Growing up, our family would be what the old people would jokingly call NPA - no permanent address. Although my parents were based in Laguna, my mother gave birth to me in Manila. And a few months after I was born, they decided to go live in Batangas.

I was basically traveling locally even as an infant. But my first local travel that I was truly consciously aware of was our summer vacation to my father's hometown in Mindoro.

I remember that every summer would be spent there because of its many virgin beaches and yet unadulterated white sands in nearby islands. It is also the time of the year when my father goes back to his hometown; December would  be the time for my mother to go back to hers.

Every summer, the whole family would travel by road from the southernmost part of Batangas in a tricycle. As we reach Batangas port, my uncle would be ready to get us onboard his motorized banca or boat. My father would park his tricycle in the port and also ride the boat with us.

We would then cross the waters from Batangas port to the shores of Mindoro. And I don't mean Calapan port because that is towns away from my father's place. This shore I am talking about would be the shore which is just a stone's throw away from my father's family's ancestral house. This was OUR part of the shore - our little piece of paradise on earth as carefree children.

The travel from Batangas port by ship would last 1.5 hours or more. But I cannot remember how long it took us by boat so I couldn't compare. As a child, my attention was focused on the deep and clear waters, the waves and brine, the jumping fishes every now and then, the salty water and the fresh sea breeze.

Once we get to our shore, it would be like a race of which child alights first. Then we would run around with glee and utter abandon. Almost everybody there were always so excited to see us because most of the people in that part of the island are our relatives on my father's side.

Our everyday summer activities would be like fishing--swimming--visiting relatives--island hopping--picnicking--repeat. We never really visited tourist spots since those activities were always more than enough to make us happy and relaxed.

By the end of each summer, we avoid getting picked as the most sunbaked child. But almost everyone was totally sunbaked by this time and our skin would glisten under the sun. This would take months for the skin to recover so we always go back to school every June like that. And we never really cared because it never really mattered. That is just how kids are.

These days, we are required to travel by ship if we want to visit Mindoro since traveling by motorized boats is not allowed anymore. The coastguards are adamant that we travel safely. And there is nothing wrong with that.

What's your first local travel story?

By the way, if you want to know about the 15 Best Things to Do in Mindoro, I got my pic here: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-mindoro-philippines/