By Royanni Miel M. Hontucan
According to Helen Keller, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
What is more to inhaling the coffee aroma by the morning? What is more than the ruffles of a Geography book? What is more than just the occasional wide-eyed amazement of greenscape from a movie? It’s called Travel. And Travel could not just mean visiting Queen Elizabeth Buckingham Palace or dreaming of a pink sunset at the pristine beaches of Palawan.
You could travel around our very own island. Surely, you couldn’t just be just another stranger in the making without even hearing the laughter of the dolphins at Dauin, without even eating the famous budbud of Tanjay, without even exploring the Pandalihan cave and Panligawan cave at Mabinay, without even paying a visit at Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Forest Park at Bais, without spending a good day over at Manjuyod Sandbar, dipping your feet at Lake Balanan of Siaton or even rejuvenating your soul at waterfalls of Pulangbato and Casaroro located in Valencia.
A traveler makes his or her own itinerary from a diligent research for their journey. A traveler makes his or her own budget and makes their journey an adventure from conversing to a local to figuring out where to get the next bus. Travelers journey alone, with a partner or with friends.
If you are a traveler, you should take notes of don’ts in order to avoid inconvenience and paint a bad piece of memory. Traveling is fun but be responsible.
1.) Don’t think buses have special treatment.
Although, it might be a common knowledge, some of us forget about it and settles to the idea that there’s always a pretty seat each time we hop on a Ceres bus. But no, it isn’t. It’s a gifted strategy to get one seat at a full bus. If you don’t go to the terminal earlier or not a quick and sneaky person once the bus unloads then be prepared for standing ovations. Well, it’s a piece of memory for an adventure.
2.) Don’t drink a lot of liquid.
Just don’t and be thankful that you did since the next bus stop could still be five to seven kilometers away and you would want to save time and avoid hassle from requesting the driver to stop somewhere. Just drink a little and your bladder would survive.
3.) Don’t travel with an empty stomach or a very full one.
The trick of eating could trick your travel experience. If you travel with an empty stomach, there’s a chance you might feel dizzy especially if you’re traveling through zigzag roads. If you travel with a full stomach, there’s a chance that you might throw up at some point of the journey.
4.) Don’t force yourself for an air-conditioned bus.
If you’re not used to traveling in a closed-ventilated bus then go for the normal bus with natural ventilation which is opening up the windows. You might throw up from inhaling the air-conditioner.
5.) Don’t forget the medicines.
Even if it’s just a tablet or a pill of bonamine, it could combat unnecessary nausea and vomiting. You could carry a small bottle of white flower if medicines are not enough.
6.) Don’t fall asleep as much.
If you are alone and you do sleep longer, there’s a chance that you might miss your destination since the bus doesn’t via at some towns and just pass by them.
7.) Don’t ignore the welcome billboards.
Those boards erected for some reason and that is for information about where you are already. They are noticeable so it isn’t an excuse to blame your stranger seatmates, the conductor and the driver if you missed your destination out of carelessness. If you are not alone, make sure your companion is alert to towns you are about to enter.
8.) Don’t expect that prices are the same.
Sure, the internet posted them ten days ago but they are subject to change without prior notice at all. Some tourism spots don’t update their price ranges for their products and services so to save yourself from shock, it’s best to bring an extra allowance.
9.) Don’t wear a skirt if you are riding a public transportation.
Some women really do forget and flaunt their legs right away. It’s not just attention grabbing but also inconvenient for the wearer especially if you are forced to stand up because there are no seats already. Plus skirts are not recommended if your itinerary includes hiking.
10.) Don’t forget to take pictures.
A travel without visible evidence is as just good as sweet words on air. You went around for an adventure and regrets are the worse feelings in the world when your grandchildren wouldn’t believe you went diving at Balanan waterfalls when you were twenty. Don’t waste money on too much souvenirs. The best souvenirs are pictures, not key chains.
11.) Don’t carry a lot of baggage.
It’s an overused adage and a common sense. It is less hassle and dragging bags could lead to paying some local to help carry it for you. The effective baggage to bring is a bag pack wherein your hands and arms are free and you wouldn’t worry about accidentally leaving them somewhere.
12.) And lastly, don’t forget your going home fare.
It’s not an excuse if the entrance fees to sanctuary are worth more than a two-months-piggybank that led you to not having enough money for fare going home. Remember, you are a traveler and you’re bound to go home after an adventure.
You see, travel is the only means you could taste the flavors of your Negros Oriental. Be a traveler to read the unwritten pages of your land and be responsible to avoid writing a disaster travel book in the end.
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*This story was first published at the Island News, a weekly publication in Negros Region Philippines, on May 17,2015. Royanni Miel Hontucan is a mass communication student from Silliman University Dumaguete. She loves tinkering with her brainbank and claims that Instagram is her playground.
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