“It’s like a never ending swimming pool!” One of my friends exclaimed. With a tinge of green, the water, indeed, was unbelievably azure. We were still moving, our boatman steering the vessel towards the shore, but everyone on the boat can’t help but stand to admire the water surrounding us. Most of our companions work at Boracay, it was definitely something to be impressed by another beach, even with their home island’s beauty.

The weather wasn’t as sunny, it was actually drizzling, the morning we left Boracay Island to visit its neighbor, Romblon’s Carabao Island. From Ferra Hotel, it was just a few minute’s walk towards Bulabog Beach where a motorized outrigger boat from Boracay West Cove awaited us.

“That’s expensive.” The lady hovering around for our orders said when I told one of my friends what I wanted to eat. I looked at her, then back at my friends, and we all chuckled. We knew we weren’t the best dressed tourists in Boracay, but that’s no way to treat customers. We let the slight pass. We were supremely famished and we were ready to eat anything. Even her. Kidding.

WALKING FROM THE FAR END OF STATION THREE

Coming all the way from the end of White Beach’s Station 3, one of not-so-popular things to do in Boracay, we walked ourselves silly right to the happenings at Station 2 just to find a place to have lunch. We were hungry and we could’ve jumped on the first eatery we passed, but no, we wanted to eat on a restaurant unique to Boracay.

J was screaming for Shakey’s, but even though he’s gonna be treating us, we dragged him away from the popular pizza parlor. “We can have that when we get back to Manila,” we chorused.

From a lackluster afternoon sky, the heavens slowly flared into deep reds and fiery oranges, the waters reflecting the fire above. We watched from a rock outcrop near Balinghai Beach, elevated fifteen feet from the waters, bottles of beer in hand temporarily forgotten as the lightshow commenced; Boracay’s famous sunset has never failed us yet.

BORACAY WEST COVE’S UNUSUAL GAUDI-ESQUE FACADE

It was an unexpected invitation. We were lounging at the White Beach, our tummies full from the feast at Obama Grill, when we were told a sunset cocktail awaited us at Boracay West Cove. We’re all too familiar with the resort, with its white Gaudi-esque facade, from our numerous Boracay island hopping escapades, but we can only afford to have a passing glimpse of the exclusive resort from tour boats.

With no Boracay itinerary, we simply ambled along the island’s beaches, swimming when the urge hit us, but most of the time, we just lounged on the sand and eat when our tummies beckoned. On one of these instances, we went inside Obama Grill. We heard they have one of the best tuna panga in Boracay, and my friends were rarin’ to sample it.

First things first, Obama Grill isn’t really Obama Grill. It’s actually Bama Grill, but since the restaurant decided to put in their circular logo—which, by the way, is very similar to Barack Obama’s sigil—people assumed that it reads as Obama. And now, they’re more known as Obama Grill, lol.

Up more than a hundred meters above the emerald waters of Boracay, we spied three small beaches lined with the island’s celebrated white powdery sand. These, unfortunately, falls near a land owned by a big resort and are usually off limits to the public. It was something we wouldn’t have seen if not for the vantage point we were in. No, we’re not on a helicopter tour of Boracay, we’re somewhere a lot cheaper but with relatively the same view sans the mobility, Mount Luho.

HOW ABOUT A VISIT TO MOUNT LUHO?

It was almost lunchtime but we were still waiting for one of our friends to arrive in Boracay. With nothing to do, one of the staff at Ferra Hotel Boracay suggested we visit the nearby Mount Luho. Well, we’re still full from their breakfast buffet anyways, so why not.

► PLAN YOUR BORACAY TRIP WITH GUIDE TO THE PHILIPPINES

It was an hour before midnight when we arrived on the island. Tired but excited, we went straight to our appointed lodging in Ferra Premier Boracay to rest a bit before heading to the White Beach to party our first night away. Or that was supposedly the plan.

FERRA HOTEL’S TASTEFULLY DECORATED LOBBY

It has always been like this for our Boracay weekend getaways; take the Friday afternoon flight from Manila, arrive early evening at the Kalibo Airport, then take the two-hour ride to Boracay. It is tiring, but heck, with very cheap flight tickets, who could say no to Boracay!

►FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT TO BORACAY