The world has a lot to offer. I learned that ever since I started traveling as a teenager. Maybe traveling has already grown in me ever since my parents brought me abroad when I was only two years old. But it only ignited again when I was already grown up enough to travel. 

I believe one traveller does not need to be aware that he/she is traveling. I think those are the best travels! Still, we all get to a certain time in our lives that we are ready. For example, ready enough to jump on a train and get lost. Or ready to lose something valuable in a hotel room and laugh it all off in the end. Or even sleep in a dorm room full of strangers and make friends. I believe these happen in a certain time that we are completely ready to face the world.

Travelling brings amazing experiences. These experiences are fully packed with stories that we tell to our children and our children's children. These stories are filled with people that have influenced us, surprised us, and showed us that the world is a better place to live in. 

One month and 6 days ago (Today is August 8, 2012), I flew approximately 6,296 miles from the Philippines to Copenhagen, Denmark. Though the distance did not beat the 7,345 miles from the Philippines to Los Angeles that I travelled last year, these were the most tiring travels I've had. I had to stay and wait in two airports for a day twice! Luckily, Hong Kong International Airport and Doha International Airport were two of the best airports in the world or else I would hate the travels forever. But I actually did not hate anything despite the long distance. Instead, the ups and downs of our travels amazed me. That is why I am now here, in front of my laptop, ready to share to the world the things I learned from Europe.

1. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

Dragør, Copenhagen, Denmark

When I first saw this sign posted at the back of the cashier of a vintage store, I immediately agreed. Whether big or small, if it made a difference, then be thankful for it. In the middle of tough times, there is always something good about to come up.

2. Master how to navigate. 

Paris City Map

If there is a time to study maps of the city and transportation routes before making the trip to the city, grab the opportunity. It is always better to be prepared and have everything planned instead of going there without a single clue. Besides, it saves plenty of time! One hour of studying and taking notes about transportation is better than one hour of finding the way or trying out wrong directions and routes.

3. Pack light. Do layering! 

This photo belongs to: noriko.stardust

Before flying, be sure to pack the right pairs of clothes. In this recent trip to Europe, I researched about the basic clothes to wear in each country I visited. I even wrote all the outfits that I  mixed and matched. Choosing the proper colors that go well with each other had made it easier as well. If there was one thing I forgot to do, it was to check the weather forecast each day before going out.

Amalienborg Slot, Copenhagen, Denmark

In Europe, the weather is very unpredictable. Summer seasons not only bring hot and warm weather but also cool and windy weather. You won't know when it will rain or shine. The weather forecasts even fail sometimes. It is still best to be prepared. 

4. Pray, pray, and pray. Travel with faith!

Travelling is not going to be as beautiful without faith and prayers. This has been proven to me several times even before I applied for a visa application and bought plane tickets to my destination. Everything will be laid out nicely, sometimes crazily when we waver. But in the end, everything will always come out beautifully.

Wing ring in Copenhagen

Wing ring in Vienna

Wing ring in Budapest

I wore a wing ring served as a sign to fly to all the places I have been through. I have handed the other wing to my Best Friend who always knows when and where to fly. Pardon me for Paris was too beautiful that I forgot to take a picture of the ring on my hand.

To make up for it, wing ring now sits on the miniature Eiffel that I bought in Paris and now sitting beside my bed.

5. Try to learn the country's language and speak the common expressions. The locals appreciate it more! :-)

6. If you can help it, stay away from technology (I'm referring to the Internet :p). Though it can help a lot if you are lost and you can just check with a free local wi-fi/hotspot, set aside a time to stay away from it once in a while. Live, live, live!

At Hongkong International Airport

7. Learn to sleep anywhere. But don't let yourself be left behind by the plane or the train. This has been proven to me when I suddenly rushed to get my things in the train from Auxerre to Paris. Because I got a painful sprain, I walked on cobble stones limping!

