2011’s a year of fulfilling dreams: Living in Baguio, visiting India, backpacking with my parents, flying our daughter overseas for the first time, and finally kicking off our round-the-world vagabonding. Each waking day, I am thankful that everything’s falling into place and we never take this opportunity for granted. The hubby and I strive hard in keeping our online jobs so as to continue this unconventional nomadic lifestyle… Until we get tired of it.
There’s really nothing more I could ask for right now. Okay, except pinakbet for Noche Buena.
I’ve been to five countries plus one SAR this year, and here are eleven random travel moments off the top of my head (because it’s a gargantuan task to select which trips to categorize under “The Best Of”):
1. Mt. Cabuyao hike, Benguet. An easy, breezy day hike with my mounaineeresque friends. My first after giving birth four months prior.
2. Being part of SEAir’s Winter Batanes Tour. It gave me the chance to not only revisit Batanes but also to meet a wacky bunch of bloggers: James, Izah, Leon, Mike, Bless, and Batanes maven Engr. Joseph Dy (thanks Engr. for this photo!).
3. Eating Indian food in India. One of my fave cuisines everrr.
4. I was sorta forced to attend the Panagbenga Festival. I actually thought it was just going to be some chaotic parade, but hey, it was beautifully chaotic.
5. Took my geologist sis-in-law (who lives in Australia) to Mt. Pinatubo. For her, it was a dream trek come true.
6. Entering Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site (that dates back to the 1st century BC) in Sri Lanka.
7. Brought the whole family to Macau. It was my parents’ first time to travel overseas. Luna’s too.
8. My application for a U.S.A. visa was unexpectedly approved. Luna and I tagged along the hubby’s business trip in California (sponsored by the company). We managed to squeeze a few sightseeing jaunts, such as our accidental visit in San Simeon where we saw elephant seals in their natural habitat.
9. Spent my 31st birthday hiking at Greater Blue Mountains, Australia.
10. Flew back to California and stayed for a month for the hubby’s work. We braved the winter cold in San Francisco for an Alcatraz tour.
11. Climbed up Piramide de la Luna with our little Luna in Teotihuacan, and watched Aztec dancers stomp along the Avenue of the Dead while the sun slowly dipped. Surreal. We’ll be here in Mexico for Christmas and New Year’s eve as well.
To describe 2011 as awesome, is such an understatement… I raise my jigger of mezcal to more adventures mi amigos. I am sooo ready for you 2012! Salud!
2011 must have been a great year . See you on the road..
I do hope to see you on the road!
It was indeed a full-packed year – travel wise and meeting new people (me included) and karaoke songs haha. Great to know you more this year and more travels for you and your hippie family this 2012. Plus for Luna to finally walk and tug her own back pack hehe
Haha! Thanks for the online/offline friendship, Marky. More adventures for 2012.
gay… bitiiiinnnn!!! pwedeng may part 2 ang post mo?
Haha! Mabilisang post Ed, I got limited time 🙁
awesome indeed! more blessings and travels to your beautiful family 😉
Beautiful family and wonderful adventures! Happy Holidays to you, Gail and family 🙂 Stay safe!
Thanks Chyng and Kate! Happy holidays gurrrls 🙂
Love the last photo. So beautiful 🙂 Congrats on living your dreams! 😀 Hope you get to live more this 2012 🙂
Thanks Astrid! I found something I wanted to buy for you here in Puebla, Mexico. When I went back to the kiosk the next day, it was already gone. It’s a car plate-ish fridge magnet with your name on it, and it also says Puebla. Sigh.
Just wow!Banner year indeed. Can’t get enough of the last photo…ang gondoh!:p Happy Holidays! Pwedeng pa-request ng postcard from Mexico?hehe
Astig! Ganda ng last pic! 🙂 Yes, it’s the year of living and fulfilling the dreams.
