My First Painting

The Flower that Doesn't Exist

This is my first painting entitled, "The Flower that Doesn't Exist." I used Acrylic as medium. I just painted an imaginary flower in my head. It turned out pretty interesting. A hybrid of Birds of Paradise and Gumamela, perhaps? I have a lot yet to learn about painting - the techniques, the styles, the fundamentals, and all that jazz, but this first painting of mine for Sweet Pea will always be special.


***
update October 1, 2012:

I also saw this:

Thanks SweetPea

Painting on the floor.

Some finishing touches.

How to Save a Life of an Arowana

Step one, you buy an aquarium, a big one. You persuade your folks that owning an arowana is a necessity because it brings luck and good fortune.

Step two, you bring the new arowana you just bought from the local pet shop to her new aquarium. You name her "Rowena the arowana." You make sure she doesn't get hungry. You change the aquarium water often. You buy her favorite fresh shrimps as treat just for being a good pet. She's so cute, just 6 inches long. You can see it in her eyes, Rowena is happy.

Step three, you admire your arowana morning and night. Time flies so fast, you don't realize it has been six years since Rowena the arowana first swam into your life. She turns into a 20 inch big fish. Rowena is the eye of the household, she's a witness to a lot of birthdays, Christmases, New Years, etc. You probably weren't there, but the Rowena saw everything.

Step four, you get busy along the way. Sometimes procurement of staple fish necessities become delayed and aquarium water changes become postponed.

Step five, a few days later you find your arowana having a hard time swimming. Her movements don't seem to flow. There's white cloudy stuff in her eyes, a bad sign. She wouldn't eat. You try to control the nitrate level of the aquarium by performing water changes. You try to feed her with her favorite food. You try to do whatever it takes to save her. You pray that tomorrow she gets better.

Step six, you wake up at 9 a.m. and you see a 20 inch fish floating lifelessly on your aquarium.Your beloved Rowena the arowana has just died. She's dead.

Rowena 2006-2012

Step seven, you ask your self, "Where did I go wrong?" Tears fall down your eyes. You just lost a friend. It would have been different had you known how to save her life.

Step eight, in your mind, a little ceremony, Rowena wrapped in a white cloth, all 20 inch of her lifeless body. You want her to be buried with dignity. You say a little prayer and thank her for all those years of bringing happiness to your household.

Step nine, you let her know how much she means to you and how much you will miss her.

Our Cambodian Adventure

Our bus. Destination Phnom Penh.

It is a dream come true for every traveler to visit a place gifted with profound beauty and rich culture. Our trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia mesmerized our eyes like never before. I guess it is the "Temple City's" rare ambiance that attracts so many pilgrims all year round.

From Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we took a bus to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. We wanted visit to the King and Queen of Cambodia but sadly, it was not part of the itinerary.  From Phnom Penh we took a connecting bus to Siem Reap where the famous Angkor Wat Temple can be found. 

En Route.
Never seen so much motorcycles before. :)

When we arrived at the border of Vietnam and Cambodia, I got the scare of my life when I was approached by two angry immigration officers because I took a photo of the sign "No Photographic" with a funny icon of what appears to be a camera. "No photo no photo!" the two officers barked as they came towards me. I was afraid because I thought they would take my camera Dina the D90 away, or worst, they would detain me.

I stood up like an Extra Terrestrial and showed them the palm my hands --  the universal sign for  "I come in peace." I showed them the screen of my camera, and told them, "I am pressing the delete button." Then, I simply smiled and said, "I'm towee." Lesson learned: Don't take pictures of signs telling you NOT to take pictures. Hehe. Talk about being lost in translation.

After more than 10 hours of sleeping in the bus, we arrived in Siem Reap at 8PM.

Cambodia’s King-father Norodom Sihanouk, Queen-mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
portraits displayed at the receiving area of our hotel.

We were surprised how comfortable and budget friendly our accommodation was in Siem Reap. At less than 20 dollars a night, we wondered how our hotel profits considering the rooms were big, has cable TV, air-con, Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. The hotel also chartered a van for our tour. They arranged everything for us, we didn't  have to worry about anything.

Cambodian currency is known as Riel. One dollar is about 4125 Riel. No need to trouble yourself exchanging dollars with local currency, the US Dollar is an acceptable local currency.

