2013: The Last Quarter

On some occasions, it feels good to eat your own words. Especially when your words are in such sequence: We're not traveling for a while.

About three months ago, hubby and I went about talking to skeptic minds on the subject of finally settling down. And we were thrown with the response "That's what you guys said the last time we saw you!" almost each time. In my 2013 Thus Far: The Third Quarter article, I even put it on record... "So we'll pass up on exhaustion, sleeplessness, and starvation... For now. We're embracing the humdrum."

The 'embracing' didn't go too well for we didn't really settle in Australia when we went in October. Instead, we cut the stay short and ended up backpacking in two other countries. We're restless like that. Thus the journey to domesticity this last quarter of 2013 has been protracted and taxing. I'm fighting fits of post-trip depression in between jaunts and I don't know how I'm gonna hold up.

Keep calm and swing like a wrecking ball. Eriyadu Island Resort, Maldives.   Now let me share with you the events that transpired the past three months before my low EQ lures me into pigging out and lazing in bed until the holidays are over (Spending Christmas and New Year's Eve in the Philippines again for the first time in two years!):

Kicked off the last quarter with a passport renewal. Old passport still got about two blank pages left, but because its cover has been detached for more than a year (yeah surprisingly I got away with it), I decided to get a new one. Did the renewal at DFA Pampanga for the first time and the whole shebang only took twenty minutes!

Traveled to Buscalan, Kalinga for a traditional tattoo by mambabatok Fang-Od. She did mine and the hubby's with only one good eye, for the other one's sort of impaired because some debris got in it while she was tending the farm. The tribe by the way killed a chicken as tradition (when a foreign child visits their territory) and slathered its blood on my new tattoo in the belief that it'll help make it heal faster.

Pajama-partied in Linden Suites with fellow travel bloggers. We were provided an entire floor of suites!

Staycationed in Hotel 878 Libis for Ron's (FlipTravels.com) birthday shindig. Their. Lofts. Rock.

Was invited to Bensimon Philippines' bloggers event, wherein we were introduced to their line of Parisian sneakers — and were fed divine Cupcakes by Sonja. Walked away with a sunny yellow pair.

Lucky to be in town for the Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Gin Blossoms (SugarSmashGin) concert in Smart Araneta, Cubao. Scored free tickets from ze cousin! Watched with a stranger.

Finally made it to the Sculptures By The Sea exhibit in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia after missing out on two chances the previous two years.

Attended a simple birthday gathering at South Curl Curl Beach, New South Wales, Australia. It was our first time there and man, let me just say how fun the name 'Curl Curl' is. It's got a 50-meter pool and a toddlers area which Luna loved.

Revisited Sydney's Luna Park. Still didn't get on any of the rides.

I wore a Gameboy dress for Halloween.

Traveled to Malacca, Malaysia for the first time and checked in Hotel Puri, a Peranakan ancestral home housed in a gorgeous structure built in the 1800s. Malacca's City center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and out of its many attractions, we only visited one: Eighteenth century Anglican church, The Christ Church.

Speaking of Malacca, its nyonya laksa and chicken rice ball swept me off my feet!

Hubby and I celebrated our five years of togetherness in Maldives. Because we were able to book really cheap tickets (like, $1 cheap per person, from Kuala Lumpur to Male and back), we splurged on an island resort accommodation for one night. The other two nights were spent in Hulhumalé, an artificial island south of North Male Atoll.

Partnered with Anma Lifestyle. This mum's backpack now contains luxe travel accessories!

This mum also now dons My Philippines apparel. The brand just celebrated their 10th year anniversary.

Remember the Travel Blogging Calendar I posed for last year? The team behind it is back, and I'm once again participating in the project. This year we want to raise awareness about the plight of Asian elephants. We're supporting the mission of the Save Elephant Foundation in Thailand, and we're accepting donations on their behalf.

Lastly, Pinay Travel Junkie topped the 15 Best Travel Blogs of 2013 poll and I got my fellow travel bloggers to thank for! They're like family to me now. I suggest you guys follow their adventures too!

2014 plans...

We got the option to enroll our daughter into a Philippine school next year. Now if we do, that could only mean exploring more local destinations. And we can hardly wait!


ShareTweet

This page was viewed times.

Couchsurfing For Families: As Awesome As It Gets

This seriously made my eyes well up.

Couchsurfing.org's latest video (view previous videos here) focuses on a rarer breed of couchsurfers: The couchsurfing families. I drowned in the abyss of mushiness after listening to the sentiments of our spiritual comrades. Today, I shall let them do the talking for me.


Watch to find out how Couchsurfing paved the way for us to see the world in a whole different prism, together as families. Also, uhm, spot our daughter throwing a tantrum on cam.


Ever couchsurfed as a family? Share us your story!

Pin It
ShareTweet



This page was viewed times.

The Evolution Of A Pinay Travel Junkie

How long have you been around? Long enough to sniff that what's mostly penned here is about this awesome thing called world, and rarely about the deep sentiments of that Pinay travel junkie who inches her way around it? Perhaps you don't give a damn, and well, I don't either. But you see, 265 days into our round-the-world trip, I'm feeling rather nostalgic. Bordering emo. Recently, for four days we traipsed around quaint Moroccan desert towns - With no status updates. No Tweets. Just the barren expanse and our thoughts.

