2013 Thus Far: The First Quarter

Three months down, many more moons to go.

2013's first quarter was a mixed bag of family huddles, waiting games, bittersweet reveries and whirlwind peregrinations. And oh, tons of toddler sobs. We stepped foot on six countries with a so-called scheme that's jotted on sand. Its course we paved as we went, depending on our temperament and the pennies in our pockets. 

The first quarter of the year we planned to settle down was intense, to say the least.

Ban Tajok Hmong Village, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.
Here's the year thus far in chronological order... I think. May contain random shiznit.

Two days into 2013, we hired a car for only $5 a day in Sydney for our New South Wales-Queensland roadtrip. The catch? It should be delivered to the company's Brisbane Airport branch in five days.

Floorsurfed for two weeks in Queensland. At least the floor's carpeted.

Luna turned on the keyless ignition of a rented Holden Cruz (Thanks, rental company, for the free upgrade.).

The following three weeks (Two weeks of which, the hubby was in U.S. for a business trip.), we shacked in a Brisbane self contained studio on the seventh floor of a building full of frequently inebriated college students. On one of the nights during our stay, I was awoken by a fire alarm  and an evacuation announcement.

We were stuck for days in the same studio when ex-tropical cyclone Oswald barreled through southeast Queensland. Luna and I celebrated our first Australia Day indoors.

Attended a gorgeous Sydney wedding held in a 1900s sandstone manor.

Flew back to the Philippines to eat my mom's pinakbet again. Too much of it, actually.

Was invited to a sneak preview of the Philippine Travel Tour Expo 2013. Also attended the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013 Presscon at The Manila Peninsula.

Had a much needed catch up with mom over vegan food, scraped dead skin, and Androids on mute in the luxurious The Farm At San Benito, Lipa City.

Celebrated hubby's birthday in Thunderbird Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union. The El Mundo Villa is the second most expensive room we booked ever (First placer is a simple double room in Rio De Janeiro during Carnival season.) and its WiFi sucked.

Backpacked with Luna and fellow Pinoy travel bloggers in Myanmar for almost a week. All of us were manhandled by our tour guide in Yangon, which only Luna enjoyed. Ron of Flip Travels is scarred for life.

Did a temple run in Bagan and witnessed one of the most stunning sunsets I've seen in my existence.

Visited Singapore and met up with my sister who I haven't seen in five months. Gorged on char siew and kaya toast like there's no tomorrow, lah!

Finally made it to Laos. Now I've completed all of Southeast Asia's countries! 

In a Vientiane hostel room, hubby and I endured two sleepless nights and collected a variety of furious next-door neighbors because we weaned Luna off the bottle.

Also in Vientiane, we saw an orange moon for the first time.

Luna said "I love you" (More like, awabyu.) back for the first time at some Vang Vieng restaurant.

Where we are now...

Currently checked in a dirt cheap hostel in Phonsavan, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. Yesterday we visited the mysterious Plain Of Jars site and trudged in bomb craters. Day after tomorrow, we head back to Vang Vieng, then Vientiane.

We're flying out sooner than expected because we thwarted our own intents.

The "future" — spanning a mere three months — lies in the hands of a visa application.


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