Setting Things Up

It's quite banal for me to prep for my intended trips or travels. Things just happened instantly that I don't know what had happened. It was just fleeting! 

Tomorrow will be my 46th birthday and it's  usually customary for me to celebrate it somewhere that I could unwind and ease up my mind amidst the hustle and bustle of the city life. Which I think is the right thing to do. 

I celebrated my birthday last year in Nancy, France in the middle of the renowned and beautiful Stanislaus Square. Appreciating the intricate landscape of the square.  I even celebrated my previous birthdays in Turin, Italy walking tirelessly with my friend Doreen amidst the cold early Winter season on a well decorated streets of the city and to see the ever famous Holy Shroud (which apparently was been kept and locked in a safe at the time we went there.)

Now, I'm home in my birthland and I wanted to celebrate it away from my friends and family where I could feel the sands and explore the beauty of nature. Kinda selfish gesture but at this time I just wanted to be alone. I hope they'll understand. It was fortunately planned and tomorrow I'm off to go. Will post a lot of pictures. That's a promise!

At least I had time for myself forgetting the stress of my job as well as the demands of my bosses and patients as well. Not to mention the worst traffic of Los Angeles super highways. And the imminent and polluted air of the city.

I was quite excited and very jittery. I felt that my stomach was churning like a mad machinery and my mouth was about to puke out. Too much anxiety and I never knew what entails or awaits for me there. But I have a feeling it will be surreal that my eyes will bulge to an optimum appreciating what mother nature had graced my country with beautiful sandy beaches and explorable islands. 

Kinda excited of what will happen but first things first. I needed to prepare for everything  that I felt customary to bring and that I will be more fruitful and productive for this travel. I needed to triple check what I needed to bring so that I won't regret and that won't make myself guilty. In the end my birthday will be memorable and remarkable. 

Let's hope for the best though. I will be turning a year older but still I refused to get old which is apparently undeniably true to hold. Hehehe.

Life is indeed short. So what should I do? But to make out the most of it. Travel, explore, venture, and make some good and unforgettable memories. Isn't that the best thing to do?

Mexican Countryside Travel

My Mexican route travel was kind of a little bit of this and that. Starting from the west (Guadalajara) down to the south (Oaxaca) and then going to the east (Cancun) and then going back to the central part (Mexico D.F.). It was a very interesting  travel and I was kinda astonished how I did it alone but it was great. Actually amazing.

It was quite a long time that I haven't gone for a long vacation so leaving Los Angeles gave me some jitters. It was a mixed feelings and emotions. Leaving my job for quite sometime made me quite nostalgic because I have to leave my dear patients and colleagues for quite sometime. As well as made me excited because I'm embarking on another wholesome adventure and experience. Can't quite contain my excitement but I have to because I love Mexico a lot and I just can't wait to explore more things about it.

My first stop was Guadalajara. Dubbed as the second largest city it was quite a quaint town. A lot to offer for tourists like me. Athough I stayed at the central (downtown) part of the city I enjoyed browsing some notable edifices like the cathedral, the city hall, the cultural theater, the main plaza, the modern art museum, the parks, and many more.

The people were quite concentrated and focused more on spending time with their families as evidenced by the bossoming zocalo teeming with playing children being watched by their respective parents. It was a very laid back city.

The following day I signed up for a tequila tour wherein I have to tour one or two tequila distilleries. We went to Tres Mujeres and La Confradia distilleries which had offered us a bit of information on how to make tequila. We even did some tequila sampling which I liked most because I didn't know there were a lot of kinds of tequila. We also went to a tequila plantation and saw vast array of blue agave plants lined up in straight rows on the fields. There was also a demonstration on how to harvest the agave plants for tequila extraction. It was a very educational tour. I learned a lot about making and manufacturing tequila.

After the tour of the distilleries we then proceeded to the heart of it all. We headed to the town of Tequila where everything had started. The group dispersed individually and agreed to meet in two hours at the bus station.

I toured the whole town alone ambling around starting at the front of the cathedral and then the mercado and browsing each corners of the streets until I saw the Cuervo Mansion at the far end of the main street. I then went to check the mansion out and enjoyed a little tour around checking out the corners of the opulent structure not leaving anything unchecked which is now donated to the town and was eventually made as a museum for visitors and tourists to browse.

I further roamed around the town and saw the Cholula's as well as Abuela's outlets. After that I went back to the bus station and meet up with the group so that we could go back to Guadalajara. It was a very educational tour and it was fun as well interacting with a very paticipative and cooperative group.

