Return from Home

I don't know what else to say. You knew the destinations. You knew the length of stay, it was two weeks. You knew the challenges I faced. Well now what you didn't know is, the bottom line of everything. Everything that I had in

So based upon the experience, I discovered some other new ways I could really use while traveling. That suits me really, really well.

That I can do things spontaneously, as if I'm home

I made plans. Of how many days I should had spent, of where I should had slept, and stuff. But most of them, well, changed. My head and my heart conspired to cheat me, convinced me to stay longer in each city. I acted like I was at home, thinking less and doing whatever I desired. No worries, no wonders nor questions, just kept living like mom and dad were next door.

That the other side of the globe is actually my home too

Those cities. Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. Swear to God I never visited them before. But yea when I was there it felt like, some place I was familiar with. Exploring here, walking there, taking shortcuts and eating by street stalls, was I born there?

That I'm now a part of the world, the home of every traveler

Maybe it sounds too much but, I don't know, people didn't seem to see me as a boring Indonesian they usually -maybe- think us about. They talked to me. They opened discussions with me. Asked me stuff, wondered about my background, got excited about visiting Indonesia, they considered me as one global traveler they usually met along the trip. It was, hmm, kinda important to me, you know, being accepted internationally, as an Indonesian traveler.

It boosted a significant level of my travel desire. I wanted more. Well that's what I always felt after one trip. More and more trips. But seriously, what I got from this trip, was more impact-ful to my confidence in traveling.

That now, nothing can stop me from traveling

Because everywhere is simply home

Stop Four: Last Energy

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Planned: 2 days, 1 night

Reality: 3 days, 4 nights

I arrived late on my first day. I lost my interest anyway, because I was in love already with Vietnam. And I blacklisted Phnom Penh due to some reasons. But I got to go, because my flight back home was from Bangkok. And the nearest city to Bangkok is? Siem Reap. And better yet, the biggest temple complex were just right around the corner. It'll be your one and only visit to Cambodia, Vick, so be it! I said to myself.

But then again, as I always been doing along this trip, I changed my mind again. And perception about Cambodia -Siem Reap, to be honest, because I won't ever change my perception about Phnom Penh. So yea, the city, once again, had my mind blown away. Temples aside, you know it's fascinating, Siem Reap's atmosphere was, oh well, so damn convenient.

Streets in Siem Reap

Pub Street, one of a few reasons I want to go back to Siem Reap

Angkor Wat, Angkor Temple Complex

Ta Phrom (Jungle Temple), Angkor Temple Complex

People, whoa what can I say, as always, were wonderful. Met some more international citizen but the highlighted nation was France, and China. I was trapped among these two people. Met this fancy French guy who introduced me to his gang, all speaking French and I was like, oh okay oh cool and stuff. Also this Chinese lady, my adventurous-temple-exploring-mate, who brought along her Chinese friend, and met so many other Chinese tourists along the temple trip and of course, all speaking Chinese, I was just like, oh okay oh cool and stuff. What a smile-making memory.

After all, I didn't go to any other tourist attractions but the temples. Just laid back, saving my energy for the temples, temples, restoring my energy before departing to Bangkok, and done. But I spent my last energy for something so, so delightful. I made a good decision.

Well I'm sorry I can't tell much about it.

I didn't explore lots of things in Siem Reap.

Because its best stuff, I conquered

What's Up, World(wide)?

Hey there guys, I'm back!

Whoa.

You know where have I been to? Traveling. Two weeks. In Vietnam and Cambodia, where things are way way different from here in Indonesia. And not everybody speak English.

Whoa. Whoa.

Never thought I made it. You know, things got more spontaneous the more I continued traveling. I booked only the first three days of my trip. And the rest? I just dragged my ass to nearby hostels and there I go. I kept rescheduling my itinerary, adding cities to stay, crossing some others off my list... So. Damn. Spontaneous.

Whoa. Whoa. Damn, whoa!

You know what the best part was?

I met tons of people all around the globe. Some just for temporary accompany, some others ended up appearing on my Facebook friends list. These people, well they can be my asset because someday, someday soon I'll be visiting them right on their places of living.

Whoa.

One post can't take it all.

Need to break it down to some parts.

Like what I've always been doing in my blog.

Saigon Town Hall and Bayon

But you might be able to guess the bottom line yes?

Joyful abroad trip experience, meeting global people at once,

Yes. It's the beginning of my own Worldwide Fun.

Spontaneous worldwide fun

The Ulterior Motive(ation)

You know about the final thesis assignment I'm currently working on? The one with Whiskas? Yes the thing that lately distracted me from the real world? Yea? Yea it's getting intense.

I'm reaching the end.

My thesis adviser thought that it's about time. I'm just this close to being ready facing the trial. She kept rushing me about the date and stuff, and I'm so glad that she looks so excited.

When I imagine about the trial day, I swear I'm not ready.

But if I remember what I'm going to do by January, I'm super moved.

Mhmm, it's another trip.

To Vietnam and Cambodia.

Here's to get the picture of Ho Chi Minh, and here's to get to Phnom Penh.

Okay so I'll fly to Ho Chi Minh City on January 21 and will be back on February 4, just 4 days before the ceremony of my graduation. Get it? Four days. I won't have enough time to take care about the administrative shits, unless I have it all settled before I depart.

The same thing also goes to my thesis. After my trial, there will be a major revision I have to finish at least for a month. So if you do the math, the trial should be done no later than December 21!!

So now here I am, -instead of- rushing myself to finish everything like EVERYTHING -I just sit in front of my laptop, blogging- so I can go traveling with peace! And you know what, I'm gonna make an oath out of it.

"I, Rifky Ramadhan Amin, will officially announce that on LAST term of my college, I will rarely spend my TIME for flash-term pleasure things such as watching movies, eating out and buying things prodigally, AND HAVE MY THESIS DONE SO SOON."

-Indochina Trip Oath-

And I really meant it.

I want everything to be done by Christmas.

So I can "Ho Ho Ho" all the way