why i love traveling...

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Miriam Beard

Aside from relaxation, travel gives me new perspective. It taught me a lot of things. With my recent trip to Zambales, it gave me realizations that are relevant and useful in my life...

1. you can't prepare for everything, learn to deal with difficulties.

2. think outside the box, use your imagination.

3. laugh at your mistakes. learn from it but don't dwell.

4.“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”–Mark Twain 

I'm proud to say that the friends I have are the best. Distance and time doesn't matter, even if we haven't seen or talk to each other for years, we still have the same closeness and bond. It seems like there was no time/distance gap; no awkwardness. Everything's the same.

 

5. Lastly, as I stated in this blog enjoy the journey, it's not all about the destination its also about the trip; the people you met, the friends you gain, the adventures you went through and lessons that you learn. 

So keep exploring. Let's go! 

Gailie's Day Off Series: Puerto Princesa

This is not my first time to visit Puerto Princesa but that was 10 years ago. Its  just fitting to revisit this beautiful place once more.

visiting Puerto Princesa 10 years ago

Josh and I set off early to go island hopping. Surprisingly, Honda Bay is about 30minutes ride away from the city. From Honda Bay, we rented a banca to bring to us to different islands. 

island hopping, here we go!

First stop is Cowrie Island, named after the cowrie shells found abundantly within the island. The beach is isolated as explained by our boatman, not many tourist visit it coz its just very near Honda Bay. So Josh and I took the opportunity to swim and have the beach to ourselves. 40 minutes had passed before we set out for another island.

swimming in cowrie island

between the sand and sea

Next stop is, Luli island. Luli is short for LUlubog LIlitaw island. During high tide the island is submerged in water and will resurface during low tide hence the name. We didn't swim but we took photos and scanned the area. There were privately owned houses, I wonder how much did the island cost.

beautiful sandbar

colorful flags

fish feeding and snorkel area

We opted to skip the snorkel site. 

Next is Starfish Island, this is my favorite island. There was a big frame where you can take photos and a sandbar, mountain and sea serves as your background. We took a swim for more than an hour till we heard our tummy rumbling. It's almost lunch time. The boatman said, the last stop is where we will have our lunch. 

starfish island

frame up!

sand, sea and sky as background

with manong boatman

I forgot the name, I think its Pandan Island. This is my least favorite island, everything is so expensive. Aside from that, there were so many tourists. The entrance fee is 100PHP per person. Then you need to rent table or cottage for you to eat or rest, a small table cost around 300PHP As for food, they allow guests to bring their own food. Unfortunately for us, we didn't brought any food. So, we just bought crabs and dried squid from a store and have it cooked. 

chow time

After lunch, we went back to the city. Josh still needs to go to work while I stay at the hotel to rest. 

On my 2nd day, we woke up late. There are no plans for this day. We don't want to avail of the city tour coz I've been to those places before. I just had a quick stop at a souvenir store to buy some cashew nuts. Then went back straight to the hotel to pack my things and sleep before my flight.

see you again Puerto Princesa

My 2 day stay in Puerto Princesa was a  relief; a great way to escape from all that stress. In span of 10 years, the beaches are still amazing and clean. I wish authorities can maintain it for the next 10 to 20 years. 

Can't wait for my next short day trip! Hmmm… where should I go?! Any suggestions?  

Start of Gailie's Dayoff Series

On my previous blog, must get out I said really need a break and I meant it. I need to go somewhere otherwise I'd go crazy.

In a week, I have 2 rest days. Its enough for a short day trip or an overnight stay somewhere. My rest day  falls on a weekday (Wed-Thu for April; Thu-Fri for May) which is a good thing because its an off peak day which means less people and rates are cheaper. 

My last off day for April (25th-26th) was a great kick off to my lakwatsa. Originally, I am planning to go to Davao but I was having second thoughts coz the flight time won't coincide with my schedule. Last minute, I made a decision to go Puerto Princesa and save Davao for later. 

24th monday evening, I asked my manager if can leave work early. Flight time is 5:50 PM, my work ends by 6:00 PM. My manager said, that won't do. I was disheartened, and I gave up. After 1 hour, my boss said, we can work around the schedule, I can come in an hour early so that I can leave by 5:00 PM. And so, that's what I did. I packed my clothes and went to work. My duty that day was to close the flight, after all the passengers had boarded I informed the flight attendant that I am taking the flight too. 

1 hr and 10 minutes later, I landed safely at Puerto Princesa Airport. And so Gailie's DayOff officially starts.