The second day, I woke up early at five and went to the bus station heading to the industrial town of Leon known for its high quality leather boots and belts. It was still dark when I left Guadalajara and hopefully in three hours I will be in Leon.

I arrived at Leon at 0800H and the town was just waking up from a foggy and cold night. I just arrived at the right time so I hired a taxi to drop me off at the centerville. I noticed that the town was teeming with factories around the town and that the people were just accustomed to walking because there were no buses at the town center but only taxi cabs. There were not much tourists as well as I noticed because Leon is not really a touristic place.

I walked and walked starting from the town center checking its nooks and crannnies not leaving anything unchecked. From the zocalo, the plaza were beautifully adorned  with manicured mushroom-shaped fica trees and the huge plaza appeared like a man made labyrinth in person. It was very beautiful there.

I also checked the cathedral and couple of churches, the mercado, the downtown area (where I was looking for some quality leather belts but I haven't found any), checked out the expiatorio where Pope John Paul II had a mass in the past, and the Arco de la Calzada bearing a bronze Lion on top reminiscent of the Arch de Triomph in Paris.

From Leon, since I still have time, I decided to hop on a bus and go to Guanajuato which is only thirty minutes from Leon. I've been to Guanajuato in my past travels to Mexico but I just can't get enough of this very romantic and progressive town.

So I went to the bus station and bought a  ticket going to Guanajuato. I didn't even realized it was a Saturday, so when I hit out of the bus station I immediately hired a taxi to drop me off the centro. It was still vivid in my mind the last time I went to this silver mining town nestled on the mountains and hills. The colorful boxes houses as seen from the top of the hill was faacinating and the aerial view of the town from the top was stunning. Can't really forgot those awe moments I've had in the past.

Having dropped bu the taxi at the centro, I realizes there was a music festival (what a coincidence) and the streets were teeming of revelers and tourists alike. The streets were closed to any public transportation but it is still crowded will people flowing in and out from any directions.

The city was still colorful and beautiful as it was. I revisited some of the places that I've been before like the zocalo, Teatro Juarez (which is very elegant with its statues proudly standing on its rooftop), the La Granaria, the Cathedral of Guanajuato (colorful as it is on its yellow hue, standing amidst the center of the town), the artful facade and endless stairs of the University of Guanajuato, the colonial  edifice of the Mercado Gomez, and many more places that I even forgot to remember.

The throngs of people every where were just insane, the wooing Romeo's serenading women and girls eating at the nearby restaurant was a fascinating site, the upbeat music of the mariachis singing in front of their patrons was even captivating, I just can't held stopping and listening to them.

The fast warm Saturday afternoon was even aggravated by the crowded throng of people everywhere but still it was a happu feeling that I'm back at this very laid back, romantic, colorful, and artful city. It was just a sigh of relief to have roamed again to places that I've been through before. I just won't forget the moments that I've been with a very very close friend. Haist.

After my time had lapsed I went back to the bus station bound for Leon then going back to Guadalajara. It was already 2200H when I git back. It was a really awesome trip I've had that day and when I got to Guadalajara, I was already statving so I decided to feast and get drunk on my last day for tomorrow will be another long journey.

I was contemplating to go to Puerto Vallarta the following day before I leave Guadalajara but it seems that the fatigue from too much walking that day had given a toll on me. I dumped the idea and decided to rest and woke up late for I have to travel seven hours by bus to Mexico City for my transit trip to Oaxaca.

The following day, I woke up late getting ready for my long trip to Distrito Federal. The bus trip was smooth and uneventful. I saw some nice sceneries from my window seat and I didn't even got bored furing the long trip. It was long yet I was being entertained by the nice view of nature and villages along the road. It was really a great experience and a fun bus ride.

When I got to Mexico City Bus North Terminal, I immediately purchased a ticket going to Oaxaca. The bus leaves at 2330H so it turns out that I will be spending the night on the road. The bus left on time and it turned out it was a smooth and uneventful ride.

We arrived at Oaxaca at 0650H, so I immediately hired a taxi upon coming out of the terminal. When I got to the hotel, I was entertained by a very amiable lady and I explained to her that I came early because I needed to tour to Monte Alban. She was kind enough to have my luggage left at the depository and told me to just check in later when I come back from the tour.

Since the tour starts at 1000H, I still have time to roam around the centerville then I come back once it's time to leave.

