april-2012

C OOL SUMMER
This side
of paradise
Boracay is known to be many things, yet still has a lot of
surprises up its sleeve. Let island resident Freida Dario
be your guide to a good time
A POWDERY, white sand beach,
crystalline waters, palm trees swaying
with the wind — it’s easy for an idyllic
destination such as Boracay to fall into
the territory of clichéd summer vacation.
But having lived here since 2004, I wake
up to this scene almost every single day.
And its charm hasn’t diminished; in fact,
as the years go by — and as more and
more people fl ock to the island, whether
as permanent residents or weekend
guests — so does Boracay’s personality
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become more complex, and all the
more intriguing.
When once, decades ago, it was
singularly described as a remote island
paradise for those seeking to commune
with nature away from the crowds,
Boracay has now become the kind of
place that can be tailor-fi t to whatever
kind of beach island experience you’re
looking for. And we can help make this
happen — by listing 12 Boracay musts
that should be on your to-do list.