Thailand, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Japan—five countries and four provinces in three months. It’s the most I have traveled compared to, say, the first 30 years of my life.
You see, unlike today, when there are seat sales, “piso” fares and discounted packages, I was born at a time when only the rich could afford to travel by plane.
Travel was a luxury and vacations outside the country was an overindulgence. My parents, just like a lot of people back then, had a different set of priorities. They saved up for a house, a car and our education, and instead of traveling, we chose material stuff, believing that reading about a place and seeing pictures was the same as being there.
I was already in high school when our family had our very first vacation in Baguio. My first solo out-of-town trip in Zambales would happen 10 years later with some officemates. And my very first plane ride? An assignment to Boracay, and I was in my mid-30s.
Now, it is a different story.
Millennials and every other generation are opting out of hoarding stuff and collecting experiences instead. My nephew, for example, has already been to a couple of countries even before he enrolled in kindergarten. Since the things you own no longer dictates your status in life, people are simply enjoying experiences over things—access over ownership.
Young people want to seize the moment—because YOLO—and experience all that life has to offer. It’s not surprising to hear stories of kids choosing to travel instead of spending it on a debut or graduation party. Those markers are becoming less meaningful as they once were, and social media is undoubtedly a big inspiration (and influence) that has made traveling more of a goal than a reward that awaits your retirement years.
So, yes, even though I was already a mid-age “tito” when I discovered the incomparable joys of traveling, I know I am not alone. I believe there are a lot of other late bloomers out there, and some are still hesitant (or nervous) to take their first adventure. But as they say, “Youth may be wasted on the young, but adventure, experience and traveling is like wine—it only gets better with age.”
Yes, being a travel “virgin” can be quite unnerving, and just because you are a bit older doesn’t mean you have no right to be afraid. I still do, and sometimes a few days before my trip, I would wake up in the middle of the night worrying about all the things that could go wrong. But instead of giving in to those fears, I use them to be more cautious and alert whenever I am traveling. What I do is read more about my destination because more often than not, these are just fears of uncertainty and the unexpected.
I am quite fortunate that a lot of my initial travels abroad were media familiarization tours, because these taught me a lot and boosted my confidence. While we do have to follow a strict itinerary, we are also given a bit of free time to explore on our own. This allows us to chat with the locals and even meet new people. If you are traveling alone for the first time, it’s always a good idea to join a tour, just so you get a feel of the place you’d be visiting.
KAME HANEDA, HOKKAIDO!
LAST month, I had the chance to be part of another fam tour, this time by Japan Airlines to highlight their new Manila to Tokyo via Haneda route. The direct flight is the earliest to arrive from the Philippines, landing in Japan by 5 am allowing tourists to maximize their itinerary as early as day one.
Haneda Airport is closer to Tokyo than Narita and there are transportation services to and from the airport starting early, so you can reach Tokyo, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Roppongi, or Akihabara in less than 30 minutes; or Shinjuku and Ueno in less than 40 minutes. The Haneda airport likewise has more domestic connections, giving tourists easier and more convenient access to Japan’s other destinations.
The early flight is also a better and more convenient option especially for those taking a connecting flight to Hokkaido or even Sapporo. Take note that it takes more than four hours from Manila to Haneda and another hour and a half to reach the northern part of Japan. So if you have a late morning flight, chances are you are going to spend your entire first day in transit and arrive almost dinnertime.
I know what you are thinking: JAL is expensive and you would rather book a budget airline. Airfare is usually the main consideration when booking a trip, especially for young people. I guess that is one benefit of being an older traveler. Since we have a bit more savings, we have the luxury of choosing a better airline as well as a more convenient flight schedule. And once you have experienced better service, better tasting meals (with real utensils and Häagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert!) and on-time flights, you would realize that paying a bit more is so worth it.
On other airlines, I would avoid the middle row and always request for an aisle seat. I’m not tall, but when you’re flying for more than three hours, you will love that expanded legroom on a JAL and also because my big stomach does not hit the food tray when I am eating. No wonder JAL has been awarded as the World’s Best Economy Class by Skytrax. Believe me, a good trip starts with a comfortable seat and a pleasant flight.
ICE ICE BABY
WHEN I was a kid, I would volunteer to clean our freezer just so that I could collect the ice and play with it like snow. I can only imagine kids nowadays since Frozen came out, and I’ am pretty sure everyone would want to build a snowman. Snow definitely is on every Filipino’s bucket list, and I think Hokkaido and Sapporo are the most accessible place to experience your first winter. My first trip to Japan was in February 2017, in time for the Sapporo Snow Festival, and just like before, this time we arrived in the middle of the winter season and the temperatures were as low as -15 degrees Celsius.
Before I share our itinerary for the trip, here are some tips for my fellow titos and titas on how to get ready for your first snow adventure. And, please, don’t bother bringing your step-ins and flip flops.
ITS ALL ABOUT LAYERING
PREPARING for a winter trip is very different from all other trips. If you already need a jacket inside the mall or cinema, you will definitely need a few extra layers of clothing. Take note, however, that it can be difficult to move around when you are wearing multiple layers of clothing. The best way to minimize this is by being smart with the pieces you wear. This is the reason why it is best to start with thermal underwear like Uniqlo’s Heat Tech undershirt and leggings. I have tried other (cheaper) thermals but the one from Uniqlo is more effective and comfortable to wear.
