Wow Krakow! My First Europe Trip!

Eros Bendato. The Greek God of Love and Desire. The legend says, this hollow head represents the head of a man in love.

Let me start my blog in saying "Wow Krakow, you are beautiful!". My birthday this year was just way too much fun! I'm in my happiest and realest, everything is pure joy and happiness! Admiring the beauty of travel and celebrating the gift of life! This is my first Europe trip and I remember looking at this in my history books in high school, and I would have never in a million years imagined that I would be able to see it in real life.

Starting traveling earlier 2017 last year but this time I promised myself that I will be disconnecting myself from my phone, emails and social media... and connecting to the spirit of the land! When I go back to our hotel that's the time I'm sharing some of my photos.

Going through the streets of Krakow, Poland without an accessible phone, wifi nor data. Simply a little map and a soul. One of the most valuable lessons learned from this journey is to listen in your inner guide and navigate through your intuition. 

This photo shows the Krakow Cloth Hall which is located in the Main Market Square in Old Town and is one of the city's most recognizable features.

We arrived in Krakow at 2am, the hotel wouldn't let us check in until 10am so they transfer us to one of their branches... so we decided to be a jet lagged tourists! We walked the rainy streets of Krakow and made it to the Main Market Square. It was gloomy, cloudy, rainy and we are happy.

Krakow is a beauty. I am staying right by this clock tower and the city square is bustling with activity.

We have a quick stop on different churches, aside from the feeling blessed, churches in Krakow are beautiful! I've taken like 1500 pics for the first day but they're all on my camera so here's some of it for the meantime.

The St. Francis of Assisi Church was built in the middle of 13th century by the Franciscans.

One happy kid who finally get in here!

We took a City Sightseeing bus to go around the city. Feeling completely in my element is surreal. I know someday I will be back.

This place is by far my favorite place that I've been to. Love how unique it is, and the scenery is just breathtaking.

The Royal Wawel Cathedral is one of the most important churches in Poland. It was the place of Royal Coronations.

Shout out to the beautiful nature!

We have to learn how to be grateful everyday to be contented and be happy.

Here's a glimpse video from my trip. My Poland Trip

Overall, I enjoyed my short trip, just me being in the moment (Sana ganun forever). We're all bound for something great, just believe and it will happen.

Thanks Poland for showing me your beauty! See you soon!

My Dubai Trip is Not Just A Trip

"Miracle Garden Dubailand."

I’ve been thinking long and hard on how I would go about writing my Dubai travel experience posts. It took me a couple of days as you can see since I have posted some of it in my FB timeline. We dropped by a lot of places. It might be easy for me to tell you which one is my favorite. I’ll just try my best to create a sort of flow during my trip.

Just to give you a little bit of idea, this is my first trip for this year 2018 and my first blog too this year. The truth is Dubai has never been anywhere in my bucket list and I don't even know what will I expect. It’s great that I came back to Kuwait telling myself  that this is one of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited so far. Dubai during the cold season was certainly perfect!

The inspiration of good friends who encouraged me to go and see the world pushes me for a trip that somehow can give me a different way of learning life. Their travel tips are always remembered and kept in mind. One of the best way going out for a trip is meeting friends and spend time with them, go and wander! When you do that, you'll be breathing, living and winning good vibes.

So there you have it, during my first day in Dubai we visited such a unique display and extravagant outdoor recreational destination and its the Miracle Garden which is one of a kind in the region. It's a flower garden that will amazed you with the most beautiful and biggest natural garden in the world and I'm so lucky as this place is still open until the end of May 2018. The garden is closed during summer time.

Every famous city has that ironic structure to remember. The Burj Khalifa is Dubai's deserving landmark and your Dubai trip is not complete without having a glimpse on this tallest structure. Burj Khalifa holds the countless "tallest" records. In short and in Filipino (for more empasis), Ikaw na Burj Khalifa. Ikaw na talaga! uwian na may nanalo naaa! Of course, I made this my first official tourist spot to visit. I made my FB live posts, you can check this out:
https://www.facebook.com/raymund.recamadas/videos/10204782397637311/

Isn't this place simply astonishing?

This is also another way of opportunity meeting my co-resident Ktizens from UAE. And Global Village Dubailand has been a good stop for us! It claims to be the world's largest tourism, leisure, shopping and entertainment project. For now, I will just let our photos speak for itself.

