A Cashless Society


After finishing all my errands, I'm back on my table working on my laptop sleeve project. But hey, the point of this post is to share with you guys my insights about a cashless society. 

Many countries have already been making active efforts to remove cash circulation. I know this sounds too early especially here in the PH but times are changing and it's definitely on its way.

Also, it's much more evident now with the current pandemic, it's preferable and better to avoid cash transactions as much as possible to minimize possible contact. Cash can be passed around more frequently than our cc or dc, making it potentially more likely to carry the virus. Imagine this: it's the dirtiest thing to touch on a regular basis. 

Faster and more convenient service. Gcash, Paymaya, and other forms of digital payment are now widely accepted in many establishments and utility companies. I can't stress this enough. I hate waiting and long lines and useless faded receipts that are often forgotten and overlooked.

Easier financial management. You can view all your past transactions so you can easily track where your money goes and how it was spent. That way, we can also use our behavioral insights to manage our spending habits. There's a book I read about the psychology of money and it mentions something about - we are more likely to spend on things we don't necessarily need if we know that we have cash on hand. This is true in most cases.

And who likes to carry a bulky wallet and juggling coins in their pocket anyway? Maybe you're still on the fence because of security concerns but honestly, you are more likely to get robbed than hacked lol 

Of course, we can't give up carrying cash altogether just yet. And like all other things in life, there are few drawbacks which must be considered as well. But at least let's enjoy the convenience of a cashless system and what it can bring to the table. 

P.S. This Minimalism Card Wallet does the job, but with style 😎

Quaranthoughts on daily life: What is your current wallet situation?


A few months ago, I watched an episode of Unpacking Minimalism which talks about The Wallet. It's one of the things that we normally carry with us when we go out, run an errand, etc. I also think it's one of the things we take for granted. Something we always have and with us almost every single day and yet, when we lose it, it's kind of like a big deal. I have been carrying a minimalist wallet for years now. I was never really fond of women's wallet or big wallets for some reason. I remember a time in my yesteryears wherein it was an "it" fashion amongst girls so I had one but after 3 days I dumped it. I had gone from one wallet to another but always end up using a coin purse, and usually with a funny design. Until I found the perfect wallet which was actually a gift from my former Korean roommate. It lasted for years and then I decided to upgrade to what is now my current wallet. Although it's actually smaller than what I had, it fits everything I need. With today's technology, you can do almost everything online and using your phone. There are tons of apps and if protected properly, we may have to ditch our wallet in the future. 

So I'm unpacking my wallet and sharing with you a tiny part of my life. In my wallet right now - 
Driver's License, Debit Card, Credit Card, some bills, and band-aids.

I have a rule of 5 cards max and bills of less than 1k ($20). I pay mostly online and carry bills for places that don't accept cash. My transportation cards are with my passport holder since I only use it when I'm in those countries. 

I don't really believe much in loyalty or reward cards and I usually just take a picture of it which is securely protected on my phone. It works anyway and sometimes they just need to see it or take note of the card number. 

I see a future where everything will be connected and we may not even need physical stuff to pay or get identified. Where I come from, we are a developing country and there are still many places that only accept cash. But even if that time comes, I'd still keep and stick to my small wallet. Maybe by then, it'll be even less but it will always be a reminder to me that we were once surrounded by stuff we thought we couldn't survive without. 


Keep Smiling :)

The Longest Plane Ride

My last days in Vietnam did not go well as I imagined. A burst of emotions, a disastrous last night in Saigon, and a weird version of myself the morning after. I’m not gonna go into detail about what happened but it sure was the ugliest page in my Vietnam journey.
Anyways, I have officially left Vietnam, and by that I mean this is not another visa run. As I’m writing this, I am 38,000 feet above sea level, on what seems to be the longest plane ride, from Taiwan, a pit stop before coming back home.
 
After years of traveling, moving, and living in different places, working many jobs, coming back home might be one of the hardest things I will do. They said there’s nothing like home and I totally agree but part of me feels home no longer has the same meaning as before. It’s like reverse culture shock which Nelson Mandela describes as “there’s nothing like returning to a place that is the same to find out how much we have changed”. 
Of course, I’m excited to see family and friends, catch up with them, visit my favorite places, eat my favorite food, face my old daily routine. I wonder, would it be the same? After a couple of weeks, a few distractions here and there, I will start to ask myself again, “what’s next?” Maybe I do have the eternal traveling syndrome they call, the longing for the road and adventure and living abroad. 
I don’t know exactly where I’m going next and like always it’s something I have to figure out when I go home. But one step at a time, we’re landing soon so step one: “fasten your seat belts and switch off any electronic devices.”

