As The Year 2011 Unfolds....

Nomadic Swim_butterfly's travel to the world

My latest travel to the Islands of Bermuda, this time with my mother


As the old phrase says "Time flies," my mind takes me back to the places I've been this 2011. To name the countries I visited this year, they are as follows:

Nepal - April 2011

Hong Kong - April 2011

Mongolia - June 2011

Israel - June 2011

France - June 2011

Brasil - November 2011

Bermuda - December 2011

Traveling is my passion and it is something that I envisioned to do when I was in high school. I thank the Lord for the He the fulfillment of my dream and prayers to see His creations in distant countries by the opportunity to travel. This is like living in my dreams. I remember one of my favorite songs back in the 80's entitled "Reality."

Click here to listen to the song "Reality"


Which is the best country? This is a question that people always ask me. My immediate response: "The last country I've been is the best." I take all the countries to be different from each other in terms of geography, people (of course), traditions, and culture (language, food, verbal and non-verbal gestures, clothing, and other ways of life).

I totally eliminate my ethnocentric tendency when I travel, which always makes me enjoy the country I visit. As a result, I feel no regret while in the country and when I'm back home in California. As a matter of fact, I start missing the country few days after I left. Missing her is a good sign of positive experience.

Learning by observations has provided me an understanding of the diversity of the places in this planet, though I have not seen all the countries (yet), which I'm not thinking that it is impossible, instead, I'm doing my best and taking time, as it is made available, to see as many countries I can. Aside from the countries above, other counties I've visited are:

Canada
China
Egypt
Cambodia
Netherlands
Vietnam
The Philippines (my heritage)
South Korea
Peru
Galapagos Islands
Bangladesh (for short time)
Ecuador
Palestine
Israel
Costa Rica
Japan
Panama
Colombia
Laos
USA (I've been to 35 states out of 50) where I currently live.

Each country has her own "twists and styles." It's like people who have different taste of clothing and different ways of doing things but have the same result. The "the same result" is what makes all people similar, I think, apart from other commonalities. There are many differences, indeed! I look at the differences as variability and forms of diversity, which makes life here on Earth "exciting" to live. I cannot imagine all people look exactly the same (hoping all good-looking, hahahaha) and all places on Earth to be all flat lands...Aren't that so dull and boring?

My travels move on...My next destination is in Jamaica this coming Spring Break in April 2012. In the summer 2012, I plan to visit India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Seeing the world is the best investment. It will never be stolen nor rotten but the memories will remain!

In Bermuda, 12.22.11

In Copacobana, Brasil 11.20.11

Inside the Crystal Cave with large stalactites in Bermuda 12.22.11

In Crystal Cave in Bermuda with my mother 12.22.11

In Bermuda 12.22.11

In Ipanema, Brasil 11.22.11

Happy New Year!

B-R-A-Z-I-L in a nut-shell

Click here to watch video


My trip to Brazil this Thanksgiving break (November 2011) is almost ending...This is the time I want more but I gotta go. I'm just waiting for my tour guide and I'm exploring tropical forest in t this big city of Rio de Janeiro. No doubt to have rainforest in Rio...just the fact that this is where the Amazon Rainforest strectches from Venezuela down to Ecuador.

In my few days of stay here, I could summarize my impressions as|

B - Brave

R - Relive

A - All life

Z - Zesty

I - Invigorating

Brazil is one of the countries I've been that I have an aspiration of returning!

Viva Brazil!

Obrigado!


Copacobana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Nov. 23, 2011

L - Lovely

Moments...

Click here to watch



Life is full of moments...

Moments of silence
Moments of loudness

Moments of success
Moments of failure

Moments of laughter
Moments of tears

Moments to forgive
Moments to be forgiven

Moments of being pathetic
Moments of being apathetic

Moments of being thankful
Moments of being prideful (This moment is dangerous!)

Moments of building up
Moments of tearing down

Moments of giving
Moments of receiving

Moments of being relaxed
Moments of being stressed

Moments of acting mature
Moments of acting like a child ... Bringing up the child-like moments in adulthood is healthy
and good.

Moments to speed up
Moments to slow down

Moments to start
Moments to end

Moments of solitude
Moments of socialization

Moments of having a "circle" brain
Moments of having a "square" brain

Moments to space out
Moments to focus

Moments to be indulged
Moments to be restrained

Moments to listen
Moments to be heard

These prove that human beings are more than physical creations because of the immenseful of "moments" showing the intricacies of the over-all make up of the human "being-ness" of each person.

