Boracay on a budget

Do you want to go to Boracay but have no money to waste? Do you want to stay at the best part of white beach without selling your soul to the devil? Do you want to have the best of Boracay without putting yourself in-debt for the rest of your life?
It's really a shame that average Filipinos cannot enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines without selling their souls. Boracay is expensive even for me with my comfortable Swiss standard salary (I am also very thrifty, I have to admit). Unfortunately, Boracay is being developed not for the average Filipino but only for those who earn lots and lots of dollars. For 4 people we easily spent about 1000 pesos per meal and we didn't even feel to have indulged. So, here are some tips on enjoying the best of Boracay without emptying your bank account:

1. Take the ferry- A long time ago we took WG and A's Our Lady of Lipa and it was okay. I am claustrophobic so I have to choose the economy class which involves sleeping on a double deck bed on the top floor of the ship . The sea breeze was great! Unfortunately, this service has been stopped by Superferry, so people who want to take the ship have to first go to Iloilo (overnight from Manila) then go by land to Caticlan which should cost you a few hundred pesos more per person and a few more hours. Cheapest ferry fare is 599 pesos (about 12 USD) until 2998 pesos for the stateroom. Superferry is the best ferry company in the Philippines in my opinion. Go to the Superferry website to book or call +63 2 5287000.

2. Stay at Cottage Queen, Station 1- Right next to Discovery Shores, Cottage Queen is a remnant of what Boracay used to be before the tourism rush. Perfect for those on a budget at 1,000-1500 a room (depending on the season). Don't expect high luxury here but be aware that you are on the best part of white beach for 1000 pesos per room! Their nipa huts are showing signs of age but in my opinion is still worth the money. ( 0063-36-288-30-62 or 0063-9202212430 look for Ging).3. Eat at the Cottage Queen Carinderia- Cottage Queen has a sari-sari store where you can buy essentials like instant noodles, soap, toothpaste, etc. It also serves food! But you have to tell Ging that you intend to eat there because they don't offer. They usually cater to the staff of Fridays and Discovery so their food is reserved. Cheap and good comfort food like pakbet and sinigang.

4. Andoks, D'mall- I love Andoks! I love their chicken, and the lechon kawali. Cheap family meals. For 50 pesos you can get a 1 pc chicken with rice. At D'mall, you will also find a lot of restaurants offering grilled chicken (chicken inasal) at reasonable prices.
5. Go to the Market- Just a tricycle ride away, it is a comfort that the market is still just a normal market. What cost a lot during beach trips are drinks. Mineral water and soft drinks cost a fortune in touristic places specially on the beach where you need to drink lots of it. The best way is to go to the market and buy a few bottles of mineral water. Mineral water is the silent money eater during trips.
6. Don't go during the peak season (April-May)- This is usually when Boracay turns into a touristic hell. It becomes dirty and expensive. Because these months corresponds to school holidays, I know that some of you must go during these months, then you just have to make sure that you go early in the season. December, before the holiday season starts, is the best month to go. Somehow the beach is just more beautiful (no annoying algae floating around).

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Puto Cheese Nga!

As I took out the puto wannabe from my oven, my heart skipped a beat because finally after trying probably 10,000 puto recipes (I'm exaggerating a little bit) it looks like I got it right this time. I rushed to take it out of the bano maria burning myself a little bit in the process. Hurriedly, again burning my mouth, I took a bite and rejoiced....Yes! Puto Nga!

You cannot imagine, how hard I experimented with puto. I think I did more puto optimization experiments than in the optimization of my microarray experiments. Molecular biology is easier, it is more defined and the protocols are published, with the added bonus that I get paid to know about it. With puto, I wondered for 5 long years how they make it so soft and delicate, and so ice creamy . Hands down the best puto cheeseI had ever tried was from our neighbor Mrs. Maturan from Los Banos, Laguna. I don't know if she is still selling them but I never forgot how wonderful they were.

Because I live in Switzerland, I really have to work my butt off just to eat the simplest Filipino food. To think that while in the Philippines I took the puto pao for granted to indulge in blackforest cakes and crema de frutas. Now, that I physically live so close to the actual "black forest" ("Schwarzwäld" in German, the origin of the cake with the same name), all I can think about is the simple puto.

With the success of my siopao just a few weeks ago (which I also worked hard for), I can't believe that now it is the turn of my puto cheese. I'm on a roll!

I cooked the recipe of the batter put asado in the middle and it became puto pao. Exchange the milk in the recipe for water if you prefer it to be less delicate. Mix it up like you want and create the puto of your dreams!

For this great puto recipe, please proceed to my food blog "Bubut's House" or click here.

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