How Traveling Helped Me Move On From A Major Heartbreak

Many people travel to relax and getaway from the busy city life or to escape from their ever-so-demanding-job or to just simply find peace and harmony from their magulong isip.

I started my journey in Baguio January this year. That was a week after my partner and I decided to part ways. It was insane. I didn't know what to do, where to go, or how to live a life with the routine I was already used to.

My trip to Baguio was a disaster. My friend told me to go there as that was where my ex and I celebrated our first anniversary. "Pumunta ka sa Baguio kasi dun kayo nag anniversary," my friend told me. "Kumain ka kung san kayo kumain, puntahan mo yung sites na binisita nyo. Para pag naalala mo yung Baguio, sarili mo na ang maiisip mo. Hindi na sya."

It was hell for me. I cried for three days while I was in Baguio. After coming home from that trip, nothing changed - in fact, it became worse.

A week after my trip to Baguio, I decided to do a "Laguna loop" for three days. I carried my backpack and decided to go from Sta. Rosa to Los Baños, stayed a few hours then went straight to Sta. Cruz. I stayed overnight and met a few people. Came morning I went to Pagsanjan, Siniloan, Paete and Sta. Maria which is my Mom's hometown. After spending a night in Sta. Maria, I went to Rizal (I know its outside Laguna) then head back home in Sta. Rosa.

That journey felt good as fuck. I can't believe I made it alone. I met a lot of people and had the chance to interact with strangers. It was a good feeling.

But after coming home, the "kamusta na kaya sya? Iniisip ba nya ako? Nasan sya?" feelings came rushing back. It hurts to think that someone you used talk to for so many years suddenly stopped in a blink of an eye. Ang sakit putangina.

That was when I decided to travel again. And again. Aaaaand again. I made new friends and met so many awesome people and solo travelers like me who travel not just to move on but to explore what is out there. That was the time I realised I am stronger than I thought I was - and that I can do things on my own without my partner.

Travel bug bit me big time. From Sta Rosa, Laguna, I journeyed to south most part of quezon, went to Marinduque, did island hopping and spelunking, tried their best local cuisines, did an extreme cliff jumpings, traveled almost half a day up north, surfed with the waves, and found myself starring at the most magnificent site I've seen - the Batad Rice Terraces in Ifugao.

I lost my feelings for my ex. In fact, I barely think about us now. Everytime I do, it's not about getting the pieces put back together - but its about the lessons I learned while we were still together.

As of this writing, from January 2016, I have visited 27 out of 81 PH provinces.

If you're reading this and you are still thinking about your ex, then stop it already. Instead of spending your cash para uminom at makalimot, grab your backpack, hop on a bus and enjoy that long roadtrip. Chat with the locals. Try something extreme. Meet other people. Who knows, maybe yung forever mo nasa byahe din :)