Wondering how much will it cost you and how far will it take you to find the ultimate cure for a lonesome heart? Might cost you a lot and take you so far yet might cost you nothing and so near as well. You may have your choice. In my case, I only spent PhP300 to find the cure I called “TRAVELING”.

It was such a clueless summer season of April, 2007 when my best friend, Yan asked me to spend my next three days with him and his family in Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. I refused, because I had no money to spend for the trip. Baguio is almost 18hrs away from Albay, Bicol, where we lived in. The trip will surely cost me a lot. But when he said “You need not to spend anything, I’ll take care of it!” With the big smile on his happy face. Of course I instantly said “YES!” Why not? Besides, it would be my first Baguio tour.

We left our Place the next day with only PhP300 on my pocket, in case of emergency needs or maybe for souvenirs. I said goodbye to the perfectly coned shape Mayon Volcano. I couldn’t stop admiring it from afar while the vehicle took every run away from its view and slowly vanished from my sight. That was when I started looking at the evergreen trees dancing with the wind along the roads. Yan too, couldn’t keep himself from sharing his admiration towards every world’s creation. We kept talking about anything inspiring to our eyes and to our hearts, including the grasses on the abandoned farms. We didn’t want to sleep, we only wanted to talk and eat and eat a lot, until the weary sun had totally set down to rest.

We arrived at Baguio the next day, at exactly lunch break. We took the Teacher’s Camp for our stay. Everyone was excited. Yan’s whole family eagerly went out to explore the city. They left the two of us so glad planning where to go first.

Unconsciously, we found ourselves holding each other’s hand while enjoying the mesmerizing sceneries of Mines View Park, - the horse back riding tourists, the isle of flowers, the exceptional plants and trees, the manmade ladders, the captivating mountains from the other side, everything! We started capturing photos featuring nature and took advantage of the very special moment on the top edge of the park. Touched by the magic of an overlooking view, we started to realize how lucky we were to be so much in common, to be so in love with every God’s masterpiece. It brought my lonesome heart a huge portion of happiness.

The starry night came upon the City that never gets hot. We went to the SM Mall of Baguio to buy something for ourselves. I wanted to buy a Baguio made ring but I couldn’t afford the one I like. Surprisingly, Yan bought me a cute handy green bag and a pair of ring that I wanted. He gave me the other pair and he took the other one. That night, we started wearing the black twin hearted silver ring as symbol of friendship and a token for our first travel together.

Our second day was full of fun and delights. We tried Baguio foods, both restaurants and sidewalk’s. We had a chance to be delighted by the fresh strawberries on the wide strawberry farm. Fruits have ripened and hung between the glossy green leaves like millions of tiny red roses. So refreshing to my eyes and so pleasing to my taste buds.

We left the place with joy and took a short ride to the Botanical Garden. There, everything we looked at is loveable, breathtaking and inspiring! The rainbow colored crowd of flowers, as if smiling and giving us a warm welcome. We felt the warmest sense of freedom, just like a young lovers, so in love with each other to appreciate every little thing and to create wonderful perception that beauty is possessed by every single creation around the garden.

It was late afternoon when we have thought about buying souvenirs for our closest relatives and friends. I spent my PhP300 for adorable key chains and some tokens.

Unfortunately, I’ve lost them all! Having them lost made me feel so disappointed. Yan said softly; “We can go back tomorrow to buy those things again”. That was him trying to cheer me up. But my mind spoke; “That’s the only money I’ve got, I can only buy nothing now…” The next morning, He brought me to the same place and bought me the same items in exchange for the lost ones. I was so thankful, so happy and so touched deep inside. He held my hand and said; “It’s our last day here, let’s just enjoy…I hope you are happy as I am because it’s you I am here with…” I simply replied; “Of course, I am!” I was actually very happy, more than what he could’ve imagined.

We left the city after lunch and it was mid-afternoon of the next day when we finally arrived home. The journey seemed to be over, yet for the two of us, it was just the wonderful beginning.

Few days later, we started exploring the vastness of nature discovering what wonders of Earth it may offer to us. Yan wanted me to experience the world exactly he has. He wanted to share his everything to me. He took me first to Busay falls, composed by 7 waterfalls lying in a forest, for our first camping, hiking, and trekking experience together. With all the stuff we brought, - Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, cooking set, lights, pocket knives, foods and drinks, water containers, first aid kit, soap and shampoo, etc.., I felt an exciting tremor in my breath and a thrilling expectation of pleasure to come. Then we lingered beside the first waterfall for few minutes, adoring the traveling water so pure. We began with our short trek up the forest to reach the second waterfall. We have continued the trek from one waterfall to another until we have reached the last one, with the pleasant sense of excitement for every enthralling falls we have seen and felt. Trekking back down wasn’t easy, though. We have to be extra careful. Luckily, we have reached the forest downside part safely.

The moon started showing up in slender crescent, and by the time it had turned into its full, we have closed the windows and the door of the tent while saying the sweetest goodnight to each other. Together we fell asleep to continue our journey through our mystical dreams.

Our next destination was Consocep Mountain Resort in Camarines Sur. A picturesque resort lies in the middle of a big mountain. Already there were several of waterfalls, river flows, a distinctive tree house, rain forest animals and birds and more of scenic spots! We spent two days and one night at the mountain with our friendly camping facility. Inspired by the birds singing while flying above, we enjoyed cooking, eating, exploring the world of a mountain resort, swimming and refreshing ourselves with the purest water from the falls. We came home feeling so complete, so close to each other and so close to God.

