So my 90 days are almost up and I have to leave Malaysia for a minimum of seven days before coming back in.  I have never been to the Philippines and the year round typhoons make it unattractive to go there on Wild Fox, apart from which it is a very long way.

The island of Boracay claims to have the whitest beach in the world.  Which fueled a tourist bonanza which fueled illegal building of bars, restaurants and hotels many of which were not connected to mains sewage.  So President Duterte ordered the island closed to tourists for six months.  President Duterte can do things like that.  The illegal establishments were closed down, single use plastic was almost totally banned (water bottles were an exception) and all standing water which was a breeding ground for mosquitoes (even upturned coconut shells) was got rid of.  And so now Boracay is the cleanest place I have ever been in Asia. On a three mile coastal walk I found one water bottle.  And reconstruction is going on everywhere as the entire island upgrades.

My hotel is right on the beach, cheap and cheerful and perfectly adequate except for the day when raw sewage started erupting through the shower drain.  But the staff dealt with it very promptly.  And very hygienically.

Sailing on yachts with outriggers on each side is a big thing.  The sail is on piece of plastic sheet tied to the mast and boom with fishing line.  They easily do 10 knots with a crowd aboard. The water is the clearest I can remember but, frankly, there is not a lot to do here.  Except walk on the pristine beach and visit the multitude of excellent restaurants.

To break the journey I overnight in Manila in a fabulous boutique hotel.  That apart Manila is a dump!