Boracay today

The last time i set foot on Boracay was 15 years ago. We stayed in an old Vila hut with our house maid. I remember swimming in the beach, playing sticks with the locals, drinking mango shakes on our deck and swinging in the hammock.

There where only three motor bikes on the island and it was common to see the real indigenous people. The beach was clean, there were fishermen and only they new about the secret caves. Dad would compromise with the fishermen, ask him how much they would earn fishing for the day and double the amount to borrow his boat. Dad would take us to his cave where i can remember the deepest water, bluer then the sky and fish more colorful then the rainbow.

Today, there are over 1000 motor bikes, large trucks compacting the earth and interesting Lady boys. Large hotels dominate the beaches and there is a local supermarket. The beaches are now full of movie stars and tourists. There are no fishermen but men sailing boats and selling Streets Icecream. It cost 1500 paso each just to get on a boat and there is a 150P fee when you enter my dads cave, now known as Crystal cove.

It's amazing what can happen in 15 years.