The Art of Solo Travel (Boracay Thought Nuggets Edition)

A Fool Man's Plan

It was late January, I couldn't remember why I made plans to travel to the beach, other than the 88 base fare sale. I was yearning for the sun. The gloomy days don't seem to end. It's not ideal to travel to the beach when the weather is expected to be as gray as what I have in my room. The night before, I read “Who Moved My Cheese”, and I took a note on "What would you do if you are not scared?" I was anxious and I realized I was over-preparing for my trip. I even created a "travel wardrobe itinerary" where I assigned the clothes I'm going to wear for just 3 days.

The Pipe Dream

I'm no stranger to traveling alone. After all, I am already always alone. It's been years since I lived alone. As I sat in the front seat of the jeep, my stomach felt weird. All I could think of was to cancel my trip and as I looked at random store's façade my mind lurked to wonder, “Was there always a convenience store and a Thai massage parlor on those corners?” It's just me, myself, I and the pipe dream of a perfect vacation, I should back out. I'm a quitter, it's my prerogative. I have none to compromise with but my money (that's as good as spent on pre-booking). Overthinking galore-d.

Waking Up Late

When I was young, I couldn’t wake up early or be bothered by an alarm clock. I have a bad body clock. It became a source of worry when I was preparing to start with my work. Since I was scared of coming to work late, I ranked it as my top life problem. When I started working, it never happened though. Even when my mother wasn't around, I was never that late to work. On my first few days at work, I barely slept because I kept waking up. It's scary and traumatic to wake up in an unfamiliar place, alone and unaware of the moment's hour. It didn't matter to me when traveling for leisure. Still, I was anxious to go to the airport where time is fixed. 

The airport food reflected the lifestyle of the staff on a graveyard shift is what I thought when I ate the Arroz Caldo that day at NAIA Terminal 3 waiting area. The garlic was burnt and I'm foisting at myself to finish the supposed light meal. I KonMari-gratitude prayed for the half uneaten food in the paper cup before throwing it away.

Late Anyway

The airplane arrived at boarding time. The face mask was still required on boarding. A foreigner ran to a stall to buy a mask. As I was in the queue, and he was a bit away, I couldn't offer to help. It looked unfriendly and lonely as he rushed in to resolve his misadventure.

After embarcation, the long wait for take off was the time to make unbridled assumptions like how come there were two empty seats. Maybe, a couple fought the prior night. Or a rainy wedding was canceled. When the passengers moved seats, the middle seats in our rows became more isolating and lonely.

The 30K+ FASL View

The airplane passed just above Taal and I got to see it on two windows. The view was awe-striking, a beautiful disaster, never boring while I ate the sandwich I preordered for the first time in my long flying history. I moved my cheese, a little less care on the price.

For the love of Fee-lippines

Last year, I met a traveller from Czechia who told me that expats call the Philippines as Fee-lippines with multiple fees on tourist spots. Boracay was the epitome of this in my overall travel experience. Hopping thru windows to pay for each separate fees doesn't feel like a worthwhile activity. The queue was quite long that it's hard to say it's acceptable as my bag felt heavier with the long wait.

On my arrival to Boracay pier, I walked to my booked dormitel while I listened to music on my headphones. The local residents quickly peered on the passerby and went on with their afternoon delights.

Flexible Plans

COVID came, the bike rentals closed. Google Maps were not updated. As a I walk to search for a bike rental, it started to drizzle. In front of a home that is tagged as bike rental on maps, I hailed for a motorcycle instead. The driver notified the fee includes the return trip to Station 2 so he would wait for my return. I felt perturbed on knowing someone was waiting for me. I agreed to pay the forfeited return ride. 

Puka Beach was on red warning. Swimming was not allowed. I walked alone the shores, took solo pictures, and watched as new beachgoers just hang around the sands. I laid down on a swing. And then, I took a ride back to Station 2 via the mini jeep that's really cheap compared to the habal-habal. I strolled and strolled the beach between stations, and walked on the red bricked road on my return to the dorm.

A Walk of Aloneliness to Remember

My walk recorded 25KM for that day, that's probably not precise but it is what it is. I completed the day but the tiredness felt lonely in the end. The dorm was noisy from night until early morning like the other night. The night music, the sound of the dishwasher was all over the place. The Filipino lady next to my bed came early mornings and went every night on a beach wear. She ignored everyone on the same room, never said anything even a "hi" and left. Oh, she did argue with one of the foreigner because the AC was too far from her bed. She feels hot and the foreigner feels too cold. I did hope she found what she was looking for. The travel back and forth from the dorm to the Beach stations at night just feel unsafe, in my own terms. I leave early morning then return before dark like being my own mom who worries for her kids.

One Day Friendship

Around 11PM, sleeplessness haunted me. I lie on the sofa outside the dorm room. Bambam was sitting on the other chair, unable to sleep as well. We drank warm matcha and talked all night. Work, life and the reason for visiting Boracay. For her, it was a family trip. Our conversation was happy but we shared a lot of worries in life. Adulting was surely not a happy topic. Her presence was the light of my day in Boracay that night. When we were about to pay for our drinks, the staff said Bambam's brother had paid for it.

Leaving without goodbye

After our long conversation, I laid on the bed without comfort for my tired body. Insomia hits hard. I wasn't able to sleep so I prepared my things for departure. Before sunrise, I went to the beach again. Sunrise travels is not on my luck list as always. The sky was overcast and January felt so distant. I bought the most expensive but mid tasting taho of my life. I hired a crystal kayak reluctantly but when on as I worry that I might regret it later. It was fun but it was weird. Afterwards, I swam at the beach for the first time in 2 days of roaming around and in just a few minutes. I felt bothered that I left my things at the beachside. When I returned to the dorm, Bambam was not around. I then left Boracay without saying goodbye.

A companion book, a sad movie and the best nap

The Art of Travelling by Alain Button was on my bag. I was trying to reread it for inspiration on what I want to achieve on my trip. After checking-in, I quickly took a nap. When I woke up, the TV was on and I couldn't turn it off with the remote. After finding the TV buttons, I took a walk on the streets of Caticlan. The food was not great near the airport but the view of the beach was pretty and nice. 

The town aesthetic looked underwhelming. I don't feel good anymore being my own companion. The sunset was fine but I sure felt lonely walking alone in the twilight. On my return to the hotel while resting, I turned the TV on and found the biopic movie Miss Potter. It was all interesting in the beginning then I teared up when her supportive fiancé died and it took her to an abyss of heartbreak. After the movie, I took a bath and slept really well that I claimed the bed became the best thing that ever happened in the entirety of my trip.

On without anticipation

Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote "travel for travel’s sake, the great affair is to move". This was Boracay for me as well. The sand was really unique but overall, the place is only second to the beach experiences I've already had. First love beaches never die. Nevertheless, this rendezvous wasn't bad. After all, the great affair was to really move. The next day at the hotel, the electricity was out, so I left the hotel at 6:30AM without taking another bath. I walked to the airport because the trike asked 100 pesos for a short ride. I was just in time for boarding when I entered the waiting area. It's nice to believe that the breeze walk I had was payment for the time I don't have to stay long at the crowded waiting area.

The same store, the same seat
When I arrived at terminal 3, I ate at Wendy's (again). I ordered Chipotle and checked again on Google how to pronounce it (shi-pot-lei) because I avoided saying it when I was ordering. The alternative name "BBQ rice bowl" was easier to say, anyway. I sat on the chair I usually sit on. I'm not sure I will travel solo this way again. In the end, I just found another story of mine on surviving solitude.

Travel Date: Jan 28, 2022