I’m officially posting this goal at my 43things. GO ON A PILGRIMAGE. Here are my options:
1. El Camino de Santiago
2. Old Cathedrals in Northern Philippines
3. The Vatican

I’ve always been curious about the Road to Santiago when I was reading Paolo Coehlo’s novels. I was curious about how it looked like, what was it like to go there and be on a pilgrimage but I did not feel any need to actually go there and make a pilgrimage of my own. But now, when I’m looking for a reason for living, for doing the things I do, or what I should I be doing for the rest of my life, I thought it would be a good idea to take some time alone, as in really alone and just step away from life so I can put everything in perspective. I don’t expect to do some brooding and dire soul searching, but what I really want to do is to breathe and listen and let it come to me when I’m quiet and alone. I have this expectant hope that it will come to me when I least expect it and when I’m most optimistic and receptive. It can be like that when I don’t have work, family or routine things to mind.

I guess what triggered this desire is the feeling that I’m staying in a job that I’m good at, pays well and enjoys but don’t really love. I have this’ faint picture of myself eventually joining Greenpeace Int’l for the operations of the Rainbow Warrior (a daydream) but I don’t think that’s my calling as well. What if I want to be travel writer? I like going places and I like writing. I’ve been applying for airline careers since coming to UAE because I like traveling. What if I could put it together? Writing and traveling?

I have this tendency to be complacent and to settle. I don’t want to settle, I shouldn’t settle. I should go out there and grab every chance before it’s too late, right? I don’t want to be traveling when I’m 50, I want to start now while I’m young and eager. Plus, I have this vague feeling that whoever is meant for me is somewhere out there, thinking the same thing and hoping that he’ll meet me during one of his wanderings. LOL. I’m really looking for romance, I guess.

Why the three places? I’ve already said that I’ve always been curious about El Camino de Santiago thru Paolo Coehlo, plus there is a historic tie between Spain and Philippines so I want to go and explore there and see if there are still traces of Philippines in Spain and vice versa. Plus, it sounds more romantic than going to the Vatican (my last option) or Israel and Jordan. My journey’s personal as much as it is spiritual so I chose places where I can focus on the two rather than be overwhelmed by spiritual soul searching. I chose Old Cathedrals in the Philippines because the route would be familiar and less expensive, so its practical in case I can’t get a visa for the other two places. Plus, it would be nice to see these cathedrals and old towns alone, when I don’t have my family in tow and I don’t have a specific schedule in mind rather than what I want to do on a whim. Plus, I haven’t traveled through Philippines enough. Now that I have the time and the money, I ought to do it.

Now, should I go alone or should I ask a friend to come along? I have one friend in mind. We’re both kindred spirits. We have the same worries, we think the same most of the time and I know she’ll understand why I want to go there and she’ll want to go too if she can. We’ve spent so much time together agonizing our lack of love life and our lack of purpose in life, a pilgrimage will do us good. Plus, I find her company enlightening. Her wisdom gives me courage and her courage gives me strength. I want her to help me as much as I want to help her by asking her to join. Actually, it is more for me than for her. I love having her around. There’s one more friend I’d like to invite, but she’s so practical about money that I don’t think she’d want to join if it’s overseas and so far away.

Anyway, the first step is to read and get as much information I can get about traveling abroad. I already know how to apply for a Schengen visa and how much it would eventually cost. All I need to do is save, study, prepare myself and my family. I have until July or August next year to prepare since I’m going to apply for a leave on September. So, until then!