Journal Entry: Du-Bye for Now

As I looked outside the plane window, seeing the tiny pixie city lights I can’t help but reflect how 9 and a half years just flew so fast ( it made a month of farewells and preparations looked like just a blink of an eye).

[caption id="attachment_4015" align="alignnone" width="800"] Farewell gifts received from friends[/caption]

Dubai is HOME, I have no doubt about it. A third of my existence in this world, circled around this magnificent city. It gave me an opportunity to grow career wise, growth in my spiritual relationship and even as a human being (yheap I am talking about maturity here).

Leaving the city was a hard decision, one of the hardest I must say, but I know that eventually it will come, and now I think is the right time for me to bid farewell to my city, #MyDubai (at least for now).

[caption id="attachment_4023" align="alignnone" width="800"] Dubai Marina[/caption]

I am thankful for everything this city has done for who am I now (see my blog about the opportunities in Dubai). Being my 2^nd home, I will surely miss a lot of things now that I am miles away from this beautiful city.

My last few weeks became so emotional as I was torn between leaving my friends and the life I have known, for a dream that I have been praying for. Weighing life options, opportunities and passion were juggling in my head (almost 24/7).

[caption id="attachment_4020" align="alignnone" width="800"] Dubai Fountain[/caption]

I remember the first time I left the Philippines to work as a young architect in Dubai, I had only 5 USD in my wallet. Amazed on how I survived back then and seeing how God’s grace and favor worked, one can only be grateful of all the opportunities that has come my way. It was not easy but everything that happened carried me to where I am now.

As time passed, I can say that it is also the right time to move on (I still have some doubts though-- but sometimes you need to take some risks).

[caption id="attachment_4017" align="alignnone" width="800"] Sydney Opera House. My 4th city stop.[/caption]

As I am finishing this post which I started typing this last 17^th of January on my flight to Brisbane and now finishing this draft here in Reykjavik (yes Iceland), I have made tons of drafts all with a different focus on what I want to share but eventually decided to just make it short (and sweet), a journal entry of what I am feeling right now. It was a very busy past months and I am loving it. So far I’ve been to 10 cities and 8 flights for the past 3 months.

Where I am heading? To be honest I don’t know yet. I am just taking life as it is now ---- LIFE!

Before ending this post, I would love to share a quote from the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I just read in Facebook that I thought fitting (and sort of an encouragement) to those dreamers out there.

[caption id="attachment_4016" align="alignnone" width="800"] Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia[/caption]

For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.

- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

 



 

Happy Birthday to the very first  The Traveling Journal Project keeper, Ingvild from Norway! ..more amazing adventures ahead!

Travel on!!!! 

#TheTravelingJournalProject: Gratulerer med dagen Ingvild!

The Traveling Journal Project: Gratulerer med dagen Ingvild!

We received this photo from the current Traveling Journal Project keeper a few weeks ago. 

It was amazing to know that from South America, #The Traveling Journal Project is now in  Africa.

Here’s a note from the keeper:

"Your journal is now in Africa, and we have had some great days relaxing on the beach in Zanzibar in Tanzania. Next stop is Serengeti Nationalpark. #TheTravelingJournalProject”

And as I continue reading their adventure in Zanzibar, I started taking notes on what I can do when I finally decided to visit this place.

Here’s a quick note from their blog, along with other photographs of their trip.

…..When we got to the north side of the island, we checked into a beautiful hotel with wonderful sea views. Beforehand we had bought costumes for tonight’s masquerade party was to dress up each other in various themes. Ingvild was the lucky winner of the 80’s, and others had the theme "lady in red”. Dress party going on an African sailboat and we sailed away on the ocean wave!….

…Early the next morning we were ready to explore the exciting world lurking beneath the water between Zanzibar’s colorful coral reefs. We found the front fins and diving masks, and were ready for a day of snorkeling.”

Such a wonderful serene adventure. Can’t wait for the next update.

To check out the full blog of the current keepers click on this link: www.yolotrip.wordpress.com

If you are thinking of going on an adventure to Tanzania, The Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East along with Wild Guanabana are arranging a tailored trip this coming February 2014. Check out this post in their FB page: Fancy holidaying with Lonely Planet Traveller and WILD GUANABANA - Life Changing Journeys?

#TheTravelingJournalProject: Zanzibar, Tanzania East Africa

The Traveling Journal Project: Zanzibar, Tanzania East Africa

#TheTravelingJournalProject: Inside The Pages!

How are you passing the information to the next keeper? Will they not just throw it or keep it for themselves? People often asked me these questions (and more) whenever I tell them about this project.

These are indeed very valid questions, and believe me, I asked myself these over and over again, how to pass the information around and make the (new) keeper/s embrace the project to help our journal with its mission (to travel the world).

Aside from this blog, our FB page and instagram account, I did jazz up the first few pages with welcome messages and instructions. Equipped with a tracking map (no..it’s not a GPS), and my very first journal entry as the first keeper.

Also, the keeper has a big role in passing the information, and I think our current keeper is doing a great job in doing so! I am getting excited to get new updates on where it is now.

#TheTravelingJournalProject: New Keepers and The Amazon

"Hey Kenneth! Here you got the traveling journal in Amazon in Ecuador! This is a waterfall nearby the lodges we lived at with the Quichua family that hosted us in the jungle. #TravelingJournalProject”

This is the caption that we got from Ingvild, the current keeper of #TheTravelingJournalProject.

The moment I saw this post in our FB page, my heart jumped with excitement and I can’t believe that our little journal had traveled 3 continents already.

