Country > Philippines > Bohol > Loboc
Date > 2017 > Dec
Activity > Traveling

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Dec 31, 2017

2017: A Year in Review

Location : Philippines

In A Nutshell
I'm usually out of the country backpacking my way across Southeast Asia, but this year, I didn't leave the Philippines. I've only been to 4 (province)s and towards the end of the year, feeling travel-fatigue moving every 2/3 days, I've decided to stay put in a place for 30 days before moving on to the next. My new mandate was to be productive and thrive no matter how bleak the situation might be in my chosen destination.

2017 Highlights

freediving - while teaching yoga to Apo Island's youth, I joined a freediving certification course offered by Jean-Jacques Gautier of Plongeurs du Monde. I learned the proper technique to hold my breath longer and go deeper. This was followed by lessons from Ben Meerhaeghe of Seaquest Dive Center and Jean-Pol of Planet Freedive. The deepest I reached was 18m.
bitcoin - this is more of a literal high for Bitcoin than it is to me. Bitcoin has always fascinated me as a libertarian crypto-currency and have read-up on it. I invested a token amount when I chanced a Bitcoin center in Bali when Bitcoin was trading at $635. I wish I had a lot of money then - I would have put everything in Bitcoin. Bitcoin has gone leaps and bounds since then, exceeding the $19k mark. Unfortunately, I have already liquidated my holdings when my funds got low - way before it reached the 5-digit figure. I still keep up with Bitcoin news and follow my Bitcoin idol, Roger Ver.

Bitcoin's catapulting rise is unreal. I'm not sure if it's still grounded in reality or it's now existing in a bubble ready to burst. It cannot keep going up at this rate and the market will ultimately correct itself - like it always does no matter what the hype. When Bitcoin becomes affordable again, I hope I have funds to acquire some. I believe that Bitcoin over the long term will continue to rise as public support increases.

I cannot help but think. I first heard of Bitcoin in Dec 2015 when it was still trading at $405. I fell in love with Bitcoin at first read. If there was a Bitcoin exchange center then, I would have bought as much as I could, despite not having much to begin with. If I bought just P5000 then (which I would have done had there been an exchange center nearby), I would have P242,000.00 at its highest (US$19,661.00) this year (Dec 17, 2017). That's enough to realize my modest yoga-shire up in the mountains! Oh well, so much for wishful thinking.
responsive websites - my 3-month stint in Camotes Islands gave me the time to learn how to manually code responsive websites. It was a whole new learning curve for me. I also ventured into using Bootstrap templates to develop new websites. Now, I'm confident I can hand-code from scratch a new website or simply use a pre-existing template - another set of marketable skills in my tool box.
mountain biking - I thought my saddle time was a thing of the past when I left Canada, but in Loboc, father and son, Juan and Jeffrey, took turns taking me for kick-ass mountain bike rides to their scenic spots. I realized traveling with my bike was a world of difference.
life coaching - it was new ground for me to do life coaching fortified with yoga, meditation and pranayama to a competitive dancer in training for a major event in Manila. She came back, a champion! I'm not sure to what extent my influence contributed, but I realized that my life experience is unique, so my insight about life is likewise unique and experiential-based (not some esoteric saying from 50ft above sea level). I am able to articulate those insights in a matter relevant to the needs of a person.

I again gave a talk to a smart group of 12-graders at the VDT Advanced Learning Center of the University of Bohol.
renouncing Duterte - I used to think the country needed Duterte for his crime-fighting track record. I supported his presidency. But it didn't take long before his ineffectivity became clear. It turns out he's a one-trick pony - kill the drug dealers and if that doesn't work, kill some more until it works...if it'll ever work. The only thing he has accomplished is genocide to the level of 13,000 killings - that's enough to fill SMX Convention Center several times over. The drug problem is far from over with his own son involved in a 6-billion drug bust.

