The Travel Asia Dream

(This is a long post.)

I've been thinking about the next couple of months lately and I'm pretty much sure where I want to be by May 2007. Now, as always, it's not about the "destination," but the "journey." Hence, my dilemma.

I'm not trying to be like him. No, no, no. He's the poster child; I'm just the child. I'm not interested in the world; I just want to visit 1/7th of it (for now). Namely, Jakarta, Bali, Singapore (I need to eat my chicken rice!), Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Riep, Macau, Taipei, Seoul, and Tokyo. Come on, 9 itsy bitsy countries altogether. I even left out China so that it will be manageable so why is there a reason to chicken out? Let me list a few imaginary handicaps of mine:

I am not rich.
Whereas Kuya Erik (feeling close) came from the dotcom boom background, I come from a government background where rewards were in the form of pension plans for the end of one's life (which I'm not even eligible since I didn't work that long for each government). In other words, I don't have money growing on trees. And with my recent stint with a non-profit organization? Let's not even go there. Plain and simple, I'm on a limited budget, which leads us to my next handicap...

I am (gasp!) maarte.
Hey, I can sleep on the floor; I don't have a problem with that. I can sleep without a pillow. I can sleep with just an electric fan, BUT (notice the caps!) I need a clean bathroom. In other words, no shared bathrooms with strangers. And if that were the case, then no hostels for me. If I don't stay in hostels, I would be paying more for my accommodations, which poses a problem because of the first imaginary handicap. (What kind of a backpacker are you if you're not staying at a hostel?!) Which again leads us to my next handicap...

My stuff doesn't fit in a backpack.
Just ask my co-workers and they will definitely agree that I don't travel light. It is not exactly what I bring, but the amount of things that I bring. I don't care if my shoes match my bag. I don't care if I wear the same pants for a week. I definitely can just live off of shorts, rubber shoes, and t-shirts for weeks on end, BUT (there's that BUT again) I make sure that there are extra shirts, shorts, and what-have-yous "just in case."

Plus, the bulk of the weight of my luggage is really from toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, lotion (with sunscreen!), face moisturizer with sunscreen (oh the amount of sunspots that has surfaced on my face since coming to Manila!), contact lens solution, deodorant, toothpaste, Off! lotion...they all add up, man!

BUT, a positive BUT mind you, with my recent trip to Malapascua wherein we got caught up in a rainstorm in the middle of the sea and all my stuff got drenched, I have realized that it doesn't matter if I have brought all the clothes in the world, they're all going to get wet if they're all going to get wet. They're all going to get dirty if they're all destined to get dirty. So I could possibly survive with 4 sets of clothes for like a month-long journey (washing one set every night)...but still with the same amount of toiletries, okay?

I'm "accent-retarded."
If I'm not accustomed to hearing you speak in English (with an accent), I have problems understanding you. Remember that pedicab driver in Tacloban who asked me, "What's your name?" I asked him three times to repeat what he said and I still didn't get it. I only got it after I got back into my room. In college, I spent two weeks in my Statistics class thinking that "arfa" was a stats term, thanks to my Chinese professor (after doing my reading, I found out that I should use "alpha" in my test answers if I wanted an A).

BUT then again, I worked with so many Asian people in college and I always understood them. I even understand Kim Rae Won when he speaks English in his TV serials so heck, I will survive as long as I keep my patience. I'm patient, right? Okay, let's not answer that.

I'm pretty.
Calm down, calm down. Hear me out. I'm not saying that I'm pretty. I'm saying that other people think I'm pretty and for some reason, this poses a handicap.

When I first tried to move out of the San Mateo house and live on my own, my titas did point out to me that it wouldn't be safe for me frolicking around town at night because "I'm pretty." When I told Tita Rosalyn and Tita Marilyn that I would be going to Malapascua alone, they also objected because "I'm pretty." Kuya Gerson once told me that I should dress differently so that I don't look rich. Now since when did being attractive become a handicap?

Well, I sort of understand them now that I've lived here in Manila for one and a half years. I hate getting stared at while crossing Shaw Blvd. I hate how security guards say "Hi Ma'am" when I pass by when it's cars that they should be looking out for and not me. I hate it when passersby say "Hi Miss Beautiful" when I'm waiting for an FX or taxi on the side of the road. And if those instances don't make me want to go "My Sassy Girl" on these people, it makes me madder to know that I can very well be pretty, and yet I still remain single. What the heck is wrong with this world?!

I'm paranoid.
Thanks to my lovely friends and relatives (and loving mother) who have always emphasized to me that "the world is not safe," I pretty much have that mentality. It also doesn't help that my Lonely Planet book says that theft and violent crimes are frequent in Jakarta. I have visions of my passport and wallet being stolen and I get stuck in Jakarta for the rest of my life because I don't have enough money to get to the embassy or airport. HeHe.

