Our Path

Facebook

2010-05-12T13:03:00.001-07:00

Check out the Facebook links to the right to find out what is happening.

Paralegal

2008-07-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

I finished my paralegal studies online program. Then the next day I was informed of a position that was available in a law firm. So I submitted my resume and two interviews later I was hired. It all happened so fast, and I am very excited. Its a great opportunity for me. My first day is Aug. 4.

New Post

2008-06-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

oh wow..i forgot already to update our blog because its been very busy, just this month we moved to a bigger place in Elk Grove and its a tiring job of all. We spend all week to put everything done. But we do really like our new place our little boy has his own room now although its hard for him and especially for me but its fine. We are all now adjusting to our new environment and neighborhood but it seems that they are all nice too. I started also my new job as an assistant in the daycare of my cousin in that way i can still see my boy for the whole day and never got bored at all.I am so happy about that. Matt still works downtown and takes the bus there.

Vernie happy in a big kitchen.

We Passed

2007-11-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

Last week we had our interview at the Immigration building in downtown Sacramento. It went really well, and we passed. Vernie should get her green card in a couple of weeks. We are happy because its been a long process that we don't have to worry about anymore.

New blogger

2007-11-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Vernie and I recently got a landline and dial-up internet from Netzero. it works surprisingly faster than I had expected. so we are happy to be online at home, and it gives vernie something to do during the day when I am at work. When we first got married some people asked if Vernie was going to start her own blog. Well, the time has finally arrived. She started it just yesterday and already has three posts. You can click on the link at the sidebar to view it. or click here.

Fire Baby

2007-10-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Last week was very exciting in our neighborhood. Wednesday vernie called me at work to tell me that the house next to our apartment was on fire. so i raced home to help. the pic below was taken by a neighbor, and here is a link to some more of his photos on flicker. our apartment is on the right. Thank God and Sac FD that it was not burned.

On a lighter note here is a video of baby liam. he just started to smile a lot.

2007-10-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm finally posting again. things are going well and the fam is all healthy. we are almost settled into our apartment, and preparing for winter. already its looking like a long cold one ahead. rained twice, and it feels cold to vernie and me everyday. here are some pics that i took with my cell phone. Enjoy. hopefully i will post more often with pics and videos.

The Three of Us

2007-08-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

first let me say that i'm so sorry that i didn't write this sooner. life, as you well know, is crazy after baby. anyway, vernie and our little boy, Shean Liam Makiputin Hartman, are doing well. vernie had to have a cesarian, but she is healing fast. the only bad thing was that on the day that we were discharged the baby got a fever of 102, so we went back to the emergency room and ended up staying there for another 3 days till he got better. the tests they took never showed anything conclusive, but only that there was bacteria in the urine. however, he is doing well now and we are so thankful.

now we are adjusting to life with a baby and in our new apartment in downtown Sacramento. Grandpa Ron and I were moving in stuff when vernie went into labor. so we are a bit unsettle, but it's a nice apartment. It's really close to my new job at a law firm. i'm working as office services again. I've been there one month now, and i like it. they were really cool about letting me take the week off to care for Vernie and the baby.

so this month has been crazy; it's nice to have a breather.
thank you to all for your prayers and thoughts for us during this time.

2007-06-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Us

Keeping our heads above water

Working as a team

How we look these days.

Here is our monthly update. Vernie is at 32 weeks now. We are starting to read about the delivery and preparing for the arrival of Shean Liam Makiputin Hartman. Yep, that's what we decided to name him. Shean is a combo of his grandma's names, Liam mean guardian or protector, Makiputin is Vernie's soon to be maiden name, and Hartman is our last name.
So there you have it.

2007-05-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe this will turn into a monthly blog. at least until life kinda gets into some kind of a routine. it seems there is rarely time to do this and a lot of other stuff anymore. i am working, but only temporary for appleone. Fortunately, vernie's cousin, Pleny, is still letting us stay in her extra room for free.

anyway, here are some pics....enjoy!

On the way to Angel Island.

On a hike around Angel Island.

Vernie and I housesitting for Mark and Lisa.

We went to the wedding of Michael and Megan (Vernie's first time attending an American wedding). Michael was in the jr. high youth group that i helped with a while back. it's cool to see him and his friends, Ryan & Josh, all grown up. it's acturall quite amazing.

Party Wedding Baby

2007-04-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks for tuning in for the latest and greatest.

Last weekend we had a little party that we dubbed "The Welcome Back/To America Party" at Ryan and Jenny's house. It was great, and we had a little surprise addition. As required in order to get a marriage certificate we had a little ceremony to exchange our vows and say "I do." Flowers and cake were provided by Cara.

In other news, we had our ultrasound and found out that we are having a BOY!

We now live in Elk Grove. And I am still looking for a job.

The End

Here 'n' There

2007-04-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Poor Vernie......pregnancy is hard sometimes. but, take it from me, she is so cute. :-) she is doing well adjusting and taking it all in. and the "little one" inside her womb is really starting to dance a lot in there. she is 21 weeks now.
here are some pics for your enjoyment.

Vernie experienced her first snowfall a few miles past Nevada City on Hwy 20.

Vernie playing in the snow.

It was beautiful.

Vernie and I taking our nephew Zach for a stroll.

Vernie and her cousin feeding the ducks in Elk Grove.

Traveling

2007-03-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

In Cagayan de Oro. Vernie's family took us to the airport.

Vernie & Matthew in the Tokyo Airport.

Vernie after passing through immigration.

The Hartman family reunion.

(Brian, Zach, Heidi, Ron, Sherry, Me, Vernie, Mark, & Lisa)

Arrival

2007-03-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

We made it. Vernie and I arrived in California with no problems, and Vernie made it through immigration with ease. Her interviewing officer was from Manila, but i don't think that effected anything. Thank you to all for your prayers, concerns, and well wishes for us.
Jet lag hit us pretty hard, so we have just been trying to get caught up on sleep for the past few days. we had a little family reunion since my sister and her new husband and toddler (Zach) are here for the week. it's cool to be an uncle. Zach will be staying with my parents while my sister and her husband are stationed in Iraq for a year.
We are so happy that the weather is so nice right now. it makes the transition a little easier for us, but we still miss the Philippines a lot. Other good news is that it looks like I can start working as a substitute teacher pretty soon.
pictures to be posted soon.

