lipad, sige, lipad

The one thing I hate and love about going on the net is checking airline websites. Seat sales are my worst enemies. When I worked, one of my colleagues would instantly alert me when there were seat sales in certain airlines. And while she booked, I looked. I just couldn't handle the idea of spending money on trips. But now...well, it's a whole different story.

I made a point that this year will be my to-be-not-too-kuripot 2010 year. Eversince I was a child, I would always save up like crazy then spend all my savings on school things. So when I finally got a job that paid big (well, not that big) I saved up, well, pretty much for my age. My baon everyday to work was 50pesos. I walked to work and vice versa. Sobrang kuripot! I even killed myself working by taking extra loads of essays (40pesos each essay) just to get a little extra. The biggest monthly salary I ever got during my 7-month work experience, a whopping 23+k. Na minus na dyan ung taxes, sss, philhealth, and pag-ibig. And where did it all end up, of course,...sa bank.

So imagine how much I deprived myself. For me, it was too much. For marvin, I was way too hard on myself. So this year, I'm giving myself a treat, or should I say treats. I have planned a series of trips for this year. And some, I can honestly say, were not planned strategically.

So this year I'll be wandering off to....

January 15-17- went to Tacloban, Leyte (Redona Family Reunion)
March 4-5- went to Island Cove, Kawit, Cavite (Marvin's 25th birthday celebration)
March 22-25- will be going to Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Marvin, me and Enzo for our 1st wedding anniversary)
April- ask my parents kung san ba talaga pupunta sa holy week
May-June- still not final
July 6-8-  Tagbilaran, Bohol
July 21-23- Coron, Busuanga (son and mother bonding)
August 2-4- Cebu (regalo ni Marvin sakin for my birthday)
August 23-September 3- Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand (my super fast adventure trip)

Well for now, yun lang. (Is that considered an understatement?) Am I excited? Like a little girl in hello kitty world, hell yeah, I'm excited.

Where did or will I get the money for all of these? Savings, baby, savings.

Tickets?
Since tickets bought online are paid thru credit cards, you'll eventually have to pay for it months before you even go on the trip. (That of course if you bought seat sales.) Meaning, all you have to worry about is the accommodation, transpo expenses, and food. Oh yeah, the terminal fee and travel tax in the Philippines as well. And since I'm not there to shop, hindi magiging magastos ang trips. All I need is my handy DSLR, and I'm good to go.

Accommodation?
When it comes to these once in a lifetime opportunities, I am not maarte at all. During my South East Asian trip, I'll be sleeping at lodges. In short, places that are extremely cheap that you will have to share a common comfort room, and sleep in bunk beds with strangers in the same room. Does that bother me? NOT AT ALL. Tulog lang naman ang pakay.

Transpo expenses?
Taxi should not be in your vocabulary when it comes to these tight-budget travels. Public transpo is the key. But of course, research is needed. You can't just go into a totally different place without knowing the ins and outs of your destination. (of course, you could if you have the budget for it.) So if you want to save big time on transpo expenses, I suggest you know which bus, train, tricycle, mini bus, or whatever public transpo you'll need to ride on, and where and what time they pass by or depart.

Food?
This is the ultimate splurge.  Never starve yourself, especially if their specialty is the one being served to you. Three words, EAT SOMETHING NEW. If you're at a different place, you should at least try what they usually eat. It's part of the adventure. So make the best out of it. And yeah, if you eat what they eat, the price would most likely be the same with those that actually live there. (Saved up once more.)

Tours?
Ang mahirap sa tours, you'll end up spending more on the tour guide's fee than the actual entrance fee and public transpo itself. Pero if you want everything smooth sailing, then this is a must, unless you're an expect on finding tourist spots. But from my POV, the only reason I'm doing most of these on my own is because I want an adventure. And it's actually easier to know a place if you discovered it all alone. Mahirap ung may nag dadada habang nagtitingin ka ng mga artifacts or whatsoever.

So, I am proud to say that this year I'll be traveling more than I ever traveled before. So what's up for 2011? yes, I have already thought of it. I would really like to go to...

Domestic:
>Davao
>Bataan
>Cam Sur
>Ozamiz

International:
>the rest of South East asia: Myanmar, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and Brunei
>Palau
>South Korea
>Taiwan
>Australia
>UK (calling the attention of Marvin)
>South Africa
>China
>France

Are these possible? pwede kung nanalo ako sa lotto ng bongang bonga. But since hindi naman ako tumataya sa lotto, these are all dreams for now. But the best thing about dreaming, is that you'll always have something to look forward to...