A friend asked me, “Why do you keep travelling? Is it really that interesting?”

I feel that travelling for a holiday is a time for learning and relaxation and also a time where you reward yourself for the year. It also has to depend on the companions you have for the holiday though.

My first trip overseas was to Malaysia, Kukup (a fishing village that is around 1 hour drive from the causeway). That was in year 1994, during my Secondary One Geography Day Trip. I was quite excited starting from the day my mom brought me to this Immigration (At Kallang, the old building) to make the now-defunct West Malaysia Passport (Blue in Color). Come to think of it, it was an enriching day where I get to smell cow dung and see how a cow was being fertilised, haha, actually it was quite tormenting for the cow k… imagine a human hand is being inserted into the arsehole to put something (which I conveniently forget once I left the dairy farm) inside to fertilise it. Although it was wasted that I did not get a chance to try milking the cow, it could be fun… Hehe!!

We went for Seafood lunch at a Kelong also, it was the first time I saw a crab-like creature that eats coconut for food, I can’t remember the name also, I recently saw a poster at the famous Orchard MRT Escalator leading to CK Tang Entrance, that says the name of this crab-like creature but having bad memory and in a hurry (as usual) I forgot again… :p

These are the most memorable parts of my first trip overseas, although it was short, but still nevertheless broaden my meagre knowledge by a little.

Years flies 1995… 1996… 1997… it was in 1998 March that I have a chance for another trip to Malaysia, and this time I’m going with my relatives who will be driving up to Malacca, it will only be a 2 days 1 night trip… And it was through much persuasion from my mother before my father allowed me to go… it was also my first trip that I’m going with my Grandparents…

June 1998 I have another trip overseas and this time it will be to Kuala Lumpur and Genting and will be going by Train… stayed overnight at my Grandparents’ house before waking up early in the morning to catch the earliest train to KL (7 hours ride). My Aunty came back from USA for a holiday and was thinking of going to Genting hence the chance to follow along… reach KL Train Station in the afternoon where my Uncle picked us up to go Genting Highlands. As I was with the Adults you can imagine how bored I was when all of them went to the Casino (I was underage that time) and I’m alone in the room with not much TV programmes to watch also… so I did the best thing I could inside the room, I had a hot bath while watching TV, of course I make sure I locked all doors from the inside (latched up) before opening up the “window” that separates the bedroom from the bathroom…

I regretted not taking more photographs during this trip, it was my last trip overseas with my grandfather. He passed away in June 1999… (T_T)

November 1999 went for a holiday with my maternal relatives, we went to South Korea, it will be my first time taking Aeroplane and first Winter holiday, I remember we even had to transit in Bangkok for our travel from Singapore to Bangkok… Korea have a very different culture from Singapore, sort of more traditional from the first look but maybe because there is also a language barrier hence couldn’t really understand much that time… Well, I had a bad experience with the politeness of Koreans during the holiday trip, we were on our way up to Mount Sorak, there is a stopover where you can get refreshments and get to use the toilets. We were queuing up (ha, orderly Singaporeans) and the ah-zhu-ma (means Aunty) behind me keep pushing my back, poking at me… I recall her wearing the han-bok (the traditional costume), her skirt is like those can-can skirt; quite big so keep poking at me, although I’m wearing many layers of clothes but I still can feel the irritating poke lor… haha, and the people on the streets will just bump into you if you walk to slow or blocking them… I have a habit of apologising if I bumped into people or would say excuse me, but to the Koreans they would just bump and walk away… that’s my impression of them till now… can anyone change it for me?? Korean dramas now doesn’t portray this image, but one thing is true they are fierce… Haha!!

During 1999 it was cheaper to go to Korea than now, because that time Chan Brothers’ were having holiday fair and promoting South Korea so if now you want to go South Korea, it’s definitely more expensive. It was around $800+ for 5D 6N trip + 2D 1N Bangkok in 1999, we had Skiing at Pyong something (a ski resort), Lotte World (Amusement Park), Mount Sorak, Waterpia (Hot spring), etc. But now I think it would cost at least $1,000 for only South Korea.

Year 2002 (can’t remember the month) went for a 2D 1N trip to Desaru, not a bad place… if you like relaxation and sun, can try going to Desaru, just a ferry ride away only.

I went for a short trip to Genting in year 2002 April, 4D 3N… I believe I just finish my Final Year Project then had around 1 month of free period before my attachment starts, so went to Genting with my sister… this time around more fun because she accompany me to go inside the Theme Park. Then in December 2002, went to Hongkong / Macau with my sister also… stayed at First World Hotel, they just started operating not long ago but it was quite scary then.

I still remember I went with my 3rd Aunt and family to Genting but I couldn’t remember when.. I think it is in Year 2003, can anyone confirm with me?? Because I remember wearing some clothes that was bought for my trip to Hongkong, so it has to be after that…

Come to think of it ever since 2002 started, I have been going for short trips overseas yearly… it has become a part of my yearly routine and a reward for myself.

Year 2002 – Genting (April), Hongkong / Macau (December)

Year 2003 – Langkawi / Phuket Cruise (March), Bangkok (August / September)

Year 2004 – Bangkok (November), Beijing (December)

Year 2005 – Kuala Lumpur (April / May), Hongkong / Macau (October / November)