Sailing and snorkeling adventures in Boracay

Boracay is a beautiful place, but there are lot of people trying to sell you stuff (boat rides on the Paraw, kite surfing, knick knacks, etc). Well, M and I liked one of the guys selling the boat rides, James. We did a short, crazy Paraw ride on Friday - it was storming that day, so the ride was fantastic fun. 

 Representing one of my other favorite beach spots, Montanita Ecuador!

 M had to help push out the boat...

 This guy, our crewman, climbed all of the boat the whole time. 

This is our captain, steering with his toe. Also, I mentioned it was stormy that day, my camera is waterproof, but unfortunately- with all the waves splashing over us, there was a drop of water on the lens...

 This would have been a cute picture. 

A full shot of our boat. 

The next day, we took a James' bigger boat around the island to a snorkel spot. It was much calmer on Saturday...

 Now for all the pictures underwater you can stand :) I tried to edit myself...

 Super clear water...

 So many fish...

 M snorkeling away...

Finding Nemo!!

 A purple starfish!! 

Well, got to say, I love Boracay!!

I am a beach girl at heart!

M and I originally planned to go to Myanmar for our other trip besides Hong Kong. As it turns out, we couldn't get the plane tickets to work out. So, we looked for an alternative, and settled on the Philippines, specifically the island Boracay. It is about a 45 minute flight from Manila.

We set off on Thursday night for Manila. As we were checking in, we saw a bunch of people in matching shirts, and camera crews. It turns out, we were on the same flight as the Amazing Race!!  We actually switched seats with one team so they could get off the plane faster. 

Even crazier, it turns out we were staying at the same cheap airport hotel as them too. It was neat to see such a production in real life.  

The next morning early, we took Cebu airlines, whose tagline is "Why everyJuan flies" to Boracay. I always pick weird slightly difficult places to get for my vacations (remember Koh Lanta?). Anyhow, our hotel picked us up, took us to a private ferry, for a short trip to Boracay. 

All the boats had these aftermarket (if you will) pontoon type things. Also, it is rainy season there, but we were very lucky - it only rained the first day we were there. 

After the ferry, we took another van to an alley and had to walk to our hotel. I was getting worried that I had made a mistake...but the alley opened up to the beach, which was stunning! Also, the water was like bath water, and crystal clear. The sand, like velvet. One of the nicest beaches I have been to. So beautiful. 

Our Hotel, The District. It was amazing. Right on the White Beach, pool in the back, jacuzzi, beautiful rooms. The staff was incredibly friendly. The restaurants were good. 

The beach had a walkable sand trail that had tons of restaurants, clubs, hotels, shops...

Now some scenes from the beach.

 Because it was rainy season, the clouds were just amazing the whole trip.

Because of the season, all the hotels were building these "wind breakers." These guys working on them, just climbed all over them (with no safety equipment). By the time we left, they had covered the structure in a plastic, so the wind, sand, rain wouldn't get through. Our experience with the storm the first day made us understand why these are needed. The wind comes of the ocean quick, and the rain and sand hurt when pelted by them. 

 That's a Paraw out there in the water, but more on that later...

Just look at the those clouds. 

 The pano...

 This beer was incredibly strong...Red Horse, a local brew....

 Artsy, right?

One of my favorite pictures, the clouds are just stunning. 

Well, stay tuned for another post about our Paraw sailing and snorkeling...

The Gardens by the Bay: The Incredibly Expensive Lunch

M doesn't have to work on Tuesdays, that is - he may have work to do like grading and such, but he doesn't have to physically go into to SIM to teach.  I convinced him to go to the Gardens by the Bay, which I posted about before - see here. There was a list of the "best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore" and one of the restaurants Pollen was in Gardens by the Bay. But I will come back to this later...

We decided to walk, or rather I said - "hey let's walk." At noon. In Singapore. With blazing hot sun beating down on you. Ha! It is about a mile from our hotel, and by the time we got we were both covered in sweat. I thought M might literally pass out. Being from south Georgia, I was sweating, but not nearly as bothered as M (don't talk to me about how we both fair in the Buffalo winters). 

We went straight to Pollen to cool off, covered in sweat, but oh well. Now Pollen is run by a  Michelin-starred British chef, Jason Atherton. Apparently, the menu has changed quite a bit since the best vegetarian article, which characterized it as an organic vegan, vegetarian menu with some meat options available. 

Turns out, this is the "vegetarian menu"

Yup, the vegetarian menu has three choices- that's it....well, I guess that makes picking what you are eating much easier.

And now for too many pictures of our fancy food...

 Look - fancy butter!

This is a beet dish (I did a set lunch menu). If you know me, I am not a huge fan of beets. This dish included a beet sorbet, which may have been the best part of the dish. Although I am sure if you like beets, you would love this dish. 

Potato gnocchi soup, and M's seafood thingy.

On to the fun stuff - desert!

My desert involved liquid nitrogen...they invite you over to watch as your desert is being prepared. Fun stuff.

My desert was called the pina colada. Very tasty. M's was roasted raspberry and corn ice cream sandwich. Surprisingly good combination. 

At the end of the meal, we were given a tour of the kitchen. We met the sous chef, who is from the same small town as M's father - Popoli Italy.

Pollen is in the flower dome at the Garden's By the Bay, which is the world's largest column-less greenhouse (what a strange "world's superlative.") We took a stroll through the greenhouse. Get ready for all the pictures of greenery and flowers that you can handle because here they come! 

 Obligatory panoramic...

And now, all the flowers...

 Whoops an olive tree snuck in there...

 Now get ready for some cacti...

 More flowers....

One of the trees from outside...see Mom, it is in bloom...