musing from 01/08/2020

The Unspoken Realities Abroad

It’s that time of the year again. A plus one to my age a life re-evaluation on its way. I’m constantly reminding myself that the older I get, the more I understand that it’s okay to live a life others don’t understand. ⁣⁣
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With all the lockdown and social distancing going on around the world, it’s a special time for most of us. As for me, it gave me time to reflect on where I’ve been in the past and where I am today. ⁣⁣
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Few things: I’m not rich, I don’t have a million savings in my bank account. I’m self-sufficient, debt-free, and pretty fine myself. I have shelter, food to eat, and healthy. Let alone surrounded by family and friends that truly care about me. I have been constantly moving, cultivating my passion, dreams. Living the moment, as they say. People ask me how I managed to do it so I’m here to tell you. But you see, there’s always the good, bad, and the ugly.⁣⁣
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In my 25+ years of existence and 3 years of being away, I think I’ve been on both ends of the human life spectrum. There was a time when I had almost everything: a good job, a condo, a car. And also, times of suffering and life next to nothing. ⁣⁣
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I slept on floors, hammock, cleaned rooms, volunteered in exchange for food and accommodation. I bartered food for music. Shared a meal. ⁣⁣
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I took advantage of whatever could be free. Hitch-hiked, couchsurfed, walked miles, talked to strangers, stayed at a local’s house, ate their food, and embraced their traditions. ⁣⁣
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I had multiple jobs. I went from being a barista to tour leader, English teacher, outdoor facilitator, kayak guide, receptionist. I did not have a stable career for a while. Often times I would say, I am a Barista, as I was and loved the most. I was lucky that some visa runs I had to do were sponsored by the company and I took it as an opportunity to travel to a new country. ⁣⁣
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I’ve had some bad decisions in my life and some pretty amazing ones too. I saved and live within my means. Although I dated and that’s another story, I live mostly in solitude. I don’t need an extravagant life. ⁣⁣
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I am now in the late twenties category. Friends and people my age are getting married and having a family. Meanwhile, I am here writing with my cup of coffee as my company.

Taiwan 2021

I’m always open to new experiences but if I manage to leave after the crisis, maybe I’d do it again. Or maybe not. It’s gonna be a new phase in my life and as I grow old, I know things will change and while I love traveling and my own idea of freedom, I do actually miss being stationary.

There’s a saying, “As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise, you will miss most of your life.” So I live, let live, and just be. Because at the end of the day, I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, and food to eat.

Taiwan: An Affair (2018-2020)

I feel I have to take advantage of the fact that Taiwan has become visa-free to us, Filipinos, at least for some time. When I was younger and well, innocent, I dreamt of going to Taiwan to see those actors I once idolized It was a very long time ago and honestly, I don't even remember their names anymore. I always thought Taiwan has so much to offer especially to someone fond of nature and outdoors. And so with every visa runs I had to do, this country has become my go-to place and little did I know, our sweet affair has begun.  

The First Time | 2018

 Parks are my thing. Merely the reason why I instantly love this country despite being the first time. The abundance of the park, the right balance of nature without having to go out of the city; the people — it’s a nearly perfect place for me as an ex-pat. And the next thing I know, I was reading an article about jobs in Taipei.


Taipei streets and art. Seeing beauty in daily life. 



In a country where you find a milk tea shop practically on every street corner, I had so much fun wandering around looking for specialty coffee shops. Akuma Caca may have the slickest coffee mug design but Impct Coffee was a totally different experience. The Modbar pour-over set up is worth checking out! 

Becoming a Habit | 2019

Some people have reservations when it comes to revising places and in my case, I love it. It's a weird ritual I follow every time I go to a certain place. You remember how it looked like, the familiar, and you gain a fresh new perspective. It’s becoming a habit going to Taiwan for my visa run but there’s just so much to see and tell. 


The dancing coffee maker at Geesaa - the coolest coffee maker I've seen. It is priced at TWD 26,000 per set (with Chemex and metal filter) which is roughly USD 830. Although they have a wide variety of coffees, their main product is actually the coffee maker.

Gachapon, figurines, collectibles, latest gadgets — just some of the things you'll find inside Syntrend Creative Park. A huge tech showroom with also lots of cute and interesting stuff. A paradise for the tech enthusiasts, otakus and gamers alike. That's why it is also pegged as the Akihabara of Taiwan. Connected by a sky bridge is another tech hub - Guanghua Digital Plaza, and just a couple of blocks away you'll find a tiny skatepark under a bridge towards yet another noteworthy park, the Huashan 1914 Creative Park (same park as above).

In the highlands outside the city, there are small villages like this. Jiufen is probably the most famous one for its movie adaptations. Lanterns, postcards, cute souvenir items, countless tea houses, street food shacks, free taste. It gets really crowded in the evening and I feel it's more like a shopping area for souvenirs. I still love the vibe and personality though. Just sitting at one of the tea houses overlooking the small town. It was like a sweet escape.

More of the random things I captured that day. I took the TRA and a bus to go there. It was a bit confusing at the train station as there are lots of train types and platforms but eventually found my way. Later that day I found out that I could've taken a straight bus, which I did on the way back.

New Years Holiday | 2020
Truly a great place and time to be here. It’s my first time spending New Years with family outside the Philippines. To be in a country that doesn’t really celebrate Christmas, it was both interesting and exhilarating. Even though it’s not in their culture, Taipei celebrates it in such grandeur that it’s gaining even more popularity each year.  
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