tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61815080562870346502023-12-12T15:21:56.712-08:00This is My Life! This is Me!This is My Life... This is Me!
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Lifecrisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-65434098866734894192023-01-22T11:58:00.002-08:002023-01-22T11:58:23.169-08:00Every Trip, A Different Experience<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Jan 2023 in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Trinidad & Tobago</span></h3><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">At customs declaration and clearance counter, I was frisked for using a camouflage backpack (which is illegal stuff in the country), It was my honest and innocent mistake thinking that a big Reebok brand will make it less offensive and I used it out of respect to my cousin in Florida who gave it to me as </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">a Christmas gift</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">. This incident made me forget that I gave my passport to the immigration officer and hence resulted to having my passport left in the counter. I realized I lost it only 4 days later.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Oct 2022 in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">NY, USA</span></h3><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">At inbound immigration coming from Trinidad, I was interrogated for the onward ticket during my Halloween trip for 5 days. I reasoned about the rerouting (from Miami to New York) and rebooking (from Dec to Nov) of ticket which is yet to be issued by our travel agency. But I showed my return flight to T&T in case the ticket cannot be issued by Nov2. I was issued a yellow folder and was brought for more questioning in the immig office. When I was finally called, I recited the same alibi, and the final question was “What is the last conversation with you and your supervisor?” So I browsed the reused email (which travel destination is changed to NYC) I had with my VP that contained the approval of my travel to New York. The officer immediately gave me a green pass.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Sep 2022 in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Dubai, UAE</span></h3><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">At checkin counter in Miami, the clerk asked for my visit visa. I was confused because I expected a short connection at Dubai Airport, and because I was in a hurry to pass by Manila to pack up for my Singapore trip the day after my arrival. Only then that I realized that my connection was 32 hours apart. So I was advised to stay at the airport (with Dubai International Hotel) because I have not availed of the Dubai Connection package.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Jun 2022 in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Doha, Qatar </span></h3><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">Because Phillipines put a cap on number of returning Filipinos during the pandemic, I was refused at the boarding gate for the Doha-Manila flight. Qatar Airways provided me a hotel and meal vouchers and an upgrade to business class in the next available flight. So I stayed at Doha Airport for 24 hours.</span></p>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-91209762425883817672022-07-31T11:10:00.002-07:002022-08-21T13:05:17.122-07:00Consulting and Touring Abroad<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp_p0v28XNHNghYLPuxMNcuCmSQbiIrTPfUz4JBGrRxFIidBL1hnN_jmtYxPBdAccA-VUmQ42XDGN4ZZwbp1r5u9aqXu0NYMccbHJzKSNrXb_4p4cn1tssGt5YEOqV-EnINj_COJuxGQ0W8HjhCSyjn4AVN4Wyt0ThRInWw-Wt51B-4TWgT7wY9hL/s2937/IMG_6607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2203" data-original-width="2937" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp_p0v28XNHNghYLPuxMNcuCmSQbiIrTPfUz4JBGrRxFIidBL1hnN_jmtYxPBdAccA-VUmQ42XDGN4ZZwbp1r5u9aqXu0NYMccbHJzKSNrXb_4p4cn1tssGt5YEOqV-EnINj_COJuxGQ0W8HjhCSyjn4AVN4Wyt0ThRInWw-Wt51B-4TWgT7wY9hL/s320/IMG_6607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first and foremost Change Management Services Contract in Trinidad & Tobago</td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;">Murray’s Question: </h4><p>Did you enjoy your trips and your project work?</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">My long answer:</h3><p>Travelling for work has a different motivation. There is this level of concentration. Then there is this sense of urgency to finish the job as fast as possible, because it feels like you only have limited time in one place.</p><p>The stress and pressure are coming from the kind of Project Manager (within FreeBalance), its management style and personality, and the cultural peculiarity of the client-government. It is hard to please and the role playing is quite challenging, like being a team player (or a controlled staff for micro-managers) while being a consultant.</p><p>In short, every individual is unique, has different backgrounds and culture, so tension is always present, especially because you only meet them at work for a limited time. This was my first consultancy in foreign countries; Brazil and Sierra Leone are at extremes kind of customer. The change management is happening within myself, while I am doing such advisory for them.</p><p>I cannot tell if I enjoyed it but I like the experience. It is hard to quantify the outcomes but I believe I have delivered enough outputs. The sidetrips has become a necessity just to take a breath and a break... But the enjoyment of traveling for leisure is totally different.</p>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-3443800653640163602022-05-22T11:10:00.813-07:002022-08-03T14:42:23.066-07:00Real Spanish Scenarios for 8 Months<h2 style="text-align: left;">Supposedly Haiti</h2><p>I was assisting in the project implementation for the Government of Haiti when the call to travel to Honduras arrived. If only the ground situation in Haiti, primarily the capital city of Port-au-Prince, was peaceful and secured, I would be in the country the soonest. But following the assassination of their President, there was civil unrest in the country and the security especially for foreigners was compromised since July 2021. </p><p>So my original itinerary to pass through the US as a transit visitor was Port au Prince because we Filipinos do not require visa to enter Haiti. I cannot declare Honduras as my final destination yet because I need a pre-approved entry visa. That would be my first task while in Miami -- process my application for a business visa to Honduras.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Honduras, Actually</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacKWU_g2Cf0fLa29OP-JKELCEUo5iu3cvGad3OUIyPCaxRoZ9FMaVswR73inVU7Y6Dnu0AOOw5DXGyDoIi0GIF2neJOy0Fi2LiodcEh8BZ5RlJKm0gpXD9v9cSiga0A3UERaPD0iw7OQaiZiQHOSVQOGWCNVcxt2Uj2klxSmq6HMRQLRjiNd1uDO7/s1600/7F9217B7-99C4-41C4-8AEF-D1AF9CD6BB21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacKWU_g2Cf0fLa29OP-JKELCEUo5iu3cvGad3OUIyPCaxRoZ9FMaVswR73inVU7Y6Dnu0AOOw5DXGyDoIi0GIF2neJOy0Fi2LiodcEh8BZ5RlJKm0gpXD9v9cSiga0A3UERaPD0iw7OQaiZiQHOSVQOGWCNVcxt2Uj2klxSmq6HMRQLRjiNd1uDO7/s320/7F9217B7-99C4-41C4-8AEF-D1AF9CD6BB21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Picacho</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">First Entry: August 24 - November 21, 2021</h3><p>I only heard of Honduras in beauty pageants, like Miss Universe. And before this travel, I did not know its capital city, let alone pronounce the name Tegucigalpa correctly. </p><p>Having obtained a special appointment with the Embassy of Honduras in Miami, and after the 4 long hours of waiting while answering short questions from the immigration officer here and there, I got a 1-year, multi-entry business visa. And on August 24, I landed at the city airport. I was honored to get a 90-day entry stamp on my passport while most of my colleagues who went ahead of me only got a maximum of 60 days.</p><p>Because I refused to be fetched by the Project Manager, I made my own way to the Ecovivienda apartment, which is the official residence of FreeBalance Team members. While cruising the way, I realized that Tegucigalpa is a city in the mountain. With its high altitude, the climate is chilling for me. I can really feel the nip in the air because it around the end of August. </p><p>My happiness did not end there. During rooming me in, I found out that I got a beautiful, clean, fully furnished, and very organized apartment, on a 3rd level, overlooking the community garden. I felt home instantly. And without me knowing it, I stayed there for the next 8 months of my life.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW5Jz3_aCz6rwuE-pba6sMN_Tg7eKl7_DLYZblymfc6KrxYczqrr0IoMj2xHF9TZVM6ZiXViz4H7TlaRK72YwzN4R0R1VXAq5yGQ9BqaC1j4KOMw2O7PcK4oCZc0g_1c50XtjB3JIgaBC2zC5NdDXmSkC74JXeU7LUPIxJA691jZdldZ603S19y6L/s4032/IMG_9877.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW5Jz3_aCz6rwuE-pba6sMN_Tg7eKl7_DLYZblymfc6KrxYczqrr0IoMj2xHF9TZVM6ZiXViz4H7TlaRK72YwzN4R0R1VXAq5yGQ9BqaC1j4KOMw2O7PcK4oCZc0g_1c50XtjB3JIgaBC2zC5NdDXmSkC74JXeU7LUPIxJA691jZdldZ603S19y6L/s320/IMG_9877.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Home</td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;">Golf Lessons: September 11 & 19, 2021</h4><p>I travelled for work, yes! but it did not mean I have to refuse fun. When VP Gerard came to visit the team, we went golfing in Comayagua, the nearby town. Gerard served as our mentor, because it was our first time, for Brenda from Suriname, Biena, also from Philippines, and myself. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkPXPVZ0zMOy5XXhYL_0ihsZ8bNxdi-mM_q6HcSd2ntnPO1ykLwsZY_yFPngqJ7jcXiitlUY6O1GtTV9KmYbhb1g653lWxkDOLzt_VOil9GryJ6JCNfFcDYRiKNYAm5DGLujUWzkiGI4UH8j-TtGaASdEv8HaT6JQEupMSIbDDdu20SO8jRGgCHGu/s1242/B895FB77-244E-4E6F-A4D5-C8682D90F595.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1242" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkPXPVZ0zMOy5XXhYL_0ihsZ8bNxdi-mM_q6HcSd2ntnPO1ykLwsZY_yFPngqJ7jcXiitlUY6O1GtTV9KmYbhb1g653lWxkDOLzt_VOil9GryJ6JCNfFcDYRiKNYAm5DGLujUWzkiGI4UH8j-TtGaASdEv8HaT6JQEupMSIbDDdu20SO8jRGgCHGu/s320/B895FB77-244E-4E6F-A4D5-C8682D90F595.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When Solution Architect Nick arrived after Gerard, we went back to the golf course for the second time. This time, Nick was mentoring. For both occasions, our Project Manager was the driver.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyexWUK6DoHHOLQIu_y6RZ4MrkToKVPMMOBFrv1yWkjCjF0yrTxJq3mN174Svh04mD1zegQKj2rAVMoxoxhCB4qXXPpwh6BsLtPsMnSY_LRdPCJJnZxlP-xV5gHemtGnNgErWZOjiMaZs7l-hf6jy56H7AFrvW7UA8wuBiW5CyNBuD9sdlwpfVtoVO/s3024/IMG_0540.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="3024" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyexWUK6DoHHOLQIu_y6RZ4MrkToKVPMMOBFrv1yWkjCjF0yrTxJq3mN174Svh04mD1zegQKj2rAVMoxoxhCB4qXXPpwh6BsLtPsMnSY_LRdPCJJnZxlP-xV5gHemtGnNgErWZOjiMaZs7l-hf6jy56H7AFrvW7UA8wuBiW5CyNBuD9sdlwpfVtoVO/s320/IMG_0540.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Valley of Angels: September 15 & November 20, 2021</h4><p>One of our local consultants, Miriam, was our weekend tour guide. She organized tours for us foreign consultants on weekends. One of the most interesting destination was Valle de Angeles. It's a small town in the middle of the pine woods with cool climate, and which offers souvenir items and street foods. In fact, we visited Valle de Angeles twice. I went with Biena, Brenda and Miriam for the first time; and Sandika joined on the second time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0QsPJayXculB2b843U0WXe_K61Z1DcNvGjR7DA44iRMMQ46Uenhhc32w1azYNMAUSV1nyj9gG5NgAXXjp45FsVcl9AT8EBedX3RZfIh0Dwq3RbGPa1-wEwNAIhMEyTNTbUj260CbEuqT4o9a65hMX0JJRcyIKpQyKooYkHVr2vO3fgI7ZSAbnafB/s3843/IMG_0412.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3843" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0QsPJayXculB2b843U0WXe_K61Z1DcNvGjR7DA44iRMMQ46Uenhhc32w1azYNMAUSV1nyj9gG5NgAXXjp45FsVcl9AT8EBedX3RZfIh0Dwq3RbGPa1-wEwNAIhMEyTNTbUj260CbEuqT4o9a65hMX0JJRcyIKpQyKooYkHVr2vO3fgI7ZSAbnafB/s320/IMG_0412.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2SIjF5LJn3BdO_SrWU0yrWJNUJn2Z6T-fusVgd4jj31KskmWYHvip_fV2QofnsjOhcuQnJNSnzZrTUhxxbgCi6ybtt8PCxoqb_V2UAwOYX9wQN5vNoI5n0avOsXb3XysscSINohVEJpxQgKLRB4nvVOICN4s84oPzRykeX5JSJZImbaxnx7MHVOw/s3616/IMG_1496.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="3616" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2SIjF5LJn3BdO_SrWU0yrWJNUJn2Z6T-fusVgd4jj31KskmWYHvip_fV2QofnsjOhcuQnJNSnzZrTUhxxbgCi6ybtt8PCxoqb_V2UAwOYX9wQN5vNoI5n0avOsXb3XysscSINohVEJpxQgKLRB4nvVOICN4s84oPzRykeX5JSJZImbaxnx7MHVOw/s320/IMG_1496.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second time</td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;">Big Day --- the Go Live Date: October 11, 2021</h4><p>This was what I came here for -- the project implementation of Social Security System in Honduras. The first component was about the Core Financials System which has been tested and ready to go on production. Actually. this was the third attempt to go live. I facilitated the change management aspect of the project to make the client ready for the actual implementation of the system.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTL0Wo_-bB6oPk6Spf9PbozXD3qW6Yvf--sl2AGwS73_7j27SdcxgVi4MRfswxdVDcxjcykU5IRFhc4n649IBV-ug0IOVSZxQjyIJ5q73NXR1vegOg3HdUW21MY5c6wbIcOE8Fw8rZW5Xz7ipQ4f19K0JqU1yh-ujzC7EwkiKh2MYTzBq92UXdu9-/s6000/DSC_0462.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTL0Wo_-bB6oPk6Spf9PbozXD3qW6Yvf--sl2AGwS73_7j27SdcxgVi4MRfswxdVDcxjcykU5IRFhc4n649IBV-ug0IOVSZxQjyIJ5q73NXR1vegOg3HdUW21MY5c6wbIcOE8Fw8rZW5Xz7ipQ4f19K0JqU1yh-ujzC7EwkiKh2MYTzBq92UXdu9-/s320/DSC_0462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FreeBalance Team with INJUPEMP Director</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The client had prepared a big event for this day... and it was successfully celebrated!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Windy Destination: October 23 & November 6, 2021</h4><p>Another weekend and Miriam showed us the windy peaks of the Francisco Morazan region. The town of Santa Ana is where the giant windmills are lined up to provide a renewable energy in the country. We started our date with wine and pizza for both occasions. Biena, Miriam and myself for the first time; then Brenda joined us the second time. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtPjDJ_9oGkRdi_J7VyjuPHNKGpYlA3JVn8FcKxc63DoxlQjOhs-6qmymlPBLLisxr5ACRIo6hZi9jbeCd1jQ7r09i6KaGoJoebaZTDJqwD1ouTDWX3Mur3QKtyMDdyS1-N3qi-_629PSOKEDc9yZvf_RhrPbmkgnjTNXiHGSGaLbZe9nvSszTC1p/s4032/IMG_1033.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtPjDJ_9oGkRdi_J7VyjuPHNKGpYlA3JVn8FcKxc63DoxlQjOhs-6qmymlPBLLisxr5ACRIo6hZi9jbeCd1jQ7r09i6KaGoJoebaZTDJqwD1ouTDWX3Mur3QKtyMDdyS1-N3qi-_629PSOKEDc9yZvf_RhrPbmkgnjTNXiHGSGaLbZe9nvSszTC1p/s320/IMG_1033.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O1uAONxoLpWcHlN2S6HmfY5aszqtI5UIg1FuPfW6cFwxERyvsyAt-AK_VO18EpwNu46n5pLvn1rdYRpEC3rkMYXxDO9pVhI2UIa72JkioRahOLynm5gGI68h9rf1zKrpTo45hJFgwze-9ATdvH8udEbRhJZvojcCCxbzgSnIx2Fyg6FdNpsXwuJ1/s1600/6c58395e-a257-4943-8cdb-c44087e88496.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O1uAONxoLpWcHlN2S6HmfY5aszqtI5UIg1FuPfW6cFwxERyvsyAt-AK_VO18EpwNu46n5pLvn1rdYRpEC3rkMYXxDO9pVhI2UIa72JkioRahOLynm5gGI68h9rf1zKrpTo45hJFgwze-9ATdvH8udEbRhJZvojcCCxbzgSnIx2Fyg6FdNpsXwuJ1/s320/6c58395e-a257-4943-8cdb-c44087e88496.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it was on October 23 that we reached another town, Ojojona, where Spanish heritage is well preserved. <p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEW5grLn0VnSawGsLedQqecCyf7aro9OyjqpnHJLDLR9XbpRpWbsXwWoRtGpC9M63ems2FC_5tMAbiWWXRuom4Y-mAOWhUHvT5C0FHJb8wlQN4BuR8dubUsrHRTi8PVLnUPxpSj3v1yp4QqdYd9eJyIeXMzw_IRN2OwgVYaQ16K6_eXpa-2GtHujC/s6000/DSC_0504.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEW5grLn0VnSawGsLedQqecCyf7aro9OyjqpnHJLDLR9XbpRpWbsXwWoRtGpC9M63ems2FC_5tMAbiWWXRuom4Y-mAOWhUHvT5C0FHJb8wlQN4BuR8dubUsrHRTi8PVLnUPxpSj3v1yp4QqdYd9eJyIeXMzw_IRN2OwgVYaQ16K6_eXpa-2GtHujC/s320/DSC_0504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIIXDhLjzHIgCPnS4tguvq6IYErsT25lF6mdLZctQpv-75RYexW7GwnQg-qlFgRkz4ZoJQ3wOtK1sOpmu2C5Ti14ZH_0V6mCfTdjuEjFnifnfR1h7gBoU5TB7t46oA6RedT6qUMs-dw4aXvz3t7s6LwxFQHYZ6V75DCCIMCmKFy4pIbCtDArcLhKh/s3461/IMG_1059.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3461" data-original-width="2596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIIXDhLjzHIgCPnS4tguvq6IYErsT25lF6mdLZctQpv-75RYexW7GwnQg-qlFgRkz4ZoJQ3wOtK1sOpmu2C5Ti14ZH_0V6mCfTdjuEjFnifnfR1h7gBoU5TB7t46oA6RedT6qUMs-dw4aXvz3t7s6LwxFQHYZ6V75DCCIMCmKFy4pIbCtDArcLhKh/s320/IMG_1059.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKh8hGRYJ7MABnNP4FfszuZatN8ml7xoCDFf6acYqfbGGFHpB6FdyUv1mxQNXoUBPHO6Bipv3agtkacRnh2GBxAFjL0rRh0DMHQtD12iHa5zTTMVOXfpm6sJypUYf-dud0NXR6B2oUCtYqwkyFYVVSPHrW6qoOMxSdUl9Fg1q1RwwYQIAQ2diQ0wh/s320/IMG_1070.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And on November 6, we climbed La Tigra where the watershed and forest reserved is located.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64MR_Tyn5pvTRwhssIn-LNqD-e4rhKhahZ4vwV1OHBrvuaFQaKMlTkAWPfhezzepgrECVEhnKbPQvTKM3TfFCLllM5m246H9g5ZVa40bABBDxHDwcXeYpNfQnHG1xCh34h3FxONwKVF7Yxvt4B26cD_sHCssJDEEwxFMj7LNGT0HWVWDZgJRLyci6/s3748/IMG_1247.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="3748" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64MR_Tyn5pvTRwhssIn-LNqD-e4rhKhahZ4vwV1OHBrvuaFQaKMlTkAWPfhezzepgrECVEhnKbPQvTKM3TfFCLllM5m246H9g5ZVa40bABBDxHDwcXeYpNfQnHG1xCh34h3FxONwKVF7Yxvt4B26cD_sHCssJDEEwxFMj7LNGT0HWVWDZgJRLyci6/s320/IMG_1247.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd82sMZ65gNX5w3bRvsnyhdocfw8r8zOmljb3nNyz8tSMnCs9ejW-zjperKzrNudwbSgqsltyYpnKLJMiPxA4_4RaN7f3MFOGqL5DyU-W1sQIt6tIFVNVLjlPkl-TPSLuQWfkiQEQdZ5m_LnBI_OMQbhPrK18OxnCFIgBAiyaYwbOqDUY6Vx6zVQRF/s320/IMG_1223.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-SMoebCQcJA5-Cz6DwAEp9Ti1Uxz8Efy9saRqAGRTYC_78_fWViPnq-nR1BrpMrLOYHORJjkeTLOgDHkD1RPnIOaxklDo7gFObL93IEM2qLAL4paI9lKCdGKKnkX2fd3JdCJb32JVBWvFv8kbiKdbsyJy2lcs3hdccV28-4rzr5JjwTaAUbao2Jr/s3773/IMG_1302.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3773" data-original-width="2829" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-SMoebCQcJA5-Cz6DwAEp9Ti1Uxz8Efy9saRqAGRTYC_78_fWViPnq-nR1BrpMrLOYHORJjkeTLOgDHkD1RPnIOaxklDo7gFObL93IEM2qLAL4paI9lKCdGKKnkX2fd3JdCJb32JVBWvFv8kbiKdbsyJy2lcs3hdccV28-4rzr5JjwTaAUbao2Jr/s320/IMG_1302.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnh6PrlJcdjJqyNifcHpFCipZcSykDSkBfhn6mLwK7095LcXqSwgKQuo6vZ-P48qTJL8pcF3EdlSQa-QEvBnBjQvQDdxlQrMWwDybDhu7h6fAdkxjMuzojbgk5ByRXIZcdGauZFaaxiqsTjFNsMOJGWeavLVfRm_bsRLqlYl-JtgaKUiFOzd7YJoOp/s4032/IMG_1275.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnh6PrlJcdjJqyNifcHpFCipZcSykDSkBfhn6mLwK7095LcXqSwgKQuo6vZ-P48qTJL8pcF3EdlSQa-QEvBnBjQvQDdxlQrMWwDybDhu7h6fAdkxjMuzojbgk5ByRXIZcdGauZFaaxiqsTjFNsMOJGWeavLVfRm_bsRLqlYl-JtgaKUiFOzd7YJoOp/s320/IMG_1275.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Second Entry: November 26, 2021 - February 21, 2022</h3><p>I exited the country on November 21 when my 90-day expired. I came back after the Thanksgiving Day in the US. I was chosen to remain in the country to represent the international team while all that have families of their own were granted to spend the holidays with their families in their home countries.</p><p>This time however, I was only granted 60-day entry.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Christmas in Ruins: December 23-26, 2021</h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qd042vl-KIY8ixwfSLU0Wao-lC0qj23VvAYqGFBCfGGmVNkQU43xw9KhOmo-Rrnu33TJKaHtdljVHFMbLzI70MdplEWGzeOV-5YxRngN9yee-VxkS3OkzJ126KhPQNq5SqRgHJ6QNhRqftilTALRfwbkoQrDjGi4HcXf-63f-S9NnCsimO_KB0pg/s6000/DSC_0957.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qd042vl-KIY8ixwfSLU0Wao-lC0qj23VvAYqGFBCfGGmVNkQU43xw9KhOmo-Rrnu33TJKaHtdljVHFMbLzI70MdplEWGzeOV-5YxRngN9yee-VxkS3OkzJ126KhPQNq5SqRgHJ6QNhRqftilTALRfwbkoQrDjGi4HcXf-63f-S9NnCsimO_KB0pg/s320/DSC_0957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I am fascinated with ancient ruins. I dreamt of visiting all these known ancient sites someday. Ancient Mayan civilization is one at the top of the list. And it excited me to know that Honduras had a share of such history. Its own Mayan ruins are located in the Copan region.<p></p><p>So I researched and booked a two-way bus ride with Hedman Alas and reserved 3 nights at Iguana Azul Hostel.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXMugKry7WYhQ4IlAFYIJcEC-HN3NESLb4VR0NDo1MUQxkh3vrYeW7RKBgDaJLaBJQHADLMxzkG1D2PsZML8yStxHQtYYL3B_jJjBTEABNpaspwq_zXm3ZkwbtWMC1KVN9hu0jh8s5S-WRlTBMBJdIhz7Mg8uBbBvOQCknSq7s9fnqeAAVfg6Pw84/s4032/IMG_2655.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXMugKry7WYhQ4IlAFYIJcEC-HN3NESLb4VR0NDo1MUQxkh3vrYeW7RKBgDaJLaBJQHADLMxzkG1D2PsZML8yStxHQtYYL3B_jJjBTEABNpaspwq_zXm3ZkwbtWMC1KVN9hu0jh8s5S-WRlTBMBJdIhz7Mg8uBbBvOQCknSq7s9fnqeAAVfg6Pw84/s320/IMG_2655.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br />Among the top stuffs I did while in Copan were the following:<p></p><p>1. Spent a day around the Main Archeological Site</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zFQgWvi5uArvTdNPX0_KQbc1c7bsbDmKwB2vlXfdQI3m5PdMhHbSnZVtG_ondLK4wfjBJoSJh_1jbc0fU5qx8BghRI3UQooh7onderBd7qHKjxaLbvB0CygTmdp9GL2PBFXO5cCuVmj19HugHN9e32mMbkz7DKCTI2Dt6UGh8x4yz-92SlMlLZSR/s4032/IMG_2308.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zFQgWvi5uArvTdNPX0_KQbc1c7bsbDmKwB2vlXfdQI3m5PdMhHbSnZVtG_ondLK4wfjBJoSJh_1jbc0fU5qx8BghRI3UQooh7onderBd7qHKjxaLbvB0CygTmdp9GL2PBFXO5cCuVmj19HugHN9e32mMbkz7DKCTI2Dt6UGh8x4yz-92SlMlLZSR/s320/IMG_2308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ty8vsGsSWHc1mgVW4VzKnyvpc-rtihYSyIRaaju-8vFlHli3MUPUFyQPwtIyhDrEv0A6h-KbowjHhCBVNL385o300Jt9uE2jmNl6oQJ8dFn1UR391RNlN6pnXqCtWlkUbwCW3Z1sl3-p2XCdH2g4pOVSyVWug8mriZxx7lv7-M0Xdbh2W_MWJ520/s6000/DSC_0943.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ty8vsGsSWHc1mgVW4VzKnyvpc-rtihYSyIRaaju-8vFlHli3MUPUFyQPwtIyhDrEv0A6h-KbowjHhCBVNL385o300Jt9uE2jmNl6oQJ8dFn1UR391RNlN6pnXqCtWlkUbwCW3Z1sl3-p2XCdH2g4pOVSyVWug8mriZxx7lv7-M0Xdbh2W_MWJ520/s320/DSC_0943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAJDS-tiXVQeKKqs4Z5lyzybme-thoRCyOgUJPFVga61sdfpfrc2WC7IUZPiaAc7Z4aWQJ-_f3gmMsaJIxECQhbarNMZetWAL3DN8X8eikKGA22k1BF6dXn4HjowoEl5FPoHL7NY4MqR5pg7pvAPgoe-pgHUxFodrykC3wfQftiQYTbSKd65O2JvY/s6000/DSC_0942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAJDS-tiXVQeKKqs4Z5lyzybme-thoRCyOgUJPFVga61sdfpfrc2WC7IUZPiaAc7Z4aWQJ-_f3gmMsaJIxECQhbarNMZetWAL3DN8X8eikKGA22k1BF6dXn4HjowoEl5FPoHL7NY4MqR5pg7pvAPgoe-pgHUxFodrykC3wfQftiQYTbSKd65O2JvY/s320/DSC_0942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtYwBTA7oa8ddQIPqcCVPTjL1I-oW4DVMeZWuyfI6bNdzof5nqZTu6Acc98-EDOMj5qgjy6epruu1SOVADuWKBIcvIXChQowT7aEGYUW76vfnyAGK1V-Vx0pHHwuaMpwa5nbT7OajAhBguHKMICciUOBF6NJdlNrUl2XoypYsIs4t_JiFFlZgen8h/s6000/DSC_0926.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtYwBTA7oa8ddQIPqcCVPTjL1I-oW4DVMeZWuyfI6bNdzof5nqZTu6Acc98-EDOMj5qgjy6epruu1SOVADuWKBIcvIXChQowT7aEGYUW76vfnyAGK1V-Vx0pHHwuaMpwa5nbT7OajAhBguHKMICciUOBF6NJdlNrUl2XoypYsIs4t_JiFFlZgen8h/s320/DSC_0926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChwSHNeKTuwFtxgOt6y9KmmXPPMvM6sTFGZ-O68LKpjnkWi2_Zvgk5eZPYMJHJ94jvQMkTXR_PT7y7Teq8lImPknOkjCet6fFxs2Wux56imG5-AQFIQjqz_wjkqJ17tg4llxJLOT4My1n7LcXTRTBxJZg93_zz82MfrQPK7rTHjiXyMhA7ec9_yJw/s3635/IMG_2405.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2726" data-original-width="3635" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChwSHNeKTuwFtxgOt6y9KmmXPPMvM6sTFGZ-O68LKpjnkWi2_Zvgk5eZPYMJHJ94jvQMkTXR_PT7y7Teq8lImPknOkjCet6fFxs2Wux56imG5-AQFIQjqz_wjkqJ17tg4llxJLOT4My1n7LcXTRTBxJZg93_zz82MfrQPK7rTHjiXyMhA7ec9_yJw/s320/IMG_2405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwF6Z_l58cC5-NtH_CLK77AQaP7g82s4ma01YOSgQCDTwetk-DImzWE0lZU8uycF6zahbNCCc7keyuzW6dTN_DIJughJ6Q4dfD_KITMWXFFiATL09KQUD7XvSHPiUfy-qf8zRak7_5qJmLaSwlrgYQh5IPE3w18uF0H5T5VJpmEL4vR1WXu545Irp/s6000/DSC_0928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwF6Z_l58cC5-NtH_CLK77AQaP7g82s4ma01YOSgQCDTwetk-DImzWE0lZU8uycF6zahbNCCc7keyuzW6dTN_DIJughJ6Q4dfD_KITMWXFFiATL09KQUD7XvSHPiUfy-qf8zRak7_5qJmLaSwlrgYQh5IPE3w18uF0H5T5VJpmEL4vR1WXu545Irp/s320/DSC_0928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>2. That included visiting Las Sepulturas Museum</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBi2Q64K774PL9B-MYvtPQjSLiuB4iYYf80ZcyhNx2RWV0C2qAH8TY4lXNJUc18Y_TIkXF3kO-wh8tq07PyBjuuHbhZawqbh2bHf03yqbQAg52tbY-yN6aQpU2s8otHDT6hSps3SyyV1E4xjv3TB6CILcyh1vwU7-QEoVh5RSENFLnMvphJpzMspA/s3668/IMG_2476.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="3668" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBi2Q64K774PL9B-MYvtPQjSLiuB4iYYf80ZcyhNx2RWV0C2qAH8TY4lXNJUc18Y_TIkXF3kO-wh8tq07PyBjuuHbhZawqbh2bHf03yqbQAg52tbY-yN6aQpU2s8otHDT6hSps3SyyV1E4xjv3TB6CILcyh1vwU7-QEoVh5RSENFLnMvphJpzMspA/s320/IMG_2476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yd0TV5rkTuvq2-9rR5eH-uEMfNQmIjCLTvtxyDaeRz4Zs0MVJ90pApUhtugatM_KtE0SJvVHeKogrgtLSBhkhYmHjGMiHHfN8imOAMQ3Qzf-0ZLAPFf3u_8T84iT1JEH6QycGRl0K4Z0gLXxw8Etr94j5LiuuvJ2POeCtPCxQWvbHq_zyTU5fthd/s4032/IMG_2488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yd0TV5rkTuvq2-9rR5eH-uEMfNQmIjCLTvtxyDaeRz4Zs0MVJ90pApUhtugatM_KtE0SJvVHeKogrgtLSBhkhYmHjGMiHHfN8imOAMQ3Qzf-0ZLAPFf3u_8T84iT1JEH6QycGRl0K4Z0gLXxw8Etr94j5LiuuvJ2POeCtPCxQWvbHq_zyTU5fthd/s320/IMG_2488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pcew2xQVNsKsArck4avzRs1Gf9e7n57sVv_XyDyr8uIrlIf_rDhAV3riZrLfp0fIkh-nKeU-865XvId6kPXOmKo0ZOz4i92iiQ8ktCJkARAMaYJ9tNAEjlbAjKKdi-zRsCkKMZiATYFgumy1Do80pRgpkEXk9jnRXUoqppspzpi9jaV3cUTqoSec/s4032/IMG_2502.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pcew2xQVNsKsArck4avzRs1Gf9e7n57sVv_XyDyr8uIrlIf_rDhAV3riZrLfp0fIkh-nKeU-865XvId6kPXOmKo0ZOz4i92iiQ8ktCJkARAMaYJ9tNAEjlbAjKKdi-zRsCkKMZiATYFgumy1Do80pRgpkEXk9jnRXUoqppspzpi9jaV3cUTqoSec/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>3. Spent a half day with Macaws and other rescued birds</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRwk9EoRa17B2gOOoqQ8MqvkrJa3AiWuOkK18GwzRgtx1ukZOML61vOxTzTOH1wzsEvcsvnsn1dAT11DfBwCMqUy-qyakWWjw9b0A34lCupAFEvGpz__zCKnu99SHbYbuhpUeCQL_qxMgUbippefNbPMEMYL0ubzZKwswyjPOO1N_2gi3TSRawgzH/s1800/4BB0812A-AD12-4E52-95CF-48AF9F81082F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRwk9EoRa17B2gOOoqQ8MqvkrJa3AiWuOkK18GwzRgtx1ukZOML61vOxTzTOH1wzsEvcsvnsn1dAT11DfBwCMqUy-qyakWWjw9b0A34lCupAFEvGpz__zCKnu99SHbYbuhpUeCQL_qxMgUbippefNbPMEMYL0ubzZKwswyjPOO1N_2gi3TSRawgzH/s320/4BB0812A-AD12-4E52-95CF-48AF9F81082F.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R5VJAqYYKTnUFy0HEkHeOIfP3Fmb3FL03PIboSbh37jv4TUVx3MRRwIlIWaOU_Pe-eVHgQwR_B_-Dzk2V1lsANL_NPpX1POBaWoB8qjY_guwpxEnkmsTeQLVMAq-vaYXTi-oFkMTgWnI-TxNnvKbPuhIHJbfRe7a9M69JGGhBZfMkA_i1TLslNtW/s4032/IMG_2636.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R5VJAqYYKTnUFy0HEkHeOIfP3Fmb3FL03PIboSbh37jv4TUVx3MRRwIlIWaOU_Pe-eVHgQwR_B_-Dzk2V1lsANL_NPpX1POBaWoB8qjY_guwpxEnkmsTeQLVMAq-vaYXTi-oFkMTgWnI-TxNnvKbPuhIHJbfRe7a9M69JGGhBZfMkA_i1TLslNtW/s320/IMG_2636.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p>4. Chilled at the Central Park during the day and Christmas Eve</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHUNl9CR4YLflViWwSxS-Q9WCyx8-f45VbUgY5TpIp8u4k1js9CZsafTEwLjcNUVzDt-lDiVwV8RRBVwNfINzQUamQR2vngHFHimNszb6t26jTMLtvc-7W10jHtVFisfiPirsLHw_N6egkpJhZUO4OGHtgoQ3L8u3i6eygLBQSkjsnD4upqJsRLnL/s4032/IMG_2137.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHUNl9CR4YLflViWwSxS-Q9WCyx8-f45VbUgY5TpIp8u4k1js9CZsafTEwLjcNUVzDt-lDiVwV8RRBVwNfINzQUamQR2vngHFHimNszb6t26jTMLtvc-7W10jHtVFisfiPirsLHw_N6egkpJhZUO4OGHtgoQ3L8u3i6eygLBQSkjsnD4upqJsRLnL/s320/IMG_2137.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B-_6iBPXFCIvOIdRtaKbOKp-no1ZzOuiciPazs4yCghGeewYCWoT6pJMJih_OpWGjvytglmo7srQKArD0Q5Y-HxZ9tEmoiGQ9G_3Gh38wCl57Wktm9YzBSpBeptTaruY3CSm1LQkxN4TnPFSemG8SyO9Kc0tMWRROmjRpKuDUVJf_TN2MaUifv4n/s1440/E118CB2C-A6CC-4229-8004-AE15E95632C9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B-_6iBPXFCIvOIdRtaKbOKp-no1ZzOuiciPazs4yCghGeewYCWoT6pJMJih_OpWGjvytglmo7srQKArD0Q5Y-HxZ9tEmoiGQ9G_3Gh38wCl57Wktm9YzBSpBeptTaruY3CSm1LQkxN4TnPFSemG8SyO9Kc0tMWRROmjRpKuDUVJf_TN2MaUifv4n/s320/E118CB2C-A6CC-4229-8004-AE15E95632C9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-fBMinrDJxoDgBCRcgE-eDRXfZ72dypxM7kg_oN-Uxi_rzapAwQwYwC9xztFdARXmG37i-RLypykGzjjlruTw4nqOwYNPkHs2mO6TY5D2-2y3JoPnDmG4wUf6jPduFiJyxybC2J2KypvvkelRaighdZqo1pQfzg7s31JOx5JCXEOduT-Ksxen7Ff/s6000/DSC_0876.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-fBMinrDJxoDgBCRcgE-eDRXfZ72dypxM7kg_oN-Uxi_rzapAwQwYwC9xztFdARXmG37i-RLypykGzjjlruTw4nqOwYNPkHs2mO6TY5D2-2y3JoPnDmG4wUf6jPduFiJyxybC2J2KypvvkelRaighdZqo1pQfzg7s31JOx5JCXEOduT-Ksxen7Ff/s320/DSC_0876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI3z9OP9V7a2jHhx6VpwGjtpe7wSQ4ag10sfl85bqPIJz0tX9KDJFa9CVOQRAWKRbMUMX2xHYrga1c78FXmhow78da7ObZzi1UAx8mfVbR-bkYrR0f7C78Xbm4fF3ts5_wdnAglv91Pf4rsGCCgo4tnYoV19vadnrs5jNsmpZbG7DuVoadrHLpsI/s6000/DSC_0877.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI3z9OP9V7a2jHhx6VpwGjtpe7wSQ4ag10sfl85bqPIJz0tX9KDJFa9CVOQRAWKRbMUMX2xHYrga1c78FXmhow78da7ObZzi1UAx8mfVbR-bkYrR0f7C78Xbm4fF3ts5_wdnAglv91Pf4rsGCCgo4tnYoV19vadnrs5jNsmpZbG7DuVoadrHLpsI/s320/DSC_0877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>5. Drunk German Beers</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69G_TjCHOYJKja-bivXsmCiUdrZNvxrjip2oVqJ4F2hNjqUJ6JpYSDJ5_cpMZoI2bWBdI6HthsNLJUvjCBv3SaSFEHHdbFVoA8JcmSWGajl-Gxa3R5TQzaVdYrpIzYAzlsfEliJN9YCCCzhtK2N61CSDnBlKvwZHUimOGD-LxXN_m-FqkJzW014nN/s4032/IMG_2127.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69G_TjCHOYJKja-bivXsmCiUdrZNvxrjip2oVqJ4F2hNjqUJ6JpYSDJ5_cpMZoI2bWBdI6HthsNLJUvjCBv3SaSFEHHdbFVoA8JcmSWGajl-Gxa3R5TQzaVdYrpIzYAzlsfEliJN9YCCCzhtK2N61CSDnBlKvwZHUimOGD-LxXN_m-FqkJzW014nN/s320/IMG_2127.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bn0CZxIIEX__5amxIfC1u6ETKriODw2VpKf7H3deHq4Py5qLZkmPKxfUAEevMWtPhERcaA7J_TAI-2HqcPqMoEGYdmEDkMZhp_x_C9nBy3yTIvXwHn7c3yC0dbIEal6x-mEvgqejiUWuvnxKNLieNgLEDh4524k0O6l0iokUWaevvW_cdIwXx-mV/s3088/IMG_2128.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bn0CZxIIEX__5amxIfC1u6ETKriODw2VpKf7H3deHq4Py5qLZkmPKxfUAEevMWtPhERcaA7J_TAI-2HqcPqMoEGYdmEDkMZhp_x_C9nBy3yTIvXwHn7c3yC0dbIEal6x-mEvgqejiUWuvnxKNLieNgLEDh4524k0O6l0iokUWaevvW_cdIwXx-mV/s320/IMG_2128.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>4. Hiked around the town</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Z7uHnEARazGFiRDecqq0IT-6e1Q-KZC2uSou40uFYkaWfXerwccvrwefzeWl6EwH2oM0j_yRbK35wdgHvesphdgaJ8oJi1qwJRzzzMYRI2tXRbnS7Rv-c9cWOtjjziBvKYGEZnMlGoLTfcVrQR0JtRyOdZZimREd68PKMGYnr4Mu761qwhRJEGU/s6000/DSC_0859.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Z7uHnEARazGFiRDecqq0IT-6e1Q-KZC2uSou40uFYkaWfXerwccvrwefzeWl6EwH2oM0j_yRbK35wdgHvesphdgaJ8oJi1qwJRzzzMYRI2tXRbnS7Rv-c9cWOtjjziBvKYGEZnMlGoLTfcVrQR0JtRyOdZZimREd68PKMGYnr4Mu761qwhRJEGU/s320/DSC_0859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-NUoPisG07hWpwMJd_OF3BLY0yFYxlQbf_WyW7fdvitacKvIIEdef1id7rjcWwr_Fr5cArId7LFN0S5QE6f-hiYBFET-0spzKoSlBgxJALA19QYknVLNKlzPaXDILMrEgWZlpjL3VeNoTFMWyS9Q1291ybonDGxrjhrHFbH55xgU-9ykGW9XgfG_/s6000/DSC_0850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-NUoPisG07hWpwMJd_OF3BLY0yFYxlQbf_WyW7fdvitacKvIIEdef1id7rjcWwr_Fr5cArId7LFN0S5QE6f-hiYBFET-0spzKoSlBgxJALA19QYknVLNKlzPaXDILMrEgWZlpjL3VeNoTFMWyS9Q1291ybonDGxrjhrHFbH55xgU-9ykGW9XgfG_/s320/DSC_0850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt_J2jzEV7c52UAwYi7CdnPkSWey0tg0DtLbZACpkV21K1ULKRb6aoc8lxXVmj82j6Xjd7idl9WkpxAmAGYXw4YdT6N5kwoJAT1XhO73XplRtesIdds7Nf-3btzEz-Vy391bQyBuAFIxhn4ViV9tcjYQk8boStJiAG9e3Set814s-Qo0kys-LMOPq/s6000/DSC_0883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt_J2jzEV7c52UAwYi7CdnPkSWey0tg0DtLbZACpkV21K1ULKRb6aoc8lxXVmj82j6Xjd7idl9WkpxAmAGYXw4YdT6N5kwoJAT1XhO73XplRtesIdds7Nf-3btzEz-Vy391bQyBuAFIxhn4ViV9tcjYQk8boStJiAG9e3Set814s-Qo0kys-LMOPq/s320/DSC_0883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJoMX5tGtLQqXUVQJZaat_9sjNXowx254SiRai8w8sJcJUstbbOmjeNPgKfQ9YSZMGZVLfQz1D4N73C0k3a2J0VbB1Ih0Nk5-fV-WSvR8KswERcKpFnTKZLy0QBZBLWmDNNK2kzh3XReRd6nQiZlBd_ZcmsrrkO1IlhC5jo0DHON7nXpP9k0H7WVE/s6000/DSC_0847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJoMX5tGtLQqXUVQJZaat_9sjNXowx254SiRai8w8sJcJUstbbOmjeNPgKfQ9YSZMGZVLfQz1D4N73C0k3a2J0VbB1Ih0Nk5-fV-WSvR8KswERcKpFnTKZLy0QBZBLWmDNNK2kzh3XReRd6nQiZlBd_ZcmsrrkO1IlhC5jo0DHON7nXpP9k0H7WVE/s320/DSC_0847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>5. Tried the local foods at Comedor Mary and desserts at Cafe Welchez</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnxQgy_8opjr71s-kfSP6hwleg8e602mGkedcHuULVQlw4NbTKixaFnvZg-Ag-QGUssxQ7JWOXiWCQd1swDQs57nAFBGSQqgf-1yiGHOthpVwqzbmKYQAcsteX6VyOjiF8v8_JE72XS8MTPlRkQsm645HHGabzJDg1fw8Z20txOfVmuFJ96YHerlh/s6000/DSC_0959.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnxQgy_8opjr71s-kfSP6hwleg8e602mGkedcHuULVQlw4NbTKixaFnvZg-Ag-QGUssxQ7JWOXiWCQd1swDQs57nAFBGSQqgf-1yiGHOthpVwqzbmKYQAcsteX6VyOjiF8v8_JE72XS8MTPlRkQsm645HHGabzJDg1fw8Z20txOfVmuFJ96YHerlh/s320/DSC_0959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOwBXzaeiQlzLrpGQOk2gSmpaTORoTfthwGRiyeJn7-Y00F8Vb3ImhtOrw1KZGZneHSBCGV9wIhOVRSGyWmpG4-7Gyp8Fd6srnCul7Eb9lNjtnVP3FFOcb-7jquabhBnH2Z2lJxoDE-8iWksNf-fMQXN8rpyvN4bIcEtmxUu2CXDC61oxHOBd_9-E/s6000/DSC_0960.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOwBXzaeiQlzLrpGQOk2gSmpaTORoTfthwGRiyeJn7-Y00F8Vb3ImhtOrw1KZGZneHSBCGV9wIhOVRSGyWmpG4-7Gyp8Fd6srnCul7Eb9lNjtnVP3FFOcb-7jquabhBnH2Z2lJxoDE-8iWksNf-fMQXN8rpyvN4bIcEtmxUu2CXDC61oxHOBd_9-E/s320/DSC_0960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">New Year in the Caribbean Shores: December 30, 2021 - January 2, 2022</h4><p>The northern part of Honduras is facing the Caribbean Sea. Hearing the word "caribbean" was so enticing because I only heard it from the hit movie franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean. So, spending holidays there, no matter the cost, would be worth it.</p><p>Again I researched about Roatan Island, booked a return ticket with Victoria Bus Liner to reach La Ceiba where the Ferry Terminal is located for vessels going to and from Roatan. I also booked a bed for 2 nights at Bay Side Hotel; a dorm-type accommodation with 6 beds in total but I was alone the whole time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvBjBk_XaR2EGSNXrqZKMEcno0CdK1iMEssMhb0VeidD5xzs4sjpIb3D-dlysyTa_-82zYT7faPd6vsFIw94KxSfqGVMjmVW7VkYu1aQZaDNCdrTg0E_zmzSFN-c51J2RPgF2w1Mmw7qSi9axIrbL-zzPHM63JYMsWSnarhrSfVF1qiqVTA4iFzLz/s6000/DSC_0031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvBjBk_XaR2EGSNXrqZKMEcno0CdK1iMEssMhb0VeidD5xzs4sjpIb3D-dlysyTa_-82zYT7faPd6vsFIw94KxSfqGVMjmVW7VkYu1aQZaDNCdrTg0E_zmzSFN-c51J2RPgF2w1Mmw7qSi9axIrbL-zzPHM63JYMsWSnarhrSfVF1qiqVTA4iFzLz/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LF9s-rAE6Hr0p3C4cWsWYIqQ9fjMC4tAIUvsHPKaCZ_VwUhthfHf_FvE9n9dgbxSlTpHqL5RiaqZTwQakYMkXbKHrHQEdvqfMgFm3rY3VeBxt_XCxJ2DhLVIwrQum3LPZYN3yGzwA6qbBt47GMaW_DVbhCFKpqszNmDxVX5UKbcqfTVFfI6CefoI/s6000/DSC_0067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LF9s-rAE6Hr0p3C4cWsWYIqQ9fjMC4tAIUvsHPKaCZ_VwUhthfHf_FvE9n9dgbxSlTpHqL5RiaqZTwQakYMkXbKHrHQEdvqfMgFm3rY3VeBxt_XCxJ2DhLVIwrQum3LPZYN3yGzwA6qbBt47GMaW_DVbhCFKpqszNmDxVX5UKbcqfTVFfI6CefoI/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlXlPR3hNMuDHy2wS6chJz4R1ZNs3IgWhiA_uAwgR9qMvSEELytzoYXpM09kMLbkWBKGGoxPpdhA7z6raKFUQ3Yu2qu40_TG2TnSOiLFOpCZV2lJS3efA2nGyYcqqAd-7gP71B56zV52dRwFFZD4gjJ1kl_Q3fk6pllovcBgaZyp-dMsBv7QpPPpu/s6000/DSC_0064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlXlPR3hNMuDHy2wS6chJz4R1ZNs3IgWhiA_uAwgR9qMvSEELytzoYXpM09kMLbkWBKGGoxPpdhA7z6raKFUQ3Yu2qu40_TG2TnSOiLFOpCZV2lJS3efA2nGyYcqqAd-7gP71B56zV52dRwFFZD4gjJ1kl_Q3fk6pllovcBgaZyp-dMsBv7QpPPpu/s320/DSC_0064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4NCfzCzH2F5Ypy9VHUHqHKaHR21wv-0YP9b2OXgwtJsHEmYPF24lWN8m-xqAuIOpx8SPxcw8BzuJLYTmDR5DTEnSEaTDYM2tLrr4aSQlworZ4O97YBj-8vVoTbokbYBDF_ktR1Jroh4YdxiZ9A0_STboUwDXPVifBI_daBWUFcJRG7QcB1xb7_Go/s6000/DSC_0063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4NCfzCzH2F5Ypy9VHUHqHKaHR21wv-0YP9b2OXgwtJsHEmYPF24lWN8m-xqAuIOpx8SPxcw8BzuJLYTmDR5DTEnSEaTDYM2tLrr4aSQlworZ4O97YBj-8vVoTbokbYBDF_ktR1Jroh4YdxiZ9A0_STboUwDXPVifBI_daBWUFcJRG7QcB1xb7_Go/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn7mFWRnQ07c38PmJULiX9lVKUB79GspC5viSeFRxfOqZGo3u95WXkJaruXfv17V6l8xG2de18M_Yl4cQfbRRm8Jp_IIdFZYurAhc15Uxq-gfUH1s-GhMMH06OaBlmpPRbxDfDId2GPmmc9X7pk1sAWl20s9g7fLNaL89XhiP5mUHhuo7kjMRP1vt/s4096/564A0E15-8E7A-40F4-AF36-600B15C84D33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="4096" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn7mFWRnQ07c38PmJULiX9lVKUB79GspC5viSeFRxfOqZGo3u95WXkJaruXfv17V6l8xG2de18M_Yl4cQfbRRm8Jp_IIdFZYurAhc15Uxq-gfUH1s-GhMMH06OaBlmpPRbxDfDId2GPmmc9X7pk1sAWl20s9g7fLNaL89XhiP5mUHhuo7kjMRP1vt/s320/564A0E15-8E7A-40F4-AF36-600B15C84D33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeSlufyLa2gTnX-Yv46g155U-ZXolvHZWN4CXIKRGp1abGmFtsi-Mx4Ws06w9KDjkRjszdqEszOB9OAH_LRGX7u9mvcdhyFWUPMIgZcCRPYa77Oerk0xx7vm6nha-WS_OkNt3wr-seplwDu87qu9DVeJ2hdyGjdTd3cj1EjEjMTQ_5j8xQT8uBFvV/s6000/DSC_0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeSlufyLa2gTnX-Yv46g155U-ZXolvHZWN4CXIKRGp1abGmFtsi-Mx4Ws06w9KDjkRjszdqEszOB9OAH_LRGX7u9mvcdhyFWUPMIgZcCRPYa77Oerk0xx7vm6nha-WS_OkNt3wr-seplwDu87qu9DVeJ2hdyGjdTd3cj1EjEjMTQ_5j8xQT8uBFvV/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I walked around both noted areas of the island, the West End and the West Bay. The fireworks display on the New Year's Eve was awesome. The people were having fun, music and jubilation were everywhere. T'was as if there was no covid situation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jechSIvRA-vsCHl4zG87_KS6T72wHpk8I0_Zw-5a5gdgG4Fpnt_an9a9JmC6YWT682DMfDZKkAZVO5zT4PBIYpcSsPIZB61gme8IKcf8lvqjbg_kwYl584A65m8d4z4GrwfeLkC_6SimvthT-bFnoYCvM0LJCSp7hs3x96WJ-n-YqKgLew8BxpB7/s3787/IMG_2718.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2840" data-original-width="3787" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jechSIvRA-vsCHl4zG87_KS6T72wHpk8I0_Zw-5a5gdgG4Fpnt_an9a9JmC6YWT682DMfDZKkAZVO5zT4PBIYpcSsPIZB61gme8IKcf8lvqjbg_kwYl584A65m8d4z4GrwfeLkC_6SimvthT-bFnoYCvM0LJCSp7hs3x96WJ-n-YqKgLew8BxpB7/s320/IMG_2718.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzumcWzehLdRA7Hne_sedkZX1a-YgzrPbMDHjRfGWohzWDXTxswaKJzrBpuNX9qTOaMJsWou7H4rQ5GXKel23cpTEIP_1GUn8QmMEBHghiBQs8l3qVL6-9vpvTRgro8HUTslB2JO_edrUXW7eRxRaVnpU2fwk1j7s6fd8aSX9cTRchJhGJZfeJqeX/s4032/IMG_2750.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzumcWzehLdRA7Hne_sedkZX1a-YgzrPbMDHjRfGWohzWDXTxswaKJzrBpuNX9qTOaMJsWou7H4rQ5GXKel23cpTEIP_1GUn8QmMEBHghiBQs8l3qVL6-9vpvTRgro8HUTslB2JO_edrUXW7eRxRaVnpU2fwk1j7s6fd8aSX9cTRchJhGJZfeJqeX/s320/IMG_2750.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYicfuVJzqd991OhEgzhJ6rfnCmR8dr55U5hN6zgbwcrd3oxr8UUJecUab8Sdxl9GGVjHm88K-TUrSG351nZS_weODFTIXHoELIxJJeLh-qX8mc-5vcurO_oTJLjJqcVxIUQ5tRLVG3FwX5PN03Mh5f0FJXzGBlOoaLVykLHSKOuPTsQu1CRwI0svb/s6000/DSC_0094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYicfuVJzqd991OhEgzhJ6rfnCmR8dr55U5hN6zgbwcrd3oxr8UUJecUab8Sdxl9GGVjHm88K-TUrSG351nZS_weODFTIXHoELIxJJeLh-qX8mc-5vcurO_oTJLjJqcVxIUQ5tRLVG3FwX5PN03Mh5f0FJXzGBlOoaLVykLHSKOuPTsQu1CRwI0svb/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcsLJscxq3MOs9dEJkpKmpyVJXFypcT-IttjeayPk5RHnNXfMdaB5_8I7GqxaKivB5je7_NVQW0VJRuXilTbM5GZsTDHQ1fQoiL_7U8_ePlq9TZnUFNj-rKbr1FDq6CDsHWXerUSLFxA5qeCPiyRjZvXI_SGIvMclQoTsdvnrEMB0iaZSy6vMPWCP/s4192/DSC_0088%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="4192" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcsLJscxq3MOs9dEJkpKmpyVJXFypcT-IttjeayPk5RHnNXfMdaB5_8I7GqxaKivB5je7_NVQW0VJRuXilTbM5GZsTDHQ1fQoiL_7U8_ePlq9TZnUFNj-rKbr1FDq6CDsHWXerUSLFxA5qeCPiyRjZvXI_SGIvMclQoTsdvnrEMB0iaZSy6vMPWCP/s320/DSC_0088%20Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1EsVonS5keXaWyN8QjDMKHSl9TlMOnBy7XSj029ar_vuWek06IhwV2WLPX-ptOy8xLI8BEfgyG-TrhQvvgUiHt_6Zq1iSIiaQCKNejMvDdfCzEg8sKZSRAYjafUJi0Ac4ZExyOiUYmCHz1DBJq6vrWHX0ex3g6xdOcbgdPx56wbJTZv7Gfho6rjZ/s4096/2D4803C6-EBEB-4F7B-A822-C020ECD5E5EC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="4096" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1EsVonS5keXaWyN8QjDMKHSl9TlMOnBy7XSj029ar_vuWek06IhwV2WLPX-ptOy8xLI8BEfgyG-TrhQvvgUiHt_6Zq1iSIiaQCKNejMvDdfCzEg8sKZSRAYjafUJi0Ac4ZExyOiUYmCHz1DBJq6vrWHX0ex3g6xdOcbgdPx56wbJTZv7Gfho6rjZ/s320/2D4803C6-EBEB-4F7B-A822-C020ECD5E5EC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I was supposed to go back to La Ceiba on January 1st but the boat trip that day was canceled for the holiday observance. So I stayed in the island for one extra night.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Another Birthday Celebration away from Home: January 9, 2022</h4><p>This was my third year to celebrate my birthday in the foreign land: Singapore in 2020 attending the regional workshop; Brazil in 2021 for a project in Belem, and this year. </p><p>Then my officemates threw me a surprise party on January 8th bringing huge Pinata, a cake, and food in wraps.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDg_UJNVdBlUv73A9M19zYI7EbSxVNq6JO5mYcw8O3Cov1QMFTNoSTfbHDW9ndMa-6O5zmvUFmExRPdxREQDmJC0FFckwieH4gVS3WxyaXC1_o7ZmSpChtD_sGljZ7gw_nooI_sXNIMVyf8rTx6cbtoJbVsRNt7N8IFiwwPNdgK4tby9DlCiEn33t/s1600/30c48075-3a5a-4658-8559-6e63eea6ad63.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDg_UJNVdBlUv73A9M19zYI7EbSxVNq6JO5mYcw8O3Cov1QMFTNoSTfbHDW9ndMa-6O5zmvUFmExRPdxREQDmJC0FFckwieH4gVS3WxyaXC1_o7ZmSpChtD_sGljZ7gw_nooI_sXNIMVyf8rTx6cbtoJbVsRNt7N8IFiwwPNdgK4tby9DlCiEn33t/s320/30c48075-3a5a-4658-8559-6e63eea6ad63.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnSGzhjtNcVZf9HCWHWxhLvZQqp3c5d3VTheezzEMwaU-BQqdOGMKceElx3J6ziS4xhFVIWNH0djMfMx60qipASBDfOG9zokEA3jWbFyLVTPdUNHnUGZZA5TBS4KAWj3FJ0Endva3UV7Ly527y8HPtPVBu9udI2p_NVomAVWPrjXFxI2apERTgVWP/s6000/DSC_0106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnSGzhjtNcVZf9HCWHWxhLvZQqp3c5d3VTheezzEMwaU-BQqdOGMKceElx3J6ziS4xhFVIWNH0djMfMx60qipASBDfOG9zokEA3jWbFyLVTPdUNHnUGZZA5TBS4KAWj3FJ0Endva3UV7Ly527y8HPtPVBu9udI2p_NVomAVWPrjXFxI2apERTgVWP/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Suyapa: February 3 & 13, 2022</h4><p>The Catholics celebrate the miracle of Our Lady of Suyapa every February. The high mass with huge number of pilgrims happened on February 3. Brenda, Miriam and I participated the celebration on February 2nd to avoid the crowd on the feast day. But I went back walking that early morning of February 3rd to observe the activities of the faithfuls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3cMG4792MTAVlvoTwCo8canf3mTnO4gE5-loSu8GO8O-CmsOqrWU7UBbvEqNFaPeEeFS07O4KdIJnCSjs_RCD4xN19Wr10FsiV3o5u_lylftJ3An5ARa-lfIBilxsPfecnmiRuo6QTm39N4TGCWwqf2Gkx7h0wEJgnQfsMvSRTjtbE2y11dxXOCw/s3859/0510A2F3-BF76-4F2B-9E22-191625A333DE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2891" data-original-width="3859" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3cMG4792MTAVlvoTwCo8canf3mTnO4gE5-loSu8GO8O-CmsOqrWU7UBbvEqNFaPeEeFS07O4KdIJnCSjs_RCD4xN19Wr10FsiV3o5u_lylftJ3An5ARa-lfIBilxsPfecnmiRuo6QTm39N4TGCWwqf2Gkx7h0wEJgnQfsMvSRTjtbE2y11dxXOCw/s320/0510A2F3-BF76-4F2B-9E22-191625A333DE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkpiY5VVHvrD4Bqmb34uoWvWnEyJVeZ5WuC0DmObdHwTO6mLhbZ95gKn-B1lnyvA5c435m-wcGldRmPqgXhpXCxU6laBR6m0rF7AatqApSFhf4dtqyFM3hqL1cCgy1PlS6IPwEpy9BEcrmE4xyBFuMIyQAV9QTm3mxErGD_cyTkpYLV7ULfWlwxLT/s4032/IMG_3111.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkpiY5VVHvrD4Bqmb34uoWvWnEyJVeZ5WuC0DmObdHwTO6mLhbZ95gKn-B1lnyvA5c435m-wcGldRmPqgXhpXCxU6laBR6m0rF7AatqApSFhf4dtqyFM3hqL1cCgy1PlS6IPwEpy9BEcrmE4xyBFuMIyQAV9QTm3mxErGD_cyTkpYLV7ULfWlwxLT/s320/IMG_3111.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOuA1hG_sGpf9E4KJ3ncDfeOpdktOrfF1MHrZGQQYvC-GohcbUjskdZHCq3mWOhQz88r1B3VC5YHnJ7g9GM-GGoVFrmQQC9vFr9sgHluGkienr-WvT-x8yJXH31kSmLbEvOsVpY89zQrmAAdRTLqlcLIAIDYAHTuGrg_OD44proEbcV8AQegS0rag/s4032/IMG_3131.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOuA1hG_sGpf9E4KJ3ncDfeOpdktOrfF1MHrZGQQYvC-GohcbUjskdZHCq3mWOhQz88r1B3VC5YHnJ7g9GM-GGoVFrmQQC9vFr9sgHluGkienr-WvT-x8yJXH31kSmLbEvOsVpY89zQrmAAdRTLqlcLIAIDYAHTuGrg_OD44proEbcV8AQegS0rag/s320/IMG_3131.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaujiLBZAgYay7A8Gqmxs4V6NSQD-1sg_GC5_mxMehZlGcClQUyfLreEAXyO7qSfJEW7MIpIyZtSY4E4iioJ-RMkz7DHHtXOQqTpGff175qbQJMUR0ByBbQXxWjd9bUawdkcq6rMUL9j9oFwhtWY5xwzfd2wohlRY-q0f9kHj2i34UwLPKNWT-z_Jh/s4032/IMG_3137.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaujiLBZAgYay7A8Gqmxs4V6NSQD-1sg_GC5_mxMehZlGcClQUyfLreEAXyO7qSfJEW7MIpIyZtSY4E4iioJ-RMkz7DHHtXOQqTpGff175qbQJMUR0ByBbQXxWjd9bUawdkcq6rMUL9j9oFwhtWY5xwzfd2wohlRY-q0f9kHj2i34UwLPKNWT-z_Jh/s320/IMG_3137.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Then we registered also to participate in the Fun Run and Family Walk on February 13. In the end, it was only Brenda and myself who hit the road because Miriam injured her foot few days before the race.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjhv7yXz1Y7GcsCk9_d-hJ9Hcq94U_TeoaTBoWSE1TFlo71dSN68NfHpYZBhgHKiCzP9TCI6AoCGch1smrqLVERQD1uuzIOs00FmDyFu0MZjsCxnCHRU3nf7qSDuVb5isUDOdm6DCkUHuqHjAYvaRDAK3F5wrVohgD6I4x1nUSSzNd5AXVRU5epkB/s4032/IMG_3252.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjhv7yXz1Y7GcsCk9_d-hJ9Hcq94U_TeoaTBoWSE1TFlo71dSN68NfHpYZBhgHKiCzP9TCI6AoCGch1smrqLVERQD1uuzIOs00FmDyFu0MZjsCxnCHRU3nf7qSDuVb5isUDOdm6DCkUHuqHjAYvaRDAK3F5wrVohgD6I4x1nUSSzNd5AXVRU5epkB/s320/IMG_3252.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf_Qc1VbVeQZZrsvXQDBh-9gO9Z0BfGWvK93C2REczx6ItxNDyI5bJbXmFl7YYQhj8-Q-W9OlwiXxRkbSFB_nAZm3o_eX8UkrDCtRmmn3SGxwd8e_pgw6t7t47qJ5LhbA9pql20FxrGVWIqm0FUcTryoEqzKrNrreitpwao-bIvYkAYvNaBYg-WF9/s2901/IMG_3263.