2012: My Travel Wishlist

1. a decent pair of aviator shades

 I got tired buying the cheap sunglasses every time I'm on a trip which never really protects my eyes from the UV rays. 
I wish I could afford these though..haha

2. sea to summit towel

 Granted! Thanks to franz. She gave it to me as my christmas gift. 

Next time, I'd buy the biggest one.

3. a decent backpack

 Yes. backpack. Any fellow traveler wishes to have one. 
I don't want the imitation on which North Face's logo start to fade after using the bag twice.

4. round trip tickets to Batanes

Oh yeah. The elusive Batanes tickets. Oh bakit ang mahal mo. 
One round trip ticket is more expensive than the HK ticket. Why oh why.

5. compass. a good old one.

I feel I'm a certified traveler when I've got one. No reason for me to get lost. 

Maybe I'll hunt some antique shops for this one.

6. mask and snorkel set

One reason. It's hygienic to own one. 
This should be on top of my list since I will be spending most of my time in the water this summer.

Grab your shades! Summer's here!

So I've been off the radar lately..I stopped (a bit) travelling last 2011.

I put travelling off for a while coz, I can't believe I'm saying this, but it gets tiring din pala. Nakuha kong nagsawa..hehe

But this 2012, I can 't wait!! Gala to the max!

So, where do you plan to go this summer?

Ooohh.. I can almost see myself.. on a beach, reading a book, getting a tan..

5 Lessons On The Road

1. It is so much fun travelling when you're young.

There's no perfect time to see the world than today. When you are still young. When WE are still young.  It's nice to be back after 10 years to the places you've been when you're younger. See if you still see the world the same way.  Has it changed? or have you? 

Youth is wasted on the young.
I plan not to waste mine. Some people my age are so eager to be adults. They waste time worrying about the future. I know some of us have responsibilities. But will you allow that to control your life?  We're gonna be young once. Just ONCE. Why not make the most of it. Have fun while we can.

Being a young traveller means you never have to worry of other people than yourself. You got almost everything to yourself. 

And I say, hanging around with people your age is much, more fun. When did you ever saw Boracay looming with old people? I mean, I know  its nice to have your family around on vacations but you have to agree that its much more fun with your friends around. People your age. People who have the same quirks as you do.

Nonetheless, I guess no matter where you are, sometimes, good laugh, good friends and good beer is enough. 
Good times!

2. How similar we are. No matter what age, race, or who you are.

Travelling a lot developed some of my skills, particularly talking with random strangers. When I meet someone, my questions are usually (if he's a fellow traveler) how long he's been on the road, where he has been and how long he plans to stay. And then the next conversation will be about family, work, etc. by then, I already establish a more personal relationship. I find people warm up when we talk about family. 

You think that people would be different because they're on different places but when you hear their stories, we're kind the same. Same problems in family, life, love, career. And I find that cool. Makes me realize what a small world we live in.

Same, same. But Different.

3. Greatest Lessons come from total strangers

I find some of my inspirations and life lessons from strangers. Strangers I meet on the road. Its different when you hear things from people than when you say it yourself. 

To meet someone you barely know living passionately irregardless of what they do is overwhelming. You get to ask yourself, am I like that? Am I living my life the way I want it to be? Am I living a passionate life? 

One lesson I got off from a stranger, simplify your life. Living in the city tends to confuse you on what the necessities and needs are. And the difference between the two. I find the lesson helpful. It made me see my life in a lighter way. I don't need to have things to be happy and contented.

And what I like about meeting strangers on the road is the kindness they show you. Not the kindness people show because they know you're a tourist. I'm talking about the genuine kindness. The kind that never asks anything in return. Makes you want to extend that kindness to other people. In a small, little way, makes this part of the world a better place. (Enter Michael Jackson's Heal The World)

4. Experiences are better than possessions. 

If people my age are saving to buy the latest gadget, I save for my next travel. For the past years, I was able to set foot on five countries in Southeast Asia, been to almost 20 places in the Philippines, swam with the whale sharks, conquered Sagada, snorkeled to my hearts content, wake board, para sailed, turned 25 on the road and so on. The list can go on. Unknowingly, I was having all these fun and unforgettable experiences. Experiences no one can take from me. Things that can never be replace by no amount of money or possession.

