"How did you get into hiking?"

In all honesty, because of heartache.

 

 

Back in 2014, I happen to have this string of heartbreaks. Heartbreaks one after the other. And in those days, I dealt with it in the only way I knew how: alcohol. And boy was I a heavy drinker, and terrible drunk. After months of going on a bender, I woke up one day feeling as if my bloodstream was already made of alcohol. I felt like I was poisoned. I was poisoning myself. Drinking wasn't making me feel any better, not even numb. "I can't keep doing this," I thought. "I need another way to cope."

 

 

So I turned to traveling. I've hopped into a 12-hour bus ride to Albay at midnight with nothing but my sling bag. I've spontaneously hitched rides to get out of town with friends like La Union. I've booked a ticket to Hong Kong while in the club and hopped on the plane 5 hours after. I'd accompany my talents on their regional DJ tours. I was finally feeling more stable, but I thought, "Ang gastos." [I'm spending too much."]

 

 

One day, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed and kept seeing these hiking tour ads. I kept seeing it for weeks that I started to get curious. The photos were beautiful and the idea of a quick getaway from the city and reset with nature was so appealing to me. And so I gave it a go.

 

 

I was still restless and had monkey thoughts at this time. However, when I was hiking, I noticed how my mind was silenced in the duration of the hike. And after, I felt this different kind of calmness along with the endorphins. It did good for me. Not only was a physically active, getting urban detox and gaining focus, I was spending more time with family and less time in nightlife and vices. I drank less, stayed in more. I really felt an improvement in my wellbeing.

 

“I think this is it. I think I’m going to keep doing this.”

 

 

Later on, my hiking took a more ambitious turn when my Father invited me take on Everest Base Camp.

 

 

 

 

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