Boracay sunsets

Boracay Island is the Philippines's most visited tourist destination, with nearly a million visitors a year. The summer season is from the end of December to the end of June, so when we arrive in May, the best starting point for great weather, sun and warmth, delicious lazy days on the beach, and party all night.

The island of Boracay is approximately one hour's flight south of Manila, Philippines's capital. But, here you can also come by boat, but it's a long sea trip. The island is built around tourism, with hotels, restaurants, bars and attractions. I came here for the first time in 2004 and then the island was still virgin and not much developed. Unfortunately, one almost say, until I was here last in 2012, much has happened. Something positive is that there are beautiful and exclusive hotels with stylish modern architecture, but unfortunately huge and dominant buildings are also built, close to the beach that is intrusive on the beach. In addition, the beach is becoming more and more occupied by hotel guests, not as it was before, that the beach was for everyone, and here everyone could settle down, regardless of whether or not one lived in the underlying hotel.

It is the beach on Boracay, the famous White Beach which is the attraction itself. Crisp white sand and crystal clear water, which always holds high temperatures. Yes, almost too high, because it does not get quite cool when the temperature in the water lasts more than 30 degrees. And then the day ends on the beach with a always very colorful sunset, like here from 2010.


Sunset picture from Boracay white beach, Aklan, Philippines



It is said that life is not what you had yesterday, nor what's coming tomorrow but what you have today. And that's something I'm reminded of for moments like this, where I stand to take pictures of the sunset and the sun is shutting down into the ocean out there on the horizon. It's moments where I feel small and get a feeling I'm only a dust in the atmosphere. Whether I am rich or if I am poor, if I have had a good life, have experienced a lot and have good health. Nobody knows what's coming when the sun returns again.

Life is a long series of moments and during a sunset, we sees how quickly the whole experience, just as life changes. In seconds, colors change, cloud formations and activities in the foreground change, so the whole picture will be different. Just the way life itself can change brutally, or just slowly without you notice it.

Amazing sunset seen from Hey Jude resort at Boracay Beach


In one way or another we put all the traces behind us. The way we live, the way we work, the way we meet our fellow human beings puts color on existence, both for ourselves and our fellow human beings. Therefore, it's a good idea to turn back and forth to see how one's track looks like. Just like when I'm standing on the beach here and taking pictures of the big event of the evening, the sunset, I have to turn around to see what's happening behind me. For now and then these are the beautiful colors and the formation of clouds emerges as beautiful motifs.

Sometimes one must sit down and just enjoy the moment, observe and rest. To me there is recreation and rest to sit here in the heat, sweat light and smell smell, listen to strange sounds, languages I do not understand and relaxing music.




When we stayed here on Boracay from 2005 to 2008, there was a regular daily routine walking out to the beach to watch the sunset. As most people have already understood, I'm probably above average interested in sunsets and for that matter also sunrises. It has a lot to do with what I have described above, but and with the big variations from day to day, the colors and formations of the clouds during the events. Never the same, always something new, at the same time as a photographer, always demanding, purely technical, but also creative. This makes the mind focussed and everything else has to be set aside. It provides rest and recreation.

There are no other places where I've been in the world and it's becoming a part where I've seen more colorful sunsets than here at Boracay. And, that's probably one of the main reasons why I'd love to come back and back here. This along with the warmth, the beach and the clear waters. But, of course, too, because being in the Philippines is fun, it's rewarding. People's attitudes, smile and benevolence inspire and make the stay here pleasant and relaxing. It's gone away from all the small to big challenges in everyday life, away from all daily routines and tasks.



After ten days down here, the time approaches to reconnect and return to the old country and different moors and barns. It has been great to be here and I hope I have the opportunity to come back if not too long. Now it was more than three years ago, and it can not be as long for the next time. Life is too short to not bring the days that give encouragement, inspiration and joy. Being down here is brilliant, as the sun is in this picture.

To be a man of few words, a man who is not good at "smalltalk", it is almost impressive to fill a page about the sunsets we have had here on this holiday, with hopefully some words for reflection and some pictures for inspiration and consideration.