- Ace
- Apr 18, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 26, 2024
"Travel! Money spent can be earned but not time."
I saw this line in a Facebook post that encourages people to experience Filipino hospitality by traveling all around the country. To be very honest, I think this line spoke to me more than it should. With everything happening in the world, loved ones and friends bidding goodbye, and a future full of uncertainties, investing in experiences is a very personal way of enjoying my limited time.
Our recent trip to the City of Pines made me realize some things.
Working from anywhere is now my number one priority when looking for a job.
With the work set-up that I have right now, working 8 to 10 hours, 5 days a week in the office is no longer an option for me.
Working from anywhere eliminates my worry of doubling the workload of my teammates while I'm on vacation for the obvious reason that I still get to do my tasks. Also, my setup makes filing a vacation leave way easier than it was before.
Of course, in any work set-up, boundaries should always be set. Once I clock out, I no longer entertain work-related conversations so I can focus on enjoying my vacation.
Save and set a budget for a trip pero 'wag naman masyadong magtipid.
Setting a budget for a trip is a good way para hindi maging burden ang trip expenses sa finances ko.
I had a 10K budget for our 5-day and 4-night stay in Baguio. It was easy to spend this amount since I saved for it and I wasn't also guilty for spending it since before I even saved for it, I already made sure that all my financial plans and obligations were cared for.
Masayang mamasyal na hindi iniisip na baka mapasobra ang gastos since guided naman ako ng budget ko, I even had a set amount to spend daily.
Take pictures to remember that trip but don't over-do it.
It's alright to take photos of every place I have on my itinerary pero 'wag naman yung bawat galaw na lang eh may picture.
With this Baguio trip, may mga lugar na halos hindi ko na na-appreciate just because I was no longer in the moment. Focused na lang sa kakakuha ng picture at naubos na ang oras ng hindi man lang nag-sink in yung feeling na andoon ako.
Moving forward, I will just get 2 or 3 photos per place and will then just enjoy the moment of being there, letting myself be in that place, at that time.
Eat and eat and eat. Just bring some meds and probably some toiletries.
One of the best things when I travel? Foods!
As someone who loves to eat, ang makakain ng mga pagkaing wala sa Maynila eh ang perfect lang. Or at least, eat in a restaurant na wala sa Maynila. I know naman na eating at this kind of restaurants can be pricey sometimes. Kaya syempre hindi naman kailangan na sa lahat ng meals throughout the entire trip ganito ang sitwasyon.
As I learned from this trip, you may do this probably once or twice daily. In our case, we were able to eat in six cafes and restaurants within our 5-day stay, most of them during lunch and dinner.
In between these food adventures, palaging may mga pagkaing hindi mag-a-agree sa aking tyan kaya palagi akong may dalang Imodium, wet wipes, tissue, alcohol, at kung minsan eh sabon.
Have a local experience of the activities that you usually do when not traveling.
May mga bagay na masarap ma-experience sa ibat-ibang lugar.
For me, it's massage. It's my monthly activity kapag andito lang sa metro. And yes, ang sarap ding alalahanin ng mga pagkakataong na-experince ko din 'to sa Baguio.
We went to North Haven Spa, their branch at the back of SM. I got to experience a full-body scrub, their sauna, and a full-body massage.
***
Okay, I'm cutting my story here. We'll probably go back before this year ends, kwento ulit ako ng mga bagay-bagay.