Dream

Traveling has always been my dream since young. Imagine, how wonderful it is to step in a new land with different people, different culture,different races, different food, different languages etc. & etc. Everything and every day is new. I can understand now why there's such a happiness that can be clearly shown on a Scottish backpacker's face when I was in Penang. He looks so cool and quiet but when he talks about his patience for travelling, the smiles came out immediately. This is a thing I can never forget and one of the life inspirations for me to go travel. Of course this is not the end, this is just the start of my story.

The purpose I set up this blog is to record my memories and stories from travelling, for people and for myself. I guess when I am old, when I look back at those things I experienced and wrote, it'll be quite interesting. Life has so many stages. I am not new to blogging. Infact I have written blogs yearss ago and , when i look back, sometimes, I will feel like hmm..... why I have such a thinking at that time. But whatever it is, I think human should strive for better thoughts from one stage to another.

Alright, back to some history, as far as I remember, the first self travel was back to when I was 15 in form 3 or maybe form 4. That time, me, yin hui, kwang ying and hui fang went singapore together. That's not the 1st time for all of us to go to singapore of course as it's just a stone-throw distance from our home but what's special was it's out 1st time to go by ourself. It's like oh, we are like adult, can go by ourself without parents. I guess like most of us, malaysians children are rather pampered. We lead a very good life where everything is well prepared for us. Most asians parents ( or is it chinese or ? ) are considered more protective to the children.

Talking about over protective parents, I have some thoughts in mind. It's a very normal thing for parents to protect their children but I guess there should be a limit to everything. Over protective can not only hinder a chance for their children to grow out confidently but also a chance to learn to be independent. Most important thing for parents is to set good values in the children's mind since young, so that their children can be able to use these values to judge on things as time passes by but not by telling what he/she should or shouldnt do.Letting them have some space is important. I see this issue as an important one because not all parents will allow their child esp girl to travel alone. They see this as sending their children to the stomach of crocodile. My dad is one of them. Whatever thing that I said to convince him, he wouldnt want to accept. He seemed to cant understand what I said. He said why in this world you are interested in such a thing, this is for caucasian. What a funny explanation! I cant find any reason why Asians should not backpack.Thanks to my mum, she's open minded enough to let me go. I know she's worry as well but she's giving me a chance. But of course, I am telling her everything that I did. I am afraid too of course, I am not that daring people. I read as much safety books for travel as possible, search out and understand the potential risks.

My blog seem to have no sequence, hope it's okay. Now, I am going to tell what inspirate me to go backpack. I started backpacking this May, 08. Thanks to Hwei Chin that she suggested to go Melaka and Penang by ourself. This is such a welcoming thought as I wish to go backpack for a long time. I think backpacking is such a cool thing. Everytime seeing some backpackers around the street, I will feel very curious. I just cant understand what they think. They seem to have an interesting mind.Why some of them travel alone, why this and why that. Even now, I am still curious.

Early this year, i knew a net friend from Netherland.He told me he's on his journey, for months he travel and all alone. This is the time when i really start to wonder why, why these people travel alone, don't they feel lonely,etc so many questions, whatever you can think of.I am asking him questions which you may ask me now. I start to read some travel books, wishing to know more about travelling. In fact, I am only exposed to travel books from last year when me and yin hui plan to go taiwan but in the end fail. So, bit by bit, I start to know more and more about travelling and backpacking, travelling as a tourist and travelling as a travelors, travelling in a budget. Lots of travel books really help a lot. I also like the series of culture shock available in the bookstore, very interesting.

After reading more and more,the desire to go backpack is getting stronger. But who? when? where? Writers from many travel books really encourage individual to go alone. They said you will really get much more than if you go with some friends.I really doubt how great will that be. But, that idea is still logical to me as when you travel alone, it will urge you to interact with other people, lots of benefits. I will write more about benefits that I feel I get. Of course, there're some bads and risks too. It's always not that safe to travel for a single woman , but man too I think must be careful as well. It's 'common sense' from every books that we should apply.

Without knowing who, when and where, my dream was just immersed in my heart and brain.But one thing,I did not give up my dream, I keep on reading travel books, trying to search some way out and search on line to find out ways to travel with low budget inspiration. And what a chance! Hwee Chin suggested to go penang and melaka by ourself. I have to say that it's really great start for me. Without this trip, I am never out. I am not yet stepping out. Perhaps I am still burried in my past self.

What I feel for my first backpack experience was preparation was rather boring and tiring( but compare to now, on my preparation to Australia, it appeared to be 1+1=2 that simple). With the net nowadays, I think things get much easier. I tried to search our accommodation online, got some maps and then we set off. Backpacking arent that comfortable of course. You really need to walk a lot and under the hot sun if u are a bit unlucky or if more unlucky under the rain.I will write down more detail about my first experience later on.

I can say most of my inspiration to go solo backpack come from this trip as I saw a lot of solo travelors all my way. I think it's really cool thing. And met some travelors as well in the hostel. First , in Melaka, Ringo's Foyer. Looking from the photos from the net, this guesthouse appeared to be nothing , rather old, seem not comfortable. BUT , I think I have really misjudge it.I will remember this first hostel that I had lived forever. Why? The overall environment is so warm. Thanks to uncle Raymond. He's in charge of this hostel that time we arrived. There're some other partner as well for this hostel. When we went there, What's the start ? As usual show us the room , etc. What's next? he introduced us to other guest as well. First, a japanese man,later some americans and a german(gosh, they are sunbathing..... at that moment, I feel my body is made of ice, theirs are made from gold). I thought this introduction is a usual thing in hostel. Later I found it to be NOT! He's making a start for us. So, this is a very good thing to get all people around. That's why I said Ringo's Foyer is like a home, an international home. There were many travelors. Some were from new zealand, romania, vietnam and some local as well. Imediately, I feel that I am out of the world. What's more? Uncle Raymond brought us out to show us some eatery place and even treat us cendol and rojak. Hey, that cendol is so nice. It's a very small and old shop where I dont think one can find that easily. Really very thank you to uncle Raymond. I guess I will definitely go there again in future.

