Wander Wisely

Last weekend Matt, a fellow Iowa State student, and I ventured off to the Philippines in search for the most beautiful island in the world.  It was a long and difficult journey, but well worth it! <br /><br />We left from Singapore at 6AM on Friday morning to the Philippines.  As college students we want to make the most of every minute, especially the minutes we get to sleep.... Unfortunately this almost cost us a missed flight to Bali last weekend as we only showed up an hour ahead of time.  So, Matt and I arrived with plenty of time to spare and had no issues catching our first plane.  We first flew into Angeles City.  Angeles City may be one of my least favorite places in the world, but more on that later.  Just when Matt and I were starting to think we were pro travelers, we ran into a brick wall.  For some incredibly stupid reason we booked our second flight of the day, from Angeles City to Boracay 40 minutes apart from when we were supposed to land in Angeles City from Singapore.  Due to a short delay our plane didn't even land in Angeles City before our connecting flight took off....<br /><br /><b>Note to self: Always give <i>at least</i> two hours between flights for delays</b>.<br /><br />Our only option was to suck up the loss and pay $65 for a one way flight to Boracay later that afternoon.  After a few hours in the airport we finally flew into the city of Kalibo.  To get to Boracay from Kalibo we then had to take a 2 hour bus ride and an hour long ferry trip.  Much to our disappointment we arrived in Boracay at 1 AM instead of 3 PM. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEAO0jbSisBkPyQycsaIe4VWp_0mt2hlRXFmsdnFPa1XL5NJKjUdxlSY1AQiTfvAvZEAx4IheYVd3BbeqJ4FCO1axEBa_w6SOM5BWXPSYObZvabGaUPN_YAKGpC-BmpgLIT4bGMl0Dlg/s1600/DSCN0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEAO0jbSisBkPyQycsaIe4VWp_0mt2hlRXFmsdnFPa1XL5NJKjUdxlSY1AQiTfvAvZEAx4IheYVd3BbeqJ4FCO1axEBa_w6SOM5BWXPSYObZvabGaUPN_YAKGpC-BmpgLIT4bGMl0Dlg/s320/DSCN0903.JPG" width="320" /></a>Matt and I have found that no matter where you travel and how much you try to save, you will still end up spending lots of money.  To help cut back on the amount of money we spent we decided to stay in a hostel in Boracay.  The hostel was nice for the standards of the area, but we were very surprised at the lack of amenities provided.  Of course we knew the water was no good to drink, but there was also no hot water and the toilet did not flush...  To flush the toilet you had to scoop in buckets of water.  We stayed at the Trafalgar hostel on Boracay island.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLuJUdlImW0S9QBm-bmqkNcPVThBgEA3op31cFnww8KX1uXMnI2BAfeYjvgZ6iAclkwKifvYO6SvKriCcqP3iQo7-gQNt7rCDa4-ANtyabmSaZBY8MJUaq6s1BFW4mVlMUcj-1M3MHtQ/s1600/DSCN0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLuJUdlImW0S9QBm-bmqkNcPVThBgEA3op31cFnww8KX1uXMnI2BAfeYjvgZ6iAclkwKifvYO6SvKriCcqP3iQo7-gQNt7rCDa4-ANtyabmSaZBY8MJUaq6s1BFW4mVlMUcj-1M3MHtQ/s1600/DSCN0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih3_qND3xQB7yDwfoJi2GjyDtfn5Mun8owD4iwW_RfPp05ufBLMldh_tuCd6ej4GowQlgV8zUImuufeD3ezOuxNdHytKup9xN7tyhAS4zREV7DQ9GaWb0uotOB2ssn2qaczmHhRzg5vw/s1600/DSCN0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih3_qND3xQB7yDwfoJi2GjyDtfn5Mun8owD4iwW_RfPp05ufBLMldh_tuCd6ej4GowQlgV8zUImuufeD3ezOuxNdHytKup9xN7tyhAS4zREV7DQ9GaWb0uotOB2ssn2qaczmHhRzg5vw/s400/DSCN0898.JPG" width="300" /></a><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLuJUdlImW0S9QBm-bmqkNcPVThBgEA3op31cFnww8KX1uXMnI2BAfeYjvgZ6iAclkwKifvYO6SvKriCcqP3iQo7-gQNt7rCDa4-ANtyabmSaZBY8MJUaq6s1BFW4mVlMUcj-1M3MHtQ/s400/DSCN0895.JPG" width="300" /></div><br /><br /><br /> The long day of travel was quickly forgotten when we woke up Saturday morning and got to see the beach for the first time.  