Saturday, September 12, 2009

The New Plan

After my trip to Palawan, I began to see how impractical my plan was. To a certain extent, EJ was right. Not in the sense that I shouldn't be traveling this early on, that I should be building my career first, but in the sense that one-time-big time is not enough. I will never be satisfied with the amount of traveling that I have in my archives. As such, I have a new goal in life - to be able to move from place to place throughout my life and always have the ability to come back to the Philippines.

I've come up with a plan (with backup plans) to make this happen. TMy first plan is to get a working holiday visa to anywhere. A working holiday visa is a special visa that allows you to work a menail job in a foreign country in order to help pay off your vacation. Typicall, this lasts one year. Its sort of an exchange program, where only a few countries are participating and give mutual permission to each others' citizens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa

Since I'm a Canadian citizen, I can theoretically avail of this. The problem is that I need an NSO certificate of birth to apply for it from here. My birth certificate is from Canada. In order to get my NSO certificate, I need several other papers from Canada.

As such, my plan is to go straight to Canada and hang out for a while, paying off my plane tiket and hopefully saving up some cash as well. While there, I'll see how the lifestyle suites me.

Now, the large half naked man that I met in Palawan who has been traveling for 5 years straight makes his money by teaching english in Korea. Unfortunately, usually only take citizens of f a native speaking country who also have a bachelors degree in that country.

If the lifestyle suits me in Canada, I might pursue that degree or even better, a mastoral one. If not, I'll take my working holiday visa and go.

I plan to go in Feb or march. The timing is perfect because it will be right after the Christmas break, and for another reason that I'm not at liberty to divulge.

Worst case scenario, I get to visit my brother in Canada and see the sights. Then I'll come home and use what I have left on the cut-down version of my Asia trip.

After that, I can take masters in education since they're begining to hire Filipino teachers in Korea, but you have to be certified.

Wish me luck.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Planing Phase - Asia

It's been difficult to figure out what to post since most of what I'm doing now is just accumulating directions into word files called "Travel by Land" (I've reached Cambodia from KL) or "Shiznit that has to be done in the Philippines" (The lodges in Mt. Kinabalu have to be reserved months in advance), and the like.

The reason why it has come to this is because I've pretty much planed everything I want to plan. There’s still much to learn and I have to get a better idea of my budget and travel time but I’m fairly sure it could be done the way I want to do it
That said, this might be my last entry for a while unless I find something amazing to rave about.

And, WAHOOOOO!!!! I set a date and plan!

It was exhausting to try to find a way to make it work so that I wouldn't hit any of the countries during monsoon season for that particular country. Being that Nepal will probably be the hardest part and is, as I've mentioned, the pivotal part of my trip, I began from there.

The best time to climb Nepal is in September to November. The problem with that is, somewhere towards the later half but still in the middle of my trip. If I were to put Nepal at the beginning (fly from Bangkok to Nepal and make my way back) over 4 months, I’d be spending Christmas somewhere in India or Bangladesh. While I’m not totally against spending Christmas away from my family, I also had to remember that prices get jacked up during the holidays.

Or if I made it so that my trip ended in September, I’d be hitting monsoon season in Bangladesh and Myanmar. These are the rainiest countries I’ll ever have been to, based on what I’ve read. It also might complicate traveling by bus. Though, this was my second best plan and my contingency if things don’t work out.

I said that Nepal was best in September to November but its also pretty good from December to February and except that it’s colder and from March to May except that it rains from time to time. I chose the latest option so that I could save the largest possible amount of money from work before I quit (or ask for a four month leave).

I’ll be in Nepal by May. Incidentally, I can schedule it so that I REACH EVEREST BASECAMP ON MY BIRHTDAY!!!!! The original schedule was a bit more sentimental where I’d actually leave on my birthday but this works just as well.

So I’ll be leaving for Kota Kinabalu in early March to climb Mt. Kinabalu. I hope LM can join me for this part though it will be before graduation for some of them next year. Since Malaysia is so expensive compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, I’ll try to bring lots of food and water from home.

Then I’ll fly to KL where I’ll take a train into Thailand and a bus to Krabi (Climbing Mecca) for about a week. I estimate this will between the second and third week of March.

From there, I’ll make my way through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh (Still don’t know what to do in these countries) over land before heading to Nepal through India. It should be early May by this point and I’ll go straight on through to Nepal for Everest base camp.

After Nepal, I’ll go around India and stay two to four depending on how much money I have left. Maybe I can even spend a week in Sri Lanka or Hampi. I’m sure I won’t lack in activities.
From Bangkok, maybe I’ll stay a week and visit the 7 tier waterfall Leonardo DiCaprio jumped from in the movie “The Beach”. And then its back home to Manila from there.

I have the budget for Nepal and Malaysia pretty much planned out (and attached - Multiply only) if you’re interested. I’m still working on the rest but will roughly cost me 1000PHP a day for travel in any of those countries not including the activities involved like the trek to EBC, entrance fees to national parks that don’t have hostels inside, and just plain drinking.

If anyone has suggestions on where to go, I’m completely open.
Wohhoooooh! Feel free to invite yourself! Dru_525@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

NEVER Piss Off Your Designer

or this might happen:

http://www.lto.gov.ph/proc1.html

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Planning Phase Asia: 009 - Nepal -It was COLD – The outside of my sleeping-bag often being covered in ice...

Natuwa ako sa comment na to: “It was COLD – The outside of my sleeping-bag often being covered in ice in the mornings when I awoke – and that was Inside the lodge!!”



Found that on some random forum.

I did a little computation and skipping HK and Macau could save me 1200USD 60k off hand (Wahoo!) but it also cuts my trip down by about a week and a half or two. Conceivably, I can make enough money by July of next year and still have a pretty good buffer of savings for when I get back home, unemployed. That's still including Everest base camp (with an Agency!)

I also have more time now so I can take a bus to Jiri and trek for a week to get to Lukla, where most people start their Everest base camp (EBC) trek. This SHOULD be cheaper than taking a plane and it will also help me acclimatize for the trek to EBC. I’ll probably stay a couple of days to a week in Lukla for a break between the week long Jiri-Lukla trek and the two week EBC trek. That means about a month spent in Nepal alone. Still better than spending 650USD = 32,500PHP just for the round trip Kathmandu-Lukla airfare. Even if I break even, I’d rather spend on experience than convenience.

Also, I bet I can make it cheaper by not hiring a porter or an agency. I hope there’s a way to only hire a personal guide. That will save me at least 200USD or 10,000PHP.

Package deals from Kathmandu to Jiri to EBC are typically 21- 24 days long. They involve flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla. I figured I’d start by finding one-way airfare rates from Lukla to Kathmandu. Unlike my other flight plans, I’ll only be able to book two (from lukla) or three weeks+++ (from kathmandu) in advance.

