Boracay Cont'd

Boracay was beautiful, the sand is white because it is made from coral and not shells. Supposedly this is also why it does not get hot, the way that other beaches do. I think the coral is what also makes it so soft, it is literally like walking on flour in some parts.
After traveling for most of the day we were finally able to settle in and hit the town. Not intending to stay out while walking down the main strip Alisa made a friend at a bar called Summer Place. There were a group of people sitting at a table and the two girls at the table happened to have 6 shots each in front of them, all different colors, but I'm sure of all the same strength. So Alisa, being the friendly and spontaenous person she is goes up to them and says "Are you really going to finish all those shots?" And lo and behold they do, which ends of being the kick off for our first night out in Boracay. What began as a stroll along the beach to find dinner turned into a free Mongolian barbeque, free beers, a pitcher of god knows what with a straw in it for just about every person at the bar, dancing, watching the antics of the two French girls who had taken the shots (one of them being Alisa's dress ending up over her head because one of the girls thought it would be funny, luckily Alisa was wearing shorts...Tessa and Alisa, I don't know who's argument that supports), new friends, and a long and lovely night walk right in the water back to the hotel. It turns out that Summer Place is one of the #1 spots to go to when you're in Boracay. Good job Alisa!!
The next day was pretty jam packed and busy because it was Tessa and Alisa's last day in the Philippines and we had a lot on our to do list, one of the higher priorities of course being lounging on the beach. And lucky for us we were able to maximize our time by not going to sleep at all that night. After getting everything done we needed to do, we left our hotel room at about midnight looking for some fun. The typical kind wasn't really there, it being a Sunday night, it was kind of quiet, probably one of the bigger distinction between Boracay and Cancun. But what we did find was a group of locals who'd just gotten off work and were practicing a dance for their staff Christmas party. Just like in the states there are lots of Christmas parties for friends, coworkers and family, except here there are dozens of choreographed dances performed, this one looks like it took weeks, and they still had some time to go. So Tessa, Alisa and I jumped in and learned the dance, while Paolo was the ever-so-important photographer (pictures to come later). Everybody was so nice, and they didn't laugh when we messed up and again another random meeting ended up turning into an all night party, complete with the favored rum of the Philippines, Tanduay. I don't know if you can get it in the states, but it has a nice flavor, mild, but as always, good with coke.
I think one of the most interesting things about Boracay is that you feel as if you're in Hawaii not the Philippines. There's lots of tourguides, and windsurfers, etc. in board shorts and t-shirts, or sometimes no shirts. Most everybody speaks English and there's something different about the people we met there. Everybody seems to be migrants too, I think that's the case in a lot of places where there is a lot of tourist money. But everybody we met was from a different province, many of them from different islands altogether, some of them Roxas, some from Cebu, everybody from somewhere that they couldn't really afford to get back to anytime in the near future. It didn't make a lot of sense to me when I was talking to this guy. He said they make about 4000 pesos a month (800 US/month) and their rent is about 700 pesos. Utilities, and food, etc. can't possibly be 3,300. But he said that after his expenses, he has just a little to spare for spending money. What I didn't get at first is that all that extra money after the 700 for rent is usually sent home to wherever they're from. It's such a tough concept for me to understand. Leaving home for an opportunity and then only being able to go back every so often, and even in jobs where they make extra money for tips. It's a bittersweet feeling I have being able to do all the island hopping I have on this trip. On one hand I get to see so much of the Philippines, but on the other for the average Filipino they can't afford to island hop.
After a long night of rumming, and talking, we said goodnight to our new friends and the four of us sat on the beach, just before sunrise, taking in one last night together under the stars and next to the sea.