Woke up under an argentine sky. On my almost two decades-old, Peanuts printed sheet. Philippine home now, and will be gone again all too soon. Where to? Hopefully to a shack sitting on a Byron Bay trailer park which we’re eyeing to live in for months. You read that right. Months.
We’re quite traveled-out. And back in July I found myself searching for the old and familiar more often. Like swinging by pubs I used to frequent. Or being needed by friends. Or watching the local news before a simple dinner of boiled veggies with buro.
Our nomadic family managed to wind down this third quarter, finally.
Because of Luna’s obsession with elephants, we took her elephant trekking in Phuket even though we do not approve of enslaving elephants for entertainment. The baby elephant in shackles which Luna called ‘Dumbo’, had bloody feet, prolly cause he/she tried breaking away from the chains.
Watched a Filipino acoustic band in Karon, Phuket for two nights. One of the best cover bands I’ve seen play live, or maybe I just had too much Chang Beer on both occasions.
We cut our Thailand trip short (we initially planned to stay for a month) so I could join the Allah Valley Tour 2013 organized by AVLDA and LGSP-LED. During the five-day trip we: Hiked Mt. Melibingoy and camped at Lake Holon, met National Living Treasure awardee Be Lang Dulay, ziplined above Lake Sebu’s falls, bird watched in Baras Bird Sanctuary, and attended the T’nalak Festival.
Pinay Travel Junkie partners with Keen footwear! An American shoe manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon. Quite excited to write the review, because I am now a huge fan (I’d love to buy Luna a pair too!). And to be honest, I didn’t even know such brand exists until they contacted me.
Discovered the “hostel of awesome” Pink Manila Hostel. The lone hostel in Manila that has a pool. Stayed for a couple of nights and although my parents’ condo’s just nearby, my staycation felt like I was in the middle of a backpacking trip. The hostel’s atmosphere can do that to you.
Celebrated my birthday with the whole family and fellow travel bloggers in Cebu. Finally checked in eye-candy Mövenpick Hotel. Also visited historic city Carcar.
Headed straight to Hungduan, Ifugao after getting out of the airport, off a Cebu-Manila flight. Hiked Hapao and Hungduan Terraces with another group of travel bloggers over the weekend.Trip highlight: Watching ‘The Conjuring’ in a pitch-dark, Ifugao house-style hut.
Flew to Australia a day after the Ifugao jaunt concluded. Ate Persian food at the in-law’s house everyday for two weeks (it’s a big mystery why I still fit in my pants right now). We mainly did reunions with the hubby’s family and… Shopped.
On our last day in Sydney, we squeezed in our hectic schedule a quickie hike through Garigal National Park.
Flight back to the Philippines closed the third quarter.
On to the last quarter…
So will our nth plan of settling down once and for all push through? Let’s wait three more months to find out.
uy, I could have met up with you while you were in Sydney! didn’t know you were here! maybe next time! 🙂 Good luck on winding down. We are in that zone as well – we badly needed it after a super heavy year of traveling 🙂
Will you be there long? I’ll be back in a month 🙂
Your blog ate Gay has been like a tv-series for me I have been following even before I started blogging. The reason is, I am so curious how you mix parenting with traveling, and on how to manage that. I’ve followed your blog back when you were still traveling preggy until the day Luna wore a bikini on a Brazilian beach. Now, from the last paragraph of this post, it’s another chapter to look onto. Ask me, I am excited to know what’s going to happen to this nomadic family after 3 months. Whether settling down or just traveling carefree like there’s no tomorrow, would be but another revelations I’m excited to know. Because I also want to travel as a family someday, hopefully, I am monitoring the progress of this nomadic family in this blog. If it will be, too, feasible on my part.
Stalker,
Edmar
i have actually moved here for good :), but I will be back in pinas next month to sort out a few things. keep in touch and let me know when you’re back in Sydney! would be great to meet you in person! hopefully matuloy na ang fellow nomad interview ko with you, hehe. 🙂
For good?! Yey! We’ll hook up for sure. And yeah, sorry have not been able to answer your questionnaires. We’ll have lots of time for that later on. Haha.
Nakakataba naman ng puso, Ed. Thanks for following our adventures. One day we’ll sit in a cafe in Vigan or anywhere else in the Philippines/world and talk about our mutual admiration. Can’t wait to see your book!
haha yea, for sure! no worries, i’m sure at one stage we will get it done. haha.
yeap, moved here for good. but need to go back to pinas because my fiance visa requires that I am there when it gets approved. (sucks big time, but optimistic that it will be granted soon) 🙂
There shouldn’t be any problems. And the wait only sucks when you two are apart 🙂
yea, i agree! thanks dear. and looking forward to meeting you soon!
Nice laid back (or as laid back as your family can get, I guess) third quarter, Gay! I still can’t imagine how you can juggle your family and the nomadic lifestyle so well. At the same time I can’t imagine you guys settling down at all. Cant wait to read what you’ll be up to on the last quarter of the year 🙂
I can’t imagine myself settling down too. House chores scare me! Hahaha!