Shoestring Philippines: The 139-day journey around the Philippines to cross 50 Bucket List on a $1000 budget

DAY 0 - PREPARATION

The Dream

I am not well-traveled. Or consider myself a traveler in any way. When I began this journey, I have never gone beyond the borders of my country. Neither have I visited my county's most famous tourist destinations. The only travel I did every year was visiting my parents in my mother's hometown on Christmas. I would also take summer trips with different groups of friends to one or two frequently visited beaches near Manila.

To say that I am not the least bit curious about traveling to parts unknown (at least to me) would not be accurate at all, however. Seeing ads of white sandy beaches on glossy magazines, watching features of breathtaking destinations on TV, and hearing friends recount their fun-filled weekend getaways never fail to get me excited.

After the excitement comes the fantasy of going on a trip and momentarily leaving reality in exchange for adventure. And when I say adventure, I do not mean a brief weekend escape where I get to take a break from the daily grind and recharge my batteries, as those TV hosts like to say.

What I really dream about is going on a journey that would let me see things that have always fascinated me and piqued my curiosity, and have wonderful experiences that I can share with my future grandchildren. That one Great Adventure.

But like most people, I cannot just drop everything -- my job, my family, my friends -- and go. There is safety and comfort where I was, and I felt that I was not yet ready to let that go.

***

"I want to backpack the Philippines," I say to the beautiful girl lying face to face with me in bed. She and I have been dating for a few months and was the first person I shared my dream with. "I want to explore every nook and cranny of our beautiful country."

I thought that for someone who has never gone beyond Philippine territory, and who wanted to go on an adventure, the best place to start is one's own country. Besides, the Philippines is such a beautiful country.

"That's a great plan. Will you bring me along with you?" she asked, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Of course, I can't imagine myself spending it with someone else other than you."

That conversation happened five years ago. Though we are no longer together, my burning desire for my great adventure remained.

I don't know why it took so long to happen. My excuse was I'm too busy with work. That it would be too costly. That it sounds good on paper but was impossible to pull it off. That was my official story.

And then, during my annual Christmas visit to my parents' house in 2011, things began to change.

The Story

As I always did when in my parents' hometown, I took a walk to my favorite spot on the shore about twenty meters from our house. Ours is a pebbled seafront, and a bay that separates us from the mountain range in the horizon. It won't win any tourism beauty contests, but it's a charming and peaceful sight that I always loved going back to.

I felt the uneven ground as I sat with a notebook and pen in hand. This was when I take stock of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. A couple of X's and checks this year. And among the ones that had a big fat X beside it is my backpacking dream.

I asked myself why I have let it drag on for years. What's holding me back? Why can't I do it at this very moment?

Then it hit me. I did not have a deadline. I knew I could always move it, postpone it, just do it some other time. I'm not in a hurry. I know I'm not dying or living on some borrowed time. There's always tomorrow. That's why my dream has never become a reality.