Meet the Nomads – Wendell Cagape

Wendell Cagape or Doc Wends as I often call him is the blogger behind JourneysandTravels.com. Doc Wends shares in his blogs a lot of information about his travels around the Philippines and in some other countries as well.

Recently, I personally met Doc wends on his first solo backpacking trip to Vietnam and Cambodia and he shared his plans of pursuing a longer trip in the near future.

Get to know more about Doc Wends and check out his blog at Journeys and Travels.

Here’s my short interview with Doc Wends.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“Travelling is one part of me since I started to appreciate the world. I remembered while in my junior year in High School, I was asked by my dad to go with the neighbour who studies in Bukidnon and check the university and the place itself. That was the first solo trip I did and until now, I can vividly remember what happened and soon after that, I had been chasing the road wherever it leads me. I was sort of reconnected to my travelling feet when I started to take on a few weekend roadtrips by my lonesome.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Horribly wrong was my experience when I and my Swiss friend took a bath in a Sento in Osaka, Japan. We were in the middle of the bath when a Japanese fellow shouted vindictive on us both and I hurriedly check us both, naked and all, except for the slippers of my friend. We apologized and replace the slippers outside the bath and resumed taking our bath prior to the tub dip. When we were done taking our bath, off to the tub only to be stopped by another Japanese fellow who went directly to the tub without the ceremonial bathing we did previously, a clear violation of which Japanese tradition dictates. We were flabbergasted and walked out. All in all, aside from cultural differences, I am well adjusted to anyone and any place on the road.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“My best travel experience I had was when I went to Cambodia and off to the world’s wonder, Angkor Wat. What made it more special was the fact that I gave myself enough time to absorb the temples and the carvings, the devata, the apsara dancers and the dvarapala. I am into photography for my travel blog and what I gained, in terms of fresh perspectives are priceless. Locally though, the best travel experience I had was when I stayed for 10-days in Alona Beach, in Panglao, Bohol where I had a handful of photos and made new friends, backpackers and all.”

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

“My travels lately are ones that I take for self-rediscovery and reawakening. The biggest realization I have about travelling is that I gained new memories that I will bring me to another destination and meet challenges that also make me understand life more. I have a great career and one that offers me financial security but those does not give me the happiness I found in travelling and meeting new people and making them your lifetime friends. A recent trip to Vietnam made me appreciate how it is to live in a cosmopolitan metropolis and the experience I gained crossing the streets of Ho Chi Minh City taught me one thing: risk and security oftentimes come together with sheer courage and of course, wits!”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“What motivates me most in pursuing my travels is my travel blog and how I can share to my friends and family the kind of inspiration I gained out of travelling. I am an inspired traveller and wish to pass this on. I have never thought much about travelling before until I met Journeying James who taught me a great lesson: travels need not expensive. I have tested it and it proved me great opportunities to learn. Another motivation is my thirst for culture, new people, new communities to learn and get inspiration from. After all, our life is defined not by other people’s own definition but through which we define it by ourselves and certainly, our own definition of LIFE and living is made more lucidly by our journeys and travels.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“I would certainly travel with Nelson Mandela of South Africa, him being the icon I had been inspired until now and he is second to none in my travel companion should that happened. I wanted to gain fresh perspectives of governance, selfless public service and global commitment towards peace and peaceful resolutions of conflicts worldwide.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“That will be Guilin in China. I went on a river cruise in Guilin and the experience was breathtaking. I gained new perspectives of how it is to be in love with nature and your most coveted someone. Guilin is one great opportunity to see China in its most beauteous state.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Just pack light, slip on your travelling sandals and take on the road less travelled. Those that you see others have always been will give you no fresh perspectives but when you make your own road for others to tread on will leave the deepest footprints, one that will make you a better and seasoned traveller more than you even can imagine you are.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“The silliest experience I did was on a train in Himeji, Japan. I and my two Swiss friends boarded the wrong train on our way back to the Osaka Loop and though the train we took was the wrong one, it still goes to Osaka but stops at every train station. Silly me showed my punched train ticket to a young Japanese that caused a furor they started to huddle and laugh at me, with their only comment was: I am paying more for the train ride signalling we took the wrong train.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I may be uptight and serious but behind the seriousness is a child waiting to be unleashed. I am branded as one who lashes at stupidity at the onset but I am trying to pursue a more relaxed life and travel more to gain fresh perspective. I write academic researches as a PhD but does not give a damn about titles for it changes nothing in me or in others. Not the type who prefers formalities in informal situations, I shun people whose head swells more than their hapless heart. I am tearjerker for reality movies and I still love to watch 3Idiots! By the way, I may have a good degree but I also keep four (4) tattoos to go with it!”

“My blog Journeys and Travels is one year and a month old. It speaks of the travels I pursued and also the journeys I continually embrace each day. I made a distinct definition of both Journeys and Travels and one should not be mistaken by it for in Journeys I talk about how one’s lot can be a source of reason, compassion, inspiration, humility, joy, love, trust, our ability to move on and let go and of course, one that teach us precious life’s lessons. I have just recently went self-hosting for my blog so I am learning the ways of the trade, so to speak, but all true, I am all systems go.” – Wendell Cagape

Editor’s Note: All pics provided by Doc Wends

Next: Gareth Leonard of Tourist 2 Townie. Previously: Anthony of The Travel Tart. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.