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Where does Boracay lie?
Boracay is a small, approx. 8 km long island, at the narrowest place approx.
500 ms. broadly and lies near by the South-Chinese sea, between the Sibuyan Sea and Sulu Sea, in the island group Visayas. She exists
of three local municipalities, Balabag, Manoc Manoc and Yapak. If one sets off
sometimes on foot or with the mountain bike, it is astounding, how many small
settlements are hidden in the thicket, only one unobtrusive beaten path often
leads there and one goes on a step, one stands all at once again in the tumult
of approx. 10,000 inhabitants meanwhile or about 30,000 inhabitants of the island.
The neighboring
island Panay, about 1 km away, offers the nearest infrastructure
with a small airport as well as hospitals and of course a traffic binding to Kalibo, the next approx.
1.5 hours of distant, bigger town, with airport, shopping center etc, should pack
you sometimes the island rage. The second, nearest island is Carabao Iceland (buffalo's island). She is away about 2-3 kms and there the sea is not to be crossed on the basis
of wind and current often safely. However, it is a very nice destination of the
excursion. There the tourism has still held no move. Center of Boracay is of course the White-Beach, approx. 3.5 kms long, snow-white sand
beach. There are some quieter bays likewise, the Dinivid-Beach and the Puka Beach would be there in the island part
Yapak. Who are the people?
As said,
one counts locals and emigrants together one comes well
and gladly on approx. 10,000 inhabitants, in addition, of course still a lot of
tourists, all in all about 30,000 persons who stay constantly on Boracay. While concentrate one fully and completely upon
the tourism, thus for hotels, restaurants etc. work, have also built up many a
small business, this is enough from the snack state about flying traders up to
the storekeeper. The job market is partially so good that many of the neighboring
islands come to work. Nevertheless, some families also devote themselves quite
traditionally to the fishing and supply the hotels and restaurants, as well as
the market with always catch-fresh lusciousness.
The people are, like everywhere
on the Philippines very nicely and helpfully, the one or other crook
of course not with counted. The women and girls are very timid, on the one hand
and shy, just what concerns contact with tourist, to other incredibly politely
and do almost a distinguished impression. Clearly, the Kids are turned up the whole bank by always and as soon as they the shy
lose snotty and playful, however, is also no miracle, some must already work with
young years to late at night, there one takes every opportunity was to rave a
little bit. Some men are unbelievable working bulls, for hours you can move heavy
loads in the midday heat, untiringly you are occupied to distribute required goods,
to build streets and houses and, nevertheless, always a friendly smile on the
lips. After the school
or after the work, for Filipinos
it is already almost a tradition, anyway, however, a mush, as just mentioned:
Karaoke. On account of early in the mornings or late at
night, in the bar or in a hut in the outskirts, it will bend warbled to himself
the beams and you can take this literally. Lacking talent is compensated by fervour
and volume to watch with a devotion that it is a true
joy... Nevertheless, one talks, Frank Sinatra should have turned round now and
again already in the grave!!! However, there are also some in Boracay which have not met it so well, poor families which must fight daily
in all luxury for the survival which have gone to ruin either to the alcohol or
drugs and finance this by theft people with those nobody might exchange of us.
Nevertheless, one is sure: " You will get back the respect and the friendliness
which you bring against this person 100 times " Infrastructure Boracay
The infrastructure of Boracay is astoundingly
good on the whole. Streets were just lately renewed, a new police station were built and the stream failures
(BrownOut's)
keep more and more in borders (instead
of 8x only 5x daily). There are doctors who come home, however, a Medical Center and also a government-hospital
which does not have your usual state kind indeed by far smaller little complaints
up to the broken arm can be treated reliably and immediately. The costs for this
are more than slightly, I myself lay sometimes 3 weeks levelly, the doctor's fees
lay with approx. 10, the medicines with approx. 30 .
In the hospital mentioned on top the care is even(still)
free, they must pay only the medicines. If necessary you are in 2-3 hours in Manila in the hospital. Shopping possibilities
enough exist. Unfortunately,
the original market, the Talipapa, is burned
down, but there is still a new more modern market, the De Mall. Everywhere in the Touristcenter a shopping possibility and on Boracay is likewise distributed, countless states with the most different
offer. Should you need not exactly a spare part for a hearing device or a laptop,
here you will be able to get more or less everything. Shortly even a Gaisano
department store is built. IMPORTANTLY!!!
