Four Month Lockdown

July 2, 2020

We are now in the 4th month of lockdown in the Philippines. It started on March 17th with quarantine, curfew and although the curfew is lifted, the island is practically still under quarantine.

The Philippines has one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Tourists who are still stranded on the island, can not just travel to Manila. There are no flights available anyway. And it seems there is no real plan to open up. They announced several times that aviation will start again and they always cancelled it again, because they found a case. Well, I think they can play this game for the next 12 month because the virus will not go away!

How the Philippines are able to handle their paralysed country for such a long time, I do not understand. Tourism after all is the backbone of their economy. And yet, after four month, there is no clear strategy in sight. Airlines sell tickets and then cancel the flights. That’s how they make at least a little money. Of course, the customer will never get a refund.

We are stranded on this island and actually we cannot really complain. ‘Stranded in Paradise’ in this case, is not just a flowery phrase. It is reality! Sometimes I have no words for how beautiful and stunning it is.

Of course there are the watchdogs and the military police. But after a while, they are just part of the picture and sometimes I don’t realise that they are even there. The rules are sometimes ridicules indeed. But you also learn not to argue. Just play the game!

 

And there is also a final conclusion. Maybe it is time to change your life. Because, once, if you leave this island, you’ll probably never come back.

One should leave when it is best. Maybe it’s time to go.  True to the motto: ‘Always leave them wanting more!’ (W. Disney)

Corona Dates:

Cases roughly 35000. Death 1350. The Philippines has an estimated Population of 100 Million people. Due to the lockdown they estimate 1.9 million newborns.

 

Tourist Ban – Nature Wins!

February 17, 2020

Tourists with the origin China or Taiwan in there passports are denied from entering the island! Due to the Corona Virus Outbreak, mass tourism came to a stillstand!

For now, it is really beautiful without that big noisy groups around. We’ve got a glimpse of Paradise for a short time!

 

Virus against Mass Tourism.

Corona Outbreak!

In this age of overpopulation, despite all other occurrences, like pollution an ruthlessness taking from Mother Earth, mass tourism is a logical outcome. Our planet is fighting off a serious, death bringing virus, called humans!

Compared to this fight, the Corona Virus Outbreak, seems to be just a small threat to the human race itself. As serious as it is for affected people, it is to state, that out there, linger much bigger threats. However, as long we go on and on and on, as usual with our convenient life, as long as we care about business and money and matter and pleasures, more than about the air, the water, the soil, the planet, the human race makes itself the enemy of nature and has to fail in the end.

Here in the Philippines, the outbreak of that virus results in the stay away of tourists from China. Flights from China to the Philippines for now are suspended. A big Cruise who was bound for Boracay, is held up in Hongkong. Six cases of the Corona Virus amongst the voyagers are confirmed.

“World Dream” Cruise in Hongkong to be bound for the Philippines.

Of course, not much is known about this virus yet. And most probably the human race will fight off the attack again. But sooner or later nature will strike again in order to bring back balance into the system!

Boracay, White Beach. Chinese New Year 2020.
Resort Paradise Garden, the “Chinese Headquarters “.  Usually big groups from China get through this hotel.

1 May – NO PARTY

No Party, no party people, no ad campaign! – Yeah!:-) This ad campaign in Boracay was always the worst!!

Just a normal, touristic day on the island.

The kite season at Bulabog is over. The wind has dropped almost to zero.

Kiteseason at Bulabog is over.

What about the Algeas?

There are a few patches at Station 1. But much less than all the previous years. So, now it is very much likely, that the illegal pipes from all the Hotels had caused the algae infestation.

A patch of algeas at the d’Mall Beach Front (30 April 2019)

Crystal clear water at Angol Beach Station 3

White Beach Station 3 (Angol), 1 May 2019

Live view of the pontoon jetty at Station 3. 1 May 2019, 3 pm

 

 

Two Beaches in One Day

1 April 2019

First we visit Bulabog Beach. Surprisingly good wind conditions late in the season. Until we have a solid 15 kts blowing from ENE. On the water it is not very busy. We have an max. of 20 kites up. We had a nice kite session at „Habagat Kite Center“.

Habagat Kiteboarding

Bulabog Beach. Late in the Season. Enjoying kiteboarding and tranquility of a beautiful tropical beach.

The wind has dropped around 1 pm. In the morning until noon we had winds up to 16 kts.

Time to Relax

And then we make over to White Beach.

They got their own floating jetty at Station 1 now (after the one at Station 3). Ready to take on Mass Tourism!!

White Beach at the North end. Here the first Algae’s in this season arrive on the scene. This Algae’s are not very pleasant. On the beach they are slippery and backed by the hot sun it smells like old cabbage.

For the most part however White Beach is very beautiful. It’s getting hotter.

That’s why its called White Beach!

Ladies in Red…

…lost in the blue!

• 

  Chinese Tourists in red dress

A stark contrast of color

ONGOING DEMOLISION at WHITE BEACH

After 6 month of closure and almost 2 month after the reopening of the island, the buildings on the White Beach at Station 1 at Willy’s Rock are still under construction or in the process to be demolished.

Former ‘Little Prarie Inn’

Former Dive School New Wave

Demolition ongoing

AVALON – Mainland in the Mist

Sunday, December 16, 2018

A sight of the the mainland that is not all too rare. Deep clouds clinging to the mountain range made the climate more wet over there. 

Mainland vanishes in the mist

Mainland Aklan, White Beach Boracay

Mountain Range Mainland

We are at the south part of White Beach. The mountain range of the mainland (Aklan) covers the background. 

View from Station 3 to Mainland Moutain range.

Demolition Ongoing

They take it seriously. Debris of the foundation of Station House 3 at the White Beach.

A strange view of the White Beach. Concrete debris piles up at Station 3

We wonder it some of the measures are perhaps a bit to hastily? The Station Houses could have been useful as facilities to serve tourists. After all they were erected decades ago for just that purpose.

But of course, the new rule is: no installations allowed on the beach!