It was the (American) summer of 2004 and my family and I had gone to Bangkok, Thailand for our annual family vacation. I was 17 at that time and though I had traveled heaps before (thanks Papa and Mama for all the amazing summer vacations!), there was something about this trip that made it oh-so-special and extremely different from the rest. It was on this trip that my mind was opened up to the thought of endless travel…

So what was it? Was it the temples you ask? The beyond delicious Thai food? The elephant rides, which by the way, I don’t support anymore because I’m 100% against animal cruelty. Or the insanely cheap Thai massages? Well, it’s actually none of the above. It wasn’t anything I had seen or tasted. It was simply a talk my dad gave me while we were sitting in McDonalds (I was craving chicken nuggets, so sue me) located on Khao San Road that had me thinking that the world is my oyster. Our talk went a little something like this.

Papa: “Look at those two over there” (he was talking about the backpackers sitting next to us.)

Reby: “What about them?”

Papa: “Someday you and your sister will travel the world like that too. Alone.”

Reby: Smiles. No response. Continues eating chicken nuggets.

Little had my dad known that he had planted the seed (of travel) into my head through that conversation of ours, and years later, that seed has blossomed and grown until its occupied my mind like a big banyon tree, and all I can think about is to explore and travel… to anywhere and everywhere my heart and feet desires.

I don’t know if you remember this, Pa, but I just wanted to let you know that you’re my inspiration behind all this and it’s because of you that I am now embarking on this journey that I KNOW will change me for the better… as a person, as your daughter and as a citizen not just of the Philippines, but of the world.

And as for you Ma, thank you for always supporting me in what I do. We don’t always see eye to eye but you’ve just always been there, every step of the way, and that just means the world to me.

And though I may not be be traveling heaps, I am still going on a great big adventure… packing  up and moving my entire life to Bali!

I hope you all can join me as I experience new things and write about the next chapter of my life.

T-minus 44 days.

Peace Love and Lipgloss,

morenabeachbum