I came from a family where a vacation meant an annual trip to the province to visit my grandparents. Leisure travel was a luxury we couldn’t afford as all family funds went to our basic and educational needs. Little did I know that my university life would change it.
My passion for travel was ignited when I enrolled for a camping class in 2009 – I was seventeen then. Eight years after, the wanderlust in me is burning even brighter. Since then, I’ve been to 32 provinces in the Philippines and 23 countries in Asia and Europe. As Traveloka challenged travelers to tell their stories through this contest, https://www.traveloka.com/en-ph/how-travel-changed-my-life-blogger-contest, here are the astonishing changes that travel brought to my life.
Being alone doesn’t translate to being lonely
I initially wanted to travel with friends but there were circumstances when they just couldn’t join. I told myself that I didn’t like to wait for them to be available so I tried to travel solo, and it was the best decision I've ever made. I learned to find bliss in solemnity while hiking through the woods, to listen to my thoughts while having lunch beside a lake and to appreciate my blessings while waiting for the sunrise.
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| Drinking in the peace during a solo hike in Monte Baldo, Italy |
It brought out my confidence
Travel brought out the confidence I never knew I had. Despite being an introvert, I booked my accommodations in hostels to save money. Sharing a room with 6-12 people means someone will eventually ask where you’re from, where you’ve been and where you’re going next. Without realizing it, I became the one who initiates conversation. I experienced how a simple smile at a stranger on a train to Switzerland could lead to hours of conversation and travel talks. I am a witness of how a small talk to another solo traveler in Santorini could lead to spending the whole day together and eventually planning reunion trips. I now walk with confidence, smile at strangers when our eyes meet and I'm no longer afraid of engaging in conversations as travel turned me into a storyteller.
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| Skydiving in Budapest is the craziest thing I've done so far. I had been always afraid of heights, but I conquered it! |
It taught me to be compassionate, patient and open-minded
Having the chance to see the world out of your daily routine changes perspective. Even if travel is something I have to save for, I am constantly faced with realizations that I am more than lucky enough to be able to do it. I’ve met OFWs who have been living abroad for decades, but never get to see the country because bulk of their earnings are remitted to their families. I know how hard it is to live away from the people we love and be content with seeing their milestones through photos they send online.
It lets me see the best of people. In Italy, a wonderful lady invited me for lunch and showed me the Sardinian countryside as a farewell gift to me. After skydiving in Budapest, I met one Korean who has been living in the city for more than four years. She immediately considered me as a guest and insisted to pay for our dinner to celebrate the last night of my trip. In Switzerland, a Swiss guy noticed that I was setting the timer of my camera and offered to take my photo. He turned out to be married to a Filipina and the family invited me to return in a few months and join them for their summer hikes.
Travel has greatly opened my mind. I’ve witnessed different cultures and religions and saw the varying ways of lives in various parts of the world. Though many of them are in no way close to what I grew up with, I learned to respect them instead of passing judgments.
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| The Swiss-Filipino family I met in Matterhorn, Switzerland |
It taught me the real essence of communication
Travelling involves a lot of uncomfortable moments. I got used to not knowing what other people around me are talking about. I used to be grammar-conscious, but then I’ve been to countries with people who won’t speak English for the foreigners. I had to stutter in another language and hope that it would make sense to them. I realized that speaking in broken English is actually a sign of bravery and intelligence because it means we’re brave enough to try and learn another language. Now, I no longer care about grammar in conversations as long as we manage to get the message across. After all, that’s the real purpose of communication.
It made me want to share the joy of travelling
My mother wasn’t happy when I started travelling. She thought it was just a waste of money and that it was too dangerous. But since she’s the type who never forced her opinions to me, I continued to go on trips. Every time I went home, I would talk to her for hours telling her about my new experiences. I would show her photos of the beautiful places I explored, and she started to enjoy it as well.
Travel changed not only my life but also my family’s. When I started earning, I saved to take them to a trip at least once a year. I remember calling my mom while they were in Boracay. She was literally crying on the phone. She'd just finished parasailing – one of the many firsts I wanted her to experience. Now, we’re preparing for my mother’s first international trip after I surprised her with a flight ticket to Singapore.
I used to receive messages from friends telling me that I became their inspiration. I am happiest when I get to inspire people to travel. I want to ignite their wanderlust, their thirst for unfamiliar places and let them know how having your heart scattered in different places feels like.
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| Our family's trip to Puerto Princesa |
It made me discover myself and my dreams
Travel not only changed my life - it became my life. Travel is my passion. Of course it was never rainbows and unicorns, but it makes me feel alive. I discovered that I value my freedom and independence above all and I am someone capable of living my dreams.
#TravelokaPH, #WhyITravel #TravelokaStories
