May

May perhaps is the busiest month of 2014 because of my many commitments. Last March, I received an email saying that I qualified as a candidate for the Wikimedia Cultural Heritage Mapping Project to be held in Herald Suites. I was ecstatic, since I know I'd be meeting a lot of like-minded fellows whose interests include travelling and cultural heritage. I was happy to see two fellow archaeologists so I didn't feel out of place that much.

The three-day workshop was fun although it also made me quite grumpy because I didn't get my much-needed cutie sleep. Everyday we learned a lot of things, from creating Wiki articles, to editing existing ones, to lectures on photography and architecture. And every night we needed to stay up until early morning to finish some exercises, leaving no room for sleep. But it was one great experience despite the challenge of resisting the urge to fall asleep during lectures due to lack of sleep. It was still a miracle that the speakers were able to fully hold my attention and I am proud to say that I only fell asleep once and it only lasted for less than 10 minutes. Well, for one, the lectures were interesting and I couldn't just pass up the chance to learn more about architectural styles.

One memorable moment of my life happened in May. Travelling to Batanes used to be just a dream but now it is a dream come true! I super love the simple way of life there. I love watching the clouds go by. I love how the heavens would surprise you with quick rainshowers and then the mighty sun would come out again and spread its hot rays all over. I love the breathtaking views. I love the food (especially the lobsters!!!), I love the people whose beautiful eyes make me stare at them for so long. But like a beautiful dream, it has to end and poor me has to go back to chaotic Manila.

An important activity that I added to my already long list of things to do is hitting the gym. Finally! I just wish my efforts pay off since as of writing, I have yet to see any improvement though some of my friends remarked that I've slimmed down a little.

As a Wiki volunteer, we were assigned to scout for built heritage within our vicinity and I'm happy to discover places I wouldn't have thought to go to. I also went out twice with a fellow volunteer and I'm happy to know that this guy also likes animé. Yay! And he´s got a lot of titles in his collection. :) (If only we have 30 hours instead of 24... I miss being able to do a marathon...) And I finally got to visit F. Sionil Jose's Solidaridad Bookshop where I bought books related to built heritage and history. Made a big dent on my wallet, I must say.

As bonus, my family and I went to Antipolo for our annual pilgrimage. We then had lunch at F.I.S.H. along Visayas Avenue and I highly recommend the place to all seafood lovers out there. The food there is delicious, servings are generous, and the price is reasonable. Service is okay, too. So what more can you ask for? It's very rare that we reach a consensus that we like a restaurant and this one earns just that.

May also marks my first movie night out with the coolest people in the office. We watched X-Men Days of Future Past and had gelato at Gelatissimo. I wish we could hang out more outside office hours.

The last day of May was spent at the music studio where I attended my first and last practice for our rehearsal the following day. Still lucky to have had practiced a bit at home despite the looong time I haven't had classes. Seeing how others play inspired me again to put my heart into playing the violin. We went home super late and super tired, too. On the plus side, my friend and I got to hang out together again. 

Batanes 05092014 Day 2

Day 2 of our Batanes trip was spent in Sabtang Island. We decided to spend a night there just to have a feel of what it's like to sleep in an Ivatan stone house.

The tour includes a quick visit of San Vicente Church, a walk through Savidug where stone houses abound. The best part is the Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint where we spent a lot of time taking pictures. The place is just soooo beautiful that I'm hoping I get proposed to in that place (LOL!). We also visited the Sabtang Weavers Association where we saw how they make the traditional Ivatan headdress called Vakul.

San Vicente Ferrer Church

Chavayan stone houses

Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint: one of the best places in Batanes that you wouldn't want to miss!

After getting tired from all the walking up and down Chamantad-Tinyan, all we could think about was the promised lobster for lunch which is already included in the tour package. We certainly had a feast, eating delicious food to our heart's content. I forgot all about my diet!

lunch

While others played at the beach, most of us lay down under the famous arch of Nakabuang beach to have our afternoon nap. It drizzled but only for a short period of time. While in the moment, I thought of not gong back to Manila because it felt like heaven being in such a wonderful place.

Nakabuang beach and its famous arch

My travel buddy and I said goodbye to our tourmates in Nakabuang beach as they headed back to Batan Island. As for us, we rented a trike to take us to other parts of Sabtang not covered by the tour. We stopped by Sumnanga, curious why it's called "Little Hongkong" but we weren't able to figure out the reason behind the nickname. I walked the entire stretch of the coastline and could only come up with a theory: that the part of the sea there resembles Hongkong bay. That is the only thing I could think of since Sumnanga is in no way modern compared to Hongkong. Another thing about the coastal town: I have to note that the area was pretty much devastated, they say , by last year's typhoons. 

part of Sumnanga overlooking the sea

We also visited Nakanmuan but there isn't much to see in the barangay. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the very long ride. The breeze, the waning heat of the sun, the excellent sceneries, now what more can you ask for? Did I say that the young tricycle driver who toured us has wonderful taste in music? He played MLTR songs!!! I thought my heart would burst with happiness. :)

That night, I washed my clothes since our host has a washing machine. We slept in the receiving area of our host's house, with the door wide open. Still the summer heat made us sweat a lot. We were also lucky because our host cooked chicken tinola and invited us for dinner. We didn't find any restaurant in the barangay.

