Salzburg: A Sound of Music Tour

The hills are alive with the sound of music... 

For my 30th Birthday, I did a 4-day tour of Austria. The greatest travel that I have done so far to pay tribute to my 3 decades of existence. 

A Filipinized Belgian

I didn't normally meet people who were fond of Filipino culture while I was studying in Belgium. My workmate at my part-time job was a rare one. I really enjoyed my stay there.  

I had a workmate in his 60s who always came to me and shared how fond he was of Filipinos and our culture. He said he visited Phil in 2007 but never came back since. But he considers it his most memorable trip ever. He couldn’t stop blabbering whenever he would share anything Filipino. “Filipinized” might be an appropriate term to describe this fondness. 

Drunk man beside me on flixbus from Amsterdam to Ghent

I found myself helpless on a bus when a drunk man sat on an empty seat beside me. In a country where people care less, good samaritans still exist.

I took a Flixbus from Amsterdam to Ghent. There was a vacant seat next to me because the bus was two-seaters. The bus made a stop in Rotterdam, and new passengers went in. I usually put things on vacant seats, but this time, I didn’t. I was high from last night’s party, so I was sleeping. Then, a drunk guy suddenly stopped by me, eyeing for empty seats, and spotted the one beside me. 

Clean but not clean

Perhaps, we are better off cleaning the house we are renting ourselves...

We have a cleaner who comes twice a month to clean the house. She only speaks Dutch, so I always have my phone handy to translate and to keep up with the conversation in case we want something specific to be cleaned. This is for instances when I happen to be awake when she comes.

Do grades matter more than grit?

If grades are the sole measure of a person’s worth... then I may not be deemed worthy (men I’m just surviving, drifting as I go lols) 

Funny how some people downsize someone’s worth into digits. Or are they too narrow-minded to think so? They must have not factored in, you know, other variables that make up a person as a whole. 

Because grades are just numbers that 10 years from now, I doubt would even matter. We are on and about with our lives, paying the bills, raising kids (if we happen to marry), starting a business, and probably working on that job we always wanted. 

Grit matters too, even more than grades, if you want to survive in this world.

Contemplating

The only bird that I see once in a while from my room’s window in Ghent was a black crow that would rest on an empty branch of a lone slim tree outside. I’m not kidding.

Now, I didn’t know I could appreciate birds so much. I lounged for a while lapping up the scene of them flocking on food given away by a stranger.

Perhaps, anything freely given or easily available can easily be devalued. But it is the absence of it that makes one yearn, wonder, and ponder - which makes us appreciate things even more.

Maybe it is human nature. Maybe it is personality. Maybe it is just the way it is. 

Goin' astray in Malaysia (KL)

After my trip to Burma, I decided to stay in Kuala Lumpur for a few days with a friend to explore some of its known and unknown areas. Many told me that there's nothing to see in KL, but I beg to disagree. There's so much to see when you are in a different place - it is just a matter of perspective and the kind of adventure you are up to.

My Burmese Experience

It was months ago but it still feels surreal. Maybe that's the case when you unlock things that you thought you can't do but then did. Burma will always have a special place in my heart.

There are plenty of places to see in South East Asia, in fact, a lot cheaper to go to than Burma - yet I chose Burma. It wasn't intentional, but something I am very thankful for. Honestly, my choices were limited when I booked that zero fare flight ticket. The country is quite unheard of actually, so I wasn't really sure of what I am getting myself into. But the good thing about it is, when you are pressed with time and have not much option, decision is a lot quicker. And the least you know about a place makes it even more interesting to explore. 

Burma is not hailed of skyscrapers. One has to scratch off the luxurious city-vibe because you can't really have it here. But judging by my first impression of it - it sure has an intact culture and belief and an unexplored haven of authentic heritage tucked in its old villages and pagodas. Its people are interesting to get to know too! The country is not yet saturated with tourists, I presume, and I wonder why. 

Little things I noticed in Yangon, Myanmar

Though it may seem overrated for western travelers, I still consider Myanmar as an underrated country for the reason that it doesn't receive much recognition from an Asian like me. Over the years, many tourists flock to its neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Not much is heard about this country. But Myanmar is a country worth a visit if you want to deviate from the flock. Fewer tourists mean less hassle and you can have some of the tourist attractions for yourself. One has to be patient with this country though because it is still a rising star in the tourism industry. You won't find everything as organized but that's just the kind of deal an adventurous type of person would want. 

HK: Land of Dimsum and Curry Fishballs Part 3

Hongkong is a place for first-timers and, I should say, a very good place to be in for anyone. Aside from being one of the cities to go for budgeted trips, it offers so much than what is expected (that's from a first-timer's perspective hehe). 

HK: Land of Dimsum and Curry Fishballs (Part 2: Day 1)

The very beautiful view of Hongkong City Lights from Victoria Harbour.

It was 8pm when we arrived at Hongkong International Airport. I think nighttime is way better than the day as we got to see the City lights - and Hongkong is really captivating at night.

HK: Land of Dimsum and Curry Fishballs (Part 1: Preparation)

I have written a post about my life checklist and that includes traveling abroad. This year, I made that come true after months of planning and saving. Truth be told, HK was the last thing on my mind since my heart longs to travel to South Korea and Japan (I'm still not losing hope though). But considering the cheaper flights to HK, it is something to really consider for a first-timer abroad. And I didn't regret pushing through it. That 2k ticket back and forth was worth it!
How did I get through the whole preparation thing is hereby listed. Go on and read ... some details might help you in planning your own. :)