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RambledAndWandered


One fine day some time in 2010, my eldest niece asked me:
Niece : Why do you travel so much, uncle?

Me : Hmm... *deep in thought (ahem!)* It’s because I like travelling, visiting different countries, seeing new places and meeting new people, learning the history and experiencing different cultures, trying different kind of food...

Niece : But you're not a tourist!!

Me : Eh??
- - - - -

Of course I went on to explain to her what a tourist is but how I wish "tourist" is actually a profession. Then I'd be doing something that I really, really love, and get paid for it ;-) Truth to be told, I have always loved to travel. Even when I was a little kid, every time I was asked what I would like to be when I grow up, my list would almost invariably look like this:
  1. Pilot;
  2. Diplomat; and
  3. Air crew
And guess what they all have in common? ;-)

In hindsight, I probably should have just answered my niece simply by saying, “No, I’m not a tourist, I just like to travel.” That answer however probably would have made her just more confused. I do believe it’s true though because at times, I travel just for travel’s sake. I sometimes embark on a road trip or jump on a plane without thinking much about what is there to see or do once I get to my destination. I just simply go. To quote one Robert Louis Stevenson, "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.” I totally share this sentiment.

I like to travel like it’s nothing. Although in truth, it is indeed a great affair to me. Throughout my travels, like I told my niece, I have had the opportunity to see new places, make new friends with total strangers, learn, unlearn and relearn history, explore different cultures, taste different kind of food, experience new things, and so on. I have also learned to appreciate the simplest things in life, and become more aware and grateful to the Almighty with whatever life throws at me. Most of all however, it gives me the chance to keep learning more and more about myself. And while I’m not out to prove anything to anyone, I do hope that some people understand that “not all those who (ramble and) wander are lost.” :-)

Anyways, I’m not really sure what prompted my niece to ask the question. But she had a world map on one wall in her room and she subsequently asked me to show her the countries that I have been to. I knew she wasn't really counting at the time and neither does anyone else today, for that matter.  Nevertheless, here are some of the places that I have been to so far.




This is not the map on my niece's wall, by the way, heh heh!



I’m hoping to cover more of Eastern Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa in the near future and eventually maybe fly further to the Americas, North and South.

It sure is going to be a long journey before I can finally join the Traveler's Century Club!

Wish me luck! :-)


*Gone to beg the bank manager*

RaW
30/06/2012 Dubai, UAE.


---
P.S.:  Just in case some of you are wondering, no, I'm not a pilot, and neither am I a diplomat nor an air crew ;-)



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28 comments:

Comments and feedback are always appreciated. So do leave one or two if you have the time. Thank you!

  1. I am waiting to visit South America since Africa is not an option (my husband thinks its not safe yet to go to Africa) and 1 city a year in the US for the next 8 years (selagi visa x expire hehe) Other than that mana lagi? China, what about China? And the islands - Mauritius, Seychelle, Maldives, Madagascar, Sri Lanka?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alamak! I soooo want to go to South America! Next year, hopefully! Been thinking about Africa too but personally think I need to travel there with someone else at least, rather than solo.

      China can be fun! And the scenery is awesome, especially if you travel out of the big cities. Been thinking about flying that way but still thinking about the "when".

      Re: Islands; not really into beach holidays (having spent my growing up years _almost_ on a beach, eheh!) but I wouldn't rule out Sri Lanka :-)

      Haish! Think may be I need to find a job with an airlines! :-S

      Delete
  2. o...
    m...
    g...

    u've been to so many countries! envy u :|

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohh but I haven't been to East Asia like you have, and worse, I've only been to Singapore and Bangkok in South East Asia *buat muka tebal* So in a way, I envy you too :-S

      Hopefully later on this year and may be next year.

