Barcode 03 - Art of Travelling

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Issue 03 — JUNE & JULY 2015
Travelling Solo: Five
Things To Know
Page 32
Four Cocktails To
Beat The Heat With
Page 56
Plan Vacations With
A Smartphone
Page 92
+
GlobeTrotting:
What Lies Above,
Under&Beyond
ACHIEVe a
summer-ready
body in just
four weeks
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TheCurious
Caseof
Wanderlust
By --------- Sasha Gonzales
Photos by --------- FLICKR -
Marc Reece, Shena Tschofen
Picking the brains of modern-day travellers
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Being miles
away from
home is about
expanding
horizons and
testing limits.
es
R -
en
Travelling is one of life’s greatest joys, yet
many of us travel the same way, over and
over again. We pick a place, decide what
we want to see, book our tickets, and go.
But for an increasing number of young
travellers, a trip to a new country is more
than just following a set itinerary. Being
miles away from home is about expanding
horizons, testing physical and emotional
limits, and celebrating what makes them
happy, from music and sports to food and
exploration. These trips may be riskier,
and not be for everyone, but are just as, if
not more, rewarding.
Trips can be spiritual too. American
author Elizabeth Gilbert stepped out
of her comfort zone and embarked on
a journey of self-discovery after her
marriage ended. Her trip, which took
her across Italy, India and Indonesia, was
chronicled in the 2006 bestseller, Eat,
Pray, Love. British actor and comedian
Russell Brand, is fond of yoga retreats.
He reportedly favours Ananda Spa in the
Himalayas, which also offers meditation
classes and encourages healthy eating.
And let’s not forget gap-year trips.
Typically taken after one finishes high
school, university and before they enter
the workforce, these travel stints are
common among those residing in the
west. During his gap year at the age of 18,
Prince William visited Belize, Africa, and
Chile, where he taught English to children
and helped build a school. The gap-year
trend is also slowly but surely gaining
popularity in Singapore.
We speak to four globetrotters about their
unorthodox ways of travelling. Forget
tourist sites, their methods provide an
opportunity to indulge a passion, immerse
in a new culture, achieve a personal goal,
or quite simply, get lost.
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THE MOUNTAIN TREKKER
Ong Yiwern, 27, product manager
“I’ve hiked numerous mountains around
Asia — Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia, Mt Rinjani,
Mt Ijen and Mt Bromo in Indonesia, Patalsu
Peak in India, and Shipton’s Arch in China.
Before deciding where to hike, I usually
talk to friends who are avid hikers and read
bucket-list articles.
“Travelling just to climb a mountain may
sound like a waste of a trip to some, but
for me, it’s the challenge of making it to
the summit and putting my endurance
and perseverance to the test. There’s no
better feeling than achieving your goal
and celebrating that victory with your
hiking companions. A must-have for my
summit hikes, which is usually in the early-
morning hours, is a flask of Milo. That first
hot, sweet sip when I’m standing on the
mountain peak is such a delicious reward.
Tip: One way to prepare your
body for the climb is to carry a
backpack while climbing up a
flight of stairs.
“The more hikes I do, the healthier and
fitter I become, which is another reason why
I love climbing. I also make it a point to do
these trips with other hikers and adventure
seekers. The hike becomes an opportunity
for us to spend time together.
“One of my best hikes ever was up Mount
Kinabalu, in March of this year. My
boyfriend did the hike too, but in disguise,
and without my knowledge. When I arrived
at the summit, he was there waiting, and
proposed to me. I was caught completely off-
guard! It was the most incredible moment of
my life and one that I’ll treasure forever.
“Mountains aren’t all I get to see when I
travel. I like to relax after a hike, so I’ll plan
fun and less strenuous activities to help me
wind down. After I climbed Mt Rinjani, for
instance, I took a boat from Lombok and
chilled on the beaches of the Gili islands.
