This should be ALL CAPS, red, BOLD (and Font 72): “IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TRAVEL”
I write this to encourage travelers and would-be travelers out there to start exploring our beautiful country, the Philippines. This is to let you know that traveling is for you and it’s not too late to discover the wonders of our 7,107 islands.
I am including my Lakbayan Map to drive my point that “if there is a WILL to EXPLORE, there is definitely a WAY”.
Note: The bluer the map, the more frequent I visited those places. The whites on the map are areas not yet covered.
This is my Lakbayan map 4 months after I graduated from college:
August 2006
You would see that outside mainland Luzon (the biggest island in the Philippines) I’ve only been to Romblon, Iloilo and Capiz. I can still remember our family vacation in Iloilo and Capiz via Superferry, I was on my 5th grade back then.
After 2.5 years of working in the corporate world:
December 2008
Here you can now see that I already covered Central Visayas (Cebu-Bohol-Dumaguete) during my first Solo Backpacking Trip except for Siquijor. You would also notice that Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan down south have been visited. That was the time I learned that Mindanao is very safe to travelers and the Muslims are good and friendly. I actually love them all. It’s just sad how the media generalize Mindanao as a dangerous place. Then I worked in Palawan for almost a year.
Then I went back to Manila, worked for a year then finally decided to reach my dream of exploring the whole of Philippines- a pivotal moment in my life.
These quotes encouraged me to pursue my travels:
“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.” -Horace, Ancient Roman poet
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
“A traveler. I love his title. A traveler is to be reverenced as such. His profession is the best symbol of our life. Going from–toward; it is the history of every one of us.” –Henry David Thoreau, US writer and naturalist
5 years after graduation:
August 2011
I’ve already covered 63 out of 80 provinces. 17 provinces to go!
Then I challenged myself to TRAVEL AROUND THE PHILIPPINES for 100 Days, non-stop, the cheapest way possible. and here’s my map now:
May 2012
I’m proud to say that I’ve been to all the 80 provinces of the Philippines- details: 80 Philippine Provinces Done!
Thanks to Sir Eugene, the creator of Lakbayan, whom I met during the Travel Bloggers Forum at AIM. His map has been a motivation to explore what I haven’t explored.
Journeyingjames meets Lakbayan Creator, Sir Eugune
Now what? Do what you like most, pursue your dream! It’s time to leave you comfort zone! If not now, when?
Maybe these random thoughts of mine can spur you more:
“People who are afraid to take risks don’t enjoy life.”
“Your wealth and work don’t define who you are. I pity you, if they do…”
“I don’t have a corporate ladder to climb. but I have real mountains (for climbing & trail running).”
“I don’t have an office cubicle. It’s hot in my office, the floor is white sand, the walls are coconut trees, the air is fresh.”
Ohhhh, and before I forget, don’t tell me you don’t have enough money to travel. I tell you that traveling could be cheap. It’s not too late to travel. But if you still think its too late; I tell you, better late than never. Right?
NOW WHAT?
Where to Start? How to Start Your Own Backpacking Trip
Any Tips? 8 Travel Tips for Backpackers
Essential things to Bring? 10 Travel Essentials
Get you own Lakbayan Map: forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/
Be sure to visit back next week, as I will share to you my 10 Travel Secrets. That would be exciting, promise!
Again, ALL CAPS, red, BOLD (and Font 72): “IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TRAVEL”
You’ve blazed many trails and more to come. I was D + in 2007 and I think I’m now at B. Long way to go in discovering our beautiful country.
Keep on inspiring us James, go lang ng go 🙂
Such an inspirational post 🙂 Kudos to you!
Saludo ako sa byahe at pagsusulat mo James. I am humbled by the chance we had traveled here together. Salamat at hope to travel with u soon.
Sana meron din akong lakbayan map na kasing makulay sa map mo. haha.
wow.. si sir Eugene.. parang ang bata pa nya.. woohoo thanks for creating the Lakbayan!
looking forward to your travel secrets sir James…
you already! =) haha, waiting for your travel secrets. thanks to lakbayan creator =)
this week na! keep posted
galing galing james 🙂
wow! 17 provinces nalang… sama ako pag punta mo ng Tawi-tawi at ng Sulu… 🙂 Congrats James! go go go!!! 🙂
Congrats James!
