How To Enjoy Boracay When It's Raining

We were hoping against hope that the weather will be sunny during our trip to boracay. Unfortunately hope was still against us as we landed in kalibo and even after we checked in at La Carmela. we have to reschedule our itinerary and cancel some of the activities. Now what to do? Here’s a list of activities to pass the time while you are in boracay when it's raining. (This is just a list of the things that we were able to do while it's raining during the length of our stay. Feel free to add. :D)

1. Walk the length of station 1 to 2.
After checking in, we checked out the place. We took some pics of the famous establishments and hotels there. Surprisingly since the weather was cold, we didn't notice that we've reached station 1 already without feeling tired at all. This is one acivity that we wouldn't have enjoyed when the weather is sunny.

2. Shop in d' talipapa.
Since talipapa is nearer our place than the d' mall we usually go here for our shopping needs. On our 2nd day it was pouring really hard so we opted to start our pasalubong shopping early. If you want good bargains this is the place to be. we bought some edible pasalubongs (bongbongs piaya in ube and regular, butterscotch, among others - all priced at 3 for 100php except for pinasugbo which is 25php ea and dried mangoes which goes for 100php) and souvenir shirts and sando (some priced at 2 for 140php and others at 2 for 150php for the white ones - the seller gave me an anklet made of seashells which looks a little flimsy but looks cute when worn). There’s also this dress that i really liked but only one store sells it in talipapa (230-250php). I found the same dress on another store in station 1 but the price is almost twice (400-450php). I also wanted a hat and got one at 120php (same hat goes for 250php at d' mall). And lastly i got me a boardshort for 200php - i didn't like the fabric but it comes in sizes (s, m, l doesn't quite cut it) and looks good on me. The place also sells boardshorts with regular fabric priced at 300-350php. (Please be advised though that the alley floods so if you want to go there when it's raining go through the alley from the main road because at least from there there's a path where you can walk on to avoid wading in the flood.)

3. Enjoy the gastronomic delights only boracay offers
What’s a boracay trip without Jonah’s shake? I fell in love with the shakes at first sip - the shakes are really good! I can't rave enough about this; i even bought one to bring home here in manila. There are two branches of Jonah’s both on the main road - one is beside cocomangas and the other is beside the 24/7 convenience store. We tried choco banana (this is love! ^_^), mango milk and choco banana peanut (bestseller). They also serve choriburger (90php) which is really huge. We weren't able to find real coffee soon enough (it was already closed when we found it - 7am to 7pm) for their calamansi muffin. Real coffee is near yellow cab in stn 1 - in an alley beside casa fiesta, for those who want to try it. We only wanted to sample the cheaper ones but there's also aria, true food, the hobbit house, Kasbah, heidiland and a lot more.

4. Tour mt. luho and puka beach via trike.
Since the mode of transportation is land-based, it is relatively safer to tour via a tricycle. The usual going rate is 150php per hour, 500php for 2 hours. We were planning to take the ATV to mt. luho (350php per hour) but since we're just planning to take a few pictures from the viewpoint and there are two of us plus we're lugging tons of stuff, we decided to hire a trike instead. For hose who wanted to tour this way, i highly recommend the services of mang Rio (0927-9080243). He only charged us 250php for 1.5hrs of touring (mt. luho and puka beach). He offers to help us carry our stuff and take our pictures but unlike other tour guides, he also lets us do our thing and not dog our steps and most of all he doesn't rush us. We gave him an extra 50php for tip.

5. Helmet diving (350php with cd)
This is best done in the morning and can be done even if it's raining since the water below is calmer. We contracted the services of mang Nino (0915-8722855) for both helmet dive and zorb. This man is trustworthy. The water is splashing so bad before we boarded the boat that we decided to leave the gears with him plus our money. He was still carrying our bags 30min later when we came back. Anyway here's the deal with the helmet dive. They collect you from the shore and then transfer you to another boat in the middle of the sea. They will teach you how to do the dive - equalize, don't worry about it you just do what you usually do in the airplane and swallowing can often does the trick, the hand signals and don't bend your neck or water will come in the helmet. Then there's a ladder where they will put the helmet in your head when you’re neck-deep in the water and someone will accompany you as you go down. Below, they will give you food for the fishes and then take lots of pics and vids and then go back up. You can pick up the cd a few hours after at mang Nino’s place in station 1 (in front of yellowcab) or have him send it to you.

