香格里拉／Shangrila

天是蓝蓝的，草是绿绿的，这就是香格里拉。

Shangrila - where the sky is blue and the grass is green.

原本想要到西藏和四川去，但可能与它们无缘，一个局势紧张，一个还正在尝试走出地震的阴影。没有办法，只好以从丽江出发的两天一夜游来满足自己对香格里拉的向往。

我知道，天本来就是蓝色的，草也本来就是绿色的，可是看到香格里拉的天空和青草地，还是会忍不住惊叹，从来没有看过如此蓝的天，如此绿的草地。再加上绽放着的白色、黄色和紫色花朵，你会立刻爱上这个地方。

Originally, the plan was to go to Tibet and the surrounding area. But the unrest arising from protests before the Olympics, and the huge earthquake that took thousands of lives in Sichuan meant that I have to make do with a 2 day tour from Lijiang to satisfy my curiosity of Shangrila.

Yes, I do know, no matter which part of the world I go to, the sky will always be blue and the grass will always be green. But standing in Shangrila, you can't help but be amazed at how blue the sky really is and how green the grass is. Coupled with the lovely flowers in bloom, you will fall in love with this place instantly.

停停走走拍了一天的照后，傍晚到了中甸一个藏民家体验一下藏民生活。虽然全团的人都觉得得多付180元（约36新元）有被坑的感觉，但最后还是抱着花钱买个经验的心态，享受了在藏民家的过程。一到那里，就有漂亮的小姑娘捧着酒杯迎接我们。才一踏入他们的家，晚餐就立刻上桌。面条、鸡汤、西藏糕点、酒……“主角”都还没有上场，我们就已经七分饱了。

After a day of stopping and taking pictures, we were brought to a Tibetan house to so-call experience the Tibetan way of life in the outskirts of Zhongdian. Although most of us felt that the 180RMB(about SGD 32)extra for this so-call Tibetan experience seemed a bit too much, we thought we might as well do it after travelling for so long. We were warmly welcomed by the Tibetan family with the traditional white scarf and wine. Upon stepping into their house, we had barely warmed the seats when they started serving the food. Noodles, chicken soup, yak butter milk, biscuits.....the whole table was filled with food.

然后主角就上场了——烤全牛和考全羊。

Finally, the "main cast" of dinner arrived,ie.roast yak and goat, Tibetan style.

晚餐下肚后，接下来就是藏式歌舞表演。虽然听不懂他们在唱什么，但还是很投入，因为歌曲都很好听。一边喝着美酒，一边啃着羊肉，一边欣赏藏民们的表演，真的是很享受。

Next up, was song and dance, the Tibetan way. Although we could not understand what was being sung, we were still captivated by their lovely voice. Wine cup in one hand, roast goat on the other, it definitely made the money worth. 隔天一大早就起床，来到了这个香格里拉之行的最后一站——普达措国家公园，中国的第一个国家公园。天不作美，一直下着细雨，气温特别低。虽然影响了游玩普达措国家公园的兴致，但却遮盖不了这个地方的美丽。

The sun was barely up the next morning, when we had to set off for the final destination of this two day tour, ie. Pu Dacuo National Park. The continuous drizzle meant that we had to walk around the park in the cold with the umbrellas over our heads, but that could not spoil the beauty of this place. 虽然在这短短的两天看到的“游客骗钱商店”比什么都还多，看不到香格里拉真正的美，多少有些失望，但一路上所看到的景致已经足以说服我，一定要再来香格里拉！　　～伟

Although we saw more of tourist trap shops than the real beauty of Shangrila, the lovely scenery we saw from the bus is enough to convince me, one of these days, I must be back! ～wei

束河与丽江／Shuhe and Lijiang

第一站，丽江。先到离丽江古城五公里的束河古镇落脚。

First stop was Lijiang. Headed for Shuhe Old Town which is 5km away from Lijiang Old City.

真的很喜欢这里。陈旧的老屋，狭窄的街道，每一个屋子都有自己的特色。虽然多少有点太商业化的感觉，但穿梭在这些狭窄的街道，真的很有古城的感觉。

Really loved it here. Rows and rows of tiny streets lined with old houses. Although this place was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1994, giving the place a touristy feel at times, you can still see quite a bit of character in some of the buildings.

