Why?

The past few days have been busy with catch ups and this will go on until I embark on this journey.

I get almost the same question over and over again, about what route, what countries. But I guess the main one was "Why?" and "Why Now?" -- good one.

The last few weeks of 2012 and early months of 2013 gave me enough time to re-evaluate what I wanted to do. I guess when you get older you try to figure out priorities and perhaps tick off some items from your bucket list.

As we all know, life is short and I'm not getting any younger either. The dream to travel for months lingered in my mind for so many years. However, when you're used to working, saving and having this kind of routine, such dreams are put on the back burner. I came from a culture where financial stability is a must and survival is the main game after graduating from University.

Those months of re-evaluating made me decide ---- That's it! I'M DOING THIS!
no more procrastinating. time is ticking away. It's now or never. and when you don't have commitments, I guess that's the best time to do it.

I had to break a few of my rules. For starters, I said I'd only travel to Europe and Tibet if I've got a boyfriend or husband. Well scrap that. I ain't waiting for it to happen coz who knows if it's even going to happen in this lifetime. Second, I said I'd do this if I'm financially stable. Nope, I ain't even close to that. But hey, if there's a will there's a way. I know it's not going to be easy but I'm up for it. I'm ready to face the challenge. I know if it doesn't work, i'll try my best to sort things out. and if worse comes to worse, i'll just come back home. No shame in that.

My previous years of travels have equipped me with the right combination of adventure and fear. I think it's still okay to have the right amount of fear, enough to have you consider risks and security without compromising the possibility of an opportunity.  In my younger years, I've found that there's a certain degree of arrogance when it comes to adventure. I believe for some situations, it was just sheer luck that I have survived. But looking back, there are so many things that I wouldn't do anymore. Call it getting wiser, but for me, i'd say it's just making sure that calculated risks have been evaluated.

Accidents. Hospitals. In a foreign country. I've experienced  a few of those, both in South America and Australia. The last accident was the ultimate one for me. When you've gone through a disability whilst traveling, the traumatic impact scars you. This incident solidified the fact that I "have" to do this journey... that's it now or never.

I've had so many injuries, more so on the knees and foot. When I left the Philippines my Ortho Doctor was suggesting I undergo a knee operation which I said No to. A Solid NO.  Call me stubborn. He did advise me though that without the operation, I'll experience bad arthritis and rheumatism when I reach the age of 40. So, when I said earlier that I'm not getting younger, that also goes without saying that my body has been manifesting aching signs the past few years and I'm just in my early 30's. when I had the accident last year, that was it .... I knew for a fact my right foot would never feel the same way again. But acceptance was the key. It was an eye-opener looking at it from a different perspective.

Life is too short. and while I can physically, mentally and emotionally do it... then I should...I MUST. Tomorrow is something I don't want to over analyze but rather just look forward to while enjoying each moment of Today.

Was I scared when I made the decision? Definitely!!! I was full of doubt. But I didn't want to be faced with the WHAT If's 5 or 10 years from now. Am I wishing I'm making the right decision? YES. But I believe at the end of the day, with decisions made, it's how you deal with the consequences that really matters. And it's only in retrospect that you realize a lot of the incidents along the way.

When 2013 started, I had this positive feeling that this would be a good year... and i'm holding on to that.
someone once said, if only everybody can travel, then maybe the world would be a better place.

Travel obliterates ignorance to a certain degree. It defies boundaries between cultures and opens up minds. It modifies perspective and cultivates understanding. Travel is not just about feeding your eyes with sights, its more of exhuming knowledge from the experience and taking that with you. It's not just about a click of the camera and posting it on facebook and saying you've been there done that. Travel is about immersing in the culture in the span of time you're in a foreign country. It's about mingling with locals and travelers alike. There's is so much out there.... it allows you to see outside the confines of YOU but at the same time makes you realize what you're capable of through the highs and lows.

I know this year of travels would exhaust me. I want it to. until I stop. I know I will for a while. Coz I told myself I'd need to stay grounded after all of this. But that's a bridge i'll cross when I come back.

For now, I'll be the nomad I want to be. on the road.