It was nice meeting you Gay!
cant wait to see more travels from you gay! 😀 kakatuwa! inspiring! 🙂
Killerfillers, send me your address 🙂
Izah, I miss the Batanes group! Hope there’s a reunion someday.
Eileen, thanks! Hope to meet you when we’re back in Pilipinas.
bongga ang travels! parang gusto ko etry yung pinatubo and batanes!
Ang exciting naman ng 2011 niyo! For sure 2012 is going to be even more exciting 😀
Love your work Pina Travel Junkie. I hope I make it eventually to what you guys are doing!
So cool! More travels to come! =)
Rome gow na! And hopefully the crater lake of Pinatubo’s turquoise-colored when you get there.
Nina, cheers to more adventures for 2012!
Jojie, hope you do 🙂
Tin, thanks!
glad to be a part of your 2011 😀
Panyero! Hope to see you again soon 🙂
What a great year you had! Wishing you more happy adventures in 2012 and looking forward to reading them. BTW, we have that exact seal picture from San Simeon. =)
More happy adventures to your fab fam Mary!
You had an awesome 2011 pero for sure hindi pa lahat yang 11 😛 Hoping to travel with you soon dear! 😀
Too many to mention, parang slum book lang ;p Hope to travel with you soon Mica!
I can’t help but be amazed at all the fantastic things you do and amazing places you see, with Luna tagging along (and the hubby, of course). Where do you get such energy? You are an inspiration to me, Gay. Keep rockin’!
Hi Reiza! I dunno where I get my energy as well. Haha. I’m doing these stuff before I run out of it 🙂 And hey, you’re THE inspiration. What you do is amazing. Hope to meet you someday.
Wata year! I dunno if I can even go to all these places in my lifetime. Some Gays have all the luck, hahaha!
Looking forward to your Random 12 of 2012.
Felices pascuas en Mexico! 🙂
quite a rewarding travel year! cheers to you and your family. hope to see you on the road in 2012. 😉
AJ, I gota feeling 2012 will witness my short break from traveling too ;p
Paul! I doooo hope we meet. Maybe even hike together.
oh yeah to batanes kompanyera!
i soooooo envy you…
happy new year to the nomadic family..
11 epic trips
Kudos to all of your past travels and those that are still to come! Keep being an inspiration to all of us newbie travelers!
BTW, Merry Christmas to you and your family Gay!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Keep on traveling.
James of my most awesome trips everrr! Batanes FTW!
Thanks Joan! Merry Christmas!
Maligayang pasko bertN 🙂
Ganda!!! Yung elephant seals, naalala ko pa yun. It’s one of my fave blog posts. 😀 Merry Xmas Gay. Hope to see you soon here in DVO, PH… or better yet somewhere down the road outside PH! 😀
andaming adventures this year ah 🙂 wishing you and your family more adventures this coming 2012 🙂
what an amazing year! i’m sure it was a blast. more travels to you this 2012 gay! 🙂
Aww, thanks Renz! Really loved that accidental sidetrip!
Flip hope to meet you next year!
Vin, wish you more travels 🙂
You were so blessed last year indeed! Your path – around the world – will surely make us all jealous. I’m heading to Mexico myself later in January for a quick travel fix.
Happy New Year!
Argh! We won’t be able to bump into each other Dennis!
Wow! Your 2011 is indeed awesome! 🙂
Luna is really getting bigger and cuter all the time 🙂
Happy New Year Tina!
Wow. Wish I had the luxury of traveling as frequently as you do! Those were really fascinating adventures you’ve had 🙂 Kudos and wishing you and your family more awesome adventures in 2012 🙂
Goodness gracious me Gaymie! Super packed ang 2011 niyong 3. Ambilis ng araw! It’s almost been a year since we saw you in Baguio! Happy new year and looking forward to seeing more lovely photos of your travel and of course your travel stories! Stay safe! <3
OMG! Yeah, Baguio seems like yesterday lang. Hope to see you guys again when we’re back in the region.