丽江古城与束河古镇其实很相似，却又很不同。一样是一条又一条布满古屋的小街道，但却有着另一种味道。当然，丽江古城的规模比束河古镇大多了。从东走到西，从南走到北，原以为丽江古城只不过那么大而已，直到站在高处眺望，才直到这个古城到底有多大。坐在丽江古城最高处的小餐厅，一便品尝着茉莉花茶和聆听酷似香港Beyond的小乐队高唱Beyond和伍百的歌曲，一便眺望丽江古城的景色，实在是一大享受。

Just like Shuhe, Lijiang Old City is made up of many tiny streets, all lined with old houses coverted to shops selling the handicrafts of the Dongba tribe or the Naxi tribe. But yet, these two places give off a different feel. I just walked from street to street without the help of a map, seeing where the street takes me to. After covering most of the streets, I thought this was just a small place. But looking down at Lijiang Old City from the rooftop of the little cafe, sipping my jasmine tea and with the crooning of the in-house band in the background, you realised this place is not that small after all!

知道在束河和丽江，人们最常做的是什么吗？

Know what is the most popular activity in Shuhe and Lijiang? 这也是我最喜欢做的。　　～伟

Signs read: chit-chatting, chance meeting with strangers, reading, day-dreaming, sun/moon-tanning, "stoning", make dreams and sleeping. My fav activities. 　　～wei

启程／On the road

终于出发了。

一直都没有特别兴奋的心情，感觉就像是平时出国游玩一样。直到在机场与家人和朋友挥手告别时才惊觉，我真的要流浪去了。就象D君说的，我即将当一年的蜗牛，因为我要背着我的“家”到处行走。

原想要去看看世界有多大，才有这次的旅游。可是才一踏上旅途，就觉得世界其实是可以很小的，居然一上飞机就碰到了当电台DJ的朋友克敏。啊，你说世界小不小？
之前克敏还在她的节目上提到我一人背包旅行的事，万万没有想到我出发的日子居然与她回老家探亲的日子撞个正着。这下可好了，不只是第一顿饭有人请客，再过几天到大里还会有免费的导游。

看来这个一人浪迹天涯的旅程一点也不孤单。　～伟

Finally, I am on the road.

D said I am going to be a snail for a year. I thought he meant that I would become a hunchback carrying that fat backpack on my back. But he pointed out, my backpack is practically my "home" for the next year, so ain't I a snail?

This had felt just like any other trip I had taken. Until I was saying my goodbyes to the close buddies who sacrificed their sleep to send me off and mom and bro. Feeling mom's hands tightened around me, it suddenly dawned on me that I won't be seeing my home (oh, my bed!) for at least a year. Couldn't said anything after that, except to keep waving my hands at my loved ones.

I was just thinking about how I will be tramping about all over the world on my own, when suddenly I heard someone calling my name on the plane. Turned my head to the opposite row, only to find Kemin, my radio deejay friend staring at me with astonishment.

Kemin couldn't believed it when she first heard of me quitting my job to go travelling for a year. She even mentioned it on one of her programmes. Turned out she was heading to Dali to give her parents a surprised visit. What a coincidence. In the end, not only did I get a treat for the very first meal of my trip, I will have a free tour guide when I get to Dali in a few days' time.

Guess this round the world solo trip is not going to be that "solo" after all!　～wei

倒数／Countdown

终于定下出发的日子了。

再多一个星期，就正式展开一年多的单身流浪记。

许久没有见面的老朋友问，现在感觉如何？兴奋吗？想了很久，还是答不上来。应该是到现在还在适应无业游民的身份吧，所以根本没有去想自己即将一个人去走透透的事。或许要等到准备上飞机的时候，才会知道自己对于这次旅行是兴奋的，还是担心的。

第一站是中国云南的丽江。在中国待上三个星期至一个月后，下一站会是蒙古。然后就是俄罗斯和东欧。从爱沙尼亚往南走，一直到土尔其，然后就到非洲四个月，再到南美洲四个月。最后再回到亚洲。没有详细地计划，就连要在丽江待几天，要住哪儿都没有决定。只有一张机票和一堆的旅游指南。浩大的世界我来也！　　～伟


Finally, the countdown has started. In a week's time, I will be off on my one year plus solo trip round the world!

It seem to be just yesterday that I was counting down to my last days at work, and now, I am already counting down to the day I can start on fulfilling my dream. It all seems surreal.

An old friend asked, so how are you feeling right now? Excited? Chewed on the question for a few minutes, but couldn't figure out the answer. Guess I am too busy trying to get used to the idea of walking down Orchard Road on a Friday and Saturday night to go think about the upcoming trip. Guess the idea that I will be backpacking for a year or so will only sink in when I am about to board the plane.

