Staring on what clothes I'm wearing, my grandmother would ask me "pakain kaw yan?" annoyed as I am, my whispering trolling answer was always "manglungsulan inah hadji" and I would quickly kiss and her hand and disappear right away.


It was really hard to cross the border of travelling alone back then.


I can't at first contain traipsing in a far away land from home, alone. Imagine staring on traffic signs, posters, menus and food labels written in a language you are not familiar of. Or rather the cunning antics of the locals as they have absolutely no idea on how to answer your queries. Not to mention the touts swooping on tourists, ever clever in every way shredding a part of your dearly frugal trip. The never ending barriers and hindrances from one point to the other can be such a lump as you go along your way.


Growing up in a conservative family defies the urge to go out and explore as I age. A lot of reasons eventually popped despite the no-travelling-solo-policy in us. I must see what is there for me. Coming from a prohibited travel nation Sulu, no risk left was there for me to fear. 

My first dose is still vivid in me. I took it without any prejudice. Setting aside my obligations and with proper composition I flew alone. That attempt was successful as I managed to come home with my sanity intact and heart back to its place again. Travelling has become my Prozac since then.

What more delight would I savor if should I leave without heavy loads? I thought. To actually ride bemos with locals and not minding their scents. To gulp their native coffee, to engross with their dainty cuisine. To trace the past with their ancient ruins. And though, separated by language orientation, the mere sharing of a smile with them is immeasurably divine. The comparison from their cultures, tradition, orientation and religion to what I behold is endless. 

The world is on my feet, so I might as well walk on it. The desire is overpowering the fear. Time is ticking. I got to master the art of monologuing. All these nuisances can be prevented and if you can't, they will solely depend on how you would take it for the show must go on. Geared with guts and passion, nothing would go wrong.

Having been kissed by a travel bug, with all my heart I would go. I could not promise when to stop and if there is really stopping at all as long as I live.

A gypsy, a nomad, a solitary wanderer, a wanderlust, a rugged derp clad in torn jeans, old shirt, filthy shoes with a pack on her back. A Tausug with Sulu pride in my heart, to elsewhere in the world.

Laos: Over Si Phan Don

No, I haven't been to Laos yet.

We were on flight to Bangkok. The aircraft took off  Philippines almost sunset. Fastened my seat belt and not minding the Flight Attendants routinary demonstration, I headed to sleep.

Well, sort of a sleep. It really pays to check-in ahead and be able to choose your preferred seat. And since it didn't happen to us, we can't choose but to get our butts seated on the last row where passengers pass on their way to the washroom and worse, bang the cabin door.

I was thinking that this would be the worst-est flight ever. I can't wait to land.

What annoys me the most is that, we left with sun almost to set and like after a couple of hours, the sun is still peeking and is higher than the last time I checked it. Lol. I know, I know. It's the boredom and the fact that I can't get my eyes shut.

Then after much humming, I peeked. And whoa, "Is that Si Phan Don?" I asked myself with uncertainty. I quickly took out my cam and shoot it without even setting it. Hehe.

                                                                       4000 islands!
                                   

I have been reading and bumping blogs regarding Si Phan Don aka 4000 islands for this is one of the routes backpackers take on their way to up to Laos or way down to Cambodia, a banana-pancake route for some. Don Khong being the biggest, Don Det and Don Khon as the most visited. This is also where the widest waterfalls in South East-Asia and where the Irrawaddy Dolphins, a rare species of pink river dolphins, dwell. Cool huh? Not just that, one of the bloggers even testified that this is also the place where she had got the lowest accommodation ever in her backpacking days, for 1USD a night!

Well perhaps, this is just one among the delights of backpacking. A sneak preview, a trailer, for me to really not just book but fly.

Life? Go travel!

I'm a hardcore dreamer.. yeah, both literally and figuratively.

Familiar with a scene where you see pictures of delightful places and then suddenly you dose off wandering or say imagining as if you're in that pic? And then suddenly you're boxed by Reality and boom! on the left side is your if and then on the right side is your but and the dreams were transformed into stars hovering your head. Hehe.

So I came up with a list of buts and ifs and categorized them into these:

• Time : I'm sort of juggling motherhood, studies, career and all other extra curricular activities and then this? My solution? Of course I can't just dizz away guiltily carrying all these woes, so I plan all my travels way far in advance. Leaving me enough options for conflicts and stuff. So if you have none, go make one!
• Money : I'm not a posh traveler, that I have to say. The idea is for me to get the gist out of this places and people and the not vice versa hence the backpacking. Oh it also pays to be a fan of this and that. Travel tours, low cost airlines, hotel booking site and etc. for you've got to be the first to know should there be a promo. And of course, book ahead to save as almost in anything, it comes cheaper when booked in advance. Little by little, imaginary build on how to live like a local. Read blogs and most importantly, save.
• Emo Baggage : Hehe. Sad but true. No one is born brave enough to face the world. It takes time and mastery and a whole lots of guts. In short, experience. So what are you waiting for? Pack and go! 

