Nomadic Experiences of 2010

2010 was a big leap from 2009 for me in terms of traveling. I've covered places from up North of Luzon to the Southern Part of the Philippines. From the mad swell of the Pacific ocean learning to Surf in Bagasbas beach in Camarines Norte to the kick ass, butt numbing and free flowing bus ride to Sta. Ana, Cagayan Valley. In between are a number of magnificent Spanish Colonial Churches, quaint little towns, developing urban cities, scenic nature locations and a unique set of people who I met as strangers and eventually became friends of mine.

I started the year by celebrating my birthday with my close friends Tina (who also celebrates the same birthday as mine)  and Lot at the latter's hometown of Cagayan de Oro City. We went river rafting, flew by hanging on the 814 meter zipline in Bukidnon and went on a roadtrip around the island of Camiguin.

Then goes trips to places such as Bolinao, Pangasinan and a holy week holiday in the fine white sands of Calaguas Islands particularly at "Mahabang Buhangin" where we pitched and stayed in a tent for the night and kind of rekindled my love for camping out and proceeded to the surfing place of Bagasbas and dropping by Camsur Watersports Complex in Naga City on the way back to Manila.

A few weeks after that I got reunited with my girlfriend and life is continuously good at all fronts - personal, and my nomadic life. Financially, I'm burdened just like everyone else. However, I'm at a point in my life right now that personally, it is not everything about what a person owns or have in the bank - for me, it's the kind of experience that I could invest in and gather that truly enriches my soul and this way of thinking has steered me away from being so obsessed about spending time in 'get rich schemes' or competing in the rat races held in the corporate world.

 

By May, I was able to join another set of friends a poet and writer in Chin, a photographer in Aileen, a free spirited Tin and Mina who is now married to an Indian guy and is now settled happily in India. In Iloilo we went to nearby Miagao Church and also took an overnight sidetrip to Guimaras Island. Since I stayed there a day more than my friends, I was able to spend my last day at my mother's hometown of Dumangas, a trip that meant so much to me as I've heard a lot about the place from my mom while growing up.

A few months went by without making a trip - probably because of the onslaught of a slew of typhoons that ravaged the country. Then, by August me and my girlfriend went on a weekend trip to the historic fortress island of Corregidor. 

I've always wanted to visit the place and I was glad that I've finally able to do so this year. Sadly, or perhaps for the good of both of us, me and my girlfriend again broke up a few weeks after that. Maybe, it wasn't meant to be and it is now time to move on - on a personal level.

But that is beyond me and my control. This is a travel blog and I'll sum up the year based on my travel experiences, we will always have our own personal bullshits and such, but the passion remains and "on the road" is where my life is heading now.

In October, I went to Bacolod to experience the Masskara Festival for the first time. I've made a vow to myself that I will really try to see and witness each festivals that the Philippines have all year round. I did my first couchsurfing there when Kareen hosted me and a few other backpackers from Germany and New Zealand. It was a different experience because I get to travel and at the same time be inspired by nomadic tales from backpackers who've seen and threaded on numerous countries in the world.

November was probably the busiest month in terms of being on the road for me. I went out on a long weekend trip on the three weekends of this month. First to Baler, Aurora for some surfing experience and a journey to Alaminos, Pangasinan with new-found friends who were also fellow travel bloggers and lastly the long arduous but worth it, long ride to Tuguegarao City, Sta. Ana, Cagayan, Palaui Island then Vigan in Ilocos Sur.

I've also wrote three articles for a local travel magazine "Republic of 7107 island" this year. The first one (Dec-January 2010 - Capones Island, April-May - CDO River Rafting and Aug-Sept - Calaguas Islands).

2010 is a year that I've upped my desire to travel amidst personal shit-storm and all. I'm glad that my sanity is relieved by these travel experiences. I felt like I've grown enough to a level of maturity that I am now starting to appreciate even the smallest of things.  I've met wonderful people who I won't mind manning the trenches if and when we all got sent back in time to World War I.

From iconic lighthouses, blinding white sands, sleepy towns, Spanish colonial churches, historic fortress, of homage trips, adventure, of breaking up, work, new friends, long weekends, the trivialities of daily living, the ups and downs and everything in between traveling. The journey itself was the one thing that kept me sane in the year 2010. I am so glad that I've come to this point in my life wherein, a rucksack on my back, a few bucks in my pocket, a half baked plan and an imaginary arrow pointing me to the road are enough to keep my desire burning and to make each year from here on now, better than the one it preceded. That, inspires me to no end.

I now look forward to 2011 with anticipation and giddly with 'ala porn-star' excitement as to where I would head next. So far, the only concrete plans for 2011 is Sinulog Festival in Cebu and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo both are going to be held on January. See you there perhaps.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!