Angelica's Travels

New Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:50:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com
Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:
Instagram
Flickr
Exposure
Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Old Town, Hanoi : Thoughts on a Street Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:32:00 +0000

“Life is full of stories. Or maybe life is only stories. Good night, my dear Nao.”

- A Tale for the Time Being, Ruth Ozeki

I'm back in Hanoi, this time on a work trip, but with travel perks nonetheless. I'm sitting at the corner of Hang Thung and Ten Huu Huan. 930pm. Swarm of motorcycles crossing the intersection. The traffic lights work, but it's only for show. The Vietnamese have their own traffic rules, or probably it is its non-existence.

Old Quarter, Hanoi, Vietnam

A woman wearing a baby-carrier and her toddler in the front. Young ones wearing party dresses. And two to three people on motorcycles lined up, chatting away. The police smoking... Then a guy passes by, knocks over my small table, the avocado shake now all over my legs. So much for a tale of the time being. Moments passed.

'Sorry, I'm so sorry,' the guy said. I think he's the cafe owner. A crew came over and asked if I wanted another one.

After cleaning up, I lit one stick. The couple at the next table, backpackers probably from Europe, turned to me and smiled. 'Smells good,' they said. 'It has vanilla on the tip of the filter,' I answered back. 'Ah, that's why.' This cigarette of mine has always been a conversation starter. In Palawan, the village chief in Burma, the postman in Epidavrus Theatre in Greece.

A few minutes after, the couple were about to leave. They looked back at me, smiled, and waved goodbye.

I miss the backpacking life. The crappy clothes, worn over and over again during the course of a 5-month backpacking trip. The carefree lifestyle, the continuous moving, discovering a new place and different way of living every other month or week even. Of meeting strangers in dorms turned friends over a 2-week trip, of meeting guys in sleeper bus rides and treks and falling for them, or the idea of it. Short-lived yet meaningful friendships and relationships, some can even change you and your life.

This certain kind of bliss one can only experience when you let go of your past, jump into the unknown and uncertainty, live only in the present.. a collection of tales for the time being. Such is life on the road.

This isn't my life anymore.

To be honest, I am at a crossroad. Trying to see where I should go. Trying to seek for balance between stability and adventures on the road. I now have an appreciation of hotel rooms and suitcases, of having a place to go home to every day. Of buying local paintings and small things to put up on my wall.

Hoi An's Charming Old Town

I think I'll be here for a while, at this crosscroad.

It's unsettling. But it is change.

It's another story, and we'll see where it will lead me to.

Posted on: August 11, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Nafplio, Greece : Finding Beauty in Solitude

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 11:01:00 +0000

Typical House

Nafplio, Greece

6am. I can’t pretend that I can still sleep. The five hour time difference, or jet lag, is setting in. I opened the door to the balcony and welcomed the morning light. The town is still asleep. But the birds chirping greeted me a good morning.

view from my room's balcony

Prepared coffee and some toasts for breakfast. And I just felt the need to write this down. This mood, this pretty balcony, this silence, is what I needed. A clear mind to start the day.

I could live in a place like this. Or wish I could live in a place like this. After traveling extensively and moving around so much, I hope to have this life soon.

view from the Palamidi Castle

I was so exhausted last night. I regret pushing myself to climb that palace without proper sleep. After eating dinner, I headed out to the port and waited for the sun to set. It was a simple sunset. Not much color, yet still beautiful.

sunset

For a moment I felt sad to be alone, watching couples probably on their honeymoon, families on a cruise break, friends taking selfies. So I decided to walk back to the hotel and just call it a day.

"The fear of being alone will rob you of all the lessons that solitude has come to teach."

Along the way, I found this frozen Greek yogurt place. I’ve always been curious to try it and see what the whole fuss is about. A nice man explained to me my options. I just ordered the plain one and looooved it.

I decided to walk around again after, with no specific destination. A couple having coffee outside their shop said something to me in Greek and smiled. I told them I can't understand Greek. The man said ‘How are you today?’ I told him I was doing good. They wished me a great night ahead.

Walked up nearly empty streets where only the residents live. A group huddled together having wine greeted me a good night.

From this alley I could see the sky turning orange, the small buildings and balconies becoming more beautiful. I don’t know why, but I just felt happy and content after that. Must be the yogurt, but I guess I just realized that it’s okay to be alone. That this is how it’s supposed to be right now. Everything is as it’s meant to be.

For the first time since last month over getting anxious preparing for this trip, I was at peace with my thoughts. I was happy eating yogurt and walking along these pretty streets, and getting greeted by these nice people.

"Live a life that let's you see such things. Buy the tickets, board the planes, get lost, find yourselves, come home changed. Live a life that creates more out of all you were the day before."
- Tyler Knott Gregson

Every single time I travel, I try to escape something, I hope to find myself, to find love, to find answers. But every single time I come home, I fall even more in love with life and this beautiful world. I get so much more inspired to move, do, and create, and look forward to life ahead. There's so many more new places to see, strangers and people to meet, and moments to experience. :)

Posted on : July 19, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Prelude to the Greece Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:49:00 +0000

Nafplio, Greece

Photo by George Karydis

In a few days, I’ll be crossing a continent to attend a friend’s wedding. I wasn’t supposed to go anymore because my cousin’s also getting married in 2 weeks, and work has been overwhelming lately. But it was just so hard to say no to a friend’s plea to be present in her special day (I’m the only bridesmaid apparently). Plus it’s a chance to see another side of this world, my first out-of-Asia trip.

For weeks I was anxious. Anxious of visa applications and work conflicts. But I’m here, I'm flying to Europe in less than a week.

Friends tease me about this other guy I might see again.

But it’s you I find myself thinking about.

This morning I found myself crying. I can’t figure out during the start. But eventually I did.

I cried because of the could-haves and broken dreams and plans. Of those days when you were planning for a trip so I can visit you, meet your mum, your sister, and your nieces. To visit the places you eat at, see those sailboats you love, the beaches you go to, watch you body board, and just be with you because apparently the distance was slowly killing our relationship. But I said I wasn’t ready yet financially because I was just starting over again after the Big Trip. But really it was just too big a step for me, it was just a bit overwhelming.

It’s been more than two years, I know. You don’t occupy most of my days anymore. But when you do, there’s still a bit of feelings left. Like this morning.

Two years after, and I’m finally stepping in your continent. I wonder how that would feel like.

My wish is that I allow myself to feel. Yet remain grateful of how far I’ve come. To not forget where I will be and appreciate the beauty around me. To let go and accept.

Greece, I’ll see you in a few days. Can’t wait to walk around your quaint and charming seaside villages, be at awe of how blue the Mediterranean sea is, and visit your historical sites. :)

Posted on : July 1, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Here's To Now

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 07:14:00 +0000

Mt. Batulao, Philippines

“You never know where the world is gonna take you. So I’m just trying to be open and present in every moment I’m in and seeing where that kind of leads me. And just one with what feels right as well, because I think that’s what’s important. Rather than being ‘this is my goal and I’m gonna work so hard to make that’. It’s like sometimes if you have such tunnel vision, you miss everything else that’s around you and things can’t happen. It’s good to be open. I think your passions carry you through. And if you’re passionate about things, it will carry you to the next events. But I don’t want to get ever too stuck on having one objective that’s gonna kind of blind you to something that could happen that would even be more rad.”

- Kassia Meador

I have a confession.

I’m letting go of control. I’m letting go of having South America as my only goal for the next few years. You know why? Because it has made me so uptight and so worried about the future. I’ve been so scared and hesitant of doing and experiencing new things, because it might distract me from making South America happen.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy

This year I somehow learned to let go. I said yes to weekend climbs. I went out more to have dinner and coffee with friends. I went home more to my parents, and tried to spend more quality time with them. The need for this seemed more imminent lately since my father is turning 60 next year.

I spent more than what I’ve budgeted – the BUDGET that would allow me to leave for South America at X month/year with an X amount of money in my savings account.

Mt. Batulao, Philippines

But I gained new friends and had the best time. I’ve been able to spend more time doing what I love –trekking and climbing mountains, and taking photos.

Mt. Batulao

Mt. Gulugod Baboy

Mt. Batulao

Mt. Gulugod Baboy

I’ve been able to swim and cross 25m in a pool. I have somehow started to face my fear of deep waters and learned freestyle swimming. I tried last year but defeated myself and was unsuccessful. So this year I enrolled in a proper class and actually made progress.

I’ve focused more on today than the X month/year that I can finally leave for South America. The goal is still definitely there, I still aim to live minimally. But I’ve let go of focusing too much on it that I’m missing out on how I can be happy and content every single day. It doesn’t bother me that much anymore that it’s getting delayed a month, or two, or even more.

Mt. Batulao

I’m more open now to saying yes, yes to travel planning by friends as long as it’s still within a reasonable budget. I figured it’s time to travel with friends again and create new memories with them.

I’ve learned that yes, the strict discipline I did in preparing for my 2011 Big Trip worked so well that I was able to quit my job and travel for five months straight in less than a year. But what I learned from that whole trip was to be open to new and unexpected experiences and chance encounters, and to enjoy what’s only here and now.

Mt. Batulao

So it’s what I’m trying to do now. Continue working and saving up for that goal, but making today more a priority than worrying about the future.

Mt. Batulao

"There are no coincidences...everything is as it's meant to be, and if you accept that, you can get through everything."

So here’s to now, going with the flow, and being open to new things, and opening up myself to new experiences that will allow me to learn and grow.

Posted on : June 8, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

That Time in Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Thu, 08 May 2014 04:35:00 +0000

Agra Fort, India

“No, tell me. I want to know how you felt about it.” You told me this while I was trying to tell you how hard it has been to tell my parents about this trip. You’re actually the first one who genuinely listened to all the fears I had to face before I made the big decision to quit my job and travel.

It was past midnight, the rest of the group already left the rooftop. It was only us two left on that cold November night. It was my first night back in Delhi, my last stop in India before going to Nepal. It was your second week in Delhi – your first stop in India. And it was also your last two nights before you continue on with your travels.

I couldn’t even remember anymore how it happened, how you ended up sitting right beside me. But I do remember how we were the only people who were fans of NCIS, I loved how you remember all the names of the characters in that series. Several bottles of beers after, people were getting tired and cold. You asked me if I was going to sleep already, I told you I had to wait for a friend to drop off some medicines for the stomach flu I got in Varanasi. You said you’d wait with me.

“Insomnia. Might as well just stay here with you.” That was the first time you made me smile.

Two hours we waited for my friend. How happy I was actually that we had those hours just the two of us. You told me about your life, about the realizations you had that lead you to decide to quit your job and travel for a year. You told me about your mom and how much you love her, and how much she supports your traveling. I told you about the reason why I quit my job. How hard it was to tell people and my parents about it. You listened, you actually listened. I told you about my fears – of what will be my life after the trip ends.

And then you told me about the importance of living in the present and enjoying what’s only here and now. And that’s what I did the rest of my trip, what made me braver to say yes to moments and taking chances.

My friend arrived a few hours after, and you went out to the gate with me to meet him. I admired how easy it was for you to warm up to him that we spent almost an hour more with him after. You seem to be like that to everyone that people get so easily drawn to you.

We bid my friend goodbye, then you asked if you can use the toilet in our room because the one in your room wasn’t working. A ‘move’ I apparently wasn’t aware of, as my friends who I was sharing the dorm room with said the morning after. But that night you hugged me good night before you left the room, and that was the second time you made me smile.

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You were leaving that day. It was the first time I got attached to someone in the trip. My first taste of the constant goodbyes I had to deal with and give – the reality of life on the road.

