Zoom Session with Friends: Is This The New Normal?

11:30:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 0 Comments


Has it led to this? Last night, i had a zoom session with my closest friends - one of the very few that i attended to. You know why? Because it leaves a bitter taste to me knowing this is the only way i can see my friends and know how they're doing. Is this the new normal? It's supposed to be a drinking session, but getting drunk physically alone (but with friends via video call) is weird for me. 

It is Day 77 of the lockdown here now in Manila. In a few days, a general community quarantine will take place which means easing all pre-existing protocols. As much as this is good news to me, and i can finally go out to run my personal errands and err hopefully meet up with this gang, i would still wait it out. This Wuhan Covid-19 has probably given me a bit of trauma in a way. My interpersonal skills have been compromised big time. Last night, i was having an early evening run and i chanced upon a Grab driver asking for directions. What the hell? I don't know if i should respond to his question or run away. I have always been good with people. I have changed a bit, but i can carry a conversation and make boring discussions exciting and meaningful. Now, i don't know anymore. You see, this pandemic has brought out the worst in people. I am just trying my best to look at the bright side of things, and make the most out of it by learning to adapt and do the things i've been meaning to do. Zoom is cool for now, but heck i don't want to keep on using this app when i get bored and when i miss my friends. I want to ride, even if it means traffic, and hang out with friends and have a drink. I want to go outside. I want to travel alone. I want to travel with my friends. I want a shared experience.

Don't get me wrong. If you follow this blog, you know how i find serenity and peace doing things on my own. I travel solo, probably 90% of the time. I have solo trips that lasted almost three months straight, so i can get by. But there will be moments, when a funny conversation with an old pal or getting a serious advice from a beloved friend, is golden. I've learned to treasure these moments and begin to appreciate these things. 

I hate this new normal. In my previous blog entries, you know how much i despise using it. There's no new normal. We will go back to how it was before and just become better people. 

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Amazing Zipline Cruise in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines

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The Joy of Solo Traveling Part 2

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Wandering around Binondo in the Capital city of Manila, Philippines



 ALL-TIME FAVORITE POST FROM 20120 RE-BLOGGED: 
I am sharing my soul to everyone reading this.

 To be honest, i was brought up fed with a silver spoon, where most of the time i got what i wanted.  Up until now, i am still learning to become more independent, you know on its real essence. Where i have to force myself to work so i have food to eat on the dinner table or where i have to find my way home from a night out of partying way too much not having to call my driver to pick me up because i am nauseous. 

 One funny story was when i asked my driver to take me to the baywalk of Manila Bay as i wanted to get out of the house and unto a place where i can chill, relax and write poetry. A few minutes later, i found myself walking wherever. Then, i saw him following me making sure i was alright. That was the tipping point when i realized i needed independence.

 Whenever i travel, i feel a sudden urge to look after myself. As much as i want to binge drink when i'm out, let's say in Krabi, Thailand or in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with my friends, i just couldn't. I always ask myself what if i pass out and get so drunk, who will take care of me? Of course my foreigner friends would, but to be honest the real answer is no one but myself. So i try to limit my alcohol intake and stay away from trouble. When i had a slight case of diarrhea in Siem Reap, Cambodia and rashes from bed bugs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, i didn't call my father who happens to be a physician (so imagine i couldn't lie that I'm doing fine because he knows all the symptoms when you're sick etc.) and tell him my condition. I took care of myself. I nursed myself. I bought myself some energy drink far out of the city and some remedy from the drugstore and i conditioned myself to get well. When i was tagged along by a stranger - out in a random night out in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong with a Greek girl and with Australian girl in Koh Phangan, Thailand, i had to decide. I made a choice. A choice i know that could either bring bad or good luck to me. Still i decided for myself. I already thought out of possible repercussions of my decisions. I knew i had to stand by it. That alone made me realize, i am growing to be more mature now.

One of my first nights traveling alone. Mix of excitement, fear and just letting it all go.
What i am trying to say is, the best lessons I've learned are not from school but from traveling. Alone. Traveling per se is an experience already worth mentioning, traveling alone is a notch higher--difficulty level is higher but believe me when i say the end results could change your life forever.