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="2901" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf_Qc1VbVeQZZrsvXQDBh-9gO9Z0BfGWvK93C2REczx6ItxNDyI5bJbXmFl7YYQhj8-Q-W9OlwiXxRkbSFB_nAZm3o_eX8UkrDCtRmmn3SGxwd8e_pgw6t7t47qJ5LhbA9pql20FxrGVWIqm0FUcTryoEqzKrNrreitpwao-bIvYkAYvNaBYg-WF9/s320/IMG_3263.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoEukEr1QRV8kUxXXbepAdeKAySQhsf29WvxjFsULxlpbG7Dz53IzdrAGNIquGREV_bLipgjQJvRWoc5Olzil0TPdX2TuESIIqABmXUx9YjhivXQCxEC7lYlKx1l2gVhK1P16_LQVsObHxOV6OjhwxiZJUtOZmM-F37ZH6Ozgnlm89WOt0eAP0z87/s4032/IMG_3266.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoEukEr1QRV8kUxXXbepAdeKAySQhsf29WvxjFsULxlpbG7Dz53IzdrAGNIquGREV_bLipgjQJvRWoc5Olzil0TPdX2TuESIIqABmXUx9YjhivXQCxEC7lYlKx1l2gVhK1P16_LQVsObHxOV6OjhwxiZJUtOZmM-F37ZH6Ozgnlm89WOt0eAP0z87/s320/IMG_3266.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Third Entry: March 26 - April 8, 2022</h3><p>I availed of the 30-day extension so my stay in the country ended on February 19. I exited again to the US for few days before heading home to the Philippines. </p><p>I went back to Honduras in the last week of March. This time I was sharing the apartment with Nick.</p><p>When I cleared the immigration, the officer gave me 90 days to stay. But I only stayed for 2 weeks. I exited and head to Trinidad for the Holy Week to do some work on change management related to another project implementation there.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fourth Entry: April 24 - May 21, 2022</h3><p>This was my last entry in Honduras. My fellow Filipino, our Philippine Project Manager, Arfel, was in the country this time to assist in managing the implementation. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Mother's Day in San Lorenzo: May 7-8, 2022</h4><p>As I have been planning all this time, I finally visited the southern part of Honduras. Brenda accompanied me to San Lorenzo. There we celebrated the Mother's Day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz83rjpOmPuS-HcmGhiGBTpp4YAjyTRugceyLuw39CbnBdEPJBxQqV255dqRMq9ekgRzJzI6DHOXC_JMJv3tgx0igo_ONEbY1S-7gYG8mH6RDDTA-DDiQ8PQlwi7MxfyQ8DKeTWhfcC1FghF2ltZJ2h0yaOuQT23rAAMMcu8GTf6Pp8Ev0ZFlqES_n/s4032/IMG_4894.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz83rjpOmPuS-HcmGhiGBTpp4YAjyTRugceyLuw39CbnBdEPJBxQqV255dqRMq9ekgRzJzI6DHOXC_JMJv3tgx0igo_ONEbY1S-7gYG8mH6RDDTA-DDiQ8PQlwi7MxfyQ8DKeTWhfcC1FghF2ltZJ2h0yaOuQT23rAAMMcu8GTf6Pp8Ev0ZFlqES_n/s320/IMG_4894.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBjmHrWFkqZC9d8HlNl0Quv_onNHrm7MiSXiiCgCgTBWdhyCzJSy5UrfWb-5s2mrOCQIgPYLtaMhYguJMuEwbWBt6lHps21_SNrQDw1VTvTF4DiEAEFXRbbsAIaM9sAuyKk45n3xeyzUsTSCp-AKG2ydfmO4wUEJ98ZxFV7bljUFWBe4z_iDHK1gA/s3428/IMG_4934.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3428" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBjmHrWFkqZC9d8HlNl0Quv_onNHrm7MiSXiiCgCgTBWdhyCzJSy5UrfWb-5s2mrOCQIgPYLtaMhYguJMuEwbWBt6lHps21_SNrQDw1VTvTF4DiEAEFXRbbsAIaM9sAuyKk45n3xeyzUsTSCp-AKG2ydfmO4wUEJ98ZxFV7bljUFWBe4z_iDHK1gA/s320/IMG_4934.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflTuU-Dzxl3wwL0Y21YfbUN78doutJuUwr-B3hjFmIeDzDbe33qdwYRYL7d4K_KOgOlUW2xEIfzyeywzgb4UDgnSpq8i1nCoNxUZ1aqVZNx1FKSWKp_-KcUWWJIzSB7SQo9nxe-qGTyxwUoaxKq5AFwBt7eCCPYmQ1yjHSxbfdOVI3GgkuJlIGOrD/s4032/IMG_4953.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflTuU-Dzxl3wwL0Y21YfbUN78doutJuUwr-B3hjFmIeDzDbe33qdwYRYL7d4K_KOgOlUW2xEIfzyeywzgb4UDgnSpq8i1nCoNxUZ1aqVZNx1FKSWKp_-KcUWWJIzSB7SQo9nxe-qGTyxwUoaxKq5AFwBt7eCCPYmQ1yjHSxbfdOVI3GgkuJlIGOrD/s320/IMG_4953.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SMMMqrT0VWJaHc8eV23moZ5yuxnSdxMlK_bweSv_Ql32No-csie61So-m5W9BALMYTDI5O-rMiVA91JL6aYrCTHmms6rh54W-nz0_QlG3B0Yv9AxEmG5t0Dl7GoEEr5arUiXuJLqO3K-9m5v6gGl_8-p7_EDhtGsdE3nj4mqBZsNXk-V1Y1p3IYw/s1440/28B48B6B-BB7A-454B-AD63-2FC34C486BF4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SMMMqrT0VWJaHc8eV23moZ5yuxnSdxMlK_bweSv_Ql32No-csie61So-m5W9BALMYTDI5O-rMiVA91JL6aYrCTHmms6rh54W-nz0_QlG3B0Yv9AxEmG5t0Dl7GoEEr5arUiXuJLqO3K-9m5v6gGl_8-p7_EDhtGsdE3nj4mqBZsNXk-V1Y1p3IYw/s320/28B48B6B-BB7A-454B-AD63-2FC34C486BF4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwTv2cpfHOSs2pUAtEHRy3sceqQ0Gaf5SVqHbkkr6KZbsYNJzTKSezd6XKPSpvBb7XbKOGn3lyR0JBONio4NAFN2FlDh45CAQ5sUl_EKDhd8N08PVImDbmeZq5k3bp85nZs0TjGcwUnAUQE2_KxypR4BHXRygLY2wVx4ZZpfIpHqT59q1k5tBlck/s4032/IMG_4972.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwTv2cpfHOSs2pUAtEHRy3sceqQ0Gaf5SVqHbkkr6KZbsYNJzTKSezd6XKPSpvBb7XbKOGn3lyR0JBONio4NAFN2FlDh45CAQ5sUl_EKDhd8N08PVImDbmeZq5k3bp85nZs0TjGcwUnAUQE2_KxypR4BHXRygLY2wVx4ZZpfIpHqT59q1k5tBlck/s320/IMG_4972.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp819gEJBZ5rn3UHo2oejhQnnGmRbAbRffs0uGhuiN1_RuRLTxwzm7f5ZT9qvE4ofcI7ihekcGFDZcFCyhAkt1NjMoBHhxeMzF6JX2AsKT_gvpgXMfo1uD1_QeiFVs3uQp3Al4xgm_NtE8B1BdgOkT63ZTFx-ozSv3RgvZObUASyN0ubxPNfupPjry/s4032/IMG_4996.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp819gEJBZ5rn3UHo2oejhQnnGmRbAbRffs0uGhuiN1_RuRLTxwzm7f5ZT9qvE4ofcI7ihekcGFDZcFCyhAkt1NjMoBHhxeMzF6JX2AsKT_gvpgXMfo1uD1_QeiFVs3uQp3Al4xgm_NtE8B1BdgOkT63ZTFx-ozSv3RgvZObUASyN0ubxPNfupPjry/s320/IMG_4996.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p>And on May 21st, I relocated to Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean Region.</p>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-70597382555074650992021-06-13T15:11:00.000-07:002022-07-31T11:08:10.555-07:00Visit Africa: A Month in Sierra Leone<h3 style="text-align: left;">DESTINY</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9YKhuzXZqln75FJZ654TN3YYVI9d5_sDlVbbniWHgeoDhJL5NFbdHlwrgM6JzewMQBL8xsy8X4cQrwa2_6ycAo_YI9R-ky9eSO53tnHvPkZKjlgFMOew61WWYHY5LAqCCjFEpSg6arz0NAlKOkG6aOxIPbNCZhEwApRkBgoE4QOgaEeeQe7Oini2/s3686/IMG_7925.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2764" data-original-width="3686" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9YKhuzXZqln75FJZ654TN3YYVI9d5_sDlVbbniWHgeoDhJL5NFbdHlwrgM6JzewMQBL8xsy8X4cQrwa2_6ycAo_YI9R-ky9eSO53tnHvPkZKjlgFMOew61WWYHY5LAqCCjFEpSg6arz0NAlKOkG6aOxIPbNCZhEwApRkBgoE4QOgaEeeQe7Oini2/w320-h240/IMG_7925.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste of Safari at Nairobi Airport</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Amidst the pandemic, I have been flying around the globe unvaccinated. So my company, FreeBalance, sent me to Sierra Leone, West Africa, where we have project implementation, with the primary objective of getting vaccinated. The government provided free vaccination, using Astra Zeneca vaccines, to everyone including foreigners. This was the better and faster option for me than falling in line for vax schedules in the Philippines. My country was prioritizing the vulnerable and health workers, and I belonged to least priority group of citizens.</p><p>So, after leaving the Americas, I was off to another continent, Africa. And because of the covid situation, all shorter routes were closed, so I had the long and winding navigation path, from Sao Paolo Airport in Brazil, to Doha Airport in Qatar, then Nairobi Airport in Kenya, to Accra Airport in Ghana, until Freetown Airport in Sierra Leone. My whole body ached after the 40-hour trip, or more I think. But I cannot rest just yet. As I have been telling myself, "every trip is a different experience", indeed as I was yet to take the speed boat to reach the downtown, since the airport is located on the other side of the wide gulf.</p><p>I arrived at the Radissons Hotel at dinnertime on May 19, 2021. Then I self-quarantined until May 21st when I got the go signal for the jab. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RSmI0CM_OfT3qZ2vwE5N05RJzDIEy12a9Km4Vsc831miz63PldjvVQrKIHuKrVdhxY-Hf90Hl4lql3AxPsk7Iuwx86jlrI11Q3ajV1YtP_ccH4g92_GAegOGn-v8fhXMr5IlDSWzg0T5wUCnEi54pJpw8PF9HR92OFbu33t3j2M2X0VmfycljeRD/s6147/EFFECTS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2603" data-original-width="6147" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RSmI0CM_OfT3qZ2vwE5N05RJzDIEy12a9Km4Vsc831miz63PldjvVQrKIHuKrVdhxY-Hf90Hl4lql3AxPsk7Iuwx86jlrI11Q3ajV1YtP_ccH4g92_GAegOGn-v8fhXMr5IlDSWzg0T5wUCnEi54pJpw8PF9HR92OFbu33t3j2M2X0VmfycljeRD/s320/EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radissons Blu Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I tried to do the usual routine I do when in new place, new country, which is walking in the morning or late afternoon. It was a strange feeling for me around here to be surrounded with Leones, especially along Lumley Beach. This sandy beach is lined with restaurants and bars, so tourists frequent here, and so are the beggars which are mostly crippled or amputated men. I did not like to experience that sad feeling or pity every afternoon. And I did not also like the danger that I normally felt in the morning when drunk men were seen strolling after the night drinking spree was over. It felt to me like an everyday occurrence, so I stayed in the hotel most of the time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOme0DqD36bpIMn7QfB_HfX0T-eWKKAUafAJA6z2BNbKA7Ud5oTr2hFgJMxPQ1wWkq0OkWoQb-if8Ei088q15eAH7KqiwyB5QMKRblJtk75aaMjRiLoKIb1uT_sZWYsnKNK3rdI_kbYXzSNhgdp8QP0ENFPfgd09sBmxGpL3wsYVblZFnGVUY9pBa/s3814/IMG_8035.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="3814" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOme0DqD36bpIMn7QfB_HfX0T-eWKKAUafAJA6z2BNbKA7Ud5oTr2hFgJMxPQ1wWkq0OkWoQb-if8Ei088q15eAH7KqiwyB5QMKRblJtk75aaMjRiLoKIb1uT_sZWYsnKNK3rdI_kbYXzSNhgdp8QP0ENFPfgd09sBmxGpL3wsYVblZFnGVUY9pBa/s320/IMG_8035.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River No. 2 White Sand Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RtjUz_xFVfGqzg-9n3bNIIXGMh22miiieCYxBSsJdk0PCb7lWPq6TW20XCRQyL5L4GABL675SsRkyjkCMD4GeWdRds4FYI8HNKg6cVZLkKeHMSYlLi3h3iMlGv3U7t_N6BqCi2Mj-6jlddWgDxFfmwxrOzt7X0dmUpkg1UIxrf5bpVjtk7ZnjqzU/s2291/8F7EC626-258C-47AE-B124-632CB38BC417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="2291" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RtjUz_xFVfGqzg-9n3bNIIXGMh22miiieCYxBSsJdk0PCb7lWPq6TW20XCRQyL5L4GABL675SsRkyjkCMD4GeWdRds4FYI8HNKg6cVZLkKeHMSYlLi3h3iMlGv3U7t_N6BqCi2Mj-6jlddWgDxFfmwxrOzt7X0dmUpkg1UIxrf5bpVjtk7ZnjqzU/s320/8F7EC626-258C-47AE-B124-632CB38BC417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SjILm0FbHSW7idEvdc_jP-3P5Xf9dTw4QMxxilXIYFKAjOZzr0Nk50Iz8e5s1r3aVuGniDnOjGsUvS6tXX1SgKYz6t_kzagPb859Ws_Y2NHJbol3ONSUQoSkO5qcjiiu402oNyVaIxGCpZLFJIGVqitpTzFy0ltogMoKUxN-zAvtZ41qEXhsmOoC/s1620/DSC_1076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SjILm0FbHSW7idEvdc_jP-3P5Xf9dTw4QMxxilXIYFKAjOZzr0Nk50Iz8e5s1r3aVuGniDnOjGsUvS6tXX1SgKYz6t_kzagPb859Ws_Y2NHJbol3ONSUQoSkO5qcjiiu402oNyVaIxGCpZLFJIGVqitpTzFy0ltogMoKUxN-zAvtZ41qEXhsmOoC/s320/DSC_1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">WORK</h3><p>For 3 weeks, I joined my colleagues to the office at the Accountant General. I did some Change Management works seriously, which were supposed to be just my cover story of coming to the country. I found working with government officers enjoyable. They were all very cooperative during my various consultations. I happened to be part of the Sierra Leone team at the time when users' training was conducted. It was my opportunity to learn deeply on the Budget Planning Module of FreeBalance GRP Solution.</p><p>Then I had clashed with the project manager. He was this micro-manager type that breath down everyone's neck day in day out. He even wanted to check on the content of my emails to client. Every day, I felt the tension because he meddled in everything I do. Even the idea of extending my trip there has become a big issue because I was not reporting to him but to our Vice President (who is actually my direct supervisor). Changes were discussed on the original objectives of my visit. I was then part of the training deliveries for the other modules.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79F27lE1Bo1EGn2jwNyzOHjHgjAjER85Fn3K_nbuh8Vzzh6jI6VeoxxprnEF0UQe-PCXjhnUPo_boh7rTB-x2YlmOQlvFMWglK2WjmW37jTj3SgVA-v1X8zLtzoqIovjTnc7zl4yCIar4OBLdc8Yd7ozmLaA6sZGVgT2KvO3c8CaYN4LxXBn_Rnms/s2835/IMG_8110.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79F27lE1Bo1EGn2jwNyzOHjHgjAjER85Fn3K_nbuh8Vzzh6jI6VeoxxprnEF0UQe-PCXjhnUPo_boh7rTB-x2YlmOQlvFMWglK2WjmW37jTj3SgVA-v1X8zLtzoqIovjTnc7zl4yCIar4OBLdc8Yd7ozmLaA6sZGVgT2KvO3c8CaYN4LxXBn_Rnms/s320/IMG_8110.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Lumley Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFwKkZcWQW1B5ze0mip-9G7aIKcPvpGCX2ujgvOCNHABDIER2hFL47Wy7-CTkh9Vc5-FnD4R80LDcck5soFxa-XriDk2gIe7tEcnxen_ZdUpiagRk1Ik3l1x6RFEtLxeJGxjU5iswfE34S06FxvAoY1NcI0SKOhfMvIzMRYU0rGEtWDxu5ULabWvs/s4032/IMG_8007.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFwKkZcWQW1B5ze0mip-9G7aIKcPvpGCX2ujgvOCNHABDIER2hFL47Wy7-CTkh9Vc5-FnD4R80LDcck5soFxa-XriDk2gIe7tEcnxen_ZdUpiagRk1Ik3l1x6RFEtLxeJGxjU5iswfE34S06FxvAoY1NcI0SKOhfMvIzMRYU0rGEtWDxu5ULabWvs/s320/IMG_8007.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcViT_VZgzz5l7cR4my3phGy2VEm_jKZQFqMRHKPgworFY5rJ9mPYc1TkLFg7va3CUfwDnaUfVYpH8RwZV9uFz4NwK_22uQBjkG7_i5iSQXEYD1TrkkY15sj4YlXWZ64DK9NWxZdQBGWn88IVQmaw_MGMFUGkKdDUeP_XPN_LrYNKaQYwU5xg3iHiB/s4032/IMG_7999.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcViT_VZgzz5l7cR4my3phGy2VEm_jKZQFqMRHKPgworFY5rJ9mPYc1TkLFg7va3CUfwDnaUfVYpH8RwZV9uFz4NwK_22uQBjkG7_i5iSQXEYD1TrkkY15sj4YlXWZ64DK9NWxZdQBGWn88IVQmaw_MGMFUGkKdDUeP_XPN_LrYNKaQYwU5xg3iHiB/s320/IMG_7999.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lgxIcuzCuq3PaFxeFDiXErjl6G9JB92oqsjHl1J2Cz9fXND53kOa1uzfNqq4nmLFl_7avD4udbw8ZxLmg-Sz9yB2GTrq1ZSyBIbO2VWkrxIu-n2Tq5nuGcAAcZxOluPez7IGZu_LAoL8mg-Lu30p61JTrptZ-JKUOETYmdtmLRfkvlJTZkYY51Kk/s3702/IMG_7993.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="3702" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lgxIcuzCuq3PaFxeFDiXErjl6G9JB92oqsjHl1J2Cz9fXND53kOa1uzfNqq4nmLFl_7avD4udbw8ZxLmg-Sz9yB2GTrq1ZSyBIbO2VWkrxIu-n2Tq5nuGcAAcZxOluPez7IGZu_LAoL8mg-Lu30p61JTrptZ-JKUOETYmdtmLRfkvlJTZkYY51Kk/s320/IMG_7993.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>On June 6, the crisis at home had brought back the original itinerary. My mother experienced the side effects of Astra Zeneca vaccine and was hospitalized. She had blot clots all over, with difficulty of breathing, and seemingly at terminal stage. And she was to celebrate her 76th birthday the month after. So my return flight on June 12th was pushed through.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">LEISURE</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQcKu4FtLJ8T5SUd-eYYOwnMla26urc_HxWAR1xbkbUIY8pfHL9BZ_c76HNYQHWIKh7kiBMwlXHAVGETPWgSIjp3IqptRGH_vRNa1QQf5oSHkYgNXI8UpPryxtSVt_aty_8fCaxcKQQki47BR6YR5eyfQspyW5psxc8KdoV7zbODRseW8k23AtvR/s1620/IMG_8208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQcKu4FtLJ8T5SUd-eYYOwnMla26urc_HxWAR1xbkbUIY8pfHL9BZ_c76HNYQHWIKh7kiBMwlXHAVGETPWgSIjp3IqptRGH_vRNa1QQf5oSHkYgNXI8UpPryxtSVt_aty_8fCaxcKQQki47BR6YR5eyfQspyW5psxc8KdoV7zbODRseW8k23AtvR/s320/IMG_8208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-OoS27UXX3kxQoHsXKw2ah1BNcCi2bQatzTWwUS_GV9w3fkoXQ0LVa0utTT944IgUHRfE1_18oEUPT400X8vwciYtrT4l7LNgZXu0drHIpu0dOaTcJUfmaYxCi933Mh5VVLxOrzHhwYs_ErJ8b66V36lWYAI8QKt3g97k1Y8fakgEMak53-xf-qF/s1204/IMG_8207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1204" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-OoS27UXX3kxQoHsXKw2ah1BNcCi2bQatzTWwUS_GV9w3fkoXQ0LVa0utTT944IgUHRfE1_18oEUPT400X8vwciYtrT4l7LNgZXu0drHIpu0dOaTcJUfmaYxCi933Mh5VVLxOrzHhwYs_ErJ8b66V36lWYAI8QKt3g97k1Y8fakgEMak53-xf-qF/s320/IMG_8207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sGo7rsUIgRkQrgdTSUGcBlR9MVh-cPWgIT30jzQaArPXrdnUt_rystuNxqP5dDHpzLAINC05LG4_2RQ20XYWM2u4oG7CRsMyaWP-x3ZFz5mdEkQQpK47ujcf-PUAxz-4PHCUTChY4NYyL1UJtr5qL-w4eE7NAE8YVDpcDEL7vi-AN3GoJXhw6rGy/s1184/IMG_8211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sGo7rsUIgRkQrgdTSUGcBlR9MVh-cPWgIT30jzQaArPXrdnUt_rystuNxqP5dDHpzLAINC05LG4_2RQ20XYWM2u4oG7CRsMyaWP-x3ZFz5mdEkQQpK47ujcf-PUAxz-4PHCUTChY4NYyL1UJtr5qL-w4eE7NAE8YVDpcDEL7vi-AN3GoJXhw6rGy/s320/IMG_8211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I never thought I could associate myself with Overseas Filipino Workers in Sierra Leone. That was June 4 (my older brother's birthday) when I accompanied my colleague to drop by the Liquor Shop to buy few bottle for the weekend drinking session, I met a Filipino saleslady, Lea Colmenares. She mentioned about the Philippine Independence Day celebration with all other Filipinos in the country. We exchanged contact numbers and the following day they picked me up from the hotel, hang out at the Consul's residence, and met all the kababayans.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g_RZ5RW-pmFZqmaTNRegy8O9c-B1BZAtuAEewFh8NiWGpoxGYA5udb7b4k-em-0sutyItE9EQlN208vSc8lVazVoYnF5uh7Ey3LnYRwG2h7H1_DHjUBb-J0wc3PNL3OgeTXxFc0288O-gfo4gOXhEEv5M1yBxAGnlEdN8IuiIJnizCACVVRzNwgb/s3783/IMG_8216.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="3783" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g_RZ5RW-pmFZqmaTNRegy8O9c-B1BZAtuAEewFh8NiWGpoxGYA5udb7b4k-em-0sutyItE9EQlN208vSc8lVazVoYnF5uh7Ey3LnYRwG2h7H1_DHjUBb-J0wc3PNL3OgeTXxFc0288O-gfo4gOXhEEv5M1yBxAGnlEdN8IuiIJnizCACVVRzNwgb/s320/IMG_8216.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Hotel Manager, Mars Tolado</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGoC86-Khf1tdPg_T4V0RK2A3n-FQ4op_l-b6yM6PWJB2_pOCzsRYq7BsFvDif1KxrAFk_WQFsA402aqP_ZOvxl-Jybl-ejhZydQLpqgcOUiI2zXpV79eO_icSiHdp-Yrayl4O1UIIetWw9p4GfrMxXi4OYdVn0n9xQY6nH0HwcwRjv0JSFT5iS0A/s4032/27C24B07-1664-49DE-BCB2-B3B44B720A09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGoC86-Khf1tdPg_T4V0RK2A3n-FQ4op_l-b6yM6PWJB2_pOCzsRYq7BsFvDif1KxrAFk_WQFsA402aqP_ZOvxl-Jybl-ejhZydQLpqgcOUiI2zXpV79eO_icSiHdp-Yrayl4O1UIIetWw9p4GfrMxXi4OYdVn0n9xQY6nH0HwcwRjv0JSFT5iS0A/s320/27C24B07-1664-49DE-BCB2-B3B44B720A09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I was amazed how close-knit the Filipino community is in Sierra Leone. Several nights followed that I was with fellow Filipinos, either eating in restaurants managed by one of us or drinking in bars where some more fellows were serving. I was involved in the preparation for the June 12th celebration. And during that Independence Day, I joined the singing competition which of course I won, and led the community dancing. Filipinos everywhere are Fun! But I left early because I have to catch my flight that evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMFA0IK8voQisYSHDRy6r11yRyKsxIo8KXGhyO8fotFvhr1jk7yaG3DL0jLqUBkOuDKvQ3GJTFF8xyMpec_2JBbav8WQI7oB0bvSyviMJDp0lE_Y80Q16_EDKeS6gVwft4c_U4GjfmPyeOnnw_-la2glgYd1DVe8gO3IPS1gQ4ZHOZFAWcA-rF1ba/s4032/IMG_8237.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMFA0IK8voQisYSHDRy6r11yRyKsxIo8KXGhyO8fotFvhr1jk7yaG3DL0jLqUBkOuDKvQ3GJTFF8xyMpec_2JBbav8WQI7oB0bvSyviMJDp0lE_Y80Q16_EDKeS6gVwft4c_U4GjfmPyeOnnw_-la2glgYd1DVe8gO3IPS1gQ4ZHOZFAWcA-rF1ba/s320/IMG_8237.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM-3wTipugUMUOkp0b7l_Z99LGBIVtthY8l78T63I-jLqeDclxkRk_WEXFwdET3dOffBCjE1lUu0obzBcU_yDeoeXGtVHFNKqTZoQaTL2uO7Nz3DWk5JE9J3JhUozRRjYmFMu3gdB9aX6JwjfoOisL99iHHgTrf5A3PyYPMmQvzzECZ0As98qHZ8J/s4032/IMG_8240.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM-3wTipugUMUOkp0b7l_Z99LGBIVtthY8l78T63I-jLqeDclxkRk_WEXFwdET3dOffBCjE1lUu0obzBcU_yDeoeXGtVHFNKqTZoQaTL2uO7Nz3DWk5JE9J3JhUozRRjYmFMu3gdB9aX6JwjfoOisL99iHHgTrf5A3PyYPMmQvzzECZ0As98qHZ8J/s320/IMG_8240.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC1pQR2RZ--Io0Ma-Iyr9NdbyHlpu6Bi9Jk5mMgBkqxaesZBuNIjV84Ydeeps1_QCSBFgcSv9ybL03eiePWXbntZRAIFAQhtB4vfbBychHWZJwGoBXKuqKaDnQuSXb8zBfvWIh47Mj5wXiIkr4aShmgNbFpPScGt94qe4h_Vs--3rtv4jQp9OB8Tm/s4032/IMG_8241.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC1pQR2RZ--Io0Ma-Iyr9NdbyHlpu6Bi9Jk5mMgBkqxaesZBuNIjV84Ydeeps1_QCSBFgcSv9ybL03eiePWXbntZRAIFAQhtB4vfbBychHWZJwGoBXKuqKaDnQuSXb8zBfvWIh47Mj5wXiIkr4aShmgNbFpPScGt94qe4h_Vs--3rtv4jQp9OB8Tm/s320/IMG_8241.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">SIDETRIP</h3><div>I was supposed to spend 2 days in Morocco on my way back to the Philippines. But the widespread of covid had prompted the airlines to change my itineraries; it was then a direct flight from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Doha, Qatar with short connection in Morocco Airport. Then my way home was further delayed because I was not included in the cap on the number of returning Filipinos from Doha to Manila, Philippines. I was advised to stay for 24 hours in the Doha Airport with free meals and accommodations, and an upgrade to First Class seat.</div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-82698191760879984162021-03-20T11:57:00.225-07:002021-04-12T13:38:38.543-07:002020-2021: Six Months in Brazil<p>The original travel order was 28 days, and then it was extended twice to around 6 months in total. This was my longest official travel, both in the distance from home country and the travel period.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhvuQq01L3gZ-vdV8wyV_1TRld6dt8jZvwlOxbdljfK8pcLn9QkKOadHJmbRt7ZXl-0-LNDTJkwOCc1bOPqzPOB4UOHkcDyDiGy0bDgbWPiDmD9uXXsfasBi0eX1acs4lCEkpyFPG8CEY/s2048/DSC_0504-PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhvuQq01L3gZ-vdV8wyV_1TRld6dt8jZvwlOxbdljfK8pcLn9QkKOadHJmbRt7ZXl-0-LNDTJkwOCc1bOPqzPOB4UOHkcDyDiGy0bDgbWPiDmD9uXXsfasBi0eX1acs4lCEkpyFPG8CEY/s320/DSC_0504-PANO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clock Tower at Praca de Relogio</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brazil is on the other side of the globe; an 11-hour time difference at that. I traveled with Biena, a colleague and friend, fellow Pinoy. We left the Philippines at midnight of November 18, 2020. After 38 hours, we landed at Belem's International Airport. The long haul was tiresome, with 2-hour layover at Doha Airport, and another 6 hours at Sao Paolo Airport where we had our immigration clearance.<div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Belem: Nov 22 - Dec 19</h4><p>We reserved our stay at Mercure Belem Boulevard Hotel for 28 days. It was a relief to have arrived on Sunday morning because we earned enough recovery sleep before the official duty kicked off. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFOBJCavuT83okzGaFyZ6Gmah9Mz6w7f9epV4YECq4Z5mVthyqPYXlyUgShSjKSgrV19m6U6QiuHoFCYk7gpUMGGX4tla1o_yt_uk9LigdJ5zrHLNqUfY6yQtJFl_LejvmvexoB7ZrlNr/s2704/IMG_5709-PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFOBJCavuT83okzGaFyZ6Gmah9Mz6w7f9epV4YECq4Z5mVthyqPYXlyUgShSjKSgrV19m6U6QiuHoFCYk7gpUMGGX4tla1o_yt_uk9LigdJ5zrHLNqUfY6yQtJFl_LejvmvexoB7ZrlNr/s320/IMG_5709-PANO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of every sunrise from my balcony</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Although the first week was loaded with catch-up work, we still find time to get around and know Belem City in the northern part of Para State, northwest of Brazil. Our first dinner out was at Estacao das Docas. On our first weekend, we dropped by the city center to grab some photos of Portuguese heritage sites around Ver-O-Peso. </p><p>During these times, covid19 was not a big deal. All business establishments only required face masks as mandatory. But the nightly bars and restaurants were open for business until 2 o'clock in the morning. Taking advantage of this relaxed security, I started doing morning strolls and reached plenty of sites: Ver-O-Rio, Praca do Brazil, Basilica de Nazare, Praca Batista, and Praca Sao Paolo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsuAjIPCOOmBVGuUZjTns5kD-ZQxBIGj2RYIlSnAxqm8t62syFppXeeMzLv6DzR3oW3F6orBrg3SEugWkCb2CliHwE2ckxlW-z9OsEFhQOp5zdigOirAwbAtM0ZHN8o9ZE33Bt4AqyXGW/s6000/DSC_0496.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsuAjIPCOOmBVGuUZjTns5kD-ZQxBIGj2RYIlSnAxqm8t62syFppXeeMzLv6DzR3oW3F6orBrg3SEugWkCb2CliHwE2ckxlW-z9OsEFhQOp5zdigOirAwbAtM0ZHN8o9ZE33Bt4AqyXGW/s320/DSC_0496.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ver-O-Peso</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXRJ0ctJByCDnbrG2b9VvYkmdfrtZsrVzG70RsLEOUH0zRyuDavQ8XpWTSbN10OzduSJw3PY7_uArn9CyIq4yD9CBS5zCjuDyNsHKMHydF73fTKkpKobok5T3HNMX0EOeN_utwnDoqZN7/s4032/IMG_2817.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXRJ0ctJByCDnbrG2b9VvYkmdfrtZsrVzG70RsLEOUH0zRyuDavQ8XpWTSbN10OzduSJw3PY7_uArn9CyIq4yD9CBS5zCjuDyNsHKMHydF73fTKkpKobok5T3HNMX0EOeN_utwnDoqZN7/s320/IMG_2817.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Estacao das Docas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahuWXTGiedXBV50duMHr5LgLgb2jZM1CvuxBzZ27CDpVrxSlw2ee5XzXS5q-NPZFcp1R0-UwXAYjK8DNgAg268ka8atOFxSqRhfwfSC9PoRRnB8ZicUWqzMjvxQewhy0QDNYexlG133Vc/s4032/IMG_3004.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahuWXTGiedXBV50duMHr5LgLgb2jZM1CvuxBzZ27CDpVrxSlw2ee5XzXS5q-NPZFcp1R0-UwXAYjK8DNgAg268ka8atOFxSqRhfwfSC9PoRRnB8ZicUWqzMjvxQewhy0QDNYexlG133Vc/s320/IMG_3004.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ver-O-Rio</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Ms Noemi, our DPM, and her husband, Alex, showed us to Isla do Combu and spent the whole afternoon enjoying the resort-type feel where locals enjoy swimming in the lake. On another weekend, they showed us the Utinga Nature Park which is a good venue for weekend workouts, from walking, running, biking and trekking.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_AZ2ByadH1gWb8W7UjrbmozoFurH2bjrH3Q8yGjCpQhjbik_aeg6C4mlZsO1S31rdH5XJPgMPnP0UogGFkAbn5B_rUoupWwk34Lt4weykBGUoE5wqPovObHgQgqgyHIB3F9D1CyjyxSg/s6000/DSC_0844.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_AZ2ByadH1gWb8W7UjrbmozoFurH2bjrH3Q8yGjCpQhjbik_aeg6C4mlZsO1S31rdH5XJPgMPnP0UogGFkAbn5B_rUoupWwk34Lt4weykBGUoE5wqPovObHgQgqgyHIB3F9D1CyjyxSg/s320/DSC_0844.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Resort</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeJjzB7-i-nrqWsIOFvBGlcUJHwIFciV0leCrp8P87bBGS8mVXMCI9TsKNqvRmrS_ZrYTeZOUHGJ2vhvc-HcUwMRUNgMEPV6U5ifFHl4FBfYmmKv9I-Sr_EmQTFKcpJMVaP3pe87NysgU/s4032/IMG_3985.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeJjzB7-i-nrqWsIOFvBGlcUJHwIFciV0leCrp8P87bBGS8mVXMCI9TsKNqvRmrS_ZrYTeZOUHGJ2vhvc-HcUwMRUNgMEPV6U5ifFHl4FBfYmmKv9I-Sr_EmQTFKcpJMVaP3pe87NysgU/s320/IMG_3985.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utinga Public Park</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXScX0lFttXf7H04rUckA7dUdkNg6gk_S5pbBZYo2zfxXb_nzG70NUaExIkmOpN1f67DoCiUWij7QMZV-HrVXbhHSoJ7BY1hYKMi2vp2BM1rzE_XkMQNptU03XWhTgkpQ3qXrjbTIi98U6/s6064/IMG_3138.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3069" data-original-width="6064" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXScX0lFttXf7H04rUckA7dUdkNg6gk_S5pbBZYo2zfxXb_nzG70NUaExIkmOpN1f67DoCiUWij7QMZV-HrVXbhHSoJ7BY1hYKMi2vp2BM1rzE_XkMQNptU03XWhTgkpQ3qXrjbTIi98U6/s320/IMG_3138.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangal das Garcas</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On some weekends, Biena and I went to Mangal das Garcas, a local zoo, where one of our favorite restaurants is located, then went on to checkout the Portal de Amazonia -- another public venue for daily fitness.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rio de Janeiro: Dec 11-13</h4><p>Because we only have 28 days in Brazil, we should not miss the country's landmark. So we scheduled a sidetrip to Rio de Janeiro. Just an overnight, we flew out on Friday night. We spent 1 night at a Linx Hotel near the new airport. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_ZdV-ycoEpM33QzK6YPNaq6-VO4Vxw9DCnMzofbZ2zugju_0qKQZ45EkaJV_ulMDdTUYEyCeTwkveKhbumKybHpZZPGEZ5M1sjUK06tKb_8ZFqCA2kqcFJbk9j1wEtPcYNxz4kkStK-E/s4032/IMG_3441.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_ZdV-ycoEpM33QzK6YPNaq6-VO4Vxw9DCnMzofbZ2zugju_0qKQZ45EkaJV_ulMDdTUYEyCeTwkveKhbumKybHpZZPGEZ5M1sjUK06tKb_8ZFqCA2kqcFJbk9j1wEtPcYNxz4kkStK-E/s320/IMG_3441.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amidst chaos with relentless crowd</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>That following morning, we headed straight to the Corcovado Tram station. This was the public access to the Holy Redeemer Statue. All our entry tickets were pre-booked while we're in Belem. We hopped on the red tram as scheduled, after some photoshoots for souvenir. There were still plenty of tourists, locals mostly. I cannot imagine how it would be like if there was no corona virus.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHV_r_CexDq5-qhsMnw3YVkx3erkKRz3uRh3tHwOv9yc0wL5knuAdU6xyYYh9VFxErnDw5-AIrSOQ1pegemZoUL-nl0CsdWSkSx2z_g8mJfZYUl7LnS_4FuX4DlxGdoIjNl_SJ-xV50RQ/s4032/IMG_3484.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHV_r_CexDq5-qhsMnw3YVkx3erkKRz3uRh3tHwOv9yc0wL5knuAdU6xyYYh9VFxErnDw5-AIrSOQ1pegemZoUL-nl0CsdWSkSx2z_g8mJfZYUl7LnS_4FuX4DlxGdoIjNl_SJ-xV50RQ/s320/IMG_3484.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the bay, Lagoa de Freitaa, and Ipanema</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Anyway, we enjoyed our way up to the gargantuan statue on top of the Corcovado mountain. Taking pictures here and there, checking every souvenir shop along the stairs up to heaven. Then finding the best spot and a clean shot at the site. T'was really crazy! Still too many people on site, and it was already a controlled crowd based on maximum tickets sold each day.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcZNsjCYQIwZJqeicp3BSkMlsGNYMxqifFOcp-Nh8txRl9zs-lEdDs96EDYdsryszwdsMzagwEUimZX_F81P9DJhoV8HrJz-nHFx8rrpFUZxJF4PWikLZhjP9pDTR7sw4pi-cZflXPZeq/s4032/IMG_3528.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcZNsjCYQIwZJqeicp3BSkMlsGNYMxqifFOcp-Nh8txRl9zs-lEdDs96EDYdsryszwdsMzagwEUimZX_F81P9DJhoV8HrJz-nHFx8rrpFUZxJF4PWikLZhjP9pDTR7sw4pi-cZflXPZeq/s320/IMG_3528.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the foot of Redentor Statue, posing with the busts of the founders</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After having lunch in the nearest restaurant, we headed back to Corcovado Tram Station and took the Uber to Astoria Hotel at the Copacabana Beach. And the location was really great! But we cannot enjoy our accommodations yet because we have reserved day ticket to the Sugarloaf Mountain. We enjoyed the cable car ride up two mountain peaks. The view from the top were marvelous! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EjWpV-3fnOCyC6neBRjnGtr7f6MDuA44uEWhIKSz04aqOg8yRD5FpKXBL3YJ2XryqLh4WDDtk4Sk9AgEwgoBYeFO4XhW_MeLtKVjcsRFvR7BVy-wVyGMOKkngigtJUX_WuWuHYPSCrmH/s3351/IMG_3614.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="3351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EjWpV-3fnOCyC6neBRjnGtr7f6MDuA44uEWhIKSz04aqOg8yRD5FpKXBL3YJ2XryqLh4WDDtk4Sk9AgEwgoBYeFO4XhW_MeLtKVjcsRFvR7BVy-wVyGMOKkngigtJUX_WuWuHYPSCrmH/s320/IMG_3614.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pose before taking the cable car to reach the second peak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT-nHMbWP2lMIJXY8-rymMRp6jcyouHZF_bIAfOoSHk81P8Fv30GbnApm_BFgRWgCv4B9f2F0wNhDYMsmBZXZzvNAwK_DoZx7gmoCDNZhi9llmyP_57D0w6wV8kpICh7u4pKJzZyGOk1H/s1280/7cc4e4e3-3977-4fd4-bd5a-bcb3f1a6470f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT-nHMbWP2lMIJXY8-rymMRp6jcyouHZF_bIAfOoSHk81P8Fv30GbnApm_BFgRWgCv4B9f2F0wNhDYMsmBZXZzvNAwK_DoZx7gmoCDNZhi9llmyP_57D0w6wV8kpICh7u4pKJzZyGOk1H/s320/7cc4e4e3-3977-4fd4-bd5a-bcb3f1a6470f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the second peak overlooking Copacabana</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHArQD3RmfbQ9DwAgSYQze9TV3r4y-dVK0WHG5l7Oe-i-CTSFXC9HUKkpgRm1cCP94VZq5QbVJdaNzmZjo6wt-oR1PvIrhE-s4eZ8FW6mVSoh-_fv6UHwdfyUlHw6spN8_TBffzer_UTnJ/s1280/37d5c2ab-cdec-48ce-af93-c7bd4113bf77.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHArQD3RmfbQ9DwAgSYQze9TV3r4y-dVK0WHG5l7Oe-i-CTSFXC9HUKkpgRm1cCP94VZq5QbVJdaNzmZjo6wt-oR1PvIrhE-s4eZ8FW6mVSoh-_fv6UHwdfyUlHw6spN8_TBffzer_UTnJ/s320/37d5c2ab-cdec-48ce-af93-c7bd4113bf77.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boarding gate </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ5ARuZvno8T2ATwiUXOU2WNonuDiQoaUiZ074QUvpd4G9tyS4vyV8ufBdUIqZwYNStNZAFziXpV5XaMnWis4PI4GLpbW48qbY6XL-Ta6eLreIMyUGfozv3siBt87bpmI2iRgRo4c8yxp/s1280/07d2f6cf-af8c-4a1f-b5d4-2d0905008bf6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ5ARuZvno8T2ATwiUXOU2WNonuDiQoaUiZ074QUvpd4G9tyS4vyV8ufBdUIqZwYNStNZAFziXpV5XaMnWis4PI4GLpbW48qbY6XL-Ta6eLreIMyUGfozv3siBt87bpmI2iRgRo4c8yxp/s320/07d2f6cf-af8c-4a1f-b5d4-2d0905008bf6.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indeed a Sugarloaf</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>That night was for Copacabana fun. This world-known beach was not that perfect in our pictures, but the physical feel that I was there was beyond imagination, indescribable. We frolicked in the white powdery sand and grabbed our dinner at the restaurants in the beach. The site is huge, with 5 stations. I walked the whole stretch the following morning. It was Sunday and there I realized how Brazilians spend the day. Around lunchtime, the whole beach was filled with beach volleyball courts, striped beach umbrellas and benches were scattered with unique choreography, and almost naked people were lying on the sands everywhere.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6TKGHA8TYXO1KtS472DBKwAUqrlmWv7Hzg9-yXRy5EPt_79GejwmZPBCpmO-ThGaL5qvZ-4uviViNAQErixjnRrpX8ZvGcI8rcnX6rxVNI91BA1qdDvrnviQTMGaOqLyWWmOiCR2u0ij/s2048/DSC_0725-PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6TKGHA8TYXO1KtS472DBKwAUqrlmWv7Hzg9-yXRy5EPt_79GejwmZPBCpmO-ThGaL5qvZ-4uviViNAQErixjnRrpX8ZvGcI8rcnX6rxVNI91BA1qdDvrnviQTMGaOqLyWWmOiCR2u0ij/s320/DSC_0725-PANO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Copacabana Beach from Astoria Hotel's rooftop<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQG-DRP7F1Jq_orsZ500GE0teILQy0XlBA_dE9kzXIU85oKCu4aQazwqR6M9GLOoHc1S8VJRP4f9rHGp4j6eATbBuGaJxIwl71beCSwBK0NtP6SzObN6VospCpyxD_IxDNJc0SBR1LcMX/s4032/IMG_3678.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQG-DRP7F1Jq_orsZ500GE0teILQy0XlBA_dE9kzXIU85oKCu4aQazwqR6M9GLOoHc1S8VJRP4f9rHGp4j6eATbBuGaJxIwl71beCSwBK0NtP6SzObN6VospCpyxD_IxDNJc0SBR1LcMX/s320/IMG_3678.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That one dinner at a restaurant located in Copacabana Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJB7l0c7FjMzdL-p27LnUO7wjR4-cA6UDuL2U4YqF3P4S6X15hdP6ezlBWl2mV2qqw57RLR2WDQ348l_U5AW8ODCYfKA5p01GbFrDdDWc3uBqaTdLojWQodp45m4dSd0flD4BN04eayqs/s4032/IMG_3719.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJB7l0c7FjMzdL-p27LnUO7wjR4-cA6UDuL2U4YqF3P4S6X15hdP6ezlBWl2mV2qqw57RLR2WDQ348l_U5AW8ODCYfKA5p01GbFrDdDWc3uBqaTdLojWQodp45m4dSd0flD4BN04eayqs/s320/IMG_3719.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That peaceful morning site before hoards of people arrive</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Before flying back to Belem that afternoon, we visited the Havaianas store and Ipanema Beach. There, upon seeing Ipanema, I have sworn to myself to come back to Rio.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLid-Ls1Njhs1ghWI3n6lgNo4RumflZObYGKS2PFaJUPvIwflNvZCp9Wa4EIcrgOcgIRD40oatD3LSW7qNTTswRXx-aH3LIy7LiuaQOHxVTs_30op-hZbhyL9lA8E6EFrEZiiLCExKjqtw/s1280/64c983b9-cfcd-40cf-bd5f-77800c910408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLid-Ls1Njhs1ghWI3n6lgNo4RumflZObYGKS2PFaJUPvIwflNvZCp9Wa4EIcrgOcgIRD40oatD3LSW7qNTTswRXx-aH3LIy7LiuaQOHxVTs_30op-hZbhyL9lA8E6EFrEZiiLCExKjqtw/s320/64c983b9-cfcd-40cf-bd5f-77800c910408.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucQqI9gDVXx2xKyimJ_pNtuPg4NMbATqJWKQYrPQpGzO6nSM4JJcLtFSQTgOsD0_EWcO7ugVNk4qwq6457Fg-jD5259tWaoZcg7Az6ZMqEN7OMtIc3JOsJ8sm_OPgr2LQo5vU9HyjMm30/s3773/IMG_3729.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="3773" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucQqI9gDVXx2xKyimJ_pNtuPg4NMbATqJWKQYrPQpGzO6nSM4JJcLtFSQTgOsD0_EWcO7ugVNk4qwq6457Fg-jD5259tWaoZcg7Az6ZMqEN7OMtIc3JOsJ8sm_OPgr2LQo5vU9HyjMm30/s320/IMG_3729.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Belem: Dec 19 - Feb 6</h4><p>The management decided to extend our stay for another 49 days, to take advantage of our 90-day visa-free entry to Brazil. This meant that Biena and I have celebrated Christmas and New Year in Belem; on top of that, my 45th birthday celebration as well.</p><p>I personally got to know more about the place. I made long-distance morning walks. Sometimes, Biena joined me. We reached as far as the old city airport, the Utinga park, the Botanical Garden, the Praca Republica, the City Cathedral, the Amazon Portal, and plenty more. My fitness activity this time included running and rope jumping. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNuJaGavtI0fQut4xMQPifnEAbmYz_VnQzXlbLRYy4Mlfj7upWnFih6_DhAVLPnEwtIIFF9j1OPFY2ySdOZ0u1j7E1qNM5ZLxoMkHkE0sup8w27SiqeszBQaHCxKyElxpA1QD-jz6Mp4h/s4032/IMG_3254.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNuJaGavtI0fQut4xMQPifnEAbmYz_VnQzXlbLRYy4Mlfj7upWnFih6_DhAVLPnEwtIIFF9j1OPFY2ySdOZ0u1j7E1qNM5ZLxoMkHkE0sup8w27SiqeszBQaHCxKyElxpA1QD-jz6Mp4h/s320/IMG_3254.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the City Cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6KAeZs_b99bNWZDJOnYcKYCv1H8MBgofGbUKgt_KV4aWWDuQUVmwlRuLtyxF5dI1raY3oDvmSNwTdB7oxSH5UBEM93YHPr6NM0Qla8hgZEiPHCFRgyk-wK6V4P7GBCisXiEKfZuo4v-r/s4032/IMG_4244.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6KAeZs_b99bNWZDJOnYcKYCv1H8MBgofGbUKgt_KV4aWWDuQUVmwlRuLtyxF5dI1raY3oDvmSNwTdB7oxSH5UBEM93YHPr6NM0Qla8hgZEiPHCFRgyk-wK6V4P7GBCisXiEKfZuo4v-r/s320/IMG_4244.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Praca Batista</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktS4Nv2eUNM2F6ajmTNSolFQbMiOqxAK2hY2pZ7swB4LPGIPA4g92ORUWRBWI77VV2gzcYx90k5i7Fv9-QN9YhsFolRBy6FeF2WqMBn38G18LYeDo5aGD3WSNlsQZAqAzUorL3vET67op/s4032/IMG_5873.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktS4Nv2eUNM2F6ajmTNSolFQbMiOqxAK2hY2pZ7swB4LPGIPA4g92ORUWRBWI77VV2gzcYx90k5i7Fv9-QN9YhsFolRBy6FeF2WqMBn38G18LYeDo5aGD3WSNlsQZAqAzUorL3vET67op/s320/IMG_5873.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Utinga Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwc7z6hCN9b81si2vpjHG_N4EaYhl_f3NlQCqZ894oxW6Rf0JRZw3yCS5ci34VHnBLTN48lZhAzgeHFui2t-QGteCORugDXYtKHPBVeTV-bghDX_mZT3Mh3_iBbGweHHa9eXZnW6-4Lt9/s4032/IMG_5012.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwc7z6hCN9b81si2vpjHG_N4EaYhl_f3NlQCqZ894oxW6Rf0JRZw3yCS5ci34VHnBLTN48lZhAzgeHFui2t-QGteCORugDXYtKHPBVeTV-bghDX_mZT3Mh3_iBbGweHHa9eXZnW6-4Lt9/s320/IMG_5012.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Mangal das Garcas</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We now frequented our favorite restaurants: in Mangal das Garcas, in Estacao das Docas, in Belem Shopping Center; the Companha Paulista which is a few blocks away from the office, and the Sansei Japanese Restaurant across the hotel.</p><p>Then on the day before Christmas, the whole Brazil Team went for covid swab testing because two of us has tested positive. They got it from frequent meetings with the government officers who tested positive. Thank God, Biena's and my results were negative. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRiNg2FObBQ53P-8kHpbP2YfnjCpSfEwRW1lrWVHRA4bZEXCyoXWncZTBF21WIzc3tdp5Q5JmPN2S-CA3lJHgQPQVOC9H5b0lanhnHZaT10ftKiC1G7umxXcN2kA9VfGk-7_rErTx5gpz/s1280/1ae6e713-cfdc-434d-8f59-a533f26688bc.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRiNg2FObBQ53P-8kHpbP2YfnjCpSfEwRW1lrWVHRA4bZEXCyoXWncZTBF21WIzc3tdp5Q5JmPN2S-CA3lJHgQPQVOC9H5b0lanhnHZaT10ftKiC1G7umxXcN2kA9VfGk-7_rErTx5gpz/s320/1ae6e713-cfdc-434d-8f59-a533f26688bc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A toast for Christmas 2020</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkki3OnIJOeRCsyNV8GXPTRwVL1B8PNxjUWV7lXBqS35AcZmSlOzWVd57cujgy2qWhhVw51QwBtusPsZeNz1TPqqK-7WPEnH0FYDLlx73aODaltUCmJaoPCr5OBo78FMg0U4jjwf3HzRmS/s3022/IMG_4109.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="3022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkki3OnIJOeRCsyNV8GXPTRwVL1B8PNxjUWV7lXBqS35AcZmSlOzWVd57cujgy2qWhhVw51QwBtusPsZeNz1TPqqK-7WPEnH0FYDLlx73aODaltUCmJaoPCr5OBo78FMg0U4jjwf3HzRmS/s320/IMG_4109.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B&B -- fave resto in Belem Shopping Mall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMJI8xg1gI8rfTVkDv6QRAEqQ0LMu_RbnGo0X81Fo1y6XZj625M21s5zSFjJs8MtdoXgr7UiB0UhBeirdqjxdjqQ-oMBSqvRa3n5Xbnf8lH4QW2u-87mgzhDRSO3NX6bCxjoyTz6PE3wn/s1280/6ecead4c-6731-4391-b5c0-ceeb3ad9ce38.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMJI8xg1gI8rfTVkDv6QRAEqQ0LMu_RbnGo0X81Fo1y6XZj625M21s5zSFjJs8MtdoXgr7UiB0UhBeirdqjxdjqQ-oMBSqvRa3n5Xbnf8lH4QW2u-87mgzhDRSO3NX6bCxjoyTz6PE3wn/s320/6ecead4c-6731-4391-b5c0-ceeb3ad9ce38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers to New Year 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In January, the government imposed restrictions and curfews. Bars and restaurants were allowed to operate only until 10pm. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rio de Janeiro: Jan 8-10</h4><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKBJmFmBycYy4DCxPRz3Ejr9O9QCw_gDH05DmTw-UQZK0pANqacBoGz7adWLcO2CF9ksC0PGqsj06-PEq-xIVMDyBEqIruSwmvubxaKZAy36WFEAp4L0u1oQDQywSZWNhJBqepOg4tNhD/s3231/DSC_0756-PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="3231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKBJmFmBycYy4DCxPRz3Ejr9O9QCw_gDH05DmTw-UQZK0pANqacBoGz7adWLcO2CF9ksC0PGqsj06-PEq-xIVMDyBEqIruSwmvubxaKZAy36WFEAp4L0u1oQDQywSZWNhJBqepOg4tNhD/s320/DSC_0756-PANO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The loveable and memorable Ipanema</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Upon learning that our stay in Brazil will be extended, I immediately planned for my Birthday in Ipanema. Biena agreed to come with me. </p><p>That Friday afternoon, we flew to Rio via Brasilia. We landed at the downtown airport and so we reached Ipanema before midnight. We stayed in a hostel, called Mango Tree, because hotels here were pricey. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EU0yMRxB3UpDDcoZRzH6qVAQm6nXP3kTdvYCUQ8bZHFgX1REEtdIsgm4TGIlfoo9Y2mV1WqEDh6V6CXdgRdXCu8igWnJg5VUAcFExVehdj5NXEj3_-C92JJ6akZEL5CnjdlIo9sqnxam/s4032/IMG_4664.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EU0yMRxB3UpDDcoZRzH6qVAQm6nXP3kTdvYCUQ8bZHFgX1REEtdIsgm4TGIlfoo9Y2mV1WqEDh6V6CXdgRdXCu8igWnJg5VUAcFExVehdj5NXEj3_-C92JJ6akZEL5CnjdlIo9sqnxam/s320/IMG_4664.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the entryway to Mango Tree Hostel</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmOiGJ0iqW9OOtZgiudg6X5vFua2N0O27ksGEKnLOTRx9xLV_ksdlDzik_mKqfL4KKUtzZPf1_XuSR_Fx-HCZlKfVf_0OaiYu7P32TK8Iqy75O7zpV4M_x8U2YAjuCdF0jCstegBHCy3M/s3707/75B0B211-8A3F-436C-BDBA-DBF4F501FD86.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2003" data-original-width="3707" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmOiGJ0iqW9OOtZgiudg6X5vFua2N0O27ksGEKnLOTRx9xLV_ksdlDzik_mKqfL4KKUtzZPf1_XuSR_Fx-HCZlKfVf_0OaiYu7P32TK8Iqy75O7zpV4M_x8U2YAjuCdF0jCstegBHCy3M/s320/75B0B211-8A3F-436C-BDBA-DBF4F501FD86.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wide Freitas Lake with Holy Redeemer as the backdrop</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ipanema, it turned out, was tourists' favorite destination. I noticed a weekend filled with tourists. All our nights there, we experienced that pre-covid party feeling in every corner where bars and restaurants lined up. It was my first time to feel afraid of the virus, mind you. Nonetheless, Ipanema made my January 9, my 45th birthday, very memorable and special.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXRyW703bcjhJsQ_KxiNPnZkzZTNqnS8AKWZ4amAy1yk7ObgaX5KyI-JUC-9s8vWcjGlfUfmA0sZRBrBToz6XNc63f0c-8x_6FcBrOqpTGJ1EnYuybHp3_A8goDozKn1bECYqt5_lDQyc/s1280/f4495b25-ce6f-45ca-9511-f7ae40f22684.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXRyW703bcjhJsQ_KxiNPnZkzZTNqnS8AKWZ4amAy1yk7ObgaX5KyI-JUC-9s8vWcjGlfUfmA0sZRBrBToz6XNc63f0c-8x_6FcBrOqpTGJ1EnYuybHp3_A8goDozKn1bECYqt5_lDQyc/s320/f4495b25-ce6f-45ca-9511-f7ae40f22684.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around Freitas Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSbN2pKUg74NM6sW6vhqap12SmtT6tlmrCb1OvNXkFUiL_eL9E0EznX3yYVvYUPCvO9SrhcKieKdyR53V9kTCffYimuchcNYeX31UGym8a1LmZrcaKWFJBL6JguiaCMhpqtKn6YUzTsEA/s2437/IMG_4517.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1828" data-original-width="2437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSbN2pKUg74NM6sW6vhqap12SmtT6tlmrCb1OvNXkFUiL_eL9E0EznX3yYVvYUPCvO9SrhcKieKdyR53V9kTCffYimuchcNYeX31UGym8a1LmZrcaKWFJBL6JguiaCMhpqtKn6YUzTsEA/s320/IMG_4517.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomR2LXqPmFJMP4f5_q9vne_XmFR8Ms8ocLEKeB3yIzVYzuSgm5KUSlOk-iEvaesY8lW1XlQIzBlibAxfkFDfXQAEFA3NdA3xV3bY9ToWt_UumEXrfLZoOuYCnUHjIue1LpMaxIcQZ5y9J/s4032/IMG_4551.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomR2LXqPmFJMP4f5_q9vne_XmFR8Ms8ocLEKeB3yIzVYzuSgm5KUSlOk-iEvaesY8lW1XlQIzBlibAxfkFDfXQAEFA3NdA3xV3bY9ToWt_UumEXrfLZoOuYCnUHjIue1LpMaxIcQZ5y9J/s320/IMG_4551.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Parque Lage</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay7ChzDPKU1EbIbQtbZdiEcsuFVEsiJ7s8lpT_GuUc-POcCWtqMUpe5YkV-RPID-iuembd3BrmMddzU5gngoHS6sYC9M_BPPFCDWjikJlhbuLgSpQzHnX109YIDdU1R6qjxk7v3eXEHYv/s1280/cd82612f-b50e-451e-9d75-c2b223d675ef.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay7ChzDPKU1EbIbQtbZdiEcsuFVEsiJ7s8lpT_GuUc-POcCWtqMUpe5YkV-RPID-iuembd3BrmMddzU5gngoHS6sYC9M_BPPFCDWjikJlhbuLgSpQzHnX109YIDdU1R6qjxk7v3eXEHYv/s320/cd82612f-b50e-451e-9d75-c2b223d675ef.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying Ipanema waters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSXZfeDnziYnMYbOxyhi-25bKfDlEsCtlwqPlyJqIeGx558dzIIIMFPDBHPQW5oI1idvF1pzNrSbC7lj5AxJ6pQN180uJD-Fva5Zg35Urv9m2z_Q5QFxJs7-ZAfysj8i4FySLCaaZ2OP8/s4032/IMG_4770.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSXZfeDnziYnMYbOxyhi-25bKfDlEsCtlwqPlyJqIeGx558dzIIIMFPDBHPQW5oI1idvF1pzNrSbC7lj5AxJ6pQN180uJD-Fva5Zg35Urv9m2z_Q5QFxJs7-ZAfysj8i4FySLCaaZ2OP8/s320/IMG_4770.