Travel Solo and Win Friends

Ayutthaya
Alone in Ayutthaya

I prefer traveling alone. Not everyone may believe it, but some of my closest friends would agree, that I am really shy and loner. For a not so sociable person like me, my introvert side almost always wanted to be solo. No dependency, no other people to think of when doing out-of-the-box stuff, no other issues to deal with, plus the fact that I can sleep all throughout the transport time. I just love it… only me, on my own itinerary, options and pacing.

Traveling solo means I get to be the thriftiest that I can be, hold my hunger as much as I can, explore more and walk more. I remember touring the whole of Singapore by foot, walking from Khao San Road to Platinum Fashion Mall of Bangkok, strolling around Macau’s famous spots and the solo moment of night photo walk in Saigon. In the Philippines, I got to explore Albay, Bacolod, Davao, Iligan, General Santos, South Cotabato, Sagada, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro and other places all by myself.

Coron
My DIY Coron friends, Kel, Mario, Glen, etc., basta kasama kayo dito 🙂

 

Puerto Princesa
The group who adopted me in Sagada enjoying Puerto Princesa

To travel alone to a far away place is a challenge, scary at times, but one of the joys of solo traveling is meeting strangers along the road. Strangers that will turn out to be friends.. good friends. It happened  to me in three of my favorite places – Coron and Sagada in 2008, and Calaguas on 2009, and everything grew from there.

These people that I have met along the road are some of the best people I have known. They were with me on some of my most memorable journeys under the sun. We laughed, cried and got afraid together.  We shared stories and laughter, explored amazing places, walked through different roads, dove to a lot of underwater sites, tried awesome adventures, experienced wondrous destinations and discovered various cuisines.

Caramoan
Of course, the happy peeps that I met in Calaguas trying Caramoan 🙂

Today I rarely travel alone, why would I when I have the best people around me to be with? We may have different personalities, but we have the same wavelengths and passions. I may not have the flexibility that I wanted or the freedom that I dreamed of when traveling, but I’ve got the best travel friends in the world, and they are worth more than anything. With them on my journeys, what more can I ask for?

Pinoy Travel Blogger Blog CarnivalThis is in response to theSolo Travel theme of Pinoy Travel Blog Carnival. Check out what other Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ thoughts on solo traveling as compiled by Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering.

Comments

  1. Alex Teletech

    HELLO!!! happy day. Im ALEX from Teletech Marketing Communication Inc. The Marketing arm of Canyon Cove Beach resort Nasugbu Batangas. I would like to invite you to our beach resort.we have membership card with full of packages and benefits.

    For only P7500you can have free (2) certificate overnight stay to our superior hotel room superior , good for 3 adults free breakfast for 2 persons and free swimming to our pool and beach resort.Valid on Sundays to Thursdays. It can also accommodate up to 6 adults or 4 adults and 4 children for an overnight stay in 2 superior room using the 2 complimentary certificate. (1) Certificate for buffet lunch. Good for 5 persons. Valid on Saturdays and Sundays You can also have additional benefits like (3) free certificate for pool side cabana. (5) Certificates for Day tour and BIG DISCOUNTS On the Membership Card

    The membership card will last until next year August 2012. It is also renewable and transferable .. for more info txt me at 09222755201 and send me your landline or cellphone no# and i will be the one who’s responsible for your booking.. or email me at [email protected].

    Payment : Cash , Credit Card or Check ok ill w8 for your reply thanks

    Hi there this is the full package plus membership card of our beach club
    It is valid until next year (August 2012)
    Pls email me back if your interested Thanks HOPE YOU LIKE IT
    YOU CAN ALSO WATCH IT ON http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQddn_Pxis4

    P7500
    Canyon Cove Beach Club Resort Benefits:

    I. ROOMS:
    • Two (2) Complimentary certificates at a Superior Room with set breakfast for two persons. Room is good for two adults with 2 children below 12 yrs of age OR 3 adults. Excess person or child is at P800 sharing the same room. Valid only from Sundays to Thursdays bookings.
    • A 20% discount on room rates based on published rates during Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays. Membership card has to be presented upon check in to avail of the discount.
    • A 30% discount on room rates based on published rates from Sundays to Thursdays check in excluding holidays. Membership card has to be presented upon check in to avail of the discount.

    II. RESTAURANTS AND BANQUETS:
    • A 20% discount on total food and beverage bill for 1 to 10 people dining. Membership card has to be presented.
    • A 10% discount on total food and beverage bill for 10 and up number of persons dining.
    • One (1) Complimentary certificate for a welcome drink for one person. Valid at the Resort’s restaurant. Limited to non-alcoholic drinks and one certificate per table.
    • One (1) Complimentary certificate for a buffet lunch for one person, with a group of 5 persons dining. Valid on Saturdays and Sundays buffet lunch only.
    • Two (2) Certificates for a P5,000 discount voucher to be used in any function bookings with a revenue of P75,000. One certificate per function and has to be surrendered prior to final arrangements and payments.

