A few years ago my life was anything but exciting. A college engineering student, my life cycle resembled the clockwork operation of the machines I worked with in school. Every morning I'd get up, go to class, have lunch in the same cafeteria, return to class and go home everyday at a designated time. I did this with a never-failing accuracy and predictability. Life was dull and dry at best. It came to a point that I desperately needed an escape from my rigid schedule. I needed something else to do with my time, something to awaken childish desires I thought I had long forgotten: to explore, to challenge, and to dare.

The answer came to me when I ran out of slots to enlist in Bridge (i.e. the card game) Physical-Ed class (what was I thinking?)...and was forced to enlist in Camping Class. The idea didn't excite me one bit, thinking I'd be camping in the soccer field on school grounds. I got the shock of my life when the teacher said we would be climbing up mountains, something I had never done before. What followed turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life, which in turn, became my fondest and most unforgettable memories. I was given the opportunity to experience real adventure, real excitement. I took my newfound hobby to a new level when I joined the UP Outdoor Recreation Group (UPORG), an organization that caters to individuals seeking the stuff that turns ordinary college geeks into Indiana Jones and Lara Crofts.

When my orgmate, Obie, asked me to write an article about the outdoors, I was more than happy to help her out. I've gained so much from the great outdoors, I thought, why not inspire others to enjoy it as well? So if you're one of those people looking for that adrenaline rush to spice up your life, this one's for you...

Recreation for everyone.

If you think the outdoors are only for tough, super-fit health-buffs, think again. Many outdoor activities require nothing more than an adventurous spirit and an open mind. Like we say in UPORG, "Hindi mo kailangan ng lakas ng katawan. Kailangan mo lang ay lakas ng loob." Generally, unless you have serious health problems, there's always an outdoor activity that fits your fancy. Besides, you might actually like the physical aspect of adventuring, getting that much-needed workout while having a rip-roaring time.

Money shouldn't even be a limitation. While many outdoor activities require a certain amount of cash for things like food, transportation, and equipment, there are numerous things you can do to turn a potentially expensive outing into a frugal, penny-saving experience. And if you don't have the gear, there are many organizations that are more than willing to lend you theirs.

Variety.

The great outdoors is a venue for countless activities for different kinds of adventurers ranging from the average weekend warrior to the extreme death-defying thrill-seeker! If you're the type that likes to get wet, why don't you try these water adventures: kayaking, white water river rafting (oh yeah!), wind surfing and river trekking. For all you land-loving folk, there's mountaineering, rappelling, rock climbing, spelunking (cave exploration), mountain biking, and beachineering (a term was coined by mountaineers to describe the activity of going to the beach and setting up camp there). Now, if you're an adventurous techie and you get your kicks out of using the latest gadgets, try these activities that are heavy on hardware: paintball wargames (real life counter-strike!), cart racing, outdoor photography, and scuba diving. The list just goes on and on...

The simplicity of it all.

Going out into the wild tends to reduce everything to its basic form. When you're trekking up a mountain, for instance, all of life's worries seem to disappear. You forget about deadlines, ringing phones, impending exams, bills to pay, and yeah, even that argument you had with your boyfriend/girlfriend a few nights ago. You focus on the basic things like preparing food, and staying warm and dry at camp. You begin to appreciate things you normally take for granted in the busy metropolis...the refreshing feel of water running down your dry throat, an invigorating bite out of a chocolate candy bar (Cloud 9 tastes so much better when you're out there), a light rain shower on a hot day, and a cool breeze of fresh mountain air.

When nature's beauty surrounds you, you can't help but think about your place in the world. You become aware of how small you are in nature's grand design. Detached from worldly possessions and preoccupations, your mind becomes clear and you see the things that are truly important in life. And when you come back down, you find yourself smiling more often because you've experienced, first hand, what it truly means to be alive.

Bringing people together.

Some people do it for the sheer thrill. Others, for meditating and "becoming one with nature." Still, others do it to strengthen the bonds of friendship and camaraderie. They say that the outdoors is best experienced in groups. The reason is probably because living it out (and living it up!) in the wild has a strange way of bringing out core human values like trust, teamwork, and leadership. When you go through challenging and even near-death experiences, you realize the value of the people who help you through it as you rely on each other to survive and entrust your lives in each other's hands. Many adventurers can say that their tightest friendships have been formed in the outdoors.