My eyes sparkled when I opened the Borneo Bulletin Weekend Edition today.. Not so much for the front page story of pay day but three interesting travel tales written by three young travellers.. I was so impressed that I decided to write about them. I don't know them personally except for Awg Zul.. whom I did acquaint while working in Singapore ( I happened to know his father.. but that's not the story here).

I was fascinated by their seperate tales of life experience. I tried to look out for their internet versions of write-up to share with you....but couldn't find them.. sorry!

Vivi, a full bright scholar has been writing on her study experience in the USA ( page 34, Another Fulbright Adventure) for the past weeks. I have been following her write-up since she first wrote her first article. This week she was sharing her experience in a big American city.. Chicago.

Awg Zul wrote about Mosques that he visited in Singapore, Islamabad and Taipei ( page 43, Things people take for granted). Impressive perspective I must say.. Why Mosques? when you can write about shopping or such? I said.. why not? Mosques are great topics that as he said.. people take for granted.....

Another young writer.. Zul;-Fakhri shared about his student life in New York ( page 48, A taste of the Big Apple). Wow! I must say...

I really enjoyed reading those articles as they are written by young people who wanted to share their life experiences with others. I must say the young people these days are so lucky that they have a medium to share and publish their work and experiences.Congrats..

What appealed me so much to their stories were their stories of independence.. ability to stand up for one-self and ability to share and be part of the crowd... even though you come from the 'Abode of Peace'.

I, for one, would like to advocate other young people to do the same.. to travel and share with others their life experiences abroad, especially the ability to embrace life in a bigger way, be street creed and also be confident and able to live wherever you are.

Why travel? when you can be cosy living under the same roof as your parents? You may ask? Because that is the best way to increase one's knowledge and also to expand one's horizon..( jauh mata.. luas pemandangan.. the saying goes). Most important is to dispel the myth that we still 'behead' people , (according to the story from Vibe magazine...)

"As far as the look and feel of Brunei and its people, Monica said the differences between that country and the United States are “tremendous”. “This is a place where they are still beheading people,” Monica said"

or..... being muslims... terrorists as some may put it..

When you travel.. you will end up meeting people and they will be interested to know about you... That is when people realised where you originally come from and it is up to you to tell others how peaceful people we really are, in spite of what has been said in the media or hearsay from others.

I had my fair share of travelling during my student days in England and personal holidays...and I cherish those moments dearly because I was able to see how others live. I must say that I'm blessed with good people and friends I met and no matter where I go.. I end up meeting friends or making new ones...

I was kinda disappointed when I did interview potential officers some years ago who was granted a year exchange programme in the UK as part of their twinning degree programme. Some of them ( not all) have no interaction with the society they live in as they ended going to school and then home and the market.. that's it. They live with the same people where they come from and live in their own world. I guess it's important to preserve one's culture... but at the same time. also. that was the best opportunity to see how other's live. Striking a balance is the way to do about it...

The Great Mahatma Gandhi said....

"I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely a possible."

I must be lucky that when I was at the University... I was the only person from our country... studying there and I had no choice but to mingle with others.. I really cherish those moments because I did not only mix with one set of group of people but many...The local english, American, Afro-Caribean, Arabs, Europeans and Asians. I had a full life.. as you can imagine.. It was up to me to decide who I wanted to hang out with.. and what activities I wanted to do with them..

Most of the social events ended with cooking and eating..Being a muslim... I have never compromised the halalness of my food intake....Therefore... when others invite me for dinner.. they will take the pain to purchase the meat from the one and only halal butcher in the city where I used to live. People began to respect me for what I am and able to adapt to my religious requirement. It was never a problem with my friends. It was an eduation ride for them as well.

What I am trying to say here is that.. we should not be afraid to tell others who we really are and many will not be judgemental for who we are...but more... respect for who we really are..

One of the interesting aspects of living in a foreign land is the fact that..... there are others like us.. trying to amalgate.. connect and being part of a family.. to survive.. as they say it.. part of the 'big blue marble'...

Also.. I would encourage our young people to travel and live the global experience.. I have travelled in Europe, Middle East, USA. I took tour packages and even back packed...slept in sleeper trains, nearly got jailed because of passport problem.. I have seen it all....

What ever.. your fancy......just do it...

I was clever enough to network with European students that I ended visiting their homes in Holland, Belgium, France and Switzerland..You are able to see their 'world' or perspective of life.

My only advice is that in these world and age... the internet is there.. check your prospective places of visit.. get the lonely planet book ( the best guide for me when I backpacked to Spain for 2 weeks). Know what you wanted to see and do...and go with a friend if you think you will enjoy a company..

For me.. my friends are all over the world.. I was never a stranger..

The people out there.. are just friends that I have not met....