Another important piece of clothing you will need is a down coat. Your ordinary “pang Baguio” jacket won’t do especially if you plan on walking or playing around in the snow (which you definitely should!). Your outermost jacket should be waterproof/windproof because the last thing you want to do is get wet. Also remember to get a bigger size since you’d be wearing two or three shirts underneath it.
For pants, denim jeans would do, but when I tried to slide down the ice, I felt my butt froze. Again, if you want to enjoy most snow activities, you need pants that won’t easily get soaked.
Gloves—now, this is a bit tricky. While my hands are actually the ones that get easily cold, I could not wear gloves all the time because I wanted to keep taking photos using my phone. I suggest you buy a couple, one that allows you to still operate your phone and another pair of winter gloves for those really cold night activities.
Last, your shoes. Here is a funny story. Again, I strongly advise you to get yourself real winter boots, because ordinary ones may protect your feet, but they can be very slippery and snow doesn’t always provide a soft landing. Some of the boots I saw my travel buddies were wearing were from Timberland, Dr. Martens, and Palladium. My Gola shoes did survive, but not without a few slip-ups.
EDC FOR TRAVEL
NOW that you know how to keep yourself warm, here are my EDC (everyday carry) during the trip.
Since I began traveling, I have invested on Pacsafe for my hand-carry bags. I have a trio of anti-theft bags that have unique zippers and locking mechanisms that give me some peace of mind whether I am walking around the cold streets of Shibuya, or squeezing my way inside the train. First is the Pacsafe Vibe 20L: it is lightweight and comfortable, and it even has a multipurpose 13-inch laptop or hydration pack sleeve. It has two side stretch pockets that can fit a water bottle (very important) and the other for a tripod. It is made of nylon twill and polyester which are also water-repellent, so I don’t have to worry about my stuff getting wet. The second is my Pacsafe cross-body bag. I have had it for almost four years now and this is where I usually put my important documents, passport and smartphones, so I can easily store and retrieve it when passing through airport security. It can fit two smartphones, a pocket Wi-Fi and a powerbank. Again because of the exomesh slash guard material, I don’t have to worry about cut-and-run, and the zipper lock protects it from being opened by pickpockets. Last is the Pacsafe bifold wallet: it has a zippered note slot and strap that I could attach to my belt, while its RFID safe blocking material keeps my cards secure from skimming.
For this trip, I also brought several new gadgets to try out. The first is the Cherry Roam pocket Wi-Fi from Cherry Mobile. The CherryRoam features a four-inch touch screen display with a compact build and real-time data monitoring. It is packed with a Qualcomm 4G LTE chipset, enabling fast connectivity especially at 4G speeds and allows up to five (5) users to connect. It can also be used as a local Wi-Fi device as it houses two Nano SIM card slots. More than that, CherryRoam also doubles as a power bank with its 5,350mAh battery and 15-hour standby time. The device retails at SRP P6,990 but is also available for rental. Visit my blog for the complete information and our review of this device.
Even if you are not much into social media, it is very important to have internet connection when you are in a different country. Google Maps and a translate app can save you from being lost. Japan may have a lot of Wi-Fi spots but if you will be traveling to different places, finding and connecting to a hotspot every time is inconvenient and time-consuming. There is also no guarantee that you can get a pocket Wi-Fi at the airport unless you pre-book, so it is still advisable to bring one with you. Also some hotels only have Wi-Fi in the lobby, and it is hard to connect when you are in your room.
Next is my new favorite power bank, the Baseus 10,000 mah wireless power bank. I have been using the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, both of which support wireless charging so it makes sense to have this in my EDC instead. As a tito, we tend to forget some stuff and for me it is usually my charging cables, making my extra battery utterly useless. But with this device, all I have to do is place my phone on top of the charging plate and it’s good to go. It offers Quick Charge 3.0 and even has this metal plate which you can slide into a slit and serve as a support stand so you can place your phone vertically or horizontally if you want to watch a movie while its charging. I also love that it has a digital battery indicator on top so I know exactly how much juice it has left before it needs to be recharged.
The last gadget I brought with me is the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 that I got from Digital Walker. Besides souvenirs, what else do we bring home from our trips? Stories—endless amount of stories, and if a picture paints a thousand words, videos best capture those “wish you were here” moments.
The Osmo Mobile 2 is a handheld smartphone gimbal that helps you capture smooth, cinematic movement. It features a lightweight design, 15-hour battery life and simpler controls than other gimbals. It’s a big improvement over its predecessor, and if you have a pretty good phone already, I think this is a more practical choice than getting the very pricey Osmo Pocket.
This gimbal is remarkably easy to use; just download the DJI Go app. The only challenge I had was how to initially balance my phone but after that, everything else was easy and you can operate all of the controls with one hand while holding the gimbal.
Because it is not a super big investment, it’s worth it for the aspiring filmmaker, vlogger, or the hobbyist who wants to make videos with the stunning cinematography of more expensive professional equipment. Personally, I got it because I really want to try vlogging and having a stabilizer makes it way easier to create better, more watchable content, because, let’s face it, no one wants to watch videos that induce vertigo.
That is it for part one. Next week, I will share with you the best and not-so-recommended bits of our winter itinerary and how to protect your smartphones and other gadgets from freezing.