Slept in 5 airports since 2008 | Macau Airport

8. Maximize the use of your euro coins. Travelling in other European countries means you're going to receive different currencies. Some European countries don't accept euro coins, only bills. And they're going to give you change in their own currency. So better use up all those euro coins in transportation expenses as much as possible. 

9. Wet your hair if needed. Lately, I just realized that water is really bad for the hair. Even Europeans do not wet their hair everyday. I'm not saying that they do not take a bath everyday. Actually they really don't take a "full" bath, if you know what I mean. Honestly, I found it not so bad after all. Due to this, I wet my hair every other day ever since I came back. It actually feels softer and manageable. BUT I still can't stand it if I do not get to take a bath in the morning. I get extremely moody during the rest of the day. Try it.

10. God's angels exist. Everywhere. Have you ever experienced being lost and the right people seemed to come to you in order to direct you to the proper direction? That happened to us a lot in this trip. If only I could find them all, I would thank them again. 

11. Think positive!!! Let go of the bad vibes!!! Being hot-headed won't work, especially in a continent like Europe where noone knows your name.

12. Panicking won't bring you to anywhere safe. This is just too self-explanatory. I always learn this every time.

13. Help yourself. Secure your belongings. Hold on to your travel documents at all times. Buy a small travel bag or just put it in one pocket inside your bag. I repeat. ONE. When you carry a dSLR camera like mine, put a string on your camera and its cover lens. I really lost a lot of things during this trip. But all thanks to God.. I lost and found them all back!

Auxerre Boat Ride | Where I found my cover lens

14. Empower your camera. If you like taking pictures, then an SD with an extra larger memory and an extra-charged battery will help a lot. This can lessen the frustrations from running out of memory or battery while shooting significant views and happenings around the city.

15. Appreciate your hosts in any way that is best for them. ;) 

16. Say "thank you" or "Merci" more passionately. Do it the French way!

17. Europe is the perfect place to dream. 

The Museumsquartier Hof, Vienna, Autria (Photo taken by HenC)

At the Museumsquartier, I had a talk with my "sister" about the future 'til around two in the morning. It seems really strange for us to be walking at night in Vienna and feeling so safe. We laughed a lot about the past, acknowledged the present, and hoped for the future. Truly magical.

18. Eating bread everyday is not so bad. I already miss it. We have tons of bread now at home. Hindi nga lang 'yung matigas. :( 

Auxerre, Burgundy, France

19. Do not hesitate to ask people for directions. They will say that they speak "a little" English. I find that really cute! But they will still try to help you in any way they can.

20. Even though you are a tourist, you can still make yourself useful by carrying a MAP. Other tourists will even ask you questions. Seek help and offer help. Make it two-way! (:

21. Love the one you are with. Respect and honor your companion, whoever they are. Even though you seem to know a lot about things, let your companion lead you once in awhile. You are NOT a tourist guide. You are a loved one and a friend.

Qatar Airways: Best plane rides everrr!

22. Not everyone is a student, Teacher Kaye. :) Yes, the world is my classroom. But I am a student in it. So, even though I am also a teacher by profession, that does not mean that others are my students. Humbling myself and accepting that I may know something but I do not know everything are pretty much eye-openers for me. Speak kindly. Respect at all times. Thank you, Mom for helping me realize this.

23. Open your eyes. Men in the Philippines are not the only good-natured and good-looking men in the world. 

There he was just walking down the street... HAHAHA

24. Be friendlier. 

Some people would want to talk to you. I could have created a lot of beautiful friendships along the way if I was more open with people. My Asian default of being shy and conservative kicked in during this trip. Let's leave the explanation as that because I regretted this so much. ((:

If we are, then we will be | Vienna, Austria

There is nothing really wrong with befriending "good" strangers. Right? 