 Back home now, i sincerely think i can travel alone. Because i already did it. My loved ones gave their trust to me because i look out for myself traveling for the past three years. Heck, if i can do it in a remote village in Cambodia, i think i can do it. Although i know i have a long way to go. Unless i finally circumnavigate Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan or finally trekked the Amazon with just a spear and travel via a long tail boat, ask me again and i shall be proud to answer.

 To be fair, there are times when you will feel lonely and wish that your family and close friends  were there with you in a certain place. When i was in a Chinese restaurant in Singapore, i wanted to splurge a little bit on food so i ordered this and that, as i eat the fried noodles and yang chow fried rice together with squid i sincerely wished my family was there, too, as we are all big fans of Chinese cuisine. When i was in Shanghai, China i rode the river cruise in the Huangpu river. The majestic lights from Pudong was so attractive  i wanted to take so many photos so my my mom and dad can see how really nice it was to ride the cruise. I wished they were there with me relaxing and enjoying the cool view and of course budget would not be constraint. When i was in Koh Tao admiring its impeccable sunset, i was taking a video of it when i realized i wish my close friends were there with me chilling by the beach and drinking cocktails as we watch splashes of oranges and blues painted in the sky.

 Remember the movie Into the Wild, a movie based on a true accounts of a young man eager to search for independence. Although his character blew into unexplained proportions, i liked what he said somewhere in the end of the film that what is the essence of traveling and going to such a beautiful place if you cannot share it with people you love.

A Gloomy afternoon in Tonsai beach, Krabi, Thailand

So to end this two part journey of mine explaining why i love solo traveling, i would like to leave you with these two quotations so you can ponder some thought.

"The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. " - Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

"Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone." -The Dhammapada

 So i say, book a flight where you want to go, pack your bags, and brave the new world alone. Your life will soon change forever!

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The Joy of Solo Traveling Part 1

1:00:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 9 Comments


ALL-TIME FAVORITE POST FROM 20120 RE-BLOGGED:
The greatest advice you will ever receive from me is to TRAVEL ALONE.

I have traveled to many destinations with many different people and to be honest, the most memorable ones are when i am traveling solo. There is a different feeling to it. It's exciting and very experiential. 

When you travel alone, you take care of yourself!

No one's there to have your back when you get into a fight, no one's there to assist you when you drink too much, heck - there's no one there to guard your bag when you go to the toilet. That's the simple truth!

I have traveled to the southern islands of the Philippines and many countries around South East Asia ALONE. There are times when i feel lonely and sad. That's the truth yet, it's a fact of life for some people. Sometimes, when loneliness hits me, what i do is i call home, surf the net, I write down my thoughts here on my blog or i just drink beer. Someone i know who's traveling for 26 months and counting said his iPod comes in handy whenever he feels lonely. 

Maybe you will ask me if i am a loner? if you really know me that's the least adjective you can describe me. I live hanging out with my family and friends. But i also love spending time alone traveling. It's just my nature, i think.

I traveled to Boracay Island alone for seven days straight and i had a really great time. With a few people i know passing by, meeting new people along the way, but most of the time i was just there alone, wandering around. I've survived the occasional power supply shortage, drinking in the bar alone and the many lonely walks going back to my little hotel.

Chilling in one of the many isolated islands of Guimaras, Philippines


I traveled to Guimaras alone. I hitched a ride on the back of a motorcycle to get to a resort i have no idea where and have no clue how it looks like. Still, i braved the bumpy roads till i get to a little cove in the middle of nowhere. Miscommunication and huge reptiles aside, I've seen how things differ from life in manila to life in a relatively unheard of place like this province, and that made all the difference. During the full moon, i went outside of my simple nipa hut room for a smoke to kill time before i go to sleep. But wait, it's still just 8PM. A few puffs later, i found myself sitting with a group of people i don't know, and don't know where they are from. A few hours later, i've downed to many Gold Eagle beers and crunchy danggits. The next few days, i found myself staring blank on top of the cliff watching the sun go down. I admired the beauty and splendor of the place quietly. I also spent many days going around and finding myself mostly lost in the highway with occasional stares from the locals. Never did i once felt afraid. I felt at home actually. On my last day, i hitched a ride with my new friends back to Ilo-Ilo up until i was dropped off by the jeepney in front of a hotel. With no money spent and not even a clue why, i got the taste of the real kindness from these strangers.

