Royals

This is a story of a conventional guy,

Going a bit more... modernized.

Meet Victor.

Victor is a writer. Conventional type of writer. He writes books, and contributes to magazines. One day, he feels like he needs an update for his books. So he conventionally reaches out to a potential partner that can possibly sponsor him, and enable him to give his book a little touch up. He then seals the deal, but apparently, his usual conventional approach just can’t go anymore...

Let’s say this Victor guy is, me.

Some of my travel books are old already. Three-four years old, this year. Super urged to update the info inside those books yet not willing to return to those destinations on my own spending, I had this idea to reach out local tourism boards of the places I covered: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, and Japan—introducing my books to them, and wondering if they have any programs that probably can... well, sponsor me some trips in exchange of a book publishing.

Half of them responded, to my surprise, because at first I didn’t expect much. See, I’m THAT, conventional to the point that it’s enough to just see my books hanging by the shelf, and that’s all, no other efforts whatsoever to amplify them, DESPITE ALL THESE DIGITAL POSSIBILITIES duh and I’m working in a digital agency wth is wrong with me... VERY WELL! So half of them responded, and eventually, only one that I actually sealed a deal with.

Macao Government Tourism Office.

They’re so excited. AND GOOD GOD SO WAS I?! Their original aim was actually to gather these social media influencers with lots of followers and engaging blogs, but what I offered them was too tempting. Still, they asked if I could do something in digital, just so the profile of these people they gathered could be uniformed and fairly compared. And me, being an ambitious -yet sometimes irrational- human being as I always have been, agreed to their terms.

And so it began,

The digital transformation of

Vicky Amin and Cheating The World.

I’ve never been so active in social media as the one behind all these cheating thingy. Prior to my departure to Macao I worked my ass off to boost my online shit and earn the presence in social media, gain followers and act as if I’m a selebgram.

Then off we went to Macao. Me, and four other REAL selebgrams with TONS of followers. Since the very beginning I was introduced to them, and their Instagram personalities, I felt somewhat, intimidated. Because hey, they’re influencers and hello, I’m just a... influencee?

It didn’t last long though, the feeling only grew at the beginning, because whenever I remembered I have my book, that ultimate weapon which brought me to where I was, while they didn’t have any—it restored my confidence. And I always secretly convinced myself that, obviously, I’m one in a million. In this case, in five. Because the other four have exactly the same ability while I, was unique.

This was when I realized how world had switched. Decades ago internet stuff would be the foreigner amongst conventional approaches. But can you see it today? I'm the only one who writes in REAL OLD FASHION, while those people around me, they write it on their blogs and websites, never actually smell their works like what I always do when I buy my newly-released books! I'm feeling so exotic during my trip to Macao.

But I have to admit. My life in Macao, it’s like a king. The journey to and from the city was so so -BUT FLIGHTS WERE COVERED SO WHO AM I SAYING THAT IT WAS JUST A SO SO!? But the service there, Gosh, so this is why all those people are battling to steal the attention of sponsors by selling the number of followers—IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE TRULY TREATED JUST LIKE A CELEBRITY!?

Our five-day trip was completely covered by a van. We didn't commute by public transport. We had a personal guide. We ate five to six times a day, all in renowned restaurants or cafes, with lots of menus to finish. Our hotel was five starred, I think. We were taken here and there for free. We were given access to shows, performances, observation decks, exclusive screenings, workshops and classes, all those things that would cost us hundreds of Hong Kong Dollars, well, THEY GAVE IT ALL! I’ve never imagined myself as a social media influencer but this royal life was real!

In exchange to that, all of us should post shit tons of contents everyday. IG posts, IG stories, web articles when we return home, la la la. Those four selebgrams had been doing this kind of stuff for ages, and they had the audience, so they did it as easy as posting their own personal social media status. But then again, there's this guy who was so clueless of what to do, and had no audience too, uhh, who's his name again? Victor? No, IT'S ME!

To be honest... No, I didn’t enjoy it.

Oh sorry, not the one treated like a king because of course, I enjoyed it.

I didn’t enjoy being a selebgram.

It seems like a true life for the other four participants in my Macao group, but no, it’s not mine. I can’t, I can't act like I'm hosting a vlog channel. I can't instantly post to IG Story, something I just see during my trip. I can't immediately post whatever cool Instagramable stuff to my feed, no, I don't want to busy myself too much, while wonderful foreign things are happening around me.

I'm just sticking to my conventional approach.

No, it doesn't mean that I'm ditching my digital assets because heck, man, no matter how hard I'm trying to see social media negatively, I must admit I see opportunities with all these tech things. And of course, I'm so open to this kind of partnership again because WHO THE HELL WANTS TO LET GO OF SUCH ROYAL LIFE!? It's just, getting such treatment is not my biggest goal.

Because it means that I have to let go of some real explorations I could actually do when I'm traveling myself.

Bow, before King Victor and His Royal Crown.

Now to me, THAT,

is the real definition of

A royal life

Check Two

So I've crossed the second point on my list.

