Crossing the Border from Tachileik to Mae Sai via Mandalay, Myanmar

 Tachileik to Mae Sai - Crossing the Border

I wanted to post this blog so that it may be able to help other travelers learn from my experience. It was fairly easy, but I went in pretty nervous, and not knowing what to expect because there wasn't much information in the guidebooks, as well as the internet about crossing the border from Tachileik (Myanmar) to Mae Sai (Thailand). 

I departed Bagan on a Mini Van for Mandalay which costs 10,000 Kyat ($10), there were other bus options from $8,000 to $9,000 Kyat, but I did it last minute and had to take what I could get, not that I was complaining, $10 for a bus ticket is like a Dollar Store version of Greyhound Bus Lines back home, can't beat that with a stick! Anyways, the ride took a little over 5 hours with one stop to eat dinner (I left Bagan at 4pm). The bus ride was pretty entertaining because I was riding with about 5 young college kids from Bagan who were attending a University in Mandalay, they were singing American Pop Music with their strong accents almost the whole entire time, and they just made the trip fun. They seemed like they were from well to do Burmese families, and were quite lucky to be able to go to college, it was a pleasure hanging out with them =).

We finally arrived in Mandalay, and I stayed overnight at this place called Rich Queen Guest House. I was originally planning to stay at AD-1 Hotel which was suggested by the Goats, but they were all booked. Rich Queen Guest House had some average reviews on Trip Advisor, but from my experience, it was quite nice. I paid $18 US for a single room with A/C, and the Wi-Fi was decent so I was able to get some work done and catch up on some emails. Breakfast was also included, so that was a nice touch. I highly recommend it for Backpackers looking for a nice quiet place away from the Mandalay city life.


So I took a shared taxi from my guest house to the Mandalay International Airport which costs $6,000 Kyat ($6 bucks) and it took a little less than an hour to get there. I shared the taxi with this guy named Daniel from Singapore. He had some great stories, especially the one about how he was  mugged in Kathmandu and lived to tell about it.

Mandalay International Airport

We arrived at Mandalay International Airport and my goal was to buy a ticket for Tachileik. But let me rewind a little bit. Someone told me that I could take a bus from Mandalay to Tachileik, but that was false information. I did hear about another bus route, but they told me that something happened enroute, and they had to turn back and just fly to Tachileik. So when I arrived in Mandalay, the staff at AD-1 Hotel told me that I would have to fly....I was like darn, I was trying to save a few bucks!

So we get to the airport, and the only air ticket counter that I saw was this lady behind what looked like a food vendor both lol, but apparently she was a travel and tour employee. There were signs on the counter, but they were all in Burmese, and I definitely couldn't read it. I asked if there was a flight to Tachileik today and what time it departs. She quoted me $160 US with a $1,000 Kyat ($1) fee, not sure what it was for. I was like, that seems a bit too high.

The staff at AD-1 Hotel told me that flights to Tachileik were about $70 US, the internet said around $149, and this ticket counter lady said $160! I then said let me think about this for a minute. So as I was thinking, she started assisting these other backpackers that I just met from Belgium. As they were chatting with the ticket counter lady, one of the backpackers told me that they just bargained their fare from $105 per person to $56 US per person to Yangon, I was like what?!! You bargained your air fare?? So after that, I began to start walking around the airport to see if there were other ticket counters to get service from. I found one by the name of Sun Far Travel & Tours and they quoted me $131 US, so I said I'll take it. It wasn't $70, but it was a lot better than the internet price of $149, and a heck of a lot better than $160. Apparently it's the "Travel & Tour Companies" who sell the air tickets for the airline companies at Mandalay International. So my suggestion to you is if you are at this airport and you are not satisfied with the ticket price, I would look for another ticket counter (there are other ticket counters on the lower level where baggage claim is located), or even try bargaining lol, that's crazy! That would not happen in the US of A, only in Myanmar. But I guess it could happen anywhere else, but this was definitely a first for me.

