First horrid story

Well, indeed, I began to appreciate that I am a Chinese. This means that I do not stick out like a sore thumb as compared to me travelling in India or Pakistan. Hey, at least I dun glow in the dark!

As I was happily thinking that I don't look like a tourist-which therefore will reduce the attention from the locals, I still got my stuffs stolen. It happened in Chong Qing ferry terminal. I was waiting for my cruise to come.

I was actually going for a 4 days, 3 night’s journey along the Yangzte River. Heard that after the dam is completed, the water level will rise up to 750 meters to generate enough energy (70 megawatts) to cater to the ever-increasing population of China. This mega project had caused a lot of those coastal villages will be submerged underneath the water. Hence, a great movement of the villagers was initiated. This was a much talked about issue, however, I wasn’t so interested in all these. All I could think of was my lost ipod, my SLR camera, my tele-zoom lens (that cost me about $2000), my wallet, my handphone and my 14 rolls of film.

That was actually a great loss, not only in terms of monetary aspect, but also, my mood to continue with the travel. What affected me most was the entire process of making a police report. It took me 3 hours to settle on that report, with 2 fat and sweaty policemen who smoked like factory chimneys throughout the entire process. I was in a small enclosed room in a dodgy-looking police station with them, trying hard to convince that my stuffs was stolen and NOT misplaced, which they insisted so. So I was really smoked out, by the smoke from their mouth, both figuratively and literally.

It was raining quite heavily that night, and I was also encountering a big storm within myself.

I was blinded with my personal material loss and therefore, wasn’t so appreciative of the surrounding scenery and the severe hardships of the villagers whom I have encountered along the way. I cannot bother if they are suffering or not, because deep inside me, I have hardened my heart. I thought that it is their retribution that such suffering came upon them. I just wanted to find something to gloat at them, to make myself feel better.

Guilt soon overcame me. I felt remorseful about my thoughts and the way I reacted. What is my 'suffering’ compared to theirs? I felt sore because I just cannot swallow the fact that people steals. But, who am I to judge them? If I am given with their living conditions, will I resort to stealing as well? With the temptation of having more money to feed my family, to provide education for my children, to buy myself more cows and sheep to make my life better, will I do it? Will you do it?

However, after losing all those so called 'precious' things in my life, I became simpler. Sometimes things that are important to you don’t seem that important anymore...without all these, I am starting again from square one. I guess when I fewer possessions, people and friends have become my treasures. I am glad that I have a friend who will always stand by me when shitty things like these happen. Thank you Cui'e!

I used to take a lot of pictures when I saw many beautiful things because I want to capture all these moments with my lens and share the beauty with those who are precious to me, yet not with me for this trip. However, since the lost of my camera, I began to take pictures with just my eyes and mind. Now that the pictures are printed on my mind's negatives and I don’t know how long will they stay inside my head?

I have learnt that everything happened for a reason. I thank God for my health and the health that He blessed my parents with. And soon, I forgot about my loss and move on with my journey. I learnt to be thankful that I lost my material objects and not a home, just like those who have stayed along the Yangzte River for many generations.

The 'fairy' tales starts here

My travel tales serve as an outlet for me to share my exciting stories with friends at home, just like how an excited child tells the parents of her exciting adventures at the playground at the end of the school day.

I don’t know what I will write, but of course, every travel tale has its ups ad downs. There could be some which sounded horrid I know. While on the other hand, there could tales that are so heart-warming and enriching to one's soul. The misadventures I have faced, which I think back with a smile, now that its behind me.

Anyway, I hope it had given everyone all a true insight of the daily happenings of ordinary people in this massive piece of land which housed billions and almost a third of the world's population.

All I could say is… all the stories are purely on my personal point of view, my thoughts and feeling at that moment. Well, I do agree I can be quite bias at times. In fact, since the day I was here, I have been hearing horrid stories from backpackers, and even the locals, on what this country can offer. Though horrified, it will not deter me from seeking the truth for myself.

I have heard from many travellers’ tales, but still, insisted that I want to share my stories with you and my world of thoughts, to allow you to see this country through my eyes.

Why this trip?

Thanks for all the patience with my lengthy emails, replies, well wishes and encouragement which has kept me going through this journey.

Before I go on embarking this life journey, I have friends, who have done similar expeditions as well. After been through this journey myself, I can perfectly understand how they feel during certain point of travel and now could easily identified with them regarding the joy, frustrations, anger, lonliness and excitement of travelling into the unfamiliar land.Some of my friends who know that I am going on for this trip told me that they were really green with envious, that I can afford such time and money to go for such trip. Yes, I agreed. Time and money is something I have sacrificed, yet it could also be something that I have gained from this trip as well.

Wealth
I have gained my wealth in a different aspect, wealth that doesn't belong to the 'normal' world. I couldn't buy a car, or stocks or a house with my wealth. But I felt I am rich. I am rich in my thinking, rich in my soul, rich with wisdom, and to be able to see my inner self more. This wealth is going to stay with me throughout my entire stay on this earth.

Time
Where ever you are, whoever you may be, there is only one thing that you and I have in common and that is all of us have 24 hours each day. You and I are alike at this moment, that is, our moment of existence. You could be existing in another place, doing another thing, or in an office receiving calls, or in a restaurant eating with your loved ones. Or, you could be alone in another country, or could be sitting in an overcrowded train heading to another part of the world.... Time, is constant moving, and we are following (or chasing after) time as well. I was once asked, “Aren’t you wasting your time? And in fact, you are wasting your one year's worth of time!”

Paradoxically, I felt that even though time is ticking always every second, my time has stopped. It’s like I am in another world, in a world of my own and watching the world goes by as an outsider.

Well, we are gaining something or losing something at each moment, at every decision we made. I have gained some and lost some. As of how much of each, I cannot tell exactly. All I can say is that this is a choice I've made and I have to live with it, to whatever consequences that may come. I am not sure if I would be able to get a job after I come back, I am not sure if all my friends or loved ones are still there for me....whatever is it, I guess if I am going to consider all these factors, I will not be able to let go. And so, it is best just to lift all these to the hands of our creator, who will determine how I am going to be after I am back.

Till now, each of my days is so filled up with excitement that I have no regrets in any of my decisions. I want to maintain that way....till the day I exit from this world.

















Here are some of the Singapore memories my friends have given to me while I was away in China. Btw, you don't get see all these food in China at all!! Whenever there's anyone from Singapore going over to China to meet me (actually only twice), my dear friends will never fail to brighten up my days with all these 'Happy Food'. The love from my friends is so great that it transcend across miles...and touches me in the most profound way ever. I am blessed with such good friends around me and I will put in my best to take care of the relationships.