Traveling: The Only Addiction That's Good For You

I'm an addict, a self-confessed travel addict. Before, I used to see traveling as a luxurious lifestyle that only the privileged people can do but learning the art of budgeting has given me the opportunity to visit different places without the need to empty my bank account.

I remember my very first out of town trip and I was thinking ‘this is the first time that I will be away from my comfort zone’. Little that I know that this short trip to Puerto Galera was just the start of a long journey of self-discovery.

The charming beaches of Caramoan, Puraran, Baler, Guisi, Bantayan and North Cay has made me appreciate sunsets even more and realize that every day is a new day.

The temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Pha That Luang in Laos and A-Ma in Macau opened my eyes to different cultures and religions which I highly respect and adore more than ever. The good news is that getting a Cambodia Visa is easy and straightforward so I was able to explore its majestic temples.

Tasty dishes from Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam may have worsened my acid reflux but the gastronomic experiences were always a delight.

Towering lighthouses in Palaui, Capones Island, Ilocos, Bolinao and Batanes gave me breathtaking views of different horizons that one day I choose to explore further.

The long trails to Mt. Pulag, Mt. Pinatubo, Batad and Pico de Loro were able to test my endurance and patience to the limits while appreciating that there is no mountain high enough to keep me from living life to the full.

I have shared a trip with different kinds of travelers; some I have traveled with a couple of times and some I have only met while on the road. But what’s amusing is that these are actually the most amazing people I have ever met. Once you share a room or a ride with a traveler, you’re most likely to share stories or even have a common interest to talk about and before you know it, a stranger becomes a friend and these are the type of friendships that are worth keeping.

5 years. That's how long this addiction has been going on for and I probably don't see it ending anytime soon. Why? Because it has changed me, for the better. For such a long time I have put a limit on my dreams and just became contented with a boxed-in life. Then I discovered the art of traveling and came into a realization that my life is more that can be contained in a box. I chose to step outside of its confining walls to get me started to living a life that is more open to change and embracing any challenge that comes along the way. Every trip that I made has changed me and little by little I become a better person, appreciating another way of life that I have lived even for just a few days or weeks. After every trip I realize that the world I left hasn’t changed at all but it is me, enlightened with totally diverse values and inspired by a series of adventures. My travels have completely changed the course of my life and it's all I want to do for the next years ahead.

So are you ready to live out of the box? Go pack up your bags and discover how fun it is to travel. This is the only addiction that won't require you to go to rehab!

This is my entry to the March Blog Carnival hosted by Reiza Dejito of Wander If You Must on the topic "Leap of Faith: When Travelling Changed My Life." To see the archive of Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival click here.