CARAMOAN, part six : Boracay + Palawan = MATUKAD!!!

"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!!!"

By far,
the most beautiful island
we visited in the Caramoan Peninsula;

as we arrived,
I received a text message that
(yes, SMART has a one-bar signal here)
Signal no. 3 had been hoisted over Bicol,


and as I pointed out Lahus Island across the channel,
the god of beaches smiled down on the sons of a beach

who braved the high swells of the waves, and
who dared visit Matukad on what was supposed to be a stormy day.


armed with a single bottle of single malt,
and a cooler full of ice cubes,

we proceeded to maximize our stay
in this wonderful wonderful place,


an island with two distinct beaches,
a freshwater pool at the summit of this hill,


and strange new plants that would stimulate
the interest even of John Locke from LOST:







This is THE BEACH that most reminded me
of what Boracay looked and felt like
back during my first trips there from
the late '80s to the early '90s...

no passé house music blaring out of every bar,
no vendors selling fake "oakleys",
no pushy boatmen offering banana boat rides,
no empty bottles of mineral water littering the beach.

Back in those days,
we went to Boracay for the beaches,
and the partying was incidental;

Nowadays,
people go to "Bora" for the parties,
and "oh, incidentally, there's a beach".




MATUKAD is a BEACH,
first and foremost,
front and center,
untouched and unspoiled.

But who says you can't party
in this virgin territory?

Scotch and a smoke...

Yoga by the shore...

start a Scandal...

Jump around...

Float calmly...

and in honor of this Olympic year,
some Greco-Roman Wrestling...

and even Shotput!!!

After all that activity,
our intrepid boatmen surprised us with a merienda treat:

Mini Marlins,
fresh from the sea, grilled on the spot!!!

The smoky flavor of the fish was
perfectly complemented the peaty whiskey,

but some people just don't know when to stop,

and can't control their intake of Scotch on the Rocks!

Finally,
a respectful Toast to Matukad Island,

and a firm commitment to keep it pristine,
and take care of the God-given beauty of this natural wonder,
one of the best beaches of the Philippines.



We shall return.