2010: A Year of Learning (PTB Edition)

Another year closes, another year opens. A new year is always a promise of a better life for all of us. And the past year is always a compilation of lessons that will make us stronger and better.

And I think that the best way to end this year is to post the learning and realization that our fellow travellers have shared with us thru the ‘Meet the Nomads’ interview.

Among the questions that I’ve asked all of them is:

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

And here are their answers:

“That I am not alone. There’s a lot out there like me, but here in our country, they call it a “unique thing” and some people just don’t understand it and some would even preach to stop me from solo traveling but I don’t mind, I respect differences.” – Gael Hilotin of The Pinay Solo backpacker

“The wonders of God’s creation both the nature and the people are amazing. Take care of nature and she will take care of you. Respect the people and they will really love you.” – James of Journeying James

 

“The world is big and I’ve already wasted a lot of years not being able to explore it.” – Edcel Suyo of Soloflighted

 

 

“Life is Good, God is great” – Rolly Magpayo

 

 

 

 

“Using the expression “wow, Ang ganda! Parang Wala sa Pilipinas!” is definitely not acceptable. Those who still say that are simply unaware of the beauty of country.” – Chyng Reyes of No Virus, No Spam, No Kidding

 

“I learned to live a basic life and I have become very appreciative of what I have. Some tourists can’t leave home without their many gadgets, or even fancy clothes and toiletries. I don’t have anything against them (and I do bring a few gadgets sometimes), it’s just that for me, worrying about unnecessary things will distract me from total travel immersion.” – Gaye Emami of The Pinay Travel Junkie

 

“In economical sense, I grew up thinking that traveling is only for the rich people. With the advent of budget airlines, eco-tourism I’ve realized that traveling is cheap as long as you know your way and it’s also an ideal undertaking to bring yourself closer to nature- although I know that plane travel contributes to global warming. It’s a challenge to come up with solutions to offset all our carbon footprint.” – Marky Ramone Go of Nomadic Experiences

“Traveling made me understand better sex maniacs, drug addicts and serial killers on rehab. Not that I have met any of them in any of my trips. Somehow, it’s a metaphor on what I believe is my bout of compulsive travel syndrome–the idea of getting restless, itchy feet and what-not if I stayed in one place for long and would do anything to satisfy it by grabbing my daypack and hop on a random bus.” – RV Escatron of Livin’ in a Backpack

“That everything’s the same everywhere, they’re just dancing on a different beat. It’s funny sometimes when I go to a place and just realize we have a lot in common with people on another country. We battle the same problems of poverty and politics, of course in different conditions. People are afraid to go out. For example, people in Manila are afraid of going to Mindanao because of the violence and bombings. On the flipside people from Mindanao are afraid to go to Manila because of the violence as well, they are afraid to get mugged, shot or stabbed in the streets. Traveling makes you realize these things, like Tawi-tawi has many religion and co-exist in harmony with each other. The world is one big surprise.” – Ferdz Decena of Ironwulf

“When you see how each people embrace their culture to the point that what seems to be ordinary to you is extraordinary to them and what’s ordinary to them is extraordinary to you. We have an amazing world.” – Dong Ho of Escape Islands

 

 

“One, that I am a free soul, that I am capable of flight. and two, that anybody, if they just put their hearts into it, can travel.” – Monette Fernandez of Fliptravels

 

 

 

“That every place in the world will have something unique and new to offer you, but it will also have something that will remind you of home. It’s a wonderful paradox, I think. ” – Daene Luna of Filipina on Flip Flops

 

 

 

“That sooner or later I will live not in a big city but in a simple laid back province, where afternoons are spent not in the mall but in the park, where nights are spent not in a trendy club but in a small time sari-sari store drinking cheap beer. I love living the simple life, where I will wake up in the morning with a view of rice paddies, swim in a clean white sandy beach and watch as the sun sets from my small time bamboo house. I already have a vision of my future and its not at all complicated.” – Jerik de Guzman of Pinoy Boy Journals

“That I can do anything that I set my mind into.” – Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering

 

 

 

 

“I still have a lot to discover about my country, places, cultures and people and most importantly, travelling, be it within one’s locality or to the farthest corner of the world is always a journey into one’s self.” – Estan Cabigas of Langyaw

 

“I realized that the Philippines is indeed a beautiful place and I want to see more of it. At the same time, there’s also a whole world out there that I want to see and explore.” – Audrey Mecabalo of Lagawan

 

 

“The more I travel, the more I get curious of the world around me. There’s a lot to cover and I know I won’t be able to do it all in my lifetime.” – Dennis of Nomadic pinoy

 

 

“I realized that traveling is more than just posting the pictures in facebook and telling the whole world that you’ve been there. It’s a dynamic learning experience. The world is a beautiful creation, a gift from someone and we shouldn’t miss it. Our planet is a book, and we can only flip the pages if we travel.” – Ron Cruz of Fliptravels

 

How about you? What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?