I could literally sleep in green green grass of La Paz in Ilo-Ilo for the whole day, watching youngsters play football, women well dressed for the church and getting lazy. As i sit in a lovely corner infront of Jaro Cathedral, i found the solace i was looking for. Near God, and living a very simple life. I was alone, buying myself two hotcakes and a fresh mango juice. I said a prayer instead because i couldn't understand a word the priest was saying. I walked back home trying to find myself where i should be. I roamed around in the many sidewalks till the sun set, followed the procession of the Virgin Mary and ate early dinner in one of the many Jollibee's. Yet, i never felt so at peace with myself.

After an unbelievable trek going to the beach separated by amazing cliffs in Railay Bay, Krabi, Thailand


Besides getting lost in translation in China literally and finding myself giving my necklace to a lovely Khmer girl, one of the most memorable experiences to date was in my first trip to Thailand, and there i was alone again. With no expectations nor with any fear, I was flying in to the very south of Thailand where supposedly the growing guerrilla fights are still happening. Went to the islands alone and slept in a room with strangers i met on the plane. I found myself the next day crossing an unbelievably hard trek just to get to the other beach. I passed by killer rocks, crops and left over underwear. The next few days, i transferred from one island to the next. Then, i got the last room available with broken padlocks and no ceiling. Met someone and made love in the sea. Drank some more and went home at around 9AM surrounded by shady Thai police. No fear at all. 

Maybe, the real reason why i was the king of confidence and fighting spirit was because i was traveling alone. I didn't have to explain to anyone where i was that night, or why i did stay in the islands longer or why i became lazy in the middle of the trip.

I did what i did and just moved on. No explanations needed. No arguments. No walk outs. No drama. Life is simple. Traveling with someone makes traveling complicated. 

My dear readers, this is just my personal opinion. Some people work well traveling with someone. I, on the other hand work best when i go solo! 

Maybe one of the reasons why these experiences became so memorable to me is that i challenged myself. Regardless whether i was successful or not, i completed it. 

Lost at the majestic mountains and tiny little coves of Antique, Philippines



There's also the feeling of isolation. The truth holds that whatever i do now will never ever pose a problem with anyone but myself. Whatever decision i make while i was on the road will never backfire at me when mishaps happen. And they do happen. 

Of course, traveling alone may pose a problem. Let's get real.

I needed to pay for my room alone, i needed to pay for my boat alone, i needed to pay and eat a huge meal alone. And there's no one to talk to in my native language when i feel tired of speaking my second language. But that's about it. Other than that, i want some space traveling.

There is no greater achievement for me than to travel alone in an unknown destination. Through traveling solo, you will learn to be street-smart, responsible, knowledgeable and sociable!

To be Continued.

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My Flight to Mindoro Got Cancelled Due to Wuhan Covid-19

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Yes. What a bummer.

I booked this round trip flight almost one year ago, during a promo and paid only about P1,000 or about $20. I never knew back then that there would be a pandemic. I never knew that Wuhan Covid-19 was this worse. I only thought about it for a second and know it will pass. It has been 73 days since the lockdown here in Manila. Even if i hate the term "the new normal", i reckon i have to accept the fact that there will be a new normal soon, if not it's happening already. 

Supposedly, it will be my fourth time flying into Mindoro. I couldn't go back to Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro just yet. This would've been my third time in Occidental Mindoro. Secret - this year i was planning to go back to my most favorite provinces in the country. But this time, i would be doing something different or going to somewhere i've never been before. I was even planning to extend my stay to add an overnight trip to Pandan Island and Sablayan. I can already imagine the white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, fresh seafood and ice cold beer. I miss that island so much. It brings me back so much memories of how underrated the place is, yet it's one of the country's hidden gems. It also brings back memories how young i was starting to travel around the country. I remember enjoying my San Miguel Beer after almost five hours of travel - one plane ride, one UV van ride, one tricycle and one passenger boat. It was one of the best gulps ever. Wheeew! 