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Escadaria Selaron</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwtJLEEgRcIIFCHAcAY95YqZEJIFGI783ezLlTa7cM_-xRLXEf1lsHRL7_rWneietLbqPJ3dE0CsBJoT7LMDO2JlVBzcOZ5q6N_mmO2G9oyxI2hsFqVwX5oVJHJXIIHzIZUTw3fi8OQHO/s1280/8e4ec2e5-bdcb-446e-9c3f-8ef87d41bbb7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwtJLEEgRcIIFCHAcAY95YqZEJIFGI783ezLlTa7cM_-xRLXEf1lsHRL7_rWneietLbqPJ3dE0CsBJoT7LMDO2JlVBzcOZ5q6N_mmO2G9oyxI2hsFqVwX5oVJHJXIIHzIZUTw3fi8OQHO/s320/8e4ec2e5-bdcb-446e-9c3f-8ef87d41bbb7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Carioca Aqueduct</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Other than the beautiful white beach (a little narrower and shorter than Copacabana), we ventured to more touristy spots: strolled half of the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, entered the Parque Lage, tried the Mirante Dona Marta but was closed that day, Carioca Aqueduct, and the Escadaria Selaron.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFUAoqO7YHcfTjAnbm6aTTBUSBUaoCWm4FUnwDWN4plJ5KNc3A1tVVzCb3aRTMNpkJGMs030vW1nfKJzntV60iNOzsS4uSt3HFJi0NViXtviRyMcy2bjO-O90mLklpYqbjTBYL79MWf9E/s1800/84B0C8AA-3B35-479D-AE96-30D1C6ECFB88.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFUAoqO7YHcfTjAnbm6aTTBUSBUaoCWm4FUnwDWN4plJ5KNc3A1tVVzCb3aRTMNpkJGMs030vW1nfKJzntV60iNOzsS4uSt3HFJi0NViXtviRyMcy2bjO-O90mLklpYqbjTBYL79MWf9E/s320/84B0C8AA-3B35-479D-AE96-30D1C6ECFB88.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marking 45 thru Tattoo</td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br />Belem: Feb 6 - May 15</h4><p>The covid19 situation in Brazil has worsen. The country was considered high risk area for the virus. There was even a viral variant registered and named as Brazilian variant. </p><p>Our company management planned to send us home then come back, after like 2 weeks. But travel to Brazil was stopped by most countries, including Philippines. Another plan was for us to reroute to any Caribbean country for a week or two, then fly back to Brazil. But again this option is risky because flights to Brazil from any corners of the world may be blocked. So we went for the last resort; we applied for a one-time (visa) extension — a maximum of 90 days. This would make our stay in the country 6 months in total, after which we have to exit and wait for another 6 months before coming back. It was approved and our passports got stamps.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYX_863kvdECiDXl5I3FZdMrMgDxbicV4vO8vbM0TQViG32aWH2Ru0LP7dpMqn0_jMEvhW88_rBfU0xKQF1OLnc9YND3fqiK48wqOAJYlW86EG9qSgT-HjmTUPptxyVQ9P-rss8mQG3Az/s3140/IMG_6318.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="3140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYX_863kvdECiDXl5I3FZdMrMgDxbicV4vO8vbM0TQViG32aWH2Ru0LP7dpMqn0_jMEvhW88_rBfU0xKQF1OLnc9YND3fqiK48wqOAJYlW86EG9qSgT-HjmTUPptxyVQ9P-rss8mQG3Az/s320/IMG_6318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Portal da Amazonia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFnuu9LTORpBOYhHHikvA9ZuWxGPw_9CWuvProuDM22SeHq1KbJcjTFMYQ-re22hWcCCGCMrdP2945xfDK3GAJ6mwwqatW3IfwEwYOr4ti9KtjJXh06e-7IFk0y2luuTTTCvcy4WJ5ED8/s3490/IMG_6245.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2516" data-original-width="3490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFnuu9LTORpBOYhHHikvA9ZuWxGPw_9CWuvProuDM22SeHq1KbJcjTFMYQ-re22hWcCCGCMrdP2945xfDK3GAJ6mwwqatW3IfwEwYOr4ti9KtjJXh06e-7IFk0y2luuTTTCvcy4WJ5ED8/s320/IMG_6245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Praca Onze de Julho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyreZblDH9CSCKck7oi1PDe-nXfIy1W20Wp2H09QMK3-zevgMKN1jG3oBW4qjb9Lrh2FVsLcvrqkU77d8iZ5ME-Ges-ZUdtk4YaeQeZ-MxzoAlSgeK9lLitSNliRxCJIOybnIZWzu_HrO/s3344/IMG_6229.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2297" data-original-width="3344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyreZblDH9CSCKck7oi1PDe-nXfIy1W20Wp2H09QMK3-zevgMKN1jG3oBW4qjb9Lrh2FVsLcvrqkU77d8iZ5ME-Ges-ZUdtk4YaeQeZ-MxzoAlSgeK9lLitSNliRxCJIOybnIZWzu_HrO/s320/IMG_6229.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Praca Onze de Julho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCsrYs316w-S95VQGSsEQ7mp9KHOTNx-y8t230GvSYti9S7ZFAcXqSZmYx8-e1xhUcWXGSD0yh8y0-Q98Tcn4z8-VAe0HZBXg6iZl46uZ71aBGsPUSVXTMJ-ZsJuZSmgbHjkgOfGkfh8B/s4032/IMG_6126.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCsrYs316w-S95VQGSsEQ7mp9KHOTNx-y8t230GvSYti9S7ZFAcXqSZmYx8-e1xhUcWXGSD0yh8y0-Q98Tcn4z8-VAe0HZBXg6iZl46uZ71aBGsPUSVXTMJ-ZsJuZSmgbHjkgOfGkfh8B/s320/IMG_6126.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Portal da Amazonia<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg68YTcwblxjZmkChlNDMIyXphMTklht3hjW47HpFaadJYxdchL0RA0qnmhxFH13G2xdJRU-It-BYBdZlctHgzlpbUli6TurTmr_wBWdtuqdmtC-fN-41OHXwZdGTyTz-H_MM3XA5l3OR/s4032/IMG_6102.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg68YTcwblxjZmkChlNDMIyXphMTklht3hjW47HpFaadJYxdchL0RA0qnmhxFH13G2xdJRU-It-BYBdZlctHgzlpbUli6TurTmr_wBWdtuqdmtC-fN-41OHXwZdGTyTz-H_MM3XA5l3OR/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Praca Rocha</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Two more colleagues joined us in Brazil, Genaro from Nicaragua who was working on the Transparency Portal interface, and Zaman from Pakistan who is our Solutions Director. Zaman joined our working fitness activities; not Genaro. While they were here, stricter restrictions and curfews were imposed. The operating hours for bars and restaurants were cut to 6pm. After they left Brazil, on March 16, the lockdown was ordered.</p><p>The morning walks outdoors were over. And Biena and I stayed inside the hotel during the 14-day lockdown period.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Salvador: Feb 19-21</h4><p>All Carnival celebrations around Brazil were cancelled due to covid19. The weeklong festivities was supposed to cover the Valentines Day celebration. I imagined it to be wonderful and jubilant. But it was not the case this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7Apweh825P5QJ6j6Dm_TzO4Z4Qdd6091YfRbMuCX09hxoGqCszvE4IJO6umiXvIustlAAmPF2vcIqSnDa9wykYzsqh9YCG4pd8NTFr-6aowPDLqECQktHBRSW14Xq7g60Ky0jgCpUe-h/s4032/IMG_5631-EFFECTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7Apweh825P5QJ6j6Dm_TzO4Z4Qdd6091YfRbMuCX09hxoGqCszvE4IJO6umiXvIustlAAmPF2vcIqSnDa9wykYzsqh9YCG4pd8NTFr-6aowPDLqECQktHBRSW14Xq7g60Ky0jgCpUe-h/s320/IMG_5631-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>But I cannot let this love month pass by without a flare. I learnt that Salvador City in Bahia State is one of the interesting places to visit in Brazil. And they have the best carnival, they said, if not cancelled. Curious, I booked a weekend flight alone; Biena stayed behind. It was a a blessing in disguise decision because Zaman was already here and my vacation leave and this trip has affected his project plans. How much more if we took the leave together. I took one-day Vacation Leave because I chose the morning flight instead of afternoon. It turned out better, because I had ample time unperturbed to finish all training stuffs.</p><p>It was not purely leisure. I actually called it a Working Weekend, but I wanted to do it somewhere other than Belem. Salvador is a change in scenery and it contributed to my motivation to complete my other project stuffs, assigned by top management.</p><p>I did everything I thought I should or could do because I was alone; there is no one I would consider, like taking the Metrorail from airport to the city center, staying in a hostel close to homeless communities, and walking almost all the time to get to tourist places.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtsV93LL291bQSJUdY5S7QtFiWXWK6BZcTwKJ6Zp9Ki8QP69ESmAvhvafujGryNkMpn9b00pCz4RdVwDj5huekTn0vnklR5fCoD4YuGFkTcw9qglkjfRqLUg7ijYAFnhsgrah6Sy_6n0Q/s3501/IMG_5500.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="3501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtsV93LL291bQSJUdY5S7QtFiWXWK6BZcTwKJ6Zp9Ki8QP69ESmAvhvafujGryNkMpn9b00pCz4RdVwDj5huekTn0vnklR5fCoD4YuGFkTcw9qglkjfRqLUg7ijYAFnhsgrah6Sy_6n0Q/s320/IMG_5500.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Elevador Lacerda</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLGS3smHt4a3M5Hb1fEseH3oMoJCygB61rLoU7EcSfb-LV6VD5Y9Q0KUDxkcGXpImvFbF4kmnsa34MElP8U8_47RudR8w8m_zvJBJt0Yk-Ei9XV3_BjOEXh8pCZvvbcHin1ixGfl1mMjI/s4032/IMG_5519.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLGS3smHt4a3M5Hb1fEseH3oMoJCygB61rLoU7EcSfb-LV6VD5Y9Q0KUDxkcGXpImvFbF4kmnsa34MElP8U8_47RudR8w8m_zvJBJt0Yk-Ei9XV3_BjOEXh8pCZvvbcHin1ixGfl1mMjI/s320/IMG_5519.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Forte de Sao Marcelo and Mercado Modelo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1KISL6JLCqsrqOsYJ3JFqUmYfwaE-9lCuSPTqx7eucHoneYRxrfo982nmhSIe0f9FpYRT07_VaCRRFQDUjX6h5_zRZNkbJGsXI8UqV2p0oMR61sVK_EQo013h1zRacKODwZrnbThghyphenhyphenw/s4032/IMG_5523.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1KISL6JLCqsrqOsYJ3JFqUmYfwaE-9lCuSPTqx7eucHoneYRxrfo982nmhSIe0f9FpYRT07_VaCRRFQDUjX6h5_zRZNkbJGsXI8UqV2p0oMR61sVK_EQo013h1zRacKODwZrnbThghyphenhyphenw/s320/IMG_5523.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Pelourinho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_WG4kJA1dgu5AcICyo7CD12O-JQ0SIhyphenhyphenlG7G4e9I0-rqpBZ56NiJFmI3zbhE-4bOCt2-eEYIenYr2-jCSyRaWnct5ypWQUe2oK3wwiaqCQfn3hRecCKQ0Jc7kbVy14_UuvbTisZBQN2i/s4032/IMG_5547.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_WG4kJA1dgu5AcICyo7CD12O-JQ0SIhyphenhyphenlG7G4e9I0-rqpBZ56NiJFmI3zbhE-4bOCt2-eEYIenYr2-jCSyRaWnct5ypWQUe2oK3wwiaqCQfn3hRecCKQ0Jc7kbVy14_UuvbTisZBQN2i/s320/IMG_5547.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Dique Tororo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexo907fSIlNw35mwV9RLnwiv65hbmJyWRcslyyfBH64OE6xYUWrjtnKB2anSZ16vS_gaFx52jZ01p9ZT4snsDfXZNfNM-NPJbDj6RaZ8ciO1z9G8VAX-BTb5dv06ZtiVdjyE4cAQIFsbV/s3253/IMG_5570.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="3253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexo907fSIlNw35mwV9RLnwiv65hbmJyWRcslyyfBH64OE6xYUWrjtnKB2anSZ16vS_gaFx52jZ01p9ZT4snsDfXZNfNM-NPJbDj6RaZ8ciO1z9G8VAX-BTb5dv06ZtiVdjyE4cAQIFsbV/s320/IMG_5570.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Farol da Barra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vllS3Xx0veFpwjUnm-Iw2uDxmjOWjhauxQQA9IAM9Bwz0DIGix5AIn1DzqJ-UDmWNlGsFAQB5KjguC5qOMLjKotDSxbbGa7dDBXPjuM-yRai4rAzX2c8XIf7eYBbcgqZQBXrLZMTMh7r/s4032/IMG_5623.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vllS3Xx0veFpwjUnm-Iw2uDxmjOWjhauxQQA9IAM9Bwz0DIGix5AIn1DzqJ-UDmWNlGsFAQB5KjguC5qOMLjKotDSxbbGa7dDBXPjuM-yRai4rAzX2c8XIf7eYBbcgqZQBXrLZMTMh7r/s320/IMG_5623.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Forte da Barra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_XKlyyjXSA6gvHtkgn18VrItdppDdXnXvXI907hYQ-Xik73ndt_QkH_cA1O-kaXM8OaU8asrRSScONpaADfvfs5JaxbH8u5zshvqzcBqeAY5LH7Z3UQ9LRKHoW3k84_XKz96InPdtArE/s2968/IMG_5629.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2226" data-original-width="2968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_XKlyyjXSA6gvHtkgn18VrItdppDdXnXvXI907hYQ-Xik73ndt_QkH_cA1O-kaXM8OaU8asrRSScONpaADfvfs5JaxbH8u5zshvqzcBqeAY5LH7Z3UQ9LRKHoW3k84_XKz96InPdtArE/s320/IMG_5629.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along Praia da Farol da Barra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQBOqtMVh1I3onv1L_y9uWMqW2fi3T43zlwwZcAbFKwQ0n_jmuEm9-h8btyXcrbZMqItUSV4oAeaj_62RbuMr4BWc-K5x1u7KU20fixzzT2qq-h3bW5zYfy0AKLLkttEseFer2hnY1AtF/s2720/IMG_5644.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQBOqtMVh1I3onv1L_y9uWMqW2fi3T43zlwwZcAbFKwQ0n_jmuEm9-h8btyXcrbZMqItUSV4oAeaj_62RbuMr4BWc-K5x1u7KU20fixzzT2qq-h3bW5zYfy0AKLLkttEseFer2hnY1AtF/s320/IMG_5644.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Airport</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Salvador was a breath of fresh air for me. The preserved Portuguese heritage in Pelourinho, the view of Forte de Sao Marcelo and Mercado Modelo from atop the Elevador Lacerda, and the Bahian music during sundown were mesmerizing. The sunset viewing and the walk the morning after at Morro do Cristo and Farol da Barra were refreshing.</p><p>Although the city is a bit messy and has the dangerous feel from plenty of homeless people and beggars roaming around, Salvador has its own flavor and offers a unique experience. If one has a weekend to spare, I highly recommend staying at Barra area.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Iguazu: Apr 1-4</h4><p>One renowned attraction in the south of Brazil is the Iguazu Falls, which it shared with Argentina. Before going back to the Philippines, we planned to spend our Holy Week in Iguazu. But before mid-March, the covid19 cases in Southern Brazil has escalated to unimaginable proportions. Now, all flights were cancelled. This will therefore be the missing item in my Brazil bucketlist.</p><p>Nevermind. It is better be safe than sorry... There is always the next time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFgq-0bb8JLBUazxC1JBZPNMAWKPRcSNGAbRuYtJTDHEy802AEv2ZjfIgW43fQNN4LFbXSCXIobK57PfczZoDjLZv25iVGx6plu3DAfhoOM_1WALY_4N4zO5QFkIpbbqsnQvQMhTkEOlX/s3349/IMG_2590.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3349" data-original-width="2301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFgq-0bb8JLBUazxC1JBZPNMAWKPRcSNGAbRuYtJTDHEy802AEv2ZjfIgW43fQNN4LFbXSCXIobK57PfczZoDjLZv25iVGx6plu3DAfhoOM_1WALY_4N4zO5QFkIpbbqsnQvQMhTkEOlX/s320/IMG_2590.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-75005575447939471092020-09-13T13:40:00.400-07:002021-03-21T16:10:43.849-07:00Traveling Home in the Time of Pandemic<h4 style="text-align: left;">July 30 - San Jose del Monte, Bulacan</h4><div>We've been locked up at home since March 16... it has been 4.5 months already. Although, Jun, En and myself may occasionally go out, but for Mama and the kids, Paula and Bella, they've been inside our residential premises only. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, the record of Covid19 cases in Metro Manila has declined in July and the quarantine status has eased. Although travelling around the country is still restricted, most especially for those using public transport, private travel is still possible. On July 31, non-essential travels were permitted. So we decided to go home to Surigao province. We did it for 2 purposes, to rid of Manila's viral environment and for Mama and kids to enjoy the outdoors because our home province doesn't have strict quarantine rules (this turned out to be a misconception!).</div><div> </div><div>In the last week of July, we decided to go home. En and Jun made all the preparations including primarily the medical certification and travel authority for all of us. En contacted our cousin, Len-Len Velarde, who have been assigned in the police checkpoint in Calbayog City. That would be the target place for our layover. Jun would need a break from a very long day drive. En also has booked our medical assistance upon arrival, because we need to get tested before the home quarantine, if tested negative, or the municipal quarantine facility which we heard was in the open gymnasium. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">July 31 - Bulacan to Samar</h4><div>With 3am departure, we arrived at Matnog Ferry Terminal around 6 in the evening. Our passage in the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte and Sur, and Albay was swift and normal. The new normal was implemented in Sorsogon province, where all travel documents were checked. The authorities sealed all our doors with permit stickers. We were advised not to go out, on any point or place along the way, and tear any of it, otherwise we will be forced to spend a 14-day quarantine in the locality. </div><div><br /></div><div>We got a space in 8pm trip of the RORO boat to Allen, Samar. It was a struggle for me to try to piss in the adult diaper. Mama Dulcing had successfully held the urge until we reached Calbayog Police Checkpoint. There we were allowed to pass the night, close to the police station, as already arranged by cousin Len-Len. Another struggle was trying to get a sleep inside the car without air-condition. We almost ran out of fuel, so to turn the AC overnight would compromise our mobility.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">August 1 - Samar to Surigao</h4><div><div>After few hours of this discomfort, we decided to look for a 24-hour gasoline station in the city proper. We found one, so we finally rested in cooled air inside the car. But it was only for few hours, because we continued our journey south at 5am.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first official stop was in Tacloban to drop Paula. At 10am, we crossed the San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte islands. The City Government had established a covid checkpoint at the foot of the bridge. There at the police station, we left Paula to wait. We need to push on to reach Southern Leyte before the last RORO boat to Surigao will depart. Although, the fetch was pre-arranged, but the City Social Welfare Officer was late. We petitioned earlier to have her home-quarantined but it was denied. So she will be spending 14 days in the government facility. We cannot personally deliver her to the designated facility because the city banned outsiders from entering or even dropping by any gasoline station. If we did, then we would be quarantined.</div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at the Benit Ferry Terminal at 2pm but the boat departed at past 5pm. Upon landing at Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City, we were escorted by the Health Representative from our hometown. Our rapid covid test was originally planned to be in Malimono District Hospital but it was Sunday so we rerouted to the Provincial Hospital in Bad-as, Placer. I immediately contacted Kuya Louver, the lead Medical Technologist to assist us. He was already off in the evening but he arranged our test with his team on site.</div><div><br /></div><div>We all got our negative test results after an hour. The Municipal Health Officer has agreed for our home quarantine arrangement. So we headed home.</div><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">August 2-16 - Anao-aon, Surigao del Norte</h4><div>Day 1 (but officially Day 0) of our home quarantine. And our neighbors (except our immediate relatives) were complaining about our arrangement as a special treatment. So yes, this was utter discrimination! During the time of pandemic, even educated people become stupid when confronted with unknown fear.</div><div><br /></div><div>But we survived our 14-day home quarantine (15 days actually because the 14th day fell on Saturday and the government office was closed) by spending 8 hours working from home, 2 hours fitness challenge, and more than average hours of sleep. Add to that the 30-minute daily monitoring and check up from the local health workers. Since we have plenty of relatives, we have ample supply of merchandise, fresh catch for cooking or grilling or just eating them raw, and food deliveries for snacks and desserts.</div><div><br /></div><div>August 15th was our 14th quarantine day and no one among us show any covid symptoms. So our immediate relatives sneaked from the backyard to get in and celebrate our arrival. On the following day, my sister-in-law, Ate Melay, and my nephew, Entoy, blew a party with roasted pig and plenty other food preparations. We shared it with Ate's store crew and staff.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX5tOFFgLiRpSUEaVGhVR8RJ5AGZa1doywifbcDXOzY0Fwh2PKWi5SFYMRc1kWoDbJ7NO2vtHbsMNELap8-Of1ZiXxthcjCLhJUvf0mUyknbQ9ck8Yg0yH4VbYKSIXLk2UkRFMfE2i7O6/s3434/IMG_0680.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="3434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX5tOFFgLiRpSUEaVGhVR8RJ5AGZa1doywifbcDXOzY0Fwh2PKWi5SFYMRc1kWoDbJ7NO2vtHbsMNELap8-Of1ZiXxthcjCLhJUvf0mUyknbQ9ck8Yg0yH4VbYKSIXLk2UkRFMfE2i7O6/s320/IMG_0680.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">August 17 - Septermber 13 - Around Surigao del Norte</h4><div>Home is where my heart is, always! First agenda would always be the visit to Papa Tantong in the cemetery. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnwkUg1l3esiBww0oaImgXZVZmuya6-wftnfONzVeqdu1LBUMxCa2LMLvls86Lk71ZJo74oQH-1UmWd93mxyDFp8mLMg1halWhL-JFOvYu2vYZdILnEa-qYFwow-VU28TNw03oE3htxn6/s4032/IMG_0684.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnwkUg1l3esiBww0oaImgXZVZmuya6-wftnfONzVeqdu1LBUMxCa2LMLvls86Lk71ZJo74oQH-1UmWd93mxyDFp8mLMg1halWhL-JFOvYu2vYZdILnEa-qYFwow-VU28TNw03oE3htxn6/s320/IMG_0684.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>At home, there are plenty of friends to reconnect, various activities to attend to, and here felt safe and free; covid has not infiltrated... yet. Hence my diary was full:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>August 22 - Meet-up with Surigaonon BFFs: Nang Lolong, Liza, Juris and Anabelle</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQg0M6mRgoDiu_gnRd_ATqawrty9ml3IBtbH2PBozCcBFQKcjhB8wuX8VeYN4XtlSXuxt0VQ8zuJNm70ZUzRHRRnTlgNJFac0yz8_8ZbK7RtCR52NsqX-8AYdjbEeL9lJZ5-WjgnLVZ5fV/s4032/IMG_0897.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQg0M6mRgoDiu_gnRd_ATqawrty9ml3IBtbH2PBozCcBFQKcjhB8wuX8VeYN4XtlSXuxt0VQ8zuJNm70ZUzRHRRnTlgNJFac0yz8_8ZbK7RtCR52NsqX-8AYdjbEeL9lJZ5-WjgnLVZ5fV/s320/IMG_0897.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>August 23 - Attended holy mass in Sison Church and met Tiyo Mons Terry and BFFs including Jane</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlXdwpl1OAYZSerLYT0bCOXy6mpedD68J2yhDnfhlUweTCr5avnc43uRXx30n6Dg-qQ3EOl75jkd3XHv5YUGi2e7UGNfQ9GsDFiOaBmLWSIPH7qLIMlbRRIGrfDx99WgXVi1kBo3arotM/s6000/DSC_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlXdwpl1OAYZSerLYT0bCOXy6mpedD68J2yhDnfhlUweTCr5avnc43uRXx30n6Dg-qQ3EOl75jkd3XHv5YUGi2e7UGNfQ9GsDFiOaBmLWSIPH7qLIMlbRRIGrfDx99WgXVi1kBo3arotM/s320/DSC_0380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>August 27 - Our first attempt to climb Campo Langit in Villa Riza, Malimono but it was closed to mitigate spread of corona virus. Meet-up that evening with Fr. Julian and Mons Terry, again with BFFs</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYuxH6JVEZFuqZwaYtaINUWBq1uED6ES3CUIwdhdocEVcsRAqiI_6fRsP0fgntXnuMUfEuS36K3_hqd1RviwVdr9djb_-SMusGhaiSDLuYK8xa0wN6NWN61iGD335Pqchry8Qq0c8uOEH/s2563/IMG_1077.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="2563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYuxH6JVEZFuqZwaYtaINUWBq1uED6ES3CUIwdhdocEVcsRAqiI_6fRsP0fgntXnuMUfEuS36K3_hqd1RviwVdr9djb_-SMusGhaiSDLuYK8xa0wN6NWN61iGD335Pqchry8Qq0c8uOEH/s320/IMG_1077.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>August 28 - Grand Opening of Ate Melay's restaurant in Bad-as, Placer. Reopening of Kody's Bar, owned by another BFF Nang Alma, together with all the BFFs in Surigao. A slumber party followed at BFF Dupong's residence with Jane.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNUrkdiR_NrIizDgUUp7zGU6CwiXbqUiyf35KU5e2CEXtmZpUytEO0r33AlgZ7I0lberPD2-xEo1Ev4H-C5McnuDCFOGqX4Q4kF152i5UKo_t-nMvPVl89ilsqvQXW2m1XQFcc90xvx6E/s6000/DSC_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNUrkdiR_NrIizDgUUp7zGU6CwiXbqUiyf35KU5e2CEXtmZpUytEO0r33AlgZ7I0lberPD2-xEo1Ev4H-C5McnuDCFOGqX4Q4kF152i5UKo_t-nMvPVl89ilsqvQXW2m1XQFcc90xvx6E/s320/DSC_0397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9pMzTYlNCSR3j6-GBBs37tYGrBMQ9wxVj9TdfIM16ixOtNfpBkio0u9dt-fY45O8Md_bdYwUKjZxQlxNJIr5uuT0PG6Qp8fNNGmqnFq0_So1WSLF-y3XilFUhwr4Y5gAf2yA1fqjm4iD/s960/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9pMzTYlNCSR3j6-GBBs37tYGrBMQ9wxVj9TdfIM16ixOtNfpBkio0u9dt-fY45O8Md_bdYwUKjZxQlxNJIr5uuT0PG6Qp8fNNGmqnFq0_So1WSLF-y3XilFUhwr4Y5gAf2yA1fqjm4iD/s320/IMG_1192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfC_kLYWAeyQTlyuLnVDBOdng2OBKIcrmCKCHkOD8ohMO3ua9Fe4UBF-SwaQ8Ap6rtNzZnFlfyR0hGOMFxlO5_bK1gwYUjyZgvwiNWoVu7r8WgOv72Lkc28411_pDl_hzSh5hzxwcHDB-/s1220/Kodys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfC_kLYWAeyQTlyuLnVDBOdng2OBKIcrmCKCHkOD8ohMO3ua9Fe4UBF-SwaQ8Ap6rtNzZnFlfyR0hGOMFxlO5_bK1gwYUjyZgvwiNWoVu7r8WgOv72Lkc28411_pDl_hzSh5hzxwcHDB-/s320/Kodys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDspPnIXtIkWZSQNxU7maRq0yoDItqkbEoL6aCFZsydxWci7Z5pjgZ6sOB41uFdYb4jgI-UnuBN8i6hq-KIV-Eqcp78ljAsLGyHMLwePWg9KDjy2x3AE2_L48H-KbcFJNxKq7O8vuil4o7/s4032/IMG_1095.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDspPnIXtIkWZSQNxU7maRq0yoDItqkbEoL6aCFZsydxWci7Z5pjgZ6sOB41uFdYb4jgI-UnuBN8i6hq-KIV-Eqcp78ljAsLGyHMLwePWg9KDjy2x3AE2_L48H-KbcFJNxKq7O8vuil4o7/s320/IMG_1095.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy3dP3gBzrFZwpeOMksZ8M0cYTY5e1mmoWlfcWfptbLV-ZdMEtbwF74OdJ9ToyeojkqA7TD-0iFGDRbnvtTOmqTxEpLnE2OkNsQGfPiMcTljl0om-OeSSyvxeBjQRoRVuT5HC7EfAjrSa/s3641/IMG_1087.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2731" data-original-width="3641" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy3dP3gBzrFZwpeOMksZ8M0cYTY5e1mmoWlfcWfptbLV-ZdMEtbwF74OdJ9ToyeojkqA7TD-0iFGDRbnvtTOmqTxEpLnE2OkNsQGfPiMcTljl0om-OeSSyvxeBjQRoRVuT5HC7EfAjrSa/s320/IMG_1087.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>September 1 - A surprise visit from fellow college instructors and gay friends, Windrow and Maui</li><li>September 5 - Our second attempt to climb Campo Langit but we have no reservation and no medical certificate</li><li>September 6 - Our third attempt to climb Campo Langit but our reservation was lost and we showed our medical certificate. Jun, En and myself were finally admitted. See separate blog related hereto.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dJNbY7cyPU6IevVv8yNXP3oSAvAFzmWAOn0M31saG6xodPHfCYWyVT-5hyphenhyphen1df-TaPOXYOKfk-Efsbon9yCUprow1vzg4WJ_r2My0QJUqPYkqp3Ic76Xh0ytb7Zm_JXW2J1TlYsUigx9f/s4032/IMG_1375.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dJNbY7cyPU6IevVv8yNXP3oSAvAFzmWAOn0M31saG6xodPHfCYWyVT-5hyphenhyphen1df-TaPOXYOKfk-Efsbon9yCUprow1vzg4WJ_r2My0QJUqPYkqp3Ic76Xh0ytb7Zm_JXW2J1TlYsUigx9f/s320/IMG_1375.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIHOaI6B5fgnzn2foBwrIKGJ5N3mxvsPlcJOSSKRtSRRLnYCAqSwfG67pPOf1y0e0VTTNca_bxoNbgXeDHuydwe_zAh2ijdD4YxhK27wOofVpQvLzP_YPW0XwIZteFgvidB0tg_6HnDbv/s2521/IMG_1385.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIHOaI6B5fgnzn2foBwrIKGJ5N3mxvsPlcJOSSKRtSRRLnYCAqSwfG67pPOf1y0e0VTTNca_bxoNbgXeDHuydwe_zAh2ijdD4YxhK27wOofVpQvLzP_YPW0XwIZteFgvidB0tg_6HnDbv/s320/IMG_1385.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>September 10 - Surigao City Fiesta celebration in honor of Saint Nicolas with BFFs at Aldonza residence</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qFnRtN-0eAn4XmmXMijGhrCxdHPC6Ma3TuO_QZjE83TC-dVBkNyNwTuypsdkGUMDO9GiS8Z7jt4891zCyYmGbiMU5lfq4lGKlnTIi88Gfnfd0E6Mfzvip-iwEvVEzWT2AI4ZO6HeaAjO/s1181/Surigao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qFnRtN-0eAn4XmmXMijGhrCxdHPC6Ma3TuO_QZjE83TC-dVBkNyNwTuypsdkGUMDO9GiS8Z7jt4891zCyYmGbiMU5lfq4lGKlnTIi88Gfnfd0E6Mfzvip-iwEvVEzWT2AI4ZO6HeaAjO/s320/Surigao.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then on September 14, En's project team were recalled back to work on site. So we flew back to Manila on the 13th.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, Bulakan, Pilipinas14.8142626 121.072532-65.033674888314579 -19.552468000000005 90 -98.302467999999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-57351464439335990902020-07-09T02:21:00.002-07:002020-07-09T20:56:23.074-07:00More than Quarantine<div><h2 style="text-align: left;">History of Plague</h2></div><div>When novel corona virus started infecting Chinese in the later part of 2019, I was reminded of the Black Death in the earliest century (1350). I remember how it was described in a historical fiction book series of Ken Follet, the Pillars of the Earth. There were recorded pandemics in 1817 (Cholera) and 1918 (Spanish Flue). Even in ancient history, plagues were recorded in the Bible and in various accounts of human history (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/pandemics-timeline). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then Covid19 was finally declared a pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 when it spread around the world, forcing governments to quarantine their citizenry. The Philippine Government commenced its hard lockdown on March 16, 2020.</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Work from Home (WFH)</h2></div><div>With traffic situation in Philippine's Metro Manila, where I spent at least 4 hours on the road to and from the office, I always wished for a work from home employment arrangement. With the lockdown due to health crisis, I was working from home. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL9Jf32pxG2_G0u_lWpQV4iaWfgQ7z3x0Gx_CSL7-5AvjMjzuAQNyAOXQ3Dl4vpijnO2L-qviMovx9qEPtcMR8DuGPnWfUh9zoFmYFNc_vEl-lqWqODtdqzLNqJDe3_ASC1OI9RyWO9hR/s2048/Frontyard+Bamboo+Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL9Jf32pxG2_G0u_lWpQV4iaWfgQ7z3x0Gx_CSL7-5AvjMjzuAQNyAOXQ3Dl4vpijnO2L-qviMovx9qEPtcMR8DuGPnWfUh9zoFmYFNc_vEl-lqWqODtdqzLNqJDe3_ASC1OI9RyWO9hR/s320/Frontyard+Bamboo+Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I accomplished plenty of stuffs; completed several jobs at hand; written several manuscripts and project proposals. I was productive! I worked overtime unmindful of the clock. I mean, I have no choice but to keep on working because I did not have to leave my post to catch the bus, to worry about the heavy traffic, to get home after several hours. My "home office" which utilized our bamboo cottage was just a few steps away, so most of the time was spent on working. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ya8F3JxPROKe6Aqph7trg1QSTJA_fUwsgz59775XwfPxCFAUu6AF4JUnW8swhKZ-4VD-etZ5R0r4eETXDJmf9N1cWfUAIBrshMtblmcaxlaTGwTAtczh-ZeUv4cWucnqLUSBiLObFJrU/s2048/IMG_0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ya8F3JxPROKe6Aqph7trg1QSTJA_fUwsgz59775XwfPxCFAUu6AF4JUnW8swhKZ-4VD-etZ5R0r4eETXDJmf9N1cWfUAIBrshMtblmcaxlaTGwTAtczh-ZeUv4cWucnqLUSBiLObFJrU/s320/IMG_0191.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was enjoyable at first, for the 40-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Then the lockdown order dragged on for another 30 days.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Cancelled Trips</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qIDRiy22N8H88fftRh2OXdmECpmrJimcFcgL6KeCew0nbnaGe14DAGu5Mu0OkYm3EgYQLF_iQhhiTUwmicVG8QbGST1mMiAMLSfXWeSSy1qx2WhUcc7iMWY-nHsofR7lr8k5jo83wl0L/s1280/IMG_0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qIDRiy22N8H88fftRh2OXdmECpmrJimcFcgL6KeCew0nbnaGe14DAGu5Mu0OkYm3EgYQLF_iQhhiTUwmicVG8QbGST1mMiAMLSfXWeSSy1qx2WhUcc7iMWY-nHsofR7lr8k5jo83wl0L/s320/IMG_0237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Having obtained an approved Visitor's Visa for Australia, I have pre-booked all my travel essentials. I was scheduled to travel from Melbourne to Uluru to Sydney on April 3-13, 2020. Since both Australia and Philippines grounded all domestic and international flights for non-essential travels, I was forced to cancel my trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every month of May, since the death of our father, the whole family travel home to Anao-aon, Surigao del Norte to reunite with the Gastardo Clan to celebrate Papa Tantong's death anniversary on May 15th. All flight bookings were reserved and paid. Since ECQ was extended, this too was canceled.</div><div><br /></div><div>June was supposedly the Surigaonon Friends' second group tour of the year (the first was in January at Bantayan Island). A friend from US would be flying in, and friends from Surigao would travel to Manila to reunite with us here in Luzon, then head to Sagada in the Mountain Province. Despite the easing of quarantine orders, international and domestic flights for non-essential travels were yet suspended. And Sagada's local government was not accepting guests. So this reunion was postponed.</div><div><br /></div><div>My dear mother Dulcing celebrated her 75th birthday this July. As planned, I would show her to Phuket, Thailand, her supposed second country during her birthday. Last year, I brought her to Hanoi, Vietnam. All were arranged both flights and hotel. And since Thailand and Philippines were not yet open for tourist travels, although at relaxed quarantine status already, we canceled the trip and celebrated Mama's diamond jubilee at home.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New Normal to Commute</h2></div><div>When Philippine government started reopening its economy from June 1, select transport resumed operation with strict health measures. I tried going out and commuting with an airconditioned public utility bus. Well, it was an experience of the new normal in commuting, where thermal scan is present (people with more than 37.5 body temp were denied entry), alcohol spray over hands, and some adjacent seats are marked X (to observe social distancing). Although my fellow commuters seemed at ease, I was feeling unsafe. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My way from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan to my apartment in Manggahan, Quezon City was okay. On my way back, however, a passenger from the back of the bus sneezed so loudly that everyone turned, eyes widened. Funny, that most laughed, but deep inside most of us were scared, knowing that virus could be spread by sneezing. I took a bath outside when I arrived home.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did not try commuting again after that.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Home Fitness Challenge<br /></h2></div><div>I am an active person. I go to the gym almost everyday. I join fun runs during weekends. I climb mountains with friends every now and then. But the home quarantine psychologically constrained me from physical activities.</div><div><br /></div><div>My sister and I tried workout routines and aerobics during nighttime but it was interrupted by nightly meetings and family movies. I accepted daily push-up challenge for 25 days, but nothing else. We tried walking either in the morning or afternoon, but intermittent. So getting physical has become very challenging here.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">My Anxiety</h2></div><div>I don't know how to define my anxiety level. Or I don't know if I have anxiety and how it manifests. Although, I have family and relatives who experienced anxiety. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What I observed however during the first 40-day WFH was that I drank hot coffee or tea many times a day. Then I slept late at night. It was not because I stayed late or worked until wee hours in the evening, but that I couldn't just earn sleep early; even if I lied on bed early.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then lately, I easily got irritated with anything. Or it was hard to wake up and move. I have this feeling of entanglement; like being tied to daily routine within the confines of my home. I dreamt of going out, travel to somewhere. At the same time, there is fear of catching the virus. I could not just go anywhere without stringent precaution because I have elderly and children at home.</div><div><br /></div><div>I realized that it is hard to stay put like forever. WFH for me is enjoyable if I am moving around, from place to place. Not just home...<br /></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-29078910710596130002020-04-04T15:24:00.006-07:002020-07-09T20:52:06.108-07:00My Two Cents on Financial Literacy <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">(Originally posted on April 5, 2014 in my Facebook page)</span></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk-V17YOCD_PM8J8t_iJCuwghmtnBL-yd4oAf7vv_93FwgBVF2CyKE3zbtD5kxgVFAPZLANZkOBVa2Zv3fTisw0WhDavbptfuxR87ylXNCc_rHHW6GB9Q1hEndFgK9VXSXifPEa4Vlqcs/s1242/IMG_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk-V17YOCD_PM8J8t_iJCuwghmtnBL-yd4oAf7vv_93FwgBVF2CyKE3zbtD5kxgVFAPZLANZkOBVa2Zv3fTisw0WhDavbptfuxR87ylXNCc_rHHW6GB9Q1hEndFgK9VXSXifPEa4Vlqcs/s320/IMG_0236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">One morning, as I hurried out to catch the early bus ride that usually beats the traffic in the Cubao area, my cellular phone sounded its usual text tone. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">A message appeared from an unknown source when I opened it. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">It said: "It is hard to come up with a wage just to pay off the debt that is left over."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Perhaps a wrong sent item, but such is an enlightening message. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">It connotes that one wage-earner must not be overconfident of his / her regular pay, no matter how huge it would seem. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">As an earning individual, we have this tendency to avail of debt / loan, or buy stuffs especially cellphones on credit, or pawn our ATM card to afford some things at once.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I was once doing the same until I learned financial discipline. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yes I now have reasonably huge monthly earnings. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I can afford to buy 40 ”TV in one month, then iPhone 5, iPad or Samsung Galaxy tab in another. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">But I don't ... I can't ... I won't. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I have my priorities. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Financial management is a sacrifice, an organized priority, and must consider the hierarchy of needs. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">For working individuals like me, we should program the spending in such a way that the first chunk of the money must be savings, say P150 / week, then for transportation and meals costs (to afford uninterrupted working days), then utilities (who would want to live without light and water, sans cable TV), then the extra, if any, will be for luxurious items. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">If one cannot even satisfy his / her primary needs, then luxury has no value yet. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">If one needs instead the luxury before subsistence, then he / she must redefine his / her priorities and start defining financial discipline.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Just saying. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">(I thought of sending this to that number as a reply but think better of it. Besides, it's a long reply that sounds like a sermon.)</span></span></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-2608876581089372012020-03-15T02:07:00.074-07:002020-06-14T04:07:10.963-07:00Domestic Travels Before Lockdown<div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bantayan, Cebu</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCS6MSwOgJlOTgkjwwErwxGtTwUXZsjUItRNvYZnT3Viu5TczwmRFpf3LzY4NgeOtyykSXTikyOvLOlMhCuwm32OkJ-iA43W-00eH73oEd9UX4zm_8h8SJN_UmI9iXDtvY6Vb2905Y1ZG/s3077/IMG_9422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2308" data-original-width="3077" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCS6MSwOgJlOTgkjwwErwxGtTwUXZsjUItRNvYZnT3Viu5TczwmRFpf3LzY4NgeOtyykSXTikyOvLOlMhCuwm32OkJ-iA43W-00eH73oEd9UX4zm_8h8SJN_UmI9iXDtvY6Vb2905Y1ZG/s320/IMG_9422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">This trip with hometown friends was supposedly the highlight of my birthday celebration. The whole gang was comprised of Nang Lolong and Nanan from Surigao City, Nang Rosshiel and Ruby from Taguig City, and myself. Our reservations at Budyong Beach Resort, in the most beautiful island in Cebu Province, was from January 9-12, 2020.<br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxvjvR5At0vmVXu7-yQ4zJFjluZIuNqury3ne201ahhcVZ1y3G6JfjiOWBTyiBozUAe4m4IhjlrNi_QpglOjqYBkYOn_dyoemNs2ygTnVKFRYLwgbdbKLtMFul2m1rMyroMwsNqb7PhCc/s3088/IMG_9153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxvjvR5At0vmVXu7-yQ4zJFjluZIuNqury3ne201ahhcVZ1y3G6JfjiOWBTyiBozUAe4m4IhjlrNi_QpglOjqYBkYOn_dyoemNs2ygTnVKFRYLwgbdbKLtMFul2m1rMyroMwsNqb7PhCc/s320/IMG_9153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fx_Q5nAQbjRvPjufSoGtzZV3C6bMYtTS1U_eDow5LAn6GG9QeGBIzCfyDFXsOUycczQ1s2g5JS5D-9Y2nGEGuBfX6q9njYlKCrtPlg1c7HJiU0tRHuCxLSxnCChWye6xYBQFfEkpUzQZ/s6000/DSC_0024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fx_Q5nAQbjRvPjufSoGtzZV3C6bMYtTS1U_eDow5LAn6GG9QeGBIzCfyDFXsOUycczQ1s2g5JS5D-9Y2nGEGuBfX6q9njYlKCrtPlg1c7HJiU0tRHuCxLSxnCChWye6xYBQFfEkpUzQZ/s320/DSC_0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">Nang Lolong and Nanan traveled by boat from Surigao to Cebu on the night of January 8th. If not because of the official trip to Singapore, I should have flown with Nang Rosshiel and Ruby from Manila to Cebu at midnight of January 8th. I tricked them; I only disclosed my official call to Singapore on the day that the four ladies were already reunited at Cebu's North Bus Station. So they went ahead with my instructions to enjoy the island while waiting for me.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wwp65PtEcS_LsYjp9qPhwEhmAvAPdiUjxgPFemDoC-x_iVhO3RaE6zaTV9GaA0UjFMjQFKKY5w6Y1PIo2_3GinUWwBT3rykl8zN8s4Fh5pbHOHH8KqZAA6Si8SkChZMA7m6AhKSo-2MG/s4032/IMG_9183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wwp65PtEcS_LsYjp9qPhwEhmAvAPdiUjxgPFemDoC-x_iVhO3RaE6zaTV9GaA0UjFMjQFKKY5w6Y1PIo2_3GinUWwBT3rykl8zN8s4Fh5pbHOHH8KqZAA6Si8SkChZMA7m6AhKSo-2MG/s320/IMG_9183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">As promised, I flew back on January 10th from Singapore and caught a connecting flight at Manila Domestic Airport that early morning of January 11th to Cebu. Now, another hometown friend who worked in Singapore as Head Nurse, Anneth, was at that night on vacation and was in Cebu as well. She decided to come with me to Bantayan Island for my post-birthday celebration. We took the bus together and arrived at Bantayan Island, reuniting with the advance party at lunchtime.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVH-U-kGRTOVx1lBGIR5VTYuxSxykm72v5gzCc_9EY3NH5fPxQ54lUCNhmweU0C0_nELKDOm7y785YcJWrTPqfDGNjxh3alqfkLeoh__RQyt7nymJBZ5Sq8emA4px2TjjrK21_lLf7cns/s4032/IMG_9185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVH-U-kGRTOVx1lBGIR5VTYuxSxykm72v5gzCc_9EY3NH5fPxQ54lUCNhmweU0C0_nELKDOm7y785YcJWrTPqfDGNjxh3alqfkLeoh__RQyt7nymJBZ5Sq8emA4px2TjjrK21_lLf7cns/s320/IMG_9185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8fOk_JrF-fSwH9GiZiaFCwj557qiXYjXdFhs8cSi7p6EZmKtdHb9nZsNZjpYALO45wEcd6h7QBEm0RYViG-kA5rACxywDx3dNNmA5CGSTWcdionDBfkKiWPhN4rS3CAWu1rnV-ftFCQs/s4032/IMG_9203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8fOk_JrF-fSwH9GiZiaFCwj557qiXYjXdFhs8cSi7p6EZmKtdHb9nZsNZjpYALO45wEcd6h7QBEm0RYViG-kA5rACxywDx3dNNmA5CGSTWcdionDBfkKiWPhN4rS3CAWu1rnV-ftFCQs/s320/IMG_9203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">We had a blast and enjoyed the friendship to the highest level.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">Upon return to Cebu on January 12th, Nang Lolong and Nanan went straight to the port area to catch their boat trip back to Surigao. Nang Roshiel was on official business in Cebu, while Ruby and myself proceeded to the airport for the return flight that night. <br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPEqGv7rZIpwIL4Pw9MxTrf2EoCTivGyE3EJRkwHsKU3hyQ-LxAsHcFxarYvou0MAQ9LG4lqqk4CbyJg9oSnRCS6QVUW8TcXLOTjRKYTeBn5xYI7DgR6nWLQC44iNk4ZoTaRN5ykepDWr/s4032/IMG_9376.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPEqGv7rZIpwIL4Pw9MxTrf2EoCTivGyE3EJRkwHsKU3hyQ-LxAsHcFxarYvou0MAQ9LG4lqqk4CbyJg9oSnRCS6QVUW8TcXLOTjRKYTeBn5xYI7DgR6nWLQC44iNk4ZoTaRN5ykepDWr/s320/IMG_9376.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FRPSa1EjgFA9xP0xc9v2qk2VZk1oFaVqY1ZtRFXQM3v5mLbc2v3hf1CYgArZgQVYzfc3W-m53_t6a9h1YfsehIYmTcDtv1krJ1iNzEiJRg_Tos8H32ifsLNJMJQkwIqBIumorY0nSI7m/s4032/IMG_9406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FRPSa1EjgFA9xP0xc9v2qk2VZk1oFaVqY1ZtRFXQM3v5mLbc2v3hf1CYgArZgQVYzfc3W-m53_t6a9h1YfsehIYmTcDtv1krJ1iNzEiJRg_Tos8H32ifsLNJMJQkwIqBIumorY0nSI7m/s320/IMG_9406.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_i6AYbDBxRW3xN3cQJKpvcv4f82hf0c8vG-6yte2q33IID_U2rH-JV9EDn5n9n1c8wYP13SIQWYbqVtH1RBVIdP-xdSvpj3Nj5Ts2HupADapfcdcmqqdBpko97HAvetmY1Px28R2Db_v/s4032/IMG_9380.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_i6AYbDBxRW3xN3cQJKpvcv4f82hf0c8vG-6yte2q33IID_U2rH-JV9EDn5n9n1c8wYP13SIQWYbqVtH1RBVIdP-xdSvpj3Nj5Ts2HupADapfcdcmqqdBpko97HAvetmY1Px28R2Db_v/s320/IMG_9380.jpg" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">Early that morning, Taal Volcano erupted and covered some parts of Luzon Island including Metro Manila with ashfall. It triggered the cancellation of several flights going to NAIA including ours. So, Ruby and I had no choice but to extend our stay in Cebu City. We looked for an affordable hotel close to SM Cebu and the airport to pass one night. But the cancellation was dragged on until January 15th, the earliest for rebooked flights. January 15 is a big day in Cebu, the Feast Day of Sr. Sto. Nino. Many pilgrims and tourists usually flock to Cebu for the Sinulog Festival. So room accommodations would be scarce and pricey. Fortunately, Nang Roshiel's accommodation was for the whole week and good for two that fit four persons. We have free accommodations after all. <br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IkWX6gT5yHJUIRwalDo3ISsZ5DyfFOEWkPWJAx_QHunGtVBGq78kbF8GNe1TtOlACz-6hgTmniT6S6JIbpSzG0ZTuXKQ5JaDjBhLP-d6YLNmzckw-uSJTgIzGeHDHr2fkw7qf7PPwsn/s6000/DSC_0245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IkWX6gT5yHJUIRwalDo3ISsZ5DyfFOEWkPWJAx_QHunGtVBGq78kbF8GNe1TtOlACz-6hgTmniT6S6JIbpSzG0ZTuXKQ5JaDjBhLP-d6YLNmzckw-uSJTgIzGeHDHr2fkw7qf7PPwsn/s320/DSC_0245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">On January 13th, while Nang Roshiel reported to work, Ruby and I visited one PSBank Branch so that Ruby could punch the day as official. She chose the Banilad Branch whose manager was our schoolmate during college, Delfin. In the afternoon, we decided to visit Simala Church, another pilgrimage site in Cebu Island.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRDW2wiZrpHaSTUBqqlMqNJAxenQbQ6JSVkF_o6-rEqpgjon4WbSlEnf1TOrzTv8u6PWkqoiSfLbRk-CyT5ejEVdHvHijIK70H8gDhVbWxQOLhmfrUq2-UdNaYsHQRtVn_ljVlSiaMZQs/s6000/DSC_0249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRDW2wiZrpHaSTUBqqlMqNJAxenQbQ6JSVkF_o6-rEqpgjon4WbSlEnf1TOrzTv8u6PWkqoiSfLbRk-CyT5ejEVdHvHijIK70H8gDhVbWxQOLhmfrUq2-UdNaYsHQRtVn_ljVlSiaMZQs/s320/DSC_0249.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT24sxqYgX-XAR1icn7WrpOwL0Sg9xDrM55l8irnqhqiBHxfmAOHM7KgN90FsVRnWnpRaat3C4Ilm5ZXZx_-0Yculg6_SiOLn4c1IiFkz5lgbLdF9YpeJ6E3KTk8Wo9cnNbKktcsWhriA/s4032/IMG_9468.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT24sxqYgX-XAR1icn7WrpOwL0Sg9xDrM55l8irnqhqiBHxfmAOHM7KgN90FsVRnWnpRaat3C4Ilm5ZXZx_-0Yculg6_SiOLn4c1IiFkz5lgbLdF9YpeJ6E3KTk8Wo9cnNbKktcsWhriA/s320/IMG_9468.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">Ruby got her seat in one of the January 14th flights, so I and Nang Roshiel were left. While Nang Roshiel reported again for work, I did a city tour via local transport.<br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-n90mbHfFJlKSyKeBBlKRL1AN6HTRjahemTbuyvFllbtKPz1Lu7J9_1NiH2O5A7MC_qmQuntXnQZB7xYZAxw-1qfGN_WAqQPEsVyTWiu0Csmoi_5lXMSsJd71Iqp4UGWyX2Bc7XtN5f1/s3088/IMG_9486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-n90mbHfFJlKSyKeBBlKRL1AN6HTRjahemTbuyvFllbtKPz1Lu7J9_1NiH2O5A7MC_qmQuntXnQZB7xYZAxw-1qfGN_WAqQPEsVyTWiu0Csmoi_5lXMSsJd71Iqp4UGWyX2Bc7XtN5f1/s320/IMG_9486.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">My extended stay in Cebu was a blessing in disguise. Three destinations among my 2020 Travel bucketlist were ticked off: Bantayan Island, Simala Church, and Sinulog Festival.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Baler, Aurora</h2></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzDtddYqgnNzSC21Jj2sNul4IIgLRe4_s2AjIYFtQUqe8ZE2aSpo7Xx2oexiESHYMLVelc2XX5pM44PwLl1U6hXsmVai5B7dlpIv5bjGyp1FejZD777N51cRV-E1qybh_BXuxPI5L9wR5/s6000/DSC_0684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzDtddYqgnNzSC21Jj2sNul4IIgLRe4_s2AjIYFtQUqe8ZE2aSpo7Xx2oexiESHYMLVelc2XX5pM44PwLl1U6hXsmVai5B7dlpIv5bjGyp1FejZD777N51cRV-E1qybh_BXuxPI5L9wR5/s320/DSC_0684.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">Our second time in this wonderful place was unplanned. My bestfriends, Ruth and Jun Go, decided to pay Baler a visit on March 7-8, 2020 for a very important purpose. They were able to close a deal of purchasing a lot along the beach in Dipaculao, Aurora, an adjacent town to Baler. The couple brought in the whole family and invited me and my whole family. They paid for everything including our one-night, two-day accommodations at Cube Hotel.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiejTqdrt1Ewbtb7hDLbdgzfIWjsKwKm1GeORvR71kZcVWkJhuxGqvR6TPnOLd-4sdnNoTwHvJ802TJZ3CBLf_HdaNntq31CPRkyY_YWlmO2QKju7tMq2joBYtTVBUJ5zn0BEPS3GxjcIm/s3088/IMG_0081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiejTqdrt1Ewbtb7hDLbdgzfIWjsKwKm1GeORvR71kZcVWkJhuxGqvR6TPnOLd-4sdnNoTwHvJ802TJZ3CBLf_HdaNntq31CPRkyY_YWlmO2QKju7tMq2joBYtTVBUJ5zn0BEPS3GxjcIm/s320/IMG_0081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX1CtkZF6E-jZeUAxUa1A_zLxYEtUHU7Ro-TKotJzE5_p-5JgXqWezcE1t6sne3yEeS6bsR7TPbpn3ZA8FZ-he5CC5hyDHDegKBB03EsXrmVXXDkv1zF79W8sfez5eNIlS0ugWYn-BCjM/s6000/DSC_0594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX1CtkZF6E-jZeUAxUa1A_zLxYEtUHU7Ro-TKotJzE5_p-5JgXqWezcE1t6sne3yEeS6bsR7TPbpn3ZA8FZ-he5CC5hyDHDegKBB03EsXrmVXXDkv1zF79W8sfez5eNIlS0ugWYn-BCjM/s320/DSC_0594.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><div style="line-height: 1.5;">I