To CA

2007-02-17T03:18:00.000-08:00

We bought our tickets to California the other day, and had to put it on my credit card($1,400). I hate using my credit card, but it was the only way. We are flying back on March 10. My brother and sister-in-law will be picking us up from SF airport. We are very excited to be moving, but also a little nervous about the unknown that is ahead. I think that's normal, and we are confident that God will take care of us. I'm also confident in my relationships that I have there, and am looking forward to renewing those bonds of friendship.
The other day I was checking out some old blogs and discovered that I had really lost touch with what's going on. I just lost the habit of checking up on them.

Pics

2007-02-03T00:47:00.000-08:00

in front of our guesthouse in Manila.

Waiting (20 hrs./2 days) at St. Luke's Hospital during Vernie's medical exam.

Our ride to Manila.

U.S. Embassy

2007-02-03T00:39:00.000-08:00

Horray!!!! we passed the interview at the embassy. we were nervous, but confident. the person interviewing us was very nice, and we were overjoyed when he said he approved the visa for Vernie. thank you to all who prayed for us and wished us good luck.
now we are going back to Cagayan de Oro to await the arrival of the visa and then our departure to the U.S. next month.

Manila

2007-01-30T03:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we are finally in Manila. we arrived her on thursday, and Vernie had her medical exam on friday. we had to go back on monday, but she passed and we are all ready for our interview at the U.S. Embassy on this friday. Vernie is a little nervous, but i feel confident that all with go well. thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.
The weather in manila is great right now. it's not hot at all, and it's even a little chilly at night. (well chilly for us) i dare say, i think we will be quite shocked by the weather in CA when we arrive in March.

2007-01-17T05:02:00.000-08:00

Things are going well here. we are planning to move back in with Vernie's parents this weekend. we are sad to leave our apartment, but happy to be spending more time with mama and papa.
Vernie is really feeling the effects of the first trimester. she doesn't throw up but she feels nausious all day. there are a few other common issues, but she is hanging tough.
we head off to Manila in one week for our interview. lots going on.

Good News, Good News

2006-12-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

Finally something interesting to write about. Vernie and I found out that there will be an addition to our new family. That's right, she is pregnant! We are, of course, very happy and grateful, and very surprised. nope, it wasn't our 'plan' to have kids so soon. But with the shock comes a peace that this must be the perfect time for us in the bigger life picture of things.

The other great news is that we have been scheduled a long awaited interview date at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. We will be traveling to Manila at the end of January for the last step in the process to obtain a visa for Vernie. I don't think that being pregnant will have a major effect on our plans. We are still planning to move to the U.S. in March pending Vernie's visa.

Vernie and I on a ship to Cebu.

Vernie & I with nieces.

2006-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

Not a lot happening lately. Just that Vernie started teaching English full time to an eight year old Korean kid. i will start teaching full time in a couple of weeks. She likes her student though, and does a great job teaching him.

Still no letter yet from the Embassy regarding our interview. hopefully soon.

the weather here is nicer now. it's not raining as much and it's a little cooler, mostly in the evenings. today I realized that when we leave for California i am going to miss it here.
I'm trying to make beer, but i can't find hops anywhere. anyone know a substitute?

2006-11-15T22:56:00.000-08:00

Yeah!! we moved into our own place. It's just a big one-room pad, but it has a bathroom, a back patio, and a sink as you can see in the picture below.

We like our white picket fence. our pad is the middle of three.

in the back there is a motocross track/field.

Well, i'm off to do some tutoring. See you soon.

ps. no word yet on the visa situation.

2006-10-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I got a really bad cough and have been recovering from that. Vernie and my mom and dad-in-law have been great. Even when I was up in the middle of the night coughing, they were up with me. I experienced all the herbal/native remedies that they could remember too.
Regarding Vernie's visa, we got a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Manila finally. They said that they would send us an appointment for an interview soon, but that the interview would probably be in 120 days. So now we are waiting again till February to have the interview. After that we should have the visa soon.
Since I know I will be here for a few more months I have decided to start tutoring English to Koreans. The extra money will help a lot with our living expenses. Especially since we have decided to move out on our own next month. So it's pretty exciting here. We are looking forward to living on our own for the first time, and start a new job.
Thanks for reading. Keep in touch.

2006-09-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

Horray!! My visa application for Vernie has been approved! We are about half-way through the process now i think, and will hopefully get the visa in a few months. It's not for sure yet, but we are hopeful. The rest of the process will be completed through the U.S. embassy in Manila. Up to this point we have just been waiting, but now we will be more active by filling out forms, going for interviews, and seminars. Keep in touch.

2006-09-12T03:25:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to the mountain province this weekend. it was a nice holiday. we went hiking and ate lots of durian.

2006-09-07T00:55:00.000-07:00

Here some pics I took recently. You can see all my recent photos from the Philippines on my flickr photos. Or use the link on the right.

Vernie and I are celebrating our 3 months of being married. Married life is still great, but of course challenging at times. I can say the same about living in the Philippines too.

2006-09-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

Things are going well here in the Philippines. I have been working these past two weeks teaching an English class. It has been challenging, but good. I'm glad that it is ending soon, so i can relax a bit.

Out and About

2006-08-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to have freedom of mobility. The brother-in-law of Vernie is letting me use his motorcycle while he is working abroad in Dubai. It's a little scary, but also fun learning to drive through traffic here.

Today I gave a lecture about American cultural traits to students that are studying to work as caregivers abroad. It went very well, and I have been asked back to the school to teach a week-long class on English Communication. The income from this and a couple other tutoring jobs plus my soccer coach job will almost cover our living expenses.

From PH with love

2006-08-03T00:08:00.000-07:00

Things here are going well. Vernie and I are still looking for more tutoring jobs. I'm filling my time with studying Visayan(the local dialect here), and just adjusting to the culture and married life.

Here are some photos that I took recently.

Joe is the nickname that all white guys get. So alot of people call out to me, "Hey Joe!"

E-mail Posts

2006-07-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

I just added a feature so that readers of this blog can receive e-mails of my posts if they want to. If you sign up, my future posts will be sent to you via email. use this form or the one at the bottom of the sidebar.

Transition Time

2006-07-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

It was great having some of my family here for the wedding. We had a good time together, and it was very meaningful.

Here is my dad, Vernie and me riding the jeepney. Mark is there too.

