The Travel Bug Bites

It was a fun and travel-filled 2012! 

Funny how, I age at 26, and with the company of my mom, had my first plane ride bound to our home province of Bicol. And now at age 27, barely over a year since that first plane ride, I have become a regular visitor of airports, not to mention bus terminals and docks of places that are all new to me. 2012 paved the way for my travel addiction. In fact, I traveled to more places in this year alone than in the past 26 years of my life. Here’s a glimpse of where I’ve been in the past year.

1. Subic, Zambales – went here with my gorgeous girlfriends or the GGs as we are fondly called by our colleagues.We spent the weekend conquering the heights while enjoying the view at Treetop Adventure, then almost got stuck in the wild as the rain poured hard ands topped us from seeing the tigers in Zoobic Safari and finally enjoying the sun and sand at All Hands Beach. This trip ultimately sealed the GG friendship!  

The outing that sealed the GG friendship!  A superb Subic experience with these lovely ladies! 

2. San Juan, Batangas – went herewith my sister and her friends. I needed a break from all the stress I was going through at that time, so when my sister invited me for a beach trip with her friends, I instantly agreed never mind that I will be an outsider. As it turned out, they are a funny bunch that I never felt like I was not part of their group.

Do I look like an outsider? They certainly did not make me feel like one! Lovin' Laiya! :)

3. Baguio City – served as a tour  guide, not to mention a financial sponsor to my mom and sister who haven’t been to Baguio. My wallet may have cried with the amount of money it let out,but after seeing the excitement and happiness on my mom’s face, no amount of money can ever match that. It was just priceless.

Elmer's Girls Go to Baguio! Wish you were here Itay! :)

4. Coron, Palawan – an all-boys or an all-girls trip? That, I am confused! Lol. Went here with my best boy friends, and yes I am the only "legitimate" girl. Being the only girl in the group, I thought I’d be treated like a princess, but that wasn't the case; nevertheless, they had been really good boys. The boys made the clams so happy while I aimlessly find Nemo. It was an epic adventure and we were almost as close to having one of the boys reveal his inner girl. Haha.

Coron tripping with the most awesome boys! who would want a boyfriend if you have friends as good-looking as them? Hmmmm... Me! Haha

5. Puerto Princesa, Palawan – first family out-of-town trip that involves a plane ride and we were all ecstatic! This trip actually brought a lot of other firsts for us: my sister and I’s first time to eat a woodworm and a bird’s nest made out of saliva; my mom’s first snorkeling experience when she is afraid of deep waters ;and my father’s first local out of town trip, which ironically, he has almost traveled the world. As I was the “Manager”, I took care of all the planning,preparations and even the cost of accommodation.  After this trip, I’ve come to the most important realization with regard to travelling -- family trips are the most expensive!I think I also have to remind my parents that they have another daughter.

Loving Puerto Princesa with my ultimate loves, my family <3

6. Camarines Sur, Bicol – went here with my parents and some relatives. I wasn't really supposed to join them but due to some unwanted events, I was left with no choice but to pack my bags and go. Although this is my family’s home province, with both of my parents growing up in the same town, I still consider CamSur a destination, with wondrous places I have yet to discover.

The fresh air, the sweet smell of the trees and the simple life makes me always look forward to going home to CamSur.

7. Cebu City, Cebu – first visited Cebu last May 2012 for a business trip. I never had the chance to go around the city as my client meetings are scheduled for the whole day and I have to get back to Manila on the same day; however, my assigned driver was kind enough to make a quick detour to the must-see destination of Cebu, the Magellan’s Cross.

Then last July, my friends saw a promo with SeaAir where the two-way trip ticket to Cebu only costs 500.Instantly, we booked a ticket for all of us, never mind that we have to go back to Manila on the same day. Our travel date was scheduled for November so we have the time to prepare our bodies and minds for that one-day one-hell-of-a-tour; and we were wrong, to describe it as such is an understatement. We were beyond exhausted that we stopped over at Starbucks to sleep, also slept while waiting for our turn in Sky Adventure, and then slept on our flight back to Manila. It was one adventure none of us will ever forget!

Cebu in One Day (literally!) exhausting is an understatement! whew!

8. Baler, Aurora – went here with my more-than-a-decade-friends a.k.a. “my genius friends”, as their intelligence level exceeds that of a normal gifted person. And that is not a joke. Lol. My friends and I were completely captivated by the beauty of Baler, its beach, the waves,the waterfalls, everything. It even made me brave enough to try surfing, that despite having a great fear of waves and not knowing how to swim, I was able to stand on the board and ride the wave. The experience was truly awesome. This place is beyond amazing that many of my friends, after seeing the pictures I posted in Facebook, also wanted to visit the place. In fact, I’ll be going back to Baler on March, this time with my office friends. 

All together now, HALLER BALER!  Oh yeah!

9. San Fernando, Pampanga – went here with my new-officemates-slash-new-friends so we can witness the famous lantern festival of Pampanga. We all assumed that all we need to do is stay in a far corner and we can watch the lanterns, but we thought wrong, we should never believe in assumptions. We have to secure tickets for the show and that time it was all sold out. We accepted that the closest thing we can have for a lantern show was to watch the street lanterns light up in the busy highway of San Fernando. But with the company of great friends, a relaxing massage and great food we were able to turn one disappointment to countless fun-filled and memorable experiences.  

Lantern Show Fail? So what, we are still going to make this Pampanga trip awesome! 

Indeed, 2012 has changed my life in ways that I could have never imagined. It has opened me to possibilities that at one point seemed far too distant. It brought me to a lot of wonderful places, but more than that, it brought me to a place of self-discovery, independence and solitude.

If I had known travelling would be this fun and fulfilling, I would have started earlier and maybe by now I am halfway through our country’s 82 provinces. I may not have a huge bank account, but I do invest on something that would last me a lifetime – memories, lots of it. I had been bit by the travel bug, and the only cure for this is to travel more. And I will travel more. And more. And more. :)