Months have passed and I haven't accomplished penning our vacation memories vividly stuffed in my soul. The trip to South Asia brought lessons and new experiences worth remembering and I had ways to keep them preserved: keeping common items I got there (brochures, twigs, feathers, boarding pass), blogging, noting reflections in my diary and printing the photos I took. Last week I had some photos printed. I can't afford to just keep the prettiest ones in the web and my drive which aren't safe places for storage!
Maldives is indeed a surreal place and looking at our travel pictures brings nostalgia. Humid just like our country, it was not hard to adjust. People...warm and friendly. Beaches...breathtaking in their entirety. However, I never thought I would have regretful experiences while staying in this paradise. It has been most people's expectations to experience perfect rest, stress-less fun and zero conflict during travels. Aren't they "evident" in most photos we see on our friends' vacation albums? As experienced accidentally dipping my phone in the salty water, having a hard time breathing and diving which prevented me to enjoy snorkeling and seeing my sister get nauseous while on the speedboat, I was awakened from my dream of a perfect travel where I could escape my imperfect world.
MOBILE PHONE DISASTER
Maldives is indeed a surreal place and looking at our travel pictures brings nostalgia. Humid just like our country, it was not hard to adjust. People...warm and friendly. Beaches...breathtaking in their entirety. However, I never thought I would have regretful experiences while staying in this paradise. It has been most people's expectations to experience perfect rest, stress-less fun and zero conflict during travels. Aren't they "evident" in most photos we see on our friends' vacation albums? As experienced accidentally dipping my phone in the salty water, having a hard time breathing and diving which prevented me to enjoy snorkeling and seeing my sister get nauseous while on the speedboat, I was awakened from my dream of a perfect travel where I could escape my imperfect world.
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| An uninhabited island frequented by tourists. |
MOBILE PHONE DISASTER
A mobile phone is one of our must-haves while travelling for it helps us communicate with our family and friends while we're away from them and is often used as we take pictures of the places we visit. Sadly, while we were having a good time on a sandbar, I placed my phone inside my waterproof case which unknowingly was left open and filled with the waves which came at us. As we went back the hotel, I asked the manager if I could place it beneath their uncooked rice. Upon pulling it out from the raw basmati days after, it was not working; I was clueless how terribly the salts had crept inside. When I had no hope my phone would work, I borrowed my cousin's extra phone, but sadly, it malfunctioned days after. Oh, why?
SNORKELING FRUSTRATIONS
As we put on our gears, diverse creatures living beneath the sea awaited us but I didn't enjoy the experience of seeing them closely because I was afraid to go deep. I think I got this little trauma because I got drowned in the pool while I was a kid (thank God I got rescued!). From then on I never dared to go to the deep part of the waters (unless there are handrails).
I tried wearing the equipment and joined our guide when I heard the corals calling. But upon struggling to breathe properly as we attempted to go deep, I asked him to bring me back to the boat to just watch others dive freely. When I heard that my cousin saw four huge turtles, odd-looking fish and colorful corals, I regretted what I missed and made it an aim to learn this activity so I won't be left behind on our next adventure.
SPEEDBOAT NIGHTMARE
I guess my sister would not want this thing disclosed. Haha. For a day, she was seasick due to the speedboat ride. I get dizzy while riding the bus, but vomiting due to sea sensations was unimaginable for me (we have our own weaknesses). She almost lost strength and frequented the toilet after braving the waves.
TRAVEL TAKEAWAYS:
1. Yes, setbacks happen during travels but we must never let them ruin our mood during the trip. The truth is, the good and the bad experiences are what make travel memorable. As we go places seeking new experiences, let's be eager to learn in every encounter which makes us better travelers. Know what to avoid as you step into the unfamiliar. Come as learners and leave with increased wisdom on how to face the world.
2. Know that travel serves an end which exceeds personal fulfillment.
3. Know that the heart has deeper longings which travel alone can't fill. I like this quote from Paul Tripp:
"The awesome beauty of creation is not meant to be your heart's resting place, but meant to point you to the one place of rest, the Creator."
SNORKELING FRUSTRATIONS
As we put on our gears, diverse creatures living beneath the sea awaited us but I didn't enjoy the experience of seeing them closely because I was afraid to go deep. I think I got this little trauma because I got drowned in the pool while I was a kid (thank God I got rescued!). From then on I never dared to go to the deep part of the waters (unless there are handrails).
I tried wearing the equipment and joined our guide when I heard the corals calling. But upon struggling to breathe properly as we attempted to go deep, I asked him to bring me back to the boat to just watch others dive freely. When I heard that my cousin saw four huge turtles, odd-looking fish and colorful corals, I regretted what I missed and made it an aim to learn this activity so I won't be left behind on our next adventure.
 |
| An amusing seaturtle. Afu, our guide, took the photo. |
SPEEDBOAT NIGHTMARE
I guess my sister would not want this thing disclosed. Haha. For a day, she was seasick due to the speedboat ride. I get dizzy while riding the bus, but vomiting due to sea sensations was unimaginable for me (we have our own weaknesses). She almost lost strength and frequented the toilet after braving the waves.
 |
| One of our travel highlights. |
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| Huge turtle afloating, a-sinking! |
TRAVEL TAKEAWAYS:
1. Yes, setbacks happen during travels but we must never let them ruin our mood during the trip. The truth is, the good and the bad experiences are what make travel memorable. As we go places seeking new experiences, let's be eager to learn in every encounter which makes us better travelers. Know what to avoid as you step into the unfamiliar. Come as learners and leave with increased wisdom on how to face the world.
2. Know that travel serves an end which exceeds personal fulfillment.
3. Know that the heart has deeper longings which travel alone can't fill. I like this quote from Paul Tripp:
"The awesome beauty of creation is not meant to be your heart's resting place, but meant to point you to the one place of rest, the Creator."
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