The sand was incredible.  Perfectly white and incredibly fine.  The water was so clear one could still see the ocean floor twenty feet in.<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9WezegUprnG2fiWAP37dEjsjEO-g_pRBftFuL9Qwi-7DY90xHaMmkrIpGxaH5YiUSCZw1IrzI4Wzk2mHcAU0hmsDyCGJYuT4rcXbiLPZNp07Phes4mRvkyeVIWJC7x-h6NQiQYJpZVk/s1600/DSCN0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9WezegUprnG2fiWAP37dEjsjEO-g_pRBftFuL9Qwi-7DY90xHaMmkrIpGxaH5YiUSCZw1IrzI4Wzk2mHcAU0hmsDyCGJYuT4rcXbiLPZNp07Phes4mRvkyeVIWJC7x-h6NQiQYJpZVk/s640/DSCN0909.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kuuuF9BJNjjm62Vm43N_Mbso87rnQGszXcvrLUmRItadApfgtLiEoUoIxnvV_Gv4sElOpebfK7_8F2JqAeAoZqGyehhEmvEcZw0CtF0kKpRdKqCu7buaa0BY0v9Y4jaWB-_YhxPgTac/s1600/DSCN0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kuuuF9BJNjjm62Vm43N_Mbso87rnQGszXcvrLUmRItadApfgtLiEoUoIxnvV_Gv4sElOpebfK7_8F2JqAeAoZqGyehhEmvEcZw0CtF0kKpRdKqCu7buaa0BY0v9Y4jaWB-_YhxPgTac/s640/DSCN0911.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJLayeaxUeYGSCiaRKfieEEzkTlE9FDW8hu2pUPXKH3sLHi1-YLIPyH3SgAfjgJXT2BdXvVLG6gKygF7XERfVA6JC3TSuXbp8b7efSUeCYn8IxyDRW9bawLrG0LaLtgAQ7gnHFdJQoEw/s1600/DSCN0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJLayeaxUeYGSCiaRKfieEEzkTlE9FDW8hu2pUPXKH3sLHi1-YLIPyH3SgAfjgJXT2BdXvVLG6gKygF7XERfVA6JC3TSuXbp8b7efSUeCYn8IxyDRW9bawLrG0LaLtgAQ7gnHFdJQoEw/s640/DSCN0928.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACJ9yuXuzeUsmZwKFM2U5HcPtEpAqm346yz9tuzL8S3w0suMwDMZjB96fGS0z1pydb1GsWivCvYwLgW_30uHIOrNGs8FCdw3HZRqQ-d9mc6z0MVQTUWDbW6CJKbA4N1UZerd8WJ3qLJ8/s1600/DSCN0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACJ9yuXuzeUsmZwKFM2U5HcPtEpAqm346yz9tuzL8S3w0suMwDMZjB96fGS0z1pydb1GsWivCvYwLgW_30uHIOrNGs8FCdw3HZRqQ-d9mc6z0MVQTUWDbW6CJKbA4N1UZerd8WJ3qLJ8/s320/DSCN0956.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were so amazed by the water and the beach that we didn't really get around to planning any activities for our day.  After a swim in the ocean we both fell asleep on the sand, because it is so white it does not absorb heat so despite the sun baking it all day it was still cool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JHxctY9YCTjVkvSeWhAuRUR-wi0YaIMn9yjRH3iLulxgG3t8tDryQsXMpyhH2JiuYOOPh-wKj49q5VJiQD7RJQas4Ub5AiHWO-KVEc-CM3N7dpAOyg6oVroNgDNAZOJdHlivVnQ6EF8/s1600/DSCN0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JHxctY9YCTjVkvSeWhAuRUR-wi0YaIMn9yjRH3iLulxgG3t8tDryQsXMpyhH2JiuYOOPh-wKj49q5VJiQD7RJQas4Ub5AiHWO-KVEc-CM3N7dpAOyg6oVroNgDNAZOJdHlivVnQ6EF8/s640/DSCN0968.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vpR23MiDARe5AtHtIkVHTcZajr3hl737Oa3hbcw-xgAXAvBpxPh198DimhwW2x7p9kfUpnbmph6gMmWvf9l5JOLOoGD1alsbpbDxJHD077dM4pi2YMmbW1fPzTb4xKYhmHWfGbiG134/s1600/DSCN0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vpR23MiDARe5AtHtIkVHTcZajr3hl737Oa3hbcw-xgAXAvBpxPh198DimhwW2x7p9kfUpnbmph6gMmWvf9l5JOLOoGD1alsbpbDxJHD077dM4pi2YMmbW1fPzTb4xKYhmHWfGbiG134/s320/DSCN0970.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /> Mid afternoon we decided para-sailing would be exciting and the easiest way to see the entire island.  The awesome part was the cord was 2x as long as any para-sailing cord I had ever seen before.  At our max height we could see the entire island and the ocean that surrounds it.  