He has a tunnel-vision on peace-and-order and completely lost sight of other pressing imperatives - education, economy, OFW flight, transportation, etc. He still thinks and does things like a small town mayor. With my public renouncement of him, I was warned by a Davao friend to stay clear of Davao.
traveling on a bike - at first, I considered it a liability, I even tried giving it away. It's a pain to be adding another heavy and bulky item to my travel luggage while in transit. But upon arrival in my new destination, more so now that I stay for 30 days, my geographic reach is immeasurably increased. I can turn on any corner that intrigues me, I'm not reliant on the expensive and not-so-frequent motorcycle hire, I get fit and I save money. I can't underscore this enough.
resort optimizer - I was asked by the owners of Fox and Firefly Cottages to be their eyes and ears during their holiday absence away from the resort. I welcomed the opportunity but not only to be a presence so the staff doesn't fool around, but also to optimize their operations. I went along the tours, checked-out the rooms for functionality, ensured the mountain bikes were trail-worthy, gave them a list of issues, etc. I was more particular in identifying problem areas that were "unknown to the staff because no one complains about it" and "too small to small to complain about but enough to annoy the guests". In the 8 years I'd been living in resorts and hotels, this is an invisible area that nobody seems to address but it adversely affects the guest user-experience and consequently his repeat-booking.
handstand - overcoming pain and pushing my wall-supported handstand duration beyond 3 minutes. As a goal, I would like to hold my freehold handstand to a full minute - my longest is only 13 seconds.

handstand

Challenges

Ubay - my 30 days in Ubay was a struggle. Despite efforts, nothing seemed to be happening - energy was low, productivity was low, I wasn't meeting people except for vendors I frequented. I could have left the place, but I challenged myself to stay the 30-day course and make the most out of it. Redemption didn't come. Saving grace was meeting Lars who invited me to join him on some trips. I still feel my 30 days could have been better spent elsewhere.
ego, nonreaction and compassion - when someone tells me "that's imported, don't touch it!" or any misplaced condescending remark, my knee-jerk reaction is to simply give the finger perhaps with a few expletives before walking away. Despite the monkish exterior, the warrior still hibernates within. I have to hold back and take a friend's counsel, knowing fully well my judgement is clouded by a ruffled ego. It is an effort to remain equanimous and see it from the other person's perspective. Perhaps he has been taken advantage-of many times in the past and he hardly knew me - I haven't earned that trust. People wear a protective carapace as I also do. It's a survival instinct we all have.

Lows
Sure, a life of travel is exciting and adventurous, but it still has its low points.

love life - I'd been traveling alone too long and it's feeling lonely at some point. I could just get laid if I wanted to, but that's not the point - and I've never subscribed to that. I would really like to spend quality time with someone I resonate with - not just anyone. Unfortunately, to be single at my age is difficult. I feel young and strong so I'm still attracted to women younger than me, who probably find me interesting as well, but also feel that I'm too old for them.

Women my age usually like me, but I can't seem to go beyond friends with them - life would be a lot simpler if I were open to the possibility. They are rich in wisdom, life experience and wit to match. I do enjoy moments with them as we carry on a conversation indefinitely.

Given the age disparity, the austere measures I take as a renunciate and the added uncertainty of my nomadic life, this puts me between a rock and a hard place when it comes to matters of the heart. Still, I'd rather be alone than be stuck with someone I don't resonate with.

Other people got sick, lost a loved one, suffered catastrophic losses. Me, I just got lonely. That's enough to be thankful for.

Peoplescape
While in the Philippines, I didn't really meet too many people. Usually, I interact with travelers, but I didn't see much of them where I was going. I also use Couchsurfing for coffee conversations but that hardly happens either. Still, I came upon interesting lives that shaped my peoplescape.

Jeanne
My platonic friendship with Jeanne is a permanent fixture in my life. Wherever I end up, no matter how isolated I am, I feel assured there is Jeanne. We always spend time together whenever I am in Cebu City, but even when I'm not, I invite her to come join me if I'm not too far away. She joined me in Moalboal, Panglao and Loboc. We decided that if we're too old to be doing what we're doing and need to settle down, we'll get us a land where we'll have our own individual nipa huts, a yoga center and a cafe. We can spend our mornings over coffee and our Theosophical talk like we always do. Friends will come and visit and it'll be like Friday Milk and Juice Night all over again.

Juan and Jeffrey Huerte
Father and son, Juan and Jeffrey, were my landlords in Loboc. But they played a bigger role. Unselfishly and with open hearts, they opened up Loboc to me, taking me into hidden nooks and crannies, telling me about its history and riding with me to interesting spots. In their own way, they exemplified the life of contentment, simplicity and peace. They live as much off the land as they can - their own veggies, making their own sikwate from their cacao, pounding their rice harvest, etc. Loboc was special because of them.

