Is it stupid of me to keep on pining for what was long past?
It is not a place, much less a person. It is the experience I had that I long for. I can't help myself, pining for that wonderful experience I had all those years ago in Hokkaido, Japan with the rest of the family members.
It was something special, something true to the heart. As my brother puts it "Old times, old times".
I keep on harping about going back to Hokkaido, I think it's more of searching for that experience rather than visiting the places. Of course, I do love the country. But, to me, I want the intangibles over the tangibles. I want back the services, the good experiences, the times we shared and loved.
I am feeling very melancholy and reminiscing these past days.
I don't know what's wrong with me. To keep on searching for something intangible.
So, in about two weeks times, I'll be leaving for Taiwan, if everything turns out well.
I went to the NATAS Fair 2010 at Singapore Expo on Friday afternoon with my father. My father thought he was being smart to visit the booths on the first day and on an afternoon to boot. Well, there place was swarmed with like-minded people.
Luckily, there was carpark lots left. Ate at Burger King before going inside. Needless to say, the queue for the entrance tickets was so very long. But the queue moved quite fast. It cost $4 per person to go in.
Once inside, the crowds seem less congregated because the fair spanned from Hall 4 to 5. Seemingly, all the outbound tour operators were there. Ha, now is the time for me to dish out all those terms I have learnt during my tourism studies.
I was so excited to collect those brochures and catalog showing each country's best. I love reading up on what each country have to offer and more.
There were so many people giving out pamphlets and stuff. We went to Chan Brothers and another tour operator to compare the packaged tour on Taiwan. At last, we went with Chan Brothers, partly because of its reputation.
Wow, the Chan Brothers booth look to be the biggest yet, what with so many staff on hand and all of them occupied at any given moment. Signed on a deal; 8 days Taiwan All Rounder, after the one my father wanted was replaced with this instead.
I want to fly Singapore Airlines, but, alas, there was only a flight on Friday afternoon. Therefore, we had no choice but to make do with China Airlines. I know, me, (un)willingly to go with China Airlines. I guessed I resigned myself to saving money for my coveted trip, since one SQ ticket will cost a hundred plus more for each person. Another reason was due to it being a short journey, just 4 hours. I can endure that, I hope.
Naturally, I was going to research more on China Airlines when I reached home. I found out that it has a higher accident rate than normal airline average in the world. Oh gods, I shouldn't have done this. Now, it makes me quiver just to think of it. Urgh, I'm going to be sick.
This is the time to know more about the tour operator job. After learning about it so much, it brings a new perspective to see it at work. Those details, itineraries, advertising gimmicks, asterisks at play, etc. Pheesh, if they make it even more "cheap and wonderful", I wouldn't have fall for that. I rather take reasonable over gullible any other day.
Finally, everything was done. We went on to get our "free" 20 inches luggage bag from DBS bank for spending $2,500. Since we have some time left, we visited other booths promoting their countries. That's when I started my spree. Of collecting brochures.
Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, but no USA. I now have this huge and heavy stack of booklets which I have no where to keep.
And then my father drove me back, too bad I had work later in the day and my father had to go back to his office. If not, we can spend more time there.
Saw the news yesterday, there was at least 8,000 visitors there by the first day. Is that awesome or what?
I just want everything to be alright. C'mon, millions of people fly in and out around the world. If I am afraid, I should jolly well stay in Singapore for the rest of my otherwise miserable life. I want to travel, that is a dream and hope.