This is the new normal for me, i guess. 

I have a secret confession to make. I have a flight booking for a scheduled trip every single month this year. I've been doing it for the past three years already now. Every month, no fail. I felt that i needed to go out there, whether local or international travel, once a month. Imagine how it would be for me this year. Even before the start of the pandemic, i have experienced numerous flight cancellations. My first trip of the year to Batanes got cancelled due to Taal Volcano eruption. You can read more about it here. Back in February, i was supposed to fly to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. It would have been my fourth time in the country, too. Alas! My flight wasn't sorted out with the airline company. And then March came, i was booked to fly to Bali in Indonesia with friends. Just days after i got back from Biliran. I got sick (more on this in a separate blog entry) and there was Wuhan Covid-19. You see, this year, it's been rough and tough for travelers like me. I get the feeling that my itch to travel is nothing compared to the hardships some are facing now. I can't fathom not having a job to earn money and no food to put in the table, most especially if you have a family to support. We're gunning three months now full of uncertainty when will this pandemic end. 

When i look back reading this once everything's back to normalcy (hopefully soon), note to self - "You will travel again, soon. Just not now. There will be changes, though. But it'll be soon" 

Think positive. I just have to think positive for the next 7 months. 


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My 2 Week Backpacking Itinerary to Myanmar

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Foreword
My trip to Myanmar was part of my 3 month backpacking expedition across South East Asia and South Asia. I flew from Jakarta, Indonesia to Yangon, Myanmar with a stop over to Singapore for 2 days. A few weeks before the trip, an ill-fated flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore crashed into the Java Sea. As an aerophobic frequent traveler, this was "torture" to me but i soldiered on because i couldn't wait to get to Myanmar. Good thing i was seated next to a French tourist so my mind was at ease (at least) for a few minutes chatting with him while the whole plane was shaking.





Visa Entry
Ordinary passport holders from the Philippines can stay in Myanmar without a visa for 14 days, granting Filipinos who are holders of ordinary passports visa-free entry to Myanmar for tourism and business purposes.

 Itinerary Draft






Yangon 
Number of Days: 3 Days
Accommodations: The Lodge Yangon
Places Visited: Shwedagon Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Kandawgyi Lake and Sule Pagoda
Transportation: Night Bus from Yangon to Bagan






Bagan 
Number of Days: 3 Days
Entrance Fee: K25,000 / $18
Places Visited: Ananda Temple, Dhammayan Gyi Temple, Man Sithu Market, Thatbyinnyu Phaya, Sulamani Temple, Gu Byauk Gyi Myin Kabar, Abeyadana Temple, Gawdawpalin and Shwezigon Temple
Transportation: Day Bus from Bagan to Inle Lake






Inle Lake 
Number of Days: 2 Days
Accommodations: Gypsy Inn
Places Visited: Inle Lake Boat Tour - One-Man Fishing Boat Intha Fishermen, Lake Side Villages Houses, Floating Garden, Nga Phe Chang Monastery, Paw Khon Village and Phaung Daw OO Pagoda
Transportation: Day Bus from Inle Lake to Pyin Oo Lwin





Pyin Oo Lwin
Number of Days: 2 Days 
Accommodations: Golden Dream Hotel 
Places Visited: Purcell Tower, Hindu Temple, National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens, Kandawgyi Lake and Myint Tower
Transportation: Day Bus from Pyin Oo Lwin to Hsipaw





 Hsipaw
Number of Days: 2 Days
Accommodations: Mr. Charles
Places Visited: Walking Tour - Little Villages, Monastery, Markets, etc., Shan Palace and Mrs. Popcorn
Transportation: Night Bus from Hsipaw to Yangon





Yangon 
Number of Days: 2 Days
Accommodations: The Lodge Yangon
Places Visited: Bogyoke Aung San Market and Shwedagon Pagoda


Thoughts and Realizations
If only the visa free allowed me to stay more days in Myanmar, i would close the trip to 3 weeks. If you notice, i had more time during the first few days and eventually, i felt i needed to rush my trip towards the end because i was already losing days and my 14 days was almost over.

