nixca316's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 22,606 | Meet Me, The Perennial Traveler by nixca316 - last update: May 2, 2009 |
| stalactite form8n @ the Underground River, Palawan |
Hi! In case you're interested, I'm Lara Mia Veronica Misa Garcia. The first three names are my name. The fourth one is my mom's maiden surname. You can guess what the fifth is. =)
Ever since I was a baby I was already traveling. Whether it was just to our neighbor's house or elsewhere, mater and dada always brought me along.
My dad was a traveler because he was in the Armed Forces...my mom was traveler because she just loved to travel and her family had the means to go everywhere.
The traveling spirit was imbibed on us...well, me in particular. I just loved to go exploring... from our backyard to the next (wow, I feel like an archaeologist and I even thought I was going to be one) and from coast to coast.
Incidentally I've received just a few months ago some emails from nice people on how I could travel so much (well, only one of them used those words). As a matter of fact, I'm already not qualified to be a member of the Youth Ministry ;p and since I started since I was an infant, then it's not overwhelming at all. =) If you haven't noticed yet, most of my pictures from abroad are quite old (I know other VTers have older pictures, but mine look older because of the very defective scanner---the reason I'm not buying a new one besides it not being a priority is because I'm waiting for some hi-tech gadget to be on sale soon...but if it doesn't happen soon enough, maybe I should buy one). I tried taking pictures of the ones I haven't scanned, but they just didn't turn out right.
I have been fortunate to be able to travel for free a lot of times...during other times there were budget travels and occasional luxury travels.
Some of the travels were to visit friends and relatives (attended weddings, attended important events). Some were with tour groups (so we were able to visit a LOT of places in a matter of a couple of weeks) There was a time I almost lived somewhere for good. Since I stayed there for a while, I was able to go AROUND.
There was a time that I used to travel almost all the time that it got to the point of being sooooo exhausting. Now, I cherish every moment, whether it's traveling all over the Philippines or internationally. Right now I'm happy of being able to go around my country. There are so much of her that I haven't explored yet.
I'm also journeying within me...discovering or rediscovering myself...there's so much I want to do...so much I want to see...so many people I want to help...
BTW, I also love nature, historical trips, etc & not just shopping & eating LOL. It just so happens that those activities are what my autistic savant brother, RJ, enjoy so much. =)
Last March 25 (2007), I came from an exhausting, but fulfilling, Bulacan Adventure. We, the volunteers of of Aklatang Pambata, mostly from UP Diliman, work hand-in-hand with the Gawag Kalinga group of the Couples for Christ transparochial community. Volunteer work is great! You're able to help people and at the same time see other places. =)
Check my Palawan Pictures @ my Multiply Page Don't forget to Vote for the Underground River. |
|  | If you'll cick through my Philippine page, you'll learn that I was named after the three island groups Lara (Luzon) Mia (Mindanao) Veronica (Visayas) because I was born on March 16 (when Magellan kissed the Philippine soil for the 1st time) ;p Here are some other facts: My 1st ever nickname was VIP. Mom had a lot of miscarriages before me so when I was born, diplomats and Generals visited me at the hospital. =) My cousins made fun of that nickname by saying, "Beep, beep Minica!" I wasn't insulted, but what stuck in my "feeble" brain was "Me, Nica" My dad fondly calls me Larissa once in a while. Mater calls me a lot of things.. =) When I started to go to school in Monterey, I was called Lara just because it was my 1st name. That stayed on until HS. In the university where there were lots of Laras, Mias, Veronicas, Lars and Garcias, my male friends decided to call me Nicca, Nick, Nix, Nixca, Nic-nic, Knick-knack and all those other derivatives. As you can see, I'm very feminine, but I do a lot of male dominated stuff too, so I got to hang out with those guys. Most of them are my friends until now.
What do I want to be called? It doesn't really matter. Whatever you call me, I am who I am. =)
My travel plans to go to other countries this year have been delayed, but I have been going around the country lately. Shucks, I haven't been updating these pages because of time constraint, but I have to update some of my pages soon. Anyways, I'm glad that I could synchronize my travel map (thanks to mapster) with my Facebook profile. Whew! |
I love Germany! Harharhar.
