Before I talk about this trip I want to mention someone who helped introduce me to the world of travel who very unfortunately passed away this week in a car accident. 6 years ago when I was in France, my friend Emie introduced me to her friend named Nicolas. We got along very well and when I went back to France the next summer, he invited me to spend a week in Spain with him and his couple-friends. It was the first time I had really gone on a trip with no parents present (we were all 16) and it helped me realize how much I love traveling. It's been a while since I've spoken to Nicolas but finding out about his sudden death just after his 21st birthday was shocking and I've been thinking about him a lot on this trip. I know he wouldn't want it to ruin my trip so I'm not letting it, but I wish I could thank him for helping open my eyes to the world. Nicolas is my second young friend to pass away in the last 3 months. A dear friend of mine named Milly passed from terminal cancer in early June on her 21st birthday. All of this has made me appreciate being alive and healthy so much more than I did just a year ago, and I am so incredibly grateful every day to have the opportunities that I have in life. I realize how fortunate and lucky I am to have this life and I'm appreciating every moment of it. I'm living in the moment now more than ever.
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I'm very sad that today is my last day in the incredible Palawan region of the Philippines. I'm flying to Cebu island today to spend 4 days going diving with whale sharks (they're harmless), canyoneering, and waterfall hopping. I've been here for about 10 days now and I have never been so busy in my life. Every day has been packed full of activities from sunrise to sunset, and I've never been happier.
Here in Coron, I did 2 days in a row of scuba diving because this is one of the best places on earth to do it. It's also very affordable here. Yesterday I went island hopping for my last full day and had a great time. I'm surprised I haven't met too many other solo travelers on my trip, but everyone has been so friendly that I've only been alone when I chose to be.
When I got to Coron, I met a very nice Spanish couple staying at my hotel and they invited me to hang out with them for the day they were here. The next day of diving I met a very nice French/Congolese couple on my boat who also invited me to dinner and spend the day with them. My island hopping tour boat yesterday had 5 couples and me. A bunch of us got dinner afterwards and had a great time. I find it kind of funny that I've been 3rd wheeling with couples almost this whole time but I really don't mind it as long as they don't. A lot of people ask why I'm not traveling with a friend and I honestly don't think I would want to. I just love the freedom of being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and not have to compromise with anyone. Like I mentioned, I'm really only alone when I want to be. Otherwise, there are plenty of people for me to hang out with everywhere I go. And if the group I'm with wants to do something that I'm not interested in, I can just say "see ya later!" and do what I want.
In my 10 days here I've already made probably 50 new friends from all over the world. In my experience, people are significantly nicer outside of the US. I've never been able to approach a group of strangers in America and have them invite me to spend time with them. Anywhere else in the world, I've had no problem doing that.
Now to spend my last few days in the Philippines and next up is Bali!
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I'm very sad that today is my last day in the incredible Palawan region of the Philippines. I'm flying to Cebu island today to spend 4 days going diving with whale sharks (they're harmless), canyoneering, and waterfall hopping. I've been here for about 10 days now and I have never been so busy in my life. Every day has been packed full of activities from sunrise to sunset, and I've never been happier.
Here in Coron, I did 2 days in a row of scuba diving because this is one of the best places on earth to do it. It's also very affordable here. Yesterday I went island hopping for my last full day and had a great time. I'm surprised I haven't met too many other solo travelers on my trip, but everyone has been so friendly that I've only been alone when I chose to be.
When I got to Coron, I met a very nice Spanish couple staying at my hotel and they invited me to hang out with them for the day they were here. The next day of diving I met a very nice French/Congolese couple on my boat who also invited me to dinner and spend the day with them. My island hopping tour boat yesterday had 5 couples and me. A bunch of us got dinner afterwards and had a great time. I find it kind of funny that I've been 3rd wheeling with couples almost this whole time but I really don't mind it as long as they don't. A lot of people ask why I'm not traveling with a friend and I honestly don't think I would want to. I just love the freedom of being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and not have to compromise with anyone. Like I mentioned, I'm really only alone when I want to be. Otherwise, there are plenty of people for me to hang out with everywhere I go. And if the group I'm with wants to do something that I'm not interested in, I can just say "see ya later!" and do what I want.
In my 10 days here I've already made probably 50 new friends from all over the world. In my experience, people are significantly nicer outside of the US. I've never been able to approach a group of strangers in America and have them invite me to spend time with them. Anywhere else in the world, I've had no problem doing that.
Now to spend my last few days in the Philippines and next up is Bali!
A photo of Nicolas and I with his couple friends in Spain in 2013
I've taken over 1000 photos on this trip already and haven't had much time to go through them so I'll be a little slow at posting them.