Mark and me at the reception dinner. 30 people, $60.

A bus going to Kadingilan.
Vernie and I just got back from the province where she grew up. We visited with a lot of her relatives there. Her hometown is Kadingilan.

We have started to work and try to have a normal life here. I got a part time job as a soccer coach for a high school. Vernie and I also tutor on the side. This should be enough for our living expenses.

Our Day in the Spotlight

2006-06-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

My brother, Mark and my parents, Ron and Sherry, arrived a few days before the wedding. Fortunately they were able to stay at the house of Ed and Luane, who have been friends of the family for many years and are now missionaries in the same town as Vernie. Coincidence? I think not. We thank God for them; they are a great blessing to us in so many ways.

The Makiputin family invited us over to their house a couple of nights before the wedding. Luane is translating for the parents.
The Makiputin's prepared a wonderful feast for us and welcomed us into the family with a song. It was very touching. I love my new family.

At the church.

On the ends are Ed and Luane who were Principal Sponsors at our wedding. They are our Ninong and Ninang now, which means godparents.

(i'm having trouble posting more pics. but i will put more here when i figure it out.)

Honeymoon

2006-06-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our honeymoon. Here is one picture of the sunset at the resort we stayed at.

i had fun snorkling here.

The last two weeks have been so full and fun. It's nice now to have the time to take it all in. great memories. I'll post more pics later when i get them.

Wedding Day

2006-06-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Matthew and Vernie Hartman!!

ketchup

2006-06-03T01:04:00.000-07:00

sitting in a hammock.

i found this sign in a jeepney.

i played basketball with the neighborhood kids.

vernie & I took here niece and nephew's to see X-men3.

mama & papa of vernie with her niece baby lingling.

From the Philippines

2006-05-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

I finally had the energy to take some photos. Things are still going well here. just getting ready for the big day. More photos coming soon. it takes too long to upload.

The customs form.

A tricycle cab.

The jeepney. we ride this almost everyday. it's a little bit like riding the Indian Jones ride at Disneyland. :-)

This little guy has a Sacramento Kings t-shirt on.

Return to Paradise

2006-05-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

I made it safe and sound to Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. I'm so happy to be together again with my darling fiancee, Vernie.
Here she is breaking the rules as normal. :-)

...On a Jet Plane!

2006-05-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, i can't believe the day is here finally. No more waiting. yippie!!! see you on the other side.

Best of luck to Ryan...Get well soon bro.

Delayed

2006-05-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the anniversary of when I met Vernie. I can't believe its been a whole year.

Wow, only one more day of work left. Initially i wasn't counting my last day in the countdown, but i decided to make tomorrow number one. so today is number two, but i don't have a pic.

Three Days

2006-05-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

Four Days Left

2006-05-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

Shooting from the hip During mass.

Lance Armstrong after winning fourth Tour de France.

waiting

2006-05-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and Today

2006-05-10T12:19:00.001-07:00

Blogger was having issues yesterday, so i couldn't post my pic.

Eight Days Left on May 8

2006-05-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Vernie!! I Love You.

In the Philippines its May 9 now; Vernie's Birthday.

Side Post

2006-05-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some of my baby photos and i found this one.

funny how some things never change. :-)

catch up.

2006-05-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Days left till i fly away:

a little bored

2006-05-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

How many....

2006-05-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's nice that i have something like this to pass the time.

Days Left

2006-05-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

fun with pics

2006-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

...Days!

Sunny California

2006-05-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Countdown:

Time

2006-04-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

Days left:
Some more photos:
Walking downtown
Nature for free in my backyard

Are we there yet?

2006-04-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is how many more days left till i leave for the Philippines.

I just bought my ticket.

Other news is that unfortunately the visa application process will take longer than expected. My guess is that we wont be coming back until October. But who knows...

Tito Mateo

2006-04-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm an uncle today. My sister gave birth to a boy. I'm so proud. I just took the CBEST so i have no brain power left to write with, so i'll just let the picture do the talking.

What's Next

2006-04-08T12:56:00.000-07:00

Last week when I spent the night at Cory & Farah's, we had a cool web cam chat with Vernie. I was surprised that it worked, but we were all able to talk with her way over in the Philippines for free. :-)

I got an official notice of receipt from the USCIS which means that they have queued my visa petition and will process it in due time. ...And Matt waits.

But it's only 40 days....

Here are some city pictures. Enjoy!

Recently...

2006-03-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Ryan & Holly Sharp Dishin' the music

Ryan Diggin' the music

Job Stuff

2006-03-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

Great news! My employer Jackson Lewis is paying for me to take some word processing courses so that I can start doing word processing jobs at work. I really enjoy this type of work, and I hope that someday I can work full-time as a word processor. Also, last week I started working more hours which allows me to have benefits.
Other good news is that I finally got my visa application off to the USCIS.

Waiting

2006-02-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

I like this one cause you can see the freeway signs through the train.

Seasons

2006-02-21T21:15:00.000-08:00

here is a photo of our backyard.
and here are some photos after this weekend's storm.

On the train

2006-02-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

On the light rail this evening I met a really nice couple that were departing for Southeast Asia to go backpacking for a few months like I did. It was cool to reminisce about my trip, and share about my experience. I felt happy afterwards, and realized a deep conviction of my love and need to travel. In case they read this blog I just wanted to say, "thanks for bringin' back the memories. Have a great trip."
On another note, I was introduced by my friend Chris to a great new show called My Name is Earl. Hilarious. Thanks Chris.
This week went by fast. As I get closer to my wedding date it feels like time is going by faster; I think it's because I'm on the downhill side of my six-month waiting period. I've almost saved up enough to pay for the wedding. Big thanks to my friends who let me crash at their places so that I didn't have to drive all they way back to Grass Valley. :-)

Picture Time

2006-02-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to use my camera more lately. The other night I went out to shoot some photos with my friend Cory.

This is one of the pictures I took of the light rail train going by in front of the Crest Theater.

I love sunsets. Vernie knows. :-)

IM

2006-02-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

Having a long distance relationship is not easy, but Instant Messenging has helped a lot. This is a snap shot of my monitor during an average chat session between Vernie and I. At the time it was 8p.m. Saturday here and 12p.m. Sunday there. Unfortunately my computer is too slow to do both audio and webcam at the same time, but it can be done.

