BLOG YOUR TRAVELS AND KEEP THOSE MEMORIES ALIVE

What Influenced Me to Be a Backpacker?

By Henry Libo-on

Before I became a Travel Blogger, I was a travel writer and columnist of a Travel Magazine and a Weekly Newspaper in my hometown.

Interest in Blogging was a "Johnny Come Lately" thing for me because there were a lot of Travel Bloggers that I saw online and the interest did not catch me. For many years I followed the Blogs of popular travel bloggers and I was jealous intrigued at their skills in going to different places like secluded islands, mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes, historical sites and places, and many more.

I realized that all I need to do is prepare a budget and plan my itinerary so I can begin a Blog of my own. But it did not come easy because travel and blogging are expensive activities. So, I continued to surf the internet and reading the adventures of the bloggers that I follow.

One day, when I was in Philadelphia, I was billeted on the topmost floor of the Marriott Hotel. This gave me a very nice view of the city. So, when I woke up that morning I opened my window to see the beautiful sunrise that made the whole scenery of the city and the horizon so peaceful and beautiful. I went on the ground floor to have coffee. Then I went outside and sipped my coffee while enjoyed the scenery. At that moment I realized that the joys and happiness that I experienced in my travels must be shared with my friends, with other people, with my readers if I will write a Blog. That morning I decided to write my blog on my first visit to Philadelphia.

This is how I started to become a solo backpacker. From those experiences which I found so awesome, I am now sharing with you the things that I mostly do before venturing into traveling solo. At least by the time you are going solo for your summer holidays, you have a clear idea of where to go and how to do it even if you are alone and with little Budget. Do it yourself (DIY) travel can save you a lot of money that you can use for more places to visit. So, after my thorough research from various sources including bloggers, here are the simple steps to help you become a DIY traveler or a solo backpacker.

Hereunder, are some of the photos I took of Philadelphia. A separate Blog can be found here, just refer to the Home Page.

The photos above show the different tourist spots in Philadelphia. Photo by Touristang Pobre.

Wildwoods is one of the top 10 beaches in New Jersey, U.S.A. (Sharing this moment with TP are his grandchildren Coco and Ina)

1. Make a list of the places you wanted to visit. These may be an underground river, a string of islands and islets, a beach, a mountain, an island, a resort, waterfalls, plantation, rivers, heritage sites, churches, rock formations, lakes, rural settlements, bird sanctuary, forest parks, mountains and volcanoes, rice terraces, etcetera and so on and so forth. Select from among these travel destinations, your top choices. You can begin with, say, five. See to it that they are connected by land, air or sea transport and they are accessible.

Walking the streets of New York City

2. Surf the internet. From the internet, gather as much information as you can about the places you have listed. Their location, mode of transportation, hotels and inns, food services, and top tourist spots. Then, answer the following questions: What is the best time of the year to go there. Will you go during peak season when facilities and services are expensive or during the low season when it is a bit cheaper? List the possible activities you can do in that tourist destination area. How long will you stay there? Estimate the amount of money you need. Study the information on how to get there and get the names of local contacts, their telephone numbers if there are any. Do the same thing to the next destination that you wish to connect with your first choice, and so on.

Exploring the forest area of Patag, a part of the Northern Negros Forest Conservation Area at Silay City. Patag is the last stronghold of the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War.

Ladlad Resort is one of the crowded resorts in Patag. It is owned by Eladio whose nickname is Ladlad.

3. Finalize your itinerary, your budget estimate, mode of transport, etcetera. Then schedule your trip. Purchase plane tickets in advance to avail of discounts or promos. Sometimes when you are in the field, you are tempted to add another tourist attraction. You can do that but also consider the changes you have to make in your time schedule, budget, and the rest.

Road trip at Samal Island in Davao del Norte.

4. Prepare the things that you need. This includes your gadgets and your personal effects. You can bring the following. These must fit your backpack.

4.1. Your gadgets include your laptop and charger; cameras, that includes video cam and underwater or waterproof camera; a little tripod; cellphone and extra battery pack; batteries for the camera, chargers, etc.

Mactang Beach at Camotes Islands.

4.2. Your clothes. Remember to travel light. That means you can carry 4 pieces easy to dry t-shirts or polo shirts depending on your comfort. Two easy to dry shorts is recommended, a swimming trunk and one pair of long pants. Undies and other things that go with it. If you want to bring a towel instead of a “malong” – all-purpose one, you can do so. Socks and shoes – rubber or what your choice dictates. I always carry rubber shoes but I seldom use it, except when boarding the plane. All the time that I roam around I wear slippers. Include two (2) wide handkerchiefs, a cap, scarf, and light jacket when the weather changes from hot to cold. Shades, watch, penlight with batteries, a compass – I always carry one with me.

Kadayawan Festival 2017, Davao City.

The Marine Sanctuary Lookout at Apo Island, Dauin Township.

A belt bag that hugs your body and not obviously visible can be a good purse, so to speak. Do not forget a folding umbrella (raincoat can be bulky, it all depends on your choice), and a water container. Mineral water can be expensive in tourist areas. Watch for free water refill counters and fill your water container before leaving the place.

Buying "Tinapay" bread, a favorite "pasalubong" from the island of Siquijor.

Enjoying the moment at La Tonalteca Mexican Restaurant, Delaware.

By the way, for women solo backpackers, try to add some things you need as lady travelers.

