birthday suit

I am an only child living with my parents for 26 years. I quit my job about a year ago because I was addicted to traveling. True to that I traveled almost every month of 2012 specifically in Cebu, Philippines. And all of them were with friends. I was not allowed to travel alone. You can say that my parents are doting. Of course I enjoyed traveling with my friends. But there was something inside me that wanted to try solo back packing.

On April 3, 2013, I told a lie to my parents that I was going to meet some friends who were already in Cebu and so I was permitted to go. The real destination was from Cebu to a connecting flight to Zamboanga, the southern most part of the Philippines and was known to be one of the most dangerous cities because of Muslim Terrorists or so they thought. Of course to mention the truth to my parents would cause them both heart attacks. And I got away with the lie and I was off to Cebu alone.

As I was there alone in a ship that was bound for Cebu, all of the memories of my past were suddenly forgotten. My friends, family, achievements, my online job, almost everything but my name and the things in my backpack. I thought, "Cool!". And it struck me. All my consciousness was directed only to me, my backpack, and my camera. That was all! I grew up depending on other people, especially my parents. But at that moment I felt empowered and independent.

There I was on my way to the airport. "Actually the flight to Zamboanga was this morning", told the security guard. To my stupidity the flight was 0455 Military time. I mistook it for 4:55 PM. I made a Plan B and opted to backpack around Southern Cebu.

And thus started a whirlwind series of unfortunate yet enjoyable events.

- I got my legs burned twice from riding motorcycles going to a beach and one in the mountains. I didn't even gave medical attention to them until I got back home from my trip.
- I paid for a cottage at the beach that I didn't even get to use.
- I took a wrong turn that I had to go back miles to the foot of the mountain after walking for 5 miles.
- Heavy rain caught me in the mountains that I had to take shelter in a small chapel.
- I ate too much that I almost had a heart attack,
- I slept naked in my room just for the fun of it.

All the stupid things I did, I was catching a moment or should we say moments alone with myself. Like everyday you die and is born again the next day on your birthday suit.