I will be flying during peak season so these can’t be that accurate. To simulate buying peak season tickets only 2 weeks in advance, I’ll take the rate of increase from regular fare to peak season fare and multiply it by the 2 week in advance fare. I’ll also put a buffer or 10%. Weekends are usually most expensive so I’ll book on a Friday for the most expensive scenario. Its important to note that prices are different for foreigners and locals, not just due to taxes.

FAIL!

After all my strategizing, the websites doesn’t have automated fare calculation systems. The fares are tabulated in lists (no peak season rates):

113USD = 5,458PHP Yeti Airlines (http://yetiairlines.com)

109USD Sita Air (http://www.sitaair.com.np/)

97USD Gorkha Airline (http://www.gorkhaairlines.com/)

83USD = 4,009PHP (Royal) Nepal Airlines (http://www.manang.com/international_domestic_daily_flight_schedules/domestic_flight_schedules/royal_nepal_airlines_foreign.php)


Prices are exclusive of tariff = 121USD (but the trekking websites don’t mention this. (http://www.impala.com.np/english/nepal_air.php#air)

Domestic Airport Tax is 170NPR = 3USD

Cool site with all prices
http://ammarguni.com.np/air_ticketing.html


Jiri to EBC
It turns out that my plan to book a flight 2 weeks ahead from Lukla wouldn’t have worked. Lukla is out of the way from Jiri to EBC. Trekkers don’t always pass there. I’ll have to book as soon as I’ve arranged my EBC plans. If prices don’t change though, I can just book when I get back, just in case something happens on the way. I may even decide that the Jiri to Lukla trek was so nice and cheap that I’ll trek back to Jiri.

Here’s a website I found with pretty much everything I need (for once): http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1482747&tstart=0&limit=1000

Very Rough Break Down:

Kathmandu
5USD Average Hostel Price
2500NPR = 32 USD/day (1 day) Supposedly the price of tourism per day.
10USD 12 hour Bus to Jiri

Trek
100NPR = 2USD/night Jiri to Lukla (6 nights)
200-250NPR = 4USD/night lukla-EBC-Lukla (15 nights two in EBC)
400-700NPR =5-9USD /day Food 21 days
(700NPR/day porter)
1000 NPR 13 USD each for the Sagarmatha Park admission

10USD/day = Guide

83 USD Lukla to Kathmandu Airfare

Not sure if I have to add the 121USD tariff if I'm leaving Lukla.

Kathmandu
5USD Average Hostel Price
2500NPR = 32 USD /day (1 day)

Without Tariff: 303USD
WithTariff: 424

Come to think of it, none of the trekking websites mention this Tariff at all. This might be the deciding factor as to whether or not I fly to Lukla or take Jiri.

Also, it was posted in October 2007. I’ll probably be going in 2010 or 2011.

Kathmandu Tips:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/kathmandu/transport/getting-there-away

Nepal Trekking :
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0701/trekking_the_himalayas_nepal.shtml

“Nepal has four distinct seasons. Spring, from March to May, is warm and dusty with rain showers. Summer, from June to August (GAH! MADHAV F*CKED ME AGAIN! I’ve been planning for the wrong time of year!), is the monsoon season when the hills turn lush and green. Autumn, from September to November, is cool with clear skies, and is the most popular trekking season. In winter, from December to February, it is cold at night and can be foggy in the early morning, but afternoons are usually clear and pleasant, though there is occasional snow in the mountains.”

http://www.trekinfo.com/about/whentogo.html

Wow, I know exactly when to climb now, it’s perfect but I think that deserves an entry on its own.

Apart from that, I’ll have to play everything by ear. Finding guides, buying or renting gear, getting around.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Plannin Phase - Asia: All is Fare in HK, Kathmandu, Bangkok and Malaysia

I realized that I made a wrong computation with regards to the airfare to Kathmandu. The flight I searched was Cathay Pacific from Manila to Kathmandu via HK and it came out at around 50k. I don’t even remember if that was a weekend or weekday flight, which can affect the rates.

This time I’m looking for separate budget flights since I’ll be staying in HK/Macau for about a week anyway. I also have to check the different months since I don’t know when there are holidays and other events in the different countries that may affect the rates.

There are probably cheaper airlines than Cebu Pacific but Cebu Pacific is probably the most stable in terms of prices (not the actual airplane! Hahaha). I’ll need to book for June to August and December to February according to Madhav. Of course, prices can go up the later I book.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices are exclusive of taxes, boarding fees, etc. For my own reference, this entry was written on March 19, 2009.

Manila to HK

Cebu Pacific Zero Fare is 2,099PHP = 44USD


Manila to Macau

Cebu Pacific Zero Fare is 2,799PHP = 58USD


Hong Kong to Kathmandu

Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air (Including Airport Taxes)
23,912.10PHP = 491.51USD June 9, 2009 and August 18, 2009 (Tuesdays)
26,108.75PHP = 536.66USD December 8, 2010, January 19, 2010 and February 2, 2010 (Tuesdays)


I spent hours looking and I can’t find anything cheaper. I also can’t find any cheaper ones. I guess budget airlines don’t go from Hong Kong to Kathmandu.

I also spent some time looking at flights from Kathmandu going out.
Kathmandu to Hong Kong.


Royal Nepal Airlines from Kathmandu


Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International Airport) Taxes

SAARC Countries: NPR 791 = 10USD
Other Countries: NPR 1130 = 14USD
Domestic Destinations: NPR 170 = 2USD
Tourism Service Fee: NPR 565 = 7USD (Should be paid along with airport tax while leaving Nepal.)

SAARC Countries: India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Maldives,Bhutan, Nepal

They don’t have an automated system so I guess these will have to do:

From Kathmandu

Normal Fare
150 to Delhi
265 to Banglore (closer to Hampi but it’s still much cheaper to take a train)

For Foreign Nationals
220 to Bangkok
330 to Hong Kong


To Nepal

240 from Bangkok
595 from Hong Kong


Wow, it’s significantly cheaper to fly with Royal Nepal Airlines to HK and even cheaper to fly to/from Bangkok! If I cut out HK and Macau, maybe I can drop by Indonesia or Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu). Flights to/from Malaysia (KL) and Singapore are just 320USD.

I can’t believe I didn’t think of it but I could cut out Hong Kong and Macau all together and fly to Nepal from Bangkok. They were never really that appealing to me anyway. Not that I don’t want to see HK but, especially with budget flights, it seems like something I can do for a week or a weekend that doesn’t have to be part of this trip.


