21 Things I Learned From My First Month Of Living In Peru

Today marks my first month in Peru. How time flew so quick. To celebrate surviving my first month, I made a list of things I learned, observed, and experienced the whole time I was here.

1. You can subsist on 14 Soles (roughly PhP190) worth of food budget for 3-4 days. Cooking is an essential skill you have to acquire when traveling slow. 
   
2. On my first day of work in the kitchen, I was forced to cook an omelette for a customer. I've never done it back home (yes, I am awful like that) so imagine how I murdered my first omelette. I apologised to the guest but he was fine with it. Oh, did I mention I forgot to put salt on it? ✌🏼️ +_+
3. If you are not a loaded traveler (I mean come on first-world-citizens-who-claim-themselves-as-budget-travelers, you clearly haven't got clue of third-world-travelers-on-budget), buy your beers from supermarkets and drink it outside. Sit down in one of the many parks, sip on your cerveza while people watching. Beers in hostel bars are expensive, that's how they profit. Ssshhh. 
   
4. Canadians are the nicest bunch of travelers I've ever encountered behind (and outside) the bar.
5. I met a few really nice American couples (they are out there, just rare breed!) traveling South America; BUT
6. I also met young American women who were the WORST. Let's just say they couldn't hold their alcohols, wrecked havoc in the hostel and pretty much caused an embarrassing scene which we still talk about until today.
7. Peruvian women are so gifted. I could stare at their bums all day and not get tire. 
8. Reggaeton is a huge deal in South America. You will hear it everywhere so get used to it. Or better yet, learn to enjoy it.
9. Don't leave Arequipa without eating Chicharrones. Preferably those found in Mercado de San Camilo. 
   
10. When being introduced to a local for the first time, kisses on the cheek are normal.
11. Also, a peck on the cheek before you leave. A simple ciao won't cut it.
12. I am still mistaken as a Korean.
13. There will always be friendly and curious travelers, talk to them.
14. But be wary of old travelers, they could be grumpy. Smile and suck it up.
15. Even if you've traveled extensively, someone will always have better travel resume than yours.It's mindblowing how they could. 
16. Dutch are the second nicest bunch.
17. I like Peruvians because they do not stare at me. They do, however, stare at my feet whenever I walk around in my flip-flops.
18. It is RARE to see Arequipeños wearing flip-flops. They ALWAYS wear shoes.
19. In Lima, you can get away with flip-flops and pekpek shorts on summer. Everyone's showing skin, even the oldies (eyelovet!). 
    
20. While accompanying a few friends for a late lunch, an old but obviously drunk man gave me a shiny un Sol to remember him by. Kinda weird but hey, I wouldn't say no to an un sol!
21. Rest assured when I serve you your cocktails, they are clean. It's my takeaway after working for more than 3 weeks in a hostel bar. ;) 
    

I will be heading to Chile next week, stay tuned for my long-distance bus stories (huhu). Include me in your prayers if you are one of my friends who does. 😁

Ciao ciao!

A Valentine Post But Not Really

When I woke up today at 6.30am, I looked for my phone and opened Facebook like I usually do. While scrolling down my feed, I saw my cousin's status announcing that our grandmother, the woman whom I was named after, has passed away.

I was surprised but calm. Then I went about today's activities. It's a Sunday so I'm in charged of kitchen. Once I was done prepping the kitchen for breakfast, I had a little down time. I decided to post about her passing away in instagram. It was while composing a caption that everything sank in. I allowed myself to mourn and cry a little.

The hardest bit of her passing away was I never got to say goodbye seeing as I'm on the other side of the world. But I do think that she will forgive me for it. We might not have the closest relationship, like my cousins have with her (since they all live in one house), I know ours was one of mutual admiration. I admire her for her courage to endure everything that had been hurled her way, for taking care of her (too many) grandchildren even if it meant giving up something for herself. My cousins, aunt, and uncle are the luckiest because they got to live and spend so much time with her but oftentimes I can't help but think that they drove her to the extremes and eventually it wore her out. She was aware of it but she chose them still.

I heard the reason why a certain cousin hated me then and made my life miserable - back when I used to lived in the same house during weekends - was that because I was her favourite. I never believed it. How could I? I didn't see her for almost seven years (I was shipped off to the province, came back when I was about to start University) and my mother isn't exactly well-liked in the family (let's just say she is the black sheep so initially, I thought everyone wouldn't like me as well).

My cousins had all the advantage in the world so why would she choose me? As I grew older, I realised that she might not really have uttered those exact words to anyone. She might, at some point, talked and bragged about how I was in the best University in the country, how I was a scholar blah, blah, blah that my cousin thought of me as a threat. Our grandmother got sidetracked for a while and she did not like it. I admire her sneaky way of getting into someone's head although I kind of paid for it for a few years.

When I told her about our trip to South America, she was genuinely happy and excited for me. I heard it in her voice and saw it on her face, how it lit up after hearing I was flying to the other side of the world after years of saving up for it. Her approval meant a lot to me. I'd like to believe that she approved most of my life choices, like not marrying at an early age like everyone else in the family had lol.

Wherever you are, I hope I made you proud. Sorry I was not there to hold your hand one last time.

Rest now, Lola Sarah. Say hi to Lolo for me.

First Month On The Road!

And just like that, 31 days have passed since I left Manila.

Thirty-one days since I've last cut my toenails. Okay gross.

