Traveling

Traveling - an action that in recent years, many have vigorously partake. From a short journey to a local tourist spot an hour away to a foreign country that contradicts one's own culture, traveling has become an experiential escapism for many to briefly elude the hardship of life.

Ask yourself this question. Why is that many people eagerly spend most of their hard earned cash just to indulge in momentary satisfaction in a location far from their home and workplace? Some of us meticulously plan the traveling agenda with a desperation to see all the sights and try all the delicacies. There are some of us who have no schedules planned but a mere intention to just experience some foreign air. Whether it's the former or the latter, we just couldn't wait to pack our bags and leave a familiar territory and into an u familiar one.

Truth of the matter is I'm a traveling junkie myself. During my university years, I was eager or even desperate to travel somewhere. By hook or by crook, I wanted to see all that I could see and indulge in all that I have yet to taste. That's where the problem started. I only wanted to visit places I haven't being to or somewhere that wasn't Malaysia. Whenever such demand couldn't be fulfilled, I would wallow in personal anguish and frustration. My days would involve an incessant amount of complains and rants. I remembered a time before I joined college, my father was traveling to Paris, France - the city of light and love or whatever they call it these days. Initially, dad planned to bring me along. My excitement couldn't be any more palpable than it already was. Of course, a rain cloud just had to gather at my doorstep. I was cut out of the trip and I threw a tantrum rivaling that of a toddler.

Thinking back, I supposed it's all that hope and yearning that I will finally travel to an European country that fueled my anger the moment I was told that I wasn't going. I was a very shallow and unappreciative person back then. Another reason was that my scorn derived from my jealousy of those who had the wealth to travel all over. I admitted that I hated anyone who had the privilege to go anywhere they desire but most of all, I hated myself for not having the same privilege as them. I loathed myself for being a middle class citizen. It didn't matter what bright side others had shown me: I was still able to study; I wasn't living on the street; I was still in one peace. I just despised my life to an extent of not seeing any hope of continuing it. As I mentioned, I was a shallow and unappreciative person back then.

It was until an important person in my life slapped me in the face, insisting that I stopped with my laments and rants. In his own words, he stated that it's rather impossible to travel to wherever I want and it's a futile practice to try to out compete those around to compare who has traveled to the most states, countries or continents. Although it took a while before his words sank into my mind, I eventually realized I wasn't travel for personal pleasure at all. I just wanted to tick the location off my list of places I have traveled to and proudly said, "I have been here". It was pathetic and ignorant of me. All this while, I haven't been enjoying my travel at all, whether local or abroad.

It may seem like I have deviated from my initial question but I assure you, it's related. Ever since I started earning my own money, I have been visiting places and all of them are local tourist spots. Sometimes, I traveled to the same spot again and again. My previous self would see this as a boring errand to run but now, my perception is that as long as I'm going somewhere, even if it's a familiar place, I'm more than happy to hop onto any transports that take me there. As a matter of fact, I'm typing this while sitting through the local KTM en route to Kampar. While some parts of me still yearned to go abroad to see all those Wonders that TVs and Cinemas are vigorously advertising, I find enjoyment just going somewhere now. That important person of mine really hit me at the right spot.

My time to travel to other countries with my own money will come one day. It's definitely not any time soon but I don't mind traveling to the same backyard again. It's a bonus if someone important is there to travel with you.