My first stop: Philippines

It was until today (21 of April of 2015) that everything clicked for me. I thought and re-thought of writing my experiences. I was being lazy, careless and I was approaching my writing as a “sponsored blog”. I wanted to tell the stories in an impersonal way, but that’s not my style. So this is my letter to you my friends.

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21/Apr/2015

Phnom Phen

To my family and friends:

Sorry for writing you so late, I was lazy and overwhelmed about my first month of solo traveling. Right now it’s my 49th day of traveling. More than one month and a half, and I have tons of experiences to share. So far, my journey has been great and and full of adventures. I even learn how to haggle, so watch out street vendors!!

Let’s start from the beginning: Philippines.

Philippines big three regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
Source: http://mycondoph.com/mabuhay/the-philippines/

This was my first stop on my journey, and I'm grateful it was this way. First, because it's the country of one of the most special person that I've meet in life. Second, it's the country where I stayed one month last year volunteering with an incredible NGO called Big Bang Ballers which target social issues through sports, this is an extremely innovative idea. Third, THE FOOD!!! If you haven't tried a Halo Halo, Adobo or SiSig, you're missing a lot in your life. The food it's great, good taste, good ingredients and abundant amount of rice too. Philippines have Unlimited Rice Meals, which is something I haven't seen in any other country of Asia. 

And last, but not the least, the people is AMAZING! It is a country of happy, jolly people. It's not like everything is sugar, spices and everything nice, but the country has a general happiness level that can permeate you very fast. They have this attitude, where they make the best out of everything. It´s a place where mingle with people it's a must and you enjoy it. At least I did.

Last time I visited the Philippines, I went to Boracay (Visaya Region), one of the coolest places to chillax that I've been in my life. I've heard a lot from it, and I couldn't believe it was that nice, but it is. 

The formula of the place could be: 

(Every beach desire that you have) + 

(Beautiful Beach) + 

(Good Vibe Places) + 

(A lot of people) = 

Boracay

Sunset at Boracay, make me want to be there again.

Also, last time, I visited Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, which are located in Mindanao Region. This two places made an emotional scar in me, and I will always gonna remember them and cheer for the La Salle Team of Iligan, which happen to be regional champions! They´re a bad ass team… I mean a brotherhood.

La Salle Iligan Basketball Team and Big Bang Ballers

La Salle Iligan Team winning... something they're use to.

But this time I only visited Manila. This is one of the biggest cities in Asia and one of the few Mega Cities in the world. The population it's way bigger that the one in my country and it's a non-stop city.

The first couple of nights, I stayed with a friend from CouchSurfing, This was my first time as a “surfer”, and I think it was a good experience. He was really into Couchsurfing and teached me about it's unwritten etiquete, what are his practices as a guest, and above all, he was a great host. By the way, if you want to meet travelers, try to look up for the weekly meeting of Couchsurfing in your city. There is always something.

As my first experience, I was shocked when he gave me the key of his house. I felt a ton of trust in me, as a person, but also in the role I was playing "A Couchsurfing guest". Not all people will do that with a stranger, but  that's when I knew this person was special, and at the same time, made my staying a lot easier. I didn't feel "What if he steals me?" "What if I come late and he locks the door?" in general I felt part of a family and I have free entrance to the house.

Me and my friend from Couchsurfing

The area I lived was around University of Santo Tomas (One of the oldest Universities in Asia) and also around a flower market, which I visited a couple of times. My first day was weird, I had to move around this huge city, through buses, jeepneys and by walking, alone. I end it up in MOA and had a great time just getting used to the city.

It's always good to walk around, and feel "oh, that's similar to me, or that is different". Like in life, traveling for a long term is not -and can´t be- a highlight film. Everyday is not as exciting as the Facebook photos can show, but none the less, everyday is fulfilling. If you base your self esteem in your ability to create, recreate and live in a #HighlightMode all the time, you're just very far from the real world. Even Michael Jordan, who's highlight we've all seen, after he stepped out the court he became more or less normal. Anyway, I enjoyed having a first look of Manila in #WalkingMode.

Street Ice Cream with Bread (Pan Frances) - YOU MUST TRY IT! 

On my second day, a little more familiar with my surroundings, I decided first to go to University of Santo Tomas, look around the campus, then take a Jeepney to Intramuros, and finally go to MOA to go for a movie.

In University of Santo Tomas (UST), I get to see the old infrastructure, a reminder of the spanish colonization and the heritage of the Philippines. The students of the University wear uniform, which was different from my country, and other places I've been traveled. While walking on the campus, I tried to "fake" been a traveler, I am one, but this was my second day, I needed to fake til I make it.  

Anyway, I start talking with a group of students, they all studied Tourism. We talk about Food-to-Eat, they gave me a list of 10 foods to try. I couldn't try them all, but I will share it.

Filipino Food to Eat. My Favorites are Halo-Halo and Sisig

Also, I start asking about the Filipino Identity and when I asked how would they define a Filipino, they all said: Hospitable. I agree. But, they all studied Tourism… this might be like a slogan, but so far, I feel it´s true.

Group of Tourism Students at UST. They thought I was famous and then they realize I was not, they looked disappointed.

