Travel Outside the Country

It was only 3 years ago when I had my 1st out of the country trip - thanks to QBE. Twas one of the highlights of my 5-year tenure in that company.

Since then, I have been to 4 countries, 2 on visa counties and 2 visa countries. I could say, my passport is not only a valid id but a legit trip essential. I could not say 'at least man lang matatakan' anymore.

For anyone there - get a passport. If you think traveling out of the country is only for those who have extra money, think again. Anyone can travel - as long as you save for it. For the past 3 years, those 4 other countries I have been to were not from the 'extra' money that I have but from the conscious effort of saving a few from my salary.

You would not feel how small you are when you leave the Philippines. Yes, you are small and just a part of a bigger world. That is something that you will figure out if you have the time to save and explore outside the boundaries of the country. You learn to appreciate your life, your world, the people around you and more so develop understanding and compassion towards people from other nations.

I am not as well-traveled as a few of my friends, but at least I am one of those who had the chance to see beyond the Philippine horizon. I just wish some other friends who yearn to have that one tatak in their passport to take action. I just wish that friends who yearn to fly outside the country confines will get their passport. It is never too late to get one.

5 Things na Di Kinakahiya pag Nagtravel

Exciting ang mag out of the country travel, lalo na pag 1st time mo. Kahit naman batikan ka na sa pag travel, exciting pa rin. Pero mapa-veteran man o baguhan sa pagttravel, may mga bagay na feeling eh di bagay at nakakahiyang gawin o aminin sa mga friends na kasama mo sa biyahe or mga babalitaan mo pag uwi galing travel.

Pero may iilang bagay na hindi dapat ikahiya pag nagtravel.

1. Mag stay sa budget accommodation.

Hindi naman lahat ng nagttravel eh milyunaryo na kaya ang mag stay sa 4 or 5 star hotels.  Anong masama at nakakahiya sa pag stay sa isang 500 to 1000 pesos per night na accommodation?  Ang point ng pagttravel ay maka exper0ience ng bagong kultura, makakita ng mga tanawing sa libro or tv lang nakikita, makakilala ng mga baging kaibigan.

Ang accommodation ay parang - tulugan, pagiiwanan ng gamit, pahingahan, paliguan.  Syempre, bilang traveller, kelangan kumportable - and that is kanya kanyang preference naman kung ano ang kumportable o hindi.  I personally use BOOKING.COM sa paghahanap ng hotels na mura. Pag minsan, sa AirBNB.  Again, hi di nakakahiyang sabihing sa mura ka lang nag stay.  

2. Bumili ng pagkain sa convenience store para sa baon sa biyahe or kakainin bilang meal.

Balik tayo sa point ng budget travelling. Hindi naman contest ito ng pasarapan ng pagkain, but ang pagtravel ay ang pag experience ng kultura ng ibang bansa.  Take note na maaaring pareho lang ang itsura o pangalan ng convenience stores dito or sa ibang bansa pero iba ang lasa, iba ang texture at iba ang timpla.  Yan ay culture! 

3.  Kumain sa fast food.

Maybe ang pinaka common na advice na maririnig mo pag nag out of the country trip ka ay ang magtry ng local cuisine or delicacies. True naman. Pero wala rin naman masama kumain sa fast food like McaDonalds or KFC dahil chances are, merong nasa menu nila na wala sa menu natin na worth it matikman. Magandang idea din kaya ang gawing fastfood tour ang trip para makita ang difference ng sineserve sa atin. Prices naman ay halos pareho lang sa atin.  Trust me, it is worth it kumain sa fastfood sa ibang bansa. It's tipid pa.

4. Magselfie at magpose and magpicture kahit saan.

May mga lugar na hindi masyado "tourist infested" na maraming nagpipicture so mejo mahihiya ka na magselfie.  But, don't be ashamed na ipaalam sa mga local na isa kang turista dahil ang turista ay mahalaga sa bawat lugar! Besides, isa sa mga objectives ng pag travel mo ay ang pag collect ng experiences at moments and wala naman ibang effective memorabilia at proof na nakarating ka sa lugar na yun but pictures. Ang mga nabibiling memorabilia madaling masira, manakaw or mawala - pero ang pictures na makukunan mo ay magmamarka talaga.

5.  Wag mahiyang nagtanong.

Hindi lang sa Ritemed ang linyang yan. Kahit sa travel.  Sabihin na nating may language barrier at hindi naman sila sanay o marunong ng perfect English - pero meron tayong tinatawag na mobile apps na pwede gamitin pagtranslate.  Besides, wapakels na pag barok ang English mo, dahil barok din naman ang English nila. It's a tie! Marerealize mo na hindi kelangan perpekto ang grammar at tenses mo pag kausap mo ay mga banyagang di naman din umi-English.  Sabi nga, it's the thought that counts - thought ng sentence! 

