Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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.

hmong2
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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26 comments:

fliptravels.com said...
April 8, 2013 at 1:53 PM

Mister Moe scared me like hell. Specially when he grabbed my by the arm to show me the toilet. Looking back, i literally thought he grabbed me by the neck.

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 2:09 PM

I hafta admit... That was hilariousss!

Darwin Cayetano said...
April 8, 2013 at 2:42 PM

Luna saying "I Love you" was so sweet! Miss ko tuloy ang batang yun!haha, baka sa next namin pagkikta dalaga na sya..haha

I was also thinking of doing a summary of my first quater kaso ayun, tinatamad na naman..haha

Claire | Traveling Light said...
April 8, 2013 at 3:28 PM

Wow! Quite a busy first quarter! =) Here's to more adventures this year!

michymichymoo said...
April 8, 2013 at 3:42 PM

Grabe! I'm envious! :) Will start my travels second half of this year pa. :)

Lyndsay Cabildo said...
April 8, 2013 at 4:22 PM

Awesome first quarter! Looking forward to read about the next quarter travel posts! :) Oh and btw, how did the interview go?

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 4:41 PM

Hahaha! I'd be surprised if you write one *half joke*. I have an utang post pa pala, hihi. Sowee!

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 4:43 PM

Indeed, surprisingly.

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 4:43 PM

So long as there's time for travel :) It's never too late to start.

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 4:44 PM

Hi L.A.! I didn't answer one of ze questions, but they accepted my other responses anyway. I think. Haha.

Micamyx|Senyorita said...
April 8, 2013 at 8:46 PM

Luna's Awabyu <3

What a busy start! I wish you luck with the visa thing. I am anxiously waiting for mine as well :|

Marco TheSoulExplorer said...
April 8, 2013 at 9:31 PM

Awabyu reminds me of my niece.Hehehe

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 9:48 PM

Oohh... Good luck, hun!

Gay Emami said...
April 8, 2013 at 9:48 PM

KYOT!

Ding | The Pinoy Explorer said...
April 8, 2013 at 10:54 PM

That's a lot! for me, evacuating because of a fire alarm would be the worst experience. LOL!

she-wolf said...
April 10, 2013 at 12:40 PM

disqus won't log me in through google :( anyway, i hope to join your travels soon :) how would i know when i could join you? i changed urls again lol.. self-displacement.blogspot.com

Social Media Marketing, Market said...
April 10, 2013 at 6:42 PM

Very nice article and it can prove to be very helpful for new bloggers
or those who want more and more people to visit their blogs

Jeff Zapanta said...
April 11, 2013 at 10:44 PM

Mind-blowing first quarter... it's overflowing with memories, Gay.. Will catch up on your other posts.. :) sana makumpleto ko rin ang SEA countries some time.. :)

Rizalenio said...
April 14, 2013 at 1:24 PM

Naramdaman ko ang pagiging di ko paggalaw ng binabasa ko ito. Itong taong ito, puro malls ata highlight ng first quarter ko. :)

Ingat sa marami pang mga byahe. Kisses to Luna. :)

Dennis *** said...
April 14, 2013 at 11:37 PM

You got me curious about this "future". Sounds like another busy 2nd quarter eh?

Gay Emami said...
April 15, 2013 at 11:17 AM

I do hope so :)

Gay Emami said...
April 15, 2013 at 11:17 AM

One of the most terrifying moments of my life!

Gay Emami said...
April 15, 2013 at 11:18 AM

I'm sure you'll be able to reach that goal someday :)

Gay Emami said...
April 15, 2013 at 11:18 AM

Luna kisses you back!

maria millado said...
April 16, 2013 at 2:57 AM

envious at the amount of travelling you had done so far in your young life. what will you do when you retire?

Gay Emami said...
April 16, 2013 at 8:29 AM

Will see what we get there, hihi :)

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