The view was breath taking I really wish I brought my camera up to the top with me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfjIPVf2ZoJTpO9B8OJK-3DRY9K09v9auXDGdXQBLt7Innc7jefJ9sOjG6Qqhc3e3r3k_iRvV1Mm6W0DnyM-gwCZJCKWf-I0Vr-zuYNsXV0_3qfDuyqVVUrg8efrq6Pxn230T0JyffZc/s1600/DSCN0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfjIPVf2ZoJTpO9B8OJK-3DRY9K09v9auXDGdXQBLt7Innc7jefJ9sOjG6Qqhc3e3r3k_iRvV1Mm6W0DnyM-gwCZJCKWf-I0Vr-zuYNsXV0_3qfDuyqVVUrg8efrq6Pxn230T0JyffZc/s640/DSCN0973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lCgJW8EbkTFWrxlXknRQOwoCF8u72RwmSROsyqL4yjbodBL6XZ629jLftTFvNIyfVyUParRzdB1tXuA1N1G4maUuRRApe9t8rnFjpr1m5tDchC9m5T5vDrn_XWsDWtskywlGUfQcSdY/s1600/DSCN0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lCgJW8EbkTFWrxlXknRQOwoCF8u72RwmSROsyqL4yjbodBL6XZ629jLftTFvNIyfVyUParRzdB1tXuA1N1G4maUuRRApe9t8rnFjpr1m5tDchC9m5T5vDrn_XWsDWtskywlGUfQcSdY/s640/DSCN0995.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-Um5oe-dLpL6d0KOAs-QV5OrFIguKCrCrrKNdV6HYyg36mLneOibuQbsRuKabWkrrgW5xYEeg97w3QC5BBZRfU3W60WXOMM6y3zw2TWMfAiF7jyluggdYWKbfJfMsqkXCt73d90hNaM/s1600/DSCN0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-Um5oe-dLpL6d0KOAs-QV5OrFIguKCrCrrKNdV6HYyg36mLneOibuQbsRuKabWkrrgW5xYEeg97w3QC5BBZRfU3W60WXOMM6y3zw2TWMfAiF7jyluggdYWKbfJfMsqkXCt73d90hNaM/s400/DSCN0919.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /> After para-sailing we enjoyed a wonderful buffet that was set up right on the beach and watched the sun go down.  It was by far the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.  I am an idiot for not bringing my camera to capture the moment! <br /><br />After dinner we walked around the island and ran into a college student from Canada.  We started making small talk and eventually the conversation got around to why he was in Boracay.  It turns out he was working at his uncles bar for a month and just enjoying the island.  He took us to the bar saying it was "One of the top spots in Boracay". <br /><br />On the way to the bar he started telling us about the history of it.  It turns out, when his uncle was 21 he was vising the Philippines from Canada.  He was midway through his travels through the Philippines and found Boracay.  He was so amazed and in love with the island that he decided he was never going to leave.  So, he opened up one of the first bars on the island and has had incredible successful in running it.  True to his word thirty years later and he has yet to leave Boracay!  What an amazing story, I considered multiple times following in his footsteps and staying in Boracay forever, but then I realized I would miss my dog too much!  The bar was called Cocomangas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DPm6vMl3VOWmeCHkp_3yUOt0k39Gh_DpP731if2C676q58bDDzi9D_1AaigSXM1Slu-joScyDc1u0Ig7Kd9winv03Cv0ZWWDWqJWD-ZL-tJp-ND3P3sWeOkSYffHbBrxR08_58RBNeQ/s1600/DSCN1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DPm6vMl3VOWmeCHkp_3yUOt0k39Gh_DpP731if2C676q58bDDzi9D_1AaigSXM1Slu-joScyDc1u0Ig7Kd9winv03Cv0ZWWDWqJWD-ZL-tJp-ND3P3sWeOkSYffHbBrxR08_58RBNeQ/s400/DSCN1032.JPG" width="400" /></a>We had a wonderful night with the Canadian and a few other guys we meet from Holland.  Reality set in the next morning and if we were going to catch our flight back to Singapore we had to leave at noon on Sunday.  So less then 32 hours of being in paradise we had to leave.   The island is too small for taxis, so instead they have tuk tuk's.  A tuk tuk is basically a motorcycle with a side cab for two people and some luggage or as the locals did it about 5 people....  Matt and I hardly fit, but it made for an interesting ride back to the ferry port.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpytA-hdKNKUOQoifFFiCW5sFjQb34iuvsOWqHT-yuOPBRYQQcx4oXXcIDzoXQQeB1ybk6knd-0mIJzneYiZhbWbIiU10x6d4j2TW10TNBAMByR05C_fvnUMo_Pic3-BQmBpHf1YTIX4/s1600/DSCN1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpytA-hdKNKUOQoifFFiCW5sFjQb34iuvsOWqHT-yuOPBRYQQcx4oXXcIDzoXQQeB1ybk6knd-0mIJzneYiZhbWbIiU10x6d4j2TW10TNBAMByR05C_fvnUMo_Pic3-BQmBpHf1YTIX4/s320/DSCN1037.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>We then hopped on the ferry and took the two hour bus ride back to the airport.  