More with a Friend

Onboard the Vagabond Cruise Line for the
Easter Lunch cruise where I won a Dinner Cruise.

It’s been over 10 years since the last time I was in Sydney. It was winter that time and I traveled with Nestle PNG friends. They were on a business trip and I was just feeling touristy. I was alone most of the time, (not to mention the freezing cold forbids me to move around), and was not able to really visit the popular places. But this year I am very fortunate to come again to Sydney and with a friend - Cherry-Ann S. Aquino. This trip was a scheduled tour. We were originally planning to go to Melbourne with another lady friend, Diana Rose Llanda, who unfortunately couldn’t make it for Easter. So we decided to change the venue. It was through Diane’s assistance (Thank you!) that I was able to get my visa in less that 10 days. So Land Down Under, here we come.

There were lots of things that I learned during the trip. In the past years I used to travel alone. I went to Brisbane alone, went to US and Canada alone. I was feeling adventurous those days and if I were going to do it again, I will still go alone on those trips. But I enjoyed Sydney trip with a companion and found the difference. I found out it is more fun to get lost if you are with somebody. I found out it is more fun to try and eat different delicacies with someone who also do not know how the taste would be like. And it is easier to go shopping and find something to buy if someone else is buying too and can suggest to you. I learned that it is so nice to be reminiscing what happened - like getting out of the room on a fire alarm, using the elevator when we know we shouldn’t- that there is someone who will laugh at you, you can laugh at and laugh with. And it is so much fun to have someone who would care for you. I got sick during the trip. It was autumn and was starting to get cold. So I had a very concerned nurse when I was sick. It was fun to take photos and compare and share the shots afterwards. Selfies are more fun because you can be wacky and not alone (just imagine taking happy, laughing selfies if you are doing it alone, it would be so fake). After the trip, I realized how selfish I was. I found out how inartistic I really am. I noticed how uncaring I could be. Because this lady who is so much younger than me has shown me how to enjoy, how to be wild sometimes, how to be a child, how to remember people who were not with us during the trip. Well, of course I bought presents for my family and some of my friends but somehow I felt that it is not enough. Che-Ann bought items that are not very expensive, I bought presents that will blow my budget but I do not feel that it is enough. I feel that I am expected more. I found out that I am so cold. And hoping I can realize what made me unresponsive, uncaring and feeling so selfish. I need to learn MORE and maybe I need to travel MORE...with a friend.