27, 28, 29...

Horse Shoe Bay Adventure (Bermuda)

2011-10-13T09:51:00.004+08:00

I went to Horse Shoe Bay today hoping that the open sea's gentle waves will take my colds away. So I hopped on #8 bus, having Hamilton as its final destination. I didn't go to Hamilton though. I got off the bus and took another bus that took me to some fancy nancy hotel walking distance from the famed pink sands of Horse Shoe Bay. The shoreline was long, the waves were big... but there was a "baby" surf area where
I met a local Bermudan who told me the story behind Bermuda's white roofs. It's basically their source of fresh water. There was also an English couple who joined us in our lazy slumber on the baby surf. I left them and decided to walk around the area to take photos. It was getting dark so I've decided to go back to Heritage Wharf where the Norwegian Gem is waiting for crew and guests alike. I was lucky to bump into Kay (the woman I chatted with earlier... I didn't have her name then) and asked her the way back to the ship. She asked me if I was headed to the bus station, I answered "yes", of course. She offered to take me to the bus station. I thought it was just walking distance; apparently, we had to drive. She drove me to the bus stop and told me she'll leave once I get on a bus. 15 minutes have passed, half an hour past and I was still there and Kay's tiny black car was still there as well. Waiting for me, patiently. I was deeply touched by her concern. I told her a couple of times to go ahead as she might have things to do. But she waited and after 45mins, she decided to take me to another bus station where there "might be" a better chance for me to find a bus. I offered to just take a cab so she won't have to wait but she said it's expensive plus she really has nothing to do as her eldest is away in England studying and the youngest is 18. Our plan be to take another route worked and voila! I made it to the other bus. I thanked her as I shut the car door and asked God to bless her.

As I run towards the bus, I felt that not only there was a beautiful moon tonight, I was also blessed by the beauty of the entire unfolding of events today. All the bus drivers took me in without having to pay, too! (Hoorah!)

Inside the bus, I couldn't help but ponder on how lucky I am to be surrounded by great people who are always helping me out. It is possible that I look helpless, innocent or someone who's really trustworthy in need of serious help. Maybe I remind people of their daughters or sisters. I believe that my blind faith in the universe's goodness guides & leads me to all the wonderful people I meet along the way. I started thinking to myself how I don't have a lot of "friends" by choice (I avoid parties and drinking invitations on purpose) and how all these random people makes up for my lack of interest in making friends; them along with the string of true friends who accepts me for all my irrationality, irritability and moodiness. People who accepts me for me with no strings attached. Without asking for anything in return.

I wish I have photos of Kay and her car. But I don't. Everything happened so quickly. But I do remember our conversation. How she encouraged me to dip in the cold Horse Shoe bay water. How she openly let me into her car. How she patiently waited for me as I wait for the bus. How we both admired the beautiful glow of the moon tonight. How unbusy she is really convincing me that I'm causing her no delay. How she checked on her friend and her 18 yr old son ways of getting to Heritage Wharf from the bay. How I felt so safe around her and how lucky I am to have everyday angels like
her. God bless her soul!

From Children to Adults

2011-05-06T05:34:00.006+08:00

We are constantly changing; evolving.

By definition, evolution meant a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage). I consider my decision to move forward career-wise as part of my evolution. Instead of staying within the status quo of doing what I've been doing for years which is working with children, I have decided to take a different direction and work with adults. From being a school teacher to a youth program counselor and on to becoming a Training Specialist providing trainings to adults.

I am reviving this blog to chronicle the next journey that I am embarking on. It's exciting to tread new waters and explore another uncharted territory. Honestly, there are other adventures that I would prefer to engage myself in. I have to constantly remind myself that I chose and wanted this. Now that I have it, I can't just walk away from it just because I already had it and now I am no longer THAT interested. I need to be more committed or else I might find myself left with nothing one day . I am acknowledging the fact that I am once again finding myself moving forward.

Some growing up will be required from me, just like how the children from the video are expected to grow. I wish in my heart of hearts though that I never let the child in me go away just because I've consciously chosen to keep moving forward.

