Tarak Ridge 01222017

My first hike this year happened in January, just when classes were starting. So before I get busy, I joined a group to hike in Tarak Ridge, the famed place where many get lost and where some ha to rescued because their supplies ran out while they tried to find their way back to the jump off point.

Never would I imagine that I would suffer almost the same fate were it not for my "detective" skills and rational thinking. At the onset, I was left behind by the group that I joined. So I hitched a ride with another group who were also headed to Tarak Ridge. I could have ditched the first group but then I worry about the organizer worrying about me although I was a fool to think that because he didn't even bother to count his members when they left the barangay hall. Stupid me is now left wondering what if I joined the group that took me to the jump-off point. They were a group of friends who like the outdoors... that means a solid group with common interests compared to a bunch of strangers clumped together by an organizer who couldn't even take care of his members.

But anyway, even without a friend, I was able to survive. I was with a group of newbies. I could tell by the things that they have, the "in" things of a "true mountaineer" except they are years away from becoming real mountaineers because 1. they are noisy in the mountains, 2. they do not care about the LNT principles, 3. they have no care about their fellow hikers, 4. they only hike for the selfies. Nothing wrong with number 4, but I observe that those I look up to do not take selfies. Instead, they take photos of the view. I, on the other hand, take photos of plants and whatever insects I encounter.

On the way to the top, I was first among the group, probably because the rest were already tired. On the way down, I took a wrong turn so I ended up in the middle. But then those in front of me were already far away. Those behind me were still not yet finished with selfies. So I found myself alone most of the time. And I almost got lost. Four freaking times. But good thing I was able to meet some hikers (not from our group) along the way so I at least wasn't so scared. But then nearing the river, a couple of times I almost took the wrong way. But good thinking saved me. Indicators of unused trails were clues. For instance, I noticed thick spider webs. Another is the sudden loss of footprints (thank God it rained a bit). Another is forced clearing of a path although the path is still not that obvious unless you look hard. When I finally was able to rejoin the group, one commented that "wow, you're really used to hiking alone, don't you feel scared?", he sounded like he couldn't believe that a nerd-looking gal like me could survive on my own. I told him with a smile, "of course I am afraid, this is Tarak Ridge after all. But then, you have here a strong, brave, independent, and smart woman."

And we got home very late, way behind the schedule because they all had to take a bath. I just wiped off dirt on my faces and arms with baby wipes since I prefer to take a long hot bath at home. So while they were bathing, I slept in the van.

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But then people will not like you when you're too smart and too courageous for a typical woman. Well, if they think I was already too masculine, wait until they get to meet the women I look up to! Anyway, what that boy told me made me reflect on how people are swallowed by the dictates of society when it comes to masculinity and femininity, as if certain traits should only be for males! Why can't boys love a woman who is brave and smart? One theory says that the male ego is insecure when faced with a strong woman. (And it doesn't help that I have become rather wary of boys.) I want to see the day I meet a real man.

Dohtonbori 12222016

H and I make it a point to meet at least once a year. She is four years my junior, a Math wizard and a sudoku grandmaster. We got to know each other and became friends way back when I was about to finish high school and she was just about to complete grade school. Both of us were exposed to competitions, she excelled in Math whereas I was the jill of all trades, master of none. But then because she is much more focused, she is able to create a niche in a field she loves so much. I, on the other hand, loves life in general, so much so that focusing on just one thing is out of the question. 

December of last year was when we last met, after my two travels and I just want to update her on my research. She has been helpful in introducing me to her friend and fellow Math coach based in Mindanao. Although the friend and I failed to meet, at least we were able to communicate and I was able to express my interest in their school for my research.

So anyway, she is up to whatever I like, probably because she doesn't go out much. She has been to many countries for competitions up until now and I am a bit jealous because she gets to travel a lot. But then those are the kind of travels that are highly structured because of course the contests are the primary reason, the field trips are just an added bonus. I still prefer to travel the way I like, on a shoestring budget, getting to interact with locals, and really discovering things on my own. So anyway, we both agreed to dine at Dohtonbori.

Super yummy pancakes but the price makes our wallets bleed. But then it's something that we both would like to visit again. For me, anything with seaweeds and bonito flakes are sure to be yummified!