acted as the tourguide and we drove around, surfed again, while they
settled their obligations to owners, meeting the lawyers, and more.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUA3puqsRpJmqwhPCiy-YaNoXl1OBLQzIN1n16-uRYUXGWOVpWOFcu79iyn2BDYHl3qeuSiH7L5osRwnT-4H3wBPODgjX7ZU2Rq5YYC4EsmNUjTanNcnwabsvmk3vb5aY7VzKHkQRec2_/s4032/IMG_0103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUA3puqsRpJmqwhPCiy-YaNoXl1OBLQzIN1n16-uRYUXGWOVpWOFcu79iyn2BDYHl3qeuSiH7L5osRwnT-4H3wBPODgjX7ZU2Rq5YYC4EsmNUjTanNcnwabsvmk3vb5aY7VzKHkQRec2_/s320/IMG_0103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmVYcfgwxVYsxYAA0em_pFDIkRM_VvRICjhI9_t8ZSgNrBlCddgGnQaRGc2R5NpSW5ATBl1lijN5CWT9kdrirtT0-J8TJhm2HOuZa6Mi7dB7X-l4_B_QxBUru_G7AguKxPShOljYqUkvB/s6000/DSC_0552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmVYcfgwxVYsxYAA0em_pFDIkRM_VvRICjhI9_t8ZSgNrBlCddgGnQaRGc2R5NpSW5ATBl1lijN5CWT9kdrirtT0-J8TJhm2HOuZa6Mi7dB7X-l4_B_QxBUru_G7AguKxPShOljYqUkvB/s320/DSC_0552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnK3xr3gEHc-DWUi-MdkUWn8V1shmnTueolDPblTnBBHyN3jxBshOqXwEkusxtvvXJ4qhzSeShdRSHOv8LWf8n-pZAxZU-FWEyfenMRAf_eK-S9psUTr1Bq1R5unM6MO2lHDc50mbMzPb/s6000/DSC_0629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnK3xr3gEHc-DWUi-MdkUWn8V1shmnTueolDPblTnBBHyN3jxBshOqXwEkusxtvvXJ4qhzSeShdRSHOv8LWf8n-pZAxZU-FWEyfenMRAf_eK-S9psUTr1Bq1R5unM6MO2lHDc50mbMzPb/s320/DSC_0629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9qFTvryOpTsGlDlXurabN9zhkMpff5iKCQ94PMIDLoHjNgaqA5PHvHUr8TOlhGL0IAzHHOuwpxFLkaAqCY7rWprg8fLolN0U6J6I3vldt-UStE7Ljnb2KGcaU85AlJyv7GX5Ho5iQgaV/s6000/DSC_0642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9qFTvryOpTsGlDlXurabN9zhkMpff5iKCQ94PMIDLoHjNgaqA5PHvHUr8TOlhGL0IAzHHOuwpxFLkaAqCY7rWprg8fLolN0U6J6I3vldt-UStE7Ljnb2KGcaU85AlJyv7GX5Ho5iQgaV/s320/DSC_0642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kaOQBzLIgMiGLeKkaNMgNLunTsq5y81VMc1eVmi6HtujGvHYYBjQqZEaHca55CcL6bzDdKwE9YFW6HSAKgIBaAoZPzBTILwgv84__09XnUw_oa9LXl1A2e7k3SxfpKVhLoRrZoH40X9h/s6000/DSC_0671.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kaOQBzLIgMiGLeKkaNMgNLunTsq5y81VMc1eVmi6HtujGvHYYBjQqZEaHca55CcL6bzDdKwE9YFW6HSAKgIBaAoZPzBTILwgv84__09XnUw_oa9LXl1A2e7k3SxfpKVhLoRrZoH40X9h/s320/DSC_0671.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2RmsAq3PXY7kXBTdSqHkGjwtVCSYrpxwpitCE5dlljepuopEs5gJhtRUuN7OH6JsE8JuVbFLI9ojb3kZqx_RjKSTzHVSX2TN2PacBPDvzTiI49Ijkdytj0Yi7ZhnucyJp1nPn7raSXBA/s4032/IMG_0045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2RmsAq3PXY7kXBTdSqHkGjwtVCSYrpxwpitCE5dlljepuopEs5gJhtRUuN7OH6JsE8JuVbFLI9ojb3kZqx_RjKSTzHVSX2TN2PacBPDvzTiI49Ijkdytj0Yi7ZhnucyJp1nPn7raSXBA/s320/IMG_0045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5ANpMBA0ZIFtKFqhHFjge-NBnK-Pv3jGZKVfyojZKpL8o1609HPK0nknifDvfqLJABMYfMpbEl17YjMIlJJIr1o6m2YffcK0EawK6e9wNmfUfR3DV2sAPHeKtu5QbUQ0SMLLWDN0btuF/s4032/IMG_0061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5ANpMBA0ZIFtKFqhHFjge-NBnK-Pv3jGZKVfyojZKpL8o1609HPK0nknifDvfqLJABMYfMpbEl17YjMIlJJIr1o6m2YffcK0EawK6e9wNmfUfR3DV2sAPHeKtu5QbUQ0SMLLWDN0btuF/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAQTLnU5jnCKRa-JrOEh2o-T8AJ3JyqIEpma-lOwHXue5XpS9SbDLr8Vj_FLO43teiO-ccvPwkgM0MQhbxfkwNaojArPXvCygWru9c9jVjXTVf0NFfnBzH9SDfOEegYCCfp437E8LigoK/s4032/IMG_0064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAQTLnU5jnCKRa-JrOEh2o-T8AJ3JyqIEpma-lOwHXue5XpS9SbDLr8Vj_FLO43teiO-ccvPwkgM0MQhbxfkwNaojArPXvCygWru9c9jVjXTVf0NFfnBzH9SDfOEegYCCfp437E8LigoK/s320/IMG_0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bolinao, Pangasinan</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz-51Z1Bs-bCcMSKI4X1Dd_OJSxC3-hfBAuFs70gnmNSk5-zqSD8g25V4aCl66Ixf8vvkrUkN6vY7638BeWdomJJRr2lvHOse1bCemH1oAcqgQmmJfiqtCCfYqjUV1sE5D5wYZNBd-aA0/s6000/DSC_0821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz-51Z1Bs-bCcMSKI4X1Dd_OJSxC3-hfBAuFs70gnmNSk5-zqSD8g25V4aCl66Ixf8vvkrUkN6vY7638BeWdomJJRr2lvHOse1bCemH1oAcqgQmmJfiqtCCfYqjUV1sE5D5wYZNBd-aA0/s320/DSC_0821.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOH2QTCpuFOb9BaqZuU6s2WRTH8x3VEOpSGuqvie35N0cNhdwqg_EJsrxo97hGGSCbbVk73XxOq1PFeapYJrOXqZ7sfLRWm-yrhfM8JAoknrbNNsFdDbbm-GpI4N9wapznlXA7UgX9fKF/s6000/DSC_0801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOH2QTCpuFOb9BaqZuU6s2WRTH8x3VEOpSGuqvie35N0cNhdwqg_EJsrxo97hGGSCbbVk73XxOq1PFeapYJrOXqZ7sfLRWm-yrhfM8JAoknrbNNsFdDbbm-GpI4N9wapznlXA7UgX9fKF/s320/DSC_0801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9kpSpupYS52gY8fsvXKJRNQetxUFqmVsNqYIosTVZgj_9ccrAy9QY3J_tPQzI4eTu9ZLuQEJoty7z_HQInQ7zvGWl9gEz5IqdOgrI08LPJ93sz_eBBnWefornWe2Tm_3MJ2P2lsRQepD/s5923/DSC_0921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3948" data-original-width="5923" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9kpSpupYS52gY8fsvXKJRNQetxUFqmVsNqYIosTVZgj_9ccrAy9QY3J_tPQzI4eTu9ZLuQEJoty7z_HQInQ7zvGWl9gEz5IqdOgrI08LPJ93sz_eBBnWefornWe2Tm_3MJ2P2lsRQepD/s320/DSC_0921.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">On March 12th, the Corona Virus have posted reasonable number of cases in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila. So our office declared a halfday work, and the government declared a lockdown starting on the 16th. Since all of us are working for the government, so we were free from Friday the 13th through 15th.<br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyJHyAE0F3CT4bSAsnLESFGFkp724-AtCLit5LvOVglpg0G0eK-rkNWEOkOP21vgPwPZPsJRO1TaG2xxNWPnsUmS2eEfwuaxVMHDQv50o2gSD-FngTIFDQ1U1WnZzaQWiRSVHIENgDL8E/s4032/IMG_0152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyJHyAE0F3CT4bSAsnLESFGFkp724-AtCLit5LvOVglpg0G0eK-rkNWEOkOP21vgPwPZPsJRO1TaG2xxNWPnsUmS2eEfwuaxVMHDQv50o2gSD-FngTIFDQ1U1WnZzaQWiRSVHIENgDL8E/s320/IMG_0152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvVNtFDcETQSAoC7RkCS6I_DU1AvxYGyLZCglTDUgCVjtt1NNFVEWBKZaLo_Kpl61HFiWpL4tEg1jaqmczwduhVt7MNYl8kPIAc-Gl5g94HiP3tLIhga8dZeLY7DM3hzbakmiheqYv0b8/s4032/IMG_0195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvVNtFDcETQSAoC7RkCS6I_DU1AvxYGyLZCglTDUgCVjtt1NNFVEWBKZaLo_Kpl61HFiWpL4tEg1jaqmczwduhVt7MNYl8kPIAc-Gl5g94HiP3tLIhga8dZeLY7DM3hzbakmiheqYv0b8/s320/IMG_0195.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeoKTMBF1DG1OZ5kPWDR1ISSX0svifKlrFj3JzMZle5d69pi8cQl_yxsDOBjWaQWJJcO5XyyCcqFO-ZD4H6VCKjaP1edIzf9SinzS8YbSfZMxgdsVFq-8RvbvFnqNa8XgBYoDZLVih-f_/s4032/IMG_0189.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeoKTMBF1DG1OZ5kPWDR1ISSX0svifKlrFj3JzMZle5d69pi8cQl_yxsDOBjWaQWJJcO5XyyCcqFO-ZD4H6VCKjaP1edIzf9SinzS8YbSfZMxgdsVFq-8RvbvFnqNa8XgBYoDZLVih-f_/s320/IMG_0189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;">To realize another travel bucketlist of mine, I decided to bring my whole family to Bolinao, Pangasinan. I immediately booked one family room for a two-night stay at KNB West Villa. We enjoyed the place and we were able to make tours to Patar White Beach, Rock Formation, and Caves. <br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrCCkW6W1Rbmh1v_npryPV6RrRe55CAo5-OFNU0Kavgp82BVEfvmd2VS_OGVYk44TwO-GOoCE1leP7cOQMXjw8hS68K5gjpvP9F22nSdPMESOdzEGyPFKR3lLTY0tDdiICkzfV4DMk7e7/s6000/DSC_0906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrCCkW6W1Rbmh1v_npryPV6RrRe55CAo5-OFNU0Kavgp82BVEfvmd2VS_OGVYk44TwO-GOoCE1leP7cOQMXjw8hS68K5gjpvP9F22nSdPMESOdzEGyPFKR3lLTY0tDdiICkzfV4DMk7e7/s320/DSC_0906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlenK6lnSIUnpGpFBF5OFopaJCBcAD0L4PTb9lMQqNHuQiATzsMxOQej0bnd8vaR2jN7GEv6T3Hwr3vECPqMsacc8ypbf_HYO6SrEHMQcYVxqeEK4NcxjhCYu60uheCdrOeqlSx5gtfYoU/s6000/DSC_0899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlenK6lnSIUnpGpFBF5OFopaJCBcAD0L4PTb9lMQqNHuQiATzsMxOQej0bnd8vaR2jN7GEv6T3Hwr3vECPqMsacc8ypbf_HYO6SrEHMQcYVxqeEK4NcxjhCYu60uheCdrOeqlSx5gtfYoU/s320/DSC_0899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR_dV-jlWlSk0WClN31ZYTWLXoSWJ90YOyRrIanKXU7UiZiRwi9Sff18dW66eju1Gpbsn2ux9Xpe7t0fT7mVsusec71JYQT-30clRjGe2vT4KGpSOKl8iAXGRgEUEfb3-5FK9ws5JJfWQ/s3088/IMG_0224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR_dV-jlWlSk0WClN31ZYTWLXoSWJ90YOyRrIanKXU7UiZiRwi9Sff18dW66eju1Gpbsn2ux9Xpe7t0fT7mVsusec71JYQT-30clRjGe2vT4KGpSOKl8iAXGRgEUEfb3-5FK9ws5JJfWQ/s320/IMG_0224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYYdF1XFl1iv9jvCla8ilrmOHaWy4DmyAiMai_Cbsc32YBiJQPTCqUanxFWTEliN72XaUuN4wlVbRqqSgI7iUjZpqO54LJ_6u9rGnof6Yb7qmU6PnAAWOpAqhS2gxIr5Y43rvcENNnNet/s6000/DSC_0923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYYdF1XFl1iv9jvCla8ilrmOHaWy4DmyAiMai_Cbsc32YBiJQPTCqUanxFWTEliN72XaUuN4wlVbRqqSgI7iUjZpqO54LJ_6u9rGnof6Yb7qmU6PnAAWOpAqhS2gxIr5Y43rvcENNnNet/s320/DSC_0923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Cindy's Cave Eco-Park </h4></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgApWhUApKnmWhUk90Y88EgZu0Okpyk_BqiQSmx6HPhUco9g3loqj1jTJM3hJ7sc6mgWmd1hBqwyJxYT3r_bogXT4flSE-hwQCsJRbEHjKwdjGBF3T0Ny7JeFUGAJHDlLaNmHmUi1NKaf/s6000/DSC_0702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgApWhUApKnmWhUk90Y88EgZu0Okpyk_BqiQSmx6HPhUco9g3loqj1jTJM3hJ7sc6mgWmd1hBqwyJxYT3r_bogXT4flSE-hwQCsJRbEHjKwdjGBF3T0Ny7JeFUGAJHDlLaNmHmUi1NKaf/s320/DSC_0702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y_HSgkHuVYn-wlU8ETEZFwA3GBu2VJkJCJE7CL6sO6qtASupUJl9u0cP4DVSd_kEpLH4pCBcdgposL6TA_K0gfJhbwZ2EizwOKM5kjxs75GC27Jv82EJ4cBbUStd0hE6JvvYwRSLWHlR/s1620/DSC_0714_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y_HSgkHuVYn-wlU8ETEZFwA3GBu2VJkJCJE7CL6sO6qtASupUJl9u0cP4DVSd_kEpLH4pCBcdgposL6TA_K0gfJhbwZ2EizwOKM5kjxs75GC27Jv82EJ4cBbUStd0hE6JvvYwRSLWHlR/s320/DSC_0714_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Wonderful Cave</h4></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmuDlLDDCuJ_zJy2sqpwevxgly8D2P04Nfq-VfUcwwBdxl-wiBWnrxly8O0-nQUHtr9rC5jUhwDwb8420wjqT6c0zVDP52nAGry5OObO3jWI9lZ78oT5kGNxyb2GGyRrUpGrSO8rMexQ9/s6000/DSC_0738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmuDlLDDCuJ_zJy2sqpwevxgly8D2P04Nfq-VfUcwwBdxl-wiBWnrxly8O0-nQUHtr9rC5jUhwDwb8420wjqT6c0zVDP52nAGry5OObO3jWI9lZ78oT5kGNxyb2GGyRrUpGrSO8rMexQ9/s320/DSC_0738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHl5fVjv5IuP0qELiy7qLV4f3rMN99KObOgFy1wg0crBjcJzdyzQHbv7VvBaJdIgqPE7FcLvggGKIUjflEcEXYOxqRUXKla8mTbiEs1QbpIQgKyFN_x2AdFcUs1wNbIoR9swGJ7BMbQDp/s6000/DSC_0730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHl5fVjv5IuP0qELiy7qLV4f3rMN99KObOgFy1wg0crBjcJzdyzQHbv7VvBaJdIgqPE7FcLvggGKIUjflEcEXYOxqRUXKla8mTbiEs1QbpIQgKyFN_x2AdFcUs1wNbIoR9swGJ7BMbQDp/s320/DSC_0730.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Enchanted Cave</h4></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLKZpm38siu3WIf-mH1qfSfZw0-V4K3jwsqULA6cSguFuaYp7khu_DBSzIblHHPNbwNXXqdjSkbetIv-t9nnZmWClWoXfBpDEnE-o7pk80IhwOMKeBBcwR5hIPLR1WLKU_Hva30n8X3nN/s1620/DSC_0759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLKZpm38siu3WIf-mH1qfSfZw0-V4K3jwsqULA6cSguFuaYp7khu_DBSzIblHHPNbwNXXqdjSkbetIv-t9nnZmWClWoXfBpDEnE-o7pk80IhwOMKeBBcwR5hIPLR1WLKU_Hva30n8X3nN/s320/DSC_0759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l5DTJjiNuKcUTY00ecFO-U3mYiBsOvEfyVlfKTLwQsin4sfdm78cOBifSzzATW7xcohjtIPhQEd7hUxoSV2rkzZ99X5saSFBpklCfVd87UrjATK12xIGAyUGAbLuX9p9Qp53DWgaUwn3/s4032/IMG_0274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l5DTJjiNuKcUTY00ecFO-U3mYiBsOvEfyVlfKTLwQsin4sfdm78cOBifSzzATW7xcohjtIPhQEd7hUxoSV2rkzZ99X5saSFBpklCfVd87UrjATK12xIGAyUGAbLuX9p9Qp53DWgaUwn3/s320/IMG_0274.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ__gSboy3ixLbnfmd70vzgu7urm2TLXhGuVg8y0wPR_1HdhYfvUewhm_APmVKI2WjCmyDxd4n-nHlexcBR4mdL6hxFxNkKv9kpdaZ6m-oBC3Ul-519TfkQVlLTZgsWeMea0USA2S71_v/s4032/IMG_0271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ__gSboy3ixLbnfmd70vzgu7urm2TLXhGuVg8y0wPR_1HdhYfvUewhm_APmVKI2WjCmyDxd4n-nHlexcBR4mdL6hxFxNkKv9kpdaZ6m-oBC3Ul-519TfkQVlLTZgsWeMea0USA2S71_v/s320/IMG_0271.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-28816258150814969212020-02-29T00:03:00.033-08:002020-06-14T01:55:09.395-07:00Foreign Travels Before Lockdown<div style="line-height: 1.5;"><p style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2">Just before Covid19 from Mainland China became viral and caused worldwide health crisis, I was able to make three trips in Asia.</font><br /></span></p><h2 style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Singapore</span></h2></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Our company, FreeBalance, called for an APAC Regional Planning Workshop on January 9 and 10, 2020 in Singapore. This was my first time to celebrate birthday overseas and on official travel.</span></span></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz5bEtyYEJCS-kq6N3TcyDoQkY5gAtDbC9eN-zWrEBcZAU6GuiWTXsBuzPDEHdOVo9SSooasZRWCLS5QcLZa0ePOOQKecOw99I1dY6hRlTDbD75qtU06rtkEzYAPsHva7mQSRm6-XXnmF/s6000/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz5bEtyYEJCS-kq6N3TcyDoQkY5gAtDbC9eN-zWrEBcZAU6GuiWTXsBuzPDEHdOVo9SSooasZRWCLS5QcLZa0ePOOQKecOw99I1dY6hRlTDbD75qtU06rtkEzYAPsHva7mQSRm6-XXnmF/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Philippine Team, myself, Arfel and Ramon, departed for Singapore that early morning of January 9th. The Project Management Advisory Team of APAC gathered at the main function hall of Hotel Grand Central. We reunited with colleagues from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan when we started drawing our Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for the region. The 2-day activity was facilitated by VP Bridget.</span></span></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></font></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g6SkvnkZCmV1FS6q0sPHIslBw2Ap0NT_bP-_mrhGTWWKd8qCrGcRP4SJWMxoMTU3Tw9TC9QHEO2r-8XKGiOlHXEJ9TmSq5C88K6XeKr5msOTWFDp9pIXKo2xgF3VuYMq5KWa3dnMQfVk/s6000/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g6SkvnkZCmV1FS6q0sPHIslBw2Ap0NT_bP-_mrhGTWWKd8qCrGcRP4SJWMxoMTU3Tw9TC9QHEO2r-8XKGiOlHXEJ9TmSq5C88K6XeKr5msOTWFDp9pIXKo2xgF3VuYMq5KWa3dnMQfVk/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jakarta</span></h2></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I went to Indonesia's capital twice in February 2020. On Feb 19-20, I accompanied our partner and sales representative to attend meeting with government officials to promote our company's products and services.</span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCTHylTcicTVVzMjV-_2et9CjimbKVrak8KIvrC-vKyEFVbCp10tle8C1lBdLJzrVyKAfmyk5Ui94ol9T_jOHdhAB9mPTj2hHYL_52h6ZCj2qHE-BDgvLQQIU0zGxTuiNkUOnfasyoCPx/s4032/IMG_9907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCTHylTcicTVVzMjV-_2et9CjimbKVrak8KIvrC-vKyEFVbCp10tle8C1lBdLJzrVyKAfmyk5Ui94ol9T_jOHdhAB9mPTj2hHYL_52h6ZCj2qHE-BDgvLQQIU0zGxTuiNkUOnfasyoCPx/s320/IMG_9907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I returned on Feb 24-26 to join our Pre-sales Team to demonstrate our government system to select government representatives and project officials.</span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUExDY7vdy2JGM07X0XgsRR0D3xrxEAyqb-gN4IYAFM3LH2aMRzSreWzeqpbdFn-4944GtJKMtZVMaYJy6KLmH8lJzyJ9I9H9-vcr7N6Eun9zzOuI5MIy7Td90n-ZcUd4Kd1p4tydM9ixm/s6000/DSC_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUExDY7vdy2JGM07X0XgsRR0D3xrxEAyqb-gN4IYAFM3LH2aMRzSreWzeqpbdFn-4944GtJKMtZVMaYJy6KLmH8lJzyJ9I9H9-vcr7N6Eun9zzOuI5MIy7Td90n-ZcUd4Kd1p4tydM9ixm/s320/DSC_0526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><font size="4"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></b></font></font></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><font size="4"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Cancelled Trips</span></span></font></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><font size="2"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3c4043; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I processed visa applications for Portugal and USA because the lockdown. I was supposed to visit our R&D Office in Lisbon, Portugal and meet VP Bridget and the Training Academy Team there. I was also supposed to go to Haiti for the kickoff of our new project in the Caribbean. But all these were canceled due to Covid19 crisis. <br /></span></font></span></div></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-57298685672790913692020-01-08T21:34:00.000-08:002020-06-26T22:50:29.921-07:00Trip2Top Causes<div>2019 was another year of adventures for the Trip2Top Family. And we wanted to give back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_FAOjzhghm764a0rq8AgSWNxQ4GRf9r1rPxp59U-uES8P4n2zN8Ozhj6GSZd0fU9q6ODlSXEMreheh5kZ2mEQhdyZgOrbmrJ8GTS0jCfZbsYMo0N0cXZ61_dBBHZnJObjBMPmQazKaW/s2198/T2T+B%2526W+Logo.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_FAOjzhghm764a0rq8AgSWNxQ4GRf9r1rPxp59U-uES8P4n2zN8Ozhj6GSZd0fU9q6ODlSXEMreheh5kZ2mEQhdyZgOrbmrJ8GTS0jCfZbsYMo0N0cXZ61_dBBHZnJObjBMPmQazKaW/s320/T2T+B%2526W+Logo.tif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>February 2-3: Climbing Mt Amuyao</div><div>The highest peak in the Mountain Province, measuring 2,862 masl. Accessed through the town of Barlig, the difficulty of the climb is at par with that of the Napulauan Mountain. The ascent is tough almost at 90 degrees, although aided by knotted ropes here and steel ladders there. However, the peak for me is unimpressive and tight. The campsite at the peak could only accommodate a limited number of tents and campers.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpEF9HLAahpHpgaTbGrOxI8tl-NDV8JoUBoxA-v1IRDttkP8O7bQyGsJI5XateJyn1nJewFKLsjJpTWzXSmt9sRAGUISR2KurqZG5m4JYzPQaGamdSfCRDZnFq__JEnW2bRlHc_m1tf-h/s6000/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpEF9HLAahpHpgaTbGrOxI8tl-NDV8JoUBoxA-v1IRDttkP8O7bQyGsJI5XateJyn1nJewFKLsjJpTWzXSmt9sRAGUISR2KurqZG5m4JYzPQaGamdSfCRDZnFq__JEnW2bRlHc_m1tf-h/s320/DSC_0123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOfTCAPzcHtGd2Hd1b7b3OsB7-rT0PZ-dK7ATo4cll7TcRRcyryUDu-mtPWBW-E6m9SxCAazpUwaiOpMogqWRyV0FtvEoENHtGm60GYSVwiuJtP4FmrBGHdzwN1v7b8h6XnOL8_sbG0Pm/s3023/IMG_4714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="2159" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOfTCAPzcHtGd2Hd1b7b3OsB7-rT0PZ-dK7ATo4cll7TcRRcyryUDu-mtPWBW-E6m9SxCAazpUwaiOpMogqWRyV0FtvEoENHtGm60GYSVwiuJtP4FmrBGHdzwN1v7b8h6XnOL8_sbG0Pm/s320/IMG_4714.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oXsR0h-OrcIqoPdSA9lKB9Te7mAVGV-2OcwuD4ojZ5qPQTedLHVXDVvHpYdAyecGf8izZBaElfPUaFLPRUkzePUXu5vNCe6LX7nZ1ZR_YRuyfjDHC_1l2vWXMnlguiqJB3uGnSMB6Kz7/s6000/DSC_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oXsR0h-OrcIqoPdSA9lKB9Te7mAVGV-2OcwuD4ojZ5qPQTedLHVXDVvHpYdAyecGf8izZBaElfPUaFLPRUkzePUXu5vNCe6LX7nZ1ZR_YRuyfjDHC_1l2vWXMnlguiqJB3uGnSMB6Kz7/s320/DSC_0326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjtpR7Ir7UL0Uw60ic19kHuPXpl1QFBkV8jrPo9IQvYMTl5vqR8eVIk94b5TOxjINTEPpp9gb7rSUrdjV4MFC01c_6wLgDn4__lGQ-UNB3qf1G077bK01HCjIpVlMdYKWJvTJJ2Q1wyIV/s6000/DSC_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjtpR7Ir7UL0Uw60ic19kHuPXpl1QFBkV8jrPo9IQvYMTl5vqR8eVIk94b5TOxjINTEPpp9gb7rSUrdjV4MFC01c_6wLgDn4__lGQ-UNB3qf1G077bK01HCjIpVlMdYKWJvTJJ2Q1wyIV/s320/DSC_0281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>July 27-28: Treeplanting in Gabaldon</div><div>This was the first climb for a cause I joined in. Our T2T community collaborated with local associations with similar cause to do treeplanting. We brought with us 200 plus seedlings of different trees up the hillsite. Then we proceeded to Dingalan, Aurora for the overnight camping and socialization.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6B5i952rH_NhJE0JPmg7QlaBHhASt_c_6qdOgCLdlAx5tt6N64SA42VYk_jDd0LJ5L-E8zSaPVkrZJT3gs8HZ5gbWSiRQL7FFZSArbpE4qG041oRLJ8jWOUPEV-qsIULKnjeLCihA72R/s8416/IMG-2583-Original.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1901" data-original-width="8416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6B5i952rH_NhJE0JPmg7QlaBHhASt_c_6qdOgCLdlAx5tt6N64SA42VYk_jDd0LJ5L-E8zSaPVkrZJT3gs8HZ5gbWSiRQL7FFZSArbpE4qG041oRLJ8jWOUPEV-qsIULKnjeLCihA72R/s320/IMG-2583-Original.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7us6ZZMIbL0GsCg_8TnHCGQsRiSeoBW5Uyx1yaaMIf_cR09u1eMBz6ivWsj3PHzzLSmtWyb7RwRAQdoOzBjMHKuzR6xy5KBRXko_Vc_IVHtLs4u1GqKYpLuSSa0zR2oNqYUtdB-jK9c-/s4032/IMG-2555-Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7us6ZZMIbL0GsCg_8TnHCGQsRiSeoBW5Uyx1yaaMIf_cR09u1eMBz6ivWsj3PHzzLSmtWyb7RwRAQdoOzBjMHKuzR6xy5KBRXko_Vc_IVHtLs4u1GqKYpLuSSa0zR2oNqYUtdB-jK9c-/s320/IMG-2555-Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinlGh_MpRsQnzj_5LWyp7QabpscP3_3g06dQ8n9d6WcCg_7JgSTKiJ7D-wlfUfoAnkHLf5JijqbbZuYTpkILp5tVy5JgLd28FYmb9W7LtgWyznZeIRfCX_VpCdS805iIpyUhNMZuOmtJV/s6000/DSC-0824-Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinlGh_MpRsQnzj_5LWyp7QabpscP3_3g06dQ8n9d6WcCg_7JgSTKiJ7D-wlfUfoAnkHLf5JijqbbZuYTpkILp5tVy5JgLd28FYmb9W7LtgWyznZeIRfCX_VpCdS805iIpyUhNMZuOmtJV/s320/DSC-0824-Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>November 29-December 1: SOUL Outreaching in Ligao<br /></div><div>Our sister community, the SOUL, had an outreach program in Ligao City for the select Alternative Learning System students. We distributed school supplies in collaboration with the Barangay Council of Ranao-Ranao. We proceeded to Legazpi City for an overnight socialization.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnzSs5_cNufTaoOLLtuQU9tFfAwx5r-Ub0RhSLr_XaGdhQ5C5kfMIq_CCuzpIVrPdxCqQlJ5y_qqlWVruo3Cm-hZm5LA2p2JeVx6xhzyaHNRHG76jCm7lY6O7xl1g5bJ67QZdjY1ZGYdM/s6000/DSC_0078_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnzSs5_cNufTaoOLLtuQU9tFfAwx5r-Ub0RhSLr_XaGdhQ5C5kfMIq_CCuzpIVrPdxCqQlJ5y_qqlWVruo3Cm-hZm5LA2p2JeVx6xhzyaHNRHG76jCm7lY6O7xl1g5bJ67QZdjY1ZGYdM/s320/DSC_0078_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgnkL3VyOjECpGB1PzXo9YBGtpSPGfd0mni3k6m1zrqquKJR2rtjqW7r30NELtCdQjhfok-5_077-i7ZAw-5-iotPAMavAm0ixxGe5ok7aD4Ued7P4thoYzQHUjdcMYXmRyUZvTUmbl3v/s3721/IMG_7729_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2790" data-original-width="3721" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgnkL3VyOjECpGB1PzXo9YBGtpSPGfd0mni3k6m1zrqquKJR2rtjqW7r30NELtCdQjhfok-5_077-i7ZAw-5-iotPAMavAm0ixxGe5ok7aD4Ued7P4thoYzQHUjdcMYXmRyUZvTUmbl3v/s320/IMG_7729_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30R9Npnylavbp2iwMkTh6QbvDDTRXXxt_dUdnrChCk0gN4fbSlRcbI0Au1XgYDrcLcbJKGFVNpVEDHg-z13h513u2Pj4r_EEV4rKdbjFuz_FNfFIqvboRlaxOZvWjEMfY9ySchyXVoL0X/s6000/DSC_0107_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30R9Npnylavbp2iwMkTh6QbvDDTRXXxt_dUdnrChCk0gN4fbSlRcbI0Au1XgYDrcLcbJKGFVNpVEDHg-z13h513u2Pj4r_EEV4rKdbjFuz_FNfFIqvboRlaxOZvWjEMfY9ySchyXVoL0X/s320/DSC_0107_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-52721066072525985602019-12-07T19:38:00.000-08:002019-12-22T23:37:38.825-08:00Official Trips in 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sri Lanka</b></span><br />
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In no time, I was heading to one of the South Asian countries -- Sri Lanka. This official travel overtook my bucketlist of the year -- a travel to South Asia which would commence in April 2019.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuktuk and Kingsbury Hotel roundabout</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Parliamentary Building</td></tr>
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My employer, FreeBalance Inc called for an APAC Regional Planning
Workshop on February 8-10 in Colombo City. I was lucky to be part of the
Regional Project Management Advisory Services.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galle Face Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating Valentines Day in Hilton Hotel lobby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightout at the Ce La Vi Bar atop Kingsbury Hotel</td></tr>
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Since I was an official business, so the accommodation was expensive;
billeted at Hilton Hotel. The location was strategic that my early
morning walks brought me to several tourist destinations within the city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Buildings with Portuguese architecture</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beira Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfJ6wB7ZLaoVZsWe15bCTg7sY0DT5A8x6spoVMDEpdr6rhvaIczS2c4Dsbin7P6rUxDM_zOVgjdSRNFbzkad8ZO5lJGOLqY0qsOQLWih8axDoatHsGEhtNEXByPcelo7lPbFcZDX8RpKi/s1600/IMG_4926.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfJ6wB7ZLaoVZsWe15bCTg7sY0DT5A8x6spoVMDEpdr6rhvaIczS2c4Dsbin7P6rUxDM_zOVgjdSRNFbzkad8ZO5lJGOLqY0qsOQLWih8axDoatHsGEhtNEXByPcelo7lPbFcZDX8RpKi/s320/IMG_4926.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seema Malaka</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtQ1uKbqT4FsDnI_pnc3s79o-LQinyL8jax4ZcRdXjnGdG_lHSeLDmPv5wL7dLX2lPAPMphDGpcoE1NpUbkZKs_iphz3avD5CVprrUPWFeXMXjy9TELBNqoUxjuAXsu6s6b_JMV3Mf4Ze/s1600/IMG_4921.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtQ1uKbqT4FsDnI_pnc3s79o-LQinyL8jax4ZcRdXjnGdG_lHSeLDmPv5wL7dLX2lPAPMphDGpcoE1NpUbkZKs_iphz3avD5CVprrUPWFeXMXjy9TELBNqoUxjuAXsu6s6b_JMV3Mf4Ze/s320/IMG_4921.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gangaramaya Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkBbib3jXjjFya-Ryl0KuBr0E99WWj4o1tyBce0DYQuhKGm8-x9HrBGOcQOgQulb4S5wUce_Bckb64hbhm11_LfG0xm_eqmfQzXWaJfVUMPHWRQLK3KOsVZiv6WOicG8nmziIlnQHrant/s1600/DSC_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkBbib3jXjjFya-Ryl0KuBr0E99WWj4o1tyBce0DYQuhKGm8-x9HrBGOcQOgQulb4S5wUce_Bckb64hbhm11_LfG0xm_eqmfQzXWaJfVUMPHWRQLK3KOsVZiv6WOicG8nmziIlnQHrant/s320/DSC_0532.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sambodhi Chaithya</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Lighthouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Timor Leste</b></span><br />
I was suddenly assigned to Dili City in Timor Leste for 2 weeks, from August 3-16. Since capacity building is part of the Sustainability Services we served to the country, I went there to deliver the baseline assessment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4B91cB35MlYqL_mB9PHrpUr4FnTa2_uGEhNXlI2GtB2O6pKl4bBBstxHsRmiDYs_c6kt1Cjzj09EsITttRclGgImEetb3y4zZ3PlYdD380RJgurYfLgzHUixd0ajzqAUuRHmrFWWwo9xE/s1600/IMG_2765.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4B91cB35MlYqL_mB9PHrpUr4FnTa2_uGEhNXlI2GtB2O6pKl4bBBstxHsRmiDYs_c6kt1Cjzj09EsITttRclGgImEetb3y4zZ3PlYdD380RJgurYfLgzHUixd0ajzqAUuRHmrFWWwo9xE/s320/IMG_2765.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the airport</td></tr>
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There is no direct flight from Manila to Dili, so I took a connecting flight at Bali, Indonesia. I have never been to this side of Asia, so it was exciting. The overnight at Bali even was exciting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJC3g5eHSk_YCbDy1d2cb_xXnhgRz_Ydd5rXYrEMSZD5NyyJoD_xkfDjTmxvu2BOp5UxOGjy-QhOLp2MPNjC1DQMMdxNTLe04mD2BkUbBvLSYe8hRt0-EaIWcR-Z39C6q8iJEQ1OH6mTqF/s1600/5369E31F-1CFE-4483-9D84-D48D711E7A6F.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJC3g5eHSk_YCbDy1d2cb_xXnhgRz_Ydd5rXYrEMSZD5NyyJoD_xkfDjTmxvu2BOp5UxOGjy-QhOLp2MPNjC1DQMMdxNTLe04mD2BkUbBvLSYe8hRt0-EaIWcR-Z39C6q8iJEQ1OH6mTqF/s320/5369E31F-1CFE-4483-9D84-D48D711E7A6F.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Youth Monument</td></tr>
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I arrived in the morning of August 4. I met all my international colleagues over lunch, then we played cricket the whole afternoon. It was my first time in Dili, and my first time to play cricket. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcql2iljiDPReYbZGGagKdYaFMhJmj6ym9sBPjuR85JLajVI19xBHlKzXCcucPKrd4uKil0TGtOLCjdKeCMSbezHXh8fzbrWieEoEaAY4IUk91h42gpD7eSP0ux5jta4yY5xFT9HhadsOm/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcql2iljiDPReYbZGGagKdYaFMhJmj6ym9sBPjuR85JLajVI19xBHlKzXCcucPKrd4uKil0TGtOLCjdKeCMSbezHXh8fzbrWieEoEaAY4IUk91h42gpD7eSP0ux5jta4yY5xFT9HhadsOm/s320/IMG_2813.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lighthouse</td></tr>
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On my second day (August 5) here, I jogged on this Sunday morning and found all these in Dili City Center: the seaside is a walking distance, most landmarks are located along the shore, most embassies and government offices are adjacent to each other, the city proper is small, was able to locate the Tais Market, and commuting is easy here.<br />
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Then my whole first week was focused on assessment preparations. I collaborated with the local team to package the materials.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQz16PQUh6DlN6e5AKP5dNm83AgHFAAZsRHqfVCSOr-tvjqdmrl5HXFn8U9hhPcJaY9rOIPcAFbor4VsimPjCfmjrBDAeEB1hQMSzukJYy9v2cri05Ek5ess2wUs_DWby-32oEqxTfMZ1/s1600/IMG_3202.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQz16PQUh6DlN6e5AKP5dNm83AgHFAAZsRHqfVCSOr-tvjqdmrl5HXFn8U9hhPcJaY9rOIPcAFbor4VsimPjCfmjrBDAeEB1hQMSzukJYy9v2cri05Ek5ess2wUs_DWby-32oEqxTfMZ1/s320/IMG_3202.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Ministry of Finance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8rzxkVWo6H_FVxkanYcPm0Rf4j_uMWKU_IwDT8pARZMn1c8Ov4M8kizKtKqxD93JvyZRIFK-EE_oJ2-iZuRYn-lujV_IsGdn7PME7UkzFcs5IPJCDB0AvbaTAY-o3OBHbsmOqpF-V3mF/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8rzxkVWo6H_FVxkanYcPm0Rf4j_uMWKU_IwDT8pARZMn1c8Ov4M8kizKtKqxD93JvyZRIFK-EE_oJ2-iZuRYn-lujV_IsGdn7PME7UkzFcs5IPJCDB0AvbaTAY-o3OBHbsmOqpF-V3mF/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the FreeBalance Timor Team</td></tr>
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That following weekend, on August 10, I had a Saturday morning tour that made me climbed the peak of the Cristo Rei statue... Thanks to my new friend, Sartaj, for being my driver and guide today!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdK0c-kABMjG9Co9zf4_YQmV3T1w9quP55wQ3TCKwNl2MEwUhNM1Gz6Bkpv-R5cOuk_v6uZqwup-p3P8vEPcXDs_pwCx_8U0rtZiIZ21Aa1c6YRaPhdT2i-YbASQ5ChePdd_DFeSivr89/s1600/IMG_2994.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1600" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdK0c-kABMjG9Co9zf4_YQmV3T1w9quP55wQ3TCKwNl2MEwUhNM1Gz6Bkpv-R5cOuk_v6uZqwup-p3P8vEPcXDs_pwCx_8U0rtZiIZ21Aa1c6YRaPhdT2i-YbASQ5ChePdd_DFeSivr89/s320/IMG_2994.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZNN_fWEaDT6WsE0wOhFE6SDv_0WqyAeFIpeb14qFDiDW_XpflxEZNMUhF1Pz8ITzd51KEwTiL7Gi-RpALiWuA01UuxoWjx__iHUmCsD8-B8Het4mTYlSy26J2xMRGRWc4P0EeeO0wIRb/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZNN_fWEaDT6WsE0wOhFE6SDv_0WqyAeFIpeb14qFDiDW_XpflxEZNMUhF1Pz8ITzd51KEwTiL7Gi-RpALiWuA01UuxoWjx__iHUmCsD8-B8Het4mTYlSy26J2xMRGRWc4P0EeeO0wIRb/s320/IMG_2976.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Sartaj at Cristo Rei</td></tr>
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Then in the afternoon, Team Manager Jay went with me to one of the white beaches in the country, near the city center, the so-called Dolok Oan Beach. This beach is adjacent to the Cristo Rei area. I was prepared to take a dip that time but the tide was so low.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PdfIPEphIjifJStayiJBgb_sxoysN3ggH6UwlIRhrJCXI6Tg2CuoOWxZ_BNAg1EqzPt7g92j0yHeCqjO_h34L6hdFDR5fVSm-kURU9gcUw20w6kJMu9TEQqPTf9cpIW7Z9YU0u2qQTu7/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PdfIPEphIjifJStayiJBgb_sxoysN3ggH6UwlIRhrJCXI6Tg2CuoOWxZ_BNAg1EqzPt7g92j0yHeCqjO_h34L6hdFDR5fVSm-kURU9gcUw20w6kJMu9TEQqPTf9cpIW7Z9YU0u2qQTu7/s320/IMG_3082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Dolok Oan Beach with PM Jay</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2-kFijyV8OLDrL9q33zA68wixS0StWpFlg3KgFBHbtT3S5PGFB7wXL6An5K6cUTpkubweclmFCi4K69rDgHPtjKVLrOaLK68DGhuMRLudCpSBuj0Bf3ahHlXMMMN_YagdcY8t7Dx6U8o/s1600/IMG_3115.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2-kFijyV8OLDrL9q33zA68wixS0StWpFlg3KgFBHbtT3S5PGFB7wXL6An5K6cUTpkubweclmFCi4K69rDgHPtjKVLrOaLK68DGhuMRLudCpSBuj0Bf3ahHlXMMMN_YagdcY8t7Dx6U8o/s320/IMG_3115.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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August 11 was my last Sunday in the city so I visited their Cathedral. I attended a high mass, celebrated by a Bishop and attended by all religious groups, nuns, priests, and seminarians. The centuries of being influenced by the Portuguese, Catholic
Christianity has become as Timorese religion.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2c5oKKjWDZPmGNU-F-1Ja6Cki1NmRyHujShfk-6T3Sy-swNfDdKcvoDpwl37DwLFLb655f1ozhYxpSgRRM9tNOczo9kQsYXTJ0cY9qLVF88rTrjCnJRnIE-Ms08p9REzMPqYvRIi9gli/s1600/IMG_3045.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2c5oKKjWDZPmGNU-F-1Ja6Cki1NmRyHujShfk-6T3Sy-swNfDdKcvoDpwl37DwLFLb655f1ozhYxpSgRRM9tNOczo9kQsYXTJ0cY9qLVF88rTrjCnJRnIE-Ms08p9REzMPqYvRIi9gli/s320/IMG_3045.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Immaculate Conception Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Curious about another Beach area in Liquica, Timor Leste, Jay and I both are first-timers went to check on the <a class="C8TUKc icF5lII2AatM-6WH35iSZ2V0 rllt__link a-no-hover-decoration" data-cid="12641472195188712218" data-rtid="icF5lII2AatM" data-ved="0ahUKEwjys7Sr6MrmAhXBP3AKHerKAGAQyTMIMDAA" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" role="link" style="padding-right: 0;" tabindex="0">Caimeo Beach Resort. We dined there for lunch and went back to the apartment before sundown.</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYfftMXhl2CHGOI7H2dczp8S0Qyr6yRCpHuoVKssc-4D7-3tvnGefo5YBfxALCkUXSEG4TBKHD2T1T_rQJRPb0kl0ji1yxprvrqZFC1ZzPROmUJaY4OcCRmsKeiDJE5SErGWMOj1KstcS/s1600/IMG_3179.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYfftMXhl2CHGOI7H2dczp8S0Qyr6yRCpHuoVKssc-4D7-3tvnGefo5YBfxALCkUXSEG4TBKHD2T1T_rQJRPb0kl0ji1yxprvrqZFC1ZzPROmUJaY4OcCRmsKeiDJE5SErGWMOj1KstcS/s320/IMG_3179.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At <a class="C8TUKc icF5lII2AatM-6WH35iSZ2V0 rllt__link a-no-hover-decoration" data-cid="12641472195188712218" data-rtid="icF5lII2AatM" data-ved="0ahUKEwjys7Sr6MrmAhXBP3AKHerKAGAQyTMIMDAA" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" role="link" style="padding-right: 0;" tabindex="0">Caimeo Beach Resort</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
About an hour ride to grab a lunch, the Black Rock Restaurant within the
Ciameo Beach Resort is nothing spectacular. It was not worth visiting
just for a meal, you know. It is a place for families and friends to dip
in the water or picnic on the ground. The roads were super dusty, so
windy and thus there was rough seas during our visit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWpSqnL2mkL703z92eKLPmwHjqt5w5BotiLdZygKYFmDcVuCVUtyaplKOLJmCGnv_YSNQMQJOXUAMQ7IOnTVgBpak6eyoWcR-TonEStw7KYNOFMyimQbPrBn7kSLC8c7A5EtFlJFhKh8Q/s1600/IMG_2834.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWpSqnL2mkL703z92eKLPmwHjqt5w5BotiLdZygKYFmDcVuCVUtyaplKOLJmCGnv_YSNQMQJOXUAMQ7IOnTVgBpak6eyoWcR-TonEStw7KYNOFMyimQbPrBn7kSLC8c7A5EtFlJFhKh8Q/s320/IMG_2834.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only souvenir I found worthy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I went back to business in those weekdays, conducted all activities with the government, and headed home that weekend after.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Indonesia</span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7pWtVIoA8CkuU0iIAsPttEC-A5H-ylKg3uEOpPHfZenqZ4qHFKxC4ggn4CDO2Z-CeQhdblSP7ZzXf_dY6w1CxFGgZut36JQ7EAHoPa8Ko_wqq7aP_k8IlTYb4AztOsr6JinaRSrWKtqO/s1600/5C658DF4-4112-480E-8896-C624CA74A8A1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7pWtVIoA8CkuU0iIAsPttEC-A5H-ylKg3uEOpPHfZenqZ4qHFKxC4ggn4CDO2Z-CeQhdblSP7ZzXf_dY6w1CxFGgZut36JQ7EAHoPa8Ko_wqq7aP_k8IlTYb4AztOsr6JinaRSrWKtqO/s320/5C658DF4-4112-480E-8896-C624CA74A8A1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Hotel Borobudur Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Before year 2019 comes to an end, I got an official travel to Jakarta City with some colleagues. It was a week-long series of meetings with development partner-agencies, from November 15 through 22. It was a deep dive in the Indonesian market, searching for business opportunities.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAx2k_6mxlRC4olJ83AO6SZkKrzAQgaxbcDS_nzUnB_-31VbyTAICBVlR9homF0Wpem7nYSx_4t9wbUNiNAaOybEM2QDTwbhur5VQVNOkLlu0aIKaDxKhi_-Id_K4tXJa8IQQdUC0YPHMJ/s1600/IMG_7517.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAx2k_6mxlRC4olJ83AO6SZkKrzAQgaxbcDS_nzUnB_-31VbyTAICBVlR9homF0Wpem7nYSx_4t9wbUNiNAaOybEM2QDTwbhur5VQVNOkLlu0aIKaDxKhi_-Id_K4tXJa8IQQdUC0YPHMJ/s320/IMG_7517.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel's facade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE8HMeBbnrfOAuJSQBCY35BIp1miFWD808exgyvBZHNKYCFlMs-_jPgZwTUzpQA9KGn8OohTyxpp8UXcAdFKq1tunTRAqzu6_z7T2BQjqPZTULo4DQ991qEHZaMNXXWaG4sgZOykepX7P/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE8HMeBbnrfOAuJSQBCY35BIp1miFWD808exgyvBZHNKYCFlMs-_jPgZwTUzpQA9KGn8OohTyxpp8UXcAdFKq1tunTRAqzu6_z7T2BQjqPZTULo4DQ991qEHZaMNXXWaG4sgZOykepX7P/s320/IMG_7602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel's swimming pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Got a luxurious accommodation and has experienced Hotel Borobudur. My mornings before the set meetings were spent jogging at the Liberation Monument and MONAS, then swimming at the hotel's pool.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQCm3gNd36bx0cKPBT1cqCSdr9-XIC5yhcrfCN6SmsQMuJn03ReNWL5y4gizKLaUu1tsdyRa6NRAgMFtQjZT2uoiB6lKjhyphenhyphens_6Uwp8CX0NmKj6g73ol-TRSnSaEw8A7O1vOGBGqR6I3eQ/s1600/IMG_7508.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQCm3gNd36bx0cKPBT1cqCSdr9-XIC5yhcrfCN6SmsQMuJn03ReNWL5y4gizKLaUu1tsdyRa6NRAgMFtQjZT2uoiB6lKjhyphenhyphens_6Uwp8CX0NmKj6g73ol-TRSnSaEw8A7O1vOGBGqR6I3eQ/s320/IMG_7508.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Liberation Monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9yw30hNQprxSf-3zNcwyYlW4dgz-ZCJaNOkUy48ZIjvUm6zTrS9z60xjgsiCy2mR0Q7o0r2RHdfaVVXDPD0W78q2lYTJ2nSp3lFcAGFDJkmw9pbWbHFLhQozSP4mpUCIVAP2tZqI1ILJ/s1600/IMG_7547.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9yw30hNQprxSf-3zNcwyYlW4dgz-ZCJaNOkUy48ZIjvUm6zTrS9z60xjgsiCy2mR0Q7o0r2RHdfaVVXDPD0W78q2lYTJ2nSp3lFcAGFDJkmw9pbWbHFLhQozSP4mpUCIVAP2tZqI1ILJ/s320/IMG_7547.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the MONAS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsEp1d4o_ALaMkkzIyGR_RY_ehZhl4BAhannfO-dEpcWHRf8ocpSaSJed5htfS2bsGG6KUHP-3UiGmqm3Ubi4y86p2UxXYZtjiEbiCSIVjdJUUW9URgPEoPzlY8t8yISCU2j221yAAPh7/s1600/IMG_7509.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsEp1d4o_ALaMkkzIyGR_RY_ehZhl4BAhannfO-dEpcWHRf8ocpSaSJed5htfS2bsGG6KUHP-3UiGmqm3Ubi4y86p2UxXYZtjiEbiCSIVjdJUUW9URgPEoPzlY8t8yISCU2j221yAAPh7/s320/IMG_7509.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At one huge roundabout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Two weeks later, I was back to attend a pre-bid conference, representing my employer, FreeBalance.<br />
I stayed at the same hotel for another 3 nights (December 3-6).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnTh8U9RIwGI2p4eFkC1V99gcyh7ZIgt-vMV2gIaMfZh8Zj2MhZBKJw718K7IGBqJ0VCPFxKAVRVsV-YLQ1A4-ywS7H5zmLTyYB_PExISBdDHx5_GcDI0V1idLzvX0IoEsX1dCfkCm5qZ/s1600/IMG_7526.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnTh8U9RIwGI2p4eFkC1V99gcyh7ZIgt-vMV2gIaMfZh8Zj2MhZBKJw718K7IGBqJ0VCPFxKAVRVsV-YLQ1A4-ywS7H5zmLTyYB_PExISBdDHx5_GcDI0V1idLzvX0IoEsX1dCfkCm5qZ/s320/IMG_7526.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Catholic Cathedral (walking distance from the hotel)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboGOfrah7Fxfm3oFYsRaq7ytZwiyiGtGwN5mo9qYxEcUjocC7emKUffN2sZHEg_GxCmwj_J1opPvKdoPdBKvt7RVFF9bTlqrCYEjFgX706le9O1WNszkM1kMZ0LM43YKBa4hwCOyy45Bo/s1600/7443AF27-68C0-434D-8E3B-9229D97FD3A5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboGOfrah7Fxfm3oFYsRaq7ytZwiyiGtGwN5mo9qYxEcUjocC7emKUffN2sZHEg_GxCmwj_J1opPvKdoPdBKvt7RVFF9bTlqrCYEjFgX706le9O1WNszkM1kMZ0LM43YKBa4hwCOyy45Bo/s320/7443AF27-68C0-434D-8E3B-9229D97FD3A5.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Mosque (walking distance from the hotel)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-64306288842117131212019-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:002019-11-27T01:34:48.771-08:00Friendship Tour to Mainland China Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91dzO9D8379Y3bWCEN-N9Md33lV29kPTD-MNpTfM2W_RM6jlOzc4CHj7mkpAo-AKpnGsVoGAlywT30ZNA_dbKXUfKH0O9MR3vScE087K-p1fDe8y8Q8uyKS3i5wnFfQOK_RPwuKLDsBRR/s1600/Trip+to+Mainland+China.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91dzO9D8379Y3bWCEN-N9Md33lV29kPTD-MNpTfM2W_RM6jlOzc4CHj7mkpAo-AKpnGsVoGAlywT30ZNA_dbKXUfKH0O9MR3vScE087K-p1fDe8y8Q8uyKS3i5wnFfQOK_RPwuKLDsBRR/s320/Trip+to+Mainland+China.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route we took...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Travel with
friends resumed, this time with Annette and Jea from Singapore.</span></div>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6hqoQLPnF5gdmIG6RVR0VlSoG-HPiFlNyVw_KKt-ICvAr1C4PRDstSzeHp3qwRK_w9vdMa83UB5u8umc3cIGctMB5u1tNNvLg21zC5UybjbOv-JA-PSYiyve_OHUkvalqyI4O_-k2K-j/s1600/IMG_6809.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6hqoQLPnF5gdmIG6RVR0VlSoG-HPiFlNyVw_KKt-ICvAr1C4PRDstSzeHp3qwRK_w9vdMa83UB5u8umc3cIGctMB5u1tNNvLg21zC5UybjbOv-JA-PSYiyve_OHUkvalqyI4O_-k2K-j/s320/IMG_6809.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The triplet: Me, Gea and Anneth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Considering
that we, Filipinos, have to apply for Tourist Visa. So on my part, I booked my
own flight and my hotel reservation. I availed of promo rates from Cebu Pacific
Air for Manila-Shanghai flight, and from AirAsia Philippines for the return
flight. To avoid complications in my application, I initially reserved a
guesthouse in Shanghai for five nights, the whole duration of my trip to China.
