Boracay And Why You Shouldn't Be There

I don't recommend Boracay to anyone. Yes, it has the finest white sand I have ever laid eyes on in all the beaches that I have been to in the country. There are beaches that claim they are the Boracay of the north or east or west or south, but Boracay's sand is unique and unparalleled. It has that perfect emerald green water that makes you wonder if people ever get out of it or just stay there swimming forever. Boracay has a wide assortment of accommodations and countless beach activities that can make you forget about home. Yes, it has a stunning sunset, even better than Manila Bay's. In spite of all that, I am not recommending it.

Boracay is not difficult to get to. You have a choice of getting on ship or the plane to Caticlan, and then an outrigger boat to Boracay island. Once there, you will never run out of hotels to stay in, either beach front or the cheaper choices further away from the beach. We chose the cheaper alternative, since we were not there for the hotel. At any rate, I could not imagine having a difficult time finding a place to stay even during the peak season (when rates go up like gas prices).

The beach is truly amazing! In itself, Boracay could already be a metaphor. Fine white sand and a sunset that could blow the Little Prince away. By the beach, there are stores you could go shopping in. I even saw fastfood chains, and ATMs. Convenience is never an issue.

Right around sundown, the beach slowly transforms into something magical with all the lights on the sand put up by the resorts. At dinner time, wherever I turn to, it was difficult to stop myself from drooling with the scrumptious food on display. Then, there's fire dancers, more flashes from cameras of people taking pictures by the sand castle, then music, and people gyrating. I would turn around, see more people dancing and laughing and drinking. Then, before I noticed, I was already squished in a crowd. I realized that as the night progressed, it got more and more difficult to find peace, let alone be removed from all the sweat that seem to have replaced the emerald green sea water. I started to loathe it.

Boracay is definitely not for people who want to quietly relax. It reminds me so much of the city, just wetter and a few more coconut trees. There is no denying the the beach's sand quality that it boasts, but it was difficult to stand the crowd. I forgot to mention that during the day, it was impossible to read through a page of a book without getting disturbed by people selling beads, offering massages, asking if you would like a tattoo or to have your hair braided even when your hair is just a few millimeters long. It is also not a good idea to be walking along the beach without the possibility of getting a head injury. Men and women with bodies that look like they are fresh from the gym play frisbee. At night, every resort turns the music full blast, turning the entire island to a dance bar, only I don't know which beat I am going to dance to, as there could be over a hundred music playing simultaneously.

Boracay's beach is among the very few that surpass expectations. That is sure. Besides that, everything I could think of is noise, body sweat and henna tattoo. There are other beaches out there that might be more worth your time. However, Boracay is probably something that no one should miss out on, especially, that it is now showing signs of degradation. It will not last any longer with the beach slowly getting smaller and smaller each year. Unless people there take better care of it, its years are numbered. It might not even last another decade. So if only to see it and satisfy your curiosity, it might be worth a visit.


Note:
Waste management problem and overcrowdedness (80,000 tourists averaging 1 kilo of trash each, flocked to the island during the Holy Week this year) are rapidly destroying this beautiful island. So, if you do decide to be one of the crowd soon, please be responsible and help save Boracay.

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