NEW BANGKOK ROUTE

Clark to Bangkok

Cebu Pacific Zero Fare is 3,299PHP = 69USD


Bangkok to Kathmandu

Thai Airways (Including Airport Taxes)
14,165 THB = 397USD = 19,104PHP June 9, 2009, August 18, 2009 and December 1, 2010

*Royal Nepal Airlines prices above

If I decide to end my trip in Kota Kinabalu…

Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) to Kota Kinabalu (BKI)

Air Asia (Including Airport Taxes)

163.50MYR = 45USD (promo), 197.50MYR = 54USD (normal) June 9, 2009 (Tuesday)

107.50MYR = 30 USD (promo) August 18, 2009 (Tuesday), December 2, 2009 (Wednesday) and January 26, 2010


Malaysia Air (Including Airport Taxes)

161MYR = 44USD June 9, 2009, August 18, 2009 (Tuesdays) and December 2, 2009 (Wednesday)


Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur

Air Asia (Including Airport Taxes)

197.50MYR = 54USD (normal) June 9, 2009 (Tuesday)

107.50MYR = 30 USD (promo) August 18, 2009 (Tuesday), December 2, 2009 (Wednesday) and January 26, 2010


Malaysia Air

161MYR = 44USD June 9, 2009, August 18, 2009 (Tuesdays)

347MYR = 95USD December 2 (Wednesday)

Websites:
http://www.manang.com/
http://www.smarttravelasia.com/smallairlines.htm

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Pwet Tree

An Afternoon Conversation over Spilled Smoothie

In a café over conversation,
As surely as did melt that smoothie
That afternoon
Strawberry, mango, ice and all;

I put my lips to her,
Where once she blended
Into past concoctions
Of skin, and flesh, and core.

Today, her pieces lay in front of me,
In a café over conversation.
Instead of rubbing out the traces
On my skin, and flesh, and core,

Oblivious to the café goers,
Her stain became a part of me.
And drunk with her syrup
I did not wash ait down with bleach.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: Practice on Palawan

This entry is a little different. I won a free Cebu Pacific ticket to Puerto Princessa, Palawan. It can be redeemed within six months. Ticket lang. Walang lodging. PERFECT!

Perfect for a little trial run. This trip will give me a chance to stretch my travelers legs before the actual thing. It's not that I don't want to go with anyone (my friends are welcome to join me) its just that I won't keep an itinerary and that might make it hard for a group thing. I want to go for a week in May before the rainy season. It also just so happens that I finally get leaves from work in May. If not, I’d gladly go during one of the more interesting festivals/fiestas at any time of year.

http://www.palawan.gov.ph/festivals.php

I was doing a little research for the trip and there are so many nice places to stay that it was hard to pick just one. So I’m not going to. I’m going to stay at all the places I like and hopefully more. I figure I’ll go for a week and stay in the beach first then maybe further in the city when I get tired of the beach. Strangely, a lot of the websites have German translations. I guess there’s a good chance I’ll meet some Germans.

There’s this one place, Bambua in Sabang (2-4 hours jeep from the city), it’s a nature park resort and only 200PHP a night, common bath. I definitely want to stay there for a while. The bahay kubo cottages look like they’re inside the rainforest. Exactly what I’m looking for in other countries for my Asia trip.

How to get there:
Public Jeepneys leave for Sabang at the new Public Bus Terminal at San Jose, Puerto Princesa. It is better to be early at the Terminal. The best time to travel the route to Sabang is with the 7 AM Jeepney or the the 9 AM Bus. Until around 3 PM several Jeepneys are departing for Sabang.

There’s a place closer to the airport called Banwa Pension Resort. I’ll probably stay here on the night of my arrival. 250PHP a night, probably common bath. Judging from the photos and self-description, it seems very artsy. They claim that you won’t hear the usual Kareoke blasting from speakers and that they play native instruments at night. There’s also some kind of stationary bike that you have to ride if you want electricity at night. Hahaha! Sounds quirky and fun!

How to get there:
Supposedly, tricycles from the airport and harbor know how to get there. If not, the website suggests that I get dropped off at B. Mendoza St. and “…ask one of our friendly neighbors who will point you in the right direction.” How friendly.

Of course, Palawan won’t be complete if I don’t stay at a beachfront resort. I’ll leave this one up to chance. Maybe I’ll stay in a cushier place since this will be the first time I’ll be leaving Luzon (aside from Singapore) since I’ve had a job and can afford better. Yup. Just because I have the money.

Puerto Pension looks like the place to spend if ever. It looks like a giant 4 floor bahay kubo (why are all the places I choose kubo’s?). Or, maybe a place with a pool. No point in spending more money in a place to sleep if there’s no draw like a pool or a spa or something. Free wi-fi got me thinking that maybe I can work while on vacation some time. I wonder what EJ (my boss) would say to that. Hahaha. He’ll hate me.

Most of the resorts have all the tours: Underground River, Sabang Beach Snorkling, Mangrove River Paddle Tour, Daylight Hole, Lion's Cave Sabang. I wonder if there’s a way I can do the tours without going through a resort. That would definitely be cheaper. I’m not sure if I want to go to the nature preservation sites or go canoeing among the mangroves unless I find someone to go with. It feels like something to do with a group or family.

Prayer answered:

http://www.pinoylakwatsa.com/2009/02/puerto-princesa-palawan-revisited-part_08.html

I should buy a map of Puerto Princessa. National Book Store?

I think the websites that I found pretty much speak for themselves:

http://www.banwa.com/
http://www.bambua-palawan.com/
http://www.pal-onl.com/pension/
http://www.palawan.gov.ph/natural.php
http://www.blogtoplist.com/rss/puerto-princesa.html

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Need Rules for my Trip!

I know the theme of the trip is supposed to be independence and freedom and all but I was thinking, it might be interesting/fun to come up with a couple of rules for my trip. Not too many. Just enough that I can remember them all. Stuff like, always order the spiciest thing on the menu. They can really general like, be spontaneous or completely specific like, scream "PUTANGINAMO MADHAV" at the top of my lungs if I ever get to Everest base camp.

Maybe, sing Rhett Miller's Come Around every time i check into a new hostel? hahaha.

Any suggestions?

Monday, March 9, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: 007 - The Gateway to Southeast Asia

1 baht = 1.34346623PHP = 0.027666 USD

The golden nugget that I was waiting for was dropped into my lap about a week ago but I didn’t realize it until last night. My sister went to Thailand earlier this month and mentioned a place called Khao San Road in passing. I didn’t think much of it at the time until I told myself that I never force on any part of this trip, not even planning. I would do things as I wanted to. And any sort of planning seemed so daunting a task to take on after what I went through with Nepal. I didn’t know how to start again.

Fittingly the place where I’m starting was coined ‘The Gateway to Southeast Asia’. Normally, I wouldn’t flock to where the crowds are but this will be at the very beginning of my trip when I’m still unsure of myself and it would be nice to start out in a backpacker friendly environment, which is exactly what Khao San Road presents itself to be.