I had an awesome trip with my company.

And that's not the only highlight.

In this second visit to Hong Kong - Macau, I brought back my book. The book I wrote, about the two cities. And I had my second experience in Disneyland. And I went here and there for the second time once again, and ultimately, I met one of my best international mate, also for the second time.

Well, first time's a blast,

Second time's a wonder, eh?

I Don't Know How I Did It

2015 is reaching its end.

Never thought that this year will be the time of my life where I focused really big on,

Career.

Ugh, career. One thing the 2010 me had always avoided from. Because the word relates closely near to adulthood. A stage of life even the 2012 me had always denied about. But what could I do, as I grew up the 2015 me finally gave in and worked a lot on, career.

But it turned out to be a fantastic year.

As I got my very first permanent job. In fashion retail industry. Shite, what a new experience no? Although still, my part was revolving around writing — but fashion? I must give credit to myself because I survived nine months for this main job.

"Main job". Oh yeah, I had side jobs too. "Jobs". As in two side jobs. As a web and social media administrator in film industry, and copy and Twitter writer in a music event. Fvck, more new experiences? I mean, film? Music? Those were all so not me.

But then I got to do all those three jobs, for learning. Lol kidding. Of course, for the sake of money making. I had this big BIG plan I had never done before, that really needed big BIG money so, I took the risks of taking those three jobs.

So, it seemed like I was forced to put off my real passion, eh?

Yes, "seemed like". But no, I will never abandon this part of me.

Traveling.

I kept on pursuing this one. Having my second baby the Cheating Hong Kong & Macau, publishing another article for MyTrip magazine, and of course, going on real trips to Harapan, Pahawang, and Krakatau - and it was all Indonesian trip, for God's sake I'm so proud!

But ultimately, of course,
When it comes to traveling,
In the year 2015, it's undoubtedly

My internship to Japan.

It happened all of a sudden. The vacancy was open in January, right when I was working on my second book while searching for a new job after doing my trip to Hong Kong and Macau. Then I got that job in fashion. Yet two weeks after, the manager from Japan interviewed me via Skype, and then boom, I got the internship.

Then I started to prepare everything like, everything, to get me safe and sound to Japan, while I was also doing my job. Then I realized I needed more money for this project so I took the film job. Then I discovered that I could still bare a little more responsibility for more money, so I took the music job. Then for three crazy months, I had to do three crazy so-not-me jobs, all for the crazy trip I had been dreaming about since I was like, three years old?

And I kept surprising myself even after arriving in Japan. Six weeks of non-stop exploration, four weeks of which were assigned with one mandatory article per day. Other interns failed in meeting the requirements but I, with my crazy obsessed freak trait, eventually produced 28 posts and saved myself by earning the promised money for completing the task.

I don't know how I did it.

This year generally, and that internship specifically, really taught me more than all the things I ever done in my life, combined. It opened my mind about my true strength in pursuing my dream. About how I can get whatever I want, with my own power. About my actual potential.

And I'm sure it's not even half of it.

There's more of me I need to unveil.

There's more skill, more opportunity,

More and more things I can benefit

That for the time being, I still

Don't know how to do

Second Child

Second child is something.

I looked up to my aunts from mom and dad. Both are the second child of their own sibling lines. Aunt from mom, she's a fighter. From what I see now, and from what mom told me about her, she is, was, and I'm pretty sure she'll always be damn tough. Then my aunt from dad, she's the central of my big family's attention. A determined lady I've ever known in my life.

But they're just a glimpse of what I know about second child. My complete belief, of course, comes from my own little brother. A nerve-wrecking guy. Independent as fvck. A kind of guy we can rely on.

Now what is this second child thingy all about?

Well, it's because I want those qualities from my closest second-child relatives, to be inside my very own second child:

"Cheating Hong Kong and Macau"

Don't ask me how,

I could barely believe myself.

Right after my trip to Hong Kong and Macau, I didn't waste even one second and started working on this book right away. Then I sent it to the same publisher I did my first book with, and the next thing I knew, we were doing the book process all over again.

By that time I got a job already. Several jobs, actually. So the editing process was somehow pretty packed. But still, I enjoyed it like, hey, I'm doing this again, which means that I will have another book displayed on the book store!

So I made it through everything, and did the same scheme I conducted last year. Bringing my family to lunch, forced them to the bookstore, and entered the book right before their faces. It took us another 30 minutes photo session just by the bookshelf, but hey, who cares.

What I cared is to see this spark of pride on their eyes.

This sense of trust about my bright bright future.

Oh this is a good sign.

My second child will be the point where my family begins to let me go. To let me do whatever I want to do. To let me off to the world. Which I actually am doing now, as this second I'm currently in Japan for the pursuit of my travel writing career.

Japan? But how--when--why--

Soon, okay, soon I'll tell you all.

Right now is about my book

And how to wish him the best

For what he's doing in Jakarta.

While I'm doing my best here

In Tokyo