BALI HAI

Anyone that has been to Boracay will tell you that it is one of the best beach destinations in the world . This small but astonishingly beautiful island is truly a tropical haven with its pink-white powdery sands, crystal clear waters and amazing colors of the sunset. From diving, surfboarding, windsurfing and sailing, to sunset cocktails and moonlit dinners on the beach –Boracay has it all.

Going to Boracay always excites me! This time, I was asked to be “madrina” (a sponsor) at the wedding of my nephew, Carlo Lopez, and his bride, Joanna Disini, who were to tie the knot at the gorgeous Shangri-la Resort and Spa in Boracay.

We flew Philippine Airlines from Manila to Caticlan. The Shangrila team whisked us off in their luxurious speedboat via their private terminal directly to the resort. The exhilarating 15-minute boat ride skirts the beautiful coastline of the island and the main beach. Arriving at Shangri-la is literally stepping into A TROPICAL PARADISE.

Shangri-la resort & View of pool & sea from bedroom

Most of the guests were billeted in the hotel’s well-appointed rooms, but my husband, David, and I were invited to stay at the fabulous residence of our close friends, Tim and Maria Shroeder. After a leisurely lunch at the Shang – and quite a few beers and cocktails at the pool bar (which was right on the beach) -- we headed off to the Shroeders for a siesta. Their home is on top of a hill, in Diniwid, overlooking plush greenery, barely 5 minutes away from the resort.

By 5:00 pm we were back at the Shangri-la for the wedding rehearsal and dinner held at the bride and groom’s exotic villa fronting the beach. Complete with its own private gardens and pool, it was the perfect setting for a fun, romantic evening.

After a full day at the resort’s private beach – eating and drinking at the bar – everyone was ready for the grand event. Needless to say, the beach ceremony was beyond words and the sunset was nothing less than spectacular! As cocktails were served, fireworks lit the sky to the delight of everyone and then it was off to dinner and dancing till the wee hours of the morning. Truly a night to remember!

Shangri-la's Pool Villa & Wedding set-up at Punta Bunga Beach

The wedding party met for dinner the next night in town – at the Dos Mestizos Restaurant - an authentic Spanish restaurant owned by Binggoy Remedios, a Boracay resident. The Paella was scrumptious and Sangria was plentiful and Carlo and his group of friends entertained everyone, singing and playing the guitar.

We lingered a few more days at Tim and Maria’s. Their home is walking distance to the main beach where we spent the mornings swimming and bar-hopping. We discovered that the farther down the beach we walked, the cheaper became the beers and drinks – Shangri-la being the most expensive, then Fridays, Discovery Shores and finally the Obama Bar – where the lie-lows were half way in the water. Transportation on the island is mostly by tricycle (tuk-tuks) but our host, Tim, preferred cruising around in his own golf-cart. There are also a lot of motor buggies, but these are used by the younger set. You can take a more conventional mode of transportation like a van or a jeepney. But if you are in Boracay – you must experience the tricycles.

We visited the newest luxurious resort on the island about 30 minutes by golf cart. Asya is a modern high-end resort located at the other end of the island. It definitely is another great Boracay destination and given a few years when the trees grow out, it will be another Paradise Resort. The restaurant and café by the beach were first-class and prices were very reasonable.

A final beautiful day in paradise ended with dramatic sunset cocktails at Diniwid beach. No one wants to leave the island, to get back to “reality”. The island is so perfect, it seems unreal. Like Bali-Hai, it beckons you to stay. The only solace is that you know you can always come back.

YES – BORACAY IS TRULY A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE!