Wanderlust in Boracay
March 18, 2005 | 12:00am
Boracay has always been on top of my favorite getaway spots in the country. Just last year alone, I visited this world-famed island almost every month. I just can’t resist its beautiful life of clear waters, powder-white sand and wonderfully warm people. I immediately transform into a different person when I set foot on bora’s shores – I’m more laidback, calm and completely relaxed. What also makes this island so attractive to me is that when I’m sick of the sand and the surf, there are still tons to do. Over the years, Boracay’s transformed into a place with more discerning places to eat and stay. Here are four places that’s constantly included in my Boracay must-do list:
Darling and adorable couple Jude and Louise of the famed Hey Jude Boracay is expanding their island territory with the recent opening of Hey Jude Resort. Its very central location – a minute’s walk into the interior of D’Mall – makes it a perfect place to stay for those who want to be right where the scene is, yet want a place that’s also quiet. YStyle editor Celine Lopez and I recently stayed at Hey Jude Resort. Both adept at murdering mango margaritas by the dozen, we both took advantage of the resort’s literal stone’s-throw-away location from that bar scene and drank ourselves silly during our stay. We both couldn’t believe there was this oasis right smack in the center of everything. Hey Jude Resort is on a beautifully fenced-in property complete with a rock fountain and peaceful landscaping. Its building of three floors has 20 rooms. Each is tastefully decorated and contains two full-sized beds, cable TV, and all the usual amenities. We especially liked the small touches – the rain-shower head and the tropical flowers they placed on the beds in the evening, all this for a very reasonable price. Be sure to book your room way ahead during the summer as Hey Jude Resort’s getting very popular and rightly so…
Hey Jude has also just recently opened up Hey Junifer, a Mongolian restaurant just at the side of Hey Jude Bar. The place is named after their very hardworking cook who incidentally happened to be the island’s first cook who specialized in Mongolian barbecue cooking.
Aria’s famed for its wood-fire roasted pizzas. Owned by Juan Elizalde and Paolo Occhionero, this place has been around for three years now and I swear it only keeps getting better and better. At a recent dinner at Aria, Italian Chef Gino Amadio churned out an authentic Italian feast that included Tagliatelle Con Tartufo, Asparagi e Proscuitto di Parma (homemade Tagliatelle with white truffle, asparagus and parma ham which is absolutely to die for), Rotolino Marchigiano (wood-fire oven baked pizza roll stuffed with tomatoes, mushroom, mozzarella and ham), Medievale di Offagna (organic arugula, lentils, carrots, kalamata olives and shaved parmesan cheese in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing), Insalata di Cocomero, Rucola e Pinoli (watermelon and arugula with pinenuts and balsamic vinaigrette which is refreshing and fantastic for those watching their waistlines), Pennette al Ragu di Salsiccia e Funghi (pennette pasta with Italian sausage and mushroom in red sauce), and Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia (spaghetti with a Venetian-style black cuttle fish sauce which is homemade pasta that the Italian mafia would die for).
Aside from its dishes, Aria’s also known as a cool place to hang out before dinner. Look for manager Gino Cruz to give you a spot right in front of the beach with low tables and pillows to lounge on. On certain nights, there’s fire dancing for entertainment. Order those yummy mango margaritas from fave bartender Tommy.
Louie Cruz and lifetime partner Sandro Reita moved to Boracay many years ago out of a longing to live a zero-stress life away from the city. Their mutual love and passion for cooking brought them the island’s beloved McSandro. Known for its classic and unpretentious Filipino home-style cooking and wafer-thin pizza ("For people who want to watch their star waistlines," Louie adds), McSandro has been drawing countless culinary ooohs and aaahs from the many celebrities often found dining at this hotspot.
When in McSandro, one must bust their bellies with the following from their yummy menu: Crispy crab, my personal favorite; spicy garlic rice, not for the faint-hearted; grilled tortang aubergine; ampalaya vinaigrette salad, truly refreshing; binagoongan; mussel soup; classic steamed lapu lapu, charcoal grilled pork liempo, chicken and pork adobo smothered with garlic and cooked like grandma used to without soy sauce; beef kaldereta; and the only wafer-thin Jazz cheese pizza served in the Philippines.
McSandro is also a colorful place to hang out with the colorful and always-vibrant Louie Cruz hopping from table to table making sure his guests are well-cared for. Bravo Louie and Sandro!
Ever since dear friend Alexis Ledesma, owner of Nami resort, told me that Nami meant "something good’" in the local dialect, I’ve adapted to using the word or expression for all sorts of good things whenever I’m on the island. When I’d be savoring something delicious, I would say, "Oh how nami!"
Truly, Nami has become like a really good second home to me in Boracay. Who can resist 12 fabulously luxurious rooms, each with a Jacuzzi on its balcony overlooking the beach and the fabulous food? Must tries include the fluffy basil and goat cheese omelet, the very juicy beef salpicao, the belly-busting shitake mushroom and goat cheese tarts, the savory spicy buffalo wings and the deadly delicious decadent chocolate cake.
Nami’s also becoming known for its spa treatments executed oh-so-fantastically by their well-trained masseuses. Do try to book a relaxing Shiatsu-Swedish massage at their outdoor treatment cabana right by the beach. Hear the waves crashing and watch the sunset as your muscle knots become gently untied – oh it’s just heaven, darling!
Look for the very friendly and extremely efficient resident manager Irene Kramer or general manager JR Cacho for your heart’s desires.
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