When Everyone Else is "Anywhere", I Choose to Stay

Ito ang motto ko ngayong Summer of 2011. Pero sa totoo lang, this has been one of my "leisure" philosophies bukod sa "travel with perspective", "kung puyat ka na palagi bakit magpupuyat ka pa kung bakasyon?", at "have less and experience more".

I am for staycation, Isa akong bahaykasyonista.

Ayon sa urbandictionary.com, "staycation is a vacation spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environments have to offer". But the notion of "home'  may also be expanded to include a bigger but immediate territory or space - mga lugar na accessible para mag-enjoy, mag-relax, kumain, tumambay, magnilay, magpahinga, at sumaya without having to travel far and of course spend loads of resources.

Here-here Only (Dito-dito Lang)

I believe that there are really more to discover, experience and enjoy within the locality or expanded home space even in the ordinariness of everyday life. More often than not, these things are familiar and yet unknown; common but can be seen, felt, and experienced in new light. Kaya malaking pasasaamat ko nang matalisod ko ang "Insider Picks: Manila by Day" (Alli, Jenina, ed. 2010) - a 400-page city guide to interesting and unique places, things, shops, and activities in Metro Manila which, na sabi nga sa guide, are beyond the "same old, same old".

As I skim through the pages of the guide, ay na-e-excite na ako sa dami ng mga pwede talagang galugarin, puntahan, kainan, pasyalan, at gawin kahit naka-staycation. The guide is basically organized into three sections: 1) Shops and Services, 2) lunch-outs and light bites, and 3) recreation and activities. Brief descriptions are provided for every shop, establishment, or enterprise classified under each category. May information din on the range of prices ng goods, products or services. The guide also gives  feedback on which of the featured shops etc. are unique, offer the best value for money, and have a range of product diversity and variety. As for recreation and activities, the guide also informs the user/reader on museums or activities which feature Philippine history, culture and heritage, art exhibitions (and if changing exhibits or events are scheduled within the year), and workshops, classes or short courses.

Contact details and addresses are also provided so that users/readers may easily find and visit the featured enterprises.

Quirkylakwatsa

Susubukan kong puntahan, bisitahin, o i-avail ang 50 (of more than a hundred) places to be, food to eat, things to do or services to avail na naka-feature sa "Insider Picks: Manila by Day" bilang bahagi ng aking staycation options at quirkyalone activities.


Ang mga kwento at photos ng bawat quirkylakwatsa will be posted in this "here-here only travel blog" with the objective of letting others (quirkyalones & staycationists in particular) know that there are more options for leisure, travel and recreation even if we/they just choose to stay within the confines of "home".