I went to the zocalo, which was still quiet that time because it was still early in the morning. It was quite cold that time and I kind of liked it. I went north not knowing where to go until I saw a church belfry. I followed the road going there and I  felt fortunate because it was the Dominican church of Santo Domingo, where I missed before when I went here in the past years.

The church facade was very intricate and symbolic of a Dominican dominion. Inside  was a very intricate interior filled with awe-inspiring tiled relief of gilded Poblano ceramics. It was very beautiful to look at even though I needed to crane my neck. From the entrance until the altar side the ceiling was very pretty. On the otherhand, the gold altar was very stunning to look at. I heard rumors that it was made of tin gold foils intricately plastered by hand on a mahogany made ballusters. It was very shiny and beautiful to look at from a distance.

After meticulously inspecting the church interior, I left the church and headed to check the streets and its corners. I ambled endlessly killing time and decided to go back to the hotel before the tour guide picked me up at the hotel. Thinking I still have some ample time, I decided to take a breakfast at the hotel and there I met the house chef who was originally from San Fernando Valley, CA. We talked for a while and she recommended me some places to visit which I was very appreciative of her kindness.

The tour guide picked me up after breakfast then he continued to pick up more clients at the plazuela. There I met my newfound friends from Korea (Hyun) and from London (Vickie).

Monte Alban was a very laid back place on top of a plateau just a few miles from the city. We browsed all the nooks and crannies of the old civilization which housed the Zapotec tribe four thousand years ago as per our benevolent guide Joe who tirelessly supplied us a lot of information about the place. I just can imagine how progressive the place four thousand years ago. I can see some unique arts and architectures from the ruins which really had puzzled me why they suddenly disappeared just like the case of the Mayan tribes. The Zapotecs had dominated the southwestern side of the country which was mainly comprised of the current Estado de Oaxaca.

The group also went to visit two artisan places which makes intricate painted wood carvings and shiny black ceramics which we eagerly watched their return demonstration of the products they were making.

After that we also visited the doomed church of Cuelapan erected by the Dominican friars in the 1500 century which was never finished since its inception because of the less support of the Spanish royalty to fund the said church. The church was of historical value though because it is where Pope John Paul II baptized the last documented king of the local Zapotecs.

After the tour we returned to the city and then I checked in at the hotel and rested because I was really super tired from the trip and from the tour.

The following day I decided to take a rest day and just hang out at the zocalo and listen to the free orchestra privided by the city government in celebration of the Oaxaca Filmfest Festival. I was very lucky to come there witnessing the said events. There were tents and exhibits about past and present entries and I was eager to had browsed, watched, listened, and read them. It was very informative and educational.

I then went back to my hote and meet a newly found local friend named Armando.  We just talk and talk and was just really into our conversation trying to know each other and making good impressions. It was nice meeting him and he showed me some of the key places of the city which I've never been. I was really thankful that I met him. If not for him I never knew about Oaxaca, it's culture and customs, and gastronomic value to the country. Most of the produce of Mexico comes from this state as explained to me by Armando. We parted with good vibes vowing to keep in contact with each other. He taught me more Spanish slang common to the place which had really added to my small array of Spanish knowledge.

I woke up early the following day to catch for my flight going to Cancun. I checked out at the hotel at 0500H and called a taxi to drop me off at the airport. I checked in and waited for the plane to leave at 0800H with a lay over at Mexico City then transferred with another plane going to Cancun. The flight was delayed so the receptionist upgrade my ticket to a business class which really surprised me. First time that happened to me from AeroMexico flights.

The plane left at 1130H and I arrived at Cancun at 1445H. The flight was a full flight and smooth. Upon coming out of the airport I immediately took a shuttle and have me dropped off at the hotel. Immediately the amiable receptionist entertained me for check-in and gave me an oceanview room which was perfect. I liked it so much.

I took a nap for a while because I woke up early that morning and was really tired of the trip. I woke up at 1630H, changed myself and went down to the swimming pool and tried to feel the scenery of the Carribean Sea from there. I then went to the sea and dipped myself in the cool blue waters. I liked it and I feel so free at that time swimming for a while. I then took a bench and then layed there for quite sometime enjoying my free time in Cancun. That is why I went there to just forget about myself and feel the beat of the splashing waves kissing the sandy shore sipping some cold mai tais and margaritas. I had a blast alone.

