I’ve flown thousand miles, sailed across oceans and traveled far to succumb to this great wanderlust of mine. Iβve been too many places flabbergasted with its amazing sights and wonders. Iβve seen so many beautiful things and tasted so many delectable cuisines. But thereβs one thing I cannot trade for anything in these travels β that is meeting other people, communing with them and making them happy.
Traveling for me is not all about going places and seeing sights. More than anything else, traveling is a great way of meeting other people of different culture, race and color. Locals, for ones, are most interesting. Whenever I feel an instant connection, I hit it and mingle with them with no hesitation or coyness. It feels really good befriending other people but it feels immaculately great when you make them happy in your own little way.
SHARE A SMILE! WIN FRIENDS! After all, as said, smile is the shortest distance between two people!

Hi Olan,yes, meeting people is, indeed, one of the rewards of traveling. I have also been fortunate to have met some Aeta children when I went to Pinatubo. But it was also heartbreaking because I met them along the way and they had with them some water containers. They told me they had to walk for hours just to get water π
Keep traveling and sharing with us your travel stories. Good luck and keep safe.
Thanks Daydream Believer. π there is joy and fulfillment in meeting other people/local in our journey. But it becomes more meaningful when you see them smile, you see them happy by the little gesture you did for them. π THANK YOU!
i agree on this. not until you have more interactive experience will you only start to deepen your travel experience.
Mismo Dong. π travel is not just about seeing places but communing with people as well. π
true, very true.
dati takot ako makipag-usap sa mga strangers. pero nung matutunan kong makipag interact sa kanila. iba yung feeling, masarap at napakasaya.
Same here Ivan. π Iba yung feeling when you felt an instant connection with locals. π
Ayyy. karelate ako kay batang lakwatsero π
Hahahahaha. Ako rin…
The insights are indeed inspiring.
Thanks Ed. I know all of us travel bloggers will agree with me on this.
you just pointed out the best thing about traveling – meeting people and knowing their culture. lovely site, olan. i, too, have a drive to travel but recently, i’ve been running out of words for travel blogs. keep it up!
Hi Kikit, thanks for dropping a line. π Meeting people and leaning their culture make my travel more significant. π
Lofty bye, considerate soul mate π
Thanks. π
Lofty bye, sweet chum π
Lofty bye, sweet friend π
Lovely article Sir Olan….very touching… π
thank you for sharing..I agree w/ you. As what Edith Wharton said – “One of the great things about
travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.” π
I pray to God to keep you safe always in every journey you’ll have para marami ka pang mapangiti in your own humble way…keep inspiring fellow locals in appreciating the beauty of our own country and the mystic creations of GOD. π
Wowwwww. So sweet. Thank you so much for such a heartwarming message Thes. π mas nainspire ako mag travel, magshoot at magblog whenever i read messages like yours. Truly nakakataba ng puso to learn that trhough this, I can inspire and touch other people’s lives. Thank you!
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congratulations Olan π
Always remember Olan, making a million friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a friend who will stand by you when millions are against you.