You couldn’t join us for lunch anymore, you woke up late. That was probably my fault, or the beers and alcohol we all had the night before. I too was so sleepy that day that I could have just went up straight to my room to take a nap. But I knew I had to say goodbye to you. So I waited down at the common room. A few minutes after, you were there with your backpack on. Ready to check out and catch your bus going to Dharamsala. You saw me and then you smiled. I stood up and walked towards you.

“I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to you yet. You’re the last person I want to say goodbye to.”

I didn’t really know what to say. I just smiled and hugged you.

I can’t remember anymore what we said to each other after that hug. All I remember is your smile and the last time you fixed that rowdy part of my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

Posted on : May 8, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Thoughts on Burma, A Year After

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:13:00 +0000

Village Chief, Kalaw ot Inle Lake Trek

I saw this travel writing contest in the internet, the goal was to write about a place that inspires you to live life without regrets. And the first place that comes to mind is Burma. I wanted to go to Burma because I was curious to experience traveling in a country closed-off from the rest of the world – or as they say ‘where time stood still’, I wanted to see and explore the thousands of stupas and temples in Bagan, and see the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. I did all of it, but traveling in Burma for almost three weeks was definitely more than this. The people and situation in Burma humbled me. Coming from a third world country, I’ve come to appreciate the sense of freedom despite mere resources (compared to the first world) I enjoy and how much I have been taking them for granted.

I wrote this piece having the theme and my experiences in mind, ready to send it to the website. Until I read the guidelines of the writing contest again and realized that I read it all wrong. So I decided to just share it here in my blog.

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There were seven of us, travelers from different parts of the world, who all met in Burma. All of us took breaks from something - careers, school, heartbreaks, and just life back in our home countries, to explore an isolated and closed-off country.

It was the end of 2012, two years since the democratic icon Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. More than fifty years since the military government stripped off its countrymen their rights to freedom, to education, and to just simply build a life they deserve.

Afternoon Break

Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek

A three-day trek through the Shan hills gave us a glimpse of what life is like in the countryside – farmers hard at work in their traditional clothes, tending to their farmlands by hand, with no piece of machinery in sight. It was like looking at an idyllic countryside painting, that people have likened it to the early days of Tuscany.

This, along with the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, the temples of Bagan, the manicured lawns of Pyin Oo Lwin, and a few other towns, are the unrestricted areas for tourism. For travelers like us, going to these places was such a wonderful experience. We marvelled at the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda, we felt like explorers climbing ancient temples in Bagan, and visited several monasteries.

International roaming service was non-existent, wi-fi and internet were scarce and most of the time unreliable – there was no chance to check emails and facebook. We had time to ourselves, no past or future holding us back to enjoy our time there. We had more time to read books, relax, and meet new people.

Ricefield Ladies

Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek

But more than all of these, it was those small encounters with the Burmese people that stuck with me the most. The encounters that have humbled me and have pushed me to live life without regrets.

First were the scared and disappointed, trapped in the lives forced on them by the military government. Such is a village chief we met during the trek. He approached me and we began sharing stories. I noticed a photo of Aung San and her father (their national hero) on a calendar just right behind him. I asked him if posting their photo is already allowed. He said yes especially after the release of the icon. Then he changed the subject right away.

There was the man selling paintings in one of the less-famous pagodas in Bagan. He told me how he's dreamed of becoming an engineer, but decided on just learning how to paint instead. He said that his uncle paid so much money to bring his cousin to university to study engineering. But there was no chance to be one after he graduated. He said that no one really gets a good education for the money they pay, and no good opportunity waiting for them after. His cousin is now back in Bagan working as a farmer. He said that he'd rather learn how to paint and earn money, than waste his time and their savings in going to the university.

There were also those who have found peace through their faith and of the imagined lives they’ve built in their own minds. We rode our bikes through the narrow roads of Inle Lake’s countryside until we reached a dead end. We stopped for a while to rest, then a monk peeked out the window of the house to our right. He had the biggest smile. He called us in and welcomed us into the house which was also a monastery. He spoke very good English. He asked what countries we were from. Then greeted us in our national languages and mentioned historical facts about our countries. He showed us postcards, letters, and different books sent by travelers from different parts of the world who’ve been there as well. He told us about his dreams of traveling to learn more about the world. I later found out that the government has made it nearly impossible for anyone to have a passport, at least back in 2012.

But there were also those who were slowly building the courage to voice out their anger, and are hopeful for a better change. We were in a cab on the way to Yangon airport when the driver showed us the headline of the day’s newspaper. It was of the injured monks in Northern Burma who were protesting against the violence done on civilians who were in turn protesting against a government project with China. With intense passion, he told us about how the people are less scared after Aung San’s release, and that more are willing to fight for change. He told us to tell the outside world their story. But he kept quiet when we had to stop for the traffic lights. Afterwards, he told us that the people in the other car might have been spies.

I think about it now, more than a year after my travels in Burma. The memories of the beautiful places I’ve seen – the Shwedagon Pagoda, the country hills in Kalaw, the serene waters of Inle Lake, and the gorgeous sunset in Bagan – I remember them all now with a certain fondness similar to the other countries I’ve visited. But what has been making a bigger impact on how I’m living my life are those encounters I had with the people of Burma.

Train Ride

Yangon City

They have taught me to not take anything for granted – the right to education, access to different opportunities, capability to help others, to have dreams, and to travel. And just the freedom to build a life we want and deserve, something we all take for granted because we are too burdened by our own fears and excuses.

The monk, despite spending his whole life probably in that small town, has lived his life fully given the situation around him. He will probably never have the chance to travel the world, let alone leave his country. But he continues to learn about the world and other cultures and religion from the books he reads. The taxi driver who has probably dreamed of becoming something more has continued to live and fight for his country’s freedom despite fears of being caught. That maybe, somehow, he has hope that one day he’ll be able to live in a free Burma.

I hope one way or another, we learn from these people about truly living with all the possibilities, and despite all the constraints around us. Think about all the opportunities you enjoy and can explore, or those that you choose to ignore because you think you will fail. I’m not just talking about traveling, I’m talking about all that you want to achieve and have. They don’t have any of those opportunities, they’ve been stripped off the right to even dream about it from the day they were born. But you have so much of it, and you’re not doing anything. Think about it.

Posted on : February 24, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Calaguas Island : Beach Weekend and Travel Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 09:13:00 +0000

Calaguas Island

“Aaaaaahhhhh!” our boatman screamed as we were about to tackle a big wave. After getting drenched from this big wave, I looked back at our boatman and saw him squatting and scooping water out of our small boat using a small can (or dipper). This was the first of the three times I saw him do it during our 2-hour boat ride going to Calaguas Island. And we were only about 20 minutes into the ride. Imagine how terrified I was during that looong boat ride (read here why). I was seriously checking my life vest (a poor one at that) so many times, thinking of ways on how I would survive if ever our boat topples over. That boat ride was torture for me.

But it was all worth it after seeing this – those different shades of blue and green, of the 1.2 km stretch of fine white sand of Calaguas Island.

It’s been so busy at work since the start of the year that sometimes we even had to go to work during Saturdays. It wasn’t exactly stressful compared to my old job, but I was beginning to notice the first signs of burnout. I just really wanted to get out of the city, relax, and enjoy a weekend not doing anything. And I wanted to go to the beach and see one I’ve never been to before. And Calaguas seemed to be the perfect destination. It was accessible by bus, it’s an island where we can camp, and there was no cell signal there too. Good thing my kaladkarin friends (Zye and Emil) were up for it, and Emil has been to the island back in 2010.

Our trip started Friday as we took the 7-hour bus ride from Manila to Talobatib via Philtranco. Talobatib is a small stop in an intersection along the highway. After having coffee, we started waiting for the bus that will get us to Paracale. People can already hire a tricycle from Talobatib for PHP250, but we decided to just take the local bus. What was interesting was that the tricycle drivers kept on telling us that there was not going to be any bus that day because of a certain celebration by a big religious group. We really didn’t know what they’re talking about, but they just kept on pushing us. Eventually, a bus came and we only paid PHP30 per person.

The sun was starting to rise that time, highlighting the greenery of the rice fields we passed by. I breathed the fresh air and felt so happy to be back on the road again even for just a few days. The people in the bus were very helpful telling us where to stop and which way to go to.

After less than half an hour, we arrived in Paracale. Had breakfast in one of the small food stalls (carinderia), the owner Tita Jun was so helpful along with Ate Baby. They allowed us to take showers there too, and told us about the island and what to expect. After a bit of confusion over the boat, we were finally off to the island. After our experience, I would suggest getting a bigger boat because the Pacific can be rough.

After two hours, we arrived in Calaguas Island. Tourism has made it to the island, and was already partitioned by at least five owners. There was one relatively upscale resort, some areas with small huts and cottages, while the others were still bare and served as camping grounds. We found an area with a few cottages, and there was only us as guests. We rented a tent good enough for 3 people, and a cottage where we can put our food and drinks.

The whole afternoon was spent just lazing around and just really having a relaxed weekend. We could have walked to the other side of the island to see the cove or trekked a few minutes to get a good view of the island from the top. But yes, I intentionally did not do the trek, because I was lazy and was just enjoying the beach. The waves were a bit strong that day, but the water was still clear and the sand so fine. I guess what I loved most about the island is its wide shore where despite the number of groups that time, we still had our own spots to chill at.

(photo by Emil)

After cleaning up, one of our boatmen helped start a bonfire. We found out later that night, that it wasn’t actually allowed, so let me apologize now for our group. ;) Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the sky that night as clouds hovered over the island. And it drizzled from time to time. But of course it didn’t stop us from enjoying the night. Despite not having proper food (we only had bread, canned goods, and chips), we still had a great time by the bonfire and finishing the drinks we brought with us. Soon after we decided to join the group beside us and made new friends. We learned things about the island and the best time to go there (June and July with smaller waves) from the tour’s owner.

We finished at around 1am, and got to see the moon for a few minutes. Oh, that moment was magical. It was full moon, no artificial source of light at all, with the white sand making the whole island seem brighter.

Five hours after, we were woken up by one of our boatmen telling us to pack up right away because a low pressure area was about to pass the island in a few hours. Despite our state, no breakfast, not even coffee, we packed up and cleaned up our camping area.

And then our morning officially started to be not so good. We knew that we will be sharing the small boat with another person that day, but they forgot her vest in the mainland. Given how rough the sea was, and the LPA they were telling us about, we didn’t want to leave the island with one of us not wearing a vest. We stood our ground despite them joking that it’s going to be okay, the waves wouldn’t be as bad as before. Luckily, they got an extra vest from another boat.

We were all on the boat now, a few meters from the shore, then our boatman found out that our machine was wet. So yeah, the boat wasn’t going to work. We were stuck there for more than an hour. Despite our plea (yes, plea), that they just bring us all back to the shore first, our boatman wouldn’t budge. He just said that it’s going to work. Groups from the shore were looking at us, wondering why we were just there. It was already raining when I finally told the boatman that he should really bring us back to the shore and move us to another boat. He just wouldn’t budge, until I told him I wasn’t comfortable anymore riding the boat going back to the mainland. I really didn’t want to get stuck in the middle of the ocean in that boat. I guess it worked on the younger boatman as he got the rope attached to the boat and swam to the shore. Eventually, we were moved to another boat, a bigger one. And I guess it was a blessing in disguise because the ocean was rougher that day. The swells were pretty high. Good thing we were going with the waves, I can just imagine how it was for those who are on the way to the island. You know when you’re surfing and you can feel the wave under your board going up and bringing you to the shore? Yes, there were a lot of times that we felt that during our boat ride, like our boat was surfing.