H's order of meat okonomiyaki (I didn't get to take a photo of my squid mix)

a bit of oil then this, like you would cook a pancake

must be on low fire; it takes long to cook (the two are rice balls)

the awesome sweet  sauce

mayo and seaweeds

and top with lots of bonito flakes

Eating Alone is Never Lonely

Lately I have gone back to my old ways of spending time napping in the sleeping room in the workplace and then using the remaining 15 minutes for a quick lunch. I sleep early these days, 2 hours earlier than before when I used to go home from work. My rented place is just ten minutes from the office and so I am happily now able to eat dinner at an earlier time and to read my books.

And because people at the office prefer to eat first than nap, I usually have lunch alone. Yesterday was no different. A colleague saw me as I was in the middle of lunch and said, “It’s not fun to eat alone.” And inside my mind, I was like, huh??? In what way is eating alone not fun? I thought to myself, poor girl probably hasn’t traveled alone yet.

In many societies, eating is a communal activity. To some people including me, eating is a form of meditation, my me-time. This is not to say that I do not enjoy some company when eating, but what I am saying is that having company or not, I eat well and I take advantage of the situation regardless of what it is. Meaning, if I eat with people, I take the opportunity to get to know them better (and sometimes to try out their food. LOL) If I eat alone, I take the opportunity to know myself better, because it provides me with time for myself. Normally my work hours are consumed by meeting different kinds of people which makes me prone to energy depletion (although people find it incredible when I say I am an introvert because I get along well with anyone)

So anyway, back to eating alone. I remember an ex-officemate who is vocal about not wanting to eat alone. For her it just is plain lonely and uncomfortable and she doesn’t get to enjoy her food. I find it curious, then as now, because maybe I do not have any issue on eating either with company or not. For me, eating is eating. It’s your interaction with food that should weigh more because you only get to eat, what, three to four times a day. (Although I am also guilty of small snacks thanks to chocolates and chips office people give to me especially when they know I am meeting deadlines. And I am not ashamed to say that I feel loved when people give me food. What more, when people cook for me.)

Perhaps it has something to do with me doing solo travels. One of the things I always look forward to when traveling is having full liberty to stop somewhere when I find interesting eats. Another is dining at recommended restaurants (mostly seafood restaurants) where I get to observe how people eat what. That, eating and savoring the food without thinking of the time, is I think, a form of meditation that everyone should experience once in a while. It makes you think how food is produced, prepared, and served to you. It makes you feel more grateful for the abundance of the earth. At the same time, it makes you think about mans greed and lack of concern for the environment, how we foolishly opt to have cemented jungles instead of thriving, cultivable land that can address food shortage. Eating alone seems like a lonely activity, but you don’t really feel that lonely when you think about how everything is interconnected and interdependent.

Lettuce and Apple Salad

Last month, I put myself under an austerity program because of many things that are happening all at the same time. For one, I purchased a new laptop because my Fujitsu's monitor is broken and replacement is difficult because the monitor is not a common one. Second, I finally decided to be a migrant worker and rent a place near my workplace because traffic is getting worse and I couldn't seem to do the things I want to do like read books and just enjoy music; every night I arrive home I just want to sleep. Third, I want to save up again to travel.

So last month, it just so happened that my brother visited Baguio and brought home balls of lettuce. Cute. My mom still had lettuce left which we bought from Camp Benjamin. I just couldn't resist the urge so I took some to the office for dinner, together with two bottle of Kewpie: one roasted sesame, the other spicy cheese. Yummy!

Lettuce and cubed apples in Spicy Cheese dressing

Chinese Bowl

I will be reporting for work later in the day so I took the opportunity to explore the contents of my third external hard drive. It came into being when my laptop of almost five years needed to be replaced due to monitor problems. And it had to be at the time when the semester was about to end last May, as I was busy with papers and take-home exams. When the monitor was just showing black, I decided, this is it. Time for a new machine. I initially told A I would try to get the laptop fixed but he somehow convinced me to get a new one to save myself the trouble. (I incurred an INC last year because of it, too. How uncooperative!)

So anyway, today as I was browsing through pictures, I happened to find a screenshot of a scene from a movie, a continuation of the J-drama Hana Yori Dango.

What's so special about this screenshot? I myself thought, what the hell was I doing last June 5, 2014 and whatever made me capture this scene? And good thing that 2014 me was sensible enough to encircle in red what got me to take this screenshot: that Chinese bowl! We have the same Chinese bowl at home. 

Lots of changes. Things that used to matter, things that used to move me, things that used to be important, suddenly they do not seem to be much for me now.