Boracay Beautiful Weekend

Spent the night Saturday on one of the most beautiful islands in the world as a wedding guest.

Hopped on a plane in Manila at 830 Saturday morning, landed 45 minutes later, took a one-and-a-half hour bus ride, a ten-minute ferry ride and a ten-minute tricycle ride and ended up some 420 km from home at Fairways and Bluewater - an upscale resort and golf course that friends from church kindly allowed me to use for free! Since I arrived past noon, I didn't have much time to prepare for the 4PM wedding. I showered and changed and turned on HBO and caught a quarter of the movie, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (note to self - rent or borrow this!).

I took the resort's shuttle to nearby Waling-Waling Beach Resort and three minutes later found myself looking at this view.

The couple decided to let the afternoon sun set a bit before beginning the ceremony. It was simple... fun... relaxed... a happy- tear jerker. Pictures followed and guests then dined on seafood, pasta, salads and barbecue, among other yummy weddingy foods.

Dancing followed at nearby Club Paraw. Guests formed a parade behind the newlyweds as we walked along the beach carrying glass lanterns while waiters carried torches. At the entrance, we were greeted by a fire dancer!

I emceed the post dinner festivities where the newlyweds did variations on the bridal bouquet and garter tossing. The couple's first dance as husband and wife was a fun choreographed number - Next's song, Wifey. Really cute.

We danced until 230 in the morning and went out for fruit shakes at Jonah's 24-hour fruit shake place. Seriously. I highly recommend the choco peanut flavor (doesn't come with fruit in it!). I'm a nut for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! We then hung out with the couple at their suite before calling it a night at 430.

My flight was at 0955 so I had to check out at 630, meaning I didn't really get any sleep. Nor did I get to swim, or snorkel or get a massage or any of the other fun Boracay staples. But it's alright. There's always another time.

Here are Mr. and Mrs. Rob Johnson. Congratulations!