I don't have friends, or friends of friends of friends, or distant relatives in these far-flung places
Except for Tokyo (yes, Rick and Roy, I'm already volunteering both of you for the job), I would be my own tour guide in these other countries. All help will come from strangers who I meet along the way and who look harmless from the outside...of course, hoping that all of them know how to speak English. It would be so crappy if the only English-speaking person in each country is the scary-looking guy at the corner. Say it ain't so!

Okay, so that was really just a long, drawn-out post to let you know that...I'm scared. HeHe. I don't think I can face the mirror again if I end up back in Seattle without having done what I had set out to do. Though I have made a serious dent on my "Wow Philippines" agenda so that's a pat on the back as far as I'm concerned (I even went and met the Secretary of Tourism. Come on, major bonus points for that!). Plus, I have a few "I almost died" stories to recount, so I do have something to tell my future grandchildren with what I've done so far.

Anyway, the next time you see me online, kindly send your "Aja! Fighting!"s, "Kaya mo yan"s, and "You go, girl!"s my way please. I need them badly...or you can just send me the list of people you know in those cities who would absolutely LOVE to show me around. That should make me smile instantly. ;P

I Was Not Alone This Year

Travel Motto #5: Hauling Ass Pays Off

My flight leaves at 7:20AM. According to an MRT attendant AND the front desk of the hotel, the MRT doesn't open until 6AM.

Taking a cab would cost some SGD20. Taking the MRT would cost SGD2. Money left in my EZ-link: SGD4. Money left in my wallet: SGD6.50.

I still thought that paying SGD20 for a cab was a rip-off so regardless of my circumstances, I was taking the MRT, knowing that missing my flight was a HUGE possibility (Manageable risks, Mina, take only manageable risks!).

Despite everyone telling me that the MRT opened at 6AM, I decided to go to the MRT station early. So at 5:30AM, I was once again pulling my bag with wheels along Orchard Road. I arrived at the station at 5:45AM and lo and behold, it was open! I bet it was open as early as 5:30AM! God loves me!

After the usual 3 transfers, I made it to the Changi MRT station where I hauled ass to catch the free shuttle bus to the Budget Terminal only to sit idly for ten minutes (it leaves every ten minutes and I guess I got there just when it arrived). Rest assured that I was praying non-stop during the whole 10-minute wait.

Once I got to the terminal, I hauled ass to the check-in counter, absolutely relieved to find that it was still open. Time until boarding? 5 minutes! That's the latest I had ever checked-in for a flight!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to take advantage of the free internet at the airport nor did I have time to get breakfast.

So, what did I ended up doing? I bought food onboard. I had SGD6.50; what's a girl to do? I bought the Cup Noodles. Why? Because it was food and water together. If I had gotten a sandwich, I didn't have enough money for drinks, so I would be thirsty. If I bought just drinks, I would still be hungry. Best choice? Cup Noodles. HeHe.

Got safely back to Clark and back to Mandaluyong.

Ahh! My first solo trip and I survived! I was quite worried at first, but Kuya Heinz pointed out that I traveled to Brugge (Belgium) alone before and I survived so there was nothing to worry about in Singapore. How prophetic that Kuya Heinz of mine! HaHa!

The only thing that I didn't get to do that I wanted to do was eat chicken rice. I have this thing where I have to eat the local cuisine wherever I go. In Hong Kong, I ate Chinese food (geoduck among other things). In Bangkok, I ate phad thai. Unfortunately, the streak died in Singapore. I guess, all the more reason I should go back. I heart Singapore, afterall.

Travel Motto #4: If you see one Chinatown, you've seen them all

In the early morning, I headed off to Chinatown. Being that it was nearing Chinese New Year, I heard Chinatown was the place to go. Well, not in the morning; there was nothing to see. However, it was nice to see what it looked like without the crowds. One thing I discovered: all the Chinatowns in the world look like the same. Granted, that I haven't seen all of the Chinatowns in the world, but the ones that I have seen (San Francisco, Manila, Vancouver, Seattle, New York, and Singapore), they all look the same.

I headed back to the MRT station and ended up in Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut Station). Big mistake. In the basement level, there is a store called TS, where they sell Korean drama DVDs. They had everything (Malaysia versions)! I ended up exchanging more money so I could buy "My Girl." I only had three reasons: Lee Dong Wook.

For lunch, I ate dimsum at Wisma Atria, thinking that it would be cheaper, but I was wrong. SGD7.50 for two rounds of ha kao. Boo!

On my way back to the hotel, I passed by Ngee Ann City, where I spotted the Sunday gathering of Filipino OFWs. I thought that only happened in Hong Kong pero pati sa Singapore pala. I just thought it was very sosyal of them to congregate at Ngee Ann. HeHe.

