To Travel Or Not To Travel?

Published on Tripzilla Mag

Recently, Edwin and I were having this debate. After we’d returned from our honeymoon to Greece and Italy, my thirst for wanderlust only refueled, and I found myself booking us another (almost) impromptu trip to Phuket four months later. It’s been another two months, and I sorely miss the adventure, the beautiful sights – waking up to the view of the ocean right outside our window – and the excitement of the unfamiliar.

Browsing through my Instagram feed (Confession: I follow way too many travel content creators), I am already thinking of our next destination. And though it’s still early, I have already made up my mind – New Zealand. Driving along pristine blue lakes, heli-riding over glaciers, stargazing on mountains. What could be a better adventure?

Image Source: Wallpapers13.com

Now, here’s where Edwin, the more rational of us, comes in and reminds me that we have just gotten the keys to our new house which marks the start of mortgage loans, monthly CPF deductions, and renovation, which would easily bite off a huge chunk of our savings. Any married Singaporean couple would understand this frustration. “Why must we go to New Zealand?” he pleads. “Can’t we go somewhere nearer, somewhere less expensive?”

Yes but… I can find at least ten excuses reasons why a 2-week road trip across the South Island of New Zealand would be one of the most amazing experiences to have right now, which would completely justify the $7,000 investment for both of us – and that’s just a minimum estimation. In reality though, it is not so simple.

Image Source: https://loveoboi.blogspot.sg

Why do you travel?

Firstly, before you book that plane ticket, know your reasons for travelling. Is it merely a form of escapism from the monotony of work and life? Or as much as I hate to admit that subconscious or not, some part of this might be true, is it so that you can flood your Instagram feed with photos that will ignite major jealousy among your friends and followers?

It is important to be sure that you are not travelling for the wrong reasons as it will only leave you more dissatisfied coming home at the end of your trip.

What are your priorities?

Secondly, for those of you asking the question if you should travel or not, unfortunately, there is no rule of thumb. It really depends on your priorities, and how deep your desire for travel is.

If you can afford it, and there are no commitments in the way, what are you waiting for? I assume though, that most of us do not have this luxury. I also assume that travel ignites a passion in you, and perhaps you, too, have a soul that seeks adventure – why else would you be reading this article?

A motto I have always lived by is “collect moments, not things”. I shop at inexpensive brands, avoid fine dining (not that we can appreciate it anyway) and the most expensive thing I’ve bought for myself is probably this Macbook Air I am typing on. My point is, I do not mind giving up material luxuries in exchange for experiences that leave me with a richer understanding and appreciation of life. And for me, that is what travel brings.

Image Source: Pura Vida Bracelets

To travel is to live

I strongly believe that your 20s is the best time to travel as much as you possibly can. It doesn’t have to be long distance to exotic locations. Get out of your comfort zone and experience the world from a different lens. Live in the moment. Do something that you will remember ten, even fifty years from now.

Once the 30s roll in, perhaps with a crying toddler in tow, that road trip may not be so feasible after all. And neither would a picnic beneath the Eiffel Tower be quite that romantic. In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

We owe it to ourselves to live the greatest life that we’re capable of living.

And great is what we need to define for ourselves, because it is not the same for everyone. It is different for Edwin and I, and that is something we need to work around.

Maybe the question we need to ask really shouldn’t be “To Travel Or Not To Travel?” but “Am I Travelling With Purpose?”

Don’t waste time and money travelling for the sake of travelling. Do you have a destination you’ve always dreamed of going? Have you always wanted to take that 6-month backpacking trip across South East Asia? Do it now. Work your butt off and save up for it. Don’t settle for less.

I want to be sure that when we make the trip to New Zealand, it will be worth every penny, and it will be one of our best memories made, captured on Instagram or not.

 

 

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Venice: A Modern Day Fairytale

Published on Tripzilla Mag

Venice, with its old idyllic charm and winding waterways, is well known as one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Add thousands of tourists converging in narrow streets and clusters of flying pigeons escaping your face by inches, and some of the lustre is lost. Despite the crowd, we were still fully enchanted by Venice’s sights and sounds, though there are a few things to avoid should you be making a trip to Venice for the first time. With careful planning, you can be sure to get the best experience out of this City on Water.