Kins and Ludwig
Kins and Ludwig are both good friends from Theosophical Society and Vipassana Meditation. We don't need to explain much to the other - we already know where each is coming from. They would join me for breakfast talks, tag me along community gatherings, or just sit in meditation. They are my mainstays in Tagbilaran.

Judith
Judith and I don't hang-out much, but we don't need to. Ever since I left Bohol for Cebu to hold a meditative space to help her get that competitive edge that contributed to her winning the championship in Manila's major dance event, we've become good friends. I cannot visit Cebu City without having her across the coffee table to catch up with.

Charlotte and Alyssha
I met these two wonderful souls during my 3-month stay in Camotes Island. We became instant friends - hanging out for pizza, going out to the beach, meeting up in Cebu and almost connected again in Bohol, if not for a typhoon. This friendship is definitely long-term and for keeps. Can't wait to see them again.

Grant and Mitchell
In Camotes, I would while away my time hanging out at Mitchells' Kay Lami food kiosk where Grant, me and Mitch talk about world events as well as local events. They were embarking on an exciting project in Camotes shortly before I left. I'm sure things have come a long way. Grant and I managed to stay in touch and connect online. The horizon is broad for future possibilities.

Mystery Lady
I was surprisingly reunited with someone I've always wanted to be with. For years, she remained one of a few I would have abandoned my nomadic life to settle down with. However, the reunion made me realize she was far from the romanticized notion I built-up in my wild imaginings. It would have been better if I had not seen her again to keep the idealism alive...if only in my head. She remains a friend but I keep it arm's length.

Michael Pato
As a client, I stayed in Michael's hostel for a few days. That also gave me a glimpse of him as a person, his friends and the idealized position they hold as the next-generation movers and shakers of Cebu.

Frederic and Joan
I met this dynamic Belgian-Filipina couple in Loboc where they run an upscale SUP river resort, Fox and Firefly Cottages. We had dinners a few times, checked-out their SUP and yoga scene and got better acquainted. I was surprised when they asked me to resort-sit their place during the holidays while they're gone. They just met me! They said we have common friends and they checked me out. Turns out I wasn't too bad.

Jean Jacques Gautier
As part of the Plongeurs du Monde, JJ included me in his class for a freediving certification course in Apo Island. I reached 16m and got me stoked into serious freediving. I could imagine working with JJ next time he visits the Philippines again.

Mejul
Mejul is a faculty of University of Bohol who appreciated my lifestyle choice and has invited me to give a talk to his students about my own brand of philosophy and spirituality. He further invited me to conduct a yoga class for some 60+ students. I would have wanted to hangout with him, but despite a standing offer to be my breakfast guest, it didn't happen.

Marie Claude
At Fox and Firefly, I had a conversation with one of the Canadian guests who was also traveling alone. With a brewing typhoon, it was rainy and cold with not much outdoor adventure to do. We ended up into long conversations at the resto for the 2 days she was there. We also went to town to try out traditional Filipino carinderia food. Increasingly, we shared substantive and meaningful topics. It's rare to bump into a traveler who is not rushed to check-off the 'been there done that' checklist.

I just read something on her post, "...from chatting .....to a fellow traveler met in a hostel with whom I talked for hours and learned so much". I wasn't tagged so perhaps it wasn't for my eyes. I learned a lot too - it's a 2-way street.

Lindsay and Tory
I made an impromptu announcement to the group of resto guests at Fox that I was conducting a yoga class the following day. Four people showed up for the practice but Lyndsay and Tory stayed after class and invited me to join them for breakfast where we talked some more, gaining depth and intimacy as we carried on. Later, we did a photo-shoot after which they joined me for pizza and hot cocoa, without a pause in our sharing. It was good bonding that begged for a deepening connection. It's not everyday I come across kindred souls. I already miss them.

Ferdie
Ferdie and I go back to our high school days. Sometimes, he gets stationed to where I am close by and we get to hangout. Such was the case in Cebu City and Anda, Bohol. Ferd is like a well-worn shoe that fits comfortably. He's fun too, bringing out the kid in me. Despite the distance, we manage to hangout at least once a year. I look forward to that this 2018.

