.:. Travel .:.
The blue sky is the same no matter where I am.
Recently, I've been travelling Alot. Rockhamptom (Australia) and Penang/Melaka/KL (Malaysia). Not to say I haven't been travelling for the past few years of my life. I've been fortunate enough that my family is well to do enough that we go on trips at least once yearly. But it was during the end of last year that I got to start travelling by myself (in a way...without family and tours).
And I've found that I really like to travel, or to say explore different places. The thing about travelling without tours is that I am not restricted, that I can decide the places that I want to visit, when I want to go and how long I wish to stay at each venue. No rush, no fuss.
Naturally before that there's alot of homework to do, but with the internet so abundant of information, and the help of friends, it is very possible to do so. And by doing the itinery yourself, you get to choose only the places you want to go, and not be forced to visit places of interests that in the first place you aren't interested in.
The fun of travelling as such is in just exploring the places by yourself. No car no bus, simply your two feet. And with jus a map in hand (thankful for my good directional sense), you just start making your own journey in this foreign place. Seeing and comparing the differences between there and Singapore. Buildings, food, traffic, people, culture...everything. It's like nothing's the same, and you just gotta see it all.
Walking through the streets, be it in the day or night, turning into whichever alley that you find interesting, stopping to take photos of things worth remembering, buying food that is famous from the road side stalls. The thrill of finding the place you've found on the internet, and actually seeing it in person. Somehow it makes the trip feel alot more worthwhile than just following a tour. Perhaps it makes the trip feel more personal.
Food is always one thing I look forward to most (yes I'm a foodie). It never seems right when you eat food about other country in Singapore, no doubt it's still better than nothing. But eating the food in the country it originated from is always more flavourful. And food isn't just about the taste. The ingredients indicates how the poeple lived. The decor shows their culture. The coffeeboy is who they are.
The buildings are also interesting. Not every country is like Singapore so organised that everything is segregated. In other countries you see buildings of different cultures, eras, nationality, all mixed together, gelled together. A sum of the rich history of the country.
And because of these it makes travelling an eye-opening experience, something that's very enjoyable :).
Don't get me wrong. I like to travel around Singapore as well! No joke. And I dun mean by public transport. Recently I got to try my first ever Night-cycling. And I love it!
It's a totally different experience to be going about Singapore on a bike. Riding through the streets in the quiet night, when the cars are little and few, and the night is still. As you cycle along the streets, the wind gushes past you, contrary everything else is stationary. Then you come across the certain spots of Singapore that bustle only in the night (the later the noisier), mostly food spots. And you sit down for a small chow, taking in the sights of people who dun seem to sleep, prefering to eat. And that's only places away from the city. Someday I'm gonna take my camera and go cycling in the city area at Night! Lavendar, City Hall, Esplanade, MBS and Marina Barage.
Of course cycling isn't the only way. There's always your two feet to rely on :). People always say Singapore is so small. And that's so true. Which is why I so love to walk around Singapore, from one place to another. And no I don't mean from one mall to the other in orchard road.
Shortly in just the month of december/january, I've already gone on 3 very awesome walk-trips. Dhoby to Botanic gardens. Dhoby to Holland Village. Botanic Gardens to Home :). Which means now I know how to walk from Dhoby all the way back to my house XD. Its very intriguing when simply by walking about Singapore like that, I start to see how places I've been going to for the past 20 years of my life are connected together, and sometimes simply a street apart without me realising. Of course on such trips the company is very important, normally just one or two other persons. Who says going for outings there must always be activities. On the contrary I find simply talking the best.
Which is to say travelling dosen't have to be alone. Having company on trips can add an element of fun as well. When people who love to travel come together, to travel around the world, what's not to enjoy. Imagine. A group of backpackers, staying in a hostel/lodge, moving around a foreign country with the huge bags behind them, infront of them their cameras, totally tourists. Each satisfying their individual love for travelling, yet enjoying the company of like-minded people.
So who would like to come travelling with me :)
Revealed on [10:37 PM]
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