Thursday, 9 March 2017

Borocay: You have to see it to believe me.

   
My Boracay Adventure - March 2017

So, are you planning a trip to the Philippines and you have already decided you’ll be going to Boracay or are you trying to decide which island to visit? You’ve probably done enough research by now or you are just beginning your research. I had so many questions before the trip. I am not an expert about Boracay but here is my experience.

There are no direct flights into Boracay.

The two main carriers to Caticlan are Cebu Pacific and the Philippines airlines.
Most tourists flying to Boracay go through Manila and fly into Caticlan (closest airport to the Island) or Kalibo, which is farther but offers cheaper flights. The two main carriers from Manila to Caticlan or to Kalibo are Cebu Pacific and the Philippines airlines. Both airlines are reliable but Cebu offers better deals. It is not uncommon to have flights canceled or delayed from or to Caticlan. Our flight from Caticlan to Manila was delayed by several hours, but I did not panic because an airline like the Philippines airlines will make sure we are well taken care of.

Once you land in Caticlan, you will be transported by a bus to the Caticlan Port and then transported by a boat to Boracay Port. The distance will seem long, especially if you have been traveling all day like we did, coming from Canada but they are very short rides. (The easiest and most reliable way to get to Boracay is through South West Tours). It was about 450 pesos (US$ 9.00 - US$11.00 depending on the exchange rate at the time). You can also hire a private service to take you to your hotel. Most private services would cost about US$25.00 - $33.00 (one way).

ROOKIE MISTAKE: Don’t settle for the first deal you see online. Take your time to review all services. Also, avoid flying to Caticlan during peak season without booking your accommodation. If you do, please avoid renting from locals at the airport.

Boracay - The Island.

You are most likely going to get wet when you get off the boat in Boracay. The water is not deep, so you don’t have to swim, but your legs and feet will definitively be immersed in water. Boats don’t take tourists to their hotels, you either take a cab or a bus that will take you to the white beach area.
White beach, Boracay
Boracay is small. There are 3 main stations in Boracay that most tourists stay. Station 3 and station 1 are quiet but if you want to party and be around a lot of people, then look for a hotel or hostel in Station 2. Station 3 is very quiet and the hotels are moderately priced. Station 1 has some of the high-end hotels and can also be quiet. There are some parts of station 1 with clubs and bars and as such can be noisy too. The water is very warm, but during the first part of the year, you will have to deal with green algae in the water around stations, 1, 2 and 3. It really doesn’t or would not bother you as it is only close to the shore.
White beach - Boracay

One foot in and the water is clear and warm. If you really want to avoid the algae, then go to the very end of station 1 or the Diniwid beach area and you will get very clean ocean water. There are other places to stay in Boracay outside the white beach areas mentioned above. Diniwid beach, for example, is quiet and has accommodations. Some tourists choose to stay in the main town because it’s cheaper. So, there are many options and you don’t have to be at station 1, 2 or 3. The island is small so it doesn’t matter where you stay, you can always get anywhere by foot or you could hire a tricycle at cheap rates.

ROOKIE MISTAKE: You can hire a tricycle to take you to the beach, for about 75 pesos (US $1.50) to 150 pesos (US $3.00) for most trips. Make sure you know where you are going and ask someone before you hire a tricycle. The locals in the Island are honest and helpful.

Boracay - First Impression

I was not too sure what to expect when I got to the white beach area, but my first glance at the water, I knew I was going to have a great time. The beach path was crowded with Europeans and tourists from all over Asia - most commonly Korea, Taiwan, and China. Everyone seemed happy and full of life. Why won’t they be?

I was approached by one of the locals, John. Such a cool guy. John seemed like a true pirate. I immediately liked the guy and we are now friends. He introduced me to my favorite bar in Boracay, the Red Pirates Pub. Everyone in this place was super cool and nice.
Red Pirate Pub, Boracay

I met the rest of my Pirate brothers at the Red Pirates pub. You really have to stop by this bar and have a drink. It’s a fun place to have a beer and some gin. The décor of the place is out of this world (I meant, I liked it..), you have to see for yourself. Benches and tables were made of driftwood, frames and cigarette trays were made from bamboo. I was not sure if I was in Jamaica or was it the reggae music and the relaxed nature of my pirate brothers? The place was just awesome and cool. Everyone was so relaxed and low key. Red Pirate rocks!!


ROOKIE MISTAKE: Don’t be tempted to book everything online before you get to the Island. There is so much to do, and better deals on the Island. 
John, and the rest of my Pirate brothers at the red Pirates Pub, Boracay
The hotel

Our hotel, Ocean Club, is located in station 3 (the quiet spot compared to the other parts of the Island). The people working there were very nice and the location was perfect. The morning breakfast was also not bad. I recommend this hotel. The only downside was a leak in my room.
(The view from my room) Waking up to this every morning is better than paying for counseling. The healing power!!
Stay fit, Stay healthy

Most of the locals stay active and you will see that when you are on the Island. The local scuba diving group at station 3, workout on the beach at 6 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and have CrossFit training on Fridays. They are so nice that you can ask politely to join and they will most likely let you. I was invited to join, but I never seemed to have the time to work out during my vacations. I did go for a run once from station 3 to the beginning of Diniwid Island. It was a good run. Back and forth is about an 8.5 km run.
(The balcony at my hotel room) That's the only stretching exercise you will find me doing on any Island. 
Food

Food and alcohol are relatively cheap on the Island and most stores that sell alcohol stay open till late. There are plenty of restaurants and places to eat on the Island. If you like seafood, then you will be in a good place as there are plenty of seafood restaurants on the Island. You can even flag one of the fishermen and get a fresh catch and grill it yourself.
Freshly caught and being grilled. 
If doing it yourself is not your thing, then you can try out one of the many restaurants on the Island. Try different Filipino dishes like adobo, arroz caldo, bangus, caldereta, kanin, humba, kare kare, kanin, kinilaw, tinola, pancit, menudo, etc. all over the island. I recommend Spider house for dinner or Aplaya, the beach bar, and Italian restaurant.


