Of Rediscovering New

Recently, we discovered that my stepdad is terminally ill. You might think it’s
cliché that such life-altering experience suddenly transform one into a believer of Carpe
Diem and perhaps that’s true. But it is also true that such was ingrained in me from the time I was a child.

My stepdad himself is an adventurer of sorts. In his youthful years, he dove the waters of Visayas, drove at great lengths to see three, four different provinces in one week. He would, in spurts of giddy excitement, wake us up at friggin’ 3am, tell us to pack our bags, forget about brushing our teeth, and be ready in ten.

He awoke in me the pulse-racing thrills of spontaneous adventures and the real joys of discovering New: cultures, people, regional food, places on the map – all before they become relatively populated by earnest tourists.

Often, we overplan the
future and examine the past in great detail, as if there is a way to
access those two invisible portals. In the process we forget to live in the
Now. And the Now is there is all there ever is. My stepdad taught me that through travel – a concept that seems so relative to events happening at present.

If you have always been skeptical about planting a Fire Tree in your 20-square meter yard, there is no better time to do it than Now. If you have always wanted to volunteer in a far-off rural village, Now is an excellent time. Because unless you’re Yoda, you really never know what the future awaits.

Me? I have always dreamed of shoestring travel in the Philippines as my family used to. Where to? Here are a few top spots on my travel bucket:

Puerto Princesa

Palawan

Palawan ain’t called the Philippines’ final frontier for nothing. I have only been to Coron and a few islands off Lusong and Tangat and already I could tell, there is so much to Palawan than the Underground River (which is on my checklist too). Puerto Princesa is a great jump-off base to the 14-kilometer cream shoreline of San Vicente and El Nido’s karst limestone cliffs and serene lagoons.

Davao

Davao is on my visit-while-with-a-toddler list, primarily because of Samal Island’s kid-friendly white beaches and amazing parks. But tots aside, it’s Digos City’s zipline (the longest in the country) and cable car – both overlooking Mt. Apo – that I look forward to.

Cebu

Bantayan Island, Cebu. Image credit: Rob Brand of beyondcebu.com

When I think of Cebu, I think of authentic Lumanog guitars and the most drool-inducing Lechon Anthony Bourdain has ever feasted on. And of course there’s the Edge Coaster Ride at Crown Regency hotel (another bucket list item), the stress-busting shores of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island, and the thrilling shark and manta ray encounters in Malapascua. Wooot!

Tagbilaran

Another tot-friendly destination that’s worth a visit. I could imagine the sparkle in my daughter’s eyes when she witnesses dolphins flip at Pamilacan Island, the meek tarsier, Chocolate Hills, and the diverse marine sanctuary at Balicasag Island. Oh, and not to mention the blood-pumping extreme eco-Adventure at EAT Danao!

Kota Kinabalu

Mt. Kinabalu. Image credit: Allan Barredo of Lantaw.com

Floating mosques. Steam railways to Borneo. Wildlife and marine reserves. And the stunning 4,095-meter Mount Kinabalu (and the mist-capped hostel Laban Rata at 3,300-meters!), waiting to be scaled. Malaysia’s Kinabalu is one of the few international destinations on my bucket list, and clearly for very good reasons.

As a mother who’s approaching her thirties and whose travel mentor is finally coming home,I look forward to reviving our once travel-hungry days and of starting a dream afresh: of bringing my toddler to these otherworldly destinations (Perhaps even climbing a mountain with her?) and showing her there’s more to the world than cartoons. Hungry-foolish perhaps, but isn’t it hunger
and foolishness that bring us closer to the realization of our ultimate
dreams?

Looking for low fares? Click on the the AirAsia Zest image above to avail guaranteed low fares from their site!

If you have always dreamed of exploring new places like me, then you’ll probably be head over heels about
this new partnership between Asia’s two leading low-cost carriers: Air Asia
and Zest Air. Last September, the two collaborated to bring to the forefront the CAB-approved, rebranded Zest Airways: AirAsia Zest.

The brand spanking new AirAsia Zest revolutionizes the way travelers fly by taking them to a host of local and international destinations from its Manila location at the NAIA Terminal 4 at affordable rates no flight carrier offers elsewhere. Included in the list are Philippine destinations Cebu, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro; and Asian ones – Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Shanghai, Incheon.

In partnership with Nuffnang Philippines, AirAsia Zest also has an ongoing blogging contest where you can win return tickets to any local or international AirAsia Zest destination. Check it out HERE.

Have you always wanted to go to Boracay on a budget?
Now you can with AirAsia Zest.

“With our alliance, we are well positioned to offer our guests the strength of our combined network of domestic and international routes and unrivalled daily low fares, proving a world class travel experience that every Filipino deserves…We are geared up and committed to ensuring that AirAsia Zest lives up to the same incredibly high standards of AirAsia,” AirAsia Zest Chairman Mikee Romero said.

If you have always dreamed of packing your bags and rediscovering the meaning of new, surely there is no greater time to do it than Now.

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