LOH #175 - My Epic Solo Travels to 5 Countries in 2015

Hi, Ladies of Hive community! I am excited about this week's blogging contest as I love to share my solo travel experiences that happened in 2015.

In 2013, my first international trip was in Malaysia. In 2014, I made it happen in Hong Kong. At the end of the year in 2014, I booked so many flights for the 2015 trip which included Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The initial plan was just three countries in different months.

Why did I decide to travel solo?

As someone who used to work on my computer, I planned to become a Digital Nomad. That is to travel to different countries while working on my laptop. I wanted to try this digital nomadic lifestyle as someone who has a third-world passport.

It was also difficult to invite friends as I was not sure if our schedules could fit in. So, I preferred to travel solo as I could have the freedom to fly anytime and anywhere I wanted to.

How did I prepare for my travels?

Be financially-ready

I saved up money. I opened a time deposit account. I invested in the Philippines stock market. I opened a travel fund account. I also opened an emergency fund. I had three different bank accounts. I got offered a credit card.

Related Article: Today's Win - 58% gain profit in the Philippines Stock Market

I need to get a visa for Japan

Going to Japan was an ambitious trip for me because I needed to get a visa. Also, it is still an expensive country. Japan was my first solo travel.

From a luggage traveler, I switched to being a backpacker traveler

I bought a 32-liter bag so that I don't need to travel with a suitcase. I was able to use my backpack until 2019. I never needed to pay for extra luggage and I could be mindful of what to bring during my solo travels.

Okay, let's go back to 2015.

Japan, my first misadventures in solo traveling

I got a single entry visa to Japan valid for 15 days. My flight cost about PHP 8,000 round trip or less than $180. I only planned to stay for 12 days as I never wanted to overstay in Japan. Here are some of my epic and misadventures in Japan.

I missed my overnight bus from Tokyo to Osaka

As a first-time solo traveler, I have to admit that I was lost in Tokyo and I didn't make it on time to catch my bus to Osaka.

4 Pics in 4 Misadventures

1. I was alone in the street of Shinjuku in the middle of the night.
2. Staying overnight at McDonald's Shinjuku.
3. Sleeping overnight at Narita airport.
4. I saw Mount Fuji on my way to Hong Kong.

I ended up sleeping at McDonald's in Shinjuku. For the internet connection, I had to go to Family Mart and connect my iPad to Wi-Fi so that I could send a message to my cousin in Osaka. I booked another bus ticket the next morning...

Meeting Draco Malfoy a.k.a Tom Felton from the Harry Potter movie series

After my trip to Osaka staying for 5 days, I returned to Tokyo and went on a nightlife with a fellow traveler. On our way to the club, I met Tom Felton. Woohoo!

Here's the article: Meeting Draco Malfoy in Tokyo, Japan

I missed my flight going back home to Cebu, the Philippines

Obviously, I really had trouble with time. I was at fault again. I was late and I got lost. A new flight ticket going back to Cebu in the same day was very expensive at PHP 18,000 or about US$400. I needed to get out of Japan before my visa expired.

I found one-way flight to Hong Kong for 6000 JPY or US$47 or about PHP 3,000 after two days. That meant I needed to sleep for two nights at Narita Airport just to get this cheap ticket.

I also found a cheap flight from Hong Kong to Cebu for the same price at PHP 3,000. Meaning I had to stay for 4 days in Hong Kong.

Mount Fuji surprised me up in the sky

I never got the chance to see Mount Fuji while on land but I cried when I saw Mount Fuji while on my way to Hong Kong.

My Unexpected Flight to Hong Kong

Holding a Filipino passport, I don't need a visa to enter Hong Kong. Unexpectedly, my second time in Hong Kong. On my Facebook, I seek help from my friends if some people can accommodate me at their place through the Couchsurfing community. One American guy accommodated me at his place for two nights and I joined him at his stand-up comedy gig.

A Filipina who was an OFW in Hong Kong met me with the help of a travel group on FB. I met another Filipina who unexpectedly a neighbor in my hometown.

Volunteering hostel work in Malaysia

I found a cheap round-trip ticket to Malaysia for about PHP 3,000 or less than $50 at that time. I also found a hostel where I can volunteer to work as a receptionist. Meaning my stay was discounted or no payment the more I stayed in Kuala Lumpur. I could also visit other places around Malaysia during off days.

Since I had no worries about my accommodation, I invited some friends who wanted to fly with me. They only stayed for a few days just for a vacation and I stayed for the rest of my days in Malaysia.

I flew out on a date to Thailand

Being in Malaysia, it was really cheap to fly to Thailand for about PHP 800 to PHP 1000. I flew out on a date in Thailand. Well, I was single, available, and ready to mingle since my previous relationship ended in 2013. LOL.

Couchsurfing in Penang, Malaysia

A German guy hosted me in Penang, Malaysia so I stayed in his 5-star hotel-like condominium with an infinity pool. A Danish girl was being hosted the next day so it was fun to meet travelers through the Couchsurfing community.

Related Article: Street Arts in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore

Watched a Maroon 5 concert in Singapore

After Penang, I flew to Singapore for a cheap price. It was about PHP 1,000.

When I got the news that Maroon 5 would have their concert again in Singapore, I booked a flight from Cebu to KL to Penang and Singapore because it was so cheap to fly that way. Hahaha!

And my dream to see Maroon 5 in person was a fantastic experience.

Autumn experience in Tokyo, Japan

Luckily, I found another cheap flight to Japan for less than PHP 6,000 round trip and I was granted another single entry visa to Japan for 15 days. I stayed in Tokyo for 9 days.

I got mistaken as half-Japanese the first time I flew to Japan. LOL, and I found my bus in Saitama.

Dreams come true and I felt so lucky flying to Japan the second time around.

Those beautiful autumn leaves were captured with my Nikon D5100.

Fortune telling in Japan

No. 89 The Best Fortune

Your gem has no flaw and it will glisten better when you polish.
Good character by nature becomes much better when you polish yourself.
You will become known better.
You become wealthy and you have a repeated stroke of good luck.

Your hope will be come true.
The patient will be sure to recover.
The lost thing is late to be found.
Building a new house and removal are both good.
it is good for you making a trip.
Both marriage and employment are good.

Lessons Learned from these trips

• Travel while you're still young and single
• Just make a lot of money, save a lot, and invest before going on a big trip
• Take advantage of cheap flights/seat sales
• Volunteer your free time when you get the chance, through language exchange, work exchange, or to non-profit organizations
• Do a lot of research
• Be on time, time is valuable
• Meet a lot of people, make friends, allow yourself to date somebody while traveling
• Enjoy life
• YOLO - You Only Live Once hahaha!

I continued my solo trips around the Philippines. I made it to Taiwan in 2016 and 2017 (for almost two months), and four months of traveling in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand (where I met my husband) in 2018.

Yeah, I know I had too much freedom when I was young, single, and childless. I told my husband that if I never got married I would continue to travel solo as an old maid. I was ready for it and I would settle down adopting a baby when I got a lot of money.

Thanks to @nainaztengra for this awesome contest of this week's LOH #175.