A one-live cat’s life

Contemplating on a haven for backpackers, I was thinking, what made me love traveling?

As I go back to my younger, kid days, I remember that during Summers and New years day we head down low lands where my dad’s origin is.  We go there to relax for a day or a weekend in the beach.  On the other hand, we travel too up north on my mom’s side to the mountainous areas and join rituals of their tribe.

Not until I was 12 years old, when I was in 6th grade.  I can remember that was the first traveling experience I had without my parents or my family/sisters.  We were going on a Regional Science Fair, I was with my team mates at school and with my coach.  I was excited and happy and not scared at all.   I can not remember that I did cry looking for home.  Most probably is because our coaches were good and nice and the team was good.  That is one thing that makes traveling a whole lot different, your travel mates.  So from that time on I think I just didn’t mind being away from home even if it means school work, but getting to know different people, a new place, new culture etc.  Lucky should I say that at school that was what gave me opportunity to travel until I was in highschool.  Fairs, conferences, sport meets.  I just remember one conference that I have to go alone without any coach and it was different.  Tough emotionally but I learned to be independent from that time on.

Now that I am OLDER yea older … I travel for business and leisure on my own or with friends.

Anyway I listed some question on my self interview (hahaha!) about my interest in traveling:

Longest period away from home: 6 months, I was already working but I was away from my own place, my friends and family for 6 months.  It is long enough since Pinoy culture have very close family ties.

When you travel where do you stay? Hotels - business travel/holidays; Travelling as a backpacker: hostels/guesthouses/friends houses/travellers houses (through couchsurfing.com)

Any favorite accomocation? Hotel: although they do not have the home feeling you pay for the service and the nice room - Ritz Carlton in Jakarta.  Guesthouse: Youth Guesthouse in Japan - clean and friendly.; couch: a number of favorites

Favorite Airlines? Singapore Airline! I don’t mind sitting in the economy class.  Good food, nice service from the staff, good entertainment system, staff treat you well
Item you always bring when you travel: a book, cellphone and camera

Favorite destination? So far from my travels abroad, its Luang Prabang, Laos! Very simple life and idyllic envronment.  Locally: its Bohol and Palawan.  When you travel as well, even if you’ve been in the same destination, what makes it different experience is the people you travel with.

How do you get around: Business: taxi, backpacking: all kinds of the public transpo, and walk a lot!

What have you learned so far from traveling: A lot that money the money you spent can not even buy! The experience first hand of the culture, language, people, history that is very different from the books while you were learning at school.  Aside from that, it taught me to be more independent, got more sensitive of who really am I, you learn life while you travel.

Everyone should travel because … it makes you grow maturer and life is short.

Something you wish to do whenever you travel that you always don’t do? Sketch! Or write a real travel blog of the destination … just that there are too many things to do, to less time!

Again, I missed the long run race, 8KM for the Mother’s Day Classic and Breast Cancer Run on May 11, 2008.  I wanted to do the race so I still registered for the 4KM instead.

I received my race pack by postal Race number, Donation forms, and instruction.  This run is for the tribute for all moms, which I dedicated my run first to my Mom and all my mommy friends and relatives.  Aside from thet, the organizer coupled the race day as a day to raise funds for the country’s breast cancer fund. 

So the night before the race, I prepared my "race gear" as I do not have any pink singlet or short as so I expect it for vreast cancer so pink is the color.  I prepared my grey leggings striped with pink, my bull cap with pink.  Good enough? 

The 4KM run doesn’t start before 9 so I decided to wake up by 640am ate my light breakfast, light enough that will not slow me down and left home by past 7 and got at the race venue by 830, just in time a few runners already are finishing the 8KM.  They started at 730am.

Had a warm up jog from Town Hall to the Domain as it’s a bit of a walk so thought of might as well do my warm up to reach the venue.  Some 8Km runners are also joining the 4KM run.  They had it at good timing so keen runners can join both races. Smart.  (I did not know you can do that, anyway I am not able to get 8Km anyway as it is already reached the limit of runners!)

At the venue, I headed and looked where I need to collect my timing chip.  Then left my stuff at the baggage area, then to the portalets.  Then to the start area.  Ths start area is in front of the Art Gallery Museum entrance.  I had a practice how the route will this going to look like a weekend early but from my practice I guess I did a wrong turn and ended up doing a longer run than the 4Km.  Anyway waited for at least 20 minutes, after doing my stretching. 

Waiting at the Start chute, again very different standing with the crowd alone (I mean no runner friend(s)), no h@ppy feet mates to chat with.  So just wandered my eyes to the racers shoes, outfit, built.  Fun too to do the people watch.  I was also doing my internalization as reminded by h@ppy Feet friend Marco that races are suppose to be fun.  So I said this should be fun no matter what my time is, and no injuries.  So after the emcee talk, a minute of silence has been offered for the breast cancer victims, survivors and the patients battling their lives with breast cancer. 

Some are also running in dedication to relative and friends whom they lost with the cancer.

8 seconds to 9am the emcee started its "on your mark" .. Then whistle… whoa… there were too much runners on a narrow street! It was downhill and you also have to be careful not to trip or get tripped or cause a stampede.  It was difficult to overtake as too many runners.  That was a 500 M slope then loop to another 500M uphill! Then down hill on a really narrow path (like it is meant for 3 slim people to walk side by side)! Overlooking the bay then the opera house and the Sydney bridge.  Then up again another hill towards the starting chute which is another hill towards the domain park.  500 more meters I told myself I can see the finish line I tried to add more speed but the path is inclined and you can feel the pressure on your thighs and butt.  300 more meters that I felt it was safe to run a bit faster on a flat path yey! I made it :D. 

