January 14, 2023

Boracay- The first full day here. Traveling solo for the second time..the first was to lake Taal in Tagaytay. I have no idea what to do in this beach resort by myself. I woke up at 9.16 am- just about in time to get the buffet breakfast that came with the room rate. It was not raining so that was a relief. I sauntered over to the beach side cafe attached to the hotel and found a table overlooking the beach. It was the first proper sighting for me, given my previous evening arrival to a rainy and dark waterfront. The day time view was much nicer- a proper beach- with a large white sand trim and azure waters beyond. Beachcombers were present although fewer in number than I had anticipated. The buffet was better than the El Nido spread.. but still nothing to write home about. I cant wait to go to India and stay in a five stat hotel there- just imagine the breakfast buffet spread! Alu parathas, idly dosas and then all of the standard western stuff. The egg station had some variety here- pre cooked fried eggs, water poaches, soft boiled and omelettes. Hence no queue. Loved it. Nothing is more arduous to me than having to wait in line at an egg station at a breakfast buffet- the final receipt almost always flatters to deceive anyway. The egg is runny - that’s disgusting in an omelette although delicious in a fried egg. And the worst is this overload of stuffing in the omelette. Who came up with the idea that random vegetables are accretive to the quality of an omelette? I may have something not so nice to say to this individual- diplomatically ofcourse, as is my wont.
Aside of the eggs there were a few porky things , sausages , crackings, bacon, cold cuts etc. Average quality. I was remembering the buffet at the Rooms Hotel in Kasbegi, Georgia. Now that was a remarkable buffet just for the quality of the food- the prosciutto was to die for. Also the smoked salmon. 

I returned to the room after having my fill. …and took a short nap- given I don't wake up this early. Now having to wake up just to avail the breakfast. I hated it- but what to do.

It had started raining again, so I stayed put- made myself some nespresso. Meanwhile the housekeeping came over and cleaned up. I got a call from P and after all of that I think I changed to my swimming clothes and headed to the beach. I was carrying my PH phone and a heavy book- “Anti - Intellectualism in America” by Richard Hofstadter-  reminded me of “Megatrends 2000”- sorry inside joke!
I settled on a mat with a beach towel and headed into the water. It was lovely- super clean, clear and you could head into the water for 500 meters and the water would still be knee-deep. Loved it…
Also managed to read the abstruse volume upto 100 pages- and then ordered three caipirinhas from the beach side bar. Happy hour rates you see!
Returned to the room- another quick nap and another call from P. Took a shower and headed out for dinner- currently sipping a long island ice tea at this outfit called “Summer Place” in Station 2, a bit beyond D’Mall- 20 minute walk or so. Will have to eat elsewhere as this is more of a dance place- food options limited to unidentified fried objects.
Had to lay a cover charge to get in too- wonder what that was for?
The place seems largely dead beyond 10 pm save a few dance places. There is more   Nightlife in Makati- and we know that is saying a lot given how everything shuts down in Makati except in the shady Burgos St area. 

Intervention- Party Rock playing now!!! Just love this tune





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