Smoking is not permitted in the lavatories

There was a time I had enjoyed flying. There was a time I shared the dream of million other kids...to fly high above the sky, to gracefully take off and land a plane. There was a time I dreamt at night becoming a pilot and travel.

Today, after 27 years , I've only materialised one half of my childhood dreams; the more common half at that too. Travelling seems to be one of the most common interest to all. Not all of us have had the opportunity to do so though. Forget being a pilot, I ditched that dream the instant I learned that my math must be grade A to be accepted in a commercial flying school. Either that or the cash to put myself through flyight school. I had neither when I was 17.

I should consider myself privileged to have travelled to many wonderful and interesting places from such a young age. Perhaps it was one of those perks being youngest in the family and being at the right age at a time when my parents travelled a lot for business and vacations. Lucky if you will.

I've seen the Alps, I've witnessed the changing of the guards, I've paid my respect to the great John F. Kennedy, I've touched the names of those who didn't return from Vietnam, I've kissed Al-hajar Al-aswad or The black stone of Kaaba twice in five years. I've walked on the steps of Borrobodur, Played on on the deck of HMS Belfast, hitch a ride on the Pirate of the Caribbean and enjoyed the Maid of the Mist at Niagara. The list goes on and on...shall I continue? How about a shopping spree at Bally factory in Arau, Switzerland or witnessing my first snow fall in Tokyo oh so long ago?

Of all my travels, nothing was more peaceful and serene than Bali though. Something about the place I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. From watching the "Barung Dance" to taking a deep in its waters. I'd like to go there again someday. When I was a kid, my excitement was on the plane ride itself. Those days whenever a passenger had an urge for a cigarette, all they had to do was go aft to the smoking section and enjoy a puff or two. Ironic that I wasn't smoking then. The last time I saw someone smoking on a plane was when my then brother-in-law when 'round the back of a 747 for puff. I was 11 years old.

These are the places I hope to travel someday: Paris - because it's paris, UK - for all its castles, Bora-Bora - to see if it beats Bali and perhaps, even home again one day. Not KL but rather places like Kluang, Chaah,Gemas, Mersing, Kampar, Bidoh, Kuala Kangsar, Tawau, Sandakan and much much more. One would not associate tourism with these places so much but there is the abundance of hidden beauty to it. The people, the social norms and so forth. The last time I was travelling in deep in Johor, I was travelling alone for work and my only regret is that I did it by myself and without anyone to share the experience with. It was so strange to see Malaysia and Malaysians for what it really is. I was emotionally touched by it.

I don't quite enjoy flying anymore. Maybe it's because of the way we have to struggle with aches and cramps in economy class. The narrow seats (though are improving) and clautrophobic space is really a wonder. Not even the amount gizmos now available on most airlines would keep my mind off from aches. Don't even get me started on the fella sitting in front of me. But there are alternatives I suppose...cars, boats, trains and busses.

Alright, I've decided that before I'm 35...these are the destinations I must travel to:

• Muar/Kluang/Kota Tinggi, Malaysia
• Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia
• Bali, Indonesia
• Sydney, Australia
• Gold Coast, Australia
• Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

And this time, I'd like to travel with someone