Intrepidity and Chemistry

It was last December 2009 when my biggest adventure ever transpired... visiting not just 2, 3, or 4 countries but even 6! I’ll elaborate my story briefly. The trip was primarily intended for my research works in Karachi, Pakistan. My research is all about the isolation of enzyme inhibiting compounds that can possibly be found from Philippine plants that are known to cure Diabetes. The Research centre in Karachi is a very good option since it has a wide range of facilities that are intended for the said research field. There are various countries represented in the research centre. I managed to learn some words and gladly enjoyed using it while I am buying some items in the market. I have also managed to establish deep friendship among the locals which is quite intimate until now. I have learned the good and the bad side of Pakistan and though it suffers from too many political and religious disputes, I would certainly never resist to return there... it had been my home for 8 months by the way I left Karachi last July 27th, 2010.

A termination of flight services to and from Karachi by a well known airline had given me an option to visit Dhaka, Bangladesh to finally meet the professor that had provided me the fellowship grant in order for me to travel to Karachi. The said professor had also managed to guide me during the early stage of my research, thus I wanted just to show myself and thank him. In Bangladesh, I also learned some techniques in designing animal models used in Diabetes research. My ten days stay is indeed worthwhile.
I arrived at Singapore on August 11, 2011. After spending almost 8 months in countries that has lower standards of living, I could barely lose a coin when I was in Singapore. It was a big adjustment indeed but do i have any choice?

After spending a night in Singapore, I went on my way to Medan, Indonesia this time, to savour a surprise vacation tour prepared by a friend. We almost literally circumference the whole province of North Sumatra crossing rivers and cliffs, swam to various hot springs, lake and rivers, and hiked hills and trekked a crater of an active volcano. My 12 days in Medan, Indonesia has never been so amazing.

The story went on, me continuing my travel, spending 6 days in Kuala Lumpur to attend a Christian conference, then went to Southern Thailand for 17 days to be exposed and to be immersed in the culture of the community. I then returned to Kuala Lumpur for 2 days to trek some mountains, then to Singapore and roamed there for 3 days. I then went to Batam Island, Indonesia for 3 days to visit a friend, and finally went back to Singapore for 5 days before finally returning back to the Philippines. All in all, I was gone for 10 months. But I was never been the same again afterwards.