What Does Traveling Means to Me? #TSBreakAway

This post is dedicated to Tourism Selangor #TSBreakAway and to travelers from around the world. Upon taking a step back to reflect on my travel experiences after my recent trip from Taiwan, I thought this is a great time to share about what does traveling means to me.

Traveling to me is about exploring cultures and meeting new people

Apart from exploring places, we meet a diverse group of people from various part of the world with different background. The chance in meeting someone during your trip is priceless, as both of us had the fate in meeting at a place despite other variables, like being in somewhere else.

During a FAM Trip to Sibu I was able to interact with the locals, they prepared their local delicacy as we enjoy it by the waterfall; the beauty of Mother Nature in Borneo is spectacular, filled with greens. We had long conversation during our lunchtime, sharing of their culture, some challenges in life and specialities in Sibu.

SEE ALSO: Hiking to Waterfall and Planking @ Sibu

SEE ALSO: Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center

Traveling to me is about learning, unlearning and re-learning

We may have a particular mind-set through influences by our friends and family in our homeland. When I travel, I am exposed to various things due to culture and lifestyle differences. I was curious as ever during my first day in a new place, I start to notice the differences, accept these differences by embracing them and when I’m back home from a trip, I treasure these experiences and the things I learn along the way. Traveling opens up my mind. Therefore, I constantly learn, unlearn and relearn wherever I go.

Traveling to me is about step out of my comfort zone

There are countless times I’ve step out of my comfort zone to explore, discover and experience something beyond what I’ve imagined. Traveling enables you to take a bold move to do something daring, something you wouldn’t do back in homeland and living without regrets.

I recall during my trip to Kuching, I missed out the chance on trying out sago worm due to lack of supplies. Opportunity came when I was in Sibu, along with Chris and Rebecca I tried the sago worm, though I was afraid to try it raw, I had the cooked ones. Surprisingly, the taste and texture was creamy and pleasant! I’ve been to jungle tracking, river tracking and now scuba diving after letting go of my fear to explore different areas. However, I’m still not ready for bungee jumping, but I’m very keen to try how to fly a real plane! I did took off the Boeing A320 in AirAsia Academy but I wish to be able to experience the true feeling being up in the sky actually flying a plane.

SEE ALSO: Sago Worms Eating it Live or Fried

Traveling to me is about taking good care of yourself

I’ve travelled alone, travel in large groups as well-travelled with friends, over a couple of trips I am able to take good care of myself while my parents are proud of that too.

Traveling requires lots of planning, budgeting and researching; these includes from booking a flight to planning which hotel to stay and how to get to particular destinations. Planning is also crucial especially in a foreign country where you do not speak the language, how would you communicate then while instructing the cab driver? Detailed planning necessary, such as writing down addresses in the native language on place cards etc.

SEE ALSO: Le Noir at Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore

My family had been very protective, so I started to travel only in the recent years, I recall during my first trip, I arrived at Kota Kinabalu without a plan in mind, without knowing how far the airport is to my hotel and underestimating the destination I wanted to go without proper planning. Thanks to Hayden, who was kind enough to guide me and bring me around town, after I posted a status I arrived in KK without a plan.

Now, after countless trips I’m well prepared, at least by doing my best in planning out my trip itinerary, though unforeseen circumstances do happen at times.

Lastly, traveling enables me to inspire others through my experiences. I’m passionate about social media, business and marketing. Through traveling, I’m able to experience the different lifestyle needs of the locals, how do the local uses social media or particular platform (ie: Taiwanese mainly uses LINE over whatsapp), what are some of the business which is popular or trending in other countries but not in Malaysia and so forth. After a trip, I enjoy sharing my experiences and places I’ve been on my blog and even during a trip if there’s a recommendation I need to drop, I’ll share my tip/comment/feedback on Foursquare, TripAdvisor and Instagram, hoping it would inspire someone or help someone out.

What does traveling means to you? Feel free to leave a comment by sharing your views.

#TSBreakAway is a campaign for bloggers by Tourism Selangor, to be part of the 12 Xplorers on a 5 days 4 nights adventure. Among the 12, a grand prize winner will walk away with prizes worth up to RM 10,000. Wish me luck! 

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