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All Thai'd Out: Overview

We're all Thai'd out!

Karla has outdone herself yet again, planning-wise. When we first discussed this trip last year, we agreed that we wanted to stay in Thailand for a relatively "long" time (longer than we normally would on an Asian country) and aim for more cultural experiences. You see, the usual expectation for a Filipino tourist is that said tourist will stay in Bangkok for 3-4 days, check out some temples, ride an elephant, then spend the rest of the time food tripping or shopping. Sure, we did loads of those too, and then some. Looking back at the entire journey, the only thing missing to complete the Thailand experience is a trip to the beach (personally, though, I'd still rather go to one of our own).

By the end of the trip, the conclusion is clear: Thailand is rich with color, flavor, and character. I mean that in both a literal and figurative sense. It's an exciting destination with plenty of offer. No surprise that people from all over the world are so enchanted with this place.

Our 11-day journey concentrated on two areas: Bangkok and Chiang Mai. In Bangkok, we did the "required" activities like shopping and going to their very golden temples. We also got to eat and drink at both dirt cheap but oh-so-good places (still dreaming of my 45 baht noodles and 25 baht Thai milk tea!) and higher-end settings (still reeling from the view from the Sky Bar at Sirocco). We also got way more than we bargained for when we signed up for the Hangover 2 tour. For the record, I never watched the movie, and even Karla did not expect this tour to be something other than your friendly neighborhood pub crawl. That was, however, very interesting, and it probably made me very suspicious of guys going to the strip club, ha ha ha!

We spent more time in Chiang Mai where most of the action happened. We had our share of close encounters with animals, namely tigers and elephants. We also did an overnight trek up to a mountain village, which made my thighs ache miserably for days! We visited Karen villages and even the crossed the border to Laos (and earned an extra stamp on our passports). My personal favorites, though, were joining a Thai cooking class and checking out the contemporary White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) up in Chiang Rai.

Here's a summary of what we did:

Day 1: Fly to Bangkok (AM), temple hopping (afternoon), Hangover tour (evening)

Day 2: Free day for shopping and food tripping

Day 3: Fly to Chiang Mai (AM), tigers

Day 4: Day trip (waterfalls, Karen village, Twin Pagoda), traditional khantoke dinner and cultural show (evening)

Day 5: Thai cooking class, relax for the hectic days ahead

Day 6: Overnight trek Day 1 (elephants, sleep in traditional village)

Day 7: Overnight trek Day 2 (with white water and bamboo rafting)

Day 8: Day trip to Chiang Rai (Wat Rong Khun, Golden Triangle/border crossing to Laos, Karen long neck village)

Day 9: Free day to explore downtown Chiang Mai, relax, get a Thai massage, and eat eat eat

Day 10: More food tripping, fly back to Bangkok (PM)

Day 11: Last-minute shopping and more food tripping (what did you expect?)

Day 12: Fly back to Manila (AM)

The pace was just right. We had time to do all the activities we wanted to do, but had enough space for free exploration and total relaxation. This is definitely up there on my list of favorite trips. Hoping to share much more in the coming posts!

#wewandertoo #asia #thailand #bangkok #chiangmai #itinerary #travel #culture

10 Reasons Why You, the Non-Swimming Traveler, Must Learn How to Swim

Note: I wrote this entry back in early March before my first ever swimming lesson. Can I swim now? Yes. I still need to practice catching air between strokes, but I can go back and forth in a swimming pool. Can I survive in deep, open water? Maybe not yet--part of the fear is still there, but I choose to put my faith in time, patience, and persistence. The water will find me and I will meet it halfway soon. Very soon.

This is me talking to myself.

Hello, self. On the eve of your first (real?) swimming lesson, I figured that you need a little pep talk. First off, you've decided to face one of your fears head-on. Clap clap! Now, before you go freak yourself out in the best way possible, let me give you 10 reasons why you, future ex-non-swimmer, should learn how to swim.

