Often times we want comfort, we stay away from the bumpy and rugged road, we want everything paved, ironed out to the very details. Truth is, you don’t learn anything significant when everything is running smooth.
Embrace the road even if its not smooth!
A lot of times I complain, yep, I complain on how bumpy the road is, the potholes as many as the white hairs of Sen. Joker Arroyo. The rough road slows you down.
But I’m reminded to enjoy the journey, that the roads to greater heights are not paved. That you have to slow down most of the times to be able to enjoy the view. That a smooth paper cannot refine an intricate woodwork. That diamonds came from once coarse piece of rock. The summits are for those who are willing to be dirty, tired- for those don’t mind how bad and dangerous the trail is. Unmindful that after the summit they will go down on the same path they followed (unless its a traverse).
I guess those who doesn’t want to be furnished are those who are contended of what they are. They play blind on greater possibilities and try to forget their full potential.
Remember that the rough road usually leads you to a destination not known to many. It is the road less traveled that wows the soujourner (period).
Let me repeat that,
“the rough road usually leads you to a destination not known to many.”
–journeyingjames
___ ___ ___
Reflection made during one of my worst jeepney ride during my 100 days of backpacking the Philippines, non-stop, the cheapest way possible.
This is post part of ISANG DAAN Journey. ISANG DAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days.
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page:www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
You may also watch my teaser vid on Youtube: ISANG DAAN CHALLENGE

Well said bro. The rougher and tougher route usually holds more adventure and thrilling experience than the paved and smoother route.
hahaha my soon to be domain – Road Less Traveled 😀 nice! 🙂
nako bilihin mo na baka may ibang bumili
I’ve enjoyed – and continue to enjoy- reading about your travels even as I go on my own. Since I haven’t been to most of the places you mention, it is necessary to read again.
Just a pet peeve though, may grammar mistake kasi and since it’s so BIG and is a mantra thought you should correct it-
“the rough road usually lead you to a destination not known to many.”
should be “leads you” – with an “s” 🙂
Pasensiya na, occupational hazard, guro kasi.
thanks for the correction!
no worries, tamad lang talaga ako mag spell check and excited to publish the article
10 days to go… 🙂
Sana may fans’ day ka after ng isangdaan mo… Ako una sa pila! hehe… 🙂
haha, wala ng fans day. wala naman akong fans. thanks though!
wahehehe!!! 🙂 ndi ah… dami kaya…
Ako # 1 fan mo! 😉
talaga lang? thanks!
Felt proud that you featured here the photo taken during our trail run in my hometown Malaybalay. The road was indeed rough but the views are rewarding. Way to go journeyingjames!
thanks earl for taking the photo!
and thanks again for taking me there early morning
buti di nasama yung balloon sa photo bai.nyahahaha!!!!
wahahaha! patay tayo dun, sa ibang post siguro
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
the road not taken
-Robert Frost-
i remember frost when reading this post:)
thanks for posting the whole poem here!
i remember we memorize this during English 1, highschool
that means, you cannot go up and enjoy success unless to do hard work first.:-)
indeed! work hard to see the view
Very nice.
I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference…..
;0 more road less traveled to go through and maybe run to!
nicely said can i repost on http://www.hipptrip.com
just went through dengue fever
and needed to hear that
whew, sad to hear that alyx, hope you are getting better as days pass by. sure, you can repost but not the whole article.
Hi james, have you tried taking 2go travel? wala kasi akong mabasa about experience on 2go travel. thanks
i havent, what is that? is that the new superferry/WG&A?
yup, gusto ko sana itry, kaso baka nakakatakot. hahahah
then u will not be able to try it
“Remember that the rough road usually leads you to a destination not known to many. It is the road less traveled that wows the soujourner (period).” — i couldn’t agree more! thanks for the reminder. congrats on your 100 days challenge. ingat sa byahe!
salamat gladys! enjoy your travels too
“the rough road usually leads you to a destination not known to many.”
boom!
at talagang binasa ko sya with feelings.,, ang drama lang…
hihi…
backreading in your archives… enjoy na enjoy me ^.^
im soooo amazed… with all your travels and experiences sobraah!
thanks for backreading hana. busy ka siguro the past days?