Why exploration is fun

There's just too much that this world has to offer, have you taken the first step to explore the world? If not, then get off your lazy ass and get moving! I haven't been to many places as most of you guys, but here's what I have found out in some places I have been. My personal preferences for places to visit are those exotic ones, our country is a big jungle afterall.

#1. There are interesting people to meet.

Sometimes people tend to shy away from travelling or exploring, mainly due to the fear of uncertainty, unfamiliar places and people. We tend to stick to our comfort zones, it IS comfortable after all. But in sticking to what's comfortable, we are missing a LOT of things.


Here's an experience I know most of you guys can relate to: you wanted to go for a getaway with your friends, and it is your initiative. As the date of the getaway is getting closer and closer, one by one, your friends backs out. All, because they think that they are so important that your trip will not push through without them, but it is YOU who initiated the trip. Sucks, right? Leave those prima donnas behind and pack your bags!

I had the opportunity to go backpacking and hitch to some groups and went outdoors. This led me to mountains, beaches and epic adventures! Most importantly, I was able to meet interesting people, of diverse backgrounds with just one common interest - the love for adventure.

(c) Victor Joel Ayson. December Mt. Pulag climb with Backpackers United.

Trekking at La Mesa Nature Reserve with Edison (the one with shades) with his cool colleagues at a religious affiliation (In fact, there were priest-mountaineers with us. cool!).

Bicol expedition with JourneyingJames and the gang, with two hitch hikers we've met at a Gubat (Sorsogon) epic surfsite.

#2. You'll be able to see the real world.

It's election time, and it is just too easy for people to spout nonsense out from their mouth about the plight of the Filipinos. Have they even tried to take off their shiny leather shoes and put on trekking shoes, sweat out and see how their constituents do about with their lives, not during campaign season but after they are elected into office? Well, I think some do, but with our culture of massive media hype, no, I think I haven't heard of one (please prove me wrong). Enough of this politics bullsh*t.


Anyway, in your own personal quest to see the world, I highly recommend for you to be observant, and take a look around and see your countrymen outside the media's perception - in your own eyes. A mentor once told me, if you go about exploring in rural areas, bring minimal convenience from the big cities. As much as possible, support the local businesses eventhough sometimes it substantially has higher mark ups. It is their livelihood after all. Remember, it is much better to support their livelihood rather than giving dole outs. But also be cautious, there are con artists and thieves all around, a simple precaution could help.

After a long climb, a resfreshing halo-halo is like a gift from the gods (Mt. Batulao).

Genuine smiles of kids amidst blistering summer heat. Damn so great to be a kid once more, all fun and games - enjoying life's simplicities (Donsol, Sorsogon).

Probably my favorite shot so far. Locals (probably a mother and her child) at Nagsasa Cove, Zambales. Laid-back countryside life.

 #3. It's so frikkin' exciting! 

One ritual I do when doing a hitch-backpacking? NOT to research about the place. hahaha! You may argue that it is a bad idea, but yeah, I do it anyway. It preserves the excitement because you can not form any expectations, therefore keeping disappointments to a minimum. What it ensures you are those 'wow!' moments that you weren't able to see beforehand. Which you can see on the internet anyway. I don't encourage you to do the same, we are all entitled to our own preference and it just so happens that this one is mine. Keep your mind open, prepare for the occasional shock and awe!

Of all the barriers why people tend to hesitate to go about their expedition, lack of financial capacity may be one of the commonly identified. It is valid, but I beg to differ. You can always save up, if you really are into it. I am just like most of you guys, I am just a normal employee - with a salary you would laugh at. For me, people tend to shy away from travelling or adventure seeking because of the lack of contacts or opportunity to do so. I met one (probably highly paid) interesting person which I met during one of my climbs. He was able to travel to many foreign destinations during his young career, but it was his first time to try mountaineering with just a Php650 budget. You see, that small amount was incomparable to the ecstatic new adventure he has just experienced. Meeting new people opens new portal of possibilities and opportunities (wait, this should be in #2. Anyway, I'll just put it here). It offers you lessons you can't learn in books. You get to be inspired by other people's experiences and you get to inspire others the same way. Time is also a factor, you might add, but heck no. When you want to do something that badly, you make time for it. You can't be young forever, explore while you still can.

This is just a plea from me. If you could indulge yourselves, please support our country's tourism. Before you go dreaming about going abroad and exploring some foreign land, there are still some pieces of treasured spots waiting for you to be discovered here in our country. If you have the capacity to go touring abroad, then all the more you have the capacity to explore our country. Here's an interesting site: http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/.

How much of the country have you visited? Here's mine.

See those white areas? There's still too many places to explore!

Go out and explore!