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After I agreed to the ticket price, I paid cash to the ticket counter at Sun Far Travel & Tours. They did not give me a receipt, and I was a little worried about that. I was then escorted by a Sun Far Representative to another counter to "check in". That's where they checked my passport and then printed out my boarding pass. From there, I went to passport control and immigration (it went pretty fast) and then I was finally off to my departure gate.

Here's the thing, the process just seemed so shady to me, but I just brushed it off and was just happy to get a ticket to Tachileik. After that, things started to get better. As I was sitting down waiting for my departure, one of the Sun Far Associates gave me a free lunch consisting of Steamed Rice, Vegetables, and Chicken. They also gave me a bottled water. I noticed that they were giving it to all of their customers who bought airline tickets from Sun Far Travel & Tours. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed by that. No other airline company, or company affiliation with an airline has ever done that in my whole life I've been traveling. Also let me remind you, I didn't book First-Class, as if they would even have that =). It was pretty funny though because everyone else who didn't book their flight with Sun Far seemed to be "jelly" because they weren't getting any free food =).

Myanma Airways - Sun Far Travel & Tours

I finally boarded the plane which was via Myanma Airways. I believe that Myanma Airways and Sun Far must work together or something. My ticket had a seat number on it, but the flight attendants told me that is was "free seating" and I could sit anywhere. That was awesome! The flight attendants reminded me of the Burmese version of Cebu Pacific Airlines. They were very pretty Burmese girls with fair skin and had great smiles, which really makes a huge difference in service. I come from the Hospitality Industry, and smiling is very important and represents professionalism. I know what you're saying right now "tell me something I don't know Arnel" =). So enough about my crush on these girls =). But check this out, Myanma Airways also provided each passenger with a Snack Box and cold beverages. These days, you'll be lucky if you get a small bag of peanuts from any airline, so big props to Myanma Airways and Sun Far because their name was on the snack box.

Free Snack Box - Not very healthy, but good for a cheat meal =)

On the way to Tachileik, we had one stopover at Lashio, Myanmar where we picked up a few more passengers heading the same direction. After jetting off and finally heading towards Tachileik, the flight attendants went around AGAIN and offered another Snack Box and beverages! I was like "WOW", this is too much, you guys are going above and beyond here. In the USA, I am happy to just get my typical "tomato juice"! So if you are ever flying out of Mandalay to Tachileik, I would go with Sun Far Travel & Tours and fly with Mynama Airways, I just had the best experience with them. It's not first class, but it's better than what you get in the states hands down!

Once we touched down in Tachileik (1 1/2 hours total), I went through immigration and it went very smooth. From the Tachileik Airport to the border crossing, it takes about 20 minutes with a Tuk Tuk and cost about $3,500 Kyat ($3.50 US). As far as I know, you can also take a taxi which costs about the same price as a Tuk Tuk, but may be more comfortable. I like riding in Tuk Tuks, especially if they don't try to rip you off.

Window View - Landing in Tachileik, Myanmar

Tachileik Airport - Myanmar

Tuk Tuk to Border Crossing

 The Tuk Tuk driver will drop you off at the Golden Triangle Roundabout. From there it's only a 2 minute walk to the border crossing. You first have to go to Passport Control and Visa Check before leaving the Myanmar side. After that, you cross over to Mae Sai and do the same thing before going into Thailand. You will need to fill out an Arrival Card before going through Passport Control, and you can get the arrival cards to fill out from the Passport Control Officials. Once you're done, you're in Mae Sai, Thailand!

Mae Sai, Thailand

If you need to do a "money exchange", there is one just past the Thai Police Department a few blocks past the the border crossing. There are banks along the way, but I couldn't find one that would change my Kyats to Thai Bahts, but that's when they recommended the Money Exchange place to me just passed the Poilce Station.

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I was so happy to cross the border from Tachileik to Mae Sai. I thought that it was going to be much more difficult, but it was all smooth sailing. If you need to get to the Mae Sai bus station like I had to, I suggest getting either a Tuk Tuk or a motorbike to take you. I took a motor bike (guys with the orange vests) and it was $50 Baht ($1.55 US). It takes about 10 minutes depending on traffic to get to the Mae Sai Bus Station. Once I got there, my plan was to go to Chiang Rai, so I found a bus for only $39 Baht ($1.21 US) and it took about 1 1/2 hours (maybe a little less) to get to Chiang Rai because of all the Security Check Points, and pick up/drop offs along the way.