Travelling taught me not to be defined by my things. What I have doesn't equate who I am as a person. People see me as I am. Right there and then. They don't have my past to judge what I'm going to do. Every single day on the road is a constant revelation of myself. Of what I'm capable and not. Travel never fails to teach me a thing or two. Something I can never learn if I chose the stuffs society dictates you to buy to establish your social status.

5. The things that scare you the most are the most worthwhile

Being on the road constantly makes you do some pretty serious scary stuffs. I remember how scary I was when I almost fell off one of the cliffs in Sagada. No one was laughing at that moment, even our tour guide, Kuya Randy. We were so adamant on getting out of Sumaguing cave in one piece. But coming out of that cave for almost four hours of spelunking was all so worth it. Plus, it earned me some bragging rights to say I finished the Cave Connection in one piece! hehe.

When I traveled alone in Ilocos, I admit I was scared. At the airport, I was even doing ways not to get in the flight. I went to the airport 30 minutes before the flight and lined up at the longest line in the check in counter. But fate wants me to pursue this trip. I luckily skipped the long line and got in the plane just in time. I remember being half scared half excited during the trip. Asking directions. Going to new places. Entrusting your safety to random strangers. I did all those things. Alone.

It's scary if you think of it. But like everything else, the first time is the hardest. The first day of my trip was the hardest. I felt people staring at me, maybe they're wondering what am I doing alone. But then, nothing good would come out of me being scared. As they say, mind over matter. If people don't mind, it doesn't matter. hehe. So I got used to it. The second day I was more confident approaching people for directions and having small talks to people I meet on the road. I found myself having a really good time. For four days and three nights, I was alone touring Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan. People might find it weird to go alone on such trips but I find it so empowering. 

At the end, I surprised myself that I can actually do these things. That's bad ass! 
Yeah, I'm a bad ass. C'mon, how many people can say, yeah, I traveled alone. 
Hell Yeah!

Just because its Christmas..

kung minsan talaga..masarap maging bata na lang..lalo na pag ganitong pasko..isa lang naman ang alam ng mga bata pag pasko. MASAYA. pero pag ikaw ay tumatanda na, un word na masaya, masyado ng nagiging complicated. kumbaga, andami mong kelangan bago mo masabing masaya ka. not to mention, obligado ka na rin mamigay ng regalo which means  gastos. Christmas is gastos. bow. haay naman. 


Pero ang nakakatuwa naman, kahit papaano, pag dumarating ang pasko, narerealize mo yung blessings na natanggap mo sa buong taon kahit na puro kamalasan ang tinamasa mo. napapaisip ka, somehow, naidaos padin ang Pasko. kumbaga, natututo kang maging thankful. Thankful na kumpleto kayong pamilya sa noche buena. Thankful na me handa kayo. Thankful na walang maysakit sa inyo. Yung mga intangible things, tuwing Pasko, naapreciate mo. Yun ang pagkakaiba ng pasko sa mga bata. Ako noon, ang iniisip ko lang kung magkano ang makukuha kong aginaldo. Kung sino pinakamalaking nagbigay sakin ng pera, siya ang pinakamabait para sa akin. hehe.


At dahil wala tayong thanksgiving dito, at dahil it's the season to be thankful..


I'm thankful..


..na kahit hindi ko nagamit ang benefits ko this year, eh walang nagkasakit samin
..na kahit gusto kong magresign, eh me trabaho pa din ako
..na kahit nagdidiet ako, i get to eat three times a day
..na kahit nakakaiyak ang sweldo ko, nakakagala parin ako! yey
..na kahit malungkot at tinatamaan ako ng single syndrome at times, masaya padin ako..(genuinely happy)..
..at kahit wala parin akong boyfriend, eh me mga super panalong friends ako na never akong pagpapalit..




yun oh!


Happy Holidays guys!

Sagada '11: Thinking out loud at 5,000 ft.

I don't know what it is about Sagada.

Maybe the warmth of the people. The simplicity of life here. How they manage to be content. Not happy. But content. Or maybe its the way they live their life. Uncomplicated and easy.