1. Because shooting photos underwater is perennially cool. It's on every season of America's Next Top Model, remember?

2. Because you want to do more than just snorkel when the best and most pristine coral reefs in the world are within your country.

3. Because you are scheduled to jump off a cliff and a waterfall because Karla said so. There may be life jackets, sure, but you know you're paranoid android enough to take possible malfunctions into account.

4. Because you're almost always around water when you travel, no matter the country. What if your boat pulls a Titanic? (read: paranoid android)

5. Because you've always wanted to swim with the whalesharks ever since you saw the movie Donsol.

6. Because you're a tropical girl from a tropical country with brown skin to match. Random Europeans were overheard talking about you ("How many times has she been to the beach? 40?"). Live up to the stereotype for once, island girl!

7. Because you're tired of being needy and holding on for dear life to people you've just met. Give the tour guides a rest. They had probably been cursing you under their breath for being so high maintenance (no, I'm kidding, they're the best!). Don't let Beyonce down and be an independent woman, you single lady. Now put your hands up!

8. Because you announced to the world (Facebook, all 3 readers of your blog, mama), that you will surf when you go back to Baler. Which, may I tell you, is tentatively set for next week [note: We didn't get to go... yet!]. Stand by your words, because I know that you really mean what you say.

9. Because most people float, and they do when they are chilled out and relaxed. You have an added advantage because you're a girl. Science can explain it and all. Know the water and trust in it (and your swimming instructor). Trust is key.

10. Because you've conquered your fears before. You weren't a fan of thrill rides but now you don't freak out as much. You were pathetic at rock climbing up a wall in 2007 but you climbed up an actual rock formation in 2013 without trembling or breaking a sweat. And admit it, you love the water. Now go take that relationship to the next level.

Okay, maybe you just scrolled through all that. So here, have a relevant Calvin and Hobbes comic:

So go on and tell me how it goes. I'll be here, waiting... creepily... in the internet. :)

#wonder #fear #swimming #non-swimmer #travel #pep talk #calvin and hobbes #lists

Australia, March 2013 and still happening

Go on, tell me that Karla isn't having one of the most epic trips of her life. I'd like to see you try...

Obvious envy aside, I can't wait for this crazy girl to return to our shores and tell me all about the stunts she pulled in Australia (skydiving? bungee jumping? riding camels?!). She might not have enough time for that, though, because we have a crazy itinerary to follow as soon as she arrives. It begins with a trek up a volcano, continues suddenly to the beach...es, and ends somewhere you can raft and jump off waterfalls. All in the name of Filipino hospitality!

That's still a few weeks away from now, so for now I will dig through the archives and recall a few fond memories from the years past. Anyway, please do catch up with us through the social media of your choice! We're on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Having said that, thanks for the follows, likes, and shares everyone! Hope to hear from you soon.

Much love, Kay

#australia #outback #camel #camel ride #ayers rock #uluru #photopost

Seoul: Final Thoughts

Will we ever stop talking about South Korea? Probably not. It was easily one of the most memorable places we've been to. You just can't go wrong with a place full of good food at every corner, friendly and helpful people, and rich history and culture. Truth be told, there's so much more to talk about, but we'll end this chapter for now and move on to the 2 million other stories that we can't wait to share with you!

In parting, here are a few more pictures (and random food porn) to round up our Seoul series:

There's a misadventure behind this picture. Our group created a bit of a stir there! Whoops!

Thanks for sticking around! On to the next destination!

#photopost #korea #south korea #asia #travel #hongdae #food #food porn

The Seoul Hostel Experience

Big Tree House Hostel in Seoul gave a lot of my friends a first time experience of staying at a hostel. That said, I had to do a little more convincing before getting the go signal to book for shared rooms with bunk beds. With a big group of ten and more than a week’s stay in Seoul, I had to find a place that felt like “home”. Big Tree House definitely gave off that vibe. It was a located in a quiet alley not far from Hongdae (where the party is at) and it had a good selection of restaurants within reach. It is also located within walking distance of two subway stops and a lot of convenience stores (which we frequently visited).

