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.