Meet the Nomads – Trish Velarmino of P.S. I’m On My Way

Trish is a 25 year old girl from Subic, Philippines who used to work in the Fashion industry back home. She studied Arts Management in Manila and Fashion Communications in Milan, Italy. Trish’s started a blog to share her travels and more importantly, the valuable things that she learn along the way.

There are destination specific articles but are not written to serve as a guide but rather serves as a platform for Trish to share her insights about a particular place. Trish also writes about various ways on working remotely as she does it as well to sustain her traveling lifestyle.

Learn more about Trish and follow her adventures at P.S. I’m On My Way

But before you click away, check out my short interview with Trish.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“Two things: First, I studied Fashion in Milan, Italy three years ago and I was able to travel on my own at 22 years old and see Europe in my own interpretation. I thought that this experience is better than reading magazines or absorbing what TV has fed me. Everything was tangible and I was happy about it. Second, I was a hardcore football fan. In 2011, the English football teams {Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC and Chelsea} went to Asia for a tour.

I figured that I never watched an international football game aside from the Philippine Azkals games so I have to do this. I have to go wherever they will play and watch them live. They went to Malaysia and for the first time, I didn’t plan anything. I ended up staying there for 12 days without any plan. I traveled with two other friends who are also football fans. We didn’t save much for the trip because the announcement for the Asian tour was sudden. We had to check in a cheap {but decent} hotel and trim one meal a day just to get by. In the end, I realized that it wasn’t hard to travel at all. You just need to make adjustments. I was inspired so I kept doing it!”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“I was asked to take off my shoes in Barcelona Airport because I was Asian. They didn’t really say “take your shoes off because you’re Asian.” I noticed because I was the only Asian in line and all the other nationalities weren’t checked as thoroughly.

They let the Italians, Spanish, Hungarians, French in without asking any questions. But you know what, I didn’t do it. I said I will take my shoes off if they ask the others to do it as well. In the end, they let me in. It’s all about knowing your roots and respecting where you came from. They will do the same if you look at yourself like that.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“Honestly? Nothing can replace my travel experiences in the Philippines. Before I left for my big travel this year, I was in Boracay for 12 days, 2 weeks in Palawan and 10 days in Cebu. It was awesome! It’s a pity that I traveled outside the country first not knowing that what will make my travels complete is my country {the Philippines}. 2013 is a great year for me because I was able to witness the real Philippine gem that everyone is talking about.

It’s all real! Aside from the place, I guess your companions in traveling also labels it as the “best travel experience.” Nothing is best when you don’t share it with someone else. I am currently in Morocco and I was never amazed with the beaches here after seeing Coron, El Nido, Boracay and Bantayan Island. Nothing beats the Philippines yet when it comes to beaches.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“Lessons learned. Every blog that I post, I always see to it that I post about the lessons I learned. I was more compassionate. I understood different cultures and how this world is ran by the human race. I saw people being hungry in the other side of the world; I witnessed that not everyone has access to education; I realized how religion greatly affects a culture/society; I learned that language divides the world in many ways. Above all, I realized that I should appreciate my life more because I have a good life back home — no matter how much they label the Philippines as third world. I felt lucky to have a home, eat three times a day and finish my studies in good schools. I realized that I {and the rest of us} should stop complaining about what we don’t have and start appreciating what we have because not everyone has it.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“Learning. I never really traveled to see famous landmarks, parks or monuments — I travel to live. I stay in one country for at least a month to know how they eat, talk and live. It’s a cliche but I think that traveling is a good learning platform aside from staying at home, going to work {9-5} and getting information from TV, newspapers or the radio. I think “you have to be out there” in order to learn. Another thing that keeps me going is people.

I met a lot of travelers along the way who didn’t finish school or didn’t dare go to a University but believe me, they know more things than I do. They are more involved to world issues than I am because of their travel experiences. I’m not saying that my degree is not important. One way or another, having a degree matters. But these people, you cannot believe it! They know everything from politics to poverty to violence to food to language to everything. As in everything. These people inspired me to travel and one day, I would want to be like them. ”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Anthony Bourdain. I think his knowledge in food is over the top.”

Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?

“My mother’s house in Subic. The food, the coffee, the diverse culture, everything! She’s happily married to a dutch and being there is like traveling. They would always try cooking all the foods in the world and my first learnings of culture are from her house.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

“Do not depend your travel guides. Read blogs because travel bloggers write from experience and they will not give you BS. Much better, explore places on your own and tell the world your story by putting up a blog. We have different experiences and that’s what makes us learn from each other. Join the bandwagon!”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while traveling?

“Carrying a 19kg suitcase. I was never an expert in packing and this issue always brings me to problems. I mean it’s silly! You move from one place to another all the time carrying that big bag. It made me weak, gave me back and torso pains and all the other pain that you can imagine. I am slowly learning how to pack and it’s good to acknowledge that you have weaknesses in traveling too.”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

“I never invited the negative force that the world is a dangerous place and it’s not a safe place either. I am just very cautious. Every time I move, I send my location via Whatsapp to my sister and mother so they would know where I am. If they don’t hear from me after a week, they would know I am in trouble because I never failed to send my current location. Lastly, I don’t keep my guard down. It’s nice to enjoy a place without being too paranoid, but cautious.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I think of myself as a very empowered Filipina who can make a difference. Not everyone back home dares to do the impossible and I did it. I wasn’t scared. I stopped believing that backpacking or traveling for a year {or more} is only for Europeans or Americans. I try to encourage everyone back home to travel while they are still young because more often, people say “later” and it never happens.”

“I do not write about travel guides but I write abiut my experiences. Most of my posts are personal thoughts about what I learn, what I see, what I eat and how I lived while traveling. I explained all this extensively in my about page. My new traveling vice is documenting and I have put up a video blog for all my travels. Enjoy!” – Trish Velarmino

Editor’s Note: All pics are provided by Trish.

Next: Yeison and Samantha of My Tan Feet Previously: Kristin Addis of Be My Travel Muse For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.