Our travel to Boracay was a little rough. We almost missed our flight because of the SUPER LONG LINE AT CHECK-IN! After waiting in a line for about 20 minutes, we realized it was the wrong line. Then, we waited in another line for about 10 minutes, before realizing that it wasn't a line at all, but a large group of people standing in the WAY of the line. Then, we waited in the correct line for about 10 minutes, which did not move at all. Finally, our problems are solved! We saw a little computer terminal for internet bookings. Hooray! We did not have to wait in line after all!
The wait for the terminal was short, only about 10 minutes. I logged in, went through the complete check-in process, only to find out two things: 1st, if we checked in we would still have to wait in line to turn in our bags, and, 2nd, sigh ... We could not check in with this type of airplane. !$!!@$#!$
OK, no problem, we get back in line. I saw that the other side of the MASSIVE group of people was shorter, because people were not traveling over there. So, we rush over, and get in line behind a Dutch family. Only about 4 groups ahead of us. Score!
As we are waiting, an attendant opens up a new line right next to us. You can see the envy of the 400+ people waiting as we and the Dutch family slid over into the new line ... which wasn't a line at all. In fact, the employees were only making a shortcut for themselves, and did not close the gates after them. But, we (the Dutch family and us) did not know this for about 10 minutes.
Ok, so what are we up to now: 60 minutes, and nothing accomplished!
We (the Dutch family and us) get back into our old line, and wait. After about 30 minutes (and watching someone walk through a puddle of pee in line, probably left by a youngster because the parent did not want to leave the line. Considering the length of the line, the youngster was probably born there.), we made it almost to the front, when we heard an attendant calling last call for check-in of our plane! They had just opened up a dedicated line for our flight moments before, 10 lines to our left. The funny thing was, we did not have to wait in the line, but we went all the way to the front. We could have sat off to the side and waited for our last call. Oh, well, you learn.
Ok, fast forward past the uneventful, quick, and stunningly beautiful flight over the Philippine islands to an airport right across a channel from our island, called Caticlan/Boracay Airport. We have booked a transfer service which will pick us up at the airport, take us to a jetty, take us across the channel, and carry our bags to the hotel, which is about a 10 minute walk. The trip was mostly uneventful, except for the porter hefting my bags onto the roof (which I did not have a choice) and then demanding a tip. I did not have any small bills to give, so I gave a 100PHP note, which is much too much. Oh, well, no biggy.
The beach is beautiful, but I already said that. We take a truck with seats in the back into the are near Station 3. White Beach (Look here for more about Boracay) is broken up into three different zones. Station 1 is very quiet, and filled with high end hotels. Station 2 is mid-range to cheap hotels, and is the part-till-4am zone. Station 3 is the older, more basic, cheap and simple hotels, and it the most quiet of them all. We LOVED Station 3, and hated Station 2. Well, the truck drops us off as close as it can get, which is about a 5 minute walk to the beachfront (a sandy footpath), a 5 minute walk along the path, and then a 2 minute walk down a quiet alleyway. We crash, and then take pictures of the first sunset, and have a nice dinner.
What an amazing adventure! I can't wait for you and Zach to return and tell us all about it--how brave to venture through a foreign country with a completely different language, customs, and laws. How was your adjustment period?
ReplyDeleteTobias is learning Chinese. Maybe 10 years from now Phil and I can take him and he can interpret. ;-)