ROOKIE MISTAKE: Don’t be pushed into trying anything your stomach can’t handle. 

Most of the locals go for pork and you will find roasted pork everywhere on the Island.


 Sunset

You have to experience the sunset in Boracay. The sunrise and sunset in Boracay happen about the same time every day, 6:00 am (sunrise) and 6:00 pm (sunset) every single day (give or take 5 mins). I thought it was magical that at exactly 6:00 pm, the last curve of the sun drops and disappears every single day.
Just enjoying the sunset from below..lol
The best way to enjoy the sunset is to rent a boat and sail before and during the sunset and enjoy it with a cocktail or a cold beer. Another good place to watch the sunset is anywhere on Diniwid beach. Spider House bar on Diniwid beach would be a cool spot too.
Spider House resort and bar is a cool place to go for dinner or to chill

Another cool spot on Diniwid beach is Mika’s Place beach resort. Teresita and her son Cris are amazing people and they have a hidden treasure here on this beach. Cris heard it was my birthday weekend and just gave us free drinks and food all night; such amazing people. if you want a quiet place on the Island, then you should contact these guys as they have rooms available. It really is the hidden treasure on the Island. You have to see to believe me.



The sunset from Diniwid beach, Boracay

Things to do in Boracay

Where do I begin? For such a small Island, there was so much to do.

Activities

Swimming is free and the water in Boracay is always warm and welcoming. This is one activity you would not have to pay for when you are on the Island, so you might as well enjoy it.


Or, you can get an hour massage (full body) for 250 pesos ($5.00) in some locations.
Full body massage (60 minutes) for 5.00 dollars (US)
How about exploring the other Islands in Boracay? The Boracay Islands hopping takes you to the different Islands. Don’t spend all of your time on the white beach (station 1, 2 and 3), enjoy the rest of Boracay and be mesmerized with the wonders of the islands. The Islands hopping is about 1400 pesos (US $27,80) and takes all day. It also includes cliff jumping, snorkeling (all gears provided) and a buffet lunch with drinks (including beers). During the tour, you will be taken by a boat to Puka beach.
Facts: The locals love basketball and know so much about the NBA. They knew so much about my Seattle Sonics.

Hey!, What happened to the rest of this Bob Marley flag? They love their reggae in Boracay.

We also went to Diniwid beach, Balinghai beach and from afar you can see the Bolabog beach (the kiteboarding windsurfing area).

Parasailing is another very popular activity on the Island. I can’t say much about Parasailing on the Island because I never did try it, but I know it was one of the hottest activities with some tourists. I personally don’t get the joy of being whisked into the sky just to sit up there and enjoy the water, I like activities that make me sweat. It’s a good activity for couples and you get a better deal if you are with someone. It’s about 2000 pesos (US $ 40) per person, but you can get it for about 3400 pesos (US $ 67) per couple.

If you want some off road activities, then you can always try the ATV Island off-road adventure for 1250 pesos (US $25) per person. There is also the land tour for 2800 pesos (US $57.00) per person, which takes about 2 hours and lets you see the island’s unique wildlife. You can also try the reverse bungee and skyrocket to 60 meters above sea level at an adrenaline-charged speed of 200kmph. You will find other activities like horseback riding, biking, windsurfing, cable car and zip line. You can also leave the island for a day and enjoy other parts of the region; I had the opportunity to do this one day and it was an amazing experience.
Stacie (from Magic Monkey) and I leaving the Island. What an adventure?


D’Talipapa Market: -There is the fish market (D’Talipapa Market) that you have to visit. Here, you will find fresh seafood that you can buy and have the restaurant next door cook for you. It is also a good place to get all your souvenirs about the island. The seafood at the market is very expensive, so you will only be doing it for the experience.
D’Talipapa Market
ROOKIE MISTAKE: Don’t accept the price they give you, use your negotiating skills and bring that price lower. Also, make sure you know how to spot lobster that was caught in the wild and those that were raised locally in a bottle (avoid these ones).

If you are done with the adventures in the air and off road, then you can try some of the fun activities in the ocean or the river. The Island has plenty of activities in the ocean.  Where do I begin? The river or the ocean? You can begin your day, tubing in the river and make new friends for about 1900 pesos (US $38.00) per person or helmet dive in the ocean for 1500 pesos (US $30.00) with some new friends. You can also sail with a luxury boat across the Island for 4300 pesos (US $86.00) or take mermaid lessons for 2000 pesos (US $40.00) or hire a jet ski for 30 minutes for 2400 pesos (US $48.00). If you feel like going wild, then you can go free diving for 3500 pesos (US $70.00) or go scuba diving for 3000 pesos (US $60.00).

Scuba diving was one of my favorite activities to do in the ocean while on the island. There are several groups on the island, taking tourists out to the ocean for scuba diving. Don’t panic if you have never scuba dived (or do I say dove? hahahaha, who cares?). The last time I scuba dived (lol, it actually sounds funny) was 7 years ago in Australia, so it was pretty much a brand new experience for me.

Scuba diving is so much fun. It’s so relaxing and you feel like all your problems on earth have just disappeared. It was magical and I just wanted to stay out there and never come up.


If you are up for an even bigger challenge, then you should try kiteboarding. There are lessons before you actually take off. You can also just run wild like I did.
We cannot talk about activities in Boracay without mentioning ariels point. The highlight of the day is the cliff jumping, which has 5 different levels, and comes with a lunch buffet and booze (yes, I said it. Let's get drunk on the Island..lol) Be careful though, the Island is miles away from your hotel, so too much drinking, a buffet lunch, cliff jumping and a rocking boat ride could make you sick, so be careful with the booze. Many guys get sick and throw up during the ride from drinking too much and that’s not very funny to the rest of the people on the boat. Don’t be a ROOKIE, be responsible.
Ariels point adventure is 2500 pesos (US $50.00) per person and it leaves Station 1 at 11:00 am every day for 5 hours.