Should you be instructed on medicines
or medical devices, take this at all costs yourselves, because thus sometimes
just, e.g., insulin shop, is not possible " under
circumstances ". The locomotion
occurs either on the motorcycle / scooter, the
bicycle, boats, the Tricycles usual on the Philippines or Multicaps own to hotel (such a thing similar like penalty) and of course
on foot. Nevertheless, the back adding ways are mostly a thing of minutes, Boracay is not so big.
Specific features illnesses:
Malaria is not found on Boracay, typhoid precaution is advisable with every holiday
trip, at least with children. To play safe, question your doctor early, that can give you moreover anyway a competent
answer. Food: the Buffets before the bars stand,
are a big risk. Indeed they look fantastic, however, can be under circumstances
already several hours of the sun been warmed up or from the day before. To a Filipino
puts out nothing, to a Korean perhaps also, however, to a shred-spoilt European
it can pull away very fast the legs for two weeks. The identical one counts to
smaller bars and snack states. Are just at the beginning cautiously, but moreover
later more. Children can do on reason of the high standard in Boracay easily vacation. But also here counts - care is the mother of the
porcelain box. Pay attention to the fact that you accept nothing of other children,
no ice, no sweets or, otherwise, something. Deception / theft
Even if you are glad, finally,
there to be, you are with the arrival only sometimes at the end, you are careful!!!
Familiarize yourselves only sometimes with the circumstances and prices. It would
be irritating if you already during the first day 200 $ for plastic sunglasses
we have been economical, have already experienced everything. Persuade yourselves
in the beginning not to something and his you not so
credulous as in Germany, also on Boracay there are
contemporaries (also own compatriots) which do not mean it well with you and are
on a quick Euro from. Unfortunately, there are not also in the paradise criminals,
even if so many like in Manila or Cebu. Ticket purchase
Because the Philippines are not connected, unfortunately,
yet to the railway system of German railways, need first of all a flight ticket. I had the pleasure
already on occasion and it is every time a drama... I bought the first tickets
in November, 2001 with Travel Overland, 2 adults and a child to DM 3.500.-, airline emirates Airlines.
7 months later, in June, 2002 2,200 Euros already cost the same flight ticket.
Probably noticed, the same flight, the same Airline, we reserved even the same
seats. When I wanted to buy tickets in November, 2002 again, these lay with prices
between 3,500 to 6,000 Euros!!! I have paid 1,450 Euros then at last with the
Gulf-Air, I got the ticket on the Internet at the firm Fly
and Saving. In June, 2003 the story was the identical, only coated prices, then
there were favorable tickets for Malaysia Airline at a price of 1,800, resulted at the firm
Weckes Tauchreisen, likewise
on the Internet. Meanwhile there are some hotels in Boracay, as for example the Paradise Bay which procure favorably flight tickets, one should book with you.
Result: If you buy tickets,
I would spend more like 650 Euros by no means, max. 700 for an adult. Leave only
sometimes the fingers of travel agencies around the corner and their all-inclusive
offers, I will publish even further possibilities for
the ticket purchase at other place. Tip on the edge: if you try to get tickets
of Malaysia Air, the flight divides in 10 and 4 hours, emirate are 11 and 9 hours
and Gulfair is incommodious.
Overnight accommodation in Manila
If you come after 13:30 o'clock in Manila, need a hotel, that the
last flight to Boracay goes at
15:30 o'clock. Here I can do to you the atrium hotel in Manila, in the part of town Pasay recommend city - guaranteed no Insects. It lies in approx. 20 minutes from both Airports, and the overnight
accommodation costs approx. 60 Euros in an about 60 square meter room if you book
it about Paradise Bay, otherwise a little bit more. Transfer to Boracay
Here there are 2 possibilities:
Either they fly from the Domestik Airport after Cati's
clan, then I recommend you the airline Seair, because
the owner is a German (Dornier) and has
German airmen, likewise about Paradise Bay bookable. In addition, Seair was already named in the newspaper in 2004 as the most sure Airlines Philippines. The flight lasts
approx. 35 minutes and costs nowadays approx. 145 Euros plus 12% VAT (MWST) Roundtrip. They can also go by the ship, with the Virgin Mary. The crossing
begins at 17.00 o'clock in the evening and lasts thus around 14 hours, you come at 7.00 o'clock in the morning in Boracay. Should you fly for the first time on the Philippines or have, besides, children, I recommend you the
ship journey, you are, in any case, an adventure, cost
only approx. 40 Euros / beds in the cabin and back you fly with the Seair. Rent in this case a bed cabin 4. They can enclose
your baggage and sleep above all also only. Should you book your hotel from Germany, most hotels take over the transfer reservations for you, thus you
must take care of nothing. Mostly it becomes also cheaper, because these also
often get considerably discounts. What belongs in the suitcase?
