What to do in Boracay

Boracay is widely known for its powdery white sand beaches and nightlife. What could Boracay offer to someone who is not fond of night life and has been to hundreds of beaches in her lifetime? Below is my list of to-do activities while you're in the Philippines' top 1 beach destination.

1. Get a braid. It's the first thing that I did when I arrived. And I sported the look for 3 days, even had my braids on when I went home to Davao. This would cost you from P100 to P450 depending on the style. My braid prepared me for the other activities that I did on the island.

2. Wear your skimpiest bikini. I was never the conservative type when I'm on the beach. But I also do not wear anything compromising. But when I was in Boracay, I had the best excuse to wear my most revealing swim suit. And nobody cares, really. You won't be judged, promise, as long as  you stand by the standards of decency.

3. Buy from the local wet market. You will get the freshest seafood from the Talipapa. It's located at Station 2. There you can choose from a wide array of delectable seafood. There are a handful of restaurants in the Talipapa who would gladly cook your food the way you want it. It's way cheaper than dining in restaurants and you're assured that you're eating fresh seafood.

4. Watersports. Need I say more? I have to say that I agreed to go to Boracay because I was excited about Banana Boat, Fly Fish, and Parasailing. There are a lot more water sports other than what I mentioned. It was the Fly Fish that I enjoyed the most. And I also learned a valuable lesson: don't wear jewelry when you're at the beach!

5. Go to an adventure park. Odd it may seem, but there's an adventure park in Boracay that not everybody knows about. It is named Happy Dreamland Theme Park. It is particularly good for those bringing kids as there are several attractions that they will surely enjoy. One of the most exciting activities that you can do is the guided ATV ride uphill that will bring you to a good spot overlooking the island.

I hope you will have a good time in one of the best beaches in the Philippines (or the world?). Boracay is a really beautiful place. Let's keep is beautiful.

How To Take Care of Your Yacht

Seasonal, monthly and daily boat care practices are vital to caring for your vessel. Proper boat maintenance will extend the life of your boat and eliminate the need and frequency of costly emergency repairs, and will ensure the safety of all those onboard as well. The following tips will help to take good care of your boat.

1. Wash your boat

This is the first and simplest task to perform, and it needs to be done regularly. If the vessel is in salt water, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water after every trip. Doing this helps to remove salt residues.
Salt corrodes metal and fasteners and destroys other hardware also. It also dissolves the gel coat if left for long periods. You need to use good quality soap with a soft-bristled, long-handled brush. You also need to use marine boat wash.

2. Change the oil

Boats also need an oil change just the way cars do. Stern-drive, four-stroke inboards or outboards require a regular oil change and the frequency depends on the model of the boat. A good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 100 hours of operation, or at least once a year. There are not many boat oil shops around. So you may have to do it yourself or visit a local dealer.

3. Check the propeller

If you have a sterndrive or outboard boat, you need to verify the propeller before launching it. You also need to remove the propeller using a deep well socket several times in a year. You may have to remove discarded fishing lines if they are wrapped around the propeller shaft. You also need to inspect it for dents, nicks, and other damages, and repair it if it shows signs of an impact.

Taking good care of your boat will take you a long way in preserving your sportfishing yacht. If you don’t have a boat and are in need of one, you can buy it from dealers such as Dixon’s Marine Group.

La Maison, Santorini

If there's one restaurant that I want to tick off my bucket list, and hopefully soon, I want it to be La Maison in Santorini. Santorini is one of my dream destinations, not only because of its dramatic views and stunning sunsets but also because the volcanic islands' history are so intriguing. And I wanna walk on the cobblestone streets of what they call as the most romantic place in Greece.

Santorini has become a popular wedding destination of couples. I won't be going there to get married since I just recently tied the knot. But I'd like to spend some quality time with my husband in place that's literally away from everyone else, especially from work. Santorini has that charm that captured my heart - sun, sea, and a relaxing vibe.

Just take a look at these photos that I got from the web (no copyright infringement intended):

La Maison is located in Imerovigli, a small resort town which they say as having the most stunning view of the sunset and magnificent view of the island's scenery. Imerovigli has a lot of restaurants offering fresh fish and vegetables and La Maison seems to be a very cozy place for a romantic dinner with my husband.

I love how relaxed the ambiance is, I wouldn't feel intimidated but I'd definitely expect a sumptuous meal from Chef Ioannis Pafitis. I'd like to try their pork loin in honey sauce and I also want their fish dishes. I've seen some photos in their Facebook page but I didn't see the description of their dishes. I also could not find their menu but I've seen a review of La Maison's chocolate lava and I think that it's really good.

I just hope that the reviews posted on websites were in English, or at least properly translated in English so I could understand, like if the websites used translation software. Sometimes, Google translate is just too plain and literal, and some sentences don't make any sense.

Wining and dining at La Maison is definitely on my bucket list. And I want to tick it off soon. Cheers!