It's not just a like a flip of a coin to truly know the true entity of a person. It does take a long time. In other words, first impression is not the only gauge to "appraise" someone we just know.

There are still many "moments" of life that I could not think of...but, of course, they happen expectedly or unexpectedly.

I'm in Houston International Airport waiting for the next flight heading to my Rio De Janeiro as my final destination where Imwill spend this Thanksgiving holiday. Thus is a moment of waiting...There has been so many "moments" that I've experienced in the last three weeks. They are overwhelming sometimes and I'm so grateful that they have been all bearable and able to adjust.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate...I believe that human beings ahould be thankful, one way or the other, since we all receive something from someone in our like.

A thankful person has a "happy heart" and has a "clear mind."

Adjustments....

Click here to see me

When did you encounter new systems that you need to make adjustments? You tried to fit all things like the pieces in a puzzle but one kept on popping up?

Ouch! Oh no! Oh my God...! Oh gush! Yikes! Naku! What! Oh no! .... Just some of the initial responses commonly said and heard....others become too vulgar and I will not get into that.

Change happens..and it is inevitable. There are many instances that we encounter changes that hamper what we want to do and not in congruent with what we used to do. On the other hand, there are changes that match what we want to happen and ....hurrah!

There are many changes in anyone's life...from the beginning all the way through... The song "Changes In My Life" is one my most favorite songs during high school days...and one of the piano pieces mastered to play.

"...These are all the many changes in my life..."

Click here to listen to "Changes In My Life"

Durbur Square, Kathmandu, Nepal

It's All About Timing

Click here to watch video


Life is all about timing...

...the beating of the heart, the continuous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, the growth and development from a fertilized egg to a very fragile infant and tothe aging and maturity processes until the last breath...


All things and events that happen in our life have their own place in time. Never expect too much to happen in a short day...ain't all gonna happen all at the same time. As the song says "One Day At A Time...", things happen in a timely manner. Look at the past and take a snap shot of an event that happened at a certain moment and internalize the moment-by-moment changes and progressions. This of this like a time-lapse photography of a growing seedling to a young plant. Amazing, isn't it?

There are many situations that we even never imagine in the past that happens in the present time, of course, we all want all for good...but, remember that harsh situations in life are inevitable and they will happen, no matter what.

Storms happen inlife. They happen for good reason. Storms make us strong and courageous if we take it as challenges, learning experience and as the ways to grow to maturity. Life is like a boat ride where ripples and turbulence will always be expected in a long journey. Being and strong and courageous in facing life's challenges will make all unfold in a positive way. I am a Christian, therefore, I believe what God said to Joshua.... "Be strong and courageous, do not be discouraged nor dismayed, for I, your God, is with you everywhere you go." - (Joshua 1:9 - Bible).

I do believe that no matter what you beliefs are, philosophy or religion in life...being strong and courageous are the common denominators among all people to overcome hurdles and in facing life's trials.

One song that I remember, specially in times when I need to wait for an answer or anything that I envision to happen is the song "In His Time." In this song, all things are made beautiful in a timely manner. Waiting patiently is an important value in life. There is time for everything and it's all about timing.


Mongolia - Country of Blue Sky (Summer trip to Israel and Mongolia 2011)

Life Moves On....

