I was at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) last week. While waiting for my flight back to Singapore, I saw this:

“FREE WIFI. Some of the best things do come free. For a minimum purchase of P300.”

“The alpine tundra is a land of contrast and incredible intensity, where the sky is the size of forever and the flowers the size of a millisecond.” – Ann Zwinger, Land Above the Trees

Enjoyed a drive to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado last August. We parked at the Alpine Visitor Center –  some 11,796 feet above sea level. Two miles from the center was the highest point (12, 183 feet) on Trail Ridge Road. The distance wasn’t bad, so I began to climb the trail. But soon enough, altitude sickness (usually occurs above 8,000 feet) got me. Started panting for air. My mouth was partly open as I pulled my steps; my throat and lips were dry. I began to hesitate. But then I saw these people on the road and they kept me going.

This lady on crutches made it to the top and she’s on her way back to the center. And yes, she’s smiling!

If your feet can’t move you anymore, use your knees and hands! Haha. Crawl, baby. Crawl!

“The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.”  ~Author Unknown

Well, I finally made it! Yes, I stood and smiled, and took a photo of myself at 12,183 feet above sea level. Yay!

Took a drive from Longmont to Boulder (Colorado) with friends last month. Enjoyed our dinner together, fun conversation about travel, places, and culture; and a walk on a street that was so beautifully alive, colorful, and festive. Dance. Music. Shops. Restobars. People dancing, singing on the street.

On a starry, starry night, we drove back to our hotel in Longmont almost midnight. Tired, but thrilled and thankful to have a taste of Boulder. Would love to visit this place again!

Did a little bit of research, and I found this:

“Boulder has gathered many top rankings in recent years for health, well-being, quality of life, education and art. The partial list below shows some of the nominations.

• Ten Best Cities for the Next Decade – 4th – Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine
• Top 25 Destinations in the US – #19 – TripAdvisor.com
• Top 100 Places to Live – #9 -RelocateAmerica.com
• Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index – #1 – USA Today
• Healthiest Town in the US – #2 -Men’s Health
• Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid – #1 – Backpacker Magazine
• Top 25 Arts Destinations for a small city – #8 – AmericanStyle magazine
• America’s Top 25 Towns to Live Well – #1 – Forbes.com
• Top Ten Best Midsize Metropolitan Areas – #2 – Bizjounrals.com
• Most Bicycle Friendly Cities in the World – #4 – Virgin Vacations website
• Most Educated City in America – #1 – Forbes magazine
• Top 10 Healthiest Cities to Live and Retire – #6 – AARP magazine
• Best Green Places to Live in America – #5 – Country Home magazine
• Top 10 Farmer’s Market – #6 – Eating Well magazine
• Top Triathlon Town – #1 – Inside Triathlon magazine
• Top 10 Cities for Artists – #8 – Business Week
• Lesser-Known LGBT Family-Friendly Cities – #1 – Wearegoodkin.com
• America’s Foodiest Town – #1 – Bon Appetit magazine”

Ah, no wonder!

A guy once asked me, “Why do you think girls love horses?” I’m one of those. I had no answer except that I am simply fascinated by its beauty. I imagine myself riding my own horse and together we shall run wild and free! I haven’t given up that dream yet.

Last month in Colorado, I had the chance to visit a horse farm. I couldn’t hide my excitement. To smell the barn, run my fingers on the horse’s mane and body…ah, wonderful! I sensed I’m getting closer to fulfilling my horse dream.

“My horse’s feet are as swift as rolling thunder. He carries me away from all my fears. And when the world threatens to fall asunder, his mane is there to wipe away my tears.” ~ Bonnie Lewis

“The storytelling gift is innate: one has it or one doesn’t. But style is at least partly a learned thing: one refines it by looking and listening and reading and practice – by work.” - Donna Tartt

We made it! Angel and I attended the Facilitator in Training workshop conducted by the Center for Digital Storytelling at Stonebridge Farm (Lyons, Colorado), 9-14 August 2010. We met and enjoyed fellow digital storytellers from various states and one from Canada. Sara, Bev, Charlene, Kate, Melissa, and Nina – we will remember you for a long time! Daniel Weinshenker, Stefani Sese, and Kayann Short – thank you for the wonderful time! You have been a great help in our learning process.

Took a train from Portland to Seattle. Met a nice fellow train traveller. My name reminded him of a song, he said. So here it goes. Thank you, Jonathan, for the song, and so far, for the friends and places that left a big smile on my heart. Forever grateful! Cheers!

From the Live Music Capital of the World – Austin! Early this month, I had the chance to walk around downtown Austin on my own. I went to 6th Street, probably its most famous street that has over a hundred venues that stage live music every night. Went to a couple of them! )))))))))))

On my way to Seattle from Portland, I had a good chat with a fellow train traveler. Talked about work, life, culture, history, etc. After some silence, he pulled a paper from his bag and showed me a poem given to him by a friend – ‘Letting Go Takes Love’. I took notice of the words ‘letting go’. How interesting! When I began this journey, I’ve written on my journal on Day 1: “…But I guess most, if not all, journeys begin by letting go, by saying goodbye to something, or someone…” And I did. A stranger reminded me that today. He had no clue how much it meant to me.

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another.
To let go is not to enable, but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more and to let go and to let God, is to find peace!
Remember: The time to love is short.
- author unknown

My friend Miriam took me to Multnomah Falls today – the tallest waterfall in Oregon.;-) It was a cool day, but with sunshine. I heard an old lady explored in joy, “Oh, sun! Sun! I am so glad to have the sun shining today!”

I walked all the way up to the bridge. It was getting colder and colder. I haven’t had my exercise for a while now, and I began to pant. But I saw a man before me, on crutches, effortlessly took the .2-mile (about 1,000ft) trail up the bridge. Haha! The sight of him gave me strength.

Oh, by the way, I am not a Twilight fan, so I didn’t know that these waterfalls were featured in the 2008 movie Twilight No wonder I saw Twilight photos, posters, etc. at the souvenir shop there.

Also enjoyed the ride along Columbia River Gorge. Fascinating to be standing in Oregon, while watching Washington just right on the other side of the river.

No surprises for this trip, or so I thought!

I went to see a long time friend Miriam and her family in Portland. I had no idea of the big surprise that awaited me.;-)

Jack and Miriam drove me around downtown of Portland and took me to a house later. They said they would like to introduce me to a friend. The one who opened the door for us was no other than the person I also wanted to see one day soon  - Tawanda! )) Haha! I was just thinking of emailing her and just let her know where I was at the moment. I had no clue I was scheduled to have dinner with her and her family at a Mexican restaurant last night. Aaahhhhh! Haha.