A Break From A Break

I told Shamil today that Tibet may not happen. There, I said it. As much as my heart pounds for that Himalayan experience, I have obligations to fulfill at home this coming semester break. A close friend is tying the knot and there’s no way in the world I’d miss it. That, of course, on top of the fact I’ve been appointed the interior decorator.

But 3 months is too long a time to forsake the opportunity to travel altogether. Faizal is planning a trip to Boracay with Layla and Farhani. Perhaps 2 weeks in the Philippines is not such a bad idea after all! It would probably take place in the first half of June, but it would mean that Mansor could not possibly join.

I don’t know, it’s too early to decide I guess. But I’ve made my choice; it’s only fair that Faiz and Mariana get to set the date for their own wedding celebrations and not having to cater to my overseas trip.

Perhaps a break from a long break is good, especially when you have strong reasons to take this break.

The Road Ahead - In Between Books

That’s sheer exaggeration, a hyperbole of sorts. The semester just started 4 days back and I haven’t quite adjusted my lifestyle to embrace yet another school term. Plus, the only books I’ve been reading so far are the various Lonely Planet installations…

I’ve been back for 2 weeks and already I feel like a different person; Matt, you look tanned! Wow, you have fairer skin! Oh, did you gain weight? You look beefed-up! Gosh, I like the slimmer you! Since when do you use chopsticks?

Truth is, I did lose some weight when we were in China but I’ve since gained all back merely 2 days upon my return. I did get sunburn when we were at higher altitudes hence that should explain my darker complexion. And, for the record, I’ve always used chopsticks when I dig into my bowl of noodles, save for the home. Bottom line is you’ve not seen me in a while so everything tends to look different…

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my next trip. This time, I intend to spend 6 weeks overseas if my finances allow. I know it’s still a good 6 months before the next term break but already I’m spoilt for choice. Here I am poring through one LP after another when I should be doing some revision. I know, travel can wait… but my youth can’t!

It’s been 2 weeks since I started planning for my next trip (yes, I began the moment I touched down) and so far, here are my top picks:

* * *

1. Trans-Siberia Railway
Gosh, how I can’t resist this temptation! Preliminary calculations brought the cost of an entire trip from St. Petersburg to Beijing via Moscow, Ulaanbaatar and a throng of other Russian cities to SGD466. The thing is, I estimated a full 6 weeks for the journey (including stopovers) and chances are I’d be doing the bulk alone. Faizal will only be available the first 2 weeks of June, Aly’s on internship throughout the summer vacation, and Mansor could only get off the later 2 weeks of June.

2. Bhutan
I watched a documentary of an ascent to the Everest and was smitten once again by Shangri-La. Honestly, I don’t know if I ever could get enough of snow peaks. Problem is, my Sikkim-Nepal-India trip this year-end is pretty much concrete and Bhutan is well on the way. Going there this June seems like a waste.

3. Tibet
Again, arising from my seemingly-unparalleled newfound affinity with xue shans, Tibet sounds like a good choice. But, going into Tibet would incur SGD400/pax and we would have to fly direct from Zhongdian or Kunming to Lhasa. A land route is available via Chengdu but that would mean that our acclimatization efforts would have gone to waste in addition of 5 traveling days.

4. Burma
A weird choice at first thought but just how many people can honestly say that they have backpacked Burma? The idea remains a novelty save for the uncertain socio-political climate, especially in the days after the Saffron Revolution. Aly added that I might as well throw in a doze of Bangladesh due to its close proximity to Burma. Well, I just might!

5. Philippines
One of the 3 ASEAN countries that I’ve yet to visit (Burma and Timor-Leste being the accompanying two) and sure, traditional Filipino lives can be as diverse as its thousands of islands. But, at the moment, I’m not too keen on a touristy beach holiday, unless of course I could squeeze in a hop to the Samoas.

* * *

So you see, I can be very fickle at times and there’s no better time to witness that than now. Aly and Faizal, I know I’ve been raving about Trans-Siberia the past week but I’ve decided that, ceteris paribus, I’ll save that trip for you guys. As for the rest of you, come, help me choose!

en-VY 07 - Moving On

Day 7 and I still feel a great sense of loneliness and forlorn for what we went through the past month. To be completely honest, I returned to Singapore with an overbearing void inside of me and I can’t help but to feel rather disoriented. Having used to wake up every morning looking forward to explore every inch of an unfamiliar place for a month, I now have to accustom myself to look forward to school term yet again next week. What amazed me most is that it took only a month to have my heart harvested completely somewhere else.