Finally we made it back to Paracale, the mainland. After eating lunch and taking a shower, we rode a van going to Daet. Bought our bus ticket for that night, and made our way to Bagasbas. There we saw again the group we met in the island. They felt so bad for us, that their tour leader almost asked us to just ride with them out of the island. But of course it wasn’t possible at all, because we were just drifting off by the shore the whole time.

Bagasbas Beach, Daet

I’ve been to Bagasbas two years ago with another friend. The place is famous for being a good spot for surfing beginners. And that’s what we did, and learned from a surfer pro Ate Mocha. As always, it was fun. But the waves were pretty strong which made us tired easily. But we still had a great time.

(photo by Emil)

Calaguas was the perfect early summer beach getaway. And the island is really gorgeous. Make sure to include it in your must-visit beaches in the Philippines. There are several tour packages you can join, but if you want to do it on your own. Here’s how and how much:

How to get there:

- Philtranco buses have 8pm, 9pm, and 930pm buses from Pasay and Cubao to Daet. Call first to confirm bus schedules.
- Ask the bus driver to drop you off in Talobatib.
- Take a local bus to Paracale, the take-off point for the island. You can just ask around for a boat for rent once you’re there.
- Paracale – Daet : Take a van, it takes around 30 minutes.
- You can take a bus to Manila once you get there, or stay in Daet first to surf in Bagasbas.

Cost:

Bus from Manila to Daet : Philtrance PHP580 for regular aircon, PHP630 for express
Bus from Talobatib to Paracale : PHP30/person
Roundtrip Boat to Calaguas : We got a PHP2500 small boat, but would recommend getting a bigger one. It can range from PHP3,000 to PHP3,500.
Tent rental good for 3 people : PHP300
Cottage rental (optional): PHP300
Island Fee : PHP100 per person
Van from Paracale to Daet : PHP60 per person
Tricycle around Daet : PHP20 per person on average
Bagasbas Surfing Lesson : PHP400/hour
Bus from Daet to Manila : Superlines PHP470
*I didn't include food here since that would all depend on you and your group.

Posted on : February 22, 2014

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Hsipaw : Sunflower Fields and A Glimpse of the Resistance

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:59:00 +0000

early morning in Hsipaw

After spending three days trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake, I knew I wanted to go on another trek. I wanted to spend more days in Burma’s countryside. Another famous trek in Burma is in Hsipaw.

Hsipaw, a town in the Shan state, is located further north of Inle Lake and Mandalay. One can take a bus or train from Mandalay, or a bus from Nyaungshwe if you’re coming from Inle Lake. It’s a relatively small town that sees fewer tourists than the other sites in the country.

It was another long bus ride from Nyaungshwe to Hsipaw. We left Nyaungshwe at around 3pm and arrived in Hsipaw early morning the next day. Good thing we were able to call and book a hostel even before going there, and luckily it was near the bus drop-off point. We chose to stay at Mr. Kid’s house-turned-hostel. (The hostel is very basic, but the family that owns it is very nice and accommodating.) Unfortunately, only one room was unoccupied that time since it was still very early. We decided, to be fair to everyone, to just leave all our luggages in the room and walk around the town first.

With our jackets and scarves on, Hsipaw during December was cold, we headed out to the early morning market where villagers from the mountains go down to sell their produce. We also had breakfast in one of the tea houses and had quite an interesting experience. As we were talking about our travels in Burma so far and the things we can do in Hsipaw, we were surprised when the man from the next table suddenly talked to us in perfect English. What was surprising, which I hope I don’t sound like I’m stereotyping, was that he was wearing torn clothes and didn’t look presentable compared to the other Burmese men who are always wearing slacks/pants and polo shirts. It made us all think that maybe spies are still everywhere in Burma, lurking in tea houses and restaurants.

Nine Buddha Hill

That afternoon, after a good sleep and having lunch at Mr. Shake, we rented bikes and explored the other parts of the town. Side note: yes, almost all establishments are named Mr. ___, there was Mr. Kid our guesthouse, Mr. Shake, Mr. Charles – another hostel, and Mr. Food – yes, it’s a restaurant. Of course I was very much excited and scared at the same time because I was a newbie biker (haha). But I managed to ride the bike smoothly while enjoying the view of the river and the mountains. We made it just in time for sunset in Nine Buddha Hill. From there we saw a great view of the town.

Hsipaw sunset

Wesley and I decided to head to Black House Coffee Shop after, while the others went back the hostel to take showers. The coffee and cake weren’t that good. But it was a nice and relaxing river-side place, I’m sure the view of the sunset from there would be great too. Then we all met up at Mr. Food for dinner. It’s a well-known place mostly because of the food and the very cheerful Mr. Food himself. It was packed with locals and travellers alike. I ordered tofu that night, which I regret doing just a few hours after.

I woke up around midnight to the sound of my stomach rumbling. And yes, you know what happened after, and it included vomiting. I wasn’t able to sleep well because of this that the next day I was feeling very weak.

It was the start of our 2-day trek which we booked with another hostel. I couldn’t eat breakfast properly because my stomach was refusing it. My friends told me that I can just stay in the town and rest. Well, I was stubborn and I really didn’t want to miss out on the experience.

We started our trek through rice fields, passed by villages situated beside the stream. But after that it was all uphill, and it was hotter than we expected. It didn’t have so many scenic views compared to the Kalaw trek, but it was still a good trek. It was a bit of a challenge for me because I wasn't feeling too well, and I was glad that everyone else was patient with me.

We made it to the village just a little after lunch. I was too weak and dehydrated to do anything, so I decided to skip the walk around the village. Which was a good decision since I was feeling a lot better during dinner. The rest of the night was spent playing cards with our guide.

The next day I woke up earlier than everyone else. I was outside the house observing the people passing by when I saw our host talking to a guy in military clothes and was holding a rifle. He seemed young, probably not yet in his 20s. Then I panicked when I saw them heading back to the house. I was panicking because I left the book Finding George Orwell at the common area, and I was scared that the guy would see it and our hosts will be harmed because of it. I rushed inside and saw the guy looking at the book, reading the back portion. Soon after he put it down and began talking with our hosts. Our guide, Vio, and Wesley eventually went out to the common area. Vio attempted to take a photo of the guy, but our guide went to us and told us to delete the photo. I was confused. As soon as the guy left, our guide told us that he wasn’t from the military. I guess you all know what that means.

This for me was one of the most interesting and memorable experiences in all my travels. It spoke so much of what the country is going through, and that there are groups up there in the mountains still fighting and resisting. I found out after my travels, that the farther North of Hsipaw is where different rebel groups have been trying to fight off the military junta.

After breakfast, we started our trek back to the main town. It was a more pleasant trek probably because I was feeling a lot better, but I think it was more of the fields of sunflowers we passed by and the children we encountered on our way down.

We made it back to the town before lunch. A few of us wanted to look for the hot spring, while the others for the waterfalls. Both were farther out in the hills, so Mr. Kid suggested another hot spring, a half-hour ride from the town. We got a good deal with a mini-jeep to bring us there. We were all looking forward to it, a relaxing way to end our stay in Hsipaw.

As soon as we got there, we were surprised to see so many locals in sarongs and carrying toiletries. Until we saw the ‘hot spring’. It was a small pool, probably with hot water, where people were taking their bath. All of us have been in Burma for at least a week already, most of us have been traveling around Asia prior to that, so we all just laughed it off rather than complain to our driver. Instead, we decided to hang out and have coffee at one of the small restaurants nearby.

I wrote about my travels in Burma as being unique, I wrote about Burma as such an intriguing and captivating country. Our 3-days stay in Hsipaw proved to be just that. Traveling through Burma, you will understand why it’s so captivating – the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside that people have likened it to the old Tuscany, the warm people, and the ancient temples of Bagan.

But it is intriguing and different from everywhere else I've been because beneath all of its charm, you will see its people’s desire to be free. That despite their mastery of putting on a face of contentment – all to protect themselves from the military’s harm, there will be moments when you’d see them fighting and resisting the kind of life they’ve been living ever since the start of the military junta.

For more stories and photos of my trip in Burma:

Yangon in Retrospect
Kalaw - Inle Lake Trek
Around Mandalay
Temples of Bagan
Inle Lake
Hsipaw : Sunflower Fields and A Glimpse of the Resistance
On photos that made Burma so captivating for me
Burma Travel Tips

Posted on : January 15, 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------

NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

Flickr

Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Langtang Trek : An Unplanned Trip and On Trekking with A Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:22:00 +0000

beautiful landscape and peaks of the Langtang region

AN UNPLANNED TRIP

A denied visa application had me thinking of an alternative trip since I already had a flight out of Manila. And Nepal was on the top of the list. I only had a two-week leave so the trekking options were limited. It was only between going back to Annapurna (I did Annapurna Sanctuary back in 2011) or the Langtang Valley. I emailed Katie, a friend I met during the Annapurna trek, to ask about tips and trek details on Langtang. The first thing she told me was not to do it alone (in all caps, and she made me promise). She loves the trek and the region but unfortunately, over the last three years, 2 solo female trekkers have been found dead and one is still missing. A photo of the girl is still posted on one of the military posts on the trail. This even caused the government to impose a no-guide-no-trekking policy in Nepal in the latter of 2012, but it didn’t push through. (READ: But all other trekking regions are considered safe for solo independent female trekkers). I didn’t know if I was willing to pay extra for a guide, or if I wanted to trek with a guide. I just bought the ticket which was on sale and decided that I’ll figure it all out when I get to Nepal.

KATHMANDU

I stayed in Hotel Red Planet, the same hotel we had back in 2011, because of the cheap rooms and the really nice family that owns it. I felt really happy when they recognized me and asked if I’ve been there before. They took care of me again and assisted in all of my trekking queries. I asked if there were other people in the hotel who were planning to go to Langtang. But most of them were headed to the more famous regions of Annapurna and Everest. I didn't have enough time to go looking for a group to trek with so I asked if she can recommend a trekking company.

COST : TREKKING WITH A GUIDE

The next day I met the owner of the trekking company who was really nice and very familiar with the region. We talked about a 9-day itinerary for the Langtang Valley Trek, including the 2 days transfers to/from Syabrubesi which is the take-off point for the trek. I was quoted USD500 for the whole trek including a guide, food, accommodations, fees, and transportation.

Below was my initial budget for a 9-day trek with a total of around USD250-300:

1) Daily cost - USD20-25

2) TIMS – USD20, Langtang Conservation Fee – USD30

3) Transportation – USD20-30

A guide’s rate is normally USD25-30 per day. With this, the fee quoted seemed reasonable. To appease my friends and family, I knew paying an extra USD200 would be worth it. Before finalizing everything, he introduced me to his son who will be my guide. I asked him questions about Langtang and his trekking experiences. He was a nice guy, only 24-years-old but had done various treks in Langtang, Annapurna, Everest, and Manaslu regions. But I think it was more because of his father that I finally booked the trek with them.

Trekking in Langtang during winter, with clear blue skies and dry stunning landscape

LANGTANG VALLEY

The Langtang region lies 130 km north of Kathmandu and is close to the border with Tibet. Unlike Annapurna and Everest, the region sees fewer trekkers. Another highlight of the trek to this region is the chance to see and observe the unique culture of the Tamang people. Several Himalayan peaks can be seen in the trek, along with glaciers and lakes.

