Q: What will you do if you are given 100 days of leave with pay?
Wait… Think first before answering. And while you’re on it, why not read what other travel bloggers would do if they are given that kind of opportunity.
Albino Chua of I Wander: 100-day leave do not come often so naturally, I will use that time to travel. I would embark on a budget-friendly voyage tracing the historic silk road, starting in Central China down to the ancient cities of Central Asia, namely Bukhara and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, then to Iran, one of my favorite countries. From there, it is a straightforward journey to Istanbul, the gateway between Asia and Europe. After passing through neighboring Greece, I will finally cap my trip in Venice, the traditional end to the silk road.
Rain Amantiad of Destination Everywhere: I would love to roam all of New Zealand on a kombi van; write a travelogue while at it (with a book deal waiting); and be able to buy BLT and Chips at McDonalds in my bikinis.
Albino at the Silk Road and Rain's dream of traveling with a combi van
Ephraim Arriesgado of The Adventist Adventurer: If I will be given a 100-day leave with pay, I will be spending it by exploring a hundred cities / historical landmarks / beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines. Or I will be climbing the country’s most famous mountains. I know, for sure, that after 100 days, I will have more than 100 discoveries to share to others that will inspire them to travel more and explore our country.
Carlo dela Cruz of Visa-Free: Take a leap of faith and visit my friends across the globe whom I met and became a huge influence in my journey called life. Wander around the cities, rub our feet against the sand, trek the stretches of mountains etc. No plans at all, wherever our feet leads us – we grab by it, take chance, and make good memories once again, that can be cherished for a lifetime.
Melody Co of Guiltless Getaways: I would go back to Bangkok and take a monk’s previous offer to stay in a temple for free (for as long as I can take it in the next 100 days). I found my version of Ketut (Eat, Pray, Love) in Thailand and I would love to go on a spiritual journey. I will continue my shopping at Chatuchak Market before I leave for Manila and then when I come back home, I would find my pay all saved up for my next trips, a new sense of calm and life lessons from all the meditating and a new business waiting for me. =)
Ephraim at Osmena Peak, Carlo with friends and Melody's Bangkok snapshot
Prince Romana of The Backpack Man: I have given a chance for 100 day leave with pay. I will spend for 100 days with my family in Bohol and I will spend time in bed probably…Sobrang na miss ko talaga matulog ng 8 hours. Lagi akong puyat palagi sa work.
Izah Morales of Tripadora: If I’d be given 100 days to take a leave with pay, I’ll spend 30 days in Batanes to do a documentary among the locals in Savidug and Chavayan. I would continue my documentary to the Bicol Region, where I’ll spend the next 30 days especially in Masbate. Masbate is said to be one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. I want to bring out the beauty of Masbate through the off-the-beaten destinations. The next 20 days will be spent in Tawi-Tawi to capture the colors and traditions of the tribes. From Tawi-Tawi, I want to be an islander in El Nido and experience the island life for 25 days. The five remaining days will be spent at home to relax and avoid travel hangovers.
Wendell Cagape of Journeys and Travels: I would rather spend that on the road from Sri Lanka, to India and to Nepal. I wanted to go on backpacking trip to these countries where my childhood dreams will be my guiding star. I will forever be on the road to where my heart will feel rested and through it, I shall be wandering and journeying through the alleyways, study, learn, immerse and reconnect to the world where time stood still.
Prince's dram of sleeping, Izah's desire to be an islander and Wendell's snapshot from his travels abroad.
Me?
Well, I hope you already read HOW I WAS GIVEN A 100-DAY LEAVE BY MY BOSS. If you haven’t do read it.
Yes, its a leap of faith! The most sacrificial and challenging thing I did all my life. I’m not getting younger so I did it even if I’m not sponsored by a company or individual- yes, an indie-traveler.
As of this writing, I’m almost half-way there, Day 43. The trip is life-changing, eye-opening, back-aching and feet-abusing but most satisfying.
waiting for some waves at Borongan, E. Samar (Day 42)
So how’s the journey so far?
Pretty tiring- its pretty out there but tiring too.
I wish to tell you about this tattooing-Kalinga tribe that I visited after 4 hours of bus ride and 2.5 hours of hiking; the slowly fading Senga ritual I witness because I made friends with a local in Sagada; the unexpected invitation to Cebu by Summit Circle Hotel which is really relaxing, the joy of helping copra farmers in Marinduque; the swim with the largest known fish specie-Butanding (for free); the default drinking sessions with locals; and a whole lot more which you will only read on my book (coming soon!).
“The trip is life-changing, eye-opening, back-aching and feet-abusing but most satisfying.”
Ohh, btw, I hope to make a short documentary film about it too; so wait for that!
For now, please be contended with my updates via Twitter- @journeyingjames and Facebook- www.facebook.com/journeyingjames. But if you really want to follow my steps, I have an interactive map- ISANGDAAN Journey map. You might also want to check out my post about it:
- Quirino: Refreshing Dip at Maddela Waterfalls
- Batad, What Happened to Your Charm?
- Sagada’s Porn Cave
- Witnessing the ‘SENGA’ in Sagada, Mt. Province
- Kalinga: Tattooed on my Mind
- So What’s in Abra?
- Astonishing Adams, Ilocos Norte
- I Visited the 4 UNESCO-Stamped Churches in the Philippines
- Why You Should Date a Traveler?
- Hundred Islands Travel Guide
- Scenic Capones Island & Nagsasa Cove
- The Need to Lessen My Load: A Reflection
- 10 New Learnings in Intramuros
#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days. “Isang Daan” is a Filipino term that can mean either “one way” or “one hundred.”