Young, the host/land lady was fantastic. She was very accommodating and willing to help out in any way she can. She kept the place really clean and the atmosphere really warm. As a bonus to really fast Wi-Fi connectivity, Young spoke very good English and was able to assist us with directions to places that we wanted to visit.

There were a lot of things in this hostel that I loved, but most of all it was the fact that most of our other roommates stayed just as long as we did. In those eight days, we made new friends from Russia, Germany, and Sweden. The lobby was small and cozy enough for us to chat and get to know each other. Leave it to me and my hyperactive energy to "accidentally" introduce myself to one of the other guests! I mistook one of the girls as my friend, Jess. Silly me even hugged her by the shoulder while holding my phone and telling her to say hi to my friend Tina over Skype. After seeing Tina’s reaction, I took a closer look and realized it was someone I didn’t know! That marked the beginning of a friendship formed in Seoul.

Being a big group of ten meant that we formed the majority of guests at the hostel during our stay. That also meant that we were given more leeway! One night, we decided to buy soju and party in the hostel along with the other guests. As Kay put it, “Where Karla is, the party begins.” Leave it to me to get the dance floor going while being introduced to K-Pop songs! It was a night that everyone definitely enjoyed. Why go to the club when we can have our own party right there--in the comfort of our “home”, at least for the time being.

Initially, we spent the mornings talking to other guests about our plans for the day. In the evening, we shared stories about how our day went. Later on, the conversation deepened as to how things worked in our specific countries of origin. From time to time, we’d compare and see how we were similar or different. We even debated about our taste in music too. After a week, it seemed like we’ve filled our cups to the brim and shared a lot of things that it actually became “painful” to leave.

The experience of a staying at a hostel definitely added something extra to our Seoul-ful getaway. While my friends and I always searched for cheap accommodation with decent bathrooms, we always opted for the safety of our own private rooms and bathrooms. Had I not gone to Europe last summer, I may not have considered this kind of setup. However, I do not regret to say that now, my friends and I are strangers to hostels NO MORE! This definitely stretched our travel budget and even added more color to our already educational experience in Seoul. Apart from learning about the culture of the country we were visiting, we had the chance to take a glimpse of the culture of our fellow travelers. Staying in hostels is really a great way of meeting like-minded people and broadening our horizons, travel-wise.

[NOTE: If you're wondering how you could book a stay in this hostel, sadly it is no longer in business as of April 2013. We're heartbroken! We really wanted people to consider staying here. That said, thank you very much Young for accommodating us and for making us feel at home in Seoul!]

#seoul #asia #korea #south korea #big tree hostel #hostel #travel #accommodation #where to say #wonder

Seoul Searching: Happy Everland After

I'm a late bloomer when it comes to theme parks. Correction: I'm a late bloomer with everything! I'm always cautious about new experiences (remember Baler?). More often than not, it takes a push (or at times, a shove) from friends who don't want me to miss out on something fun. Fortunately, my appetite for adventure grew through the years. By the time I got to Everland with our huge Korea group, the adrenaline and sensory overload that came with theme parks became things to look forward to.

That openness came with repeated exposure. At the "tender" age of 16, I tried out the Jurassic Park log ride at Universal Studios with my brother. Afterwards, I decided that nope, this really isn't my kind of thing. Then for my 18th birthday, my high school friends decided to surprise me by taking me (with blindfolds on and all) to Enchanted Kingdom. They saved the Space Shuttle roller coaster for last, and boy, was I stressed! Unfortunately for me, that was hardly the end of it! Years later, the same group managed to pressure me onto the G-MAX reverse bungee in Singapore. I coped by shouting vile expletives that was heard all through Clark Quay. Sigh!

