We'd promised ourselves an afternoon out sailing, just the two of us. Unfortunately the wind had other ideas and promptly disappeared over the hill, so we had no choice but to leave the boat behind and stroll down to the end of White Beach in Angol instead. Just around the rocks lies another secluded little cove, where we set up camp (spread our sarongs on the sand, got a fire going and opened up the ice-box). Joey made a BBQ on the rocks (pirate-style) and cooked delicious spicy chicken kebabs. Then we shared a nice bottle of wine and watched the sun go down. Strolling home down the beach, I couldn't help but wonder how many more years Boracay has left until we won't be able to find a peaceful, secluded spot to relax any more. The rate the development is going, I fear there isn't much time left. I can see us looking for another place to live in a couple of years.

Red Pirates Spicy Kebabs

Spice mix:

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cumin

1 1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp oregano

Put in a shaker and mix well.

Cut your chicken into cubes, throw it into a bowl and add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil. Shake it about. Sprinkle on plenty of the spice mix (how spicy do you want it?) and toss to coat the chicken evenly with the spices. Thread onto skewers or wooden BBQ sticks with you favourite veggies, such as onion, mushrooms, sliced bell peppers, baby corn, or whatever else takes your fancy. BBQ or grill to perfection!

Best served on a beautiful beach at sunset, with a cold beer and good company. X

Oh dear, I must be getting bored. Wandering around on the net I discovered this little treasure of a website - never again will you be stuck for a Tagalog insult or swearword! http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/tagalog_filipino.htm
I'd like to say my life has been enriched by learning to utter such little gems as:

"You're worthless in this world, better kill yourself"
"You haven't grown horns after what you've done?"
"Tomorrow newspapers will cover your dead corpse"
"This dog's sh!t tastes better than your food"
"You're too good, I hope the lord takes you now" and
"Talk to the pieces of food in between my teeth"

...but it hasn't. It did give me a bloody good laugh though! It seems that Filipino insults are way more colourful and inventive than the English ones. Warning - not for the fainthearted!

Another amusing blog:

http://fourdinnersblog.blogspot.com/

Pic 1. Li'l Sis gets into Pirate mode with a cool henna tattoo. I want one!
Pic 2. Joey hones his photography skills with this beautiful sunset shot taken in our garden. He's getting good.

Our trip to Puka Beach yesterday was a great day out. On a whim, we leapt on the boat and took off for the afternoon - the first time I've been sailing since the storm. Upon arrival, we realised that we were hungry and had forgotten to bring food (we remembered the beer though, funny that...) so Joey and Rolly volunteered to go and track some down for us. An hour later - I kid you not - they returned bearing fried chicken and chips. They'd had to walk to the far end of the beach to find it, but it was truly worth the wait. sometimes the simple things in life can be the best (plus everything tastes better when you are ravenous)! Chicken and chips on the beach washed down with an ice cold beer on a hot day!
Stuffed and sunburned, we sailed home with the sunset while the last remaining fruitbats glided overhead.
Boracay - still magic!

There's one thing I love more than cooking, and that's eating! Joe and I recently indulged in some delicious comfort food at one of Boracay's nicest new restaurants, Crafty's.
Check out that delicious toasted cheese and ham sandwich on ciabatta bread! Joey ordered the jacket potato with chilli and a dollop of sour cream - thankfully he was too full to eat it all and I got to share. As far as I know, Crafty's is the only place on the island serving jacket potatoes. We're up there eating every few days, and are slowly working our way through the yummy menu. Some of my other favourites are the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich (delicious on olive foccacia bread), filled potato skins and the full English Breakfast - complete with mushrooms and Heinz baked beans - the best on the island.
The restaurant and bar is located on the roof of the new Crafts Superstore at the back of the mall, so there are excellent views of the island and it's a great place to watch the island's beautiful sunsets.
Initially I was horrified at the thought of a big superstore opening on our little island, but once we got over the shock, we've been really enjoying the food, imported beers and friendly company. Downstairs in the supermarket, I found lots of English treats like Marmite, Branston Pickle and Paxo Stuffing! Boracay has come on a long way since 1998...

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

To cheer ourselves up, we decide to have a meal at our favourite Greek restaurant, Cyma.
I can't get enough of their delicious food, especially the appetisers. Some of my favourite dishes include the Mezedes Combination (a selection of dips served with warm pitta bread), Gavros (anchovy fillets marinated in white wine vinegar with garlic and EVOO), the Spinach and Artichoke Fondue and the Lamb Gyros (lamb and vegetables in a tortilla wrap).
Cyma is located in the new wing of the mall - be sure to pay them a visit if you are on the island.

Boracay Battered!

Tropical storm Caloy (amazingly it didn't qualify as a typhoon, though it sure felt like one) has finally departed, leaving a trail of damage and destruction in it's wake.

The bar was battered, and half the garden was washed away, but luckily the roof stayed on, and the boat is still in one piece, though we had to raise it high up an stilts and take the outriggers off.

And all this happened on poor Rolly's birthday! In true Pirate style, we partied on regardless - despite there being no electricity on the island. Jamie came over and whipped a fabulous Coq au Vin (by candlelight no less) and we played music (bongos and guitars) until morning..

Right now the beach is a state - littered with plant debris, plastic, wood and broken boats. Sadly, the floating bar didn't survive the storm. What a pity the owners didn't take it some place safer.

Here's hoping the weather gets back to normal ASAP - we're not ready for summer to be over yet!

Here are some more party pictures...
As I write this, my li'l sis is currently on a plane winging her way over from England to join me in the sun. She and her friend Ali will be here for 3 weeks and it's going to be great having them around.
Right now, I'm off to the beach to enjoy the sunset!

Joey's 40th birthday party was really an evening to remember. Despite the fact that it had been raining all day, a really good crowd showed up, and the live music (guitar and bongo drums) kept everyone going until the early hours. Even the police showed up (always the best indicator of a good shindig) - but left when it was patiently (oh, alright, drunkenly!) explained to them that the various other sponsored events and parties around boat station 2 were regularly making way more noise than us! An unexpected surprise was the arrival of our friend Chris (first photo - blue T-shirt), who we havent't seen for around 5 years!
More pics to come soon....