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Content accurate at time of publication
01 Oct 2011
Esther Au Yong
A Travel & Lifestyle Editor with SilverKris, ex-newspaper journalist Au Yong is something of a nomad, having lived in three countries and leaving footprints in plenty others. Conversations with strangers and getting lost among the city streets are two of her favourite travel activities. She shares how her love of travelling has shaped her life.
To travel is to participate in an activity that can serve polarising objectives and inspire opposite emotions. We travel to “get away from it all”, yet some of us travel to get to know ourselves better and end up discovering where we really belong. We travel to discover new cultures, but at the same time, we pass on little nuggets of our own culture through our interactions with others.
Whenever I travel, I encounter contrasting emotions and experiences – I am brought closer to home, even though I may be hundreds of miles away and at the same time, I am inspired to journey even further away to see, learn and experience more of life.
In Edinburgh circa 2002, a few days before Christmas, a chance encounter with a smiley, wrinkly old man at a Tesco wine aisle reminded me of my grandfather. Perhaps he thought I had looked a bit downtrodden or lonely because on parting, he said very kindly, “You’re beautiful, always remember that.” It was really nice to receive a bit of love during the holiday season when I was so far away from close family and friends. At the same time, I couldn’t help wishing that strangers back in Singapore would be as open and as friendly as him (and others I met during my year-long Scottish sojourn).
In Mu Koh Surin (Surin island) in April 2004, when I lived with Thai indigenous sea gypsies for three weeks, it was lovely to be welcomed as a part of the community. Although the women walked around naked from the waist up and chewed betel nut leaves incessantly – both habits I didn’t adopt, in case you’re wondering – I treasured the communal, kampung-like (village-like) spirit of partaking in simple meals of rice, soya sauce and grilled fish in front of a campfire, and the wonderful sharing of old stories and legends. It reminded me of my family’s rowdy Christmas gatherings, yet the setting was vastly different and the lack of certain luxuries, stark.
In New Hampshire, USA, last year, as I drove 45 minutes just to get a burger and a drink at the nearest fast food joint, I was reminded of how sometimes, we take Singaporean conveniences for granted – usually, I am able to access a whole host of different fast food offerings just by taking a 10-minute stroll to the nearest mall. Yet, I do realise tiny Singapore can get claustrophobic at times. I suppose, for some, certain inconveniences are tolerable in exchange for vast, open spaces with hardly a skyscraper in sight.
So, travel has made me a more appreciative person; one who enjoys spending time discovering the delights of home; one who is curious about her own culture and heritage. At the same time, travelling has widened my horizons and made me hungrier for a taste of something different; of adventure; of new lessons and experiences.
I guess you can say travelling has made me a better person.
That's absolutely true. Travelling will make a person know that things cannot be taken for granted. I've been travelling through the years and still find in Singapore, my home, everything is at the doorstep. Yes, cost of living is high but it far outweighs the convenience we have in Singapore. The only thing is to work smart and we will get what we want.
Mel Foo, Singapore