Now, let’s talk about my two favorite activities after scuba diving, Numero uno, Manic Monkey Jungle Pool Party. If you want to have the ultimate fun party in Boracay, then make sure you get in touch with Stacey and Anne. (make sure you tell them Charlie said hi!!) They are the best and they will make sure you have an awesome time. I celebrated part of my birthday with them and they sure delivered. Above all, you will end up with great friends from these two. I was not too sure what to expect from meeting these two, Stacey met us at a bar (Red Pirates) and first of all, I was not expecting an American, but then after 20 minutes drinking and chatting with him, I knew he was one awesome dude. He is definitely another pirate. We quickly became good friends, he even made it a point to hang out with us on our last night, even though he was sick. Stacey and Anne are two people you have to meet if you are in Boracay, they will make you feel at home. Anne is the business type lady that makes sure the business is running and everything is being taken care of. Stacey is the face that makes everyone smile, he is so cool, he should be called ice. Those two are like ice and hot (icy hot).

Manic Monkey jungle pool party is 3000 pesos (US $60.00) per person, but you will get way more value than that, you will end up with good friends, they made my birthday one epic day and night.


Another exciting activity that should be on anyone who is on the Island to party, would be the Boracay pub-crawl. We had 134 people on the day we went. Don’t miss the crawl. You get to go to 5 bars and clubs and there are free shots all night, it’s a big party. They did everything to make sure I had an epic birthday party too, thanks, guys.

The crawl is 990 pesos (US $20.00) per person and you get a free cool T-shirt, a shot glass and lots of free shots all night long. It’s a great deal and because you already have the T-shirt, you can go on another crawl the following day or whenever you want for half the price or for US $10.00, not a bad deal. The crawl begins at 8:30 PM and goes through the night. Bars and clubs in Boracay stay open till it’s almost daylight. Even during the week, some bars would stay open till 5 am or later.

Some of the bars and clubs you will be visiting are Epic, Summer Place, Paraw, Exit, Coco, Aplaya beach bar and the Juice bar. My favorite was Epic because we spent a lot of time there and I like the atmosphere there. I made about 20 new friends from the crawl alone, it was so weird walking around the island and meeting all these great people all over the Island almost every day just from the crawl.

Did you Know? Did you know in Boracay, it's OK to smoke inside a bar or restaurant but illegal to smoke outside (like on the beach, especially the white beach)?

Epiuc Club -The Island will do this to you if you spend all day in the sun and all night partying.... Happy Birthday, Big C!!!
Conclusion

I decided to kill some time by writing this blog on my flight back to Vancouver, BC. Every picture on this blog was taken using an old note 4 Samsung phone.

I was not sure what to expect from this Island with its pristine white beaches. The sands are white and soft, the water is warm. I could see the planet Venus every night without even trying. The skies at night were amazing.
There are tons of tourists in Boracay but despite the many tourists in the area, Boracay is relatively cheap. If you're looking for a peaceful quiet spot on the island, you can still find it. Head to peaceful Diniwid Beach just past station 1, or east to Bulabog Beach.

Boracay is my paradise today, but I think it would not remain this way in the next few years, as it would become over developed, especially after the Caticlan international airport is completed. The Island is relatively safe and the crime rate is low. Actually, the one thing you should be concerned about is a coconut falling on your head; those are the only gangs on the Island. The biggest hustlers on the Island are kids. So my heart goes out to them as some of them are making 10 times more than their parents just from building sand castles and having tourists pay to take pictures. My fear is, they may choose that life than go to school. It’s cute when an eight-year-old kid asks me for 50 pesos for a picture, but I won’t find that cute when that same kid is 14 and standing at 5’9” and doing the same thing because that’s all he knows.



Charlie KB is not a blogger or a writer but an avid traveler and a true Piscean (A bit of a gypsy too)

INTEREST VS PASSION

   
Being interested in something is not as strong a feeling as being passionate. Say you see someone doing tricks on a skateboard or running along a track. You think to yourself, “Hmm that might be something that I would like to try.” You display a curiosity about a particular sport, and you might dabble in the activity from time to time. An activity that strikes your fancy is more like a hobby – something you enjoy doing, but it does not consume your entire life. A passion, however, is much more complicated.
A passion is something that you feel with your whole heart. You live, eat, and breathe a particular sport or activity. People can have multiple interests, but they mostly only have one true passion. Say your passion is soccer. Whenever you’re not playing the game, you think about the game. You yearn to get back on the field and try out new play formations. Your thoughts, actions, and words all revolve around this one activity. You attend games for your favorite teams, you own all the jerseys, and you display your personal trophies and achievements all around your house. This sport is your lifeline, and you thrive to improve your skills every day. You are proud to be a part of that world, and you defend the sport with every fiber of your being. This sport is everything you’ve ever needed and without it, you’d be lost. 
There is a website called bragout.com that connects both interest and passion together. It is a platform that people can use to connect with people that enjoy the same things involving sports and fitness. The user can choose to be as active on this site as they please. If they only have an interest in sports, they may only use it to chat with others and visit it a few times a day. If they are passionate about sports, then they can utilize more of Bragout’s features.
The goal of this site is to help enthusiasts achieve their goals and have their talents recognized. They can follow people that share their interests and join different groups. Enthusiasts are able to keep track of all of their achievements and showcase their talents to others. Users can share their success stories and motivate each other to reach their goals. There are also statistical tools available to see how well you are competing with others using the site. Input information on your stats, achievements, and awards and see how you rank amongst the Bragout community. 
Bragout wants its users to live out their passions and find other people who enjoy the same things as them. Using its tools, people can track their progress and see how well they’re improving. Friends and family members tend to encourage you no matter what you do. Using this site can provide you with objective opinions about your skills and techniques. You can use this site to grow and improve yourself. Pick up tips from people who are more advanced than you, and maybe soon you will reach their level.
Whether you are interested in something or passionate about it, Bragout encourages people to join the site. Maybe you are someone who loves watching hockey, football, and enjoys running. Those are your interests. While swapping stories with other people on these sites, you might discover that one of those three interests can turn into a passion. Passions can turn into careers. There are millions of athletes around the world who spend each day training and practicing. If they don’t do those things, then they may not be passionate about their craft.
Passionate enthusiasts work hard and generally only narrow their focus in on one activity. Bragout helps its users take their passion to a new level. Users can nurture their passion and celebrate sports and fitness activities with people from all over. Interests are enjoyed while passions are celebrated. Passions are more of a lifestyle choice than a hobby that you dabble in. An interest fills a void of boredom for a few short hours while a passion envelops every aspect of someone’s life. A passion is something that never leaves your thoughts. Though interests and passions are intertwined, they are still two very different things. If you’re not interested in your passion, then that would make no sense. A passion makes you feel a plethora of emotions. You love it, you enjoy it, it thrills you, it makes you whole, and most importantly it makes you happy.
Without those intense feelings towards an activity, you can’t call what you feel a passion. If you are passionate about something, you do everything it takes to include it in every part of your life. Bragout is just one small piece of the puzzle to help you celebrate what you love. Create friendships with people and feed off of the joy of competition. The choice about how you decide to live your life is yours. If you know in your heart that you are talented and love what you do, then you’d better make a certain activity a part of your everyday life.
Sometimes people give up on something because they tried it a few times and had gotten nowhere. If you truly felt passionate about something you would never give up the fight. No one is born with natural talents, though, some tricks and skills might be easier for people to pick up than others. Anyone can succeed in an activity they love if they dedicate their entire lives to perfect their techniques. Spend time researching all about the activity. Watch videos of other people for inspiration and new ideas. Give it everything you’ve got in order to succeed. Turn an interest into a full-throttle passion, by making it your life’s work. Live your life how you want to and enjoy the activity with the company of other’s. Having people in your life who consistently encourage you and motivate you to do better is an important part of living your dream.

