Jars of Thoughts

Tag: travel

  • About Letting Go

    Just 18 days before I fly off, and it’s getting more and more nerve wracking.

    I haven’t been updating here because I’ve been busy sorting out my travel plans, overseas contacts and visa arrangements. I’ve also been juggling a few jobs along the way to build up my travel fund as much as possible.

    My tentative route has only come together because I was fortunate enough to meet some amazing people, all of whom have helped connect me with friends around the world, whether to stay with or work alongside, allowing me to map out and stretch my journey as much as possible.

    It really helps to put your dreams out there.

    By sharing my plans, I’ve managed to crowdsource many of the things I need. Although I still have a long way to go, I know that within all this uncertainty lies the excitement of living one day at a time.

    Along the way, I’ve realised that so much of life is beyond our control. The harder we try to make sense of everything, the harder it often becomes to cope.

    I’ve been learning to walk in faith and to understand that the only preparation I really need is the willingness to embrace whatever comes my way, and to be as ready as I can for the unexpected.

    I know it’s easier said than done. We live in a world where seeing is believing. But it’s a challenge that I believe will shape the journey ahead. It will teach me to be more humble, more accepting, and more open minded towards everything around me.

    It takes greater courage to fully accept things as they are than to bend and distort them to suit our own needs.

    There is something beautiful about trusting life enough to let it take the reins, allowing it to guide you wherever you are meant to be.

    To experience, as much as possible, the nakedness of reality without filtering it through our own ideals and goals, which are inevitably shaped by the society we grow up in.

    Constructs that give us a sense of order, meaning and familiarity.

    Not that they are wrong.

    But, in my opinion, they are not always authentic.

    If I had to sum up everything I’ve learnt so far into a single lesson, it would be this.

    Learning to truly let go.

    Not in the sense of giving up, but in learning to accept and embrace.

    Ironically, it is through letting go that I’ve gained the most.

    By opening myself to whatever comes, both the good and the bad, I’ve allowed myself to experience the raw beauty of life in all its wonder and awesomeness.

    My journey of self discovery doesn’t begin when I board the plane 18 days from now.

    It began the moment I made the conscious decision to be truly happy.

    image

  • Buying the Necessaries Part Two

    Thank God for membership cards, credit card rebates and amazingly supportive parents/friends, because every cent saved is every cent more for me to survive that much longer on my journey! (I think I have been saying that a lot lately)

    Recently, I finally bought myself the Osprey Farpoint 70 backpack (comes with a lifetime international warranty which goes to show how confident Osprey is, about their products) that I have been eyeing and researching on for a while, and a few other travel necessities along the way.

    I was ecstatic to find out that with my “Passion” card, I could get a 10% off for my backpack if I buy it from “Sports Connection”, the only group of stores in Singapore that I know of that carries and distributes Osprey travel backpacks (FYI, my infatuation with Osprey is a very personal thing and might be very different for one individual to another). Also, because I have already collected rebates from my Citibank credit card, I managed to throw in a couple of add ons, namely a money belt and a check in bag (so your backpack won’t get ruthlessly scratched or torn when you check them in at trains, ferries, buses or airports) at only an additional cost of 9 bucks in total. How cool is that?

    I made a trip down to the army market at beach road as well (where they sell travel ware and backpacks at wholesale prices) and bought myself a few stuff, like a strong LED torch with a rechargeable battery and charger, a travel medical pack (both of which my dad offered to pay for because I was extremely apprehensive about the prices, being the penny-pinching person I have become. Love you dad!), an inflatable pillow for desperate no-pillow situations, a pair of ear plugs for noisy nights when I need to sleep, a marker for me to write signs on cardboards to indicate the places I wanna go when I hitchhike and a good black pen for general and lasting usage. Total amount of money spent for everything – another 9 bucks. Yay!

    ~

    To many budget-conscious travelers around, I understand first-hand that seeing your money ringing off the bell from the cash register might not be the best feeling in the world. It pains me too but i knew I had to consciously remind myself that the things I am buying (after proper research that is) are actually worthy and practical investments to splurge on. While it is good to always be prudent with your spending, there is a need to know that there are certain things that one should absolutely not scrimp on, for practicality sake.

    For every good investment you make, the money you’ve spent actually goes a long way to help you curb back on unnecessary expenditure to replace or repair in the future. I’ve learnt that you don’t always have to go for the best (unless you can afford it), but somewhere around mid range might just be good enough. The decision to purchase certain items also heavily depends on the type of trip you are making, the countries that you are planning to travel to, which seasons of the year and the length of time you are going for. Chances are if you paid too little for them, they probably won’t last very long and if you paid too much, your heart may break when they get lost, stolen or damaged while you are on the road. Therefore, striking the right balance is very important.

    A general rule of thumb that I have been following is to always do a good amount of research (quantitative and qualitative) and weighing out the pros and cons before taking the money out of my wallet. I also tend to ask myself three self-imposed golden questions. Do I need it? Are there alternatives? Are the alternatives something that I can live with? Ultimately, making a purchase is a very personal decision and only you can make the final call.