Langtang peaks, view during the bus ride from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi

Day 1 : Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1470 m)

The next day we rode a mini-bus going to Syabrubesi. I’ve heard and read a lot of people complain about this bus ride. Most people can’t figure out why it takes 10 hours to cover 130 kilometers, and because of the scary cliff-side road going there.

The bus ride wasn’t as bad as I expected. It took only 7 hours and it would have probably been less if not for the many military checkpoints we had to stop at. But the road was definitely scary. Most of the time it seemed like a one-way road, with vehicles having to stop and reverse to let the incoming pass, or honking loudly before turning a curve. There were also landslide areas as we got nearer our destination. But our young bus driver seemed like an expert and was very calm during the whole ride. But it was the scenic view that relaxed me. Low-lying clouds engulfed the valley below, and the different Himalayan Langtang peaks can already be seen throughout the ride.

Syabrubesi was just a small cluster of houses, hotels, and shops. Nestled between two mountains, the sun only hits it late in the morning until around 4pm. It was cold up there. At the garden of our hotel, some of the guests and owners were laying on the grass and moving almost every hour following the sun.

Day 2 : Syabrubesi (1470m) to Lama Hotel (2480 m)

This was the start of our trek in and it was the hardest for me. Unlike the more developed Annapurna region where the trail is made up of steps, the trail in Langtang is made up of uneven stones and small boulders. The trail was dusty, making some of the stones and boulders quite slippery. A few hours into the trek and as we were starting to make our 1000 meters ascent for the day, I realized how heavy my bag was, like I haven’t learned my lesson yet during the Annapurna trek.

i love Himalayan mornings like :)

The trail goes deeper into the mountains, following the river of Langtang Khola. For almost half of the day, the sun never hits the trail, making the trek really cold.

lunch by the river in Bamboo

We stopped in the village of Bamboo for lunch, with the river beside it and a view of some of the Himalayan peaks. The rest of the day was hiking steep trails and spotting snow monkeys in the forest, until we made it to Lama Hotel where we spent the night.

Day 3 : Lama Hotel (2480 m) to Langtang (3430 m)

I was so tired the previous day that I slept right away. I decided to leave some things, including my pack of cigarettes, in the hotel in Lama then pick it up again on our way back to Syabrubesi. It was an easier day, I had a lighter bag and the trail was a gradual ascent. But I still took my time since it was another 1000m ascent, but this time to an elevation where symptoms of altitude mountain sickness start to occur.

The landscape was different. Vegetation was sparse and the trail opened up to a wide area of dry and deserted grassland, with big black rocks scattered around. Yaks were also seen along the trail. My guide told me that the landscape and culture are similar to the Everest region. We also encountered the Tamang people with their yaks going up to Langtang village.

lunch at Ghora Tabela

We stopped in Ghora Tabela for lunch. From this village, one can see the stunning view of some of the Langtang peaks.

loved looking back to this view during breaks

The trail after that got more scenic, with the peaks of Tsergo Ri and Gang Chhenpo slowly presenting themselves.

Tsergo Ri at 4984 m (left) and Gang Chhenpo at 6387 m (right)

We ended the day at Langtang village. This time my guide decided to stay at a hotel where there were other trekkers to meet. It was true what my friend Katie said – there are far less trekkers in the Langtang region, even more since it was the winter season. Because of this, I got closer to the other trekkers/guides/porters more because there were only a few of us on the trail. I met two Dutch women, a Spaniard who told me great stories about South America, a family from Malaysia who understood how uncomfortable the cold was because we're Asians (haha), and two French guys who were on a gap year. And there were also the guides and porters who were funny and very helpful. At night, we’d all be in the dining area and I’ll find them seated around the heater, and it never fails that they reserve or offer a chair for me. This camaraderie shared by everyone in the trek is one of the things I love about teahouse trekking in Nepal.

thick fog slowly engulfing Langtang village right after sunset

Day 4 : Langtang (3430 m) to Kyanjing Gompa (3860 m)

Sleeping in Langtang village wasn’t that easy, it was quite a struggle keeping warm even with my -5C sleeping bag. But I was excited to start walking again to reach Kyanjing Gompa. It was a freezing glorious morning. We passed by frozen puddles of water on our way out the village, but the snow-capped mountains were a sight to behold.

beautiful morning in Langtang village

frozen puddles of water

frozen waterfalls as the sun never hits this part of the mountain

Small walls of mani stones, carved with Tibetan mantras, lined our path going to Kyanjing Gompa. Tibetan Buddhist stupas with prayer flags can also be seen on different parts of the trail.

walls of mani stones outlined the path

Tibetan Buddhist stupas can be found along the trail

The small teahouses along the way were closed for the winter giving the trek that morning a desolate feeling. The cold wind was harsh, but the surrounding Himalayan peaks were pushing me. On our left, one of the glaciers in Langtang can be seen. On our right were snow-capped Himalayan peaks. And right in front of us was a fuller view of Tsergo Ri.

getting nearer Kyanjing Gompa

one of the glaciers in Langtang

We arrived in Kyanjing Gompa right before lunch. At 3860 m, the village sits on a valley surrounded by Himalayan peaks and glaciers.

Kyanjing Gompa at 3860 m

Eating lunch was quite a struggle for me but I knew I had to finish it. I knew my body needed all the energy it can get to last a day in the 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.

I passed by different teahouses until I found a wide open space where I saw the mountains closer. It was a little after noon and the sun was shining bright, and the blue sky so clear. Wind was picking up from time to time, but the weather was perfect. And I don’t know, I just felt so happy that time. I wrote about it here.

sat near the edge of the valley to enjoy this view

Kyanjing Gompa towered over by Lantang Lirung (7227 m), with its peak partly-covered by clouds

I went back to our hotel and hanged out with the other trekkers, guides and porters. We played cards and talked about the short climbs we could do the next day. There are two mountain peaks in Kyanjing Gompa that can be climbed without mountaineering gear/experience. There’s Kyanjing Ri at 4600m and Tsergo Ri at 4984m. You can also go down to the glaciers, which I regret not doing because the French had really cool photos from that place. In my itinerary, I was supposed to and I really wanted to hike Tsergo Ri. But my guide said that it wouldn’t be advisable since there was already snow on the peak. The Spaniard went up Kyanjing Ri that afternoon and said that it wasn’t that hard except for the slight headache he had going down. This made him decide to not climb Tsergo Ri anymore. The French decided to climb Tsergo Ri and in their running shoes, they’re a funny duo and definitely risk-takers.

the steep climb to the top of Kyanjing Ri

Day 5 : Kyanjing Ri to Lama Hotel

It was another sleepless night, because it was freezing and it was a little bit hard to breathe. I slept at 10pm and woke up past 11pm to the sound of foil being rustled. I turned on my headlamp and saw that a portion of the chocolate bar in the side pocket of my bag was eaten by a rat. This went on until 3am when the rat decided to leave my room. I only had four hours of sleep in total and the next day I saw that the rat also ate a portion of the yak cheese I bought. Damn rat, didn’t know they existed even in high elevation.

With only four hours of sleep, we started our climb up to Kyanjing Ri (a 700m steep ascent) at around 7am with one of the Dutch women and their guide. It was quite a challenge going up, more because of the cold and the thin air. The trail was very narrow and quite slippery since parts of it were loose soil. It didn’t help that we saw a rescue helicopter flying in and out of Kyanjing Gompa to the higher parts of the snow-capped mountains. We learned afterwards that some trekkers had to be rescued from the high pass due to altitude sickness.

After almost 2 hours, we finally made it to the peak. Colorful Tibetan prayer flags covered it. From there was a great view of Langtang Lirung, Kimshung, the glacier, the Tibetan side of the Himalayas, frozen lakes, and the mountain range of snow-capped Himalayan peaks. I saw another trail we can climb closer to the Tibetan side, but my guide said that it was Yala Peak. We felt so happy and accomplished for making it to Kyanjing Ri. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it.

colorful Tibetan prayer flags

Langtang glacier

trail going closer to the Tibetan side of the Himalayas
the topmost part (not the snow-capped mountain) is apparently the real Kyanjing Ri peak (read on)

view from the top

After taking photos and taking in the view, we started our descent. Even before the start of the trek and before going up Kyanjing Ri, I already told my guide that I’m more scared going down especially when the trail is slippery. And I was slowly beginning to feel a slight headache. So imagine how disappointed and pissed I was when during the start of our descent, my guide was rushing down. At one point, he waited for me and even teased me with “You look like an old woman when going down.” After finishing a third of the descent, I couldn’t see him anymore. The other guide was behind me and assisting the Dutch woman who was also taking her time to go down. Halfway through and I saw my guide at the foot of the mountain waiting for me. I didn’t care anymore if the other guide would hear me, or if other people would pass by. But I decided to let him know how I felt as soon as I reach the foot of the mountain.

Kyanjing Gompa as seen from the top

He’s a really nice guide and he’d always make sure I stay at a good hotel and that my food is served. But there were instances when he’d tell me how tired he was, how lonely he was, how excited he was to go back to Kathmandu, and that he “doesn’t think of being a guide as a job because he likes trekking and that he was just there helping his father, so I should treat him as a friend and a trekking buddy”. Which I did, I never complained when he was way ahead of me when we were trekking, when all the other guides we met were either right in front or at the back of their clients, or when he says that he’s very tired. Because I knew that guides should be treated better. But leaving me there during the riskiest part of the trek was very disappointing. I figured my safety was one of his reponsibilitirs as a guide. I told him as soon as I reached the foot of the mountain that the next time he should wait for me. He told me he had sore muscles, and that it was better for him to not stop walking. I told him that he should have told me this before leaving me up there on my own. He also said that he really didn’t leave me alone because there was another guide and the Dutch woman. I told him that he was my guide, and that the other one was busy attending to his own client. He said he was sorry and that he’d never do it again. Oh, but this wasn’t the only time he disappointed me. More on that later.

My headache worsened as I struggled to finish my lunch in Kyanjing Gompa. So I told my guide that I prefer to go down to Langtang and sleep there. Even without proper sleep and no proper food intake, I rushed going down. I felt like a drunk person keeping it together just to find a place to sleep in. A bar of Snickers was my only source of energy that time. After less than two hours, we made it to Langtang. We decided to stay in a teahouse with hot shower. This and a power nap made everything better. As we waited for the sunset, I saw the French guys going down. We were so happy to see each other and felt so proud that we all made it to the mountain peaks we wanted to climb. Too bad they couldn’t stay with us because their guide already made reservations in another hotel.

But we found new friends that night. The Tamang old woman working in the hotel invited us for post-dinner card games along with her cook and a nurse who worked at the clinic. It was so much fun, with the old woman being so competitive. My guide was always winning the game. So after some time, he told him that they have to exchange places. My guide didn't have a choice. But yes, she started winning after that. We were the only guests that night and it somehow felt like a home-stay experience.

Day 6 : Langtang to Syabrubesi

The winter cold was starting to take a toll on me. I had small wounds inside my nose that were starting to bleed, and I also thought that going back to Kathmandu as soon as possible would give me more time to go to Pokhara and do paragliding. I asked my guide if we can make it back to Syabrubesi in a day. Normally, it takes two days. He said that we could do it as long as I go down with the same pace I had the previous day. And I knew he wanted to go back to Kathmandu too.

We started the day early, stopping only for short water breaks. The French were also doing the same, since they wanted to spend more time in Kathmandu before leaving Nepal. The trek was relatively easy except for the streams with melted ice, the steep descents, and the mule traffic. At lunch, when our guides were inside, the French guys asked me how my guide was. He then asked me if my guide said that the peak I climbed was Kyanjing Ri and that it was at 4600 m. I told them yes. At first I thought they were just teasing me, because they really like doing it. But they said that their guide said that it wasn’t the peak, and that the other trail I saw (going to the Tibetan part of the Himalayas) lead to the right peak, and that it had better views. I felt a little bit disappointed because I knew I could have made it there, slowly, but I knew I could. I found out later on that they were right when I read my Lonely Planet guidebook.

