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 Three: Laid Back

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Planned: 4 days, 3 nights

Reality: 6 days, 5 nights

See the gap between the planned, and the reality? Yea I was kinda shocked by myself too. I mean, Saigon, oh Lord it's not much different compared to Jakarta but... I don't know, something kept me to lay a little more, a day or two, somehow longer than what I thought I'd be staying for.

It was like, I stayed a night. Then explored a bit on the next day. Then I decided to extend one more night. Then went on an exciting tour the next day. Then I convinced myself to stay one more night. That's what I been doing. And all my days, it was all like days of relaxation. I spent much energy in the previous two cities, and would spend some more on the next one so, it was a lay back time.



Just Saigon's street, at Ben Thanh roundabout

Notre Dame Cathedral

Cu Chi Tunnel

City Hall, looking so beautiful already by day

City Hall by night, and it was during Tet. I'm so lucky.

And the people, again, were top notch. Locals, tourists, and even Indonesian! Met a guy and a girl from home, met some cool friends who befriend a friend of mine, met tons of other backpackers with different stories and travel routes, met a bus mate going out of the country to complain together with, I was a social freak. Having this thirst to socialize.

I had one crazy big city adventure in here and I enjoyed it so, very much. But things wouldn't be the same if I didn't meet these guys so, thank you :)

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

I have plans of where to spill more things about Saigon.

And its I'm-not-sure-what-it-is magnet



Stop Two: Stunned

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Planned: 1 day, 0 night

Reality: 2 days, 1 night

The second stop of my Indochina trip. One stop where I got stunned. By the attractions, by the hospitality, by the unique city layout, and by the sun. Like seriously, sun gave me no mercy it struck me hard deep into my skin. Yea I got the worst sunburn along my stay in here.

Basically, I planned to go to Mui Ne only for the sand dune. But things got way too overwhelming the more seconds I stay here. I gave up and spent a night, to enjoy more stunning beauty Mui Ne possesses.

Street in Mui Ne

White sand dune

Fishing Village

Fairy Stream

Although this was an international beach resort area, destiny set me up with Asian people. Well yea I made a nice friendship with the owner, Vietnamese, and met an adventure company along the tour, a Korean, and got our steps slowed by an annoying family, a Chinese one.

So yea these kinds of things that made me stay a bit longer in Mui Ne. And of course, something unplanned will feel a whole lot better to you, won't it?

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

I have plans of where to spill more things about Mui Ne.

And its breathtaking natural wonder

Stop One: Energized, Still

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Planned: 3 days, 2 nights

Reality: 4 days, 3 nights

So this was my first stop. The stop where I got my eyes opened about Vietnam. Thank God I started here, because in Nha Trang, I experienced the all-local stuff I ever wanted from other nations.

Well I got to taste tons of local dishes. And I got a company from a local friend, all the time he had along my stay, he spent it with me and his sisters. Culture stuff, religion believes, national nature, there were five local attractions they recommended and I visited six of them. Six? Oh yes, I was told an extra spot to visit so there I went, still with my full battery.

Bao Dai Villa's beach

Long Son Pagoda

Ponagar Cham Towers

Chong Rock

And I met so, like, sooooo many amazing people. Both Vietnamese, and global ones. Talking to strangers I met at the spots, talking to fellow bus rider, talking to the guesthouse owners, to the cook, to the bus fare collector, talking, talking, and more and more talkings. Sometimes I thought that I need to shut the fvck up.

But blame me no more! Most of the times, those people are the ones coming to me, and start talking. I'm never gonna skip the chances to involve myself in a multinational conversation, eh?

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

I have plans of where to spill more things about Nha Trang.

And its complete package I adore

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