28 November 2023
Our island hopping in the Philippines continued with a visit to Iloilo, Boracay and Guimaras, in the Western Visayas, accompanied by Ate, freshly arrived from Switzerland, Nanay, Auntie Esp and Uncle Ernesto.
Day 1 – Puerto-Iloilo City
Our little group flew to Iloilo City directly from Puerto and checked in at the Park Inn, beside the SM Mall. We had dinner at a local seafood restaurant, the Ponsyon, and then wandered around the Mall before finishing the day with a refreshing nightcap, together with Johnnie Walker.
Day 2 – Iloilo City
Our first stop was the public market, naturally, and then we wandered around downtown Iloilo, stopping at the Maritime Museum, where there was an interesting exhibition on the history and importance of boats in the Philippines. We stopped off for lunch at Nora’s Eatery and then headed off to the Boardwalk, along the River Iloilo. We rounded off a very full day with a trip to Jaro Cathedral and a guided tour of Nelly’s Garden, a mansion dating from the 1920’s belonging to the wealthy Lopez family.
Day 3 – Iloilo-Boracay
It took a six hour bus ride to get to Boracay (driving past waterlogged fields on the way), including a 10 minute ferry crossing from Caticlan to the island. We checked in at the Astoria, directly on the beach. It was an inferior hotel to the Astoria here in Palawan, although in their defence, the Hotel Manager did permit us to drink our own ice tea on the hotel terrace overlooking the beach.
Day 4 – Boracay
A leisurely day enjoying the beautiful beach (spotlessly clean with wonderful white sand) and views of this small but popular island. The sunset was spectacular.
Day 5 – Boracay-Roxas City
Back in Caticlan, we hired a minibus to drive us to Roxas City, the reputed seafood capital of the Philippines. We did have an excellent meal there at Almax, with squid, oysters, shrimps and sinigang, while gazing out at the windswept beach. At night, we toured the centre of Roxas, lit up by colourful Christmas lanterns, a local speciality. It was Uncle Ernesto’s birthday and Auntie Esp splashed out on noodle soup for everyone at the Food court in Robinsons’ that evening😊.
Day 5 – Roxas-Buenavista (Guimaras)
A three-hour minivan ride took us back to Iloilo City and from there, it was a very short ferry ride over to Guimaras. Auntie Saling was waiting for us on the quayside in Buenavista and we went back to her house in the family compound to meet up with everyone – her husband, Joel; daughter, Viviane, husband Leo and son, Skye; her sister-in-law Jenny, husband Nonoy and daughter, Issay. We tasted the local speciality, mango pizza, and stayed to dinner, served like royalty. For me especially, it was very instructive to see how you are cared for when you visit family in the Philippines. We stayed that night at the nearby Grand Mountain Resort.
Day 6 – Guimaras Tour
Leo drove us in the specially-hired 14-seater minibus around some local sites of interest– the Roca Encantada, the Trappist Church and the Guisi Lighthouse, with an amazing hidden beach, at Kayama. It was 26th November, Nanay’s birthday, and we had a celebratory lunch together at the Mango Island Café. For dinner that evening, we were invited back to the family house.
Day 7 – Buenavista-Puerto via Iloilo
It was time to pack our bags and head back home after an intensive but really interesting week in the Western Visayas, thanking Auntie Saling and family for their hospitality and promising to meet up again together very soon.
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