    III. FACILITIES:
    • Three (3) certificates for FREE use of Cabana for a Day Tour. Only one certificate may be used per visit.
    • Five (5) certificates for complimentary Day Tour for one person. Can be used all at one given day.
    • A 20% discount on Day Tour fees, valid for a maximum of 5 persons only. Day Tour fees at P800 per person which includes P300 food & beverage consumables at the restaurant.
    • A 20% discount on Sports facilities and services.

    HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!!!

  2. angel, sinolo travel mo ba coron?

  3. Lana

    we do share the same passion.I love travelling alone!Like you i want any other concerns behind me when i travel, no itineraries, no other stuffs to deal with. 🙂

    1. Thanks Lana, so it seems that I am not alone. I am sure there are others out there like us 🙂

  4. Though I’m an introvert too, I really love travelling with my loved ones. Mas enjoy kasi pag may kasama, at mas nagging close mo ang tao pag nakakasama mo maglakbay.

  5. I’ve met a lot of strangers on the road when I travel solo. I hear their stories and share mine with them. That is one of the reasons why I love traveling by myself!

  6. agree! bakit mo pipilitin magbiyahe mag-isa kung marami ka namang kaibigan gustong sumama. dun ang sa tingin ko naman na mali! pero grabe ka, i agree with Gael… ang layo nun men!

  7. […] as Angel found out, when you travel solo, you don’t stay alone for long. You met and make new friends […]

  8. Hi,

    I prefer travelling alone in secluded places, like my trip to Malapascua Island. Like you, I like to control my pace without regard to anybody else’s concerns. But, for security reasons, for myself, camera and other gadgets, I like travelling with companions in urban areas. I cannot imagine shooting important urban scenes with not-so-good people aiming at my gadgets.

  9. Matagal na tayong friends pero hindi pa tayo nagkakasama mag-travel 0_0 hinihintay ko ang araw na yun, Koyah Angel 😀

    Anyway, i feel lucky na i was able to travel solo, duo and group. There are certain pros and cons, pero some people find it challenging to do it alone. It may be hard at first at madalas pa nga maco-conscious ka, pero in the end kakaiba rin yung feeling na you survived that trip alone 😀

  10. nakakakaba, nakakaexcite, di sinasabi sa mga mahal sa buhay na mag-isa lang akong gagala nung una ko itong ginawa. pagbalik galing sa gala masaya, proud at fulfilled sa natapos na gala, at pwede nang sabihin sa sumundong magulang (oo nagpasundo pa ko nun, kahit ilang tambling lang nasa bahay na ako) na solo lang ako with matching big smile.

    ngayon bihira na kasi dahil sa pagsosolo ko noon doon lumakas ang loob kong sumali sa mga group tour at nakilala ang best travel friends ko and still looking forward na madagdagan pa sa mga susunod pa nating paglalakwatsa.

  11. wow! i’d like to try this one time! travel alone!

  12. wow! i’d like to try that one time! travel alone!!!

  13. We certainly have the same personality, I believe. I really love traveling alone. I’m a loner;sometimes esoteric and eccentric. But with regard to traveling I really prefer traveling all by myself; it’s what I’ve been doing for the past years.

  14. grace

    solo flight is quite an interesting idea to travel. it looked like you’re enjoying it too! i’d like to try it one day!

  15. pj

    Great post, you have written it well and your own stuff is really nice! Keep it up 🙂
    -Dealies Philippines

  16. hala! nilakad mu tlga KSR to Platinum Mall?? ang layo nun ah! next time gel try mu nlng mag-boat na TB20 per pax lng dun sa my KSR, will get you to the mall center ng mas madali. kuripot mu tlga, mas kuripot ka pa saken! haha

    it’s true, I rarely travel solo na din,mas tipid kase pag me ksama at xempre enjoy ang company ng frnds, pag out of the country nlng ako madalas mag-solo kase mahirap maghanap ng ksama na sa-swak sa sked tsaka masarap magpaka dugyot pag-solo ka abroad, walang nakakakilala saken. hihi

  17. red-planet

    ngayon ko lang na-discover ang blog mo lakwatsero. where have i been? …. haha you really walked from Khao San Road to Platinum Mall? ang tibay mo. i used to live in TH and never thought it’s possible to walk that far! you really have durable shoes/slippers! haha. i’ll visit this blog frequently. 🙂

Comments are closed.