Category: Personal

Posted on by

Getting There: After the Anilao Prep

Getting ThereI never really considered the physical aspect of this project, even in its original 2-month straight travel format. At close to the big 4-0, I still take those things for granted. When you spend as much time at the gym as I do — even if I don’t look it — you won’t think about the physical.

It took the Anilao prep to change my mind. That day trip was an eye-opener on how it’s going to be each month.

I had been working my paying work longer than usual. I actually doubled my earnings in the past two weeks, which I’m really happy about. It allowed the Anilao prep trip, which costed Php 3k. It will fund the Verde Island trip next week — thanks to a huge discount offered today by Action Divers in Sabang, Puerto Galera.

But add the longer hours to the 4 hours I committed to TDC, my sleeping is now off. My eating and workouts too, and that usually leads to me feeling blah.

I only had 4 hours of sleep before the prep trip, a day that had 4 dives on schedule, the deepest at 110 feet (I’m pasaway and went to 125 feet to take a picture — sorry PADI — kids, wag tularan 🙂 )

Long and short of it, it left me exhausted. As in, EXHAUSTED.

I had a headache too after the 3rd dive. The water was uncharacteristically cool for late March, which we attributed to climate change. I tense up when it’s cold and that gives me a headache if I do it for a long period.

Great Barracuda, mouth agape as he eyed Cristine, our advanced diver candidate
Great Barracuda, mouth agape as he eyed Cristine, our advanced diver candidate

It was a good day to dive though. We encountered a Great Barracuda on the hunt. He eyed our advanced diver candidate, who had bright orange fins on. Visibility was good for the most part — well, except for that barracuda shot. I had time to linger underwater to take photos, as Cristine and Wilson did the navigation skills test. Food at the resort was yummy. The sun was out but did not burn. We got home fine and I slept like a baby that night.

But, there’s a longer road ahead of me and it starts next week: Verde Island Passage via Sabang, Puerto Galera. I’ll get there… I’ll get there. Fixing my schedule for it. Monitoring my diet, and cutting myself off alcohol for a bit. Wish me luck!

 

 

Posted on by

To The Young Traveler

My brother and Mang Romeo of Batad, Banaue
My little brother and Mang Romeo of Batad, Banaue

To the young traveler. Oi! Kamusta?

I have friends — mostly on Facebook — who are about your age. They like posting pictures of weekend trips to mountains (usually) and beaches (sometimes.). I get it. I was once like that. I was once brimming with curiosity and excitement about seeing what’s out there. What’s this magical Boracay I’ve been hearing of? Why is everyone climbing mountains when it hurt like h**l days after?

I was curious and adventurous so I went out. I experienced it the best I could. And I learned.

The road has been my best teacher. I won’t be who I am now had it not been for the people I met on the road and the experiences I was fortunate enough to have. I would not be doing this project if it weren’t for the immense love that being on the road brought out in me.

I’d like to say three things to you. Call them the ‘meandering thoughts of an aged (ahemm) traveler.’ Whatever. Let me just say it.

Always remember that you are a guest. Be thankful and respectful to your hosts. I think that much of the uncare that we see in ‘tourists’ won’t even happen if they just remember that they are just guests. Hiya — or our sense of propriety — is one of our accommodative surface values, according to Filipino psychology experts. If we apply hiya in how we deal with the places and people we visit, we won’t trash oceans or disturb the peace in a quiet mountain setting. We would respect local culture — their heritage, food, betel chewing or whatever else comes off as odd to a non-local.

Be generous. Many of the people we deal with on trips rely on you for income. He/ she could be a guide, a trike driver, boatman or someone trying to sell you buko, among others. In the same way that you don’t haggle with your resort or that beachside buffet place you love, don’t haggle with them. Be generous. Be kind. It almost always karmically comes back to you anyway.

Trust that  you will seldom run into scammers on your local travels.* I’ve been at this for about two decades now. I’ve focused on solo travel for more than five years. And for the most part, I have been the recipient of immense hospitality and kindness.  It never felt like I paid too much or was being duped.

* Of course, it is SOP to always be safe in your travels. 

K.I.S.S. Expect life in the rural areas to be slower, simpler.  You are likely to spend hours trekking, or just soaking up the beach. There is no rush. There is no place to be — because you’re already there. So, relax. Kiss your blings and gears goodbye and leave them at home. Let go of the urbanite in you for a bit, and just enjoy life’s simplicity. It’s what you came for, right?