My mother's full name is Maria Rosario Cauwenbergh Misa-Garcia. As early as three years old I could pronouce it well. It sounded German to me so I started studying German at a very young age (I really wish I could be a polyglot like my mom---my tongue is so shy--wonderin why the rest of me isn't). Yet, since I don't get to practice, my German is really quite rusty. Any kind of grammar help is welcome (also for other languages). I must be honest that it's the same reason I just listen and observe at times (when I'm with foreign dignitaries and the like) because I'm afraid that I might say the wrong word and might get misconstrued.
BTW, I think I was in my late teens or already in my twenties when I found out that the Cauwenberghs of Belgium spoke French! OMG! (So I still get words mixed up)
Anyway, I really, really love Germany. I love the smell of the air, I love the soft pillows, I love that everyone's at least Bilingual (just like the Filipinos) and I love the military camps (am I weird or what?)!
Ich vermisse Deutschland so sehr, dass ich oft davon träume! | | | The World's Largest Cuckoo Clock |
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| Inside a cave at Mt. Titlis,Switzerland |
| | Spelunking? Nah! Die Schweiz is somewhere I can practice German too.
It's also one of my favorite places on earth.
Why?
Posso praticare anche la conversazione italiana lí. È un luogo cosí straordinario!
Français sont aussi compris! Wow! L'endroit est réelment, réelment très bel et romantique!
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Remembering Solvang Traveling alone is sometimes very hard and lonely. Yet, sometimes you've got no choice. It's a good thing that if my destination's the good old US of A, I've got lots of friends and relatives there.
My trip to Solvang is very special because I traveled with people that I've only met that same day. Manong Rudy, a man my childhood friend Annette Acedera-Villanueva met in Shenzhen,China, hosted that trip.
After meeting Manong (usually refers to a big brother (a.k.a. Kuya) or a male person older than you) Rudy in China, he treated us for dinner in Hong Kong, continued emailing us, made us the godmothers of his eldest child, introduced us to his wife (see, he really didn't have bad intentions..and our gut feelings told us that), etecetera, etcetera.
When I stayed in California for several months (I was supposed to work there until retirement...I had an agent and all, but mom emotionally blackmailed me to go back to the Philippines---a lot of good (&bad) things happened after that---my mom would smugly say, "See!"), he treated me and my relatives to dinner then told us about that Solvang trip with his relatives to be held one very early morning. None of my relatives were available, so they entrusted me to him (if you meet him, you would know he's really a nice guy...you can even read about him in the Internet ...he donated Millions of Pesos to some charitable institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao...hmmm, I hope he still has money to donate to some of our projects---I'm involved in a lot of things (Public Libraries, Gifted children, Handicapped/Disabilities, Public Hospitals, Religious groups, etcetera).
He fetched me at Diamond Bar then we drove to Carson City. He introduced me to his brother and his family (Justin must be so big now). Afterwards, we fetched his cousins. That very day we had a long drive from Carson City (this is not in order because I haven't memorized the Map of California just yet...or at least have a copy beside me), Ojai, Bakersfield, Sta. Barbara, some place else that I forgot what, then lingered in Solvang. (our first stop was I-HOP---International House of Pancakes--- yum, yum, yum!)
If you just look at this picture you would say I'm either with my sisters/relatives or long time friends. You wouldn't dare imagine that I only met these people that very day.
I easily warm up to people who are not just pretending to like me. No matter how one person fools another, deep inside that person (the one being "fooled"), he or she would know if a person's untrue.
These people were very, very nice to me. At first, of course,since Manong Rudy's wife was in Manila that time, maybe they were thinking, 'Is she..." If ever they did, spending the WHOLE day with me proved it otherwise.
I'll never forget that day in SOLVANG and I'll never forget all of them. My memories with them will be always treasured in my heart.
(He recently wrote an email...he has colon cancer. Those who believe in the power of prayer, please pray for him...the Lord's will be done!)
MY PARISH, The DIOCESE of PARAÑAQUE",Y-FAM (YOUTH FOR THE FAMILY), AKLATANG PAMBATA(Public Library for Less Fortunate Kids) AND ST. FRANCIS DE SALES HEARING IMPAIRED FOUNDATION INC. are just some of the MANY, MANY orgs I'm involved with. Please click the links if you wanna help in any way. =)
| | | Would you believe I only met these people... |
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| Happy Belated 18th birthday to me! |
| | I just love amusement parks I know, I know...we were all overdressed to be in an amusement park...I just had my 1st real Viennese Waltz experience for my belated 18th birthday celebration, yet I wouldn't miss the opportunity for a lifetime.