In the following days I'll be posting some of my short trips… it'll be under Gailies' day off series. Stay tuned! 

 

never the 1st choice

one day everything was fine

i thought you were mine

turns out my prince 

has someone else in mind.

never the first choice

never the princess

always the consolation prize

always the runner up.

thought i was more than that

have i done something wrong?

i don't know what to do

i don't know how you feel.

never the first choice

never the princess

always the consolation prize

always the runner up.

i've lost the reason to fight

we're on a different battle

you fight for her

while i fight for you.

never the first choice

never the princess

always the consolation prize

always the runner up.

i was never the first choice....

never at all...

heart vs mind

anywhere but here

inside Em's mind...

I really want to go to a place where you and I can be alone with no one else to bother us, to have you for myself even just for a day.

As we walked I wanted to reach out for your hand and hold it with mine, I wanted to embrace you and kiss you but there were too many people, too many spectators. Just as I was about to say goodbye, you embraced me tightly for what seemed like eternity and kissed my head... and the world stood still... I wanted for that moment not to end... forever frozen. 

When all that was happening, I suddenly realized that the place didn't matter all I want to be is to be anywhere but here beside you... 

blur

BLUR

staring at the horizon
(day)dreaming about the times we've spent
when i heard you said, don't ever let go

my heart beat faster (faster than ever)
then everything went into a blur
except for that tiny moment
i feel loved

it doesn't get any better than this
if you only knew
its always been you

my heart beat faster than ever
ans everything went into a blur
except for that moment
i was moved

still frames

daydreamer II

i haven't see you for the longest time
i hope everything's alright
it's been awhile
i do hope you're fine

missing you on a cheerful sunny day
longing for you in a blissful rainy night
nothing much to do but sigh
i know you belong with me

so i'll go to my happy perfect place
to dream...think...and escape with you
for in this my make believe world
everything is possible

i'll get to see you...to be with you..
to hold you till we grow old
and believe that destiny fated us together
for in my sanctuary, daydreams come true.

daydreamer

*this song is a work of a dear friend of mine...you can check out his band's website
www.reverbnation.com/vibrantdaysrock and www.myspace.com/vibrantdaysrock

tell me what do you think about the song. thanks!

Daydreamer - <


Daydreamer

You'll see her smile through her lovely round eyes
She has high hopes that never dies
She can create a world of her own
Where anytime she can always go

Stare at the Bright side
Its time to close your eyes

Dream away
In the middle of the day
Escape from what's real
And to the wounds that never heal
Dream away....

She puts herself in beautiful dresses
So she can read the sky in different places
She'll just go away in an instant
Yet still feel her through a distance


Lefthandwritingmusic
All rights reserved 2007

swimming session 3-4

earlier today was our swimming session 3-4... our lesson, back stroke! it look so easy when coach arnold demonstrated it. but boy, when i tried it, it was difficult. but nevertheless, we had fun.

ryka, bambi and gaiL all tanned

this is a swimming lesson right?! not a water aerobic class

cristine, bambi and gaiL goofing around

daydreamer

how would you react if someone made a song for you?! [on how he views you as a person/as a friend]

me?!

i really can't explain the feeling...indescribeable

i feel that im someone important, that somehow in my own little way , i was able to make an impact on someone's life.

i feel a lot better knowing that i have touched another persons life through my simple deeds and words.

random thoughts

our computer isn't working for the past 2 days... so i had nothing to do... which led me to explore my mobile phone... i found out on my well hidden folders some quotes [that have let me think some things over again on love, life, happiness,God... i'd like to share it with all of you..

* some people say they can't live without true love...well, oxygen's more important - Dr. Gregory House

* I am just like one great movie...the problem is, no matter how great a movie may be, after the show, everybody leaves.

* we sometimes think that we never did anything good, we sometimes think that our deeds were never good enough..think again...coz even a broken clock is right twice a day.

* i hate forcing myself to let go of one person that i need in my life, its the only thing that makes sense but at the same time, its the same thing that complicates me. i know that im better off without that person, yet i feel empty whenever i try to let go. is emptiness better than constant craving?

* cherish people who understands you, those who knows how you feel and accepts who you are, coz in the event that you lose yourself, they are the ones who know how to find you.

*sometimes you just PRETEND that you're happy... just to stop EVERYONE from asking you what the hell happened...

