The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Hello everyone!  This Saturday I’ m back with another article from an extraordinary Filipina who tried traveling alone.  Like I said earlier, this blog is NOT all about me, it is also about  fellow Pinay who are proud to pursue their dreams of traveling even if it means traveling alone at times.

Solo Female Travel in Pagsanjan, Laguna

(text and photos by Marie Villadolid)

I started to travel way back 2007 and from then on I never stop exploring. Travelling makes me feel at peace and with the type of work that I have, I badly needed that.

I’m a huge fan of  Thepinaysolobackpacker and her solo trips amazes me thus I was inspired to travel solo and it was one of the most fulfilling trip that I had so far.  It was not easy but I survived it.

I remember that I came up with this trip due to tons of stress.. super stress.. And I needed my medicine, I needed my trips.

First thing that came up to my mind was Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna. Why Laguna?  Most of my trips was always heading North, I haven’t explore this town and I’m just planning to have a day tour. I wanna see the infamous falls and be blown away by its beauty.

Research, mapping and itinerary – this is how I start my DIY trip.  Scared and at the same time, excited. Firs time to be alone, first solo trip – my first problem “How can I take my photos, with me on it?”.. Solution – I bought  a tripod.. Problem solve.

As they say, it’s not the destination but the journey. When I arrived in the tourism office of Pagsanjan I found out that due to heavy rainfall I won’t be able to reach the falls since rapids are quite strong. MAJOR FAILURE! Now I need to have a plan B. I asked the tourism officer to lend me a map of Laguna, and a list of tourist spots or must see places. After about 30 minutes I was able to build an on the spot itinerary:

• Pagsanjan – tour around the town failed to see the church
• Pila      - San Antonio De Padua church
• Nagcarlan – St. Bartholomew and Underground Cemetery
• Liliw     – St. John the Baptist Parish
• Calamba   –  St. John the Baptist church

It wasn’t easy since I need to do everything by myself: commute, take pictures and pay all the expenses but it was very rewarding.  Most of the places I visited were churches, to pray and reflect on the things that’s happening in my life. I felt enlightened, renewed, recharge and empowered after the this trip. I would like to do more solo trips not because I’m selfish but learn a lot when I travel alone aside from the fact that it’s more challenging for me.

I survived my FIRST EVER SOLO TRIP!! AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE SOLO TRAVELS!!!

About the blogger : Marie Villadolid  loves playing badminton, backpacking trips and listening to music, her fvorite color is pink. Marie blogs at Super Happy to Travel

 

 

 

 

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Pinay Gone Solo is a blog series featuring solo Filipina travelers. If you are a  Filipina solo wanderer, I want to hear and share your story.  Please help me urge fellow Filipina to pursue their dream to travel no matter how humble it is. Please send your story ( at least 350 words and max 500 words) with at least 3 photos ( 1 profile picture, 1 photo while traveling and 1 photo of a place you’ve visited) to my email : thepinaysolobackpacker (at) yahoo (dot) com.

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Related post:

Pinay Gone Solo : Colleen Giron

Pinay Gone Solo: Rose Gogolin

 

 

 

*********************************************************************************************** About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo adventurer, a dream chaser and a student of life.  Her (mis) adventures are documented in this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For advertisement, partnerships and sponsorship, click here. or email me at thepinaysolobackpacker(at)yahoo(dot)com. **********************************************************************************************

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