      Delete
  3. My eye is green with envy seeing the places you had been in Europe. I'd been a few too but not as many as yours. Feel free to visit my travel & living blog :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana! Yes, I have been to quite a few countries in Europe, but the trips were made over a number of years. I think at the rate you're going, you'd be able to take over me soon enough :-)

      p/s: I have been following your blog for quite a bit :-)

      Delete
  4. HI again..! Keep coming back here as i'm getting addicted to all the beautiful photos...ha..ha.. Hmmm...yr travel map..what i can say is... berat sebelah....It's heavier at the western side...:) need to make the dots even la... Make a few dots at Japan, Korea, dan yg seumpama dengannya..Sekian, terima kasih....:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad that you're addicted to this site ;-)

      Yes, I admit that it's a bit skewed towards the West, well, Europe, at least. Been thinking about heading towards the East more and more lately, but I think I should do that from KL. Probably later on this year or next year, inshaAllah :-)

      Delete
  5. hello..found your blog from farikica =) all beautiful photos..hmm, since u're residing in abu dhabi, it's not too far to go travel to andalucia..must see place! salam from UK

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there, Ernie! Thanks for the compliment :-) Yes, I've actually been to Andalucia - Cordoba, Seville & Granada - but won't mind going back there again someday! Definitely a must see in Spain :-)

      Where about in the UK are you, by the way? Seriously wish I could be in the UK too. Travelling seems so easy and cheap from there :-)

      Delete
  6. i realised i never wandered at your tab before.... 34 huh.... lemme see how many for me to catch up... 1,2,3,4,5.... menci. kbai!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Why not lepas ni kita pi travel to South Africa together...next year perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, yes, why not? I certainly can consider that, inshaAllah. Should be an interesting trip :-)

      Delete
  8. I've been traveling to countries in Western Europe je, since being a student in France for 7 years now it's really practical to go visit neighbouring countries like the UK, German, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, etc. Tapi I wanna go to Middle East jugakk!!!! But can't seem to have any time to plan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's better for you to cover Western Europe first while you're there. Flights are quite cheap for travels within Europe. It's quite costly to do so from Malaysia. For Middle East, perhaps you may want to check this out. Emirates offers their passengers Arabian Pass for travels within the region but this has to be bought over the counter only.

      http://www.emirates.com/fr/english/destinations_offers/special_offers/arabian_airpass/discover_me.aspx

      I'd say it offers quite a good value if you plan to travel around the Middle East. Sadly this offer is not available to those of us who are based in the UAE.

      Delete
  9. Whatever you are doing or going, keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hairi, thanks :-) I intend to do just that, God willing :-)

      Delete
  10. Woww, so many countries! Yet, Indonesia is not on the list! Man, you should visit my country! It has so much adventures and natural beauty to offer :D And Indonesia is not just Bali the Island of Gods hehehehe~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is now in the list, Intan ;-) and God willing, I definitely would go back for more :-)

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. Thank you, Emila (albeit 5 months later, hehe! Sorry for that! *gulps*)

      Delete
  12. wow! banyaknya tempat dah pergi!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But you've been to places that I want but yet to go... :-)

      Delete
  13. Be the first Malay who travelled to most countries in lifetime! You are risk analyst , right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr/Mrs/Miss Anon, that's quite a tall order to achieve, heh! :-)

      Delete
  14. Wahh banyaknya tempat dah pergi. Impressed! Since i start read your blog, it's open my eye to be a traveller too. Seriously inspiring. Mind if i suggest this place called Thac Ban Gioc, Vietnam? Nampak kawan kepada kawan pergi sana, you would love the scenery there. Agak terpencil, tapi cantik sangat, macam tak pernah dicemari. Kalau pergi sana jangan lupa tulis tau, love your writing. Btw i/m not a traveller hehehe. Attached together with the picture. (Eh macam panjang je comment lol)
    * harap maaf dengan bahasa yang bercampur. bajet omputih makan belacan lol - zno
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=575579385795584&set=a.575577285795794.1073741838.100000305847507&type=3&theater

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Belum banyak lagi ni, heheh! ;-) Tapi kalau travel atau melancong, tak perlu fikir pasal bilangan negara atau tempat. Pergi tempat2 lain atau pergi tempat2 yg sama berkali2 pun tak apa asalkan tujuan sebenar kita travel (yg boleh jadi berlainan antara satu sama lain) tercapai.

      By the way, baru je tengok gambar Thac Ban Gioc tu. Serius lawa tempat tu! Thanks for the info. Insya Allah ada rezeki, boleh sampai ke sana dan blog about it juga.

      p/s: Saya pun bajet makan belacan dan budu jugak, paling kurang seminggu sekali, haha! So no worries lah ;-)

      Delete
 
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