It was yesterday that I met up with Aly for the first time after the trip and I must say I was filled with relief – relieved because he is a reminder of a trip that I miss dearly. I’m not saying that I don’t miss everyone in Singapore when I was away, it’s just that I dread having to up the tempo again and slipping myself under the blanket of reality.

I guess what made en-VY 07 far more memorable is the fact that we made so many new friends along the way. By comparison, we didn’t have as much encounter with foreigners on Borneo Beckons and Intriguing Indochina was too short a trip to foster any real relationships with the people we met – this is, of course, on top of the fact that pretty much kept to ourselves. I have to agree with Aly that this is the first time we let go of ourselves and the result is pretty obvious. We learnt so much more about ourselves and about other people and it is these experiences that made the trip all the more enriching.

At the moment, I find myself attempting to relive every second of en-VY 07 through the myriad of photographs captured during the trip. Also, I was very fortunate to have heard from Richard who wrote in from Saigon. I pray for his speedy recovery since he is not in the best of health. Judging by his tone, I could tell that in some ways he, too, is dreading the flight back home.

If it is any consolation, I am reading up some materials for our next trip. Right now, the Trans-Siberian Railway looks like a major possibility. As I discussed with Faizal shortly after my return, Africa would have to wait because of tremendous logistical issues. This may very well mark the dawn of yet another adventure…

en-VY 07 - Pictoral Tribute

I finally had some time this morning to recuperate after the trip and all those 'catch-up' sessions and what better way to 'celebrate' sometime on my own then to return to what I like most about my post-vacation period - editing the thousands of photos! As usual, I've carefully selected the better photos and compiled them into several collages. Enjoy!

Shangri-La Discovered:

Deqin has got to be our favourite place throughout the trip. The scenery was simply breathtaking. It is no wonder that, given such a perfect setting, the realm of the Gods and us mortal beings could co-exist with much grace.


Rise of the Dragon:
Halong Bay ranks as our top destination in all of Vietnam simply for its natural splendour.

Sapa Seduction:
Sapa charms with its harmonious ethnic mix and amazing mountain vistas.

Romancing A Bygone Era:
A walk inthe old town leaves you enchanted by what life must have been like centuries ago.

Reliving the Past:

Hoi An is truly a photographer's paradise, from it's tastely ageing architecture to its friendly inhabitants.

en-VY 07 - A Dedication

It’s been 4 days since we touched home soil and, to be completely honest, we miss the trip already. I spent the entire weekend catching up with Mas, Faizal and Layla, and the BPians (note that I’ve yet to meet the FSC with the exception of Rahim) and I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by a sheer sense of emptiness. I am totally aware that a month is too short a time to be fully immersed in a foreign culture but what can I say, I guess I’ve been too efficient bearing myself to the elements of my travels, huh?

One heck of a trip and, 4 days since I’ve stepped back to reality, I hope it’s not too late to give a thought to those who’ve made en-VY 07 possible in its entirety. I’ve got a lot to thank for especially…

… my family who, without their consent and blessing, would render en-VY 07 a failure right from the start. My dear Mas too who, with much reluctance, have learnt to adapt quite well to my month-of-absence.

… Aly, my travel buddy. It’s been 3 whole backpacking trips and I hope we’ve found that strength to keep this flame alive for many more years to come. I know I can be quite a pain in the arse and I admire your patience and diplomacy in dealing with my nonsense.

… Faizal, my Upin. Though you weren’t able to join us on this trip, we greatly valued your travel advice and looked forward to your updates, especially during the Vietnam leg. I am, for sure, looking forward to Africa, Trans-Siberia, Silk Road, Himalayas, and Europe with you!

… Fabius and Hazirah. It was a great pleasure having to share parts of en-VY 07 with you guys. You provided us with additional perspectives to the trip and you know you’re always welcomed on board!