Bending The Norm

Yeah, this is a story that I might share to you in random. It's quite quaint but I still feel that I'm obliged to share it to you. I hope it will make a lasting impression to all of you. Not that I intended to make an abrupt impression but I felt that I have to share it to all of you and if not, I felt that I'll go crazy cuz I felt this is the only way I can vent out my pent up emotions and feelings. Hope you know what I mean after you read this article.

I was on vacation in Guadalajara lately and I met this young slim good looking guy. Let's say he looked like Francisco Lachowski, young, scrawny, virile, mysterious, funny, loving, romantic, passionate, gentleman, chummy, smart, quiet, composed, inert but can be easily provoked, vulnerable into anything, game, quite open with some skepticism of course, athletic, charming, has a smile that can melt anybody, secretive but can easily open up, attractive in character, just being himself, outdoorsy, into some memorable candle light dates, love the beach, drives crazily like a maniac, physically flexible, a contortionist (I didn't even know not until he showed me a picture during his teenage days), can be lunatically funny (has a good sense of humor, what I really liked with him), watchful in what he eats (but can eat a heap in one sitting), a dedicated runner, charismatically adorable, charitable, tacit when he's mad or angry (just like me, and he knows), a sizable lower front (just picture it out), like boxers' s brief a lot but he's hot on a swimming trunks, loves fruits a lot (I can say he's a semi vegan. I call him herbivore and he doesn't like it.), an adventurer, dreamer, and daredevil traveler (just like me, that's where we met), full of dreams and ambitions, adept in tennis, swimmer, runner, hiker, an avid blogger and intelligible writer (I told him I'm a sub par writer, Lol), an impressionist, a sketcher and artist, a musician (can strum a guitar so expertly but can sing fairly), and many more traits I still have to discover.

There you go. At least you can vividly picture him out now.

I was walking at the zocalo in Guadalajara and was enjoying the marvelous fountains just outside the plaza near the cathedral and theater. It was really a very nice day that time where the sun came out so charmingly that early bright morning. The weather was so outcast but nice.

I'm quite impressed with the vintage edifices around the zocalo. I was enjoyably browsing around the town and felt so compelled to take myriad of pictures in my beat up Nikon portable camera.

When I came out of the cathedral I felt so tired that I wanna sat down near the light up gazebo in front of the church and just watched people eagerly passing by. I was sitting there for quite sometime when a cute young guy was flashing his melting smile at me and then surprisingly came up to me and asked how am I doing.

Frazzled, I smiled back and told him politely that I am perfectly fine. I felt that he was just psyching me up (my usual paranoid instinct) whether I am easy to approach with, so he gently and quietly sat down on the left side of the shiny iron bench, whereI was sitting, trying to gauge up if I am that okay to talk with. He felt relieved I guess that I didn't brushed him off.

He offered a firm handshake at me and politely introduced himself (where I was really astonished) so I obliged myself and returned him the favor. His hand was soft and sweaty and was obviously shaky. I can see, tell, and feel how jittery and anxious he was so I tried to be nice to him to ease up his apprehensions.

We started talking until I felt comfortable with him not really suspecting that he was smooth talking me because I felt that he was sincere and genuine in all his responses. We had a very congenial talk I guess. I could and probably would know if a person was lying to me or not, judging that I am a nurse in profession and has met a lot of people at work in my twenty five years of experience.

I was really flabbergasted why he approached me, in the first place, but lo and behold, no matter what I felt that time, I didn't know that I can still make an impression to such young and handsome guy, that is. It was a surprise really! Lo and behold, I'm still puzzled of his general intention, be it honest or just a bluff, but I have to hold on my horses, and just follow the flow and see what will happen and where its going.

I don't intend to be rude nor I don't intend to be lenient. I just wanted to go with the flow. So far, I did good I guess. Not being overly pretentious but I liked what was happening. I guess it was just a perfect timing. Love the flirting in between as well. No pun intended. I just don't want to assume the worst nor the best as well. Just went with the flow as I said earlier. Quite amusing!

From there everything sparked like a sparkling and bursting firecracker, blossoms like a budding and sprouting flower, and developed like a modern building just mushroomed from an urban construction site. I just cannot tackle the perpetrating circumstances. I was just utterly surprised. It happened really really fast. So mundane….