When my visa was approved, I canceled that booking and looked for room
accommodations from the targeted destinations based on actual itinerary.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As I was
assigned to do this for the group, I booked 3 nights at FantasyLand Hotel in
Zhangjiaje and 2 nights in Shanghai Chi Chen Boutique Hotel. Then I made
reservations for the train tickets from Zhangjiaje to Changsa and bullet train
from Changsa to Shanghai. Anneth on the other hand took care of buying the
plane ticket for Shanghai-Zhangjiaje route on November 1.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">October 31 -
Departure Day</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I was fortunate
that today, Philippine government declared a halfday work. So my family was
able to drop me at the airport on their way to spend a long weekend at my
cousins place in Cavite. My flight departed on time and arrived at Shanghai
airport a little past midnight. I settled at one corner of the fullyloaded waiting
lounge to wait for Annette and Jea who were expected to arrive at 6 o’clock in
the morning. Facebook and Google are not accessible in China without VPN, so
connection is my problem; I have no contact with Anneth. And it was past 6am
already. Fortunately I noticed that Yahoo can be accessed. When I messaged
Anneth via Yahoo Mail, she replied and they're already at the Domestic
Departure area. It took us a while to reunite because these girls were at the
Terminal 1's departure check in counters and I was waiting at Terminal 2, which
is the correct departure area for Juneyao Airlines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: PHP8,864 (Plane Fare (Manila-Shanghai) - PHP2,114 + Plane Fare
(Shanghai-Zhangjiaje) - PHP6,500 + Dinner - PHP250)</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">November 1 -
High Afternoon</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After check in,
our next flight departed on time at 10 o’clock in the morning and before noon
we were at Zhangjiaje airport already. The picked up car from the FantasyLand
hotel was outside waiting for us. At check in, we were immediately given our
room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhax6jqjZNbTKJolmUt2e3gQDG0LDDA8YQ009kjRQArw0nNP5Zd4nIrqfvLQowRoyE0uqqElCSRfHpOF16L_O_J8lnBu6WmpqZj_WUHwr32kTZn81dD4vMqP-ZZ_zvtvIrBmXNBKaookI6q/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhax6jqjZNbTKJolmUt2e3gQDG0LDDA8YQ009kjRQArw0nNP5Zd4nIrqfvLQowRoyE0uqqElCSRfHpOF16L_O_J8lnBu6WmpqZj_WUHwr32kTZn81dD4vMqP-ZZ_zvtvIrBmXNBKaookI6q/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the first stop on the way up. Get to the loading area for another car transfer.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZ20z_4ciq-b3sm0TVK7PvoH-P9nn0efMHPmVA3Bo1DYa4V0JYVwrw_L_kdQD6U-73M73iRU-GyDTzY9aXmmL9G1wALZVRmQLZHjvje_Pl7C8YhqrPV737zFN1JsTa4ItJ8yTlfLAAAWT/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZ20z_4ciq-b3sm0TVK7PvoH-P9nn0efMHPmVA3Bo1DYa4V0JYVwrw_L_kdQD6U-73M73iRU-GyDTzY9aXmmL9G1wALZVRmQLZHjvje_Pl7C8YhqrPV737zFN1JsTa4ItJ8yTlfLAAAWT/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We are so
fortunate to have found the Floral Hotel-FantasyLand Hotel within Zhangjiaje
City. It’s residential look is homey and the interiors are trendy, bright and
boutique. Our room was spacious, complete with usual amenities, decorated with
simple fusion of old and modern Chinese stuff. It has affordable rates with
good breakfast included. Here we found a broader and higher-level definition of
hospitality. We were greeted at the airport with free pick up. We were oriented
by “Ching” about where to go, what to do, and what to ride. But the hotel is
centrally located, just a walking distance to Cable Car Station, Bus Station,
and Railway Station. A send off even was offered for free. They take and
support adventures seriously. When we asked for the packaged tours, Ching said,
“You go by yourself, it’s super easy!” So she pointed us to the Cable Car
Station to get to the Tianmen Mountain; the Bus Station to get to the Grand
Canyon and Avatar Mountains. We realized our DIY tour with their help.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQempA7V7fPBM4fYGoG-NYCUFd4BiBAf63K96dPICsNOj1T4hDABGqBCH2T-GGedlTX41V1zXLB0t1hhnyasNukjfKIOZXBYmYL1-enZ6OxgEp2qBL81_puAtComU6b7nAQ4QVxhyWxzqc/s1600/DSC_0130.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQempA7V7fPBM4fYGoG-NYCUFd4BiBAf63K96dPICsNOj1T4hDABGqBCH2T-GGedlTX41V1zXLB0t1hhnyasNukjfKIOZXBYmYL1-enZ6OxgEp2qBL81_puAtComU6b7nAQ4QVxhyWxzqc/s320/DSC_0130.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the dropoff area before the stairs to heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGBkLDr1CXA4tKes9_Yn5JXM9PToNls3Vfcf7QAuos-M6WcbyNy0zdywsVj-IkjOekAYJtGh3umhhRIY7phD9S-kXsDXvUj1icG8CKeXVL2UmO6Q-9AeKQtlMC_g1EUhWpIqsy2pFBIpv/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGBkLDr1CXA4tKes9_Yn5JXM9PToNls3Vfcf7QAuos-M6WcbyNy0zdywsVj-IkjOekAYJtGh3umhhRIY7phD9S-kXsDXvUj1icG8CKeXVL2UmO6Q-9AeKQtlMC_g1EUhWpIqsy2pFBIpv/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Gate of Heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After washing
up and washing off our sleep, armed with map and notes from Ching, we immediately
headed to our first tour of the day. That very afternoon we decided to go to
the Tianmen mountain. We walked our way to the cable car station only to find
out that it was under maintenance. The green cars were utilized instead. We
bought entry tickets for CNY235 each and hopped on the green car which later
was cruising and turning 99 times up to the dropoff point where the stairs to
the Gate to Heaven, so they say, started. To reach the karsts forming a huge
hole into the solid rocky mountain and beyond was through two available
options: one is to climb the 999 steps or two to take the series of escalators.
We chose the former on the way up until the Gate of Heaven, then the latter on
the way up the garden at the summit. At that giant opening it felt surreal. I
only saw it on TV. It was was really marvelous and fulfilling. Then we took the
escalators all the way down on our return.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_5LLaF2IVRpukZzUCA7Dun77dKEgcjd1qpwguPb9TO9HeQio_tN__d_7kcWUTvG4hj2rv3mlhTDDoYtffzeTa1B9nSp2NwSi6csAbcJmqamjj_biIK55J7Adyf-6FdaCMQLss1eWMJTs/s320/DSC_0165.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 99 curves below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yWYadAGP2NnXADsmlgkrkEDUMA_Fe3xudj75zf29z0FCgK30l6WhKjoEulqX4JuIyrWzxEtyIu4Q3On_Xlp7AElG3ZXNa5b6kACJV9CWKpJ5yEuNT39XDjDrOCjRPaF4Rh8wxykcFm4K/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yWYadAGP2NnXADsmlgkrkEDUMA_Fe3xudj75zf29z0FCgK30l6WhKjoEulqX4JuIyrWzxEtyIu4Q3On_Xlp7AElG3ZXNa5b6kACJV9CWKpJ5yEuNT39XDjDrOCjRPaF4Rh8wxykcFm4K/s320/DSC_0129.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Back to the
town proper, we each grabbed a bowl of Chinese noodles as dinner. As soon as my
back touched my bed, Anneth and Jea noticed that I dozed off right away.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMWPda2N8dmMV37TvHqyWgzNJaV0GVH07uMKh7Ret5um0a2FHctAVeeBKhpGALTeChMEsvmwRAOPpAVTo6mCJN18MvtPwObVS5DLuwqQl6P5EJX2ECBENfzVAHbBZSH0qx-jubfnrKyER/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMWPda2N8dmMV37TvHqyWgzNJaV0GVH07uMKh7Ret5um0a2FHctAVeeBKhpGALTeChMEsvmwRAOPpAVTo6mCJN18MvtPwObVS5DLuwqQl6P5EJX2ECBENfzVAHbBZSH0qx-jubfnrKyER/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Ops at the Summit of Tianmen Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: CNY454 (Breakfast - CNY79 + Tianmen Ticket - CNY235 + Dinner - CNY15 +
Hotel - CNY125)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">November 2 -
Acrophilia</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5QCoW3M941dAn1pIeOPJJfYzAqKhd6LqfWc_ztV_vfo8SJqP7sImHAk3Eaedpq4hlUiR7rP2Xpw-BkbJyV0maDrAsAxs-y6QuVoMU4tR5e-xISYZO8e4FMiMauNNjsTG__0NP1tWSZbJ/s1600/IMG_6624.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5QCoW3M941dAn1pIeOPJJfYzAqKhd6LqfWc_ztV_vfo8SJqP7sImHAk3Eaedpq4hlUiR7rP2Xpw-BkbJyV0maDrAsAxs-y6QuVoMU4tR5e-xISYZO8e4FMiMauNNjsTG__0NP1tWSZbJ/s320/IMG_6624.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk on the Glass Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On our second
day, we decided to go to the farthest destination, the Grand Canyon. We
followed the instructions from our hotelier, we traced our way to the bus
station, which was basically adjacent to the FantasyLand Hotel. We showed to
the clerk at the ticket counter the Chinese characters Ching scribbled on the
map, and then we were issued the bus tickets. We showed the same to the driver
and he just nodded. There were other tourists taking the same route with us so
we felt safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">True enough,
the bus stopped at the junction and we were pointed to walk up the hill. As
first timers, we were confused and reluctant but some of the local women
confirmed and pointed us the same direction to where the shuttle bus to Grand
Canyon awaits.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyns4Tv8v6tzMRRs8MEMGathR-3i_JqfWxRQZoFYcewC2xX-pHnQTWLi1PGVhUb4irfiH3nqNuH1KaEXvTo0kEt_in9rKBU4stYF7HTvv6TNSM7YUQVKRn6YkSRV25JZV4uakT-NY5ZdF/s1600/IMG_6640.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyns4Tv8v6tzMRRs8MEMGathR-3i_JqfWxRQZoFYcewC2xX-pHnQTWLi1PGVhUb4irfiH3nqNuH1KaEXvTo0kEt_in9rKBU4stYF7HTvv6TNSM7YUQVKRn6YkSRV25JZV4uakT-NY5ZdF/s320/IMG_6640.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The catwalk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After few
twists and turns up the mountains, we found ourselves at the jump off to the
Grand Canyon and the famous Glass Bridge. At the security check, I was held up
because of my SLR camera. There I learnt that big cameras with flash features
are not allowed at the Glass Bridge. The guard pointed me to the Self-Storage
facility. My problem however was the absence of WIFI connections and no
application like WeChat, which they used to close and open the storage locker. The
security guy brought out his cellphone and activated the translator. We chatted
through it and he finally agreed to store my camera for me using his account. I
paid him the CNY5 and then he gave me his contact with instructions to claim it
later on our way out.</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwdH8AWWH4nhDfdCsEtqhdvqtz9zgejIKWNgR2gtwPbB8Hs_sSkjrw53eULWjsvtjiiZDZG73n0jg1Ru-f8W3lA4BYHk3Vf5N5oYLk8INpwfvR-FtXImbqHWzAc7V7WL5FsZuG8_aUSKe/s1600/IMG_6669.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwdH8AWWH4nhDfdCsEtqhdvqtz9zgejIKWNgR2gtwPbB8Hs_sSkjrw53eULWjsvtjiiZDZG73n0jg1Ru-f8W3lA4BYHk3Vf5N5oYLk8INpwfvR-FtXImbqHWzAc7V7WL5FsZuG8_aUSKe/s320/IMG_6669.HEIC" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So in we went.
We found the ticket counter inside the circular lobby and paid CNY219 each.
There was slight confusion when the lady clerk asked us about Glass Bridge and
Grand Canyon tickets. I asked her if tickets are separate and she answered,
"no separate!" But they were actually separate. We confirmed it when
we reached the elevator to the Grand Canyon. The admitting machine just turned
red when we swiped our ticket. A separate CNY30 needs to be paid for it. We
decided to forego the Grand Canyon tour through the elevator because: one, we
have to make a round trip because we need to exit the way we got in to claim
back my camera; two, Glass Bridge is too much to enjoy the heights; and three,
CNY30 is costly, anyway we can enjoy Grand Canyon by viewing it from the Glass
Bridge. The rain showers made the tour challenging. It was little past noontime
that we decided to come down.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBDw9cOfU6Hp4tcpi3pbvePqvoNr5E37v6v3JRYcek9NKnq0WSPtKePfrU0p2eO7mNgdaZurwH8sliOmjHgYd1DTScoPYtHOYtSPR2AsqLmr_uOnB_6Y8R0cLw044F8AymM4qGyKLGQqJ/s1600/IMG_6679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBDw9cOfU6Hp4tcpi3pbvePqvoNr5E37v6v3JRYcek9NKnq0WSPtKePfrU0p2eO7mNgdaZurwH8sliOmjHgYd1DTScoPYtHOYtSPR2AsqLmr_uOnB_6Y8R0cLw044F8AymM4qGyKLGQqJ/s320/IMG_6679.JPG" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdB4D3yI82aeWw_0IdM26poCXK3BjVJR2Pt8qrGQAnLZQSsbQyPtyR8_xpB5wD3TG_ywza5_kgH0KWTzMCUbCSV1UdiWr_-6GD0ogrSEoU5c0Wxi9ouNZoP8zHr_VGnF91cUfNY0jpi0g/s1600/IMG_6696.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdB4D3yI82aeWw_0IdM26poCXK3BjVJR2Pt8qrGQAnLZQSsbQyPtyR8_xpB5wD3TG_ywza5_kgH0KWTzMCUbCSV1UdiWr_-6GD0ogrSEoU5c0Wxi9ouNZoP8zHr_VGnF91cUfNY0jpi0g/s320/IMG_6696.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lying on the glass above the ridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOXBlyToFmTuTU5iqrYonzESJMNm4UhYVT8Mj6hLnalxgofWoRDYfc8UVlOyWztbF131IGzPox5XbWuJ49euyinj5vYVoiZHon4q8G4Jcq8AQwZtQQt9qusWoUCPaaWM4crZdH506mg_3/s1600/IMG_6607.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOXBlyToFmTuTU5iqrYonzESJMNm4UhYVT8Mj6hLnalxgofWoRDYfc8UVlOyWztbF131IGzPox5XbWuJ49euyinj5vYVoiZHon4q8G4Jcq8AQwZtQQt9qusWoUCPaaWM4crZdH506mg_3/s320/IMG_6607.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Glass Bridge at the Grand Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Again as
suggested by Ching, we could drop by Wulingyuan to check on the old Chinese
Town by the river. Upon the dropoff, I heard two women standing beside the
color-coded coasters and barking Wulingyuan. We hopped on without hesitation
and paid CNY11 each. The rain dissipated when we arrived at the bus station. I
saw traffic signs indicating the "Scenic Area Ticket Station" which
refer the entry point for the Avatar Mountains. But we reserved that for the
next day, so we strolled down the riverbend to tour around the preserved
Chinese old community. We found a spot for lunch. Despite language barrier, we
ordered food through pointing pictures and our host served us good food. We
strolled the river village downstream, took several photos before heading back
to the bus station. We were back to Zhangjiaje before sundown.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd42ocaDP0X9Zh8GBKI9CDLDTE3x2_WD_Pn5jET5U_XhuxgqdDBjy9TmxLNuriVJOwKSyHcfV4wNogAinleGd4Xl_PSc-aAditjcZVLqrniNccrsq-epGr_XMM3bUfNNe4JoGWIiL9AT7/s320/IMG_6766.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Wulingyuan Old Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw5wv7OSu-_BBhihCR7H1CjMg6y-xpP6SbiFiTFCfZqWgV1WRWk_vu4ZT0GD3bnDomwzaMA50eg_nRjqS1N9ZReo-cxOLvs6bw2loAhBnPCq0PuPksA5uWoDsDN6yFdCC5FVG8RX_1jTC/s1600/IMG_6707.HEIC"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw5wv7OSu-_BBhihCR7H1CjMg6y-xpP6SbiFiTFCfZqWgV1WRWk_vu4ZT0GD3bnDomwzaMA50eg_nRjqS1N9ZReo-cxOLvs6bw2loAhBnPCq0PuPksA5uWoDsDN6yFdCC5FVG8RX_1jTC/s320/IMG_6707.HEIC" /> </a></div>
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</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: CNY440 (Bus Fare - CNY22 + Glass Bridge Ticket - CNY219 + Bus to
Wulingyuan - CNY11 + Lunch - CNY20 + Bus to Zhangjiaje CNY13 + Dinner - CNY30 +
Hotel - CNY125)</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">November 3 -
Reaching Heights</span></b></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></i><br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa_mNpz2DUOJeKeJHZn6qpZ1PhyQCrsYfu56rS8878uS9J6dlSe7Ujk2r2ev0FhIrQMRpG6VJrnZkjm4XhLNiJVputfxyzUECc9EnMvORfjY5Abe4VGBNkTpvRB3oNaqedkOcQrC7fwda/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa_mNpz2DUOJeKeJHZn6qpZ1PhyQCrsYfu56rS8878uS9J6dlSe7Ujk2r2ev0FhIrQMRpG6VJrnZkjm4XhLNiJVputfxyzUECc9EnMvORfjY5Abe4VGBNkTpvRB3oNaqedkOcQrC7fwda/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscape right in front of the Bailong Elevator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our third day
was the most exciting one --- to reach and see the Avatar Mountains. We already
knew our way back to Wulingyuan. After that hearty breakfast at FantasyLand
Hotel, we headed to the bus station and bought tickets. In less than an hour,
we were already strolling the cool midmorning towards the Scenic Area Ticket
Station. There were already crowd of tourists, mostly locals, so I squeezed
myself in one of the queues and obtained three tickets after a little while. We
paid CNY228 for each.</span></div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZOVps_SzIvDSHeWULgLs9Hp2Zx9Vi3K-U0jrnWVNXphK_eu730_Mp6VQni8RkI7YIBARzydyoPIpcmTd1PGCJ0QQ77eDxC847NkgmJsI02gZcTQG8J612g9FmwRVsMFxU2nZ0IfwFtb2/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZOVps_SzIvDSHeWULgLs9Hp2Zx9Vi3K-U0jrnWVNXphK_eu730_Mp6VQni8RkI7YIBARzydyoPIpcmTd1PGCJ0QQ77eDxC847NkgmJsI02gZcTQG8J612g9FmwRVsMFxU2nZ0IfwFtb2/s320/DSC_0180.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One area of the Avatar Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Here, queues
are everywhere in every bus loading and unloading bays. We followed the queue
to the Bailong River and Elevator. We joined the group at the first dropoff and
realized we were wrong, so we hopped on the next bus. We were the last 3 people
left in the bus when we reached the Bailong River stop. We noticed an arrow
with the sign Elevator and the driver confirmed that it would be at the next
stop, so we stayed. Few elderly locals joined in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4jH2PyxnQj-bBdL7j-dGuQzOvwKhYCZfl4LPU823u-_r9sAuserjeZXsLnTgMYoVTbnWErxFLMNt0PysFW5fDAr3O3RPpqRKQJp0vp06-vvR-JfqptxO46SQMX48j1k1yG56vVZ-ghNF/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4jH2PyxnQj-bBdL7j-dGuQzOvwKhYCZfl4LPU823u-_r9sAuserjeZXsLnTgMYoVTbnWErxFLMNt0PysFW5fDAr3O3RPpqRKQJp0vp06-vvR-JfqptxO46SQMX48j1k1yG56vVZ-ghNF/s320/DSC_0215.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wasn't lost in direction; just lost in translation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Taking the
high-speed elevator entailed additional cost of CNY65 per person. The way in
was already a treat; saw Jake Sully standing by one of the souvenir shops.
Squeezing in one box, we made sure that our cameras were above the rest to
capture that one moment in time that we shoot up in a blink of an eye, so to
speak. Up the landing was another battle of finding the best spot for a
souvenir photo. Quick snap is necessary before people took over or photo-bombed
you.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEfcmNZAhzbARzxNOfre0RokNl9eYf4SuyAlV5zLYGFSe08Y1m3ORxuuRCfEnav2MONc1VB7JAlBVnm_PER6u-3ga958SDtJrdAnJvCANobl__iVKNPiE2G_tDsScTQR1g-a7FnwunFPa/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEfcmNZAhzbARzxNOfre0RokNl9eYf4SuyAlV5zLYGFSe08Y1m3ORxuuRCfEnav2MONc1VB7JAlBVnm_PER6u-3ga958SDtJrdAnJvCANobl__iVKNPiE2G_tDsScTQR1g-a7FnwunFPa/s320/DSC_0218.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess what this is... Trash Bins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">By the way,
riding the bus here and there was tricky. We lost here and there; asking
Chinese only speaking people. Especially on this side of the National Park, we
queued and hopped on the next bus, only to find out that it stopped at the Sky
Terrace station and dropped all the tourists there. Well, we did not have much
of a choice, so we joined the crowd to the terrace view decks. After a couple
of good shots, we followed the arrows directing to the next bus loading area...
And we found one good spot for the yellow autumn leaves.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUQcAD1cVJ_lgS5kFar3NDaQb3MgB-IlZ-zRdo5E43z8rmSHxOKwc9PNTcsYrEIFi0sUslub8YMczRvRLuexesN3Gq1sBULISNTXpAMmd4aHAE6OmsBbqzH3APTEoeqb9Dlp6S1c4zfKs/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUQcAD1cVJ_lgS5kFar3NDaQb3MgB-IlZ-zRdo5E43z8rmSHxOKwc9PNTcsYrEIFi0sUslub8YMczRvRLuexesN3Gq1sBULISNTXpAMmd4aHAE6OmsBbqzH3APTEoeqb9Dlp6S1c4zfKs/s320/DSC_0203.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Avatar Mountains from Terrace area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The next
station we found was actually the Jianjiaje Cable Car station. Since we were
told to rather take the Tianzi Cable Car, we looked for the right bus that
would take us there. This time we were cautious, and after asking from one
driver to another, we confirmed that it will be the other coasters that ply
there; not the usual purple bus you would find. And there's more, that coaster
only dropped us at Tianzi Station, we still walked a little further following
more arrows of directions, and hopped on the parked purple bus that finally
took us to the Cableway.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI2gK9pDKY0aJZJsAmL3nbBg8ltq0CXkO42ZY7poNZNL0yKPBOX3QUplwZ9_BtBsJWa3oeXR2xRjt_-WxyWaJIJrA7182wEOEUjKBP6sRSSaqwzBp0Ra3bUzfmB42rI4IJiJyA8S4x03k/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI2gK9pDKY0aJZJsAmL3nbBg8ltq0CXkO42ZY7poNZNL0yKPBOX3QUplwZ9_BtBsJWa3oeXR2xRjt_-WxyWaJIJrA7182wEOEUjKBP6sRSSaqwzBp0Ra3bUzfmB42rI4IJiJyA8S4x03k/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Taking the
cable car cost us another CNY72 each. But the price of viewing the Avatar
Mountains from the way up and above them was priceless. This was where I enjoyed
the Zhangjiaje National Forest Park. It was awesome, one-of-a-kind, natural
wonder. No wonder the Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains was inspired by it. This
was the right stop to conclude our journey of the day. We were already heading
back to the city, so inspired and fulfilled, before dusk. Bucketlist checked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQ-MqQQcdCW9N4DknRBC5jGqfh1OPa5sjA4K9BaHLjxrOyrxqScTzr05U_Asw2yIyNX9TQ3U003DKqXPRe7OrBjnEnh09w08aPzy93OtwdaaWBebigsLsP4I5okw4QHH55DNW7IyhYrM/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQ-MqQQcdCW9N4DknRBC5jGqfh1OPa5sjA4K9BaHLjxrOyrxqScTzr05U_Asw2yIyNX9TQ3U003DKqXPRe7OrBjnEnh09w08aPzy93OtwdaaWBebigsLsP4I5okw4QHH55DNW7IyhYrM/s320/DSC_0249.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Avatar Mountains from Tianzi Cableway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Then we were on
the way to the train station, which was a walking distance from the hotel. And
off for another adventures in another Chinese cities.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpF_eB7QJHpmr3MHc5ridgnSPakmGrHyLMM2KY1X6boct0aBdkbNHdhYOzZxq4m1qDcaWpMNti5Mlh7a7ArwxaeV6JIWNOv3GP8gebnyzJsaUHp6GmNFc6va5zN_2U-yIArrbGli9xJFC/s1600/DSC_0274.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpF_eB7QJHpmr3MHc5ridgnSPakmGrHyLMM2KY1X6boct0aBdkbNHdhYOzZxq4m1qDcaWpMNti5Mlh7a7ArwxaeV6JIWNOv3GP8gebnyzJsaUHp6GmNFc6va5zN_2U-yIArrbGli9xJFC/s320/DSC_0274.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: CNY590 (Bus Fare - CNY13 + National Park Ticket - CNY228 + High-speed
Elevator Ride - CNY65 + Cable Car Ride - CNY72 + Bus to Zhangjiaje CNY13 +
Lunch&Dinner - CNY52 + Sleeper Train (Zhangjiaje-Changsa) - CNY147)</span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">November 4 -
Modern China</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our fourth day
was basically spent in the railways. We took the sleeper train from Zhangjiaje
to Changsa. At midnight of November 3, we reached Changsa Railway Station and
in search for the best way to get to the Changsa South Station. We initially
plan of taking the metro subway to get to Changsha South railway station. But
it will open its gates at 6:30 in the morning. So we have 2 other options,
either take the city bus or taxi. The bus however will start plying around at
4am. After some bites at the nearby McDonalds, we decided to ride a taxi to the
other destination. We can't risk the time because our ticket for the early
bullet train to Shanghai was scheduled at 7am. We reached the station few hours
before it opened. So we found a spot at the arrival area to doze off, a bit
warmer than the chilling dawn outside. There were just few of us until 6am when
crowds came and the station suddenly came alive.</span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL8monC0ASPm9ZGcIksq4mWMbLOqh2pApz-raTQM1RFMuP9zV384xeecFlc83lea4aCDzt1nCqVIIu1jslZpoxLgWukdnek20_a4cCyfbAkFG8Bm-20FQa-iQnQ2j-UX2zTBSwm0LmCLa/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL8monC0ASPm9ZGcIksq4mWMbLOqh2pApz-raTQM1RFMuP9zV384xeecFlc83lea4aCDzt1nCqVIIu1jslZpoxLgWukdnek20_a4cCyfbAkFG8Bm-20FQa-iQnQ2j-UX2zTBSwm0LmCLa/s320/DSC_0298.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Bund at dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The experience
of taking a bullet train was another tick off the bucketlist. It was time
efficient, we arrived at Shanghai city exactly at 12:15pm as programmed. We
then transferred to the Metro train Lines 4 and 10 for only CNY5 to get to our
hotel. I forgot that Line 9 was supposedly the nearest station to the Shanghai
Chi Chen Boutique Hotel. So, we took a taxi to ferry us right in front of the
hotel.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNlfQx7di7bsgNVpiGpH_Qe63uGNplYRrMEsXZ0Lq7Iv09YIVjSOPiIyySDTvvLOjTSb1wwNhzEO698-oq7Tbe36A-P7V5nZTzKLoNUWrdOE-UDdaJVwX5F1X2hbUAborPwyVw3LXe_-T/s1600/DSC_0327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNlfQx7di7bsgNVpiGpH_Qe63uGNplYRrMEsXZ0Lq7Iv09YIVjSOPiIyySDTvvLOjTSb1wwNhzEO698-oq7Tbe36A-P7V5nZTzKLoNUWrdOE-UDdaJVwX5F1X2hbUAborPwyVw3LXe_-T/s320/DSC_0327.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQGG4OORQLYkemXGytgsfrFZfr6pSHNesLR2c5LLpZwX72a7pBmRuxCdIefJsxisfLNl7QFZmE8H2Ge5QjNn8gJ62xzhse4okAJ1DhgdDmkr4A8yA2HoXkZwAB7JZCHl9baUvHaD2sO5/s1600/DSC_0342.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQGG4OORQLYkemXGytgsfrFZfr6pSHNesLR2c5LLpZwX72a7pBmRuxCdIefJsxisfLNl7QFZmE8H2Ge5QjNn8gJ62xzhse4okAJ1DhgdDmkr4A8yA2HoXkZwAB7JZCHl9baUvHaD2sO5/s320/DSC_0342.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Bund at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfEIOo3Z3pdZ-_3LVL9DvnFGhfVrWs0_mjH4s36U_6nqESIQ_hIKfOgHrzjtqDilHHmtu7B7v5oA1FDGpgRbQLredCHB-y24nTbn7vFHMS8-kZTlff_FadkC1mmY5Y7Ro9n2IL7uBbkt1/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfEIOo3Z3pdZ-_3LVL9DvnFGhfVrWs0_mjH4s36U_6nqESIQ_hIKfOgHrzjtqDilHHmtu7B7v5oA1FDGpgRbQLredCHB-y24nTbn7vFHMS8-kZTlff_FadkC1mmY5Y7Ro9n2IL7uBbkt1/s320/DSC_0343.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDqbLqFqUK90kopK1hqS5rK14FwbUl1ORodgMsuVRNRJzUq7TWKNRvLnWsMOdmq1iyMR2XLGo_cml57nK3Q6ff1M3iKJ3_jACQ-65yypfxlZy0sSQG0cgL72R3gRxZ_X6a9sI2CM33ZKF/s1600/DSC_0347.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDqbLqFqUK90kopK1hqS5rK14FwbUl1ORodgMsuVRNRJzUq7TWKNRvLnWsMOdmq1iyMR2XLGo_cml57nK3Q6ff1M3iKJ3_jACQ-65yypfxlZy0sSQG0cgL72R3gRxZ_X6a9sI2CM33ZKF/s320/DSC_0347.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just what and how I imagined it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After checking
in and napping a bit, we started our quick tour of Shanghai's famous skyline of
prosperity and modernity. We concentrated our stroll at the Bund. But we ended
up trapped by the tight security implemented that night. Most shortcut roads to
get back to our hotel were closed. It was a blessing in disguise however to
find our way to the Old Chinese Street and the Yuyuan Garden.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUSGDZzgRRmvqfXq0gZWBTSi8vE-Gyea0xuGniLwzjRIeSDLUb6jEe2yb2dH3CQDuRLm-0pUXvOi5g3fDnlz8HNjr4-lM0zKL8HZy4IFdaIuTNTzqWtyNobSRed4n_yAuPAychaJIip9X/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUSGDZzgRRmvqfXq0gZWBTSi8vE-Gyea0xuGniLwzjRIeSDLUb6jEe2yb2dH3CQDuRLm-0pUXvOi5g3fDnlz8HNjr4-lM0zKL8HZy4IFdaIuTNTzqWtyNobSRed4n_yAuPAychaJIip9X/s320/DSC_0349.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shanghai Old Street next to Yuyuan Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: CNY922 (Taxi Fare - CNY13 + Bullet Train Fare - CNY517 + Breakfast -
CNY50 + Metro Train - CNY5 + Taxi Fare - CNY20 + Lunch&Dinner - CNY50 +
Hotel - CNY267)</span></i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICoRgke9s_OT48MFRFacwAga1FQ_0Sb6P2e2v7X1o8hyphenhyphenOQN3-2LPgL-S-gkK04II368SmlzTeBMaoNwklaSuZRo2MvZynQ0jCxr1um82T63Ylpnaydz6bWu46CESjbWnXs51kWaWabmx/s1600/DSC_0354.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICoRgke9s_OT48MFRFacwAga1FQ_0Sb6P2e2v7X1o8hyphenhyphenOQN3-2LPgL-S-gkK04II368SmlzTeBMaoNwklaSuZRo2MvZynQ0jCxr1um82T63Ylpnaydz6bWu46CESjbWnXs51kWaWabmx/s320/DSC_0354.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Three Bridges in Tongli Ancient Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">November 5 -
Ancient China</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our last day
was all discovering the ancient heritage of China.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH6wWXHUn1qBBvWYW8dz9B6hTp6aGnpQKle-lej8seevnZX9aw9OULmz7YweK-6_8AkKqxd2qT48JUJYa4bKxI3qe_MhTyCiwjhTjURDe6QHfqQH3NNyE_3x1w66UWSlgr7Pvf3m3tkvG/s1600/DSC_0362.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH6wWXHUn1qBBvWYW8dz9B6hTp6aGnpQKle-lej8seevnZX9aw9OULmz7YweK-6_8AkKqxd2qT48JUJYa4bKxI3qe_MhTyCiwjhTjURDe6QHfqQH3NNyE_3x1w66UWSlgr7Pvf3m3tkvG/s320/DSC_0362.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Secret Garden of Tongli Ancient Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We made our way
that early morning to Suzhou City, a 40-minute ride via the bullet train. We
made our research early on so our day went smoothly. Right upon arriving at
Suzhou Railway Station, we boarded the Metro Rail Line 4 to get to Tongli Town,
which is the last station. Upon disembarking, we found the kiosk offering the
day tour for CNY88. The ticket price included the bus ride to and from the
Tongli Ancient Town and entry to all tour destinations.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fLDKmBI8LPH3x8HuurGN1WXnAS3042od98gaNn83H4NhdSj8R6ovoLvXehgysXZnEk1TEKYx96qPRWcm1iuKZCRHiim3OzDPJ8WsNivQBrPsubJ4Uccej0Nvi8O0D3BV9-DIvU90997/s1600/DSC_0356.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fLDKmBI8LPH3x8HuurGN1WXnAS3042od98gaNn83H4NhdSj8R6ovoLvXehgysXZnEk1TEKYx96qPRWcm1iuKZCRHiim3OzDPJ8WsNivQBrPsubJ4Uccej0Nvi8O0D3BV9-DIvU90997/s320/DSC_0356.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We settled at
the nearest cafe to the entrance and grabbed some lunch while studying the map.
We started strolling along the canal where the Three Bridges are located, then
kept walking willy-nilly until we reached the Secret Garden. Without knowing
it, we already covered the whole small water town, ending our route at the
Jiayin Hall where a song and dance performances were happening.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qdCcaaK08PtAHyvK0llHHnT1IKyVzdNqzrK_PgtAD_6Afhoxvzt1LGrvkDZ8zl2PLAmsgoFVj7H8uLlImirFgtQCVSZsxHskQbJtL5MUhOkLj88axJfm0oioynSSR3DhxrZnNPgtPKb/s1600/DSC_0357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qdCcaaK08PtAHyvK0llHHnT1IKyVzdNqzrK_PgtAD_6Afhoxvzt1LGrvkDZ8zl2PLAmsgoFVj7H8uLlImirFgtQCVSZsxHskQbJtL5MUhOkLj88axJfm0oioynSSR3DhxrZnNPgtPKb/s320/DSC_0357.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We then headed
to the Humble Administration Garden by mid-afternoon. We rode the same Metro
Rail Line 4 and stopped at Beisita Station. We just walked the 950-meter
distance from the station because the autumn weather was cool. This garden is
one of the gardens in the ancient times which is still in existence and
maintained and thus landed in the UNESCO Heritage sites. It is actually the
largest among the oldest gardens in Suzhou. We entered at a cost of CNY70 per
person, and joined the crowd to get plenty of snapshots.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXt9hmW_xlTNBk7oOs176zJPK38RiieL4DmP3M-eCzFfFnRLNayq4POvd6xIIIzKhC1P8SGutohzxxuoZq5rIim2tRCynR7q2RzTot3FxFt7Nfr_-7p-TmRyALkm2YOLqONUDfkgiD_yW/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXt9hmW_xlTNBk7oOs176zJPK38RiieL4DmP3M-eCzFfFnRLNayq4POvd6xIIIzKhC1P8SGutohzxxuoZq5rIim2tRCynR7q2RzTot3FxFt7Nfr_-7p-TmRyALkm2YOLqONUDfkgiD_yW/s320/DSC_0375.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Humble Administrator Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Then we were
already back at the Suzhou Railway Station before 6pm to catch the next bullet
train back to Shanghai.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhladIih9MYzGjlSPbm6_OFxbBqcy0bbMNqiIKnx8mPCRihp9siKJZN5ynGefAIsD0E-lHHAPfOuGh0fN2LHVyYiuo18khjnvClWNrb1_RSh5Cu0tjSRZChrWX8wY4L4C3Nnndvn3u38SXS/s1600/DSC_0370.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhladIih9MYzGjlSPbm6_OFxbBqcy0bbMNqiIKnx8mPCRihp9siKJZN5ynGefAIsD0E-lHHAPfOuGh0fN2LHVyYiuo18khjnvClWNrb1_RSh5Cu0tjSRZChrWX8wY4L4C3Nnndvn3u38SXS/s320/DSC_0370.JPG" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGuf9Pdk90lCVqa-nsfAyi2ZX7xuJLqXdmwRGc_btLfQk44jsylMKveC9bJxc1j7_DpKt_wE6SHNHO1tKKR_XtGvGuTvx5bIEsO2s_LZGm-k76SCp_Vcyob1rEWgACJmoJ2_T9coFS9P9/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGuf9Pdk90lCVqa-nsfAyi2ZX7xuJLqXdmwRGc_btLfQk44jsylMKveC9bJxc1j7_DpKt_wE6SHNHO1tKKR_XtGvGuTvx5bIEsO2s_LZGm-k76SCp_Vcyob1rEWgACJmoJ2_T9coFS9P9/s320/DSC_0379.JPG" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Expenses of
the day: CNY1,361 (Metro Train - CNY5 + Bullet Train Fare - CNY40 + Metro Train
- CNY7 + Tour Ticket - CNY88 + Lunch - CNY42 + Metro Train - CNY7 + Garden
Ticket - CNY70 + Bullet Train - CNY40 + Dinner - CNY20 + Hotel - CNY267 + Taxi
Fare - CNY75 + Plane Fare (Shanghai-Manila) - CNY700)</span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsU-zQTv9eATOY9Yj3kCx_CLaS8ODqoeD3m0xmj3TNj0H6QHiHgbiyGBQRBRiSxaof58d5nvpZIe60I_VAthUgY5Y7WKa-dIYqiMataoFoYvqREcYHTVzqwqKZaFmf8T7u2IjC78F-myx/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsU-zQTv9eATOY9Yj3kCx_CLaS8ODqoeD3m0xmj3TNj0H6QHiHgbiyGBQRBRiSxaof58d5nvpZIe60I_VAthUgY5Y7WKa-dIYqiMataoFoYvqREcYHTVzqwqKZaFmf8T7u2IjC78F-myx/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJuJatfInHBz9qEzDxIC1sjcbjsins5df8iQzaLsEFbKiBW5aKCjFlPUpny2mT6r0AgvuTBmf1j71wvS6tv3lq7g7hsVKgqbPwNXW96zAh9Wt3JZTcodC6bUDQXaO73a6mil0daPCRs42/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJuJatfInHBz9qEzDxIC1sjcbjsins5df8iQzaLsEFbKiBW5aKCjFlPUpny2mT6r0AgvuTBmf1j71wvS6tv3lq7g7hsVKgqbPwNXW96zAh9Wt3JZTcodC6bUDQXaO73a6mil0daPCRs42/s320/DSC_0389.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What we missed
in our research was the chances of rides back to Shanghai. We found out that
the next trip with available tickets was at 834pm. This was unacceptable for us
because Anneth and Gea have 11pm flight out. We tried to weigh in our
situations and initially thought of taking the bus. Fortunately, all transport
terminals are in the same place as the railways. At the bus station, we were
informed that there are no bus to Shanghai that night. When we asked for a
hired taxi, we felt CNY800 was too pricey. So we queued back to the bullet
train ticket counter and got our tickets for the 834pm trip. When Anneth and
Gea calculated the chances of chasing their 11pm flights, if we wait for the
bullet train, we felt it would be a long wait and the chance of missing their
flights. So they decided to take the metered taxi. The ride cost them CNY560,
including the roundtrip toll fees.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-yUE-mrR98YyAjt1kcbWpQSO3-dKoaY8RW5qMZXhBPKkGgc4BkgwrP61MDHHPapK7qwWxsCE8MsSbpP5MutyVQYO0qgEkhkLm3ZXuSc4xwM7RkCkcocVs9C2ycJg9KP8hcvTTRpM4OL/s1600/DSC_0395.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-yUE-mrR98YyAjt1kcbWpQSO3-dKoaY8RW5qMZXhBPKkGgc4BkgwrP61MDHHPapK7qwWxsCE8MsSbpP5MutyVQYO0qgEkhkLm3ZXuSc4xwM7RkCkcocVs9C2ycJg9KP8hcvTTRpM4OL/s320/DSC_0395.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sight of Pagoda within Beisita Metro Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We were riding
the taxi so smoothly until we reached Shanghai where most thoroughfares were
closed by authorities for some security reasons we did not understand. So the
traffic was worse and our taxi was redirected to gridlocked streets. In the
end, we arrived at the hotel past 10pm which understandably a no show already
for these two ladies' flights. The takeaway lesson from this experience was to
purchase roundtrip train tickets.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d2sFPCGjANbAt9J7cTUQkpvoRkFklWZYwXx_62MZQMfrIerZRjzf7S_DpXWeny41hhpz5U7NuAplAJvxspNaCHbIO3wTiEBiIVhyphenhyphenrAT0XM8nEQh4Rpyx_3_H2G6M5Pn9bA24xY7WEwNH/s1600/DSC_0396.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d2sFPCGjANbAt9J7cTUQkpvoRkFklWZYwXx_62MZQMfrIerZRjzf7S_DpXWeny41hhpz5U7NuAplAJvxspNaCHbIO3wTiEBiIVhyphenhyphenrAT0XM8nEQh4Rpyx_3_H2G6M5Pn9bA24xY7WEwNH/s320/DSC_0396.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">They each got
new tickets and we three headed to the airport that following dawn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So for me
alone, this 6N5D trip to two cities in Mainland China cost me a total of 36,120
in Philippine Peso, not counting the taxi fare from Suzhou to Shanghai because
it was an isolated case, plus some miscellaneous items. But my experience of
China was priceless which gave me that new impression that the country is
technologically advanced and that they don't have plan to study and learn to
speak English.</span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Shanghai, China31.230416 121.47370129.4934455 118.891914 32.9673865 124.05548800000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-27179967840053405382019-09-02T03:45:00.062-07:002020-05-28T20:36:55.553-07:00Short Trips to India and Thailand<h2 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
New Delhi (August 26)<br /></font></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
On board the IndiGo from Kathmandu, Nepal, I sat beside a handsome Nepalese, Suklav. I learned that it was his first flight of his life as he was in a hurry to get to Embassy of Sweden for an interview. He applied for an scholarship program. My funny and embarrassing moment with him was when I ordered a coffee in flight only to find out that I can't pay it with Nepalese Rupee; they only accept Indian rupee. And Suklav paid it for me. I promised to pay him upon arrival; I need to withdraw from the nearest ATM. But he passed the immigration counter ahead of us, so I turned him over all my remaining Nepalese rupee. Anyway, he can still use them when he's back home. <br /></font></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOXq8YV1pE4-RO8qjTLzRZQaJZ7zLzCOZt-D1eO73C9_M-bjpWHaeC4-pIb60d-0VweZyS4XFBaWp6dbe5xIL0R3wKq9ex3LBMEeMMW1mzdEMlvXiSvn3izanuUbqk-3BM3McYpKBTwl2/s1600/IMG_4109.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOXq8YV1pE4-RO8qjTLzRZQaJZ7zLzCOZt-D1eO73C9_M-bjpWHaeC4-pIb60d-0VweZyS4XFBaWp6dbe5xIL0R3wKq9ex3LBMEeMMW1mzdEMlvXiSvn3izanuUbqk-3BM3McYpKBTwl2/s320/IMG_4109.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A pose at the New Delhi airport</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">I was initially impressed by the access straight from
airport to the city </font></span></span></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">via metro rail</font></span></span></font></span></span>. We don't have that kind of access yet in the Philippines; not even in Metro Manila. But when we alighted at Kashmere station, we lost our way in search of the Oberoi
Apartment where our homestay host were waiting. We kept walking the circular road around the forest within the city center, until I finally gave up knowing we've lost. I approached a group of locals nearby and inquired by showing my Agoda's reservation voucher. They pointed at the forest and saying about long distance from where we are in Hindi. <br /></font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a2f-kIS1Jia-bNZMbs6qseKDDL00EKYm6Y6RpEy5bI2r4GRneJ-zQUiOFweMKbWFXQiAF7KcGIJ4UVnZ8Z2PUu897KJfYqLESKqx1_mVJk00Aj_-7lESedho3B31qegRyhMV3OVn1Qsp/s1600/8E2494B9-2503-4DDF-960A-8DA7DAB765BA.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a2f-kIS1Jia-bNZMbs6qseKDDL00EKYm6Y6RpEy5bI2r4GRneJ-zQUiOFweMKbWFXQiAF7KcGIJ4UVnZ8Z2PUu897KJfYqLESKqx1_mVJk00Aj_-7lESedho3B31qegRyhMV3OVn1Qsp/s320/8E2494B9-2503-4DDF-960A-8DA7DAB765BA.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Inside the room where we helped split the bed into two. <br />Our reservation stated twin bed but the aged hosts weren't able <br />to instruct their househelp to split it.</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kuya Louver and I decided to hail the next approaching pedicab that sit two people at the back of the driver. It is kind of an elevated tricycle in the Philippines. The driver knew exactly where Oberoi Apartment was and we were dropped right at the gate. I realized that the location was right a few steps away from the train station had we turned the other way.<br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></font><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1mlNqON8T22ojc9i1d57w9gZky_38F1iQKAoxzGFxue0PVdQHNRL9eu8RWpfgqGYx4JpQgDxEOvDiGmITjXDjQzdvjytGeFfoIpINgb9riskpS3heZY8Sgd51tS9ca8RNCJfhnY4O6PC/s1600/IMG_4417.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1mlNqON8T22ojc9i1d57w9gZky_38F1iQKAoxzGFxue0PVdQHNRL9eu8RWpfgqGYx4JpQgDxEOvDiGmITjXDjQzdvjytGeFfoIpINgb9riskpS3heZY8Sgd51tS9ca8RNCJfhnY4O6PC/s320/IMG_4417.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We had a morning walk at the adjacent public park</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7VGzTP9MAMJnQimrTKpz839FP9MI5_28qpk1LqeMhV0Dn8g0BBg_vTkXghkoGmc3ocVq5fsALlj0TzHUxJrZDOzTfujAR0SIp0RWUvqsmgGQGh0tWAbJaj8xrxcp3GODugG-aazKo0OY/s1600/IMG_4404.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7VGzTP9MAMJnQimrTKpz839FP9MI5_28qpk1LqeMhV0Dn8g0BBg_vTkXghkoGmc3ocVq5fsALlj0TzHUxJrZDOzTfujAR0SIp0RWUvqsmgGQGh0tWAbJaj8xrxcp3GODugG-aazKo0OY/s320/IMG_4404.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With our hosts, Mr and Mrs Bammi</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Agra (August 27)<br /></font></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Our main and only tour destination was Taj Mahal. It is in Agra which is 200+ kilometers away.<br /></font></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><font size="2">We were forewarned by our hosts that if we decide to go to Agra, we have to reserve our seats either in the train or bus. But we thought of taking the night bus. We tried to find the nearest bus station or pick up point but to no avail. We went our at midnight to find one but we were pointed by locals here and there. We feared we might be scammed if we push on. So the express train was our last option. And this was where we encountered a real life swindler. He tricked us and pocketed more than a thousand rupees. I felt it but I let is pass; we might get ourselves into trouble. Anyway, we got the right seats in express train. </font><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EGR9zYm9D6Zsa5c75nW2F87ZyI9h_8Uigf5mJEN0c9Xenx9IIFnroh3_YsOgx77LA7RZlNIc0VuXjwObXpUQyiU1o9X0j6vP9QJpi2IRVSO0PW945XutE4y8ygS0RlFcC0pIzvrSFrNf/s1600/IMG_4139.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EGR9zYm9D6Zsa5c75nW2F87ZyI9h_8Uigf5mJEN0c9Xenx9IIFnroh3_YsOgx77LA7RZlNIc0VuXjwObXpUQyiU1o9X0j6vP9QJpi2IRVSO0PW945XutE4y8ygS0RlFcC0pIzvrSFrNf/s320/IMG_4139.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Inside Taj Mahal</span><br /></font></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg0l7I5MGT2Xpavv7BT13fttctOCoHHrNzSzhyphenhyphenhfoA-xAqYy9oXRVZTNtsTETEpDyDRtZzYvrvqbsp1zPUuKqj6f6XRwF3r1GCXOE0uAbV2tI-srVGUwKJIa0WUXz27x8buZK-lxrRDI8/s1600/IMG_4181.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg0l7I5MGT2Xpavv7BT13fttctOCoHHrNzSzhyphenhyphenhfoA-xAqYy9oXRVZTNtsTETEpDyDRtZzYvrvqbsp1zPUuKqj6f6XRwF3r1GCXOE0uAbV2tI-srVGUwKJIa0WUXz27x8buZK-lxrRDI8/s320/IMG_4181.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><font size="2">Majestic<span class="_5mfr"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf8/2/16/203c.png?_nc_eui2=AeFtPVe2sPMGRn5xjLNIZe5zWKmA6SLCSO9YqYDpIsJI7011dWDN8f3y6XMzaVJl80U"); font-size: 16px; height: 16px; width: 16px;">! </span></span>A perfect manifestation of undying and pure</font></span> <span class="_5mfr"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb6/2/16/1f49d.png?_nc_eui2=AeFTa1AiWRpotHEFWBQ5FsyYnLBr_KFr3rGcsGv8oWvesW6k8JVlxyAwkRo5eb1isUE"); font-size: 16px; height: 16px; width: 16px;">💝</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj_clcePqj1mviqv23l7NlrqckQ8oGzU4CqwPSe004zZxql3Jxt6CZyy7cS52Y7mlFZfRSqo_cNRQ-7fDK_hXOXgF6Eg2o2fXKEMalrttjpkc_3C6_2GeA-ZyGQjV8k772RSQfNf5PBs5/s1600/IMG_4235.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj_clcePqj1mviqv23l7NlrqckQ8oGzU4CqwPSe004zZxql3Jxt6CZyy7cS52Y7mlFZfRSqo_cNRQ-7fDK_hXOXgF6Eg2o2fXKEMalrttjpkc_3C6_2GeA-ZyGQjV8k772RSQfNf5PBs5/s320/IMG_4235.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Upon arrival at the Agra Train Station, we were approached by plenty of locals. And found a tuktuk driver that can speak good English. He himself warned us of many don'ts: don't talk to anyone that offers anything, don't take drinks that anyone offers, don't entertain anyone posing as tourguide, et cetera. So we paid for our entry tickets, refused from the guy who offered to guide us in the tour, and went straight to the west gate.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPZvaJH3Yydfi2y7oxKIg3Uw8HCQCmy5hqrXh-swSXT7XG1keNDKrt3tzh1PrwmNgDduXN0erJPzwWRe6soMVj1ZmkvXjx7u-J-OFJ6D6Nr4u7tvCQvnGoVRAp_8fpRLiQ9REgNll0fOq/s1600/IMG_4315.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPZvaJH3Yydfi2y7oxKIg3Uw8HCQCmy5hqrXh-swSXT7XG1keNDKrt3tzh1PrwmNgDduXN0erJPzwWRe6soMVj1ZmkvXjx7u-J-OFJ6D6Nr4u7tvCQvnGoVRAp_8fpRLiQ9REgNll0fOq/s320/IMG_4315.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The grandiose, manicured, clean, and beautiful interiors of Taj Mahal <br />is the complete opposite of the outside </span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisGSCt2QAL0Vma7nz8uRbBhDfeNTL4nQEASH_RwllXQlFU4LZ8S2SL-fStPh3Tp73UJfqdY0zi7_GQg68BNgoHRFOTGV33yKDZ6Feh_zurgtNhtetHi6_gEGjElm0e40ppAEHG06mLsjt/s1600/IMG_4329.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisGSCt2QAL0Vma7nz8uRbBhDfeNTL4nQEASH_RwllXQlFU4LZ8S2SL-fStPh3Tp73UJfqdY0zi7_GQg68BNgoHRFOTGV33yKDZ6Feh_zurgtNhtetHi6_gEGjElm0e40ppAEHG06mLsjt/s320/IMG_4329.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Taj Mahal indeed represents the Incredible India. Despite the distance
from New Delhi, we invested money and time to reach this Wonder of the
World. Scam is rampant and it’s everywhere. <br /></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLyxyz8GD6PPWBe10-u8jgW8yYvYOrPOCAZJ8hxfxUMBfxeQW3QsqhGdyQOei-8L7-VNbUHUpESXB-bIyG7MEcXVoT0AHxBlcKgRr4QEmNwDQP6ZlZ2eGka5Z6QttGk0lM8rmcnzmuIgs/s1600/IMG_4373.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLyxyz8GD6PPWBe10-u8jgW8yYvYOrPOCAZJ8hxfxUMBfxeQW3QsqhGdyQOei-8L7-VNbUHUpESXB-bIyG7MEcXVoT0AHxBlcKgRr4QEmNwDQP6ZlZ2eGka5Z6QttGk0lM8rmcnzmuIgs/s320/IMG_4373.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">I
personally don't like touring around India. You need to be looking over
your shoulder. It felt that sinister lurks everywhere. And everywhere
is dirty, dingy, dusty... </font></span></span>My tips to avoid scam in
transport is to book in advance (online or thru an agency) your express
train ticket, even the seat in a tourist bus. Sorry to say this but
avoid hospitality (something to eat or drink), refuse tourguiding
offers, and as much as possible, don’t talk to anyone.</font></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoX5IBSGPFJMGy7utuVnemQy1-LgJ553fDw6AGDighHS2LbKtB4CzOffcDiJyKRODJZ7kx0p0Tz48yEW3seugVsdFSn5j4jIC2nbnCKaKfPlelAroi3l-5LbYO9zf76cT9Ep6kW33KHZr/s1600/IMG_4396.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoX5IBSGPFJMGy7utuVnemQy1-LgJ553fDw6AGDighHS2LbKtB4CzOffcDiJyKRODJZ7kx0p0Tz48yEW3seugVsdFSn5j4jIC2nbnCKaKfPlelAroi3l-5LbYO9zf76cT9Ep6kW33KHZr/s320/IMG_4396.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">The Red Fort of Agra is another
beautiful destination within Incredible India.</font></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></font></span></span>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Bangkok (August 28-30)<br /></font></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Straight from India, our next drop was in Bangkok on board the SpiceJet. We arrived late at night of August 28th. We
took the metro rail from Airport to Silom and searched for Good'uck
Hostel. It was not hard to find it and it's not that far from the
nearest metro station on foot. Kuya Louver and I have two full days for the classic tour in Thailand's capital.<br /></font></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">I am witnessing how the floating market tour has become less and less
attractive. Most peddlers are no longer boating. Most of the route are
canals without life, not even shops. The tour nowadays can be
characterized as just floating or boating, no longer some “chaotic”
floating market.</font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;">
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8CHnTbipQM_o5Qn_HsUL7SH73msVj880ASiwJ7zDzmEk-ZPsm5F6HWzJWo3CXox1rqIp4Ol8s6dxP3lu7jBd_53K1LMEoXTqLJd_Ykc7uHDBU4hdXVjMIXM2UpAqz6sIjnXDekQMc42I/s1600/DSC_0557.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8CHnTbipQM_o5Qn_HsUL7SH73msVj880ASiwJ7zDzmEk-ZPsm5F6HWzJWo3CXox1rqIp4Ol8s6dxP3lu7jBd_53K1LMEoXTqLJd_Ykc7uHDBU4hdXVjMIXM2UpAqz6sIjnXDekQMc42I/s320/DSC_0557.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At Damnoen Saduak Floating Market</font></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mfVLrhHbPdk4-aJ-vD-z47nDk-401XZcJzwCVGXTmldY9-L8oRSyFfergZT2acN1mqjrYQahAlcXr2SZSIPOhjWtNqjpIUGlOI7a6jxsFwEZrC6kTb7PnEgH-bSYi7r9i0d2aVEmdMH/s1600/IMG_4502.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mfVLrhHbPdk4-aJ-vD-z47nDk-401XZcJzwCVGXTmldY9-L8oRSyFfergZT2acN1mqjrYQahAlcXr2SZSIPOhjWtNqjpIUGlOI7a6jxsFwEZrC6kTb7PnEgH-bSYi7r9i0d2aVEmdMH/s320/IMG_4502.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Been here in Bangkok several times already. To enjoy it
still, and not leave Kuya Louver on his own, I tried tourist adventures I
never tried before. </font></span></span></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">The Classic Bangkok Tour we availed of from Klook includes the elephant
ride at Elephant Village, boat ride at Damnoen Floating Market, and
train ride (just a photoop) at Meklong Railway Market. </font></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
</font></span></span></font></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;">
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NTU4ZIMTomTws7kuWRi7axlkdJrjV93nRasMzbYRcb-Jt98t-azLtHcDMUeenoi6ChGFkdTuIAu7YdY7kB4XpSP9KDurxKXR2amnxYMy7lU8YY7q_myw7WfcFtSTcmyocJ5724O7ota/s1600/IMG_4459.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NTU4ZIMTomTws7kuWRi7axlkdJrjV93nRasMzbYRcb-Jt98t-azLtHcDMUeenoi6ChGFkdTuIAu7YdY7kB4XpSP9KDurxKXR2amnxYMy7lU8YY7q_myw7WfcFtSTcmyocJ5724O7ota/s320/IMG_4459.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At the Elephant Farm within Chang Puak Camp</font></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;">
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07kwUkuqS_zDr7SaVXGpsxNZ1w_AFhTS_NabNFcy7mC_In2dVgTbE9BegqL7Yxw3my9RPS6B3gSV2FPZovdW4w7P83uIxAxKuKyzec6QAZH01s6MikDq7pC8G2Y-Vw4i1i5lUnTBAZHd-/s1600/DSC_0575.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07kwUkuqS_zDr7SaVXGpsxNZ1w_AFhTS_NabNFcy7mC_In2dVgTbE9BegqL7Yxw3my9RPS6B3gSV2FPZovdW4w7P83uIxAxKuKyzec6QAZH01s6MikDq7pC8G2Y-Vw4i1i5lUnTBAZHd-/s320/DSC_0575.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Busy public market and active train trips can be observed in Mae Klong Station</font></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN8IXIVj4qjgJqrNML7FqCjZYl6ZA33BNRnO22jf7lm0X0aC6j4u0fhxTL-Ib1d89mFFt0sPYBfwuPYxd-wJZzNBUG25WsM-x9p4fDtx1LE46JqkhYnpiRK9GbJa8NfPORnEoo3Ou__f8/s1600/IMG_4516.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN8IXIVj4qjgJqrNML7FqCjZYl6ZA33BNRnO22jf7lm0X0aC6j4u0fhxTL-Ib1d89mFFt0sPYBfwuPYxd-wJZzNBUG25WsM-x9p4fDtx1LE46JqkhYnpiRK9GbJa8NfPORnEoo3Ou__f8/s320/IMG_4516.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">A public market crowding a railway close a train station. Vendors open
and close their shops, fold and unfold their tarp covers, pull in and
out their displays when train comes and goes. Strange but cute; chaotic
but attractive!</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6DOFpucCp9GUKgZ_mh5En4CDHISYWPOf8-9tsAP92AQ-CDfQ1I9AwL-tVz8f6cjaT65JX8OjEJuYaxZXYEeBdFyr-gFJOQBVMhSXqoBCwCyxuJZEgn7Gp19FDjLBfrbV6oGk32g6NSjG/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6DOFpucCp9GUKgZ_mh5En4CDHISYWPOf8-9tsAP92AQ-CDfQ1I9AwL-tVz8f6cjaT65JX8OjEJuYaxZXYEeBdFyr-gFJOQBVMhSXqoBCwCyxuJZEgn7Gp19FDjLBfrbV6oGk32g6NSjG/s320/IMG_4534.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">This was my first time to take HOHO (hop on- hop off) bus tour. But because it
was raining that day, Kuya Louver and I only reached these spots: The
Golden Temple and Chinatown; Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha; Grand
Palace and Emerald Temple; and, the Mahakan Fort along the Riverside.