Take me to your heart, take me to your soul.

Give me your hand and hold me.

Show me what love is, be my guiding star.

It's easy; take me to your heart.

#LSS

Batanes Day 1

Batanes Day 3
Batanes Day 4
Batanes Day 5

Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and Life (Leonard Mlodinow)

One day early this year, I arrived at my workstation surprised to find a book entitled "Feynman's Rainbow" on my desk. It came with a note that read "Something to start the week on an upbeat note. Have a wonderful day, Melo. :) J". Reading the title, I immediately thought of the famous physicist Richard Feynman and quickly scanned the back blurb and was happy to be the recipient of such a book. Another item in my collection, and something related to quantum physics!

I brought the book with me to Bohol and started to read a few pages while in Dumaluan beach in Panglao, Bohol. I didn't finish it though because the allure of the scenery was quite distracting and I kept looking far out into the sea. At that time though I was more than excited to read about one of the biggest minds that I admire, Richard Feynman the physicist.

I first learned of the him as a college freshman in UP Diliman. One of his essays was part of our reading list for Natural Science 1 class, a course I unfortunately failed to enjoy because of the large class and I often fell asleep despite whatever resistance I put up. Later on, getting hooked on chaos theory and ultimately to quantum physics mainly because of Dr. Amador Muriel's talk in our STS class in my final year, I would always encounter his name in the books that I read.

Later on, curious about the man, I did a quick search on the net and downloaded an ebook entitled "Sure You're Joking, Mr. Feynman", read the first few pages and decided that the man is bigger than I thought. His is a curious mind since his childhood days as he spent his early years tinkering with radios and shortly after doing repair jobs while young.

So having a book written by a younger physicist about his encounter with Feynman thoroughly made my day. I wanted to see how others viewed him, how he influenced and inspired others, and also look into how his mind works, what he's like as a person. I didn't expect to be teary-eyed after reading "Feynman's Rainbow".

The book narrates Mlodinow's arrival in Caltech where he was worrying about what physics problem to work on, aside from his doubts if he has what it takes to be a scientist. Meeting Richard Feynman, then already a big man in the physics world, made him realize many things. According to Mlodinow, Feynman loved math and physics but disliked philosophy and psychology, something I found weird since I've always thought that math and philosophy could make very good bedfellows. Despite this, I found the man pretty much like those ancient philosophers who can offer great insights into many things.

Many passages in the book made me imagine scenes were the book  made into an animé, and I am more than sure that if this book were adapted to a film or series, I would certainly cry. I was thinking of the animé Honey and Clover, that series which I consider as one of the best series for its profound insights into human relationships, happiness, and life in general. In the same way, this book, although focusing on physicists and physics, has that power to inspire its readers. Personally, getting to know more about Feynman, I think I share an affinity with the man and it comforts me that I am and will be alright, too, because we share the same outlook in life--- never wasting time on things that do not rouse interest, being imaginative and intuitive and a bit pragmatic, not minding much if what we work on is deemed significant or not by others as long as it retains interest and enthusiasm, and most importantly, looking at the world through a child's lens and appreciating the beauty of phenomena and getting inspired in the process. I am also amused at how he would attend a seminar just for the cookies, something I am guilty of doing in most cases.

For instance, when asked if Mlodinow has that something special to be a scientist, Feynman answers that being a scientist is not different from the average person in that we all think in a constructive way, we all use our imagination, that the only difference is that scientists analyze things thoroughly like a detective out to solve a mystery with only a handful of clues. I love how Feynman does not elevate the status of scientists as most are wont to do because they feel they are intellectually superior to other human beings.

The book contains a lot of wise words from Feynman and here are some of them:

"(...) When there is a hard problem, one has to work a long time and has to be persistent. In order to be persistent, you have got to be convinced that it's worthwhile working so hard, that you're going to get somewhere. And that takes a certain kind of fooling yourself." (p.59)

"When asked if it would be wise to work on something that everyone else thinks is nonsense, Feynman simply says, "only under one condition (...) that you don't think it's nonsense." Continuing, he says, "Maybe you just don't know enough, or haven't known it long enough, to be spoiled by what you know. Too much education can cause trouble." (p.78)

"(...) Whatever you choose to work on, be your own worst critic. And don't do it for the wrong reasons. Don't do it unless you really believe. Because if it doesn't work out, you could end up wasting a lot of time." (p.94)

And the following dialogue when the topic shifted to rainbows:

 ‘Do you know who first explained the true origin of the rainbow?’ I asked.