Choosing between those pullings and pushings is not an option. There is no contest at all, as they come like a tick with a tock. Hand in hand, summing up life well lived. :)

Carpe diem~

Sawasdee Bangkok!

After a long and tedious battle against time and effort in transit to Bangkok, whew! we finally arrived.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is huge! My vision is getting blurry, my tummy is empty and my vertebrae, oh no, is starting to feel like losing its grab. Despite of all the discomforts, the airport is quite soothing the negativities away. Fast walkalators, smoking rooms are like approximately 100 meters apart, multi-language translation for directions, foreign exchange counters, smiling locals and most importantly, lenient immigration officers.

First stop was of course to get charged in a smoking room. There. A little chit chat of this and that and what to do or where to go or how, then crashed the flame and moved on to our next stop. The foreign exchange counter. The rate there is quite a little lower than those banks in the city proper so we changed few of our dollars just enough to pay our taxi ride to our hotel and a sumptuous dinner afterwards.

Then to the Immigration counter to stamp us in. Wow they are efficient. The counters are well labeled and since the airport is gigantic, they also serve numerous immigration counters. Cool. What amazes me the most is that the Immigration officers are not hmmm, not like what we have in the Philippines where one has to pass a needle hole interrogation as if you're visiting someone in prison abroad. Presented our pre-filled immigration form (fill it in flight to save time) and of course passports, a quick pose before a webcam and huala! Sawasdee!

In traipsing Suvarnabhumi Airport, there is actually no need for you to ask for where. You're safe still so long as you keep your common sense. Hehe. The airport is tourist friendly, you'll just have to be sure on what is to be done step by step. So there, we're already cleared.

Prolly looking first timers that we were, a ground airport crew approached us and led us to their Tourist Information Counter and handed us free maps and after a few exchange of pleasantries, we were offered a 4 hour tour for only 23USD. The tour is more like a do-it-yourself for we get to choose which place we want to see or do in 4 hours time. Like for only 500php, we find it fairly cheap, especially because it is an exclusive tour with a driver and a tour guide. Of course there has to be an official receipt and proper identification of that crew.

Next thing to choose is which mode of transportation to take to our hotel room. 'Twas past 9pm already, considering the comfort and traffic condition plus the Baht we have on hand, we took the taxi. Buses and skytrains? They come cheaper I bet but there is no chance that they'd take us direct to our hotel plus the hassle of changing and transporting from here to there, so taxi it is. It took us about less than an hour to reach our hotel and less than 500 Baht (50TB surcharge plus toll fees and meters). It just got dark in Bangkok yet the traffic was smooth. Bangkok is well lighted and the highways are really wide. Way far not congested and crowded like Manila. Lol. I wasn't able to feel the distance really for I was busy awing with the system that they have. Impressive I must admit.

In transit: Zamboanga to Bangkok

Well, it was hell.

The mere thought of starting this reminds how I silently cursed everyone on my way.

It was supposed to be an early morning flight to Manila. Which supposed to spare us 7 hours hassle free travel time to Clark. My quick vision of it during my planning stage is that it would be leisure trip ahead.

Coming from Sulu Archipelago, the nearest international flights would be coming from and going to Manila, Clark (like ours) and sometimes via Cebu so to speak. So that leaves you no option but to pass by either of these places for you to be able to fly internationally. By 6:30 am we were already seated by the airport's boarding gate. We were these morning fresh couple smilingly breathing crispy sunshine. An attendant called us in after some time and there we were, with already fastened seat belt. The cabin door was already closed, everyone was seated, waited and again waited until the captain announced that there was an engine problem and that we need to alight the plane and wait for further announcement. Wow. So we lalala waited. Then the announcement finally came and it said, our flight to Manila was moved to 3pm.. Well okay, let me lay down our "supposed" flight itinerary that day for I know this is confusing:

7:45 - 9:20 Zamboanga to Manila
10:00 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 Manila to Clark
4:15 - 8:30 Clark to Bangkok

There. This can't be happening! Denial then with composure I headed to the airlines counter and politely told them my concern. There was no way we could wait for the 3pm flight to Manila for we need to be in Clark before that. Options options options for if not, everything will be ruined, lots will be wasted and what? left overs will be meant to learn from their mistake? No way. So we were left with an option to fly to Cebu and then to Manila with expected arrival time by 2:00 pm. So not fair. But then we need to gamble with time and pressure. No time for pointing fingers and we were like Pacmans gulping instances on the way. Familiar with a reality TV show "Amazing Race"? It was more like it, only that this time we are dealing with random people in real time without a script.

Then we landed Manila by 2pm, which would need us to rent a taxi from NAIA Terminal 3 straight to Clark's Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, giving us with travel time including traffic congestion an 1 hour and 15 minutes beating the 2 hours trip. Not minding the agonizing P4200 rip from our pockets. Plus the condition that our driver can't go beyond 120km/h he was already in his last warning for over speeding violation. We vested upon the taxi driver the pressure as we leave everything to his control as if he was our god like anytime I would raise my white flag.