Our first agenda when we woke up early in the next morning was to visit the temples. On top or our list were Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and many other smaller temples like Ta Prohm.

Our tree day pass to all the temples of Cambodia.
.

Before we could enter the Angkor Archaeological Park, we had to smile before a camera at the ticket booth before they give us our entrance pass. Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven-day ($60) denominations and must be used on consecutive days. Visiting hours are 5:00AM - 6:00PM. Tickets are checked upon each entry at major temples, so we made sure we always carried it around. Local residents are free of charge.

The exploration team: Rah, Avril, My beautiful Mom Tita Cora, and Tita Milkah

It took a few minutes before we reached the moat around the Angkor Wat temple. The moat around was about 190 meters wide. Exploring the temples was like being in an Indiana Jones movie, I just can't believe my eyes that such amazing temples exist in real life. A tip of advice when exploring the temples, bring a water bottle with you, around a liter per person if you can. The weather can be very hot at times and drink stands may not be readily accessible.

Hindu god, multiple hands symbolize multiple powers.
modern day humans share the same profound power.
It's called "multi-tasking."

Despite the beauty of the Temple City, not too many people know that Cambodia has an unfortunate bloody history. In the 1970s, the world was horrified by the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge Regime - a government notorious for mass killings and policies that  caused widespread famine on its insistence on absolute self-sufficiency. The "Regime" also had a strange horrific fetish of killing intellectuals, professionals, and anyone who looked smart, including anyone who wears eyeglasses, no kidding. It was only in 1993 that Cambodia restored democracy and peace.

 Rio our tour guide tells the story of Rama at Sita.

In the photo above, Rio tells the story of Rama at Sita, an epic love story about the ancient Indian life. It tells about Rama's courage in searching for Sita and fighting a epic war to rescue his wife Sita. It was a pleasure listening to the Rama at Sita's story from our tour guide with visual aids engraved on the ancient temple walls itself.

It's advisable that you get a tour guide for your trip to the temples. The tour guides are very professional. Most speak more than one language. As we were told, tour guides must pass a grueling licensure exam before they can practice. Rio, our tour guide, is a law student, too. He speaks English and Spanish and is knowledgeable on local and world history. Your tour guide will explain the history behind the temples and will answer all your queries. He will be more than willing to take your photos, as well.

The temples have an aura of  mystery, genius architectural designs nestled amongst prehensile vines and gigantic trees. I can just imagine how beautiful the temples were when they were newly built centuries ago.

Because of the vastness of the temple complex, a one day tour not enough. You need at least two days to make the most of your visit there. Aside from chartering a van, you may also rent bicycles or charter Tuk-tuks as alternative modes of getting around the temples.

Hindu god and a beam of light.

One thing you should expect is that as a tourist, you will definitely be approached by local merchants of souvenirs and memorabilia. They are mostly children trying to sell you postcards, books, drinks, etc. Most of the times, these kids didn’t give up the first time you said "No." It is to be expected. Locals also need to make a living. Just be patient with them in a friendly way. I think that's the best approach. 

Panda and Sweet Pea's blurred picture in front of the temple

One time, I told a young girl that I can't buy from her because "I don't have money." but what I really meant was that "I didn't bring money with me."

She said, "I don' believe you don't have money, and if ever it were true that you don't have money, then, I will give to you what I am selling for free."

That was an instant eye opener for me, I can't believe a young girl was teaching me a lesson on honesty and humility. So, I got my wallet, drew all my one peso coins out my wallet and  gave a short lecture about Rizal, our national hero. I gave the young girl the 1 peso coin, and when her other friends also approached me, I gave each kid 1 peso, too. It seemed to have made their day, maybe because it's the first time they had seen a one peso coin with a free story about our national hero. They went away to show their playmates and parents. She might have lectured me on honesty, but in return I shared to them a piece of our nationality. I missed that cute kid.

Angkor Thom

In  Cambodia make sure you don't forget to attend at least one traditional Khmer dance performance. The Apsara is one of the most popular classical dance performance. It conveys not only body movements but also a story and drama.

The traditional Khmer Dance 'Apsara'

Apsara as dance is an ethereal experience that is uniquely Khmer. This classic dance features ornate costumes, taut posture, arched back and feet, fingers flexed backwards and is danced in synchronized  grace. Dancers have positively mysterious facial expressions. The movements are slow, close, deliberate, but flowing. It presents themes inspired primarily by the Reamker, the Cambodian version of the Indian classic, the Ramayana, and the Age of Angkor.

