There’s no better way for me to start this blog than to write
about my recent trip to the honeymooner’s paradise…MALDIVES
First of all, I am not here to brag about my trip to
Maldives. I am just an average person with an extraordinary courage to share
her life experiences thinking that one day someone will benefit or will be
inspired by her posts.
So here goes my first blog….
A day before my 26th birthday, I came back to UAE
from a trip to Maldives. It maybe just one ordinary trip outside the country
but this is something I would cherish my whole life.
Travelling alone as a single woman in a honeymooner's paradise is
one of
the bravest challenge I would be doing in my entire life.
And also, one week from now,
I'll be turning 26.
Cheers to a more mature and more independent me.
So I went to Maldives alone. Others might think that I am
lonely and depressed, or doesn’t have enough friends, doesn’t have family etc.
But hey! I do have friends, a lot! And I have a very nice and loving family.And definitely I am not depressed! So
why in the first place would I go solo?
Few months back, a close friend of mine and I purchased a
package tour online. We got it on a pretty reasonable price. The package
consists of 3 nights hotel stay with return flight and transfer. You can check
their site and see the packages they’re offering, Holiday Factory
We are so excited of this trip that we even enrolled in a
gym to shed a few pounds and took swimming lessons! Well, I am not a good
swimmer unlike my friend. I don’t go far or dare myself to swim if my feet can’t
touch the ground. I would also wear a life vest if I would want to swim in the
middle of the ocean. I told myself, I need to enjoy this trip and I want to
swim with the fishes and go snorkeling without a life vest.
It took me 4 sessions of swimming in the pool before I tried
the open water. My ever kind and patient coach took me for open water swimming.
He picked me up at 5:30 in a Saturday morning and we practice in an open beach
here in Dubai. And oh my, the salt water did hurt my throat. I thought it would
be easy now. Well, it’s a nice experience so that I know what I will face in Maldives.
He also taught me some underwater swimming skills and how to dive with your
snorkels still on your mouth. I conquered my fear of swimming beyond my height (like
20 feet deep) and got to touch a sea urchin, too!
A week before our flight, my friend and I did our shopping (I
will later write a list of the must bring items). While at work preparing my
handover (I will be gone for a week only :D), my friend asked me if we can
postpone our trip. And I was like (in my mind only), are you kidding me?! After
all those preparations and excitement you want to cancel our trip?! She told me
that she needs to go home to Philippines due to a family matter…then, I was
like…………totally
S-P-E-E-C-H-L-E-S-S
That day I feel like crying.
I cannot postpone my leave. I have planned for this leave since last
year and I cannot go on the other days as well. My teammates are scheduled to
leave on the coming weeks. There’s no way for me to cancel this leave and I had
scheduled this trip a week before my birthday!
All those preparations and excitement were filled with ??? I
don’t know if I will get angry or upset. I really don’t know how to react. I cannot
concentrate with my work anymore. I feel so helpless. I don’t want to hurt her with my words so I chose not to
talk to her about the matter until she had made her final decision. I again
wanted to deactivate my Facebook account but I thought it’s very immature of me to do. So, I told her that if I didn’t see her at the airport then only I
would know that she had decided not to come with me.
That night I went to see another good friend of mine and
talked about the situation. Then, I did my usual late night walking listening
to Christian songs. I told myself, am I being selfish? Yes, I am selfish
because I am only thinking about my feelings, my comfort, my happiness, myself!
I even asked God why. Why did you let
this happen? All these preparations and excitement will end up on me travelling
alone. I am not prepared for this. Why on my birthday? Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
ME.
I cannot blame my friend.
Nobody wants this to happen to us.
As I always tell myself,
we cannot control the situation.
We can only control our reactions.
I put myself in my friend’s situation. We are both in pain
and upset, but I know it is more painful on her part. Yes, so damn painful and
I am only aggravating her pain. I am a friend and I should understand
and comfort her. I should not be thinking of myself only, my own happiness.
It’s close to midnight and I was still walking outside. I
left messages in her Facebook. Don’t worry… Don’t worry, I will be fine alone.
Don’t worry, Maldives is just there. Your family needs you more. Don’t worry
about the money, we can always earn money…and she said, thank you.
From that moment, something dark and heavy escaped from my
heart. All those worries and panting were gone. I was able to smile and breathe
freely again.
Now that I had accepted wholeheartedly that I am travelling
solo, I didn't tell my mom right away because I don’t want her to worry about
me and get a heart attack. LOL. A day before my flight, I finally told her and
good thing she was okay with it. No negative and worry reactions like she does most of the time. (peace ma :P)
Few hours before my flight, I was feeling both excited and
nervous. I was like in mixed emotions, another friend of mine quoted that it
feels like I’m getting married. I don’t know what will happen with me there. Will
I end up eaten by a shark? Is it my fate to die in the ocean? I don’t know
anyone in Maldives. Will I still enjoy this trip?
I am filled with questions in which I do not have the
answers for. Worry is dominating my body again. So I just lift everything to
God and I told Him, that I trust Him and He will not abandon me. I am her
precious daughter and I know that He would not let anything bad happen to me. I even asked my sister to pray for me. She
told me that I don’t need one because I am already guided by God. Hmmmm… she’s
right. I don’t need to worry. I don’t need to be afraid.
"When I am
afraid, I put my trust in You."
Psalms 56:3
