My Birthday Wish: Reading in Batanes

I don’t usually join blogging contests, because there are very few that fit my blogging niche. But I came across the SEAIR Batanes Winter Blogger Tour Contest on several travel blogs I follow (as well as the SEAIR Facebook fan page), and I realized this is one contest I just can’t pass up!

I’m not a travel blogger, but reading is actually one of my favorite travel activities (as you’ll see further along this post)!

Of course, I like to take in the sights, the culture, and the gastronomic delights, but I  also happen to do my best reading while traveling because it’s the only time I can really read in peace, for long stretches of time. So I end up packing books (and my book light) in my suitcase, spending more time thinking about what books to bring rather than the outfits I’ll be needing (really!) and I read voraciously every chance I get: while in transit, while waiting for meals, passing the time in airport pre-departure areas, during flights, and even after a long day of travel activities, right before I drift off to sleep.

I’m joining the SEAIR Batanes Winter Blogger Tour Contest because I think that while I’m fairly well-traveled within the country — thanks to two years of covering the DBP Interisland Race (imagine me lugging my books from start to finish of each race!), work-related travel, and even random outings with friends and family — Batanes has always been an elusive dream destination.

The SEAIR Batanes Winter Blogger Tour also happens to fall on my birthday, January 28, and being able to go on this trip would be the best birthday gift, not to mention an exciting way to celebrate leaving behind my quarterlife.

Over the recent years, I’ve amassed quite a collection of “reading on the road” photos from travels in and out of the country:

Reading “The Eyre Affair” in Hinagdanan Cave in Panglao Island, Bohol (and my blog header is from the same trip, that one shot in Pamilacan Island)

stolen shot of me, reading “Snow Falling on Cedars” in Laiya, Batangas

I had just finished reading “The Flanders Panel” in Bangkok, so here I was picking out new books to read at the Dasa Book Cafe on Sukhumvit Road.

Chilling out with the Flippers for the first Flips Flipping Pages book discussion: “Life of Pi”

Reading Japanese books with the Flippers in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas

Reading Peter Mayle’s “A Dog’s Life” en route to Sagada, Mountain Province

Reading en route to Batam, Indonesia

Reading in Sentosa

Reading at the Ruins in Silay, Negros Occidental

Reading at the Bayambang Central School in Pangasinan

Reading at Oh My Gulay in Baguio City

Reading Battle Royale on the way home from Baguio

Reading “Ilustrado” at MyHotel in Davao City

Reading atop the Metropolitan Theater, Manila

Reading “Left Hand of Darkness” in San Luis, Batangas

Reading at Villa Tortuga in Taal, Batangas

Reading “Dark Goodbye” at the docking of the Galeon Andalucia at the South Harbor

Reading “Grotesque” on a day trip to Laguna

My wish for my upcoming birthday is to be able to join the SEAIR Batanes Winter Blogger Tour so I can add a very special picture to this album: me reading in Batanes.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that SEAIR makes my birthday wish come true.

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POSTSCRIPT:

Help me get to Batanes on my birthday! All you have to do is 1) Go to http://www.facebook.com/flyseair and LIKE the page AND 2) Go here: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=165226010187935&id=17160086170 then LIKE the link. Thank you so much!