How about you? IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY- A 100 Days Leave with pay, how are you going to spend that?
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This is my contribution to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival for March 2012 on the topic “Leap of Faith: When Travelling Changed My Life” hosted by Reiza of Wander If You Must!”
You can also check out some of the past carnival topics: PTB Blog Carnival
cool! first time to get published 🙂 well-thought about post, keep travelogging!
thanks for joining carlo!
I’d probably tour the Philippines too – start from Batanes and then travel down to Tawi-tawi. If I still have 2 weeks left out of it, I’ll volunteer at an elephant park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Be safe and enjoy your remaining days on the road, as always 🙂
wow! i dont think you still have 2weeks left out of it. haha
If given an opportunity to have 100 days leave with pay, I would probably visit my home town to spend time with my family. And I start exploring our small town that I never known that it has tourist attractions, too!
okay din ito sir. di masyadong nakakapagod at magastos. where is your home town btw?
Thanks James 🙂 hehehe 🙂
pleasure is mine izah! thanks for sharing your answer. i like the batanes and tawi-tawi part
probably, i would go backpacking in visayas and mindanao!
100 days leave with pay…
I’ll start travelling Malaysia for that. I got bitten by the travel bug here in the Philippines and going back and travel in Malaysia is one thing that I can’t miss out in my life.
Waiting for that leave now.
Keep Safe James.
~CHEERS~
Kenji
can i join you for a week Kenji? let’s have a food feast! im missing the beef rendang
Sure bro. Still waiting for tat leave to get approved. LOL
I missed Malaysian Food SO MUCH !!!
i’ll spend it with my prince traveling around africa since that’s the only continent i haven’t stepped afoot, to check off Traveling the Globe in the book “2001 Things To Do Before You Die”.
naks! magastos yan atty. but sure thing kaya nyo yan. and why not go and do it na!
given a paid 100 days of leave and granted that all expenses are taken care of, i’d love to see all of europe 🙂
wow, europe! i like to do that too 🙂
Nicely done. Can’t wait for that travel-docu. More power teammate! 🙂
i hope someone will have the willingness to edit the raw vids i have..haha
the ultimate dream is to wander around PARIS….and tour the rest of Europe….awww, wishful thinking:)
yep, the city of love! why not?
How, I wish my boss will grant me 100 days vacation leave with PAY. If that happens, I would do the same thing that you do… travel around Philippines! Too bad though coz that’s impossible. My boss denied my 3 days vacation, and I end up pursuing the plan to travel in 3 days without PAY! Nevertheless, I gained new experienced which paid off my sacrifices. 🙂
haha! brave girl, kudos kareen! enjoy naman ang byahe diba?
nice one, james! i just saw your article in the Smile magazine haha. I took it home. Pag-uwi mo pa-autograph hahaha.
autograph ka dyan? haha
if given 100days leave with pay… will probably try the #isangdaan challenge..
hahaha! go, why not?!
Cool James! 🙂
Siguro kung ako sasagot sa tanonng na ito – ang sagot ko ay: I will use the 100 days to travel around the Philippines just like what you are doing. With friends sometimes, sometimes by myself. 🙂
naks! 50,000 lang din budget? why not?
been following your blog since.. i don’t know. i just found myself reading your blog.
maybe i’ll be spending my hundred days travelling as well. my first destination maybe is somewhere in Mindanao, then Visayas and Luzon. 😀
im glad that you found yourself reading the blog! sana marami pang ganyan.
Do write a book about your travel and a documentary film too. I am sure, both will be a best seller and a blockbuster, respectively!
hahaha! sino naman ako para maging blockbuster ung libro.. haha thanks, anyway!
Given a 100 days leave with pay, I will follow the “Trail of Journeying James!” since I declare myself your official follower/#1 fan/stalker. choz!
naks! ikaw na. kapoy kaayo lauvee
di bale kapoy kaayo idol, at least paid travel naman un sa akin. tumubo pa ko. hehehehe…(mukhang pera lang talaga!)
wow, thank you James
The Dream continues…
Start with one paddle stroke and a thousand miles of journey.
Give me another 100days to Paddle the Waters, Not the Litters.
I will hug the coastine and cross the islands in my seakayak again.
This time, I will set up a sail rig as aide when the wind smiles behind me.
I was visualizing of starting in Batanes to eastside Pacific of Luzon, Central Visayas Islands and whole westside of Mindanao down to the Southernmost islands of the Philippines.
The sea, the islands, my fellow islanders will provide and share.
Be a fishermens friend.
Accomodation: sleeping in tent, hammocks, islets, black and white beaches, fishermen villages friends living in coastlines, river deltas, barangay captains houses. what else?
Food: sea kayak can store maximum 2weeks of food supplies, Fish while I can, climb coconuts, help the fishermens pull their nets, stop over in public beaches and teach lokals to kayak in exchange for food, gather shellfish during lowtides. What else?
Start with a masterplan and let the sea journey provide the details… 🙂
Message of IslandWarriorPaddlerSpirits:
1.The journey will document the outrigger canoe culture in Philippine islands.
2. To create awareness of enhancing the Physical Education in 7107 island setting by utilizing the coastline and sea as the classroom.
3. Pysical education like ocean swimming and local outrigger boats (banka) races for schools in the coastlines and islanders schools.
4. The more Islanders involve in non motorized water sports, the more Islanders will protect and aware about conserving our blue planet.
Start with a general plan and leave the rest of the deatils to the sea..
Are you ready to paddle with me?
Sea for yourself,
islandwarriorpaddler