“Sorry Ying. I know you really want to shoot off now, but I can’t. I don’t have the cash yet,” says Ed, a potential travel partner. “Just wait for one more month and we can go together. Ying-you know how I feel about this entire trip, right? I really wanted to go. I thought my Europe Escapade or the China Chronicles is the finale to everything, but here you are, suggesting that you should leap head first into the teaching English market that has been long dominated by the mat salleh. So if you can do it, I can do it too. Let’s do it together, Ying. I really don’t want to travel alone this time.”

I met Zaed or Ed as he’s affectionately known, through CouchSurfing. Destiny concoted our first meet through one of my best buddies (co-incidentally, met through CouchSurfing too!)KC. KC dragged me to a buka puasa party–also organised by a CSer–and told me that I’d meet many like-minded. He then eagerly added that Ed will be there.

“You’ll like him, Ying. He’s as crazy as you are when it comes to traveling.” KC mused.

I tried to feel offended but only anticipation filled my mind. I was anxious to meet my equal.

So it turned out that Ed, was not only as crazy as I am but even crazier. He took a year off from his degreee to travel Europe-with only less than RM3000. As we exchanged stories and tried to outwit each other in whose adventure is better than who,, how el-cheapo one can get while travelling, we became fast friends.

Now, an architect intern and a caged traveler, Ed pleads earnestly.

I don’t usually travel with someone from the beginning to the end of the trip as I like to stay flexible, be social and allow the winds to navigate my ship instead of having to steer it on my own.

But I look into his eyes and I see his urgent need for freedom–like as if I am to disagree with the plan, he will slowly first wither away into nothingness and then morph into an urban cynic. I see his soul bared and vulnerable, his spirit indomitable and passionate.

“Alright buddy. I’ll be doing a slow overland journey into Hanoi…Be prepared.”

If you have to know: The entry is semi-fictious. It was just me and my drama.
Ed didn’t beg me to take him with me but he did volunteer his company and time. And after the party, we became close friends…he didn’t have to beg, I invited him along.