving Eileen "beautiful eyes"!

But to no avail!

I love these two creatures!!! I hope to see them again when Dodai gets back from her mini vacation in the U.S. to attend the graduation of her son.

See you soon, Harold and Koumar!

 

 

 

 

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