1. Travel Lighter. I have to lessen my backpack’s load. My bag weighs exactly 7 kilograms and I don’t have a check-in baggage. For some it’s already light but after walking more than 200 meters it’s already tiring. Next time I will do my best to make it 5 kilos or even 4kg.
2. Video! I think it would be better if I would video myself and upload it on YouTube. It’s more exciting and I think other wants to see adventures live. Btw, I have uploaded some vids of my past travels on my YouTube channel.
click to view my Youtube videos
3. Use convertible pants. I brought 2 cargo pants and it’s heavy. Convertible pants would be 2-in-1. I have pants and can convert it to shorts if I need to. Plus it’s easy to dry.
4. Quick-dry shirts and board shorts only. I brought cotton shirts with me- it takes too long to dry when I washed them. Fail! Good thing I brought 2 board shorts with me, after just an hour or 2 my board shorts are already dry.
5. Buy a pre-paid card. I always buy retail loads (Php25-50) along the way. Buying a card of Php300-500 would ensure my being connected. Buying in retail also takes too much time because you have to look for Autoload stations.
6. Bring a cap. I didn’t bring a cap so I guess I bring one next time or maybe that cool Headware is better and more fab.
7. Waterproof my bag. I wasn’t able to waterproof my bag. This is a serious sin when traveling. I need to buy that Sea to Summit dry sack asap.
8. I need to find a gadget wherein I can type my blog anytime. A gadget that is not heavy, bulky and expensive. Cellphone? Ipad 2? Galaxy? Notebook? Any suggestions?
9. Learn Cebuano and Ilonggo. I need to really learn the local dialect of Visayas & Mindanao so I could easily communicate with them. This will also ensure cheaper fares on the habal-habal, etc. Any Cebuana/Ilongga out there? Need you help, please.
10. Stay longer in a certain spot. Transportation costs eats up 70% of my expenses. I guess I need to just focus on key areas/adventure and stay there 2-3 days. This would also mean that I would have more time with the community and delve deeper into their culture.
Bonuses:
Want to see what’s included in my backpack? Check my previous STUFF LIST (14-day backpacking at Western Visayas)
How about my travel essentials? 10 Travel Essentials
You can start your own backpacking trip too, here’s how: How to Start Your Own Backpacking Trip
I also wrote, 8 Travel Tips to Save Money While on the Road. These are tried and tested tips I learned while traveling.
How about you? What are the lessons you learn when traveling? Care to share them?
with the cebuano and ilonggo dialect i can help with the basics .. lol
Language po ang Cebuano and Ilonggo – hindi lang po dialect. FYI
the convertible pants, board shorts and dri-fit shirts really makes wonders… Investing on a snorkle is also economical to save from renting a snorkling gears…
I have the same problem with numbers 8 and 9.
And I’m glad that you prefer drysacks than plastic for waterproofing. It’s more environment friendly. 🙂
Nice post James. 🙂
thanks pre! sa 8 & 9 is important kung cacareerin ang traveling.hehehe
mr betia.. when u advise to bring some googles before i visit surigao, i secure a snorkel and mask set… and was lucky enough to witness the feeding time twice at enchanted river. super laki ng mga fish… swerte din po ako when i was allowed to stay on the waters (sa corners nga lang) while feeding. so ayun, i was able to see the fishes up close and personal… they are of different species… kaya lng ka frustating nong time na un. di ako maka swim dun sa pepsi-blue water na un with my mask and snorkel set on kasi po ung imagination ko sobrang bilis ng takbo. na kesyo magmumukhang piranha ung mga isda bigla at kakainin ako then natakot na akong tumingin sa abyss na un… un ung kakainis na part kasi namn po wala ng available na life vest (obvious na di marunong mg swim) nung dumating kami and its almost 5pm na rin. di na nga kami nakatulog dun sa sibadan (fish cage). talagang babalikan ko un :((… and dat time marunong na akong mag swim! yehey! hahaha…
wow! kaka-inggit, di ko naexperience yun ahhhh… that would be awesome sana kung mavideo underwater noh.
colorful and diff variety of fish.awesome!
nasobrahan ka siguro sa nuod ng movies, piranha? walang ganyan sa pinas..haha
yes, worth it bumalik!
I like dry sacks too but they’re expensive. I reuse plastic grocery bags instead. Nice tips James. Where to next?
yes, meron ngang mas mura dun sa conquer store sa pioneer boni
I make more meaningful friendship and memories when I travel slow. So lately if I only have a few days to spare, I usually spend them in one place as much as possible.
yeah, that’s the right term.. travel slow. i need to do that more often
good read as always!
thanks! pressure naman…
Hahaha, requirement talaga na CebuanA and IlonggA ang magtuturo? No male tutors? 😀 Ilongga here, free lessons in exchange of travel stories. ;P
Also, Conquer Outdoor Shop in Robinsons Pioneer in Boni sells cheaper dry sacks than the Sea to Summit brand. Tried and tested na sa rainy climbs or river crossing. Plus 1+ din ako sa dri-fit shirts and convertible pants, best travel clothes. 🙂
mas marami kasing nasasabi kapag babae 🙂 haha
yup, i forgot to mention that.. meron nga sa conquer outdoor shop sa boni (and sa farmer’s cubao). indeed cheaper yun and i tested na rin yun before.
