It’s now or never – you know, carpe diem and everything.
It’s official. We’re a city of complainers. In a country with no natural disasters (unless you count some monstrous lightning bolts), sunny weather 24/7, and easy access to sandy beaches and leafy parks, we have a lot to be happy over. But all I ever hear are: “OMG it’s SO hot”, “Why did it have to rain today”, or my personal favourite, “Singapore is so boring. There’s nothing to do”.
I guess there’s some truth to the last one. All of us dream about living it up in romantic or exotic locales: watching the sunset over Oia Castle in Santorini, strolling along the Rialto Bridge in Venice, bargaining in the souks of Marrakesh, exploring the nooks and crannies of Parisian arrondissements, going on a safari through the African National Parks, marvelling at the floating lanterns being released in Chiang Mai, renting a cool minimalist loft in New York’s SoHo district, unleashing your inner child in Disney World… (Oops, just me?)
Life abroad just seems more exciting. The adrenaline rush you get when you think about going somewhere new, the novelty of breaking out of your routines, and the idea of getting away from the tedium and drudgery is enough to get most of us on the next plane. And that’s probably why SEP briefings are always packed to the brim.
But there are also very practical reasons to satiating your wanderlust. Traveling is known for broadening your mind, changing your outlook on life, and gaining independence as you step out of your comfort zone. (Just some reasons you can cite to your parents during the next inquisition. You’re welcome.)
I’ll spare you the whole you-gotta-travel-while-you’re-young spiel. We’ve all heard it. We all get it. Instead, here are some practical ways to go about your next trip:
Plan, plan, plan
This might seem counterintuitive, but everyone knows that with good planning, there’s a lot you can do to cut corners on cost. Online sites like Skyscanner can help you find great deals on flights if you look ahead of time – they even do email alerts on drops in prices so you get the best deal. Even with weekend getaways, you could save a bundle on advance booking rates for accommodation if you know ahead of time when you’re leaving. Planning your travel during shoulder season (the months flanking the busy summer holidays) is also a great way to save on accommodation and transportation.
Work out a budget (and stick to it)
The Internet has been buzzing over how a Singaporean managed to travel for almost two months in Europe with just $3900 in his pocket. But sleeping in train stations and eating bread for the entire week might not be how you envisioned your holiday. So the lesson to be learnt? Calculate how you want to spend your time abroad, and then have a saving plan. If you want to be living in relative comfort, I’d say get yourself a piggy bank now and start squirreling away money every month.
Buddy Up
Traveling is twice the fun when you have someone to share the experience with. And by someone, we mean the right one – your travel companion might not necessarily be your best friend or boy/girlfriend. All too often we get excited over the thought of travelling but when the projects and assignments come rolling in, we lose all momentum. So having a travel buddy means having someone to send jaw-dropping Pinterest images to, someone to push us to pay for that pricey ticket, someone to hunt for cheap yet chic living quarters with. Plus it also means that when you finally get to your destination, you won’t have to take selfies all the time.
Just go!
If I had 50 cents for every time someone told me about their on-the-fly weekend in Thailand or Hong Kong, I’ll probably have … 50 cents. Not a lot of us are able to drop everything and leave for a weekend. But try and find the time to do it. Some of the best memories are formed on impromptu trips. Plus, being impulsive can sometimes yield the best discounts and prices! If Jetstar is having an awesome deal over the weekend and you have the cash, why not go on a weekend getaway to Vietnam? It’ll probably be the highlight of your semester and might even shed new light on that Asian Studies module you’re taking.
(Psst. There are seven long weekends coming up in 2015. Just make sure you aren’t leaving your group mates in a lurch or any work undone – you don’t want to be labelled the ‘flighty one’!)