kicking ass ... muy thai gym in bangkok

Met up with one of Adam's coworkers' friends in Bangkok. A guy from Boston, lived in LA, and decided to move and live in Bangkok. Awwwesome. We caught him when he was en route to his local muy thai gym and we decided.. let's go too! Instructor didn't speak any english, but you really don't need any when you're doing pad work. I was in the ring for THREE rounds, that's a really long time... especially when it's as hot as it is in Thailand. So much fun. We got in a solid workout and I learned a thing or two about muy thai (VERY different from the traditional western boxing I've been doing at K One Fitness in San Francisco).

Made our way to a Korean restaurant in Sukhumvit (thought of Elisa as I ate siracha) .. and later in the evening went to experience Bangkok nightlife. Soi 11 for drinks at Nest (our two drinks were the same price as ALL our meals combined for the entire day.. haha!) and then to Royal City Avenue to dance to some hip hop. The club scene here is awesome and we had a really good time partying it up!

Bangkok, Thailand

Hello Thailand! I feel like I should be finishing my vacation, but it's just getting started - what an exciting feeling! Got a massage at the Manila airport (it was very "expensive" at $15 for an hour... and was also one of the BEST massages I've ever gotten)... and 3 hours later I was in Bangkok. A 30 minute cab ride to our hotel (which I love) was $6.

Went on a night bike tour through the temples, streets of bangkok, and night flower market. Riding a bike in San Francisco is crazy. Riding a bike in New York is insane. But riding a bike in Bangkok is .... I don't even know what word to put here. Regardless it was FUN! Seeing the temples at night was so much cooler than seeing it during the day time (like I did on my last visit).

4 hours of bike riding later we hit ko san road for some beer drinking and people watching as recommended by Greg. Had a great time then jumped in a cab back to the hotel.

Leaving the Philippines

I just spent two weeks in the Philippines.. and I'm realizing... I'm on vacation.

wow.

Had a moment today after snorkeling at a world renowned dive spot (balicasag island off of Bohol) and in that moment i realized... I quit my job. I don't have an address, and I own nearly nothing. holy shit!

I expect the unexpected out of myself. It was a bold decision, I read and re-read my first entry to my blog and I'm proud of myself for having the guts, trusting myself, and making the jump. Hands down one of the biggest, most important, and life changing choices I've made. I haven't had an ounce of regret, everything about it felt right at the time and it has never stopped feeling that way.

And here I am... in the Philippines and en route to Thailand as I write this. Starting in the Philippines was the right decision. A slow start to ease into a foreign place with the familiarity of family was perfect. Having my uncle to pamper me, drive me around, and help get my bearings was priceless and I'm forever thankful to him. Seeing my grandpa in the hometown of where my parents are from was meaningful for me. Thinking back on the last two weeks, the island hopping from Puerto Galera off Batangas, Palawan and Honda Bay, Cebu and Mactan island, and Bohol with our hotel on the white sandy beach of Panglao island and a short boat ride to Baglicasag... it's been one hell of an experience and a LOT of fun. I appreciate the beauty in everything I've seen- and in the people I've met along the way. A Filipino family on the same tour in Palawan took me in like I was one of their own. We hung out all day and I fell in love with the youngest daughter (photo above).

I've traveled to third world countries many times now, and this is my second trip to the Philippines.. but I will never get used to the poverty. There is no middle class in the Philippines. there is a 27% unemployment rate and poverty is staring you in the face everywhere you go. not everyone has access to clean water, or a roof over their head and there isn't a guarantee on your next meal. how could I possibly fret about 'how small will my apartment be if I can only spend $3500/mo on rent and want to live in the west village' when $3500 is more than these people will ever earn in a year?! how can the brand of bottled water I drink in the US ever matter when there are children dying daily (5000 a day) because they don't have access to clean water?! The poverty in the Philippines makes me wonder how Im going to make a difference in the world. I think that's a good challenge to think about over the course of this trip... because I'm 2 weeks in and still have 6 weeks to go...

Island hopping continued... Bohol

A 2 hour ferry ride from Cebu brought us to Bohol - one of the top diving and snorkeling spots in the world. It's definitely a touristy place, I'm not sure if I'm in Europe or the Philippines. Our hotel is right on the beach and it's all white sand and gorgeous. You can score 85cent San Miguel Light beers and a $5/hour massages all day long here. It's quiet and sleepy, definitely not a party spot.

