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| Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Monkey! Starting February 8, 2016 until January 27, 2017. |
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| Lauren and I finally arrived in Kalibo Airport in the Philippines. A few hours behind after a flight delay and having to book an additional flight. KLO was another two hour drive to the ferry boats that would take us to Boracay Island. |
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| Brittany and Michelle joined Lauren and I on the island just a few hours later. Here we are in a early morning tuk tuk to an all day outdoor event we'd be attending, Manic Monkey. |
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| Ann on the far right and her husband (standing closest to the boat) were the hosts for the day. We took this boat to a separate island. We had a great mix of people from all over the world. Most traveling as alone, with the exception of one couple and us American girls. |
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| Before arriving the weather was predicted to rain everyday of our trip. We were so lucky to have beautiful days and majestic sunsets. |
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| Dubbed the name, Uncle Joey ( in the far right). His bar was supposed to be our meeting place before and after the boat ride. However, we enjoyed it so much we spent our entire first night listening to locals play drums among other instruments. The drinks were endless and the laughter didn't seem to stop. One of many unforgettable nights to come. |
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| My shot of the gang. |
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| Down time. I was astoundingly impressed with the cleanliness and care for the white sand and blue waters of Boracay. It is a huge tourist attracted island and known for it's party scene. However, no smoking is allowed on the beaches and everyone works together to keep it clean and safe. |
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| "Protect our Trees to save Sister Water." Arriving at the site for the beginning of the Manic Monkey. |
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| Wild girls out in the jungle. |
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| Throughout the day we met and fed dozens of village kids that come around. We also saw dogs, piglets, roosters, ducks, snakes, and oxen. Nearly half of the Chinese zodiac animals out in their natural habitat in one day. ' |
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| This man is standing on bamboo trees tied together. He will take them upstream until it makes it to the ocean and can be delivered to a ship. |
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| Manic Monkey Crew. |
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| Most of the food we'd feast on in the late afternoon. |
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| Saying hello to the local children. :o) |
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| Peaceful end to the first full day in Boracay. |
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| After a long, wild, unpredictable first night out. We all spent a perfect (possibly my favorite) day in Boracay just being beach bums. Michelle got her hair braided and rocked it the rest of the trip. Massages, blue drinks, stunnas, and sun tan lines. I was high on life. |
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| Lauren, Brittany, and I enjoyed some Mexican food, not once but twice. Beers and of course the gorgeous beach and beach babes! |
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| Loving life in the tuk tuks. |
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| Day 3 We took a private boat to Puka Shell Island. We stopped off in some crystal blue waters for some snorkeling. Not as much underwater life or coral was happening as I expected in such beautiful water. Nonetheless, it was great to cool off, splash around, and just act like a big kid with some great gals. |
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| Some Filipino boys playing on our boats before we took off. |
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| Puka Beach; A quiet stretch of white sand along the northern tip of the island. |
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| A highly popular photo opt on the beach. It was turning into a very windy day just shortly after this photo. |
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| Angelic? Adventurous? Artistic? No matter what it was, the wind about knocked everyone of us into this masterpiece. |
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| My last sunset on the brilliant, blue, bountiful island of Boracay. |
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| Classes usually lose a few student during Chinese New Year. Many families take the time off to vacation and relax, but mostly to be with their extended families. I had three students gone for the month of February, and then after CNY they returned, plus we gained two new students. |
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| Late January we celebrate Michelle's birthday and Jake's birthday with the gang, games, and good food. |
Thanks for reading! - K