January 7, 2011

2011-01-12T04:20:00.000+08:00

This is the first part of my 7th contract documentation. Yes, I have been with Norwegian Cruise Line for over two years now. I will celebrate my 3rd year on June 8, 2011 – 5 months from now. I’ve had my ups and downs but as they say, count your blessings and not your worries.

I have been to two continents since I’ve started working as a Youth Counselor. I have been to various parts of North and South America which is really awesome. I have been to places I never even dreamed of visiting. At the moment, I am sailing with Norwegian Dawn out of Miami to Southern and Western Caribbean. I love all of the ports as they remind me of home. I truly feel that I am home away from home except that the humid streets are populated by black people instead of my paisanos (as we call “countrymen” on-board). I am still looking for ways to enjoy my stay in the ports without creating a huge hole on my pockets though. I have decided to take my time and have been pacing myself in terms of partying (I haven’t really partied to be honest… -for obvious reasons- and I am actually wondering if I ever will) on-board and seeing the ports. I came prepared and brought fancy dresses waiting to be worn for appropriate events – such as going out for fancy $25 worth dinners. Yes, the most expensive restaurant on-board is $25 where you can order as many entrees, main course, & dessert as you want. Drinks are not included in the cover charge though. Pretty cheap really, but anything out of the crew/staff mess and the Garden Café is considered fancy nonethless.

So far, everything has been going well with me. I have been spending most of my time in the cabin when I am not at work. I have been pondering on different ways of saving money but the attempts have all been fruitless. I am down with my first month, so I’m cutting myself some slack.I have five more months to go. I am excited in all seriousness. I know that all of the ports have so much hidden treasures that are waiting to be discovered. So far, I have only been to as far as the touristy places and I cannot wait to get further away from that territory. I need to work on my budgeting and accounting skills. Maybe I should give myself challenges such as “Where your $5.00 can take you in Barbados?” or “Is $20 in or out over at St. Kitts?” I am thrilled! This documentation idea would not have been possible without certain people whom I went to a random beach at St. Kitts with. For an $8.00 cab ride, we were taken to South Friar’s Bay where we were welcomed by a spectacular view (pictures to follow). Plus, there were also wild monkeys and other wildlife present in the area. I didn’t have to go on a monkey tour to see monkeys. I still have a long way to go. Thank goodness I still have five months left to enjoy what the islands have to offer. You are more than welcome to come along with me in my adventures!

The Journey Continues

2010-11-12T21:12:00.023+08:00

"The only thing constant in this world is change."

I will be turning 27 in less than two weeks. Try as I may, I can't stop myself from being a little nostalgic that I JUST HAVE TO look back at the person that I was years ago. I have dreamt a whole lot of dreams, spent sleepless nights scheming and planning a "perfect" life for myself. Modesty aside, I always had what I asked for. My life is not perfect, but it is beautiful. Remember however that life is not always a bed of roses. There was a point in my life when I reached my lowest, darkest, most confusing cross-road. I may still encounter one or two moments of their kind, but allow me to rejoice on this one.

At the nick of gaining another year, it is but necessary for me to look back and re-assess my goals, dreams and God's plans for me. I am proud of who I am, the people who walked into my life and help shape me into who I am now. But truth be told, there was a time (thank heavens it was short-lived!) when I felt that certain people in my life were stopping me from doing the things that I love and the only way to be able to liberate myself is to shut everybody out of my life - isolating myself and start doing things on my own. Oh how wrong was I to think that way. Yes, my family may not always act like the perky cheerleaders that I want them to be, but they have always been there for me as much as I could be there for them. My friends may not always understand me the way that I hope they would, but they never left my side even if it means putting up with my shitty dark moods and fickle-mindedness (yes now, no later, maybe the next second).