Went on a countryside tour and saw the Chocolate Hills - so fascinating. It looks like the land has goosebumps. Saw a butterfly sanctuary and also did a river lunch (i.e. a floating restaurant, a filipino trying to do R&B cover songs, and a lot of weird folk dancing on the shore that you park and watch). Saw monkeys smaller than the size of the palm of my hand (tarsier monkeys). They're sort of cute, but when they open their eyes... their totally gross looking!

Cebu

The rest of Cebu was okay. This island isn't really about the beaches so we found other things to do... like going to the 'aquarium' (ie a few tanks with local fish and a tour guide that walks with you and explains what you're looking at in pretty good English). The fish were so exotic and beautiful. It's sad knowing that fishermen use dynamite and cyanide in the water to fish. It destroys the reef, kills everything in the water (both what they are fishing for and not fishing for), is not sustainable, and can poison the person that is eating the fish.

Watched a Filipino cultural show (dancing etc) and there was a fire dance at the end (see video). the lady boys here are prettier than I am.
http://youtu.be/skesdkOim-w

I spent several hours at the mall in the morning trying to buy a "going-out" outfit. i.e. not gym gear and flip flops so we could hit the club at Vudu. Dress, jewelry, high heels, belt, and makeup... above is my attempt to put together an outfit. Vudu was an awesome space - a club you would expect to see in SF. Except it was Monday. And it was dead. Still had a great time anyway, drank, hung out, and then cabbed back... total night cost us $10 for drinks and cabs. My outfit cost me more than the last 3 days combined. But it's a good investment.. especially for Bangkok nightlife ;)

Island hopping continued... Cebu

A quick flight and we're in Cebu. First time we're in a more 'modern' city... and staying at a pretty swanky hotel too. It's like we're not even in the Philippines anymore. We spent all day getting lost in the mall (literally you cannot find anything). The mall has everything from restaurants, gyms, hair salons, supermarkets, hardware stores, laundry, book stores, clothing stores, travel agencies... and church mass... right in the middle. A 15 minute (and $1.75) taxi ride later and we're at the Crown Regency to do the (only one in the world) Urban Zipline and "Edge Rollercoaster". This means being 40 floors up and zip lining across from one building to the next... then going on a rollercoater that puts you over the side of the building. It was fun, except that I'm deathly afraid of heights.. here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVOac1CxEzY

Potentially one of the next 7 wonders of the world...

Last day in Palawan before continuing our island hopping (next destination: Cebu). Went to the Underground River - which is the one of the finalists for being one of the next wonders of the world. Got in a van and drove out to the boonies for 2 hours, jumped on a motorized boat to the base of a mountain, then jumped in a paddle boat and went into the underground river inside the mountain. The highlights: it was pitch black (we had one flash light) and there were too many bats. It was interesting to see, I think I was scared of tipping over the whole thing (and the flashlight going out and me being stuck in this underground river cave of death with bats flying everywhere and five hundred mosquito bites). We didn't tip over, but I did get 500 mosquito bites.

Island hopping: Honda bay

I'm up at 6am trying to cure my hangover with pan de sal (bread). Awesome. Got picked up bright and early for island hopping continued in Honda Bay. Perfect weather and a calm water brought our 8 person boat to Pandan Island, Snake island.. and more. Snorkeling was amazing- so many fish, beautiful coral, and I found nemo (literally). The weather was hot and the water was hot... drank fresh coconuts in the shade. For the price of a whole foods cocowater... you could basically buy a tree with dozens of coconuts. And that'd cover the labor for the guy to get the coconuts, open them, wait while you drink them, then cut the coconut in half and make you a 'coconut spoon' so you can eat the coconut meat. Sweet.

We were served lunch right on the water at Snake Island and then swam out to the edge of the island and walked across a beautiful sandbar- one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

8 days of Island Hopping Continued... Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Took a short flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines and checked into one of the 'nicest' resorts here... I'm actually pretty surprised by how nice it is. Went on a city tour of the island including a crocodile farm. I hate crocodiles. Needless to say I was scared... walking over an old rusty bridge that is about to fall apart and having a 30 foot crocodile underneath you is scary. Period.