In a tourism ploy that could have turned bad for lack of accommodations, tourists started looking and successfully found residents to stay with and pay lodging fees. The guest house business grew from there.

Getting there:

150 baht AE2 bus will go directly to Khao San Road for 150 Baht = 202PHP = 4USD. 40-60 minutes.

35 Baht BMTA bus. Ask the driver "Bpai Banglampu mai" (are you going to Banglampu) which is within walking distance to Khao San Road. Walking distance is pretty relative but I’m inclined to take this risk. 115 Baht is a huge difference but the website says that BMTA can be confusting. If I get lost and end up spending more, I would have spent the money on a welcome adventure!

For future reference, if the transportation takes more than two hours, I might want to travel half the way, spend the day or stay the night and explore somewhere along the way before traveling the rest of the way. I’m also willing to spend more on transpo if the transpo is an experience in itself (like a ferry) or will save lots of time (like the MRT).

Places to stay:

Judging from the pictures, their budget hotels are pretty much the most expensive places that I would pay for in the Philippines (around 450PHP/night/head) at around 650 Baht = 874PHP 18USD (Thai Cozy House) for pretty much the works (TV, fridge, hot water etc), 400 Bhat (Nana Plaza) or 250 Baht for a single fan and shared shower, (Chart Guesthouse and Restaurant). That’s probably not including taxes.

I think it might be okay to spend on a midrange room on some occasions but this isn’t one of them. Knowing me, the only thing I’ll be doing in a room in the city is sleeping and showering. Air-con rooms are for the beach if at all.

Places to visit nearby:

The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha (Wat Prakaew), Wat Pho, the National Library, Thammasat University Library, International Art Museum, and Sanam Luang (The King's Park).

I might spend two or three days doing that and settling in.

From there, I definitely want to go to (things to plan for the future):

Khao Yai National Park
-Jungle treks
-7 tier waterfall
-elephants and other wildlife
+This place is definitely me, wanted to put an exclamation point after every point.

Bangkok Floating Market
-One day
+I know there are a few of them but I don’t think I have to go to all. Maybe the biggest and the smallest, maybe just the nearest.

Nightlife
+No need to plan. I’m sure I can find my way around at night and ask for tips from the hotel or other travelers. I imagine I’ll be sleeping from sunset when I get back from my tours until around 10 or 11pm where I’ll go out at night and see what’s up. Sana.

Krabi
-Climbing Mecca in Thailand
-Beach
-Travelers destination
+I might not go. I don’t want to force myself to go just because I’m a climber and I want to see the place. I’d rather go with other Filipinos and make an entire month long trip of it. I’m sure a week won’t be enough.

As for historical places other than temples and other beaches, although I won’t actively avoid them, I probably won’t concentrate on them since we have the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines and there’s so much else to see. Plus I can go to Krabi some other time and I will be going to Goa.

Helpful little unorganized website: http://www.khaosanroad.com/

Random Lyrics for the Broken Hearted

It happens at different times of my life that lyrics from a random song won't stop popping into my head. Last time it was If You Could Only See by Tonic. It had little to do with what was going on in my life at the time. In fact, I couldn't even understand the message despite the kinship I felt with the persona.

"If you could only see the way she loves me, maybe you would understand,
Why I feel this way about our love, and what I must do.
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says,
When she says she loves me."

To the best of my literary abilities, my guess was that this guy was trying to convince his friends how much his love for this girl was right despite how wrong it seemed otherwise. It got me so bad that I took out my guitar after years of not playing and learned how to play this single song.

Today (yesteday since its already 1am) it was Disease by Matchbox 20. I didn't even particularly like this song when I first heard it in high school. It was okay. I was used to Matchbox 20 being much more than okay. But today, the lyrics seem to have a depth that wasn't there before. Or maybe its I who now has the depth to understand what I couldn't understand before. Someone recently told me that a lover assigns things to events when there's really nothing there. I think she was quoting Shakespeare.

Regardless, the first two stanzas hit me particularly hard when I actually researched the lyrics. If I'd heard them six months ago, every encounter with anyone who might be reading this would have been different.

Here are they are:

Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebody's heart break
But now I have to let you go
I have to let you go

You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go

No one's ever turned you over
No one's tried
To ever let you down,
Beautiful girl
Bless your heart

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease

Feels like you're making a mess
You're hell on wheels in a black dress
You drove me to the fire
And left me there to burn

Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life, oh was magic
Beautiful girl
I can't breathe

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease
I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till
I'm free of my disease

Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease

I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till
I'm free of my disease
Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

Sunday, March 1, 2009

50 Random Thoughts

This is called 50 FIRST REACTIONS

My cousin had this on her blog and I was actually curious what I’d come up with. I did my best to erase her answers even before reading anything so nothing would influence mine and I swear I never touched the backspace button while answering.

1. Beer: Yahoo!
2. Food: Mmm
3. Relationships: Nope
4. Your CRUSH: Wow…
5. Power Rangers:
6. Life: is waiting for you
7. The President: The president?
8. Yummy: Candy
9. Cars: Motorcycles
10. Movie: I wanna write one
11. Halloween: Candy!
12. Sex: deprived
13. Religion: funny place
14. Hate: making mistakes at work
15. Fear: my own stupidity
16. Marriage: maybe
17. Blondes: Girls
18. Slippers: beach
19. Shoes: Travel
20. Asians: Chinese (hahaha so closed minded)
21. Pass time: eat
22. One night stand: Gahh!
23. My cell Phone: sucks
24. Smoke: air
25. Fantasy: Final Fantasy VIII
26. College: Life
27. High School Life: Gay
28. Pajamas: Boxers
29. Stars: Camping
30. Fitness Center: Hahaha waste of money
31. Alcohol: Deprived
32. The word love: Why just the word?
33. Friends: A TV show
34. Money: Travel
35. Heartache: Travel
36. Time: Travel
37. Divorce: Travel (Labo)
38. Dogs: Nice to have, hard to care for.
39. Undies: none when possible
40. Parents: Love
41. Babies: I want!
42. Ex: Marks the spot
43. Song: Insomnia Craig David (I’m broadening my musical horizons)
44. Color: Ateneo Blue
45. Weddings: White
46. Pizza: 22 inch Xtreme at Xtreme Xpresso
47. Hangout: bum
48. Resto: Causeway on Libis
49. Goal: Be great!
50. Inspiration: Others

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: Reflection 002

A thought came about when I was trying to decide what to plan for next (which I’ve been passively doing for the last week).

As much as I love the idea of just taking off for months at a time throughout the years of my life, I’m beginning to see the limitations of my plan. One major factor, of course, is money. If I was to stick with the original one-time-big-time plan, I’d not only have to quit my job, I’ll probably exhaust my savings on the trip as well. And, the more I get comfortable with my job and my relatively high salary (for a writer) the harder it seems to become to let it go.