Travel is more than seeing of sights. It is pausing for a little goodness with other Resident Ktizens.

I also got a chance to visit ABS-CBN TFC Office in Dubai and had a short meet ups with our Kapamilya Team. Overwhelmed by their welcome and short bonding. A glass of beer and a dinner at Club 7 was offered to me as they knew these are not available in Kuwait hehe! I know now how simple things like this can mean to a person... Salamat po!

With Kapamilya Marvin and Jeff at ABS CBN ME Office.

One of the best things about travel is that you never know quite what to expect. With the TFC ME Team. Lovveett!

Thank you to this lovely and awesome people.

Overall, I think this short trip is not just a trip, this is also my basic realization wherein I have learned to be more independent and responsible. Travelling shows that you don't need much to be happy. Life is not about presents, expensive shoes or smart gadgets. It is about exploring new things, meeting old good friends and amazing people and seeing places you don't usually go to. The less things you have, the better so stop collecting material stuff and collect the moment!

At Dubai Mall. This kid has no plan at all where to go.

I am so blessed and thankful that I am surrounded with good people who helps me out making great things possible. My Dubai trip is not just a trip, it gives me a chance to live among other expats staying there. Even when I come back in Kuwait from such holidays, I make sure I stay in touch with the friendship I made. I feel this adds to the experience of travelling and brings all of us closer - to us, the world is a place without borders :)

One selfie to this Guinness record holder as the Biggest Flower Arrangement in the world.

Enjoying the pleasures of today.

Nice one Brad!

I feel fortunate standing here.

Shukran Dubai! See you again soon!

JUST LOVE... You will find something nice today!

"...everything will be beautiful, if we will Just Love!"

This time of year, we take the time to find gratitude in our hearts and take some time to reflect.

“What are you grateful for?”

Taking the time to find gratitude can change how we reflect love back onto the world we live in. And the world does in fact need more love. Yes, the world needs more supply of Love and we have to start it from ourselves.

Sharing out my Just Love postcards to Filipinos dining in the restaurant.

Meet Ate Elvie, OFW for 5 years. 

"Thanks Ate Camille for helping me during my shoot"

"FilAb Kabarkadaz"

Lucky to have fuelled up  all this amazingness, and sharing good vibes with these awesome people! Sending out Love to everyone!

You wouldn’t believe how good it feels to have randomly spread the kindness to people, not expecting in return.. Simply Just Love!

No matter how much or big your problem are... When you Just Love, it will keep surprising you with beauty!

Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!

To a Good Friend I've Ever Had

When you miss your friends, just look up to the sky... Although you can't see them but be happy because you are just in the same sky.

Hello there,

I think that you are placed into peoples lives for a reason. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky and what I have done to deserve a friend like you. People have come and gone out of my life, but for some reason you never left. Your friendship is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

I could write a book about the positive affect you have had on my life. Your heart is of the purest that I have ever known and everyone you meet feels your spirit the second they meet you. Your energy and smile radiates whenever you walk through a door. The love and compassion that you show for others is special. I am so grateful to be affected and influenced by you. I hope that one day I can be half of the person that you are.

You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You listened to me when I didn’t have a voice and you hear me when I was broken. But most importantly, you never gave up on me. That is special.

You know me to my core. You know what makes me smile and what ticks me off. You can tell in an instant when I am upset and then continue to do everything in your power to make me feel better. If I am going through something, you are the first person to text me to make sure I am okay. When my confidence lags, you reassure me of myself. You understand my odd sense of humor, my love for sarcasm, and laugh at my terrible jokes and side comments. I have never had a bad moment with you.

You fill my life with an immense amount of happiness and love. I know that wherever life takes us, you will be part of my life. If we don’t talk for some time, we pick up right where we left off. Whenever I need you, I know you will always be there.

You are the epitome of a beautiful human being. I hope that every person in this world has someone like you in their lives.

What is the Real Happiness in Life?

You will never truly Happy if you continuously hold onto the things that make you sad. 

What is the Real Happiness in Life?

Is it when everything is going your way? Is it when you have achieved success and been applauded for all your accomplishments? Is it when you have the perfect body? The perfect love? Is it when you have all the material things you always wished for? Is it when you finally have the approval of your family and friends?

Have you ever thought about that?

