"I arrived there in 2020 after traveling across Asia and the US. I was living out of a single carry-on, swimming in the open sea, and working remotely with a hospitality group's social media team. I was also moonlighting for travel and lifestyle publications, including writing a column about the island life I was living in real time."
"I'd often escape to the quieter northern part of Siargao. It's less touristy, with small beach towns and empty stretches of sand, which helped me find that long, slow breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding."
"In the aftermath, while doing disaster relief on an island cut off from the outside world, something became clear: I was someone the island had been generous to."
"Post-pandemic overcrowding had turned the infamous "shortcut" road through the rice fields into a parking lot. I watched motorbikes tip into the muddy fields almost daily. There were tourists who had decided Canggu traffic was a perfectly good place to learn how to ride."
A digital nomad reflects on two transformative years in Siargao, Philippines, where remote work and island living initially provided fulfillment and adventure. After a devastating typhoon prompted reflection on gratitude and generosity, the author recognized the need to reassess priorities beyond the highlight reel of constant travel. Moving to Bali's Canggu revealed overcrowding and exhaustion, contrasting sharply with Siargao's restorative qualities. The narrative chronicles a fundamental shift from asking "where next?" to "what do I need to thrive?"—moving away from romanticizing suffering as adventure toward intentional, sustainable living choices that support genuine well-being.
#digital-nomad-lifestyle #remote-work-and-travel #personal-well-being-and-sustainability #island-living #travel-reflection
Read at www.businessinsider.com
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