Boracay beyond the buzz

CEBU, Philippines - There’s something about Boracay that makes me want to think twice about spending my summer in this multi-awarded piece of paradise.  It could be the maddening number of beach bodies you’d have to thread through as you make your way through White Beach, it could be the blare of party sounds from bars crammed into every available piece of space at Station 2, or it could be both.  While Boracay is known as the Ibiza of the Philippines, thanks to the people and the parties, there’s a different side to Boracay that’s more than just relaxing...it traipses on comforting

Contrary to popular belief, sublime serenity can be had in this island party hub.  For the sunworshipper who wishes to bask in the comforting sounds of silence, nature, or great conversations, here’s a relaxing journey that will leave you recharged not spent.

Day 1

While Boracay is known for its pristine beaches (believe me, this has become very rare lately), take a different route by opting for a resort far from the usual string of favorites along the three stations.  I personally opted to make my stay at Mandala Spa & Villas as the focal point of my stay — a tricycle ride from White Beach.  This meant that the only sounds you will be hearing apart from the staff’s gentle greetings would be the rustling of the leaves and the grass, and the chorus of birds roosting or nesting amongst the canopy of leaves and branches.

The entire resort feels as if it’s set right smack in the middle of a forest with the pavilions and villas blending easily with the foliage and smatterings of tropical blooms.  Switch into a sarong or a flowing palazzo pants — anything comfortable — bring along a good book and lounge in one of the native pavilions tucked in the midst of giant ferns and birds of paradise.  With the resort a destination in itself, it deserves an entire day of luxuriating and reconnecting with nature before exploring its hidden paths and finding special places to simply recharge.

Day 2

Get an early start and make your way to Mandala’s Prana pavilion for a breakfast of warm croissant, homemade mango jam, butter, scrambled eggs, and watermelon juice.  After savoring a light breakfast, open the day with yoga lessons from the resort for a steady dose of positive energy.  Feel every stretch and every breath and take your life to a slow and easy pace—a stark contrast from the regular rat race of city life.

Come four in the afternoon, just as the sun turns into a soft golden glow, begin your journey to Puka Beach which is a 30-minute ride by trike up north beyond Station 1 of the island.  This is a hidden gem and a far cry from the quality of beach you’ll find in the more populous areas of Boracay.  Puka Beach is a long stretch of white, pristine shoreline and clear turquoise water.  Apart from faraway Carabao Island, Puka Beach is a stretch of paradise you can essentially call your own.  Linger by the shore and wait for the sun to set the sky into a scarlet and nectarine blaze before making your way back to Mandala for a quiet dinner of Beer-Battered Fish delivered from Tilapia N’ Chips.

While evenings at Mandala are incredibly serene, opt instead to while the night away at Cork Wine Room on the main road beside Regency Lagoon.  Cork is the only Wine Room in the island that’s classy and chic enough for quiet conversations and wine lessons if you happen to run into Toney Ellis, the man behind Cork.  The place is cozy and initmate enough to accommodate no more than 10 people.  Great wine can go for as low as roughly Php 500 a bottle.  Order a tray of cheeses prepared by Cork’s resident chef, Ronnie, and spend the evening pairing wine and cheese in an atmosphere illuminated by the soft glow of tea candles.

Before you end the night, experience one of Mandala’s award-winning massages—The Hilot Trilogy, a treatment that brings in the best of Philippines massage art into one rejuvenating massage that allows relaxation to seep deep into the skin to relax tense muscles.  End the night with ginger tea before you cap your stay with a healthy breakfast plate the next day.

As I left Mandala, I couldn’t really help but take a lingering look back.  This was a different Boracay—the real Boracay—one that allows you to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate full-circle.