"Like the unseen wind, it can wipe out a whole city when it strikes. So my weapon are the unseen qualities traveling taught me."

[KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA] ► This is the last selfie I took from my memorable and sentimental first backpacking abroad (Malaysia and Thailand). After this selfie, I no longer attempted to take more selfies in the succeeding days.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ▬ KUALA LUMPUR CENTRAL PARK
Photo taken by Edmar Guquib on 23-February-2016
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► TURISTA SELFIE WITH THE ICONIC PETRONAS TOWER

Since this is the last selfie I took during my first backpacking outside the Philippines, it is very memorable, sentimental and significant for me that it filled my brain with a lot of thoughts and reflections. I don't want to forget these thoughts in the future, hence, this write-up. This is originally a facebook post but it became too long for a facebook post so I decided to publish this on my blog. Besides, I don't want my friends on facebook to think that I am posting on a wrong platform to share a too personal musing like this. Yeah, I transferred the written thoughts here on my blog. At least it's my own blog and I can write anything I want. Unlike facebook wherein people might not agree with the things you are posting. Anyway here are the thoughts that came out my mind when I saw this photo.

I thought it will just remain as a dream but it came true. This is my humble beginning. This is also how I celebrated my travel blog's 5th anniversary and my 6th year in the vagabonding world since I fell in love with traveling in 2010. I quit the law school and ditched the opportunities to work abroad in my early 20's when I got hooked in traveling because it changed my perspective in life greatly when I was exposed to the places I've been. I realized my 20's should be spent investing in inner-worth, doing what you love, learning and exploring new things and possibilities because these will serve as an additional weapon in entering a more tricky and challenging 30's (family, raising kids). Traveling and blogging also opened new opportunities for me to be paid while doing my passion. It's so overwhelming to receive a blessing by just doing your hobby.

Traveling also changed my concept of wealth—that being rich is not having a fat bank account, it's about getting contented with what you have and being happy with it. Yeah, I've been exposed to different societies, different cultures and different tribes and the concept of wealth differs. I've long stopped shopping expensive clothes and other material things that are not useful and don't contribute to my well-being and contentment (Well, I may still shop expensive goods in the future if I'll TRULY AFFORD them).

I've learned not to crave for a big house and a posh car because traveling taught me to invest in knowledge, skills, kindness, understanding, awareness and meaningful memories first—material wealth will follow. These will become my armor in my fight in this judgmental, materialistic and unfair world and my ticket in managing a money-based wealth in the future which I believe will follow if you're already ready to deal with them. Like the unseen wind, it can wipe out a whole city when it strikes. So my weapon are the unseen qualities traveling taught me. As my blog 'About Me' page says: "I travel because I want to learn. I want to learn because I want to search for the truth. I want to search for the truth because I want to change the world." So this. Changing and influencing the world the right way is my definition of wealth.

OMG! Ending my first backpacking abroad made me sentimental, hence, this essay. 'Til we meet again KL. / end

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] This post is filed under the category "Photo Essays." This is a category here on my blog where I pour out my thoughts for a single photo that has great significance for me. This is my first post under this category so watch out for more in the future.

[2] The map I used below is from Wikipedia. Source: 1