At 3PM, I met up with Kandi, Irene's co-worker, and headed to Sentosa. We rode the cable car, went to Underwater World/Dolphin Lagoon, and watched the show. If you're going to Singapore, Sentosa is not to be missed. It's truly Uniquely Singapore (I thought the zoos weren't unique so I didn't bother to go to Singapore Zoo/Night Safari.)

We grabbed a quick dinner and headed to Chinatown with Irene at 10PM. What a huge contrast from that morning: Ang daming tao! Siksikan! And so many Chinese goods for sale!

We got home past 11PM and that was another thing to love about Singapore: so safe to be out and about regardless of the time of day. Hindi katulad dito sa Manila, kahit in broad daylight, nakakapit ka sa bag mo. Tsk!

Travel Motto #3: Getting lost is part of the adventure. If you don't get lost, it's not an adventure

It was Jurong Bird Park day for me. Instead of taking the MRT straight through, I decided to ride through all the stops of the red line to see "what's out there." Apparently, not much: just high-rise apartments at each stop. But seeing the greenery and nice roads really made me like Singapore. What a stark contrast from Manila!

At the Jurong East MRT stop, I took the bus to Jurong Bird Park. I was pretty proud of myself for knowing where to go, and not having to backtrack. After paying the entrance fee, the first thing I saw was the photo place where you can get your picture taken with the birds. Price tag? SGD17. I thought that was way too expensive and decided to forget it. I went around the park and sweated every step of the way. Grabe, super init eventhough I got there at 10AM. I tried to stay away from the SGD3 bottled water, but when I found the SGD2 bottled water at the back of the park, I decided that I better cough up the money before heatstroke caught up with me.

While going around, loneliness was what caught up with me. All my shots were of birds and none of me! Blasphemy. So what did I do? Yes, I paid the SGD17 for the picture of me with the birds and I looked like a dork because all the birds were on me. Even the photographer had to ask, "Just you?" Dammit!

After four hours (didn't think it would take me that long), I headed back to the MRT station to go "downtown." I was again starving by this time because I wouldn't eat at the only restaurant at the park because I knew the prices would be inflated. So what happened? I got lost again. I took the Raffles MRT stop instead of the City Hall MRT stop. When I got off Raffles, I went around and around, trying to find the Raffles Mall. Of course, I couldn't find it because I was at the wrong stop...and I can't read maps (This was THE revelation of the trip. Eventhough I love referring to maps, I don't know how to read them! If they're not pointing the right way, I don't know where to go! Tsk!). I finally went back down to the MRT station and took the train to the City Hall MRT.

I ate lunch at Raffles, checked out St. Andrew's Cathedral, and went down to the CityLink Mall to go to the Esplanade. Another thing to love about Singapore: there are directions everywhere! You'll never get lost (once you're inside somewhere).

Once at the Esplanade, I went to the rooftop to see the awesome bird eye's view (ang init!), then to the Esplanade Park to make muni-muni. Grabe, I loved the view of the Merlion, the marina, and the skyscrapers! I sat there for about forty-five minutes...while listening to two Filipinos behind me speaking in Tagalog. The guy goes, "Ano kaya yang babae na yan? Hindi naman Chinese kasi hindi naman brown yung buhok. Tiyaka kung Filipino yan, kinausap na tayo." God, I love it when I can understand people talking about me without them knowing! I eventually left them when a Chinese girl (who did have brown hair) sat down to the left of me and started smoking. Totally took me out of my muni-muni-ing!

I pulled out my Singapore Walking map and followed it to get to the Merlion with my uber memorable episode of jaywalking in front of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Yup, I jaywalked in Singapore! Only to see the Raffles statue. I wonder how that excuse would have held up at the police station (I also jaywalked on Orchard Road, by the way. I'm cool, I know)! I saw the Boat Quay (pronounced "key") from afar, crossed the Cavanaugh Bridge, walked around Fullerton Hotel, then finally stopped in front of the Merlion. Asus, I thought it would be all grand, eh nilulumot na yung bibig ng Merlion, no! Regardless, I think I took pictures of the Merlion from all possible angles. It was the only thing I could do since there was no one to take a picture of me (tear!). Then I sat down and made muni-muni again...now from the other side of the marina! HeHe. Again, Filipinos were talking about me: "Pare, ako ang kukunan mo ng picture hindi yang babae!"

I headed back to Esplanade, thinking to myself that it does look like a durian. I took the CityLink again to go to Suntec for the Fountain of Wealth, the largest fountain in the world. You know for such a small place, Singapore has the most "largest" of somethings! I didn't touch the middle of the fountain (Supposedly, after going around three times while touching the water, your wish will come true), but found myself making muni-muni again.

Refusing to spend too much money on food, I just rode the MRT back to Orchard and bought myself some pastries at the Paragon grocery store. Price of bottled water? SGD.40! If you want it cold, just add SGD.15. Darn those over-priced goods at Jurong!

Once I got back to the hotel, I ate, showered, and ended up sleeping instantly. Grabe ang pagod! Loved the exercise, though!