I know this post is two months late but better late than never right? So here are the 15 adventures that made my 2015.
1. Road trip to Lobo, Batangas.
I started the year with a road trip with my closest friends because I wanted to level up my driving skills. There were sharp curves and steep inclines on the route from Lipa City to Lobo in Batangas. I have never driven on that road before but aside from smearing tricycle paint onto my headlights, there were no other bumps encountered. Our destination was the Malabrigo Lighthouse, where we gawked at a goat licking off red paint from the wall, and the boulder beach, which was a steep staircase below it.
2. Hike up to Mt. Pico de Loro after a night of partying.
I don't go out drinking that often and I no longer hike that often either. But somehow, both ended up on consecutive days and both were limited opportunities. After getting home at 4am, I slept for 30 minutes and then went out again to fetch my hiking buddies by 6am. I drove all the way to Pico de Loro, hiked up and down the mountain, and then drove all the way back again. I know this isn't exactly something to be proud of but this feat once again proved the strength of my willpower -- that even lack of sleep cannot defeat.
3. First medium-term solo travel.
It was in 2014 when I decided that I want to (and I will) travel. I spent the year anticipating for timing and destination opportunities (what I recognize as omens) and after several months of deliberation and preparation, it was finally time to leave. It wasn't without worries, doubts, and hesitations. But the more scared I feel about my solo adventure, the stronger my conviction is that it is the right direction to take. There were a lot of risks involved to what I was trying to achieve but I knew the alternative was much more unacceptable.
4. February 14 in Singapore.
I flew to Singapore firstly to attend a colleague's wedding that was held on February 14. I was preparing to roam the streets alone after the luncheon but things like bank chores and random trips happened and then I wasn't alone anymore. It was a really long walk and a really long night full of overwhelming sights and engaging conversations. There were crowds everywhere but I was too in awe to feel annoyed. I liked how I looked. I liked where I was. And I liked who I was with. I don't remember every detail of that night but I remember it being an epic one.
5. Stop at Cat Beach in Penang, Malaysia.
My goal was to travel for at least 30 days and I thought I needed to stay put for at least a week for rest and for budget. I found cat beach (Pantai Kuching) in Malaysia which felt perfect because I haven't held a cat for so long, it was next-door to Singapore, and I love beaches. I stayed with the cat shelter for 10 days and it was where I first met people who had the same travel mindset as me -- travel not for leisure but for self-discovery and living. It was just what I needed to confirm what I was trying to achieve with the trip.
6. Work-travel at Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia.
After spending a few days with company in Teluk Bahang, I decided it's time again to explore solo. I booked five nights in a hostel that was an adventure in itself and cycled between working on my laptop and roaming the streets of Georgetown. I was alone most of the time but the hostel-keepers were so warm that I felt how it was to come home to family every night and share the day's adventures. Aside from that, the street art, the quaint coffee shops, the cheap food, the modern comforts, and the proximity of nature made Penang a place I can potentially settle in.
7. Sunset from White Beach, Moalboal in Cebu.
It had been a few long days of transit from Manila to Cebu to Moalboal and I was just desperate to finally reach my destination. When I arrived at the my resort, I felt so tired like an old person it was a struggle to merely smile at the receiving lady. I dropped my bags at my room, careful not to dive onto the bed, and went out to settle the registration. And then I saw the orange glow of the sunset so I frantically ran towards the beach. I sat on the sand, felt the warmth on my skin, cradled my knees, and smiled to myself. And then the whole grueling trip was worth it.
8. Freediving course at Moalboal, Cebu.
On the few times that I did scuba, it always felt lacking and restrictive. I liked how I can go deep underwater but I hated how the scuba gear feels heavy on my back. Then I discovered freediving and instantly thought that was what I've been looking for. Going down underwater with nothing but a mask and your own oxygen supply felt so natural and liberating. I took a 3-day course in Moalboal and aside from meeting some more amazing and like-minded people, it concluded with a 17-meter dive and a turtle sighting.
