Hello Grasshoppa,

One of my life goals is to travel the world and explore new countries. In 2023, I managed to visit two new countries, a departure from my usual travel routine of returning to Thailand annually for my comfort zone trip. Despite revisiting Thailand in 2023, I made a personal commitment to explore countries beyond my comfort zone. This led me to the beautiful yet underrated country of Cambodia, providing a truly worthwhile experience where I encountered a different culture and enjoyed diverse cuisine. Despite the prevalent news and rumors about Cambodia’s safety concerns, my experience in Siem Reap was entirely safe.

Some argue that traveling is about purchasing an experience. If you were to ask me, I’d choose traveling over buying items that may lose their appeal in a few days. With the same amount of money, I can rejuvenate, immerse myself in different cultures and cuisines, and create lasting memories. This is a far more rewarding investment than spending on items I want but don’t necessarily need. For instance, given the choice between upgrading my iPhone to the latest model for RM6,000 or using that money to travel, I would undoubtedly choose the latter.

Regarding my overall spending, I don’t typically splurge on gadgets or miscellaneous expenses. My money usually goes towards household expenses and, primarily, food. In 2023, a portion of my investment allocation was dedicated to traveling, totaling around RM30,000 for both local and overseas holidays. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The expenditure covered various local travels between KL and Ipoh, hotels, flights for two, the number of countries I visited, and the duration of my travels (30 days overseas). While RM30,000 might seem like a substantial amount, the breakdown reveals that traveling overseas can be comparable to or even cheaper than domestic travel. For instance, a local staycation in a Penang hotel might cost RM1,000, while a flight to Bangkok costs only RM400, and a two-day hotel stay is just RM600. Redirecting funds from luxurious accommodations in KL to a few days’ vacation in other countries can yield the same expenses, with the only differences being the cultural experience and food.

Throughout my recent travels, I’ve forged numerous friendships within my BJJ network. This is partly because my travels often involve participating in competitions, allowing me to connect with the community. Even when I’m not competing, I make an effort to visit gyms, documenting my training experiences. Over the past few years, this has helped me build a robust network for my gym and myself.

My life goals include achieving financial freedom, traveling the world, and sharing the love of BJJ. While working towards retirement, I’m seizing the opportunity to travel extensively, spreading my passion for BJJ through competition, learning, and knowledge sharing. I eagerly anticipate exploring more countries in the coming years, continuing to propagate my love for BJJ. Hopefully, in the years to come, I can pursue it full-time once I achieve financial freedom.