On the other hand, isn’t that wussing out? Isn’t that just trying to be safe? The whole point of this trip, the whole point of my life right now is adventure. Traveling two or three weeks at a time is something I know I can do. But three or four months is downright daunting. It’s friggn scary. And I love the idea.

Yet, it can’t be the most efficient way to travel. Nepal is about three weeks on its own, India is another two weeks minimum. I’ll end up spending about a week in HK and Macau combined. If I were to limit my trip to four months (and four months worth of budget), I’d only have about a week and a half to explore some of the other countries attached to the mainland (I’m trying not to fly as much as possible). That doesn’t include travel time.

Considering that I’ve been in the Philippines for years and, despite my efforts, haven’t seen a fraction of what it has to offer, I can’t help but reconsider.

I find that I have these big ideas like ‘Everst Base Camp’ and ‘Traveling Asia’ and whatnot but when I start to plan, instead of finding ways to make them work, I find a million ways to water them down. That’s probably why I didn’t want to make any plans in the first place.

But then again, blah blah blah, Just Go!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Dilema of a Twelve Year Old



Let’s say that you’re twelve years old and get an allowance of P100 a day. Hypothetically, the government taxes you 30% of your allowance. But that’s okay, you’re twelve and you don’t really need to spend on anything except for the occasional inuman at your house a month and maybe a lunch or dinner out twice a month and maybe a trip to the mountain or beach. Being a twelve year old commuter, you also have to shell out for the commute to your child labor facility.



Stay with me.





Then, completely hypothetically, let’s say that you wanted to travel Asia before the age of 15. As it is, you’re just barely on your way to saving enough hypothetical money to get the money within 3 years.



Now let’s say that you quit the child labor facility and decided to sell your soul for twice the amount. With this amount of money plus the money already saved up, you could feasibly travel Asia by the age of thirteen (two years early!). BUT, and this is completely hypothetical, what if you’ve also been dreaming of buying a motorcycle since you took motorcycle classes when you were nine or ten.



Here’s the big question.



(And this is completely hypothetical.)



Would it be so bad to stick to the original 3 year Asia plan and buy a brand new motorcycle for about P1000? Or to cut the Asia plan into 2 separate Asia plan and do Southeast Asia first? Or to buy the motorcycle 2nd hand and sell it before Asia and end up spending about P120-170 for a bike that you could only own for a year? What would your twelve year old do?



Papagulo: Why does he need a motorcycle? He doesn’t! It’s just really, really cool! But then again, does he really NEED to travel Asia either?



A twelve year old soul awaits your comments.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: 006 Boring Stuff... Visas

To explain a bit, I have two passports (actually wala pa ung Fil pero kukuha ako asap.) The Fil one should let me into most Southeast Asian Countries while I’m hoping the Canadian one gets me into the British colonies.

Filipino Passport:

Unless otherwise stated, its visa-less entry with passport:

ASEAN:

Cambodia 21 days
Indonesia 30 days
Laos 30 days
Malaysia 1 month
Singapore 30 days
Thailand 30 days
Vietnam 21 days

Non-ASEAN Asian:

Bangladesh 90-day visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Hong Kong 14 days
Macau 30 days
Nepal 60-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30
Sri Lanka 30 days

For Indian tourist visa: US$40
*2 piece passport size pictures
*Passport valid at least for 6 months
*Return Ticket or Airline Computer Print out with Ticket Numbers

Canadian Passport:

Hong Kong 90 days
Malaysia 3 months

No info about India. I was hoping it was one of the British colonies I could get into for free.

Good to know but I’m not planning to go yet:

China 48-hour transit (Shanghai only)
Japan 90 days
South Korea 6 months
Australia pre-arrival Electronic Travel Authority required
3 Months in most European countries and 6 months in UK! Wahoo!!!


Monday, February 16, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: 005 - How Madhay F*cked Me

I did a little digging on the wonderful World Wide Web and made a booking inquiry on a website called RealAdventures.com and they forwarded my message to Skyline Treks and Expeditions. I’m guessing this is a Nepalese agency based solely on the fact that the guy I ended up talking to was named Madhav. I’m guessing that’s a guy’s name…

Anyway, the guy sent me an itinerary and added me on YM. I also got a couple other itineraries from other companies but I’m not comfortable posting them here if only for the fact that they weren’t posted on the websites. There might be copyright issues or something. Feel free to ask me to send them via email though.

So here are some excepts from our conversation and some comments:



“skylinetreks: hello
skylinetreks: How are you ?
skylinetreks: I am from Nepal
skylinetreks: I've received your query from the real adventure regarding the Everest base camp trekking”



Notice the perfect English in the beginning. *smirk*



“skylinetreks: travel insurance cost per day US$ 10 it covers for rescue as well
dru_525: I see
dru_525: that's separate from the 650USD stated on the website?
skylinetreks: If you (necessity) rescue without insurance cost per hr US$ 1850 only
skylinetreks: You required minimim 3 hrs
skylinetreks: 16 days trip cost US$ 991+ 14 DAYS INSURANCE COST US$ 140 = TOTAL AMMOUNT US$1131 only”



ONLY KA DYAN POTAH!

I was only expecting to pay 650USD! It turns out the 650 doesn’t include the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. On the website, the flight is supposed to be included.

But wait, there’s more!



“dru_525: what other costs should I expect aside from what you just told me?
skylinetreks: all your personal day to day accommodation, Flight from and to Lukla, your travel insurance, Kathmandu Hotel on your seperate
skylinetreks: pay by yourself”



Crap!



“dru_525: and how much will he be able to carry for me?
skylinetreks: Tips after complete the trip is necessity
skylinetreks: Maximum25 KG
dru_525: I see, what's customary for a tip?
skylinetreks: depend on the service
skylinetreks: if you are much more happier than you have expected you can give US$ 100 each otherwise US$ 30-50.... can be expect
dru_525: That's a bit ironic since I'm hoping to be happy but I'm honestly on a tight budget.
dru_525: heh
dru_525: hehe
skylinetreks: ok you can give tips US$ 30 each
skylinetreks: no problem”



Double crap!



I think I can carry my own 25KG plus water. I didn’t get to ask if I could go without the porter. He did say:



“dru_525: I there a place I where I can leave my other baggage while on the trek?
skylinetreks: you may store in the hotel or in our office without any cost (It's free)”



Finally, some good news!

Here’s some other interesting stuff. I pretended that I was planning to go next month so they’d reply right away.



