The 37 for 37 Challenge

I, with two of my closest friends, decided to make the year leading up to our 37th Birthday (38th for P) more interesting. We got this idea from a friend who challenged herself to go on 35 trips before her 35th birthday. We met her on the eve of her birthday and she was going on the 35th trip (to Davao) the next day. So we said, why not try it..we are always looking for places to go anyway, always hoping for time (and money!)so we could go on our next adventure. We are perpetually planning...even if half of those plans do not work out.

So we decided to call it 37 trips/new places for 37 years (or 38 for P)- the 37 for 37 Challenge. It is a challenge because: (1) there are only 52 weeks in a year, meaning, 52 weekends in a year. And our work is such that we have to work even on weekends so there is no guarantee we can free up those weekends to go on these trips; (2) That means 3 trips every month. And right now, we barely have time meet up for dinner once a month or so. So yes, it is going to be a challenge. But bring it on!

We drafted these rules so we know what's and what's out...

General Rules

1. Primary purpose of the trip: vacation, leisure (* see exceptions to this rule)
2. It has to be a place that you have never been to before ( ** see exceptions to this rule)
3. At least 90 kilometers away from base city (reference point Kilometer Zero in Rizal Park, Philippines and Kilometer Zero in Tacloban City)
4. A city or town counts as one point even if there are numerous tourist attractions in that town or city
5. One could earn several “points’ in one trip for as long as rules 1-4 are met
6. Coverage: for Me and D: January to December 2013. for P: March 2013- March 2014.


* For work related trips to be included, there should at least be one full day “extension” devoted to sightseeing/vacation for the trip to count ; the site/attraction/place should be a place that one has never been to before

** A trip to a place that you have been to before can count as a point for as long as Rules 1 and 3 are met; You stay in that place for more than 8 hours.


So there. I have decided to document where the '37 for 37' will take us in this blog.