Luisa Yu, 79, embodies a life lived to the fullest, having voyaged through 193 countries in the past five decades. Her lifelong dream of exploring the world became her reality. Revered as "Mama" by fellow travelers for her wisdom and age, she cherishes Thailand, the Philippines, and Italy as her top destinations. Her advice to the younger generation echoes her spirit: "Don't wait for anybody; if you wait, it will never happen." With a contented smile, she reflects on her journey, affirming, "I've achieved my dream, owning a home and relishing the freedom to explore solo." Her fervent message to the youth resonates: "Follow your dreams; your path awaits."

When she decided to explore her new country in her early 20s, she developed a passion for travel. Yu has received two travel-related awards in 2022. She was named the Most Positive Traveler by Nomad Mania last year, and she also received the Most Adventure Explorer Award from the Philippines' Global Explorer.

We learn to embrace and celebrate ourselves through travel, which exposes us to various cultures and ancient traditions. We learn about humanity and develop an appreciation, comprehension, and respect for various viewpoints and lifestyles. Traveling is the best way to become fully immersed in a variety of subjects, including biology, gastronomy, languages, geography, history, and culture. Experiences beyond the pages of a travel guide or textbook broaden our horizons and impart knowledge. Curious travelers not only discover new cultures, languages, and landscapes; they discover new aspects of themselves and one another.

Everybody needs to occasionally disappear from view and escape reality. We can experience total privacy when visiting uncharted territory. It allows us to be anyone, go anywhere, and do anything, giving us complete freedom to live in the present, the freedom to just wake up, pick a spot anywhere on the map. We can be impulsive and seek out novel experiences when we travel. Travel pushes us to see, taste, and try new things by bringing us outside of our comfort zones, as demonstrated by Luisa Yu. It continuously pushes us to interact with new people, embrace adventures as they arise, adapt to and explore new environments, and share exciting new experiences with friends and family. Travel offers us the chance to explore with an open heart and an open mind, regardless of whether you're looking for extreme relaxation and siestas or relentless activity or adrenaline rush!