25.  You are beautiful.

I always see myself as boring and dull to look at. I do not have strikingly radiant skin, big eyes, luscious lips, pointed noise, nicely shaped ears, and a 5"6 height. However, this did not affect me when I travel at all. Although I have seen so many beautiful women during my travels, I have neither wished to be like them nor wanted to change something in me. I do appreciate their beauty. But that ends there. Every time I come home, I would see Filipino celebrities passing by and I never had the same excitement as I have had before. I also do appreciate their beauty. Still, it ends there. My view on beauty actually widened into a bigger concept, farther than the physical definition of beauty could carry. So "YOU (whoever you are) are beautiful." Believe in that.

26. Have a solitude moment!

When you're tired of walking along sunny cobbled streets, take a stroll in the park and sit on one of the benches. Think. Dream. And EAT! 

27. Don't underestimate people. 

Whether Europeans work in white collar or blue collar jobs, they seemed to not take it against each other. They all acted professionally. I was even surprised to see young blue collar workers in Vienna who happened to be so hot! It totally hit me. I really could not underestimate them just because they sell in the park or construct roads. Hahaha! 

28. There's more to France than Paris..

There's Auxerre,

Clamecy,

Vezelay,

.. and many others!

29. Sadly, Filipinos are one of the snobbish people in Europe. 

Ang taray mo talaga, Burger King clerk!!!

When I stopped by to eat at Burger King near the Opera House, I met this lady at the counter. She asked for my order and I said, "French fries and Fruita." I accidentally said Fruita! HAHAHA. How could she blame me? This was the first time I said it out loud because I have been saying "Royal" all my life. Then she replied, "Ha? It's FUN-TUH!" as she filled in my cup. She even whispered some things about being a Filipina. I didn't dare listen or reply back. Oh-em-gee! I could throw the Fanta back at her. It was a good thing I am too modest to do that at that time.

My message to you, lady: There's still room for change. 

30. Eat slowly. Enjoy eating your food. ;)

I have never eaten so slow in my entire life until I experienced service à la russe (the act of serving courses sequentially) at one of the fine dining restaurants in Auxerre. I found out that food becomes more delicious when eaten slowly. And we become more appreciative of every dish served to us, whether it's an appetizer, an entrée, or a dessert.

31. Take note of the smallest details. 

I always forget to write down or take a picture of the smallest details like the name of the restaurant we ate in or the train station we arrived at. I am really bad at remembering names though I had a snapshot of it in my head the moment I saw it. I am more of a visual person. I have been helping myself by saving it on my phone though sometimes I still forget.

32. Expose yourself to different cultures. 

Exposing yourself will enrich you, help you evaluate yourself, and discover and rediscover your own values. You will always see something different from yourself. C'est la vie (Such is life. This is just the way life is). 

My Euro Trip has never been so real to me until that day when the airplane flew from Clark to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Qatar, and Qatar to Denmark. Having a Euro Trip with my Mom has been scratched off my plans due to my job and finances. But Mom insisted on asking Dad and he said yes. Then the next thing I knew, my request for a leave and my application for a Schengen visa was approved. Wala na akong kawala. There was God, commanding me, "GO!"

Travelling has not just been about buying plane tickets, going to a distant country, experiencing another culture, spending money, and sharing stories to family and friends. It is the process of losing what lacks, searching what exists, and finding what awaits. It involves deeper sense of emotions that merely come out when one is genuinely in joy or in sorrow. It creates patterns in the path we walk on and marks out the roads where we can learn from. It develops the will to dream and inspires the spirit to achieve that dream. It even makes way for beautiful conversations to happen between God and man. In other words, travelling is the act of finding one's self, one's direction, one's life. 

When recently asked by a friend, "Ano bang nagpapasaya sa'yo? Paano ka ba mag-relax or mag-enjoy? (What makes you happy? How do you relax or enjoy?)" I quickly answered, "Traveling." She said, "Ang mahal naman ng nagpapasaya sa'yo! (Your type of enjoyment is costly!)" I just shrugged. Traveling may cause me to get so broke afterwards and to sacrifice my budget for shopping and food but it always brings me joy, the joy which only travelers understand. If I could define the feeling of traveling in one sentence, maybe it would be this: Traveling brings me to the closest place to heaven that I'll ever reach on earth.

There, I said it.

