2015, The Year of Many Adventures

I remembered how the year started off with so much anticipation, fear, uncertainties and excitement.

It was the year I couldn’t have a grip of where, how and what I will be by the end of the year. But now, hey things didn’t end too bad

 

1. Started off with the long awaited trip to Sarawak

I fell in love with East Malaysia when I first visited Sabah for my Mount Kinabalu hike in 2014. The vibes, the people, the city itself reflects unity, how a multiracial community can live in peace with one another, and development of a nation without losing its culture and originality. And that is what a true 1Malaysia is all about.

We did not visit during the best time of the year, but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. While we were stranded in Mary’s home due to the floods, we spent our time devouring in authentic durian kampung, chatting away with Mary’s parents, scavenging the forest for langsats and rambutans, and learning to know her better through the environment she grew up in. Sarawak easily became one of my favorite states in Malaysia.

I learned that a holiday need not be packed with the must-visit landmarks. It could be as simple as learning the culture and the way of life through the locals. Mary’s mom cried on the day we had to leave. I then realized a vacation isn’t all about yourself sometimes. It’s about leaving footprints and positive impacts on the people or the city. It was then I knew fighting for the whole trip to work out after 4 years was a worthwhile effort

 

2. A farewell trip to Langkawi with the fellow coursemates

It was that three nights of duty-free alcohol and chocolates that made me realize how blessed I am to have survived my degree with these people. It was also the night we suddenly got to know each other much better under the influence of alcohol and people started sharing their darkest secrets where at one point I doubted my Mandarin fluency for fear I misinterpreted their words.

These bunch of people were not the people I’d expect to be part of when I first started university, mainly due to language barrier and difference in culture. Being born Chinese, I’ve never really been a Chinese all my life. With them, I learned that karaoke is actually pretty fun, Chinese food ain’t that bad, and thanks to them I picked up Mandarin pretty fast. Thanks to them, I learned to know my roots and culture better.

 

3. Spent Chinese New Year with the extended family for the first time, in many years

In many years, we have stopped spending our Chinese New Year break in Penang since my last grandparent passed away. We lost the tradition of having big gatherings, sharing meals together, and spending the nights together with alcohol and poker cards.

This year, we decided to take a break from travelling abroad and instead spend the holiday at the parents’ hometown. And it is still the best way to spend the celebration together with the people who watched you grow up to be who you are today.

It was very fulfilling even though it means just having a meal and hearing the elderlies talking away, playing board games with the little ones, and watching a movie with the cousins you grew up together with.

 

4. Went on an adventure on a whole new level in Cambodia

Cambodia was the first of many things. From eating a duck foetus (balut), to snacking on crickets and tarantula, we did them all. While I enjoyed my trip as a backpacker, the condition of the country’s people saddened me so much. The sight of children as young as 2 years old walking out on the streets to ask for money was heartbreaking. The fact that we couldn’t help them all and saying no to them was even more heartbreaking. Charging us unreasonable cutthroat prices but at the same time understanding the rationale behind them doing so, haggling with the tuk tuk drivers always put us in a dilemma. Conversations with the locals were always very hard, not because of the language barrier but listening to the life stories they share.

It made me realize that it’s so easy to walk in and out of the country seeing the beautiful side of it only while people are suffering, there is more that we travellers can do to help them.

 

6. Attended Cambridge University

It is the dream I fought so hard for that when it came true, I couldn’t differentiate the realms of dream and reality anymore. It was a dream so surreal, I wanted to share the experience with people around me that Siau Inn and I offerred free accommodation and food to people who came to visit us.

It is the dream that 20 years down the road, I want to tell my kids that they should not be fearful of dreaming the impossibilities. I want them to believe that if they try hard enough, things will fall into place eventually.

 

7. Visited 23 cities in 15 countries in a whole different continent

With the best companion I could ask for, we let ourselves out and enjoyed to the fullest. From chasing after snatch thieves to making it to the Swiss Alps, it was an adventure of a lifetime that we both will remember for a long time.

8. Found back my best friend

 

If I did not, my only regret in university would be losing her.

 

9. Explored my spiritual path

I’ve never been a religious person all my life but sometimes, you just have to believe in the existence of the higher power in this universe. The encounter with my teacher was more than just a coincidence, we both believed. And this too is a new year resolution for me this year.

 

10. Graduated as a chemical engineer

I fought hard to make the most out of that 4 years of my life, to become a graduate my family will be proud of. And I’m glad I did it. Looking back 4 years ago, I wouldn’t have foresee the person I’ve became today. And I’m happy with who I am today.

 

11. Got struck by Cupid and learned to love again

I highly suspected that Cupid overlooked my name in the list the past year and made it up by shooting arrows at me aimlessly this year. Perhaps Cupid knew I love travelling, he thought it would be funny to pair me up with guys from all parts of the world. Not funny, Cupid.

 

 

So many adventures for the heart and soul, I love 2015 in many ways. Looking back, I’m glad I took chance at every opportunity for a new experience.

2015, I wouldn’t want to have you in any other way.

 

 

365 days later, I’ve got 6 new year resolutions checked.