‘It was Descartes,’ he said.  After a moment he looked me in the eye.

‘And what do you think was the salient feature of the rainbow that inspired Descartes’ mathematical analysis?’ he asked.

‘Well, the rainbow is actually a section of a cone that appears as an arc of the colors of the spectrum when drops of water are illuminated by sunlight behind the observer.’

‘And?’

‘I suppose his inspiration was the realization that the problem could be analyzed by considering a single drop, and the geometry of the situation.’

‘You’re overlooking a key feature of the phenomenon,’ he said.

‘Okay, I give up. What would you say inspired his theory?’

‘I would say his inspiration was that he thought rainbows were beautiful.’

I especially loved the latter part of the book when, as Feynman was nearing his death due to his sickness, he would talk about his family, how he would regret not seeing his daughter grow up (though he did see her reach adulthood), how he shared that he loved his wife Arlene but that he didn't grew resentful even after her death and just accepted that there are things beyond our control (something I am trying hard to learn). I love reading about the humane side of big people, they inspire all the more when we can see their struggles. Another thing I loved about the man is how generous he had been, as he shared bits of wisdom to enlighten a lost man.
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To J whoever he/she is, thank you for giving me this book. I don't know what's on your mind when you picked it for me but whatever it is, thank you for thinking of me.

April

I'm writing about how I spent the 30 days of April just now because I became extra busy last month and doing so slipped my mind. These days, I've been absorbing and learning a lot of things I'm afraid I might be experiencing what they call information overload.

April Fools' Day was spent telling my teammates that I just submitted my resignation letter and that it was irrevocable. A week before, I took a leave and thought things through really hard since I told myself I should stay in one company for at least two years before I hit 30. I thought it would be with DWH, but I guess I had to move on since there was a greener pasture (I hope) waiting for me. I deliberated hard, because I believe I gained a lot of friends in the company and it would be a pain to leave them though on the bright side, I hoped that whatever bond we have had will stay the same even though I leave. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to travel with some of them.

Because I would be leaving Makati soon, I called up a friend who works in Buendia one day and asked him if he would like to have dinner with me. I'm always grateful to have him as a friend. He's one of the very few who can tell me things I NEED to hear. I remember back in highschool, he told me straight to my face that I was insulting and that I hurt his feelings, right after I said stupid things meant as a joke but which he took as an insult. At that time, I decided to keep him as a friend after I apologized profusely, since I discovered that he may well be the friend I need who has the courage to speak out his mind. I think losing him in 4th year highschool (he transferred to another school) contributed to my sorrows which in turn made me a different person in college.

Anyway, we did meet up, as expected of him. We dined at Corner Tree Café along Buendia. The resto serves vegetarian food and menu prices are quite steep but the food is lovely. I had koftas (meatballs in tomato sauce over couscous) which has a clean taste, pretty much like tofu. We talked about a lot of things, like how I was about to resign, his struggles in courting a girl, what we've been doing all these years... It was as if we just met the day before. Nothing changed except he's now more focused to work hard for his future, something I'm very happy to see. After dinner, we took a very long walk from Buendia to the LRT station. I didn't mind since I'm made for walking, and neither did he since he walks from his office to the LRT most days anyway.

Another thing I like about him is that he really cares for me. One time I sent him an SMS and he called me up, thinking I was upset about something and that maybe I needed someone to talk to. We ended up laughing about it because I was just in my emo moments then and I just felt like messaging him. We may not have many similarities but having him as a friend counts as one of life's wonderful blessings.

One highlight for this month is that I got to join a quiz bee contest again after so many years. Bonus includes learning more about responsible tourism and winning cool prizes. I am also thankful to be part of my sisters' movie date with their college friend whom I met during one of their friends' wedding last year. The last time I went out to watch a movie with my sisters was last year when I won free tickets to The Wolverine. A date with another highschool friend in the bowling alley also made my month since we hardly see each other these days, with both of us being extra busy in our respective lives. I love how she is able to use her creativity in her new business venture now when in previous years she seemed like a lost kid to me.

For mom's birthday, we had dinner at Ajisen Ramen which is near Banawe in QC. An aunt had been there and recommended it. Unfortunately I think my standards have levelled up a great deal so I wasn't impressed at all with the food there. I had a bowl of spicy tantanmen ramen and was disappointed when they couldn't give me that much needed extra sesame oil. My sister had good sense to order their cold noodles which, for me, was something I should have ordered since it is very summer-y.