This is the issue of the sexes -
while we could stow away men in the principle our stuff in a rice's pocket comfortably, our woman needs mostly still
countless pockets, bags and cardboards to your mobile 70 kilos of wall cupboard.
Follow, however, indeed with the big Airlines you have 20 kilos of baggage freely,
the small domestic flights grant only 10 kilos per person to you, however, it
can become expensive. You can transport exception Seair - if you present
there your international ticket likewise 20 kgs per
person on the domestic flight. I recommend clothes for a stay of 3 weeks approx.
5 knee-long, wide shorts from cotton or linen, 2 long, likewise wide however elegant
trousers, 1 long Jeans, a pair of steady footwear, robust sandals, and approx.
10 wide shirts or T-shirts. Underwear and socks of course enough. So now another
2 swimming trunks and your favourite bath towel are absent, ready.
You can save the bath towel itself,
however, actually, because most hotels spend free of charge bath towels. Grounds:
you need two long trousers to be able to go out in the evening also sometimes
nicely. Even if it is warm, they will not sweat, however, look for it essentially
more elegant, than all all-inclusive Thailand Touris
with Bermudas shorts, sandals and red socks. And you will be surprised as the
impression does. You need the long Jeans together with the steady footwear,
you should have in an Tropicaltrip or a physical wandering interest. Even if it does not look in such
a way, even on Boracay
there are in the bushes queues, Lissards and a lot of strange
creatures, however, nothing toxic and you will also see never such "creatures",
because these are usually very shy. Also the area can become very impassable from
a meter to the other and a fall on a sharp coral stone can end there nastily.
The identical one counts to motorcycle journeys!!! What belongs in the
hand luggage?
Even if our
women of other opinion are - the hand luggage is not for the stuff no more in
the suitcase fits, here everything comes in what one needs for the duration of
the flight, ON NO ACCOUNT PAPERS OR MONEY!!!
The Airlines have limited meanwhile
all the hand luggage to 1 piece with certain masses and weights (8 kgs),
there are exceptions none more. If, besides, you have children, think of a few
painting books of being able to make pencils, small toys etc. for yourselves to
magazines, camera etc, however, also hygiene article around yourselves fresh,
it becomes namely long, hard trips. The first-aid kit Cephalic pain-as well as
tooth painkillers, influenza means like Grippostadt, nose spray, charcoal tablets or Imodium acute, fever uvulae, fever thermometers, plasters, iodine ointment
and your personally required medicaments, so far urgently. Now it goes off...
Now according
to booked Airline you will be after the checking in in a machine to Dubai (emirates Airline),
to Kuala Lumpur
(Malaysia Airline) or Bahrain (Gulf Air). The flight might last between 8 and 12 hours. If now you have
come, and wait for your connection flight, you can look the airport which represent legs and visit a restaurant,
in some can be also smoked. In Dubai there is on the
first floor near the Dutyfree Arial a cafe with bar in him can be smoked, in Bahrain you must settle
approx. 100 meters before the Dutyfree for a smoker's corner, or for the cafe 100 meters after the Dutyfree Areal. In Kaula Lumpur a nice bar, with the name is on the first floor
" an engl., dinner jacket
lounge ", in the first floor a described smoker's compartment.
Their
stay can last up to 8 hours, then, however, with the emirates Airline an overnight
accommodation is contained in the Airporthotel. For this you receive the certificate, nevertheless,
only with the takeoff in the counter of your Airline in the home airport. Now
the other flight to Manila lasts, according to Airline 2-9 hours, with Malaysia Air it fastest goes. But however, you might be
created, in any case, already quite, unless you have spent the night at the hotel.
Shortly before you land in Manila, you must fill in Board once more a " Certificate of immigration ", you need this after the baggage issue in the
duty counter. Under circumstances it can be that they must pass a health check,
no panic, pure precautions to SARS. After you have
left the airplane and are on the way to the immigration, pass about 4-5 men to
volume which plays a welcome song - a hearty receipt for you.
After you have found your baggage
and have passed the duty, you see on the right side two counters, change your
money equally here, because here get the best course and are also not hit over
the ear. Stow away it well best of all directly in your body. Give yourselves
also small change, above all thus 200 pesos in 20th, you stow away in your shirt
pocket, then you can give always some tip without showing big bundles. Best of
all you distribute always in several pockets some money, so that you must never
show too much money. Arrival in Manila
They are irritated, dog-tired, stand
under stress and are unsafe, very briefly a light victim for rabble. Should you
have left the closed airport Area, suitcase bearers, hotel agents and taxi drivers
will rush at you. Go, in any case, with an Airporttaxi, indeed they are 3 times more expensive, (up to
500 pesos / 10 $), however, you are registered and 100% reliable.
