Two hundred days. That’s past the halfway mark of our round-the-world vagabonding. Our country counter flashes the number three. Four and a half months in Australia, a month in U.S.A., and almost a month in Mexico where we are currently in. This exhibits the slowest of our slow travels, yet with such period, we barely scratched the surface of each country (I mean, c’mon, these three countries are ginormous!).
Chronicles shall come your way soon. Pinky swear.
Mapping It Out
Our initial, ideal plan was to visit at least one or two countries on each continent except Antarctica (Cause yah know, we ain’t got the dough for that. Yet. Ahem, optimism please.). And we agreed to select the specific countries as the trip progressed.
It was during our first week in Mexico that we decided to stash Europe on the shelf. For one, I began tailoring our world trail with that pesky thing called visa in mind. Visa free countries became our priority. So instead of spending our first week in Mexico touring the Romanian Embassy, I scheduled a handful of sightseeing day trips around the ciudad instead. Another reason why we’re skipping this continent is, well, it will simply blow our budget.
So where do we go from here? In a couple of days we’re flying out of Mexico and into South America, then hopefully we set foot in Africa around February or March which shall be my sixth continent. The hubby’s too, and our daughter Luna’s fifth. We’ll be back in Asia in May, but won’t be around the Southeast Asia region until late July.
Notes On Nomadism
The world is our classroom. Our firsthand experiences are our teachers. Sometimes the strangers we meet, sometimes that local guide randomly assigned to us by a tour operator. And unlike in schools and universities, we won’t have a graduation. No one will hand us a diploma at the end of this global schooling because it’s a course that won’t ever end. Heck, there’s no grading system whatsoever to begin with! Cause it ain’t like you land on the honor roll for topping the “been there done that” thing.
Okay, I was trying to come up with our trip stats for our 200 RTW Days reportage when these thoughts rolled in my head. I ditched the tallying because it dawned on me that, yah know, they’re merely numbers. At this stage, all that matters to us are the awesome experiences and the lessons that we’ve learned during our 200 days of nomadism.
And we shall keep learning. Because it is, as darn cliche as it may sound, is a continuous process. Our family vagabonding made my husband and I know each other through and through. Equally important, we’ve discovered and are still discovering more about our own selves than ever before. Our trip also lets us literally watch our daughter grow right before our eyes, because there’s no relative or nanny around to take her every now and then. So yeah, we know her from top to toe as well. Anyhoo, these stuff are like, all about us… Wait ’til I start talking about what we’ve learned regarding other cultures! But of course, that’s saved for another post. Several posts, actually.
Every waking day, our long term goals in life become clearer. If you’re part of our err, cult following, you’re probably aware of how we despise setting long term goals because we live in the now. I reckon it’s about time to plan. But hey, don’t expect a purchased house when this whole shindig is over. It ain’t anything like that. Not even close.
what an inspiring post 🙂 So nice to see the places that you guys have been to! Luna is lucky to have the best classroom ever! Stay safe 🙂
The biggest and the best, Kate 🙂
I love the experience and the manner one gets to be homeless but on the road. As pointed out Gaye, I agree that the world is our huge classroom.
love smile for you and Luna. Love it!
Wow Luna’s 5th continent! Cool. Will be waiting for your chronicles to be published 🙂
This is very inspiring. I hope I can travel more this 2012 and reach different places where I can learn more about various cultures, people, and also about myself.. 🙂
Doc Wends, this trip just taught us so much! And like I said, we’re still learning. We’re so blessed with this opportunity.
Elal, haha! Pressure 🙂 Yup, really excited to write more.
Sumi, yey! And we’ll read about your inspiring adventures too.
you are an inspiration. i am a fan 🙂
At the end of it all, it’s not the stat that matters, but how you lived your life. And you guys are making the most out of it!
Thanks Jim for reading about our adventures!
It’s so true Nina. Numbers don’t mean a thing if it’s just the numbers you care about 🙂
Gay you are super! Don’t know anyone who could do the family vagabonding as well as you do! Enjoy more in your forthcoming adventures.
Bilib na bilib talaga ako sa inyo ni hubby lalo na sa’yo! I can feel na being a nomadic wife and mom is such a tough job. Pag-alaga pa lang kay cutie Luna, challenge na (although looking at her makes all the efforts worth it hihi) and she’s so lucky to have you guys as parents. Kahit tentatively hindi muna tutuloy ang Europe trip, I know na gogora din yan maybe next year at kung sakaling andun na rin ako, you can couchsurf on our place 🙂 keep on learning and at the same time, inspiring us. Gora lang ng gora, teh! 😀
Ate Mhe-Anne and Mica, it’s the toughest job I’ve done in my life! It’s not exactly fun all the time, and there were occasions that I actually cried because of exhaustion. But looking at Luna’s smiles on her photos is so rewarding!
House na lang in Antartica? Hehehe! Hope you also have plans on exploring the country’s 7 thousand ++ islands in the future too. =D
Of course we got plans! 🙂 Coz it’s more fun in the Philippines! I’m more or less, halfway there. 38 more to go. Hihi.
200 days and with a baby in tow, you guys are really topnotch and we could only follow your adventures with much admiration! And oh yeah, envy! LOL.
Truly inspiring. Cheers to wanderlust babe! Safe travels to the Emami family! <3
More 200 days RTW please! Through this blog, I can see how a little child grows and become accustomed with a nomadic form of lifestyle.
Such an inspiration, you’re family-type is RARE!
