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Backpacker of the Month: Gael Hilotin

Posted on September 25, 2010 by journeyingjames 25 Comments
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Last month’s backpacker was a sure hit! Now let’s hear from another lady backpacker: Gael Hilotin. Go Girl Power!

Gael Hilotin as "The Pinay Solo Backpacker"

Name: GAEL HILOTIN aka “thepinaysolobackpacker”
Country of Origin: Philippines
Describe backpacking in three words: [A] Post-Modern Culture
Years of experience into backpacking? 2 yrs+ and counting

How did you start traveling/backpacking? It’s a sad story. 5 yrs after my friend passed away, I visited her and her family. Her tomb lies beside their house in Benguet. She was hit by a drunk student driving a BMW in our dorm in UP Diliman while she’s manning a ticket booth for a rock show. She was on comma for a couple of days; it was hard to see her name all over the newspaper and TV yet I can’t even see her because I was staying in a secluded island for our anthropology and archeology fieldwork. I couldn’t leave because I was graduating then. So after graduation, I used up the grad gifts (money) to visit her family. I stayed there for a week. It was hard to see her family in pain, I promised her I will go back after 5 years, when we’ve all moved on. And I did, last 2008, but nothing happened to her case. Without money, there is no justice. Anyway, since then, I kept coming back to the magnetic North and most of my trips in 2008 is around the Cordilleras.

Best experience ever while on the trip? I treasure all of my trips but I guess my road trip to El Nido. It was unplanned, I was alone and heartbroken and I had no idea where to go, what to expect, or if there’s a cheap accommodation there since at that time, I couldn’t find any posts by Pinoy travel bloggers about dirt cheap El Nido all I know is the high-end resort of Miniloc which I can’t afford. I boarded a non-air-conditioned bus in Puerto Princesa with the locals to El Nido. And at the end of the day I got a really cheap room named “FAITH” in a Bohemian inspired vegetarian resto and inn at the beachfront. It’s one of my most memorable trip.

Worst? As much as I try to see the beauty in the imperfect in my journey sometimes unfortunate events can be really disappointing. I have countless bloopers, like I got left by the plane in BKK (Bangkok). I have no credit card, not enough cash to buy another return ticket (in short I’m broke!), and my cellphone is useless (no roaming!). I fell off my bike and almost got hit by a car in Cambodia, also when I was off to Caramoan supposedly, I learned that my aunt died, so I decided to take a cutting trip from Naga to Sorsogon, I had no idea that one of the strongest storm is due to arrive that time so I was rain-soaked, I’ve got no food nor water, my 12 hour cutting trip turned into 22 hours, and when I finally got into our hometown, no trike driver would dare to drive me home because it’s flooded and the wind is too strong. They are scared of live wires in the water and falling branches of trees. But I was really starving so I started to walk alone in the flood so I can go home and eat, finally, one trike driver took pity on me and agreed to drive me home. That’s the beauty in every mishaps, we learn and we become better and sometimes we meet strangers who helps us without asking for anything in return.

Fave travel quote(s)?
“I wanna quit my job, buy a ticket, get a tan, fall in love and never return.” 🙂

Share your longest backpacking trip? I ain’t a hardcore backpacker yet, but I am saving up to embark on a long term backpacking. My longest was last summer, Cambodia, Thailand and my dear Philippines. I really try to immerse in the culture of my destination. I have a background in anthropology (and amateur archeology) so more than the stunning landscape, I am interested in cultures and human diversity, the major drawback though is limited time, that’s why I wanna do the long term backpacking by next year, hopefully.

Any realization/reflection while on the road? I was biking hurriedly to catch the sunset in Siem Reap and chanced upon 2 poor kids on the woods eating a from the garbage while waiting for their father. I stopped and talked to them and completely forgot that I’m chasing the sunset.They look so naive and didn’t ask for anything from me unlike the rest of the vendor kids you meet in every temple. It breaks my heart because I feel so helpless. If I give them money, I’ll teach them to beg. I gave them 2 of the 4 toy birds that I bought from the kids in the temples. I tied the other 2 on my backpack, it’s with me every time I travel, a simple reminder of my dream and hopes of poor children. Whenever I see poverty, famine, sufferings, wars and struggles on my travels, I weep because I feel so blessed for my freedom but I also weep because I feel so helpless. I dream that one day I can help not just 1 but countless souls.
But at the same time, I feel guilty because I am never satisfied. Whenever I see how the locals appreciate even the “simple and little” things they have in life, things that I disregard and take for granted everyday, I am reminded to count my blessings.

Share 3-5 important things that should be on your backpack?
My camera, My tripod, ATM or cash, Photocopy of my Passport.

The Magnetic North as Gael describes

3 Backpacking Tips?

  1. Keep an open mind and respect differences. stop the “backpacker vs. tourist argument” and “backpacker hierarchy” which is common in most backpackers.
  2. Don’t be in a hurry in one place, slow down and suck in the whole experience.
  3. Lonely Planet guidebooks and the likes is not a bible. Discover new places, consult the locals instead of being too tied up with fellow backpackers.

