Boracay Island, 1983

 

Surprise! These aren't really old photos of Boracay. That's me and Arnaud, tripping with some retro clothes and taking advantage of the mustache he left after shaving his beard. 

We were inspired by the photos posted on Facebook by long-time island residents. Photos from as early as the '70s and '80s  that showed how our dear island was in those days: deserted beach, no establishments, no electricity and hardly any footprints on the sand. All you could see was a long stretch of pristine white sand, foliage and the clear blue sea, and of course the bushy hair, mustaches and short shorts of the backpackers who were lucky enough to discover this paradise at that time.

Sometimes I wish I was there to see Boracay in its purest state, sometimes, I wish it stayed that way. But decades after and boatloads of tourists later, all we can do is take care of the island as much as we can and indulge our fantasies with a old clothes, a razor and a little Photoshop. 

The Colors of Fun

Ahh... The annual Boracay International Funboard Cup.

Where the kites are as colorful

as

the

people.

And the vibe

as good as the jumps.

Congratulations to all the participants and winners!

when the wind blows

Throw your dreams into space like a kite,
and you do not know what it will bring back
~ a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. (Anais Nin) ♥

Blog Crush - Cannelle et Vanille

food & photography are high up in my list of loves. so imagine the sheer delight in discovering Cannelle et Vanille the food & photography blog of Aran, a Basque expat living in the US who captures the most wonderful shots and graciously shares her recipes. her gorgeous blog makes me want to dive into her photos if only to be near all that yummy goodness.

Funtivity: Adventures in Bubbaland

Nice thing about traveling, you never know who or what you're gonna meet.
So we were walking along the rice fields of Antique when...

we find Bubba!

We stop and chat over drinks.

and talk about the beautiful scenery.

Then he let's us hop on for a ride, around the fields

up to the street!

Yeah! Nice meeting you Bubba! That was some trip. :-D

Funtivity: Postcards from a Roadtrip

We started February with a trip to Antique Province. It's just a 2 hour drive from the Caticlan port, but it was a roadtrip nonetheless. We stared out the window as we cruised by the scenic beach side road with vast rice fields on the other side.

It was refreshing to take a break from our home island and usual routines. We headed to my Lola's (grandmother's) home in the town of Cubay where we lounged in her garden and stuffed ourselves silly with home-cooked meals.

We're excited to post other photos and rice-field adventures. In the meantime, here are a few stills.

This is for Jof, 1/4th of islaboheme. Wish you were here. :-)

Baby Love

Our dearest Shiva,

It was a beautiful Sunday morning when you were christened.

Your mother, a dear friend of ours, decided to name you Shiva - inspired by our yoga practice at Mandala Spa. It's a Sanskrit name for a Hindu god.

However Shiva also means the divine.

Welcome to the island Shiva! :) may you always remember your divinity... and may your life be one beautiful adventure.

With Love,

Your Godmothers :)

Hanging Out: Saturday Organic Market

Every Saturday on the island, the community comes together in a little quadrangle called Plazoleta to share homemade / organic goodies. Friends spread their checkered cloths on small tables to unwrap their specialties. Suddenly, the scent of muffins, cakes and hot chocolate fill the air with an amazing aroma and a cheerful, festive vibe.

Thanks to the great Seva team, residents and tourists can look forward to shopping for garden-fresh vegetables, healthy meals and even cool recycled artworks on an otherwise lazy Saturday morning. Don't you just love weekends?

Check out scenes from the market :-)