Kitesurfing in Boracay - Photo by Alvin Gumba

Forget surfing or wake boarding. These days, golden-skinned surfers prefer to fly sky high. Or at least as high as the winds can bring them.

Kite-surfing has caught the eyes of many, becoming a sort of celebrity in the water sports scene. Rightfully so, with a lethal combination of strong winds and wave-cutting surfboard, kite-surfing is here to stay.

If there is only one place you”d kite-surf in South East Asia, it has to be Boracay.With an extended shallow shoreline and consistent cross-shore winds, Bulabog Lagoon is secretly hidden in a secluded end of the island. Plenty of kitesurfing schools organize courses ranging from 2-hour discovery lessons to 3-day certification course. (Prices start from US$80. Check out Isla Kite or Extreme Sports Cafe.)

White Beach, Boracay

Beyond the surprise of many, the 8-mile long island has managed to escape the ravages of  mass tourism.  The island can only be reached by boat, and the main beach sprawls across the length of the island.

Powder sand, clear skies and turqoise waters (as emerald as it can get), and you can find a nice combination of the three at White Beach. It’s quite a rare piece of heaven.

Begin your education in beach-bumming by chatting up the local folks on the beach. You’ll be surprised by how laid-back these friendly bunch can be. After all, in Boracay, life is a beach.

A View of White Beach from the Sea