 Mae Sai Bus Station

Anyways, my apologies for the long dang post, but I hope that it helps a little bit for those of you who are trying to cross the border from Myanmar to Thailand. Feel free to leave any comments, or if you have done this before, please let me know if I left anything out.

Stay active my friends, and safe travels! =)

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Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling

Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling

Ok let's face it, Beachbody comes out with the BEST fitness programs on the market! And I'm not just saying that just because I am a Beachbody Coach, don't forget, I did P90X before I became a Coach. Whatever your goal may be: Lose Weight, Better Athlete, Tone Up, Eat Healthier, Train for an Obstacle Course Race, Maintain Lifestyle, or even become a Pro Body Builder.....Beachbody has a fitness program for you.

Watch my Fitness Journey Video - Click Here!

Ok let's say you're about to go on vacation, or you're planning a trip around the world, it doesn't matter =) Most, if not all of the Beachbody Fitness Programs are very travel-friendly. Some more than others, but that's what this post is about. If you are like me, I love traveling! And one of the worst excuses for not working out is "going on vacation". I'm here to tell you that it is not impossible if you have the right program and the right ATTITUDE. If you go on vacation with the mind-set that you may not have time to workout (or eat healthy), then there's a good chance that you won't, but if you go on vacation with the mind-set that you are going to live a healthy and fit lifestyle no matter what, then you will have success, AND have a blast when you travel. Because fitness is a lifestyle!

So first things first, you always want to make sure that you are doing a program that is geared towards your fitness level. The best way to do that is to contact me, or fill out my FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENT, and I will give you some options on the best programs based on your fitness level and lifestyle. So after that, you're all set to have a great vacation or trip around the world!

Beachbody Fitness Programs are pretty much all travel-friendly depending on the following:

- Fitness Equipment
- Gym or Hotel Room Space

The Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling are my suggestions based on having no or very limited equipment. I will specify which program requires certain equipment, and give you suggestions on how you can make it work for you.

1.  INSANITY - This is my top choice for the most effective and travel-friendly fitness program. Insanity does not use any equipment whatsoever, and you can workout in a hotel room, gym cardio room, or even outside in the park. This program is geared towards advanced fitness levels, but you can modify or go at your own pace. Insanity Options - Click Here

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2.  PIYO - This is also a program that requires no equipment. Piyo is LOW-IMPACT and is suited for all fitness levels. What I really like about Piyo is how the program incorporates yoga, pilates, strength and conditioning into the workouts. When traveling, stretching is something that can act as a relaxer. You've been hiking all day, shopping all day etc. so a nice Piyo workout would be a great way to end or even start your day. Yoga mats are recommended for some workouts, but as long as you have a soft surface, you should be fine.

3   P90X - This is my favorite program of all time! I love doing P90X at the gym or in my hotel room, or wherever I am staying. I use P90X mostly for weight training, and so if you are into that, then P90X would be my recommendation for you. The program does call for the use of dumbbells, pull up bar for most of the strength workouts, but if your hotel has a gym, you should be fine. If I stay at a place where there is no gym available, I just search for the nearest one on google, and either get a DAY PASS, or a weekly pass depending on how long I plan to stay. You can always pack some resistance bands with you to replace not having dumbbells, but from my experience, nothing beats the results that you get from actual weights. You also do not need to bring the DVD player into the gym, you can use the P90X Workout Sheets just as long as you are familiar with the proper movements.  P90X Options - Click Here! Do you prefer more weights? Click here for Body Beast Options

4.  FOCUS T25 - Are you really busy, but you still want to get your workout in? Well, that's what Focus T25 is all about. The workouts are only 25 minutes long, and there is minimal equipment needed. If you are just gone for a weekend, then you won't need to worry about weights or anything. Again you can pack resistance bands if you want. Depending on how long you are traveling, you can also plan your workouts ahead to make sure that you bring the proper equipment with you. I'll be honest, I do a lot of T25 in my hotel room, but when I do weights, I go for P90X. T25 Options - Click Here