Let me share with you a big influence in what I’m trying to do now with my travels. Watch the whole documentary if you can.

It was important for me that I had influences, that somehow I had people and works I can look to for some guidance. I am not aiming to be that — I still have a long way to go. But I do want to share. Hopefully you can find something useful out of it. See you on the road!

 

Posted on by

Packing Light

IMG_0557Yesterday, circumstances made me take a look around, at my stuff, to see what I can pack inside my backpack. My mind wandered to a life lived on the road. Jumping from beachside to beachside, that’s the dream.

I look at my backpack and the first thought was: How am I going to fit my four dogs in that? And my mom. And my Body Attack classes. Everything else, I can pack. My gears, my fins, a few shirts and shorts to rotate.

I turn to the constellations and think that, yeah, I’m Sag. I make a home — I just need a long leash. I am attached, still. Lovely attachments, I don’t really mind them. But when home doesn’t feel like home… that’s when the wanderer in me kicks in and kicks my butt for being weighed down by attachments.

I reckon this new version of Travel Dive Connect considers the attachments. Originally, this was supposed to be a grand 2 month trip, an adventure that takes the social media crowd along. 2 years of trying to get it funded, plus the realization of how short-lived such a campaign is… and now it’s this.

I am still trying to get it together. No FB ads yet. And no meaty content, by my standards, yet. I figure I’m still at that process of taking out stuff from my backpack just so I can move.

Kayo? Saan ba patungo and what’s in your backpack?

Posted on by

Ground Up

No water posts yet… working on it 🙂 1st leg will likely be on the road by late-March. Right now, I’m thinking of Cebu: a visit to Malapascua, one of the severely hit areas by Yolanda, where we’ll glimpse the progress of their recovery and probably a Thresher Shark or two; and Moalboal, where we’ll see Pescador and some freediving action (my friend Carlo, not me — I plan to suck on air as I film him). *fingers crossed

After the premature lashing over a project that has yet to hit the road last week, I also got words of encouragement. Thank you.

I love that I somehow have this support group for even my wildest ideas. And it doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, although I got that from my dive instructor/ friend Wilson who helped me make headway with this project over rum cokes. It could just be sparing time to look through my proposal and edit my stuff. (Ma’am Gym-Mom, thank you.) Or it could be silent leaps made by Carlo, who made inspiring shifts in his life last year.

IMG_0309Also worth mentioning are the women of the Pitak Project. Now, they are strong powerful women — idol! Made their dream a reality, and continue to devote time, money and manpower to making their permaculture farm and natural home building work. They’ve also influenced their community positively.

I visited their farm in La Union twice last year, both within a quarter. The progress is fast; and the harvest is yummy. (That was my first taste of fresh from harvest organic vegetables.) I helped put up 95% of a mud wall. I put my Body Attack to use and transported rocks up and down the slope, non-stop hehe.

Anyway… just feeling gratefulness this morning. Here’s to a good productive week!

Posted on by

Personal Blog: Coming Clean

PersonalI am second guessing myself as I write this… because it is personal, and has nothing to do with conservation and travel. But it has something to do with this project, this blog and the campaign.

I think I received my first vitriol for putting this together, in spite of how young and unknown it is outside my circle. It came from someone I had spent a few years with, in what I saw as friendship building. Ah but hey… not my first time to  make a mistake in that department. I just wasn’t prepared for the level of harshness.

So, let me come clean here:

1. Yes, this is a personal campaign for responsible travel and marine conservation. I really believe that there are things to be said about these issues, from a writer/ diver/ traveler’s point of view. I love being in the outdoors and diving, and I will see changes. I will take note of it, and I will want to say something about it. If my “gift” can be of service to one thing, let it be this.

2. Am I an expert? Nope, never claimed I was. That’s why I’ll be cooperating with local NGOs. That’s why I have unli DSL… so I can research 😉

3. Do I intend to enjoy myself doing this? Absolutely. But mind you, it will be work; albeit, work that I enjoy. It will be an investment in time and money. Writers of the world, unite, and tell the world that it ain’t easy to put ink on paper — and make sense!

4. Do I want to monetize it? Sure, if that’s possible. Who doesn’t want to earn a living doing what they love? (As soon as I get the time, I will be setting up ad blocks — non-intrusive, promise — here and there.)

5. Will I be selling out? Of course not! Matagal na sana akong mayaman kung ganun!

Ah well. This is the blog’s 4th day in public. I am marking this day. Now, back to your regular programming.