So, at Ringo's Foyer, most of the travelors are doing solo backpacking and this German girl is doing solo backpack too. We happened to have a chance to have a talk with her and also a Kiwi. Interesting. This girl has just quit her studies wishing to change her course, perhaps getting some inspiration from travel? will she really get? I dont know. No matter how, her spirit to travel make me admire her. half year of solo. how interesting it is! Melaka is really a tourist spot. If you wonder if many people do solo backpack, I can tell you, about 30-50% from my observation.other than that are couple and friends. I am still new, perhaps I can tell more in future. It's rather a huge number compare to what we normally think about solo travel. Once I step out, I really 'da kai yen jie'.

My 2nd destination was to Penang. Hostels there that I lived are totally different. Not in a sense of the condition and rate, but in a sense of the feel of warm like home. Hutton Lodge, like most people comment, is soulless. It's 180 degree different from Ringo's Foyer! Anyway, we took a dorm and there's a scotland backpacker in the room. At first, I feel rather shock because I am still new and I know YHA offer seperate dorm but now, living with a man? I doubt my safety that night. But the next day, I found I was rather a nuisance with my thought. This backpacker, well, my first talk with such a person. I am always curious to know what they think and do. I am a rather shy person but this time I think I must speak up first. If not, I will have missed some fantastic story! It appeared to be so right! He has been traveling around 60 over countries! But then, I got a question again. How? Don't you need to work? "I quit and travel, save enough then quit and travel" He loves traveling so much and wish to see new things everyday and doesn't like to get married and be attached for the whole life. Interesting thought! I can just say he's very 'xiao sha', knowing how to take up things and putting down. Not many can do that.

Having chances to talk to at least one or two of these people is sufficient enough to let me have urge to step out. But again, who? when? where? and how? This is rather tough, nope, is the toughest thing. Then I saw a website www.globalfreeloaders.com from a travel book saying it provides free accommodation to travelors. I log on and found that it's rather unsafe. I checked through some people's profile seeing a few people linking himself to a website : www.couchsurfing.com . I sign up for an account at couchsurfing and look through the websites, chat with some people to ask about couch surfing. Like many people, I doubt couch surfing at first. It's like in this world, there's nothing free! How come there's such a thing! I can hardly believe that. I try to look into many thing in couchsurfing. It seems to be a good website compare to many others like places2stay and globalfreeloaders. There's one quite famous website : hospitality club which I don't really prefer to as it has not much active members around the world. and some other websites I have signed up which are still not my choice. So far, couch surfing is the best. I happened to chat with a few girls who are doing solo travel. They really encourage you to go alone. and so does a forum for solo female travelors. I get much inspiration there.

Then it's Air Asia. Thanks to this budget air line that make a chance for everyone to fly. Even though some people think that it's rather uncomfortable but to me as long as it can save up, well, it's ok. I checked through Air Asia around June and found that ticket to Macau is cheap, around RM 500. After thinking and thinking and thinking and considering and considering and considering, then think and consider again, well, I decided to go alone. I told my parents about this. Oh no, my dad thinks I am mad. I told him I am going to take a flight to Macau then take ferry to Hong Kong. He laughed at me. He said I have never take a flight before, and never been abroad, it's impossible for me! " ren shen di bu shuo, you know what you are doing?" He's nothing wrong I know. I know I am kind of a rush people, not really patient, but no, I have thought of that for a year and MORE, I dont rush on my dream! To me, I think I must grab hold of chances, and it's now studying time, do you think you can go for much travel when you start working? I told my mum and she also thinks that I cant protect you forever, all you must do is be careful. I know if I wait for dad to approve, I can never go out even I am 30 or forever. haha, thinking back I feel rather funny. He has got to believe me now! I just can't stand those who listen to many rumours from no where and then said some or much thing to make to step back. No, I don't want to take this! Tell me from your personal experience. I definately know it's risky but if I afraid of this, I am sure I can never go out. No, I dont want this to prohibit me to go out, NO~~~ So , I booked the ticket. No more chance to step back..... sometimes, I really doubt on my ability, I have never been on a flight before, can I really handle this?

I cant wait anymore. I am 21. Out in the world, there're many people who are same age as me have done so many things, have made much achievement already in their life. I am a typical Malaysian Chinese student. Most of my life is in studies. In secondary school, our wish is we can go into local university getting a course we like. I am not from a wealthy family, I know going to a private institution will bring much burden to my parents. I guess all of you will know how hard is it to get into a local U, you not only need hardwork but also very much luck. I am considered the lucky one, having a chance to go matriculation and then now in university taking a course which I like. Matriculation life sucks for me! I am glad, 1 year gone. And I am in university now.... it seems that studying life is rather unmeaningful. years and years of studying. I strongly believe that getting a good result cant show everything. Life experience is more valuable for one. But what to do? In Asia, academic is the way out. The focus in on good result. I dont think this is totally right but still, I follow.Rules set like that since long ago is really a bad idea. Self-motivation is the key to everything. If you are motivated, you dont even need to go to a university and you can still be successful. So to me, I wont look highly to very educated people. No point if you are a profesional but without good values.

Back to travel, so I think I must made some achievement in my 21st year of life. I wish later in life, when I look back, I feel at least I got a thing which I can be proud of myself and most important memorable experience. I believe everyone has a dream, so go for that. It doesn't need to be travel but something which you have been dreaming, a realistic dream. I am sure you'll have no regret!