Some Thoughts on Travel

I love to travel. I may be whining about it in my previous entry years back (My Life In A Suitcase), but you see, there's a big difference when you travel for leisure and when you travel for work. The chance to travel is one of the deciding factors why I accepted and managed to stick with my previous job for quite a long time.  And, I could say I am lucky to find such a job that permits me to earn a living and travel to different places at the same time, all major expenses paid for by the company.  I got to see amazing places, some of which I never imagined I would set foot on even in my wildest dreams.  At times as a bonus for myself, I would treat myself a getaway to neighboring countries if I have a free weekend from work.  I just love to see new places... I want to see the world!

I think my curiosity and interest in travel started when I was very young... probably when I was 6 years old.  My father had to work overseas, in the Middle East, when we were very young.  He worked there for 10 years and whenever he would come home to visit us, I would be intrigued with his big luggage.  I remember, it was this huge thing (because I was even tinier when I was younger) and it was teal in color and square.  It was like a magic box because out of it would sometimes come out a present... maybe a toy, or a dress or a pair of shoes or chocolates!  And when it's empty I would go inside, lie down and make myself comfortable.  Then I would tell my father that I can fit in and he can bring me along.  He would ask if I am not scared because it will be dark if he closed it and I would say I'll bring a flashlight with me.  Hahaha.  I didn't really know why I want to go with him... maybe because I seldom see him and I wanted to be with him, or maybe I was curious about his destination, where he lived and where he got all the presents for us.  Oh, to think like a child again!  :P

But most people who know how shy I am on first meetings could not believe how I can manage living and traveling like this.  Yes, I am disappointingly shy especially with people I barely knew.  I met up for dinner recently with my brother's friend, who was incidentally in town at that time.  I was so shy we could not keep a conversation or topic going for more than 3 minutes.  Hahahaha!  I think he was a bit exasperated because he could not stop himself from saying how difficult it was to hold a conversation with me, but that lightened up the mood and I started talking and there I was spilling my thoughts on travel.  Ofcourse, he got curious and then he asked the obvious... "How can you, being shy as you are, enjoy traveling?  Because you'd have to face different kinds of people..."  And I explained, it's not that I have to "meet" or "talk" to everyone I see, I just enjoy being there.  It's the fact that I am a foreigner there, surrounded by all the local people in their own land that makes it exciting.  Like I get the chance to see, if not experience, what and how life is in that land.  I like to observe them, how they talk, how they eat, how they live, how they interact with one another and with a foreigner like me.  I love to see their culture, customs and traditions.  I want to have a peek at their life in their own land.  That is what interests me.  It doesn't hurt either if they try to be friends with me, I have made several friends from my travels too and it's always nice to have more friends.

Another reason why I love to travel is because I like to see how another country looks like... the buildings, the architecture and designs, the landscape, the vegetation, the people.  I love to see the colors, shapes, design and styles they use.  I'm not a very good photographer, but I like to take photos of my travels, just to keep a record of what I had seen or what I'd like to keep as a memory, so later I can look back and be reminded of those trips.

And ofcourse the food... although I cannot say I am very adventurous when it comes to these.  I just like to see what kind of food they have, what sort of things they eat, how it looks, how it smells... I can try to taste too if I feel brave enough and if I get to like the food then that's a big bonus.  I love Thai food a lot, I can eat almost every dish and desert they have.  I like Japanese sushi, sashimi, ramen and mochi.  Vietnamese food is also great, although I cannot remember most dishes' names.  The picanha in Brazil is the best!  Korean beef bulgogi is yum-yum.  I like HK steamed fish, Macau's egg tart.  Most western food I can eat.  Other than the dishes, fruits are one of my interests too.  Except for Durian, I wouldn't mind trying out local fruits.

Now that I am no longer doing that job, I won't be traveling as much.  I'm quite sure I will miss it, but hey, I'm not complaining and I have nothing to complain about.  Compared to most average individuals I am by far lucky to have been given the chance to set foot in those foreign land.  I can only say, "Praise God for blessing me with this opportunity to travel and see different parts of the world He created, first-hand, with my very own eyes."  :)