The 3 Hour Tour into 2010

New Year's Eve is a pretty big deal in the Philippines, and this particular one was going to be an especially big deal because of the beginning of a new decade. While there are many cultural traditions and superstitions in the Philippines, the use of fireworks to scare off evil spirits is the one that is the most obvious. One of the people in our group suggested that half the Filipino GDP is consumed in the fireworks that are set off at the stroke of midnight.

On Boracay Island, the fireworks extravaganza takes place along the beach. Each resort or restaurant puts on its own display all along the west side of the island. The challenge for us was to pick the best location on the beach to see the best show. But where?

One of the Divas, Faye, spotted a yacht moored off the beach in front of our hotel. A bill would be the perfect solution. We could move easily up and down the beach to get close to the best show, while having the entire show in view. It was a perfect solution. And incredibly, when she happened to ask the owner of the restaurant where the bridesmaids luncheon was held about the boat, he explained that he owned it. And even more remarkably, it was available for chartering on New Year's Eve!

With six couples sharing the cost, it was an affordable splurge, and arrangements were quickly made. For convenience, we also arranged with the yacht/restaurant owner to cater the evening on the yacht. Everything was all set. A van would pick us up and take us to the southern tip of the island where a dinghy would take us to the yacht. Even though the yacht was moored just offshore from the hotel, the small boats were not permitted to pick us up on the beach.

Our excitement built all day. We made a trip into town to buy the requisite alcoholic refreshments: some wine, champagne, and a bottle of the $3 local Filipino rum. We enjoyed the new year buffet on the beach elegantly provided by our hotel as the sun was setting and the full moon and tide was rising. And at the appointed hour, the van showed up, and we were off to our new year adventure.

As we pulled up to the poorly lit dock, we could see a boat was there, waiting for us. However, while it wasn't the yacht (of course), it was certainly bigger than the transport dinghy we were expecting. Our puzzlement turned into astonishment when a look inside the boat revealed a table set up with the catered food. This boat wasn't the yacht we'd seen, nor was it the dinghy. However, it was apparently the boat we would be spending the evening on. Complete with the captain, 3 boatmen, and someone we assumed was our "party coordinator" (in the red dress and tiara).

After lots of debate & discussion (including an intense conversation about insurance, safety and licensure), we figured we'd been had and decided to make the best of it. The money was gone, all prepaid. We all got on board and motored off to begin our party. Except there was no power to plug the boom box into; the inverter was broken. The only music available was the local Filippino radio station. And there was nothing to heat the food in; it was cold and the length of its time on the boat since being cooked was unclear.

All that was left to do was to enjoy each others company, some snacks we'd brought along, and of course the refreshments. It was a beautiful evening. The beach was all lit up with revelers as a full moon illuminated the sky.

We counted down the end of 2009 without the help of TV or Dick Clark, and the fireworks started at the stroke of midnight. And we had the remarkable view that we'd all hoped for. From one end of the beach to the other, the sky was ablaze. We could see it all, and our captain maneuvered the boat for some great views. And it stayed that way continuously for 40 minutes before it began to wind down.

We waited to be certain the pyrotechnics were completely over (after all they had been shooting them off in our direction). Then the "SS-Pinnochio" took us as close as to shore as it could go. There, we crammed onto a very small outrigger vessel that took us onto the beach. Walking down the skinny gangplank into the surf (or in some cases being carried down), we arrived on dry land for the first time in the new decade.

The party was still going on up and down the beach, with very kind of music, from reggae, to big band, and even some classic rock. Somewhere, off in the distance, I do believe I heard that old classic from The Who: We Won't Get Fooled Again.

But that didn't mean we wouldn't get surprised again...