Ten years after my first trip to Boracay, I was able to visit it again towards the end of March this year. People who knew where I went thought: "Wow! Paradise!". But I didn't go there to enjoy myself. I was there on a mission - one that I would call a business trip.

The place has really changed so much since I last saw it. Only a few of the original establishments remained but there are a lot of new and better ones. I remember last time, Station 3 used to be the cheapest station where you can find all the cheapest accommodations and cheapest food. But now, if you ask me, Station 3 is only just a name because here now you can also find middle and high class hotels and resorts and expensive restaurants and cafes.

The notable changes I have observed were the improvement of the jetty port at Caticlan and also in the Boracay island side itself, the very new and modern airport, the massive growth of D'Mall - the only mall on the beach that I've been to so far, the existence of Boracay Budget Mart - the biggest grocery store on the island, and the many big high class resorts and restaurants on the beachfront. Well, ten years is indeed such a long time but I never imagined Boracay's growth to be that much.

Here are some of the things that you might enjoy when you go there...

I've been a coffee-drinker since I was a kid. I think I have drunk more coffee than milk in my whole life. So it's quite possible that I have dreams of owning my own coffee shop. In fact, I have dreamed about it ever since I had my first cup of espresso many years ago.

This summer, Hubby sent me to a coffee school in Manila in support of my dreams of being a Barista and eventually opening my own shop. I must say I enjoyed the course so much. Aside from the joy I got in learning how to make espressos the right way, I also met many new friends.

After the 4-day course, I can say that now I can make decent espressos. But my journey has just begun. With more practice and with more patience, soon all my espressos will all be perfect and I will earn the right to call myself a Barista.