(no subject)
Yesterday, I met my first travbuddy friend, Chris, from Texas. Hopefully that would be the start of many more meet-ups with other travbuddies from all over the world. I have come to realise that life is not all about you and what goes on in your head. Life isn't all about your perspectives and what or how you percieve things. Life should not be great just from the derivation of contentment from the things around you.
There is so much more to life out there. I want to open my eyes and see the world and its people. I was telling Chris how I don't want to go to places just for the sake of being there and seeing what's good. I want to go to places and be there and see past the tourist attractions, even if it means doing nothing but sipping my coffee in a cafe along the streets or just walking aimlessly to nowhere. I want to experience the culture and absorb the atmosphere (without having to realise that i'd have to leave the place the next day). I want to meet people, locals and travellers, and talk to them. I want listen to their travel stories, where they've been and which parts of the world excite them the most.
Perhaps that is why I never did embark on an around-Europe trip because I don't want to spend just a few days of fleeting moments in one country. Perhaps that is why I'm spending three whole weeks in Spain. Perhaps that is why I'm travelling alone.
That said, I've less than 3 days left before my flight to Madrid. My friends and colleagues are seemingly more excited than I am (aww thanks guys). Now let's take a look at my travel plans (and hopefully that'll get me a lil more excited)..
3 days in Madrid (travbuddy meet-up with Marie, from Germany)
3 days in Liverpool (meeting Ben and some other Singaporeans.. ANFIELD!)
5 days in Sevilla (homestay with Olalla and family)
3 days in Granada (travbuddy meet-up with Michael from New Zealand)
2 days in Valencia
5 days in Barcelona (travbuddy meet-up with Delphine from Hong Kong and Manuel from Spain)
Liverpool aside, those places aren't even close to half of Spain. wheee. I need to start packing.
There is so much more to life out there. I want to open my eyes and see the world and its people. I was telling Chris how I don't want to go to places just for the sake of being there and seeing what's good. I want to go to places and be there and see past the tourist attractions, even if it means doing nothing but sipping my coffee in a cafe along the streets or just walking aimlessly to nowhere. I want to experience the culture and absorb the atmosphere (without having to realise that i'd have to leave the place the next day). I want to meet people, locals and travellers, and talk to them. I want listen to their travel stories, where they've been and which parts of the world excite them the most.
Perhaps that is why I never did embark on an around-Europe trip because I don't want to spend just a few days of fleeting moments in one country. Perhaps that is why I'm spending three whole weeks in Spain. Perhaps that is why I'm travelling alone.
That said, I've less than 3 days left before my flight to Madrid. My friends and colleagues are seemingly more excited than I am (aww thanks guys). Now let's take a look at my travel plans (and hopefully that'll get me a lil more excited)..
3 days in Madrid (travbuddy meet-up with Marie, from Germany)
3 days in Liverpool (meeting Ben and some other Singaporeans.. ANFIELD!)
5 days in Sevilla (homestay with Olalla and family)
3 days in Granada (travbuddy meet-up with Michael from New Zealand)
2 days in Valencia
5 days in Barcelona (travbuddy meet-up with Delphine from Hong Kong and Manuel from Spain)
Liverpool aside, those places aren't even close to half of Spain. wheee. I need to start packing.