(Today is September 8, 2012. It takes a month for me to finish a blog now.)

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

August 29, 2012

As I was sitting in class, watching videos, sharing insights, and mulling over people and media, my professor suddenly introduced us to this movie called "Catfish." I have heard this term countless of times but I have never given it a thought. Unfortunately, the making of a movie named after it did not reach me either. Well, not until tonight.

Our class was not able to finish the movie so we were left to download and finish it on our own. When I got home, I immediately opened my laptop and started downloading via my trusted torrent site and downloader. I am determined to find out.


What happened next?

While downloading, I started searching for articles, interviews, and the characters' Facebook accounts and official websites in order to feed my curiosity about this self-proclaimed documentary. Obviously, this movie got me so perplexed and puzzled in class that I wanted to find out what really happened as soon as I could. And so the questions thrown by my professor roamed around my mind.

How much of the film is real and how much of it is fictional? Did this actually happen? 

I clearly have no answer to the question that night. All I learned that this movie came out the same year as the hit "The Social Network" and I didn't even hear any news about it. Shame on me, considering how I loved indie films like this. I must have joined the bandwagon at that time.

September 1, 2012

Finally! I had the time to sit down and watch the film. I started from the last scene we watched in class. I only watched the whole thing once. I didn't dare watch it all over again. Then I started thinking.

Catfish, the film itself, is 50 percent real and 50 percent non-fiction. I could not explain why yet.


September 4, 2012

A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances. 
- Urban Dictionary

ex. Angela is a catfish.

I have come to a deeper realization about Catfish. It's plainly a documentary film. I have no violent reactions regarding their label of being a documentary, meaning a film based on real-life experiences of people. It is basically a documentary due to their intent. They made a film to feature the life of Nev, a 24-year old photographer in New York who virtually interacted with Abby, a child prodigy; Abby's mother Angela; and Abby's sister Megan, a self-proclaimed musician and whom Nev fell inlove with through a series of Facebook messages, comments, chats, phone calls and texts. In that angle, Catfish is no doubt a documentary that is based on Nev's true-to-life experience.

However, Catfish featured a part of Nev's story when he found out that he was a victim of a hoax. At that moment when he found out that his girlfriend Megan lied to him about creating songs that was practically owned by another artist in YouTube, I knew that the film would not be 100% true any longer. Nev and his friends could have simply accepted the fact that they have been deceived by someone online. But they decided to continue filming it in order to create a great documentary, telling the tale of being a victim of a ruse through the world's most popular social networking site Facebook. They travelled several miles away to meet the Wesselman family face to face. They planned how they would approach the family, how they would film it, what kind of clothes work best to hide the camera, what to give them, etcetera, so that they could get to the bottom of it. And yes, once they have it all filmed, they broadcasted it for the whole world to see as 100% real-life experience. After Nev's eureka experience about Megan's fake identity, the fictional side of the film had just started to reach its end. It's all staged. It's all acting. 

I really have no clear distinction how much of the film was fictional and how much of the film was real. All I can perceive is that when Nev did not know anything about Abby, Angela, and Megan's true identities, the documentation can be considered as a real experience. But once Nev found out and decided to document the whole thing, he was already playing a part from a fictional movie. He was laughing at himself while he was texting Megan. He was looking dubious at Angela and his family when he met them. He seemed like a completely different person from the person he was at the beginning of the film. I'm sure everyone must have noticed that.

Catfish is a film about deception (of ourselves as well as others) and fantasy in a digital era — an era that finds us continually modifying, editing and reshaping the truth to find optimal results. The filmmakers’ fakery, then, is yet another layer of distortion, another instance of the virtual world (the film’s narrative) taking precedence over the real world. In fact, it’s about as literal as that takeover can become: Nev literally changes the coordinates of his own life, in an enormous fashion, for the sake of the digital document that is the film. -Zachary Wigon 2010

Honestly, I do not want to call it a 50 percent fictional and 50 percent real for it will totally defeat the purpose of a documentary. Any film, whether based on an entirely true story or not, undergoes a series of edits. During the editing process, some parts were included in the final cut of the film and some could have been removed. The camera could even focus on different angles that might create false meanings which are far from the truth. 