Doc Alonzo
He was the senior food critic at the food tasting event at Palm Grass Hotel when we met. That started a friendship where he invites me for pizza and vodka at Michaelangelo Pizza whenever I visit Cebu City. He has a lot of life experience, insight and humor. When we talk, it's not just food.

Millenials
I don't know if it's me, just the individuals I talked to, or collectively, it's a millenial issue. But I noticed that when they say "YES", it's likely they meant, "I'll try". Of course I work my schedule around that "yes" - moving meetings, rescheduling a ride, preparing stuff, etc. But they hardly show up - they forgot, last minute cancellation, showed up late or simply oblivious to what "yes" means. I hate to generalize, but I feel wary when I'm dealing with a millenial - except the few who have been proven reliable.

Misses
I don't dwell on the 'could have beens' or the 'should have beens' of life. If it didn't happen despite my due-diligence, then it probably wasn't meant to be - and that's that. I don't lose sleep over it. But just for keeping tabs, my misses are:

durian - It seems irreconcilable to be in the Philippines and miss the durian season in Davao. Perhaps it's also because I renounced Duterte and a friend advised me not to be in Davao for the meantime. As explained, "It's rabid here for now."
Vipassana and Himalayas - I usually do my 10-day Vipassana silent meditation course every 6 months but I haven't done it in years. I applied to the advanced Satipathana course in the Himalayas but I was rejected for not having meditated 2 hours/day. But I can apply again for a regular course in 2018 - I'd still be in the Himalayas.

Again, some people missed-out on major opportunities - life changing career opportunities, missing out on the Bitcoin explosion, etc. Me, I just missed out on a fruit and a wonderful place. They are still there for the taking next time. Life is beyond kind to me.

On the Horizon
I don't really subscribe to a future or make too many plans for it, but on the horizon, I see a few looming possibilities:

resort/hotel optimizer - As eyes-and-ears for resort owners gone on vacation or simply as a consultant, I can study whatever system they have and optimize things - it's a gift I have. It could be as simple as non-trail worthiness of their mountain bikes or system changes that might reduce cost and optimize earnings. I could make a manual out of it and add it to my tool box. This ensures my lodging and a little money
Himalayas - the Himalayas continue to excite me. I can simply attend a basic Vipassana course just to get there. I have a feeling wonderful things await me there.
responsive website development - with my new skill as a web designer who can hand-code a responsive website from scratch, I can be more aggressive in taking-in new business. I don't mind having a little more disposable cash.

Hidden Natural Law - for the taking
I've mentioned this a few times in my previous blogs but I remain intrigued by this hidden natural law I seem to have stumbled-upon. It repeats itself with predictable regularity like the Fibonacci sequence, fractals or even gravity, that draw me to the conclusion that it's not coincidence but a natural law known only to people who have stumbled upon it. With no address, no home, very little money, no property, no powerful contacts....why don't I starve on the open road with my nomadic life? Why do I get to travel extensively and end up in the right place at the right time where I meet people who manifest wonderful things for my well-being? If this just happened once or twice, then maybe it's just coincidence. But in the 8 years I'd been traveling without a home or a base, it has never failed. I have never proven this law to be flawed. I'm definitely not using them (I never use people) nor do I contrive towards an end goal. Things just ebb and flow naturally...effortlessly as though there is a natural law to which all these things comply with.

How exactly can you comply with this law? I don't know, but I've come across a few Easter Eggs that make up pieces of a jigsaw puzzle illuminating the big picture. I would like to explore this law until I can get a tangible grasp on it - and share it to everyone. This law is too empowering, too amazing and too transformative to benefit only a few. Parts of this jigsaw puzzle are outlined in my Midas Touch blog.

Ending Thoughts
I wouldn't be surprised if I keep staying longer in a place before moving on. Traveling doesn't excite me as much as it used to. In a perfect world, I'd have a comfortable working area with high-speed internet by the mountains in my wooden hut overlooking the waters - morning sikwate, tuba and an open-air cafe area. Within my grounds is my own yoga space and calisthenics playground. My shire will be a revolving door for friends to stop by and chill. I'd have a few ducks and rabbits freely roaming around my space (no, they won't be eaten). I don't have the funds for it, but the good thing about this hidden law I talk about is, I don't need the money for it - I only need to put my intention and the universe works in the background manifesting it. One day...

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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