LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS

Just do what your heart is telling you without expecting in return. Don’t expect to receive the same care and love the way you care and love others.

Life goes on, with or without, whoever and whatever. Never forget that! Make yourself strong enough so, you don’t need others to handle you. Rely on yourself and be happy.

Be kind even if others are not. Show your love to people you care, but of course, don’t forget to love yourself (number one rule). Follow your happiness!

MY LIFE RULES:

DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS

• Always remember that you are unique and amazing. Do what makes you happy and be true and kind to yourself.

NEVER ETERTAIN NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. STAY POSITIVE!

• Train yourself to calm down in every situation. I know it’s hard especially in bad days but always remember it shall come to pass. It won’t stay forever. As long as you fight, there’s always hope. Keep fighting!

DON’T OVERTHINK

• Overthinking ruins your life. In case this happens, entertain yourself. Make yourself busy. 

NEVER EXPECT, DON’T ASSUME.

•  Expectation hurts, so don’t expect.

AVOID TOXIC PEOPLE

• Prioritise your peace of mind, nothing is worth losing your peace over.

Stay positive, work hard, and make it happen!

LET NATURE CALM YOUR MIND

“Spend time in nature and let it calm your mind”

Nature allows you to calm your mind. Look deep into nature, and you will understand better. For any outdoor enthusiast, the natural world is indeed our playground. Why? Because nature offers us much more than pleasant views.

Why I love nature? Simply because, IT GIVES ME TIME TO UNWIND.

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People are very busy nowadays, especially when it comes to working. This means we can often lose sight of taking some time out. Even when we do take time to relax, we’re usually in front of screens. Especially me as a teacher teaching offline and online. Preparing lesson plans, making reports and instructional materials. But after I took a break, I packed my things and headed to one of my favorite places in Vietnam which is Yen Bai. Nature teaches me to slow down and check in with myself away from everyday distractions. A meaningful connection with nature can actually help us connect more with ourselves. 

Here’s our recent vlog about getting lost in nature with my friends.

Thank you for stopping by. See you on my next blog and stay safe! By the way, self care is a priority.

Let me know your thoughts about this blog on the comment section. Have a great day!

LEARN TO EMBRACE THE STORMS IN YOUR LIFE

Without rain, nothing grows.

Life is a beautiful journey that is meant to be embraced to the fullest every day. However, that doesn’t mean you wake up and ready to seize the day.

You have good days, you have bad days but the main thing is to grow mentally. You can’t always choose good days but you can choose how to respond and deal with it. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.

I do believe that all your hard work, silent cries, and sacrifices will pay off someday, so keep going and never surrender.

Stressed?, drained? Go and treat yourself. In my personal experience, traveling is the best treatment. To wander and just enjoy nature is incredibly amazing (the best feeling ever) It could be mountains or beaches, it’s up to you.

MY 2021 TRAVEL HISTORY: VIETNAM

Living abroad is not easy but, somehow, I enjoy working here. I make sure that I have a healthy work-life balance. I travel during the holidays. The most important thing is to enjoy life. It’s all that matters! 2021 was a tough year yet, I explored six provinces. Let’s take a look back at my journey last year in the beautiful country, of Vietnam.

1. Yen Bai

– Traveling every new year is like my tradition already. My friends and I headed to the remote part of Yen Bai. It’s a place good for relaxation. The place is surrounded by beautiful mountains, rice fields, a waterfall, and green trees. We stayed in a homestay called Xoi Farmstay. This farmstay is highly recommended. The owner is very friendly and accomodating. You can search their facebook page: Xoi Farmstay.

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2. Da Lat, Mui Ne, and Nha Trang

– Another long holiday, another trip. It was Tet holiday when my friends and I went there. The plan was to go there by plane from Hanoi to Dalat then by bus to Mui Ne, and Nha Trang. If you are a budget traveler like us, traveling by sleeper bus is highly recommended. Da Lat is one of my favorite cities in Vietnam. Đà Lạt, the capital of Lâm Đồng Province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is centered around a lake and golf course and surrounded by hills, pine forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its distinctive temperate climate. We had camped on the top of the mountain. It was one of the most unforgettable experiences as I explore Vietnam.

After Da Lat, we hopped on the bus heading to Mui Ne. Mui Ne is famous for seafood and sand dunes. The last stop is Nha Trang. Nha Trang is a coastal resort city in southern Vietnam known for its beaches, diving sites and offshore islands. Its main beach is a long, curving stretch along Tran Phu Street backed by a promenade, hotels and seafood restaurants.