I will be 27 soon. I may voluntarily opt and choose not to climb mountains anymore or consciously stop myself from bungee jumping the next time an opportunity arises (I am still VERY open to sky diving though!), or getting wasted as I used to (not that I used to do it a lot) but it does not mean that I am no longer the same person. I just changed with time. I am the same person minus the "heart-pumping" activities I used to engage myself in and I have to be at peace with it even if others are not. My prayer now is for God to grant me the power to age gracefully. There seem to be no ready and available answers to the questions that I have been asking about the lessons that life has been throwing at me. Maybe, there's just no answer to certain questions especially if you have been asking the wrong ones. As one of the quotes that I have read says, "live your way into the answer". I know we all have fears and questions. Just keep moving forward because before we know it, they are no longer part of our consciousness since we are already living through it. We have to keep ourselves constantly busy so we will not have the time to entertain questions nor allow imaginary ghosts from the past or the future to haunt us. Being busy makes us think we're in control. In some ways we are, but I do believe that we can only do so much and there will always be this gentle invisible hands that move us all and will help us realize that we are exactly where we are meant to be, putting our anxiety to rest.

Yes, my romance with lucky number 27 is inevitable and I am becoming more aware of the consequences of my past actions and everyday I am more conscious of my daily habit. My body is starting to communicate with me sending me signals through back pains. My knees are not as strong as they used to, my body clock is ticking, my ability to store information gets weaker, my ability to take risks (in all its sense) become less and less and I am starting to think that I am no longer living on the edge and all my actions and choices are beginning to become calculated - no longer as spontaneous as before. Who cares? I am slowing down. I am beginning to enjoy the finer things in life. Moreover, I am living my life the way that I feel it suits me best... just like the way I used to 5-6-7 years ago. So you see, I didn't really change much. What changed were just my options and choices. And everyday, I am thankful.

White Water Rafting in Chile

2010-03-19T00:25:00.017+08:00

paddles up!

waterfun

The last time I have engaged in a water adventure was three or four years ago. It was kayaking somewhere in Batangas, Philippines. If you don't know how to swim as well as visually challenged, water activities might not be very appealing. However, this is white water rafting we're talking about and one shall never let the opportunity to white water raft pass.

here we go!

For $15, I get to go on a more or less than 2-hour road trip from Puerto Montt passing by Puerto Varas (an old German settlement) to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park with the spectacular view of Chilean landscape topped with the famous snow-capped Mt. Osorno. It is also one of the most active volcano in the Southern Chilean Andes.

a museum we passed by in Puerto Varas

I am proud to say that I also get to experience wearing a neoprene wet-suit, a water-proof jacket coupled with a life jacket, a helmet and paddle. Oh, I got all that and more.

After gearing up, we were given a brief instruction about rafting, safety rules and basically how to stay alive in case you fall off the raft. At this point, I started to feel nervous. The mention of staying alive made me worry about staying alive - but this was shortlived and was replaced by screams of excitement.

you basically have to make your way back to the raft. or just keep floating around.

We descended about 17km of the river with 13 rapids that reaches up to level 3. I'd say level 3 isn't really deadly but there were some pretty scary and equally exhilirating parts that made us all raise our paddles and yell in unison, thanking our guardian angels for a job well done. The experience itself is a prize. But I especially loved the part where we get the chance to dive into the water and swim freely in the lake. I was able to do that because of the life vest. Bless the soul of the person that invented life vest.

let's rock and roll and catch some currents!

the calm before/after the storm

and... throw yourself into the freezing water!

The day in Puerto Montt started gloomy but ended perfectly. Mr. Sun graced us with his presence making sure we do not miss the picturesque view all around us.

Mt. Osorno

Capturing the waves on camera may sound visually rewarding but our safety is more important than the shots. It can be hard to imagine currents and waves with this picture though... I know.

beautiful day, beautiful experience

February - March Vacation

2010-03-16T22:53:00.009+08:00

Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon

I spent my time mostly at home and briefly met up with some friends.

Lucban, Quezon

somewhere in Manila

What does these pictures tell you? Can you tell me the story that I fail to tell?

in Zambales

delayed flight leading to Houston, Texas "adventure"

2010-03-11T16:09:00.015+08:00

downtown Houston

We have different take on adventure. For some, adventure is skydiving, trying new dishes, white water rafting, etc. I hope we all agree that adventure simply means taking a risk and plunging into the unknown. Life itself is a big adventure. One of my many adventure involves delayed flights because of bad weather.

author's cool airport socks

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines where waiting (especially in long lines) is a part of daily life. Therefore, waiting in airports is just a piece of cake. I enjoy watching people go about their own businesses. It is fairly entertaining. It's like watching a movie without the script, the lights and barking directors. The day our flight was cancelled, I was ready to content myself with just people watching at the airport. However, my day turned into night and night turned into day. A beautiful day with no trace of rain or whatsoever and my next flight is not until the evening. I had enough of people watching and window-souvenir shopping at the airport. Plus it was a beautiful day. I couldn't let that pass me by. I stood up, took all my stuff and went straight to the airport's information booth. I asked the lady in charge for directions and for a city map.