I felt pure mirth. And contentment.

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" ~ Milton Berle (Sahara Desert, Morocco)
"You're living THE life!", some people remarked on our social networking accounts. At least, an ideal life for a vagabond. Probably we really are, but I assure you we've earned it the hard way. Every phase of my earlier backpacking years led me to where I am now. All the travel mishaps and heartbreaks molded me into a tougher backpacker chick who's ready to take on the world.

Join me on my jaunt down memory lane and you'll see how.

Clueless

When I was in college, a nasty split made me sign up for the outdoor organization. It's something I was long deprived of, because the ex disapproved. Yes, back then I followed commands. But soon after I was unleashed from my longest exclusive-dating relationship ever, I followed my heart.

Doing the "connection cave" in Sagada about a decade ago. A joe hot on my trail. Must be those denim shorts.
With borrowed hiking sandals and a borrowed backpack (plus P1,500 in my pocket) I invited myself to their Sagada trip. They welcomed me with open arms, and introduced to me the muddy yet awesome world of trekking. I got acquainted with my adventurous side. Also, I garnered a new set of unpretentious pals... And a foreign admirer.

Dazed And Confused

It was sort of my rock n' roll era. I was in my early 20s, and the beach to me was synonymous to swimming in copious amounts of alcohol, not swimming in the sea. I used to visit party central Puerto Galera on every vacation leave, and sometimes even on an ordinary weekend.

A gazillion Mindoro Slings after, almost passing out on the sand. With strangers who became my friends, most of whom are now globe trotters too.
Evenings were spent bootyshakin' with trannies or skanking with dreadheads by the reggae bar. Or swaying to djembe beats in front of the bonfire. Whatever it was, sure as hell I'd end up heavily inebriated. I had ugly nightcaps that consisted of toilet hugs and/or bar fights. Don't get me wrong, I still consider those the good ol' untroubled days but I hated the feeling of emptiness I had every time I was home bound. I longed for... Cheesiness ahead... A more meaningful life.

Soul Searched

Like a junkie who submitted to rehab, I was admitted to a new outdoor group whose members were weekday yuppies and weekend nomads. All of whom, except one, I met for the first time on their Maricaban Island camping trip. I had a royal welcome, meaning, I was provided a tent just for myself.

Once more, I surrounded myself with people who sought refuge in the mountains and on remote beaches. Maricaban Island, Batangas.
I fell in love with nature more than ever. I reclaimed inner peace, which I kept in my grasp during trips thereafter. My unsatisfiable hunger for new experiences forced me out of my comfort zone, and I eventually morphed into the suicidal solo backpacker.

Room For Two

The solo backpacking period was short-lived for I found a possessive backpacking buddy. And this buddy became my fiance after he said yes to the theatrical marriage proposal I did on stage a now defunct famous reggae joint in the Philippines. That guy was the admirer who followed me around Sagada five years back (yep, that's why I'm covering that pretty face).

My fave hangout, park across Rijksmuseum.
I followed him to the Netherlands where he resides to meet his folks and see his world. It was my first time to travel overseas, and I experienced culture shock in a good way. The trip sparked my interest in visiting other foreign lands and immersing in different cultures. It also shattered my engagement into pieces.

Modern Day Hobo

I came. I saw. I conquered. I got broke.

Approaching my thirties, I was still working odd jobs, just long enough to fund the next trip within my home country. But when I craved for journeys to distant countries that require long-haul flights, I tried my luck being an overseas Filipino worker. It was the only way to finance my vice.

Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, making the most out of my one day per week off.
I worked as a receptionist for a hotel in U.A.E. and lived in a house with fellow Pinay workers. While I saved up my salary for the round-the-world trip I was planning that time, they sent most of theirs to families back home. I sent cash to my 'rents too, but not as much as they did. It was a humbling experience.

It was also in the desert that I met my sole mate. I gave romance on the road another try. We simultaneously quit our jobs to do backpacking together in Southeast Asia. Consequently I shelved my solo RTW plan.

That Excess Emotional Baggage

Within just nine months of dating, my sole mate proposed. We got hitched a little over three months of engagement, and I got knocked up just weeks into our married life. It was a darn frenetic year. And along the way, I realized my spirit was no longer free. Though it ain't chained either. More like, grounded.

Luna, our little globe crawler. It's her turn now. New South Wales, Australia.
Because I couldn't (and will never ever) give up backpacking, we traveled with our newborn in tow. But as you could imagine, our needs have evolved. There may be certain restrictions when traveling with a baby, but there are valuable lessons us parents learn as well during this process.

Freedom, turn here -> Travel (Walk this way and you'll never be the same again.)
Like selflessness. Let me tell you, the joy we see in our daughter's eyes is simply... As that credit card ad goes... Priceless. I am now a full-blown backpacking mum. And though I lost a part of my carefree self, I don't really mind. Because in retrospect, I lived and am still living an awesome life. Travel made me an accomplished person (at least to my standards) I never thought I'd become, and it taught me finally what a meaningful life is.



This is Pinay Travel Junkie's entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers' March 2012 Blog Carnival themed "Leap of Faith: When Travelling Changed My Life".

To be hosted by Reiza of Wander If You Must.



Pin It
ShareTweet



This page was viewed times.