3:30 we were still not in Clark Airport.. 3:45 I found myself in between begging and giving up when the airline's attendant refused to check us in for we were 15 minutes late pass the boarding time. Reasons like they already had admitted chance passengers and outright purchases and that she can't promised us seat vacancies. I swear, I'm never a pushy type of person. I don't beg and never I insist but at that moment, I just feel like I need to pull my last string and there, with hands clasp together, I uttered the word "please". She went soft , exchanged words with the captain and finally checked us in.

Tips?

1. Avoid connecting flights with different airports and airlines. Save the travel time in between airport transfers especially when you're commuting in between.
2. When flying with low cost airlines, give at least 12 hours allowance or depending on flight availabilities for they are a point to point carrier only. They are not responsible with your connecting flights especially with different airlines or when your heading international. We'll never know when force majeur strikes or like in our case, engine trouble.
3. Be courteous all the time, mind your words and keep your cool.

To sum it all up, we were in transit for 14 hours, 5 airports, Mindanao to Visayas to Luzon to South East Asia, 3 coffee cups each and lesser nicotine intake. Glad Bangkok is a delight.

Faithfully

"They say that the road ain't no place to start a family..."  a profound excerpt from Journey's Faithfully. Surely no one wouldn't miss a slight effort in delivering that line in tone sincere to one who can relate.

The intensity beyond this thought are the questions of how and how and how would a dearly beloved bears the thought of a departing better-half once more. Sure the weight would vehemently rely on the why but who could contain the reason of "none, I just feel like going in awhile."?

The passion to travel is infinite and worse, addictive. Yet one could not just entirely hit the road alone by not taking into account the loads of those who are left. Effortless to sing yet heavy to ponder upon. Paranoias and uncertainties will be built one at a time. The ever disturbances of annoying reasons could be haunting. One can't just accept the absurdity of the impulse of a lover who is away. The thoughts of why is never ending. Like why would he choose to be there were in fact, I am here? And the assumptions would attack flowingly. Ending? well, misunderstanding.

If one is vested to be a part of a nomad's life, she must surrender all the doubts and fears. Regardless of where the madness has started, on whether before and during their togetherness, one shall swallow unconditionally the needs of the other. Yes, it is a need. An intimate need to oneself in whatever desire it shall serve. It may sound absurd but no matter how one denies it, travelling for some, is a need. I may not be able to decode this passion accurately for one to agree but I guess, the mere title of it is more than what it takes for a loveone to smile and wish him well in his travel.

No man is travel mad enough to set aside his heart. Wherever he goes, in him is you. The reason is mainly you, for it is the distance that could make the love grow ponder as they quote.

Never be weary. Never curse and never should you fret. Let your heart rest as you sleep. For despite of what is on his face "right down the line it's been you and me".

Kissed by a Travel Bug

Staring on what clothes I'm wearing, my grandmother would ask me "pakain kaw yan?" annoyed as I am, my whispering trolling answer was always "manglungsulan inah hadji" and I would quickly kiss and her hand and disappear right away.


It was really hard to cross the border of travelling alone back then.


I can't at first contain traipsing in a far away land from home, alone. Imagine staring on traffic signs, posters, menus and food labels written in a language you are not familiar of. Or rather the cunning antics of the locals as they have absolutely no idea on how to answer your queries. Not to mention the touts swooping on tourists, ever clever in every way shredding a part of your dearly frugal trip. The never ending barriers and hindrances from one point to the other can be such a lump as you go along your way.


Growing up in a conservative family defies the urge to go out and explore as I age. A lot of reasons eventually popped despite the no-travelling-solo-policy in us. I must see what is there for me. Coming from a prohibited travel nation Sulu, no risk left was there for me to fear. 

My first dose is still vivid in me. I took it without any prejudice. Setting aside my obligations and with proper composition I flew alone. That attempt was successful as I managed to come home with my sanity intact and heart back to its place again. Travelling has become my Prozac since then.

What more delight would I savor if should I leave without heavy loads? I thought. To actually ride bemos with locals and not minding their scents. To gulp their native coffee, to engross with their dainty cuisine. To trace the past with their ancient ruins. And though, separated by language orientation, the mere sharing of a smile with them is immeasurably divine. The comparison from their cultures, tradition, orientation and religion to what I behold is endless. 

The world is on my feet, so I might as well walk on it. The desire is overpowering the fear. Time is ticking. I got to master the art of monologuing. All these nuisances can be prevented and if you can't, they will solely depend on how you would take it for the show must go on. Geared with guts and passion, nothing would go wrong.

Having been kissed by a travel bug, with all my heart I would go. I could not promise when to stop and if there is really stopping at all as long as I live.

A gypsy, a nomad, a solitary wanderer, a wanderlust, a rugged derp clad in torn jeans, old shirt, filthy shoes with a pack on her back. A Tausug with Sulu pride in my heart, to elsewhere in the world.