What’s your type of freedom? There are plenty. Whether it’s mental, emotional, spiritual, or financial, I’ve discovered mine in driving. Yes, that’s right. Open streets - no endless queues of glaring headlights, no deafening honks, no vehicular traffic - just the rejuvenating splendor of lush foliage, flowing hills, blue skies, and breathtaking coastlines.
It was during one such adventure that I stumbled upon a priceless jewel that enlightened me up with life-changing lessons.
It was a typical weekend morning. And because the previous week had overwhelming demands for work routines, I decided to take a solo road trip. No plans, just drive off aimlessly until I got tired. I fled the concrete jungle, exchanging glass skyscrapers with rice fields, urban chaos with the peaceful lifestyle in the countryside. The longer and farther away I cruised, I felt more relaxed. With car windows slightly opened, accompanied with soothing music, and the breath of unpolluted air, it was a satisfying escape I was longing for quite some time.
All of a sudden, my stomach made grinding sounds, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten yet. Looking ahead, there were no signs of restaurants, so I decided to keep going in the hopes of catching a quick meal. Around 30 minutes had passed and dusk was fast approaching, but there were still no signs of food.
However, just as I was about to turn left to enter an uncemented road away from the main highway, I caught a glimpse of a roadside eatery. Known as “Carenderias”, these food outlets cook and serve local dishes housed in a traditional “Bahay Kubo” (vernacular Filipino house) styled environment. What was really amazing was this modest space was overlooking the sea, which was perched on the edge of a cliff.
“Seems like the perfect eatery to stop and eat,” I grinned. So I parked by the roadside to check what was available for early dinner.
“Long drive huh?” An old woman with a pleasing personality (probably the carenderia’s owner) asked while showing me the mouthwatering varieties of food to order.
“Yeah! Wow, the food here looks yummy! And I'm pretty sure they’d taste delicious too, right? I said.
“Of course Sir! We have all our homegrown favorites available here. Sisig. Kaldereta. Chicken Pork Adobo. Humba. Sinugba. Kinilaw. Sinigang. Bola-Bola. Ginamay, Fruit shakes, and more!”
“Awesome!” I ordered a few of my favorites and sat on one of the wooden seating areas. There were only a few customers that night, so it was like having the entire establishment to myself.
As the old woman delivered the last order of mango fruit shake to my table, she sat to converse with me while I ate.
“I built this humble carenderia because I’ve noticed that people always seem to be hurrying up, especially those driving and wandering around this part of town. Hopefully, this relaxing place would remind them to stop for a while - avoid rushing everything,” she said.
“Sometimes, the best experiences of life happen when you just slow down, pause, and indulge in the moment,” she continued as she stood up and returned to the food counter.
“Thank you for your heartwarming words of wisdom!” I looked at her while sipping my energizing dessert.
I drove back to the city not only with a stuffed tummy, but with valuable takeaways:
Slowing down allows us to discover secret treasures. By rushing, we miss out on exceptional moments worth experiencing.
The best food isn't always served in classy restaurants. Sometimes, the most unforgettable flavors come from ordinary places where food is cooked laboriously with genuine love.
Not all voyages in life always require a target, goal, or objective. The greatest memories also come from spontaneous happenings.
How’s that for a journey without a destination?
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Hi Erne. How nice that this impromptu trip took you to a nice place like this and with a good reflection on life. It's true that sometimes we are in such a hurry that we miss out on the precious details that can be found along the way. I hope the food was great!
Thanks for posting on Daily Blog. Have a good week ❤️!
Hello Laura. Certainly, this spontaneous experience surprisingly ended up with more value than I initially thought. Life becomes stressful if we always hasten and pressure it. By slowing down, we get to savor the valuable moments that we couldn't have discovered otherwise. Thank you for your support. Until my next story in your awesome community, have a fantastic time! ☺️
ME ENCANTÓ. PARECEMOS HERMANOS AMANTES DE LOS VIAJES SIN DESTINO FINAL. AUNQUE SÍ CON UN PROPÓSITO U OBJETIVO, QUE ES LA LIBERTAD. SENTIR LA LIBERTAD DE ESTAR A GUSTO CON LO QUE SOMOS.
Muchísimas gracias. Me encanta compartir tu pasión por viajar. No tiene por qué ser un viaje costoso "fuera del país". A veces, las afueras de la ciudad son suficientes para satisfacer nuestra búsqueda de paz. Me encanta tu punto de vista. Tener la libertad como propósito para un viaje por carretera sin planificar tiene mucho sentido. Nos ayuda a convertirnos en quienes realmente somos. Gracias. ☺️
Wow! it is nice you found your freedom in driving,and i agree that it feels so good to drive but with so much carefulness because there are lots responsibilities when you drive.also be alert,focus and eyes on road.keepsafe and remember that driving is not a right but a privilege.
Indeed. Since driving is my way of relaxing and unwinding, it's still truly helpful to be extra careful on the road by being alert and attentive during the journey. I agree - not everyone can drive, so I always ensure that I don't abuse this important privilege. Thank you for your concern and encouraging message! ☺️
Sometimes when we feel that our surroundings are too toxic or we just want to unwind we can have a road trip without a destination. It's a freedom to wander without any expectation. Each turn or stop embraces the unexpected, experiences or growth along the way.
Absolutely. Toxicity is not only found in people, but more importantly in the different environments we're immersed in. It's for this reason that we need to turn off or unplug, away from the hustles and bustles of life. A road trip can definitely achieve the essence of freedom, at least for me it did. Have an awesome one! ☺️
Right! We also do this with my husband, road trips without knowing where to go, just unwinding and seeing the beauty of nature that can give. Have a nice day 😊
Oh wow! I'm glad there are others who share in the same spirit of freedom. Continue enjoying your road trips and travel adventures. Stay safe always! 😊
Yes, let's continue our venture! Stay safe too 😊
That's my kind of freedom too, aside from other things. No noises from here and there and there shoukd be just my fav music. The place you visit looks really peaceful though. With the trees and the bahay kubo, it's like in a Province life where you can enjoy the simplicity of life. It's not fast paced and it's like you can always breath.
I'm glad my personal story has resonated with you. Although freedom could sometimes be subjective, at the end of the day, it's all about enjoying peace. City life is suffocating at certain times. That's why it's always an excellent idea to escape to nature and the countryside. By doing so, we eliminate stress, feel more relaxed, and eventually achieve a sense of freedom. Thank you for your insightful words! ☺️
The place is beautifully decorated, very nice for relaxing🥰
Exactly. Despite discovering this eating place by accident, it turned out to be a valuable blessing after all. Sometimes, the gems of life are lurking in surprises. Best regards! ☺️
That's right, my friend, my respects too, my friend🥰
What an amazing journey, you can capture such beautiful places, the place is so nice to relax❤️
That's right. Beauty is everywhere. It's up to us to seek for it through the lens of our personal choices. We don't need to set a destination. The most important thing is to savor the voyage itself. Cheers! ☺️
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Many thanks for your support! Warm regards! ☺️
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STOPCool, this is excellent news. Thanks a lot @hivebuzz for this positive update! ☺️