First stop is Lijiang, China. After 3 weeks to a month in China, it will be followed by 2 weeks in Mongolia. After which, it will be the Trans-Siberia railway through Russia. From St. Petersburg, Russia, it will be East Europe, from Estonia to Turkey. Next stop, Africa for 4 months. Then it will be another 4 months in South America. Last stop, somewhere in Asia.

No detailed itinerary. Not my style. Just a backpack, 3 guidebooks and a air ticket to Lijiang. One year round the world... here I come!　　～wei

再见与期待／Goodbye and Hello

终于说再见了。
心情很复杂，感觉好奇怪。虽然已经四天了，但已经正式成为无业游民的事实到现在还是觉得很不实在。
说再见的前一晚，失眠了。
挥手说拜拜的那一天，一到办公室，A君就msn：“‘最后一天’快乐！”
告别后的一天，B君说：“恭喜你脱离苦海。”
快乐？没有这种感觉。脱离苦海？也没有这种感觉。到底是什么样的感觉？说不上来。
罢了。离开就离开吧。不要再去想那么多了。应该想的是，再多两个星期就启程了！
真令人期待，但又令人烦恼。
周遭的朋友一天到晚都在问，何时出发。唉！不要再问了，真的不知道。该买的东西都买齐了，该做的签证都做了，可是最重要的事情却还没有去做－－买机票。更‘棒’的是，现在对于第一站应该是哪里都决定不了，怎么去买机票？
等买了机票再通知你们吧。　　　～伟

Finally said goodbye to a life I'd known for 8 years and said hello to the unknown.
Friend A couldn't wait to wish me "Happy last day". Friend B congratulated me on the "great escape from hell". But there was no jubilation from my part. It just felt weird. Weird to be sitting at home watching the tv on a Saturday and Sunday. Weird to be watching videos on crunchyroll when I should be watching Euro 2008. A "normal" life never felt so "unnormal". It's been 4 days, yet the thot of having to fill in "unemployed" in the employment section of forms have yet to sink in.
Oh well. Just have to learn how to discard all these weird feelings and focus on the excitement at the thot that I will be on the road in 2 weeks time.
yeah... the dream of backpacking round the world is slated to start in 2 weeks time. "Stocks" have been replenished. Visas are being done. Everything seems to be in place except for the most important thing, ie. buying the air ticket. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has been asking me when am I setting off. Well, I don't know. I cannot even decide where I want to start off. Not to mention get a air ticket. I will set off. I will go see the world. I won't put it off. Just as long as I can make the lazy me go grab a air ticket, I will be off.... 　　　~wei

舍不得／Can't bear to leave

当初交辞职信的时候，以为一个月后才到上班的最后一天是件很遥远的事，怎么知道，一眨眼就只剩下几天的时间。算一算，扣掉周假和休息的那几天，我回到办公室的时间就只剩下三天了。
那天开始收拾东西，感觉好奇怪。“最后一天”想来是很陌生、很遥远的事。可是，我真的要走了啊！唉，还真不舍得。
慢慢收拾东西，才知道自己累积了这么多废物。两个盒子都装不完！不知道到时要怎么把这些垃圾给搬回家。翻着之前留下来的剪报，原来这些已经是那么久以前的事了。舍不得的心情越来越重了。整理东西的当儿，也尽量整理自己的心情。希望到了最后一天，可以真的像之前自己讲的那样，不流一滴泪，潇潇洒洒地与大家说郑重，再见！　　　～伟

Used to think that the one months' notice or three month's notice rule set by companies for employees that are resigning is a ridiculous rule. After all, since he or she is leaving, why prolong the 'torture' by making him or her stay for one or three more 'long' months. But going through it myself, it suddenly dawned on me, one month is actually very short!!
Kept thinking that I still have lots of time left before it is my last day at work or before I set off on my trips. But these have crept on without me realising it. It just dawned onto me that it is less than one week before I will stop 'reporting' to the office. And that made me realised, it's time to start packing.
Didn't know how much rubbish I have accumulated over the years till the actual packing started. Flipping through the old newspaper reports that I have kept, cannot help but wonder, "Did all these happened so long ago? Time really flies."
I know I can't bear to leave. I know I do love this job. But I also know that if I do not leave now, I may never get to realise my dream of going on the road for at least a year. And I know that, 10 or 20 years down the road, I won't regret my decision today. I will be able to sit back and savour whatever I have learnt or seen on my travels. So there, i will rein in my feelings and make sure I say goodbye with a big smile!　　　～wei