Inspired

Amazing runner and inspirational video.  I miss running.

"...pushing out of that comfort zone. 

Makes you realize how lucky and 

how fortunate we are."

"There's lots of different paths you can take. 

Kind of which set of footprints do you take or 

do you make your own path, 

I think that's the same as life.

Kind of if you follow the same path 

you're always gonna be  

making the same mistakes as the person in front of you.

It's about trying to take the right option 

in order to have the best experience and 

make the most of it and 

make that experience a success."

You definitely got that right,  Mr.  Ryan Sandes. hehe!

Add to that, that sometimes, you don't need your gadgets and Twitter and Facebook or what not to be on a high. Teehee! =)

I must say though, the video reminds me of our Himalaya trek guides last year. They could probably just as easily do the running he does, and in Crocs or rubber thong sandals even, honest.

 take note of the footwear climbing the Himalaya, dearie

our Nepali trek guide Hari in his trusty ol' Crocs while 
we were at the foothills of the Himalaya.  

He started wearing the Crocs when his running shoes gave in.

 Kind of made me feel like an utter "highlander" 
in all our gear.  Da hell!  Tee hee!
And he never missed a beat except 
when he had to slow down for the likes of me.  Lol!  
Dhaany baad Hari.  Hehe.

Speaking of trips... I'd like to go on a road trip again some time I just don't know when.  I've done Canada's Icefields Parkway... one of the world's top drives of a lifetime, according to National Geographic.  I certainly agree.  But next, I'd like to try Norway, Iceland, or Scotland.  So many places to see.  I wonder where my next trip shall take me?  Gah.

Good Read

That's the cover of the non-fiction novel Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.  It's the author's personal account of a tragic climb by a few groups of climbers to the summit of Everest on May 10, 1996, where, by the end, at least 8 people died.  And the author was one of the survivors.

my shot of the outside of Mandala Book Shop

I bought the book at the Mandala Book Shop in Pokhara in Nepal prior to our trek, but only got to read it about two months later.  This version is the British publication of the non-fiction, by the publishing house MacMillan.  There's a newer version printed in the U.S., with more photos.

I just finished reading the book last night.  And man, what a read.  Had a hard time putting the book down.  Some passages also are kind of creepy --

My Nepal Trek Gear - A Review

Some months back I posted a blog of the gear I planned on wearing and using during my Nepal Himalaya trek.  This time, I'm blogging about some points regarding these gear/apparel after the trip because such info might also be useful to some.

Note that I'm also a photography enthusiast so I also brought some photography gear with me, and the trek was done during the monsoon season.

To start off:

1. daypack

in the bus from Pokhara to Nayapul

I used a Deuter Act Trail 28 SL.  Used it all the way from the flight from Manila, to Bangkok, and to Kathmandu and back, and of course while on the trail.

at one of the teahouse stops

Verdict = essential, but when I bought it, I was looking to buy the 24 SL 'cause it's slightly smaller and I didn't want to bring heavy stuff while on the trail so I thought 24 SL might be enough.  However, since I also used the same pack as a carryon bag on the flights to and from Nepal, the 28 SL was the better choice.

Nepal Himalaya Trek - Some Highlights

my favorite shot from my trip
That's one of the peaks of the Annapurna in the Himalaya,
shot from the bus on the way to Nayapul from
Pokhara for the first day's trek

It's been 1 or 2 weeks now since I got back from my trek in the Himalayas. Things kept me busy on the home front since my return, with family visiting from other countries and us going on another vaca while they were here.  And then finding out that my old laptop keyboard has gone bust the day we got back home.  What's a girl to do?  hehe.

Anyhow, this trek was my first weeks-long trek anywhere.  We took the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek, not the Everest one.  Hearing the name Everest alone sort of makes a newbie trekker like me hesitate to undertake one's first long trek.  Lol.  However, just because the Annapurna Base Camp trek can also be for newbies doesn't mean it's any less challenging.

One thing's for sure, if you're not fond of taking walks or have a pretty serious problem with your knees (I have no knee problem but ended up having to wear knee support to be on the safer side when the right knee started feeling weak/sore... still managed to carry my daypack everyday though) or aren't really into the outdoors, trekking in the Himalayas isn't for you, including this one -- Annapurna or not.  But if you're like the Hong Kong residents who typically walk fast or Westerners (mostly Europeans) we encountered on the trek who are used to hiking and have similar terrains back in their hometowns, it probably would be a breeze for you.  And maybe I'll blog more about this in another post.

This is the itinerary we chose to undertake:
On the way --

Hmmm

sneak peak of my trip

Guess where?  Will post some more info in the next month/s I guess.  Hehe.

Manila - Trek Gear Shopping Tips

I am a trekking newbie and when I decided late last year to go on my first serious trek at a mountain range overseas (scheduled months down the road back then), let's say I had an interesting as well as fun time of it for some months researching, window-shopping, and finally purchasing online and in Metro Manila whichever items I don't have yet .

So, in the interest of sharing with fellow trekking newbies where I shopped for my trek/outdoors gear and other shopping tips, I'm posting here my shopping tips/directory for the semi-budget-conscious trekker.  Lol.