Click here to watch Sept. 11, 2011 This is one of the Sundays I arrived home as early as 6:30 pm after a full day outside. Day started at the church and I was there as early as 9:30 am to set up the LCD and computer for the presentation about my travels abroad. Pastor Richard had asked me to share to congregation since June before my trips to Mongolia and Israel. It was just now it happened. Sept. 12 It's Monday and all classes today went well. The students liked the density experiment using salt water, freshwater, golf ball and pingpong ball. Today's workout was exceptional...I'm getting used to the changes of equipment in the gym...They spent 2.5 million $ for equipment upgrade. The Buso is what I liked the most.....I'm home now watching "Eat Bulaga" while writing this blog. It is always good to be in relaxed mode after a full day at work, workout and swim. Ithis week is extra full...Tuesday lunch House N meeting at work, Back to School Night on Thursday...and thinking if I'm going with mom and dad in Chuckchansi this weekend. Sept. 13 Late swim today! I had a 40-min powernap before hitting the gym and pool...It pays off. The energy just spiked up. What makes powernap a better rejuvinatio. than regular night sleep? Many times we wake up from night sleep with some aches specially when we slept in wrong or odd position. It's a long week this week...staying an extra hour at work tomorrow for the start of after-school tutorial and stay as late as 8 pm om Thursday for the Back to School Night. There is always a look loooong week at work. It will pass, anyway! October 1, 2011 What happened to the last 9 months...It's October and autumnal leaves have started to brown and to fall. Time fallback is soon and it's always cool to fall it back for extra hour of sleep. This past three weeks have been over capacity both work, home, personal and family. Car needed to be towed two weeks ago and was taken to shop for three days and drove rental to move around. It's fix now by far. This car is still OK and I will not but a new one until it is unfixable. October 22, 2011 Finally got the time to update blogs...The last five weekends have been very occupied but for good reason. Unexpectedly, I made an offer to a house and it was and it was accepted. As of now I'm just waiting for the closure of the deal. I believe that this is God's will and it happened for a good reason...I'm excited in a way. I will still live in my present home and my parents will be living in the new home...my sister gets their home in Santa Cruz and I am happy for my sister to take over my parent's place! This week has bee so filled up with other work-related responsibilities--- quarter grades, professional development, curriculum meeting, house meetings, after school tutorials. All went well and the week went by so fast.....as expected. It's alway healthy to work as it is always good to mind and spirit to work and be productive. Work gives us opportunities to do our very best. On the other note....a former student way back 2006 saw and approached me when I was in 7-11 convenient store....how wonderful to see and hear from her that she has been moving on with her life and planning to go to college. The most power statement she said that now she realize why teachers and parents turn to be unhappy if students and children, respectively, are not doing what are expected. What a beautiful realization of life from a young person! Brazil ...here I come....November 21 and through Thanksgiving! In less a month after the trip to Brazil I will be in Islands of Bermuda before the Christmas day LIfe is good! Jamaica in Spring Break in April 2012 and India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia in the summer of 2012. October 23, 2011 What a wonderful day! Woke up early moron his morning and had the time to prepare myself well for the church. I am so glad that I am back t my regular Sunday agenda in going to church. It was in the last 5 Sundays that I have to go to LB and do a house hunting and not it's finally settled. I am hoping to close the ex row by the end of this week. It's all God's will. On the other note....went to gym and pool after the service at the church and I had an exquisite swim drills and practice. I I swam backstrokes 85% of the time and the other 15% was mixed. This water bottle drills for backstrokes has been paying off. I love the lil' gliding and torso rotations I accomplished. Now I am loving backstrokes....used to be one of the least favorites....doing my very best. Looking forward to this brand new week!

The Best Gift!

Click here to watch


Click here to watch








The Best Gift!
By: Swim_butterfly
(9.5.11)



An old saying I heard when I was young.

As young as in primary and teenage times.

My parents and teachers taught it to me.

But I disregarded it and became so care-free.

I liked boxes of gifts instead of this saying,

that I gave no time to bother contemplating.



Now that I am almost reaching the middle age.

I come to realize more than ever that health is really a wealth!

Disregard all material things, achievement, fame and popularity.

Health is something that makes me appreciate all in me.



A healthy body makes mind thinks clearly.

A healthy body makes confidence so easy.

A healthy body makes life stress-free.

A healthy body is beautiful to see.



Each year of my life is a gift from heaven.

A gift that God predestined to happen.

He has a plan for each year,

so keeping it healthy makes His plan happens gracefully.



A healthy body is a golden treasure,

that will last forever as long as I live.

Having a healthy body is being wealthy...

and very wealthy as it can be!

It is something that is more than a million dollar worth of things.

Even more than popularity, position, fame and material things.



No matter how much money one has.

No matter how vast the property one has.

No matter how famous one is.

All will be crashed and burnt when body is sickly.


Do not ignore our good health.

It is the best gift ever that we have received.

It is always the best to plan ahead -

to stay fit, stay active, eat right, live right and think right.

Keep in mind to live strong and healthy.

In effect, you will live joyfully and peacefully.



Everyone will reach the final days,

indeed, we will leave all behind.

While alive, enrich and enjoy our life to the fullest

in a healthy, positive, caring and sharing ways.

When the final days occur,

which no doubt, it will really happen.

I would like it to exist peacefully,

and, of course, NOT painfully...

and WITH a remarkable legacy!

Let us treasure our health because...

HEALTH is WEALTH!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad