My failure bought me a ticket around the world Version 2!

For the last couple day, I realized that a few friends have like a post/note that I wrote about a month after I got kicked out from University. The post was in a mixed of English and Malay. I just realized that it has been over 2.5 years now since it happened. It has been amazing. So I decided to write a little update, how it has changed me and the way I see life.

This is my story.

Volunteering at Minamisoma Temporary housing for Tsunami victims. 

Ever since the eventful 16 February 2012, I have gone from down below, on my knees to appreciating life on the sky high. This journey has taught me so much about appreciating life, living my dreams, making infectious smiles and  most importantly learning the ways in making a difference in someone's life.  

Life is hard, there is no doubt about that but always remember that life is not a destination, it's a journey that we go through every single we breath in and out everyday.  

Taking a break from demolishing a house to play gun with April and Katie, two of my fav person on earth. <3 td="">

Taking a bath after a long day at work, this is us trying to avoid bucket shower at home. 

It's a journey, not a race that we signed up. We all have the ups and downs in our life, it's alright to cry, it's alright to be sad but when you are done with that phase of your life- go out there and start kicking life on it's face. Give your life it's revival, give it the shock to revive it to life and go forward and never stop. I know saying it is easier than doing it but hey, I am a living proof. If this 120KG, short, degree-less kid can do it, am sure ALL of you out there can too. 

The day that this Malaysian girl had to leave Bohol, I had to put a big smile despite being so heartbroken. 

Helping this lady to salvage the remaining of her house, we did it. She has the room standing now so she can rebuild the walls again. Happyness!

Use what you have and give it all to the world.  Wake up every morning with that big bright smile of yours, open that door and make it infectious to other people. I learned that happiness is not how much money we have or how big our houses are or how branded our cars- happiness is the ability to make your heart, mind and soul smile. 

Happiness also is all about making a difference in someone's life- that I have experienced greatly.

The People I would trade my life for, the people who made me feel at home and accept me for who I am- My family at All Hands Volunteer Project Bohol

With these amazing people who risked their life with the radiation to help victims of the tsunami and radiation back on their feet. It was pleasure getting the chance to work with Save Minamison Project Japan!

"We all have heart to love and hands to serve" - Mother Theresa.  

or the same saying in Japanese I learned while volunteering in Minamisoma Tsunami Evacuation Zone:

Dekiru Hito ga
Dekiru Toki ni
Dekiru Koto wo suru

God and the universe has given me so much in life. God has given me the opportunity to see 11 countries - Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Macau. I have also been given the privilege to live in The Philippines for 7 months and now am living in Japan for 3 months. It has been real and amazing. I'm blessed

The abundance in blessing humbles me.

Demolishing what used to be someone's house in hoping that they could rebuild it one day.

One of the most memorable experience, IOM material distributions!

That is why I've decided as long as my body, my soul, my life can take it, I will go around the world and volunteer. Nothing makes me happier than someone else's happiness. 

So everytime you have shitty day, a bad week or a horrible year and feel like giving up- always look back and ask yourself "I have been strong all along, why stop now?" 

We all live once, lets make it count.

Malaysian Travel Blogger Who Inspires Me!

2.5 years, I was just a boy in my early twenties trying to figure out  what to do with my life. I hated my life back then and everyday I spent hours hating it. That was until I found travel blogs, real people with real life stories about their travel life. These blogs help me see life beyond my classrooms, beyond my universities and beyond Malaysia. I have achieved so many things in the past 2.5 years, partly because of them. 

So, this is my list of Malaysian Travel Bloggers who in these past years has inspired me to brake my shell and launched myself. I owe them a heartfelt gratitude for becoming my sensei, my travel guide but most importantly my source of inspiration. I owe you one guys, the next cuppa coffee/tea is on me! :D

BackpackerBusuk( The Smelly Backpacker) - Fatt

I found Fatt's blog when I was in dire need to escape Malaysia after my university kicked me out. I remember reading her blog somehow before but Fatt's blog became my helping hand when I decided just to leave Malaysia to Thailand in February 2012. What I like most about BackpackerBusuk is that how casual her writing style is, how she enjoys travelling. I can totally sense her passion in her writing. 

Being a Malaysian who grew up in a predominantly close-minded society, Fatt to me has broken the stereotype of Malay women for being a solo backpacker. Fatt's passion ignites the passion in every single one of her readers. She might be anonymous to the internet audience still but you can feel how she is letting we all in her private life but still keeping it close intact.  Her writing packs of information, witty and funny with some kickass action leaving you wanting more out of her travel experiences!

That's Fatt, the woman who saved my ass when I decided to leave country for the first time solo with no information whatsoever. I owe you one Fatt, teh tarik on me when I comeback home! :D

p/s: Congrats for conquering Annapura, I'm next! :P

Kembara Anak Muda (A Young Man's Adventure)- Hannan

This guy is epic. 

Imagine letting go a job position; which in Malaysia deemed high-rank-good pay job to travel the world. I remember reading his blog for the first time where he said that he is tired, needing a break and been dreaming to travel. And finally took the decision to quit when his boss decided not to give him the upaid break he needed. Hannan to me is not just another traveller, he is a person who has the courage to do what he believe in and have the courage to make the decision. 

I didn't get to pick my decision, I left Malaysia because I was kicked out from University and obviously I wanted to travel. Whereas Hannan was in between so many things that he has to consider before leaving his job and yet he did it. Hannan's stories brings me to life at times when I feel that I have no idea what future will be like for me. To me, he is like my secret travel angel voice who keeps whispering all these positive thoughts into my ears. In his words:

Following your dream is no guarantee of an easy ride. Life usually becomes more challenging, but you embark on an outer journey which starts the inner journey. You have a chance to blossom – to see who you really are. Doing what you love it’s not a recipe for an easier life, it’s a recipe for an interesting life. It doesn’t matter what type of dream you aim for, either in a form of material or achievement or both, don’t let it die.

His stories of going away to backpack and volunteering was the reason why I flew in to Philippines to help out and now becoming a lifestyle. If you need a kick of inspiration on your face, go to Hannan's blog, am sure you'll be flooded with it. 

p/s: Keep writing Hannan, you are awesome!

You maybe know these blog and maybe you don't. To me, a travel blogger who inspires doesn't have to have millions of followers. What's the point of having millions of followers is your story is dry and whatnot. I wanna read something that could spark something in me, make me smile sheepishly on my own, cry with their emotions and feel the moment as if I am travelling with them. So, to Hannan and Fatt, thank you for making my travelling life fun and momentous, you guys rock!!