Goodbye airport! Hello Houston!

bazaar bazaar bazaar!

I went outside and waited for the right bus to take me to downtown Houston. It was Sunday. Surprise. Almost everything is CLOSED in Houston during Sundays. I should have known better. The lady from the desk failed to mention this to me. Who cares? This didn't stop me from exploring. I pride myself at being equally brave and friendly when the need for it arise... (like when asking for directions). It is this bravery and friendliness that lead me to this random guy whose name I forgot. He told me that everything is closed coz it's weekend (uh... yeah.. I've noticed, thank you very much) but there is however an international bazaar going on by the Houston City Hall he informed me. He invited me to go with him and check it out. He even shared things about himself to keep the conversation flowing. He's a nice guy but I didn't find the bazaar very appealing even if half of the Houston downtown population is headed there. I decided to go about on my own. I thanked him and left to explore and go around by foot, on my own.

Armed with my handy dandy town map, I found my way to the transit station. The best way to go around the city. I couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket or to drop coins. I was like a dumbass watching people work their way around. Thanks to these two random black (and very ghetto teens) who I think were flirting with me (yeah, I am too humble to brag), I managed to buy a day-pass sort of ticket. For how much, I totally forgot. On the transit station, I also met a random Dutch guy who's finding his way back to his hotel (which is on the opposite part of the city!). He was just there for some sort of geeky science - rephrase, smart people - convention. I tried my best to help him find the easiest and cheapest way to go back to his hotel since cab fare is draining his pockets. I like helping fellow lost souls even if I know I wasn't really much of a help since I'm no local. Still and all, he obviously appreciated my effort and reciprocated my kindness by taking my photo at the metro with my equally geeky get up so I shouldn't even consider making fun of his geeky/smart people convention. On one of my other pit stops, I also found 3 ladies from different generations. Grandmother, mother, and grand/daughter. I had an interesting chat with them about how crazy the storm and flooding was the night before and why I should take the train ride inside the Japanese garden with them. I don't know why I didn't do it. I graciously thanked them and went ahead. I saw chipmunks anyway and that made up for the missed train ride experience.

There was so much to see in Houston based from the map at hand. However, I only have until nightfall. So I had to plan my day well. I checked all the business hours of the places I find most interesting and their respective location and distances from one another. You have to be realistic when on a sight-seeing adventure especially if you still have a flight to catch and it's your first time on a certain place. Because I am just a bit geeky who chose to embrace my geekiness, I opted to go on museum and art gallery hunt instead of bars (I am not a drinker.. duh.) I went aboard the metro and carried on with my awesome adventure.

Hmmm... where to go?

On-board the metro, people spoke to me. I felt like a celebrity. Kidding. I felt more like I a science specimen whose being closely scrutinized. And I always thought I blend well! The most memorable chit chat I had was with the man who used to work for the navy and was sent to the Philippines and all the other parts of the world. I guess people who thirst for travel and all sorts of adventure gravitate towards each other. Our chat made going backto the airport a bit easier. The metro bus numbers are quite confusing and I want to find myself at the airport and not road-to-nowhere. The world always conspire for our well-being. I made my way back to the airport safe and sound not necessarily smarter but with more experiences to share (and brag about? hahaha!) to people who would care to spare their precious time to listen.

I found almost all the places that I wanted to see but didn't really go inside to explore all of it. Some were closed. And for most parts, I just lost interest in checking the places out. I guess in the end, it's not really about the destination but the journey.

**Phrase I have mentioned the most on this entry: on my own

Experiencing Anawangin, finally.