* its next to impossible to find somebody who will never make you cry, so...get the next best thing... find someone who's worth all the pain

* never give up in whatever you do, in whatever you aim, in the things you've prayed for, believe and never stop believing. for good things come when we almost feel like giving up.

* a true friend is like blood, it sustains life, yet it's not always visible but comes out everytime you're wounded.

* life is short, so don't hold back..

   forgive like you have amnesia

   believe like a kid

   love like crazy

   laugh till you fart

   and never regret anything that made you happy!

* always remember that the longer you stay with the things you don't really enjoy equates to every moment you lose with what could be a happier life.

*if you think that happiness is all about sunshine... then nobody has told you about dancing in the rain.

*i like DEAD END signs... i think they're kind, they at least have the decency to let you know you're going nowhere.

* love triangles never last. why? because at some point, one learns to let goof her emotions... one becomes brave enough to take a step back and let the other two work things out if its meant to be...that's why its a triangle cause one way or another, it is bound to reach its end...

*never search your happiness in others,it will just make you feel alone...rather, search it in yourself, it will make you feel happy even if you are left alone.

* i was told not to hurt the heart of whom i love so much, but when i was so busy taking care of that heart, i never noticed my own was bleeding

*everything changes the say... but me, i dont believe in that...some things just stay the same...

  your favorite color when you were just a kid might still be the same when you reach 50

  friends you had when you were teenager can still be with you until your 70th birthday

  and maybe, just maybe if your lucky, the love you always had your entire life will be the only one you'd

  ever want until the day you die

* never give up when everything falls into pieces, never even lose hope when everybody turns their back on you, remember life isn't about being FAIR, its surpassing the UNFAIR REALITY.

* someday everything will make perfect sense. so for now, laugh at he confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.

* sometimes we wish we were big, wish we were somewhere, wish we had that someone but sometimes, we wish too much that we miss to enjoy WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE AND WHO WE HAVE.

* let the Lord fight your battles, deal with your problems and direct your decisions. when you have done your best, trust the Lord to do the rest.

* live your life with so much love in your heart that if, by mistake, you were sent to hell, the devil himself would deliver you up to paradise - Paulo Coelho

* do not follow where the path ma lead. Go where there is no path and leave a trail.

* there are things in life that can never be ours, just because of these simple truths

1. they are bad for us

2. they already belong to someone else

3. we already lost the opportunity to claim them as are own

4. they are just not meant to be ours

so, if your caught up with wanting you clearly cant have... remember, you may trade in all your cards for what you want, but in the end, maybe you'll find that its not something you really need.

* a man was asked, "how an you believe in God when the world has many problems?" the man replied," with all these problems, how can we possibly make it without God?"

* sometimes you need to experience everything so that you would learn... there's no easy way in living life so live it as it is. cry. laugh. be crazy, and don't miss the chances that life is giving you because the most important things are not things at all, most of the them are PEOPLE making your life worth living.

* some romances end for all kinds of reasons. but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: they are shooting stars; a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. and in a flash, they're gone." - the notebook

* moving on... just two words, about a second to blurt out, but can be a million years to achieve. more you try to get over, the more he's invading the mind and heart, so believe it or not there's no such thing as moving on its just a matter of getting use with the pain, to put in one word... NUMB.

* we've spent so much time and effort searching for the one thing that brings happiness and yet nothing seems enough. so why is it hard to be happy? its because we refuse to let go of the things that make us sad.

* a pious man was once asked, "which is more important reading God's word or praying?" He replied,"what is more important to a bird, the right wing or the left?"

* don't ever try to understand everything; some things will just never make sense.

don't ever be reluctant to show your feelings, when your happy, give into it. when your not, live with it.

don't ever be afraid to try to make things better; you might be surprised at the results.

don't ever take the weight of the world on your shoulders

don't ever feel threatened by the future; take life ONE DAY AT A TIME.

don't ever feel guilty about the past; what done is done. learn from any mistakes you might have made, life is SHORT, live HAPPILY but LIVE IT WELL.

* the most humbling statement we can say is, 'i am NOTHING without GOD', and our most powerful statement is, "with GOD i can do anything!"

* the human brain is the most outstanding thing. it functions right from the time you were born ... until you fall in love!

* cinderella, at the night of the ball, had a great time with the prince. yet, when midnight came she chose to run away... nevertheless, the night made her so happy...

lesson?

"it doesnt take forever to make you happy, a moment can do it of you put your heart into it. never think of the future nor past, enjoy the present and make the most out of it. reach out! dance! laugh! most of all LOVE!!!