Trip Lang!

TRAVEL is my "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens". The build up of excitement days before any trip is like "Silver-white winters that melt into springs". It is truly one of my favorite..... hmmm, my favorite thing!

The atmosphere of arriving in any new place is comforting. The warmth of something new embraces you the moment you've touched a nonnative ground. Your senses help you feel her welcome. The smell of her food (or it's people in some cases), The touch of its climate, The sound of a new language, The taste of its local cuisine; The humor of its culture,... all new to you. Anything 'New' amazes most of us. Somehow, all I want is to be amazed and Traveling never fails to provide.

Being from Iloilo as a child, I always wanted to go to Manila. Local Philippine destinations were once my dream targets. My first ever travel out of my native village was in nearby Guimaras Island. Back then, Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo, so its not considered as out-of-town trip but that was my first ever experience of riding a Banca. Something i wont forget as a child.

When i was about 9 yrs old. Mom and Dad brought me to Cebu, my first ever Plane Ride .. and my first ever Hotel (Montebello Hotel). Being a kid, riding a plane and seeing Cebu was one of my happiest moments. Maybe, this is when my love of travel started. New experiences stop me from my track.

I was 12 when I first visited Manille. Luneta and the Manila Zoo were a must. But eating at Jollibee and McDo was the thing ill never forget about Manila. It was something new to me. At that time, we dont have those in Iloilo yet. The large Coke amazed me. And the fries never tasted that good.

I first visited Boracay when half of the island has no electricity yet; When Bazura was still the 'In" place to go at night; When you can still see a group of fish swimming at The White Beach; and When a lot of Foreigners do naked sunbathing without hesitation. I was 15. Of course with Family.

The first time I traveled with Friends was also in Boracay. Those with Mama O, Ekra, Kelly and others. All we did was Swim, Eat, Drink and Dance. Yes, no Sex... we were still teenagers at that time, when Mama O used to be fat. Charot! Every six months we went. We were lucky to have a friend whose family has a resort there. Win!

Bohol, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin were the rest of the places in The Philly i've been to.

My first ever trip outside the country was Sydney (Yes! had my first ever Gay Parade @ age 25!). Dubai was next until I moved and lived here in San Francisco. America needs to be explored too. Seen the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Chicago, LA, DC, Vegas, Toronto, etc but Asia is, so far, my favorite destination. The beaches in Thailand and its people (what a sex trip! Ching!), The Angkor Wat, Kathmandu, Bali, but the one that amazed me most? INDIA! (Northern India to be specific)... despite my unpleasant experience with some of its people, the place is still truly as they advertised it, Incredible!

I’d love to visit more travel destinations as much as I can. If I could afford it and get more vacation hours from work, i'll go every six months. I want to do it now when my knees are still strong enough to endure the adventure. When health is still wealthy. Here's more places I want to See:

Phillippines: El Nido, Caramoan, Banaue/Sagada, Batanes and Vigan

And the Rest..... (My Top 5 Dream Destinations):

5. Petra, Jordan

4. Iceland

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

2. Easter Island, Chile

1. Maldives

One thing I learned from traveling is that when we travel we begin to realize there is more than one way to live life and be happy. We learn to understand, we learn about other people's differences, and sometimes, we learn to discover something new about ourselves. Kaya tara na mga Bakla, Biyahe tayo! Tse!

*This post is inspired by Kalansay's Falling In Love In Four Days.

Namaste!

Jodhpur

Jodhpur is the place. The blue city will surely be a great delight to the eyes. I am more excited of going there than the Pink City of Jaipur, but still the latter is a must. 

Pokhara, Nepal

To see the camels and the desert Jeep safari at Jaisalmer was taken out from the original itinerary to give way to the mountains of Pokhara in Nepal per Mama O's request. She needs to glide she says. 

Khajuraho

Rural Rajasthan must be cut from the same cloth, so we have opted instead to see the kinky temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh and the daily spiritual drama at the Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi 

Gone Goa Gone: No more Goa for us, its too much already. Cannot afford na! The sand and water (and the sex) league of this year's tour will be in my native Philly na sa Bora, saan pa? (I still have to decide who to bring: D or R or both?... chos!) 

Boracay Island

Nothing much to look forward to this first months of the new year but this vacation chu-chu train. Join us in any of these places come Feb-March: Delhi-Jaipur-Jodhpur-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Manila-Iloilo-Boracay.  

Boos to Cheaptickets.Com and Orbitz for not supporting any flights that originate from Manila. Odd huh? Expedia is still the best.

Namaste, Mabuhay and Tse! 

Constipated Vacation Plan

I still have to decide where to go for my 1 month vacation early next year. The sisters will be coming too. Mama O for sure, and maybe Ekra (if the BF gives permission. Ganon na ba ngayon? Tse!). Jezebel doesn't show interest.

Two weeks, somewhere, and the rest in my beloved Philly Islands. The trip to Thailand and Siem Reap this year was a revelation. I see travel as helpful to the mind and soul. Work and the American life could be stressful. I deserve to relax and revitalize. Even it will cost me bucks.