2010-03-07T20:10:00.000+08:00

the "para maiba naman" shot

I've let the chance to see Anawangin pass me by so many times. The time to see it finally came after the long wait.

our jump off point to Anawangin - thanks to Tatay Ed our bangkero and more

fishing as primary livelihood

Getting there is fairly simple. A bus ride from Manila to San Antonio, tricycle ride to Pundaquit (correct me if I'm wrong) and then there are two ways of going about to Anawangin beach cove. By boat - which will take you 30-45 minutes or trekking - a good 4 to 8 hours walk according to the local boatmen. I went by boat with two good friends. I was ready to go hiking and sweat to death, but the purpose of this trip is simply to have a time away from the buzz of the city for Rose and Kath and so I went with the flow and just enjoyed walking around; afterall, the boatride itself was an adventure.

welcoming Mr. Sun

I don't advice visitors to go there late in the afternoon due to the waves that might give you either a good scare or an injection of adrenaline rush. I had the latter. I would like to think that after sailing around the Cape Horn and between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, no wave can scare me anymore. But I dare not challenge mother nature.

we were all soaked after the boat ride

The view during the entire boatride took my breath away. The state of the mountain and hills is saddening. No trees to provide shade. However, that doesn't make Anawangin less beautiful. In fact, the state of the place is what makes it unique and second-third-fourth look worthy.

When we got there, we were welcomed by series of boats, fellow-vacation-seeker yuppies, families, people from all walks of life and a sari-sari store in a place that we originally pictured as an untouched haven. Thanks to the world wide web and blogging (like what I am doing), the untouched haven no longer exists. Kath exclaimed that it was like Puerto Galera. Yeah, minus the electricity. Don't take me wrong, the place is absolutely beautiful, really breath-taking. However, the amount of people and amount of NOISE sort of made the place a little less peaceful and serene as we hoped it to be. There were bonfire and campsites everywhere causing lasting impacts to land around the area. My friends and I were even fearing sudden pine forest-fire *knock on wood* (I forgot to mention the fact that there are actual pine trees there). I remember attending a seminar conducted by an MFPI member with the group of Maersk mountaineers a couple of years ago. There's this simple line that had a great impact on me: low impact climbing. This simple line isn't easily attained though. In my opinion, this does not and should not be applied on climbing alone. This should be applied wherever and whenever nature is concerned. Which is ALL the time. There was just so much disrepecting going on around the area and the sadness it caused us is immeasurable. Imagine all the lasting effect this would cause to the environment and the natural inhabitants of the place?

suking sari-sari store

I left Anawangin feeling anxious. Tourism need not be destructive. We need to educate people not only to read, to write or to do basic math. We also need to educate people about balance as well as ghe simple logic behind cause and effect. I always try to not be judgemental but I say this with so much disgust to people who complain and say nothing but bad things to our country. No one should dare complain about the current state of the Philippines because we ALL (whether your a Filipino or a foreigner) take part in taking this country to wherever it is going. My Anawangin experience along with all my other hiking and nature-related adventures are constant reminders on how much Philippines needs to wake up. Philippines is so beautiful! But so much is needed to be done as well. Effort should be exerted by everyone to keep it that way. Basic rule - pack it in, pack it out. Leave natural objects as you find them. As the quote goes: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. Pay respect not only to the natural inhabitants and locals in the area but to fellow visitors as well. Respect their experience of the place. So hush it!

We only have one Philippines, one Asia, one world. Don't you want your (future) sons, daughters, nephews, neices, grandkids to experience it?

sunset in Anawangin

Ushuaia, Argentina

2010-03-04T14:42:00.000+08:00

I was in Kids' Korner when it started snowing. I was so excited - panicking even - that I didn't know what I was doing. I remember telling the other counselors that I will run outside to see the snow falling and that they have to understand it's my first time to experience snowfall. I grabbed our uniform winter jacket and ran lightning-speed to the open deck. The second that the open air touched my skin, I knew that the winter jacket is not enough to keep me warm from the strong wind and snowfall but I could care less. I leaned on the deck's rail and realized that snow was indeed falling... Ushuaia is also right in front of me. It was like a scene from a postcard. Snow-capped mountains, little houses... it was perfect. I had to close my eyes, utter a prayer to thank God for creating such beauty and giving me the chance to see it.

