Throwback Thursday: My First International Trip

I’ve actually never been on a plane until I was already in my 20s. Sounds wild, I know. But funnily enough, my very first international trip happened way earlier than that — when I was about 10 years old.

My first stamp (well, figuratively) was Singapore.

It wasn’t really a holiday-holiday. We didn’t go there for sightseeing or shopping sprees. We went to Singapore to visit family. I have relatives there — my grandmother, uncles, aunties, and cousins — so the trip felt more like a family visit than a vacation. But somehow, that made it even more special.

One memory that will forever stay with me is my late aunty. She was one of those aunties who were just… fun. Warm, kind, and incredibly hospitable. I remember how excited she was to meet me, to the point where she actually took a day off from work just to bring me around. Imagine that — taking leave just to spend time with your nephew. That alone already meant so much.

And listen… we had two Happy Meals in a day. TWO. That was luxury, okay? I don’t remember where we went exactly or what we saw, but I remember how happy I felt. How safe. How loved. Before we went home, she even gave me 20 SGD, which back then felt like I’d just won the lottery.

She was that aunty — the one who made everything fun, the one you’d always want to sit next to during family gatherings.

Sadly, she passed away a few years back. What made it even more heartbreaking was that we didn’t know about it at first. We only found out when we went back to Singapore again and were told that she had already passed. That trip felt different. Quieter. Like something important was missing.

Singapore will always hold a special place in my heart — not just because it was my first international trip, but because of the people and memories tied to it.

Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to other places — Bali, Bangkok, Jakarta, Phuket, Seoul, and a few more. Each trip came with its own stories, lessons, and versions of myself. And I’m still dreaming, of course. I hope one day I’ll get to see Europe, maybe even New York.

And above all, I’m praying that one day I’ll be able to step foot in Mekah.

Amin.

Looking back, my first international trip taught me that travel isn’t just about places. It’s about people. Love. And the memories that stay with you long after the journey ends.