5.  21 DAY FIX - Just like Focus T25, this program has 30 minute workouts. It combines everything from strength, cardio, plyometrics, and yoga. My favorite workout from this program is the 21 Day Fix - 10 Minute Fix for Abs, it's nothing but CRUNCHES! With all of that eating that you might be doing, you may want to hit some 21 Day Fix Cardio, then kill some abs too, it's one of my secret ab workouts that I do every week =).

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So there you have it, my TOP 5 picks for the best Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling. If you have any questions on any of these programs, or if you would like me to assist you with finding the best program for you, message me, or fill out my FREE FITNESS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, and I look forward to chatting with you soon! Safe travels =)


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Pagoda Hopping by Bike - Bagan Myanmar

 Pagoda Hopping by Bike - Bagan, Myanmar

 Other than walking and running, I believe that the very best way to sight-see when traveling is by bike. Almost every city that I visit, that is one of the first things that I try to do. I either book a local bike tour or rent a bike, grab a map and explore. In Bagan, Myanmar I decided to rent a bike and explore the 2,000+ Pagoda's on my own with a traveler that I just met from England. Now of course I don't think it's possible to visit each Pagoda in one day, but you can actually see a plethora of them from the bigger ones (posted below). I do recommend that you at least spend 2 days of exploring the Bagan Pagodas and Temples.

So first things first, I would definitely make sure that you get a map from wherever you are staying. Most hotels, hostels and guest houses can provided FREE maps for you, if not, they cost only $1,000 Kyat which is about $1 US. Next you will of course need a bike. There are different options for bikes, and of course you can get a motor bike if you want, but that's not going to get you fit =). If you do not know, I am a Beachbody Coach, so staying active when I travel is top priority. While some people travel to relax, I mostly travel to explore, and enjoy doing adventurous things that keep me and my body active. I mean even visiting these Pagodas with a motor bike, you will still have to climb steps, and I mean a lot of steps if you plan to see a lot. The best views are from the bigger Pagodas, and there is no heli-service to take you up =). If you are on a time crunch, then a motor bike might be right up your alley. Bagan is a very spiritual place, so I recommend allowing some time to get off the beaten path and explore, but also make time to relax and enjoy the moment of just being in an ancient city.

Running up the Sunset Pagoda

*Best workout programs for traveling: Insanity, P90X, T25, and Piyo

As far as bicycle rentals, you can rent a bike for $1,000 Kyat ($1 US) for a whole day. I actually paid $1500 Kyat which isn't bad anyways, that's only $.50 cents more =). Most hotels and guesthouses have bike rentals around Bagan, but I would recommend going straight to a bike rental place to get the best deal, because the guesthouses charge more to get their commissions if they do not own their own bikes.  Motor bikes can run anywhere from $5,000 Kyat (only $5 US) and up.

There are basically 3 main places to stay in Bagan: Old Bagan, New Bagan, and Nyaung-U (where I stayed). Depending on your starting point in Bagan will determine which is the best route for you to take. Just grab a map and start exploring. There are many things to see along the way, and you will just be amazed with all the Pagodas, markets, street food etc. If you were to ask me where I would suggest to go, it would be the Monastery (the one with the broken Pagoda top, you can't miss it, there are almost always tour buses parked out front), the Shwe-san-daw Paya (which is considered the best place to watch the sunset), and some of the remote villages way past all the city life such as Min-tan-thu Village. Once you pass through Min-tan-thu Village, you will see less Pagodas and more village life.

