Lessons on the Road: Get some fresh air, Take a breather

In our last Negrense Bloggers Christmas Party held at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod at SM City Bacolod, I won the major prize in our raffle draw of an air purifier, courtesy of Julia’s Choice by Julia Estrella- Javellana. It was very timely as I was also contemplating of buying an air purifier, which has become a necessity with the onset of various air-borne diseases and the worsening air pollution.

Pure, fresh air is becoming a luxury for some, but I may be fortunate enough to still enjoy it. It may be an advantage living in the province as the air here is deemed cleaner compared to that in megacities. Also, our home is surrounded by so many trees and plants that I can just literally step out of our house to get some fresh air.

But getting some fresh air can also mean a lot of things. It may be clearing your mind from the stress and worries of life, having a change of environment, taking a break or simply enjoying life.

For some, travelling is a way of “getting some fresh air”, even though their destinations may be more crowded places. But it’s important that travelling gives you the opportunity to take a breather, to embrace something new and recharge yourself with renewed vigor.

Travelling in itself is not completely stress-free. Problems arise and unexpected things beyond your control may happen along the way, but you can always welcome a breather from the constant stress you may be facing in your personal, social or professional life. So, where do you need to go to “get some fresh air” outside your daily environment?

Commune with Nature

The most common destination people choose to relieve stress and worry is where they can commune with nature. But this is also a wide selection and it will vary from one’s preference to another. Do you prefer the beach or the mountains? Do you want somewhere quiet and open space or where you can take refuge in the “cave” of seclusion? How’s your budget and time? If you’re willing to spend much, you can opt to go abroad and choose a country where you can enjoy a natural landscape that is completely different than yours. But sometimes, you can find what you are looking for somewhere near where you don’t need to take the plane just to enjoy nature.

Also, you might prefer to free up your itinerary and just devote more rest times in the bosom of nature. You may want to disconnect from the world and from the daily grind by having some social media detox. You can entertain yourself without the use of television or computer but more of interacting with the locals and taking in the beauty around you.

Shake off the stress with an Adventure

Some people prefer to let go of their stress by shouting or doing something enthralling that will give them some adrenaline rush. Choose a destination where you can enjoy the adventure you want to do. Would you like to do some mountain climbing? Do you want to do a bit of extreme adventure like skydiving, bungee jumping or paragliding?

You might want to do something daring like eat some exotic food. Others travel to places where the nightlife thrives or where there are several events to attend and enjoy.

Go somewhere familiar

There are other travelers who want to retrace their roots and go to the place of their ancestors or visit some relatives. You may want to visit a long-time friend you haven’t seen for a long time who’s living at the other side of the globe. If you’ve been living away from your family, you might want to come home and be comforted by the familiar environment of your hometown.

Others who travel a lot sometimes go back to their favorite destinations, while there are those who would always return to where they fill most comfortable staying or have deeper connection with the place and the people.

Lampung friends
It was a fun moment bonding with our Indonesian brothers and sisters in Lampung. The trip was also some sorts of reunion with my Indonesian friends.

Take the opposite road

If you’re living in a quiet town, you sometimes crave the craziness of a huge city. If traffic and noise are what you encounter daily, you may prefer a laidback place. Sometimes, it helps to go somewhere entirely new. It’s refreshing to the senses. If you’re living in an old and traditional environment, you often want to see places where everything moves at a fast pace with all the advanced technology available. On the other hand, if this is a common sight to you, you might prefer going to places where time seems to have stopped.

Ximending
The vibrant Ximending in Taipei, Taiwan.

Travelling may sometimes come at a cost, whether they are resources, time or sacrifice, but they can also give you that much needed break to bring back the excitement and energy that everyday life may not be able to offer. So, go ahead, travel, and get some fresh air.

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