It is not easy for us humans, it is a constant work in progress, but it is a CHOICE! We can choose - just for today to be happy no matter what is going on around us. The harm in being miserable, is far greater than choosing to be happy and spreading joy when you don't really feel like it! It takes as much energy to frown as it does to smile... (So of course we want to smile, right?) 

‘What is the Real Happiness in Life?’ is a question that has intrigued humanity for long. People have climbed the highest peaks, dived into the deepest oceans, sat in meditation in caves for months, isolated themselves in deep contemplation on mountaintops, yet they have not found the secret to this billion dollar question.

We live in a world where there are those who are never satisfied, never seem happy, who thinks things are never quite right, or there's "never enough". You will never appreciate the simple beauty that life has to offer if we are living in the fear of being unhappy.

No one, including our parents, our friends, has ever taught us to be happy. It is in everyone's heart and it takes a lot of prayers. Take some time daily to go deep within so you may connect with the happiness from within you. 

Nothing outside of you can give you joy. Nothing others do can make you truly happy. It is making a commitment of being satisfied of what you have, and making a CHOICE to be happy that will ultimately give us the joy in living each day with a happy heart.

Sending my love and happiness to everyone,

Raymund :)

Bakit Mahirap Sabihin Ang "I Love You"

"I Love You" ang tatlong maiksing salita na para sa akin ay napakaimportante. Pero Bakit parang Mahirap sabihin ito sa iba? Minsan pa nga di mo masabi eh! They are the words that carry so much meaning and can be extremely hard to say to anyone.

Honestly, hindi nga ako masyado vocal sa parents ko na magsabi ng I love you, siguro it took me a long time para masabi ko sa kanila yun verbally. It's not that I didn't love my parents but I just didn't have the courage to say it.

Simula noon, I've said I love you sa mga malalapit kong kaibigan, family members at mga malalapit sa puso ko. But I still struggle in saying those words.

"I Love You" feels like a Promise.

Di bale kung sino man ang sasabihan mo ng salitang ito, makakaramdam ka ng isang Pangako. Pangako na committed ka sa tao with some reasons. Pangako na kaya mo silang suportahan at parang nagbibigay sa inyo ng kaligayahan sa isa't isa. Pero sabi nga nila diba, Promises are often broken? Ito rin siguro ang magpapaalala sa atin na ang salitang I love you rin ay nagdudulot rin ng sakit sa puso.


May mga  Pagkakataon na hindi ka makakarinig ng "I Love You Too" na sagot.

Napakasakit naman talagang magsabi ng I love you sa iba pero makikita mong tahimik lang at blanko ang mga mukha nila. Siguro para maiwasan ang ilangan kaya hindi natin ito nasasabi. Pero ang hindi alam ng karamihan kung bakit hindi tayo nakakarinig ng I Love You Too na sagot, hindi dahil sa hindi nila ito nararamdaman kundi hindi pa sila handa para sabihin ito.

Tinatanong natin ang sarili natin "Masyado Bang Maaga?"

Maraming dala ang salitang ito at ayaw rin naman natin magmadali. Oo, nararamdaman natin na mahal natin sila pero ayaw rin naman natin silang lumayo. Kaya minsan naghihintay nalang tayo na maunang sabihin ito ng tao sa atin o di kaya maghintay ng lakas ng loob sa sarili.

Ang salitang "I Love You" ay panandalian lamang.

Although umaasa tayo na ang salitang ito ay maging permanente, pero napakadalang mangyari. Ang daming humahadlang sa salitang forever: Kamatayan, break-ups, divorce, broken friendship at iba pa. Ang kakulangan ng siguridad na kaakibat ng salitang ito ay isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nahihirapan tayong masabi ito.

Kailan mo ng tamang panahon para masabi mo ito.

Walang duda naman talaga na kailangan mo ng tamang panahon para masabi mo ang salitang "I Love You". Kailangang ng tamang panahon para makilala mo ng lubusan ang isang tao na magdadala sayu para masabi mo sa kanya ang mga salitang ito sa mas simple at sa mas maayos na paraan.

Ang pagsasabi ng "I Love You" ay kailangan sabihin wisely. Meron itong kakahayahan na makakapagpabago sa iyo, nakakapagpangiti sa tao at nakakapagdulot ng saya sa pakiramdam. Huwag kang matakot sabihin ito ng buong puso!

Muli, I love you all! Hugs!

Finding Love in Georgia

I made it here! Hello Georgia! Me: Lost and confused, still.

