Travel hacks from Tin

My former manager, Tin, and I had lunch today to celebrate my 3rd work anniversary (akalain mo tumagal ako ng three years!). As we both just got back from our respective travels, we exchanged pasalubongs, and I got new travel inspo and hacks from the super traveler herself.

1. Emirates. First. Class. and never go back! The personal chauffeur makes it all worth it. 
2. No vacation time is wasted if you travel by cruise. The ship is a destination in and of itself.
3. Travel must-haves -- Portable Vaccuum Sealer and Portable Steam Iron
4. Buying foreign currencies is a travel investment. Buy low, spend high!
5. No one regretted meeting up with work colleagues from other countries, so reach out and go for it!
6. Choose a partner who loves to travel, but only one of you can be the travel planner.
7. Traveling to celebrate occasions (e.g., birthday, wedding anniversary, etc.) is more powerful than traveling at random. I learned that they are called milestone or celebratory trips.

I am so glad that I found a kindred traveling spirit in Tin. We may travel differently, but we share the fascination with exploring new places and appreciation for this privilege.

Truth in shrinking

I think companies have the duty to disclose if they are doing "shrinkflation." Its application to some products is more concerning than others. Surely, a bag of Doritos with five chips less will not be that alarming or important. But there are products and goods that affect the consumer's budget or the result of a process or the customary practices. Like if the usual cooking instructions will change the quality of the processed food (e.g., the volume of water for a brick of instant noodles). Like if the package of the ingredient is the usual measurement of a recipe (e.g., a stick of butter, a can of milk). Like if the product is the standard for a ration or usage (e.g., a tube of toothpaste should last for a month). 

In a time when brand loyalty and consumer reviews influence consumption, I think companies should assess if shrinkflation is the appropriate business strategy.

Boiling point

When will the frog realize that the water is hot enough for it to take the leap? Its threshold for pain by then has already adjusted. It has already acclimatized to the current conditions. The initial conditions are already forgotten, unrecognizable to the frog, and no longer the benchmark for what is ideal or tolerable. Is the frog now without recourse?

There would have been obvious warning signs. If the heat has caused the frog's skin to go numb, surely the sight of blisters, redness, and swelling on its skin would be hard to ignore. The water may be clean and calm, but the steam and mirage could not be that inviting. Although the frog, an amphibian, requires access to water to survive, it will undergo metamorphosis as it ages. By nature, it cannot stay in the water forever. It will have to surface to find food, mate, and sufficient air (oxygen). 

This post is not about the frog in hot water.

The third side in a dispute

Never say "no" if there can be an alternative. Conditional responses. Counter offers. Affirmative defenses. Even a dealbreaker or a hard pass can be up for discussion. Nothing is set in stone. 

Your answer can be time-bound. Maybe it's a "no" for today. Your answer can be clarified. Maybe it's a "no" until you understand the consequences. Your answer can be qualified. Maybe it's a "no" if there will be other parties involved. Your answer can be challenged. Maybe it's a "no" until you find a middle ground.

If parties are only allowed to say "no," then they either walk away with nothing or stay, hold the line, and reach an impasse. In any case, no one wins.

Why are you so into Pinot?

"I don't know. I don't know. It's a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It's uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it's neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact, it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked-away corners of the world. And -- and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh, its flavors, they're just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and ancient on the planet."

-- Miles Raymond, Sideways

Single in the city

During my recent travels to Batanes and Camiguin, island municipalities that are still predominantly rural, I noticed that life in those places is simple and nothing much is happening. Locals would ask the perennial question of why I am traveling alone. Then they would proceed with asking about my marital or romantic relationship status. I find these questions quite intrusive and rude, but I understand that my situation is unusual to them, and they probably are just intrigued. People there still marry at a young age. They do not leave their family homes. They still believe in childhood sweethearts, shotgun weddings, and ever-afters. They think that I am living a sad life.

I am not sure if I want a life that is that simple. In my space, marriage is just an option and no longer a definite life goal. The metropolis offers more activities to do, more people to meet, and more plans to realize. I can transform and have transformed myself several ways in this lifetime. I am sure that someone who knew me from my childhood will not recognize the person I have become. I am also sure that my previous crushes and love interests can no longer swoon me over. Life, whether single or married, is not sad when you do not feel that you are stuck in a rut. 

Chasing sunsets

Sunsets are underrated. In a tropical country like the Philippines, sunset is not guaranteed. After a long sunny day, the clouds are heavy by day's end and are ready to release a drizzle or a deluge. People are already too exhausted by then to notice the changing hues of the sky and are likely rushing to get what little fun is left for the day. Sunsets cast shadows on the pavements, mark the start of the illicit and taboo lifestyle, and beckon crunch time/overtime for the busy or unproductive. 

People think that sunrise is harder to catch -- you have to wake up early, wait for the sun to emerge from the horizon, and endure the piercing rays of the early morning sun. They say that sunrise sets the tone for the day -- Is it a good day to go for a run? Will I get a whiff of the pan de sal from the nearby bakery? Will Manong Taho pass by today? Sunrise is the usual backdrop for hope, redemption, growth, and good coffee. Sunrise is the crowd favorite, while sunset is the underdog. 

As a night owl, I live for sunsets. Sunset is a day well spent, a job well done, a reunion of friends and/or families, a homecoming, a chance for a last-minute workout, and a time to let go. Sunset is beautiful because it does not demand anything from us. It patiently waits for your attention. It only takes whatever is left of your energy. It allows you to be yourself. It does not judge your priorities or perspective. 