Tonle Sap Lake

The next day, we visited the Tonle Sap Lake, still with our guide Rio. 

The floating village at the mouth of the canal offers an insight into their way of life.

 The Tonle Sap lake of Cambodia has the fourth highest fish species diversity of any lake on Earth.

At the heart of Cambodia, an immense lake is the soul of a nation. The great Tonle Sap lake is a source of national pride. It is known to be one of the most productive and most biologically diverse lakes in the world.

My favorite photo of our trip. Angkor Wat temple at the break of dawn.

My trip Cambodia made me realize a lot of possibilities in life. I want to thank my family for encouraging me to travel, especially to my mom. Thank you to all who prayed, helped, and contributed to our exploration. Believe it or not, one of the great lessons I have learned from our Vietnam and Cambodia trip is the importance of "packing light." The value of packing light extends beyond the things we put in our suit case. It means simplifying what matters. It means sticking to the fundamentals. It means making up what is lacking by using our imagination. It means giving priority - first things first. 

It is true what long time travelers say that  you get a fresh perspective on life from traveling. You become tolerant, you become more understanding. You realize that a simple genuine smile to: local people, the hotel host, the driver, the airport crew, the immigration officer, to all people involved in your travel, goes a long way.

My first trip abroad made me more inquisitive, I found the need to take a look at other country's history and to relate its meaning to my country's own. I became more proud of our own heritage and language, and appreciated how it unites us as a nation. My fellow countrymen are not just another person anymore, (you are) my brothers and sisters. 

I don't know where I am going next, but I know life goes on and that the adventure continues. I believe what a wise man once said, "There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." The way our eyes perceive the world is indeed: a reflection of the world -- and a reflection of who we are.

                                                                                                                                                        -Rah

Reunited in Vietnam: Home is where the heart is.

Reunited in a foreign land feels like home.

Reunited in a foreign land feels like home. The night before this photo was taken, I picked up Avril at the airport availing of our hotel's transfer service. Mr. Ming was the name of the driver. At the airport, Mr. Ming parked his car at the parking lot and I went to the arrival bay to wait for Avril. After waiting for a while, I finally saw Avril and gave her a warm hug. I missed her so much. I carried her bag, then went to the parking lot. At the middle of a dark parking lot, I introduced Avril to a driver who was apparently Mr. Ming.


"Hello Mr. Ming, this is Avril. Avril, meet Mr. Ming."

This apparently Mr. Ming, looked at us with a big question mark on his head. There was a strange silence for like five seconds.

Then I realized that it was NOT Mr. Ming at all.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I told the old man.

Apparently Mr. Ming scratched his head.

"Avril, look. There's Mr. Ming right there in the corner."


We were laughing the whole night, from the airport to our hotel. Major major blooper of the night.

Lost in translation in the streets of Ben Than, Vietnam

While in a foreign land, I realized that locals look so much alike. There's a magical feeling being reunited in a foreign soil. A strange land becomes home when you are with someone you truly care about. I realized it's not where you are that makes a place a home, it is the people you are with. I finally made sense of the old saying -- "Home is where the heart is."

I don't mind traveling around the world with My Boo. Home is where the heart is.

Vietnam Tourist Spots: Reunification Palace, Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, War Remnants Museum

Hi there!

And so now I go on with the story of our adventure in Vietnam. After snoozing a bit, it was time to visit the local tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh.

First stop, the Reunification Palace.

The Reunification Palace, Vietnam

The Reunification Palace is where the Vietnam War was ended. In 1975, a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and declared the victory of the communist party, thus ending the Vietnam war. That said tank can still be seen at the grounds of the Palace to date.

Having a picture with a young lady at the Palace's souvenir shop. Oh, a little trivia, they DON'T call females "miss."(E.g. Miss, how much is this shirt?) Instead, they use "Lady" and "Madam." 

Having my picture taken with a statue of Ho Chi Minh. He was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, as well as the People's Army of Vietnam and the Việt Cộngduring the Vietnam War source: wikipedia.

Meeting Hall of the Reunification Palace. This was where top leaders gathered and made
important policies and decisions. 

Inside the Reunification Palace, you can expect to see the president's office, meeting halls, conference halls, and a view of the City.

