Therefore I Travel

I started my 'travelling craze' about 10 years ago when I dated someone who loves backpacking. In fact he used to claim that he's the one who planted that travel bug in me. I prefer to think that I have always had a pair of itchy foot, just that they were waiting to be uncovered... I still remember the history lessons at high school, my friend and I were day-dreaming in class, about seeing those places with our own eyes when we studied about Renaissance period, about the Indochinese empire, about Moorish architecture in the Islamic world etc. Back then I already felt that tantalizing sensation in my heart, itching to fly. We call that feeling 'hong soh' in Hokkien. Until that very fine day when my itchy foot had the chance to take that very first step out to see the world, there's no turning back! They are like runaway horses!
That's part of the reason why I always like to take photos of my foot during my trips --- to commemorate my itchy foot that have brought me to places. Haha! And of course another reason is if I go on solo trips, I've got noone to take picture for me with my face in it. But I do want to be in the photo! The only way is to take picture of my own foot then!

*Whisper* By the way, I've now travelled to way more countries than my ex did! Muahahaaha.. (alrite, I admit I'm chao kiasu, I do like to compete with him). Well, regardless of the reasons behind why I travel, the more important thing is that I've enjoyed every moment of my journey.

The world is beautiful, therefore I travel...

Tribute to my Darling Papa

I had the honour of being 'appointed' by my late godpa to deliver a eulogy for him in his own funeral. Yes my Darling Papa has always been a planner. Actually, a planner is an understatement. I should say he's a control freak! All his life, he had always been the one in control, and no he didn't just stop there. He was still 'pulling the strings' from up above even after his death! He already planned and wrote his funeral arrangements on paper long before his condition worsen, down to the very details like who should be delivering the eulogy, who should be the pall bearers, what songs he wanted us to sing etc. He even wrote his own obituary.
Really, this is the first time I encountered someone who planned for his own funeral. But then again, he's not anyone else, it's my flamboyant godpa we are talking about - the captivating drama king who's not only large in size but larger than life itself!

Here's a poem Chris and I jointly wrote, which I proudly presented in the eulogy speech:

Emerging in style with cigar ablazed
Journeying towards the sunset unfazed
Some might think it had been a short stay
The world had been your stage and you - the best performer of the most wonderful play.

Now that the curtain of life was finally drawn
Memory of you will forever stay strong
But party on we shall with much flare
Do try to keep the noise down when you are up there...

The funeral was a successful 'event' I must say, not exactly with 'party atmosphere' as what he desired, but classy and stylish enough to have that TL's touch. The only thing missing was his loud laugher... Ahh...how I miss you, my Darling Papa...

Life is a Journey

Just realized that I've stopped blogging for more than 2 weeks! Was in emotional turmoil, losing my Godpa to cancer on the 14th April, and followed by the funeral etc and most of all, learning to accept the lost.
Now that most things are settled, it's time to de-moss my blog. I started off this blog thinking of writing travel stories only. However, so many things happened in the past 2 weeks or so, it made me think that life is one big adventure itself, and we are all transit travellers in the journey of life. So why not start writing about my life's journey too?...

Cities I've set foot on

Love this function from TripAdvisor - give me the chance to share my travel map virtually. I might not have achieved much in the 31 years of my earthly existence, but the ~40 countries I've visited through out my life is the one thing I'm most proud of in my entire life.

Virgin Blogger

Right, my very first post! Never thought that I'll start a blog of my own. But peer pressure, everyone has a blog nowadays, and they seem to be having fun with it, so my chao kiasu spirit asks me to start one as well!

Since I've been travelling rather extensively in my life, I thought I should write about my travels. And since my memory has been getting worse each day, instead of depending on ginko alone, maybe writing down my past travel experiences would help in reminding me of the sweet and not-so-sweet memories.

So here I am, I'm now officially a BLOGGER! ;)