Perhaps, the question is not really about how much of the film is real or fiction but how much of fiction is within us? Or maybe the film only intends for us to focus on what was becoming unreal--that we are all existing in a virtual world where we form identities or segments of ourselves. 

We are the "you"s  in the film's tagline "Don't let anyone tell you what it is" that create the fiction and blend them with reality. We will never solve the puzzle of understanding the "it" in the tagline. 

Also, we will never fully comprehend why there is a fact and a fiction within us. But maybe we can think about this question..

How much of the fact are you willing to hide for fiction?

She Says (Black Eyed Blues)

by Jon Foreman

I just want to take this opportunity to honor you, Hero for the love you have shown me and my family. Thank you for greeting me with a lovely and manly smile every time I came home. Thank you for the handshakes we've shared. Thank you for barking at the strangers and guarding our home 'til everyone was asleep. Thank you for trying to stand up despite your feeble knees whenever I arrived recently. Thank you for still looking at me, crying maybe, with those poor dark eyes. Thank you for holding on and never letting go 'til the time of your rest has come. You will always be our family's first big hero. Happy 15 years. I love you dearly.

There's nothing wrong with falling in love and showing your love to another person. But when  this love turns into a game, then it has to be brought into a full halt. Two people must not be in a silly game of love or else, both of them will definitely lose.

Chapter 3: Don't Play Games or Lead People On



What goes around comes around. This is better known as karma. We all know that whatever we do to another person, we always get it back. We may not realize it now but once we start treating other people badly, we acquire it as a habit. This can lead to serious relationship issues in the future which may be hard for us to control. 

Women most often criticize men for doing the bad actions in relationships. However, they must also look at themselves and see if we are treating other people the way they want to be treated. It is impossible to form an open, loving and trusting relationship with another person if we play games, make them feel insecure, or be mean to them.

Lesson to be Learned: Leading People on Can Rebound on You

In Sense and Sensibility, Willoughby portrayed both a hero and a disagreeable man. He tried winning Marianne's affection and in the process, fell in love with her. Because Mariane comes from a poor family, he abandons her, sets off to the city, and marries a rich girl he doesn't love. Leading Marianne on, he breaks her heart. When he comes to his senses, he apologizes even though it was too late. While he traps himself in a horrible marriage, Marianne finds peace in a marriage with Colonel Brandon who truly loves her.

One thing I noticed is that most women, who are careful and afraid, tend to be the ones who play the game. They tend to go out with men, cancel at the last minute, flirt, and then throw them off guard. These women are insecure mostly because they are scared of betrayal or rejection. But little do these women know that this can only stop them from getting what they really want. And obviously, what these women want is "someone to want them back (Brooke Davis, One Tree Hill, 2004)."

What women need to do is to be genuine in order to have a serious and honest relationship with another person. Jane Austen pointed out that nothing is really wrong with flirting, attracting people, and having a good time. But if it becomes a dangerous habit which can be destructive to people involved, then it's time to pause and think. This technique of winning people over through manipulation and seduction will never work. 

Lesson to be Learned: Don't Get Addicted to Flirting

One of the wonders of Jane Austen's novels is that it influences us to take a good look at ourselves. What are we doing wrong? Have I done something bad to another person? We are also human and we have the tendency to exhibit bad actions as long as we're here on earth. But that does not mean we can do nothing to stop it.

We need to take a good look on our own behaviors. Are we flirting or leading people on? If we are, then maybe we are insecure and we want assurance from people to tell us that we are attractive, interesting, and pleasing in their eyes. If we continue doing this, we may not get what we truly want. Flirting and mentally seducing people will not bring us to serious and honest relationships. It will just tag along our backs like casual hyenas looking for fun and nothing else. If  we are truly being genuine and honest to ourselves, is this what we really want? Is being a Henry Crawford, a nasty game player of Mansfield Park who leads two beautiful and deserving women on for nothing, what we really want to be?

