Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Roxas City, Seafood Capital of the Philippines

Well, my only claim to seafood experience in Roxas City was our dinner at one of the many ihaw-ihaw (grill restaurants) along Baybay Beach, 3 kms outside the city.

Bloggers say when in Roxas City, do not miss eating in Baybay Beach.  So last night, we went.  We took a tricycle right in front of Halaran Hotel.  Fare was Pesos30 as per input of the hotel clerk but when the tricycle driver requested for 10 more, I said yes.  It was fun choosing from the many restaurants lined up along the street which is right along the beach so that when you sit at the farthest end of the restaurant you are already on the beach.  Diners chose from seafood and marinated meats displayed and they will cook it for you.  I really liked the almost 1 kg fresh pampano fish priced at Pesos180.  I had it fried because pampano skin is so delicious when fried.  My husband ordered 2 sticks grilled stuffed squid - Pesos50 per stick of 3 squids.  Cooking is free.

In Boracay, Dampa in Paranaque, Dampa in MOA, Dingalan, etc., when you buy fresh seafood, you pay an average of Pesos100 per kg or a fraction of a kg. to have your seafood cooked.  So I say, cooking in Baybay Beach, Roxas City is definitely free.

It is interesting to note here that three children peddling boiled peanuts took over eating the food left on the table by diners who just very recently finished dining and has left the table.  The restaurant allowed them to eat - did not shoo them away.  Once another table was vacated, one of the girls took the barbeque sticks with left-over meat on it. 

Around noon today, we went to see the house which is the place of birth of former President Manuel Roxas called the Roxas ancestral home.  It was a not a huge mansion which can be expected of a house of a former president, just a typical house of the generation of my parents, mostly can be seen in the provinces, with capiz shells on the windows.  It is refreshing though to know that our former president came from humble beginnings.

Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Roxas City, Capiz, Panay Island

Feb. 26-28, 2010

To go to Roxas City from Boracay this is how to do it by land (and water) and costs:
tricycle - main street of Boracay to pier - Pesos80.00 per ride one or two persons
fastcraft or banca - pier Boracay to Caticlan - Pesos25 banca or 30.00 fastcraft
to leave the pier of Boracay there is a fee of Pesos50.00 per person
airconditioned van - Caticlan to Kalibo - Pesos100 per person
no aircon van - Kalibo to Roxas City - Pesos100 per person
tricycle - search for cheap hotel all over the city - Pesos50 contract 50.00 tip

Halaran Hotel is only about 200 meters to City Hall,  Provincial Hall and the Catholic Church.  It is an old building, probably about 50 years old, but clean and gives free breakfast.  For Pesos750 per room it is a good deal.  The room is big, it has two single beds, aircon and a private bathroom.  It is also beside a river.

Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Goodbye Boracay

It was my dream or idea the past years to live in Boracay for a month.  In January this year, my husband and I agreed to spend two weeks in Boracay and with an open mind and being retired, we could stay indefinitely. When we arrived in the island though, we thought one week is enough. Not that we did not like the island, we are so much in awe of the sand, sea and sunset.

We came here first more than 10 years ago.  I was attracted to the island's beauty and laid back ambiance.  Then Boracay was listed in some magazine's Top Ten Most Beautiful Islands in the World.  You can imagine what it did to the island's popularity with the world's travelers searching for sun, sand and sea wanting to escape winter in their countries.

I would describe the Boracay now as still beautiful but chaotic.  White Beach, which is 7 kms long is full of hotels, resorts and all types of accomodations and same stretch is full of restaurants.  Thousands of people from all over the world visit this island all year round as there is no off season here.  Everyday here is a good day to go to the beach, sunbath and swim.

People in the island mentioned of visitors staying for months.  There is a newly built building catering to long term rentals and another building for construction with this market in mind.  This is just an example of the ongoing development in this island, not to mention, there are a lot more developments going on.