To be quite blunt about it, the further out of the way i was traveling, the more memorable my trip became. Pyin Oo Lwin and Hsipaw became my favorites because it was more out of the way, and i felt the real Burma is showing its true colors. Bagan was out of this world because the temples and pagodas where just awe-inspiring, but after almost a dozen of pagodas visited in a day or two, it gets the best of you. Meanwhile Pyin Oo Lwin and Hsipaw, although quite short of places to visit, were rustic and memorable. The people were curious and always friendly. 

Where to Go Next?
Ideally, my trip to Myanmar would include a trip to the beach but then again i was traveling around July and August. The weather was awful. You get plenty of rains scattered all throughout the day. This meant traveling to places and flying domestically not practical. Mind you, the road condition further south of Yangon was bad. The airline industry in the country doesn't have the best reputation. And the aerophobic in me again would dread this. Although, i would have wanted to visit beaches down south after reading this article here from CNN. 

On the other hand, when i visited Myanmar, the the situation of the Rohingya tribe is getting worse. They've become displaced and before you know it, the unthinkable happened. In this day and age, i think there's no place for oppression for the marginalized in this new world. It's just cruel and uncivilized. I wouldn't mind visiting once situation becomes better. 

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Lazy Sunday Afternoon On a Motorbike in Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Backpacking for Beginners

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ALL-TIME FAVORITE POST FROM 2009 RE-BLOGGED
Welcome to the World of Backpacking!!! 
If you're starting to know more about backpacking or interested about it, please continue reading. So, you've started to book your flight and/or you're currently backpacking and needed to know more or you're just plain curious, here's an article you should read.

I am a Jerik, a 26 year old backpacker. I go backpacking around my country the Philippines and around Asia. What i have here is a simple guide for all backpackers, fresh and seasoned travelers. May this be the start of your many more adventures.

Backpacking is fast becoming a byword from friends, family, acquaintances who share awesome journeys traveling around the world. Some consider backpacking as a sport, while others treat is a soul searching engine to jump start their life, all in hopes to find real happiness in an unfamiliar place, somewhere in the world. 

Let's start.
What is Backpacking? 

Backpacking is a journey to go somewhere in the world, a region, some countries, far from your home country, to spend as little money as possible through plane/bus/train tickets to accommodations and food so you can stay longer. Moreover, it is also a circuit to trek a trail unfamiliar to the tourists, and more for serious travelers who want an enriching experience by mingling with the locals. The idea of backpacking somehow started with our beloved forefathers, the Hippies, who traveled from the West to the East in search not of a greener pasture, but of unending happiness in an innocent land but with a very rich culture. Hence, the banana pancake trail.

Before packing your bags, and buying your Lonely Planet guides, it is best to fuel your mind with ideas/thoughts that will definitely help you as you brave the unknown. Remember that backpacking is seriously not just about carrying with you a backpack and going through treks to the mountains. It is a mindset. A challenge. A perception. A heart.

Why go Backpacking?
A lot of backpackers i've met along the way have various reasons why they started backpacking. 

  1. The gap year. High school students from around the world consider taking a leave for a year to travel the world before they start their college or popularly called "uni".
  2. The breakaways. Professionals working for a couple of years decided its about time to reward themselves from long hours of work with months of relaxation. Most of them quit their jobs and have saved enough money to last them months to even years on a journey.
  3. The Soul-searchers. People, young and old, facing quarter life, midlife crises. Whatever their reason is, it must be something sentimental, dreaming and/or substantial in one's life. They leave their comfortable lives for a simpler, less complicated living. Sometimes, they go back home as soon as they realize stuff, other times, they never come back home at all.

