Picton Pass
2:05 PM
My first taste of backpacking started in New Zealand. The husband and I explored the South Island and the North Island. My memories of this beautiful country led me to call it "Heaven on Earth."
A Grand Adventure: Lost in Paradise
7:38 PM
Epic. What does an epic vacation mean to me? To date, I've visited 172 cities in 23 countries and I still have a long list of places I want to see. When I look back, the closest to a grand adventure I've ever been in was the trip to Peru and Bolivia. That was a backpacking experience where I, together with my husband and father-in-law went beyond our comfort zones in an environment so eerily authentic that I have to shake off the notion that I'm not staring at a photograph in a historical book but I was actually there. Many things happened during that trip, yet I still long for more.
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| Kayangan Lake, Coron, Palawan {Photo Credit: Allu de Rivera, Edited by Arni} |
My idea of a Grand Adventure is a trip that would satisfy all facets of my being. It took me a long time to research and figure out the perfect place where I can experience it. Finally it hit me. Guess where? It doesn't fall away from home. It's in the Philippines!
Run for Fun
5:32 PM
It's that time of year for Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon . For the last several years, I was present as a spectator, patiently waiting at the finish line, cheering as I watched my husband successfully cross it beating his record the previous year.
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| Marathon Runners |
Wadi Driving
5:10 PM
We're celebrating a long weekend in the United Arab Emirates. Today is a religious non-working holiday, Prophet Mohammed's birthday. It's going to be a long weekend. For those stuck at home craving for adventure with no idea how to spend their Friday tomorrow, try Wadi Driving.
Wadi is an Arabic term, meaning valley. Wadi is a dry riverbed that becomes a stream during heavy rains. January is the best time to try off-road driving. Explore the rocky paths in between large boulders and mountains during cold season in a big group of 4X4s. We drove close to the UAE-Oman border.
The Fog
11:04 PM
I had the scariest experience last night. After midnight, I declined an offer to be dropped off by a friend, the girls night out "designated driver" volunteer. The thought of leaving the car to pick it up the next day in the parking lot was not appealing. My home is also 20 kilometers out of their way. We said our goodbyes and I carried on.