If you are bound for a safari and you anticipate cold weather, you can bring the following: maybe a hammock, tent, a sleeping bag, stove, body warmer or thick jackets, food and drinks, and others.

Cherry Blossoms Festival at Branch Brook Park, at Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Bring your own toiletries like soap, shampoo (in sachets are better), deodorant, body spray, perfume in a small bottle, toothpaste, breath freshener, or candies of that sort, cotton buds, eye drops, sunblock, and others. Bring your own medicine which includes Tylenol, Imodium, Ben Gay for muscle pains, and others that you cannot live without it. For me, Vicks inhaler and sugarless Hall candies.

Walking the beach at Nogas Island, Antique.

Others. This includes your pen and notebook. Your notebook must contain your travel information. Your address book, if not stored in the laptop and cell phone.

Enjoying the company of newfound friends at the Red Coconut Beach Resort in the Island of Boracay, Philippines.

5. Inform your family about your travels. Also, call in advance the hotel where you plan to stay. If it is not possible then adjust your time of arrival to where you wish to go so that you have enough time to search for a place to stay. You can also connect with the tourism officer or a friend who lived where you are going. If this is still impossible to do, then gather relevant information as you go along. The locals are very helpful. Just be extra sensitive to people with extraordinary behavior. In my case, I talk to old folks or the street vendors when I need help or I go straight to the town hall and seek assistance. The local officials in the town hall like the Tourism Officer can be a big help. She can suggest a better itinerary in the area, provide a tour guide, and suggest a nice place to eat or a hotel to stay overnight.

The boat ride to Malapascua Island, northern Cebu.

6. Start your trip early. Study the location of terminals – boats, buses, jeeps, and others. Be ready with exact money. Put little amount in your purse or pocket, just enough to spend for the day. You can keep the rest in your secret pockets. Early morning trips are the best time to begin a long-distance journey. But if night travel can save you money for hotel expenses, then you can do it. Sleeping on the bus, that’s it. Always remember where you placed your camera so that you can easily take it out of the case when you need to shoot nice places along the way. Be ready to be friendly and nice. Always “read” people before doing anything. During local tours, haggle with the driver to agree on the best price for your tricycle, “habal-habal” or boat ride.

Trying a Carabao ride with Big John at Umatac Township, Guam Island, U.S.A.

7. Observe certain rules as a backpacker. For example in photography. Always remember to ACT. This means, ASK permission before taking any pictures. Then, CAPTURE that specific subject with your camera, and always remember to say THANK YOU.

Thinking about swimming on this beautiful beach at Siapaway Island, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

8. Bring official documents with you like your passport and identification card. Also bring credit cards, discount cards, or your internet sticks, among others. Most travel destinations, nowadays, have Wifi or internet connections.

Finally, be creative and use your common sense. If there are other things, the nitty-gritty, that I failed to mention here, please feel free to add them. Just remember, you are a Backpacker and you travel light.

At Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines. Siargao is the home of the International Surfing Competition every last week of September and the first week of October.

Being a solo backpacker is good. If you are with a companion who has the tendency to complain at certain moves you will make like “you’re so fast, I’m tired, let us rest”, this might affect your travel plans. For a person who is on-the-go, this can be an irritant. This can also cause a delay in your schedules. Sometimes, if not most of the time, you wanted to do things a little bit fast because you wanted to reach the next destination.

Fuerza de Santa Isabel, Taytay Town, Palawan.

For example, you want to capture the sunset on camera so you have to be there before sundown. When someone is holding you back, you do not feel good about it. That is why I enjoy my travels and adventures by going solo. If you will be in the company of adventurers, it would be alright when everyone has the same goals and purposes.

Sporting a newly done Tattoo at the Caliclic El Paril Beach, Samal Island.

After your trip, make an evaluation of your experience. I suggest you evaluate the transport facilities, the accommodations like your hotel, the food services like restaurants, the tourist attractions, the tour guides, internet connections, money exchange, and your own personal experiences – what areas made you happy and what areas need improvement.

Kadayawan Festival Dancers of Davao City, the hometown of Philippines President, Rodrigo R.Duterte.

I hope I have given you a few tips, just fill the gap if I failed to mention what you think you need to add. Just remember, you are a Backpacker and you travel light, gets? Happy trip.

Onboard the Norwegian Breakaway, Bermuda Island, Atlantic Ocean. The U.K.

Onboard the Minne Ha Ha while cruising the Lake George, Upstate New York State.

The Seven Commandos Beach, El Nido, Palawan.

The Underground River Cruise, Palawan.

The Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Ship at Heritage Wharf, Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda Island.

Disclaimer:

The writer does not own most of the ideas on this blog. Those ideas were collected from different sources of information like established bloggers. The author just injected in the discussion, his own experiences as a travel writer, blogger, and solo backpacker. Thank you.

Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda Islands, Atlantic Ocean, U.K.

Niagara Falls. TP took this photo while onboard the boat called "The Maid of the Mist". You can see the Bridal Veil Falls and two other falls. Niagara Falls is located in Upstate New York State but best viewed from Niagara City, Ontario, Canada. TP went to Ontario to check on this and he agreed that the view is best on the Canadian side.

At long last, TP found this picture of his with Niagara Falls in the background. Taken in 2012.

All photos by Henry C. Libo-on, the Touristang Pobre.

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Updated on March 2, 2019.

The following are my favorite Quotations about Solo Backpacker, taken from www.solobackpacker.com