9. Temporary home in Roxas City, Capiz.
Apart from watching about Roxas as the seafood capital of the Philippines in a TV show once, I knew nothing about it. So when a friend invited me to stay at their property, I eagerly accepted but with a little embarrassment. As soon as I stepped out onto their porch, I immediately saw the home of my dreams -- a simple house sitting directly in front of an expansive beach and with a view of the sunset and the mountains. I would quietly sit out there every day for five days until the mosquitoes come and start having a meal on me.
10. Short talk about budget travelling in Roxas City.
I was never confident with speaking and telling my stories, even with close friends. So when an opportunity came for me to have a talk, I hesitantly agreed thinking: (1) I would do terrible but I won't likely see these people ever again, and (2) It would be a new experience and a good way to expand my comfort zone. I spoke to a dozen of accounting students about where I've been, how little I spend, and why they should do it too -- now. I'm not sure how well I communicated my ideas but I hoped I inspired a dream in at least one of them.
11. Escape to La Union.
It was one of those days when the weight of the city becomes too overwhelming that a selfish escape feels necessary. Nothing new happened but something just clicked in my head. I waited until the impulse left me but the urge of being somewhere else remained. It was a weekday and the beach was peaceful but it didn't quite feel right until the following morning. I was sitting alone and gazing at the water when a thought hit me: "I should build a hostel by the beach to serve as my home and as my means to travel". After that, I had a mission and a direction to pursue.
12. Siesta by the river in Kyoto.
We just had a super late lunch at 4 pm at the best value Ramen restaurant we could find. We waited more than an hour to be able to sit and receive our orders. By then, I was so hungry I no longer wanted to carry my head so I just set it on the table. When the steaming bowls arrived, we immediately devoured it, repeatedly complimenting how perfect the chashu pork was. After the meal, I was so satisfied I felt like I was walking on air, with my head swimming in the clouds and with a bounce on every step. We proceeded to the river and laid down. All the while, I couldn't help smiling.
13. Beer and takoyaki by the river in Kyoto.
It was to be my last night in a city I would like to explore more and with friends I have felt at home with. We reveled in it by having beer and takoyaki by the river while sharing one last round of stories and perspectives. We've known each other for a week at the most, but as travel eliminates most inhibitions, I feel they're less of a stranger than some of my long-time friends. I know their dreams and disappointments and what has brought them there. Although there's no guarantee we'll keep in touch and remain friends, there was definitely a time in Kyoto when we were the truest of friends.
14. Hike and trek to Kagami Ike in Nagano.
Coming from the ninja museum in Togakushi, we did an easy hike to the Okusha shrine and then a quicker trek to Kagami Ike. On the way, we saw leaves raining down as the wind blew, a line of monks heading down from the shrine, and thin outlines of trees beginning to lose their colors. Arriving at Kagami Ike, we were greeted by a mirror-like lake with a background of deep blue mountains and varying shades of fall. There was a crowd around but we found a spot to sit at. The air was cool, the sun was warm, the view was amazing and my heart was happy.
15. Road trip to North Luzon.
Since I celebrated my birthday the previous year with a travel, I decided to do the same this year and the following years. I chose La Union and then included Vigan and Pagudpud when a friend joined in. Although it wasn't the happiest of my birthdays or trips, it was still an enjoyable one and a very soulful one. I've been to the north a couple of times already but it's still one of my favorite places. I'm also considering San Juan in La Union, the surfing capital, as the location of my hostel because it makes a good business case, it has a third-wave coffee shop, and it's relatively accessible from Manila.
It looks like I started and ended my year with a road trip. Yey! I haven't started travelling this year yet so technically, 2016 hasn't kicked-off for me and this post still counts. Haha. I'm looking forward to a lot more travel this year and hopefully a lot more posts that go with it.
Cheers to more uncomfortable adventures, more like-minded friends, and more heartful moments!