I asked my guide about it after and he confirmed that it was the peak. But as soon as we left the French guys to start trekking, he apologized. He said that he was wrong and that sometimes guides can be wrong too with some information. I regret not reading my LP guide more thoroughly that time.

We walked for almost 7 hours to Syabrubesi. And it was beyond exhausting. But I was just relieved to know that I’ll be going back to Kathmandu and then to Pokhara, and I knew that I was going to be able to eat and sleep properly after the trek. This is no joke, but I lost 3 kilos just from that 7-day trek. Normally, I’d be happy with a weight loss that quick. But I was just really hungry after that trek, and realized how lucky I am to be living in a tropical sea-level country conducive to proper eating and good sleep. haha

*Back in Kathmandu, Nitti of Hotel Red Planet asked me about my experience. I told everything was okay until that time when we were going down Kyanjing Ri. They apologized for what happened, and wanted to get more details about it since they recommended the company to me. This I really appreciated. I heard after that they called the company and talked to them about it.

It was my second trek in Nepal and this time it offered a different landscape and a glimpse of another culture different from the Annapurnas. I know now that I’ll be going back to Nepal again in a few years and probably do a trek in the more remote regions of the Himalayas, or maybe cross a pass the next time around. It’s only the start of my Himalayan adventures in Nepal :)

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FEW POINTERS ON HIRING A GUIDE

After my experience, I honestly still prefer independent trekking if the region doesn’t require a guide. Or maybe it was just my guide and also my personality – I prefer to travel with people who are low-maintenance and who don’t mind riding public buses, and those that are strong-willed enough to push me physically because they know a great reward awaits. My guide wasn’t like that at all, he preferred riding a private car going back to Kathmandu and getting his own room with a hot shower, despite the fact that I kept on telling him that I don't mind riding the bus and sleeping in cheaper hotels. But I was really disappointed that we didn’t push it to the real Kyanjing Ri Peak. And I think we could have tried to climb Tsergo Ri, we could have at least tried.

But I met other guides who seemed more responsible. The guide of the Spaniard (he was an independent guide and he spoke Spanish fluently) was fun but he knew when it’s time to act as a guide. I never saw him in front of his client, even though I’m pretty sure he can walk a lot faster. He encourages his client in climbing the peaks, even me actually. They invited me to go up Kyanjing Ri for sunset, but I couldn’t because my guide was nowhere in sight.

So here are some pointers to consider when hiring a guide and when trekking with a guide, that I know I will remember next time.

Research on the trek/region you have in mind. Even before looking for a trekking company/guide, research well on the trek you want to do. Prepare your own itinerary, an itinerary you’d be comfortable with. Research on the average daily cost of trekking in those regions, so you’d have a range in mind. Research on the possible side trips you can do.

Sit down with your guide before hiring him/her. Invite them for coffee/lunch before hiring them. Ask them about the trek – how many days and what you can see and do during the trek, and the culture of the people you’ll encounter. Ask if they have photos of the previous treks they’ve done. From the meeting, you can also assess if they’re okay to trek with. If he is an independent guide, ask for his government license, and ask if he has his own insurance and if not, how much it would cost.

Hire an older guide. I honestly think that an older guide, somewhere in the range of 30s and up would be better, experience is very important.

Be friendly but remember that it is still a guide-client relationship. Be friendly with your guide, and enjoy the whole trek with them. But not too comfortable that they forget that they’re still there as your guide.

*Back in Kathmandu, Nitti of Hotel Red Planet asked me about my experience. I told everything was okay until that time when we were going down Kyanjing Ri. They apologized for what happened, and wanted to get more details about it since they were the one who recommended the company to me. I heard after that they called the company and talked to them about it.

Posted on : January 3, 2014

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Langtang Trek in Nepal : Regaining Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 15:21:00 +0000

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.

village of Kyanjin Gompa

I passed by different teahouses until I found a wide open space where I saw the mountains closer. It was a little after noon and the sun was shining bright, and the blue sky so clear. Wind was picking up from time to time, but the weather was perfect. It was winter, the cold was sometimes unbearable but it gave trekkers the perfect view of the beautiful landscape. It was also off-trekking season, so there were only a few trekkers on the trail.

winter gave clear blue skies, and dry and stunning landscapes

I found a spot just near the edge of the valley and sat there. And I don’t know, I just felt so happy again. I guess that’s the thing with trekking and being around nature – it has the ability to make you be in the moment. I’ve always said that a lot of people turn to the ocean when they feel the need to be connected spiritually. I, on the other hand, find refuge from the mountains. I feel so protected and welcomed by these big mountains. And I found clarity.

view of Langtang Himal from Kyanjin Gompa

gorgeous view of the mountains surrounding the viillage of Kyanjin Gompa

This year has been too comfortable for me. I’ve settled into the routinary life, and it’s been great actually. I’ve come to appreciate having my own place, and making that small space homey for me. I spent more time with family and friends. I’ve enjoyed buying new things again. Work has been okay, and it hasn’t been as stressful as my past two jobs. Everything was fine. That sometimes I wonder if I should start planting roots here again. I thought saving up for South America was taking such a long time, that the possibility of it was starting to diminish. I was anxious that traveling wouldn’t have the same magic as the last big trip I did in 2011. And you know, those certain moments when you realize you only have a few years left before the 30s. When you see your friends leading different lives from yours, and your parents getting old. It makes you rethink things you’ve planned – that maybe now is the right time to think about security.

But now, after that two-week trip in Nepal – a last-minute change of plans since my Australian visa got denied and I couldn’t visit my bestfriend there anymore – I gained renewed focus.

view of the glacier from Kyanjin Ri viewpoint

A lot of people complain about the gruelling 7-hour bus ride to Syabrubesi (take-off point for the trek) from Kathmandu. But I actually enjoyed it. It was very bumpy and scary, but I saw it as an adventure, and the Nepalese music being played inside made the experience more interesting. I’ve missed witnessing new things – cultures and traditions – different from what I know. I’ve missed discovering new wonderful places, that even though it’s my second time in Nepal, I still got to see a different landscape. I’ve missed meeting people from different parts of the world – fellow travellers, trekkers, trekking guides, and the Tamang people of the Langtang region. I guess the coolest was when I met these two guys who spent a month kayaking the wild rivers of Nepal, and how much of an adventure they had. Or the Spaniard who’s been to South America and trekked the mountains of Patagonia and Chile’s Torres del Paine. Their stories inspire me so much now to prepare for South America and my next big adventure.

colorful Tibetan prayer flags on Kyanjin Ri

My two-week adventure in Nepal reminded me that this kind of happiness I’m feeling when I’m traveling is still alive inside me. That there is still a big world I have yet to explore, new things (both good and bad) I have yet to experience.

It’s been a good push to have a fresh start. And that maybe this was the reason why I had to go to Nepal. And I’m really glad I did.

Posted on : December 19, 2013

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Baler, Aurora : The Second Time Around

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 08:48:00 +0000

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.

Sabang Beach, Aurora

How happy I was when we first walked out to the beach and saw the clear blue sky and calm ocean. How different it felt to be there not clouded (surprisingly) by any memories of the last time I was there. How excited I was to see the places I wasn’t able to see last year. And that I was doing it with new friends who love to travel too.

I remember Michael, a friend who visited the Philippines last February, telling me about a giant tree in Aurora. He told me how beautiful it was inside and that it’s possible to climb to the top. I remember not believing him until he asked me to google it. So I was really excited to see the tree and possibly climb it too.

And it was really something, this 600-year old balete tree. It was a huge beautiful tree, and I loved how the sun’s rays peek through its branches.

As we went inside, the boys kept on telling us to leave our sandals before we go up. I thought that we all just wanted to climb a little and have our photos taken. But the boys’ enthusiasm encouraged us to give it a try. I felt like being given another chance to be a child again as I have never climbed a tree when I was a kid. It was quite an experience stepping on the tree’s roots and how amazing it was that it’s possible to climb up. After a few minutes, we were at the top. It was pretty high and quite scary, but it felt great to be there sharing a few laughs with the girls and the boys who lead us there. Going down was something else as we squeezed and bent ourselves in between the roots. But it was all fun when you’re in good company.

view from the top

I was nervous during the ride to go to see the Mother Falls. I didn’t know if I was ready to ‘swim’ to get closer to the falls. If you don’t know it yet, I have a fear of deep waters.

start of the trek

After hiring a guide, we started the trek to see the falls. And I loved that short trek. It felt so relaxing and peaceful to be walking again with the sound of the flowing river by your side. To be surrounded by trees and nature again. How nature has its way of calming you down and clearing your mind of any unnecessary thoughts. And how it reminds you to be present in the moment and just enjoy what is around you.

As our guide told us that we’re close to the falls, we passed by this short pathway. I loved how the trees and plants are lined up and arched down that it allows only a few strips of sunlight inside. And the clear waters by the river beside us.

loved this pathway :)

And then we heard the sound of the waterfalls.

Mother Falls, Aurora

A beauty like this makes you live in the moment. Makes you face your fear just to experience it more. With a little push and assistance from my friends, I jumped into the water and tried to get close to it as possible. And it was all worth it.

The afternoon was spent visiting the other side of the island to see the rock formations, and some surfing lessons back in the beach. It’s my third surfing lesson in almost 7 years (haha) and I’m proud to say that after the last two, I could already stand up on the third wave. We had so much fun with our teachers. They made it possible for us to still enjoy it, despite the fact that the water was too calm to give us a lot of waves to ride. And they cheered us on every single time.

Btw, I also found this. ;)

yes, you are ;)

Posted on : August 21, 2013

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Relishing Solo Travel in Si Phan Don, Laos

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 07:09:00 +0000

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.

my cheap and cozy bungalow in the quiet part of Don Det

I could have stayed on the other end and hanged out with another traveler I met while crossing the border, or with other backpackers; or spend my night drinking with the people in King Kong or the old hippie owners who’ve been so nice to me.

But here in this cozy hammock, I relish solo travel.

I’ve never really been much on a solo travel. There was that week in Malaysia, but I was always in a dorm and going out with new friends. Travelled with a good friend in India and Nepal, along with other travellers we met. A week in Hanoi until I met a guy and continued travelling SE Asia with him for a few more months. The Lucky Seven in Burma and in Koh Chang. But never like this on my two week trip in East Cambodia and Southern Laos.

Yes, eating dinner and drinking beer alone isn’t really fun. But walking, biking, and exploring a new place alone can be good sometimes. And having your own bungalow and hammock just relaxing is a treat. Cliché, but it’s the best time to reflect. For me, it was the best time and place to reflect on where I would want my life for 2013 to go - after an intense 2012, amazing month in Burma and Thailand, and a hard news from a really good friend (he's like a brother to me). Should I pursue my plans of going to Singapore? Or stay put in my country and spend more time with family and friends?

And I found Si Phan Don to be the perfect place for this.

this cat perfectly depicts what a few days in Si Phan Don can be

Where despite the number of guesthouses and backpackers, you will still find people living a simple life.

girls playing in the river

Where you can rent a bike and explore the islands at your own pace and at your own time. You can stop by one of the restaurants by the river, order a good Lao curry dish, a mango shake, and read a good book.

