Do You Know Where You're Going To?

Adventure is out there!

Murakamii.7 wrote about her first trip being away from home which made her sad. I commented in there that separation is hard to deal with especially if it's your first time being away from those you love.

This takes me back to when I was young. I think it started with spending weekends or vacations with my maternal grandparents. They live a few distance away and it only takes about 15-20 minutes travel. There were times they will bring me with them to the farm but most of the time I was left alone. What better to do but explore. Kids would invite me to play with them. I was told by my parents to not go to the river since I don't know how to swim and not to play along the road. I would always say yes but in my mind I am already planning to go meet my friends and play.

I would lock the house and leave the key where we usually place it and run I go.

We would go to the river but since I am a good boy and I don't want to anger my grandparents, I am content with staying in the shallows and hunt for crabs or small fish.

What I most remember was picking up nails or anything metal beside the road and we would sell that the junk shop. Instant money! We would go buy to the nearest store and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

In school, I was introduced to city tours and camping. Another reason to stay away from home and explore.

Maybe around third or fourth grade (I was about 9 or 10), my aunt took me to their province. I spent a memorable week there. She will take me to the rice fields and we would walk along the river to get there. There were waterfalls along the way too which makes the hike a delight. One waterfall is dangerous for the pool is dangerous. Although it's not that big a waterfall or wide the pool, but the force of the water is strong and there is a hole somewhere that you can be trapped in. It was said that a Japanese dived one summer when the water was low and explored the pool. That's how they found out that those who drowned there were trapped in that hole.

One of the kids next door befriended me right away and sort of became my buddy that weekend. He was very nice and introduced me to some kids too.

What made that visit memorable was my experience climbing a mango tree. My playmates wanted to climb the tree. I watched how some of them climbed it easily. I can do it too! On my attempt, I slipped when I was about some feet up the tree. I fell and on my way down, a nail sticking out (where did that nail came from?) caught my new shirt and ripped it open. Not only that but it cut through my chest down to my abdomen and ended a tiny fraction from my navel. I can't imagine what would have happened if the head of the nail got hooked in my navel.

I went home straight away bloody and dirty. The rain just stopped that time so the tree was slippery.

I was so worried about my new shirt and how my aunt would react. My wound hurt but I am more anxious that my aunt will get mad but she didn't and I was relieved. I didn't mind the pain for I know I'll be fine for my aunt tended to my wounds with such love and care.

I went home wearing that scar like a badge of honor. Mind you, I went home alone. There were no cellphones or internet then and telephones are a luxury. I boarded the bus and my aunt requested the driver to drop me off in our town. I think it was 4-6 hour travel. I felt independent that time. My mom was surprised when I showed at our door. I told her all about my time there and showed my scar. I can't recall now what her reaction was but I know I am proud showing my healing wound then lol! I still have the scar to remind me that day. My aunt sold their house there and I don't know what happened to my playmates.

There were also times when a neighbor took us to their province. I remembered it to be hot. They had solar panels which is their source of electricity at night. Back then, power goes out every 6:00 p.m. They have the solar panels as back up.

In school, I was part of a singing group and we would be traveling to places along with teachers and some parents.

Fast forward to high school.

imanagrcltrst talked about preparing yourself for school which reminded me of my time in high school. Days before school day, we would be buying the things we need and start packing along with clothes and other things I will be needing that year.

My older siblings spent their high school away from home and they would only come home during breaks. I find that fun and interesting for they will come home with lots of stories to tell. It's a whole new experience I thought and the more they talk about it the more appealing it was.

So I studied there in high school too. It was an eight-hour travel by bus if there were no mishaps but it could take double that time if the road situation was that bad.

We stayed in dorms during my time there. I would go home during breaks, semester break, Christmas break and summer. There was one time I didn't go home during semester because of a storm that caused road travel unsafe. That made me miss home big time.

During my years there, I belonged to a singing group and we would be visiting places singing in churches and homes. There were occasions that we traveled home so I had the chance to see my family. In school, there were field trips and one time it included visiting Baguio City.

I finished high school and would visit my friends there from time to time. Three years ago was my last visit there.

I came back home for college.

Looking back, I guess it was those things above that made me love traveling. When I travel, I like sitting beside the window where I can see the scenery passing by. It's like watching a movie.

When I was in college, I didn't get to travel much for I was more of a home buddy. Only when I visit my friends back where I studied high school do I get to travel but nowhere else. When I started working, that's when I started traveling elsewhere together with some friends. There were times when we would go for a quick dip at the beach just to satisfy our itchy feet.

And the rest is history.

What is your travel story?

There are many places to travel. So may things to see. I haven't traveled outside Asia yet. I have been out of the country twice. However, it is my goal once pandemic is over to start visiting every places here in my country.

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