Langtang Trek in Nepal : Regaining Focus

happy trekker :)

I forced myself to eat lunch after making it to Kyanjin Gompa, the highest village in my 5-day trek in the Langtang region. At 3900 meters, this village sits on a valley surrounded by Himalayan peaks and glaciers. I knew my body needed all the energy it can get to last a day in this village. I could feel my lungs and heart making extra effort to keep my body to function properly. To acclimatize, I decided to walk around the village.

Baler, Aurora : The Second Time Around

that thing you love to do? do it often.

I woke up startled as I felt the bus turning a sharp curve. I looked out and saw the sun starting to rise. But felt so uncomfortable with how cold it was inside the bus. It seemed that the extra hundreds we paid for the Joy Bus express was going to be worth it with the time saved, given that this is going to be only a weekend trip to Aurora.

The last time I was in Aurora was a four-day spontaneous trip with the then-boyfriend. But we weren’t able to do anything or see anything due to a storm. We even moved to a more expensive hotel since it was the only one with a generator, while the whole town didn’t have any. I also remember not seeing any surfers during that time.

So when a friend from work asked if I wanted to join her on a trip to Aurora, I immediately said yes.

Relishing Solo Travel in Si Phan Don, Laos

lazy boats by the Mekong River in Si Phan Don, Laos

My own bungalow of USD5 is on the other end of Don Det, away from where the crowd and parties are. It’s still early in the night but I decided to just lay here in my hammock. The only sounds I hear are the faint music and laughter of the hippies back in King Kong, dogs barking, and my bungalow neighbour snoring in his own hammock.

Sarnath and Buddhism: A Peaceful Respite from Varanasi

the Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath, India

It’s been days with this flu or virus, or whatever it was that took over my energy and my voice. I feel mostly weak and so I sleep, but I feel so groggy the next day because of way too much sleep. I’d love to run but I couldn’t, and the monsoon season has been hovering in my country.

Given my normal job and the extra work I took for additional income for my travel fund, I feel like my mind has been loaded with too much numbers and excel files. Which I’m not complaining, by the way, because I love numbers and excel file, and of course the extra money. But also with this flu that’s been zapping my energy, I feel like I need to go into my creative side. I feel like I need to write.

And so I remember the time I felt so down during my travels, physically and emotionally. It was Varanasi, the one place I was so excited to see and experience. But it proved to be too much for me – the burning ceremonies by the ghats, the claustrophobic and confusing alleyways, the men who insistently follow you, the dirt and smell that didn’t use to bother me but were magnified during our stay in the holy city. And at the end of our third day there, I started to get sick. A stomach flu that slowly got me dehydrated, feverish, and weak.

Phnom Penh : Surviving and Healing

bracelets that people have left behind, 
probably to tell those who lay in the fields that people were there
and that they will always remember

My first trip in Cambodia was back in 2010 with a group of friends exploring the temples of Angkor Wat. I remember meeting Mr. Sam, our tour guide who was a survivor of the Khmer Rouge Occupation. He told us his stories of the Occupation and of the loved ones he’s lost. I remember trying to stop, or at least hide, my tears as he told us his tragic and inspiring story. On our last day in Siem Reap, he took us to a Buddhist monastery where skulls and bones of the victims were put into a memorial. I told myself that someday I would have to visit Phnom Penh and maybe have the courage to visit the other memorials.

Love With A Chance of Drowning : A Partial Book Review

Dear Torre (and Ivan),

My kindle e-reader says 80%. I’m almost finished with your book Love with A Chance of Drowning. I can go and finish the remaining 20% before writing this to you, but I feel like I need to do it now.

Mt. Pinatubo Trek

*Trek was done back in 2010.

The volcano that changed my life.

Something Random : On Looking at the Bigger Picture

*This is not travel related. Just some random thoughts. I've been feeling down the past few weeks until this. Maybe you are too, maybe this can help you too, in a way at least. ;)

Remember when I said that nothing is permanent? Both the good and the bad? 

Lately this mantra of mine hasn’t been working. A message and a forgotten reminder on my phone kind of caught me off guard, and threw me off balance. Again. I was reminded of the days when pain overpowered me. I was reminded of a side of me that I never knew existed. 

The Cordilleras : On the Joys of Trekking, New Ink, and Meeting Fang-Od

rice terraces nearing the village in Buscalan

There was the famous Chico River and the lower Cordilleras. Taking a photo of it was a bit challenging given that we're seated on top of the jeepney. Yes, we wanted to start this 4-day adventure the right way - by toploading! After a 12-hour night bus from Manila, our Cordilleras adventure started in Tabuk, Kalinga. It was going to be a 3-hour jeepney ride to Tinglayan to meet Kuya Francis Pain, our guide for Buscalan, .