Weekly Post

2006-01-20T14:10:00.000-08:00

This week I'm housesitting in Rocklin. It's been great this week being on my own. I'm also temporarily working more hours, so I start my commute earlier in the morning. Still takes the same amount of time because of traffic.
I'm going to attempt the installation of a used windshield on my car this weekend. If I'm successful it will save me some money. Then the car will be a little closer to reselling which will help boost my wedding savings.
Good news...I've received the documents from Vernie that I needed to complete my visa petition for her. Soon I will submit it, and start the application process. Yeah, it's cutting it close in order to get it by June. So the prayers go up.

Quote

2006-01-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964

No Tools

2006-01-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

The other day my car was parked at the Auburn carpool parking lot. when I came back from work I unlocked the door and found that my glovebox was open. I glanced around and nothing was missing(not that i have a whole lot worth stealing), but the next day I found that both my tool boxes were gone from the trunk. What a bummer. I was just starting a nice collection. I have to say I'm very thankful though for a nice peace from God about the whole situation. Theft is a very personal violation, but in this case I hope the tools get put to good use. the thief must be in a pretty desperate situation, that i am glad to not be in.
funny though, I thought I had a pretty good camouflage going to detour any break-in. Here is a pic of my car. lol. It's only been in three wrecks. rolled once.

On the Bus

2006-01-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

I've started to commute to sacramento on the bus and light rail. like always i'm a big promoter of public transportation. it takes a bit of endurance to make the 4 hour commute per day, but the best part is knowing that i can go from Auburn to Sacramento for only one dollar. thank you Placer Transit.

The Commuter

2005-12-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

Things are all smooth on the road so far. My commute from Grass Valley to Sacramento isnt' too bad, but I'm looking forward to being back in Midtown someday.
I read a really cool post about freedom on Tyson's blog. Just wanted to mention that for anyone who's interested in reading an insightful essay from a really smart guy.

reality

2005-12-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

I feel a little better about this Christmas now. I guess I was just bummed out a bit.
Things at work are going well. It's kinda like I never left. Right now I'm excited about trying out for another position here. They are looking for a word processor to hire at the beggining of next year, so I will be working hard to learn all I can about it.

Worst Christmas Ever

2005-12-09T23:47:00.000-08:00

I think this will be the worst Christmas ever because everytime I start to feel sentimental I think of Vernie, and then I start to miss her and feel sad. hence......the worst Christmas ever. Hopefully when I get my second job at Starbucks, I'll be so busy that it will also be the quickest Christmas ever. Factoring in also that I will be hopped up on caffine most of the time, it will probably be the most energetic Christmas ever. However, the bright side to all this is that next year Vernie and I will have...........the BEST Christmas ever!

Working Man

2005-12-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Hello. Great news, I have a job. I didn't even have a chance to dig in and start the painful process of job searching. My former employer Jackson Lewis has hired me back as Office Services. the position opened up just at the right time. It is a part time job in the afternoon and i'll work about 25 hours a week. and they might even give me benefits. now i'll be looking for a part time job in the a.m. It's a big relief to be starting to save for my wedding events. i'm hoping to save enough to have a little extra cash left over for Vernie and i when we return to the U.S.

Cars and visas

2005-11-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

Long distance relationships are hard. I'm still missing Vernie a lot, but having things to do helps. I'll probably start looking for a job soon, or i might decide to do realestate appraising. right now i'm working on this 87 Toyota that i got a while back. after i make it road worthy i'm going to sell it. that should help a lot with my "saving to get married" goal of $7,000. I'll keep my beat-up 88 camry for transportation. i'm also working on getting Vernie's visa application ready to submit to the USCIS(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Hopefully i can submit it soon in order to "get the ball rolling", so we can get the visa by this summer.

On The Right Track

2005-11-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

I had a great time getting reacquainted with friends at a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Ryan and Jenny. Awesome party guys; thanks!
I've been back now for almost two weeks, and I'm starting to feel normal again. It's hard to have grace for myself during the reverse culture shock period. I keep thinking, "I'm so lazy....I should be doing this and that, and get off my ass...." It helps that I have friends who understand what I'm going through. On top of the adjustment to life back home, I'm really missing my fiance Vernie. At first it wasn't too bad, but as time goes on it gets harder to not be with her. So, I'm gearing up to find a good job and keep myself busy with work. Today I got a haircut, and worked on my resume. I'm really glad that I'm motivated to do all this right now. I'm also trying to get the visa process going so Vernie can come here.

I'm a Fiance

2005-11-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is, the official announcement on this blog that i am engaged. I'm glad to be home again, but missing my fiance so much. We don't have our wedding plans all nailed down just yet, but you'll know. i proposed to Vernie at sunset on Siargao Island where we met, and she said yes. it went really well, and the island has great sunsets and sunrises. The tradition there is to propose with two rings....one for me and one for her. after i bought the rings, it was so hard to wait to ask her. now i understand the expression, "it was burning a hole in my pocket."

Home Sweet Home

2005-11-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

I'm home again. the trip was safe and fast. my head is still spinning though from the changes, both in location and in my life. more on that later.
so, in the last 24 hours i have heard three people say that they don't like to answer their cell phone, but like to let it go to voicemail. that's interesting to me cause i don't remember that being a trend when i left two months ago. is it a trend? why do people like to do that? maybe it's cause they are lazy. maybe they don't like to talk to people. maybe, like me, they need time to think about a response to a question that may be asked, so they listen to the message and then call back after thinking a bit. i just came back from the Philippines where everyone has a cell phone that they use for mostly for texting. so i wonder if texting will become more common here in the U.S.? the only difference is that the reason for texting in the Philippines is that it is cheaper than calling. i hope texting does become more popular here in the States.

Jet Lagging Behind

2005-11-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

Well, well, i'm here in Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport waiting for my next flight home. i can't believe they have free internet here. it will be a long haul before i get home, maybe i'll take a nap somewhere quite.
it was sad leaving Vernie this morning. the last two months have gone by so fast. last night we said goodbye to her family....tears for everyone. i'm really looking forward to coming back there. next time i return it will be for a wedding.
California, here i come.
and oh yeah, happy birthday to me!!

Birthday Beer Changes Days

2005-10-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

UPDATED!!! this will be on Friday instead of Thursday. hope to see you there.
Hello there my friends. Everything is fine here in the Philippines. More news to come soon.
This is an official unofficial invitation to my birthday celebration. It's not really a party, just a low-key get together with friends at Streets of London Pub. i think i'll get there around 7:00pm. So put on your drinking hats and meet me there. November 11, 2005, Friday 7:00.

Around Town

2005-10-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

We took this big ferry back to Cagayan de Oro. it was a nice smooth overnight trip. we splurged and got a tourist cabin.
it's been nice being back in CDO. i'm getting a better handle on the language, and i'm almost over my cold.
Vernie and i met with some friends of the family that live here now. they moved here as missionaries about 18 years ago, but my mom and dad kept in touch with them. they are really nice, and we had a good time.

Cagayan De Oro

2005-10-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hello. Well, we left Boracay yesterday, and now we are back in CDO via a bus and a ferry. Not a bad trip, but I have a cold now. I'm glad I have a nice place to relax here and get well before traveling again.
see you soon.

Boracay Finally

2005-10-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

An extra day in Iloilo was nice. Vernie and I watched a movie and went out to dinner for a date to celebrate 5 months since we met. It's funny because I never thought I would be writing about something like that. But I actually remember dates now like, when we met, our first kiss...Etc. I guess it's typical for couples to do that, but it's significant for me cause this is the longest relationship I've been in. I like it. Maybe I'll stick around a while. :-)
Well, we are in Boracay right now. We like it a lot here. The weather is nice and warm, and the water is too. Nope, we did not stay at the Regency. We got a way better deal for 6 bucks a day.

We just posted some more pics on my Yahoo Photos page. so check them out by clicking here. or the link on the right.

Festival in Bacolod

2005-10-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

Well we didn't make it very far. we decided to stay an extra night in Bacolod to relax and to enjoy the local festivities of Masskara. Festival time is a big deal for every town or region. so it was cool to be there.
today we took a speedboat across the channel to Iloilo, Panay. tomorrow we are heading up to Boracay.
I just put a bunch of photos on my yahoo photos page. you can see them by clicking here. or just click on "my photos" link on the right.
thanks for reading. keep in touch.

Island Hopping

2005-10-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back at the net. We spent the last week on two islands North of Cebu. the first was Malapascua Island, and I got my Open Water Diver certification there. It was a lot of fun. I saw lots of cool creatures including a couple of sharks. One was a Thresher Shark. I wish I could take my camera underwater with me. The second place we went was Bantayan Island. No diving there but it was relaxing on the beach.
We are waiting for a boat now to Negros, and then we are going to try to go to Borocay. I wanted to take a small boat today, but then we heard it was dangerous. The weather is a little unpredictable. So far it's been nice. Not too hot on most days, and only rain a few days a week. The mosquitoes were in attack mode in Malapascua, but here they are not bad. I was not too worried until I saw the Dangue Fever warning. So now we are just waiting here for the boat tomorrow.
As my relationship with Vernie develops I'm remembering so many things that I heard people say about relationships. It' funny. I can't wait for her to come to CA and visit. One more month and I will be home again. The first thing I plan to do when I get back is apply for her visa.

On the Road Again!

2005-09-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

We have had a really nice time relaxing with Vernie's family in Cagayan, and now we are ready to tour around the Philippines a bit. Tonight we are heading to Cebu on a night voyage. From there we are going to a couple of Islands, and then on to Borocay. I'm going to travel cheap like I always do, and Vernie is very supportive of this. It's so nice.
I'm still trying to learn to speak Visayan, and it's fun to see my progress. Maayong gabii.

Focus

2005-09-27T01:44:00.000-07:00

On my silent retreat last year at Seven Fountains I had a spiritual director assisting me. His name is Father David Townsend. He was recently quoted in an interview that I thought was cool.

"Father David observes that happiness is as elusive a quality as spirituality. Finding joy in life depends on the focus of the person. A focus on self may reveal the negatives in the self. A focus on something larger may allow people to experience great joy."

this was helpful for me b/c lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about myself and my life. Not that that bad, but can get overwhelming. It's refreshing to take a step back and breath the fresh air of perspective. When I focus on the bigger things it helps me relax.
I'm trying to learn to speak Visayan still. It's so hard, but it will be worth it when I can communicate with people here who do not speak English.

Pineapple, Coconut, and Sugar Cane

2005-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's tradition in Philippine culture for a chaperone to accompany a courting couple wherever they go. So Vernie chose her cousin and best friend Dat Dat to be ours. It's been a lot of fun having her around, and she has been very helpful too. Seen in this pic is Dat Dat, Vernie, and me at the "lover's lane" lookout.
Vernie took me to her home town where she grew up, and we spent the last five days there. It's a rural town called Kadingilan, in Bukidnun province. I met "the family", and by that I mean all the cousins and aunts and uncles. It was fun. I saw spider fighting, cool lighting storms, acres of rolling hills of farmland, and "market day." It was a little tiring being the center of attention, but fun for Vernie to show me off to everyone. I was greeted with warm hospitality and friendly smiles from all. The most repeated question we got was, "when is the wedding?" Our answer, "we'll let you know.....and of course you are invited."
Now we are back in Cagayan again at her parent's house. I just got my visa extension so I can stay till November. My "plumbing" is a little unstable at the moment. Not too bad yet though. Hopefully it's just some food my body is not used too. It's either the raw goat skin or the pig's blood soup.
Thanks for reading. Till next time....

Southern Philippines

2005-09-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

Hi. I've finally made it to the internet to post, and here is the latest. Right now I am in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao. It's hot here but not too bad. I'm adjusting ok, and the rain cools things off everyday. Vernie and I left Manila and took a ship South on a three day journey. It was fun after we got into the smooth waters. We decided to visit her family in CDO first and then travel around later.
meeting her family was great. I was really nervous to meet them, but it went very well. They are so very nice to me, and take good care of me. It's so nice to get to know them, and also getting to know Vernie better as well. Our relationship is developing nicely.

Back in the Philippines

2005-09-13T02:19:00.000-07:00

Hello,
I'm here finally. The trip took almost 20 hours, but it was worth it. Vernie met me at the airport earlier today, and now we are staying in the Manila International Youth Hostel.

Unfortunately, I've done something that I'm ashamed of. Vernie and I had lunch at McDonald's. I know, I know.....how could I do such a thing? Well, actually two things on the menu made it worth it: Vernie ordered the spaghetti, and I ordered a coke float, complete with chocolate on top. Just like a sunday.
that's all for now. I'll keep in touch, and post some pics soon. Haste.

Sugar pie, Honey bunch

2005-09-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

During my last week in the Philippines, at the end of my Southeast Asia trip, I met a lovely girl named Vernie through a mutual friend of her’s. We totally hit it off, and spent my last few days in the Philippines hanging out together in her home town Cagayan de Oro, Mindinao. Like me, she likes to travel, and she is my age. For the past 3 months we have been getting to know each other via e-mail, Yahoo IM, and snail mail. (Thank goodness for the webcam.) It’s been great, but of course, we want to be together again. So in the name of love, I am hitting the road again. I’ll be leaving for the Philippines on September 12 and returning November 10(my birthday indecently). Just in case you’re wondering, I’m not getting married on this trip(at least i don’t think so). I’ve been counting the days since i bought my air ticket, and that’s been fun. I decided to read a Psalm for the corresponding number of days left till i leave. So in the words of Will in Good Will Hunting, “I’m going to see about a girl.” But i think i already know. :-) If you have questions or want to dialogue about this send me a message.

Burning Man

2005-09-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

I've heard that Burning Man is an experience in self-reliance and self-expression. That's been my experience, and in addition, in the middle of all the focus on self, there is a profound impression of real community. If you want to know more about what Burning Man is click here. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. It's too amazing for words; you just have to experience it. I've been to Burning Man before in '01, '02, and '04, but this year I will not be going unfortunately. The funny thing is that I really don't know why. Maybe it's just timing. A strong inner desire draws me, but my intuition says no. It's a part of who I am; it's where my heart wants to be. But tonight 'the man' burned. So I'll be looking for those dust covered cars and trucks heading West on I80. I'm sad, but then I remember that there is only 365 more days till I'm home again.

Backpacking in Southeast Asia

2005-09-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

In November 2004, I started on a six month trip through Southeast Asia. I left with my backpack, lots of prayers, and a list of people to visit. My route took me though Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Philippines. During my trip i sent out monthly emails to let my friends know what i was doing. Since returning home i thought it would be cool to post the emails as a synopsis of my trip. I've added some pics, but left the text pretty much as is. (click "read more" to see the rest of this post)

November 18, 2004

hi,
wow, the day of departure is finally here. just a quick note to say thanks and to let you know tonight i am joining the mission team for a 19 hour trip to the phillipines. God help me. :-) that's a long time.
as i was previewing the email list that i compiled over the last few weeks it was so cool to see so many names of people that i care about, and know that they care about me and what i am doing. that is really encouraging. thanks.
if you pray, or even if you don't, please remember me in the next two weeks. it is going to be an intense time with all the new adjustments, and also the team dynamics between the six of us going together.
hope you are well. take care.
and as a friend of mine says, "see you on the flipside." literally.
matthew

December 7, 2004--Mission Trip Completed

hello from Asia. so much has happened in the last two weeks that i don't know where to start. please excuse my typing mistakes in these emails. since i am paying by the minute to use the internet i am typing fast and not correcting mistakes.
the flight from lax was actually 16 hours with an hour stop in HI for fuel, but we couldn't get out of the plane. the team was great, and we all got along well. most of the trip was set up for american's, exept for the food. like toilets, beds, and air conditioning. i tried balute(picture), squid, and dorian. it's fun to experience. they all teased me about eating everything. it's funny. we did a lot of ministry with kids like storytelling, singing, and games in the kindergarten classes in nearby villlages. they are so cute. at a local church i was asked to preach a little sermon, and share my testimony. that was scary, but i think it went ok. the local people there were really nice and friendly. i liked the philippines a lot and look forward to going back.
after one week in the philippines we flew to Thailand. we helped with an english camp for a couple days, then visited schools for the rest of the week to speak english with the students. we also helped teach in an english club. the students were very receptive, and we were able to build good relationships. team unity was a little bumpy the first couple days in thailand, but then it smoothed out. most of the trip i was pretty confident and flexible, but there were certainly some hard, stressful times. thanks for praying. it really helped.
at the end of the week i decided to not stay and teach english. a difficult decision, and the leaders there took it pretty hard. they were really looking forward to me staying, but i didn't feel right about it. teaching english is ok, but not what i feel called to do right now. after we left Yala we stayed in Krabi for a couple days to relax. it was a nice beach resort. i went on a little elephant ride and got to sit behind it's head. that was fun. fyi, elephants have the biggest farts ever. the team and i said goodbye a couple days ago in bangkok. i found a cool little hostel that has everything i need. bangkok is a really big city, and has a lot of pollution. my next plan is to meet up with a friend and travel north. right now i am just enjoying not doing anything. looking to what is ahead gets me really excited. i've wanted to do a long tour like this for long time, and now i'm doing it. thai language is pretty hard, but i am going to try to learn as much as i can.
well, that brings you up to date. i hope all is going well.
take care,
matthew

December 24, 2004

hello,
happy holidays to all. i hope this email finds you well.
things have been slow here, but that has allowed me to relax and plan. here is what has happened since my last correspondence. i spent a few days in Bangkok just kickin' it and buying presents to send back to the fam. i also met an aquaintence from CO, and we decided to travel north together to Chaing Mai. a bit of culture shock finally set in, and i ended up staying there for a week trying to recoup and figure out what i wanted to do for the next few months. my new friend and i realized that, although very cool individuals, we were also very different, and decided not to travel together. she is now in India. i am still in thailand.
i eventually left Chaing Mai and headed north with dual purposes. i was headed to the Myanmar(Burma)--Thailand border to get a visa renewal, so along the way i stopped at a few small towns and villages. i saw lots of temples(a temple is called a Wat). Thailand is 90% Buddhist, so they are everywhere. kinda like churches in western countries. there are also many monks that wear orange robes. i even got to speak with a few. i've also got to meet a lot of tourists from other countries. most everyone i've met is really nice and interesting. on one leg of my journey i took a small 10 person flatbed river boat down the river to another city. everyone spoke french except me and woman from the UK. (note to self: take a french class when i get home) Toward the end of the voyage there were elephants walking in the river beside us with tourist on their backs. we stopped for a break, and i took a photo with one.
i visited Burma for about 3 hours, and then returned to Thailand with a new 30day tourist visa. now i am in Chaing Mai again where i plan to spend the next week after Christmas at a retreat center called the Seven Fountains. i've been wanting to do a solitude/silent retreat for a while, and this was a perfect opportunity.(and cheap) so maybe after that i will know what i want to do with the rest of my life. yeah, right.
there is one adjustment that i would like to make to the last email i sent. i said that i am paying for the use of internet here, so i tend to hurry and make errors. however, i didn't mean to discourage anyone from writing to me. i will always have time for that(except in Myanmar-no internet). so if you want to write, please please do. i would love to hear from you, and will definitely reply. besides, it's only a fraction of what it would cost in the U.S.
again, to those that pray, thank you, thank you, thank you. travel is going very well, and i feel very safe here.
Every best wish and blessing on you this Christmas.
Matthew

January 2, 2005--Safe From the Tsunami

hey ya'll,
just wanted to let you know that all is going well, and i am safe. thanks for your concerns.
the retreat center said they had an opening for me to stay a few extra days. so i get to extend my retreat and make it a ten day like i wanted to. i will write more when i get out of the retreat.
take care,
matthew

February 3, 2005--From Cambodia to Vietnam

Hello,
the world isn't small after all. but cambodia is. i feel that i got a good intro to the country during the last three weeks. after my ten day retreat in Thailand i went southeast to the border. my first stop was Siem Reap where i spent three days touring the Ankor ruins. it was fun, but also difficult to transition from the Thai culture to the Cambodian culture. it's a beautiful country, but also very poor with a heartbreaking past. the weather right now is pretty dry and warm. all the rice fields are mostly dead and dusty with no rain for another few months. after that it all turns green during the rainy season.
after Ankor Wat i took the bus to Phnom Penh and met a friend, Lang from Grass Valley, CA. he grew up in Cambodia, so it was really nice to have someone to show me around and get me familiar with things. i spent a lot of time hanging out with him and his family and friends. also while i was there i saw the royal palace, and the S21 prison camp of the former Khmer Rouge. a pretty somber experience like visiting the nazi prison camps in Europe.
i left Phnom Penh for the coast and spent a few days in a small resort town. the excellent weather made for a great time just relaxing on the beaches, swimming and snorkling. and also eating chicken feet.
when i left the coast to return to my friend's house i felt a little pain in my throat. it progressed rapidly and by that night i was super sick with a massive sore throat and fever. i was very glad to have a friendly place to recoop and a friend to take care of me. by the time i got better i had enough time to go with Lang to visit some of his family in a small village in the countryside. i watched our host climb a tree and cut a few coconuts down so that we could have fresh coconut juice to drink. super nice.
After that i left for Saigon. the bus ride was pretty short, and border crossing went smooth since i already had my Vietnam visa. last night i met the niece of a Sacramento friend of mine. i had a great time touring the city on the back of her moto(moped). i really like Saigon so far. it's beautiful, and it has a pulsating energy 24/7. there's probably a 5 million motos on the streets merging in and out of all the crazy traffic. it will be really cool to observe the Chinese New Year (Tet) on Feb. 9. after that i am planning to head up the coast to Hanoi.
i attached some pics. hopefully they all made it.
keepin' ya posted,
matthew

March 1, 2005--Halfway Mark

hello,
I've uploaded some pics onto a Yahoo site that you can check out at http://photos.yahoo.com/hartmanmatthew. this is instead of attaching them to emails. the pics follow chronologically. enjoy.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) was great. a very beautiful metropolis, and even kinda relaxing amidst the constant buzz of city life. i met up with a relative of a friend who is living there. on my first night there she took me around on her motobike and showed me some of the sights. the city traffic is...well...Awesome! it's amazing to me how a stream of at least 50 motobikes coming from different directions can weave together in the middle of an intersection without hitting anyone. i still flinch now and again when I'm on the back of a motobike and my driver goes flying straight into oncoming traffic. (granted there is the non-stop tooting of horns from everyone). i timed my trip to Vietnam so that i would be here at the same time as one of my favorite authors/teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh. He was exiled in 1975, and this was his first time back. i got to see him give a speech in a packed out theater in Saigon. Even though it was all in Vietnamese it was very cool to be there.
i was also fortunate to have the opportunity of visiting my new friend's family in her home town of Mytho on the Mekong Delta, and celebrate Tet with them. Tet is the Vietnamese New Year based on the Chinese calender. to give you an idea of what it's like, imagine combining Christmas, New Year, and the Fourth of July all rolled up in one giant week-long celebration. a great experience. i loved the Mekong, and got to spend a lot of time with a wonderful and very hospitable family. my friend's dad took me to his pagoda(Buddhist temple), which is the family tradition on Tet, and introduced me to everyone he knew, including a few of the monks.
unfortunately, when i was in the Mekong Delta the back of my ankles mysteriously began to swell, and by the time i got back to Saigon it was painful to walk. so after some wise council i decided that the best thing to do was to take a break from my travels and rest up in Saigon for a week to let my ankles heal. While i was there i visited the dentist, and got a new denture made for my missing front teeth. this one rocks, as i can eat with it in place. plus it was super cheap, and the dentist was very professional and sanitary.
the rest and care worked, and my ankles were almost normal when i left Saigon. after that week i was pretty restless and bolted out of there heading up the coast for Hanoi. i stopped along the way at a few cities, but didn't stay long anywhere. my time in Vietnam was limited due to my 30 day visa expiring, and i still had so much to see. Now i am in Hanoi. it's pretty cold and deary here. but i don't mind so much since i missed Winter back home. i kinda like the change from the heat too. i just got back from Ha Long Bay, but i haven't put those pics on my pics page yet. the bay is breathtakingly amazing, and for me actually ranks up there with the Swiss Alps. now only one more day in VN and i am off to Laos.
it's been over three months since i have left home and gone west. after two months i hit a wall, so to speak, and things were harder being on the road. i think caused by culture shock/adjustment. but now after about three months things have gotten better, and i am feeling back on track, focused and pushing onward with renewed tenacity.
walkin' my feet off,
Matthew

