VI
EN
My first trip abroad to Cambodia was a gift from my mother to celebrate my university graduation. And when I was 25, my 40-day trip across Europe will always be the fondest memory of my first job.
My travels through Myanmar are intertwined with the memory of the breakup of my deepest love from my youth. The warm smiles and kindness of the people of Myanmar truly eased my sadness during those times. And my trip to Pakistan more than six years ago helped me find the love of my life. And so, these journeys in my youth not only helped me explore the world but also marked my personal growth and maturity.
Springtime in Hunza, Pakistan
But one day, amidst my midlife crisis, I realized that journeys into the outside world no longer brought me joy. Deep down, I knew I needed to seek new experiences and embark on a more profound and fulfilling journey. My connection with meditation began at that moment.
The first few days of getting acquainted with meditation weren't easy for someone like me who overthinks and worries excessively. To practice relaxing my mind, my meditation instructor gave me an exercise: "Imagine your ideal space, like a beautiful, pristine beach or plateau. Take your mind there to relax, enjoy the scenery, the cool weather, the sound of the stream, the birds singing, the gentle waves, leisurely admire the sunshine, the flowers and plants… a place where you can completely relax and recharge your mind." I thought this exercise was too easy; I'd traveled to places like that many times, so I could imagine it right away. But when I actually practiced it, I discovered it wasn't easy at all.
Springtime in Pakistan
Hunza indigenous people
When I let my mind wander to the most beautiful island I had ever visited, memories of that trip suddenly resurfaced. I realized that during my sea voyages, I was always busy with physical activities like swimming, diving, surfing, and exploring islands by boat, never having a moment of complete peace and relaxation for my mind. Once again, I tried to calm my mind for meditation, but I was unsuccessful because my mind was still engrossed in those physical activities.
I left the seaside and island scenery and sent my mind to the high mountains of Hunza (Pakistan) hoping to find some peace to practice meditation. This is what I consider my second home, a peaceful valley with majestic and picturesque mountain scenery. But unfortunately, upon arriving in Hunza, my mind suddenly raced like an arrow along the Karakoram Highway, running from Karimabad to the village of Ghulkin and then up to the border. I was really stressed trying to keep up with my thoughts. I suddenly realized that whenever I returned to Hunza, I was usually busy and stressed, traveling everywhere to take care of my company's tour groups. Therefore, my memories of Hunza were anything but peaceful and relaxing.
The bride at a wedding in Hunza, Pakistan.
When the meditation instructor heard about my struggles, he asked, "So, where is the most relaxing place in your life?" I suddenly realized that my most peaceful and relaxing corner was the tiny living room in my Saigon apartment. It was where I tended my small, lush garden on the balcony every day. Where I could lie comfortably on my cozy sofa, listening to the faint sounds echoing from the city streets. Where I had books that could both help me explore the deepest corners of my soul and take me on long journeys, transcending the physical limitations of space and time.
It turns out that after traveling across continents, we realize that our own little room is the most beautiful and peaceful place in the world. The deepest ocean and the clearest blue sky reside within each person's own mind.
Like many other travelers, I often cherish and remember the memorable years of my youth through the memories of each trip.
When I was young, I often dreamed of traveling to places as beautiful as those in movies. But now I understand that the most beautiful and greatest journey in life is the journey of self-discovery. When I was young, I hoped that beautiful places would help me escape the worries and pressures of daily life. However, the truth is that no matter how far we travel, we cannot escape the reality of our own lives. Only when we understand and reconcile with our inner world, only when we live fully in every moment of the present, can we truly appreciate the beauty of the world outside.