“skylinetreks: when would you prefered for this trekking ?
skylinetreks: better to book as early as possible
dru_525: I was thinking of going as soon as possible but now, especially after this conversation, I might want to put it off for a year and make it a trip around Asia
skylinetreks: If you go to Pokhara for Annapurna Base camp Trekking, can be cheaper for you because you and your trekking guide does not necessity for the flight ticket
dru_525: I see
skylinetreks: can drive all the-way
dru_525: May I ask at what time of year its not too busy during the non-monsoon season?
skylinetreks: US$ 650 inclusiv of your meals while on the trekking, guide and porter fees etc...
skylinetreks: monsoon season is not good for trekking, because of ranny, lichess on the way, can't see the good view, sleepy on the way,
dru_525: I meant not during the monsoon season.
skylinetreks: winter season also not too busy but very cold,
skylinetreks: not too busy season during the June to August and December to February
dru_525: Alright
dru_525: I'm more likely to go during June to August
skylinetreks: ok
skylinetreks: may i send you Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Itinerary ?
dru_525: Sure
dru_525: I can't make any commitments right now in terms of booking but before I go, is there anything else I should be asking? What do people usually forget to ask about?
skylinetreks: no, nothing
dru_525: Alright. Thanks. You've been very helpful.”



Hay nako base camp hassle ka. I could always choose to make this an India-Nepal-HK trip or a Southeast Asia trip.

But NO! NO! NO! I DON WANNA! Hahahaha.

Game ako dito! Just GO!

Hi I'm dru and I'm a Coffee Drinker

It was an uphill battle that quickly went from a coarse beginning to an overpoweringly lactic state, and then finally ended on a perfectly bitter-sweet note. But things are turning cold even as this blogger types.

Growing up, coffee was just one of those weird things that adults did that didn't make sense to me. Sure it tasted good. But everybody knows that coffee stunts your growth (which my mom finally admitted last week that she doesn't believe). So why bother?

Coffee was like smoking or drinking alcohol. Just weird.

Despite this, I learned early on that I had a proclivity towards addiction. Candy was my drug of choice and that addiction still haunts me to this day. I can't tell you how many times, after being sober for months, I binged on an innocent bag of Fruitos.

I wanted to say something cool like Jolly Rancher or Sweet Factory but no, that wouldn't be truthful. Fruitos is good and cheap.

When I was a kid though, it didn't matter what the candy was. And I wasn't the type to save the best for last either. With everything else, yes. With candy, no. My trick-or-treating bag was my stairway to heaven. I'd have the Jolly Ranchers and worked my way down the quality pyramid until all I had left were those sugar coated jelly orange slices that old people ate or licorice that wasn't even sticks!

And with this addiction to candy, I realized that I would eventually drink and I would eventually smoke and I would drink coffee and maybe drugs too. But, so help me, I was going to put it off as long as I could.

I dropped the ball with drinking in high school. Drinking = parties = girls. In high school, (high school nga lang ba?) girls = GOD! We were brave and stupid. We never had a chance. No... I need not say more. *tear*

I managed, despite all my efforts to impress smoker girls, to put off smoking until after college. Considering that my parents both smoke and my brother fell into at an older age, that was actually an achievement for me. A binge for me is two sticks during inuman. Otherwise its just... yuck.

With coffee though, if anything, the advent of the initial Starbucks sensation wave was a deterrent. P90 for something you could get in McDonalds for P20 or less AND it would stunt my growth? Forget that!

I was ignorant of the real possibilites that caffination could bring until I started working in Solar and, only actually having to work 2 hours out of my 10 hour day, staying awake was a daily battle. One that I armed myself with instant coffee to win. Iced and hot tea were also in my artillary but coffee was my H-bomb.

Working on the night shift at SEOP pretty much sealed the deal. I figured that real coffee was bound to be healthier than instant coffee and my mom gave me a brand new coffee maker we had lying around.

Today, I craved the cup even before work started, even before I got sleepy.

To my satisfaction, it took about three weeks but I'd finally made the perfect cup of coffee for me. It was made with a dash of fresh (well, UTH fresh) milk, unfinely ground coffee beans and a teaspoon of brown sugar. And with it came the realization that coffee would no longer be a means to an end but an end in itself.

I've joined a statistic group.

Hi I'm dru and I'm a coffee drinker.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: Extending India and Consequences



I picked up a book from when my brother was getting ready to volunteer for the UN in India. The thing is that India has a lot to offer that much of the rest of Asian countries don’t. Originally, especially after I decided not to go to Hampi, India was just gonna be a stop over. A week tops. There’s supposed to be a route that goes straight from the Ganges to Nepal.



I was even considering not going to see the Taj Majal and going straight from the Ganges. But reading the book, I got interested in Kaziranga National Park (where you can ride elephants!) and Udaipur which is a city built in a lake and Jaisalmer which is a desert where you can ride camels. India is the farthest west I’ll be going so it might be the only country I’ll be going to that has a desert! Plus, if I do all of that, I might as well go and see what all the fuss about Goa is.



I’m beginning to think that I’ll be spending a lot more than just 3 months on this trip. Trek to base camp in Nepal alone is 16 days. Going around in Nepal, maybe a few more days. If I do all that stuff in India, I might spend three weeks there including travel time and about a week in Goa if Nick decides to come with me.



That would leave me with just one and a half months to go from Vietnam, passing 4 to 6 other countries to get to India traveling by road which takes really long in itself. Not to mention HK and maybe Macau. Assuming I divide it equally, that’s less than a week per country! I wanted to spend some time climbing in Krabi (Thailand) pa naman. One and a half weeks minimum if I’m in shape (which I plan to be).



Honestly though, I’m not that interested in going to the beach since the Philippines has beautiful beaches.



I am excited to report, though, that I’m taking pledges as early as (too early) now! Nick wants to go to Goa with me and I’m trying to get Geric to visit me in Thailand. Maybe I can talk to Nic Co about meeting me in HK.



I also mentioned Malaysia to Migoy in passing. I probably won’t go there anymore though since I’ve been there and, though I didn’t do much, I’m under time and budget constraints.



I would like to keep Nepal for myself though. I didn’t realize it until earlier but when my parents told me to ask the Kaya ng Pinoy guys about Everest base camp (maybe they wanted to go with me), I cringed. It seems like something I should do alone, like a pilgrimage.

Ending the Facebook Confusion

If you've added me on Facebook, the joke is on you. That's not mine. A friend asked me if she could make me an account a few months after graduation when everyone was unemployed and bored. At first i figured, "what the hell why not?" but now its causing some confusing. I'll be closing that account in a while when people have had the chance to read my status message explaining everything.

Why don't I have a facebook? I dunno. Convince me.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia: Reflection 001



Making all these plans, it’s inevitable for me to stop and think and look at what I’m doing every once in a while (as apparent in my last entry). So I decided to post, along side of my planning efforts, a couple of reflective thoughts as well.



