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!