Myth No. 1 - Dannie & Yi Lin Are So Lucky!

People always tell us "Wah, so lucky! Can travel around the world!" We don't get to do this because we are born lucky. Lucky is when you win a prize in a lucky draw. It's not about luck. It's about making a commitment to a dream to make it happen.

But we do agree that we are blessed. Blessed to be in a marriage where we are willing to support each other's dreams, to the extent of making huge personal sacrifices (like giving up a good job.) In my case, blessed that my employer is willing to give me time off to chase a dream. Blessed that we're in good health. Blessed that our parents and families too have good health and we can leave without worry. Blessed to have loved ones and friends who support our dream in so many ways - from looking after the flat, opening our mail, giving us travel tips, thoughtful gifts to help make our trip a great one, offering to help us get in touch with people overseas, praying for us. And simply giving us the encouragement to GO cos they know this trip means alot to us. Thanks guys. Love you all. (I'm getting teary just writing this. Sniff.)

Myth No. 2 - Dannie & Yi Lin Are Rich

Haha, seriously, this couldn't be further from the truth. We are not rich. We are not using our parents' money. We have a budget to live within, which includes keeping expenses at home going (e.g. insurance premiums, car loan, service fees, home utilities, etc.) We just worked hard and saved even harder. I guess we've never lead a fancyschmancy lifestyle anyway ever since we got together (too bad for Dan that he met me when I was a freshly-minted pocket-poor ex-lawyer) so it's wasn't very painful giving things up. There were only a few items which we had to forgo... like, erm, Rockband...sigh.

Myth No. 3 - Dannie & Yi Lin Are Going On One Big Long Holiday!

Yeah, sure - if we take 'holiday' to mean a break from work. But we're not vacationing. We're traveling. It's hard work figuring out when and how to travel. It involves planning, studying, researching, budgeting, discussing, worrying, hoping, wondering, deciding, etc. It means we don't know where our next bed or meal is going to be for the next one year. Even communicating with other people is going to be a problem. But that's the difference between being a tourist and a traveler, and we know it's all going to be worth it.

Myth No. 4 - Dannie & Yi Lin Are So Brave!

We prefer the word "courageous" but really, we're frickin' scared lah. I've got paranoia built into my genetic system (gee, thanks Dad) and am damn scared of getting mugged, hurt, shot, ill, crashing, etc. But short of needing a camel to carry our massive first aid kit which is equivalent to an entire Guardian Pharmacy, stocking up on whistles and personal safety alarms and sitting through a series of painfully expensive vaccinations, we're just arming ourselves with common sense and praying for divine intervention when it's needed. And of course, the mother of all worries - making the money last.

Myth No. 5 - "I Could Never Do What You're Doing!"

Myth debunked: YOU CAN. Maybe not now, at this point of your life, but you can. Really. It's just a matter of deciding how much doing a big trip means to you and what you're willing to sacrifice for it. We probably couldn't have done this earlier in life - it wasn't a priority then anyway. Now, besides the obvious like not getting paid for the next 12 months, we're giving up precious family time and the opportunity to be hip young parents... and when we finally do attain parenthood, I've absolutely no idea how we're going to afford the tykes.

But that's a future problem - to be solved at a future time.

Upcoming blog entry: a little bit more about our trip and a glimpse into our packing nightmare...

YiLin

written by  DanYilin on March 25, 2009 from Singapore, Singapore
from the travel blog: go.
Send a Compliment

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Wow, RESPECT + ENVY + my good blessing

will be looking forward to updates from your travelblog

written by  charpin on March 25, 2009

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Best wishes on your journey. I'll be checking on this blog for updates...

written by  Alphonsus on March 25, 2009

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well done. sorry we havent spoke recently, but best of luck for the trip... and if you happen to drop by the uae, you know who to look for ;)

written by  Junwei on March 25, 2009

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omg, i thought i was the paranoia one.......

written by  Lint on March 25, 2009

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Deep respect*, touch of envy (for your courage and decisiveness) and gratitude (for being allowed to share the journey vicariously. Will lookout for updates and add my prayers to your loved ones' that you guys will stay safe and have the times of your lives! You go girl!

written by  florence mok on March 25, 2009

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Go Yilin, go Dan!
I'll be checking this blog regularly for updates and snippets of your adventures! :)

written by  Janice Tan on March 25, 2009

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Hi guys!!!!

CONGRATS on committing to this journey! I hope we'll cross paths in our travels sometime this year :)

Take care and enjoy the packing!!!

written by  Chloe on March 25, 2009

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Thank you for the excellent kick in the ass that I needed to stop lusting about others fulfillin their dreams and get workin on mine! :)

Big hearts!

Mich

written by  Mich on March 25, 2009

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Wonderful. Really admire your commitment to fulfilling your dreams, something few of us can claim to achieve. God Bless, will be missing you and looking forward to your return!

written by  Mae on March 25, 2009

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Bon Voyage, cousins!
I shall look forward to all the wonderful gifts that you bring back for me from abroad. That one shall not be a myth!

written by  Yeepster on March 26, 2009

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Hello Yilin,

Eat well, have fun & be safe.
Cool stuff =)

Lei Lei

written by  leilei on March 26, 2009

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Very inspiring babe :) all the best to you and dan for your journey!

written by  suping on March 26, 2009

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Hey DAN/ YL,

Now that you've headed WEST, don't reckon we can be diving again anytime soon ya.. :P The crab on my arm is dying for some deep sea...

Well, I'll be reading your blog much so look fwd to ye nxt escapade entry :)

Haf fun

Edwin.

written by  Edwin Chee on March 29, 2009

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