You Already! 😛
nice thoughts from you.. ‘ your wealth and work don’t define who you are. I pity you if they do’ ….. astig!
Thanks for inspiring us.
yeah! thanks grace. you guys inspire me too!
Ang galing! Interestingly, I got to check my Lakbayan grade last night…I scored C…haha at least hindi D!
This blog post makes me want to “drop everything and travel” but it’s just so easy said than being done 🙂
Anyway, you are right…if there’s a will there’s definitely a way! Sana in 1 year mag improve ang grade ko…have never been to mindanao 🙁
Good luck to you and happy travels!
yes, to “drop everything and travel” is not for everyone but i did it and is enjoying every single moment. this also needs a preparation of the mind, emotion and finances, not to mention the family and friends pressure.
i hope you visit mindanao the soonest karen! thanks!
Hanep halos na-cover mo na buong Pilipinas!
Ang baba ng score ko sa Lakbayan eh hehe
wow! envious at your Lakbayan Map! hehe! Galing James 🙂
thanks tina! someday, you will be coloring your map with blue too! go go!
I can’t contemplate going to a place that i can’t surf in, hindi ko marationalize sa sarili ko. But you na already james!
try other water sports naman dude! hehehe but of course, the top 3 places have surfing sites. 🙂
cheers to more places to visit in the coming days!!! 🙂 great quotes by the way!!!
thanks flip! we still have a project sa pinas ha, pagbalik mo ng pinas gawin na natin.
Grabe naman… dami nyo ng napuntahan… 🙂
17 provinces nalang? Wow…
sana nga matapos ko this year or early next year
let say this is my investment..hehehe
You missed our province in North Cotabato 🙂 Idol!
o nga marco. next time, pupuntahan ko talaga yan. kulang time ko eh
I will always be a fan! Can I print this out? Haha This really inspired me to travel (a passionate one). Im currently creating a fancy blog now, pero im not yet ready to show it. :)) Thanks again
naks! thanks darby, im just a simple traveler. sure, print it out pre.
send me the link when your blog is up already ha. i know it would be awesome
i think this needs to be updated.. 😀
You amazed us bro!
I’m still coping james. Maski hinay hinay. Hinay talaga. hahaha. Its not yet too late!
Heard about this blog on GMA =)) Good job! Ang galing ng ginagawa niyo.
thanks sir joseph!
You really inspired me. Thank you! I have a C- grade, still a student, and with very limited resources and time but I will pursue travelling the Philippines no matter how long it takes and even though short on money. You did it! And so can we, hopefully!
Good day and goodluck to more of your future travels.
thanks inah! hope that you would see the beauty of the philippines too!
happy travels
super love!!! nasayang ko ung mga chance na pede ako mag travel. 🙁 you’re right. its not too late!! Thanks to this post. very encouraging and inspiring indeed! 🙂
its not too late to travel!
Hi James, Where did you go in Tarlac? That’s my hometown, I haven’t been able to travel the whole province yet. hihi.
passing by lang ako palagi as i really dont know what to see there? meron nga ba?
I scored b-… Don’t worry hahabol din kami =)
great! that’s a high score na ha.
more places to visit rhye
B- to be exact… An dami pang puede puntahan at babalikan… Love the Philippines.. Kaka-adik tlaga mag travel… Baka magpakasal na ako sa traveling.. HAHAHAHAHA
Lakbayan grade is B. Kinapalan ko na din mukha ko…i created a travel blog na din. Im a (VERY TRYING HARD) travel blogger na din. Hehehe.. Tomorrow, i will embark on my first solo trip to the capital city of our province neighbor, Dumaguete City. Thank you for being an inspiration..
please share your URL to me, i want to see it.
how’s your dumaguete trip?
Nice post – love it!
Just curious. How old were you when you started to travel on your own?
after college, I began my solo backpacking trip. 22 ata.