A Walk Through the Streets of Kathmandu : Durbar Square

one of the palaces in Durbar Square

We had a few days left in Nepal before we made our way back to Southeast Asia. I was getting used to my daily routine in Thamel – waking up at around 9am; having breakfast under the morning sun at Hot Breads’ rooftop where the crew already knew my name, walking around the streets of Thamel, writing, reading more books, sometimes having a night out with my friend, Paul, or meeting our German friends from the trek. This happened for almost a week straight. So when Paul asked me to see the Durbar Square, I initially said no. I was just way too lazy and comfortable to even walk around just a few blocks. Yes, I was that lazy. But eventually, Paul was able to convince me. And I’m glad he did.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Star Fish Island, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

It's summer here now in the tropics. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country.  ;)

Powerful Film : 5 Broken Cameras

Trailer "5 Broken Cameras" from Guy Davidi on Vimeo.

“How can you arrest a child?” An old woman, probably a human rights activist from the West, asks Israeli soldiers as they arrest a Palestinian boy in the middle of the night. This for me was the most powerful and heart-wrenching part of the film Five Broken Cameras.

Travel Love (Short Film) : A Story for Tomorrow.

a story for tomorrow. from gnarly bay productions, Inc. on Vimeo.

Beautiful. Compelling. 

Just like the effect of this photo on me. On how it made me realize that I can overcome my fears; and how much it pushed me to make the Big Trip a reality. This video 'a story for tomorrow.' by Gnarly Bay Productions made me nostalgic of my travels. The photos and shots are beautiful, and the words, the questions (more powerful since it was narrated by a Latino man) had quite an effect on me. And of course, it was more compelling for me since they were shot in Patagonia and Chile, which are some of the places I want to see in South America.

Are you still having second thoughts about going out there, leaving your comfort zone for a period of time, and seeing the world? Watch this. Hope your answers to Future's questions are both yes. Because mine's yes. :)

Rainy But Lovely Days in Hoi An

Photo taken using Anthony's Lumix

*Blog post drafted almost a year ago. Only had the time and courage to post it now. Finally had the courage to look back at those good memories, and happy at how much they're only fleeting memories now. I wasn't able to take much photos when I was in Hoi An in December 2011 due to the rainy weather. So some photos were taken by him or taken by me using his Lumix camera.

After a tiring but really nice day visiting the countryside of Hue, we found ourselves sitting by the balcony of the hostel. It’s only been two days but I found myself so comfortable and natural with him. What even surprised me was the fact that I allowed myself to just enjoy and not think about what’s going to happen, and only focused on the present. Probably because I wasn’t back in Manila, I didn’t have a stressful job that was making me so miserable. Or that I was just really happy with what I have done the past two months, on how I was, and how my life was changing, and just happy with where I was at that point in my life. And how this sense of happiness has made me braver and more secure to put myself out there again. But there was, of course, a small part of me that wished that I could spend more days with him. But the larger and remaining part of me was so happy of the two days that we spent together. Another amazing memory from my Big Trip, I thought. 

Travel Love (Music) : Miles Away by Years Around the Sun

Pinagbuyutan Island, El Nido, Palawan

It's been a month since I started working again. It's been two months since the last time I was on the road. And there are days like these, when I miss being back on the road. May it be in a crazy and hot Asian city, or up in the cold mountains, or by a calm and quiet river, or camping in an island.

I miss the freedom and the realness of the moment.

A Tribute To Last Places

Hsipaw, Burma

“The people who live in the last places – the people who are most neglected and least valued by the larger world – often represent the best of who we are and the finest standard of what we are meant to become. This is the power that last places hold over me, and why I have found it impossible to resist their pull.” 

- Stones Into Schools, Greg Mortenson 

There’s a certain kind of magic I feel when I prepare for a day or a week of trekking/walking. When I pack only the basic things I need. There’s a certain kind of excitement I feel when I wake up charged and ready to explore a new and distant place. 

Burma Travel Tips

Kalaw - Inle Lake Trek

Most backpackers who travel in Southeast Asia do not include Burma in their itinerary. It’s considered to be relatively more expensive, dangerous because of the political climate, too much of a ‘hassle’, and technologically isolated. 

But this is exactly what made Burma so interesting for me. I’ve always tried to give countries like this a chance. People said India and Nepal are not safe places to go to but I had a safe and great time traveling in them for two months. 

I wanted to see and experience Burma for myself. I stayed there for 17 days, I wanted to stay longer if not for the food sickness I experienced twice. But Burma has been worth all the ‘hassles’. I found it gave me such a memorable and unique travel experience.

What's Next After Living Out Your Dream?

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Dec '11

Photo by Anthony

I was recently invited to give a talk on traveling and career break by Tara Let’s Go Asia. Tara Let’s Go Asia’s goal is to encourage people (especially professionals) to include travel in their lifestyle. One of their maiden events was to bring together these people to hear speakers share their experiences and tips on how to make more money and save up for travels, and how they were able to do their own career breaks. One of the speakers was my good friend Paul of WalkFlyPinoy who I travelled with for two months on my Big Trip, and has long since lived on the road pursuing his love for travel, travel photography and writing. He told the organizers of Tara Let’s Go Asia about me and how I was able to ‘reintegrate’ myself back in the corporate world. After a few weeks of convincing, I said yes. 

