A Myriad Of Holidays-In-One
Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
by Heidi Cornelissen
Completely Human
I've often heard the remark that the reason people work as hard as they do is to be able to travel where and when they can. I appreciate the logic in this as I continually discover the world to be an increasingly fascinating and diverse place. Travelling has certainly helped open my mind and assisted my learning much more than Discovery Channel could ever do!
The result was that that our first big trip (a 3 week European holiday) was planned in absolute detail. Part of me blames the inner accountant for this, but all minute to minute occurrences, activities and tours were pre-planned, booked and paid-for. I was unable to leave anything to chance or spontaneity let alone to a potential negative currency fluctuation! Endless lists and itineraries dominated our adventure.
I'm now happy (and proud) to report that our most recent holiday (three weeks to Vietnam and Cambodia) involved no pre-bookings except the return flight and our first night's accommodation.
Yip That was it! All we had were the relevant Lonely Planet Guides.
And, admittedly this may have been one of the best holidays ever!
But to fully appreciate our experience, allow me to set the scene for you regarding the traveling party:
One accountant who still enjoys the pre-planning and pre-booking (in luxury)
One ex-accountant learning the new skill of "winging it".
A couple who'd parted romantic ways a couple of months prior to the trip with differing viewpoints on the new ground rules.
Naturally, being four individuals each person anticipated different things from a holiday. The diverse requirements included teenage-like non-stop clubs and partying, reading and relaxing to seeking spiritual enlightenment in an Eastern country.
And furthermore, four adult individuals with different desires also have four different opinions on how to achieve their outcomes. Let alone four different budgets!
These dynamics proved very interesting, challenging and more often very funny.
Notwithstanding any of the background antics, I found Vietnam and Cambodia different to anything I'd experienced before. The locals were incredibly friendly and helpful. Many of the sights are spectacular; although some quite melancholic but all are interwoven with an interesting and intricate history.
There are many experiences and emotions that I'm unlikely to forget:
- The chaotic traffic. I needed my husband to hold my hand crossing a road in Hoi Chi Minh City as the mayhem terrified me.
- The exhilarating motor bike rides in Hue; we were scooted through the city madness as well as out through the rice-paddied countryside
- Learning that the only way to feel safe as a passenger in a mini-bus ride is to lie down, close my eyes and listen to my I-pod.
- Experiencing the irony of a Christmas Eve dinner with a Vietnamese Santa Claus handing out gifts!
- Appreciating the skill involved when purchasing clothes tailor-made for me within hours of the fitting.
- Seeing the diversity in culinary delights (and some not so much so!) off the streets as well as in 5 star restaurants
- Absorbing the smells, sounds and desperate energy at the local markets
- Comprehending the importance of a $1 bill to a taxi-driver
- Being carried away with the lights, music and fervent activity in throngs of people in Hoi Chi Minh City's closed-off streets on New Year's Eve
- Laughing at being locked out of an airport (baggage and all) because it wasn't open' yet.
- The longest night being an overnight train experience with 4 people sleeping in a small cabin (bearing in mind that two of the adults are 6ft 4"!)
- Realising that trust is part of our journey of life. Despite English being somewhat limited between the guides and us, we'd inevitably end up at our intended destination with all our baggage in tow. (We didn't always understand how but didn't need to!)
- The descending awe and appreciation amongst the tourists watching the beautiful sunrise over Angkor Watt at dawn.
Personally, my understanding and ability to show both compassion and love has improved. My mind has opened and I doubt I'll look at many things the same way again.
Holidays are all about memories, the friendships and experiencing treasured moments.
What more to it is there really?
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Making memories to last a lifetime is more important than making sure every moment has a "plan". It's nice to see you are learning to wing it in life and enjoy the results.GraceAbsolutely! Memories are always with us!
Congratulations for embracing winging it, Heidi!! Your holiday sounds spectacular in so many different ways. Thanks for sharing it.I really enjoyed it! Can you tell?Next trip is RSA in September!
SPLENDID! Thanks so much for the visuals...and for sharing your 'expansion'. Well done!Thanks Camille! I appreciate your feedback.
Dear Heidi, sometimes we are surprised by that which we don't expect of ourselves. I would love to travel, however, for now, I'm happy to vicariously experience the wanderlust trail through others. Happy travel writing.It's a great learning opportunity when we keep pushing ourselves... and hence the continued surprise! All good.Enjoy your vicarious experiences - absolutely valuable!
Hi Heidi.Very brilliantly written. Great message. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks so much!DianneThanks for your encouragement Dianne.
Really interesting read. Life in bustling cities outside of the U.S. does seem so much more..intimate. Wish I could visit them all. Glad your getting your opportunity to do so. I think the world would be a much better place for us all if we could experience what others in the world go through in their daily lives and realize they're really not so much different than us.Thanks for sharing,DavidI agree with you 100%. That realisation you mention about others increases compassion towards each other.
Excellent - both on holidays and Vietnam. A good friend's daughter (19) just got back from Vietnam - she absolutely adored the country and the people. Now on my list too - dying to see it and experience it.Yes- it's a wonderful experience.Hope you get there! Enjoy
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