By Arabella Santos-Smith
A meaningful journey can be the first step to moving on — especially for those who just lost in love. If you’re one of them, then take out your map, stuff your bags and go out into the world. Remember, you may have a broken heart, but not a broken spirit!
1. Bohol, Philippines: Untangle thy emotions
In need of a change of scenery after the breakup? Bohol is the perfect place! The province is teeming with white-sand beaches and fabulous resorts where you can get away from the stressful city life and “you-know-who.” Lounge on Alona Beach while sipping on cocktails, or channel your inner Moana and go island-hopping and do some water sports. You can even rent out some scuba gear or snorkels for some underwater exploring. Don’t worry if you’re a newbie for local instructors will be more than happy to teach you the ropes. And this time, you definitely won’t drown — or worse, fall!
2. Hanoi, Vietnam: Eat your heart out
The capital of Vietnam is fairly quaint when compared to other major Southeast Asian Cities but it carries plenty of charm. And by charm, we mean some delicious and insanely cheap street food. You can find people hawking your favorite Vietnamese dishes like pho, banh mi and spring rolls on almost every street in the Old Quarter, for about VND30,000 (P68) each, and discover other dishes that are on the rise in the global food scene (bun cha, anyone?). Plus, Vietnam is teeming with excellent coffee, which the locals like to drink over ice with a little condensed milk (ca phe sua da). And don’t even think about counting calories on this food trip: Vietnamese food is famous for being tastier, healthier and full of fresh ingredients. Now that’s food that’s good for the heart, at least figuratively.
3. Havana, Cuba: Havana nights
When it’s time for you to get back into the scene, it’s best to go all in. And in Havana, the scene is pretty vibrant. During the day, you’re surrounded by brightly colored, colonial-style buildings, artistically rendered graffiti and smooth-running classic cars. At night, the city comes alive with salsa music as young and gorgeous cubanos make their way to the city’s countless bars and nightclubs. Get your fill of mojitos and Cuban rum, wind your hips with a cute local or two and top off your night with a hearty medianoche at the club. It’s the perfect remedy for a broken heart.
4.Batanes, Philippines: Where the lost is found
Located in, virtually, the middle of nowhere, captivating Batanes is definitely a place every soul-searcher must visit. Gifted with limited cable reception, weak Internet signals and a sense of quiet that the modern world lacks, Batanes is perfect for zoning out and listening to what your heart is telling you. From the rolling plains of Marlboro Country to the breathtaking Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint in Sabtang (where many a brokenhearted Filipino movie character had screamed his/her lungs out), there’s nothing more reclusively beautiful than the northernmost island of the Philippines. Even the quaint Honesty Cafe shop tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever been victim to a lying, cheating… Ok, we’ll stop there.
5. New Zealand: Another kind of ring
So, that marriage didn’t work. So, you aimed your solitaire at his eye after catching him flirting with another woman (or man). Well, you may not have that lasso for your finger but there’s always the Hobbiton set in Matamata New Zealand, where scenes of The Shire in the original Lord of the Rings Trilogy movies were filmed. If he/she happens to be a Lord of the Rings fan, and is still looking at your IG account, then honey, you’ve won half the battle. Two hours away from Auckland, this is undeniably the piece de resistance of this paradise down under. But that’s not to say that a trip across blue oceans to the island of Waiheke and an afternoon by the vineyards there aren’t worth giving a try either!
6. Taipei, Taiwan: Retail therapy
A little retail therapy always proves to be helpful when we’re feeling down. So why not step it up a notch and nurse your heartbreak with a shopping spree through Taipei? But skip the malls — the night markets are where it’s at. Almost every district of Taipei has one, with the most popular being the Raohe Street Night Market, the Shilin Night Market and the Ningxia Night Market. Every market is packed with vendors hawking clothes, gadgets, toys, accessories and knickknacks. Be sure to take a couple of breaks to sample the food being sold throughout the market — it’s all part of the local experience.