I've experienced winter (mild winter like what everyone kept saying) in Europe, traveled to 5 major cities, seen very famous landmarks, experienced very efficient transport system, stayed in European hostels (every hostels looked mediocre after that), drank a few beers, ate Belgian chocolate (and waffles!), walked too many kilometres, broke down one night due to solitude exacerbated by the freezing weather, flew from -5C to 26C with all winter accessories on.

Currently calling Arequipa, Peru her home base in the next 3 - 4 weeks (depends how everything pans out here). I am doing a "volunteer" work in a hostel in exchange for free accommodation, free breakfast, and staff discount on other services. But before arriving here, I was panic-stricken in Lima when I couldn't find a place to volunteer. I had to pay for my nights in the hostel, although which isn't much but still money going down the drain. I even had a very emo conversation with a friend who gave me his full support believing I could find one soon enough. I just had to be patient.

Lo and behold, when I went back to my hostel in Lima after a stroll in the beach an email was waiting for me. I didn't waste time and immediately traveled to Arequipa. It was a tiring 16-hour journey to the mountains of Arequipa. But I wasn't complaining.

I miss Jollibee, our malls, how there's so many restaurants/fast food chains to choose from (in short food diversity), my friends, and JC. But since this is the life I chose now, I gotta stay tough. hang on, count the days down before JC and I see each other again!

Life here is simple, days slow. It's weird to have so much time in your hand when back home I had barely time for all the things I wanted to do. Pero juiceko I need to find some online part-time job ASAP so if you know anything please hook me up! Thankz pow.

Anyway, goodluck to me in the coming months. Cheers to one month of making it! I 

View from our hostel balcony

Happy New Year, Happy New Post! (Part I - UK)

It's been ages since I wrote nonsense here. I've mostly been throwing down my thoughts in my instagram account but I dunno, I can't dump every single photo there that I find interesting just because.

SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. Let me list those down:

• I QUIT MY JOB! All caps for emphasis. December 18 was my last day at work which was spent doing last minute transition stuff and exchanging gifts with 3/4 of my team. Sad that I was leaving but excited for what's ahead. ;)

• I spent New Year's Eve in a hotel pub somewhere in Southend-On-Sea. For those of you who are too lazy to google where that is, it's in Essex, UK. Yes, I finally made it in UK!

In case I forget where I was

• I saw the Stonehenge!!! Unbelievable how many people were there. Apparently people are not deterred one bit of the winter weather. It was so damn cold. And windy which made it worse!

• Had a proper English Christmas meal with the family of my host. It was so nice to have experienced how they celebrate special occasions this part of the world. I especially loved the crackers (that thing on the plate)! It's a cardboard tube usually wrapped in colourful paper. We crossed our arms to form a circle, each person holding one end of a cracker, then pull the cracker to reveal a gift, paper crown, and a joke inside. So cool! I got a nail clippers by the way.

• Sherlock special! I need not wait for hours to download it in torrent haha.

•  London Underground! Although I stayed 2 hours drive away from London, my friend and I made a few day trips here to see the usual sights.

As mentioned earlier, on New Year's Eve we went to 2 pubs. The first was a local favourite called The Last Post. 

The second was at The Railway Hotel where we rang in the New Year along with 100 (perhaps more) other souls. Absolutely no fireworks, just loads of beers chugged, hugs exchanged, and British songs sung (my favourite was Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now after Auld Lang Syne!). 

• Visited London icons.

• Visited museums. They have the best, FREE museums!

Science Museum London

Natural History Museum

The star of Natural History Museum - Dippy, a the Diplodocus - is on display at the central vaulted hall near the dinosaur gallery.

• Hunted this TARDIS.

• Got drenched in typical London style. 

•  English private schoolboys on a field trip + Tate Modern = dedmahin nyo na plz OOTD ko.

•  Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre. Rachel Anne Go = Pinoy pride!

•  A walk on the Millennium Bridge bcos Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London was fullybooked for like the next 2 weeks :(

• Nando's!

• These lads.

And I swear, too many things in between. I am so thankful for the things I saw, food I got to try, the new and oftentimes funny experiences I had, roadtrips (traffic-free roads damn!), a few shenanigans here and there, the family that adopted me for 11 days and most of all, the opportunity to travel. I hope I could come back again. Til next time, UK!

Next: Barcelona!

I Left My Heart in South America, I'm Coming Back to Retrieve It

Leap of faith.

It's the best, nay, perfect phrase to describe the adventure I am about to embark. Less than 3 weeks from now, I will be leaving all that is familiar, comfortable, and dear to me. Something that I never thought I'd get to do nor will be able to do.

I quit my solid corporate job in order to chase a dream brimming with uncertainties. Me, whose one great fear is instability. But as I was mapping out immediate itineraries and backup plans, I realised that it's not really instability I fear of. It's the lack of money. Money to propel a life of comfort in this world. How would I fare out there if I don't have the financial means?

But dreams are dangerous. It burns fire within, something you did not know you were capable of thus equipping you with a belief that you can take on anything as long as you have your dream and you believe in it.

I have a dream and I believe that I can make it. There will be challenges - you bet there will be tons - but my belief is greater than the fears, hesitations, and doubts circling around. My confidence has always been too brittle, but not on this one. It does help that I have the vote of confidence from my little support group.

I can do it. I shall make it work.

PS: rackets and sidelines are very much welcome! :D