On top of the Sunset Pagoda (Shwe-san-daw)

 Other tips:
- Request a bicycle with gears =)
- Bring a day pack with you and include snacks and water. There are places to buy snacks, but it's always good to have some handy.
- Bring sunscreen and some sunglasses
- Be respectful and wear conservative clothing such as longer shorts, shirts with sleeves etc
- If you want to enter the Pagodas and Temples, be prepared to take off your shoes and socks.
- You might get hassled by a lot of street vendors at the Pagodas, don't let that turn you off. Everyone has to make a living, and you don't have to buy anything if you don't want to.
- Ask before you take pictures in the temples. Some allow you to take photos, some do not, so always ask and do not assume it's ok.
- If you plan to see the sunset at the Shwe-san-daw, make sure to get there at least one hour early to get a good spot. It fills up fast up there!
- Don't fall off a temple! =)

Myanmar is beginning to have more and more travelers every year. I would make plans to visit this gem before it gets over-populated with packaged tourists and get's more commercialized. If you've always wanted to visit Myanmar, then the time is now.

CLICK HERE FOR A GREAT LIST OF PAGODAS TO VISIT!

As always, stay active my friends!

Pann Cherry Guest House - Bagan, Myanmar

I stayed at the Pann Cherry Guest House in Nyaung-Oo. The guesthouse is located on the Main Road near the Shwezigon Pagoda Nyaung-Oo (Bagan), Mandalay Division, Myanmar. They have rooms from $7 US for a single room (fan) up to $30 US for a double room with A/C, TV, Hot Water (they have more options). I stayed in both types of rooms and they were all great. The staff was very helpful and provided information on onward travel, bus tickets, tours, volcano treks, and bike rentals. I highly recommend it especially for adventure seekers, budget travelers and/or backpackers. Free Wi-Fi is available, but just like anywhere in Myanmar, it's not that great.

Pann Cherry Guest House
Phone: +(95)-61-60075 or +(95)-61122
Main Road near Shwezigon Pagoda
Nyaung-Oo (Bagan), Mandalay Division, Myanmar 

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- How I Earn A Living While Traveling
- Working Out While Traveling


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100 Wonders of the World Burpee Challenge - Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok Thailand

 Grand Palace - Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok Thailand

If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome! =) This blog is about my fitness and travel journey. You can find out more about me by clicking here =). So I decided in the beginning of 2014 that I was going to start a challenge which consisted of both my fitness and travel passions. I somehow talked myself into visiting 100 Wonders of the World, and also doing 30 burpees at each of them. My goal is to film each set of 30 burpees at each WOW (Wonder of the World) and then finally put together a compilation video of each video. I'm not sure how long it will take me, but my goal is less than 5 years =). I am calling this the "100 Wonders of the World Burpee Challenge".

Check out my 100 Wonders of the World Videos on Youtube - Click Here!

The question that I get all the time is....WHY? Why are you doing this? It's pretty simple, I am doing this for a couple of reasons:

- To take advantage of the FREEDOM that my Beachbody Coaching Business has given to me!
- To share health and fitness along with travel education around the world.
- To inspire my daughter to live her BEST life now!

Combining my two passions and sharing it with the world is something that I never planned on doing, it just happened. If it wasn't for the support of my family and very close friends (my coach team), this lifestyle would not have been possible for me. I am truly blessed to be able to travel the world with all of my expenses fully funded by me thanks to my Beachbody Coaching Business which allows me to not be location dependent, I despise office cubicles and bosses telling me what to do =). As long as I have internet, I can still work my business. It's not a bad gig working from a bamboo hut overlooking the world's finest beaches and mountains! Are you doing what you really love? Maybe I can help you with that =).

Grand Palace Pagoda - Bangkok, Thailand

So I landed in Bangkok Thailand on October 17th (2014), and all I could think about was doing my burpees at the Emerald Buddha Temple, which according the Hillman's List (the WOW list that I am going by), it is the only Wonder of the World (100) in Thailand. The place was absolutely amazing! The staff would not allow me to do my 30 burpees within the temple walls, so I had to go outside to do them, here's my video:




Thanks again for visiting my blog, stay tuned for more fitness and travel posts, and I look forward to meeting you somewhere around the world! =)


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Traveling with P90X - Gym Tips

 

 Traveling with P90X - Gym Tips

I think it's absolutely funny when people say "Hey Coach Arnel, I'll be going on vacation so I may not be able to get my P90X workouts in, I'll catch up when I get back home". First of all...VACATION or travel IS NOT AN EXCUSE to not workout and live a healthy lifestyle. Whomever came up with that must have been drunk lol. Health and Fitness is a lifestyle, and P90X is no different.