WHY POSITIVE BRAGGING IS OK!

   
Bragging is fun. It is a great thing that you have a special skill. You were born with a unique interest, say, a love for music, writing or visual arts. You worked hard to improve your skills. Now you are proud of your advancement. You want attention. It is natural. It makes you a happy, exciting and motivated person. 
When you brag, you have positive thoughts about yourself. Your confidence grows. High self-esteem is part of your well-being and happiness.
When you brag about a skill you have, you may attract new friends who look up to you and want to learn that special skill.
When you face a challenge, you should be proud that you are able to deal with it. Perhaps you can draw wonderfully, but you cannot draw portraits or geometric forms. You must find a way to overcome your problem. Practice a lot. Do you want to brag about the amazing portraits you have drawn? This way, bragging can motivate you.
Bragging can make you more successful at school, in your work and your private life. 
You must have often heard that bragging is wrong, do not be a show-off, once you accomplish great things, it will speak for itself and others will talk about it. No way. Nobody will show up to “discover” you. Success does not just depend on the things you have accomplished. You have to be able to communicate your talent i.e. that you are gifted, motivated, and you are the one whose work is most valuable. Have you ever heard about corporate leaders or successful entrepreneurs who are modest and quiet? Probably insecure? It is very unlikely. They have to be strong and confident.
Of course, you should not exaggerate. You should not lie about non-existing results. If you have real accomplishments, you have every right to be proud of it. A high-powered, enthusiastic person gives a good impression.
Studies have proven that bragging contributes to your success. See Project Enhance, a three years study, funded by the National Science Foundation at the University of Maryland. It focused on the careers of women who worked in STEM fields. Experts conducted surveys with the women and their managers. The study found that these women were under pressure, they were aware of the pressure, but they felt comfortable with it, they were confident that they could deal with their tasks. However, they could not reflect this confidence in their workplace. As a result, their managers did not assume that these women could deal with all the stress. See? They could not brag, so their bosses did not appreciate their work. Psychological researchers of the University of Illinois and University of Nebraska-Lincoln have found that people who have some narcissistic traits are more successful in their careers than their modest peers. According to the researchers, narcissistic persons know how to make an impression when they first meet someone; they come across as confident, bright, knowledgeable individuals. You certainly know how important first impression is. It may account for the successful bragging.
YOUR LESSON? Whatever special skills you have, it is worth bragging about them.
People love to brag about their achievements. Bragging about your skills is part of sports and fitness activities. You’re allowed to be proud of the awards you receive and the records you set. The only problem that comes is when you brag to put others down. Of course, we all want to celebrate big wins and great plays, but you shouldn’t have to insult someone else in the process. We live amongst so much negativity, so we need to start filling it with positive energy again.
Think about a situation when someone did something better than you. This person boasted on and on about how much greater they were than you. There’s a good chance that made you feel pretty bad about yourself. All you wanted was to get a little recognition for what you had done as well, but this person took up the whole spotlight. They pushed you out of the way and threw dirt in your face, all because they wanted to feel superior. That is not the kind of bragging that anyone should have to put up with. There is such a thing as positive bragging. We don’t do this to be show-offs or laugh at other people. That kind of behaviour is cruel and uncalled for. We should let ourselves be proud of our accomplishments and show others what we can do. Showing someone your skills with a humble attitude and a sense of grace, will lead people to be more likely to celebrate with you. If you are talking to someone whose skills are not advanced as yours, then use that opportunity to help them improve. Yes, sports are competitions, but in some cases, they are against people with similar skill sets. Laughing at someone who is not as advanced as you is not useful. Instead, try giving them tips on how to do better, tell them how to improve their technique, and most importantly keep the feedback positive. We need to applaud each other in our efforts otherwise we’re just being mean. For people that are starting out in a sport, they seek out as much help as they can. It would be unfortunate if that person continually got laughed at for being a beginner and then gave up altogether.
It’s true that some people just aren’t cut out to do certain things professionally, but that doesn’t mean we should stop them from doing the activity. If someone loves partaking in a certain sport, then encourage them to keep going. Sure, a beginner is going to make mistakes that will make an advanced player cringe, but that should not lead to teasing. Try telling that beginner stories about what it was like when you were starting out. No one becomes an expert overnight, and even when you become an expert, you mess up sometimes. If the beginner knows you are now an expert, then knowing that you started out just like them will be a great comfort.
Competitions are an intense way to motivate ourselves to try harder. They bring fans and athletes together to celebrate a certain sport. Competition is healthy, but not when it leads to unkind words and people getting hurt. A competition is still allowed to be fun. Take a hockey game for example. Fans fill the stadiums and cheer and roar, excited to watch their favorite team give it their all. Obviously, in the end, only one team will win, and that, unfortunately, leads to brawls amongst the players and fans. Instead of fighting like that, it would be better just to accept the loss and try again next time. You don’t have to be happy for the other team, but you don’t have to egg them on for an argument either. Many people take sports very seriously, and that’s okay. Having something you love to enjoy is important. The problem is that some people take it too far, and that leads to harmful actions.
Bragging has many negative connotations, but that’s only because people use it to put others down. We need to redefine what bragging means and celebrate all accomplishments, not just ones that are ours. Everyone deserves to have their moment and tell their friends and family about the awesome game they had. It is your duty to pump that person up and help them feel proud of what they’ve done. So many people don’t bother expressing excited emotions in fear of sounding too “braggy”. We need to knock out those feelings and work together to encourage everyone to keep moving forward.
After you’ve patiently waited your turn and have allowed for sufficient amounts of time to celebrate your friend, then it’s your turn to tell some stories. If you’ve shown others enough respect and support in their endeavours, they will surely return the favor. Tell everyone about your own accomplishments and celebrate together. Make sure your tone is not righteous or over-confident. Tell everyone what happened and let them know how hard you’ve worked. You’re allowed to feel excited and proud, but never try to outshine someone just for the sake of feeling better about yourself. State the facts of the events in the day and do it with as much enthusiasm as you can.
The worst part about negative bragging is when it leads to someone giving up something they enjoyed. You should never tease someone to the point where they lose all hope. We should be practicing positive bragging and building people up so that they can improve their skills. We should be learning from fellow athletes to get better so that no one picks up any bad habits in their chosen sport. Now, that’s not to say that experts should give up all their trade secrets. If they see someone making a huge error, though, then there’s no reason why they can’t help that person correct it. Sports are also about teamwork, and we need to ensure that we help others succeed when we can and give them positive feedback.