Lao coconut-based curry!

mango shake and a good book

After that, you can explore the country side and go dolphin-watching, or visit the beautiful Somphamit Falls.

Somphamit Falls

the beach down the river

And at the end of the day, sit by your hammock or by the bridge and watch another glorious sunset.

another beautiful river sunset :)

Posted on : July 1, 2013

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Sarnath and Buddhism: A Peaceful Respite from Varanasi

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:37:00 +0000

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.

Buddhists from Sri Lanka gather on the grounds of Dhamekh Stupa

Then I remembered a place that our friend, Max, suggested. He said to visit Sarnath, an hour ride north of Varanasi. He said it was the perfect place for a respite from the intensity of Varanasi. He stayed there for two days while waiting for his train back to Delhi. Despite the fact that it was going to be my first time to travel solo in India, I still wanted to go. I just needed to be somewhere less chaotic and less intense. After a burning smell from our hostel’s shower, my friend Paul decided to go with me too.

The next day we rented a rickshaw to drive us to Sarnath. After an hour or so, we were in the country side. And I started to feel relaxed. I didn’t really know much about Sarnath, all I knew was that Buddhists from all over the world go there. Wikipedia says that it is where Buddha gave his first teachings of the Dharma.

Once in Sarnath, we checked into Agrawal Paying Guest House. Just the sight from its big gate, I knew I found the perfect place to rest and recuperate. It had a big lawn and a garden. The rooms were also big with hot showers. Just right across the road is a Tibetan Monastery and a few stores and an internet shop nearby.

pilgrims who just finished hearing a teaching

We spent the afternoon walking and visiting some of the nearby sites. The first thing I noticed was how this place seemed to be a pilgrimage for Buddhists. Buddhists from different countries go here, we saw monks and nuns wearing different colors/shades of robes.

monks praying

There are a lot of stupas, temples, and a museum that you can visit. But we spent most of our time in the deer park where Buddha taught his first sermon. It’s quite peaceful there. People, mostly pilgrims walk around the park. Some groups are gathered on the red stone monuments to hear teachings. And some are quietly meditating while facing the Dhamekh Stupa. The stupa is said to have been built on the exact spot where Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

relics of red stone monuments

a Buddhist monk praying around a stupa

pilgrims listening to a monk's teachings

pilgrims meditating facing the Dhamekh Stupa

For the first time in weeks, after visiting the crowded and chaotic cities of Amritsar, Agra, and Varanasi, I was able to relax in India. I sat down on the grass near the stupa and observed the different pilgrims who all seem so peaceful and content.

the Dhamekh Stupa

floral carvings and patterns on its walls

gold leaf left by devotees

Buddhist monks praying

The next day was when my fever worsened and I felt so weak. I slept almost the whole morning and couldn’t eat properly. That afternoon we made our way back to Varanasi in time for our train back to Delhi. I think it took me another week more back in Delhi before I was able to digest solid food. But despite this, I’m glad to have been in Sarnath when it happened. I cannot imagine being that sick in Varanasi.

a couple rests by the tree

India’s energy can be exciting and perfect for adventure-seeking travellers. Its different culture and traditions can be interesting for people who have an open mind. But sometimes, the difference and intensity can be too much. I found Sarnath to be the perfect place to recuperate from all of these. A place for some peace and quiet. So if you happen to be in Varanasi and feel the need to take a break, go to Sarnath for a day or two. And there’s always something positive and light about being surrounded by peaceful Buddhist monks, just like the Tibetan monks in Dharamsala and the Burmese monks who were so welcoming to us in Inle Lake.

Posted on : June 27, 2013

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Phnom Penh : Surviving and Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:42:00 +0000

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.

Mr. Sam

It was a long day ahead of us. Meiyien, another friend, and I were out together to explore the city of Phnom Penh. Our itinerary included the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. I knew it was going to be a heavy day, but a visit to these two places proved to be more than that – it was a tough day.

Tuol Sleng was just like any other high school compound that can be found in most of Southeast Asia. A few buildings outlined the area and there was a playground at the middle. We went inside the first building to our left. In the first room we saw a bed at the middle and a small iron box on top of it. And on the wall is a photo of a man tortured to his death on probably the same bed. The bright morning light from the window failed to hide the dark past of this place.

A high school turned into a security prison where thousands were tortured and killed during the Khmer Rouge occupation.

A board can be found in front of the building where one can read the rules a prisoner must follow.
Rule No. 6 states ‘While getting lashes or electrification you must not cry at all’.
Rule No. 9 says ‘If you don’t follow all above rules, you shall get many lashes of electric wire’.

The next building housed thousands of photos of the men, women, and children tortured during the occupation. Yes, even innocent children were not spared.

And if these weren’t enough, the next one was worse. And I wasn’t prepared for it. The building itself was surrounded by barbed wires. Small prison cells made up the whole floor, with only a small opening on the doors. The cells were open that time, but imagine back then when the victims spent their remaining days trapped in those small pieces of concrete fearing for their lives. I went up the second floor and it was still the same. That’s when I stopped. I decided to skip the last building and just sit outside to wait for my friends.

There was no time to process the whole experience because we still had the Choeung Ek to go to. A former mass grave for the victims of the occupation, it is now one of the most famous of the Killing Fields. It had a solemn and melancholic feel. Tourists walked on their own carrying headphones.

The grounds were outlined with numbers to serve as directions for your own self-paced audio tour of the area. You’ll find yourself sitting on benches, or standing beside graveyards while listening to survival stories of the victims, or stories of cries and voices heard from the area during the occupation, or the voice of the Khmer Rouge leaders confessing to their crimes and asking for forgivenes. One part of the tour is walking along the lake while listening to an excerpt from Him Sophy’s classical piece “A Memory from Darkness.” I sat down on one of the benches as I listened to it. I find it hard to write down what I felt during that time, but I found the music and the stories heart-breaking.

more of those bracelets

But this wasn’t the most horrific of what I saw and heard. There’s the Killing Tree, its trunk adorned by colourful bracelets. I pressed play and heard how this tree was used to kill children and infants. Their heads smacked against the trunk. Of music being played over the speakers to hide their cries and of their mothers who saw them die.

Photo by : Danny--Boy

That was it for me. I wiped away tears, even now as I write this.

We ended the day back in the city, sitting by the boulevard near the river. We tried to make sense of what we saw and heard during that day. To reduce a human being to a number, a black and white photo, a fractured skull or a bone amongst a hundred others on a memorial? How can one make sense of it all? But maybe this tragic history can serve as a reminder of what should never happen again in this world, ever.

Almost a week after this, I visited a friend in Stung Treng. She’s a public health volunteer there. She told me of how much they’re trying to impart knowledge on the Khmers, on ways to improve the public health service in that small town. She told me how frustrating it was sometimes, how some of the people were uncooperative. She told me how some of them don’t seem to understand the need for ‘change’, when for them everything is a lot better now compared to the days of the Khmer Rouge Occupation.

To an outsider, for people who didn’t go through what this country survived, it’s so easy to cast judgment. I know I could have if I didn’t get to visit Phnom Penh. But sentiments like theirs can only be heard from people still traumatized and for people who are still healing.

I thought of all the people, the children, who didn’t survive. But I also remember Mr. Sam with his smile and hospitality, his inspiring survival story, and I thought how strong and resilient he must have been to be who he is now despite all that he’s lost.

This is another side of Cambodia I have come to appreciate. It wasn’t just the majestic temples of Angkor, or of Bayon, that I remember now of Cambodia. But I remember its people, their healing and their resilience.

Yes, going to Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek can be a very depressing and hard experience. But to know Cambodia and its people more, one should visit not just the temples from its glorious days, but of its most recent history they survived that is a big part of who they are now.

Posted on : June 3, 2013

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Love With A Chance of Drowning : A Partial Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:25:00 +0000

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.

I’ve been waiting for the release of your book for almost a year now. I can not even remember anymore how I came to know about it, but as soon as I read the synopsis and the great reviews, I knew I had to read it right away. Unfortunately, the book was already sold out and there was no kindle format back then. But a year has passed, and I’m just loving every minute of reading it. Being transported to the ocean, to the gorgeous paradise islets of the South Pacific, to the friends you’ve made along the way, and to those funny and sweet moments you and Ivan shared.

But I think it was a good thing that I’m reading this now and not last year.

You see I also did my own adventure, it’s nothing like you adventure junkies sailing the South Pacific, but I also had my own. Like you guys, I left the familiar and ~~bravely~~ (fearfully) threw myself out of my comfort zone. I went on a five month backpacking adventure through Asia.

I can not only relate to you, Torre, but also to Ivan. I feel for Ivan’s sense of adventure and love for nature and isolation. I live for those moments when there’s no one else around me like when I find myself walking along the edge of the Himalayas mountains alone, and just enjoying the view of its gorgeous peaks. I also know how it feels like to have your parents question your decision. I knew, in a similar way, how it feels like to resent the fact that I can’t fully enjoy my adventures because I’m making someone worry. And he said it spot on. I understand that they’re worried, but I also feel guilty that my happiness is costing them a good night’s sleep or a good five months of peaceful sleep.

But I also feel for you, Torre, in so many ways.

First is that I’m scared of the ocean, or any form of water that’s deep. I can climb and walk for days, but I’m too scared to be in the waters (especially when I can’t touch the ocean floor anymore) for more than 30 minutes. And I admire how you’ve overcome that fear in so many ways. And it’s because of your book that I’ve decided to give swimming lessons another try. And more than that, I might learn how to dive before the year ends. Thank you, you have no idea how much you’ve pushed and inspired me to face this great fear of mine.

Second is that I also fell in love once with a man who loves adventure. We traveled for months together, we shared great and bad experiences, we lived in crammed rooms almost every night. We both love isolated towns and places, so I know how it feels like to not allow any issue unresolved before the day ends. I wasn’t supposed to be traveling with him again after the first month we spent together, I also had fears of my own. But I took a leap of faith and I’ve never regretted doing it. Even though it has ended, even though there’s still some pain left from its ending. You have reminded me how lucky I’ve been to have shared a memorable experience with someone truly special. There really is nothing like it at all.

Lastly are those moments when you knew you made the right choice. I will not give more details here so as not to spoil the excitement of those who haven’t read your book yet. But yes, some of the best moments when I travel are the sunsets, and they are different each and every day.

And you make me laugh so hard with your stories. It’s not just in the way you write those stories down, but it’s really more of the way you see things and how you deal with them. I’m not even sure if I’m the only person who laughed when you were describing the way the children killed and cleaned up the fish. lol

I’m glad I had to wait almost a year to read your book. Because now I have more appreciation for the adventure I did almost two years ago.

Thank you for making me laugh, for inspiring me to face my own fears and for sharing your great and amazing adventure.

Most importantly, thank you for reminding me that sometimes the best life experiences start with a leap of faith.

Now let me get back to finishing that remaining 20%.

Truly Grateful,

Angelica

P.S.

I’m not so sure if it will ever be released here in the Philippines. But I already ordered a paper copy of the book (Amazon's shipping it now!). It’s just one of those books that I know deserves to be kept in its authentic form, and one that I can always pick up and read all over again.

Posted on : May 17, 2013

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Mt. Pinatubo Trek

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:53:00 +0000

*Trek was done back in 2010.

The volcano that changed my life.