And then we ended up touching each other, caressing like a very romantic couple. We dated that night and all of a sudden we ended up in bed. I was in limbo that time and I just don't wanna wake up. As if I was drunk with the mitigating circumstances that happened that very moment. I needed to pinch myself to see if it's real but I held myself. I just don't want somebody to slap me and woke me up from a very bad dream. As if it was a total awakening. Ahhh.....

One moment after moment after moment and I was imbibed with a lot of hopes and just considered each quick passing minutes and seconds like a permanent reality although it was not. I just needed to slap myself but I held and told myself not to because it only happened once. I just wanted to feel the whims and expectations, the cause and effect of the situation. And from there I knew it was temporary.

Our unexpected union that night happened at a spur of a moment and was an unexpected spontaneous one. Just like I said, both of us were already brimming with adrenalines and our individual libido was already at an optimum boiling point. We got carried away, we just followed what our feelings had told us to do, and just went with the tide I guess. To him it was also a surprise. It was a very passionate union and was the sweetest moment of my life. We totally imbibed ourselves to it, honestly. I was definitely drunk and he was totally smiling about it like he cannot believed it just happened.

We cuddled the whole night and started to know each other. It was an awkward moment knowing a person for the first time in bed but I liked the idea. He was very gentle, polite, caring, and open. He honestly answered all the questions without any utter pretenses. It was not like an open book discussion but it was quite nice knowing him as a man with wits, humor, character, virtues, beliefs, and principles.

We totally clicked together and it was a mystery why it happened. I am overwhelmed how fast it happened but oh well here is my fateful self again trying to overly rationaized what had just happened, that it happened for a reason. Yeah, I told him about that and he told me there's nothing wrong about it. He totally understood it.

I was more fallen to him with that kind of attitude, the more I am lost and drowned. Maybe cupid had just released and struck a thousand pointed love arrows on my already aching and bursting heart with passion and romance. It was really insane! What had just happened to me that night was inconceivable. So not the norm.

Breaking the norm though was totally unexpected. Unpredictable per se. It happened too fast. Nobody knows when it happened but by the time you knew it happened it's already late. You just don't want it to end. You just wanted the time to get stuck at that moment.

But everything has to end. I knew it will happen sometime. But the sweet moments we've shared was really memorable so we vowed to get in touch with each other and already planned to go together on our next travels, explorations, and adventures.

Unfortunate Homecoming

It was quite quaint to leave Los Angeles, for I am traveling alone back to my homeland. My expectations were surmounting like I am about to explode like a balloon. The pressure in me just about to make me burst and that my elasticity was been at the optimum. I am really excited to go home now and that seeing people that I grew of before was really unexpected.

Going to the airport was killing me. It was a mix of emotions that I cannot contain. I am just thrilled that this vacation came to fruition considering that the bitches at work really doesn't me to leave. But now, I am just very happy that it was realized. Thank God!

I left the house two hours early just to give time for me to line up the ticketing booth at China Airlines and the security checks at the airport. Well, I didn't really have a hard time checking in because I only have one luggage to check in. It was a piece of cake.

Now, I am waiting at the gate for the boarding and then off to Taiwan for a one hour lay over and then board for another connecting flight to Manila. All in all these flights were smooth and uneventful. My seat mate from Los Angeles to Taiwan was very quiet and demure. We haven't had time to talk each other. I think she was nice!

While in Manila, I hired a taxi to drop me off at the Manila Pavilion where I checked for three days (for free) courtesy from a friend. Upon checking in I rushed myself to the room to sleep off my jet lag. I slept for 12 hours just to recover from the lost sleep that I've missed since Mexico vacation. I was so exhausted and very very tired per se.

The following day, I woke up very fresh only to be greeted my a hovering typhoon forecasted from the newspaper that I am reading, for I never opened the television since I came. I immediately went to the window and observed the windy weather. It was unfortunate that a typhoon named Koppu (international name) Bagyong Lando )local name) was been smashing it's wrath in the upper northern region whereas Manila only experienced some sporadic winds and rainshower.

Well, despite of the typhoon, I had a visitor from my past who's trying to make amends from not resurfacing for so many years. We patched up our differences and became whole again. We had a lot to catch up so I spend my whole rainy and windy weekend with him talking about lost times and about our individual fate.

So far it was a very progressive homecoming and still be dealing with some more as I stayed here to search for that closure that I needed to deal with personally. Hopefully, everything will be okay and that I can have a peace of mind in the end when I go back to Los Angeles. Quite a run but still I have to take it slow so that everything will be taken cared of. Slow but sure, okay!