An introduction from their blog goes like this;

"Vi reiste fra Los Angeles natt til 31. august, og et døgn senere ankom vi Ecuador. På veien mellomlandet vi i Guatemala, Costa Rica og Colombia.(We traveled from Los Angeles the night of 31 August and a day later we arrived in Ecuador. On the road between we landed in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia.)”

As part of their Amazon adventure, they lived along with the locals and learned their way of living. This is what I like most when I travel, to be part of the community, know their culture and embrace their environment. Things might be very different from their way of life but will soon (if not right away) discover that you can find treasures in everything (all we need is a little appreciation).

As i read through their blog (click this link) , it is in Norwegian so there is a need for the handy dandy google translate, I immediately added this part of the world in my bucket list and faith goals. 

For the next few days, #TheTravelingJournalProject will be in South America enjoying the very colorful Latin culture!

Follow Ingvild and Andre’s journey in www.yolotrip.wordpress.com

Photos courtesy of www.yolotrip.wordpress.com

#TheTravelingJournalProject: GAME ON!

Most of you have known that Surat Journals recently launched a project called #TheTravelingJournalProject. It is where one journal is on a mission to travel the world (with the help enthusiastic travelers from all over the world).

Click this link for to read more about this project: #TheTravelingJournalProject

As the owner of Surat Journals I had the privilege to be the first keeper of The Traveling Journal. Being a self confessed travel junkie, I instantly thought of getting a photo of the journal in one of the most celebrated structures here in the UAE.

I already had a photo of the Burj Khalifa (see this link), so I decided to take a photo along the Burj Al Arab.

When the tallest tower in the world was not yet constructed, this 7 star hotel reigns supreme throughout the UAE (and in my opinion still is). With the inviting beach background, this is the perfect place to kick start our little journey.

After scribbling a bit of my thoughts on the journal to share to the rest of the future keepers, it is time for me to move on and pass it (believe it or not, it was a bit hard to give it to someone — I have a bit of an attachment issues).

I wrapped the journal and pass it to the next keeper —— all the way to the sunny CALIFORNIA! I sent it to The Hollywood Youth Hostel in Los Angeles hoping that it will arrive on time when the next keeper will check in.

After a few days of waiting (and hoping that it will not get lost), I received this photo in our Surat Journal FB page with this caption:

"Your Traveling Journal Project is ON!!!"

And so it is!

We have received more updates on where the journal has been traveling for the past weeks and all we can say is WOW! We will be giving more updates in this blog and also in our facebook page, instagram and twitter page.

Do you want to be the next keeper of #TheTravelingJournalProject? Send us a comment below and tell us why!

The Traveling Journal Project: one journal on a mission to see the world!

As a globetrotter, and being the journal aficionado that I am, my travel journal has been my one constant companion to every destination. In it are my experiences, memories and other fascinating tales.

And I am happy to have found many a kindred spirit, as photos of Surat Journals have surfaced from all over the world – Paris, Rome, Barcelona, The Grand Canyon and even the ancient Machu Pichu.

These are but a fraction of the sights that these journals have seen with their authors yet have been reason enough to spark an idea and give birth to The Traveling Journal Project

The Traveling Journal Project

One journal on a mission to see the world, passing on the wonders of adventure from one explorer to the next.

Join the odyssey

“To unpathed waters, undreamed shores.” William Shakespeare

A little blank book has been sent halfway across the globe, waiting to see where the itchy feet of traveling folks will take them, discover the languages of worlds unknown and share the journey of as many free souls would have it; it will be known as The Traveling Journal.

TO THE ONE WHO HOLDS IT:

• Say hello to your new travel buddy as you set off to your destination of choice.

• Make fun memories. Write. Scribble. Draw. The pages are yours to use.

• Capture the moment. Photos are always welcome at www.facebook.com/suratjournal and please allow us to witness every journey by using #TheTravelingJournalProject and #SuratJournals on Instagram and Twitter.

• Pass it on. When it’s time, entrust it in the hands of a fellow traveler who will take it further on its journey.

  TO THE ONE WHO WAITS:

• Only the current keeper of The Traveling Journal knows where it will end up in. If you haven’t come across it yet, be patient and be alert, it may come your way at any time.

   TO THE ONE WHO KNOWS: 

• Share its whereabouts. We would love to see photos of The Traveling Journal from every corner of the planet. So if you happen to come upon it by any chance, please take a photo with its keeper and share it with us.

It’s time to unleash your wanderlust. Help our little blank book travel the world. And let us all travel with it one page at a time. This is the The Traveling Journal Project

 PS: If you have your own travel journal, please join us by using #MyTravelingJournalProject and #SuratJournals hashtags

Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter and on instagram

 

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How about this for a ‘nano’ #suratjournals? #diary #journal #nano #small

Another bazaar to prepare! YEY! ARTE TSC

For almost a week now i’ve been working very late to finish the collection that i will display and hopefully sell for this coming ARTE SOUK (Feb 8 2013) in Time Square Center Dubai. It will be my first time to participate in TSC and my 2nd in ARTE. As of the moment i am almost done with all the Little Blank Books (A6) and the Blank Books (A5). Tomorrow i will just have to do a number of Mini Blank Books  (A7), clean all of them with wipeout. and print some business cards and wrappers.

I am excited for this one! i am very happy that i was able to do a lot with the time that i was given. YEY! 

Hope to see everyone there! (will blog about it also)

Bazaaaars!

Excited that my Surat Journals will be part of 2 bazaars this December!!!! Will surely blog about these 2 events.