Here are some misconceptions about P90X:

- It's only a home fitness program
- You need a DVD player or laptop
- It's only a 90 day program

And here's the real skinny:

- P90X can be done at home, gym, and even at the park
- As long as you have the worksheets, or the P90X app, you don't need a DVD player or laptop. It is recommended that you do watch the videos first to make sure that you understand the proper movements.
- P90X is a program that combines a structure of movements to help you get physical results in a certain period of time. Depending on your goal, you can use P90X to get results fast by one or all of the following: the 90 day program, incorporate it into your existing workouts, or use the 6 years worth of workouts for everyday life. With 6+ years of workouts, and more coming every year, it's impossible to do the same workout every day. Quit listening to people who tell you that P90X can't be customized, and talk to a Coach that actually knows what he's doing. Anyone who says P90X is a "cookie cutter program" needs to do more homework. And I'll be happy to help them with that =)

Choose your P90X Challenge - Click Here!

So back to my blog post on "Traveling with P90X", I recently finished a P90X workout "Chest, Shoulders, and Tris" and I customized it using the equipment that was available at a local gym in Bangkok, Thailand (I'm currently traveling South East Asia while writing this post). The gym (Power Zone Fitness) that I worked out at was perfect, and for only 500 Baht for a day pass ($15 US), I can't complain because the surrounding gyms were all asking 650 to 1070 Baht ($20-$32 US). In the Philippines, I was paying just a little over a dollar for a day pass!!! As long as they have ample space to workout, and a few dumbbells, that's all I need. Anything else is a bonus, and really not needed. Again, I'm traveling. I'm not training for anything right now. All I'm doing is maintaining my fitness lifestyle while trekking the globe. If you missed my post about "How Fitness Can Help You Travel Better", you can check it out here.

Traveling with P90X can get a bit tricky especially if you're doing P90X at the gym. Most people don't  know how to modify the exercises with the actual gym equipment, and they end up making that excuse that "oh, I didn't have my DVD player, so I couldn't do P90X". If you are one of those people who is unsure how to do P90X at the gym, then I hope this helps you =)

- When P90X calls for any kind of push-ups, you can either do the push ups, or use any piece of gym equipment that focuses on your chest such as: dumbbell presses, chest press machine, or bench press with barbell.
- When P90X calls for Floor Flys or even side to side push ups, you can do the following: dumbbell flys or a chest fly machine or similar.

- When P90X calls for Tricep exercises such as side tri-rise. You can do tricep kick-backs with dumbbells, or even the tricep pull-down machine.

- When P90X calls for pull-ups, then I recommend that you really try to do pull-ups =). If not, use the lat pull-down machines and adjust your grip depending on which muscles you are trying to focus on.
- When P90X calls for In-Out Shoulder Flys, Military Press etc. then I highly recommend that you use dumbbells for sure. But if the dumbbells are not readily available because of the meat heads =), then you can use the shoulder press machines, or even better, a barbell.

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These are just some quick P90X gym tips to help you. I know that certain gyms have really tight spaces, so trying to do some of the floor exercises are impossible (I've been to some really small gyms around the world). Just remember that if P90X calls for a certain exercise that works a certain muscle group, keep it simple and find a machine or use dumbbells that work the same muscle group. If you are ever unsure, most machines have pictures and descriptions to explain what the machines are used for. You can always ask anyone that works at the gym, don't be afraid to ask questions. Most every gym that I've been to have all been very welcoming. We all are focused on being healthy and fit. It's not a night club, it's a gym =).

Get Free P90X Workout Sheets Here!

In closing,  I highly recommend dumbbells over using any equipment. Just find a bench and go to town. I always finish off my strength workouts with a cross-training run on the tread-mill or around the village =) or town.