Life in the slow lane

When there is little stuff to do, life slows down. Time seems to stretch, and you suddenly have time for everything you need to do. You get enough sleep. You have time to stop and ask for directions. You have the time to cook your food. You can smile and make friends. And if you are in an extremely good mood, you start to dance to your favorite summer tunes.

When the only choices are to walk and to hop on a habal-habal, the only question is how far the destination is. When the only choices are to eat and to sleep, you do both. When the only choices are to be alone and to talk to a stranger, a smile can be a conversation starter and at the same time a way to not be thought of as a snob. Nothing is complicated. Every choice makes sense. Suddenly, there is enough space in your head to think about things that will make your life better.

Aspiration or expiration

Mottainai is a Japanese term for the sense of regret they feel when something valuable is wasted.

I do not like collecting things for the sake of collecting. A pile of untouched or unused stuff reminds me that I have been impulsive. It tells me that I failed to prioritize either their utility or my time. It reflects a scarcity mentality or behavior. 

Like a saved video or podcast episode that never gets played. Like a bookmarked article with a clickbait title that gets buried in the list of favorites. Like the books on my headboard with bookmarks and dog-ears halfway through the pages. All of them waiting for my attention, existing in such a wasteful state, and never fulfilling their purpose.

But things are inanimate. They are not at fault. They will never feel that sense of regret. They do not choose their value to a person. So it is all up to me. What is my intention for acquiring this thing? Will I delay, ignore, or forget? Do I want to be enriched by it or do I want to merely possess it? 

Fun fact: Tsundoku is the Japanese word for the stacks of books purchased that remain unread. What a beautiful language!

The thief of joy

When we compare ourselves to other people, we deny ourselves of happiness. Since we will always find someone whose life is more appealing than ours, we will inevitably feel envy or self-pity and forget to be grateful for what we have. Some blame social media for magnifying this experience, but the truth is people's lives have always been on display and people have always been interested to know about other people's lives. Because the reality is people want to fit in, to belong, and to be accepted. This is a great source of happiness, but sadly, the fleeting kind.

The challenge is for us to know that we are enough, that what we have is sufficient, and that our lives are to be lived differently.

"Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." - Epicurus

Hubris gets you

It gets even the richest and (arguably) the most intelligent of us. The Twitter takeover is nothing but Elon's ego. Sure, he thrives in the tech space, but spare me the freedom of speech battle cry. When did he ever care about protecting civil liberties anyway? 

Clearly, I am not an Elon pumper. While I do respect his ambitions and innovations, I think a lot of his achievements have to do with social privilege and being at the right place at the right time. He is not a god or an alien from the future. He is not a hero. He is not infallible (no one is), but he is not humble either. And the latter is the root of this whole Twitter shitshow. 

He thought he can do a better job than those who have been trying their very darn best for eight years to keep the platform afloat. He thought that censorship is arbitrary and biased. He thought that freedom of speech is absolute or at the very least, easy to regulate. He thought that identity verification is only a status and should be made a commodity (rather than a policy and security feature). He thought that individual subscriptions can replace corporate advertisers. His actions reflect these thoughts. He is wasting everyone's time and playing with people's emotions. 

I think I will stay out of Twitter until Elon's arrogance and fit of madness dies down.

Ponzi bros

I am not really a crypto fan. I am more of a crypto lurker or crypto skeptic. I am fascinated with the concept of blockchain technology, but since I could not fully grasp its value and effect on the things that I do, I try to stay clear of investments and "assets" that are related to such technology. Sometimes I feel that I am missing out on the excitement and potential income of cryptos and NFTs, but diving headfirst into something that I do not fully understand is not really my thing.

When SBF and/or FTX (at this point, for me they are one and the same) started buying out failed cryptos like Voyager and Blockfi, I already smelled a stinky bulad. Everyone seemed to be sold on the messianic or humanitarian reason for such buyouts (read: to help crypto firms and their investors). I knew there was a catch. Other than perhaps increasing FTX's client base, the buyouts were not supported by any logical or financially sound explanation. The failed cryptos have depleted client assets or reserves and have tarnished, unredeemable reputations. Why is SBF going after these crumbs? Turns out, he is feeding a flywheel, a glamorized digital Ponzi. What a sick joke!

I am blogging this crazy day in crypto history to remind myself to stick to what I know and to always remain curious.

Hello, Rona!

I knew this day would come. It's just a matter of time and level of viral load. 

I did not recognize it right away because the symptoms appeared one by one. I got drenched in downpour brought by typhoon Paeng and thought the colds is just the result of naulanan or the change in temperature. Then the sporadic bouts of cough came without warning. I thought the shortness of breath was only a sign that I was out of shape for the daily hiking. By the time I reached home, the colds worsened to a condition of nasal congestion. It was then I decided to take an antigen test. A faint second line sealed my fate. I am officially one of the cases.

I am still recuperating. I did not expect a protracted period of recovery. I hope the countryside views and fresh air will do me some good. 

Blank Book 811

When life seems hopeless,
When unhappiness fills your days,

When days become routinary,

When stress has become part of your life,

When friends have slipped away.

When family cannot be bothered,

When love is out of reach,

When sorrow has become a companion,

When failures become inevitable,

When worries pile up,

Batanes happens and you realize everything will be alright.