Best place you’ve been to in the Philipines? in other countries?
Though I feel so blessed to have been born and raised in our beautiful country, still it’s hard to name the best place I’ve been to. Every destination and every country fascinates me, there’s something unique and interesting about each of them that I’ve discovered. I have never been into a place or destination that I didn’t like. I guess it all boils down to our approach and our attitude towards that place.

Picture this situation: A student/8am-5pm employee asks you, “How do i start my backpacking trip?”

Answer: Although I’m a freak of unplanned trips, it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of research before backpacking. It’ll save you the time, the money and the hassle ( I should remind myself about this!:D) And as humanly as possible, avoid tour packages, doing it on your own is an enhancing experience. But even if you’ve researched about the destination, still consult the locals and discover new places, like I said, travel guidebooks aren’t bibles. Keep an open mind, and suck in the whole experience. Mishaps happen, but trust me, they are blessings in disguise.

—–There it is. I learned a lot and I’m sure you as well. We will wait for your long term backpacking next year Pinay Solo Backpacker. You can read more of Gael’s adventure at http://thepinaysolobackpacker.com/ Thanks again Gael for your valuable contribution to the blog.

Every last Saturday of the month we feature a Filipino/Filipina backpacker so that we can also learn form their tips and adventures. If you know a Filipino backpacker who has done amazing feats let me know. Thanks!

Enjoy traveling!

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25 thoughts on “Backpacker of the Month: Gael Hilotin”

  1. thepinaysolobackpack said:
    Reply
    September 25, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    thanks James for featuring me! 🙂 Ayan, an lakas mu saken, super haba pa ng sagot ko, haha 😀 yung ke Flipnomad eh since April pa ata yun hanggang ngayon d ko pa din nasasagot . hehe Peace tau Flip! 😉

    Goodluck sa marathon sa CamSur James. Too bad I can't drop by.

    Keep exploring! 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:32 pm

      you deserve to be featured. you're story should ring out loud to all "filipino foreigners in their own country." hats off!

  2. chyng said:
    Reply
    September 27, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    hanga ako noon, at patuloy na humahanga pa. lakas ng loob (at trip) ng babae na to. one of a kind.

    simply 1 of the best and most inspiring female travelers.

    see you sa 17th! thai food, bet mo?

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:33 pm

      yes, simply the best and simply amazing! parang smart commercial lng

  3. Micamyx said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 12:15 am

    Now I know why you're always in Cordillera. Isama mo naman ako minsan duet tayo LOL 😀

    Loved this article. Grabe, tapang mo! 😀

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:33 pm

      sama ako sa nyo

  4. Gervic said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 2:06 am

    You do have a sad life, Gael. Hindi halata. Pero ang bait mo. 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:33 pm

      bakit nmn sad life?

  5. fliptravels.com said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 3:58 am

    you got a nice site here James!

    GO thepinaysolobackpacker! na touch ako sa story mo

    GAEL POWER!!!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:34 pm

      thanks fliptravels! thanks to gael for letting me feature her.

  6. flip said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 6:14 am

    gael is one of those "old souls" that i've been wanting to meet in the future…

    her stories is beyond the temples, the shopping, the food, the journey, the adventure… her's is really about living her life the way she wants it to be…

    gael, i'll bet my life on this one… i believe you'll see and conquer the world…

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:35 pm

      agree with you flip. astig nito, true-blue backpacker! walang arte-arte. round-the-world gael.

  7. marie said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 10:58 am

    iba ka talga gael… matapang and may puso.. sna someday we cud mit up … papicture talga ako syo… idol na kita =)

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:36 pm

      wala rin pala ako pic with her. gael, pa-pic narin dami mong fans

  8. Darwin of Damicaye said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    yun naman oh!!

    kilala ko yan!!!!

    Im lucky to be part of one of her travel..Im glad I met her last SEAIR and MICROTEL Boracay Bloggers' Tour..with Mica of micamyx.com…

    NICE GAEL!!!!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 28, 2010 at 11:37 pm

      thanks for dropping by darwin! congrats to your win sa boracay with seair and microtel

  9. Darwin of Damicaye said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Gael san next destination mo????

  10. Darwin of Damicaye said:
    Reply
    September 28, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    Mica and Gervic photo mag-aappear yung photo once i make a comment?hehehe

  11. Pingback: Backpacker of the Month: The Pinay Solo Backpacker, Featured by Journeying James » The Pinay Solo Backpacker

  12. dong ho said:
    Reply
    October 3, 2010 at 4:08 am

    definitely one of my new favorite travel bloggers in the philippines. a tandem trip in the making with gael will be one of the most exciting.

  13. RedMango said:
    Reply
    October 18, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    Very nice post!

  14. herbalife said:
    Reply
    October 18, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    Quite interesting Blog .. thanks a lot

  15. Eric said:
    Reply
    November 2, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    I would say that I learned a lot when I found my way here in your blog. So many infos and tidbits ideas about backpacking.
    I admire this lady and the way she sees life around her.

  16. charesma said:
    Reply
    December 13, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    IDOL!!!

  17. Belle Dame said:
    Reply
    November 25, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Gael is superb! I hope that sooner I will be like her. Have the chance to travel and to explore the world.

    Everytime I am sad, I always think of one of the quotes I read from a site and it goes somewhat like this.

    The world is so beautiful so there is no reason for us to be lonely.

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