Ushuaia is more commercialized than Alaska

Ushuaia reminded me so much of Alaska. Snow-capped mountains, little shops, sky-tram, freezing summer and more. One difference though is that in Ushuaia, and like in most of the South American countries that I have been to, shops are closed during Sunday and the establishments close down after the clock strikes 12 and resumes business at 3pm. Imagine looking for a restaurant for lunch. It can be very frustrating, believe me. Siesta is still widespread in this part of Latin America which I find truly interesting. Along with men who cleans shoes in town plazas which is still widely practiced in Mexico. Philippines was conquered by Spain; however, we only have traces of Spanish invasion left in our premises.

End of the World Prison

The most interesting thing about Ushuaia for me is the fact that it used to be filled with prisoners in order for the Argentine goverment to ensure control over the Tierra del Fuego and at the same time increase their population. The prisoners built a railway leading to their settlement that is now a famous tourist attraction - the tour that I enjoyed so much called Tren del Fin del Mundo or End of the World Train.

inside the prison... ohhh... dark and creepy. I wonder what secret these walls hold?

tree cementery. Prisoners had to cut them down to keep them warm. my heart breaks for these trees

My overall experience in Ushuaia is very calming. I was welcomed by snow when I first came to Ushuaia. I experienced gentle snowfall, I shed tears, I unburdened so many things through scream therapy at the sky ride, I ate my heart out, I walked in the rain, I walked on glacier, I sat and walked in silence all over Ushuaia. However, one need not go to Ushuaia to find peace and tranquility. It is a choice that you have to make. May you find it within you.

overlooking Beagle Channel

born free... as free as... Laarni?

Ciao, Ushuaia!

Punta Arenas, Chile

2010-03-02T07:58:00.000+08:00

Ferdinand Magellan's statue at the heart of the city

I could have done more things but I am happy with the things that I have done in Punta Arenas. My favorite part of all our comings and goings in this city (I prefer to call it town) would be walking around with this thought in my head, “Oh, I blend well!” smiling and feeling very pleased with myself. Wherever I go, be it within or outside the Philippines, I try my hardest to act local even if my camera and constant shutter happy self give me away. I just pretend – in my head of course – that I am a student of photography.

road approximately 800 steps away from the Punta Arenas port

I had a lot of chance to go and kayak the Strait of Magellan (and freeze myself to death) or go to Magdalena Island to see colonies of Magellanic Penguins (and waste four hours of my life – 2 hours one way – on a boat!).

on the other side of this land is the open sea leading to the Magdalena Island

For someone who wants to live her life to the fullest, why would I harbor such negative thoughts and why would I let such opportunities pass me by? Please understand that with the nature of my job, the fractional equation of my life is ¾ on water and the remaining ¼ obviously, on land – for months! Hence, the rejection of the two top activities that one shouldn’t let slip away when in Punta Arenas. Let me tell you though that I am a woman with a mission. My mission then was to spend as much time on LAND as possible with the following activities in mind: stay in coffee shops, hotels or restaurants with free wifi/internet access, people watch in between reading and turning pages of a book under a tree, take long walks on cobblestoned streets, take pictures of streetlamps, admire boots of all colors/shapes/make of size 5 ½ - 6 on display and on people passing by and of course, spy on Latin lovers who display their affection shamelessly much to my delight. Oh the list goes on and on! These all sound boring to normal people. Keep in mind however that I don’t live a very normal life which makes me appreciate the simpler things in life more.

As I was saying, I had a mission. Aside from dreaming of being able to inject a little normalcy into my already abnormal system, I also dream of seeing sheep! Oh yes! Sheeeeep! Baaaaaa! Punta Arenas made that dream come true *tears streaming down to my cheeks from my eyes*. There, I went to an estancia. In layman’s term, estancia is big chunk – no – massive (!), vast chunk of privately owned land where Chilean cows & horses (I say Chilean because they are the special breed of cows & horses found only in Chile – they are very particular and territorial in this part of the world), llamas, sheep, foxes (?), birds and more, roam freely. After that, nothing else mattered. Well, at this point sheep shearing suddenly mattered. We have no sheep in the Philippines (tropical country, duh?!) so I always have this idea that they shear sheep just for the wool to turn them into fur coats or whatever. I found out in Olga Estancia that they shear only the ewe (female sheep) because as the lady of the estancia said, “Sheep are very dumb”. Good thing, I am not a sheep, I am not offended.

before Marlboro Country, there was Chilean huasos! (gauchos for Argentines)

However, I certainly sympathize with them. They are considered dumb because they leave their babies out in the cold – never mind the babies – just because they are kept safe and warm by their wool. Hence, the ewe-shearing began making ewes better mothers since they are forced to find shelter in the winter with the young following them, lessening baby sheep mortality. See, for every action there’s a reaction. Everyone is happy.

