What's Next After Living Out Your Dream?

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Dec '11

Photo by Anthony

I was recently invited to give a talk on traveling and career break by Tara Let’s Go Asia. Tara Let’s Go Asia’s goal is to encourage people (especially professionals) to include travel in their lifestyle. One of their maiden events was to bring together these people to hear speakers share their experiences and tips on how to make more money and save up for travels, and how they were able to do their own career breaks. One of the speakers was my good friend Paul of WalkFlyPinoy who I travelled with for two months on my Big Trip, and has long since lived on the road pursuing his love for travel, travel photography and writing. He told the organizers of Tara Let’s Go Asia about me and how I was able to ‘reintegrate’ myself back in the corporate world. After a few weeks of convincing, I said yes. 

The People You Meet On The Road

"There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – and each person he met became a little less stuck themselves. He traveled only with himself and he was never alone." 
- Castles in the Sky, Film by Taylor Steele

I walked into the common bathroom and was fascinated by its design and how a backpackers’ dorm isn’t that bad after all. It was my first day of traveling solo, my first time staying in a dorm without knowing anyone. “Hey!” Another girl walked in and she’s my first friend on this whole backpacking trip. We decided to see the city together, and met more people and walked around the city proper after that. The next day I saw her off as she left for another town and I was preparing to leave that afternoon as well. She’s one of the people who frequently liked my travel photos in Facebook and wanted to meet again in a beach in another country. Sadly, I wasn’t headed that way. But she’ll forever hold a place in my memory as the first person I met while traveling solo. 

On Friendship

MIB Days, Circa 2008

We were all laughing and making jokes. Not having a care, well just a little bit, if we’re disturbing people in the other room and in the hallway. It’s been quite a long time since we hanged out together. But there he was, on the bed, laughing with us. The love of his life next to him. I wonder what she must be feeling about everything. I wonder what it must feel like to be in her place. I wouldn’t want to be in her place. He, on the other hand, has always been like that. The strong one, caring more for the people he loves, even though everyone’s worried about him. 

"So, you Work to Travel?"

2015 Vision Board

Source : Various including Wanderlass, AdamTheTraveler

I recently started a new job. During lunch with my colleagues in the project, their post-graduate education and degrees were discussed. And I got asked the question : “Do you have a masters degree? Do you have plans of getting further studies?” It was asked in a non-condescending manner (they're really nice and really really smart people), just like a normal question given the backgrounds of most of the people that are working here. 

The only answer I could come up with was : “It used to be part of the plan. But ever since I started traveling, it doesn’t seem to be anymore. Maybe in the future, but for now it’s not.” 

"So, you work to travel?" 

Serene Inle Lake and Bike Rides in the Countryside

a fisherman rowing using his leg

After three days of trekking in the mud, under the rain and eventually the sun, and seeing hills of beautiful farmlands, we finally made it to Inle Lake. The morning fog was still partly covering the lake. Around it are villages and mountains. Another way of Burmese living awaits us. And hot showers of course.

Temples of Bagan : Bike Rides and Sunsets

gorgeous sunset over Bagan's temples

The sun was about to set and we had no idea how far off we were from this temple our friends told us about. A temple out there, off the basic tourist route where there’s less people. I was struggling with my bicycle, given how old it is and how some parts are already falling off. And the trail on this part of the huge complex was dusty and sandy. But I pushed myself forward, sometimes even running with my bike. I couldn’t see Wesley anymore, I told him that it’s okay for him to go ahead without me. I just thought that at least one of us should see the famous sunset from up one of the bigger temples. We didn’t go all the way from New Bagan to Nyaung U, and to this area, just to miss that sunset.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Coron, Palawan

Coron, Palawan

Yup, I know what you’re thinking. Is the water really that clear?!! Yes, it is. I couldn’t even believe it myself when I was there. It gave us a certain kind of high and put smiles on our faces for the rest of the week after that. Where is it? It’s in Coron, Palawan.

Summer here in the tropics is about to start. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country. And to excite the two girls who will (hopefully) visit me in a few months. ;)

CORON 

Whenever I hear friends talk about Coron, they have this certain sparkle in their eyes like they’ve been to a magical place. And when they start talking about the places they saw and the memories they have of the place, they somehow get lost at the middle of their sharing like they're transported back in time. When you encounter friends like these from time to time you would be very curious and you automatically plan the trip.

And that’s what we did.

Philippine Travel Photo Essay : El Nido, Palawan

on the way to Small Lagoon
El Nido, Palawan

Summer here in the tropics is about to start. And I am seriously missing the beach, the islands, camping (I’ve always preferred this), star gazing and just lazing around. This will be a series of travel photo essays of gorgeous beaches I’ve visited a few years ago. I’ll try to squeeze in some stories and backgrounds, but some have been four or five years ago. ;) Back in the days when travelling was a ‘long weekend’ or ‘seat sale!’ or ‘Scheduled Leaves’ event. 

And this is also to somehow encourage the people I’ve met during my travels to visit our beautiful country. And to excite the two girls who will (hopefully) visit me in a few months. ;)

EL NIDO, PALAWAN

Back then, when you hear people say El Nido, you immediately think about Paradise. A group of beautiful islands with white sand, turquoise waters, hidden lagoons, and rich underwater marine life. Some even say that the famous movie “The Beach” was supposed to be shot in El Nido. But back then, only a few people who can afford to go ride a chartered plane can go to El Nido. Or those who can afford to pay for luxury resorts. The price one has to pay to experience paradise.