Despite all my excitement in planning this thing, I may have mentioned that I didn’t want to plan it at all. And now the more that I plan, the more I want my plans to push through. And the more I’ll feel bad when they don’t. That’s why I didn’t want to make plans in the first place. But now I realize that not making plans is not about avoiding setting myself up for disappointment. Its exactly the opposite. It’s about opening my mind to all other possibilities instead of being fixated on something that I panned months in the past (a moment that’s gone now). It’s about carpe diem, seizing the day.



I realized this because I was considering not booking the Everest base camp in advance because its cheaper with a local agency but I was too scared that I’d go all that way only to find that I wouldn’t make it to base camp at all. But then I remembered writing that there’s so much to do in Nepal. Everest base camp, though it might be the best, is far from the only thing worth going for.



So, I will continue to make my plans and I will try to follow them as best I can. But what I won’t do is get bummed out when things don’t go my way. Come to think of it, this is how I was living right after grad. I wonder what happened to make me shrivel up again.

Planning Phase - Asia: 003 -Still Stuck on Everest Base Camp

I’m still a bit stuck on the idea of getting to the Everest base camp. I’ll already be there. Why not right?

Or maybe I shouldn’t go to Nepal at all. I’d have to bring Alpine gear and then I’ll end up lugging that around for another two or three months just for the month I spend in Nepal. That’s gotta be bulky in my pack. I wonder if I can survive in Nepal on just jeans and thermal undies.

Anyway, it’s a good thing I didn’t dismiss it right away. I found much cheaper option. It’s a 16 day trek to Everest base camp for 650USD including food and lodging. That’s about a fifth of the price I originally found. Maybe I can find something even cheaper in the future.

16 Day 650USD Everest Base Camp (Cheapest so far)

I found it here:
http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1155828_16-Days-Everest-Base-Camp-Trek

(by google-ing “Cheapest Nepal Everest Base Camp” hehe. Forget about safety and comfort!)

The package is pretty much all in, so I don’t have to worry about much.

It includes:

Food
Lodging
Guide
Entrance Fees
Equipment
Pick up from Tribhuban International Airport
Sight seeing around Kathmandu Valley
40 minute flight to Lukla
About 5 hours of trekking a day for 9 days with acclimatization rest days in between
40 minute flight back to Kathmandu

It Excludes:

Travel Insurance (Mandatory for booking - crap, how much?)
Hotel and meals in Kathmandu (10USD hotel/night)
Nepal Visa 40USD
Miscellaneous costs
Departure tax from Airport 28USD (If I go to India after, I won’t need this)
Medical evacuation in case of emergency (hahahaha great!)

[Note: I have to remember that Nepal is the pivot point of my trip. India is the farthest west I want to go but Nepal has a bigger draw so I’d rather center my trip on it.

A flight to Nepal passes HK (and Macau is not far from there). I’m leaning towards starting with Macau the HK then Nepal then making my way back to Vietnam by road. That way, I can make an early booking to Nepal without tying myself down to an IT. And probably save a lot of money in the process.

On the other hand, this might be the zenith of my trip and everything else may pale in comparison.


Here’s another one!

15 Day 650USD Everest Base Camp

Similar itinerary http://www.addictedtotravel.com/holidays/everest-base-camp

Without food (Allow USD300) but with guesthouse and lodges

No insurance mentioned though

Sleeping bags, jackets and other equipment can be rented for 2USD a day. Good to know! That solves my bulk problem.

Local Nepali Tour Agency

Supposed to be much cheaper and easier to bargain in person.

http://www.nepalmakalu.com/everest_bc.htm is a local site but the rates aren’t listed. I emailed to inquire about them. Their IT is 19 days but it includes and extra day.

Getting to Nepal

http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=15354

3 ways

From Delhi:
Delhi to Gorkhpur by train. Gorkhpur to Sanauli/Bhairawa ( border town),just 2 hours by bus.

From Kolkata:
Kolkata to Raxaul by train. Raxaul to Birganj by cycle rickshaws or three wheelers.

From Darjeeling to Kakarbhita and cross over to Nepal.
This is the cheapest and though not easiest way to reach Nepal.

From all the border towns inside Nepal, get direct buses to Kathmandu and Pokhra.

Trains are supposed to be “dirt cheap”

Other Options:

156 USD gets me a birds eye view of Everest from Kathmandu with Buddah Air but… nah…
Still to find:

Travel insurance

Thoughts:

Alpine clothes are supposed to be cheap there. I read about someone buying a jacket, gloves, hat and sleeping bag for 50USD in 2004. That’s even cheaper than Baguio! Though, I won’t leave everything to chance. I’ll spend a couple of days in Kathmandu to canvass/tour around just the same.

There are options to either camp or stay at a lodge during the nights on the way to base camp. I’d imagine tents are cheaper but I also read that the lodges are a good way to immerse yourself in the culture. Plus, I wouldn’t want to be miserable in a tent for the whole trip.

I guess its Macau, HK, Nepal India then road trip to Vietnam and possibly Malaysia. Hey, I’m getting somewhere!

Theres so much to do in Nepal. I wonder where my time would be best spent.

This part of the trip will have to be timed well for good weather.

This trip would be a great excuse to buy that hand pump water filter I always wanted to buy. It could save me a lot of cash on bottled water. Not sure if it works for heavy metals and stuff though.

I read somewhere last time that you can buy a small chain and padlock to lock your pack to the train in India sometimes. Might be handy.

Since I’m considering booking my base camp trek when I get there, it makes it more difficult to get the timing right. Too close to peak season and its expensive, too far and I’ll be alone and going alone usually means its expensive too. Plus… I’ll be alone! September sounds good climate wise. October to May is off monsoon season.

Have to get used to the idea of computing everything in terms of dollars…

Flight from Manila to Hong Kong is 3000PHP Cebu Pacific

Next to plan is the Macau HK part

Good websites:

TravelPunk.com

http://www.travelpunk.com/boards/indian-sub-cont/13045-everest-base-camp-september.html

LonelyPlanet.com

Standing Facts so far:

Budget:

Manila to Macau 1,500PHP (32 USD)

Hong Kong to Kathmandu (5 hrs) 3,810.00 HKD (492 USD)

Destinations:

Maybe Macau
Hong Kong
Kathmandu
India

Estimated Lenght so far:

Just under a month

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Planning Phase - Asia 002: How could I forget Hampi?

First of all, I changed the name of my post from Planning Stage to Planning stage. Why? That’s just how I roll. I change everything on the fly.

*Dorky white boy dance*


Ok Hampi. How could I forget Hampi?! Hampi is this famous bouldering area in India. I saw it in a rock climbing video once with Chris Sharma, Nate Gold and Katie Brown. Looks a-friggn-mazing! I don’t know much else about it except that.

