Who is Ying?

I am a full-time dreamer, a tenacious wanderlustress, a wayfarer, an obnoxious daughter and a life-size anime character (I’m rather expressive).

My full first name is quite a mouthful hence I have shortened my name to Ying-which led to questions like ‘Where’s Yang?’ or even more strangely, ‘Where’s Tonic?’ as if they could secretly tell that I’m a closet alcoholic.

I grew up in a rather conservative Malaysian Chinese household where the ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ and ‘get good grades + get a good job=success!’ mantra was part of growing up. When I was 23 years old, I quit my Public Relations job and picked Myanmar, for my debut backpacking trip. I left with only USD300 (or about RM1500) and spent about 2 months there, volunteering as an English Teacher at Growing Together. At that time, the term ‘vagabonding’ wasn’t a catch phrase and Rolf Pott’s bestseller was only starting to create waves within the traveling community. CouchSurfing was still at its infancy and everyone cautioned me against sleeping at strangers’ couches. When I returned home, I had to borrow RM800 (240 USD) from a good friend to start over.

Few months down the road, several magical events (see: How did I do it & The Wanderlust Story Thus Far), inspired me to yell quits again. Only this time, I never returned.

So what do you do?

While being on the road, I’ve put on many hats, from being a freelance writer to a barista but the job that feeds me so far is my Crew Lecturer position where I actually get paid to teach ESL and carry out some corporate training programs for crew members for an Italian Cruise Company. I spend 7-8 months in a year, on a designated ship cruising through different seas, all over the world. I have been doing that for 3 years and my patience for the job has waned. While the job has exposed me to almost 40 countries, life on board can be too claustrophobic (see: Life on the Dictatorship) My next contract (starting in November 2009) could possibly be my last.

What Would You Do If Not?

Write that Great Malaysian Novel.

Why Do You Enjoy Giving Your Dad A Heart Attack?

Ordinariness, routine, stability are my dad’s Tao; spontaneity, randomness, synchronicity are mine.

I am a firm advocate of ‘Tame birds sing in cages while wild ones fly free.’ Unfortunately, that’s something my dad can never come to terms with and I have been the black sheep of the family ever since, wearing the shameful placard of ‘irresponsibility’ round my neck.

Fortunately, as I travelled, I met more and more people who cheered me on and told me I wasn’t as crazy as I thought. Some lent me money, some shared with me ideas, and everyone gave me hope.

However, I’m now working on repairing family ties. I’ve been on a self-imposed exile for far too long.

What Is Wandering Ying About?

Well, I’m merely a wanderer who enjoys storytelling. Other than offering readers what’s truly going on behind the crew only doors on the ship, I am not an expert in anything else. The site will instead chronicle my misadventures and how I’d continue to succumb to wanderlust despite perpetual obstacles of visa regulations, financial restrictions, racism and crazy Asian families. If a previously inexperienced ordinary girl-next-door like me can have extraordinary dreams and live them, why, everyone else can!

I may be petite but I have dreams larger than life!