The rest, we only viewed from the bus, while listening to the English
voice over.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;">
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9Ppa_CH6e9mkKoeSERS5q4qfsls6zvRxaK2rw4nc_E6ZqEZ_BEVAPg-MEYd5v14VHtq57WVjugx5NsZ5csAm4i043EqB5oi6qrWjHu6ETZmKoza2sZh8yK6K6E4v6vKXG_ubA4amHf6/s1600/IMG_4654.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9Ppa_CH6e9mkKoeSERS5q4qfsls6zvRxaK2rw4nc_E6ZqEZ_BEVAPg-MEYd5v14VHtq57WVjugx5NsZ5csAm4i043EqB5oi6qrWjHu6ETZmKoza2sZh8yK6K6E4v6vKXG_ubA4amHf6/s320/IMG_4654.HEIC" width="198" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;">At Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan</span></font></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuoFJr9gcU8y8DWV2_vxADECLOTWnHzfxizrIlOGqgq4KrLFzQWSrhZfd4LEapj5lw4SY3jbxB18QOxrIaAJsc_TXt8yrjVWDFfiua5TjtEM2VYtPFurSCB1L6omzXpYnOXQ8cnwNm4fY/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuoFJr9gcU8y8DWV2_vxADECLOTWnHzfxizrIlOGqgq4KrLFzQWSrhZfd4LEapj5lw4SY3jbxB18QOxrIaAJsc_TXt8yrjVWDFfiua5TjtEM2VYtPFurSCB1L6omzXpYnOXQ8cnwNm4fY/s320/IMG_4768.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;">The collection of Golden Buddhas in Wat Pho<br /></span></font></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM8pDU3vf1yDZCMK2mH_En2ZsD7_RMPBYcP7YCBWcUJZvW-FXDVNvzGiXNxAPK-nVkHLtpONcEWULavRcCNfjzsfrHWNBvm0aNLcH-HHo38_Llbz3focYskpPNH86PEBK9UEC0O3k8wBw/s1600/IMG_4692.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM8pDU3vf1yDZCMK2mH_En2ZsD7_RMPBYcP7YCBWcUJZvW-FXDVNvzGiXNxAPK-nVkHLtpONcEWULavRcCNfjzsfrHWNBvm0aNLcH-HHo38_Llbz3focYskpPNH86PEBK9UEC0O3k8wBw/s320/IMG_4692.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
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<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr1r1kcDnZAwLSJ2hkJLjKn8pjZzu5sgq7vOyzfhWjG8Z_Q0WPcFZEy6sOMexE5oTzWsSkt8DM9AycF_ZAXXyht0szbG2zuffSqeZQSOzBhOaGiJgyOLB8USXmGB4NXOjXXGo9c5ZoAul/s1600/IMG_4795.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1111" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr1r1kcDnZAwLSJ2hkJLjKn8pjZzu5sgq7vOyzfhWjG8Z_Q0WPcFZEy6sOMexE5oTzWsSkt8DM9AycF_ZAXXyht0szbG2zuffSqeZQSOzBhOaGiJgyOLB8USXmGB4NXOjXXGo9c5ZoAul/s320/IMG_4795.HEIC" width="222" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At Wat Pho</font></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKZ1fh0C1E5_7MkQqhySG3eIxnjy2iBWJb5EK0ha-ZWqKl3TOliVTM_9j40nOmChxTXrikf43KWNj9hMiXqxcwVNk9-LpTje3q_IvjZV4jHrFOdvcm28nI8Dix7mYsrWnLNTa2jWOaweb/s1600/DSC_0604.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKZ1fh0C1E5_7MkQqhySG3eIxnjy2iBWJb5EK0ha-ZWqKl3TOliVTM_9j40nOmChxTXrikf43KWNj9hMiXqxcwVNk9-LpTje3q_IvjZV4jHrFOdvcm28nI8Dix7mYsrWnLNTa2jWOaweb/s320/DSC_0604.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At Phra Sumen Fort</font></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="ggV7z" data-ved="2ahUKEwiS4LGywcnoAhXJE4gKHWoQA2MQrTUoADAOegQIGhAB" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></font></span></span></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-9540695985591414042019-09-01T00:52:00.098-07:002020-05-28T20:47:09.059-07:00The NepalABOYS<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
August is my usual time of the year to roam around. With 2 holidays, 21st (fixed date to celebrate Ninoy Aquino's martyrdom) and 26th (tentative for the last Monday of the month to celebrate the United Nations), which normally crosses one to two weekends, made August my favorite month to travel for a longer period of time than other months.<br /></font></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br />
So this year 2019, I planned to reach South Asia's northern part: India and Nepal. This time I traveled with new company, Kuya Louver -- a friend from my home province, Surigao del Norte. We spent decades together in the youth ministry, in the Catholic Diocese of Surigao, since my school years.</font></span><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<h1 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Destination #1: Kathmandu (August 21-23)<br /></font></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Kuya Louver and I headed to Nepal that night of August 20th via AirAsia
flying from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and caught the connecting flight with <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #171b1e; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue", "helvetica", "arial", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Malindo Air</span> from KL to Kathmandu in the morning of August 21st.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC_jEm_e_DvMATybtJQpyktMVsmMxlc16zsUerWp7xOdakOPDNbcGfjVUln7fC13KJjUL6zhKxqHBch_Xe7Vd571ffTxntZ4amnNxrpEMoi07EbpT90RRzNrmJSV6pQguTC7xkvmigKos/s1600/IMG_3427.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC_jEm_e_DvMATybtJQpyktMVsmMxlc16zsUerWp7xOdakOPDNbcGfjVUln7fC13KJjUL6zhKxqHBch_Xe7Vd571ffTxntZ4amnNxrpEMoi07EbpT90RRzNrmJSV6pQguTC7xkvmigKos/s320/IMG_3427.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">At the airport's arrival area</font><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">It was quite easy to obtain Visa on Arrival. We each paid $30 and off we went... Our reservations at The Alpine Hotel was in Thamel tourist area. </font></span></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">On arrival day, we acquainted
ourselves with Thamel area and visited the Garden of
Dreams. </font></span></span></font></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Y_gQh2iHhwu36A9qOZ2Kvk0mw43gdlaumLpT-kW1D7E3IJ3t66nROMRyWumLThx6KJnJaMja-JX89D20A3thFTRNaP0EChMrjKznCRhTItWJH_OUpxLpttBNcwJ4P6oBWy3jqG6JQ89/s1600/DSC_0178.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Y_gQh2iHhwu36A9qOZ2Kvk0mw43gdlaumLpT-kW1D7E3IJ3t66nROMRyWumLThx6KJnJaMja-JX89D20A3thFTRNaP0EChMrjKznCRhTItWJH_OUpxLpttBNcwJ4P6oBWy3jqG6JQ89/s320/DSC_0178.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">We dropped by the Tredevi Temple on our way to the Garden of Dreams</font><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Nepal is simple and laidback but friendly and religious. Here every
tourist attraction is basically untouched, unspoiled, unhurried, except
for the damages due to 2015 major earthquake.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEh-m55M2pncs9JcXCTyaAfHCOpdBVP4JX6X62YClSEv0eUNsOoMva7ZuKta_yFZJKVN9VBe_Gg0AVYgbgET8GkKvAyxSqEaHNWwmB6JeysqxzLziYfyPRtteHRO9_FRUc49W0Sb84BVVW/s1600/IMG_3539.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEh-m55M2pncs9JcXCTyaAfHCOpdBVP4JX6X62YClSEv0eUNsOoMva7ZuKta_yFZJKVN9VBe_Gg0AVYgbgET8GkKvAyxSqEaHNWwmB6JeysqxzLziYfyPRtteHRO9_FRUc49W0Sb84BVVW/s320/IMG_3539.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">One of the interior sections of Swayambhu Temple</font></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;">In one early morning, we strolled all the way through the</font></span></font></span> Swayambhunath Stupa, the temple on the hill. We joined the Buddhist crowd in their morning rituals. Some came in groups, singing; others have instruments, drums and bugles. </font><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjYqZ5ZsOTLIVbWaF690nSCaSdIk6la5wXCLD6lgm6b3L89_QEsLcEvjfaE5fJMpTmI2G_5DjhwM-n6MkKgoP1cedLGFlv4BEF2UJ3XnrgtpDAOmiidpoTnUGA79C5cP-_n2UlA_aC6gP/s1600/IMG_3547.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjYqZ5ZsOTLIVbWaF690nSCaSdIk6la5wXCLD6lgm6b3L89_QEsLcEvjfaE5fJMpTmI2G_5DjhwM-n6MkKgoP1cedLGFlv4BEF2UJ3XnrgtpDAOmiidpoTnUGA79C5cP-_n2UlA_aC6gP/s320/IMG_3547.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">At Swayambhu Temple</font></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<font size="2"><br /></font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></font></span></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Then the rest of the day was on packaged tour. A young man, named Yudin, was sent as our tourguide taking with him a private sedan.</span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvGwS-Qw5pKgS4GIs-r6_hLm9xaktk8znyD_p2kmyLc4IJ8ATWdmju6T4FPl6Y1AF6dfWUVuAm32vhd4xBPsxV7NQRo9o846CwnOQtLvM7kCAh3tU2fP6QTIpooXCSm-qQ_nYOxhfCQWf/s1600/IMG_3562.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvGwS-Qw5pKgS4GIs-r6_hLm9xaktk8znyD_p2kmyLc4IJ8ATWdmju6T4FPl6Y1AF6dfWUVuAm32vhd4xBPsxV7NQRo9o846CwnOQtLvM7kCAh3tU2fP6QTIpooXCSm-qQ_nYOxhfCQWf/s320/IMG_3562.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">At Patan Durbar Square</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">Nepal is Time-turner.</font><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"> Its history revealed that there were 3 kingdoms within the
Kathmandu Valley until the time it was united and later the monarchy
died. One and the youngest of them is in Patan. The Patan Durbar Square
is a must visit complex of palace and temples in unique structural
designs made of stones and woods with intricate details and carvings. </font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Bhaktapur and </span></font></span></span></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Kathmandu Durbar Squares are equally majestic although most are in ruins as the aftermath of the major earthquake in 2015.</span></font></span></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW5Xu38fA1qRGRADvV15Z-4nwXhHBGZOabJtg1lMcMatjKHPVVkzj5J4xjb8XQAxZgqZdex31KoRAYK8nt-EUxm05p5cnyJ1cz3bjm4QjH1a8rstAe6-8ukzivHchIhYjnGXERbdqWArj/s1600/IMG_3585.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW5Xu38fA1qRGRADvV15Z-4nwXhHBGZOabJtg1lMcMatjKHPVVkzj5J4xjb8XQAxZgqZdex31KoRAYK8nt-EUxm05p5cnyJ1cz3bjm4QjH1a8rstAe6-8ukzivHchIhYjnGXERbdqWArj/s320/IMG_3585.HEIC" width="267" /></a></font></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHun8YY0Wq1-WrHD_sW3E2264jiJPdFBKqXIl3buAqODQDqYAbq6oTXMMqsp24dRdH3G7xyEX-QzGr7NpcbFqqGFboJNQA9OvXLoiD5V7Ryh3sf2i8wH6J_8bncSqnHL_hTtiWxAxGxBd/s1600/IMG_3654.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHun8YY0Wq1-WrHD_sW3E2264jiJPdFBKqXIl3buAqODQDqYAbq6oTXMMqsp24dRdH3G7xyEX-QzGr7NpcbFqqGFboJNQA9OvXLoiD5V7Ryh3sf2i8wH6J_8bncSqnHL_hTtiWxAxGxBd/s320/IMG_3654.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">At Baktapur Durbar Square</font></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLVe_CgtCmG8tX3v_DBx9qitheb-7SC06iXxl3Sl2pJjsgGzICCqm1JQDofIwgyy8H0gvruQwWJcml2qYkhA_dJYGpyvjky0Hop8gQly9FhyCWRr98qAGyN6m-eBvBR3dSj5W_g3VjtII/s1600/IMG_3684.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLVe_CgtCmG8tX3v_DBx9qitheb-7SC06iXxl3Sl2pJjsgGzICCqm1JQDofIwgyy8H0gvruQwWJcml2qYkhA_dJYGpyvjky0Hop8gQly9FhyCWRr98qAGyN6m-eBvBR3dSj5W_g3VjtII/s320/IMG_3684.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Within the complex of the oldest palace in Kathmandu Valley, called the
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, there is this famous “Peacock Window” which an
artist of old have perfectly carved. This has become the model for all
peacock windows from then on.</font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uqrZVV0qM6FqEVwHcZSxV0pKK6metEeSd3OyG84VRpnXIJxuLg3i5HSz_i9ySZvPtq8546FxpzHK-nTEtRNMr5aJoqggMyhceC_3WNScz1cCjPQ9RlWousQvwjetziAJOMPdLC3FYVQx/s1600/IMG_3739.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="891" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uqrZVV0qM6FqEVwHcZSxV0pKK6metEeSd3OyG84VRpnXIJxuLg3i5HSz_i9ySZvPtq8546FxpzHK-nTEtRNMr5aJoqggMyhceC_3WNScz1cCjPQ9RlWousQvwjetziAJOMPdLC3FYVQx/s320/IMG_3739.HEIC" width="178" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk4aW_nrbskL3CJylAxPoQacsEty2gkfxnYYBjOuyuhDzYp7AFCgL1X36HAtTeU2EmCZeqkg4WdB7ojwzdzML7Ojrr_JMHj0GpP1N94NmT3oLrdntS4MuADjEpmAwRy3b0702cAOra4CP/s1600/IMG_3764.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1112" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk4aW_nrbskL3CJylAxPoQacsEty2gkfxnYYBjOuyuhDzYp7AFCgL1X36HAtTeU2EmCZeqkg4WdB7ojwzdzML7Ojrr_JMHj0GpP1N94NmT3oLrdntS4MuADjEpmAwRy3b0702cAOra4CP/s320/IMG_3764.HEIC" width="222" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">At Kathmandu Durbar Square</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Despite the destructions caused by the 2015 major earthquake, the
heritage site of Kathmandu Durbar Square is still impressive. Much
restoration works are happening now in preparation for the country’s big
tourism year in 2020. The ancient arts and architecture are visibly one
of a kind.</font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvM1e6Yy9M1I4vjTfExw8V0rwrmZfJtJbTz6UgjHGhy17BRlDphDQY2YTJHL9OvdZ9gLpR0o6lkdqV6dnak4uA9aMaPx5XkpQeVxiLVOfzQFdbfMygQlA398alfod7Y5Yl88WOc6MaKC5/s1600/IMG_3801.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvM1e6Yy9M1I4vjTfExw8V0rwrmZfJtJbTz6UgjHGhy17BRlDphDQY2YTJHL9OvdZ9gLpR0o6lkdqV6dnak4uA9aMaPx5XkpQeVxiLVOfzQFdbfMygQlA398alfod7Y5Yl88WOc6MaKC5/s320/IMG_3801.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Our 3rd day was
supposedly the Mount Everest Flight but was cancelled due to thick
haze. </span></font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">3 days in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is historic for Kuya
Louver and me. We prepared for a cool weather but it had sunny days so
humid with rains in the afternoon. <br /></font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span>
<h1 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Destination #2: Pokhara (August 23-25)<br /></font></span></span></h1><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">We travelled that afternoon to Pokhara on board the public utility van with Yudin, tourguide turned local friend. During the full day tour, we instantly had a click. Since it was a public holiday that day in the country, Yudin went home to his parents. Their residence is midway through Pokhara, so Yudin insisted to drop by and say hello to his parents.</span></font></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">A day in Pokhara, Nepal was a unique adventure for Kuya Louver and
myself. Our usual morning stroll happened along the Phewa Lake’s bank. <br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgnmjTJ_Iyglf4zoiXQ2rvjcKuTEXxSzHD2r5vY0QcT7zIYir5Yn_s3nf2JU3V6lYR3IQwT2u3aGMTD2Gynf-GHDgTLY7xdjPiblKzXtqk_phqpZuQXQd64wMDPoyVxkoR05yvB7waVhj/s1600/IMG_3855.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgnmjTJ_Iyglf4zoiXQ2rvjcKuTEXxSzHD2r5vY0QcT7zIYir5Yn_s3nf2JU3V6lYR3IQwT2u3aGMTD2Gynf-GHDgTLY7xdjPiblKzXtqk_phqpZuQXQd64wMDPoyVxkoR05yvB7waVhj/s320/IMG_3855.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Source of water, source of life! Nowadays, bars and restaurants surround
most touristy lakes which breath life during nighttime... and Pokhara’s
is no exception. <br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pNJ9tvs2hHGtkOaLIcdkrPMnnDmYToHg5RSEILm4khKDNgX4pz0bK-6uUw97d2PyagczbkJ9Na82GEzG7_1Ycl9eYjhsmx25itVrBKBjuzjHxjj8xkvWtqsrmaeKmeOgVDil5bvezg6K/s1600/IMG_3860.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pNJ9tvs2hHGtkOaLIcdkrPMnnDmYToHg5RSEILm4khKDNgX4pz0bK-6uUw97d2PyagczbkJ9Na82GEzG7_1Ycl9eYjhsmx25itVrBKBjuzjHxjj8xkvWtqsrmaeKmeOgVDil5bvezg6K/s320/IMG_3860.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">At the Phewa Lake</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14RP72FPp4r7ptRNIvIx4azJ9NHF7OyAmLw8wIrse0IDGJ2vHyhu4uDcIGy4b5ChyphenhyphensAVP14Z0PfdfvAGin-nXqMbO6-KhnYqMRyUagfrygLRbqMqREvHN7cU03mjd2csRN-hCvz4-ZSz2/s1600/IMG_3889.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14RP72FPp4r7ptRNIvIx4azJ9NHF7OyAmLw8wIrse0IDGJ2vHyhu4uDcIGy4b5ChyphenhyphensAVP14Z0PfdfvAGin-nXqMbO6-KhnYqMRyUagfrygLRbqMqREvHN7cU03mjd2csRN-hCvz4-ZSz2/s320/IMG_3889.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Then our day tour led us to climb up the World Peace Pagoda, climb down
the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave under the city proper, enjoy the mists of
Davi’s Falls, cross the Vayam Suspension Footbridge, look down the gorge
where the white, icy water falls, learn about Goorkah’s gallantry at
the museum, and take a paddled twin boat to an island temple at Phewa
Lake. </font></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXyi89uJV7Ov6AGJDtrb6RVdEpKdYdji-HEOKJI6qQIdWfmRSc7KT5Pchp5CCKXAjORRPH1DXsHaiuQEW0ZrHOB5PFjwxZVfPm3a67TBk5cfXI_Cbl-2OtwlntrfP3xK7w0gDUhSnFekV/s1600/IMG_3915.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXyi89uJV7Ov6AGJDtrb6RVdEpKdYdji-HEOKJI6qQIdWfmRSc7KT5Pchp5CCKXAjORRPH1DXsHaiuQEW0ZrHOB5PFjwxZVfPm3a67TBk5cfXI_Cbl-2OtwlntrfP3xK7w0gDUhSnFekV/s320/IMG_3915.HEIC" width="320" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">The beauty of Pokhara Valley can be viewed from up the hills. To be at
the World Peace Pagoda is one that gives a vantage view of the city
below. It is a Buddhist-style pagoda; a monument for peace.</font></span></span></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGgtuGySiaW1BXfhtcNYvIPFUA0xeff3RMBrKDsY1BmDBu-wRt4ihuAIsY1UDCXYnyo1DcL_UN5KaslaVYg7Uh3O4VLJH9jCQdCCN4FzI6t7NTnuA5lv19aPt-q-ILM8IrlaRa-zM0lf2/s1600/IMG_3929.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGgtuGySiaW1BXfhtcNYvIPFUA0xeff3RMBrKDsY1BmDBu-wRt4ihuAIsY1UDCXYnyo1DcL_UN5KaslaVYg7Uh3O4VLJH9jCQdCCN4FzI6t7NTnuA5lv19aPt-q-ILM8IrlaRa-zM0lf2/s320/IMG_3929.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">At the World Peace Pagoda</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZsViMGbR5IIE_UINDAS7qYpug3ljCzDzdFvplaxyNHdKuPCy0ziWe-UrFt9ZL5ouXHYwc2snTS39EE9ZgJaamlHiY_7eQVUxftALmXqwISzdinnS1dUSBukcG0wMi8QeMQbyglczADsD/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZsViMGbR5IIE_UINDAS7qYpug3ljCzDzdFvplaxyNHdKuPCy0ziWe-UrFt9ZL5ouXHYwc2snTS39EE9ZgJaamlHiY_7eQVUxftALmXqwISzdinnS1dUSBukcG0wMi8QeMQbyglczADsD/s320/IMG_3943.JPG" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Don’t be fooled by this majestic structure, which look like one of the
sets of Alladin’s movie.... It is actually a decorated entrance to a
cave at the heart of Pokhara City.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuD4UAboTCBITFCiRDebDxCb4qnoNJZXBBfDBK0Y59tfmJkQrovIKh-ewnrzOJCwIPbcugn8mQybKqob0Pc3b20un-i5QpFl0rsuhijDT62fuBrKZc5t4MCSjpYlGBxUPCokxoUYeIWLF/s1600/IMG_3955.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuD4UAboTCBITFCiRDebDxCb4qnoNJZXBBfDBK0Y59tfmJkQrovIKh-ewnrzOJCwIPbcugn8mQybKqob0Pc3b20un-i5QpFl0rsuhijDT62fuBrKZc5t4MCSjpYlGBxUPCokxoUYeIWLF/s320/IMG_3955.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave</font></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFrm6EGqVtXXAy-5fIWrhTMO_CFUiTngVro2PyCix_lxwbIDsDdbVVoYWd68Q0nMduJ1IT8dXepfYdSE9kuZz4xmi8rZmxrMI9eKv6dMZXbkknBAgKSSYqYAYcYZBOi4sy9cCK0HjF-88/s1600/IMG_3973.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFrm6EGqVtXXAy-5fIWrhTMO_CFUiTngVro2PyCix_lxwbIDsDdbVVoYWd68Q0nMduJ1IT8dXepfYdSE9kuZz4xmi8rZmxrMI9eKv6dMZXbkknBAgKSSYqYAYcYZBOi4sy9cCK0HjF-88/s320/IMG_3973.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Davi’s Falls</font></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjgygNIpfmC7ABKnzu8SJmIsBOzn9gdVCPF8CtykJikuhKrR_bWBN6sQv-YxtvcNrBalqWjIt9awNaOOxCZC3fIMXPQ3mMqml3kXrLrgVMo3nezsngZaTRlEMQhwjIuWVUMvTnHhTH1NL/s1600/IMG_3982.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjgygNIpfmC7ABKnzu8SJmIsBOzn9gdVCPF8CtykJikuhKrR_bWBN6sQv-YxtvcNrBalqWjIt9awNaOOxCZC3fIMXPQ3mMqml3kXrLrgVMo3nezsngZaTRlEMQhwjIuWVUMvTnHhTH1NL/s320/IMG_3982.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">No swimming here! With its tragic history, and it’s propensity to harm
curious people by its raging falls, the whole area is heavily fenced.
The only wonder here is the appearance of rainbows for as long as
there’s sunlight.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zs-mnf9manpc1x-99JR8oMtUjEIgHEPW3Wi9_OeMnMQR2dGeAg5-8xXmNMjsGz0Gul4i1rG32Y2R7o9efqXHZqkRUaywamAs1Q8n2TUFSIgngCeg2Dh0JGxUMUovYEHygXlJrN8s9AF0/s1600/IMG_4006.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zs-mnf9manpc1x-99JR8oMtUjEIgHEPW3Wi9_OeMnMQR2dGeAg5-8xXmNMjsGz0Gul4i1rG32Y2R7o9efqXHZqkRUaywamAs1Q8n2TUFSIgngCeg2Dh0JGxUMUovYEHygXlJrN8s9AF0/s320/IMG_4006.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Vayam Suspension Footbridge</font></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Pokhara Village is divided by gorges and the only connection is through
suspension footbridges, which motorcycles, bicycles and 4-legged animals
also cross. Crossing it firsthand is acrophobic.</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">A photo opportunity with the locals clad in flamboyant and beautiful costumes for women... A wonderful cultural immersion!</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWCAc3rcC3IfaRZQ5RIfAGF16llhamTpihyphenhyphenVusp6j5JjhKvfzU5soq6CGi9cHmhozTSlS0Tx5U8mmGMuBGXk6AEmlX71uEOR-UhsUwfSim_r_DZ6B5zSJS-IkxsXbsFLziodw_Bagz5BV/s1600/DSC_0500.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWCAc3rcC3IfaRZQ5RIfAGF16llhamTpihyphenhyphenVusp6j5JjhKvfzU5soq6CGi9cHmhozTSlS0Tx5U8mmGMuBGXk6AEmlX71uEOR-UhsUwfSim_r_DZ6B5zSJS-IkxsXbsFLziodw_Bagz5BV/s320/DSC_0500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Goorkah Museum<br /></font></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qr3xBea2IVG7RCyUKxvifqPE1759ldWW-AiyeFbPDha6U8j1XzcaCiXFqmF2bd6eTHcHiK2_9xCNlfi6D9m0MkGyYMHzAJ-pBRnuLCeV-vI8P-BOZUxKvzA2Qi6dxNNL7ccU8AnO-m1X/s1600/IMG_4041.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qr3xBea2IVG7RCyUKxvifqPE1759ldWW-AiyeFbPDha6U8j1XzcaCiXFqmF2bd6eTHcHiK2_9xCNlfi6D9m0MkGyYMHzAJ-pBRnuLCeV-vI8P-BOZUxKvzA2Qi6dxNNL7ccU8AnO-m1X/s320/IMG_4041.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">One full day around this mountain city was a very long hot day! </font></span></span></span></font></span></span><br /><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
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<![endif]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></font></span></font></span></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">August
25th was purely travel back to Kathmandu City. There are no overnight travel;
all bus trips are under broad daylight.</span></font></span></font></span></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></span></font></span></span>
<h1 style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
Destination #3: Mt Everest (</font></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">August 26)</font></span></span></font></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">
The Epic Adventures was able to secure our slots for the Mountain Flight. This was the cancelled flight on August 23rd. And today, we were granted with clear sky.<br /></font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTq2iWivaoXl-137d2j4-clsY8HXPZ4Lo1R2lFkmeG_CMUc0cv0Vt4e8Jcv6Yrot1tKUMPIxCiwpQsAkeReKNaL8ER_cObpQLAeyRlUEMqEW2mYO63VE1-4rYkxVbZevEtmCUmAym64Gn/s1600/IMG_4061.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTq2iWivaoXl-137d2j4-clsY8HXPZ4Lo1R2lFkmeG_CMUc0cv0Vt4e8Jcv6Yrot1tKUMPIxCiwpQsAkeReKNaL8ER_cObpQLAeyRlUEMqEW2mYO63VE1-4rYkxVbZevEtmCUmAym64Gn/s320/IMG_4061.HEIC" width="240" /></a></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xn8nW_g1Tyi6e3qiTiW7OM8hlGl6g-9LcUpw0CFBdOhhx8yuMxgmb-hc9U__FwyLfMnkJQc_U3tdySxiib-aIA1Kc0z76cHz_PY-gyZ5yb4VOIfWm-lhvtgBPzmjySa5gJYUECh68MhC/s1600/IMG_4062.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xn8nW_g1Tyi6e3qiTiW7OM8hlGl6g-9LcUpw0CFBdOhhx8yuMxgmb-hc9U__FwyLfMnkJQc_U3tdySxiib-aIA1Kc0z76cHz_PY-gyZ5yb4VOIfWm-lhvtgBPzmjySa5gJYUECh68MhC/s320/IMG_4062.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At the domestic airport waiting for our flight with Shree Airlines<br /></font></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><br /><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Not everyone can climb Mt Everest and come
down alive. So it is wonderful to know that Nepal promotes the Mountain
Flights as a tourism program. Even in a distance, Mt Everest is one and
only beauty that shoots up the sky over and above all other peaks. You
see not clouds but snow caps, the alps...</font></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rb9Gg5CqRNB_A0Bkpkb3UZpOSOQ2_Xh1u-Xs7npa2fMH5_1GOfHt-z0TTv3Ge-Zd9-HQArLTDmP5OaupV8xBwB-ruILepWwduDiJ2RGtbitkrt6yPkMwUIugo1nEUe-c8lytGEhVBGfW/s1600/IMG_4086.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rb9Gg5CqRNB_A0Bkpkb3UZpOSOQ2_Xh1u-Xs7npa2fMH5_1GOfHt-z0TTv3Ge-Zd9-HQArLTDmP5OaupV8xBwB-ruILepWwduDiJ2RGtbitkrt6yPkMwUIugo1nEUe-c8lytGEhVBGfW/s320/IMG_4086.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2">Flying over Himalayas Mountain Ranges and spotting Mt Everest from a distance</font></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd60AIWOQ7r4eGOEc2wCACLtLeSyvDFHwNJfXJMB90JKUe_6K23K-ZOu98xdIyocKS8rQvFxqOeSyEuUfNHDNRoOOMuPVeilBaIjoHDnytAj82VhchsvMPxG0rN0V26av7XoMET0iKpUJ/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1311" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd60AIWOQ7r4eGOEc2wCACLtLeSyvDFHwNJfXJMB90JKUe_6K23K-ZOu98xdIyocKS8rQvFxqOeSyEuUfNHDNRoOOMuPVeilBaIjoHDnytAj82VhchsvMPxG0rN0V26av7XoMET0iKpUJ/s320/IMG_4100.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2">The fly came with certificate</font></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Indeed, seeing Mt Everest and all other peaks of Himalayas Mountains is
an experience of a lifetime. </font></span></span>Another tick off my bucket
list!!!</font></span></span></font></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndcX8EzHcX3fD5cI3Dp_o3tuLxKSm25BYk1VfeCQET5uhqwLgXIOlE2ngAcGTE1JDbkh1GQZNyRYuszQ5zOtyEvnvo3zitnlvXrFsnbvLcPWUBp2KeYWyx4qfww7HlbR2iGU5SiD7PmOs/s1600/IMG_4103.HEIC" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndcX8EzHcX3fD5cI3Dp_o3tuLxKSm25BYk1VfeCQET5uhqwLgXIOlE2ngAcGTE1JDbkh1GQZNyRYuszQ5zOtyEvnvo3zitnlvXrFsnbvLcPWUBp2KeYWyx4qfww7HlbR2iGU5SiD7PmOs/s320/IMG_4103.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="2">At the airport's departure area</font><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"></font></span></span></div>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-76270325683775389012019-08-19T00:56:00.000-07:002019-12-23T00:07:53.978-08:00Overnight Stay in Bali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On my way to Dili, Timor Leste on August 3, I had a short layover in Bali. I treated it as the appetizer. Such a quick stay at Novotel and grabbed few snapshots of Balinese architectures on my way back to the airport.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoh3-fqbxwVuhMc9RVAR-1UbdtAxW0BofeqQdAyBPqyl_7ulsKOZpQNEtRcjmmvTAPkbZ4afwM_3bWQvKWXaZNUU_gAja0BgDB3B7ZOM_PRXk6rVs9qSNwfj2CEQoLNCZ2_ijYEInM9eT/s1600/IMG_2743.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoh3-fqbxwVuhMc9RVAR-1UbdtAxW0BofeqQdAyBPqyl_7ulsKOZpQNEtRcjmmvTAPkbZ4afwM_3bWQvKWXaZNUU_gAja0BgDB3B7ZOM_PRXk6rVs9qSNwfj2CEQoLNCZ2_ijYEInM9eT/s320/IMG_2743.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp2K9cLzAEzPZEOXGdfc8Zk4HS3H8eogqvW1ZyXbqDsxd44aEYjCUQG8XwfYlBKkQoV-sLY2op60UAUqUQhLpqvlPYlBe7XAXWqZ7rZykUEcIx0SjO_Ljj3eMLmdZ7DCp_0FJ7umzTYtK/s1600/IMG_2757.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp2K9cLzAEzPZEOXGdfc8Zk4HS3H8eogqvW1ZyXbqDsxd44aEYjCUQG8XwfYlBKkQoV-sLY2op60UAUqUQhLpqvlPYlBe7XAXWqZ7rZykUEcIx0SjO_Ljj3eMLmdZ7DCp_0FJ7umzTYtK/s320/IMG_2757.HEIC" width="239" /></a></div>
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It was on August 17 on my way back to Manila that I stayed one weekend in this famous island. Had my booking confirmed and complete at Lotus Tirta Seminyak Hotel. Although locating it was difficult, had been dragging my luggage from the dropoff point (the taxi driver tricked me!) up to about a kilometer that I finally found it, I was accommodated to a villa all to my own.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMbGDzwWNfOkWkGpmkOsiYclUXpMivvgXUA9wIM-swLJ4p0DvUHMY6IKULZI6sp7pAhqo-EKb6UkWaQJfXeOCr4RnTSmCbmIGkNhqJCeDheH9p_jeLcIsKx-xi-IAC2GgV10L8hBh7NDH/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMbGDzwWNfOkWkGpmkOsiYclUXpMivvgXUA9wIM-swLJ4p0DvUHMY6IKULZI6sp7pAhqo-EKb6UkWaQJfXeOCr4RnTSmCbmIGkNhqJCeDheH9p_jeLcIsKx-xi-IAC2GgV10L8hBh7NDH/s320/IMG_3269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hotel I found out was within the touristy area; a walking distance to the Seminyak White Beach. After having settled down, I followed the direction to the beach and have witnessed the wonderful sunset like no other. I loved the ambience, the energy, and the long shoreline of powdery white sand. <br />
Sunset viewing here -- where I realized why Bali is attractive to all international tourists. I will definitely come back for this reason only.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_O8HA7-galC1RZXeOFJ1-PqDcGA9McKMWGGpGngwG8QRrFBFymOxTeG5iw0FIUT12IUxttbHi8YZkU7xh80K6ROOVtHUJ7BHbjDDrotV7elnAmcM9g3tEhSMg9ASRqRURKdTsDNcH0RD/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_O8HA7-galC1RZXeOFJ1-PqDcGA9McKMWGGpGngwG8QRrFBFymOxTeG5iw0FIUT12IUxttbHi8YZkU7xh80K6ROOVtHUJ7BHbjDDrotV7elnAmcM9g3tEhSMg9ASRqRURKdTsDNcH0RD/s320/DSC_0049.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seminyak White Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I hired a private car to show me around on August 18. I got the whole day on board a black Toyota Innova with a 21yo driver-tour guide. Of course, I would follow the usual formula for first-timers in the island. I went straight to the Ubud area and then drove back passing all best spots with Balinese signatures. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goa Gajah</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubud Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubud Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tegallalang Rice Terraces</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taste of Luwak coffee plus plus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ulun Danu Beratan Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanah Lot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another experience of wonderful sunset at Tanah Lot</td></tr>
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I flew back to Manila on August 19, so fulfilled with Bali, plus that hope of coming back again.</div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.3405389 115.09195090000003-9.3456764 113.80105740000003 -7.3354014 116.38284440000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-29373669357059397162019-07-02T00:57:00.000-07:002019-12-23T00:43:43.643-08:00A Trip for Mama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Mama Dulcing was turning 74 this year, so I planned a birthday celebration for her -- a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam with me. Vietnam will be her second country outside Philippines; second to Hongkong, China.</span><br />
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<span class="fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><b>June 29 - Old Quarter and Lake</b><br />Our first day tour was within Hanoi City using the Hop On Hop Off Bus. I showed her first the Hoan Kiem Lake which we passed by from the hotel towards the pickup point. Then we got to the Temple of Literature, followed by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the West Lake, the National Historical Museum, and the Women Museum.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Temple of Literature</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Temple of Literature</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Nguyen Art Gallery fronting the Temple of Literature</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Pillar Pagoda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the West Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tran Quoc Pagoda within the West Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Women Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along Hoan Kiem Lake</td></tr>
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<span class="fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><b>June 30 - Halong Bay</b><br />On our second day in Vietnam, I let Mama D experienced the Halong Bay Cruise with onboard lunch, spelunking at the giant cave, and bamboo boat rafting.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the hotel lobby while waiting for the tour pickup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the usual stopover on the way to Halong Bay which has several shops and display of stone sculptures </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising the Halong Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Hang Sung Sot Cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafting as part of Halong Bay Tour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On board the bamboo raft</td></tr>
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<b><span class="fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">July 1 - Binh Din and Na Trang</span></b><br />
On our third day, we will be both first-timers in the trip to Binh Din Temple and Na Trang boat rowing experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the hotel lobby while waiting for the tour pickup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bin Dinh Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour inside the temple with 252 lifesized buddhas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trang An boating experience</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the boat ride in Trang An</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the set (shooting site) of the Skull Island</td></tr>
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<span class="fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Mama D was full of energy. She endured the heat of the sun, walked the whole stretch, climbing up and down the temples, and took part in rowing. I was glad she enjoyed the 4-day trip.</span></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam21.0277644 105.8341597999999520.968477399999998 105.75347879999995 21.0870514 105.91484079999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-21319105190068491122019-04-23T22:38:00.159-07:002020-06-11T23:36:38.352-07:00Unholy Week in Sri Lanka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">My backpacking tour in Sri Lanka was supposed to kick start in April 2020, but was overtaken by an official business trip to Colombo in Sri Lanka in February.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoymnQ8GMhdXHRNSIkhkdLX5RFpIr-Ljl4rKgFGedZI959klxzMkJvW_3jcQ0VnN0o2xvlFCE6l-xhB2oxsAtE1KjYtXpNF6O-E5DRte8gc7vz6dz-_3-3pDYtBgQBqxA2OLbBi_QW6L2/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoymnQ8GMhdXHRNSIkhkdLX5RFpIr-Ljl4rKgFGedZI959klxzMkJvW_3jcQ0VnN0o2xvlFCE6l-xhB2oxsAtE1KjYtXpNF6O-E5DRte8gc7vz6dz-_3-3pDYtBgQBqxA2OLbBi_QW6L2/s320/DSC_0301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Golden Temple in Dambulla, with Sigiriya Fortress in the horizon</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 16 - Second visit to Sri Lanka</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Today was the first day of the New Year for Sri Lankan. It was yet 5pm when the Korean Air I flew from Maldives landed on Sri Lankan wet soil. The hard rain caused the turbulence upon our descent.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">There was quite an interrogation at the immigration counter. The officer asked my purpose of visit, have I been to Korea or Male, hinted about possibly working in Sri Lanka. So after his stamp of my entry visa, I scurried past him and looked for the exit. </span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">This was my second time here in Colombo airport but I struggled finding the exit door. I asked airport personnel twice before I saw the exit sign. I plan to learn the bus system from airport to the city but opted to take the taxi because of the heavy rains. I approached the kiosk outside the arrival area and ordered a taxi to Colombo. The quoted rate was LKR2,800 which is usual rate but I added LKR300 when the driver suggested taking the expressway. Took this as my chance to get change for ky LKR5,000 bill. The driver was kind enough to contact my hotel to get the exact location. </span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I found C1 Fort Colombo Hotel at the city center. I passed by this direction the first time I was in the city. So I felt safe. I was given the lower bunk in a room of 8. I like the place, the bed primarily, even the common toilet and bathroom. Now I thought of cancelling my other hotel reservation on my return and stay here because it’s comfortable and way cheaper.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I shared the room with a fellow Filipino who just concluded his weeklong trip around Sri Lanka. He hinted me of Polonnaruwa Ruins as better than Anuradhapura. So I inserted Polonnaruwa in my Dambullah-Sigiriya tour.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Since Korean Air served heavy snack on board, so I retired that night full. But of course I did my research first about my subsequent days’ commute and directions before hitting the sack.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses: LKR5,600 (Taxi-2,800 + Toll Fee-300 + Hotel 1N-2,500)</span></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 17 - Reaching Heights </span></span></h3>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">This was a very long day of travel... merely because I took the long way, I realized. The express train at 830am from Colombo to Hatton was not really an express trip. I noticed through Google’s offline map that I veered away from Hatton as compared to the hired car or bus or van’s route. After 3 hours, the train stopped at Kandy. I failed to note this; had I known about this, I should have inserted a day in Kandy City... or skipped Colombo and spent overnight in Kandy.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e5QMgmqWvQGR5JlGG4BclnjEOXh3G_28FCLEMfsk7ItNplwxCLU8EQ3hy20QPf3YfO8hRz7jKyWFshAj6cRF3iVFj8FLc8z9JZc1inPDPBASpFTbdlxcjjfwei9hHQYa_Kno_Fw50yTv/s1600/IMG20190417112738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e5QMgmqWvQGR5JlGG4BclnjEOXh3G_28FCLEMfsk7ItNplwxCLU8EQ3hy20QPf3YfO8hRz7jKyWFshAj6cRF3iVFj8FLc8z9JZc1inPDPBASpFTbdlxcjjfwei9hHQYa_Kno_Fw50yTv/s320/IMG20190417112738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">It was crazy here. Even if you have 2nd class ticket, you have to elbow your way in to find a seat in an express train. From Colombo, the coaches were jampacked that everyone was standing in the aisles, elderlies and kids alike, locals and foreigners. Some locals would volunteer to reserve you a seat for a tip. I was fortunate to follow an elderly local who jumped on to the train as it was slowly approaching to the parking bay. We’re the firsts to get a front seat. But then he gestured to a young mother carrying a child to sit between us. So yeah, it was a hot and crowded ride.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSg6HZsFbOHqfP-pXHJFjBhclP_bMrX1-wWqMsCfy2b9mPC-Vni5K_RBa2C8W6WljkwazTjt_qoC7OWajWumgLjZr4v68qREc6_ER-l6h_nYYYanUwgN7NZYxtsq0Q89ySv11bDYkkdk1/s1600/IMG20190417133619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSg6HZsFbOHqfP-pXHJFjBhclP_bMrX1-wWqMsCfy2b9mPC-Vni5K_RBa2C8W6WljkwazTjt_qoC7OWajWumgLjZr4v68qREc6_ER-l6h_nYYYanUwgN7NZYxtsq0Q89ySv11bDYkkdk1/s320/IMG20190417133619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Another 2 hours had past and we reached Hatton Station. I braved the heavy rain to hop on the next bus to Delhousie. My first itinerary is to climb the Adam’s Peak and Delhousie is the jumpoff point, and Hatton is the nearest train station. I found myself a sit by the window. When rain dissipated a bit, everyone jumped on board and the bus was cramped with people, where half of us were standing.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEuIsoTwy6Sb9pl0vx3j0Qnkb9G-n3zsms5VIutVhfCEijXqklmllLzue9coNmrtHq386Ajz9B5E8UaZ6ZbdpPNtJ5j8NIsl1ouyO8koC7vdPpJqiKHfEr9tzLTwCkvmIbchqlh-3406z/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEuIsoTwy6Sb9pl0vx3j0Qnkb9G-n3zsms5VIutVhfCEijXqklmllLzue9coNmrtHq386Ajz9B5E8UaZ6ZbdpPNtJ5j8NIsl1ouyO8koC7vdPpJqiKHfEr9tzLTwCkvmIbchqlh-3406z/s320/DSC_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I wished it was clear sky that day when we climbed and jigjagged our way to Delhousie. I read that it has a beautiful green landscape here. I napped a bit and found that the bus was approaching the terminal (it was just a dropoff I think) which was 3-km away from my room accommodation, which I passed already, when I consulted the Google map. So I decided to grab dinner first before going back. Then I hired a tuktuk to take me back to Rashmira Homestay. The driver quoted LKR400 and I haggled for LKR200, but we settled at LKR300.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I was ushered in by an old lady. I later learned that there were 4 of us billeted that night: a young lady from Holland (named Nina) and a Spanish couple, Neria and Quan, from San Sebastian in Spain. We bonded that night and agreed to climbed together. We clicked right away, agreed on a wake up call, hire car to take us to the jumpoff, and even what to wear to counter the morning cold.</span></span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses: LKR1,410 (Train Ticket-260 + Snacks-100 + Bus Fare-0 + Dinner-750 + Tuktuk-300)</span></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 18 - Adam's Peak with new Friends</span></span></h3>
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">We were up and ready by 2am. As arranged, the son of our hostess drove us to the foot of the Adam’s Peak.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHLwamH0ZINdNuepHQXpYRSC5NKn6P8v0Y94d4si0mSjUF-3wvMXFlRERWBPjY4TSbBPoV4zWz6mC6cSTqAJ6yJ6GY4y6u-yv2AHDpBOvJJSB9neGUYr67by8ezrL_eay4BlhtucSLfhy/s1600/IMG20190418053557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHLwamH0ZINdNuepHQXpYRSC5NKn6P8v0Y94d4si0mSjUF-3wvMXFlRERWBPjY4TSbBPoV4zWz6mC6cSTqAJ6yJ6GY4y6u-yv2AHDpBOvJJSB9neGUYr67by8ezrL_eay4BlhtucSLfhy/s320/IMG20190418053557.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Adam's Peak</td></tr>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">This week was holiday for Sri Lankans. As expected, hoards of pilgrims came to climb the sacred mountain for Buddhists. This was a challenging climb which most blogs described as 4- to 5-hour ascent. Most climbers were locals, bracing with extended families and friends, carrying their little babies, towing their kids and elderlies. I guessed that because the trail is paved and the steps are concrete all the way up that people of all ages find it favorable to climb.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Upon reaching the 2,000 masl mark, the climbing crowd stuck and immovable for 30 minutes already. I was in the middle of the crowd along with other foreign tourists. Feeling that crowd of locals won’t budge, we seemed to understand each other and together retreated, found a way to head down. We heard from other English-speaking tourist who went up ahead of us commenting that it was impossible to reach the peak where steps are narrower while plenty of people are still up there.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke4ud4V2pyYXW8EbrkXc_TsQWIiI-TQjXtp_lmt3f_Ea6GDJSQa4Y7gDOTA9cxeKayRFrBpVMwd96TGPfNYfr2_8IwoDR4iITwwbxQE56OCZ4cpEgVU8ZzdamFJ7fbSqWb7XrFdxQpeEN/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke4ud4V2pyYXW8EbrkXc_TsQWIiI-TQjXtp_lmt3f_Ea6GDJSQa4Y7gDOTA9cxeKayRFrBpVMwd96TGPfNYfr2_8IwoDR4iITwwbxQE56OCZ4cpEgVU8ZzdamFJ7fbSqWb7XrFdxQpeEN/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoards of pilgrims</td></tr>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I decided to walk all the way back to the house. I got plenty of good sights, from waterfalls to lakes and mazes within tea plantations. When I reached my room, I noticed that Neria and Quan did not push for the peak and headed back ahead of me. In the end, only Nina successfully reached the peak. She told us during breakfast time of the other route she took with the company of other foreigners. They reached the other side of the mountain though, not the one facing the sunrise, where most people preferred.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kreiXdrVDpiZxZi82PMaBsJK4WkBm52a8TDrjfEI5tQ_yRm3L_e_rf7B4OXm0rtCIAXgPGuY_PgAG11rvR7zg2p_H4iUqTbxOX1_RbWT-GqyNmmlBrBJJgo97xvH3wPcykrTGrBRwLcX/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kreiXdrVDpiZxZi82PMaBsJK4WkBm52a8TDrjfEI5tQ_yRm3L_e_rf7B4OXm0rtCIAXgPGuY_PgAG11rvR7zg2p_H4iUqTbxOX1_RbWT-GqyNmmlBrBJJgo97xvH3wPcykrTGrBRwLcX/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall along the highway</td></tr>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">After one nice and long conversation about life and travels, we agreed to travel together to Kandy, hire a van and split the fare equally. The landscape along the way was impressive. But it was raining when we reached Kandy City. We went on separate ways from here. We dropped Nina first and then myself at a corner close to the bus station. The roads were flooding so I opted to grab a meal first before looking for the Dambulla-bound buses. I headed to the nearest KFC. It was the best meal of my day because they served 2-pc chicken with rice-the Sri Lankan way. The rain stopped as soon as I finished my meal.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBFOq3gEyF2vDzhZylPIrBY82RJYgvPW4eGrMTbeNsDSP9CpmrjiTlyiPShHg5BX3M1iiQmVHFYEKGzEGLQkdcjs7kL-Qj-t3044SZIGnEsv7KoCmz0qfUgavc5-oJ5DXtUZCdd2p1UW4/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBFOq3gEyF2vDzhZylPIrBY82RJYgvPW4eGrMTbeNsDSP9CpmrjiTlyiPShHg5BX3M1iiQmVHFYEKGzEGLQkdcjs7kL-Qj-t3044SZIGnEsv7KoCmz0qfUgavc5-oJ5DXtUZCdd2p1UW4/s320/DSC_0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christian church surrounded by tea plantation</td></tr>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Back to the bus station, I asked several men to point me to the buses going to Dambulla. I found them parked close to the Post Office. I changed my mind of taking regular bus when I spotted an AC Coaster marked Dambulla. I jumped in and settled at the front seat. The 2-hour ride was worth the LKR400. The driver dropped me so close to the lodging house I booked that night. The bus stop was actually right in front of the Dambulla Golden Temple. Without difficulty, I located the Lark Lodge few steps away.</span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses: LKR6,410 (Homestay with Car-3,280 + Car to Kandy-2,000 + Dinner at KFC-730 + Bus to Dambulla-400)</span></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 19AM - DIY in Sigiriya <br /></span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ-n5Ssh8_oF5H6ugd65x498f-C9KzN_uSQgnLQmQQfgG2mCKoTm4AQ-44EXrJqAq2cf1XVpKFaQ2mAo1SM-zASXYdi-sCWNh4wsbgZ03Y0SO71NRzSwQhrAl12HQnCLuyqmeZZJhW0ID/s1600/IMG20190419083637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ-n5Ssh8_oF5H6ugd65x498f-C9KzN_uSQgnLQmQQfgG2mCKoTm4AQ-44EXrJqAq2cf1XVpKFaQ2mAo1SM-zASXYdi-sCWNh4wsbgZ03Y0SO71NRzSwQhrAl12HQnCLuyqmeZZJhW0ID/s320/IMG20190419083637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I immediately felt home in this family-run lodging house, named Lark Lodge. Last night, they offered me hot milk tea, both milk and tea they made themselves, they claimed. They served it along with local sweet delicacies. I actually earned a goodnight sleep in a fan room with small and single twin beds.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today, I am ready for another full-day adventure: Sigiriya Rock in the morning and Polonnaruwa Ancient Ruins in the afternoon.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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I initially planned to take the bus to Sigiriya, when I realized that the bus station was reasonably distant from the lodging house. When I approached the nearest available tuktuk, the driver asked me my destination. When I told him about the bus to Sigiriya, he offered his service direct to Sigiriya for LKR1,000. I found it way cheaper than most blogs I read that ranged from LKR1,500-2,000. So I hired him. I turned him down when he offered his service to drive me to Polonnaruwa which will cost me a total of LKR5,000. So he offered instead to wait me up until I am finished with Sigiriya Fortress. Still I refused.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboo0jJFNEC1r_qBvDCABMZ8FmcUzNpU3zfANuqrxZTCoyoXGkD79hsUfag49isi29ZsIapzcmi9vXL36-OiuTD3IIvyc-DacfgHpJC6RPmUIPVNXiTyfApmX6XWD77tTweAEqp-MsCj3M/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboo0jJFNEC1r_qBvDCABMZ8FmcUzNpU3zfANuqrxZTCoyoXGkD79hsUfag49isi29ZsIapzcmi9vXL36-OiuTD3IIvyc-DacfgHpJC6RPmUIPVNXiTyfApmX6XWD77tTweAEqp-MsCj3M/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There were several tourists already, locals mostly, when I arrived at the dropoff point. Uniformed locals were offering tourguide services but I preferred to do it myself. I bought the entry ticket from the museum for US$30 and started climbing the rock right away. It was yet 9am but the humidity was biting hard, so I tried to overtake those ahead of me. Just a start of day but I was soaking in my sweat. At the starting point of the climb was a natural diamond-shaped entryway, made out of two kissing boulders. I then came out into series of stairs and steep steel ladders, sometime, wooden, dangerous-looking and precariously stuck into this humongous rock that shut up from the earth, then stayed like that for centuries. More astonishing it was when I reached the twin-winding stairs at a small fresco with ancient colorful arts and paintings that can be viewed twice, one on your way up the stairs and the the other when coming down. No cameras allowed here, so I have nothing to prove it; one should really be there to see it for real.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLANRBNkSId2G7s5QydhvYTbhmIRKp9w6lfx-hHb1PZbGwhgLKuh4mJIy3AKLbSClGKUyq9BXqwmGCXU0gA0HDOik6doKy7TpjmoIQzi132F6yVWrjFocl_k9937XhXOZOdC2LVqm8TsRL/s1600/IMG20190419081421.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLANRBNkSId2G7s5QydhvYTbhmIRKp9w6lfx-hHb1PZbGwhgLKuh4mJIy3AKLbSClGKUyq9BXqwmGCXU0gA0HDOik6doKy7TpjmoIQzi132F6yVWrjFocl_k9937XhXOZOdC2LVqm8TsRL/s320/IMG20190419081421.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Mirror Wall<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Upon descent from the fresco, I find myself in the mirror wall section. I didn't see or notice anything to prove why it was called as mirror wall but I took a photo and pushed forward until I reached the first landing, a small plateau. This was where the main entryway to the ancient palace above the rock, guarded by a carved stone in the form of a giant lion. The ladders from here are all steel plates, criss-crossing all the way up. It was still early, so there were few climbers then. I was fortunate to reach the top fast. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr66TJYaFhTukZHpk_9oqJbW1QLR4MHubDD_ozEZVZj6-7oMgGahy8bXisdYBfZvjVM_vpc5x77pqcSHGlmXer1i_efq6Q2FA1AZEOg4VEv12tTHrGAtSJKmYYUZgd79jtQAyzwVbj2ZD/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr66TJYaFhTukZHpk_9oqJbW1QLR4MHubDD_ozEZVZj6-7oMgGahy8bXisdYBfZvjVM_vpc5x77pqcSHGlmXer1i_efq6Q2FA1AZEOg4VEv12tTHrGAtSJKmYYUZgd79jtQAyzwVbj2ZD/s320/DSC_0176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of the ancient palace<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Up the Sigiriya Rock was a cascading plateau with remnants of the ancient palace and fortress. It can be viewed as a majestic complex with plenty of palace sections, including a swimming pool, a throne room, audience hall, flower gardens, servants quarter, and more. Ancient ruins are really my fascination because they enticed me to imagine ancient architectures, and wonder how on earth the ancient humans built them during crude times. These amazing structures were perched 370 masl, a palace with 1.5ha area, made of red bricks, and complete with plumbing and lighting and more fixtures.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVCLga9HJZtg_LZ7uo3MjNZEwBIbdaDrcujYk5YI6nV3f5cIz_zrSoZAl1Y297CKIInMGn96H7m_-Qy7c2OS1AtRBH6zxXNOPRyBRN7vZ6DkrUHf1p69bRYmZ0hoL_kgaqY2pFtrQPEma/s1600/IMG20190419090157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVCLga9HJZtg_LZ7uo3MjNZEwBIbdaDrcujYk5YI6nV3f5cIz_zrSoZAl1Y297CKIInMGn96H7m_-Qy7c2OS1AtRBH6zxXNOPRyBRN7vZ6DkrUHf1p69bRYmZ0hoL_kgaqY2pFtrQPEma/s320/IMG20190419090157.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top the Sigiriya Rock<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I met Vicky Brown up there when we exchanged cameras to take better pictures of the view. She offered help when I struggled taking selfies. We talked many things about our shared wanderlusting and went down together off to the highway. I said goodbye to her as she walked her way back to their hotel. And I waited for the bus with signboard, "Polonnaruwa".</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 19PM - Biking around Polonnaruwa Ancient City</span></span></h3>