On one hand, there was relief at the end of every thrill ride. Part of me said, "Whew, glad it's over!" and "That wasn't as bad as I thought!". Another part of me thought, "Geez, why the flippin' hell do we pay to do these things?". While I had conflicting feelings about these experiences, it's true that they had become my way of exploring and conquering my fears bit by bit. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, they say. This quote makes a lot of sense given major decisions I've made in recent years. These past years had been the most turbulent, but at the same time, these are the ones that made me shape up and become the kind of adult that I should be.

"Profound insights" aside, getting to Everland was a bit of an adventure itself. The exact bus that would definitely take us to Everland didn't seem to be there. What did we do? Let's just say that we overheard a group of young people who planned to go to Everland and we decided to follow them. Traveling creates stalkers, I tell you.

We found ourselves in a bus that took us towards Everland. A few more missed turns and a couple of very helpful locals later, we finally made it!

The official website gives all the information you need about the theme park and what it has to offer. That said, I compiled a handy-dandy list of impressions about Everland:

THE GOOD:

1. Entrance is much cheaper than Hongkong Disneyland (1,500 php vs. 2,400php). Food isn't too expensive considering that we were inside a theme park.

2. You'll find your standard theme park rides there like bump cars (can't go wrong with bump cars!), a rapids-type ride (Amazon Express), and random things that are designed to spin and swing you around in an increasingly stomach-turning manner (Hurricane and Colombus Adventures). They also have a safari-type ride featuring wild animals, which sets it apart from Disneyland.

3. The T-Xpress is a wooden rollercoaster with a steep descent at a 77-degree angle. We did this last and it was definitely the highlight of our stay in Everland. We had to convince a couple of our friends to go for it, and they were glad to be talked into it in the end. The freak out was worth it!

THE BAD:

1. Do not enter Pororo 3D Adventure if you know what's good for you! We lined up, expecting some sort of fun multisensory experience (big word!) ala Rialto in Enchanted Kingdom or Shrek 4D. We were shuffled from one room to another to watch a Korean-language cartoon, basically. Somehow, we couldn't figure out a polite exit strategy! The kids in the room seemed to love it though. As for us, we quickly became a row of sleeping people, haha!

2. Global Village (in Magic Land) is basically a carbon copy of It's A Small World. You ride a moving vehicle that takes you around the world with different doll displays. Honestly, the dolls were a bit creepy-looking. The Disney version is better.

3. Mystery Mansion. It's a shooting game. A lame shooting game. I'm not sorry.

In retrospect, even the terrible and nerve wracking parts became enjoyable experiences at the end of the day. Company is key! There may be ten different personalities in our trip but collectively, we were funnier, braver, and more awesome than usual (caution: very biased opinion). And so we all lived happily Everland after.

#wonder #itinerary #south korea #asia #korea #wewandertoo #travel #adventure #theme park #rides #rollercoaster

Wicked in My Heart and Seoul

Before this, I had two chances to catch the musical, Wicked. One was when I was in London and the other time was in Singapore. Both times, I failed. It didn’t match times when I was available, it was too expensive, I had no companion, and so on and so forth. Luckily, there was an ongoing production during our trip to Seoul! It wasn't like we flew to Seoul just to watch it, but somehow it was finally the right time to do so.

My cousin, Kritzia, kept telling me “Karls, you have to watch it. It's my favorite play!” My first taste of what this show had to offer actually came from the TV series Glee. They made a cover of Defying Gravity and it was a hit. That song actually inspired me to give the musical a shot.

Just a few minutes into the production, I already understood what my cousin meant. I walked away thinking that the experience was definitely worth it.

Not only did I love the story, but I loved the set, the soundtrack, the choreography, the costumes, and well, everything about it! I found myself singing these lines:

"I’ve heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn and we are lead to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return

Well I don’t know if I believe that's true, but I know I’m who I am today, because I knew you..."