The People You Meet On The Road

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – and each person he met became a little less stuck themselves. He traveled only with himself and he was never alone." 
- Castles in the Sky, Film by Taylor Steele

I walked into the common bathroom and was fascinated by its design and how a backpackers’ dorm isn’t that bad after all. It was my first day of traveling solo, my first time staying in a dorm without knowing anyone. “Hey!” Another girl walked in and she’s my first friend on this whole backpacking trip. We decided to see the city together, and met more people and walked around the city proper after that. The next day I saw her off as she left for another town and I was preparing to leave that afternoon as well. She’s one of the people who frequently liked my travel photos in Facebook and wanted to meet again in a beach in another country. Sadly, I wasn’t headed that way. But she’ll forever hold a place in my memory as the first person I met while traveling solo. 

On Friendship

MIB Days, Circa 2008

We were all laughing and making jokes. Not having a care, well just a little bit, if we’re disturbing people in the other room and in the hallway. It’s been quite a long time since we hanged out together. But there he was, on the bed, laughing with us. The love of his life next to him. I wonder what she must be feeling about everything. I wonder what it must feel like to be in her place. I wouldn’t want to be in her place. He, on the other hand, has always been like that. The strong one, caring more for the people he loves, even though everyone’s worried about him. 

"So, you Work to Travel?"

2015 Vision Board

Source : Various including Wanderlass, AdamTheTraveler

I recently started a new job. During lunch with my colleagues in the project, their post-graduate education and degrees were discussed. And I got asked the question : “Do you have a masters degree? Do you have plans of getting further studies?” It was asked in a non-condescending manner (they're really nice and really really smart people), just like a normal question given the backgrounds of most of the people that are working here. 

The only answer I could come up with was : “It used to be part of the plan. But ever since I started traveling, it doesn’t seem to be anymore. Maybe in the future, but for now it’s not.” 

"So, you work to travel?" 

Serene Inle Lake and Bike Rides in the Countryside

a fisherman rowing using his leg

After three days of trekking in the mud, under the rain and eventually the sun, and seeing hills of beautiful farmlands, we finally made it to Inle Lake. The morning fog was still partly covering the lake. Around it are villages and mountains. Another way of Burmese living awaits us. And hot showers of course.

Temples of Bagan : Bike Rides and Sunsets

gorgeous sunset over Bagan's temples

The sun was about to set and we had no idea how far off we were from this temple our friends told us about. A temple out there, off the basic tourist route where there’s less people. I was struggling with my bicycle, given how old it is and how some parts are already falling off. And the trail on this part of the huge complex was dusty and sandy. But I pushed myself forward, sometimes even running with my bike. I couldn’t see Wesley anymore, I told him that it’s okay for him to go ahead without me. I just thought that at least one of us should see the famous sunset from up one of the bigger temples. We didn’t go all the way from New Bagan to Nyaung U, and to this area, just to miss that sunset.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Coron, Palawan

Coron, Palawan

Yup, I know what you’re thinking. Is the water really that clear?!! Yes, it is. I couldn’t even believe it myself when I was there. It gave us a certain kind of high and put smiles on our faces for the rest of the week after that. Where is it? It’s in Coron, Palawan.

Summer here in the tropics is about to start. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country. And to excite the two girls who will (hopefully) visit me in a few months. ;)

CORON 

Whenever I hear friends talk about Coron, they have this certain sparkle in their eyes like they’ve been to a magical place. And when they start talking about the places they saw and the memories they have of the place, they somehow get lost at the middle of their sharing like they're transported back in time. When you encounter friends like these from time to time you would be very curious and you automatically plan the trip.

And that’s what we did.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : El Nido, Palawan

on the way to Small Lagoon
El Nido, Palawan

Summer here in the tropics is about to start. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country. And to excite the two girls who will (hopefully) visit me in a few months. ;)

EL NIDO, PALAWAN

Back then, when you hear people say El Nido, you immediately think about Paradise. A group of beautiful islands with white sand, turquoise waters, hidden lagoons, and rich underwater marine life. Some even say that the famous movie “The Beach” was supposed to be shot in El Nido. But back then, only a few people who can afford to go ride a chartered plane can go to El Nido. Or those who can afford to pay for luxury resorts. The price one has to pay to experience paradise.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Viva Cebu!

Bantayan Island, Cebu

Summer here in the tropics is about to start. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country. And to excite the two girls who will (hopefully) visit me in a few months. ;) 

CEBU 

Cebu is one of the most famous places to visit in the Philippines. It’s known for its beaches, diving spots, and as one of the most historic provinces in the country. 

Around Mandalay

A Day's End

U Bein Bridge, Amarapura

After almost two weeks of travelling in Burma in mostly cold, tranquil and remote areas surrounded by mountains and lakes, arriving in Mandalay felt like being woken up from a dream. After a 6-hour bus ride from Hsipaw, we arrived in the city of Mandalay welcomed by the heat and the swarm of taxi and moto drivers. 

Kalaw - Inle Lake Trek : Stepping Into An Idyllic Countryside Painting

typical day on the trek

DAY 1 

6:30am and it was really cold. I wouldn’t normally feel this anxious waking up when I’m travelling except that it was going to be the start of our 3-day trek to Inle Lake, and I was really hoping that it wasn't raining anymore. I forced myself out of bed and looked out our window, and yes it was raining.