We caught a plane back to Angeles City.  The plane ride home was interesting... The pilot missed the run way the first time trying to land so we had to loop back around and try again... The pilot's only job is to land on the run way!  I couldn't believe it, I didn't even think it was possible, his second attempt to land was successful and the passengers all let out a loud cheer.  We then had to wait until 6AM Monday morning for our flight back to Singapore, so we went to Angeles City and staying in a hotel we found for only $20 USD.  This one actually had hot water and <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUQfLRXFHj998_jfHjTs18y7aMxlHIYe5KzV7ZrupV8bAyILsBnMvJJYzTYjYQ7QmBWaS1CvdNnLX98vH08ivFTt1BuzGKWREbxrzAmBpZHo3Ids1cfkUiePeOXXDJaj04Y1oDsNuEBw/s1600/DSCN1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUQfLRXFHj998_jfHjTs18y7aMxlHIYe5KzV7ZrupV8bAyILsBnMvJJYzTYjYQ7QmBWaS1CvdNnLX98vH08ivFTt1BuzGKWREbxrzAmBpZHo3Ids1cfkUiePeOXXDJaj04Y1oDsNuEBw/s400/DSCN1038.JPG" width="400" /></a>a working toilet which was a miracle, but still not paradise.  A view out the "window" was all one had to do to see that the hotel was lacking in some areas...<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>This part is not appropriate for children under the age of 18.</b> (Anna and Truman skip this paragraph...) What made Angeles City the worst city I've ever been to and ruined part of the experience in Boracay was the other visitors to the area.....  The truth is almost all of the visitors were old while men who were paying young Filipino girls to stay and travel with them.  Probably 50% of people on the beach were old white men with their Filipino girls... It was one of the most horrendous sights I have ever seen and completely disgusted me.  All Angeles City is known for is places to find young Filipino girls.  It was by far the worst place I have ever visited.<br /><br />We left our hotel early Monday morning and flew back to Singapore.  After a three hour flight and then an hour and a half ride on the subway back to school I was exhausted.  I still made it to all of my afternoon classes though! <br /><br />Boracay most definitely lived up to its status as one of the "most beautiful islands in the world"!   I just wish we had more time to enjoy it.  We spent nearly 2/3 of our time traveling to it and then home again but I guess that is the life of a full time college student attempting to see the world!  Some day I hope to go back to Boracay and spend more time there relaxing and enjoying the best parts of life!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg008gflHuhmuHaj-jZ4kH0Z1SRnrFS0aBRfDpC-VWKULb5Luq6imkxd413dTQsFZxQ98wdpD8f67LSn3IH6hEvWUWrf0919rBkIojiYION0vgJhRsfjc9dCTlbz-oXjGWJGTeLFIxr684/s1600/DSCN0907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg008gflHuhmuHaj-jZ4kH0Z1SRnrFS0aBRfDpC-VWKULb5Luq6imkxd413dTQsFZxQ98wdpD8f67LSn3IH6hEvWUWrf0919rBkIojiYION0vgJhRsfjc9dCTlbz-oXjGWJGTeLFIxr684/s640/DSCN0907.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>. <br /><br />It's another busy week of school for me and then this weekend is Chinese New Year.  Unlike our new year theirs is more of a family gathering with presents and gifts so I most likely will be traveling through Malaysia with a few guys from school.  Hope all is well at home!  If you have any questions about Singapore or anything I mention in my posts please feel free to comment on the post or you can email me at charlesp@iastate.edu.<br /><br /><br />

Trip Review: Boracay, Philippines

Last weekend Matt, a fellow Iowa State student, and I ventured off to the Philippines in search for the most beautiful island in the world. ...