Leave during
the taxi journey the windows closed and pay attention on it that the doors are
bolted. With traffic light stops only surely, even if beggars or children knock!!!
In the atrium a comfortable hotel and the nicest one, A BATHROOM expects you only
sometimes! Make yourselves fresh, and enjoy the huge view over Manila. The restaurant is very comfortable, food without
exception well and in order. A casino likewise exists and in the basement a small
shopping Center is to stroll.
If you are inexperiencedly
in Manila, you should go, Especially at night, only with a taxi with taxi meter
+ drive registration number, the hotel staff will gladly call to them a taxi,
however, better still with the hotel taxi, this is so expensive again approx.
3-5 sometimes. A very nice place in the evening is a boulevard the promenade in the Roxas. Say to the taxi driver only, he might drive you
to the Aristocrat, Roxas boulevard. There you get out, cross the street
and already you are in the middle in it.
After the first night in a nice
bed, can drive you, provided that you time and desire still have in one of the
shopping Center and buy. Either Robinson Mall, Malate, the Harrisson in Pasay, the Mega Mall, Mandaluyong or in the most obvious and biggest
department store of Asia - the Asia Mall in
the Roxas Blvd. Go only with a taxi the taxi clock also switches on and no Sightseeing
tour with you does. To Robinson it cost approx. 80-120 pesos, Harrisson about 60-80 pesos,
to the Megamall
approx. 150 pesos and Asia Mall very little. Farther it goes to Boracay
If you fly, go with
the hotel taxi to the Domestik-Airport. A protected Areal, you and your baggage are sure, actually, to a great extent. Now
a heavy suitcase takes revenge, per kilo Overweight 40 pesos are due,
likewise once more 200 pesos of airport tax. With the Boarding you are accompanied on the airfield, however, the
security regulations are not so high as in Germany. Pay attention to your children, there you pass
running propellers and baggage cars drive.
If you go by the ship, you should
likewise go with the hotel taxi to the harbour,
every taxi driver knows the pier. The Virgin Mary drives off,
by the way, from the pier 8. Ways you the taxi driver in to hold the boot closed
and to go in he may this. If you get out approx. 20 Porter on you storm around your suitcases in the ship to carry. You recognize
Porter by colored west with a number on it, you notice
to yourselves them, for the case of complaints. Importantly: Negotiate first the
price, then the boot is opened. Moon prices are often
required only sometimes which can go up to 250 pesos per suitcase, this comes
on how the Porter estimates you.
In Manila prices of 50 pesos per suitcase are fair, a Filipino
pays 10 pesos. Do not argue with the Porter if it seems
to you too expensive, carry your suitcase just yourselves...
Enjoy the view
of the harbour and his activity, the great sundown of
Manila and the crossing on the islands. If it is dark, enjoy the restaurants,
the movies or the disco.
BUT CARE:
If you travel with children, a
ship is no playground! Keep an eye on your Kids, with it nothing passed. Early
in the mornings at 4 o'clock the ship will put in in Taplas, a neighboring
island of Boracay. After about 1.5 Std. Stay goes on it and about
7 o'clock in the morning you reach Boracay. Meanwhile the ship holds directly you with a Banka (arm boat) directly
to Boracay
in the new pier in Cati's clan from there go. This last boat trip does
not last onger as 15 minutes. In Cati's clan you also land, by the way, if you fly with Seair or Asian Spirit. In this case you must simply go
with a Tricycle, for 30 pesos, to the pier / harbour,
then you are again with the just mentioned Banka. Not to forget Oh yes, in the pier you must pay
to the Bankaprice
of 30 pesos still a Piertax of about 50 pesos. In Boracay come, in the Tambisaan-Beach
put in, there you already from the
Portern/bearers expected, either from your hotel or
stranger. 10 pesos per baggage piece are here enough. With the Tricycle it goes to the hotel, here becomes the nuisance of the hotel operators
the tourist already for the first time cheated, so, it is better and better,
actually if you allow to do the transfer (one way) from the
hotel, it remains to you also saved, from the whole mediators, in Cati's clan at the airport "will "attack".
While a Filipino with 5-10 pesos goes to every point of the island, you are present,
in any case, with 50-80 pesos. However, you are not angry, now, finally, for it
you have come... "" Welcome
to Boracay ""
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