Finally, the Boracay photos

What you all have been waiting for...our photos from Boracay. Click on the link below to see paradise.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glovegalgab/sets/72157594404111463/detail/

I tend to be long winded, so I'll do my best to summarize the weekend in 5 million characters or less.

Thursday morning, I got off work at 6am, came home, woke the boys up, finished packing-almost forgetting Reyde's life jacket, and headed off to the airport. Got there early and caught an earlier flight. Reyde had no problem getting on the plane as I expected he would be nervous with all the noise of a propeller plane.

Just a quick 75 minute ride. I slept about 45 minutes of this- thank God. Took a quick van ride to the boat launch. From there is was 15 minutes to the actual island. Hopped on a van with open sides and drove to the resort. Greeted by numerous employees, we received a welcoming necklace made of some vegetation, and a cool bevie...that being Tang. They love Tang here.

Our room was ready, we quickly got our suits on and headed to the pool and the ocean. Reyde enjoyed the pool more than the ocean and I think this had to do with the pool having sides. He could tell where the water started and ended. Oh and probably the fact that fish would bump into his legs in the ocean.

Spent about 3 hours in the water, came in, got dressed, and had lunch in the open air restaurant. I ordered calamari, chicken adobo, sauteed green beans, cheese egg rolls, and a cheese sandwich for Reyde. The day and swimming tuckered him out; he fell asleep at the table.

Had a 2 hour family nap, got up and had dinner at the beach. It was incredible. No wind, tropical jazz music, lanterns, and some really good grilled food. Reyde ate like a champ, I had noodles with alfred sauce made for him. After dinner, we played on the beach in the sand by lantern light. The temperature of the air was high 70s. James couldn't believe what we were experiencing.

Friday we stayed at the hotel and played in the pool and ocean. I had a pedicure on the beach. The lady used sandpaper and a rock for leverage to remove the dead skin on my feet. They have never looked so good. James headed down afterward and had a pedicure and manicure beachside. Enjoyed some tasty adult bevies on the porch as Reyde took a nap.

Dinner on the beach Friday night. Unfortunately James ate some bad oysters and got really sick. We had planned to go on a boat ride and snorkeling on Saturday. We cancelled, and the boat guy was kind enough to take care of James; got fresh coconuts and told James to drink the juice to help his stomach. What a nice guy. And the juice helped.

Friday night we walked the beach to the market area. Fun area, and the place where everyone parties at night. If we didn't have Reyde, we would have gone out. Had dinner at Jammers, where Jay recommended we go for a good hamburger. It was good, and fun to watch people stroll the beach.

Got back to the resort for beachside massages. James first, then me. Amazing. The gal used toasted coconut oil. Again, no wind, perfect conditions.

Sunday we went on the boat ride. Snorkeling first, then we headed to Puka Beach for the most amazing lunch. Reyde didn't want to get out of the boat, so the boat guy, Alex, hung out with him while James and I snorkeled. Saw some blue starfish. And we utilized the fast food serice and had some ice cream out on the boat.

For lunch we headed to Puka Beach, yes as in Puka Shells. The origin of the famous necklaces. I bought one as well as a rosary made of puka shells. No, not Catholic but everyone has them so I thought it would be a good souveneir.

Lunch....and I think I told some people about it....but right on the beach, you can see the pictures. Garlic prawns, steamed crab, grilled blue marlin in a marinade of soy sauce, calmansi juice and oyter sauce, pancit, white rice, and fresh french fries. The flies appeared, but so did our waiter with a fan to fan the food and keep the flies from landing. Now that is service.

Headed back to the resort for a rest, which ended up being a dip in the pool, and then on to the ATV ride to the highest point on Boracay. This is where the locals have created a destination and a way to make money. We rode ATVs, well a buggy for Reyde and I, along dirt roads, past residential homes and the back sides of hotels, up to a lookout tower. A bit rickety and I got a little nervous...but went at any rate. The stairs were not even, the terrain rough, and the lookout totally not to "American safety standards." But I sense that the locals figured out a way to make money on the tourists. And when in Rome....do as the locals do. Reyde petted the monkey, and then I watched to make sure he didn't touch his face after that! The guide for the ATV ride carried Reyde up the stairs and the lookout tower, we didn't have to carry him at all. Then we took a long ride afterward back down to Puka beach to see the sunset.

When we returned the ATVs and paid for the trip, the lady asked where we were from. Seattle. Oh goodness, excitement, showed me her cell phone to say that her sister lives in Seattle, here's her number, and let me get you a souveneir. We left with 2 necklaces and 2 bracelets.

Had dinner at the restaurant on Sunday evening and then back out to the beach for massages. The lady gave us a bottle of toasted coconut oil to take back to Manila; she is the wife of the boat guy. 8 children. Oh my.

Monday we played in the water and headed back to Manila. It was simply amazing. James says it is the best vacation ever. Wants to go back. Me too...but need to figure out how to swing it.

It's so hard to believe that we are living this experience. Who would have ever imagined that we would be living in Manila, and visiting Boracay. I mean really, Boracay wasn't even part of my vocabulary.

We are thankful to have been given this opportunity.