On Traveling Alone

Dominating the headlines of today's papers is the recovery of the remains of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell. She was found in a shallow grave not too far from the hiking path that leads to the majestic rice terraces in Batad where she was vacationing. It is believed that she was murdered.

Last December, one a trip that I took by my self, I also visited Batad, which is a secluded village 30 minutes away by jeep from the town of Banaue. To get to the Batad rice terraces I walked another 30 minutes from the drop off point using the same path that Julia used before her death.

This incident brought to mind the inherent dangers of traveling alone, a thing that I do very often. While working in Mindanao I frequently found my self traveling on my own to conflict-affected areas such as Sulu and Basilan. In hindsight I seem to have taken for granted the risks involved in those work-related trips. I was more excited at the thought of reaching far-flung areas that a few travelers would dare go.

Even on vacations, I seem to do better when traveling alone. My recent trip to Cagayan Valley affirmed this strongly. With two other companions, I had to accommodate their pace. I was constantly panicking and irritated at the thought that I had little influence on the itinerary. This substantially contrasted with traveling alone because I had full control on what I would do. Nobody to compromise with.

I now remember that somehow I have managed to take some precautions when traveling. For one, I always texted my sister about my whereabouts on a daily basis. At least she had the complete information of the hotel where I was staying and the spots that I was visiting. I also tried to be inconspicuous during my trips. Not flashing anything valuable is one thing I abide by.

On the other hand, being a naïve bastard, I constantly find my self talking to strangers in bus stations, hotels, or restaurants. I couldn't even help giving such sensitive information such as where I'm staying or that I'm traveling alone. I realized these are things that no stranger should know at all especially when in a place where I was virtually helpless.

All it takes to have a totally enjoyable trip is an ounce of precaution. Researching about your destination would also help, particularly on the peace and order situation of the area. Yet given the dangers, I have not changed my mind on traveling alone. I still think that it is still the best way to travel. The only downside to it is that nobody would take your pictures.