Chilean huaso & his loyal sheepdog...

On top of tourism cruising and sheep shearing, Punta Arenas is also a place for discovery and scientific expeditions. Coined and considered as the southernmost city in the world because of its location, it is also one of the 3 common gateways to Antarctica – Ushuaia, Argentina and Christchurch, New Zealand are the other two.

penguin rookery

Now, what comes into your mind when you hear Antarctica? Penguins, I hope!

I journeyed one usual super windy afternoon to Otway Sound, 40 miles north of Punta Arenas to a penguin reserve just to see a few of them from the other side of the looooooong and dismayingly roped path. I wish I could touch them and pet them but they can and will bite anyone that’s why I had to console & content myself with just watching them walk and run or do both at the same time in their funny penguin way, cuddle and strike their “Magellanic” poses as spectators go “oohh and ahh”. Oh they’re sooooo cute and scaly!

Where art thou penguins? The march of the penguin-seekers...

I have said this in my previous posts that most cities in Chile are unbelievably crazy windy, and Punta Arenas is no exception. I will read more on this to find out the scientific explanation behind this. It might be a simple equation but I need to know. Now this is something that everyone probably knows, Chile is a Catholic country thus, visiting a church is a must!

Cathedral of Punta Arenas (a prayer a day takes the burden away)

Another interesting trivia about Punta Arenas is that it shares the same history as Ushuaia, Argentina and Australia. It was also used as a penal colony. As much as I love the present, I can’t help but wonder how life used to be back in those days. A lot has definitely changed with time. It’s great that we’re always given a choice – either to learn from the past or to commit the same mistakes again. Much of the Chilean terrains still seem to be untouched but nature tells us otherwise. However, that’s a completely different topic. The lesson I’ve learned and what I have realized as I write this blog post about Punta Arenas is that NO ONE can ever do EVERYTHING at any given time but you can always win a friend at a coffee shop, I did.

one last glance...

Chilean Patagonia - Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Aisen, Coyhaique

2010-02-28T21:01:00.000+08:00

Coyhaique, Chile from afar

If you like beauty and hostility, then Chile is the place for you. I went on a more or less than 8-hour tour that led me to the outskirts of Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Aisen and further south to Coyhaique and Simpson River.

one of the countless landforms around the Chilean Patagonia

Coyhaique is considered as one of the largest cities in the Patagonia housing the bigger schools and major shopping malls. If you're born in Manila, you might find yourself shaking your head or scratching your head as I did, but this is South America and not South East Asia where retail is the best form of therapy so snap out of it and just keep reading.

one of the town's highlights - animals played a vital role in Chile's agricultural rich land

early and rural Chilean settlers are mostly shepherds - notice how the trees are leaning to the right... hostile weather! let me tell you... (it's bad hair day everyday for me when I'm in Chile!)

inside the Coyhaique Church... everything is made out of wood

Our American-born tour guide was a breath of fresh air. Lo siento, pero yo habla solo un poco espanol. I trust what the tour guide told us but I do not trust my memory to serve me right but two important things struck me among many other things:

1. Chilean government had to pay families to populate the region due to the hostile environment

and that;

2. there was a huge fire in the region that lasted for years which explains a lot about some of the region's vegetation and land's physical state

the water isn't clear coz of the melting snow

Another notable thing about Chile, is that it is really chilly there. Houses in the Southern part of Chile use wood instead of gas to warm their homes. Chilean government have recently been receiving pressures left and right to adhere with the environmental agreement in the light of the Kyoto Protocol focusing on cleaner air - thus pressuring Chileans to stop using wood as heat source in the near future. However, renewable heat source must be readily and easily available for the residents of the region. Cost. Cost. Cost. Everything comes at a price so heavy these days even in a place that is picture perfect.

shot taken from inside the bus, hence, the glare

It was a beautiful, breath-taking day. I love my job. I get to shop, I get to see places, I get to take photos... the reasons are countless.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2010-02-28T15:59:00.000+08:00

Buenos Aires is hailed by some as the Paris of South America. I wouldn't really know since I haven't been to Paris yet. All I know is that Buenos Aires isn't the capital of Argentina. My knowledge of the city is limited.