Lesson to be Learned: Don't be Flattered by Toxic Flirts

Women should hold on to their hearts. No matter how much affection and praise a woman receives, she still needs to protect herself. There are different kinds of men and it is a must for every woman to discern each man first before getting into a relationship or settling down with him. A man can be absolutely fond of a woman and her charm--smile with her, laugh at her jokes, compliments her, and pays full attention to her. But he cannot be so interested in her way beyond anything he actually know about her. Because he is busy thinking about how good and manly he looks with her and what other people are saying. He thinks about himself 101% of the time. And these are what we call toxic flirts, who cannot do any better than what they are capable of. 

When a woman meets a toxic flirt, she can always test him. If she tells him to slow down, he will.. only IF he is not a Henry Crawford. If he happens to be one, then he will disappear like magic. As written in this book, "Don't be seduced by someone who's rushing you and over-powering you with his charm. It will always end in tears."

What a woman should do is to value her own feelings. Letting a Henry toy with her feelings and play with her will not do her any good unless she really wants a holiday romance or a fast fillip. A relationship with a Henry will just lead to a disastrous marriage.  A Mrs. Crawford will only have a lifetime of chasing over a man who will be chasing after many other women. It will only lead to one game after another wherein all of them will just end up in misery. We all know misery is not the best company especially if we are looking for something else greater.

Yes, you got that right. Something else greater is always in ahead of us. We deserve it. The only reason why we have a hard time getting it is because we are blinded by this continuous and disastrous livelihood. We think that if we open our hearts and minds to somebody else in a translucent way, we can mess up our hearts. In fact, transparency is the only way we can find something else greater--whether it is a person we have been waiting for our whole lives, a feeling that has been absent for a long time, a relationship that is honest and just, or a love that can go on for eternity. We need to be genuine not only to others but to ourselves. What do we want?

If we all come to think of it, we all start from a messed up life of horrible relationships with people we care about but we end up trying to find our ways and groping for something greater.. not bad, but good. Something that can really affect our betterment and not mess us up or our relationships. We stop playing and we begin to value people and their feelings, and then we value ourselves and our feelings. Suddenly, relationships become serious and honest. Neither we become a toxic flirt nor let a toxic flirt bewitch us. We finally meet what we truly want.

Game over.

The Bean, Chicago, Illinois 2011

I would never do you wrong 

Or let you down or lead you on

Don't be scared, it's only love

That we're falling in 

Sorry, I'm in a Lifehouse love mode already. ((:

What's in all these comparisons between the song originals and their versions? Why do we make a fuss about whether or not a particular artist has lived up to or exceeded a song's original artist? Isn't creativity and originality the true essence of being a musician? 

Two months ago, my parents held a thanksgiving party to God for their wonderful 25 years together. Celebration could not have been the perfect word to call it but it was more of an event glorifying God's goodness in their relationship and in our family as well. It became a night filled with good old memories, building of old and new relationships, sharing of fun, smiles, and laughter, and a renewed excitement and hope for the future. There could never be any day better to honor God than Mom and Dad's Silver Wedding Day.

A lot of things happen in weddings. Who could even remember them all?! So instead of writing everything that happened that night, let me fill this blog entry with a photo narration of pictures that best captured those significant happenings on cam.

Everything downstairs are all set...

as well as the Bride and Groom upstairs.

Down the stairs the Siguas go..

And in line with the entourage, they march slow.

Two smiles.. Three.. Everyone's happy.

For the second time, a ring fits.

Pastor Manny Carlos prayed over them..

and the children prayed and prophesied (hee hee) as well.

The Lord spoke to me through this and I, as your daughter, claim this for you...

"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants, from the time on and forever," says the Lord. 

Giving of love gifts so sweet and cute

As Pastor Christian uttered, "You may now kiss the bride,"

joyfully and tenderly, the husband kissed her wife.