As the world traveled through the test of time, we too, have made a lot of simple yet unforgettable travels together. I remember, December of last year, we tried to be a little extreme with our trip. We invited our friend Bem to join with us in our journey. We went to Bogias Island in Bacacay, an unknown yet a thrilling island in our Country. When we arrived at the pier, the heavy rain fell down. The people living in the place tried to stop us from pursuing our Island travel, as they said it was dangerous for us to sail the sea under the heavy rain. And perhaps, motivated by the fact that the Island was unsafe and inhabited by the family of lizards, snakes, and poisonous insects, as per the residents near the island, it sounded a little scary. We appreciated them worrying for us however, we did not fear any of those things nor did we fear the big waves attacking the motor boat we have rented for. Besides, Yan was there beside me. He whispered me; “Trust me, nothing wrong will happen…But in case something does, stay close to me, I’ll take care of you…” Of course, it was the highest form of relief I’ve heard of. And inspired by my childhood favorite mythological book, I opted to think that Poseidon blesses every brave ocean traveler. Maybe, just maybe…

We have reached the near end of the motor boat journey with the rain starting to disappear. As we got nearer and nearer to the island, I couldn’t believe how pretty it was!

As if it’s a huge version of hamburger filled with green leafy vegetables designed as toppings and was dropped into the middle of the ocean. So tiny, so cute, so delicious it looked like! It was getting dark when we finally reached the island. We enjoyed getting our feet wet by the waves touching the glossy white sand of the island and admiring the rare shaped kind of shells and creatures on the sand. After a few moment of breathing the sea breeze, we fixed the tent and prepared the cooking materials and food for dinner. One thing that had caught my attention was the astonishing view of Mayon Volcano erupting pyroclastic materials. The lava flows from its crater to its body were so viewable from the tiny island. There were moments when we have to stop to capture the perfect eruption forming coli flowers covering the volcanoes crater. But the most I won’t forget was the night when we lied down the sandy rocks gazing at the billions of stars shining upon us.

I admit it was a little creepy night though. Perhaps, stimulated by the absence of the moon and the weird sounds coming from the background, from the trees or maybe from the grass created such impression to us. No any dangerous animal showed up yet the scary noises covered up the mystical island. But we have a lot of reasons not to fear anything. We are not enemies of nature; we are only but its worshippers and admirers. Apart from that, I have Yan beside me. I couldn’t entertain any negative emotion such as fear when I’m with him. We even tried to catch fish with the help of flashlights and knife. We have caught a healthy black fish we called “butete”. We wished to eat the fish right away so we kept ourselves busy creating fire for cooking in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, we failed to make a fire. Defeated by the serenity of the night, we have fallen asleep with the dead fish on the ground. The next morning, we felt so regretful that we have not eaten the fish only to find out that it was such a poisonous fish through the information we’ve gotten from the television program, when we came home.

Before December ended, Yan and I took another travel to Sorsogon. We invited Bem again and my cousin Zha. Our road trip lasted for almost 6 hours until we arrived at Magallanes, Sorsogon, there lays our destination; an island called “Parola”. We took a boat ride to reach the island. While traveling the ocean, we have watched for the sun setting on the west, turning from its yellowish to its reddish color reflecting through the sea water from the horizon. My cousin suddenly murmured; “I started wanting to die when my heart got broken until I realized how fool that idea was, when I have seen how beautiful the world is, just today, just right now…” with the smile on her innocent face she said again; “I hope you can have me with your next travels.” Then laughter from our happy hearts spread out to the open sea. Finally we were walking on the glittering white sand beach of Parola Island. How could we ignore taking photos and videos of such a paradise place? Never! So excited, we helped each other fixing the tent and preparing the foods; delicious fruits, vegetables, hotdogs, chicken barbeque, water and soda for drinks, and sort of some spicy dishes for our favorites. We made a ball of fire before the picnic started. The moon was so kind to join with us that night. With the calm waves gently touching the white sand, with the full moon above the starry sky, with the ball of fire beside us, our picnic turned so romantic. It was so lovely that I have fallen even more in love with my man, my only man, Yan.

To satisfy the romantic atmosphere of the night, we took a short walk on the seashore while holding our hands so tight. Together we have reminisce every wonderful travels we have had, talked about our next travel destinations and planned about our future life, now that we are having our first lovely baby. Yes! I’m already pregnant. Remember our travel to Baguio? After that, our friendship had grown into a romantic relationship. We became lovers of our own time and for the first time; I fell so much in love. My lonely heart had turned into a joyful one. After almost 3 years of falling in love, we were gifted with this baby traveling while inside my womb. And I still keep on falling for him and for our baby.

Leaving Parola Island had meant a temporary goodbye to our travel trips. We have decided to keep out of traveling the next months of my pregnancy so we can keep our baby from any possible danger. Perhaps, it will last even months after giving birth to our baby. We are like on a travel break, getting ourselves busy on how to earn money in preparation for our baby’s coming. And when this break is over, we’ll make our travels go on and on, with our baby, around the world maybe, someday, one day…It won’t matter how much will it costs us or how far will it take us to. What will always matter is the unconditional love we find and we share in TRAVELING.