I have read bits and pieces of information about Argentina from a book that I got from Norwegian Sun's library. Most of the things I have read fictional and subjective but I liked the idea it presented so let me share at least two with you.

Fiction #1: At the turn of the century, a lot of executives were laid off and opted to become taxi drivers instead.

check out the cabs

I am dismayed because I cannot tell wether this is true or not since I wasn't really able to personally communicate with the cab drivers due to my limited Spanish vocabulary. It would have been interesting to hear Argentina's history from a cab driver's point of view.

Fiction #2: Tango is purely Argentinian.

doing the Tango in the streets of Caminito, La Boca

I don’t know if all Argentines would agree, but the way I interpret what the book says, Tango is the backbone of Argentina and that you may strip Argentina of everything but never the Tango although Tango's essence is already dying. No one really knows the history of Tango. They say it goes way back from the days when gauchos roam freely all around the vast untouched lands of Argentina. So before other South Americans throw stones at me, allow me to say that the Tango has branched out years after it has flourished not in its natural pure Argentinian form though (much to milonguenos dismay).

I have witnessed couples dance Tango in the streets of La Boca. I didn’t see any performance that moved my soul though. Maybe I wasn't watching with my heart. Maybe the place is too touristy. Maybe there was just so much going on that I never really paid much attention.

Buenos Aires is not all Tango in my eyes no matter how intrigue I am with it. I have seen the obelisk and ran on the streets of Palermo like mad-man in order not to get killed by zooming cars. I saw the British Clock Tower and snapped a lopsided photo of it from the window of the cab I was in. Passed by the Pink House and Teatro Colon. I saw football stadiums and elaborate architecture everywhere of buildings I won't even dare give a name to. I prefer them to be anonymous buildings meant to be admired in all its nameless glory.

Like most colonized states, Buenos Aires in my opinion is a city that is finding balance between old and new. Similar with most South American countries that I have been to - similar with almost all countries around the world I suppose. I can't help but wonder how can we find one's true identity when everything is changing too fast right before our very eyes and when everything and everyone is a mixture of this and that?

I wish I can summarize Argentina with Evita Peron along with the turbulent political history of the country, Cementerio de la Recoleta, their genuine leather products, beautiful parks, wide streets, slowly deteriorating elaborate architecture, or the tango. I can't. Buenos Aires is Buenos Aires with its own South American charm. I definitely wish though that we were able to record ourselves as we curse in the streets of Buenos Aires as we frantically hail taxi after taxi looking for a cab driver who knows how to get to Rio del Plata where our ship is docked. That tops my Buenos Aires experience.

South America. América del Sur. Sudamérica. América do Sul part 1

2010-02-28T12:06:00.001+08:00

This was taken outside Catedral de San Marcos de Arica in Arica, Chile. This part of the church is filled with prayer requests and thank you's from believers. What fascinates me the most about this place is its history. I have worked with Peruvians and they have raised eyebrows as we walk around the streets of Arica and as they take a sip of their Chilean pisco sour. They claim to have ownership over the land. They told me that there was a Peruvian hero who even jumped over the Morro de Arica with their flag to showing his loyalty and love for his country during the War of the Pacific. We have to hear the Chilean's side of the story though.

that's Morro de Arica (steep and tall hill) behind me

Furthermore, Arica is known as the "city of the eternal spring". Most of the guests that I have spoken to also mentioned that a lot of the locals showed them bones they've dug from their own backyards. After checking out Google for information on Arica, I'm no longer surprised since archaeological researches show that Arica has been inhabited by various groups thousand of years ago.

Aduana de Arica

Catedral de San Marcos de Arica