After an hour touring the Reunification palace, we walked around the block and saw this restaurant. We didn't know what to order so we sorta just told the waiter to "surprise us." And this is what we my tita got ---

Tomato and pipino salad

I asked for their local best seller and this is what I got --

Pancake with veggies.

I love veggies. This was the perfect mirienda.

After eating our mirienda, we went to the Saigon Post office which was just walking distance from the restaurant. This Post Office was built by 20th century French colonizers. It features a Gothic architectural style and was designed and constructed by Gustave Eiffel with the original materials flown from France.

Inside the post office.

Inside, you can buy post cards and stamps; there is also a souvenir shop. That portrait of Ho Chi Minh right there reminds me of Kung Fu movies I used to watch when I was kid. I want my own portrait painting just like that someday with a tagline: "Wanna try my Kung Fu?!"

Notre  Dame Cathedral

Just opposite the Saigon Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral. The design reminds me of San Sebastian Church in Manila. We wanted to go in and pray, but it was closed.  Notre Dame Cathedral was built by the French between 1863 and 1880.

Next, we hailed a cab and went to nearby War Remnants Museum.

The exhibit was a graphic encounter. It shows explicit photos of the effects of the war. There were pictures of dead people as a result of war in almost every gallery. Some photos show people injured, disfigured, mutilated, or amputated. It's horrific, but that's reality.

Tank you very much. My first photo with a tank.

Outside the building is a large collection of military vehicles, planes, and helicopters that was either left by the departure of The US forces or they were captured by the North Vietnamese Army. 

The War Remnants Museum. 

It is said that the museum was originally called Museum of American War Crimes, but it was changed as not to offend tourists. 

Chinook 

The museum speaks for itself -- a compendium of the effects of modern warfare.

Effect of Agent Orange

One gallery details the effects of the 75 million liters of defoliant sprays dumped across the country, including hideously malformed fetuses preserved in pickling jars.

"Agent Orange." It's the first time I really got to understand what Agent Orange meant. Agent Orange is the common name used for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program. It is an extremely toxic dioxin compound. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth defects.

It is said that during the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed nearly  (80,000,000 l) of material containing chemical herbicides and defoliants mixed with jet fuel in Vietnam, eastern Laos and parts of Cambodia, as part of a war operation to defoliate forested and rural land, depriving guerrillas of cover and to destroy the ability of peasants to support themselves in the countryside, thus depriving the guerrillas of their rural support base and food supply. (source: wikipedia)

My first day in Vietnam was unique because it's not the usual fun getaway that we Filipinos expect from a vacation. Most tourist spots in this part of Vietnam are all related to war. It was depressing. It didn't sink in to me until it was time for us to go.  I didn't know United States of America resorted to chemical warfare in an attempt to win a war. What a shame! The Vietnam War  is a ghastly shadow that continue to haunt our very souls.

More stories of our adventure. Next, I will tell you guys how we left Vietnam and set foot on a journey to Cambodia.

Regards,

Rah.


:)

My First Out of the Country Experience: Vietnam

Greetings!

I love the Philippines.  I am quite satisfied traveling locally as much as I can, but I have to admit that sometimes there is still that eagerness to find out what's beyond our country. When I was a little boy, I knew someday I was going to set foot on a foreign soil. I just did not know it was going to be this month already!

When my mother invited me to go with her and my titas to Vietnam last month, I couldn't contain my excitement. We would be flying to Vietnam then cross the border to Cambodia and get to see the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap. We invited Sweetpea, too. I was so excited that Sweetpea could come with us. We booked our flight early and got the best deals from Cebu Pacific.

After being lonely in my drawer for many years, my passport finally found its purpose:  to be  stamped at by immigration officials. I'm glad Vietnam and Cambodia are non-visa countries, it saved a lot of time and money. I wish I could have prepared for the trip more even though I was coming out of a busy school week. I wish I had a chance to pick up tourist guide books to familiarize myself with the itinerary. Thank goodness my cousin Tsina helped us book our hotel and set up the itinerary for our trip. We are all thankful to her.

When traveling abroad, I know the importance of preparation. I wish I noted the number and address of the Philippine Embassy at the very least. I wish I knew how helpful it was to buy a local SIM card and not rely on international roaming services. These could be helpful in times of emergency. I wish I learned useful Vietnamese and Cambodian phrases in advance, like "hello" and "thank you." In short, there were a lot of things I should have done.


