at the beginning...

I don't know what inspired me to travel. I don't know if it is because my mom is an avid traveler but as a child, I had dreams of traveling, just the way Belle read about it in her books and how Jasmine wanted to see the world beyond the palace walls. I consider myself as an ambivert but there were times I had periods of solitude when I was younger and I would get lost inside stories, mythology folklore, geography, research and daydreaming.

Real events in the world, like the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia in 2004, led me to research about Thailand, wanting to go to Khao Lak and Phuket. How Singapore had the National Orchid Garden, the largest orchid garden in the world and I was already obsessed with orchids and wanted to go see it. This was before the Gardens by The Bay was even created. And I always wanted to sail the sea on a cruise ship and dreamt about the tropical, exotic itineraries.

Eventually I got involved in a relationship from my teen years into adulthood. I still dreamed about traveling and made up itineraries. It was possible for me to travel at that point but I was with a person who thought traveling was stupid. And with that relationship, I felt like a bird, living in a cage trapped for years.

Before I went to be with him, I asked him specifically, "will you support my dreams?" He said yes. But before that chapter of my life closed, I reminded him of that promise and he had no recollection of it. As a bird being released for the first time in such a long time, I was scared to fly but I did it. As I kept flying it started to feel natural and I finally started to feel free.

School wasn't always my strong suit but I had a teacher in my creative writing class who supported me. He complimented on my creative writing and imagery. It's been a long time, but do I still have it? Lol. And I'm really bad because I don't like to start things because I feel like I never finish them. Because if it's not perfect, I tend to just give up. But continue reading on this journey with me. We'll go in chronological order until we're up to date. 😉