It has been seven (7) years today, which means, this blog post has been sitting on my drafts that long. A long time coming, it is, but I have to finally say it: I’ve moved on, but the memories and sounds of gunshots sometimes still hunt me in my dreams.
Continue reading “That July 17, 2014 story”
Traveling solo is scary, most even say it’s lonely. Leaving the comfort of friends and family and all things familiar with no idea of what’s waiting for you when you land in a different city or country is outright daunting.
Traveling solo is grueling because when something goes wrong, everything is up to you. It will leave you with the only option of keeping away from everything and everyone you know. You have to figure out everything that it will make you think that it might be easier if you had a friend around.
Traveling solo is not all sugar, spice, and everything nice because you will never really know the attitudes of other people. Some are mean and rude. Some will deliberately avoid you. Some might not even talk to you, worse, they won’t even help you when you’re clearly lost and disrupted. Some will take advantage of you, really.
It is hard to take your own photo when you travel solo. Some people will look at you with such disdain and if you’re anxious enough, it will be all the more gut-wrenching. It is even hard to eat alone. Some people will take you for granted and make you feel as if you never really existed.
But here’s to the people who are afraid to travel alone: Yes, traveling solo is scary but it is liberating because you have to completely rely on yourself.
You will have to know that when you didn’t need to learn anything more, all you need is to trust yourself and be patient. Traveling solo is not lonely because you will meet people — far too great people— from different races with far different stories.
Traveling solo is grueling, as every other travel (even with your friends and family) usually are but have a brave heart. Travel mishaps are inevitable and you just have to take a deep breath, carefully assess the situation, and try your hardest to know what’s causing your distress. If it comes to worse, talk to other people and ask for their help.
Yes, some people are mean and rude but most of the people you’ll meet are nice, trustworthy, and lovely. However, you must have a good sense of people’s hearts. Be nice so that they will not take advantage of you. Learn to talk to people, better yet, connect with the locals because most often than not, they are extraordinarily helpful and adorable. Most of them will help you solve your problem without expecting anything in return.
It is hard to take your own photos when you’re alone, no questions asked. But most of the people around you will offer to take yours, even if it sometimes –okay always– means you have to take their photos, too. Trust me, you will be more creative. If you are shy to ask other people for that favor, then be brave enough to do the complete opposite: offer to take their photos, and they will take yours. Problem solved.
It is hard to eat alone is a myth. It might be surprisingly stressful to eat alone in a restaurant but you will get used to it. After all, it is sometimes cool not to share your food to anyone else.
And here’s to the people who are afraid to travel alone:
You are more than capable than you give yourself credit for. Convince yourself that it is okay to travel alone and the world is safe. You will have to chart your own course so traveling solo is not for the faint-hearted. Be brave or do not travel alone. Be your best self or do not go solo.
A quick guide:
Trust yourself in every decision you make because you know what they say — life has a funny way of taking you to places you never know existed.
Christopher Poindexter
I urge you: go find buildings and mountains and oceans to swallow you whole. They will save you, in a way nothing else can.
“You’re so Ilocana,” says a friend when I showed her the photos of my coin banks. I am not any near of ashamed though, if I may say.
Technically, my coin banks did not cover [for] all my expenses because I booked my flights way beforehand. We can never thank seatsales enough, yes? But my alkansyas sure helped me pushed through with my travels, even that goes without saying.
When I say travels, I meant going to Iloilo–Antique-back to my province in Ilocos Norte- South Korea – Singapore – Thailand – Malaysia – Bacolod – Cadiz City (Lakawon Island) – Guimaras in one month. Yes, you read it right!
Five coinbanks strategically placed in:
– My tita’s house in Novaliches (two of them) which I started filling in when I was still living with them, and every weekends thereafter.
– Two on my bedside table and on top of my cabinet in the room I am currently renting
– One on my office table
HOW DID I DO THAT? Well, I:
– Deliberately put 100, 200, and 500 bills in there just to find myself whining and ranting that I don’t have any money left after.
– Put my “extra” money in there, too. When I mean extra, I programmed my Ilocano self that I need to spend just 100 pesos for a day (on work days). Whatever extra money I can spare, I deposit it on my office coinbank.
– Put other extras, too. I am not really that much of a spender (okay, I spend a lot on food..and travels!), so whatever extra coins or bills I have from satisfying my cravings and beach/mountain longings, I put it on my boarding house alkansya.
– Saved the 40% of my monthly salary for personal and school use (which sufficiently covers [my] two weeks). The 10% is for my tithes while the 50% goes to my saving accounts (I have three!) where my insurance policies payment are automatically debited monthly. Whatever money I feel like saving from the 30%, I put it in wherever of the five. It depends on my mood, though. Sometimes I put 500/300/200 bills, but I put my extra 20 and 50 peso bills which, to be honest, is most of the times.
Most importantly, I (somehow) deprived myself of gadgets and unnecessary temporary pleasures (*coughs luxury bags, clothes, and shoes.. coughs*).. or those are just not really my things.
Because of my coinbanks, I spent too little of my savings. I used my last payment from my previous project/job to add up to my travel expenses. The good thing is, I haven’t even opened two of my coinbanks yet!
What I just want to say here is that save those coins, that extra 20-peso change from whatever you bought, that two hundred bill that you think you will not need for the next days, or even that 500 peso bill you may want to take off from your salary on every payday.
Buy that cute coinbank in the mall, I bought mine in Papelmerotti with all those inspiring quotes that made me want to save more.
I went to the destinations above with a minimum amount of pocket money. Check my previous and next posts on how much I used in each trip.. just like how an Ilocana should ambitiously spend. *winks*
I have said this earlier but adding my savings from my previous job, I only opened two out of my five coinbanks for all my trips! 🙂 I still have my emergency fund! *exits with flying colors*
Neyziellewanders 