The XX - Stars
The research is endless, with so much you can read online, on blogs, news sites, travel sites etc. Everyone who’s been is more than happy to share their take of the place with you, what you should look out for, what’s good to try. It’s exciting as hell, with all the planning, but this just raises the expectations subconsciously. Don’t get me wrong, these are definitely note-worthy tips and insights to remember, but every experience in itself is unique.
The Top 13 places, as recommended by The New York Times, to rub shoulders with Melbourne’s ‘it’ crowd, to eat, breathe and live the culture seems enticing. Sure, all these planning seems to give this trip some order, but how much of it will i possibly follow? Being the free-spirited girl I am, having some sort of plan always puts restrictions to things. Isn’t travel all about discovering new sights, sounds and meeting all sorts of people who come your way?
I had always thought the fun and excitement came from the great unknown, the mystery in foreign land that you know nothing about, and the moment where you encounter everything for the first time. Planning sets expectations, and expectations often lead to disappointment because the greed in our human nature always asks for more, and thus, is never satisfied. Pictures are edited, experiences are personal and subjective, reviews might have an agenda, and travel sites market only the best. These ‘farang’ areas are usually the eye shadows, mascara, and concealers of a city. It is what makes a city look beautiful and appealing, not exactly what it really is. To me, it’s the hidden imperfections that gives a place character, the tucked away gems that adds that spark in the eyes, and the rustic rugged edges that gives it the charm and demeanor it possesses.
Sure there are places to go, sights I would like to visit, but the whole mystery of what the place is actually like, how it smells, the bustling crowd or the serene nature of it always intrigues me. I’d rather have no clue about what to expect than to go with a check list of things I’d like to tick of.
For now, browsing through all these sites just makes me more anxious of jumping on that plane!
