What Goes on Behind my Round the World Travel that People Do Not See.

People do not know how hard I worked and what I had to give up to get the money for travelling. While many friends were zipping around South East Asia on their big new machines, I had to practise restraint on spending on a new bike, going for long rides and expensive holidays. I sold my KTM 200 EGS and put my favourite activity of dirtbiking on hiatus for a few years. There were months I was moonlighting a few jobs just to meet my saving target each month. On one particular day, I was running between 3 jobs in 16 hours. As a result, I disappeared from my social circle for months. Movies were a twice a year thing for me. I cooked my food as much as possible instead of eating out. That period was physically and emotionally draining. I always ask myself, if I had to struggle for something, is that something worth struggling? As the date of departure drew closer, I think it was. Now that I am travelling, it definitely is!

During my travels, I have met people who helped me and offered their friendships in many ways. Eventually, there will come a time when I have to move on. Letting them go can be hard. Each farewell maybe the last time I see them. Sometimes, tears just well up in my eyes behind my helmet visors after I leave them. At times, I just could not hold it before I say good bye.

At Mae Sot Border in Thailand, saying farewell to Mr Montip before crossing over to Myanmar. That is the last time we met because he passed away in November 2020.

And with monsoon, landslides, rain and riding in fog.

Two month into my travel, I had fallen from my scooter 5 times, scooter problems, food poisoning, problems drying my laundry in the rainiest place on earth and suffering from toe infection.

Wet weather, moist environment in your riding boots are perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

In Guwahati, I had to have my toe nail removed at the hospital and later was vomitting and having diarrhoea from the side effects of antibiotic, busted my budget for lodging because I need to stay near the hospital, then screwed up my scooter when trying to fixed something simple myself. These are my downtimes so far.

So I became a regular at the hospital for my bi-daily antibiotic and end up befriending the nurses and doctor.

However, it is situations like these that you meet Samaritans who bring back your faith in humanity. Bikers are most of the time a helpful bunch.

I screwed up my scooter in my DIY attempt. Arnab got a mechanic to my hotel to salvage the situation.

If your dream is to travel around the world, are you setting your priorities towards that dream? For some, although they said they want to travel, I do not see their actions gearing towards that goal. They own expensive cars, bikes and spend money blinking them up. They probably can better afford to travel the world than I do but looking at their priorities, they can only say they cannot afford to do so. Undeniably, I have some privileges that grant me the ability to travel with more ease.

1. My parents are not financially dependant on me.
2. I hold one of the most powerful passport which gives me easy access to many countries without need for visa. It is bestowed upon me with a jackpot birth in Singapore.
3. My country has strong currency. I can survive with very little money in many Asian and Eastern European countries. I spent less travelling than living in Singapore.