I was five when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. We were living in Zambales - which is where I was born and where my parents met. I remember only a few bits, but one thing I remember distinctly was that one afternoon when my father pointed something out in the sky – it was a massive gray cloud of ashes. I remember there were earthquakes and aftershocks every five minutes. I also remember walking in lahar - in my raincoat and rain boots with my favorite lunch box - and I think I was a bit giddy (I really didn’t understand what was happening). I also remember riding a truck with pigs and other animals, and a tv antenna getting stuck in one of the tree branches. I remember a very generous jeepney owner/driver offering us a free ride from Tarlac to Manila to stay with my relatives. And going to SM North to buy a new pair of slippers since we weren’t able to bring any other footwear. My brother and I were forced to live with our grandparents for two years while our parents fix everything and work in Zambales. Our house and most of our properties were destroyed even some of our childhood photos.

This made going to Mt. Pinatubo quite, hard is not the exact word, but weird for me. I didn’t know if I was ready to see it as a beautiful place to go to rather than as the volcano that once made life hard for my family. My brother was even surprised that I did the trek.

Mt. Pinatubo Today

It's a spectacular view that leaves you breathless. You just can't stop staring at it. You just can't stop taking photos of it.

It's got a unique charm. The exciting 4x4 ride, the barren land, the land formations that anytime may just erode, the never-ending dust – all that you have go through is quite the opposite of the view that awaits you.

our 4x4 ride. exciting!!!

who could have thought a place this dead/barren can be so picturesque?

some Aetas during the ride going to the crater

The blue-green water, the crater formation surrounding the lake, that one ash-covered side of the crater that looked like a mountain covered in snow – it's so serene and relaxing.

first shot. everything was in place. :)

looked like snow from afar

just can't get enough of it :)

Posted on : May 14, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

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Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Something Random : On Looking at the Bigger Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Sat, 11 May 2013 10:24:00 +0000

*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.

Good thing our Cordillera trip was upcoming. I got distracted. I was comforted by the mountains, by moving, and traveling.

But as soon as I got back, everything seemed to be the same again. I guess the worst part is knowing that you have to deal with these emotions again, when you’ve been doing so good the past few months. And you ask why and what else do you have to do to get past everything. Because you want to, you really do.

Don’t you just hate it?

Then I realized that maybe it takes more time, and that sometimes you have no control of certain things. That maybe you just have to allow such emotions and face them. Don’t be too proud. And it’s okay to feel vulnerable again. No one’s rushing you to be completely okay.

It’s been a while since I had coffee by myself. I was waiting for a friend but she said she was going to be an hour late. My thoughts drifted off to events from exactly a year ago. And they weren’t such good memories, not at all. And then for some reason, I thought of this:

The thing with recurring sources of pain and anxiety is that we fail to look at the bigger picture. How, really, it's just a small portion of the whole thing. A heartbreak, a friend's betrayal, failures - they were just a part of it all. There were others - the changes, the moving, the travels, the adventures, the happiness felt with different people, in different places and in different times. We consider all of it and we realize that life has been great, really great.

To say that everything was okay again after this realization is a lie. But this thought helped a lot.

Let’s not focus on just one thing in life, especially the negative ones, especially those that we have no control of. When we can’t help but look back on our past, maybe we should look back more and see how better all things are now.

Posted on : May 11, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

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Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

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

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:14:00 +0000

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, .

Kacel, Vio (a friend I met in Burma), and I on top of the jeepney.
Tiring and exhausting but we had the best view.

boys showing off

one of the better roads

The view from the top was beautiful. Unobstructed views of the mountain ranges and the river. And of course the rice terraces that can be found all over the Cordilleras. Despite the rough roads, cliffs that go straight down to the river, and the challenge of not falling off the jeepney, it was still fun, exciting, and rewarding.

beautiful view of the Chico River and rice terraces of the Cordilleras

how cool is their ride?!

more gorgeous views

Our supposedly 3-hour ride to Tinglayan turned into four hours of exciting yet very exhausting jeepney ride. A quick lunch upon arrival, we found ourselves catching another bus. Let's just say that I never thought that after traveling in India and Nepal, it will be in my own country that I'd get to experience my first chicken bus ride.

bus from Tinglayan to Buscalan; Vio getting close to a fellow passenger; our guide Kuya Francis

We turned right somewhere and got on a narrow and rougher road. At some point, you'll get used to this kind of bus rides. But not to the sound of a tire exploding. I thought that since the locals in the bus didn't react, maybe this was normal. But when a woman reacted when our bus was turning a curve, I got a little bit scared. A few minutes after, our driver decided to stop and we started the trek up to the village.

view during the 40 minute trek going up to the village

The view was gorgeous as we got closer and closer. Portions of rice terraces can already be found on some parts of the mountains. The trail was narrow but it was already paved, lessening the danger of losing balance and falling off the cliff on our right side. We made our way down to the river, stopped for a bit to see the waterfalls and watch the little boys playing and swimming. They also did some diving and stunts when they saw me taking their photo.

kids having fun in the waterfalls

cold but enjoying the water nonetheless

jumping off

Then the steep climb up the mountain started. It was a relatively short one, and we got to stop at some of the rice fields.

taking a break

nearing the village

It was already getting dark when we finally made it to the village. But Fang-od was still doing her last tattoo for the day. A few backpackers and locals were also there to watch her. One of them told us that the Portuguese guy was the sixth for the day. They all had tattoos done, some said it was painful, some said it was the same as that of a machine-made tattoo.

Fang-od, traditional tattoo artist

We were welcomed into a small house by a group of mothers and children. Served us native hot coffee, really good and comforting after an exhausting day of traveling to get there. They spoke a different dialect but they also made an effort to speak to us in English and in Tagalog. They were a fun bunch of women, making jokes and making good fun of our guide Francis.

one of the few traditional houses standing

It was a big village, some traditional houses were still standing, but most were already with tin metal roofs and are made of cement. But pigs still roam around like dogs. They even have a 'criminal pig' who had a triangle-shaped wood worn around its neck as punishment for killing their crops. Some elders were still out in the fields. But one was there that time and was making a broom. I asked Kuya Francis how old he was, the elder answered with a proud '92!'. He still had good vision at such an old age. The men were busy making machetes. The women doing chores, little boys playing, little girls in groups chatting. And the feisty children playing with whatever they can find.

cute kids!

group of girls having their afternoon chat

We ended the daylight by the village's rice terraces, with an amazing view of mountain ranges and taking in the cold fresh air.

The next day we bid goodbye to the new friends we made. I went down a little bit to a wide space where one can have a view of the mountains and rice terraces nearby. I lingered there for a bit to take it all in. How lucky I've been to start my day with this view. How comforting and safe it feels to be surrounded by these mountains.

good morning, Buscalan :)

Fang-od is the last Kalinga tribal tattoo artist. At 92 years old, she's still as strong as though she's not nearing a century. When she laughs and smiles, her whole face, her eyes light up. She is contentment. Maybe that's what living in the mountains does to you. She looked at me, smiled, and hand-gestured that she's ready to do the tattoo. She even put on her 'work clothes'. I am scared and I am also excited.

Fang-od, just being around her is a joy. She exudes simplicity and contentment.
I'm pretty sure all travelers who've met her would say the same.

She's got gentle hands and the feel of the ink on my skin is a little bit cold but nice. And then there was the sound and pain of the first hammering.

I asked her to put whatever she wants. I thought it better that she blesses me with whatever she thinks is best for me.

Photo by Kacel

The repeated sound of the hammering, and the pain of it touching my skin was a bit relaxing. My first two machine-made tattoos never felt this warm. My friends said because there was blood gushing out of the wound.

Photo by Kacel

It took almost an hour then I heard her happy voice and said 'Nalpas!' Finished. There were no plastic gauze or petroleum gel to cover the wound up, just coconut oil that she also prepared. Less than an hour after, we had to get moving again to catch a bus to Bontoc.

view during our trek down to where the buses to Bontoc pass by

It was another scary and scenic ride going to Bontoc. But the mountains and gorge more beautiful.

yup, that's how scary it was

more of those rice fields

Three hours and another jeepney ride after, we arrived in Sagada. A small town nestled in the mountains. It felt like a small part of my hometown, Baguio City, before overdevelopment happened. Pine trees and limestones can be seen, quaint cafes, restaurants, and reggae bars outlined its narrow streets. Although the flock of tourists has lessened the isolated-feel I thought it had, it was still a great place for walking and exploring. And also a place to just relax and share stories with friends.

view of Sagada from the Echo Valley lookout

St. Mary's Chapel (Photo by Kacel)

(Photo by Kacel)

We decided to do our own itinerary the next day without a guide. With only a map from Vio's LP guide, we made our way down to the hanging coffins.

hanging coffins

Not really sure if we were headed the right direction after, we just pushed on and walked. We went deeper inside the forest. Stumbled upon caves, a dry stream, and a fence. It didn't stop us at all.

view from one of the caves

We climbed over it and continued walking until an undefined and muddy steep trail made us stop. There was a moment when the three of us got stuck and didn't know how to go down without having to sit and just slide down. We got lost but we still had fun.

the fence didn't stop us

We decided to go back up and just walk the main road to go to the trail going up Mt. Kiltepan peak. From up there, one can have a nice view of the Sagada rice terraces.

view of the Sagada rice terraces from Mt. Kiltepan Peak

And now I'm on another 12-hour bus ride going back to Manila. She did a centipede tattoo on my back. In their tradition, it means protection. I think it's the best one for me now as every travel I do makes me want to see more and explore more. Climb more mountains, discover more gorgeous landscapes, and meet more extraordinary people.

Posted on : May 8, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

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Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

A Walk Through the Streets of Kathmandu : Durbar Square

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:15:00 +0000

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.

streets of Kathmandu

It wasn’t really just about the palaces and temples which date back to the 12th century, it was also about the experience of walking along the old cobbled streets of Kathmandu. How ancient it still feels when you look at the old red-brick buildings and windows, but somehow modern when you see the small shops selling all kinds of things. Or the mayhem of electric wires covering most of the buildings, the garbage scattered all around. But a few things still remain intact – Hinduism and Buddhism and the Nepali tradition.

mayhem of electric wires

chaos and garbage all around

old but colorful cyclos

colorful rugs being sold in the streets of Kathmandu

Upon entering the Durbar Square, one can already see the various temples and buildings with intricate carvings, and various statues of Hindu gods.

people feeding hundreds of pigeons in Durbar Square

Maju Deval Temple

Garuda Statue

Shiva - Parvati Temple

Lord Shiva and Parvati up-close

a glimpse of a ceiling inside one of the palaces

Jagannath Temple famous for its erotic wood carvings

One of the first things that caught my eyes and interest was this large stone carving of Kala Bhairav,
considered to be one of many forms of Lord Shiva.

The most interesting temple we visited was the Kumari Bahal or the House of the Living Goddess. Inside is a small courtyard where people wait to get a glimpse of the young Princess or the Living Goddess. As what was explained to us, she was selected when she was only 3-4 years old and had to undergo a process to know if she really is the reincarnation of the goddess Durga. She lives in this temple and is worshipped by devouts. They, and also us tourists, wait for her in the courtyard, as she only looks out her window twice an hour. She lives here until she menstruates, and they start again the search for the next Living Goddess.

courtyard inside the Kumari Bahal or the House of the Living Goddess

where the Living Goddess looks out over the people waiting for her

lovely and intricate windows

while waiting to get a glimpse of the princess

As we made our way back to Thamel, we saw a high stupa with Tibetan prayer flags. And we’ve developed a certain kind of affection for anything Tibetan after our trip to Dharamsala and the Tibetans we met there and during our Annapurna Trek. We walked into a small alleyway and found the Kathesimbu Stupa. It’s a small stupa but one can still feel the calmness in the area as with most of the Tibetan Buddhist temples we’ve been to. It’s a quiet place hidden among the chaotic streets of Kathmandu.

