June 2014 was when I started to do the real essence of traveling, solo! https://iamryshel.com/2014/09/26/i-am-a-backpacker-i-am-a-filipina/

I was backpacking for around 10 months where I got to visit total of 9 countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka). I visited the famous tourist spots but I spent most of my time in not-so-tourist places where I had fun the most. I traveled with no destination and no plans. I traveled where my feet took me. I traveled solo. I traveled with a bunch of strangers and afterwards gained friends all over the world.

After Asia, I wanted to travel to South America and I was able to make that happen in less than two months. I arrived in Colombia on June 24, 2015 and now working as an Instructor in one of the best language education companies in the world. I’ve been working and traveling for the last six months. I was able to make my dream Peru happen last October where I had the best birthday ever. https://iamryshel.com/2015/10/29/the-best-birthday-ive-had-so-far/

Few days ago, I spent my Christmas Day with an amazing family in Anolaima, Colombia. Such a peaceful place surrounded with farms and there is no signal at all. I was totally disconnected for couple of days. Here, I learned how someone had to walk up and down the hills for an hour to go to school. I always admire people like that since I never got to experience this. I can imagine how tough life was but because of determination, we can always achieve what we want in life. Here, I again got to experience a simple life. People spend time to eat and actually converse to each other unlike nowadays where people eat while on the phone. I got to play the traditional sport called Tejo. Such a silly game if I think about it but I had fun and it was amazing how this game can bring happiness to people in a secluded place like this. I also got to look at old photo albums. Something that I don’t have. I don’t have any album to look at to remind me of my childhood whether it’s a good or bad memory. In fact, I don’t remember much about my childhood.

During my travels since June 2014, I did some volunteering jobs. I got to see different types of poverty. I got to experience difference kinds of people’s kindness. I earned more patience from all the waiting I had to deal with when taking public transportation or crossing the borders. I learned not to be less judgmental. I became more open-minded. I started to appreciate the beauty of nature more. Every time I see sunrise, sunset, beach, mountains, the moon and the stars, it makes me feel something different inside. I can’t help but be thankful despite everything I’ve gone through in life. I am a strong woman. I’ve always been safe and blessed. Traveling solo gave me a lot of opportunities to develop myself. Seeing different places and meeting different people is just an awesome experience.

Despite what I’ve accomplished in life, I am good at keeping my feet on the ground. I guess, that’s one of the reason I am always blessed. 🙂

 

 

 

 

Backpacking, traveling, solo travel, filipina traveler, explorer solo travel changed my life