I was never the adventurous, thrill seeker type of girl. I was more of the laid back, secured in her comfort zone. I'm always curious to try out a lot of things but I would always back out because of fear. I had never tried ziplines, backed out on roller coaster rides, and just had rode a ferris wheel (but was freaking out all the way) for the first time already in my 20's. I have stage fright and I'm afraid of heights. I am shy and never the life of a party, maybe I was a little bit back in high school but it was different as I was just trying to fit in. I wasn't the cool girl. So, I'm always envious to those who can do all the things that I can't, wishing to be more courageous.
I have this urge to go somewhere, anywhere my feet wants me to go. Whether locally or overseas, I just want to travel, experience different cultures, just be lost for a moment with nothing to worry about and just forget and set aside reality.
Somehow, I am now able to fulfill this urges and ticked a couple of things off my bucket list.
I've been to some tours locally, travel with some of my friends and my family. I have started to explore some parts of the Philippines. I've been to some beaches and tourists spots of northern and southern part of Luzon; stepped my feet to the northernmost tip of Luzon in Patapat Viaduct, dipped into the cold water of Pagudpud beach, felt the cold weather of Baguio, island hopped in Quezon province, got stinged by a jelly fish in a beach in Batangas, relaxed in an almost Baguio kind of weather in Tagaytay, felt the rush of the waterfalls and climbed a mountain in Tanay.
Also, I was able to see some parts of Visayas and hopefully soon in Mindanao, although there's still more to discover but eventually I'll be able to soon.
Unexpectedly, I went to my very first out of the country travel just this year. With just almost a month preparation, me and a friend at work abruptly just decided to book a flight to Singapore. I was always dreaming of travelling overseas and never thought it would come true all of a sudden. Setting my fears and doubts aside, I followed what my heart wants and explored a foreign country. I felt like I started this year right. My almost 5days stay in a neigboring country was all worth it. I had explored the famous country, walked the streets of their downtown, experienced the rush hour and rode buses and trains to and from different locations, window shopped on their shopping malls, bumped into and talked to their locals, ate some local foods, tried crazy rides on famous theme parks, stroll around Sentosa, posed with wax clones/images of famous people and celebrities, experienced their culture and way of living, and to still be in awe on how beautiful the city is. I was able to get a glimpse and checked out Geylang District, Bugis Street, Merlion Park, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Sentosa, Universal Studios, Madame Tussauds, just to name a few. I was also able to cross the boarder from Singapore to Malaysia to get to Legoland. It was indeed a one of a kind experience and would not trade for anything.
Now, I'm looking forward to more travels locally and most specially overseas. These experiences had opened the wanderlust in me. I'm still trying to condition and work out with my self on travelling solo, hopefully I'll have enough courage and be able to tick it off my bucket list soon.
And just recently, I conquered and proudly was able to reach the summit of two mountains in just one day. I had my very first hiking and never in my life had imagined I'll be able to do that. It was really an amazing experience for me. A friend at work just invited me unexpectedly to join them 2-3 days before their planned hike. I had no preparations at all. We went to Mt. Cayabu and Mt. Maynoba in Tanay, Rizal. It's what mountaineers call a twin hike because we will be climbing two mountains. With minimal to no experience in mountain climbing, I just went with them. Before sunrise, we went and started to follow the trail. During the first 10-15 minutes of the hike, I was helpless. I was on the verge of giving up. I'm almost out of breathe, I was dizzy, nauseous, I was having chest pains and my head was aching. Imagine, we weren't even halfway of the climb but I was losing it. I was thinking of going back to the jump off point. I was prepared to back out, like I did on the Battlestar Galactica roller coaster ride in Universal Studios Singapore. But with the help of fellow hikers, even if they dont know me, encouraged me to go on. They said that it was normal for first timers. Thanks to those who stayed with me during the critical part of my climb. After a few minutes, I get back up my feet and started the hike again. With renewed strength I continued and tried to keep up with my group, though I'm slow and always behind I'm happy that some people in my group stayed behind me. I'm thankful to one of our tour guide, Albert for bringing my backpack for me until the end and for staying behind to look out to us who can't keep up. Going up was really hard, but upon reaching the summit it was all worth it, all the sweat, the pain, the thirst and hunger you felt on your way up it was all worthwhile. The feeling of reaching the very top, feeling the cold breeze on your skin, beeing able to look on the scenic view from above, i'm running out of words to express it. If going up is hard, then going down the mountain was just as hard. The trail was more steep downwards, there's rapelling involved, it was slippier because of the rocks. But the good thing was, we were able to came across 8 mini waterfalls on our way down. After almost 7hours, we were able to get back. We, at last successfully finished our hike. Although I was really behind from my group, I was just as happy as they were. At last it was done, I'm ready to feel the aftershock of all of it which by the way I'm experiencing right now. My body is aching, I can't get up nor sit down. But it was all worth it. I may not be able to schedue or commit to another mountain climbing invitation but I'll never regret every part of the experience. Hopefully when I'm ready again, it won't be that hard for me anymore.
All I can say is that, I may not be that of a thrill seeker, not that courageous, I may back out all of the sudden but I guess it was never too late to explore the adventurous in me. To try things out one step at a time, I may always tend to be behind, but it's never a competition anyway of who needs to be able experience first and try this and that, who needs travel first to this particular place or country, and who need to reach the summit of a mountain first. It is the experience that counts.
I'm excited and I can't wait to have more travels, adventures and experiences soon.