Kathesimbu Stupa

prayer flags and the all-seeing eye of Buddha

Nepal isn't only about the majestic Himalayas and adventures, one can also enjoy walking around the old streets to get a glimpse of the ancient valley of Kathmandu.

Posted on : April 29, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

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Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Puerto Princesa, Palawan

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:13:00 +0000

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. ;)

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

Starfish Island

Puerto Princesa is famous for the Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Or mostly as the take-off point to other gorgeous beaches and islands in Palawan - Port Barton and El Nido. But Puerto Princesa also offers a lot more than the underground river.

This trip was my first taste of Palawan. And based on observation and experience from our 4 days stay there back in August 2010, I honestly think that Palawan can survive and function on its own. It is so rich with natural resources to provide for the people’s basic necessities and to provide employment from its tourism industry. It also has several laws and ordinances to protect the environment to ensure continuity of the province’s sustainable development. Really admirable.

Our vacation was filled with wonderful and unique experiences. Met prisoners who walk freely around their correction facility, held a baby crocodile, cave spelunking, rainy underground river experience, snorkeling, island hopping, and feasted on great food. Here's a photo essay of our trip.

Crocodile Farm

with Mayen and Kat :)

and learned the difference between crocodiles and alligators

an old colonial building in Iwahig Penal Colony

The only better photo we have of the Underground River...well, at the entrance.

But I assure you inside it's magnificent.

Ugong Rock

preparing for cave spelunking

cave spelunking!

view from the top

Honda Bay Island Hopping

take-off point for the island hopping

Pandan Island

sand bar in the Star Fish Island

clear waters

beautiful!

calm and serene :)

Other beautiful beaches and islands in the Philippines:

Port Barton, Palawan

Coron, Palawan

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

El Nido, Palawan

Camiguin Island

Caramoan, Camarines Sur

Cebu

Posted on : April 18, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

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Powerful Film : 5 Broken Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:06:00 +0000

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.

The film is a collection of videos from five different broken cameras used by Emad Burnat. It tells the story of Bil’in, a Palestinian Village in the West Bank, and their non-violent protests and struggle to oppose the building of the wall and illegal settlement in their land, killing their source of livelihood and their olive trees. This is real life which makes it more powerful, and to be honest – depressing. To say that I (and a superfriend who I told about the film as well) cried is an understatement. And I don’t know what to do with how I’m feeling after watching the film. So I thought of writing about it and sharing it. To tell people about this powerful film.

I’m not going to pretend here that I know a lot of things about this whole situation. I don’t know if it’s about religion, or who really has a claim of rights over the land (although at the end of the film, a portion of the barricade has been removed/moved), or it may be one-sided (I don’t think it is. Israeli activists were present in the film.) But this film had such an effect on me that I find myself reading more about it. If this is one of the goals of the film, then I say it’s successful.

I know there are other violent/terror acts done to further the Palestinian cause, but this village have been holding non-violent protests for years.

But to see children being arrested at night, in an attempt to suppress the adults from fighting for the preservation of their land and livelihood, is a desperate inhumane act. To see these men constantly fighting their cause by calling out to the goodness of the soldiers. To only have this, their resilience, their hope, and rocks – against the tear gas and guns of the army is more than worth admiring. And in these times of war and violence, it seems not possible. But it is.

I'm not writing this to take sides, I have both Jewish and Muslim friends. But I am hoping that the strategies of the Israeli army, or its leaders be reconsidered, especially for the children.

To hope that the two nations find a common ground, to forget the past, and try to live peacefully in one land may seem far-fetched. But what else can a person do.

I hope for the children, not just Palestinians but children all over the world. I pray that the children of the future grow up in an entirely different situation. No more children growing up having to see soldiers with guns almost every single day. No more children being woken up at night and being arrested. No more children having to see their fathers and uncles arrested. No more children losing their childhood at such a young age. Children should not start their life dealing with anger and fighting the urge to avenge the ones they’ve lost. This is not how it should be.

Posted on : April 18, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

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

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:47:00 +0000

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. :)

A long long time ago, there were two people who looked very much like yourselves. And as with you, they were on a journey. A quest, if you will. To find what we all seem to be searching for. For reasons they may never even know.

They entered the land of the great Atacama, and headed south. Warm desert winds rose from the sands. And guided through the valley of the moon. A place where time and direction don’t exist. Yet, they still pressed on. Soon the horizon flattened out. And they crossed the mirror of the sands. The first sign of life but certainly not the last. Soon colors of green and blue covered the hills. And they found a new guide – water.

Tiny streams became raging rivers. And they were taken west, past the smoking mountains and floating falls. Until they reached the ocean, where sunlight grows from the ground and dances from the palm of your hands. They drifted south. Each day a new dawn, a new direction, a new way to be. As days turn to weeks, visions of moving colors and curious creatures pass them by.

Until time simply faded away.

And as with all those who have come before you. Their path soon came to an end. And they only found me, their future. Quietly waiting. And I asked them the same two questions I will someday ask you.

Is it possible to be happy with this life?

And I will ask as I do to everyone else. Did you enjoy your story?

Posted on : April 10, 2013

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Rainy But Lovely Days in Hoi An

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:30:00 +0000

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.

But to my surprise, the next day he told me that he also bought tickets for Hoi An. That made me smile. And this was how it would be for the rest of our travels in Vietnam. Me buying my own ticket, with him surprising me how they would also be checking out the same time that I was.

It was only a 4-hour bus ride from Hue to Hoi An. A scenic one with views of the mountains and a big lake. The bus dropped us off at An Phu, a really nice-looking hotel on the outskirts of Hoi An’s Old Town. It was around 6pm and as we were about to leave to start looking for a cheaper hostel, a guy approached us and said that we should check the hotel first. He said that we might be surprised of how nice and cheap it might be. And it was! I got my own room for USD10 a night, a large room with a bathtub!

I’ve heard and read from so many people how beautiful Hoi An is. And I found out the reason why upon arrival. Its streets are lined up with quaint small houses and buildings with old architectures. And various clothes shops where you can have any clothes – suit, summer dress, gowns, shirts, anything – tailor made for you and they can have it done in less than 24 hours. ;) Inside these shops are also these really nice women who would call you inside their shops but weren’t pushy at all. There were also cafes, restaurants, and book shops. Weather was still not on our side, but we promised ourselves that we will not allow the rain to stop us from exploring Hoi An.

The next day we decided to see another highlight of Hoi An, the temples of My Son. We decided to do it independently and just rent a motorbike. We were also able to bargain with the bike owner and he agreed to go with us and be our guide as My Son was almost an hour ride outside of the Old Town. With our raincoats on, we headed to My Son. We passed by rice paddies and fishing ponds and muddy paths before getting to the major highway.

My Son

My Son is made up of abandoned ruins of Hindu temples scattered around the area. It was interesting to find out that Hinduism used to be prevalent in this part of Vietnam. It’s located inside the forest. It’s not as grand as the temples of Cambodia’s Angkor or Thailand’s Ayuthaya, but it has its own charm. For me is its location. Unlike the other temple sites in Southeast Asia, this was located at the bottom of a mountain and it’s right inside a forest with a stream flowing.

Hindu carvings

Tired and cold, I was getting sleepy during the ride back to the Old Town. And I think he noticed this during our lunch in My Son. ‘You can sleep, just hold on to me.’ ‘No, I’m okay.’ But exhaustion won and I drifted off to sleep. How I was able to sleep for almost twenty minutes on a motorbike and the fact that it was raining was amazing. But I guess his left hand on my leg and his body shielding me from the wind and the rain made it possible. This is just one of those moments that reaffirmed my decision to just enjoy the remaining days we had in Vietnam.

Third day in Hoi An was spent exploring the Old Town. We walked our way into the center of the town and walked by the Thu Bon River. Small shops and quaint cafes and restaurants line up the river side. But it was more beautiful at night with the street lights, lit candles from some of the restaurants, and shops of lighted lanterns.

Lanterns lit up the river side of Hoi An

Photo by Anthony

And if you’re up for a little bit of partying, go to Why Not? Bar. At a little past midnight, the Old Town was about to sleep. But on our way back to the hotel, we saw Why Not? Bar’s signage. I think it’s the only bar or establishment open until five in the morning. For almost an hour we got the bar all to ourselves since we were quite ‘early’. haha We danced to various songs and chatted with the staff and owner. After an hour, the bar was slowly getting filled mostly by both expats and backpackers. We met some of the regulars who have been living in Hoi An for a long time. There was this really nice couple from Australia in their 50’s who we shared stories with. After learning that I was a Filipino, the man was quick to say how he admires Filipinos. ‘I have great respect for Filipinos. You are hard-workers.’ He has met and worked with a lot of Filipinos back when he was young, most of which are at cruise ships. He also said that Filipinos are great cooks. Another really nice and interesting thing about the bar was how you can write on the walls. And so if you happen to be at that bar when you go to Hoi An, look for our names and the words ‘Filipina’ and ‘French’, and you will surely find them. ;)

The rest of the early morning was spent dancing, drinking, and making new friends and sharing stories with the people inside the bar.

Hoi An did not disappoint. It even exceeded my expectations despite the rainy weather. The people were warm and welcoming. The quaint and old architecture buildings reminded me of Melaka. Having a candle-lit dinner and walking by the river was really nice too. And of course having a tailored-made skirt was not to be forgotten. Four days weren’t enough for me but I had a flight to catch in Saigon. At least a week should be spent in the lovely town of Hoi An. :)

Posted on : April 10, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

You can still find me at the following:

Instagram

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Exposure

Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com

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

noreply@blogger.com (Angge) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:31:00 +0000

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.

People might say dream's over, back to reality. What's reality anyways? Who defines it? I define my reality. Every moment I feel, wherever place I am, that is my reality.

And now, this is my reality. I do miss being on the road, but I appreciate being here as well. I've missed spending a long weekend with my family. I've missed hanging out with some friends. Or being 'reachable' when my superfriends (who are continents away) need me. And I appreciate the blessings that have been given to me constantly. And I see this as another opportunity to save up and prepare for another adventure.

Though I miss being back on the road, I am thankful for music that reminds me of the fact and the reality that I've been on the road so many times before. And how it can happen again. Because it is now a part of who I am as a person. This song, Miles Away, by Years Around the Sun, perfectly describes why I travel. That inexplicable feeling of freedom and soul-satisfying moment.

And our minds were meant to sail

Take a rest from our thoughts

Take a brake from this world

And we'll feel miles away

From the places that we used to be

Listen. ;)

We watch the light as it set from the sun

All the ways we could run

Oh my, can you see the light from outer space?

What was said what was done

As the time had a ride

All the ways we could run

All the things we could try

Oh my, could you tell me where this is going to lead?

And all the lights are shining on the sea

As the rolling waves crash along the beach

And our minds were meant to sail

Take a rest from our thoughts

Take a brake from this world

And we'll feel miles away

From the places that we used to be

As we lay in the sand

And we stare at the sky

Watch the moon dancing why

As the stars latch your eyes

Oh my, there's no place on earth I'd rather be

In my eye this night just don't feel real

But i can feel your touch

Promise you won't let go

And our minds were meant to sail

Take a rest from our thoughts

Take a brake from this world

And we'll feel miles away

From the places that we used to be

Posted on : April 6, 2013

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NEW BLOG!

Hey everyone! I'm moving to a new blog address : www.angelicacruzph.com

Same content but with some changes in design and layout. I'll still be keeping this one but will begin posting new stuff in the new blog. See you there!

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Email : anggetravels.blog@gmail.com