My Notes about Travelling (English Version)

The post is the english version of previous post

In the past, I had thought that travelling like something that is beyond my imagination... it's just like as far the sky from the earth

Why? 

From I just was a little girl until I was 24 yo, the farthest place I have ever been in holiday with my family was only Bandung (West Java)... because Bandung is the city where my mother was born and the coolest vehicle I've been riding was only train, KA Parahyangan back then.

and in the past, my definition on travelling was joining tour to abroad, or Bali, or other places with planes.

Especially when I was in High school and heard my friend's experience after holiday, about touring to US, Europe, etc.. or homestay to learn English or furthermore they can go to university in abroad. I just only dreamt what a wonderful thing to have the same experience, when will be my time to be like that?

I can only keep the feelings deep inside my heart, because there were no reason to ask my parents just for holiday. we had other priorities rather than spending money to go holiday :) 

But if I reflect all of my experiences now, i just found out that probably one of my gift from my early age was being able to enjoy every moments I have in whatever place I've been.

Why I say that?

I remember, my longest holiday time from elementary school was 2 full week in Bandung. 

At first, my mother still accompanied me the whole 2 weeks, while she was visiting her father and mother, but after few years, she just accompany me at the beginning of the trip, then at the end she just picked me up again.

In Bandung, I have 3 cousins, 2 girls and 1 boy and they are my best buddies during my stay there

What I did on my holiday? with my cousin (my partner in crime) we loved adventure. I forgot who were our inspiration back then, but our routine activity were finding new route in the neighbourhood and returned to home in another new route and we did it again and again... we just felt so happy if we could find what we thought the best route for that day. 

Never a day will be left boring, we seemed to find things to make ourselves busy, like helping my aunt delivering her cakes for sell, joining my uncle for a ride just around the city, or sit quietly in becak and enjoying the view. Even when we don't have any activity outside, we still found something to do.. we do role-playing, one of them is about cinderella story. so we always create something.... 

I think now that's the way to form my habit to enjoy my travelling

Even when I was in High School, I had a game with myself on my way home. Usually I will walk to home from one point (the walk should be in 10 - 15 minutes)

So I will test myself, 

First I will test about the speed to go home, i made a target not more than 15 minutes. Second, I will test myself  how to find the best route to achieve the first target. 

Third, although I had target to go home as quickly as I can, I still look for culinary around, what I can try and how is the taste and if good, so it will be my recommendation at least for my families. 

So you see, even for my journey back from school, I made my own competition to find way and go culinary... is it the basic for travelling? hehhehe 

I remember a qoute

"God loves people with patience"

So finally on 2001, one of my dream come true

it was the first year I extend my travelling experience in an unpredictable way. 

I had the chance to go "Office visit" to Taiwan from my first office, a garment factory after my first year working there...

So it really been a blessing for me how God help me to achieve my dream 

And yes, it was my first time experience on plane....After living in this world for 24 years, I finally been on plane...  hurraayyyyyy  the feeling was just like riding a roller coaster. Looks from outside I was calm but inside.. fear all along the 5 hour flight.. yes.. there's always a first of everything right... :) 

The next thing is the first time I have to get through immigration. this is actually the scary part. I never been out of my country, so what will happen when I have to face the immigration staff? Luckily, the office staff was looking after us, watched us carefully whether we got strange question and we cannot past them. and when we pass it, yessssss, feel so reliefed. Got the first stamp then...

I had wonderful10-day experience in Taiwan. FIrst 4 day, I and my friends got private tour toward Taiwan. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Wake up early, picked up and went by train, see Hua Lien, Formosa, and others (actually I didn't remember where we went then but they are all beautiful) . then in Taipei we enjoy tours after office hours from my colleagues there.

Then after the first trip, my journey goes on and goes on.
The next year, Let's go to Singapore. it was the first time we (me and my sister) arranged the trip ourselves with a company of my friend who lived there
Years after years with destination in Indonesia and abroad and with different people to go and travel. most of the experience were fun, but still some experiences I learn to hold back, but never a time I had a big argue with travel buddies.

Reflecting all my experiences, I had my notes about travelling:

First, in every journey and travelling, we have to start it with open heart and right attitude, in my analogy, I try to be a child at heart, I give my best effort that the journey will be awesome and fun, but I also realize that sometimes things not always go as we want and I choose to be happy wherever I find unexpected and unpleasant thing during the trip. 

Second, the travelling means that we have to adapt quickly with our travel buddies, because at the end of our trip, there usually will be 2 options: we are getting closer, or we are getting separated.
For me, I choose to put the friendship over my ego in travelling. Hey, things will not always go as we want, so when we go travelling, we will experience unpleasant things. It's a lie to think that there is no problem at all. So it's all up to our choice, if we choose to be happy, we will find our way out of the problems or we can hold back a little for our best interest, yes at least during the trip. Sometimes, it's better to keep silence if we disagree on something... except it's a matter of principle. 

Third, travelling will open my insight on living. 
Why I say that? For me, travelling is not just seeing building, view or having my picture in certain spot, but more travelling makes me see deeper than that
I can see the richness of life I found in the lives of people there, especially when I am welcomed in the home of my friends and welcomed by the whole families... or even spend holiday together with them and the whole families...that's the best experiences :)

But the most lesson I had is seeing the lives of my travelling buddies, trust me, everything will show up when you live together for a few days.. It's hard to hide anything :) but that's what the lesson come. From crazy stunts to serious conversation, it's there and it's fun 

Forth, travelling abroad make me love my country more, Indonesia.

I like a quote said Love need no reason
and yes, I don't need any reason to say why I love Indonesia more after I had my experiences travelling abroad.
and for me, my challenge is how to make Indonesian visit Indonesia and love this amazing country, and more than that, I will contine to share or be a guide for my friends from other countries to introduce Indonesia. It's my duty and privilege to let the world know the beauty of Indonesia.. especially its people...

I cannot hide the reality that some people are pessimistic to explore Indonesia, but I've been to some places in Indonesia and believe me, you will enjoy your stay even in the remote village... 

So this is my advice, go travelling. Travelling will enrich your life. Never feel discouraged if you find unpleasant experience during one trip. Keep trying with a sincere heart. I wish you will have a wonderful time