Mabuhay Boracay

It is Dragon time - the year of the dragon is here, replacing the year of the rabbit.  To celebrate, Kate, Alison, and I flew from Shanghai to meet up with Derek in Boracay, an island in the Philippines.  Boracay is famous for White Beach, a beach considered by many to be one of top beaches in the world. 

So, with the sole purpose of making you jealous, I've posted some pics of our lazy days in Boracay: 

Here we are chilling in front of our hotel bar.

Ladies and gentlemen - White Beach

This is after an afternoon rainstorm. 

Everybody is jumping for joy when they are on vacation in Boracay...no, seriously. 

Sunsets and finding shells. 

The packed 2nd station as the sun begins to go down.

Taking a walk to get a banana fruit shake at Jonah's. 

Window

On our way from Caticlan Airport to the beach

O Captain, my Captain

From the boat, we took a tricycle (the taxi of Boracay)

It was a tight fit for tall Derek. 

And Kate is enjoying herself

The main strip

This is right off the far end of White Beach

Kate waves from the beautiful water

Sunset

Going for a sailing trip with Carmelo Anthony

Not a bad night for a trip on a sailboat

Derek and Alison are loving it too

It seems pretty calm

All smiles here

And this was the last photo this camera would take - we are about to go under

Our favorite nighttime activity - how many can you hit in 40 seconds? 

Nice form Derek!

Alison is money, money, money (14 to be exact)

Moneyball!

Kate took up some painting on the beach

A night out for an Indian dinner at True Food

Kate posing before heading up to the Icon on a rock

Derek's head

Our hotel was right next door to the Obama Grill - official campaign stop?

Another night at Aria Italian restaurant 

Kate and I on a walk down the beach

Enjoying some cards before dinner - a great trip, and a great group of people

Eve of the New Year in Big Sur

Introducing Big Sur

Not a bad crew to hike with.

The view from Nepenthe. 

At the top of the world - or at least up on a smallish mountain.

Lots of mushrooms lining the trails.

Hey kids, Big Ben! 

Actually, he's pointing out here somewhere.

Jared and Alexis and a perfectly blue sky

Some Ents. 

Vogel and Jenny and some telephone wires way up high

I heart ferns

On the way down the mountain (right before Jenny made me sprain my ankle by talking about Keanu Reeves)

Another gorgeous Pacific view

Life

Morning life at the Big Sur Bakery

Hiking the redwoods. 

Three wild turkeys in hot pursuit of a fine female

More trail mushrooms - I just liked the way they looked

Fuzzy flower

Lunch at Nepenthe

It's Bloody Mary time

Sunset on the Pacific

This is, like, uber famous. 

But I liked this more.

And this was pretty cool too

Get out of my way! 

The colors were absolutely stunning.

...(no words)...

"Call on me, call on me!"

I couldn't settle on just one.

yup

Magic 

When a House becomes a "Home"

After the arrival of our shipment from Bulgaria AND the fact that we left for a long vacation--and it was JUST long enough for us to start missing our apartment and life in China...we know that things are really starting to feel like home! Here's how things are looking: