It is the night before I leave (well, technically, the morning of the day I leave) and I'm more or less all packed. Leave it to me to wait until the last minute. Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator. In fact, I only tried to reserve my hostel for my first night in Quito earlier today, with no reply just yet.

There is a weird feeling I have; part anxiety, part sadness. Funny how on all my previous trips, the feeling of going away never really sunk in until three days into a trip, and here I am on the eve of The Global Trip 2004, feeling almost nauseous over what is about to happen. (Or is it just the exhaustion of partying all weekend long?) For months, I was notoriously nonchalant about everything, and now, it's all happening so fast. Never before have I embarked on such a grand -- and long -- trip. But, as I've told people before: "If you're anxious or nervous, that's why it's gonna be good."

I said some final goodbyes to family today -- all my aunts and uncles and cousins in the area. We went to a chinese food buffet, where my brother and I played "Iron Chef Buffet" in which we try to outdo each other making our plates of food look all gourmet and fancy.

Afterwards, it was a final farewell to my friends around here, including my friends that flew up from Miami for the weekend. I could definitely feel that it has all begun to sink in their minds, and perhaps it is contagious because I feel it too. It's almost like I have homesickness already.

Not to worry! From what I heard from a guy I know who is currently doing a similar trip through South America as I am for three months, there will be plenty of downtime in which I'll veg out in an internet cafe and chat with people back home. So, it's not so much a goodbye in the virtual world at least.

Post comments as I update the blog everyday with a picture-of-the-day. Drop a hello, inform me of news back home or what's going on on the latest reality show (Did somebody say "The Next Joe Millionaire?"), send me on missions, etc. And forward the blog to all your friends; I want it to be a "travel the world without leaving your computer" thing and really want to develop a cult following -- you know, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, only without Tim Curry in women's clothes or a time warp. Then again, who knows who or what I may meet along the way?

Special Thanks to Brian, Stephen, Tita Bien, John, Tita Nene, Ria, Michael, Tito Manny, Tita Merci, Tita Lisa, Brittany and Stephanie for their contributions and gifts! Expect some postcards!

Extra Special Thanks to Risa Cantimbuhan for her thoughtful gifts: a homemade beanbag to prop my camera on uneven surfaces and a calling card! Guess that means you'll get some phone calls as well as postcards!