Land Ahoy, Siquijor
In true traveling with a purpose style, my fellow adventure-loving friends started planning for this trip almost half a year ago. Our goal: to explore Siquijor as a local, with no rock left unturned. Spontaneity is always sexy. But those few months as lead time gave us the luxury of being able to map out our itinerary, save up for pocket money, and lift the mystery that has shrouded the island for decades.
“Hop on a plane; we’ll meet you there,” one of my close friends Dandan told me.
The rest of our group was coming from Cebu, while I flew in from Manila to reach our jump off point, Dumaguete. When you’ve won the friendship lottery like I have, crossing miles just to be with them is an easy feat.
After getting on a boat, we all held our breaths as Siquijor and its untouched beauty emerged on the horizon.
Photo by the always dreamy Hannah
We then took a coastal ride in a jeepney, and stopped over this lush forest.
An immediate quiet fell on us, and the same wonder gleamed in our eyes.
Photo by Dandan
Photo by Hannah
We were finally here. And we were thankful, knowing that it was just the beginning of a mind-blowing weekend.
Brave the waves,
Stoked to hear from you on Facebook and Twitter. See you there!
For A Change
When you’re feeling down, hieing off to the mountains can lift up your spirits. Especially at times when you’re in a contemplative mood… cloistering yourself at one of your favorite cafes can really let your thoughts swirl around freely, and take flight.
Here, the lower your heart is sinking, the higher you can pull it right back into place. Having a flock of clouds hovering under your feet, so close you can almost ride on them, tells you that things have nowhere to naturally go but up. The awe-inspiring landscape around you is a testament to this.
Brave the waves,
Stoked to hear from you on Facebook and Twitter. See you there!
Travel With A Purpose
So, you’re on the road again. When you were younger, traveling for the sake of getting away was enough to give you a fleeting high. Now that you’re beginning to feel just how fast time is slipping through your fingers; you’re also understanding that an irreversible change is happening inside of you.
Youth isn’t infinite, and your priorities are shifting. You now want to make each moment of your trip matter, more than ever.
How do you travel with a purpose?
1. Strip yourself naked, be brutally honest, and take a minute to pinpoint the reason why you’re traveling. Do you need to disconnect from everything else for a while, and forget your problems? Are you celebrating a milestone in your life? Are you hurting, and you’re grasping for a way to heal? Do you want to feel the rush of seeing something new?
Zeroing in on your “Big Why” can make or break any trip. It will decide what your overall mood is as you travel, and can influence how you view everything, and the activities that you choose to do. Beyond scoring seat sales from airlines, or tempting deals—give meaning to your travel plans, and gain priceless insight.
2. Tap into your inner happy nerd, and research on your destination. Why is this so crucial? Although the adventure-loving side of you will always allow yourself to be surprised by anything that lands on your lap… being prepared can make a huge impact on your itinerary, and fulfilling your Big Why.
Finding out ahead of time what spots are worth checking out can also help you stay within your budget. It can help prevent you from wasting time, and bringing items you won’t really need. What traveler doesn’t love a lighter backpack?
And how else could you have known that by taking a short walk, an obscure town had hidden waterfalls? Or that by leaving a place’s manicured lawns, and going down a dirt path, you could end up here?
3. In your twenties, accept that traveling is an investment. When you’re far away from home, and the familiar, you get to discover aspects of yourself that you didn’t know that existed. You realize that you can be more patient, you’re braver than you think, and there are so many keys to your full potential that you can still unlock.
Working hard, saving up, and spending on trips…these aren’t easy things to do. But hey. If it’s helping you grow as a person by leaps and bounds, and giving you long lasting memories, do you really want to sell yourself short when it comes to traveling?
Brave the waves,
Stoked to hear from you on Facebook and Twitter. See you there!
This is the personal blog of Mia Bontol. I'm the island girl behind Shop Brave The Waves, a clothing line that offers Filipino-made resort wear. Swim with me?