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3. Sapa

– We conquered the highest mountain in Vietnam! It was May, last year (another holiday) when my friend and I decided to go for a hike. It isn’t an ordinary hike since we are going to climb the highest mountain in Vietnam, the Fansipan. It was a two-day hike but the best experience. The height of the mountain was 3,143 metres in 1909, but now the height of the mountain is 3,147.3 metres. It is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula, hence its nickname “the Roof of Indochina” It was tiring but worth it. If you are into adventure, you should definitely try this. Here’s the video of our two-day hike to Fansipan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unLdGa8MuRo

It was December last year, I went back to Sapa together with friends. It was a trip with a cause. We went there to help the mountainous kids. We went to a school at the top of the mountain. A school for some of the ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. We gave them clothes, school supplies, and noodles. We stayed there for two days and one night. This event is one of the highlights of my 2021. Here’s our vlog on this trip, please click the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFWh_OApzd8

4. Cao Bang

– Cao Bằng is a mountainous province in northeast Vietnam, home to many ethnic hill tribes. At Ban Gioc Waterfall, on the Chinese border, the Quây Sơn River cascades over towering limestone cliffs. Nearby, the Nguom Ngao Cave is filled with stalactites and rock formations. We left Hanoi at night via sleeper bus and we arrived at the border around 4:00 am. We went there in the middle of the covid19 outbreak in Hanoi so we can’t enter the city without the swab test. Luckily, our result was negative (it was scary tho). We rented motorbikes and went to Bao Lac (where we booked our homestay) It was 3 hours drive by motorbike from the center. It was raining yet, the expedition continues. Despite the bad weather, we enjoyed the road trip because of the picturesque mountains. We vlog our trip there, just click the link to watch the full video, thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96n8FGN3UBs

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As I end this blog, let me leave this quote from Agustine of Hippo ” The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page “. Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Stay safe 🙂 

The Beauty of Sunrise and Sunset

Every sunrise reminds the beauty of life and hope. Each day is born with a sunrise and ends in a sunset. The same way we open our eyes to see the light and close them to hear the dark.
We don’t have control over how our story begins or ends. But one thing you should know, all things have an ending.

Sunrise symbolizes new hope.

Every day, we face different kinds of obstacles in life. Maybe life is not fair sometimes yet, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Your struggles only make you better in the end.

No matter how dark things seem, there will always be light. Don’t give up, regardless what you’re going through.

These days, life appears so hard. I’ve been working from home for 4 months and almost 2 months of lockdown still, I’m grateful that I still have a job and I can support my family back home. Your thoughts create your feelings. So, don’t think about useless or negative things. Always remember, light provides hope.

Mountain Climbing: I’m a Conqueror

“The best view comes after the hardest climb”

Hiking is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the outdoors. You can discover the beauty of nature. Today’s blog is all about my first hike experience in Vietnam and what I have learned from this adventure.

How it all started?

When I heard my churchmates talking about hiking, I was so interested in their plan. So, I approached and asked them if I could join with them even if we were not close (feeling close). They laid their plans to me and I was so excited to hike with them.

We left Hanoi at 10:00 PM and arrived at Yen Bai at 6:00 AM. After eating breakfast, we went to a motorbike shop to rent motorbikes.

The Happiest Place On Earth

What comes to your mind first when you hear Hong Kong?

Disney land? Ocean park? One of the most expensive cities? You’re right! Today I’m going to share with you my experience when I traveled to Hong Kong.

 I had the chance to explore Hong Kong last 2017 when I have to leave Vietnam for a visa run. I was with three of my friends for the same reason.

Good thing, Hong Kong tourist visa is not required for citizens of the Philippines for a stay up to 14 days.

I was so electrified when we arrived at the airport then rode a double-decker bus.

However, we had a bad experience when checking into the hotel, the owner was shouting at his customers. We’re not happy with the way he treated his customers. Anyway, we didn’t mind him. We just want to enjoy our trip.

From Hanoi, Vietnam to Laos to Cambodia to Thailand by Bus

Is it possible to travel to three countries with little money? Yes, it is.

Before the Lunar New Year started last 2017, I was thinking of traveling from Hanoi, Vietnam to Laos to Cambodia, and to Thailand by bus. When I first heard that you can actually travel by bus to these three countries, I included this trip on my bucket list. I must try something different. However, I don’t have enough budget since I am the breadwinner of the family. I send money back to the Philippines to support their needs.

At that time, I only had 7,000,000 VND, around 306 USD. But still, I want to try this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

By the way, I traveled with friends (I was supposed to travel alone but they were interested in my plan, so they asked if they can travel with me. Why not?)

My First Solo Travel

Travel is the best therapy. It makes you less angry and more open-minded. Traveling makes you step out of your comfort zone especially traveling alone. Since I started traveling, I want to experience traveling solo. I saw a lot of vlogs that traveling by yourself make you a better person.

It was January 2020 before the pandemic happened, I was able to unlock one of my bucket lists which is to travel alone. I’ve been to three countries. I was scared and anxious but at the same time excited. This is it! Here are the three countries I visited.

1. Taiwan

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My Second Home

Aside from your home country? Which country do you consider as your second home?

Vietnam is my second home.

Ban Gioc Waterfall, Cao Bang Vietnam

Before coming here. I didn’t know much about this country. I didn’t even know that the Philippines and Vietnam are neighbors. Some of my friends and relatives told me that it’s not a safe country because of what they heard about the Vietnam war.

I was so surprised when I finally landed here. It looks like the Philippines (traffic and the people).

Trivia: Do you know that Ban Gioc Falls is a collective name for two waterfalls on the Quây Sơn River that straddle the international border between China and Vietnam; more specifically located between the Karst hills of Daxin County, Guangxi, and Trùng Khánh District, Cao Bằng Province.