To see and experience as much and to capture them in words

If you're a friend, you probably know that I spend my birthdays somewhere I've never set foot in. I've been doing this for 5 years now. For my 27th birthday, I decided to spend it in the Himalayas. One of the best decisions by far. I am still struggling as to how to share that awesome trip to everyone. Within the 2 weeks of my travel, I have countless experiences, observations, insights, etc that I cant organized. Maybe for this post, to put more order, I will write the top 15 things that I learned from that trip. 1. BE READY FOR SURPRISES I've always loved good surprises. But what I re-learned during this trip is that I should be ready with both the good and the bad. The trek in the Himalayas was not what I expected it to be, in several aspects, but what I didn't expect was how it wasn't as easy to find a friend/friends who would trek with me. I had images in my head of fun-filled hours of trekking in the mountain with new found friends. I...

Last week, I've gotten my first barrel. It was not how I imagined it to be because 1. I thought I would have time to enjoy it, but it was too fast and it was too scary and I closed my eyes that I didn't see it happen, I felt it. 2. I didn't actually think that it was the day and the place where I'd get barreled. But I guess Im lucky than most, because its rare that one's first barrel is captured and immortalized in an image. The spot is called Speedy Gonzaleft, the name will make sense once you see how fast the surf breaks, it will make more sense when actually surf it. You will find yourself saying, "that's why..." once you surf it and wish that it slows down a little bit. Going to the Gonzaleft is a production, you need to take a car, then motorbike, pass by streams, rivers, narrow bridges, military check points, dirt road, pink soiled road, orange soiled road, etc. I guess you get the drift. Just imagine yourself, riding a vibrating chair for...

If I must, or the circumstances demands, I loosen ties not cut them, I am deliberate at that. I've always thought that I am lucky to have met the people that I have because, trite as it is, they molded me in who I am today. Most of whom I've spent good memories with are the kind I want for in my tribe. I'm very picky and can be a snob because I am obsessed with efficiency and I generally don't have patience for people who exhibit things that are not aligned with my personal values. In recent times, I've been catching up with people who I loosened the ties with. Reasons vary, but to summarize it, its because our lives transformed from where we used to be. It's a good feeling to know that these people are still here. Now, I think generalization is not the best form so let me share a few. It was a pleasant surprise to hear from Callum, a traveler I crossed path with in Ho Chi Minh randomly checked up on how's life treating me. The record for the cheapes...