Before 35.

I was planning on sleeping early tonight but things got on my way (like my restless mind) so here I am now wiritng another post. 

*ehem MIC TEST 1-2-3*

After watching "The Bucket List", I was really inspired to make my own. Which mostly contains childish dreams and fantasies. Right now I'm on my way to fulfill one - to be a lawyer. Aside from achieving a higher purpose in life, one popular "dream" is to travel. 

I recently came across a blogger (actually, nastuck ata ako dito sa blog ni Patty Laurel. Remember herrr? Ang tagal na niyang blogger, isn't she amazing?) telling that one grows (independently and maturely) traveling in an international destination, as traveling locally instills comfort and familiarity. To which I agree. Just last year, I traveled to the beautiful province of Ilocos with my "Ilocos Buddies" wait ano nga bang point nito? I forgot if it was my friend Abby Dublado or Chua who prefers traveling with friends, to which I eagerly disagreed by saying that traveling with parents are the best! HAHA! Who wouldn't like being spared from all the gastos (necessary and unecessary). 

Sobrang init and pagod na kami kakapicture. Naubusan na ng "pose".
We ended up doing a group hug.

In my search for the elixir of life independence and maturity, I am now posting to myself a challenge and that is BEFORE I REACH THIRTY - I SHOULD HAVE TRAVELED TO THIRTY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HASHTAG YAYAMANIN. But then realizing that right now (and up to the next 3 years or so), I am restrained to any out of the country travel (dahil lang to sa law school okay? HAHAHA) I'm tweaking the challenge to - - BEFORE I REACH THIRTY-FIVE - I SHOULD HAVE TRAVELED TO FIFTEEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. I think before, this thought already occurred to me but with a younger age of 25 pero dahil magtutwenty-two na ako at isa pang full time struggling law student I never pursued that thought and just scratched it all together. 

As of the moment, the only out of country travel I've done is with my family. Considering my scarce resources (money and time), I am including those countries I've visited on the list of countries I've been to. I hope someday, I'll be able to travel with friends. But going to places with the parentals and kuya will be much preferred, dahil mas masaya kung libre. 

So far there's Singapore back in 2007. We also went to Malaysia but skipped the Petronas tower so I'm officially not counting that as a true visit. With Singapore, we've been to the tourist destinations and we're gladly accompanied by my cousins.

The Obligatory Merlion Photo-Op.
Pardon my squinting eyes, as sunglasses were non-existent yet

In 2009 together with the Apostol clan, we went to Macau and Hong Kong. On our first day in Macau, we were politely "toured" by a fellow kababayan (ang lakas maka-kababayan, banyagang-banyaga noh?) around the casinos of Macau - sadly, we were unable to visit the famous "Venetian Hotel" hashtag idagdag sa bucketlist. On our second day, we were accompanied by a tourist guide (to museums! Ack). 

Candid picture and behind us is the St. Paul's Ruins.
Sadly, eto lang picture ko dito. I must go back talaga! HAHAHA

Hong Kong was a ferry ride away from Macau and so to HK we traveled next. Nafefeel ko pa yung biyahilo sa ferry ride *suka Since we acquired a "package deal", what was included were a few selected sights with Disneyland as the highlight. It was such a heartache when we skipped going to Madame Tussauds. 

With my favorite cartoon character - Winnie the Pooh

Our Macau-HK trip was "fun" but I would rather traveled without the tourist guide. Being in a foreign land which is predominantly a Chinese-speaking country is definitely a thrill I am willing to make. Plus, with the various technological advancement available ehem internet, I bet we would have a much enjoyable trip. 

So that's 3 countries so far. I've got 12 more to go. On top of my list is still my love - London. I promise myself that no matter what, come hell or high water, I will go there. Hopefully by that time I'm already filthy rich capable of spending for all the places I'll go. Oh, London. 

Aside from the traveling that I'll be doing in the future I am already expecting gajillion of additional books to be added on my bookshelf by the end of each trip. Yep! I am making it a goal that in the twelve countries that I will visit, I shall have the time to visit the local bookstore fine, kahit na yung airport bookstand na lang to complement my trip. Yep feeling ko kahit na matanda na ko eh, I will always be the girl woman who goes gaga on books. Finee, I'm also adding the refrigerator magnet since we're unofficially asking for refmagnets as pasalabuongs to friends and family who travel and by we I mean kami nila mama at kuya. 

I guess now that there's this challenge I've imposed upon myself, may God guide me in my studies para makagraduate agad agad at makapagstart na maglayas. But for now, I'm hoping on falling asleep na.

And here's Jenna Rink wishing she was "THIRTY AND FLIRTY AND THRIVING"