At the Finish chute you receive your commemorative medal after removing your chip, you get a bottle of mineral water, an apple, a pink bag and a calendar and a pink sandwich container by Tupperware.  I am happy that I beat my expected time of 20mins so fare enough.

Plus I am on ranked 15 on my age category! yey!

Again, Happy Mother’s day to all the moms and to my mom and grand ma, I love you.

Distance: 4KM
Time: 19.35

Results

After staying two service apartments, Hordern Towers and Regency Hyde…yey! my permanent apartment!

Not that I did not like the two, well i do aside from it was free, ill make a comparisson
Hordern Towers: Modern style, huge sitting in 50th floor overlooking the Central Train Station. Food shops, hip bars, cafes and grocery at its basement and street level
Regency Hyde: Warm cozy style, wood accented, like it better smaller but i like it. in front of the Hyde park where i go run.

Okey now after 2 weeks of postponement of my move due to work schedule, at last i moved in.  I like the area first because 1. It is near a park where i can do my runs 2. far yet near to the city, its not the bush yet! 4Km away from CBD by bus, 15 minute to work. Bay area, safe.  its near the main busy neighborhood with shops, resto, cafes and bars.

So got here by 1130, bare unit. Waiting for my furniture rentals as my removals will still hopefully get cleared early June. 

so here it is and the transformation! in just a few hours!
before:

After:

I wasn’t sure of the services of the furniture delivery cover the arrangement of stuff as would you think you will expect two blokes arranging your bed for you? they did assembly my bed i made my bed after they left.

Good luck to my new house!

Sending my h@ppy feet friends hours before registering in the Bondi Barefoot Race asking advice what i need to do prior the race.  Helpful as ever they told me: Sunblock, run with the lightest shoes, run in the compact area where the water meets the sand, and take short steps. Okey click goes register 10KM i though as i looked at the race results last year they are fast on 4KM and might leave me the last person to run.  Too proud forgot about the principle "its is not how your PR went but it is important that your finish the race" i did not want to be the last.  Click .. 10KM registered.

At 730am i am at the bus stop to Bondi Beach.  Was a bit hungry no breakfast as not use to eating brekkie before race, well on a 6am race.  Arrived the race area there are indeed more people running the 4Km.  No baggage area so just left my jacket and shirt on a bench (mind you with my ipod shuffle and apartment keys - which did not get lost or got touched when i got back). 

Few 10KM runners.  The route will be 10 laps at the beach.  Looking around, I am just the Asian. I also get a few looks as i am Asian and of small frame.  Now i know why they were looking…it was a difficult route!  AND! it was on the loose sand part! The first 5 meters of the beach has been cordoned for the race.

First 500M i was doing well, not after which runners go past me, the
sand was getting dugged up deeper as it gets more difficult to run.
I tried to keep my pace, found the pylon area which is runners don’t run to.  It was easier, but still difficult.  1st lap i told myself now i know why they say it was challenging in the website.2nd lap it was getting tougher, as it puts a lot of pressure on your calves to bounce back and take another step.  It was not an effort of getting tired to speed up but doubling effort on your feet to make the next step.  2 and a half lap my foot is blistering as sand goes in my shoes (well i wasnt the last yet in the pack). i saw that most or it was just two runners me and a man was running with shoes. I took it off and toss it to the medics/lifeguards and kindly asked them to look after them.  damn! it is easier BUT…it was like running on snow! not that i ran in snow, i mean the sand is cold! so cold! specially every time you step your feet gets buried.  I tried to endure the cold wind and the cold sand, the challenge on the inclined loose sand for one more lap, plus i heard a spectator saying she is still going, as i look tired and maybe look really putting a lot of effort on the race.  I got affected with the comment and my insecurity complex took in, i told myself i don’t think i will finish this race. I was not tired but my feet are giving in.  I can not do it anymore i quit.  I feel disappointed and frustrated but not really sad. complex feeling.  The participants were really competitive, i heard someone saying one friend running "no excuses" that they did not do well.  Another lesson learned
1. never run long distance on a track where your foot never set foot on
2. train a few times on the track of the race to get your body familiarized and adapted to the environment.
3. swallow pride and its not always doing the best but finishing the race.

I felt bad so after finishing the event so i remembered the suggestion my colleague, Mike, asked if i have done the Bondi-Bronte-Bondi walk,
but as i look at the map i just did until Tamara’s bay.  Again another
reason to go back.  yes i want to so go   back there!  It was a hilly
but with paved walk, nice view of the beach and the bay, the scenery.
Back to Bondi  and stopped at the weekend markets. It was a worth
Sunday "race" to Bondi.

Anyway No excuses but I am not a beach person, i havent run on loose cold sand alright? :p i did runs in warm compact sand. I will try to re-try running in the beach in the Manly race.  And this time will do training in the beach! 

Quiting this race doesn’t mean i will be quiting my running "career" ei!

Too busy at work that I missed a posting for a half marathon.  Entries are closed as they reached the quota.  Got more months to get ready.  For the mean time will need to get ready for the next race.