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I later realized that Sigiriya's location is interior; I still have to go back to the main highway to catch local buses going to Polonnaruwa. Fortunately, I asked the driver (who can speak good English) of the bus that waited for passengers at that junction. He invited me to come on board promising he'll drop me at the main highway. True enough, at Inamaluwa Junction, he pointed me to the other side of the road to wait for the bus to Polonnaruwa.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This was what I learnt in Sri Lanka, the landmark of any town or city center is the Clock Tower. When you noticed one, that should be your dropoff point. I made my first mistake in my adventure to Polonnaruwa. I was on board a filled bus, so I stood the whole time. That's one reason I missed the Clock Tower. Second realization was to never trust at all times the Google Map's direction. I was pinned to a dropoff point reasonably far from the Clock Tower.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Indeed, I alighted at the town's General Hospital, more than a kilometer passed the Clock Tower where the Tourism Office is located. So I braved the hot midday sun and walked my way back. I was reluctant to hail any tuktuk because they all seemed full everytime they passed by me. Or they may charge me more high for a walkable distance.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You won't miss the Tourism Office; it was the only nice building adjacent to the Clock Tower. But the Ticket Issuer , their term for the receptionist or Tourism Officer, was disappointing. He has no knowledge about anything a tourist would inquire. I asked him about sitemap (none, "finished"), bike for rent (no reaction), usual rate for the tuktuk ride (no idea), how far is the ancient ruins from the office (so-so). He is not the right person for the job; and apparently, he was not happy with it.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWx4INTIlurOkBtOHdpp4tAnV-naEp6PXju7x5zGHWlCMHg68RosMiIFmWCq5X4nYlvj-Atmun44SMHGQMhuCZAC3e5qibCccl6NHGKoKo-vbMr0rAcWwdypuT1GG9boFzKbKkt_yGAPQ/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWx4INTIlurOkBtOHdpp4tAnV-naEp6PXju7x5zGHWlCMHg68RosMiIFmWCq5X4nYlvj-Atmun44SMHGQMhuCZAC3e5qibCccl6NHGKoKo-vbMr0rAcWwdypuT1GG9boFzKbKkt_yGAPQ/s320/DSC_0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I paid $25 for the entry ticket, which you must show to every gate inspector. As I walked my way to the site, I noticed a bike rental shop across the road. I approached and inquired, the keeper offered one good bike for LKR200, which was so cheap that I grabbed it right away. I was biking around this huge complex of the so-called Ancient Sacred City for 2 hours. From one temple to another; from the royal palace to the giant stone statues, burial sites, and more; stopping from one snack center to another for drinks of coconut juice, colas, and others.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was back in Dambulla before sundown, after having returned the bike and caught the next passing bus at the Clock Tower.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses: LKR17,680 (Tuktuk to Sigiriya-1,000 + Snacks-500 + Entry Ticket-5,190 + Bus to Polonnaruwa-135 + Entry Ticket-4,325 + Bike Rental-200 + Snacks-500 + Bus to Dambulla-100 + Dinner 540 + Room 1N-5,190)</span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 20AM - Morning Walk around Dambulla</span></span></h3>
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I woke up late today and slowly strolled towards the Cave Temple through the Golden Temple's gate. I was in no hurry because my tour destinations are located across the lodging house I stayed in. Upon reaching the last landing towards the cave temple, I noticed the signage directing foreign visitors to pass through the Ticketing Office which was on the other side of the hill. So I needed to go down, buy ticket, and climb back again.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It was a different path for tourists like me. I climbed a series of steps carved out of the rocky hill. I arrived at the main entrance panting. Wearing shoes or slippers is not allowed inside, so I deposited my shoes at the rack station for LKR25. As curious as I am, I entered all entryways barefooted. I found several sets of coven, each with its own exhibits of buddhas and statues of royals, murals and other old paintings.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The huge cave was impressive. It exhibited a huge collection of buddhas and statues, as well as intricate artworks of its ceiling. It's facade was so white. I observed several local faithfuls exhibiting rituals.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After that short visit, I headed back down exiting the way I entered through the Golden Temple.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span><h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 20PM - Biking around Anuradhapura Ancient City</span></span></h3><div>I paid for my 2-night accommodation and inquired from the property owner how to take the bus to Anuradhapura. I initially thought that I could just walk to the nearest highway and wait for any bus plying to Anuradhapura. But my host told me that there are 2 highways here and the buses to Anuradhapura passed the other one. And that I need to get to Dambulla's Clock Tower first to wait for them. The old man was so kind that he offered me a free ride on his tuktuk to send me off to the Clock Tower. Perfect accommodation and service from the Lark Lodge!<br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOLGKjscO_QFly4CwOPRlqyidHk9-TOHnpRp64Uoz1dQ0EsMCi5vGf3tnacuZHoXN-Sdaw83FQdb61CwJ-eEhFal8uBPMkIrIRFoTNuT0r1qPQwp81B0eqyYjtFxLzmDQ4E4Y3i7ab_ZE/s1600/IMG20190420150833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOLGKjscO_QFly4CwOPRlqyidHk9-TOHnpRp64Uoz1dQ0EsMCi5vGf3tnacuZHoXN-Sdaw83FQdb61CwJ-eEhFal8uBPMkIrIRFoTNuT0r1qPQwp81B0eqyYjtFxLzmDQ4E4Y3i7ab_ZE/s320/IMG20190420150833.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs9ZWEN5GHcgFtfd24MJumqYPtEaUbeODWkvPfLUgXs38aUGYPcArHC4i8dJgJlZtJUXfYwuxM9Hfcz4UFXxeGUSrE9aDZuILm5CxGh_F0ZczGHjIAP25DvdWXUq1hsf8dqPsJPoLPysI/s1600/DSC_0305.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs9ZWEN5GHcgFtfd24MJumqYPtEaUbeODWkvPfLUgXs38aUGYPcArHC4i8dJgJlZtJUXfYwuxM9Hfcz4UFXxeGUSrE9aDZuILm5CxGh_F0ZczGHjIAP25DvdWXUq1hsf8dqPsJPoLPysI/s320/DSC_0305.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I paid LKR120 for the 2-hour journey to another ancient city in Sri Lanka. The bus I took parked at the so-called New Bus Station just a short distance from the Town's Clock Tower. I have no room reservation here because I canceled my prior booking when I decided to stay another night in Dambulla. So, I decided to stroll towards the railway section, observing for any signage of hotels or guesthouses. There were plenty to choose from, actually, from AC to fan rooms. I spotted one guesthouse, which looked new, and favorable price, located closer to the main road where stores, banks, and restaurants lined up.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It was noontime yet, so I have plenty of time to explore Anuradhapura. Without further ado, I went straight to the Ancient City by foot, passing the Train Station. I tried to follow the road towards the so-called "sacred city" looking for the Ticket Office and Bike Rentals. It was a long walk when I spotted a junk shop with signage for bike rental. I rented it for LKR600, got site map from the owner, and some pointers on how to navigate and where to start. I biked my way to the Ticketing Office and started biking here and there everytime I saw a Stupa, temple, or similar structure. It was a huge ground where these ancient ruins are scattered. <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Unlike Polonnaruwa where walking around the area is possible, here in Anuradhapura one needs a transport; a bike at the least. The shop owner was effective and credible than a tourism officer. One, he outlined for me the route to take in order to cover the whole tourist destination; two, he warned me about the 2 spots within the area that will require additional entry fee at the rate of LKR200; three, I need to cover myself because wearing shortpants is inappropriate in entering temples and handed me a piece of cloth; and four, he reminded me of the closing times for the park and his shop will be at 5pm and 6pm, respectively.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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Temples, stupas, and most structures here are not original one or curated ones, but reconstructed. The whole ancient structures are completely ruined. Most that remains are slabs, posts, stakes, brickwalls, and polvourized bricks. After biking around and seeing every ruined and reconstructed structures, I concluded that Polonnaruwa is better preserved than this. I ended my tour at half past 4pm, sunburnt and exhausted, with hurting butts. The whole area was too wide but empty.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses:
LKR13,445 (Entry Ticket-1,500 + Lark Lodge (2N)-5,250 + Snacks & Drinks-550 </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Bus to Anuradhapura-120 </span></span>+ </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Entry Ticket to Ruins-4,425 + </span></span>Bike Rental-600 + Dinner-1,000)</span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 21 - Taking the Train to Colombo</span></span></h3>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">I was scheduled to depart Anuradhapura on board the local train at 11AM. So that morning I hike to the lakeside. They have this walkway, adequately paved for local joggers, runners, or strollers, lining and snaking along the riverbanks. I joined some locals did morning exercises there and enjoyed the lake. <br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_J1oAkotrUsi7yJeksJAOEN2RBh9E6zK-jPWwA5cIUHOlRSsjCOM2x-1duvVBVZ22Z7YJWdQCzotJIxgBgDkafB5XMNpn9PZbdKa5w47pXs1ncwCKwFWq4PM0zCGsxwXmLaSGECPrV0m/s1600/IMG20190421071132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_J1oAkotrUsi7yJeksJAOEN2RBh9E6zK-jPWwA5cIUHOlRSsjCOM2x-1duvVBVZ22Z7YJWdQCzotJIxgBgDkafB5XMNpn9PZbdKa5w47pXs1ncwCKwFWq4PM0zCGsxwXmLaSGECPrV0m/s320/IMG20190421071132.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">On my way back, I dropped by a food kiosk serving buffet breakfast of local recipes at very low price. Then tried another restaurant known as "Walker" for the second breakfast. <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k5XFY5D3IKbOvIO09bFJ9xSr8sTkPyWSrsp3buOZ7xt7qWqPMbAbfcES3L-S8a2x_BwJKOPo4Y_3dpl7wDF_l8HI8XoC0_fjMk2KWFeJLGXvsRHdrhnERHLfDlUldj_Q1o5Cw4HJwr62/s1600/IMG20190421071538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k5XFY5D3IKbOvIO09bFJ9xSr8sTkPyWSrsp3buOZ7xt7qWqPMbAbfcES3L-S8a2x_BwJKOPo4Y_3dpl7wDF_l8HI8XoC0_fjMk2KWFeJLGXvsRHdrhnERHLfDlUldj_Q1o5Cw4HJwr62/s320/IMG20190421071538.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />Passengers bound for or in the direction of Colombo crowded the Train Station at 10AM. Then something horrible happened around Sri Lanka; news of series of bombing was aired around lunchtime. Most bomb explosions was reported to happen in Colombo City, in Christian Churches during the celebration of Easter Sunday and in select high-end hotels. The news was broadcasted in local language and my seatmate was so kind to translate it to me in brief English. Hundreds of innocent lives were killed, injured, and affected.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It caused long delay in our departure. I personally thought I would be staying another night here.My fellow passengers were busy calling families and friends with grim looks on their faces. Then we're cleared to depart and my whole afternoon was spent in the journey which arrived at Colombo Fort station at 6pm. It was eerie to find the supposed busy city to be completely deserted, so dead quiet, all establishments were closed; only few people including myself was seen walking on the streets. At the check in counter of the C1 Fort Colombo Hotel, I learnt that curfew was raised from 6PM to 6AM. My problem now was the dinner. I was starving since I have not eaten formal meal except for the cookies and juice I packed on the train ride. I also learnt that most hotel guests were asking for dinner which the hotel tried to facilitate. Then that night, all of us were served with kutto at little past 8PM.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxGB5phjI8BWFE62HlbeDDDJJHUIbxPBAJDUgM83MAhBS-PP9AMgVWM3zawUy_fn7Mk5QfmUOqt6kjOVcHi6INSqD3RgfHUnTLKMwuiqtp3A_roEnpdS78XzWiUsrWdq5RGffzd2ElBLi/s1600/IMG20190421113904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxGB5phjI8BWFE62HlbeDDDJJHUIbxPBAJDUgM83MAhBS-PP9AMgVWM3zawUy_fn7Mk5QfmUOqt6kjOVcHi6INSqD3RgfHUnTLKMwuiqtp3A_roEnpdS78XzWiUsrWdq5RGffzd2ElBLi/s320/IMG20190421113904.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses:
LKR7,120 (Room in Anuradhapura (1N)-3,500 </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Breakfast-390 </span></span></span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Train to Colombo-380 </span></span></span></span>+ Snacks & Drinks-150 </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Hotel in Colombo</span></span>-2,400 + Dinner-300)</span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">April 22 - Tense Flight Home</span></span></h3>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">After massive bombing yesterday, security in the country, especially in Colombo City was tight. I was afraid my flight will be canceled. I needed to get home asap. Since last night, all social media were shutdown. I used my roaming to keep my family updated and assured them not to worry because I was safe. But many of my friends who knew that I was in Sri Lanka traveling were posting messages in my Facebook and Messenger accounts.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">That morning, I intended to buy Dilmah Teas from Hilton Hotel, souvenirs from the Old Dutch Hospital Building, and food from the nearest KFC</span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">. But all these establishments remained closed that day, for security reasons most definitely. So I shopped them through the local shop and grocery store that dared open.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Then I decided to get to the airport as early as possible, although my flight was scheduled at break of dawn of April 23. For security reasons, I was torn between taking the local bus or the Uber to go to the airport. I tried first the Uber but it declined my card payment. So, I braved taking the local bus where station is a short walk from my hotel. But I hired a tuktuk to take me there and point me the right bus to the airport. It was a small coaster bus, air-conditioned, and cost me only LKR200 versus the LKR2,000 Uber-charge.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">True enough, the security control in the airport was tight. It was known that authorities found an explosive in the airport last night but was successfully detonated. There was a long queue of cars heading towards the airport entrance. The public bus dropped us at the nearest corner to the airport and walked my way inside. My passport was checked thrice before I reached the x-ray machine.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Just like me, many tourists preferred to stay in the airport to wait, no matter how long was their scheduled flight. I spent all my remaining local money to enjoy my long wait.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Expenses:
LKR10,930 (Dilmah tea-3,660 </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Souvenirs-4,990 </span></span></span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Lunch-560 </span></span></span></span>+ Tuktuk-220 </span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">+ Bus to Airport</span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"></span></span>-200 + Dinner-1,300)</span></span> <br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">All in all, I spent more or less 17,000 in Philippine peso for this trip.<br /></span></span></span></span></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Sri Lanka7.8730539999999989 80.7717969999999923.8495274999999989 75.608223 11.896580499999999 85.935370999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-65118193724796543782019-04-16T20:04:00.001-07:002020-06-11T23:36:04.275-07:00Unholy Week in Maldives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Hulhumale Ferry Terminal</td></tr>
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Maldives sounds intriguing to me ever since I realized that there is this one country of flat islands. So I planned my Travel Year 2019 for South Asia, solo-backpacking...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferry Terminal at the Male International Airport</td></tr>
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To take advantage of long holidays, I scheduled my trip to Maldives that weekend before the Holy Week. Booked with AirAsia, I flew to Maldives with a connecting flight through Kuala Lumpur on April 12 and landed at Male Airport on April 13. I queued at the Visa on Arrival and passed the Immigration. To my surprise, my entry visa was free; I read in most blogs that tourists have to pay $30 for it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Maldives' signature - a high-end waterworld!</td></tr>
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<b>Day 1 - April 13</b><br />
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I got acquainted with the surrounding sea waters first, observing the comings and goings of tourists via buses, boats, yachts and taxis. At the airport alone, the scenery and the landscape was impressive and expensive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d8d0rAAgOhlOFaQUcpCUlHsEVo6xRDsWlqmmklRRucvHPeTu3GMCXRgUUx3HF5G_WfZGHcEjdRIWKtq_XddRppjZFrV2eydP4n618NZlHW4jFruBkhj2CzTVNbUV2p3ETM85osxSyHIH/s1600/IMG20190413175930.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d8d0rAAgOhlOFaQUcpCUlHsEVo6xRDsWlqmmklRRucvHPeTu3GMCXRgUUx3HF5G_WfZGHcEjdRIWKtq_XddRppjZFrV2eydP4n618NZlHW4jFruBkhj2CzTVNbUV2p3ETM85osxSyHIH/s320/IMG20190413175930.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Hulhumale Ferry Terminal during sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Hulhumale People's Beach during sunrise</td></tr>
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I approached the loading bay for the commuter bus, as pointed to me by the airport personnel I asked. I hopped on the next bus to Hulhumale Island and informed the driver to drop me at the nearest station to Huvan Beach Resort. I disembarked at a corner with a grocery store and walked towards the beach area the driver pointed me. I kind of lost for my first pass, only to find out that the hotel's signage is at the interior side and its Shell Beans Cafe is more visible from the outside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Witnessing good morning at Hulhumale White Beach in front of Huvan Beach Resort</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBqbmXzg9tJTkatZCPmKKPF1Yav7FXRWWqr7DaZ7n9TxPMgLd_RoaW6Wopf-e7z21TyJ8Bfiz5yJ2SkxGqQtHz8Islu2NnKJ_5v3gGMeXv1SBXgSKKFfojrFWOl1X4Ll9FkbVzWRrHN4/s1600/IMG20190414061802-EFFECTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBqbmXzg9tJTkatZCPmKKPF1Yav7FXRWWqr7DaZ7n9TxPMgLd_RoaW6Wopf-e7z21TyJ8Bfiz5yJ2SkxGqQtHz8Islu2NnKJ_5v3gGMeXv1SBXgSKKFfojrFWOl1X4Ll9FkbVzWRrHN4/s320/IMG20190414061802-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sandy beach front by the way is white but known to be man-made. But I did not spend my afternoon thereby, after having dozed off for a while. Instead I went to the other side of the Hulhumale Island. I walked for less than 10 minutes to the Ferry Boat Terminal. It was where the waterworld action can be personally witnessed. I spent my late afternoon there and witnessed the wonderful sunset in Maldives. Ah, what a blessing!<br />
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<b>Day 2 - April 14</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE58gl6qFW3BuNfBzn-vv2W_eee2S2OHfbOtq5dCBnkFUJeKrl5bDjJHyvo5PVYxBZkKnFwDtxjQ7EhC8_8d-cjFaTim9GzGBKWGZxI9CxhfvfBAFw3ByRpyPtPh8H5ytXWDAqpfldKSb-/s1600/IMG20190414104210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE58gl6qFW3BuNfBzn-vv2W_eee2S2OHfbOtq5dCBnkFUJeKrl5bDjJHyvo5PVYxBZkKnFwDtxjQ7EhC8_8d-cjFaTim9GzGBKWGZxI9CxhfvfBAFw3ByRpyPtPh8H5ytXWDAqpfldKSb-/s320/IMG20190414104210.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo snap with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge connecting Hulhumale Island with Airport Island and Male City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ny3VCIDAb4QWO5hJ3asfNyVzwgUKq7h6bKl94VuiDjmkNACFxTaFzZ70o0Vcrtrl8regFBKcdO8nfxKeMBzIEgFJx2Qhr5kNbRrpcW1ZiuFqWPG5lb2WxXWH6_LD95PexlK6_nX4cIWr/s1600/IMG20190414111308.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ny3VCIDAb4QWO5hJ3asfNyVzwgUKq7h6bKl94VuiDjmkNACFxTaFzZ70o0Vcrtrl8regFBKcdO8nfxKeMBzIEgFJx2Qhr5kNbRrpcW1ZiuFqWPG5lb2WxXWH6_LD95PexlK6_nX4cIWr/s320/IMG20190414111308.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mosque adjacent to Male's Ferry Terminal</td></tr>
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Waking up early in the morning is highly recommended here. I enjoyed the sunrise sitting at the people's beach before the call for the breakfast.<br />
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Today, I decided to roam around Male Island, the capital city of Maldives, on foot. And to get there, I walked back to the Ferry Boat Terminal, and hopped on the next boat trip to Male City. In less than an hour, I was walking the busy streets of the city.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-7xRnsVO6eN1wiu3TEP88LUFkVY-2KM8kxJoc4EPz6ghVKjg-lX73h9ZBRup17yer-fmw3VvOvpIiEfGKKQcWnIczkfU-Zs1XO3yh6e2h7ho_eRunM13_Ra6SD5tDzEQSBE6cEqO2Bo4/s1600/IMG20190414110637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-7xRnsVO6eN1wiu3TEP88LUFkVY-2KM8kxJoc4EPz6ghVKjg-lX73h9ZBRup17yer-fmw3VvOvpIiEfGKKQcWnIczkfU-Zs1XO3yh6e2h7ho_eRunM13_Ra6SD5tDzEQSBE6cEqO2Bo4/s320/IMG20190414110637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCursa-VziYhFegKkhVE2D6URkrRdHjouDwfjvi12W9aeCA28WtMFojuz8wC6Gaw-68h_PWauk5OXSEQQdiWm9bI25Uu-r9w35WkzfxnUK-P3wm-b6UV2e9_CIIDQqiJJ_KSynMfRNXNM/s1600/DSC_0734_2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCursa-VziYhFegKkhVE2D6URkrRdHjouDwfjvi12W9aeCA28WtMFojuz8wC6Gaw-68h_PWauk5OXSEQQdiWm9bI25Uu-r9w35WkzfxnUK-P3wm-b6UV2e9_CIIDQqiJJ_KSynMfRNXNM/s320/DSC_0734_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Presidential Yacht</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_itLvGYbP23gss069EPmn4a3PmoV2TrKyyDqxfZalMebpLUspsJx6N9QRDTKJGMppItMmG7xl1zJNvIunlsG4ykr3qZ_pAHVf7uIjBfvvrnvj7O-N4MlBLCD6oLI6szq5MOp2kzAnMLi/s1600/DSC_0781_1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_itLvGYbP23gss069EPmn4a3PmoV2TrKyyDqxfZalMebpLUspsJx6N9QRDTKJGMppItMmG7xl1zJNvIunlsG4ykr3qZ_pAHVf7uIjBfvvrnvj7O-N4MlBLCD6oLI6szq5MOp2kzAnMLi/s320/DSC_0781_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Republic Square</td></tr>
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It was a willy-nilly walking tour from the Jetty Port Terminal. I started at the so-called Artificial Beach which backdrop is the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge with occasional landing airplanes. Then I walked straight to National Museum, the Sultan Park, and the Republic Square. Next was another stroll through the Public Market and on to another Artificial Beach fronting the Villingili Island, until I reached the Tsunami Monument. I settled at the nearby food avenue to grab lunch and rest my feet. I went back to the Ferry Terminal that afternoon, dropped by the Artificial Beach facing the airport to witness some surfers enjoying the waves under the bridge, took the next ferry ride and back to Hulhumale Island.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41fTihva5rUKgoZa9OPtCO3Uhcn2aHQxRqKY7Y81OZw92cKT0r_9NUdNoJ0XnICFA9Rh3jOi3PqUBu81E5eL0W2OqdjWfdcKBT3QRRl6WmpVcxWDi4-4j_TkQW2GXuZERZdEG7qXJhyRX/s1600/DSC_0787_1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41fTihva5rUKgoZa9OPtCO3Uhcn2aHQxRqKY7Y81OZw92cKT0r_9NUdNoJ0XnICFA9Rh3jOi3PqUBu81E5eL0W2OqdjWfdcKBT3QRRl6WmpVcxWDi4-4j_TkQW2GXuZERZdEG7qXJhyRX/s320/DSC_0787_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Artificial Beach</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXR_FGpDf2NB8CZFA6BxI1PnfZXuo8hpNSS5oO1jrLOlUEaNw-QKM8slFEDfrHs28pVueKuRnCjufBSPaIvQHxI2BJJzz47ZeDTMHDTXXYcxF96ksEAqJysZwp3dTinGoPK7hEIjW8S8t/s1600/IMG20190414120343.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXR_FGpDf2NB8CZFA6BxI1PnfZXuo8hpNSS5oO1jrLOlUEaNw-QKM8slFEDfrHs28pVueKuRnCjufBSPaIvQHxI2BJJzz47ZeDTMHDTXXYcxF96ksEAqJysZwp3dTinGoPK7hEIjW8S8t/s320/IMG20190414120343.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tsunami Monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJY4NnQ3TgiYUgneSFNOlMuWtYH4Q3JVE2NCSJxSFsi2uCRTbgAHD8ic3JYCXZvNC8nVIYbZdoUDyKIHU2d5b_rqCj23PXNcYdZd128rsyg3zjEhFi0g1bQxGOXheFVV63qzQzzIlooSb/s1600/DSC_0792_1%257E2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJY4NnQ3TgiYUgneSFNOlMuWtYH4Q3JVE2NCSJxSFsi2uCRTbgAHD8ic3JYCXZvNC8nVIYbZdoUDyKIHU2d5b_rqCj23PXNcYdZd128rsyg3zjEhFi0g1bQxGOXheFVV63qzQzzIlooSb/s320/DSC_0792_1%257E2.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUS52PcglBe2HJdkReR9UgC_lTtSlH6FVwO0Rf1_e2YxSzOykSdqzrW_BqyrciEIpIhoWwZku3EyUgjlg7VJ6H6muaRT5x9B29gxihd89HcKDssE-ZqyFksp0INyjPyZ-gIsJcMD2ptwXh/s1600/DSC_0795_1%257E2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1503" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUS52PcglBe2HJdkReR9UgC_lTtSlH6FVwO0Rf1_e2YxSzOykSdqzrW_BqyrciEIpIhoWwZku3EyUgjlg7VJ6H6muaRT5x9B29gxihd89HcKDssE-ZqyFksp0INyjPyZ-gIsJcMD2ptwXh/s320/DSC_0795_1%257E2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Op at the Bridge</td></tr>
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<b>Day 3 - April 15</b><br />
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Joining a group tour alone is really challenging and I experienced it here in Maldives. Today was my island hopping to Maafushi. I availed my half day tour package through my hotel. I understood that they have arranged a car to transfer me to the jetty port. But the 9am scheduled pick up has already gone but I was still waiting at the hotel lobby. Until finally my host decided to hire somebody else to send me off to the ferry that will bring me to Maafushi Island.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx07TLm0-B821AtUOjLARonGbHopvkGtTOGv6vSzkvcu-KE1HvtDWlfwTjYWv7HkmUJ2lKYT1TfKw7qf_z-HFPma4pFRgOE8EMfGhUXNldTvB4cnw1i9NAwyB1TJLyBKjvIBK2dMaLGX4q/s1600/DSC_0864_1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx07TLm0-B821AtUOjLARonGbHopvkGtTOGv6vSzkvcu-KE1HvtDWlfwTjYWv7HkmUJ2lKYT1TfKw7qf_z-HFPma4pFRgOE8EMfGhUXNldTvB4cnw1i9NAwyB1TJLyBKjvIBK2dMaLGX4q/s320/DSC_0864_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jetty Port, the boarding area for boats going to the islands like Maafushi</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio3PuZpP7j9MdeshhUYsDT6psosmJzLUMHBTtzNPYFOZ1yntXgMCAEZ1PSQoIvIJ92r_HOfzb2wz89-bOEv2PO-_9Ks1fGyg4r4Po4sE6VTZo4Gc2MytCa7neyySuv0etCLCr9fef9qo6/s1600/DSC_0916.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio3PuZpP7j9MdeshhUYsDT6psosmJzLUMHBTtzNPYFOZ1yntXgMCAEZ1PSQoIvIJ92r_HOfzb2wz89-bOEv2PO-_9Ks1fGyg4r4Po4sE6VTZo4Gc2MytCa7neyySuv0etCLCr9fef9qo6/s320/DSC_0916.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the Maafushi Island</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpQcRVizleNpI0lugSH19Qk4Z6Q-V6uAoGXxSajniDVtlH7Nur-ysxRzufMF-SKk6_Uz49brvgPO5vcIl6gJbCH555cFR6PGKkuMb0JA84SeHlIWi8-ybFaTID8vhthPRTGQIvNcd_ZdZ/s1600/DSC_0919.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpQcRVizleNpI0lugSH19Qk4Z6Q-V6uAoGXxSajniDVtlH7Nur-ysxRzufMF-SKk6_Uz49brvgPO5vcIl6gJbCH555cFR6PGKkuMb0JA84SeHlIWi8-ybFaTID8vhthPRTGQIvNcd_ZdZ/s320/DSC_0919.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FYI there are several guesthouses in this island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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At the port area, somebody else received me and guided me to approaching boat. I noticed that he paid my seat and then waved goodbye. Just less than an hour speedboating, I arrived at Maafushi confused because no one was present to receive me. And I did not have any instructions where to go and what next to do. So I approached a tourism booth and inquire about who to contact or which tour shop to approach, because all I knew was that I already paid for this.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPU9MhrbuGCpscA-641vpnrzqDR3sKHJt5YIzEHhhwqwpH3aVb7b-XhRHf5GZ8aMzlz_n0OZ6g3EwOW4ZaUTUQmPqN5w4yeuzxgkZSkLD7c9smfRkZZllTIXW7gT3fBcktljT4UfzF4quh/s1600/DSC_0957_1%257E2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1094" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPU9MhrbuGCpscA-641vpnrzqDR3sKHJt5YIzEHhhwqwpH3aVb7b-XhRHf5GZ8aMzlz_n0OZ6g3EwOW4ZaUTUQmPqN5w4yeuzxgkZSkLD7c9smfRkZZllTIXW7gT3fBcktljT4UfzF4quh/s320/DSC_0957_1%257E2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My selfies during the snorkeling</td></tr>
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The friendly lady clerk made some calls and confirmed that I was supposedly picked up by the Salt Beach Excursion team. After some admission processes, I was geared up for the island hopping along with other foreign nationals. I was the only Filipino in the group.<br />
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We went snorkeling... ate our packed lunch at a super white sandbar... and dolphin watching.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhBgvysZr7cPe-UYTY9lIriUr7rwMeRXwzKFIBuVnrIx8JmziWZ05RBom2cyoMFDWrU2Pw8t1xPFKWDX3rjR1Zk_cQMJXf991wG2mnpCIHbAo0ThuQT5N6NrmF236Xhb2yG8u-u3Eas6Y/s1600/DSC_0991_1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhBgvysZr7cPe-UYTY9lIriUr7rwMeRXwzKFIBuVnrIx8JmziWZ05RBom2cyoMFDWrU2Pw8t1xPFKWDX3rjR1Zk_cQMJXf991wG2mnpCIHbAo0ThuQT5N6NrmF236Xhb2yG8u-u3Eas6Y/s320/DSC_0991_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At lunchtime on one of the sandbars... the white sand was so refined and cool to the feet</td></tr>
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And before nightfall I was already on the ferry back to Hulhumale Island.<br />
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<b>Day 4 - April 16</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL0ZpfOoqG5IOuAC1bJyuCCzHCPWSMsrTJqwM_5FEdYDbFvKpLW3Kh656xHWL3ySQps2GlhlSJwf2Ul6TgTR8U7-rrLFh48DYOLYC33dS6zyIzfupuFynBQLmB165pBppArl04NdFNVkE/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL0ZpfOoqG5IOuAC1bJyuCCzHCPWSMsrTJqwM_5FEdYDbFvKpLW3Kh656xHWL3ySQps2GlhlSJwf2Ul6TgTR8U7-rrLFh48DYOLYC33dS6zyIzfupuFynBQLmB165pBppArl04NdFNVkE/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dipping during sunrise</td></tr>
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I visited Male City that morning and went back to Republic Square where souvenir shops can be found. I bought some Maldivian souvenirs, the cheap ones. Then back at Huvan Beach Resort, I checked out after lunch.<br />
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That late afternoon, I flew the Korean Air for the first time on to my next country-destination, Sri Lanka.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Below is my summary of daily expenses:</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Day 1 - Hulhumale = $55</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Day 2 - Male = $39</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Day 3 - Maafushi = $175</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Day 4 - Male = 37</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I spent more or less US$300 for this trip.<br /></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Hulhumale, Maldives4.2106488 73.53879914.1789773000000006 73.4984586 4.2423203 73.5791396tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-73173435837495970732019-01-30T00:19:00.000-08:002019-12-22T18:54:08.186-08:00Chilling in Jeju Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been contemplating on spending my 43rd birthday somewhere outside the country. That was supposedly on January 9th, but due to project-related significant activity which primarily involved my role as Change Manager, I was forced to postponed my birthday celebration to later dates.<br />
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I was actually on official leave but I reckoned I have to take a break but still working from outside the office on January 26th through 30th of 2019.<br />
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<u><b>January 26</b></u><br />
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With Anneth, my usual travel buddy, we flew to Jeju Island via Shanghai. We initially thought of obtaining transit visa at Shanghai Airport and make a quick tour of the city. Realizing that the 6-hour layover was so short and the city was still sleeping when we got there at 4am, we knew better than exposing to cold outside the airport. 10am came and we're off via China Eastern Airline and landed at Jeju International Airport by lunchtime.<br />
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Astar Hotel allowed us to check in early. So we were able to kick start our city tour via the Tour Bus, reaching Yongduan Rock and Dudubong Peak despite the chilly weather and freezing wind. The Jeju City Bus Tour can be obtained for the whole day at KW10,000 per person with 15 stops, where tourists can hop on and hop off. Since we started at past 2pm, the tourguide suggested paying 3,000 per stop, informing us that the last bus will be at 6pm.<br />
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<u><b>January 27</b></u><br />
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Anneth made all the advanced preparations. Part of it was hiring a car with a driver for the 2-day private tours around the island.<br />
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We were picked up from the hotel at 8AM. Today's tour covered 4 sites, a cave, a fold village, a maze, and a cliff.<br />
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Our first stop was at Micheon Cave. It was located in a massive botanical garden with plenty of manicured plants and trees. For an entry fee of KW10,000 each, we enjoyed the colorfully lighted cave, the exhibits of bonsai and cacti, and IG-worthy nooks of wedding sports, camp sites, sculptures, and gardens.<br />
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Our next stop was at the Jeju Folk Village. It has several houses of thatched roofs of dried grass or clay as it was historically the housing style in the ancient Jeju. It was said to be the birthplace of horse bone powders. The tourguide we got was a Filipina who married a Korean. She told us that most women divers lived there, and the oldest resident at that time was 109 years old.<br />
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This was where we spent a lot; each of us bought the face powder made out of horse bones powder to fix facial wrinkles. Also, the mushroom-based drink powders and the raspberries plus honey juice. My purchase cost me KW155,000.<br />
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That lunch that followed was the most expensive meal we spent. We ordered a huge pot of seafoods, filled with crabs, shrimps, abalones, and fish plus clams. That single order can actually feed 5 people, but there were only 3 of us including Mr Baek, our driver. We paid a total of KW161,000.<br />
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We then burnt those calories at the Maze Park. The massive area has 3 giant mazes of a stoneman, woman diver, and a sphere. True to it's name, the Stoneman maze was made of stones, rocks and boulders; while the other two were made of manicured plants. We were actually lost, for several times strolling and running around. It was the Stoneman's that was very confusing.<br />
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Our last destination of the day was at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, of a volcano crater. It was a climb of 180 masl, completely paved however where steps were either made of cemented slabs of hardwood. The climb made me wear off some of my 3-layer winter clothing.<br />
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<u><b>January 28</b></u><br />
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Our tour today covered 5 destinations in the western and southern areas of Jeju Island. Our first stop was at the Teddy Bear Museum, Teseum for short. The features of the season was the African Safari with several lifesized animals made out of fluffy stuffed toys. The 2-story building features teddy bears in all human-like events, forms, occupations, and places.<br />
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Then we headed straight to the Glass Castle. Naturally, all minute attractions around this themepark are made of glass. There was a giant wine glass at the facade and a corner depicting sea life with colorful glasses shaped in seaweeds. It was in the forest garden that impressed me, how artfully they scattered all glass creations around the logs as mushrooms, on the trees as fruits, on every soil and grass as vines, flowers, tangerine fruits, and what not. And since February, the love month is approaching, a heart-filled with glass jewels was featured, more colorful trees are here and there fashioned from glass of various colors.<br />
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Before lunchtime, we reached the so-called Spirited Garden. Another garden that exhibited bonsai, but the tangerine farm presented us with variety of fruits. And we met the owner who happens to be Baek's friend. He treated us to a wonderful tea time. The owner's daughter gave us writing pads as souvenirs in exchange for a nice review in the tripadvisor. The buffet lunch within the vicinity was filling with an ambiance of a unique kind: overlooking bonsia and tangerine garden.<br />
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Our fourth destination was the Camella Flower Park. It wasn't a value for money trip because it was not spring season. Despite that, still tourists flocked here. We managed to go around into the innermost portion with some blooms, which I bet would be more gorgeous during springtime.<br />
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And lastly, we climbed up and down the stairs to go around the Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls, from Tier 1 to Tier 3. There was a bridge called "Angel Bridge" depicting nymphs playing various instruments. It crossed the midsection of the park towards the other side of the canyon.<br />
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On our way back, we asked Baek to drop us at the restaurant closest to Astar Hotel that served "Samgyetang" or the Ginseng Chicken Soup. It was a serving of a whole chicken stewed and stuffed with rice. It was indeed one of a kind, delicious meal appropriate for cold season.<br />
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<u><b>February 29</b></u><br />
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We have a half day to spare before flying back home. So we decided to have an early stroll around the city, from the nearby Folklore and National Museum. It was of course closed when we got there. We pushed on to the Dongmun Market just in time for it to open for business. We grabbed some souvenirs and headed back to the hotel to check out.<br />
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That afternoon, we were flying back to Singapore.<br />
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<u><b>Travel Expenses</b></u><br />
Plane Fare b/f (MNL-SIN) KW245,000<br />
Plane + Hotel b/f (SIN-JJU) 795,000<br />
Taxi Fare b/f 15,000<br />
Car Hire 130,000<br />
Entry Tickets 72,000<br />
Meals 145,000<br />
Bus Tour 6,000<br />
Souvenirs <u> 20,000</u><br />
Total KW1,428,000<br />
<i><b>Equivalent to Php66,500</b></i></div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Jeju-do, South Korea33.4890113 126.4983022999999832.6423708 125.20740879999998 34.3356518 127.78919579999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-56854146818587278472019-01-08T19:24:00.002-08:002020-06-24T20:29:43.239-07:00Trip2Top Climbs<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: white;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: arial;">2018 was the year for my mountain trekking with Trip2Top family. I had a whole year of climbing Philippine mountains, both major and minor. I kept this pictorial documentation as my souvenir.</span></font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: white;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></font></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cyrhDkI9xX-QI9h99HrUAkZbmPwWFXKZeQsxQEuzTtdHSfcUKPH_eYY_LL6YZa-K6945mx5ZpbYeWwIqTP60n5fC-q5xytOntLoV2W-RiKROqkexKVtlbNhZ6XcxXYMzAOFwFeQbMtIg/s320/T2T+Colored+Logo2.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Official Community Logo<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: white;"><br /><font size="2"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></font></span><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica", "arial", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Feb 3-4 - Mt Tapulao, Zambales</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">This was my first major climb. It is the tallest mountain in Zambales province measuring 2,037 masl. The challenge here was the way up. There was a paved road up to the campsite, the lowest part was concreted, the next few kilometers was under construction, but the rest are unmaintained where dirt roads are destroyed by flashfloods and boulders were shooting up. My feet cried especially on the way down.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDV4grGGTu5oIeasLjUiTQG39DCgzzjthiHHoWs1Yb9cKHWaRZ8drqTHUos3VYN8FIBbnUUoEBv3r72lnFy_ZqrYjOy5avQLUmJHZCuHu3OO_oSZLnshbPi6Xa6W_xkcTz59VlKuVbcgI/s4608/Tapulao+Zambales+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDV4grGGTu5oIeasLjUiTQG39DCgzzjthiHHoWs1Yb9cKHWaRZ8drqTHUos3VYN8FIBbnUUoEBv3r72lnFy_ZqrYjOy5avQLUmJHZCuHu3OO_oSZLnshbPi6Xa6W_xkcTz59VlKuVbcgI/s320/Tapulao+Zambales+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvFpqIdTtMJrGBUhWURB4mZOD21kaaOX0UESdTV6u8NRyF8FSk8HHpyLLGJTORh-5UgnXhikuGdCDNpCKZtdtARAB436P-dbOB14MUVEpCiDiaewpaBeHSGLnUSm6qtr2Ld0ebpSVN7ne/s4608/Tapulao+Zambales+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvFpqIdTtMJrGBUhWURB4mZOD21kaaOX0UESdTV6u8NRyF8FSk8HHpyLLGJTORh-5UgnXhikuGdCDNpCKZtdtARAB436P-dbOB14MUVEpCiDiaewpaBeHSGLnUSm6qtr2Ld0ebpSVN7ne/s320/Tapulao+Zambales+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMt1U3PMm8fDnNmE6G_ULHUym1wkHg0HHAeGvEcBJC6ZE4DlQs-7VpqHRQFuJXe9dPGN1n6zmkPl7crYLTsW1-jquZh6KSdfgED8AYSAPJuQ6GgbHrEVF3r0x9JssbeBfwUp_zF3pPXXH/s4608/Tapulao+Zambales+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMt1U3PMm8fDnNmE6G_ULHUym1wkHg0HHAeGvEcBJC6ZE4DlQs-7VpqHRQFuJXe9dPGN1n6zmkPl7crYLTsW1-jquZh6KSdfgED8AYSAPJuQ6GgbHrEVF3r0x9JssbeBfwUp_zF3pPXXH/s320/Tapulao+Zambales+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Mar 3-4 - Mt Ulap, Ifugao</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">This was an easy climb. The best thing for this destination is its accessibility from Baguio City by public commute. It measured 1,846 masl. The rolling hills are easily navigable which could be trekked by whole family, young and old. Its best feature is the picturesque rock cliff, good for ala-lion king pose.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBo5RG-JHfQohU2gDeo5QEuxn5yuEZ_weu9cUQJAbAi5r2huE0EB5JvYuApfbIppl0hWBrL__2rP0sIrZZOCjctg5VxF7y-RooxBxH1NRkf_8z2dw3QYKh9qkuQ8E8BCmz4Opf78b8SIy/s6000/Ulap+Benguet+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBo5RG-JHfQohU2gDeo5QEuxn5yuEZ_weu9cUQJAbAi5r2huE0EB5JvYuApfbIppl0hWBrL__2rP0sIrZZOCjctg5VxF7y-RooxBxH1NRkf_8z2dw3QYKh9qkuQ8E8BCmz4Opf78b8SIy/s320/Ulap+Benguet+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2ju02rKS-SHT7ghEgpVpmiQtuEFaP_GrdvXt-1YAGwUzoVZLcfI7D4k9k6tc2bKoCoPTljyNNsxpsetbWS3w2mwyG9UXZZDhCUPnjdE3Krwk98Bkx7gF9-gyRpFVywGtP3eKBRG7KsSO/s4608/Ulap+Ifugao+%25286%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2ju02rKS-SHT7ghEgpVpmiQtuEFaP_GrdvXt-1YAGwUzoVZLcfI7D4k9k6tc2bKoCoPTljyNNsxpsetbWS3w2mwyG9UXZZDhCUPnjdE3Krwk98Bkx7gF9-gyRpFVywGtP3eKBRG7KsSO/s320/Ulap+Ifugao+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKB-Jt6EkkdlSwc2kAURwv2SyBYVfTSLUGREJlVd_misVL41cbDEvX1hoyLFOXhU0vV8WMAqoGxbIiyMwpKgmYsGSL8uD6ixumOTUJUnayY35Mc-CLqAt4aS_j6viA26ayuoBBcrBQusq/s4608/Ulap+Ifugao+%25285%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKB-Jt6EkkdlSwc2kAURwv2SyBYVfTSLUGREJlVd_misVL41cbDEvX1hoyLFOXhU0vV8WMAqoGxbIiyMwpKgmYsGSL8uD6ixumOTUJUnayY35Mc-CLqAt4aS_j6viA26ayuoBBcrBQusq/s320/Ulap+Ifugao+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Mar 24-25 - Mt Napulauan, Ifugao</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">This was my hardest climb because the ascent is never-ending. It stands as the 15th highest mountain in the country measuring 2,642 masl. I completed the trek for almost 7 hours. I was about to surrender at 2,000 meters and set up a e-camp. So I started counting backwards from 642 to 1 just to motivate me to keep going. But my gosh, the "Sea of Clouds" the day after was fantastic, stupendous, breathtaking!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5Gm9ETWW3fv-fy8DezRoHYQqovAW8lroQLlIxpOeC-UL4LcSDLZ2z7BT7mf-wi2xwuUOVcNm-IsC__1LpSev4VM6L9SQOzCyHAMU6weEWOmJY17JavKC-UhDyP4bnf6CL7zNtZoQndD6/s4608/Napulauan+Ifugao+%25285%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5Gm9ETWW3fv-fy8DezRoHYQqovAW8lroQLlIxpOeC-UL4LcSDLZ2z7BT7mf-wi2xwuUOVcNm-IsC__1LpSev4VM6L9SQOzCyHAMU6weEWOmJY17JavKC-UhDyP4bnf6CL7zNtZoQndD6/s320/Napulauan+Ifugao+%25285%2529.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpOA7eF4_VoxbPPDqZmq34dhTwUG9CNT40z4M4q2qRv7BULVGYmH7wd06qgUAmghLKbYbv-0Nfkyqgyy15iNaPrH5cRtj8QNlHosk1TRqjo0XtNFSbgXCd13DwvThGxCqS4uxJoXHPv_n/s4608/Napulauan+Peak.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpOA7eF4_VoxbPPDqZmq34dhTwUG9CNT40z4M4q2qRv7BULVGYmH7wd06qgUAmghLKbYbv-0Nfkyqgyy15iNaPrH5cRtj8QNlHosk1TRqjo0XtNFSbgXCd13DwvThGxCqS4uxJoXHPv_n/s320/Napulauan+Peak.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcKB-WdT5zZhZ-u760q7TL9oM6ojTMRI_dtyDXVvV7KlAFnmC3zLaIGNNABdABTQYBgCxxzBfXpqrYi9FaKcUcIUi0XGka5tW6rlg66VW84pgUA472YRmo6Sv3BQRXylrFwRVR0Z4GXGV/s4608/Napulauan+Ifugao+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcKB-WdT5zZhZ-u760q7TL9oM6ojTMRI_dtyDXVvV7KlAFnmC3zLaIGNNABdABTQYBgCxxzBfXpqrYi9FaKcUcIUi0XGka5tW6rlg66VW84pgUA472YRmo6Sv3BQRXylrFwRVR0Z4GXGV/s320/Napulauan+Ifugao+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Apr 21 - Mt Makiling, Laguna</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">Just a day climb, this legendary mountain measured 1,090 masl. But never underestimate it; its trekking difficulty could be considered the best training ground for major climbs. Here I have up close and personal encounter with the parasitic flower, Rafflesia.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1PhQh1b62cwozD6LoaJC7sX8TMVqaIBDOjdxGofrs5d4bzXPeqX8bf8favoJxwVvXCOLgSU7RU6iSepI3EZg5FthM-A9okzmMHNGKMnBlmooDjlCiHVxPpTg4493_F3utrHz-f0ADoEO/s1620/DSC_1110_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1PhQh1b62cwozD6LoaJC7sX8TMVqaIBDOjdxGofrs5d4bzXPeqX8bf8favoJxwVvXCOLgSU7RU6iSepI3EZg5FthM-A9okzmMHNGKMnBlmooDjlCiHVxPpTg4493_F3utrHz-f0ADoEO/s320/DSC_1110_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaFx3Cd_Tewhhb4F6xNzaVsIQ-jSzMltJBD_5U-LBGX9PDH3_PXR5r-DmNgQAec0fU0jyLm-a2eLwoXcctGVnlu9py3pADGEalcQd8VX3id3WpTBCf0g8AT1EQd0XFti9GIthRivXBrYg/s1620/DSC_1076_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaFx3Cd_Tewhhb4F6xNzaVsIQ-jSzMltJBD_5U-LBGX9PDH3_PXR5r-DmNgQAec0fU0jyLm-a2eLwoXcctGVnlu9py3pADGEalcQd8VX3id3WpTBCf0g8AT1EQd0XFti9GIthRivXBrYg/s320/DSC_1076_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG8HqddLkZBTCTN7fBHqS1jPJka932UN_8vEU-joeDWw1lBSHtkjy8wko0WCb6aweN9XMmK8Fjp22fZBRiYC7AFybxe4Qr9Byhglbj9Xak0HPzuxfmHzCvOrNJbjYYlD4SfO7G-gBsEFV/s1620/DSC_0995_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG8HqddLkZBTCTN7fBHqS1jPJka932UN_8vEU-joeDWw1lBSHtkjy8wko0WCb6aweN9XMmK8Fjp22fZBRiYC7AFybxe4Qr9Byhglbj9Xak0HPzuxfmHzCvOrNJbjYYlD4SfO7G-gBsEFV/s320/DSC_0995_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Jun 23-24 - Mt Iglit, Occidental Mindoro</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">This was our very first cross-island trekking. It has a height of 2,364 masl. The best experience was spending the night with the Mangyan tribe. But the climb from the campsite to the peak was challenging but never enjoyable. The rolling hills kept on rolling and seemingly unending. It left me so exhausted and sad.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx-fExADaMhogj2oPh407ROL6RkZ4PWSUjLXvV2nODFgBFOlU4kdeAQpeYQtaRRw8xx6azKq3fCfy0Vh7CZAL5boQkJK2EQ17VCvE1rRGrTHGVb8mnn3lsZCSGmnD4fZ-00Lvg4QwRVyg/s1620/DSC_1489_Original.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx-fExADaMhogj2oPh407ROL6RkZ4PWSUjLXvV2nODFgBFOlU4kdeAQpeYQtaRRw8xx6azKq3fCfy0Vh7CZAL5boQkJK2EQ17VCvE1rRGrTHGVb8mnn3lsZCSGmnD4fZ-00Lvg4QwRVyg/s320/DSC_1489_Original.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdqBJgsiCoEcUjHDLRXvRCGQuwpmjDl1vCTfIvg21o59iQNOg3rDU_mLs5gitylQnwVFxvOyELeMucxpAi9gYFjetYCeugkzxc-wLBXgoFzyc3aVeDv2Vxmg7PkYy90Qy5w5-H8v6Wnvs/s1620/DSC_1195_1_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdqBJgsiCoEcUjHDLRXvRCGQuwpmjDl1vCTfIvg21o59iQNOg3rDU_mLs5gitylQnwVFxvOyELeMucxpAi9gYFjetYCeugkzxc-wLBXgoFzyc3aVeDv2Vxmg7PkYy90Qy5w5-H8v6Wnvs/s320/DSC_1195_1_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarBzBnargJPdzKBB39GMd2UatO_vpehCldV6ZztCJQM4m5tS-LsEzxJqkazRg704ZELYvIp8lec7-uD6aidTWu14Pp4bMr2-PeThzIy0cIskUSF1qZrAiWP-6y7QxTh4qRwzB3kLSTmtK/s3968/IMG_20180624_060458_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="3968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarBzBnargJPdzKBB39GMd2UatO_vpehCldV6ZztCJQM4m5tS-LsEzxJqkazRg704ZELYvIp8lec7-uD6aidTWu14Pp4bMr2-PeThzIy0cIskUSF1qZrAiWP-6y7QxTh4qRwzB3kLSTmtK/s320/IMG_20180624_060458_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Sep 21-23 - Mt Pulag, Benguet</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">A glamping indeed. We took the Ambangeg trail which is the highest dropoff and closest to the campsite. This is the second highest mountain in the country and the highest in Luzon island. With this trail, the dropoff is already at 1,500++ masl. So the trek to the peak was easier. I considered this a glamping because the campsite has CR, water source, cottage and a walking distance to the community where stores and eateries are open.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdX78UQ2z2MnOOiGy81jkLYjll2-e_lqL-CUQ9PHH6ycCFSXwXEx_36J0Gq8KOsvykcDKpGx7ua83sHAHXLtTRQB44_uU3-oaYJx0vCH4UDz_w2caJRZjGCaFsiImkMytywStusl0ogMI/s4032/IMG_2361_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdX78UQ2z2MnOOiGy81jkLYjll2-e_lqL-CUQ9PHH6ycCFSXwXEx_36J0Gq8KOsvykcDKpGx7ua83sHAHXLtTRQB44_uU3-oaYJx0vCH4UDz_w2caJRZjGCaFsiImkMytywStusl0ogMI/s320/IMG_2361_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37kS7_ORZFvYIY2saHvNp-HKbkRPfmKeIg6OVZnLRgv24HTMAsjx4sr84WZzFZKNjDSenUa3TaD9zvpHS8f2UWB-UI0UWraCfWVx6WKX2kQoiplphpnwX68aN51JPWQ9Awp4UDneZ2xIP/s4032/IMG_2354_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37kS7_ORZFvYIY2saHvNp-HKbkRPfmKeIg6OVZnLRgv24HTMAsjx4sr84WZzFZKNjDSenUa3TaD9zvpHS8f2UWB-UI0UWraCfWVx6WKX2kQoiplphpnwX68aN51JPWQ9Awp4UDneZ2xIP/s320/IMG_2354_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ReFEx23V5PzFEn_AapVo5d2APaOQxwGgW9D7vejxZyKZhk3rXUqQGOihWvrmcnN1_zAI8dvh4GK11q82Pp8-4O7IuIyb_LobpPEcZgrIr_DRxlTda7tFi_xLIr8N4frXXq5dCQkmq4aU/s4032/IMG_2373_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ReFEx23V5PzFEn_AapVo5d2APaOQxwGgW9D7vejxZyKZhk3rXUqQGOihWvrmcnN1_zAI8dvh4GK11q82Pp8-4O7IuIyb_LobpPEcZgrIr_DRxlTda7tFi_xLIr8N4frXXq5dCQkmq4aU/s320/IMG_2373_Original.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">