game, tudluan mo na ako.
wonderful post! i also wanted to have a dry bag and planning to buy a new one 🙂
yeah! will buy one na nga pati convertible pants sa boni, conquer outdoor shop
6. Bring a cap! Yan na ang solusyon sa pagbabawal sa eroplano na mag-hand carry ng payong. 😀
I lived in Mindanao for 15 years but I’ve never set foot to half of the places you’ve been to. Andami palang magagangang lugar na pwede puntahan diyan! Sana ma-explore ko din ang Mindanao someday. Thanks for the wonderful travel stories. 😀
BTW, I believe it’s best to learn Cebuano/Ilonggo by hanging out with genuine Cebuano-speaking people.
Nakapunta ka na din pala sa Bukidnon (my province). Sana ma-explore mo pa lalo ang aming probinsiya in the future. 😀 Wala kami masyadong mga developed na tourist spots (kagaya ng Dahilayan Adventure Park) pero para sa mga nature-lover at mahilig sa off-the-beaten paths, panalo doon! (haha, proud lang talaga). 😀
Keep up the good work and may you inspire more Filipinos to travel our own country! 😀
its good to know that even mindanaoans are being inspired to explore more of their awesome island. plan to travel na po mindanao, its easier for you kasi you’re in bukidnon na.
yes, i want to explore the forest of bukidnon and eat pineapples like there’s no tomorrow. hahaha
thank you so much nie! hope you can share about this blog too. blessings!
I’m from Mindanao too.I can teach you Cebuano/Bisaya.And I’m bringing friends from Cebu,Manila and India to CDO/Bukidnon and Iligan next month.I read ur blogs for infos.And I ask for my Smile from CebPac whenever u have an article.:)
hi charity! thanks for reading and glad to be of service.
you can download my cebu pacific article here (in PDF): https://journeyingjames.com/2011/07/cebu-pacific%E2%80%99s-smile-magazine-the-shoesting-diaries-zamboanga-city/
Nice post! I love board shorts and quick dry shirts. 🙂 It’s a major hassle traveling with damp clothes. Uncomfortable na, may added weight pa. I’m also considering buying convertible pants, only that my kakuriputan gets the best of me at times. Hehe.
As for the mobile set up, kung may Nokia smartphone ka, you could use it with a bluetooth keyboard. Here’s a post I did about it: http://bit.ly/lZcxjW I’m considering buying a tablet eventually since it’s lighter than a laptop, but a lot more powerful than my cellphone. 🙂
thanks ced, need to score more board shorts and dri-fit shirts.haha mura lang nman yung convertible pants, last time i check 1,300. its like buying 2 pcs of clothing naman, hahaha.
checking your post. and yes, im thinking about the tablet, yung samsung galaxy sana e, kaya lang wala pa yatang bluetooth keyboard accesoty na available sa pinas. at mahal din ang accessories, haha.
ohh dude, just read your post. yung keyboard, 3,500? watda! patay!
hi there sir james! 🙂 try checking out Brown Trekker pants! nice designs and very comfortable! convertible din for only 645 pesos 🙂
really? san available yang brown trekker pants? thanks!
Hi james tnx for the tips..tudluan tka ng ilonggo ug cebuano dialect para kasabot ka..hehehhe
wow! madamu gid nga/daghang salamat kim.
how?
taking tips! 🙂 the best! idol sa travel!
I can help with the Cebuano — pero gamay ra!
thanks for the cebuano lesson, in advance.
glad it was of help.
hi james! very helpful talaga ung mga posts mo. ask ko lang, did u buy pa ba travel insurance for your 16-day trip?which one? thanks!
hi mari! nope, i dont have a travel insurance which is a NO-NO. i think malayan have a travel insurance, i plan to buy one on my next trip.
now, that’s lesson number 11: Buy a Travel Insurance
thanks for the very nice question!
Good thing. I know how to speak Cebuano. Hehe!
soo helpful! cant thank u enuf james for the infos.cant wait for my 2wk backpacking mindanao solo adventure!hehehe 🙂
glad it helped you! kudos to brave girls like you.
ingat and enjoy the journey 🙂
travel tips? hmm i always bring tent whenever i travel thus i save on lodging. its quite awkward for some but i, we if im with friends, also befriend locals and ask them if they can take us in for the night. its actually a great way to save and blend with people. i also always bring my goggles. i also consider a knife or a cutter a travel essential. i was able to taste three different kinds of sea urchin because i had a cutter in my pack while exploring the shores of moalboal. and yes, learning the language. im an ilongga but i use tagalog often hoping id be treated better (some people have tendency to be manila-centric you know)but its actually not a good exercise especially if youre traveling around Cebu. and well if youre still a student, never forget to ask for the discount. hehe.
wow! a treasure trove of tops here.
thanks for these, i agree with you on using tagalog. i have learned visayan laguage kaya lang gamay lang, but i still use tagalog, same reason with yours