According to http://www.hampi.in and some other sources, I can get there by train in 2 days and 2 nights for 9USD in the lowest class (Second Class aka Cattle Class!!). Not bad if I have the time but I don’t know if I really want to spend that long on a train just to get to Hampi if I’m not in shape by that time (I’ll. Hampi is at the Southern end of India in Trivandum (while Nepal is North of India). It’s way out of my way. If I go that far, I’d want to drop by Bombay and Hyderabad at the very least. Maybe I can get Falk to show me around Sri Lanka.

Getting to Hampi

232INR (5USD) - Hyderbad to Hopset (to get to Hampi) – sleeping class train

198INR (4USD) - Goa to Hopset – sleeping class train

10INR (.20USD) – Hopset to Hampi – 30 minute bus

15INR (.30USD) – Shared Auto Rickshaw (taxi?)

Note: Touristy stuff can be planned before hand in Hopset.

In Hampi

30-40INR - Bike rental per day

Note: mopeds are more expensive (150INR) maybe I’ll splurge on the last day

5INR – Coracle ferry (Plus 10-15INR with a bike)

Hampi Ruins

Car Hire : About Rs 600 to Rs 800 per day (includes driver allowance).
Generally people hire car from Hospet and travel onward to the Hampi ruins. Remember car cannot take you to all the ruins site in Hampi. Be prepared for some considerable legwork, that is, if you are serious about ‘exploring’ Hampi.

Tonga (horse carriage) : About Rs 50 to Rs 100
That is for a typical short to medium exclusive trip from one monument to another (say from the Sacred Center to the Royal Centre or to the Vittala Temple). Tongas are slow but funny and environmentally friendly alternative to explore the ruins site.

Lodging

50-200 INR at the Hampi Bazaar
Can be anything from a hut to a rooftop with a family inside

Food
South Indian breakfast – Rs15
Breakfast (western type) – Rs60
South Indian meals – Rs25
Dinner with special dishes – Rs100 to Rs 200
Packaged drinking water – Rs15 per liter.

For entrance fees, guide fees and the like… http://www.hampi.in/cost.htm CLOSED ON FRIDAY

Note: Set aside around 1000 INR for whole day of touring?

Still to find:
Bouldering

More travel options to get there from different places.
Someone to boulder with?

Thoughts:

Maybe I should make a policy where I stay an extra day everywhere I go, just for a chance to do something unexpected. It really depends on my budget I guess.

Whew, planning is gonna be hard. I jumped from Nepal to Hampi without considering what’s in between. But I realize more and more that it will save me money too.

I’m getting too excited about Hampi. Maybe I should save it for another time. 2 days of travel one way. Unless I find stuff to do in between, I wouldn’t be able to justify it.

On the other hand… HAMPI!!!

Planing Stage - Asia

I'm planning a trip around Asia. I'm not sure exactly how to go about it yet but all I know is that as soon as i get tired of my job (maybe in a year or two), I'm taking this trip around Asia.

I'm posting my planning efforts here and I'll post every so often to get productive comments from anyone about pretty much anything. You can suggest and comment about places to go, things to do, traveling tips, things to avoid, people to meet up with along the way, food to try, budget concerns, travel options etc.

I'm prone to massive digressions and poor spelling so bear with me.

Short background: I was supposed to do this after grad and my dad already agreed to it but then I got a job (and had my heart broken). But now I'm back on track. Originally, I thought, if I had it my way, I'd fly to Calcutta and do my best to make it to Vietnam by land. No itinerary, no companions. Of course, certain countries make it impossible not to plan because of the need for Visas. But looking on the bright side, planning also is something for me to look forward to everyday after work. And, I'm not stuck on the no companions idea anymore. You're free to join me on parts of my travels but on the whole, I'd rather not have to consult anyone in terms of plans and itineraries.

I have a Canadian passport so i think that means i have access to commonwealth countries without a visa and I will get my Philippine passport (soon I hope) so that means I'll have access to Southeast Asian countries.

Laslty, I don't have much money so this will be a budget trip. I'm paying for it myself. To keep it cheap, I don't plan on going to expensive countries like Singapore, Korea and Japan. I'll save that for another time.

Here's what I've come up with so far (Its not much but its just came to me before i had to go to work. I'm actually at work right now taking a short break.):

Nepal
How to get there:
Connecting flight through HK (That means I might as well go to HK! ...Holy crap, that's 50k already!)

Land trip through India.
I may turn my trip backwards and make my way from Vetnam to India then to Nepal and finally HK before coming home.

What to do:
Nature tripping. It's the home of Everest base camp (right?) but I'm not planning on buying alpine gear so I'll put that off for now. The mountains and landscape have got to be awesome.

India

Of course is inevitable. I guess I want to see the Taj Majal and the Ganges. I'm too inexperienced of a traveler not to be cliche about some things. In fact, travelling around the Philippines, I usually avoid tourist spots but maybe around Asia I'd want to meet more tourists.

that's all for now.

Standing budget: Way more than 50k

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Suspension of Disbelief

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Contextually, Juliet was referring to Romeo’s name, his family name specifically. But let’s forget about the context for now.

I once fell in love with “…a Capulet in the balcony of [my] mind” (Semisonic – Singing in My Sleep). And, whether it was just my perception (my mind) or the actual girl who changed (or both), something definitely changed. I feel awkwardly attached to something that just plain blatantly doesn’t exist.

I say “something” and not “someone” because, as of this writing, I still can’t say if it’s Juliet or the idea of Juliet or even just the predicament that I miss.

It’s a bit like the feeling I get after reading or watching a favorite novel or a feature film. For all intents and purposes, be it based on true life or true fantasy, novels are, by nature, fictive. They’re lies, great lies but lies. They’re made up. So, no matter how badly I want to joust with Sir Elrich, befriend Leslie Burke or pick Howard Roark’s brain, I never will. I remember curling up into a ball eating chocolate while reading the third Harry Potter book for the second time and tearing up for no apparent reason when I realized the true power of suspension of disbelief.

And, after all, that’s what I’m doing now. Suspending my disbelief. Who is Juliet now that we each stop talking when one walks in on the other’s conversation? Who is she now that we no longer update each other with one another’s lives and talk about our dreams? Hearing her name used to make my face blush and my heart swell. Now, I imagine, it makes my face fall and my heart – fill in the blank.

The Juliet I knew is fiction now. She might as well have been made up too. The way that I talk about her, the way that I still insist on projecting her image onto the brains in the heads of unwitting shoulders, the way that I still catch myself thinking about her every day is little more than fiction now.

For what is in a name? It works both ways. You can call a daisy a rose but at the end of the day, you’re only fooling yourself.

Despite the logic, here I am.