Life of an expat in Kuwait can be stressful. We spends the whole day working our tail off and goes home after. I am one of the person maybe who wish to spend some time from another place or maybe experience something that will relax me. Most of us wanted to set aside our desk jobs for awhile and enjoy a little me-time for ourselves.

This year 2017, I am so lucky enough to have my 15 days vacation leave from my work. Together with my other close friends - Kuya Al, Kenneth and Kong Garret (Kong is another term of Kuya in Kapampangan). Having wanted to unwind, we thought of breathing some fresh air from a never-seen environment. We had Turkey as our first choice to visit, but since we have some issues of appointments on visa processing we ended up voyaging to Georgia on the last minute. Though we have different flight schedules we still meet each other to our final destination.

From Left to Right: Kuya Al, Kong Garret, Bako (Tour Guide / Barkada), Me and Kenneth

The moment I set my foot down to the country, the first thing I did was to have a local sim card with internet so I can easily contact the person we need to meet. Our tour guide (His name is Bako) pick us up at the airport and drop us to our apartment. Oh how my skin missed the cold! Believe it or not. I felt like all burden and stress in me disappear gradually. I am certain Kenneth who has been my companion that moment felt the same way.

More of this, please!

Finding Love in Georgia! A place for rest and relaxation.

Next morning, it was the start of our tour. We are going to Gudauri! Oh dear! Who would not want to eye the spectacular tourist place attraction in Georgia? We were greeted with white mountains around the place and oh the snowfall baby! Honestly, it was my first snow experience... I am the happiest kid that time! And along our way we have visited too some historical monasteries. Since we were not able to repress our excitement, we insisted our tour guide (who is also our driver) to stop every time we find a nice place for photo op! hehehe

Stop Over during the Road Trip going to Gudauri for a Photo Op!

Visited this monastery along our way.

Hey Bako! Don't Jump!

What a VIEW-tiful place!

After the long ride. At last we are here in Gudauri now! Oh baby I can't resist the excitement seeing this place!

Kuya Al and Kenneth tried the Ice Skiing, i refused to try since I know the real struggle in skiing. And instead, we tried the cable car with Kong Garret and it was really amazing! 

Might be easy to see on photos but the struggles are real!

They are getting ready for some Ice Skiing Experience.

The view up here is magnificent! I was very comfortable. With me is Kong Garret.

Obviously, I was really the happiest person at this moment. But wait! There's more!!! Before we ended up our Gudauri Tour, we won't allow ourselves going back to our apartment without trying the Paragliding! Oh my God... for me, it was a death-defying activity, it was really really fun! I won't hesitate to do it again and again. Daring Kong Garret to do so too, a birthday dare maybe? It was his Birthday Treat (THREAT maybe to him!) 

Here's a blast of our paragliding experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxznwA351tk&t=135s

So there you have it! So many places to go in Georgia, so many complete experience. Yes, that was still our first day... you heard it right! And we still have a week more to go and explore!  What makes Georgia truly special? beside its gorgeous landscapes, its tasty food (though I was really looking for a rice all the time), its fascinating history, and its never ending peculiarities, are its people! The Georgian people are among, if not, are the most friendly and welcoming people during our stay.

Bako introduced us to his lovely and beautiful girlfriend, Ani. We had so much fun being with them. From here to there and there to here, we are everywhere! We also have the pleasure of visiting the house of Ani, we feel that we are their honored guest, their friend or even like their relatives. We were welcomed by a genuine smile and served with a hot cup of coffee. I am hard pressed to think of a people that have made me feel more welcome in their country. 

At Ani's Home. We were served with a hot coffee ;)

Hey Look!  Let's take a Groufie!

They find Love in Georgia!

Copious amount of Beers!

We got one week to spend and we would leave the place with full of admiration with the people and place around us. 

I find love in Georgia. Because this place inspires my life. No matter what negatives come on my way, I am always reminded to focus on and take pride in simple positive beautiful things. I draw that inspiration from Georgia and the beautiful people that live there. I will always be grateful to that.

Well one of the reasons to visit here is the moments! Moments that you can bring for a lifetime, being with people who have inspired you to small positive things in life, take pride from them, and share them with the world around me. No matter what negatives come my way.

That is my inspiration. That is something I love, want to learn from, and want to be part of. 

Gmadlobt' Georgia! T'k'ven kidev ert'khel!!! (Thank you Georgia! See you again!)