Friends and travelers — HELLO!
Last week, I told you I was going to push you.
I’m going to push you because I don’t want you going where everyone else is going. I don’t want you taking the easy way out by picking a trip where you know all the details before you’ve left your house. I want you en route to an adventure that speaks to you. I want you on an adventure that forces you to listen in order to find the next step.
The list below is by no means the only set of challenges you can pursue but I hope it can inspire you to dream bigger than you are.
I hope to awaken that deep, irrational, and fearless drive within you to travel, explore and live.
01 Every Street Challenge
Get intimate with your city.
In January 2022, Michael Shanks ran every single one of Glasgow’s 6110 streets.
02 Try Your Favorite Food at Its Origin
Adventure does not have to be physical in nature. Here’s a sample list of 12 Filipino dishes to try and their province of origin:
Batchoy from Iloilo
Pinapaitan from Ilocos
Sigig from Pampanga
Inasal from Bacolod
Bicol Express from Bicol
Bulalo from Batangas
Lechon from Cebu
Pancit from Quezon
Satti from Zamboanga
Chicken Pianggang from Sulu
Chicken Binakol from Aklan
Manggo from Guimaras
03 The Endless Summer
Chase the waves where they’re at. This was inspired by the 1966 film of the same name, which follows two surfers literally chasing summer around the world.
Can you find a way around the Philippines such that you have the best waves beside you all year round?
If you’re not a surfer maybe try applying the same principles to your outdoor sport of choice.
04 Visit All UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Why settle for any less? We have 9 in the Philippines:
Santa Maria Church (Ilocos Sur)
Miagao Church (Iloilo)
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (Davao Oriental)
Paoay Church (Ilocos Norte)
San Agustin Church (Intramuros, Manila)
Historic City of Vigan (Ilocos Sur)
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Sulu Sea)
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Ifugao)
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Palawan)
05 Go “Everywhere”
You can get creative with this one—really creative. Andy Strangeway slept on every island in Scotland, Peter Harris visited all 94 Australian places listed in the song I've Been Everywhere by Geoff Mack, while Dixe Wills visited all the places in Britain starting with the letter Z.
My goal of visiting 81 provinces would fall under this bucket (albeit a boring version)!
06 The Slow Return Challenge
Choose a destination and go there as quickly as possible, but on the way back home, choose the slowest possible transport and way of returning.
Take a kayak instead of a boat on your next island hopping tour. Stop, change transport, take detours, and postpone your arrival—even if only by five minutes. Enjoy every place, every encounter, and situation on the road.
07 North to South / East to West Without Flying
If you haven’t noticed yet, maximizing travel is all about allowing it to take longer. Although flying makes travel very convenient, it also removes us from much of the magic that comes with travel.
You will be the very first if you take this on: Batanes to Tawi-Tawi without flying!