If you need more suggestions on how to travel and do P90X at the gym, then feel free to connect with me. I offer free P90X Coaching and advice. I do recommend that you first make me your Free Coach by clicking here, then once you're all set, add me on facebook and send me a message, and I'll be happy to assist you.

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Stay active my friends! 

Do you feel P90X is too extreme for you? Then I highly recommend P90. It's perfect for anyone who is just starting a fitness journey. It's new, exciting and for all fitness levels! Watch the video below, and click on the link to get the DISCOUNTED Challenge Pack price.

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How I Earn A Living While Traveling

 How I Earn A Living While Traveling

It was the year of 2001, I headed on my first backpacking trip to Europe. At the time, I was working in the hospitality industry. I worked in a casino, a night club, and was in the process of starting a night life marketing business. I have never planned a trip that lasted over weekend before that. I bought a book by Lonely Planet, it was called "Europe on a Shoestring". I did research for about a year before I ventured out and invited a friend to come with me. Her name was Christine, and at the time, she was one of my co-workers. I thought to myself.... this girl is fun, we have a blast at work, she would probably be loads of fun to travel with. And I was right, she was awesome, we had the time of our lives and backpacked five countries in about a month, which is really short compared to backpacker standards, but that was only the beginning.

Till this day, I look back at that experience which has helped me make a decision that travel was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I literally felt at home, when I was not at home. The fact that you could just take off anytime that you want, hop on a plane, bus, or train and visit  the most amazing places around the world, it was like FREEDOM to me! I had a taste of it, and when I arrived back home, I started to think of a game plan on how I could travel the world, and have a business, or a job that I can do while traveling. That was the hard part, it actually took years.

I went from doing odd jobs, throwing crazy parties, doing telemarketing, started an online travel company, and even tried Amway. In between odd jobs and failing at several businesses, I was able to get some backpacking trips in, but I would always have to go back home because I always ran out of money. In between all of that craziness, I also got married, divorced, and my life was changed when my daughter was born. She was the BEST thing that ever happened to me. From the moment she was born, I felt that I finally had purpose. Growing up, I always wanted to become successful, but I never had a "WHY", a true reason why I wanted success. When my daughter came into my life, I knew what I had to do, I had to live my life, work hard, and do whatever it took to be the best father to my daughter, that was my only goal.

My Daughter and I 

My divorce killed me. I thought that I finally found the girl of my dreams, but apparently she wasn't. But I do believe that everyone who walks into your life serves a purpose. My daughter's mother will forever be dear to my heart, and I will always love her, not just because she is the mother of my daughter, but because she is a great woman, a loving mother with a good heart, and someone that has challenged me. I thank her for making me strong. Without the strength that I gained from that weak point in my life, I probably would not be here today. I learned how to overcome, and implemented that into my daily life, and it has helped me more than I could ever describe.

But it was tough. After my divorce, I went hard core into the night life business and almost killed myself. I was in the night life business for about 10 years. I don't really want to go into my whole story, but I transitioned into the fitness business because I was finally fed up and tired of what I was doing. I was getting unhealthy, ate junk food, drank tequila every night! I was killing myself.

I decided to get healthy and change my life and refocus on the things that mattered most in my life, like my daughter and my family. Thanks to my brother Fermin, he introduced me to P90X and from that point on, my life has been forever changed, and all of my prayers have been answered.

My Fitness Journey - Arnel Banawa

Go back into the year 2001. remember when I was trying to find something that I could do to travel the world? Well, I've found it =). But it's not just about traveling now, it's about staying healthy and helping others along the way. After completing the P90X program back in 2010, I decided to become a Beachbody Coach. I became passionate about helping people find happiness through health and fitness. Did I plan to turn fitness into a business? Absolutely not! Was I motivated by money? No way! I just kept doing what I loved and found others who wanted the good life, the fit life, a family life, and just wanted to be happy. We all go through life looking for what matters most, when most of the time, it's always been in front of us. Life will always throw obstacles at you, but if you fight your battles, and surround yourself with people who only want success for you, then let me tell you my friend.....you will live a VERY good life!