March 29, 2005--A Place Called Laos

Hello,
i hope you are well these days. the last email i sent i was in Vietnam, and now i am in Bangkok again getting ready to fly to Myanmar(Burma). i'm recovering from the flu, but while in Bangkok i saw some sights and got my Myanmar visa. in my last few days in VN i went north to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. i really liked the Bay. for me, it ranks up there with the Swiss Alps as far as natural wonders go. my tourist visa for VN was past expiration, but they let me leave with only a little fee. the bus ride from Hanoi to Laos was nothing short of pure transit adventure. the 26 hour journey was more than i bargained for, but i was glad to be across the border and in Vientiane, Laos.
Laos is amazingly green and beautiful and cheap. so right away it's my favorite place so far. it's also really poor, but the people are really friendly, the language is a little easier for me to learn, and i am convinced that it is at least 90% hills and valleys. all my travels were pretty exhausting, bumpy and crowded, but cheap. so i didn't mind that much. the most amazing place i visited was a little village in the north called Muang Ngoi that was only accessible by a 1hr boat ride up a river. there were no cars or motorbikes, and not that many tourists. quiet and relaxing. i rented a bungalow right on the river, and spent my time mostly lounging in a hammock or exploring the nearby beaches or caves. after a few days i left and made my way west to a small town near the Chinese border called Muang Sing. there i went with a small group of tourists on a two day trek to a nearby hill-tribe village in the forest.
at that point i made the decision to head to Burma via Bangkok instead of exploring the south of Laos. hopefully someday i will be back and can visit there when i have more time. so i am off to Burma and then the Philippines. there is not very good communication services in Burma, so i may not be able to write for the next few weeks. it's a very interesting and sad situation there right now. much political oppression. the leader of the democratic party, Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest by the military. if your interested check out this little explanation that helped me decide that i wanted to go: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/myanmar/
or this longer one that has a cool map: http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/misc_images/burma.pdf
you can also check out more pictures that i have posted. they tell a better story than i. http://photos.yahoo.com/hartmanmatthew enjoy, and thanks for your prayers, thoughts, and warm feelings.
many blessings to you this Spring and Easter season.
Matthew

April 28, 2005--"There and Back Again"

Hello there. welcome to another addition of "Short but Sweet" update from matty. of course i've posted lots more pics on the yahoo site to follow. enjoy! http://photos.yahoo.com/hartmanmatthew
after site seeing a bit in Bangkok and being sick for a few days, i flew over to Myanmar. it definitely took a culture adjustment after landing in Yangon. things are a lot more poor and underdeveloped.
i landed in Yangon, and my taxi driver dropped me off at a guesthouse where i stayed for the week while site seeing. it just so happened that there was a church a few floors above in the same building as the guesthouse. so i wandered up to say hi and met a new friend Pastor Kimpi. he invited me to go with him to an orphanage outside of town. of course i went and didn't regret it. in an amazing way orphan kids can lift your spirit despite their circumstances. i also got to ride the public buses which was quite a unique experience for me. i learned early on that in Myanmar no matter what people might say or how it may look, the bus is never full, and there is always room for one more. be it one more person, chicken, goat, or ....
i eventually made my way up to Mandalay. then on to Inle Lake where i stayed for the famous Water Festival. the Water Festival is similar to the Vietnamese Tet. Everyone celebrates the new year by dumping water on each other for 4 days straight. it gets a little crazy in the big cities, so i took refuge in a small town. it was really fun to walk down the street and let everyone, young and old pour water on me. big smiles for all.
lastly i made my way to Bagan to see the ancient pagoda ruins. it was quite majestic, mystical, magical, and ......Hot. but i managed and eventually went back to Yangon to say farewell to my new pastor friend before flying back to Bangkok. while in Myanmar i finished reading The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and decided to give it to him as a present. books are hard to get there because the government is very restrictive and oppressive. i didn't witness much because the government keeps the tourists out of many areas of the country. especially places where there is fighting and soldiers are evacuating villages for no reason or warning. some stories i heard were pretty atrocious
so now i'm back in Bangkok, and in a couple days will be in the Philippines for three weeks.
till next time.
best wishes and many blessings.
matthew

June 15, 2005--The Grand Finale

hi there friends and family! this is the last email about my trip to S.E. Asia. i returned to the USA on May 18th, and am now living in Grass Valley, CA.
my last email came from Bangkok where i hung out at Khao San Road and also visited an inmate at a prison. after a couple days i left for the Philippines. when i got here i had a hard time planning my itinerary because there is so many things to see and visit in a limited time. that's pretty much the theme to this segment of my trip--pushing like mad from one town to the next, and then running out of steam. i stayed in Manila for a couple days, and then went to the south of Luzon to Donsol. My reason for going there was to go swimming with Whale Sharks which was one of the best experiences of my trip. i went out for one day and swam with a shark on four different times. one time i swam with a 8 meter long shark for about 10 minutes. i wanted to go out another day, but time was limited. so i left for Cebu Island by night ferry-ordinary class which had about 500 bunkbeds packed together on the same level. very fun.
upon arrival in Cebu City i took a "rollercoaster" bus ride to Moal Boal on the other side of the Island. i went snorkeling here for a couple of days, and saw amazing coral and fish in the ultra clear water. from there i took a ferry to Bohol, then to Alona Beach. Accomodation was full and expensive there, so after walking around a bit i met a nice security guard that allowed me to crash on a bench for the night. the next day i went snorkling, then took off for Mindanao.
at Cagayan de Oro i met up with a family of a friend of my dad's back in America. after a couple days i left for Siargao Island. after the boat ride over i met a very nice couple on vacation. we shared a taxi, and then ended up hanging out together for the next few days at a beach resort. later they introduced me to their friend Vernie, and we all rented some motorbikes and drove though the beautiful island to an amazing lagoon-like spot for a swim. i also tried surfing, stepped on a sea urchin, and woke up to the most amazing sunrises ever in my life.
i had a very good time in the Philippines, and one day i will go back to see the other half of the country that i missed.
thanks for reading, and keep in touch. my number is 916-955-0444.
also, see new pics at http://photos.yahoo.com/hartmanmatthew more pics to come soon from December and Jan.
yours truly,
matthew

Click here to see more of my photos!

2005-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

This is a picture I took on a train ride in Myanmar.
In November 2004, I left for a six month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. One way i saved for this trip was by living in a VW bus for a year. See 'Bus Adventure' to read all about it. The Bus Adventures site was made by my good friend Ryan. Thanks Ryan.
You can check out all my photos by clicking here.
There is also links on the right for both places.

2005-08-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's me
Check it out, i'm blogging. yippeeeeee!