One lonely Sunday, I went to church alone. For unknown reasons, overwhelming sadness enveloped me and before I knew it, tears uncontrollably ran down my cheeks and I wanted the flow to stop but all I could do was cry even more. Inside a jam-packed church I felt so alone and so friendless (though I know I shouldn't think that). And then I realized that maybe there are even more lonelier and friendless souls out there in this big big world made small by technology AND compartmentalized by the same technology that people no longer find joy in the company with other people save for pics to be uploaded to Facebook or Instagram... JUST TO BE SEEN by others. That moment I told myself to be strong enough to walk away from people who doesn't value me nor the "bond" that we share, and yet to still keep an open heart as one can never know when a true friend will enter one's life.

A few days before my last day, I also realized how happy I was to have become friends with a guy in the office. It's rare that I talk about unusual things to someone of the opposite sex but this guy is open-minded so I didn't have any reservations whenever we chat about anything under the sun. In that respect, he reminds me of a college friend with whom I often played table tennis. This male office friend is also one of the most generous ones I've got as he agrees to download movies for me. It helps that we have almost the same taste. I certainly missed chatting with him.

On my last day, I slept over at an office friend's condominium unit. She was new in the office and according to her, I was one of the first ones to talk to her. She was very quiet so I was surprised when she invited me over. I felt honored to be her guest. I cooked spaghetti for her and I was glad she liked it although we didn't have that much ingredients and I had to make do with what was available. After dinner, we chatted for a long time before we were able to sleep at around midnight. The following day, we bonded at the sauna. (Guess what? We just came back from Baguio earlier this week so watch out for my posts on our Baguio trip.)

One day in violin class, my teacher suddenly asked me if I have a boyfriend and I answered in the negative. (Inside my mind, I was shouting curses and feeling self-pity at the same time. LOL) And then he told me, as if making a prophecy, that I will certainly have a boyfriend before the year ends. I stared at him, me the usually gullible one, turned into an instant unbeliever. He probably sensed my disbelief so he added, "Just look at you, you're talented, and smart, and pretty! It's unbelievable that you still don't have a significant other!" I wanted to tell him I couldn't believe it either but oh well, I might end up broken again so I didn't say anything and just resumed playing the violin.

And then I met new people. Ultra cool people, some of which are younger than me, but really really cool and talented people. They brought back the sense of wonder I think I lost while being a corporate slave in Makati.

Before the month ended, I finally sold my Lenovo laptop. I had to due to storage problems. :'(

Batanes 05082014 Day 1

Ever since I decided to be a traveler way back late in 2012, Batanes has been in my bucketlist. Stories of how the place retained much of its traditional ways attract me, not to mention the many times I saw beautiful photos of Batanes in magazines and newspapers which elicited this deep desire to explore this paradise one day.

I really wasn't expecting to be there this year but one day I received an invite from a former travel buddy who was part of my Sagada adventure. She was someone I looked up to mainly because she travels out all on her own most times. I think I caught this so-called travel fever from her. Listening to her stories of beautiful secluded beaches inspired me to have the courage to go out and see the world for myself. One thing led to another. Before I knew it, friends were already labeling me as a traveler, much to my delight.

So despite not having recovered financially after my consecutive travels from January to early March, I said yes to the invitation. It was a good thing she agreed to book my ticket, too, otherwise I wouldn't have had the resources then to do so. Being poor is the biggest hindrance to traveling but I don't use it as an excuse. Instead, it motivates me to work hard [BUT play harder].

So anyway, since we were not able to fix our itinerary, we decided to go along with tour groups. It sucks but we simply didn't have that much time to talk about our traveling plans. Also, at that time, I was extra busy with volunteer work and everything else was put in the periphery.

Before we boarded the plane, we contacted one tour guide named Ryan. By the time we landed, I was already able to get a reply and shortly after we checked in at Marfel's Homestay, we found ourselves inside his van touring South Batan with four other persons.

Because Batanes is, as they say, a photographer's paradise, I think it's best to post more pics than write texts. Below are some of the places we've been to. It is an understatement to say that wherever in Batanes is photogenic.

Chawa Viewing Deck

Mahatao boat shelter port

Hohmoron Lagoon (where priests are said to bathe in colonial times)

House of Dakay (the oldest standing stone house in Batanes)

Mahatao Port (where one takes a boat ride to Sabtang Island)

Alapad Hills (its got awesome rock formations like the photo above)

San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel in Imnajbu

rolling hills (too bad the grass is not green when we visited)

sun-dried dorado fish 

Boulder beach in Valugan

Basco Cathedral

Batanes Day 2
Batanes Day 3
Batanes Day 4
Batanes Day 5