1.  amazon.com

• women's leather boots: I chose a relatively inexpensive waterproof Timberland pair with ankle support.  It was recommended by an experienced trekker friend of mine.  I bought a half-size larger and I'm glad I did because it fits almost like my usual shoe size, and because I'll be wearing thick wool socks with it:  one thick merino wool outer, and one liner sock...to minimize blisters. So it had to have extra room.  It arrived today and I tried it on, and it fits great with the socks.  Thank goodness.  Hehe!  I was afraid it might not fit me.  Lol.  I'm wearing it on a climb to a really well-known high-altitude mountain range overseas whose topography/climate arguably differs with that of the Philippines's so I'm not sure if it would be the best footwear to recommend for Philippine mountain climbs.

• merino wool socks:  warm socks; anti-bacterial, can be worn more than once without having to wash them; more expensive than your usual or athletic socks
• point and shoot camera pouch: I chose a Lowepro Tasca 30 for my Olympus XZ-1
• poncho: covers yourself/bag if it rains torrentially up in the mountain, can do double duty as a makeshift tent with the right gear; possibly available in Metro Manila (supermarts or Ace Hardware maybe?) 

2.  my Deuter Act Trail 28 SL pack (includes pack rain cover):  Recreational Outdoor Exchange, otherwise known as R.O.X., also available in Toby's Sports

3.  trek pants

Trek Gear List

Below are lists of things I'm bringing/wearing/using on a multi-day/week trek this year.  The destination's a cold place especially as we go up to a higher altitude, but am not going during winter so I won't be bringing any down jacket.


Bags

1. Deuter ACT Trail 28 SL pack - a pack designed for women's bodies..    
   
   
2. 1 sturdy duffle bag
   - holds all items that I need not carry while on the trail
   - to be carried by porter once trek starts
3. small pack
   - for my on/off trail carryon items 
   - might use my small and lightweight MEC Ridgemont pack (pictured below with my Bad Badtz Maru plush) or my small Millet pack.
   
   - This small pack would be put inside the Deuter pack when on the trail, and pulled out when at accommodations and dining at accommodations, for convenience with my carryon items.  Not camping with tents see.
4. stuff sacks/bag
   - usually nylon drawstring bags or small zip up toiletry bags (freebies from cosmetics/skincare/perfume product purchases.. lol) or plain plastic bags to organize my packing of items into stuff sacks: i.e., electronic gear peripherals in one, toiletries in another bag, undgergarments and socks in another bag, food packets, first aid kit, etc.

Electronics + Peripherals

1. DSLR camera with extra lens
   - especially for landscape, macro, evening, and astro-photography
2. point and shoot camera
   - mainly for trail, people, and other camp pics
3. lightweight tripod
4. lens filters and cleaner
5. my iPod video/classic (5th gen)
   - so can backup photos straight from the camera to here, not to a cumbersome laptop.. then transfer to PC/laptop when I get back home
6. cellphone (whether or not it's going to be used)
7. chargers, cables, and extra batteries and cards
8. camera pouch for my Olympus XZ-1 point and shoot camera, clipped on to my pack's strap/harness for easy access when on the trail
   

Other Gear

1. poncho
2. trekking poles
3. head torch
4. gloves
5. watch
   - I got myself an inexpensive and basic sporty Timex Marathon watch (in torquoise) 'cause I don't want to lose track of the date and time while trekking for several days/weeks. It also looks cute even when not trekking. hehe.
   - It has a daily alarm, 2 timezones, 24-hr timer, stopwatch, 50m water resistance, etc.
6. fleece blanket
7. towel
8. sarong 
9. metal water bottle
10. plastic drinking cup
11. my double-walled tea tumbler
    - got this in Vancouver
    
    
12. spoon and fork
13. gaiters (I'm not sure yet how useful a pair would be for me)

Apparel

Recently Bought Online

Another day, another mundane post.   :P

Mainly for an upcoming trip, I've bought a couple of items online in the past 2-3 months; all on amazon.com.  It's just  more convenient that way, especially when I know some friends coming over to Manila from the US who are willing to bring the items for me, but also because most of the items are stuff on my to-buy list but can't find sold in the country.

 

I don't really enjoy going to the malls unless I am hanging out with friends/family, or I feel like buying new clothes at Promod, or some kawaii stuff at a Sanrio store, or some books at the bookstores, or am researching/window-shopping for outdoor gear/apparel and gadgets/computers to compare with online shopping price and availability. Yeah?  hehe!

So anyhow, my latest online purchases are kind of related to some future plans which involve trekking/the outdoors and my other interest which is photography, and the rest are items I like but which I can't find in the Philippines.

So let's see the stuff I bought online (for a planned trip) which I can't find in shops in Manila:

Trekking and Me

As is evident in this blog, none of my travel experiences involved climbing or hiking or trekking mountains in the Philippines....only leisurely drives, picnics, explorations, and beach stays in Philippine destinations.  

It's only when I started working that I met people who do mountaineering, and even then, it didn't catch on with me.  I always feel it's too rugged an activity, especially with the heat and humidity, and ruggedness of such places in the Philippines.  And I know myself when it comes to these things.  I'm not that strong a person either and don't look forward to carrying a huge load on my back for a long period of time in such conditions.  Hehe!  So it doesn't interest me much to join local mountain climbing treks.  I always think it's too challenging for me and not worth so much effort.  I'm more of a leisurely explorer I guess.

Despite all these, I'm the sort who actually enjoys and looks forward to walking; as well as hiking in places where it's not too hot.  I owe this I think to having lived in a district of Manila and Makati where everything's within walking distance except for my school.  

At the same time, I like taking pictures.