After my humble beginnings in international travel, everything came to a standstill in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions paused everything. In fact, by December 2019, I already had two trips laid out for 2020. These included going back to Singapore with my sister for her birthday and a trip to Korea for my birthday as well.
Fast forward to 2023, and the floodgates finally opened. My first post-pandemic adventure took me back to the beautiful land down under, Australia. This was followed by a trip to New Zealand hosted by a friend who lives there, my first-ever solo trip to Fiji, a business trip to Türkiye where I experienced my first long layover, and finally, the beautiful Morocco.
While I have now made it to 10 countries, the first country I was able to return to in principle was Australia for another business conference. I also enjoyed layovers in Türkiye and Thailand during these journeys.
Want to see the photos and videos of my travels? There’s a lot to see on my private Instagram account.
6. Australia
The “Land Down Under” remains one of the absolute highlights of my international travels. Why? Because I lived the dream there for 18 months. I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study via the Australia Awards Scholarship. It was my first time living alone in a foreign country. I am incredibly proud to say that I made it and brought home not only a Master of Transport degree from a world-renowned transportation science institution but also immense pride to my country.
Australia deserves its own dedicated article to fully elaborate on my experience. However, during my time there, I lived in Sydney and visited stunning locations including Wollongong in New South Wales, the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Queensland, Melbourne in Victoria, Hobart in Tasmania, and Yulara, the gateway to Uluru, in the Northern Territory. I should probably write a full Australia feature soon to reflect on the best moments I had in this beautiful country.
7. New Zealand
My friend, along with a hospitable Ilonggo family, hosted me in Auckland, New Zealand. For me, the week-long stay in this calm and peaceful country was completely restful and fulfilling.
We explored parts of the North Island, where many of the country’s famous volcanic formations can be found. We traveled to Rotorua, a hub for adventure. There, we visited the birthplace of ZORB and rode the luge at Skyline Rotorua. We also managed to get close to nature at Lake Taupō and Huka Falls, appreciate colorful flora from all over the world at the Hamilton Gardens, and immerse ourselves in the movie set of The Lord of the Rings at Hobbiton.
The one striking lesson for me in New Zealand was to never be ambitious and lazy at the same time by pointing at random places on Google Maps. While planning the itinerary, I aspired to hike to the Tama Lakes. These are twin water bodies formed by the snow atop Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu. Being a first-time hiker, it was the most memorable climb. It involved walking about 10 kilometers up and 10 kilometers back. Along the way, we passed Taranaki Falls, which was beautiful and surreal.
8. Fiji
It was great to do it alone because I really had to reach out to people and make friends.
Another trip I was able to take was to Fiji, specifically the beach spots in Nadi. This was the bravest trip I had because I did it all by myself. I was able to effectively disconnect from the world and enjoy the tropical vibe. I visited the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, the Nadi Market, and the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Although I am a non-swimmer, I chose to go island hopping. It was great to do it alone because I really had to reach out to people and make friends. I am very grateful to the American tourists who readily helped me navigate the strong Pacific tides while I was in a life vest. We went to several spots including the Mana Island Sand Bar and Monuriki Island, where the famous movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks was filmed.
9. Türkiye
This trip was primarily for business purposes to attend a conference. The highlight was finally meeting the people I have been working with for years in the International Road Federation. Coming from all over the world, we were finally able to have casual meals together and journey all around the beautiful city of Istanbul.
As part of the organizing team and a speaker in the technical session of the conference, I barely had time to go out during the day. I was also in the final weeks of my studies in Australia, so my master’s thesis and urban design project occupied some of my headspace. It taught me that business trips are all about time management (across time zones!) and discipline. Nonetheless, I had a blast in Istanbul enjoying the great food and cool weather.
10. Morocco
Careful planning will not suffice if things beyond your control have their way. I was in Marrakech, Morocco, for another business trip to attend two conferences. Knowing how my time was spent during the Istanbul trip, my itinerary was packed. The most I could do was go out after the conference activities were over.
However, my return layover was in Istanbul, which was experiencing a blizzard! Consequently, my flight got delayed by four days. I barely had any cash left with me. This was not part of my plans, and I did not have any contingency measures. Left with no choice, I had to be transparent about the circumstances I was facing. Fortunately, I was part of the organizing team for one of the events, and the organizers took care of my hotel accommodation.
With four days to spend, my friend from Indonesia, who was stuck in the same situation, and I went to Casablanca. It was initially in my itinerary during trip planning because I had been longing to visit it since I was a child. I had dropped it because the main purpose of my trip to Morocco was for the conferences. Nonetheless, the universe heard my longing and decided to delay my return so I could see it.
Looking Ahead
Reaching my tenth country marks a significant milestone in my life, transforming me from a hesitant traveler into someone who embraces the unknown. From the solitary beaches of Fiji to the snowy unexpected delays in Istanbul, each journey has taught me resilience and the beauty of serendipity. As I look back on these adventures, I realize that it is not just about the stamps in my passport, but the friends made, the mountains climbed, and the lessons learned along the way. Here is to the next ten countries and the countless stories waiting to be written!
Ilonggo Engineer 
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