Whether you're one of the three, or you're just tagged by your friends on a trip, and you're waiting already for your flight to South East Asia, Africa or South America, below are some of the things you need to consider as you start your journey. I've listed 5 rules to making the most of your backpacking trip. These 5 rules may be broken, once in a while. But you just have to keep up with the changing times. Everything changes, anyway. Keep this in mind. For a successful backpacker, it is not just about having the most travel trips or having the longest trip, but it's all about having the best moments that will never be forgotten. 

Rule #1
Get informed.
A backpacker is someone who knows time-tables, know where to go for cheap accommodations and food, someone who canvasses on everything. The trick is to go to three. Whatever is the cheapest, that's a sure go because the goal is to save enough money for something else, like food, souvenirs. Google, threads and forums, Thorntree of Lonely Planet, and guide books are helpful sources for tips, tricks and money matters. But books, from my experience, are always outdated. The hostel you think is your best bet may have closed a few weeks ago. But definitely the best source of information are the backpackers you meet along the way. Engage in friendly conversations, ask around, most of the time, travelers/backpackers help each other out and have more or less have been there or will go there. It's the real circle of life.

Rule #2
Be prepared.
A backpacking trip is just like any other trip, it's unpredictable. Things could get worse - lost passports, missed flights, misleading tuk-tuk drivers, pickpockets, and what have you. Read Lonely Planet Unpacked as in my previous post of stories by travel guide writers who have experienced the funniest, the weirdest and the most traumatic. But not to discourage you, there are a lot of exciting, breathtaking, unbelievable stories from travelers, i included, that the experience is nothing like you've experienced before. It is one of a kind. It is unforgettable. It will be etched in your heart forever. Friends, lovers, mentors - you will all meet them along the way.

Rule #3
Act Responsibly.
Whether you're 16 or you're 32, age is never an excuse to act responsibly. Going to a foreign land isn't like going to your mate's party. There are a lot of things to consider. Customs and traditions are always advised to be followed unless you want create a scene. If you're a girl in a conservative country like India or South Asia, you're best bet is not to wear too much revealing clothes. If you're a guy and drinks too much, it is best advised to carry yourself like a true gentleman. It's not prohibited to drink a few beers and have fun but never to start trouble on the streets, fill up girls, or anything wild and unlawful. Let's be honest, Prostitution is rampant mostly in South East Asia. I don't care whatever you do if you're a guy, but don't be a dick. If you're fearless, watch Nat Geo's Banged up Abroad. You'll know why you don't shit in a foreign land.

Rule #4
Embrace the Culture.
Different countries have different cultures. People are different; that includes language, gestures, customs, traditions. I am guilty of this, i compare countries. It is better here, than there. One thing I've learned after backpacking in different nations around Asia is to just embrace the culture. Just let yourself free. Try to speak their language. Try to follow their rituals. Never refuse an offer. Learn to say thank you in their local language. Always believe in the goodness of men. Most of the time, locals will always make foreign tourists at home (except in the tourist, robbery high prone areas). Start sharing stories. Drink local drinks, like i did in Phnom Penh. Smoke a cigarette with the Thais. Sit down and try to understand Mandarin like i did in Shanghai. Forget about where you're from. It's all about them.

Rule #5
Share.
The nature of travelers is to share travel stories with their mates. It's always a pleasant feeling to be able to convince people to go out exploring the world. Inspire your family, friends, everyone you know how blessed the trip was because of the nature, scenery, the people, the culture. It's a hidden protocol for backpackers to help each other out. If you know someone who hasn't been to a place where you've been, help that person. Share your experiences. Answer his/her questions. When you travel you'll realize it's such a small world after all. People you meet along the way may be you're friends for life. Religion, nationality, etc will never be a barrier for people to connect. There's always Facebook so that people can easily write on someone's wall to meet up. I am meeting up with my friends in Thailand this February 2010.
See. Backpacking isn't such a daunting task. It's a very fun hobby and passion in life. So what are you waiting for, my friend. Head to the airport now. I say, forget about your worries because as soon as your plane lands, or you reach your destination, nothing else matters but you and the world. Have fun, socialize, learn something new, leave a mark to the people you meet. Take tons of photos. And always remember that wherever you go, wherever you are, you will always be somebody to someone. 

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