Spent the evening at a recommended night life spot: Tiki. Appetizers, dinner, a dozen beers (literally), shooters, an hour of pool shooting, live music, and a tricycle ride to/from our resort ... cost us $40 total. Right. Suddenly I don't feel so bad about being unemployed right now...

Beacon of Hope Orphanage, Naic Cavite, Philippines

One of my goals for this trip is to get perspective on my life... how I've been living it and how I will continue to live it when I make my move to NYC. Last week I visited an orphanage started by an extended family member. She had lived in a beach home in southern california for the majority of her life and realized her calling was to start an orphanage in the Philippines. I had helped my sister raise money to build it, but I had no idea what this orphanage was really about until I visited it. Entering the big double gates I was met with 14 orphans, each with their own heart wrenching story on how they got there - emaciated and malnourished, born from incest, saved from being trafficked and sold, blind... the stories go on about how each of the 14 children all under 4 years old came to the orphanage. I couldn't bare to hear the story of each one. The bottom line: no amount of work that I have ever accomplished in my 9-5 would ever come close to what had been accomplished at this orphanage. This woman had given up her ... everything... in southern california to save the lives of 14 children and counting. That's 14 more lives than I've saved. I was humbled by my visit to the Beacon of Hope and I realized that I can get caught up in all the deadlines, meetings, and projects that are piled on my desk.. but nothing, nothing will ever compare to this.

Island hopping: Batangas to Puerto Galera, White Beach

Ventured south of Tagatay to Batangas and jumped on a ferry to Puerto Galera for a short overnight trip. It's a small beach town that you can walk the entire length of in 10 minutes or less. White sandy beaches, palm trees, and a LOT of sun. We took a 3 hour island hopping boat tour, snorkeled, and soaked in the sun.. and a lot of San Miguel beer (which costs a bit more than a dollar per bottle). Life is hard.

Getting acclimated... by getting (really) spoiled

No time to plan my trip before I left San Francisco, so my first country was the Philippines so that I could stay with family and get acclimated and draft an itinerary. I can't say I feel like I'm in a foreign country. I'm staying at my Uncle's house in the mountains of Tagatay... which is the equivalent of staying in Beverly Hills. He had a modern home built here and there's a country club, maids that do all our laundry, cook all our meals, and pick up the mess I make. I'm driven everywhere and spending $0 a day the last time I checked is within my budget.

It's been a good way to start my trip as I read my brand new copy of Lonely Planet. It's also been good because I got sick on the plane (did I mention I threw up at customs and didn't have access to water for another hour?). Plus I overdosed on malaria medicine. I guess that's why you read directions: 1 per day is not the same as 1 per week. Whatever, at least I'm not getting malaria anytime soon. I took 3 pills too many and WOW - it was like having 3 shots of tequila (constantly dizzy and I can't walk straight). Didn't prevent me from beating Adam in Uno.

So it hasn't been too different from home. I think I've eaten 10 mangoes in 3 days, but I'm still watching UFC and have access to clean water.

The adventure begins...

Backpack packed. The beautiful Miss Willa drives us to the airport.. and I spend the next 17 hours chasing daylight. On the first leg of our flight - we were served two lunches. We started at 1pm California time, and our connecting flight in Japan landed at 4pm... which means every time I opened the window there was daylight. Weird. Our flight was late in Japan and our flight to the Philippines was boarding by the time we landed. Sprinting across the airport after having just had 4 glasses of wine and an hour nap is ... sobering ... to say the least.

And then I got sick. How do I get sick from the food BEFORE I even get to Asia?? I thought I'd at least make it a few weeks before getting sick. I guess the plane food was bad in more ways than one. I was able to get through the flight before rushing to the bathroom at customs and throwing up. Nothing that some four letter words, some tears, and a hair tie to hold my hair back wouldn't fix.

Anyway, we made it to the Philippines. It's 2am and I think I'm going to go pass out for a long time. Tomorrow will have been 8 days from my last day at work... and it will also be the FIRST day that I get to sleep in.

Destination determined. Flights Booked. And I'm officially unemployed.

Destination determined: Asia

Flights booked: Starting in Philippines. Then making my way to SE Asia (Thailand/Vietnam/etc).

And I'm officially unemployed: Did I really just have my last day of work?