I have been traveling consistently since March of 2014, going from place to place, doing burpees at famous Wonders of the World, visiting friends and family. The best part is that I have total control of my life now. I run my own business and I now have the FREEDOM that I was looking for, and all I needed to do was get healthy and help others do the same.

Burpees Grand Palace - Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok

Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok Thailand

So how do I earn a living while I travel? The answer is quite simple. I do what I want, maybe you should do the same. See you on the beaches of the world!

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Top 5 Reasons Why Being Fit Helps You Travel Better

 5 Reasons Why Being Fit Helps You Travel Better

I wanted to post a super quick blog about this because I've been VAGABONDING since the month of March this year, and I've seen so many travelers miss out on so many photo and video opportunities just because they were just too tired to take a few steps up a mountain, or walk just around the corner because they were out of breath.

Come on guys, you've traveled half way around the world, and you are just minutes from taking a shot of a lifetime, or that amazing waterfall that you've been talking about for two years! Now I do understand that some people are in some unfortunate situations way beyond their control, but let's just say that this post has little to do with, if not anything to do with them. This is about people who are very willing and capable, but they decided to not take the extra steps because of the decisions that they made prior to their trip.

It's a short list, but here goes:

1.  ENERGY - Studies show that when you live a healthy and fit lifestyle, you will look and feel more energized. Granted that you continue your lifestyle whilst you are traveling, you will have the natural energy needed to wake up and start your day without coffee or those toxic energy drinks.

2.  ENDURANCE - When you combine cardio with your strength workouts, your endurance level will go through the roof. Anyone can carry a backpack and a camera up a mountain, but to do it for hours or even days, it takes a lot of endurance. Don't get me wrong, strength is very important, and it all depends on what type activity you are doing. To fully enjoy a long trek or an all day tour, your endurance level will play a key role on how you feel. And we all know that if we feel great, "and not out of breath", we will just have more fun! Adding cardio to your strength workouts will help you make it to the end of the trek to get that money shot that you've been talking about for two years =).

 Morning Run with some Palawan Locals - Philippines

3.  STRENGTH - So here it is! I know that the guys reading this were waiting for this, and you too girls =). Having strength can be the key to either making a trip, or breaking a trip. I've seen people bail out of a mountain hike because they could not lift themselves up over boulders. I've seen people stay on the beach because they said that their arms are not strong enough to island hop with a kayak. I've seen people use horse, donkeys...you name it because their legs weren't strong enough. Having strength will make you feel more accomplished during your travels because you made it to the top of the mountain, it was you that kayaked to 3 amazing islands, and you would have the photos and videos to prove it. Don't just do cardio, make sure that you are doing some weight training, it will go a long way when you finally go on that trip or trek of a lifetime.

 Body Beast Total Body Gym Workout - El Nido, Palawan

4.  HEALTHY - This to me is really the most important. I've seen so many people workout hard, a lot of times way harder than me, then they go and eat a combo at McDonalds. What you eat and your nutrition is everything. If your insides look as good as your outside, trust me....you will have the energy, endurance, strength, and you will be happy. Who wants to do an Elephant Trek in Thailand with someone who is not enjoying themselves just because they either drank too much the night before or they ate a crap ton of junk food for the past week. Eating healthy can get tricky while you are traveling, but trust me, it's not impossible.

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5.  CONSISTENCY - And for the grand finale! We can be strong, have energy and endurance, eat healthy, but can we be consistent? The more consistent that we are with all of the above, the better experience you will have during your travels. Traveling should not be an excuse to not workout, and not eat healthy, it should be the every reason why you travel. I've been to a lot of places, I've seen a lot of things, and I've seen a lot of people suffer while they travel. It doesn't have to be that way. Like anything, if you stay consistent big things will come out of it. And this my friends, is the secret sauce!

Island Hopping - El Nido, Palawan

As the P90X Creator Tony Horton always says "Do your best, and forget the rest", that is the advice that I will give all of you. Like anything, travel is a challenge, but it is one of the most rewarding and most educational experiences that you will ever do. Never stop exploring my friends!

Cliff Climbing Taraw Mountain - El Nido, Palawan

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