Seeking our own Adventure

Not sure if it happens to other parents, there was this desire to get away, to seek my own adventure. Spending time alone in a foreign land without your family, spending time just like how it was before the baby came along or even before marriage. During our dating years, we would go on a holiday every quarter. We love travelling so much that we did our pre-wedding photo shoot in Melbourne with a extended week prior and even had a travel themed wedding! I also had the privilege to travel for business in my last job but not anymore. I do miss those days where you were in full control of your own time. Although there will be occasions when you wished someone was there to share your little discoveries. It has been more then two and a half years since I last travelled alone and that urge was getting stronger.

We are fortunate to be living with my parents which gave us lots of flexibility in terms of personal time. My wife and I could travel without any worries knowing that the little one will be in good hands of her loving grandparents. Depending on the destination and itinerary, we may not bring her with us. We had travelled to Japan and Maldives with her but not to Bali and Korea.

Although we still love travelling together as a couple, we would also give each other personal space to do what we want, even traveling without one another. It's a different kind of experience traveling with friends or alone and that's mutually understood. I wouldn’t be interested in a full shopping trip to Hong Kong and limiting her shopping with the typical guy comment of “Not bad...” or “ You already have something like this…”. LOL. I rather she goes with her friends and that's exactly what she’s doing this week, on a trip to Hong Kong and China with her friends!

And I had my turn a week ago! It was the first time since Miley was born that I've travelled without them. A colleague was traveling to Bangkok for work, so I suggested that he extend his stay the weekend before to see Bangkok since he had never been, which was quite surprising for Bangkok which usually would be the first holiday destination for most Singaporeans. I decided to join him and so did an ex-colleague and her hubby. Well, not so much of a “me” trip, but with them being so easy going, I basically planned the whole itinerary the way I had wanted it. And that weekend happened to be Songkran festival, which we were totally unprepared. Despite staying dry, it was an eye opener to see so many people with water guns on the streets, shooting at strangers and having a jolly time. It was a short but good one and I look forward to more of such trips.

Next scheduled trip will be with my wife, her mum and her grandma. No baby again. Maybe we’ll slot in a weekend trip soon. :)

Miley appreciating the simple things in life and taking time to smell the flowers.