Nature tripping.....the pleasure of being outdoors!

Stepping outside can help anyone feel better. Just the thought of being outdoors - feel the warmth of the sun, the fresh air, the serenity of tranquil forest, the fantastic scenery along the jogging track, the sounds of the birds in the trees - can already improve energy level and creates a positive outlook and emotional stability. Exploring and enjoying the nature can reduce stress and cheers you up. According to Eva Selhub and Alan Logan, the authors of the book "Your Brain in Nature", natural environments are more likely to promote positive emotions; and viewing and walking in nature have been associated with heightened physical and mental energy. Nature has also been found to have a positive impact on children who have been diagnosed with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and attention deficit disorder.

 

Awesome mountainview.....Palawan, Philippines

 

Taken from the top of the cave in Palawan, Philippines

 

Along the nature path.....Palawan, Philippines

One of my favourite hiking places in the Philippines is the coconut plantation of my late father at the base of the mountain. It somehow reminds me of my childhood. I went there for the first time in my life when I was, I think, 9 or 10 years old, during the growing season or the planting season. With me was my mother, my grandmother on my father's side, my two sisters, my brother Bowie, perhaps my aunts, cousins and some relatives (sorry, I don't reminder exactly) and some of my father's workers. It was a one-day trip. What I remember most about this trip was the bridge. Actually, the bridge was made for the train, a sugarcane train, which transport the sugarcane to the manufacturing plant. Just imagine the train railway, just two rails converted to bridge, nothing else and you have to cross it. Scary.....especially for me who suffers from acrophobia. Under it was a river and we had to cross that train rails in order to reach the other side of the bridge. Another thing that I remember most on this trip was the pleasure of being in the nature, its location, the serenity of the mountain, the fresh air, the adventure.....we played, explored, experienced new things while the adults did their work. I've visited there for at least 10 times since then and every time I visit there, I always enjoy it. For me, that mountain is very special. We usually visit there for pleasure when we have visitors just to enjoy the serenity of the mountain and eat fresh coconut/drink coconut milk straight from the coconut tree. 

The view of the mountain from Tumalim, a small village

At the base of the mountain, in my father's coconut plantation

 

Coconut trees with the view of the mountain on the back

    

View of the mountain with the sugarcane in front of it

 

Rows of coconut trees

View of the mountain

You can enjoy nature tripping alone whether you are at home or in a holiday, with a friend or a hubby, with families and also by a bigger groups. There are a lot of possibilities and options available on websites regarding nature tripping vacations. One of the advantages of nature tripping vacation is that you can design each vacation to fit your needs. For instance, one vacation would be renting a cottage for a weekend on a nearby lakeside or seaside, the next time should be cycling, fishing or hiking in a mountain or staying in the spa hotel, which provides opportunities for different kinds of outdoor activities with jogging tracks and awesome views. There are also places which offers not only nature but also cultural and historical beauties of the place, all in one package.

Nature tripping with my hubby in Ruissalo, Finland

Ocean view....Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines

Long, tiny trees in Rome, Italy

Very old tree in Rome, Italy

  

A breathtaking view of Maya-Maya.....Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines

Fantastic view of Tagaytay City, Philippines

View of Taal Volcano, the world's smallest volcano in Tagaytay City, Philippines

Taal Volcano in Tagaytay City, Philippines

 

River.....Vilnius, Lithuania

In Finland, nature is never far away, even in big cities. There are a lot of nature paths and jogging/running tracks all over the city and towns. The forests are quite near to the cities, too. My favourite nature paths/running tracks in Rauma, the town where I presently live, are the Äyhönjärvi and Lähdepellon Urheilukeskus. Äyhönjärvi is a lake and has a 5,72 km jogging track, according to the website of Kuntoplus, http://kuntoplus.fi/reitti/rauma/ayhonjarvi. It is around the lake track with a fantastic view of the lake and with two small bridges connecting to the woods. These bridges are a great place for stretching in between runs. I usually stop on those bridges to do stretching (I love stretching so much). This around the lake track is the nearest nature path from our house; a few meters away and I can fully enjoy the beauty and bounty of nature. The track is good for all skill levels and it is primarily used for running, jogging, walking and even for cycling. However, dogs are not allowed on this trail.

Wild flowers at Äyhönjärvi

  

Wild flowers and trees at Äyhönjärvi

Jogging track at Äyhönjärvi

Jogging track at Äyhönjärvi with the view of the lake

 

The view of the lake (Äyhönjärvi)

Brisk walking.....

 

Stretching....

.....and taking risk

  
Lähdepellon Urheilukeskus, on the other hand, is under the management of the Municipality of Rauma/culture and leisure time for the residents of Rauma. It has four different tracks: 1km, 2,5 kms., 2,9 kms. and 6 kms. This sport centre has a big sports field, two tennis courts, a dog's own path, an ice rink, sauna and a cafeteria. During winter time, all the tracks has been turned into a skiing trails. There are also a sled hill, a snowboard hill, an outdoor ice rink and a picnic place where you can grill sausages, etc. An outdoor gym, at the end of the trails, also benefits joggers.

The sports field.....

The tennis courts....

  

The ice rink.....

.....and an outdoor gym

An outdoor gym.....from different angle

Some of the Lähdepellon Urheilukeskus' tracks are easy and short. The longest track is a 6 km-track. The tracks are not demanding and it doesn't requires any maps. Colour signs are assigned for each tracks and those colour signs will guide you all along the way. The color signs are printed in the trees along the paths to help joggers not to get lost. So you have to remember what colour of the track that you intend to go for and it will lead you all the way to the finish line. The tracks varies depending on the tracks you selected; downhill/uphill, straight and flat trail, there is a track with a good overview of the lake, a track with the good overview of the town, or a forest view. 

Nature trail signs with its corresponding colours

Overview of the lake

Overview of the lake

 

Forest

Break time? 

 

One of the track

 

Uphill

 

Downhill

 

Uphill

 

Along the path

Nature tripping and just being outdoors is not only an easy, low-cost way to boost your mental well-being and lift-up your spirits, it can also improve your fitness level and provide numerous other health benefits including mental health benefits, such as helping to manage depression and anxiety. So when you feel the pressures of the office get you too much and the noisiness of the city start to irritates you, just step outside......let the greener environs reach far beyond your mood......explore and enjoy the beauty of the nature :-)

Exercising at the cliff by the sea

 

Stretching....

 

Reaching out.....

 

Posing.....

.....and just having fun!