New island experiences at the Boracay Regency
The deep, round holes in the white sand were similar to the burrows that crabs make. But then, it was highly unlikely that a horde of intrepid crabs could have wandered into such a busy pedestrian area. Our curiosity was piqued. Luckily, the small pits were evenly spaced, so that it was a simple matter to follow where they led — under a coconut tree near the shoreline. There, a stylish Asian tourist with bright blue eye shadow lounged. She bent to get angel-wing henna tattoos painted on her back, and as we noticed her high-heeled sandals, the mystery of the crab tunnels was solved. It was tempting to wait and observe how this particular tourist would teeter and navigate through the soft sand in her precarious three- inch heels, but we were already too eager to jump into the ocean surf.
Aside from its four kilometers of powdery white sand and calm, clear waters, part of the attraction of Boracay is the diversity of the people who visit the place. One could simply sit in a café or in the shade of a tree and gawk at the comings and goings of hodgepodge groups of humanity. There are numerous pairs of honeymooning Koreans, recognizable by their matching outfits and hair color, or family groups of similar features and heft in search of souvenirs and good things to eat. There are the buffed men and shapely women who have worked hard for their physiques, and are justifiably proud to show off their bodies in their revealing swimwear. And then, there are the rest of us who are content to enjoy our high-calorie fruit shakes without heed that the delicious drinks come with the risk of extra pounds deposited in our thighs and bellies. Although we may sometimes long for a quiet, deserted beach, the festive atmosphere of Boracay is enough to make us reconsider and be glad of the ready accessibility to the many places that beachgoers frequent.
We stayed at the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center, located at the center of where the action is. With a long beachfront of about 125 square meters, it has 285 fully air-conditioned and luxuriously appointed guest-rooms. Aside from being home to Boracay’s first underground beach disco bar, called MO2 Wave, it has five private KTV rooms, three swimming pools and several dining outlets. Its 700-seat convention center allows convention goers to mix business and pleasure, and a world-class spa is set to open early next year.
Despite its location and size, however, our lodgings afforded us both accessibility and privacy. We stayed at the hotel’s newly-opened Regency Garden Wing, and were pleasantly surprised that an area for peaceful retreat is possible in such a big hotel.
The Garden Wing is aptly named for its lush greenery. Garden fanciers will appreciate that the foliage and flowering plants grown there were carefully chosen for their sturdiness and ability to withstand ocean-side climate and weather conditions. Ninety rooms were built away from the noise and merrymaking of the beachside establishments, and provide a quieter alternative to Boracay holidays. The interior architecture is described as “Asian tropical paradise with a modern twist,” and makes use of decorative banig and anahaw leaf patterns.
Eighteen suites in the Garden Wing have patios with direct access to a swimming pool, so that one can get out of bed, walk straight into the pool and swim like a fish to his heart’s content. The pool has decorative fish sculptures that spew out steady streams of spray, but those of us who would rather drink like fish, would appreciate the sunken bar even more, as we can enjoy our drinks while soaking in the water. An equally attractive alternative activity to swimming is to get a massage from any one of the hotel’s accredited masseuses. Although I didn’t get her this time, contented guests talk about this one talented masseuse who can make you burp and fart as she kneads you to contentment
The sea breeze does much to whet up the appetite, and the hotel chefs have been hard at work to perk up the existing menu. Together with Boracay Beach Resort and Convention Center chairman and president Henry Chusuey, we sampled the dinner buffet of steamed prawns, grilled squid and fish, and were delighted that there were no heavy sauces to distract us from the delicious freshness of the seafood. “We want to be able to give our guests the best value for their money. I have always believed that you should always charge the customers what you’re worth — don’t cheat or overcharge them,” Chusuey says. To keep the hotel staff efficient and cheerful as they go about their work, the company gives them cash bonus incentives. And indeed, the resort staff seemed happy. They were pleasant, competent and quick in fulfilling our requests, and remained calm, smiling and efficient despite the constant flow of guest arrivals and departures. For holiday-makers, this approach counts a lot in leading to a pleasant experience. Really, there is no place for churlish service when you want to relax and enjoy yourself.
Still, the best thing about going to Boracay nowadays is that it is merely 35 minutes flying time from
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Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center is at Station 2, Balabag,
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Ask about Seair Leisure Escape Packages and the
