I cannot express how excited I was to write about this. I already know this is going to be a super lengthy post, so I’m apologizing in advance. Traveling is so fulfilling, and even the inconvenient mishaps and travel hassles turn into precious memories in the end.
I have been working full-time since I turned twenty one. I had to balance work and school, and never really got to go on a vacation that lasted over a week. My role at my job is to oversee the whole establishment, and I also teach some classes. There isn’t anyone that can fill me in when I’m absent. The longest time I could take time off work was during the pandemic, but there weren’t many places I could visit anyway. Also, a few years back I had to have surgery, and it felt like a hotel getaway because I got to be away from work.
Despite the constraints at work, I still managed to squeeze in trips here and there. I’ve been to so many places in South Korea, that now I mainly revisit cities than explore new ones. I’ve been able to visit some cities in Asia, and made multiple trips to some, when I especially enjoyed my stay. I even pulled off a five-day trip to London, including flight time, to visit my cousin for his wedding.
Though I’m grateful for my experiences, I’ve always found it a shame that I couldn’t have the time to actually explore places in depth because of such a tight schedule. But, recently I’ve found out that I might have a chance to go on a long term vacation next year.
I can’t go into details, but basically I’ll be transferring my workplace to a more corporate position in a different branch. During this change, I’ll be able to have some time to take a well-deserved break.
Gosh ,I’ve been talking so much without getting to the point! But this is what happens when I get so excited, so bear with me.
Anyway, I expect I will have about 5 to 6 weeks off. So I have to decide if I want to stay in one city, or choose some cities to travel through. So far, my candidates are as follows: a month in Bali, a month traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai, or walk the Camino de Santiago.
Bali seems like such a beautiful place. The beaches look as if they were made by humans because how perfect they seem. But we all know that no man-made view is comparable to nature’s creations.
The reason I chose Bali as one of my potential travel destinations is because how picturesque it is. I’ve seen so many pictures of gorgeous pool villas, beautiful jungles and beaches on my Instagram feed. I’m not really a person who likes to pose for pictures, but I have to admit that I would like to get one amazing picture with the amazing backdrops of Bali. I know that the amazing island has much more to offer than just Instagram-worthy spots, but I’m just being honest in my reason of how it caught my eye in the first place.
I’ve never really got to have a relaxing vacation, because I really prefer walking around until my feet are sore. But lately, I have been craving some time to take it slow and do some reading by a nice peaceful beach.
Also, I’ve always wanted to learn to surf, and I saw how many surfing classes there were at Bali, and thought that it would be a good opportunity.
The only thing I’m worried about is that, it seems quite crowded, and I feel like after a couple of weeks, I might want to venture to somewhere else. Plus, because there are so many tourists there, I fear I might end up doing very generic activities out of comfort.
The next option is to start my trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and travel north to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Malaysia has always been a country that fascinated me. The fact that the country has so many cultural influences from other nations makes it such a captivating place. I can only imagine how great the food will taste.
I think it would be great to start my travel in Kuala Lumpur and visit neighboring cities like Malacca, before heading North to Thailand. The reason I put Thailand as a part of this trip, is because Thailand has a very special place in my heart. I don’t think I can bare not stopping by, since I would be so near it.
I’ve been to Bangkok three times and other cities as well. Each time I’ve been there, my experience got better and better. The food is impeccable, and each little alleyway is full of delights. What’s more, everyone I met was so kind and helpful.
Bangkok is such a wonderful city, and dare I say one of my favorites. I love how the big sky scrapers and metropolitan areas coexist with local life. Where I come from, residential areas and local shops seem sharply separated from metropolitan areas. I’m sure it’s like this to some extent in Bangkok as well. But I just loved how a really food stall or market could be hiding away in an alley behind a big department store. Or how a normal looking street would transform into a lively street market once the sun sets.
I haven’t gotten a chance to go up to Chiangmai, so if I choose to go on this trip, I’ll be sure to explore that city as well as neighboring areas. I’m looking forward to see the difference in Northeastern Isaan cuisine compared to the Thai food I’m more used to from Bangkok.
The last option is walking the Camino de Santiago. I’m not religious. My mother is Buddhist and I do have some influences, but not enough to consider myself a person with religion. But embarking on such an adventure is surely to be spiritually uplifting.
During my last year of high school, I took Spanish. After midterms, my teacher put on the movie “The Way.” It was about a father who goes on the Camino de Santiago after recovering the body of his son who had passed on the pilgrimage himself. I don’t remember if I liked the movie or not, but from then on I’ve always wanted to take on the challenge and go on the pilgramage.
I’ve seen many vlogs from people on the pilgrimage. I love to see how the scenery changes throughout the journey. I enjoy watching all the Youtubers meet other travelers from all over the worlds in the albergues. It seems like everyone has their own unique and meaningful reason of why they chose such a difficult journey, and it showcases that each person’s life is special in their own way.
The thing is, I’m very shy, but very talkative at the same time. I love talking to my friends, and can go on hours and hours chatting and listening. I love to hear other people’s experience and learn about them, even if I may not agree with them or have radically different viewpoints on some things. But, I have so much trouble getting to know people in the beginning, and actually initiating a conversation is something I truly dread.
If I could have it completely my way, I would go on the pilgrimage with an extroverted friend. Some days, it would be just us talking and walking on the road. Other days we might meet a friend to walk together for a while.
This is the way I want it. But I think I need to step out of my comfort zone, and use the experience to grow and engage with other people. In many ways, I think this trip would help me explore my inner self as well as the world around me.
So yes, I have these options before me. They’re not my only options of course, because I can sense that there’s going to be more destinations that I will be drawn to. I’m just gathering all the choices I can make, because I’m positive there isn’t going to be a right or wrong one.
I’m excited to hear any recommendations from others. I hope my lengthy rant has given you some insight in what I look for in travel. If it seems vague, it’s because I’m into anything and everything.
Sonagi 
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