And after I made it up Patalsu Peak, I went
paragliding and white water rafting.”
“There’s no better
feeling than
achieving your
goal with hiking
companions.“
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THE WWOOFER
Hazel Ng, 25, nursing student
“As a Wwoofer or a ‘Willing Worker On
Organic Farms’, I had the chance to work
in various places in New Zealand — on an
island, on a large farm full of cows and
sheep, and in a family home. The work
was varied, I helped out in the house, a
workplace, and also outdoors. Wwoofing is
voluntary so there’s no payment involved
— you work for free in exchange for meals
and accommodation. For me, it was about
immersing myself in another culture. It’s
so interesting to become part of a local
household and understand their culture
from a personal perspective.
“Having lived in a city all my life, it was a nice
change to work on a farm, surrounded by
mountains, trees, and hundreds of sheep.
I’m pretty big on rural areas, and in fact, I’m
hoping to do a Wwoofing trip in Australia’s
countryside in the near future.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people, from
fishermen to shark hunters. I’ve gone
snowboarding with people I’ve only met
the day before, taken spontaneous road
trips, and flown in a private jet. I live for
the excitement of not knowing what’s
going to happen next but saying yes to new
opportunities anyway.
“What drives me on such trips is curiosity
and an eagerness to explore. Instead of
making concrete plans, I simply go with the
flow. Things may not always go according to
plan, and one bad experience can ruin your
entire day, but in those situations, I just try
to stay positive and laugh it off.”
Tip: New Zealand
follows daylight
saving hours in
summer and winter,
which can mean a
four or five hour
time difference
from Singapore.
“I live for this
excitement, not
knowing what’s
going to happen
next but saying
yes to new
experiences.“
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THE CONCERT CHASER
Aly Ang, 25, senior account executive
“I went to this year’s Coachella in April with
a few friends. We bought our tickets right
when they were released, a year before the
actual festival. It was such an incredible and
surreal experience. In addition to the stellar
line-up, I loved the whole atmosphere of the
three-day festival. The sound system and
stage set-ups were top-notch and the crowds
were so much fun.
“With big music festivals, it’s important to
lock down your accommodation early, so
you don’t miss out. You also have to decide
which acts you want to see beforehand, so
you can make a schedule and give yourself
enough time to shuffle between the stages.
“If you truly love music, then heading
overseas for a
major concert or
festival is a great
way to celebrate
your passion.
It’s an especially
wonderful feeling
meeting like-
minded travellers
and sharing your
love for music
with them.”
“Heading overseas
for a major
festival is a great
way to celebrate
your passion.“
Tip: Arrive early, bring a
portable charger, and stay
close to your friends so you
don’t lose them in the crowd.
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s
r
t
e
“
“Hostels are
budget-friendly,
and you get to
meet people
from all over
the world.“
The Backpacker
Shaun Lee, 25, marketing programme
specialist
“Backpacking to most people means
travelling on a tight budget. To me, it also
means travelling without any set plans. I
enjoy backpacking so much that I started
a backpacking site, Backpack Singapore
(www.backpack.sg).
“Most of my trips so far have been around
Asia. I like staying in hostels, not just
because they’re budget-friendly, but you
also get to meet people from all over the
world and from all walks of life. I’ve made
countless friends on my trips, and to this
day, I am still in touch with most of them.
“My most memorable trip so far was to
Indonesia in February last year. Because of
a volcano eruption, my flight to Singapore
from Yogyakarta was delayed by a few days.
I was expected back at work, so I had to find
an alternative route home, which wasn’t
easy considering that the city was covered
in volcanic ash. After an epic 15-hour bus
journey to Jakarta, and a ride through crazy
traffic on a clunky motorcycle taxi, I made it
to the airport, with just enough cash for my
airport tax. It was a crazy adventure but it’s
one I will never forget.”
Tip: Learn at least four
phrases in a country's
native language before
you visit; hello, goodbye,
please and thank you.
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