Solo travel and the people I've met on the road

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill 

More travel quotes here: 50 Inspiring Travel Quotes

One question that people often ask me, aside from "Where are you?" or "Are you in the Philippines?", is "Why do you travel?"  This is one question that is easy to answer, and I have many. One of which is to meet new people, to meet new friends.

In the last 10 years, I've met quite a few, and thanks to Facebook, I'm still in contact with some of them. For those whom I am not in contact anymore, I still have our shared moments to cherish. My traveling experience has been made memorable by these new found friends, and on this post, I would like to give tribute to these amazing fellow adventurist.

Crazy Christmas eve celebration in Saigon, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2009

On my first solo backpacking trip in Southeast Asia, I ended up celebrating my Christmas in HCMC, Vietnam. It was my first Christmas outside the country, and the first time I am spending it alone. After a tour of the Mekong River, I went back to the hostel and discovered all my roommates getting ready for dinner. It was an 10-bed mixed dorm in the middle of Pham Ngu Lao - Saigon's backpackers' area.

It was a crazy mix of solo travelers, a girl from Netherlands, a lady doctor from Brazil, a couple of Aussie guys, and the rest from different countries in Europe. We went out to dinner, then had a few bottles of Saigon beer. Too early to call it a night, we transferred to another area that served cheap draft beer (I think it was about 1 USD for a pitcher). Stories were shared, advice were asked and even stories back home were overflowing. After midnight, we went back to the hostel too drunk to care as the others were competing for the loudest snore.

Why Lonely Pinoy Traveler?

I am not sad. I am very happy, especially when I travel. So why Lonely Pinoy Traveler? For two reasons:

Solo travel in Ayuthaya, Thailand

First, I will be posting about my own travels, here in the Philippines and even abroad. And most of these trips, I am alone.

Second, learning from my experience of traveling alone, I will be sharing trips and tips that will make traveling alone still a hell lot of fun. And this will work even with couples or groups.

Now, you might ask, why do I frequently travel alone. Sometimes, it is by choice but sometimes it is just the way it is given the circumstances. Lets me cite some examples.

1. I am fortunate that my work brings me to a lot of places. Working for an NGO, I am sent to the different parts of the country, often alone. After the work is done, I make sure that I spend a few days to explore the place - also often alone (or sometimes with my hosts.)

2. I also work as a consultant for one senator, a work that also entails lots of travels. In these travels all over the Philippines, the regular staff has to be constantly with the senator leaving me alone with the opportunity to explore the place.

3. Given my age, a lot of my friends are also young. Often, we plan to travel together but at the last minute, they would cancel. Most probably, I would decide to continue with the plan - alone.

4. Sometimes, I travel alone by choice. That is for a lot of reasons, but usually, I do it if I want some time to think about something. In my next post, I will be detailing some benefits of traveling alone.

But just to make it clear, I do enjoy some company when I travel. But when faced with a situation where I am alone, I know how to make the most out of it, and have one hell of trip to remember.

So, read on and please come back for more and discover heaven that is the Philippines.