THE PAINTBALL GAME-MY LIFE'S BEST MOMENT!

   
I've always loved a good game of paintball, I mean, I really do, but this story isn't just about me, it is about other people as well. Let me start from the beginning. It was a very warm day and the sun was shining. The last thing that I wanted to do was to kit up in heavy paintball gear but me and my friends had already hired all of the equipment so it seemed a shame not to take advantage of that. We normally play outside in the woods where we have a cabin; my friend's grandfather owns the land there so it is a really great place for us to play, not to mention that the cabin also provides great coverage for when things get a little hectic. Another thing that you should know about me and my friends is that we always split up the team, and guess what, it is boys VS girls.
Now here comes the complicated part, my girlfriend, who I've only been with a couple of months is now on the opposing team and we have never played paintball together either. The other members of the group are pretty experienced and they will stop at nothing to win, and the girls can be pretty determined as well! So it was a fact that some of us would come home with some hefty bruises. My girlfriend of course wasn't bothered about this and she couldn't wait to get involved, so it was really exciting to see everyone so competitive.
Anyway, let's move on. We were all geared up and we all had our bullets. The girls had the red paint balls and the boys had the blue. We all had plenty of armor on as well, but it can be difficult to tell your teammates apart from the enemy when everyone is wearing black. For this reason, we decided to wear armbands so there would be no friendly fire involved. I helped my girlfriend to put on her armband and I gave her a kiss and a smile before we lifted on our helmets. After a quick high five from the rest of the members, we set off in our different directions and we waited for the sound of the siren. My friend's granddad normally sounded it off because he would normally sit and watch from the tower balcony just outside the cabin. Of course he always had a glass of whiskey in his hand and a baseball cap; he just wouldn't be the same without it.
The game started and we all got into our positions, after some stealthy movements I got one of the girls in my sights. I could tell which one was my girlfriend because her blonde hair was sticking out the side of her helmet, of course, I didn't tell her that though...
After a few quick shots, she fell to the ground. In our game, when someone gets shot, they sit out until the second round and it is normally the best out of three. I looked to the left of me, only to see my friend get shot to the ground with bright red bullets...by my girlfriend. To say she has never played before, she did well with that shot and I knew that I had to congratulate her on that when the round was over. After a few more of my teammates fell to the floor, I noticed that I was the only one left. They went to the tower to watch the rest of the match from an aerial view and I carried on playing. After a while, I found that I couldn't see anyone else on the field, but the siren hadn't sounded to say that the round was over so I went inside the cabin to take cover. 
I heard some branches snap and I knew that someone was creeping outside. I jumped out with my paintball gun and I leaped through the window. The gymnastics in that moment alone would be enough to get me into the Olympics, but let's not talk about that for now, let's move onto the next moment in my story.
I noticed that the only person left for me to take out was my girlfriend, and I just didn't feel as though I could do it. I mean, paintballs leave bruises and I didn't want to hurt her so I lowered my gun and laughed to myself at how awesome I must have looked leaping over that window ledge. Before I knew it, red paintballs came flying at me and I fell to the floor. It took me a couple of minutes to come round, but then I noticed that she had been shooting them at my face! This girl was out for blood and she didn't care who knew it!
That was when I decided that in the second round, I would show no mercy. I decided to climb up into a tree and I perched there for the entire round. Of course, the last person left was my girlfriend, but little did she know that I was waiting for her. I jumped out of the tree, swung on the branch and landed on the floor. Leaves spun up into the air and I had her at point blank range. I couldn't be more proud of that moment if I tried and she knew that I had the upper hand in this scenario! I gave her one quick shot to the body where most of the armor was and held her hand as we walked over to the tower, I'm still with that girl to this day, and I'll never forget the time when she stole my heart in the paintball field. That was my life's best moment.