    So happy shopping for those who are also preparing the same journey as me and if you need help, feel free to let me know! Will be more than willing to offer my penny-worth. 🙂

    One and a half more month to go… Can’t wait!

  • No I did not. But I did.

    I knew I shouldn’t visit the store again but I did and look what I walked out with… Do Not Follow My Footsteps, I repeat, DO NOT. Travelling on a limited budget literally means no splurging, AT ALL. You don’t need to spend on the best travel gear to travel. Especially when you haven’t properly done your research to necessitate a buy like this.

    Anyway, despite the price, it is still a really awesome pair of travel chukka boots. I guess I’ll just enjoy it and use it well since I bought it. That plus working a little more to cover up my losses. Sigh. At least I have one item off my travel check list.

    DSC_0009

     

  • It’s here!

    The books I ordered finally arrived! *flip flip*

    20131028_115020

  • For the people I meet along the road

    Just created the first draft of my travel name card,  to give to people I meet along the road… let me know what you guys think! =D

    Image

  • Having cold feet

    Traveling around the world is exciting but also very daunting, especially so if you are planning to travel alone like me. Making the decision and buying the one way ticket for me was simply the first step. Other than the tiresome handling of personal affairs before I leave, I found myself emotionally plagued with constant doubt, worry and even anxiety before I even actually get out of Singapore!

    However, I have been repeatedly assured by like-minded individuals, travelers or otherwise, that what I am going through is perfectly normal. Having cold feet is normal because you have just made one of THE biggest decision (and change, because your life will never be the same anymore) in your life and it is entirely forgivable and understandable. In fact, it would be weird if you don’t actually feel this way at all.

    How I managed to keep myself going and remaining firm to my decision is to constantly:

    1. Keep researching about my trip as it builds up my excitement before I go and also gets me prepared, which in turn makes me less panicky. I find myself actively addressing my  worries by researching about them to get a better idea and it really helps to calm those pre-travel jitters of mine

    2. Keep reading up on inspiring stories and testimonies of people who had done this or are still doing this. You will be surprised by how many there are! You are not alone 🙂

    3. Surrounding myself with people who supports and encourages me. My friends, family members and the couchsurfing community

    4. Staying positive. Consciously tell yourself all the time that you will be fine, because you are.

    5. Starting a blog. Before I actually fly off on the 29th of December this year, this blog also serves as my emotional and spiritual compass, monitoring my feelings & thoughts (keeping it in check as well) while I prepare myself for the adventure of a lifetime! Anytime I start doubting myself, I simply go back to my previous post (especially my very first post) which reminds me the reason why I wanted to travel in the first place!

    6. Telling everyone I know about my plans. This method really helps me stay accountable to my own actions

    7. Keep moving instead of procrastinating. This means that since I have made a firm decision to go, I shouldn’t waste time to clear the path in front of me. This includes leaving my job, applying for permits, buying insurance, planning/packing my travel ware, researching on the routes I want to go and saving up as much money as possible until I fly off. Since I need to do it anyway, why delay?

    8. Don’t look back. Just go. If you don’t, instead of making the biggest decision in your life, you would have created the biggest regret instead.

    I know this trip probably isn’t going to be all moonlight and roses but it is to me, the first step towards the beginning of a renewal. I know I am not going to regret this because I have been secretly raring for it all my life and it is finally, really, REALLY happening!

    “Carpe diem! Seize the day, make your lives extraordinary” – Dead Poet Society

  • Preparing for the road ahead

    And so the journey begins… the preparation part that is.

    Managed to settle my exit permit after a flurry of calls (they didn’t have a direct line) because the online registration failed me totally. None of the options within the registration said “vagabonding” and I had no choice but to apply for it directly but oh, thank God it is done.

    The insurance part was icky but will be settled soon nevertheless. Leaving my job was easier than I thought as my boss was super understanding about it so that’s all and good. Meanwhile, I am still easing my way into telling all my friends (family all settled) that I am leaving Singapore indefinitely, as I have to answer so many questions like why I am doing this and whether I had thought it through properly… basically all the motions of psycho-analyzing from people who simply could not believe I would leave everything behind to travel alone RTW.  But for the very first time, telling people “I don’t know” feels exceptionally liberating  because I realised that I don’t have to know the answer all the time. I am finally at a stage where I am ready to expect the unexpected. Knowing that nothing anyone else can say will sway my conviction to do this makes me feel even more confident that I am actually ready for this, Beautiful world, here I come. 🙂

    Now all that’s left is planning my general route (which is quite a feat considering my limited budget and all the uncertainties ahead) and doing a great load of research before going so I don’t end up trudging around aimlessly and utterly lost in the wilderness somehow. Of course, I am approaching this with flexibility to make sure the journey is more about the experience and the people, and not all about plans and rushing from one place to another.

    The biggest concern however, is about the money and my intentions to work along the way seems superbly daunting. Will I be able to really get a job? what can I do? Where can I work? How much will I earn? How long will have to work? (There’s various options like WWOOFing and TEFL but all of them seems kind of contrived right now) All these are uncertain but as always, I am determined to see it through. There is no turning back now.