Thanks Karla. More adventures to you and unggoy 🙂
Edmar, yep. Hope more families take the plunge!
san bansa kaya masusundan si luna? hehe
*kung pwede lang magpareserve na ng magiging magulang sa next life ko haha…
Haha! I’d love to have hobo/bohemian parents too in my next life, Ayan.
Luna is truly blessed to have such priceless experiences at an early age! And I know you’re doing a great job as parents. 🙂 Thank you for being an inspiration. Looking forward to more of your adventures 🙂
It was a nice and inspiring read Gay! Looking forward to your next posts. Kelan ko kaya magagawa yung slow pace of travel? hehe.
Thank you, thank you for following our adventures Geleen!
Izah, maybe in da pyuchur with papa J!
you are a well traveled lady.If only budget permits whO doesn’t want to be like you and yuor family,sarap naman.I’d like to see more of your travle adventure.Have a safe trip always.
You, dear Gay, are amazing and inspiring! I have been thinking all along that I do not have the courage to get out of my own shell and do amazing things, but right here your post mocks me (LoL!)… ang ganda ng pagkasulat mo! I grew up in Africa so I’ll be watching out for your post on that! I love that you are teaching Luna in the biggest and grandest classroom ever!
your lifestyle is simply amazing! being a first class nomads, i want!! he-he!
May, wow you gre up in Africa? Now that’s an interesting story! I do hope we get to drop by a country or two in that continent sometime this trip. If not, it would have to wait. But we’ll get there 🙂 Whenever it will be.
Wow 200 days!! I love traveling too. Thanks for the inspiration!
as I was reading, all I could think of was the amount of ref magnets I could accumulate from that travel haha … good on you!
Haha! I still keep buying them. My backpack is sooo heavy now!
Traveling with your kid that often.. great bonding..
wow….I want to be there….May I? hehehehehe Sama me, ok u?
I wished that we can travel also like you and your family, but we just can’t (financial trouble)
i’d like to be a member of the cult hahahaha
I salute you but I can’t afford what you’re doing now. hihi
You’re traveler, a nomadic with font of knowledge to imbibe! Traveling for you is educational. One thing I praise you is everything seems to automatic for you to go anywhere else because of your juicy financial standing.
This is my childhood dream. Country-hopping! Unlike you, though, I wanted to stay just for 3 weeks max in each country, with the whole family. I know it’s expensive but dreaming is free! Who knows, the opportunity might just come when we least expect it. 🙂
Whew! That’s quite tough especially if you have a little kid with you. But I’m pretty sure it’s one hell of a ride. Too exciting and I envy you. Haha.
wahow! what else could i say?
if i just have the financial thing, i would be like you.
but you know what i admire most is your being strong for having the courage to travel much with a child.
keep going!
I’m feeling jealous right now. Sana ako din makatravel ng ganito!
i don’t have the courage to do the same huh:) parang nakapag around the world n rin aq coz i am stalker of dis great blog:)
Thanks for sharing! I love your post 🙂
I hope to travel like you someday too. But it seems to be financially impossible.
Sir Gil, our financial standing is not as juicy as a lot of people think. Long term travel is a path we chose instead of buying a house and a car. We work remotely as well, so we actually don’t do sightseeing everyday. Some days we’re stuck on our laptops to work.
Momm Cecile, yes dreaming is for free! And I had a lot of dreams (still have more) when I was younger and a trip to different countries is one of them. I never knew it will happend someday. So it could happen to you too 🙂
hope you’re having fun there in mexico. try hopping to other key cities like guadalajara and tijuana as well.
Thanks Ivan! No more time for Tijuana and Guadalajara 🙁
this is really quite an adventure. you’ve been to a lot of beautiful places, that a good consolation for the long travels. Yahweh bless.
That was great post. I do like reading your blog girl. I always learn something from you and you’re very inspiring. Austrilia is one of the places I wanted to visit. -Jenny O’Toole
i liked your first photo Gay, and your story… this is not the first time that i visited your blog, if you would remember i sent you a comment regarding your FB profile on PEBA 2011 last year? I was the one who designed it. 🙂
Oh yeah! Awesome Kiko!
great read! plus nice pics, ang cute ni luna talaga ambilis anlake na nya.
wow! i wish i can travel around the world in this lifetime. traveling is a passion i discovered later in life, when I do not have enough means to support it + i do not have all the free time to do it {read: childminding a toddler}.
i am looking forward to your new + exciting travel tales ^_^
Life is about accepting that you can’t really control everything, but at the same time you’d need to aim for a certain goal despite uncertainty.
Understanding both is important, it can’t be one or the other.
cute! travels and discoveries really are some of the biggest life’s contributors… wish i can travel often too… this is inspiring
Cheers to long term travel and random experiences. Hope to bump into each other and meet for the first time. 🙂
Lil! We’ll see each other in the next country, yes?
Got to tip my hat for you Gay – it’s very rare that I know of a family doing an RTW trip together, a toddler in tow at that! Hope y’all stay healthy down the road!
Thanks Dennis! Erm, we’ve been sick numerous times already. Haha! But thankfully, nothing too serious has happened yet, and hopefully ever!
this is awesome!!! i will plan the same trip some day **prays hard hard hard**
Hahaha! Believe, believe, believe 🙂 Best of luck fellow nomad.
hi! you are awesome! i’ve been reading your incredible experiences the whole night and it’s lyk i’m reading a best-seller novel! nakakabitter na nakakainspire ka sobra! mabuhay ka! :)) keep safe and may God bless you, your hubby and your pretty Luna always.
^^Aww, thanks for reading about our adventures. Really appreciate it.