If the place I visit has an amusement park or two, I definitely would not leave the place without even a glimpse of it (not unless I'm there because of research or some other kind of business).
There's just a different thrill every time I ride roller coasters and ghost trains and my favorite ride's the Indiana Jones Ride at Disneyland and the Pirates of the Caribbean goes 2nd.
So how did a former acrophobic (no one asked me, but maybe someone out there is thinking about it so I'll answer the unsaid question) enjoy roller coasters? I used to close my eyes when I got to the top. I just love the dips and the the loops. Now, my eyes are open even when I'm up there. =)
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BTW, my travel pages are practically empty because it takes a lot of time just to do one page. I'm still VERY busy. I'll try to build some pages slowly, but surely....most especially the ones from my OWN BACKYARD...I've STARTED (drafts) with Antipolo, Cubao, Davao, Las Pinas City, Mandaluyong,Taguig, Paranaque, Pasay, Bulacan, Atimonan, Luisiana(super draft), Naga, Batangas, Manila, Alabang, Makati,
Mulanay, Lucena, Pili, Camarines Sur andQuezon City
Palawan Pictures @ my Multiply Page
Don't forget to Vote for the Underground River. | | | We're all set to go inside the Underground River |
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| | My VT Meets My First VT Meet.
I had my baptism of fire (VTmeet) @ Cafe Bola (Feb. 16 '07). I had soooo much fun!
Oh! Here's another page of that same meet!
Click to read about my 2nd VT meet (a mini-meet)
My 3rd VT meet was held last Friday (March 30'07) @ Dencio's Rockwell. I will post pictures later...I just got this picture from "shyjane" who is not really so shy in person. =)(click to see ShyJane's Manila VT Meet album)
My 4th VT Meet was held at La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City (June 16 '07...will post pictures when able)
My 5th VT Meet was held at La Mesa Grill, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (June 22, 2007)
My 6th VT was held last Sunday at Dona Faustina Village I at Tandang Sora, QC
Here's another link of that same VT meet
and my 7th VT meet was held last night...where? Kagabi ko lang nalaman na secret pala yun...heheheheheh (kidding!... or am I?)
EXTERNAL PAGES
for more pictures just click these links:
Multiply
Flickr (I belong to nature groups here)
to read the things I do and other stuff about me please go to:
My Website (don't forget to sign my guestbook) =)
Sorta kinda mirror site
My short stories
MEET ME
My Poetry in English
My Poetry in 5 Languages foreign to me
My Facebook Profile
MY ART PAGES
MY PARISH, The DIOCESE of PARAÑAQUE",Y-FAM (YOUTH FOR THE FAMILY), AKLATANG PAMBATA(Public Library for Less Fortunate Kids) AND ST. FRANCIS DE SALES HEARING IMPAIRED FOUNDATION INC. are just some of the MANY, MANY orgs I'm involved with. Please click the links if you wanna help in any way. =)
CHECK OUT THE LATEST AKLATANG PAMBATA VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY @ GK ALDABA HILLS, MINUYAN, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE BULACAN! |
 nixca316's Albums | | | |
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 Comments for nixca316 | | | | |
Ramonq Sun Jun 21, 2009 09:20 UTC
Greetings from the heart of Africa. You're a well traveled Pinay!! Hope to return to the mother country one day. | monina_c Tue Jun 9, 2009 05:02 UTC
hello lara miss you na! hello to RJ!!! | fashionapple Sat May 23, 2009 19:10 UTC
Happy Belated Birthday. May all your dreams come true. I was nor regular on VT so couldnt wish you on time. I hope you had a great birthday. | goutammitra Sun May 3, 2009 01:10 UTC
No it's not late to greet back. We have lots of Pentecoastal followers in India and in Kolkata!. Have you had a peek thru my Gangtok, North Sikkim, Lachen, Lachung pages? If not have a first hand experience of this Himalayan beauty!! |
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