6. Zorb (380php if two people will ride it at once)
This remains our best activity. The place is really far but the transpo is already inclusive (it is said that before you have to go there on your own which would have cost you another 300php). we wanted to try the hydro zorb (side note: another way is to do the harness ride which is more extreme. you will be tied up against the inside wall of the ball and then go down that way. max weight per person should be 70kg). we went to the top and waited while they prepare the ball - check air, pour two pails of water inside, in you go and then cork you in. after that you roll down the hill. It was really fun inside reminiscent of the jungle log jam ride because of the water splashing all over the place. Too bad it's just a short ride. After that you have picture taken inside and as you go out (feels like being born again). We’ll definitely do this again!

7. Swim
Either in the beach or in the swimming pool. This is why we wanted a resort with a pool - for the times when you cannot swim on the beach. Since it is cloudy, we didn't see the need to put on sunblock (i know we should have put on anyway even if it is cloudy but we're too lazy to do it). What i like best on days like this is that we didn't darken one bit even if we didn't put sunblock during our whole trip, yay!

8. Massage
I decided to forego the massage on the beach in favor of the in-room massage. We availed of the inhouse massage offered by la Carmela (300php) and i tell you it was really painful, not relaxing at all (the problem was with the masseuse so i still consider it an enjoyable way to pass the time if only the masseuse was good). Anyway, what i liked about it is that i could sleep immediately afterwards since i'm already in my room.

9. Seafood buffet
We’re told there are beach buffet everywhere and there are lots which offer seafood in their courses. First since it’s raining there is no beach buffet and the one la carmela offers do not have any seafood in the courses available (it must be popular though since people flock to the place during dinner time - personally I find the food they serve too bland for my taste). So we went looking for a seafood buffet. We found two near La Carmela - Bamboo's and One MGM. Bamboo’s is a nondescript place a few steps from La Carmela on stn 3 side. It serves lechon, oysters, mussels, fish, fried chicken, chopsuey, and other dishes as well as pasta and a few desserts and fruits and unlimited drinks (iced tea or orange juice) for only 250php. One MGM on the other hand looks great and serves lots of meat dishes but only a few seafood ones and maki - also for 250php. Since we’re craving for seafood, we went back to Bamboo’s for their buffet. The lechon was nice and crisp, chopsuey was delicious, mussels only so-so but the oysters are yummy! This is one sulit buffet. Few people know of the place so you needn’t jostle anyone while getting your servings.

10. Fire dancing
W e were already giving up on this one since it is raining every day. I found some clippings where Sand Bar by Bamboo Lounge has shows everyday so we went looking for it. Sand Bar is near yellow cab. The place is covered though so you won’t see the show from the outside. We went looking for Real Coffee and that’s when we saw another show at Hawaiian Barbeque right on the beach. The show was amazing! The group is called Phoenix Firedancers and the music (dance) was more to our style than the gigolo-ish one by Sand Bar. We stayed and watched the show, took a lot of pictures (we weren’t able to get a video though). There’s a donation box going around after the end of the show. On our way back to Kalibo for our flight, we met the whole group and they are really nice. Their founder, Freddie, is known in boracay for his firedancing skills. They were really nice and we had our picture taken with them.

You can also have henna tattoo. There are stalls everywhere on the beach. I had one on my left ankle and another on my right shoulder - both for 150php. But I saw one in stn 1 near Willy’s rock that offers one for 40php only – too bad I already had mine done the day before. Be careful not to stain the sheets though for the hotel charges you if you stain anything. What you do is to rinse the tattoo 30mins after until all the slime gets off. After that you should be good to go. Another thing we found enjoyable is taking shots of the cool cloud formations which is sorely lacking in our summer shots. It adds drama to the whole scene. We also took sandcastle shots for every day that we’re there. Be careful though because some charges a lot for pictures - for others, there are just donation boxes in front where you could put your money in. There also a basketball arcade type game that you could try your luck (or skill -whichever applies. :P) with freethrow or three-point style. Foreigners and locals go here to show(off?) their shooting skills. There' also skimboarding which looks easier than it is. Skimboarding goes for 200-300php per hour including the lessons. We were supposed to try happy hour at Le Soleil (150php for a margarita but it's buy1 get1 during happy hour, until 10pm) but didn't have the time to go back. There's also shisha, which goes for 550php but again no time to try it.

Of course it is a pity that we missed some great sunset shots – which is what we were so looking forward to. And we’ve passed on the paraw sailing since it would be best with a sunset to look at. But that only gives us more reasons to go back. It’ll be another off-season trip though, when the lumot is gone, the weather is cold and the charges are low. We’ll just hope again that the sunset will say goodbye next time as the day ends.

IJM here signing out.