How To Feel Like You're On Vacation In Your Own House.

THIS COULD BE A WET DREAM.

I love to travel. I think I'd be accurate if I said a good bulk of my yearly earnings is spent on travel. The farther the better, but it also means the farther the more expensive. I wasn't able to afford my first trip to see snow until I was 19 years old. Now, these past few weeks, I been yearning to get out of town but my main problem is that I don't have the time. With surfing, tweeting, making exhibit forms, and corporate events lined up in this busy season, there is absolutely no way I can get away. So I have some tips for any of you who might not have the time, the budget, or the freedom from obligations to leave your current life and experience a vacation--and this vacation is FREE! Here are tips on how to have a vacation without having to leave your hometown.

• Tip #1: Turn your bedroom into a hotel room. Start by getting an empty suitcase and put all the clothes that you were planning on wearing all week, in the suitcase and leave it on your bedroom floor. You're not allowed to grab anything else from the closet because anything you left out of your luggage has to be assumed that you left at home and can no longer go back for.

• Tip #2: Walk around your neighborhood with a map and ask for directions to places you already know how to get to. And when someone gives you directions, head the opposite way.

• Tip #3: Wear a t-shirt that says the name of the city you live in, then get a travel book of your city and try to find new places that you have yet to experience. Usually, locals don't go to the tourist spots anyway, you might find something about your hometown that may make you love it all over again. (ex. I have yet to explore Intramuros)

• Tip #4: Take pictures of yourself and buy souvenirs--a refridgerator magnet, post card, anything to remind you how ridiculous this idea is.

Enjoy your trip!