Best travel experiences of a senior traveler
Published Dec 31, 2022 12:05 am
SENIOR BYAHERO
Yearender
I retired last year after spending almost 40 years in the corporate world and more than 30 years of traveling. Retirement somehow makes you feel old and obsolete. Your mind suddenly feels inactive and your body starts to feel aches and pains that you never felt before. After a month of doing nothing, I felt sick and bored. I needed to get out.
But getting out late last year wasn’t easy. First, there was the pandemic restriction which made travel, especially for seniors, quite restrictive. Next, there was the lack of information about the places to visit. Boracay, Palawan and Cebu all have comprehensive travel guides, but these were the places that I had visited, and I wanted to visit new and unfamiliar places like Talim Island, Infanta, and even Tondo. Third, there is no single government office taking care of tourism for seniors.
Despite the restrictions and the limitations, I simply got out and started exploring places that were just few kilometers from home and discovered many fascinating places like the lively markets, heritage places and interesting people.
Twelve months and 100 vlogs later, here are my top travel experiences as a Senior Byahero:
1. The “senior” discounts and privileges. I now get 20 percent discount on hotel accommodations and transportation fare. I get priority seats on buses and trains, and priority boarding on all forms of transportation. Aside from 20 percent discount, meals from restaurants are also exempted from VAT.
2. Riding the local trains. I discovered the local trains recently and I realized how much I was missing. The local trains are a joy to ride. They are inexpensive and actually very efficient. I have explored many new destinations like Tayabas, Mauban and Gumaca via train.
3. Taking the local transportation system. I have traded driving my car to taking the local transportation system and it’s less expensive and more fun. The local buses and jeepneys carry not just people but people with interesting stories and I have taken to liking hearing those stories.
4. Exploring my neighborhood. Travel is not always going to far-away exotic destinations. Pleasure can be anywhere from exploring the neighborhood market to watching a marching band parade in your town plaza, or trying the arroz caldo at the bus terminal.
5. Heritage sites. Old structures tell stories and each town in the Philippines has its own. There are old churches and bridges, ancestral houses and fascinating lighthouses, and each one of them has an interesting history. I now have the luxury of time to visit these towns and explore them on foot.
6. Free shows. I also discovered that enjoying arts and culture need not be expensive. Actually, many of the cultural shows you can watch for free. I have attended many shows at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Theatre and Cinematheque Centre for free. Booking online to get a slot is the only requirement.
7. Small-town festivals. They may not be as grand as the major festivals like Sinulog or Ati-atihan but I am enjoying more of these small festivals because they are more charming and more authentic. I remember going to Cainta recently to see houses decorated with suman and bibingka to celebrate their SumBingTik Festival.
8. Living in hostels. Sharing a room with strangers and lining up to use the common bathroom may be taken as compromising your privacy and comfort, but I view this as a chance to spending time with like-minded people who simply love to travel.
9. Gastronomical delights need not be expensive. I always make it a point to ask a local about the best place to eat and most of the time, they are not the most expensive restaurants but the local carinderias serving authentic local cuisine.
10. Embracing new technology to document travels. I have launched my own YouTube channel called Senior Byahero over a year ago simply to share information about how retirees can explore the Philippines on a shoestring budget. Shooting videos, editing and posting online weren’t easy. It took me many tries before I was able to post a decent video online. Now 12 months later, I’m getting 10,000 views per month. But the best reward I get is when other seniors tell me that my stories are inspiring them to travel.
(The author is a senior who recently retired. His taste for adventure has not kept him from travelling, usually via not-so-usual routes.)
I retired last year after spending almost 40 years in the corporate world and more than 30 years of traveling. Retirement somehow makes you feel old and obsolete. Your mind suddenly feels inactive and your body starts to feel aches and pains that you never felt before. After a month of doing nothing, I felt sick and bored. I needed to get out.
But getting out late last year wasn’t easy. First, there was the pandemic restriction which made travel, especially for seniors, quite restrictive. Next, there was the lack of information about the places to visit. Boracay, Palawan and Cebu all have comprehensive travel guides, but these were the places that I had visited, and I wanted to visit new and unfamiliar places like Talim Island, Infanta, and even Tondo. Third, there is no single government office taking care of tourism for seniors.
Despite the restrictions and the limitations, I simply got out and started exploring places that were just few kilometers from home and discovered many fascinating places like the lively markets, heritage places and interesting people.
Twelve months and 100 vlogs later, here are my top travel experiences as a Senior Byahero:
1. The “senior” discounts and privileges. I now get 20 percent discount on hotel accommodations and transportation fare. I get priority seats on buses and trains, and priority boarding on all forms of transportation. Aside from 20 percent discount, meals from restaurants are also exempted from VAT.
2. Riding the local trains. I discovered the local trains recently and I realized how much I was missing. The local trains are a joy to ride. They are inexpensive and actually very efficient. I have explored many new destinations like Tayabas, Mauban and Gumaca via train.
3. Taking the local transportation system. I have traded driving my car to taking the local transportation system and it’s less expensive and more fun. The local buses and jeepneys carry not just people but people with interesting stories and I have taken to liking hearing those stories.
4. Exploring my neighborhood. Travel is not always going to far-away exotic destinations. Pleasure can be anywhere from exploring the neighborhood market to watching a marching band parade in your town plaza, or trying the arroz caldo at the bus terminal.
5. Heritage sites. Old structures tell stories and each town in the Philippines has its own. There are old churches and bridges, ancestral houses and fascinating lighthouses, and each one of them has an interesting history. I now have the luxury of time to visit these towns and explore them on foot.
6. Free shows. I also discovered that enjoying arts and culture need not be expensive. Actually, many of the cultural shows you can watch for free. I have attended many shows at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Theatre and Cinematheque Centre for free. Booking online to get a slot is the only requirement.
7. Small-town festivals. They may not be as grand as the major festivals like Sinulog or Ati-atihan but I am enjoying more of these small festivals because they are more charming and more authentic. I remember going to Cainta recently to see houses decorated with suman and bibingka to celebrate their SumBingTik Festival.
8. Living in hostels. Sharing a room with strangers and lining up to use the common bathroom may be taken as compromising your privacy and comfort, but I view this as a chance to spending time with like-minded people who simply love to travel.
9. Gastronomical delights need not be expensive. I always make it a point to ask a local about the best place to eat and most of the time, they are not the most expensive restaurants but the local carinderias serving authentic local cuisine.
10. Embracing new technology to document travels. I have launched my own YouTube channel called Senior Byahero over a year ago simply to share information about how retirees can explore the Philippines on a shoestring budget. Shooting videos, editing and posting online weren’t easy. It took me many tries before I was able to post a decent video online. Now 12 months later, I’m getting 10,000 views per month. But the best reward I get is when other seniors tell me that my stories are inspiring them to travel.
(The author is a senior who recently retired. His taste for adventure has not kept him from travelling, usually via not-so-usual routes.)