I crammed my things into my suitcase and reminded myself to travel light.I showed my younger sister Angelica  how proud I was that I was able to pack my suitcase light, she frowned.

"Kuya! Is this the way you pack light?! Let me help you."

She halved my suitcase load with an evil smile. 10 t-shirts down to 5. 6 shorts to just 3. She discarded my running shoes and replaced it with comfy slip-on.

"I know you want to run in foreign land, but you will be walking the whole day that jogging will just be extraneous. It is okay to reuse clothes, there is always laundry service, if you ever need it."

I would later find out later that she is right. It was a good advise that I took. The plane ride was a breeze thanks to my comfort kit. I'm very proud of my comfort kit (made up of an air pillow, a sleeping eye cover, and blanket.) The flight was as good as sleeping in my own room. The cabin crew were hospitable and cute,  but noticeably trying to fight out stress and being sleepy.

Vietnam touchdown. Two and a half hours later, at about three in the morning, our plane landed to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The airport is located about four miles from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. At the immigration counter, I flashed my grumpy passport to be stamped on. The immigration officials there could use some smile. They should go to our country. It's more fun in the Philippines.


We had to exchange our US dollars to Dong as our first agenda. It is safer to exchange your dollars in a bank or bank accredited exchange. Be careful when you're exchanging your dollars there.  Some money changers offer attractive higher exchange rates, only to find out later they charge a commission fee. That commission fee is written in the signboards in a microscopic print. It is misleading. A group of Filipinos computed their money exchange and realize the difference. They went berserk. That's when I realized Vietnam is not perfect, they have dishonest merchants, too.


1 US Dollar can be exchanged for 20,000 Dong. "Dong" is their local currency. Yeah, it sounds funny, I know right? I've even composed a song in my head I entitled "The Dong Song." First line goes, "That dong do-dong dong dong!" 


My 100 USD was exchanged for more than 2 Million (2,000,000 d) Dong. I was an instant millionaire, can you believe it?! I remember Forrest Gump once said, "You only need so much money in this world, the rest is just for showing off." I tried to be humble even if I was already a millionaire, *wink.

Our airport transfer service from the hotel was waiting for us outside. Our destination was the  HongHoa Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh.

At HongHoa Hotel room.

The hotel is known to budget travelers. It is walking distance to the famous tourist destinations. After settling down, we took a nap, at around eight in the morning, it was time to explore the streets. At 17 dollars a night, it was a steal. The hotel has all the basic amenities you need including WiFi. The comfort room even has a bath tub.

The first photos of our trip feature the streets of Ho Chi Minh.

The streets of Ho Chi Minh. Red flags galore.

There were red flags with stars and hammer and sickle everywhere. The city was probably commemorating a historical event. Ho Chi Minh reminded me of the streets of Malate, Manila. The weather was cloudy and humid just like our weather in the Philippines.  

The streets of Ho Chi Minh were not as spotless as you would expect it to be. You would see occasional trash here and there. We have cities here in Philippines that are cleaner. Motorcycle is the primary mode of transportation there, few people have cars. Even ladies wearing skirts and dresses use motorcycles. 

Local fruit vendors with the very iconic Vietnamese conical hats.

There were no shortage of fresh fruits in Vietnam. Lanzones, mangosteen, mangoes, coconut -- they sell it at prices comparable to what we charge here in the Philippines. It seems fruits in Vietnam are very sweet and tangy. 

Tita Corazon, Tita Milkah, Coconut vendor, Imelda my mom.

The tale of the traveling titas. While I was doing my best to pack light, they seemed to be doing the opposite :) hehe ok lang. I don't mind carrying the extra weights.

My mom with the garden sun flowers at Notre Dame Cathedral. 

Yours truly with a tourist police in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Whatsup brother from another mother! :)

It's my first out of the country experience is like being transported to a parallel universe. I felt like an alien, everything was familiar yet so new.


More stories of our adventure in my next posts. 


Till next time,  Ciao!


-Rah

Race Report: Nat Geo Run 2012

Last Sunday Bong and I ran the Nat Geo Run 2012. It was my first 21 kilometer run. I woke up at two in the morning and prepared my self a banana and half a cup of coffee. It's all that I eat before a race. Anything more than that and my tummy feels fugly.