MY INCREDIBLE WEIGHT LIFTING STORY

   
This is the story of my incredible weight lifting journey. I've always been an active participant in weight training and from a very young age I have always tried to lift far beyond that of my friends. After all, why wouldn't you! Of course I wasn't able to lift very much as a kid when compared to the adults who attended the gym but I was proud of myself either way. So let's start with how my incredible journey started out. I started going to the gym because I wanted to be an NFL player. I knew that I wouldn't be able to join the NFL of course but that didn't stop me from trying as hard as I could to try and make the local teams that were in my area. I signed up to the gym with a one month pass and I started trying my hand at the various weights that they had there. 
I started out and I felt like so insignificant when compared to the other people who were lifting double of what I was lifting. I was only lifting 35kg at the time and seeing everyone there just motivated me even more. I knew that I wanted to be bigger and I knew that I wanted to be stronger as well, and the only way to do that would be to carry on and give everything I have in every session. After a couple of months, I reached 50kg, then 80kg and finally 120kg but that was when disaster struck. I jolted up the bar to start the lift and I felt something give way. I fell to the floor and I saw the bar with the weights attached roll away before me. I couldn't believe it, I was in so much pain but I couldn't quite pinpoint where the pain was coming from, and before I knew it I was being carried away in an ambulance. 
I woke up in the emergency unit and I could see that my knee was completely bandaged up. I must have passed out from the pain but in all honesty, I could barely remember anything. The doctor came up to me and he told me that I might not be able to lift again. I felt my whole world crashing around me and I was speechless. My knee was completely gone and it would take months of physical therapy in order to make it possible for me to walk properly again.
After I came to terms with what had happened, I decided that this simply wasn't an option. I've spent my entire life not being good enough and this wasn't going to be one of those moments. I started to take physical therapy lessons and like I did in the gym, I pushed myself harder than I had ever done before. I was walking in a matter of months and a few years later, I found myself looking around the old gym again. It had changed quite a lot since I last went and they had plenty of new equipment as well. 
I fastened my knee brace around my leg and I started on the cardio machine. I thought that this would help me to condition myself before I started on the weights again and it really did boost my confidence. Of course I couldn't run as fast or for as long as I could do before and my dreams of becoming a football player had long gone, but that didn't stop me.
After a couple of months on the cardio machine, I went onto the weights and I started off lifting 30kg. I felt the strain on my knee already and this was a real blow to my confidence, but I carried on anyway because I'm not one to give up. I slowly went from 30kg to 40kg and then to 50kg and after a year of trying hard, I found that I was approaching the weight that completely annihilated my knee. The 120kg weight. 
I tightened up my knee brace for extra stability and I started to lift. I felt the strain on my knee but I pushed forwards anyway and I carried on doing what I have always done. As I lifted it up to my chest, I knew I could go all the way and that was when I held it above my head. I felt such a boost of confidence from within me and I just knew how proud I was of what I had done. I put the weight down and that was quite possibly one of the proudest moments of my life. I felt so thrilled that I went for the next weight up, 130kg and I mastered it. 
Now, I'm lifting almost double that and my condition is coming on nicely. Even though I will never be the same shape that I once was, I can safely say that I have accomplished more than I have ever done before and I want everyone to know that even though you may experience setbacks, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and that if you have the motivation and dedication, you can do just about anything.
I've got a home gym of my very own now and I can't wait to invest in some bigger weights for my collection. I'm so proud of how far I have come.

THE LEAPFROG INCIDENT

   
Let me start this story by saying that I have never been able to do a forward roll, and I have never been able to leapfrog either. Leapfrog is where someone crouches and you jump over them without touching them. Normally when people get involved in a game of leapfrog with me, they end up with bruises so it really is something that I try to avoid. Of course, my friends try to get me to leapfrog at every possible moment just so they can have a laugh at my expense!
Anyway, let's move on to the second part of the story. The whole incident started with a game called the ring of fire. It's a drinking game that uses playing cards, and based on what card you draw, you need to pour your drink into the glass in the middle before passing your turn onto the next person. When you draw a specific card, you need to drink the central glass, which by that time, is probably filled with a disgusting combination of liquids. What I didn't know however is that my friends had a little surprise in store for me. I should probably mention that we held this party because it was my 30th birthday, a significant number to say the least so it was to be expected.
The game started and someone poured some tequila into the middle glass. After a couple more turns, someone else poured in some whiskey followed by some more alcoholic beverages. I knew that something was up, and that the game was possibly rigged so I would need to drink whatever concoction that was in the middle by the end of the game. Of course my friends were all smiling every time something was poured into the middle and this did nothing but confirm my thoughts.
But guess what, somehow the drink landed on me and I had to drink it all in one. It was horrible and it is quite possibly one of the foulest things that I have ever tasted. To say that it went to my head would be an understatement, and I could already feel my legs shaking underneath me. After a few reassuring words from my friends, I stood up and was ready to take part in the next game. I couldn't believe what they had planned.
They came out with frog jumpsuits and they expected me to wear it. Slowly, I put it on and I was very wary about what they were going to ask of me. Bearing in mind, I'd already had a foul concoction that was still lingering in my throat. I looked behind me and my friends were all putting on frog suits as well and that was when I knew there was something going on.
Why on earth would we all be dressed up in frog suits on a Sunday night? That was when the real challenge began. They all knelt down and they asked me to leap frog over them. As you may remember from earlier, I have never been able to leap frog before, let alone after a couple of drinks. In fact, I can't even do a forward roll. So how I would ever be able to leap frog over three people is beyond me.
Anyway, I knelt down with my hands in position, ready to make the leap. I couldn't quite get my head around what my friends were thinking, and I knew that they must be crazy to think that I could leapfrog over three people. I felt the strength build in my legs and I jumped as high as I could. I felt like I was in the air for a lifetime, and they probably felt so as well. I made sure that my legs were tucked in as much as I could and I even went through the extra effort of taking my shoes off as well so nobody would get hurt. I felt my body come crashing to the floor and I skidded across the room. My frog outfit wrinkled around my face and I had to lift up my hood to see what had happened. My friends were all sat there smiling and laughing at me so I thought that maybe I had spun off to the side and hit something, but what I didn't know is that they had put a digital camera on the fireplace to document the whole moment.
I watched the footage back and I couldn't quite believe it. I have never leapfrogged over one person before, let alone three, yet somehow I had managed to do it! Sure it looked a little clumsy but maybe that was the ring of fire that finally gave me the confidence to do it. Either way, I looked to the right after watching the footage and I saw my best friend come out with a cake and candles. I can't tell you how funny and special that moment was to me, because I hadn't seen him in months and I was told he couldn't make it to the party. He too, was wearing a frog outfit and I remember that when we were kids, we always used to practice it together in the school yard. 
I blew out the candles and that was one of the best moments of my life, everyone put so much effort into that for me and I came out feeling like I had truly accomplished something. Sure, it was only a game of leapfrog, but it took me 30 years to get it right and I think I deserve all the praise that I can get!

