On Per's last night here in Boracay we were all a bit too tired from the night before to do anything to ambitous. We lounged around most of the day, and in the evening enjoyed one of the delicous buffet dinner buffets on the island (only 185p! that's about $4 for all you can eat). We drank a few SMBs, but only because they were the cheapest thing on the drink menu. After dinner we strolled down the lit sandy path leading north, passing the night vendors selling everything from glow sticks and led pins, to intestines on a stick, to fake rolexes and breitlings. Also past the evening beggars, a subtle reminder that you are actually in a poor country. We finally found ourselves at the Thai restaurants bar, where our familiar friend served Per, James and I a trio of cold SMBs. It seems that we were retracing our steps.
We were all tired and not entirely over the night before, so we pushed on. Not sure what we expected, but soon we were at Cocomangas again. Soon we had three long island iced teas. Soon the request binder was out. Soon Danish dance beats were echoing between the palmtrees on the beach.
My iced tea was terrible, so I eased it down with a bottle of water.
We found entertainment in playing a real mix of bad music: cd compliations named The Greatest Dance Beat Album Ever, The Best Summer Beach Tunes Ever, and other ridiculous albums that never made it anywhere back home. After about 20 requests the girls behind the bar decided it wasn't as amusing as we did, and after about 40 the binder was taken away. Suddenly with nothing to do, and our glasses empty we decided to move on. The service charge at the bottom of the bill (taxes are included in the price, not added later) served as further punishment for our playful behaviour.
I need not trace the entire evening, as it will perhaps reveal too much. Let it only be said that the evening ended around 6am, as the shops began to open. Highlights might include the Danish drinking game involving belt whips and shots, making fun of a group of overgreased Greeks (who later won over the girls we were speaking to), and trying to figure out the sex of the local girls hitting on us. It should be known that by about 4am, it's mostly hopeful ladyboys on the prowl.

The next morning I checked out around 9am and moved to the nearby Diniwig beach. I had scouted it out the day before and admired the privacy and proximity to the white sandy shore. I met with Per around 2pm to pick up our photos from New Years. They weren't ready, so we bid each other farewell, and agreed that one day, either in Denmark or Canada, we would meet up again and have a wild old time. I headed off to my secluded resort and spent the evening quietly sleeping.

For two nights, soon to be three, I have been hiding indescretely on this here Diniwig Beach, just north of White Beach, just past the limestone bluff. I am pleased that this bluff mostly keeps out the hooligan tourists. Aside from the occasional boatload of Koreans that stays for half an hour or so, the beach is mostly private. Each evening I head into the centre of White Beach for a buffet dinner, and each night I stroll back alone. I enjoy the tranquility and peacefulness, but spending days in a beautiful beach resort by yourself can get lonely. I do a lot of thinking, and reading (would you believe that I am mostly done Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Repair? doesn't fall under my usual non fiction: biology genre, but really quite fascinating). Yesterday I had a moment of panic when I realized that I can't afford to be doing the things I'm doing. I told myself before that I am only going to be here once, and so should make the most of it. Yesterday I forgot about that. I sent out a slough of emails regarding work. Maybe I jumped the gun on that one a bit. Today I was much more relaxed about the whole thing. I have managed to avoid stress almost completely, leaving it behind in Canada I think. Yesterday it found me. Finances have always been a source of great stress for me. Today I became a bit stronger and told stress that I would be home soon enough, and not to bother me while I'm over here.
I spent the day wandering through the tidal pools and along the beaches to the north. I found a few caves in the limestone and half decided that I would check out and move up here to stay. That notion washed out with the tide, though.
I beachcombed for Puka shells until I felt that I had had too much sun, then turned around and meandered back to Diniwig, slowly swimming most of the way.

Tomorrow I am going to investigate the ferry schedules and decided whether to head on or stay a bit longer. Often the ferries between islands run only once a week, especially the longer routes. My path will take me on one of the longer ferries to Palawan, and I would rather wait here in Boracay than over in a non-descript city on Mindoro...