Wait, how much did you say it was again?

Did you know that 70,000 tourists reach Venice’s shores each day? Because of the huge influx of tourists, many of whom are day trippers and cruise ship passengers, everything from hotels to food to getting around is expensive! True enough, in the 2 days we spent in Venice, our wallets were drained faster than we could finish our cup of cappuccino at the Caffe Del Doge. Tourist traps are all around. Beware.

One of which is the famous gondola ride. But isn’t this what people come to Venice for? Having experienced the gondola in my first trip to Venice, it is true that sitting the gondola is the most luxurious mode of transport to explore Venice’s waterways – imagine a well-built Italian man in horizontal stripes paddling you through winding canals, as you sit in the arms of your lover, serenaded with song and the sights of gothic architecture.

However, if you are a budget traveller and this is not on your “must do” list, the #1 Vaporetto, also known as the water bus, can take you through the same route along the Grand Canal to tour Venice on boat. In comparison to a 40-minute gondola ride which will cost you 80 to 100 euros, a one-day Vaporetto ticket costs only 20 euros, and you can sit as many rides as you like.

Be wary of restaurants near tourist sites

On our first night in Venice, we made the mistake of dining at a restaurant which offered a 3-course set meal for a reasonable price, or so we thought. When the food arrived, we felt horribly cheated. The lasagna looked like it could have been made out of a microwave. And let’s not talk about the dessert. When the bill came, we were charged 2 euros for stale bread we did not touch, and a seating fee of 5 euros. Seriously?

A good rule of thumb is, the farther away from a tourist site you eat, the less likely you are to be ripped off. And if there is a waiter or host outside trying to attract passing tourists, it usually isn’t a good sign. The local Italian restaurants won’t have this, since they rely on word of mouth.

Instead, what we found most unique about Venice’s food culture was its Cicchetti. These are small bites served at local bars for 1 to 3 euros, usually nibbled over a glass of Spritz – a delightfully refreshing orange-based aperitif. Classically Venetian. They even have Cicchetti and Wine tours for the adventurous foodie.

Start your sightseeing early

Perhaps to avoid tourists altogether, you may want to consider visiting Venice in the off-peak seasons of November through March. Hotel prices are about 25 – 50% cheaper as well.

The best advice is to start your sightseeing early. By early, I mean at first dawn, before the day trip tourists arrive and swarm the city like alien invaders. Get St. Mark’s Square all to yourself in these few magical hours before 10am and after 7pm, and I promise you will never want to leave.

Despite the tourist traps, Venice is undeniably a beauty and many will not travel to Italy without setting foot here. So what is it that sets Venice apart from its Italian counterparts?

Let me tell show you.

Photographer’s dream

Venice is a photographer’s dream. It really is. There is no other place in the world that looks just like it. And at sunset, be prepared to have your breath taken away. I’ll let these pictures give you a glimpse of the magic that is found in every corner and canal of Venice.

Magic of being lost

We were told that one of the best things to do in Venice is “get lost”. Literally. So on our last day when we had some time to spare, that is exactly what we did. We started from the bustling centre of the Rialto Bridge, ditched the map, and wandered through a series of narrow alleyways as the streets became quieter and quieter and quieter. We crossed a couple of bridges. Everything was still, just like a painting. It was almost as if we had entered a whole new world on the other side of the island! It was not the kind of lost where you’ve taken a wrong turn and are desperately trying to find your way back. It’s the kind of lost where you don’t want to be found.

You might have heard this quote from Lewis Caroll: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.” Just like Alice’s journey in Wonderland, I guess at the end of the day you can say Venice is truly a modern day fairytale.

Follow the rest of our Europe 2017 adventure:

Day 1 – 2 / June 24 – 25	Athens: Greek Gods & Temple Rocks
Day 3 – 6 / June 26 – 30	Chasing Sunsets in Santorini
Day 7 – 8 / June 31 – July 1	Venice: A Modern Day Fairytale
Day 9 – 13 / July 2 – 6	Romancing Florence
Day 12 / July 5	Cinque Terre in One Day
Day 14 – 17 / July 8 – 11	Rome: The Eternal City

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