Christmas in Boracay

Boracay , Philippines

Boracay for Christmas was really one of the most beautiful places that we could have picked to go to for Christmas. If we couldn’t be with family, then we should be somewhere fun. This place had just about everything we asked for!

First, I just want to say, we stayed at a great place called Boracay Beach Club. It was at Station 1, which is a calmer part of the beach. It was not directly on the beach, but it was still only about a 2 minute walk across the street. The hotel also has a restaurant directly on the beach with chairs dedicated to people staying at the hotel.

Day 1 – just bumming at the beach

Day 2 – cliff jumping and lunch at Ariel's Point (also owned and run by the same people who own the hotel).

Gabby was the first one to take the leap …

Hannah started off on the lower one and then graduated to the higher ones.

I hate heights, but finally took the plunge too.

Jonathan also did a couple of jumps.

This is where the first jumps took place ... a much lower level.

Yup, this the "lowest board".

Jamie

Hannah

Gabby

Day 3 – (Christmas Eve)

Hanging out at the Beach

Hannah wants to do some stand up paddle boarding – convinces Jonathan to go out with her. At first we watch Jonathan out there for 5 minutes and then he calls out for Hannah to come out and try it. Hannah is a pro. She is up, balancing and paddling from the outset. Amazing.

Day 4 – (Christmas Day)

Jonathan takes a 3 hours scuba class and has a 1 hour dive

The girls and I get massages on the beach – total cost USD$24.

These are just some pictures from the day.

Day 5

More beach time

Day 6 – Last day

ATV tour

Great views of the island.

Aviary

We tried to do helmet diving. This is when you put a 20 pound yellow dome made out of iron on your shoulders and attempt to breathe under water. We thought that it would be alternative to scuba diving since the girls were too young to do that. We took a boat out to the diving platform. We then got to sit on this platform for 25minutes while the crew ate lunch. I then got sea sick, and took the next boat ride back to shore. Jonathan and the girls stayed and tried to dive. Gabby had a cold and couldn’t regulate her ears due to a cold and came right back up. Hannah freaked out when she touched the bottom and came right back up. Jonathan was the only one who really succeeded with this. But since the girls came up so

quickly, he did so too. This was a complete failure.

Day 7 – Going Home

These were on Boracay Island.

Had to take a car to the boat. Took the boat to the small airport.

Took the 30 seat plane to Manilla.

Pictures from the Iphone just after take off.

Took a cab from the domestic terminal to the international terminal in Manila.

See the Jeepney on the left?

Stood in line for an hour. Check in, tried to go through immigration, stepped out of line to fill out more paperwork. Found out that it takes 750 pesos to get out the country – per person ; It is only USD$20. The problem was, no one knew it was going to cost that much. 3 hour wait until the 2 hour flight.

We did make it to HK. After the plane had gotten to the gate, the man behind us got on his phone and started yelling at the person on the other end. This did NOT sit with with Jonathan, as we were in the very back of the plane and had to listen to the guy yell in Cantonese. After getting off the plane, going through immigration, we got to find our loud friend again at the baggage carousal. I immediately moved the the other side of the area, got our backpacks, got on the airport express and were home about 30 minutes later.

It was an awesome trip. I'm not sure how we are going to top it for next year!