Then I was headed to Intramuros. In order to go there I needed to stopped around 10 jeepneys and ask them: "Are you going Intramuros?" They all said no, but the last one told me, that I could get to SM City Mall and from there I could walk. I trust too much in people, and I did that.

I was there in a jeepney facing all other 10 passenger and passing the money the new ones wanted to give to the driver. It’s a great feeling of the Pinoy Public Transportation: The sense of community. It might not be the most comfortable way to travel, but it's one of the friendliest.

After crossing the street in the SM City Mall area I reach Intramuros. This Spanish Relique, was being used by middleschoolers as a playground in their after class. It was a way of interaction between reliques and general people.

That scene reminded me how you in my house we have two couches: one you don't touch it and it's just for special guests and the other one it´s the everyday couch, and everyone is always around it. Intramuros, is that second type of couch, and it's a place more than to visit, but to interact with it and see how everyone interacts too.

It's not serious or quiet. It has a lot of kids playing around the rusty cannons, the great walls and the ancient rocks. The most remarkable it's that, as a society, they don't paint the walls with propaganda or graffitis, it's preserved and used as it should. A lesson to learn in my country, and several other.

Group of kids playing in the Afternoon at Intramuros

From there, I walked all the way up to MOA, hearing my playlist, which starred Gloria Estefan and her album Tierra. I love her. On my road I visited the Jose Rizal Plaza and all the Roxas Beach side walk. In MOA we had dinner and watched “Serena” for me, it was bad!! I didn't get it.

Next day I got the chance to visit around a night club. I was at the Album Launch of Pupil Zilch in The B-Side. The band was a very well known in Philippines, and according to a friend, the singer was like legend. The place was a dark whole-in-the-wall type of place, although you can see that it was specially arrange for this event. I would totally come back, it’s my type of places. Also they have Reggae Sundays.

Me at B-Side, at the Pupil Zilch Album release.

After this few days in Manila, I keep on meeting new friends, from Couchsurfing and I end it up having a discussion of Filipino Identity with a Social Anthropologist which whom I became instant friend, and we shared several beers. Red Horse.

I also I went all the way to Tagaytay by Bus with a nurse friend who I've met through Couchsurfing and Social Media. Tagaytay it's like a Christopher Nolan/Xzibit Meme type of landscape. It's a Volcano, that has a lake, that has a mountain that has a lake, like if one mountain wasn't enough.

The place has a great view and you can find yourself surrounded by Pinoy Food and sweats. I specially enjoyed Buko Pie (Coconut Pie).

Also I had a weekend getaway from the City to Zambales. This place it's like a desert beach, with no waves (at this time of the year), and it's a calm, relaxed and full of Roxy Girls -jajaja- place.

The place was called Crystal Beach Resort, and it had everything I could've need. Their main thing  it´s that they allow you to bring a tent and camp in the wilderness of the resort and the beach.

Crystal Beach Resort at Zambales

They have delicious food, this time I had Bulalo (Sopa de Res) and Fish, and Mango Salad. This place is made for a nature lover, who wants a retreat from society and that wants just to think about life. Of course you can do that in the city, or in your toilet, but Zambales it's WAAAAAAY better jajajaja

Finally, on my last day I went to University of The Philippines (UP), to the Diliman Campus, to find people to play basketball with. I needed a pick up game before I leave one of the -if not the most- basketball lover country of all. I had to talk with the Gym Admin and use my "Traveler Card" so she could let me in, and finally, I had my Basketball Game. My team won :D!

UP Basketball Gym - Diliman Campus, Quezon City

This was Philippines. It's a country who I strongly recommend to visit, mostly to Latin Americans, you will be amazed of our similarities, it feels like if they were our lost cousins from colonization. Which they are.

This was my trip here. I spend 7 great days with tons of more stories but they´re for another occasion. At the airport, I just feel: “Goodbye and see you soon Philippines. From now on, I will always cheer the GILAS, Pacman and I will always eat a Halo-Halo everytime that I can”. That was my oath to the Philippines.

Halo-Halo, the best dessert in the South East Asia Region.

My Friends Janice and Mawik at a GILAS Game in Korea.

Thank you all for reading me, I hope you have a great week, please keep in touch.

Love,

E.

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Thanks Sum.

The Beginning (Part 3/3) – My route, my backpack and budget resources

My Route

After a lot of iteration on my schedule, my route and the way I would move from one place to another. I create my final route for this journey.

My Route. I'm glad to show it. I'll keep updating any changes.

The best thing of having a route and a schedule it’s that, little by little, I realized that I can change it at will. That nothing it’s written in stone and that if I want to stay a couple more days in one place I can do it, and it’s OK. It’s a freedom feeling.

There are some key days that I have to respect. For example, my first destination was Manila. To there, and from there, I already bought my air tickets, so I can’t extend my stay. But from Malaysia to China, I’m traveling by land. So If I decide to stay more in one place and less in other, I can totally do it. That is part of the joy on this long term traveling.

There are some changes from the first map that I share. This is because, there are a lot of places that have high Visa Cost and due transportation and connectivity between them and other places I prioritize to visit. Those left behind countries are now on my bucket list of places that will be part of my next journey, I hope.