    If you asked me a few months ago if I would be doing this, I would have thought it was crazy. Now? It is slowly becoming a reality.

    The countdown begins… =)

  • Learning more about Vagabonding, I am

    Bought myself two books from Amazon to accompany me on my journey this coming December! Highly recommended by fellow traveler friends who does the same thing, it supposedly gives a lot of inspirations as well as practical and useful tips on long term travel!

    Really looking forward to pouring through all the pages (yes, aside from traveling, my other love is reading!). Check out the titles below and if you are embarking on the same type of journey as I am, geddit!

    vagabonding-bookcover

    Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts

    9781409363828

    The Rough Guide to First-Time Around The World

  • Doubt is part of the game

    “When fear takes over, it stuns and it paralyses you. The only way is to consciously try to always be one step ahead of it.” – me

    It is never easy to experience negativity, especially when you are going through moments in your life where big changes are happening, or when major decisions has been made.

    Right after my decision to travel to as many countries as I can manage for an extended period of time (and quitting my job for that matter), I have gotten a lot of support from my friends and family, but at the same time, their doubts, worries, concerns over whether I am acting on impulsive and clouded judgement. Some were even betting on my premature return, thinking that I will probably regret this route I have taken, sooner or later.

    While fear crept in upon the wake of their concerns, I realised they weren’t concerns that I haven’t already thought about. However, I reflected on why I didn’t feel as concerned about it when I thought about it myself as compared to when I hear it coming from the people who are close to me. Maybe it is the constant arrows of doubts shooting at me without giving me any time to breathe. Maybe it is me not thinking clearly enough. Or maybe because it is because I think they are right.

    Questions that crept into my mind were, what if I don’t survive the whole way through? What will happen when my journey ends, will I be able to pick up my life from where I left off? Will I be able to find another job after all these is over? What if everyone has moved on from me and when I come back, I find myself all alone?

    Overwhelmed by it all, because the fear is as real as it gets, I decided to text Kristen late at night, a new friend from US I made from the couchsurfing community who is currently traveling the world and hoping that she can, from experience, help me put everything in perspective. She replied almost immediately and said something that brought tears to my eyes. ” You’ll get negative feedback. But it’s just their own insecurities. Follow your heart. There is a whole world of us out there.”

    It hit me that I am not alone is this struggle and it helped calm me down quite a bit (almost like Xmen, where the mutants who never felt like they belonged in a world full of regular people suddenly found a community just like themselves, haha!).  It came to me that I would not have to restart my life all over again because I have already started a new life now. If I think too far ahead, I would always be plagued by worries that will stop me from truly living the life that I want. I would have changed when I come back through this journey of self discovery, and the concerns I have now would not be the same as I would have when my travel ends.

    The next thing I realized was that it was precisely why I am doing this. To remove myself from the expectations that the world has on me and live without regrets. A few things came into my mind through this thought process.

    1. I will regret it if I choose not to embark on this journey as planned

    2. I will regret it if I didn’t follow my heart and do what I need to do for my own life

    3. I will regret giving all these up because I doubted myself, and letting fear take over to stun my newly discovered perspective in life

    The fear is real, it is scary and full of uncertainties but I can’t allow myself to be stunned by it. Either way, this is my journey and I will still grow no matter what, and get better from it. Whether or not I have a mission now, or an end goal doesn’t really matter.

    From the words of yet another fellow couch surfer from France, “The unknown can be very scary but it’s always genuine because you don’t know, that’s the beauty of it. Don’t expect, just live.”

    I promise to myself that no matter what, I will always, ALWAYS live my life to the fullest. And so should you. =)

  • Changing my life, one country at a time

    Certain events happened in my life recently that had got me thinking. 

    I have been chasing after the ‘ideals’ (according to societal standards) for the most part of my life and have not stopped to think what I really wanted to do. Sure, I have stuff that I thought I wanted to achieve like starting a business, having a stable relationship etc but heck, after a while, it became an endless pursuit of dreams and aspirations so far off that I have forgotten about the ‘now’. 

    Am I happy now? Am I living my life to the fullest now? Now I just feel like I have lost myself along the way, even getting hurt along the process, trying to conform to these ‘ideals’ that tires me so. I wasn’t living life spontaneously enough to enjoy the moment, but really just endlessly planning and working for a future that drags my days so much so that they don’t even seem all that appealing anymore.

    So this is where I am and I have made a decision to change it. I have decided to quit my job and have already bought myself a one way ticket to a journey of self-discovery and adventure. It’s scary but exciting at the same time but I feel like I have nothing to lose. I’m 26 years old, single, no house nor car to save up for and my career hasn’t even taken off yet (so cash flow is limited) but I have just one desire to see the world and experience and celebrate life to the fullest.

    I will be quitting my job by the start of December to travel for a year or so to do just that. I have just enough money to go to one country but I have read of people who worked their way from one foreign country to another, doing temporary jobs at the place they travel to, saving up for the next destination. I want to try that. Living life by the dollar but truly experience every moment of it in more ways than one.

    I’m starting from Taiwan where I already have an existing pool of friends and see where the tide takes me after.

    Wish me luck! =D