Bahala Na!

October 30th/31st- Boracay Island, Phillipines

We couldn't be happier to have arrived at our intended destination. As we walk along the beach path we are greeted by friendly faces willing to show us to their guest-house/hotel/or hostel somewhere nearby the stunning beaches on the island. We decide to stop into a place called Serge's Palace, nearby to Boat Station 3 (a bit cheaper, and closer to the port to and from Caticlan). It's a nice place with a hot shower and air conditioning. Glad to have some relief from the thick humidity that hangs in the air like a damp blanket, we decide this will work for us. Pesos are the way here, and we part with a thousand for a night stay here. Not bad at all.
With a place to ditch our exuberantly overweight packs, we quickly head out to a beachside restaurant for some much needed sustenance. Pizza and beer does the trick, although not great for our 'beach bods.' Sitting at the 'Nigi Nigi Bar' we scope out the local vendors selling necklaces, sunglasses, foot-sandal-triangles (no idea) and lots of delicious snacks. Woman walk around with baskets of fruit atop their heads. Boatmen and vendors offer sailing trips or ATV rides. Women offer various massages and henna tattoos, or corn rows! We also take notice of the many aging white men with their younger Filipino counterparts. Thoughts of sex tourism can't be helped from entering our minds. But, live and let live (Bahala Na)!
Swimming becomes very important as we take a stroll along the beautiful white sand beach, enjoying the clear blue waters of this part of the Visayan Sea rush over our feet. We change into our swimming duds and head out into the water. We continue to see the bottom even at chest level. Amazing! Easily the best beach I have ever seen (not that I'm an expert in the area or anything, but still...wow). Small white fish dart around and into our ankles. We watch and ponder their strange behavior, or maybe they are pondering ours. Swimming, sunning, swimming, Mai Tais, more swimming, sleep....and so on. Perfect opposite to the previous days activities.
Showers and new clothes and we're ready for a night out. We stroll along until we find an all-you-can-eat Mongolian Barbeque restaurant with interesting techno music bleating from the attatched dance-club. Very delicious meal, and cheap too. Afterwards we walk some more and feel the wind whipping stronger than before. We hear some good rock-n-roll coming from a slightly tucked away beach-bar called 'Charlh's Bar.' We grab a seat and watch the band playing behind the bar. Meet a great couple named Francis and Nena who live in Manilla and are on vacation due to the holiday of 'Unas.' 'Unas' is somewhat of an equivalent to Halloween. Some celebrate the passing of the dead with prayer and some celebration. These two are such wonderful people, and we pass the hours singing along with the band, talking music and drinking San Miguel (the beer of choice here). Several hours, songs and beers later we part company. Best of luck Francis and Nena! Great people.
We head back to Serge's and notice a strong wind blowing even harder than before.
The next morning is filled with the deafening sounds of strong wind and rain pounding on the roof of our hotel room. There is a typhoon slightly to the north. It will not hit Boracay too hard, it's the north on the island if Luzon that suffered so much from the last typhoon. We are hoping this one moves along quickly so no on else is hurt.
The rain clears so I stumble down the beach, with sleep still in my eyes, in search of a shake for Mel. She's been wanting one since we got here. Found Choco-peanut-banana...this will definitely do. Talk to a couple guys on the beach path, find that the wind is far less strong on the other side of the island.
Mel and I walk across the island past many deshevelled homes of the locals. It's a much different scene than the beachfront resort atmosphere of White Sand Beach. To be expected I guess. However, and this in all likelihood could be my own ignorance, the people still seem to be relaxed and living life for whatever it brings them. Bahala Na. Mel and I wonder what the impression is of the foreigners to the locals. Is our presence here liked? Despised? Not thought much about? We wonder and we wander. I guess we mostly just reflect on the knowledge that we are so lucky in so many ways. It may not always be so, but....Bahala Na.