The Geek

My name's too short to merit a nickname.  I'm Ardee. Quite a few call me Ardz (the short name became a bit shorter). I'm a quality and process analyst for a financial account on a regular day.

Quick facts about me:

• grew up in Nueva Ecija
• got a degree in Business Economics at Central Luzon State University
• Toggling between Ayala and Ortigas for work.

I love gadgets.  I may not have the money to buy them all but I have the desire and interest to have them someday.  Currently, I own a few and they're my travel buddies. 

Nikkie - my DSLR.  It's a Nikon D40.  I got Nikkie on June of 2009. I wasn't really planning to buy a digital SLR at the time although it is one of my goals, but circumstances made me grab the opportunity to own one.  A friend bought his D40 online for 21K (March 2009).  I just thought I want one too but has not found the complete list of reasons to buy one.  When I was browsing online I noticed that the prices were starting to climb.  I did a bit more reading online and found the place to grab a D40--Hidalgo St. in Quiapo, Manila.  From then on, Nikkie has been documenting all the precious moments of my life.

I'm not a good photographer but I am trying.  I don't have a steady hands so most often than not I get blurry shots.  

Neo - my trusted 3 year-old laptop.  I called him Neo because of his brand.  Nothing special.  He's the first big thing I bought for myself after the desktop I got for home use. Really, I wasn't into technical stuff in the past so I just bought what seems right for what I needed.  I only wanted to own a laptop so I can manage my workload during the weekends (loser).  Well, it has been three years and he's still doing a great job.  

Terry - She came along when Neo was in need of more storage space.  Neo's closet was full, hence he cannot function well.  I got Terry on December of 2010. She's been the treasure chest of everything I own that's digital. She's my 1TB external hard drive I carry wherever I go. 

iPPIE - I originally got iPPIE because I was drunk. (LOL)  I wanted an iPad but I don't want to buy it at the time.  But when I got drunk one day coming from Cavite, I went straight to Power Mac! Adik lang!

Neo weighs a little over a kilogram and is quite a strain in the back and shoulders whenever I travel.   So iPPIE became a reasonable alternative. 

The Traveler

I started traveling at an early age when my family used to frequent Mindanao. My mother was born and raised in Kabacan, North Cotabato.  We stopped visiting them often because I started going to school while the cost of traveling has become expensive for a growing family.  

Traveling has become an interest once again when I went to Cebu with my QA friends last March.  I enjoyed the trip and since then has been craving to discover new places I have never been to.  Unfortunately, traveling is an expensive hobby, hence, no travels other than when I am going home to Nueva Ecija to see my family. 

After my trip to Bohol (Aug 20-22) on my own, I realized how I really wanted to travel and to explore the country.  It rekindled the desire to discover places and to taste flavors these places have to offer. Marie Villadolid of Happy Travels has influenced me to travel more.  Her blog has been an inspiration to travel even on a budget. She always believe that you don't need to be rich to enjoy traveling.

I just started this space a couple of months ago to document my first ever travel experience.  Now I am hoping to fill it with new photos and stories as I travel the country and the world one destination at a time.

At Batlag Falls in Tanay, Rizal

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” --Mark Twain

You can contact me at whizkidwister@gmail.com or contact@thebackpackinggeek.tk [No spams please ^_^ ]