Split

‘I’m leaving to Osh tomorrow night.’ This was what I told S when he was wondering why I did my laundry by myself as soon as coming back from Song-Köl since there is a free laundry service in the guesthouse every(tomorrow) afternoon.

Sakura Guesthouse

By hook or crook, I’m leaving Bishkek tomorrow. I have moved my chess. The next move is up to him to decide, whether to join me or continue to grow mushroom in HIS Sakura Guesthouse. I know he still wants to hang around here for who knows how many years more. He also preferred Torugart Pass over Irkeshtam Pass to cross to China regardless of the expensive costs($100-$200) it incurs just because it’s more straightforward(1-day cross), convenient(direct from Bishkek), hassle-free(arranged by travel agent) and doesn’t involve back-tracking. He told me my plan to cross to China via Irkeshtam Pass is a stupid idea and he would never do that. It was at this moment that I realized he is just one of those ordinary travelers who like to label themselves as budget-backpackers. Apparently we have different definition on ‘budget’. This is one of the reasons I don’t travel with those who can’t or not willing to bear with minor hardship for the sake of cost-saving. By spending $50 just to cross a border is already totally unacceptable for me, let alone $100-$200. So don’t try to convince me! In this case, I don’t mind(I always don’t) to sit in a 4-person overnight shared taxi for 12-hour back-tracking along winding mountainous road and across high mountain passes.

That wasn’t actually the only spark that broke the fellowship.

To be honest, I don’t need people to respect me, but don’t try to or insult me. I always can’t help to tell about my limitation when meeting and discussing with other travelers about my onward journey but hey, I don’t want somebody to act cool in front of me by telling people ‘because he carries a stupid Malaysian passport.’ Neither do I feel comfortable when my travel partner introduces me by saying ‘Oh, I was traveling with that f**king Malaysian guy’, or yelling ‘Shame on you!’ in front of new friends just to show his superiority. Most of the time, I felt insulted, be those intentional or unintentional. Did I tell you that I was actually the one who felt ashamed if your travel partner never mind to break wind while dining; wasted food while being served by hospitable herders in a yurt where food was scarce; refused to give a front seat to elders in a shared taxi; fighting with kids on the street just because being called a monkey; burning an US cash note in front of kids asking for money(despite this is more to a mere talk big); getting pissed off then putting the blame on you each time he get lost, missed buses or the alight points(‘See, I already told you this…See, I already told you to go xxx but you never listen’(he never) or ‘Give me the guidebook! You don’t know how to read a map…’(despite the fact that he was the one leading the way)) (There’s nothing to get fussy of when getting lost in a new place. If you really think that you are so good enough, then you go by yourselves! I don’t want to travel with someone who always thought that he is more superior than anybody else! I don’t want to travel with someone who likes to act cool and pointed the fingers to you when things run unfavorably.)

Arghhh…too many gossip and too many bad talks. I don’t want to bear with those unnecessary yet avoidable bad feelings. Why should I be someone else’s vent hole? Traveling is like everything else, if not happy, then split. No commitment.

Note: I didn’t even say goodbye when leaving with SowPeng to Osh not because I was narrow-minded but apparently he wasn’t there but I’m sure we will meet again either in Kashgar or Hunza.