We miss the old Boracay - beautiful, peaceful and laid back.

 

Sunset wedding in White Beach.

 

 Deco's La Paz Batchoy Pesos77 each (Cad.$1.75) big bowl

Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Boracay Island's Beaches

In Boracay, three of the famous beaches are the White Beach, Bulabog Beach and Puka Shell Beach.

White Beach is famous for its very fine, white sand, shallow water perfect for swimming, rows and alleys of hundreds of restaurants, plenty of buffet dinner options, night life, bars, fresh seafood, shopping, boating, scuba diving, sunset sailing, kite boarding, banana boating, sunbathing, and all kinds of accommodation from no star to 5 stars.  This is the Boracay people know, almost all visitors to the island stay, swim and eat here.

Bulabog Beach is popular for its windy nature perfect for the kite surfing enthusiasts.  This is located on the other side of White Beach.  Here we found two accommodations which cater to long term rental.  A room complete with an aircon, tv, refrigerator and a kitchen is priced at Pesos22,000 per month (Cad$500) and that includes electricity and water.  We were informed by a friend who stayed in Boracay for 6 months, that the longer he stayed, the lesser he paid.  He paid Pesos22,000 for his first month and on his last month he paid Pesos18,000 per month.

Puka Shell Beach, which is located on the tip of the island, is a boating destination from White Beach.  We went there by land though yesterday commuting by tricycle.  Fare was Pesos25 per person one way.  When we arrived at 9am, we were so happy to see that we were alone on the beach.  This is the opposite of White Beach, where tourists from all over the world go.  We liked Puka Beach so much for its clean, clear water; its isolation, peace and calm.  We stayed on the beach the whole day hiding from the sun on the side of the hill. Few people came and went, so unlike White Beach.  Bloggers say Puka Beach is a secret place in Boracay.  We sure hope for it to stay that way.  Our food came from a nearby restaurant freshly cooked and delivered, stir fried noodles for morning snack and chopsuey and rice for late lunch..

C'est la vie.

.

Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Boracay, Aklan, Philippines

We checked-out from our rental studio unit at Avida Towers at 8am yesterday, marking our one month stay in the Philippines and at Avida.  We paid our bills and turned over the keys to the unit owner.  She gave us a gift of Mary Grace's cheese rolls and enseymada for being such a good tenant, I assume, and offered to bring us to the airport which we accepted.

Our flight with Air Philippines was smooth and we we delivered to Caticlan on time which was about 12 noon.  From Caticlan we took a tricycle and a short boat ride to reach the island of Boracay.  My husband was assisted by an agent in searching for a budget accommodation while I stood in a street corner minding our luggages.  He was gone for about 30 minutes and when he came back he told me of a small but clean and air conditioned room going for Pesos800.00 (Cad $18.) a night.  This was what we had in mind so we went and checked-in.

Boracay became famous a few years ago when it was listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  My husband and I came here first more than 10 years ago when local and international tourists were a lot less.  Now, we were amazed at the number of visitors this small island has visiting.  Caucasians are everywhere but Koreans are, I think, the number 1, in terms of quantity.  They are usually in huge groups, like 10 to 20 persons per goup and they can be very noisy.

Food prices here vary from a meal consisting of rice and a piece of barbequed chicken for Pesos50 (Cad.1.15) or a bigger piece of grilled pork and rice going for Pesos 120 (Cad.$2.75)  to an eat-all-you-can buffet dinner priced at Pesos250 (Cad.$5.70)  At the higher end, of course, is fine dining at 5* hotels and resorts.

Beach massage is priced at Pesos350 but I had it last night for Pesos200 plus 50 tip.

Last night, as well as tonight, the temperature and ambiance at the beach was perfect: there was a gentle breeze, a quarter moon in the sky, music from a live band, a nice conversation with my loving husband while sitting and laying on the fine white sand of almost perfect Boracay beach.  C'est la vie.