I am thankful to Noelle of Kikayrunner.com for sponsoring this race. She was patient with my E-mails. She even gave me tips on how to train for my first 21k.

At 4 a.m., we arrived at BGC and started doing some warm ups, knee highs, butt kicks, loosening up those tight muscles. I also did my last minute bathroom breaks.

Bong and I waited at the middle of the pack of the starting line for the gun start. While there, I noticed that were so many foreigners. The front line was like a delegation from the United Nations. It was estimated that eight thousand (8,000) people showed up for the race. There were some African runners too, but I really can't see them because it was dark. I was interested to find out sana if I can recognize them from previous races. It has been said that Kenyan runners are making a business out of the running scene here in the Philippines.

With cameras in front of the starting line, it seemed like a photo shoot for United Colors of Benetton. "How sosyal naman this race, international 'tol." - I told my running mate Bong. I was expecting that NatGeoRun 2012 (with its super mahal na registration fee 1300Php) would at the very least be at par with international standards.

At gun start, everyone was running so fast. My friend Bong was pacing me. He's the faster runner between the two of us. He was very patient with me. He didn’t have to, but he waited for me in times I had to recover from running.

We ran steady for thirty (30) minutes without water breaks, and how can there be water breaks when there were very few water stations? I told Bong, "Bro galit ata organizers sa water stations eh. Ang konti at ang lalayo ng water stations." You can count the water stations with your fingers.

At fifth kilometer, I was thirsty and really felt the need for a water break. I had Gatorade in my kidney bottles but I wanted to reserve it for the latter part of the race. But wait! Is it really the fifth kilometer or tenth? No one really knows because through out the whole race, there were no kilometer markers! All the race had was arrows, directions, telling runners where to turn. The lack of distance markers made it hard for runners to pace and plan their run.

It was supposed to be Earth Day, but there were almost very few efforts to promote how to conserve mother earth. The giant screen before the race started merely featured NatGeo program ads, but barely any information about Earth Day. The streets were a mess with water bottles and paper cups, too. A lot of runners just indiscriminately threw their paper cups on the road. A lot of runners seem to have forgotten that it was Mother Earth's birthday and the race was an environmental advocacy. Part of the blame goes to the organizers, too. Very few trash bins were provided.

Somewhere in the race, (No distance markers, argh.) someone shouted, "Last 3k!" I felt that I still had the energy to push  my speed to the max. My NatGeo jersey was drenched in sweat and was sticking to my body. Since it was really slowing me down, I took off my shirt off and tucked it behind me.

Finally, the finish line. I saw a stranger walking five hundred meters away from the finish line. I told him, "Kuya, konti nalang, kaya natin to." He told me, "Oo nga bro. Kaya natin ito!" Then he took a walk break, while I maintained my steady pace. 10 seconds after, he sprinted towards the finish line surpassing me. Talk about giving someone a boost! :)

At the finish line, I saw Avril taking my photo. I wanted to hug her. She was so supportive. She's all I wanted to see after the race. Natanggal pagod ko.

A guy in a cap stopped me and gave me a finisher's medal. I didn't expect that there was a medal. They didn't announce they medals will be given to the finishers. It was my first medal ever. Sweet victory. A new mile stone in my running career.

I felt happy running my first 21k. For some people, there are more important things to do than just running. I don't blame them, I mean, whatever floats their boat, I am not running for them. Instead, I am running because I believe running makes a better person out of me. It's for my Boo. It's for my friends. It's for that 2013 one sweet day. It's for those who believe in me. It's for the things I believe is right. It's for God, my offering, my gratitude.

Pre-race rituals, visualizations, inspirations.

Bong, my running mate, and yours truly.

I heard someone shout, "Last 3k!" and I ran like hell.

Bling bling with Avril my love.

Finishing strong.

Lastly, I just want to share a quote from Ron Clarke

“I still cannot define precisely my joy in running… Who can define happiness? To some, happiness is a warm puppy or a glass of cold beer.  To me, happiness is running in the hills with my mates around me.”

Have a great day everyone!

Special thanks:

Avril, you are my soulmate.

Noelle of Kikayrunner.com for sponsoring my registration :)

Bong Cendana my running mate

Glenn and Sigue Correr Runners for the photos