… all those we met on the trip! Juan, the lone Chilean backpacker, who bunked in with us in Hanoi. It was a short 3 days together and we enjoyed his company and stories from far-flung lands. Richard and Janet, the Australian couple we met while sailing across Halong Bay. We are honoured to have met them on the cruise and we are humbled by their wealth of knowledge and openness. We thank them for welcoming us into their homes and we look forward to visiting them in Brisbane. Jiang Jun (Aly, don’t laugh!), the lone Funanese traveler we met in Deqin. It wasn’t the best of time for me but thanks nonetheless for putting up with us. And not forgetting Roger and Sharon (Canadian couple), Miraelle and Elsa (Dutch duo), Akiro (Japanese traveler), and fellow traveling Singaporeans who added some colours to our journey…

en-VY 07 - The Final Seal

I would first like to apologise for the rather 'slip-shot' last entry but once you've had your fingertips insensate in near-freezing temperature you'd understand my predicament. As previously mentioned, we left China with mixed feelings - humbled, satisfied, relieved, and forlorn all at once. Having travelled in long-distance buses throughout Yunnan, framed by gorgeous and awe-inspiring backdrop, left us humbled by God's mighty creation. We couldn't, in a hundred years, have imagined that such beauty would unfold before our eyes. Satisfied by the opportunity to witness these unparalleled creations, we were relieved to have left behind the unimaginable lifestyle of it's local inhabitants (am not being rude here but we just couldn't comprehend how one could subject himself to such level of hygiene). Having said all these, we knew, deep down in our hearts, that we would miss every second of this remarkable experience, especially the locals who have touched us with kindness and their ready smiles.

The 27th saw us leaving Kunming for warmer weather in Vietnam. Our first stop, as you may have already know, wasn't quite what we expected. It literally threatened to freeze us to death but having had experience in the unforgiving altitudes of Zhongdian and Deqin we pressed on. But credit has to be given to our visit to Cat Cat Village. It was our only opportunity to experience tribal life upclose and personal. What stuck us most was the warmth that exude from the resident H'mongs as we graced their homes. Our body and mind took another 3 days of bashing before we left Sapa on the evening of 30th for Hanoi via train. Against all odds (ie. advise from hotel owners in Sapa) we secured ourselves hard sleeper tickets for USD12/pax. it was a considerably good deal as the state of the 6-men cabin totally surpassed our expectations. We were indeed more fortunate to have shared the cabin with 2 other Singaporeans who were on their last leg of their 6-day north Vietnam visit.

Hanoi was nothing new to us but the main draw was really Ha Long Bay. It was tough securing a room that morning since it was New Year's Eve so we were a bit apprehensive in getting ourselves a package to Ha Long the day after. Having recalled from an earlier walk about town that a particular agency offered a package for 2D1N for USD26/pax, we returned and jumped on to the bandwagon. Lucky for us they still had vacancies then despite high demands over the New Year. We were to find out that the blessing was to be more than just the reasonable price. That night, we joined throngs of Vietnamese by Hoan Kiem's shore to usher in the new year. Never did we imagine that, despite the crowd, the countdown was to be a major let down as there was no synchrony. It felt more like a private affair where several groups huddled and chanted their own countdown and launched their own dismal 'fireworks'. With the excitement of Ha Long bearing down on us, we made a quick exit to rest for the night.

Like I've said, Ha Long was generous on its blessings. 3 hours out of Hanoi saw us awestruck by the sheer beauty of thousands of limestone peaks thrusting out of the emerald sea. Nong Chia was to be our home for the night and we were very fortunate to have found companions in an Australian couple, Richard and Janet, as well as a shy Japanese lady, Akiro. We hit it off at lunch and we soon found ourselves engaged in a lively conversation on a wide range of topics from religion to personal travel experiences. I couldn't help but felt very humbled by Richard's and Janet's readiness in sharing their tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge with us. That coupled with the sheer beauty of the dragon's descent (especially at dawn and dusk with its crimson-coated sky) made for a great seal to our 1-month odyssey through Vietnam and Yunnan. The apex had to be our quiet time at the deck after dinner, gazing into the sparkling night horizon...

Well, we will be leaving Hanoi early tomorrow morning. I couldn't believe that 1 month passed us by all to quickly. Of course, I could sit down at this internet cafe raving about what we have been through in our journey but we know, and probably you as well, that no amount of words could ever do justice to what we have experienced in the past 27 days...

PS: I haven't got any time to reply to past comments so yes Ezdi please link me up and Naz fret not, the camera is still safe and sound and as for the kickass photos, well I'll let you be the judge ;)