May iba sigurong bagay ang di dapat ikahiya, pero yan lang ang top 5 para sa akin... maybe may idadagdag ka pa.... comment below.

Next Destination

Maybe isa sa mga pangarap ng mga tao ang makarating sa The Great Wall of China.  Nasa bucket list yata yan ng lahat ng aware kung ano ang structure na yan.

Syemps gusto makarating dun. After ko makarating ng London, may kakaibang feeling nga ang nararamdaman mo pag nakikita at napupuntahan mo ang mga lugar na sa books mo lang nakikita o nababasa.

Well...

Pinaghahandaan yan.

Pinaghahandaan ko na rin ang Great Wall.

Booking ng plane tickets to Beijing, China - check na check na.

Excited.

Dalawa na naman kami magttravel sa February next year.  

Magkano ko naiskor ang tickets - sabihin na nating 7K balikan or 14K balikan para sa aming dalawa na yan.

So - ang aabangan na lang --- magkano magagastos.  Syempre hindi naman lahat ken ken afford ng luxury sa travel.  Marami sa atin nagiipon muna bago lumarga... 

At least step 1 check na.  

Step 2 underway - ipon ng pera.

Step 3 underway - research. 

Basa online.

Nood ng videos.

Ganun. 

Mahaba haba pa ang time.

Isshare ko na lang ang next stage pag nasa ganung stage na... lalo na ang VISA application. Dreaded.

For now.. enjoy enjoy muna magbasa.

Abang abang na lang sa susunod na kabanata.

Expensive Experience

Flying has never been frequent and easy for everyone today.  With all the presence of all airlines online, customers can easily book a flight and explore the world.

Sa Pilipinas, ang presence ng Cebu Pacific at mga seat sale nila mas nakakaenganyo pa ng maraming mga travellers na umalis at mag explore.  Minsan nga lang, kelangan lang talaga natin maging super conscious sa oras ng flights..... to avoid spending much.

I learned things the hard and expensive way when travelling.  

I booked a flight that was originally scheduled 4AM on December for a flight in March.  otiCebu Pacific changed the schedule to another time - and I was advised through email.   Yes, I read it, but did not really gave much though about it.

Flight day.  All the while I thought my flight was 6AM.  I woke up at 4AM and prepared to leave.  I hailed an Uber and it was the only time I checked my itinerary again.

Boom.

The plane leaves at 5AM.

I received notifications on online/mobile check in but I ignored them because I want to personally check in so I can request for a seat at the back row.  

It was already past 4 when I got to the airport.  Check in was closed.

I was late.

Rebooking costs a hefty 5K.

A new ticket costs about 3.7K.

One way.

My original ROUND TRIP tickets cost only 3.5K.

Ouch.

2 options.

Rebook and spend money on the penalty and the difference between the new price and the original price I purchased.

Purchase a new ticket and fly later the same day.

I opted for #2 - since there is a need to get to where I was going.

Expensive.  Hard.  Stressful.  Sad.

The most expensive lesson I learned when flying - always check the itinerary.  NEVER ignore the online/mobile check in notification.

Had I checked in online, even if I was late for the counter check in, I could have gone straight to the boarding gates and be on my original flight.  I could have really saved.

Regrets.

Anyway, it is too late.

Very expensive.

My Perfect Jumpshots

I think that almost all (young) travelers can't exit a certain site without capturing a perfect jump shot.  

Why not?!  Jump shots are fun at nakakatuwa tingnan lalo na pag nacapture mo ng tama habang nakalutang sa ere.

Here are a few of the jump shots I personally snapped - using a camera phone.

When in Cambodia -- huh... ang saya lang.  With matching background ng Angkot Wat.  Too bad natakpan ang isang tower (kung tower man ang tawag jan).  In any case... nakakatuwa.

When in Vigan. Ah! Mga inggitero kasi sa jump shot kaya ayan... same spot, different people.  In any case... maganda sana if iba ibang pose.  

Tanghaling tapat yan.  Obvious sa shadow di ba?

And finally - my favorite.  Mahirap kuhanan ng jump shot ang isang group - lalo na pag iba iba ang sizes.  But I am just proud that I got this shot - that everyone is floating on air.
Taken in Ilocos (Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur), during our Team Building activity.

First Few Minutes

Lovely.

Expression ng mga Briton.  Description rin sa paligid.  Totoo naman pala.

Yeah, lovely talaga ang paligid.   Unang hakbang pa lang paglabas ng airport - lovely na agad ang klima - malamig at presko. Walang kainit init kahit na alas 3 or alas 4 na ng hapon yun.  Ang sarap lang maglakad.  

In any case -  check out a few pics while we were on our way to the apartment.

Right Hand Drive.  Whew.
This is totally new to me kasi naman Left hand sa Pilipinas.