I haven't finalized anything yet. I am confused. I am constipated. But I have options:

OPTION #1

This is our original plan for next year. To see the Taj Mahal is one of Mama O's dream. The whole of India would be overwhelming, so we thought the Northern part would just be enough. Rajasthan and Delhi plus Agra seem cool. India has a lot of pretty odd colors. Imagine the Photo Opportunities! I would love it there. And a side trip to Nepal as an accessory? Hmmm... Katmandu sounds exotic!!!

It was a deal at first to meet up with fellow bloggers Kawadjan, [G], and Fuchsiaboy in India until the lips of Bangkok decided to back out and the Siem Reap wunderkid copies Chiz Escudero's indecisiveness. India should have been sealed with the Asian Beauties confirmation.

OPTION #2

Ekra is not that excited with India, she suggests Greece. Mama O's Mama Mia's influence collaborates. And my previous fascination with Greek men went over big. We can play Meryl and friends in Mykonos and Santorini and Athens could be ancienting! The now traditional side-trip would be in Istanbul, Turkey. Ruffa G would be proud.

I had enough of the mosques in Dubai but maybe Turkey will be different. Greece alone is major league. I say game! But yet, would it be cold over there on the first quarter of the year?

OPTION #3

Spain and Morocco was our original plan before Thailand and Siem Reap came up this year. Barcelona is known for their gay nightlife, thus Ekra and Mimi's thrill. Sorry, but I am more into its Architecture like Gaudi's and the Sagrada Familia. Seriously, Chos! Or maybe go down to Ibiza and experience the Cafe Del Mar musical moments and cross the Strait of Gibraltar until we reach the sands of Tangier, Morocco. Exciting, huh?

However, I am not too aroused with cosmopolitan cities as trip options, and Ive seen sands and camels in Dubai before, but I still think this option would be fun with the sisters for sure. If I have to travel alone, I wont choose this.

OPTION #4

I always wanted to go to Brazil. I wasn't able to go with Mama O and Ekra 2 years ago due to schedule conflict. If i decide to go there, I need a travel companion. Jezebel? Hello? The older sisters wont come anymore. They want to see more places as possible. Rio would be more accessible for me and maybe much inexpensive traveling from mainland US. Imagine the beach boys, Jezebel? They may look like you, but who knows, a lost hot Caucasian tourist hunk looking for a Brazilian boy might mistake you for one? Go?

OPTION #5

This came up just last night when driving home with Ekra and Mama O. Sydney would be nice, eh? Just the right timing for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras! How about that? Oxford Street is waiting, girls! Castro is nothing during their night-time Pride Parade!

Though I have experienced the parade and Sydney and its vicinity 10+ years ago, I would still love to come. It has changed a lot for sure. And only if we do some side-trips to The Ayer's Rock, Cairns or Melbourne (right, Jase?) for a change.

OPTION #6

I will definitely go home to the Philippines for two weeks. Boracay included. If the sisters decided not to travel anywhere next year, my only option is to spend the whole month there. I plan to see the Rice Terraces (before it is gone) and the Caramoan Peninsula (before they commercialized it). Maybe with the "BF"? Or Kelly? We'll see!

-----O-----

Wherever it would be, I am so excited! I need a break! Mga bakla! who wants to come? The more the merrier, Go!

Philippine Beaching

Cagbalete in Quezon Province (Photo by Ian Felix Alquiros) 

Tired of Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, Pagudpud, Bohol, Dakak, Camiguin and Puerto Galera? Or cannot afford a trip to Amanpulo? When it comes to beaching, the Philippines has more to offer.

Welcome to the new Pinoy beach destinations with more exotic names this time. Here is Enya singing.... 

Let me sail Let me sail Let the Caramoan Flow.

Let me reach, Let me beach on the shores of Puraran

Putipot, Lakawon, let me crash upon your shores

From Daku to Agho... Sail Away! Sail Away! Sail Away! 

 

Island Buenavista in Davao + Daku Island in Surigao 

Putipot in Zambales + Digyo in Leyte

Puraran in Cantanduanes + Caramoan in Camarines Sur 

San Juan Beach in Siquijor + Agho in Iloilo

Lakawon in Negros Occidental + Quezon Beach in Sulu

Esperanza in Masbate + Maripipi in Biliran

Now, I am wondering why I did go to Krabi, Thailand for beaching my soul up when I have these beautiful Islands in my own country. Maybe 'coz, I have never heard of them! Our DOT has a lot to explain. 

"Carry me, on the waves to the lands I've never been"

Yeeees! Love your own beaches, bitches! First stop.... MARIPIPI!

MNL-BKK-MNL Mura!

Cebu Pacific Air offers murang one-way seats from Manila to Bangkok! Isnt that neat? It's like P5000 roundtrip! 

Compared to Philippine Airlines' $370, Ekra and I booked our flights to BKK and back to MNL for only $130 each! So tara na mga girls! Lipad tayo! Iwanan muna ang Manila. Mag- Bang bang at Cock muna! O di ba? Masaya? Tingnan nyo naman sa picture below, mas emote ang mga Thai!

From Manila to Bangkok!!!!

It's time everyone flies na talagah! So mag book na! Hurry na kasi  I believe the promo runs only until January 22 and is valid only for travel from Feb 1 to March 31, 2009. At chaka may libreng Dunkin Donut ito! Ano ba kayo? Hehehe! Sana Bavarian Creme ang flavor. Chos!