Maiden backpacking trip

It was on Tuesday about 5 days ago during my Long 3 Hour Break that I have a sudden vision sprouting in my mind. My college friends and I were in Kim Gary eating lunch, and since this is possibly one of our few final outings together, our conversation centered around vacations. Jo Vie spoke of luscious blue waters surrounding Redang and I felt myself transported back to one of the most regal visions I’ve ever seen to date: the bright round moon parading its soft rays over the sea at Tioman, at the beach just outside the chalet we were staying in.

At that exact moment that I saw the sight, I felt calmed instantly, swayed by the feeling that if the world were to end there and then, it would’ve chosen the right time. It’s hard for me to convey what I want all of you to see, even the picture above I snapped at that time wouldn’t have done the beautiful imagery any justice.

It was then and there that I have my annual lust for travelling, and since a pre-serious planning of a Langkawi trip with my high school mates actually sizzled off in the same manner that it materialised, I thought, what the heck, I couldn’t possibly wait till the end of the year when my mates would all be free at the same time, and decided to take matters into my own hands.

I wasn’t really expecting any positive replies when I advertised on my MSN’s personal message looking for travel buddies, but in a strange twist it turned out better than I expected. Matt was the first who enquired, and even though nothing’s really concrete at the moment, we might put together a road trip or sommat. :D

Then it was Siew Keat, my high school senior, who casually asked, and in turn, told me about a Cambodian trip that he and Gopi planned. Much as I really wanted to go, it clashed with my finals, so I had to let it pass – until Gopi messaged me on Friday midnight about it that an idea I foolishly hadn’t thought of transpired: I can actually just meet up with them right after my exam at a predetermined city!!

I have to let you know that I’m bloody excited about it – considering that this would be my maiden trip to a foreign land, while backpacking no less. There were several last minute changes to the plan, from me actually exploring a landmine-riddled Angkor Wat alone, to me joining them at Siem Reap for a day before leaving to Phnom Penh.

HGAAHFGAHDAFSJPGHASHAS AHAHAH GILA EXCITED LA AKU.

And if you’ve been following my blog throughout the years, you would’ve known how much of a travel enthusiast that I am – but if there’s one thing I can’t do at all costs, it’s travelling alone. 2 people would be fine, 3 nice, 4 better, but really imo, any group exceeding 10 would’ve been just a crowd.

And that last minute travelling plan just got me booking a trip from Hanoi to KL on the 24th June, which was when and where we were to leave. Funnily enough, I’ve yet to book my plane trip from KL to Siem Reap (need to determine when exactly my papers end during the exam week, as I only have 3 subjects to take during the 5 days) because my college is quite inefficient like that – it’s just 2 weeks away and I’ve yet to receive my exam schedule, of which I’ve to confirm with them by tomorrow. =.=

Here are the things I’m quite excited about (or at least, what I’d envision it to be):

• Finally being able to read all those books I’ve always wanted to read but always had no time or too lazy to read or DotA. Just me and the novel carrying me through dull times while in the airplane, in a haphazard, wooden-seated bus, or a tuk-tuk.


• FINALLY able to be the giver of souvenirs, instead of a recipient – had enough listening to brave, marveling stories of what it’s like in a foreign country, its people, its scenery, etc.


• FINALLY able to get a taste of what it’s like backpacking in cheap USD$3 per night motels.


• And if I’ve the time or could look for a USD$0.50 per hour cybercafe in Cambodia, might even blog a short entry from there! (stupid reason to be excited about but I’ve always wanted to do that)


• And a zillion things I can’t think of at the moment, like able to rid oneself of minute details back home and concentrate on enjoying what could probably be a hard trip in the company of two friends you’ve never met for a long time.

I’ll be in Cambodia for just a few days before we depart for Vietnam’s various towns and cities. Now what souvenir would you like to have? :D