Resigning from a highly pressurized works feel so damn "excellent", so what is next? Since I wrote this blog in arrears, so the plan goes like these. Rest and doing nothing in the month of August, just rest the rest, sleep the sleep, enjoy the joy, and be a free man. Then come the plan to travel one month in China in Beijing, Shanghai, Su Zhou and Hang Zhou. When I back, I need to settle something personal in the month of October then start building and updating my CVs since my last old CVs was written don't know how many donkey years ago... ... ...
My original plan was to travel in Europe for one and half months, with 3 weeks working in an organic farm in exchange for foods and boarding somewhere in France and/or UK, the rest of the other 3 weeks will be for real traveling including visiting my friends in Germany and UK. Working in the organic farm will allow me to get in touch with the local community, stay away from the hustle and bustle of the modern city life and learn their culture and stuffs from them. Of course, it is one of the many ways to save the traveling costs by earning free foods and accommodation myself, and make new friends and lengthen my trips. However, my travel budget drawn up by me revealed that this European trip could easily cost me a great fortune, so I fret. Approximately RM20, 000 to RM30, 000, so I have a valid reason to fret and twiddle my thumbs.
Making the allowance of high traveling costs in Europe, and the thrills of the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic game, I changed my plan to China and it turns out to be an amazing trip. Cheap currency has allowed me to spend whenever I feel I want to. Should I stick to my old plan to travel in Europe, probably I will not enjoy as much as my China trip.
My first stop is Shanghai, then Hang Zhou, followed by Su Zhou, then Beijing. I spent 6 days in Shanghai, 3 days in Hang Zhou, 4 days in Su Zhou and two weeks in Beijing. I take this trip alone and without much plan. I don't even reserve my accommodation in advance in Hang Zhou, Su Zhou and Beijing, of course, no plan for the intercity transport except booking down the flight from Shanghai to Beijing.
I choose to stay in International youth hostel during the whole trip and it does save me a lot of dimes. It costs around 40 to 60 Yuan per bed in a big city like Beijing and Shanghai but of course I need to share the room with the other strangers. I always take the 6 sharing bed rooms and it is great because it is one of the many ways to know people. Nothing much can be done at night over there, especially after walking and traveling the whole day one may easily felt weary and lethargic. There are TVs and Internet provided but I am just lazy to go for it. After taking dinner and nice shower, I normally sat by my bed and start chat with roommates. It is relatively easier to know someone in international youth hostel because most travelers are backpackers who travel alone or with two/three companions. While traveling alone in abroad, one tends to be friendly and that is why I met and talked to many people and make a couple of friends.
Surprisingly I get up early in China because the day becomes bright at around 6am in the morning. So I wake up at around 630am everyday, switch on the bed-side lamp beside me, start reading my lonely planet and see where I can go on that particular day. Yes, I only plan my itinerary in the morning on that particular day. And it turns out to be amazing. My boss always tells me that 'if one fails to plan, you plan to fail'. But this trip showed me otherwise, by not planning upfront, many surprising things happen and I just follow whatever my journey takes me, all I need to do is to enjoy every single moment it bring forward to me. As a result, I came across many great people, foods and other fabulous stuffs unexpectedly.
This trip is truly revealing and I think I will continue to travel alone next time. I used to work 24/7, now I plan to travel at least once per year. We should all do that to let our hair down and find time to pamper our self.
My original plan was to travel in Europe for one and half months, with 3 weeks working in an organic farm in exchange for foods and boarding somewhere in France and/or UK, the rest of the other 3 weeks will be for real traveling including visiting my friends in Germany and UK. Working in the organic farm will allow me to get in touch with the local community, stay away from the hustle and bustle of the modern city life and learn their culture and stuffs from them. Of course, it is one of the many ways to save the traveling costs by earning free foods and accommodation myself, and make new friends and lengthen my trips. However, my travel budget drawn up by me revealed that this European trip could easily cost me a great fortune, so I fret. Approximately RM20, 000 to RM30, 000, so I have a valid reason to fret and twiddle my thumbs.
Making the allowance of high traveling costs in Europe, and the thrills of the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic game, I changed my plan to China and it turns out to be an amazing trip. Cheap currency has allowed me to spend whenever I feel I want to. Should I stick to my old plan to travel in Europe, probably I will not enjoy as much as my China trip.
My first stop is Shanghai, then Hang Zhou, followed by Su Zhou, then Beijing. I spent 6 days in Shanghai, 3 days in Hang Zhou, 4 days in Su Zhou and two weeks in Beijing. I take this trip alone and without much plan. I don't even reserve my accommodation in advance in Hang Zhou, Su Zhou and Beijing, of course, no plan for the intercity transport except booking down the flight from Shanghai to Beijing.
I choose to stay in International youth hostel during the whole trip and it does save me a lot of dimes. It costs around 40 to 60 Yuan per bed in a big city like Beijing and Shanghai but of course I need to share the room with the other strangers. I always take the 6 sharing bed rooms and it is great because it is one of the many ways to know people. Nothing much can be done at night over there, especially after walking and traveling the whole day one may easily felt weary and lethargic. There are TVs and Internet provided but I am just lazy to go for it. After taking dinner and nice shower, I normally sat by my bed and start chat with roommates. It is relatively easier to know someone in international youth hostel because most travelers are backpackers who travel alone or with two/three companions. While traveling alone in abroad, one tends to be friendly and that is why I met and talked to many people and make a couple of friends.
Surprisingly I get up early in China because the day becomes bright at around 6am in the morning. So I wake up at around 630am everyday, switch on the bed-side lamp beside me, start reading my lonely planet and see where I can go on that particular day. Yes, I only plan my itinerary in the morning on that particular day. And it turns out to be amazing. My boss always tells me that 'if one fails to plan, you plan to fail'. But this trip showed me otherwise, by not planning upfront, many surprising things happen and I just follow whatever my journey takes me, all I need to do is to enjoy every single moment it bring forward to me. As a result, I came across many great people, foods and other fabulous stuffs unexpectedly.
This trip is truly revealing and I think I will continue to travel alone next time. I used to work 24/7, now I plan to travel at least once per year. We should all do that to let our hair down and find time to pamper our self.
p/s: the next destination is here. Join us.
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