My Backpack

Because of the extended length of the journey, I felt that I needed a huge bag, however, a medium size travel backpack it’s more than enough. According to Rolf Potts, in Vagabonding, the smaller your luggage, the better you’ll travel. Rolf statement it’s extremely accurate, but you will only fully understand this until you hit the road.

At the beginning I had 4 bags with me. They were from different sizes and purpose. I brought them with me, just because I was able to carry it. I felt like playing Lego with them. Moving them around, trying to create something cool and useful. However on my first 2 days, I get rid of 1 of those bags.

On the road, you become really selective and objective with your stuff. If it’s useful you keep, otherwise you say good bye to it. My luggage in general it’s getting smaller in every stop that I’m doing. Right now I’m just traveling with my backpack (Master Roshi’s Shell) and my little backpack where usually you keep your most valuable items. This is a traveler, and a common sense, rule. If I need to take one thing of my luggage, it will only be my small bag, the rest you can replace it easily wherever you go.

My ideal backpack, for this specific journey will be:

-1 pair of jeans

-4-5 Shirts

-7 sets of underwear (boxer’s and socks) – IDK about bras sorry to the female readers.

-1 swimming suit

-1 Casual Short

-2 Athletic Shorts

-1 Pair of Walking Shoes

-1 Pair of Athletic Shoes

-1 Pair of Sandals

-1 Jacket

-1 Towel

-1 Blanket (This one because I stole it from my sister :p)

-A Small bag where you can carry your toiletries.

-My Computer, and other gadgets… They’re my toys, despite several recommendations on not bringing them, I decided that it’s a weight I’m willing to carry.

-Passport

-Money Bag

-Journal

I think that’s it.

Through this journey, I’ll be on hot weather, because I’ll visit tropical countries and because it will be summer in all the other places.

My Backpack. La viajera

My Resources

For doing a long term trip, there are a lot of myths. The most common is that requires a lot of money to do it. However, if you’re willing to go budget, and use some of the advantages of today Social Networks, you can save a lot of money and be able to meet great people in the processes.

One of the rules of this trip is to never stay in a Hotel. Just stay in: hostels, Airbnb, friend’s houses or at a Couchsurfing Host.

Airbnb, it’s a website where you can rent a room in someone else property, but that property is not necessarily a hotel, or guest house. There are a lot of people that they have a second house, and apartment and they rent it, usually you rent it for a couple of months or years. On Airbnb, they rented more in a retail kind of way.

On Airbnb people rent places without a contract, just for a couple of days (like a hotel). The business model, in my opinion, it’s to sell in retail, and break the monolithic contracts in the renting industry.

An analogy for this can the selling of cigarettes pack. Let’s imagine that selling the whole pack it’s the normal renting industry. Airbnb, open up the pack and sells you cigarettes by unit. In this way, more people can access, although, you might have to pay a higher price per night, than if you rent the apartment for months. You can get really good places, for the price of a hostel night. Give it a try.

The view from my Airbnb place at Penang, Malaysia. $10 USD per night.

Now Couchsurfing. This is one of the main reasons that enables me to do this journey. Couchsurfing it’s an online community of hosts and guests. There are people around the world that they have a couch to share, they want meet and interact with foreigners or travelers, and they’re kind enough to tell it the world.

With Couchsurfing, you can be hosted by a person for a couple of nights, free of charge. However, it’s not a hotel. If you do Couchsurfing, the general assumption is that you want to talk and interact with your host. You will share more than just a couch, you can share experiences, food, skills, etc. It’s a way of knowing people, travel on budget and have a great time.

With Dennis, my first Couchsurf Host in Manila

Also, one of my biggest resource it’s that I’m lucky enough to be part of the KDI Alumni, which is one of the most complete professional networks in the world. In our school we’re surrounded by people of more than 70 different countries. It’s a truly globalized environment. You learn, and become friends, with people of Mozambique and Kazakhstan. I learn a lot of Muslim Culture, and I learn, in general to be open minded.

There are prejudice in all of us, I think it’s part of how humans work, but interacting with such a diverse group of people, makes you think differently. You understand that value judgment of good or bad are irrelevant, all cultures are different, they all have different history and we are all right and wrong.

While in school, I gain a lot of friends and colleagues. With this said, I had the chance of making friends for life, that I will visit trough this trip, with some of them I will stay, with others I’ll meet and have a dinner, but with all of them I know I’ll have a great time.

With Tebbie, one of my KDI Classmate

Well, this is the end of my beginning, on how this journey started, my purpose and some guidelines of my journey in general.

I strongly recommend if you’re planning to do a long term journey, please read Vagabonding from Rolf Potts.

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This trip started on March 3^rd, when I left South Korea to visit Philippines. On March 11^th I flew to Kuala Lumpur and since March 20^th I’m in Thailand. I will keep on posting a little about my perception of this countries and some of my experience.

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Special Thanks for all the people that have offer their couch and hospitality with me. I’m deeply thank you with you, and I hope I can repay you when you come to my country or to any other traveler that indirectly receive my hospitality on your behalf.