If I meant to go back,(and I will) it may not be for the sites or food but because of the people, the environment, the place.

The last time I was here, I've got a lot on my mind. Questions unanswered, plans that don't seem to work. Even small dreams don’t come true. Frustrated. Upset.

And maybe, I’m still a bit of those. I still have questions unanswered. My small dreams and plans, still, don’t seem to come true. And I’m a bit frustrated and upset.

But coming here, going back here made all sense. I get to stop and think. I get to press that pause button. At the moment, I got hold of my life, even for just a couple days. I get to live the way I wanted. I didn’t felt rushed and obligated. Time. All I had was time.

And just as I said the last time I was here...

"Coming back from Sagada, I may not have found the answers to my life’s endless questions, but I have a clearer understanding of it. I get out of this place a better person, more whole than ever before.

Future might not be fixed for me but I trust Him and myself that whatever happens, I will be just fine.no matter what."

Sagada '11: Falls and Food

Finally saw the Bomod-ok Falls.

Then treated myself to a Php200/cup of alamid coffee

paired with a nice clubhouse sandwich..

and topped it with a bowl of home made granola yogurt..

perfect way to end the day..

Uno

My blog is turning 1!

It's been a year since I build this up. And so to celebrate,(and to mark one out of my bucket lists) I was planning to go back to Sagada alone. Instead, I got two guys with me. So far, everything's good.

I tried the Banaue route this time to see the famous terraces. Luck made a joke on us and we weren't able to go and actually trek to one of the terraces due to time constraint. Even the viewpoints aren't that good because of the fog.

Breakfast at People's Lodge

Toploading was fun.

I missed this feeling. 

Long bus hours.

Meeting locals.

Warm conversations.

I'm in my element. Yet again. Definitely.

growing up, growing old

when i was a kid, falling in love, getting a job, having a family, owning a house sounded all so good to me..

but i realized it wasn't all that.
now, i see them as realities. sugar coated realities that comes with ugly stuffs.

all those good things (at times) doesn't equate to happiness.. i sometimes feel that we're so deluded in achieving these things (or the things we thought would make us happy) that we end up not wanting them.

and it's all not that easy to achieve. i sometimes wonder how my parents did it..
bought a house, send us to school, support us, when i can barely pay my rent.

so, when one can say he's all grown up?
when you see him all dressed up for a date..?
..bought his first car..?
..paid his bills?..

has anyone seen the movie Finding Neverland? or Peter Pan?  
we come to a point where we want to stay exactly where we are..what i'm saying is, the idea of never growing old..of never having to deal with "feelings", responsibilities and changes. of being stationary..
..it all sounds so good..
but are we capable of such?


am i? rather.. 
are we?

growing up?.. or..
growing old?..

Missing the sun

It's almost three months (and counting) since my last gala. And my feet has never been this itchy. 

Indoors.

Mostly, it's indoors now. Which sucks. I miss the outdoors. The warm sun. Sand on my back. Wind on my face. The beach.

I've got nothing to post either.

The past month was spent mostly on movies, inuman and, again, indoors.

I was thinking of posting some of my past travels like Anawangin, Iloilo, Magalawa or maybe the Pinatubo. But all were ages ago, I might miss on something. I'll see if I can post a good story on any of those.

Basta, I miss the sun.

I was never a fun of the rain.

Not really.

30 before 30

1. Sleep under the stars

2. Mt.Pulag

3. Bungee OR cliff diving OR skydive

4. Maldives

5. See a butterfly OR a turtle born

6. Get paid to travel

7. Keep a blog

8. Save or change someone's life

9. travel alone

10. Dive

11. Surf

12. Backpack Europe (a girl can wish!)

13. Learn to forgive

14. See the aurora borealis, northern lights

15. Sakura

16. Angkor Wat

17. Fall in love

18. Sagada

19. Be back in Sagada. alone.

20. Christmas Island. See the red crab migration

21. Do a 365 day project

22. Support a charity and be active with it

23. Batanes

24. Swim with the whalesharks

25. backpack South East Asia

26. Learn to converse in a foreign language

27. Finish House of the Dead

28. Get a tattoo

29. Learn to pick a lock

30. File my resignation