Nov 24-25 - Mt Tarak, Mariveles, Bataan</span></h3></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;">It
just measured 1,130 masl but I tell you this mountain is harsh. The
climb was actually very challenging, the ascent was unexpectly
difficult. I clambered through tree trunks and roots to push me up.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTaiDRd48hC1yBwfAe1mI-WV4NiYVI1mzZxlwacz08koca1pbbsiC0huTULCF8CIdxWqQUVs7P7X-OAcG7klbyT0Ghh63W9QrfY_g3YzfMv10X5ZVcRo3xc4wulaLZE3tjGKPkYVsQyO3/s6000/DSC_3387.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTaiDRd48hC1yBwfAe1mI-WV4NiYVI1mzZxlwacz08koca1pbbsiC0huTULCF8CIdxWqQUVs7P7X-OAcG7klbyT0Ghh63W9QrfY_g3YzfMv10X5ZVcRo3xc4wulaLZE3tjGKPkYVsQyO3/s320/DSC_3387.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N3vF3fv2iwJ2cHKsFdHM1GZrc93WWTjp7pHYgJ2sUIBCuDfS7-A4x0trPDjaOl5yb3czu2vkLc4aUnSDf8A4C9kZYPLyzN-xBJ7B89op1R6NRbEMdrBZdVyV3HhSDP-wJ3xGnAtD73bi/s6000/DSC_3160.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N3vF3fv2iwJ2cHKsFdHM1GZrc93WWTjp7pHYgJ2sUIBCuDfS7-A4x0trPDjaOl5yb3czu2vkLc4aUnSDf8A4C9kZYPLyzN-xBJ7B89op1R6NRbEMdrBZdVyV3HhSDP-wJ3xGnAtD73bi/s320/DSC_3160.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-NtJRUFe4ni5PMMsIPwCVGmfJByoqCTZlsTAgn4cA66ln1CRwXe4my44Tvz3yoVXPT4hAJqSsSrjPLJzhUsjczwlM_WgErVolX-adQRlxExBYFwHa2ceSUdcptE_UpS-mmz18E1XlWsR/s6000/DSC_3245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-NtJRUFe4ni5PMMsIPwCVGmfJByoqCTZlsTAgn4cA66ln1CRwXe4my44Tvz3yoVXPT4hAJqSsSrjPLJzhUsjczwlM_WgErVolX-adQRlxExBYFwHa2ceSUdcptE_UpS-mmz18E1XlWsR/s320/DSC_3245.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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</span>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-50132667265244478372018-12-30T04:08:00.000-08:002020-04-04T15:33:12.918-07:00Fambam Weekends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">#FamBam is always the hashtag for Gastardo Family. I started the tradition of bringing the whole family to travel anywhere in the Philippines.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">For year 2018, these were our family outings:</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Feb 10-11 - Hot Air Balloon Festival, Pampanga</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Finally, we witnessed one festival in Luzon. The picnic with other families on the airport grounds was one of a kind experience. The hot air balloon flight and other exhibitions were worth the while.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimefT5IfFxsAfqf8ExdT_BG7xGRJU4cl0zVj4YIggUlvA2AxDaspllkDdxAVRQJARCVzKcvnD9KZmHE_2nwy-4mL9SGxgdZoXSpX2sq4dIIx5Yq5YV-EFHTVKtcAheurALPjMSIXfsNRWY/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimefT5IfFxsAfqf8ExdT_BG7xGRJU4cl0zVj4YIggUlvA2AxDaspllkDdxAVRQJARCVzKcvnD9KZmHE_2nwy-4mL9SGxgdZoXSpX2sq4dIIx5Yq5YV-EFHTVKtcAheurALPjMSIXfsNRWY/s320/IMG_4944.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Our first time to witness the flying of hot air balloons.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWKllva9uPSfu1bfkh9tEMT6OLxU48qMLfbkUHHt1n7DGHJym1KAalfp3Y-San0nJ-AOaXoblEdkYUfMkQ2SjTvNKtJVldV2w3SBrWGoiZ3CqCdrwm2GDBqMki4e3XSTIbsJaPn2pYoU2/s1600/DSC_1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWKllva9uPSfu1bfkh9tEMT6OLxU48qMLfbkUHHt1n7DGHJym1KAalfp3Y-San0nJ-AOaXoblEdkYUfMkQ2SjTvNKtJVldV2w3SBrWGoiZ3CqCdrwm2GDBqMki4e3XSTIbsJaPn2pYoU2/s320/DSC_1711.JPG" width="213" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs0RKJxLSRxhZbWWQnCzWZZz3fYku7iS3Drr8O-rHdeTsOC30k6psrJhnbikw3qPZaklKNj9Mixyzfzer_M0LQ32lSxiC4mEnkdPRtgiXkztaRjasINd3OnuGGZudK8T7cv25XOyQRxG_/s1600/DSC_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs0RKJxLSRxhZbWWQnCzWZZz3fYku7iS3Drr8O-rHdeTsOC30k6psrJhnbikw3qPZaklKNj9Mixyzfzer_M0LQ32lSxiC4mEnkdPRtgiXkztaRjasINd3OnuGGZudK8T7cv25XOyQRxG_/s320/DSC_1690.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning, we joined other families in picnicking at the airport grounds.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6cuID2WawuWfTb4YEHwAUjXxt0WRG9T27CGn37e_5yGYrSKukLd6sa-py-8TiFDE69St75AZf13INIgRLBmB9noERX1XjB3hgKSCi2_YFZ0m_uu2pcOnRmWkeBWjw8wf-nPmGxNu_BmT/s1600/DSC_1713.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6cuID2WawuWfTb4YEHwAUjXxt0WRG9T27CGn37e_5yGYrSKukLd6sa-py-8TiFDE69St75AZf13INIgRLBmB9noERX1XjB3hgKSCi2_YFZ0m_uu2pcOnRmWkeBWjw8wf-nPmGxNu_BmT/s320/DSC_1713.NEF" width="213" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpHfFwTZfPC_Kv3V-QhZGSnN_V1rwOBikR-L_fzejx-48x0BOiv0LHP7AdSV6HH0r6gawUnzHLcwzBPdst3seyDKEYWZYlZDWWhmGfnHTzdqk-drNBLTgLJeOKLKG_lZXE8munXJWgtCp/s1600/DSC_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpHfFwTZfPC_Kv3V-QhZGSnN_V1rwOBikR-L_fzejx-48x0BOiv0LHP7AdSV6HH0r6gawUnzHLcwzBPdst3seyDKEYWZYlZDWWhmGfnHTzdqk-drNBLTgLJeOKLKG_lZXE8munXJWgtCp/s320/DSC_1714.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">That afternoon, we visited the Nayong Pilipino and relived the classic Filipino culture and heritage.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Mar 10-11 - Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The family of my best friends, Jun and Ruth Go, spent a weekend at Anvaya Cove. They invited us for an overnight. And so we went. This resort is exclusive for members who basically owned a vacation house in the area. So for one night, we experienced being rich.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmDA-WLU4Kbs9Ne1QHHS22Q780bs42ACYfefoL1i4QXh4_rRhGMKOS0qh0yzZL90MR9WlgbrK0o1lLTavp-TT6WGbEmuDRXlOMl4cjXebeUW8XTXbmQnwW7dLv3rEjtYTie9T3Ga5IJht/s1600/DSC_2674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmDA-WLU4Kbs9Ne1QHHS22Q780bs42ACYfefoL1i4QXh4_rRhGMKOS0qh0yzZL90MR9WlgbrK0o1lLTavp-TT6WGbEmuDRXlOMl4cjXebeUW8XTXbmQnwW7dLv3rEjtYTie9T3Ga5IJht/s320/DSC_2674.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Invited by Go Family, we spent a hot day and cool night at the exclusive Anvaya Resort</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Our way home, made us drop by the Dambana ng Kagitingan at Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcirPDEpy1wIvsYfLSV3zARDZZt4Hr7Xpk2paCiF0MTsZUTU_TgVtEGk_UmvtbU5mqL8aZnoa-tABFT320e-VeRFH9F9gw0sqJpStuwMNRXltXkmjojaBfR84_uOPaoVM0BHw73eUyeCB/s1600/DSC_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcirPDEpy1wIvsYfLSV3zARDZZt4Hr7Xpk2paCiF0MTsZUTU_TgVtEGk_UmvtbU5mqL8aZnoa-tABFT320e-VeRFH9F9gw0sqJpStuwMNRXltXkmjojaBfR84_uOPaoVM0BHw73eUyeCB/s320/DSC_2686.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Ang mag-Lola </span></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">May 12-16 - Surigao del Sur and Norte</span></b></h3>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">It has become our tradition to visit our hometown in Anao-aon, Surigao del Norte every mid-May to visit our father's tomb and celebrate his death anniversary. This year however, we made a sidetrip to Surigao del Sur's tourist destinations.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Irr9Th-2gqE3jBv43wNvv29LQzSMwTpUAwSaRYPg1Hu_JhbHrtq2qt8_CKozlQuLNZ0-Dhp5KqAS7ig8-srritwDr2Sqc1_-Dyy-02kl2frSROlUc4ZbmjiVdOjOyEOGhRY7-xD7I7Zf/s1600/DSC_0056_1%257E2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Irr9Th-2gqE3jBv43wNvv29LQzSMwTpUAwSaRYPg1Hu_JhbHrtq2qt8_CKozlQuLNZ0-Dhp5KqAS7ig8-srritwDr2Sqc1_-Dyy-02kl2frSROlUc4ZbmjiVdOjOyEOGhRY7-xD7I7Zf/s320/DSC_0056_1%257E2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Frolicking at Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSRO92wEDPnemxfnZ8retIc3V0WzQ5_auMHJonypY9AwXGxwugVOhFy80I0l-aOvSRSRyzZa9A-1km5hYvbKZLCJQT9OumQ4sW_GTGE_9yh9Qc2GPKKKLspwIHN0WU1ZWAT3pc3Y8aRoL/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSRO92wEDPnemxfnZ8retIc3V0WzQ5_auMHJonypY9AwXGxwugVOhFy80I0l-aOvSRSRyzZa9A-1km5hYvbKZLCJQT9OumQ4sW_GTGE_9yh9Qc2GPKKKLspwIHN0WU1ZWAT3pc3Y8aRoL/s320/DSC_0139.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">A cool swim at the Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">A sunbathing at the white beach of Lianga, Surigao del Sur</span></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">October 24-28 - Metro Manila</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Staycation at Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City with Big Bro Danny</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Staycation at Okada with Bestfriends</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">November 1-3 - Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">A 3-day weekend was long enough to enjoy a vacation in the northwestern Luzon. We booked a transient house for 2 nights and arranged island hopping from there.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">On the boat</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfHMpLk0i3cNrbJ0VkMaa9FNDVBhGXDs2swYS45icmXi-IUmO9WmqhsOz1Pgkfqqmwreqgzl91q_9gFf5j2UK17wrWDtTP-oC1YY8hRToT2uH7gOPiVLACPQSZX7SJrZdep4KUXDFeY4k/s1600/DSC_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfHMpLk0i3cNrbJ0VkMaa9FNDVBhGXDs2swYS45icmXi-IUmO9WmqhsOz1Pgkfqqmwreqgzl91q_9gFf5j2UK17wrWDtTP-oC1YY8hRToT2uH7gOPiVLACPQSZX7SJrZdep4KUXDFeY4k/s320/DSC_2821.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In the cave</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxgGa5f1pnOVqUdNv3q38co_6YWEEOLsSvQ7rOjInM_EYg4GZwWSBOXvsvx7TE3CLSiT71Bs_96qlgTpHWxg0tdIJ3vG5Y44ff5w02waIGbngyMUWMT_Q-Ifv3br2bQWUyj4_uHTdJIOb/s1600/DSC_2836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxgGa5f1pnOVqUdNv3q38co_6YWEEOLsSvQ7rOjInM_EYg4GZwWSBOXvsvx7TE3CLSiT71Bs_96qlgTpHWxg0tdIJ3vG5Y44ff5w02waIGbngyMUWMT_Q-Ifv3br2bQWUyj4_uHTdJIOb/s320/DSC_2836.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">On hilltop</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYSv0QMtPDxfb9XQFUB3QAryFiB6HP5sIlKfEJypFn8cqe4DTd1bwx_1W-CDzhVxKxDABVdmbON2CSDiVfAnAo5Nhbj9UCEYZO8RGDClZhv6NoixeFuJnBMP6PJPtTg8BZkJOJ_MiqjdF/s1600/DSC_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYSv0QMtPDxfb9XQFUB3QAryFiB6HP5sIlKfEJypFn8cqe4DTd1bwx_1W-CDzhVxKxDABVdmbON2CSDiVfAnAo5Nhbj9UCEYZO8RGDClZhv6NoixeFuJnBMP6PJPtTg8BZkJOJ_MiqjdF/s320/DSC_2831.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Inside a cave</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMRqiajNao-xXFofq1_V5ZIwwhxe_foWQPn7hHdLs-KS1VcgKNKcbs4ZLaXcN7ws0SXlh3x7o3cFO3GG2u8Tc6B4QFJtYNpux_SIV2-TVhz9AxkgGxa-TBx6pMHbQ2cYPzXvOl3dTrbf5/s1600/DSC_2842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMRqiajNao-xXFofq1_V5ZIwwhxe_foWQPn7hHdLs-KS1VcgKNKcbs4ZLaXcN7ws0SXlh3x7o3cFO3GG2u8Tc6B4QFJtYNpux_SIV2-TVhz9AxkgGxa-TBx6pMHbQ2cYPzXvOl3dTrbf5/s320/DSC_2842.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc50RE-ghNDvd6JiVeF8ImSzYV0iNgHYVATTZa_6KuRHfb4u-nB9sRvCOWgPHL2YwHcIsTjKXov86ABjP__vnZuPx8EAW2Eb8nuCB5VjsADyK7C1XUKZWM5G-aPHYWspUP3SIaNEv9rX0L/s1600/IMG_2825.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc50RE-ghNDvd6JiVeF8ImSzYV0iNgHYVATTZa_6KuRHfb4u-nB9sRvCOWgPHL2YwHcIsTjKXov86ABjP__vnZuPx8EAW2Eb8nuCB5VjsADyK7C1XUKZWM5G-aPHYWspUP3SIaNEv9rX0L/s320/IMG_2825.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AYGTigNplRb7M33qwhNBtPDjAQ01xcXKLDSPFuNWdeoP6eWYw3eO3WW2JraNzSHheryBnWYzdWhx7kD744qWqfOehBAMT2O3FmM38BhhnT3g6PocTTfGWkwAzUwDlp-6xadhQiDi6iXc/s1600/DSC_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AYGTigNplRb7M33qwhNBtPDjAQ01xcXKLDSPFuNWdeoP6eWYw3eO3WW2JraNzSHheryBnWYzdWhx7kD744qWqfOehBAMT2O3FmM38BhhnT3g6PocTTfGWkwAzUwDlp-6xadhQiDi6iXc/s320/DSC_2873.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Swimming</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5M_mS0TZCMTCOU_T_kPrGVAVii2eFJMuhAesB5einu7y-TvVyTINdPEhjvDZOVG6H7Lu35Ox6wcCoPtAoatHaFCdF7IJ-uARTegw7N7qilkvFLMoZk9YRl8O95yJ7QBo6NFvV8cOZhzp/s1600/DSC_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5M_mS0TZCMTCOU_T_kPrGVAVii2eFJMuhAesB5einu7y-TvVyTINdPEhjvDZOVG6H7Lu35Ox6wcCoPtAoatHaFCdF7IJ-uARTegw7N7qilkvFLMoZk9YRl8O95yJ7QBo6NFvV8cOZhzp/s320/DSC_2890.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkd1QMw6Mn4TgH2KYL6ivftgTepLfNrM83yC0RVjhyxrsbNHNSd8ceBRgDaAggHoj9lj9JLHY01wFL7sMocIRdkgKaPaU9rOiLA_GWI0QTF73M1exvlSi1mGSyTP57sgvevOII37_hppD/s1600/DSC_2892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkd1QMw6Mn4TgH2KYL6ivftgTepLfNrM83yC0RVjhyxrsbNHNSd8ceBRgDaAggHoj9lj9JLHY01wFL7sMocIRdkgKaPaU9rOiLA_GWI0QTF73M1exvlSi1mGSyTP57sgvevOII37_hppD/s320/DSC_2892.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Tried crossing a wooden suspension bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC7v0-JXTL7zgnjczx_pY6MdcsajOFhkBHF8R1mdV-c-h822Rqe2Gt1GBIo_QJrN-dsb1joktTNXCkdElLxPqbm4D8l4xn7UoYAz9ChVa9xv4Q7phVjaBpfkSI0a02dG8Nlf7W0Zl4OoO/s1600/DSC_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC7v0-JXTL7zgnjczx_pY6MdcsajOFhkBHF8R1mdV-c-h822Rqe2Gt1GBIo_QJrN-dsb1joktTNXCkdElLxPqbm4D8l4xn7UoYAz9ChVa9xv4Q7phVjaBpfkSI0a02dG8Nlf7W0Zl4OoO/s320/DSC_2900.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDB_kdfZ6XqhCcVmMzxOG_nCfrQAjrrH3A0dRNcDoZyDiTQlqFsbbcnfnZhqVGl4BhnpRUO_bXC-Q13Ewsx7c8NVZ5F8jcCaM5csVp6tCFX4M1jK46cQZrRnMQNH9bPT5RJryApCU6jlE/s1600/DSC_2922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDB_kdfZ6XqhCcVmMzxOG_nCfrQAjrrH3A0dRNcDoZyDiTQlqFsbbcnfnZhqVGl4BhnpRUO_bXC-Q13Ewsx7c8NVZ5F8jcCaM5csVp6tCFX4M1jK46cQZrRnMQNH9bPT5RJryApCU6jlE/s320/DSC_2922.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Playing on the white sand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKTj1OTSKMI9MCIANYKDbVwNnPmv3Nhrxt03hnth9XW2YJnpX3B2xGHTsGuZP5ByfiUVQQGOvfy5qAvWVSIxlHdyB0qcUbE5ZkGwgF8MBC7T8suFVBaATV5LiXShtVDvy0Y8BG6NlCswH/s1600/DSC_2929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKTj1OTSKMI9MCIANYKDbVwNnPmv3Nhrxt03hnth9XW2YJnpX3B2xGHTsGuZP5ByfiUVQQGOvfy5qAvWVSIxlHdyB0qcUbE5ZkGwgF8MBC7T8suFVBaATV5LiXShtVDvy0Y8BG6NlCswH/s320/DSC_2929.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Passing through another cave</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAk06Ni3eHEtSS4RykGp7axlxBJSaTlFtu6rYu-vmZZM14lLfVX7fdZOmXUWL4_nZWIbpvdG_1RY9XE05Zu_a3E_KAFttQfV8-grscefV5zflpiQeZ8dkLtq3oz5rf4GDE6lC0YRyZuF2/s1600/DSC_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAk06Ni3eHEtSS4RykGp7axlxBJSaTlFtu6rYu-vmZZM14lLfVX7fdZOmXUWL4_nZWIbpvdG_1RY9XE05Zu_a3E_KAFttQfV8-grscefV5zflpiQeZ8dkLtq3oz5rf4GDE6lC0YRyZuF2/s320/DSC_2974.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Completing a station of the cross</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9okX55QE1PjvI279Tg7_J85SwbhwplTlHSvC-VnN53Zy2UEmEPB8A-6ACKqoot-qlkPQXNRHLkZq-LJj2WCDWl4k5NRRPXVlbqd_GSZB-yELtjdYTAIVqoTa5JnJN0UPMyGcXPcTDnm2/s1600/DSC_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9okX55QE1PjvI279Tg7_J85SwbhwplTlHSvC-VnN53Zy2UEmEPB8A-6ACKqoot-qlkPQXNRHLkZq-LJj2WCDWl4k5NRRPXVlbqd_GSZB-yELtjdYTAIVqoTa5JnJN0UPMyGcXPcTDnm2/s320/DSC_2981.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x04AHalqgEOUKEO2eI5AwOnwOkr60153obROchtHzm4hW4iprPkfke2wXiILIEwnkCbsTKagxn0WafgmsZ3J6fx59sDb7ZOM0n-LJQ5nddLUlGgRRmlZNQsLQaSqI-QEU-8S477TnYhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_2848.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x04AHalqgEOUKEO2eI5AwOnwOkr60153obROchtHzm4hW4iprPkfke2wXiILIEwnkCbsTKagxn0WafgmsZ3J6fx59sDb7ZOM0n-LJQ5nddLUlGgRRmlZNQsLQaSqI-QEU-8S477TnYhyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_2848.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">A new transient house</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-49850525900641021542018-09-15T00:39:00.119-07:002020-05-27T19:43:24.410-07:002018 Business Trips<font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></font><h1 style="text-align: left;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jan
21-25 - Bangkok, Thailand</span></span></font></h1><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
</b></span></font><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
</b></span></font><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the point
in my career that I crossed over from in-country project staff to regional
consultancy (at least in Asia-Pacific), from operations to pre-sales. I was
employed by FreeBalance for more than 3 years now; already a record-breaker
knowing that I normally stayed with the company for a max of 2 years. Maybe
because most projects have 2-year lifespan, except when extended. Our company
has reorganized its APAC team and I suddenly become a member of the Project
Management Advisory Services or PMAS.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx95s72cxt_C4BekYzBQO1gboqL0v6ygLTvBnMoNZybWutua1piax3daFWzsfaV4Hhp-I9ikHyF1hCGKqBD56wAnwG44eP3zqaxiTxOMpeO8iyLdlMkKn2NPFD3hL46AC8_UZmfUqvvWb//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="1667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx95s72cxt_C4BekYzBQO1gboqL0v6ygLTvBnMoNZybWutua1piax3daFWzsfaV4Hhp-I9ikHyF1hCGKqBD56wAnwG44eP3zqaxiTxOMpeO8iyLdlMkKn2NPFD3hL46AC8_UZmfUqvvWb/s320/Bangkok1.jpg" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me in formal wear<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></font><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, a
business opportunity was being followed in Thailand. Since there was no one in
the region yet with experience in pre-sales activities, I was sent to observe
with an experienced company: VP Kamran and Master Trainer Kemajl. My 4 days in
Bangkok was purely networking and building partnerships. And it was my
apprenticeship program.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1LYQ2ISsFJewb10UadmfqPl5NjMjCgDb0p2zrGhEQDZ3U0m0TnjVLxDebQUEGnqDsDlVrnvJ4FZCgbEIQmsfqUWsFwyOzPCkUCgeAqKh9v4vBr3cq2YMdPX77tImsG9XCT4TF9DEb-Rf//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1LYQ2ISsFJewb10UadmfqPl5NjMjCgDb0p2zrGhEQDZ3U0m0TnjVLxDebQUEGnqDsDlVrnvJ4FZCgbEIQmsfqUWsFwyOzPCkUCgeAqKh9v4vBr3cq2YMdPX77tImsG9XCT4TF9DEb-Rf/s320/DSC_1205.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VP and Mrs Kamran and Kemajl<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></font><h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
stayed at Marriott Hotel on my first night and transferred to Rembrandt Hotel
for the rest of the night. It was so because I was the one paying for my hotel
rooms when the headquarters failed to reserve rooms for me in advance. <br /></span></span></font></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-FtDwnwozQb50xhhWlAOlgiUxZhNFmE89VWje9uSrQaI9WS3U_kEHIPi-uLg95ynk6gQsntfnXNNPSr_OWcAlKPD89bBrMpBF5G4_S3tu21FfFI4JCC3OLL5N2Upjmnm-DajyUOOf7bz//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3651" data-original-width="1859" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-FtDwnwozQb50xhhWlAOlgiUxZhNFmE89VWje9uSrQaI9WS3U_kEHIPi-uLg95ynk6gQsntfnXNNPSr_OWcAlKPD89bBrMpBF5G4_S3tu21FfFI4JCC3OLL5N2Upjmnm-DajyUOOf7bz/s320/Bangkok2.jpg" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suit up!<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It was not everyday that we have official meetings, and not the whole day either. So, VP Kamran gave Kemajl and me timeoff to roam around. We spent one whole day to stroll around and we reached many tourist destinations on foot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU793FfNNDtVNO7ZnHAPr9I0xo_YovcckUhhdpM3S5fliEec9qWei8BRgBUx9RcpVg1nCvjpJQZ1cRjSsEhYy-AhmAO00JdGx0r-BhocV8pZyB7XGOB5d8ZtliGppVEDXCZYMHb2uRc475//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU793FfNNDtVNO7ZnHAPr9I0xo_YovcckUhhdpM3S5fliEec9qWei8BRgBUx9RcpVg1nCvjpJQZ1cRjSsEhYy-AhmAO00JdGx0r-BhocV8pZyB7XGOB5d8ZtliGppVEDXCZYMHb2uRc475/s320/DSC_1199.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Giant Swing<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsHsFTmscV7m8ETKNvOaIe8X0MWhIepT_58Lv8a5Z0oGkQEoZfW8pcgDARSe5cKsRlwPIBHO9v-nj-zsILUtwawVN70NxU9PME2f_X_C5OYYBY0qsEnmM-54IpM6JeNZQsMwqvuz8rszj//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsHsFTmscV7m8ETKNvOaIe8X0MWhIepT_58Lv8a5Z0oGkQEoZfW8pcgDARSe5cKsRlwPIBHO9v-nj-zsILUtwawVN70NxU9PME2f_X_C5OYYBY0qsEnmM-54IpM6JeNZQsMwqvuz8rszj/s320/DSC_1172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of the Golden Mount<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBGnOPerhQfCeRNA1jegN_P8Xs90lCMpB7uQ0iJ_828hy92N4dJ09YiNKuvYwsz1AnLVCA7De14tnHds81MJxvnPhOfXmDnsPewpDB7sa4f9nV6YAO0dSmVFVKcMfdWzUVSxXox5JMskS//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBGnOPerhQfCeRNA1jegN_P8Xs90lCMpB7uQ0iJ_828hy92N4dJ09YiNKuvYwsz1AnLVCA7De14tnHds81MJxvnPhOfXmDnsPewpDB7sa4f9nV6YAO0dSmVFVKcMfdWzUVSxXox5JMskS/s320/DSC_1120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kemajl in a Temple<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff5BKqsVqZxbbu3Hh0ZjYZuFC3aUIXAZNVT6-tFAmKdsM5H_ZtlsBFKeQp_HtfATSTH9-JgCvZgDyo_D2BSzY9pZFC-VpcpWmLU2-VRldgQ5gvQajxWGY_XUX8Y_K0DpntgQiPD18XgIo//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff5BKqsVqZxbbu3Hh0ZjYZuFC3aUIXAZNVT6-tFAmKdsM5H_ZtlsBFKeQp_HtfATSTH9-JgCvZgDyo_D2BSzY9pZFC-VpcpWmLU2-VRldgQ5gvQajxWGY_XUX8Y_K0DpntgQiPD18XgIo/s320/DSC_1101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phra Sumen Fort</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY_XU7jh4AbfioDzRtKy9LdJJKbiDLughIHeuLb-ontxrTHVedWGzM54NQKaWSSCaGqO9RF8Owl3GVcZh-UNy9EzmU1QZuYuCGBRICBzcPHnEHL0my8mqlA9agoBptiEi3lssK_I31oqm//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY_XU7jh4AbfioDzRtKy9LdJJKbiDLughIHeuLb-ontxrTHVedWGzM54NQKaWSSCaGqO9RF8Owl3GVcZh-UNy9EzmU1QZuYuCGBRICBzcPHnEHL0my8mqlA9agoBptiEi3lssK_I31oqm/s320/DSC_1092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The UN ESCAP<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbZnnbKgR-7oTGgItPJ-G4OYxQRBd5ttlIQITVVgYpLr-yWBKzDxzbVgBBencVl_sru5NZE2L13uDT0UxFkPgJXgSg-OEESRC83YvwTOHfkJnlCgFe6XawVNJBye3RDxmRhM0VbkLcFPX//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbZnnbKgR-7oTGgItPJ-G4OYxQRBd5ttlIQITVVgYpLr-yWBKzDxzbVgBBencVl_sru5NZE2L13uDT0UxFkPgJXgSg-OEESRC83YvwTOHfkJnlCgFe6XawVNJBye3RDxmRhM0VbkLcFPX/s320/DSC_1078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Equestrian Statue of King Rama V</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxY_AVn0DkKIyD1CSV1_QfEFbt6YuAt6Zzh1PeHIApGEynbQs3IAlN8ypd0OQ9oFMp0F30SgT9KEE93ZEAmz_c4vL3lRLZF35utOQb8s-di-grvfZ8tsT09J0yINSl205Oe88zSymAUNo//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxY_AVn0DkKIyD1CSV1_QfEFbt6YuAt6Zzh1PeHIApGEynbQs3IAlN8ypd0OQ9oFMp0F30SgT9KEE93ZEAmz_c4vL3lRLZF35utOQb8s-di-grvfZ8tsT09J0yINSl205Oe88zSymAUNo/s320/DSC_1074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrjK2cIrjN8ixniEQdmO8cRKx-O11mZO1BYo2Bk0dMdyhYSqUSrnSFTp6jYMR6KCNV-N1iSAMyA4vhnyjZ4lMidUora8u39PkUf5I_GmjVr-_H1-DSLKblyKQMwnSarvd1o9afQEloBeP//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrjK2cIrjN8ixniEQdmO8cRKx-O11mZO1BYo2Bk0dMdyhYSqUSrnSFTp6jYMR6KCNV-N1iSAMyA4vhnyjZ4lMidUora8u39PkUf5I_GmjVr-_H1-DSLKblyKQMwnSarvd1o9afQEloBeP/s320/DSC_1073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throne Hall<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWVxp2lucEPV9liRR4xCATUGCL-zjJfT6LG8CJP0qxwALr-4wIzOwTek_s7BnWdC3sbidjp07e4UCIViafa1ZPMzdlTeU0mDDeR2aHVgI66xhvI3xayiLf2LAkUD1yrd4rhCENkNKAXhD//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWVxp2lucEPV9liRR4xCATUGCL-zjJfT6LG8CJP0qxwALr-4wIzOwTek_s7BnWdC3sbidjp07e4UCIViafa1ZPMzdlTeU0mDDeR2aHVgI66xhvI3xayiLf2LAkUD1yrd4rhCENkNKAXhD/s320/DSC_1064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusit Zoo<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs2I03Hq8s6_hA3E3QkPF7BrZZ4cDcSOikMPTs9UXEdN8EURWts3Q1fOmDwGenSICqok_50Ogoe3uoIfj3pANvGtOMiNY2yD_mpBODhX41toBqeWMCrQl5JOqWSuQFiG1EDtYJRHZiXLP//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs2I03Hq8s6_hA3E3QkPF7BrZZ4cDcSOikMPTs9UXEdN8EURWts3Q1fOmDwGenSICqok_50Ogoe3uoIfj3pANvGtOMiNY2yD_mpBODhX41toBqeWMCrQl5JOqWSuQFiG1EDtYJRHZiXLP/s320/DSC_1058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chitralada Villa Royal Residence<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfENR0z6Lq1gvP1AGZUejOIAgUnxfYYR-1NEbxsqfKVmXSHkBzghS6cfOsxDgl8XcmpSJjPA4Y1aJa6mYhUAijeLIPqhDbmUjoqQzIYxkBvP-B-ENVAwfBMdPgfBuWeaZiAxoWUA5UEGqr//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfENR0z6Lq1gvP1AGZUejOIAgUnxfYYR-1NEbxsqfKVmXSHkBzghS6cfOsxDgl8XcmpSJjPA4Y1aJa6mYhUAijeLIPqhDbmUjoqQzIYxkBvP-B-ENVAwfBMdPgfBuWeaZiAxoWUA5UEGqr/s320/DSC_1040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory Monument<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></font></h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></font><h1 style="text-align: left;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jul
21-25 - Vientiane, Laos</span></span></font></h1><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
</b></span></font><h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
next assignment overseas was in Vientiane with the team of consultants from
around the FreeBalance world. We were salvaging a project in the country of Lao
PDR. We were in full force, headed by 2 VPs: VP Kamran (Sales) and VP Gerard (Services).</span></span></font></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h2_N1chgpRf40_UL18QvsIyNltyDpWyzNynO_esPQg11GIM7_8h0vTHvKMPiett1wMFwKZ856sWfUrRlttSLoL7EzxkYLAK1l48AkcDJdUNuAUboNvkwaqqhITHQhSJlD-NDqeniQSAJ//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h2_N1chgpRf40_UL18QvsIyNltyDpWyzNynO_esPQg11GIM7_8h0vTHvKMPiett1wMFwKZ856sWfUrRlttSLoL7EzxkYLAK1l48AkcDJdUNuAUboNvkwaqqhITHQhSJlD-NDqeniQSAJ/s320/DSC_1784.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the product presentation<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The whole week's level of effort was exhausting. Here, I was part of the functional team, with Vlora and Malaiphone, that revisited the system configurations. This however was the venue for
me to learn more deeply about the FreeBalance product.</span></span></font></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqPE3W90P2eLx2IoBGWllkROVStIrVO-_c_yjIwe5QFy9lHNS8_KfjNHEztpboRNBiPTf_wOHvrS4vIAuNkuSkXTp7FkivcA9yQ59d18GJjYuWo8QvwHMyPLoAvmMB6x-Y2S-Yy9e_S_6//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqPE3W90P2eLx2IoBGWllkROVStIrVO-_c_yjIwe5QFy9lHNS8_KfjNHEztpboRNBiPTf_wOHvrS4vIAuNkuSkXTp7FkivcA9yQ59d18GJjYuWo8QvwHMyPLoAvmMB6x-Y2S-Yy9e_S_6/s320/DSC_1770.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sleepless days and nights to prepare<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></font><h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In the end, I found myself at the centerstage presenting the solution concepts and functions. <br /></span></span></font></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3SwWomORSmQs7MXwuSqzjNoevtASHDP3vdgvU1NIsKwNLQtsOGK9pksYoAbGaM-lwAypNWo175yS7uRZhtKHMJiBTYzgN6__hYWl3zOC8TMzxzw1RGBDBh1MvXE7NvdA0Dn3EVfOvI8y//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3SwWomORSmQs7MXwuSqzjNoevtASHDP3vdgvU1NIsKwNLQtsOGK9pksYoAbGaM-lwAypNWo175yS7uRZhtKHMJiBTYzgN6__hYWl3zOC8TMzxzw1RGBDBh1MvXE7NvdA0Dn3EVfOvI8y/s320/IMG_0154.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Team's pose after the event<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When all official events concluded, and the others already flew home, four of us (Jeet, Vlora, Malai and myself) that remained went on to a riverside where locals frequent, including our local consultant, Malai who served as our guide and driver that day. The site is filled with floating restaurants with karaoke machines. We got one and I hollered the whole roundtrip of cruising, eating, singing and dancing.</span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBTLEzS3SMM57akfkEN2XJKy-AqySd3pHsoM1GnCkewjpFN7T06XWfEmZtu5NFD9SDntfK4RJZOeU73gXxOWxneLXIzgPyOHSHHjzEE573cRJyp6u9nzZnLTwB5KUsFdCnqk4dVD3k31Z//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBTLEzS3SMM57akfkEN2XJKy-AqySd3pHsoM1GnCkewjpFN7T06XWfEmZtu5NFD9SDntfK4RJZOeU73gXxOWxneLXIzgPyOHSHHjzEE573cRJyp6u9nzZnLTwB5KUsFdCnqk4dVD3k31Z/s320/IMG_0189.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeet, Vlora, Malai and me<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcmspP8oSvzrusccUJNkXxEvhSR9qB0MRAExt6uO2sohgQj6J7W7WdcbMimmYLky_jcYLQD5fciOfpYHwsg8cL0vXpuej9jGRI8W7tVQuZDZpmFSGXFWVJ0DCS77ZTEDZnWqw0friLlGV//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcmspP8oSvzrusccUJNkXxEvhSR9qB0MRAExt6uO2sohgQj6J7W7WdcbMimmYLky_jcYLQD5fciOfpYHwsg8cL0vXpuej9jGRI8W7tVQuZDZpmFSGXFWVJ0DCS77ZTEDZnWqw0friLlGV/s320/DSC_1795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the floating restaurants cruising under the bridge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnHq-yGd3wqSh0mZDDTAXT7bh4Xu-xkXo4DMCO_d_UOlOuKDO5tFNVm9NYPKthG5PjguitHNe8yBIU_1bv1N40j4-H65SGCJtaUStSxUy2BwzL42wM7tWYX1CDfzvSiG16urhLqvd7MyF//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnHq-yGd3wqSh0mZDDTAXT7bh4Xu-xkXo4DMCO_d_UOlOuKDO5tFNVm9NYPKthG5PjguitHNe8yBIU_1bv1N40j4-H65SGCJtaUStSxUy2BwzL42wM7tWYX1CDfzvSiG16urhLqvd7MyF/s320/DSC_1809.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory pose at the venue<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img class="SzDcob" data-atf="false" data-iml="121251" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomi6zRBjOSXMLuayJnZrXRS4NfgzFlAlxVj5hHpNcIzz76-q80S8MSKtF8NrbfdAu0O9wROCEcGv92tGh9KmcqXRa3REvOZBaSGqkbEIQAiv6n0PD-EoAE7LnYX5fDARNIQLq6hBQkOeh/w320-h240/?authuser=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="320" /><br /></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tea break<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
</b></span></font><h1 style="text-align: left;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sep 1-5 - Vientiane, Laos</span></font></h1><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was on personal vacation that time when I got the emergency call to visit Laos. I flew direct from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Vientianne. The intent was to get readily available when the client would call for meeting and another demo.</span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-169s4Br-x-3b6ruhq-lpqNgu5GO-m2RZdHdHAVpSn-ctuwNF0lQU83h7sSzJdhLtkemMT49TZ6i2Ahedw-1Ik4GvzajGm7hfS3ZyqtWvCSiY7ufEjfo8F8l5Fo4P_7BliN4OxAu8Uh//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-169s4Br-x-3b6ruhq-lpqNgu5GO-m2RZdHdHAVpSn-ctuwNF0lQU83h7sSzJdhLtkemMT49TZ6i2Ahedw-1Ik4GvzajGm7hfS3ZyqtWvCSiY7ufEjfo8F8l5Fo4P_7BliN4OxAu8Uh/s320/IMG_2140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No calls received, so my trip was cut short. And I was heading home to the Philippines.<br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mg20fQSiZCac2xhPuZm7TYSgX1cfDvmJgHVkH4p10ZNlewd6Bnk8Gy9F-QdMNlfeD12xa_Dy8WuJ930dZt7lEqwh2laso6GeRRNo9eAJolCm-CgxHEZn_waothcPM-QjWW6M3LoFUeEF//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="2828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mg20fQSiZCac2xhPuZm7TYSgX1cfDvmJgHVkH4p10ZNlewd6Bnk8Gy9F-QdMNlfeD12xa_Dy8WuJ930dZt7lEqwh2laso6GeRRNo9eAJolCm-CgxHEZn_waothcPM-QjWW6M3LoFUeEF/s320/IMG_2144.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the food trips was meeting fellow Filipinos with friend Brian<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But spending nights at hawkers' street cannot be missed; one night was spent with Jeet and Malai, the others were all by myself.<br /></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></font></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz_mwDsIp0CBh-upfFs2UTwayr2h2s6uH5Llynh2waU1t_e9CVkgbiP3k7IwAqxw6BzXL9zswwEjcqSSCBIq4lWYAyciAcOs_h1CzJTUrmaKczczi34yUcOyggYE2lJhPoRqIg43BYlwU//" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz_mwDsIp0CBh-upfFs2UTwayr2h2s6uH5Llynh2waU1t_e9CVkgbiP3k7IwAqxw6BzXL9zswwEjcqSSCBIq4lWYAyciAcOs_h1CzJTUrmaKczczi34yUcOyggYE2lJhPoRqIg43BYlwU/s320/DSC_2246.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally got the chance to visit the main landmark of Laos in Vientianne.<br />This That Luang Golden Temple is printed in Laos money, Kip.<br /></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></font></div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
</b></span></font><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="2"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzT5KzPTGf0RelqgEirZe2unz-AKm7Bl57Vb0_1xoZ7U7rbpNLOSRRLn_iBm8a4tdnH4JwzZdAjyv0CzC-ey7-VugqyP_UZh_EnRG5K0iQpN89ABedCcMgLwDY2eqzFdnAIMxlJOV0AXq//" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzT5KzPTGf0RelqgEirZe2unz-AKm7Bl57Vb0_1xoZ7U7rbpNLOSRRLn_iBm8a4tdnH4JwzZdAjyv0CzC-ey7-VugqyP_UZh_EnRG5K0iQpN89ABedCcMgLwDY2eqzFdnAIMxlJOV0AXq/s320/IMG_2129.JPG" /></a></b></font></div><p></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
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<![endif]--></span></font>crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Vientiane, Laos17.9757058 102.6331035000000617.7340278 102.31038000000007 18.2173838 102.95582700000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-37475460229060699252018-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:002018-09-02T09:42:32.436-07:00Cambodia Once More<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
7 years ago: same day, same place. To set foot in Siem Reap was a wonderful experience! Knowing that 7 years have past, I decided to come back with better lens and wider coverage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXa-g3a2tznde6RykNbNmnnjI73YKs4_l2GoBbBtasejBp6fuVgMGw_rIbe3Rr1-wdjiy7TfSTO116UhPNEssokuQ_PnggCYWSEH53Hc5Xv4MRo27f_1v8ksci2Jff-3G4yukS8Sigr_I/s1600/Angkor+Wat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXa-g3a2tznde6RykNbNmnnjI73YKs4_l2GoBbBtasejBp6fuVgMGw_rIbe3Rr1-wdjiy7TfSTO116UhPNEssokuQ_PnggCYWSEH53Hc5Xv4MRo27f_1v8ksci2Jff-3G4yukS8Sigr_I/s320/Angkor+Wat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Angkor Wat which can be viewed from sunrise to sunset</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_883552224"></span><span id="goog_883552225"></span><br />
I initially tried booking my hotel through Agoda but when I noticed the Pavillon Indochine Hotel (http://www.pavillon-indochine.com/) to fit to my accommodation type, I decided to directly book it through their website. I was not mistaken to choose Pavillon Indochine Hotel for my 4-night stay; it was homey, quite, and simple. Locationwise, I found it at the middle of everything; to the Angkor Archeological Park and to the Siem Reap city center.<br />
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I practically have 3 full days in the country (Aug 29-31) so I planned to bike around Angkor Archeological Park for my first day. I rented a bicycle from the Hotel for $2 for a whole day. Before cycling to the Angkor Ticket Office, I dropped by Wat Thmei which is just across the hotel. Although the main attraction of the killing fields is in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap also has museum and a temple and a cemetery in this site for their share of losses during the Khmer Rouge regime. A memorial of a painful past ingrained in the country’s history; a lesson learned to value human rights and human life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRpXUYWaUAMYtrH51WtmpPKjKmugZXlwbpziQMR9C4VkrcGJbTeFZgWe5Jpj5g0Tf9oGEtOwGyF1SsP2EarL4rD4Jjwl6aoVoSLGdyP3omAaJFlm9FSZrgPuK0kCd0rinJsti4miELRZE/s1600/IMG_0467.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRpXUYWaUAMYtrH51WtmpPKjKmugZXlwbpziQMR9C4VkrcGJbTeFZgWe5Jpj5g0Tf9oGEtOwGyF1SsP2EarL4rD4Jjwl6aoVoSLGdyP3omAaJFlm9FSZrgPuK0kCd0rinJsti4miELRZE/s320/IMG_0467.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A temple within the Killing Fields Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWalNcWOVrcNGUrz1bNkP9YaNpHyWKZhKt-f3h4l2wIbBG22GesKGucemYN5jP9kM2UHwqEogtCAmmDEhIHBUzxFRVARyAOqmp7fvODE5-ahRe2DDhNdpvYpK8lFPD8u-3IZFbQwZ1TNpV/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWalNcWOVrcNGUrz1bNkP9YaNpHyWKZhKt-f3h4l2wIbBG22GesKGucemYN5jP9kM2UHwqEogtCAmmDEhIHBUzxFRVARyAOqmp7fvODE5-ahRe2DDhNdpvYpK8lFPD8u-3IZFbQwZ1TNpV/s320/IMG_0468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wat Thmei</td></tr>
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Bicycling from 10am to 4pm gave me opportunity to reach as many temples I could cover. All of them expressed artistry, intricacy, and boldness. The baroqueness, the stone works, the primitive carvings, the raw talents are real and preserved forever. This second time of visit afforded me to explore all temples in the ancient city, each temple has unique features, different experience, some you can climb, the others you cant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp7mITl9pC7Vauqvc_V_tehgAASSkf3KkL3Dyah-dhw4VDNL3kH_HnW5LDJqQxhEXI93IgMgZNbbP5q5BqWjBdYjnLyyYg7mU3vDR-wwAfZYXuQxB_2f8YwISvs3VdM0vlj24yWuRmEaf/s1600/DSC_2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp7mITl9pC7Vauqvc_V_tehgAASSkf3KkL3Dyah-dhw4VDNL3kH_HnW5LDJqQxhEXI93IgMgZNbbP5q5BqWjBdYjnLyyYg7mU3vDR-wwAfZYXuQxB_2f8YwISvs3VdM0vlj24yWuRmEaf/s320/DSC_2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycling around Angkor ancient city</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CZG6zn05W8bsBS0brRHp6RGRwM5l3ufI62Rw1CaQDutwG_m2YLQifgrqNwrKWnW22iH9rVTf5WLQ3kLYuZ2soDXvCq73udrVOSr9cNv1oOpFgpXata-n2FC3VfEDCMnAwZAjtIQHFi66/s1600/DSC_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CZG6zn05W8bsBS0brRHp6RGRwM5l3ufI62Rw1CaQDutwG_m2YLQifgrqNwrKWnW22iH9rVTf5WLQ3kLYuZ2soDXvCq73udrVOSr9cNv1oOpFgpXata-n2FC3VfEDCMnAwZAjtIQHFi66/s320/DSC_2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prasat Kravan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIdOnp5hwgqMpQ0DzezO-PwlSxklDe2ZbWzbiMmCWo4fSiH8ixoHVRw95mw8tQSGObW35e5vmDaYGk8UmB-g7AI9d-jIjKdIymSwrkwL8BPmDM6a2BL8pnUSjJUdtBtvzpONRNSAyy1Yi/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIdOnp5hwgqMpQ0DzezO-PwlSxklDe2ZbWzbiMmCWo4fSiH8ixoHVRw95mw8tQSGObW35e5vmDaYGk8UmB-g7AI9d-jIjKdIymSwrkwL8BPmDM6a2BL8pnUSjJUdtBtvzpONRNSAyy1Yi/s320/DSC_0030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Phrom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsHdVWo0UUwRKgXAXZSBlniG8W_OB_Hk0hC5d9VTc7M2TXXOKaoMBrK7Pa8DPZbZ-j5b2MzPfCsIXfSn7dsIudRcplKuSlgoXVPag985UcXBb29jF1CzaPMOFcwe657JBHmwhEexGIdyl/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsHdVWo0UUwRKgXAXZSBlniG8W_OB_Hk0hC5d9VTc7M2TXXOKaoMBrK7Pa8DPZbZ-j5b2MzPfCsIXfSn7dsIudRcplKuSlgoXVPag985UcXBb29jF1CzaPMOFcwe657JBHmwhEexGIdyl/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the trees that crashed Ta Phrom temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTnKcKSFSuUfFvOaRW1Z-tB1AlplEN1bpLhUyaPofFHfXtokCJv07JjGF5tNxAWYv5alYNk9QVwnMCGDdEGOwAa_83CV00sSGtOy0LcLdlEDwK36RBWuGnufujU4GVkQw_jQO6QR_Vn2w/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTnKcKSFSuUfFvOaRW1Z-tB1AlplEN1bpLhUyaPofFHfXtokCJv07JjGF5tNxAWYv5alYNk9QVwnMCGDdEGOwAa_83CV00sSGtOy0LcLdlEDwK36RBWuGnufujU4GVkQw_jQO6QR_Vn2w/s320/DSC_0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Keo temple</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijDJsg2Q60JOC22odxiuZFif8PHBSodbUAcS-yTMTuwzOGCFvImbmXVIyUu6nDwR2_0-FkN7OA8qJe-K8WpoEsOsZ9Hxfg5rXnQFinOudm2u9OJfMXZ-bRZyhuHSKrZch5AV4554q7Yaj/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijDJsg2Q60JOC22odxiuZFif8PHBSodbUAcS-yTMTuwzOGCFvImbmXVIyUu6nDwR2_0-FkN7OA8qJe-K8WpoEsOsZ9Hxfg5rXnQFinOudm2u9OJfMXZ-bRZyhuHSKrZch5AV4554q7Yaj/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preah Pithu</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mOXvqlP7xlzuAin-pJ-JNWg_xncYyEUdbbaV2yLSjCEBh5Mnu_lSrGYoVnH1siMM7U7ZY90h-rHxT8lhyphenhyphenJ86YtLUTn9sKoFcBBVWeKPlV866EJ6q2vY2ecWkEWTVBxY_7MwZN3x46ZIV/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mOXvqlP7xlzuAin-pJ-JNWg_xncYyEUdbbaV2yLSjCEBh5Mnu_lSrGYoVnH1siMM7U7ZY90h-rHxT8lhyphenhyphenJ86YtLUTn9sKoFcBBVWeKPlV866EJ6q2vY2ecWkEWTVBxY_7MwZN3x46ZIV/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayon Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGRaWYuZsHaoGQkMsRqVGcqRSQBNXRemg3IaDq0kvGKapmXAPuybol5JBYDOX2T_BqXzRbkeftAlYHvLGk2JXqTDlU6JkkQPdevWskJPB8lQVhbzm3jyFGRdDHvNhLVzWAfuY9w7z0V1b/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGRaWYuZsHaoGQkMsRqVGcqRSQBNXRemg3IaDq0kvGKapmXAPuybol5JBYDOX2T_BqXzRbkeftAlYHvLGk2JXqTDlU6JkkQPdevWskJPB8lQVhbzm3jyFGRdDHvNhLVzWAfuY9w7z0V1b/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phimeanakas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb73soLG8UaW5Lq8H5G7swlAG9ZAAWhFa6MQhoydsxT85eIqnTzi0vBwzsVsSSR-XYGdlwXtAG7Ux6p62Vq5d8kKeumzjogANzUu4O4bvp8fnKRLP-MbekWpxR1xB3Vyfy16qMGO1xJ8q/s1600/IMG_1916.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb73soLG8UaW5Lq8H5G7swlAG9ZAAWhFa6MQhoydsxT85eIqnTzi0vBwzsVsSSR-XYGdlwXtAG7Ux6p62Vq5d8kKeumzjogANzUu4O4bvp8fnKRLP-MbekWpxR1xB3Vyfy16qMGO1xJ8q/s320/IMG_1916.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Angkor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm-pY-EX_kA7pN0KC2z4Vx7Bj7zS5yDgKxkUwAKMRMKMNkdD1RPkGEYGaT_7Wk1-ENXpJiuP8tCvWWYm0tS2C5GFVTzld2JXGNyMv4TvApRMXYHOX2uUxlRk9NA-cHqUVgRU1Erk74Ez8/s1600/DSC_2161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm-pY-EX_kA7pN0KC2z4Vx7Bj7zS5yDgKxkUwAKMRMKMNkdD1RPkGEYGaT_7Wk1-ENXpJiuP8tCvWWYm0tS2C5GFVTzld2JXGNyMv4TvApRMXYHOX2uUxlRk9NA-cHqUVgRU1Erk74Ez8/s320/DSC_2161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angkor Wat's facade</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPu2CYtuQWBE2259dDFA-Hzw7eK7UZ-Y3wpn5DklAHMju86B58hr5ZNNVjBmkeaPGsVhMBU8W8Xd7CGVouxLOn5vwI-9rmyyqcwbRFZ71OUKHGbhH-XwBqDaAW7TB-kOM1sLWKODibboj/s1600/DSC_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPu2CYtuQWBE2259dDFA-Hzw7eK7UZ-Y3wpn5DklAHMju86B58hr5ZNNVjBmkeaPGsVhMBU8W8Xd7CGVouxLOn5vwI-9rmyyqcwbRFZ71OUKHGbhH-XwBqDaAW7TB-kOM1sLWKODibboj/s320/DSC_2164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hired a car with a driver, Sophoan Tueng (wattsapp +8562055616463) to take me to Koh Ker and Beng Melea temples in my second day. This was my first time to reach the farther tour destinations away from Siem Reap. It was quite expensive but more impressive; worth the long trip. My goals of chasing all ancient ruins got me to Koh Ker and Beng Melea of Cambodia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyaXBtY2Ldff33PLpwAuvEAPyBnTav8p4Er0zWtp9ORTdBU_NB4c1vDzQ2CsCiB1ZAeXIMEzpej9MiGnhf2i6i_6hyphenhyphen4F_sU3M659O_z999uXgkDoTToIFnIwayiDe5QPyT5QeBXMzl6UW/s1600/DSC_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyaXBtY2Ldff33PLpwAuvEAPyBnTav8p4Er0zWtp9ORTdBU_NB4c1vDzQ2CsCiB1ZAeXIMEzpej9MiGnhf2i6i_6hyphenhyphen4F_sU3M659O_z999uXgkDoTToIFnIwayiDe5QPyT5QeBXMzl6UW/s320/DSC_2025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koh Ker Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRYGw-EIKUUGdadhNbwsHYbSEbIid4eoudCmHqDU0aOTcC82vzbQf1bzZxDKpE4KOoo10kFJ2izfNIh52QarGpUDy9tj1v032evBNuuvhTbzTcuou_cJo_S79M0gYoD5TRbcOgFg0yaaA/s1600/DSC_2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRYGw-EIKUUGdadhNbwsHYbSEbIid4eoudCmHqDU0aOTcC82vzbQf1bzZxDKpE4KOoo10kFJ2izfNIh52QarGpUDy9tj1v032evBNuuvhTbzTcuou_cJo_S79M0gYoD5TRbcOgFg0yaaA/s320/DSC_2033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koh Ker Pyramid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhr0MNTSKkiEEhtVFJhjwi8CLhIW0Z9quoB5zUFLiDjmkPaq4wYUcnvpgEa3cs9FNQKd9VZXWzZM667a7CkjY1s-F6oGGgJ7zhfKB2zPgkH3eq4DXqtH0VB_9yQJ_xHEQaAD55MR7AdRG/s1600/IMG_1246.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhr0MNTSKkiEEhtVFJhjwi8CLhIW0Z9quoB5zUFLiDjmkPaq4wYUcnvpgEa3cs9FNQKd9VZXWzZM667a7CkjY1s-F6oGGgJ7zhfKB2zPgkH3eq4DXqtH0VB_9yQJ_xHEQaAD55MR7AdRG/s320/IMG_1246.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linga (Penis) Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSFjBBWwtPNd86C1R9ZF0YMOEGXJIteA0Wv5eiEV0G9O-6xHOMQqpVrw07AKaooBDVE-BzeWemukIrYSIFdXBBgbiXbOEgWVJw8CHKlPjxuqAtdqrqyQ7znsJxfhJ4oJmxZia7AJUO3pb/s1600/DSC_2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSFjBBWwtPNd86C1R9ZF0YMOEGXJIteA0Wv5eiEV0G9O-6xHOMQqpVrw07AKaooBDVE-BzeWemukIrYSIFdXBBgbiXbOEgWVJw8CHKlPjxuqAtdqrqyQ7znsJxfhJ4oJmxZia7AJUO3pb/s320/DSC_2041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Pyramid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iwXS4QNsDdUdjv6imxAiM0JED6z9k8n09QFMzsF-uyixw_5ZPYDby0XEQ4HDoG4MP097KPvhEfIiwuV598JIqWr-w-ymeL9AWSvIDyf6TosWkrwYLiRHuAjcBznGMEmc4p84Buj7tEz4/s1600/DSC_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iwXS4QNsDdUdjv6imxAiM0JED6z9k8n09QFMzsF-uyixw_5ZPYDby0XEQ4HDoG4MP097KPvhEfIiwuV598JIqWr-w-ymeL9AWSvIDyf6TosWkrwYLiRHuAjcBznGMEmc4p84Buj7tEz4/s320/DSC_2062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facade of Koh Ker Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf0vAwSZmzw3lLIfoWwSMKG-bAKIMya5p1kx7ZcEG3BsqcC_VX6ouFf9nxCpxSDRsuyhtK3rtkHmdait4LRcTa7tZAgLEpTeV4DYPcd8-7yYYQnDi5Vt9ixMGRmJCXMfgKGUsnJmz8xLC/s1600/DSC_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf0vAwSZmzw3lLIfoWwSMKG-bAKIMya5p1kx7ZcEG3BsqcC_VX6ouFf9nxCpxSDRsuyhtK3rtkHmdait4LRcTa7tZAgLEpTeV4DYPcd8-7yYYQnDi5Vt9ixMGRmJCXMfgKGUsnJmz8xLC/s320/DSC_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kra Chab Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXvK0e9c4jMGAuc-kwNBAmU9aGqKXwHLn6Xr4gSfJYmCUfN5CioHyqAGUhK3exfgUPLp9spA9YnSCehAY3HbIjMKKDbHdp_KS5Ao37NEwil6-Dpqxu4WB4td73fDGt43sjrSSduD_oQja/s1600/DSC_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXvK0e9c4jMGAuc-kwNBAmU9aGqKXwHLn6Xr4gSfJYmCUfN5CioHyqAGUhK3exfgUPLp9spA9YnSCehAY3HbIjMKKDbHdp_KS5Ao37NEwil6-Dpqxu4WB4td73fDGt43sjrSSduD_oQja/s320/DSC_2098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beng Melea Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The same car and Sophoan drove me to Kulen Mountains on my third day tour. Up the mountain of rocks and clay lie 3 interesting tourist spots: The Thousand Penis[es] (Linga), The Reclining Buddha carved from the gigantic boulder, and The Waterfalls. To know the background stories of them, one should really pay visit. On our way back, I revisited the red temple, Banteay Srie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWP_afmjx-oe4qYfN3O7yDKgVoSyN4CPZ_tRhE3E5fPuV4WuNRwiECQeiRtBMqorqYUjV1wX2fXbS4QF7IEb9DGv3QZ2szJ0le8JdERgotx73rw7jMWHcRzDwjnRDmbnLqEaqd414j8IZN/s1600/IMG_1922.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWP_afmjx-oe4qYfN3O7yDKgVoSyN4CPZ_tRhE3E5fPuV4WuNRwiECQeiRtBMqorqYUjV1wX2fXbS4QF7IEb9DGv3QZ2szJ0le8JdERgotx73rw7jMWHcRzDwjnRDmbnLqEaqd414j8IZN/s320/IMG_1922.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kulen Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDBLF6Hc3PK2mYC80zIafAl0i9MXbiLlYPm-mUau3AQDSlzMbQe1jMiFNmcuKlENPl6GOEKwsRub44eUwcPAxJ4ZkTYHhHPl0RKW6prJH351CtRpAxYQjdu4U-eCMobZPEnqJjnK9yoUf/s1600/IMG_1926.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDBLF6Hc3PK2mYC80zIafAl0i9MXbiLlYPm-mUau3AQDSlzMbQe1jMiFNmcuKlENPl6GOEKwsRub44eUwcPAxJ4ZkTYHhHPl0RKW6prJH351CtRpAxYQjdu4U-eCMobZPEnqJjnK9yoUf/s320/IMG_1926.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recling Buddha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTjqt5ThXfTsD7pmf8gWsWMJVn_smVTK85tp77c8JEZ9NKrBj4t_zCLaUVxemAf7QdTLsl7YuAjToPqaQdXDjy9nvXXPWj0AwC_m7xw35G8zt8CKqzOXXUtydrDhl39aB9PQ50W3hzfBh/s1600/DSC_2171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTjqt5ThXfTsD7pmf8gWsWMJVn_smVTK85tp77c8JEZ9NKrBj4t_zCLaUVxemAf7QdTLsl7YuAjToPqaQdXDjy9nvXXPWj0AwC_m7xw35G8zt8CKqzOXXUtydrDhl39aB9PQ50W3hzfBh/s320/DSC_2171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Thousand Linga in the river</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfbHC5qg2f4NDWn1rJX2TdfcvFHVSGssjaj_NqQ6HDrZGHC-ecxkwbwpRgrVvC25INTEB4GgDo5dVk3T5celYGvAfpx1mgdIgKWJ5Yei36kC-aE748asb4KyFGAEna5bMVIWsriX-RCmS/s1600/DSC_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfbHC5qg2f4NDWn1rJX2TdfcvFHVSGssjaj_NqQ6HDrZGHC-ecxkwbwpRgrVvC25INTEB4GgDo5dVk3T5celYGvAfpx1mgdIgKWJ5Yei36kC-aE748asb4KyFGAEna5bMVIWsriX-RCmS/s320/DSC_2173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penis & Vagina: Symbol of Fertility</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuc1FV_kWRFkED5F8UFl584axNGaJVZYoJ2Duh7DwfpON06lYk4wCHYOY8lTpR4HTdRls3hCAz4tEXrCdgtmltpj5EUY-7bPqT_8lganeSH3k8xXU968lhZwE43lB8dovuG0wuI6p6Iay/s1600/IMG_1950-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuc1FV_kWRFkED5F8UFl584axNGaJVZYoJ2Duh7DwfpON06lYk4wCHYOY8lTpR4HTdRls3hCAz4tEXrCdgtmltpj5EUY-7bPqT_8lganeSH3k8xXU968lhZwE43lB8dovuG0wuI6p6Iay/s320/IMG_1950-EFFECTS.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phnom Kulen Waterfalls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banteay Srei</td></tr>
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Given these numerous Hindu temples of old, my reflection is that it is on the temple where faithfuls frequented, spent most of their time, go-to place, and thus become the most significant venue for the people of the past. That is why the temples were made artsy, intricate, majestic, expressive, and imposing.<br />
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Angkor Beerdom has become my night event. On the first night, I drunk 2 mugs at the hotel bar. The second night was another 2 bottles at the Container Night Market with a live band. The last night was back at the hotel, shared with Adrian, the hotel proprietor and manager.<br />
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But of course, I too have nightly tours. Before the drinking spree, I witnessed a cultural dance show called "Smile of Angkor" on Aug 30 and another impressive spectacle of the night that I will always cherish, the Cambodian Circus entitled “Same Same but Different” on Aug 31.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile of Angkor</td></tr>
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Cambodian Circus</div>
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Summary of Travel Expenses:</div>
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$75 - B/F Airfare via Cebu Pacific Air</div>
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$156 - 4N Hotel Accommodation with breakfast</div>
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$74 - 2D Angkor Entry Ticket (puchased separately)</div>
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$15 - 1D Entry Ticket to Koh Ker + Beng Melea</div>
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$20 - 1D Entry Ticket to Kulen Mountain</div>
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$38 - Entry Ticket to Smile of Angkor with dinner</div>
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$38 - Entry Ticket to Cambodian Circus</div>
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$210 - 2D Car Hire with driver</div>
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$20 - 2x Airport Transfer</div>
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$2 - 1D Bike rental</div>
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$52 - Food & Miscellaneous</div>
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$700 = Grand Total</div>
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crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia13.3550091 103.8551729999999213.1078061 103.53244949999993 13.602212100000001 104.17789649999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181508056287034650.post-61175870164912316582018-06-07T20:06:00.000-07:002019-05-24T00:44:37.407-07:00Laag sa Switzerland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I got a glimpse, actually a taste, of Switzerland when we availed of day trips to St Moritz and Lugano.<br />
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It was spring when I and my friends reached some portions of the Swiss Alps. So, the chill is nipping but not freezing.<br />
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On board the Bernina Express, traversing the hills and mountains, passing by rivers and lakes, and of course glaciers, was one best experience we have had in the country.<br />
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St. Moritz was our first landing, only to find it drab or hibernating. I gathered that this favorite place for the rich and famous is very much jubilant during wintertime.<br />
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Lugano Lake is another spectacle. Just strolling along its banks or sitting on the lakeside benches to pass the time was already special and wonderful.<br />
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This 2-day visit has provided me an opportunity to have a look and feel of this small but rich European country, and formed in me the desire to be back someday.</div>
crisgastardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06002871784473435641noreply@blogger.com0St Moritz, Switzerland46.4907973 9.835507900000038746.4033338 9.6741464000000388 46.578260799999995 9.9968694000000387