JERRY- THE WORLD'S FASTEST TURTLE HAS A SPOT ON WWW.BRAGOUT.COM

   
I have a turtle, and as you can guess by the title, his name is Jerry. I named him Jerry after the hit show Tom & Jerry, you know the one with the cat and mouse? Well Tom, the cat, is always trying to catch the mouse, Jerry but he can never quite seem to do it. From the moment I picked up Jerry from the local pet store, I knew that he was the one for me, but I have to say he looked awfully timid in his tank. He wasn't close to the other turtles at all and he just seemed to sit there all on his own. I guess you could say that I picked him because I felt bad for him. Either way, when I got him in my carry case, I knew that we had a connection, even though that may sound silly because at the end of the day, he is just a turtle. So I picked up a pamphlet from the pet store and that detailed all the things that I needed in order to take care of him. I needed a secure fitting tank, plenty of fruit and vegetables and some water for him to swim in. I immediately took my wage and I blew it all on my little buddy. I bought him plenty of strawberry treats, a submergible pond for the tank and even some cool lighting so he could feel completely at home the second I put him in there. I even invested in some real plants as well, so I knew that his original environment was replicated as much as possible. 
What disappointed me however is that as soon as I got him in the tank, he just sat there! I mean, come on Jerry, what is going on here! So I played with him a little, tried to feed him some of his strawberry treats and no matter what I did, it just wasn't working. After a couple of weeks, I began to worry even more, and after doing a search on the internet, he didn't look happy at all. Eventually, I took him back to the shop because I thought I must be doing something wrong. I mean, I had a total bond with this turtle and he just wasn't happy. The pet shop guy advised me that a few days before I picked up Jerry, he was separated from another turtle in his tank, so maybe the two had grown to be friends and he was having a hard time adjusting.
I asked to see the other turtle and he looked to be the same size as Jerry. I picked him up and I brought him home, even though I now had one more turtle than I originally bargained for!
As soon as I put him in the tank, you could literally see Jerry's face light up. He looked so happy and I could just tell that he was trying to tell me thank you. I thought I'd get them out of the tank for a bit and I set up a little obstacle course for them in something I like to call the play tank. It is a huge rectangular tank that has climbing steps and all sorts of fun stuff. I thought I'd try them with a different treat as well, so I put some raspberries in there so they could have something when they reach the finish line. Now I know that turtles are slow, but I'm not kidding, as soon as I put Jerry in there with his friend, he looked to be running. He was having so much fun and the other turtle just couldn't keep up with him. I couldn't believe how fast he was, maybe he just missed his playmate or maybe he just wanted to get his hands on the big juicy raspberry at the top of the shelf, either way, it was unbelievable.
After a couple of more sessions, I decided to name the other turtle Tom; after all, he could never catch up to Jerry no matter how hard he tried! So let's skip ahead in the story to the point where I knew that Jerry would go on to be the world's fastest turtle. I entered him in a competition with a couple of other people that came from all around the area and we put our turtles on the starting line. I put jerry down and I had a big juicy raspberry waiting for him. We've done this training a couple of hundred times now at least so I knew he was ready. The piston went off and off they went! Jerry was closing up behind one of the turtles in front and he was so close to passing him. I'm not joking, it was so tense. Just when I thought it was all over, the other turtle reared off to the side but Jerry carried on going. He came right into my hands and I gave him two raspberries, you know why? Because he came FIRST.
That's right; the turtle that barely moved is now the fastest turtle in the world

My basketball story

   
I've been practicing my basketball skills for quite some time now and I have to say that it has been quite the rollercoaster! After all, I started playing when I was very young but a knee injury stopped me from getting out on the court again for quite some time. I didn't want to do myself any more damage but I kept thinking to myself, wouldn't it all be worth it to feel that adrenaline rush again? So I got out my old shorts and I started to dribble. After a few crossovers, I felt my rhythm coming back and you just can't beat the rush that you get from that. Some guys came up to join in and it really was one of the best moments of the year. Obviously there was a little friendly competition involved but other than that, all was good. One thing that I have always wanted to do is dunk the ball. I have never been able to do this and ever since my knee injury, I've been held back more than ever. With all the guys on the court, I didn't want to look as though I couldn't hold my own, especially because it was being filmed by some of the people on the street. That was when I decided to go for it. I ran up, dribbled past the first defender and did a layup to secure the basket. As I leapt into the air, I felt myself soaring to new heights and I thought to myself, if I'm ever going to dunk, now is the time to do it. It all happened so fast, but I quickly felt the cold rim on my fingers and I knew that I had done it. The best thing is, it was all caught on camera. To say that I feel on top of the world right now would be an understatement.

