The view from prison in South Africa “The wind blows where it wants to. It does not have a dwelling place neither can it be contained. It is probably the ultimate symbol of freedom.” These were my thoughts when I was waiting in the crowd of spectators at the annual Argus Bicycle tour in Cape … Continued
The Party in Hong Kong Beep beep beep beep beep! The MTR gates shut behind me; my inhibitions waving goodbye from the window of the zooming train. I make my way through the blur of multicolored faces, escalator after escalator, in a concrete underground maze. When I finally reached ground level, the familiar sight of … Continued
I stood on the black sand beach, surfboard tucked under my arm, watching the local surfers slash and attack the curling beach break. Most of the surfers were kids, who charged the waves with a fearlessness I never had. Each ride lasted only a few seconds before the pounding waves swallowed the riders, leaving behind … Continued
Take freedom away from an individual and everything else is priceless. Indeed, freedom comes with no price yet with high value. History tells us that millions of lives have been sacrificed for freedom’s sake. Take the Philippines’ struggle against the Spaniards for an example. My forefathers, our then heroes, have fought for independence up until … Continued
The Long Flight to Bangkok, Thailand They say your twenties are your years of freedom. They say your twenties are the last shot you have. They are one last hopelessly dwindling opportunity to define who you are, and what you are, before the cold hands of reality take hold of your life. I’m not so … Continued
There is a freedom to the road rushing past the window, a joy in those inbetween places. Ragged towns cling desperately to roads between more lauded cities, throwing out a tendril of stalls to draw decadent travellers in. Hidden valleys sneak behind the other sides of mountains, where the road hurries round to the prettier, … Continued
Soothing Saudi Arabia I was only nine months old when the plane touched down. Cradled in the arms of my mother, welcoming myself to arguably the most conservative country in the world. A place where women cannot leave their house without Burqas*, shops have to close five times during the day for prayer, and unrelated … Continued
Taking Delight in Paris France’s Highlights I have a confession to make. Strolling down the wide Parisian boulevards on an ultimate extended weekend escape during last year’s Easter holidays, I did not eat any meal at one of the many wonderful bistros the French capital is famous for. As it behooves a true sweet tooth I could … Continued
Personal liberation in Europe Personal freedom to me is an awareness that we are able to live and travel freely, and in that awareness also realize that there are a lot of people who are not able to leave or return to their homes and country for even a short while, or not at all. … Continued
Home is Where the Heart is It wasn’t until I went away to college that I realized some places were more liberating than others. I had never really traveled as a child, at least not outside of family vacations to see more family, and I had lived in the same small Midwestern town my entire … Continued