- For Good

This song struck me the most because it speaks of truth. I believe that everyone I encounter is meant to teach me something about my life. It is through these experiences with all these people that now, I am who I am.

During the curtain call, the audience gave a thundering applause and a (well-deserved) standing ovation. Who knew that we could catch a play like this in Korea? Despite some language barriers (Korean translations were flashed onto the projector screens), everyone was enthusiastic and appreciative of the performance.

The musical really left an impact on me and my friends. We found ourselves singing the songs as we rode the train back to our hostel that night. I’m glad we took the plunge and tried something different. I guess that's one thing about traveling--you never know what experiences you'll end up enjoying unless you give them a try. So seek them out and take a chance.

#wonder #korea #asia #south korea #seoul #wicked #musical #play #defying gravity #for good #travel #wewandertoo

Postcards from Seoul: Seoul Tower, Teddy Bear Museum, and Our Best-Kept Secret (Family Mart!)

It was only our first day but our huge group was quite determined to cover a lot of ground! After exploring the more traditional Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon Village, we were off to the highest point in Seoul--the N Seoul Tower (N서울타워). Once again, Seoul managed to add some cute and surprising touches to what could easily have been a typical lookout point of the city!

#seoul #south korea #asia #travel #wewandertoo #seoul tower #namsan park #teddy bear museum #birds eye view #family mart #photopost #itinerary #korea

Postcards from Seoul: Looking for Bukchon Village

#seoul #korea #wewandertoo #photopost #bukchon village #hanok

The Road to Seoul: Counting from Two to Ten

My friends always say that I have a knack for finding a good travel deal. I think it's because of the system my travel buddies and I devised. Even before airlines go on sale, we peg the dates when we are free to travel and decide on the places that we want to see. Based on this list, I research to know how many days should be spent in a particular place. When we finally chance on a promo, all we had to do was check our selected dates vis-a-vis our destination picks. But in the process, we realized that it’s hard to wait for everyone to decide whether it's a go or no-go. As such, we created a new strategy: If you're good to go, just book it! Convince the others later on.

#seoul #korea #asia #itinerary #wewandertoo #travel

February 25, 2013: Today in Airfare Promos

What are local airline carriers if not for their crazy holiday sales? By the time you read this, most of the best deals would have been sold out. For instance, Karla and I just missed out on Airphil Express' introductory fares to one of our ultimate Philippine travel goals, Batanes. We could've flown there this June for around 3,000php roundtrip. Fine, it's my fault for falling asleep, but hey, it was 1am when Karla sent that frantic message!

#news #airphilexpress #cebupacific #airfare promo #wishlist

Bolder, Braver, Wander: A Promise to Baler

By the end of our second trip to Baler, I reached the tipping point. Perhaps it was an act of false bravado, but I declared to my friends that I will finally surf when we return for a third time. If there's one thing I learned from traveling, it's this: Sometimes you need to confront your fear of the unknown, take a deep breath, and just take the damn plunge. Most times, you come out wiser, braver, and a little surprised at what you are capable of doing.

#wonder #surfing #baler #aurora #philippines #promises #travel #fears #greece #ionian sea #misibis bay #scuba diving #legazpi #albay #epirus

The Surfers of Sabang Beach, Baler: We Rise After Every Fall

Unlike Karla, the thought of surfing terrifies me. You crash head on against the waves. The waves slap against your face and chest. You struggle for balance. To submerge underwater is inevitable, and you have to trust yourself to stand up and try again.

I do not quite trust myself to stand up and conquer my fear of the water--yet. So I turfed, meaning I stayed on the shore and observed with two feet planted firmly to the ground. So here's a photo post featuring the surfers of Sabang Beach, Baler--those brave souls that I admire, for they choose to rise after every fall.

#baler #aurora #philippines #wewandertoo #surfing #Sabang beach #travel #asia's next top model #wonder #photopost #fears

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