What are you good at?

   

WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?

Just because you are from a small town doesn’t mean you weren’t blessed with talents and skills that the whole world needs to see. You may be limited due to your current location, but it is possible to branch out and remove limitations with the help of the new social media website known as BragOut. This site is designed for anyone that wants to share their talents and skills with the world.

WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?

When you keep the things that you are great at hidden, you only make it more difficult to achieve success. Both young and old need a platform designed for sharing their talents. Having the ability to offer something only has value if others can experience and enjoy the skill of talent that you can provide. From singing to cooking and anything in between, you need an outlet designed to help you show off what you are exceptional at.

MAKE YOUR MARK

It is easy to feel like you are just one spec in a world that is filled with so much. BragOut is designed to help you find more worth in yourself and the talents that you have honed throughout the years. There is so much more to the world than just eth small town where you have grown up. It is now time that you branch out and let your talent shine through for the world to see. The concept behind BragOut is to make it possible for young kids and adults of all ages to move beyond world they are living in. Your talents, gifts and interests can have an impact on a much more broad level if you choose to share them on BragOut.

DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND

You may think that no one is taking notice, but you just need to get your skills and talents in front of the right people. Exposure is the most important factor and with BragOut, you can loudly broadcast to the world what you are best at. No matter what skill you might have or what interests you on a deeper level, it is time to remove all barriers and finally get the recognition that you deserve. If everyone did a little more bragging the world would be a much better place.

My move to Vancouver, BC, Canada (A story from a stranger I met)

   
At first, I was a little unsure about moving to Canada. My parents had been urging me to move to Vancouver for months, and now I had the chance. My company was sending me there for two years to write an exposé on tourism in British Columbia. They wanted me to get the full experience and are paying me double my original salary to work on this. The first stop of the journey was Vancouver. I headed there on the first week of December, just in time for ski season!
I was thrilled to be able to get back to the snow again. I’ve been waiting all year for this. The first time I tried to ski, I was very wobbly and scared. Even so, I was determined to keep trying. The adrenaline I felt, once I managed to soar down that mountain was indescribable. When I became more advanced, I could do jumps, flips, and tricks like you wouldn’t believe. Skiing brings me at peace. I love the whoosh of the snow uprooted by the skis, the precision and skill it takes to manoeuver myself around the trees, and the rush of excitement. Without skiing I would be lost. It is my true calling in life.
As I got off the plane, my parents rushed over to hug me. All three of us were excited that I was here. In the winter, Canada always had snow. I couldn’t wait to hit the slopes. My parents helped me gather my luggage and drove me to their apartment. It was an unusually warm night considering it was winter time. Once we arrived at their home, they settled me into a room. I instantly fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. 
My alarm went off at seven a.m. and I rushed around eating breakfast, brushing my teeth, and getting my gear together. I asked to borrow my mom’s car and then loaded everything into her sedan. Luckily, she had a GPS system, so I could navigate my way through the city. I found my way to Grouse Mountain only to discover that it was closed. A fellow skier told me that there was no snow on this mountain and then he advised me to head home. 
I’ve waited too long to ski to give up now! There was another mountain I could check out – Mount Seymour. I drove, nearly speeding, hoping to find snow. Once I got there, I was told again that there was not enough snow on the mountain for any winter sports. My heart sank into my stomach. How could this happen? I had been researching the best places to ski here for months. I bought the best equipment. It was all for nothing.
Disappointed by how much time and money I had wasted, I started driving around aimlessly. Somehow I spotted a lively place called Seymour’s Pub. Once I found a place to park, I walked over there bundled up in my thick black coat and wool gloves. I didn’t really need them as I was burning up when I entered the bar. Sitting on a stool, I ordered a beer and stripped off my coat. There were a few other guys in the bar, all drinking beer. They were quiet and kept to themselves, just like me. 
Wracking my brain, I tried to think of places where I could go to ski. That was hard to do considering I’m from the other side of the country. I was so blinded by my excitement to ski, that I didn’t factor in the odds of it actually snowing. Skiing was my only hobby and I hadn’t had the chance to go in years. I missed it so much that I thought I was physically going insane. 
After my third or fourth beer, a rowdy group of guys about my age crashed through the doors. They hooted and hollered about how awesome they were and that they couldn’t wait to leave tomorrow. I scowled as they crowded around me at the bar, barking at the poor bartender for drinks. He seemed to be okay with it, as he just rolled his eyes and poured the alcohol. 
“What are you fellas so cheery about?” I scoffed, not really expecting an answer. “Well, my friend,” a clean shaven man said as he patted my back, “We’re all headed down to Washington tomorrow to go skiing and snowboarding!” He let out a loud holler and his friends echoed his noise. 
My eyes lit up and I looked at the man who was now chugging down a pint. “You’re going skiing?” “Hell, yeah!” the man exclaims. His breath smelled as if he’d already had too much to drink. “Bright and early, we’ll be off.” The group of men cheered and I cheered along with them.
“I haven’t been skiing in ages! It would be great if I could tag along!” I beamed, “I could even give one of you a ride in my car. It’s kind of small but there’s enough room for me and a passenger.”
“No way!” one of the other men, with freckles all over his face, roared, “That would be awesome, dude!”
I smiled at this group who had so quickly welcomed me on their journey. My heart beat quickened and I could almost feel the icy breezes against my skin. I could smell the freshly fallen puffs of white already. The next morning was Saturday and I was up and ready to go well before I needed to be. I was far too excited, that my parents even thought I was still drunk. I was perfectly sober, but I was overjoyed at the thought of skiing again. Nothing could compare to what I was feeling. I wasn’t even afraid of how rusty I might be considering how long it’s been. 
It took about three hours to get where we needed to go. I leaped out of the car and rushed towards the slopes, ecstatic that I now had a place to go every weekend.