What's In Your Travel Bag?

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I just finished watching The Package. A South Korean drama about a pack of travelers in France with their own stories. Although this is fairly short, I still enjoyed it mainly because I was trying to get to know each character thoroughly. I am a sucker for anything relating to family, and this one hits home.

In the last episode, the main lead asked her Boss for a vacation. They have a good relationship, so her Boss allowed her although she was supposed to handle another group of travelers as their tour guide. Before leaving, her boss gave her extra cash and told her to buy a new travel bag along with these words:

_{"What does a travel bag mean to you? If you pack a bag, you'll learn who you are.
It's not just about picking some clothes. You will realize what you like the most. And what you're the most scared of. You'll also realize what you have to give up. And you will learn what you mustn't give up. What do you think? Buy a new bag and pack your things. If you do, you'll learn who you are. And you will also realize where it is that you want to go."
― So So's Travel Agency Boss}

_{Sung Dong Il as So So's boss. He is my most favorite Korean veteran actor.}


It made me remember the night I packed my things for Dubai. Aside from the clothes I needed for work, I also packed some clothes for casual days. It made me realize how simple my style is. I usually go for a simple blouse without much print going on paired with black pants. As for footwear, I usually go for a pair of slippers, or if I feel a little fancy, I go for ballet shoes. And that's pretty much it! Take note that most of my stuff are from ukay-ukay or a thrift store. But I have changed for the better. I like looking good now.

What made me crazy is when I started sorting out my art materials and books. Is it okay to bring these oil paint tubes? How about these huge jar of Gesso? Should I bring most of my art books? How about my big and heavy photobooks? Questions, questions, and more questions. At the end of everything, I ended up bringing only one art book about Vermeer because they used some of my baggage allowance and I couldn't say no.

• What I like most ― Making art.
• What I'm most scared of ― Not being able to do my art.
• What I gave up ― Art (materials.)
• What I mustn't give up ― Art (materials.)

Although I came to Dubai with the hopes of pursuing what I love the most, the inevitable happened and I stopped doing what I love completely. I managed to buy art materials though, which I only enjoyed using after I quit my job. Despite of everything that's happened, I am still drawing and I am a lot braver now to follow and direct my heart to where it's supposed to go.

As Carl Sandburg once said, "I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way." If you asked me 2 years ago what this quote meant to me, I probably will only disappoint you. It would sound like I am nothing but a lost sheep, and although that may sound like me from time to time, the woman I have become is a lot determined now and is quite a navigator of life.

How about you? What's in your travel bag?

I am curious to know. Comment them down below if you fancy. Namaste, stranger!