Writing about travels and travelling has always caught my interest. Whenever something is posted about good travels on the web, I never fail to give it a read, or at least a skim. I have already read so many, actually. But less about reflective travels (though I know that there’s actually a lot of it, and I just fail to chance upon them).
So I think it is about time to share mine…
I have been joining my best friend’s family for three consecutive years now, or I had joined them; since I am already writing this in Manila, after our trip. This is a Northern Luzon road trip while visiting their relatives and stopping-over their houses. For the record, we have gone to Pampanga, Pangasinan, and La Union. The places we visit are not the ones that you will see on travel magazines and websites, not the places where people are clamouring to be able to visit one day. BUT one thing I will tell you is that: these places were able to make me feel relaxed and very far from the busy stressful life in the cities. I was able to reflect on different things in life.
Our first stop—a house in Pampanga. This is their relative’s house. It is situated right in front of a corn field and surrounded by rice fields. Imagining the simple life the fields offer is probably “not so dream-like” for the people of the cities. Here, there is no mall nearby; low to no internet and cell phone signal; plus people’s daily routine revolves from waking up before the sun rises, preparing food, manning the fields, taking care of the animals and their children, and sleeping very early in the evening preparing for a similar activity the following day. This is not that exciting actually. But what I thought is that the simple life of the people here is what makes them healthy and stress free. Pollution and inorganic food is not a staple in this place. The men are very active at their sixties, only taking vegetables and few servings of meat (as it is expensive for them). And the women, they don’t really care about vanity as it is defined in the city; but they know hygiene in fact. What is the good thing about this? They don’t attract badly mannered men to maliciously treat them. These things I must say made me appreciate life I the province more and made me dream of one day living simply in the breezy fields of our OWN country.
Agoo, La Union—this is our second destination. The beach here is lovely. The waves high and almost ravishing. We played here like children and forgot all our problems, even for a short period of time. The important thing I pondered here was: you cannot attain maturity without accepting that you are a child once and immaturities will always come our way. It is acceptance that will make us the better and mature person that we always wanted to be. Plus being with your closest friend made me realize that life will really give you a whole lot of acquaintances, just enough friends, and 1 best friend…sadly life’s transition has its own course and will bring you a different set each time. The best thing to do is to treasure them and remember that proximity is not always the measure of “closeness”.
San Fabian, Pangasinan wasn’t that good at first (this was my perception). The humid ambience of the place made me feel uneasy and wanted to take a bath all the time. But this year’s trip was different: the hot weather is still there. Of course, it’s summer. However, the beach and the sea both welcomed us differently. It was like an unchartered beautiful scenery waiting to be visited by people. So we did. The fun and relaxation is just amazing. Looking at the horizon made me reflect a about a lot of good things in life, even the not so beautiful circumsatnces in life suddenly became positive. Well, of course I might be speaking subjectively or based on my own experience. But one thing’s for sure your view of the nature is your view of life. If you appreciate the simplicity of the surrounding and able to find beauty in it, then life for you won’t be that hefty even though at times bothered by problems. This is what I thought a beautiful place to live in could give to its residents…healthy body, peaceful mind, and positive attitude.
Lastly—not a place but an animal: a DOG. I am a person who grew up fearing dogs. Not wanting to pet them because of the thought of them being potentially harmful and stinky. I have had this perception until, again, because of my best friend’s affection for dogs and his dog—Arma, a female five-month-old Labrador Retriever; this dog is just very playful and cuddly at the same time. Despite her size, you will never feel scared because she is a very affectionate pet, someone who would lie on your lap and lick you every part of your body. Yes, I think it is my level of maturity which somehow told me that why not try getting close to dogs. However, Arma is just a dog (or a puppy, as she is still) who will not just make you get close to them but also will make you love them. She is, for me, a step up to what they call appreciation of the “life” around you. In fact, she made me more concerned and sensitive to animals in general. I think she made love animals and, all the more, value life in all kinds (be it humans, animals, plants, or the smallest unseen creature around us).
So this is why and what I enjoyed most about my vacation. It was fun, relaxing, and most importantly reflective—something that every traveller should do before and after an adventure. Like life: It is not on what you have and what you become, more important is the journey towards it.
