There is a little game in Facebook for the players to indicate on a map all the travel destinations they have been to. Some of my friends who have been globe-trotting in recent years have filled up over half of the spaces on the map, including many unheard-of places in remote corners of the world.

As for me, I have marked just a handful of destinations.

It is often said that for those who have travel in their stars, they would travel far. But I have often laughed at myself that travel is probably never in my stars. Being a doctor does have its limitations. When I was working in the hospital, I spent all my annual leave sleeping, studying and preparing for my professional exams. After going into private practice, I have become so tied up in my clinic looking after my patients that it is even harder for me to take a couple of weeks’ vacation to enjoy myself in the outside world.

Over the last few years, the most far-away destination I have been to is Greece. So up till now, I have been savouring my memories of the vast expanse of the azure sky over the Aegean.

At my weekly meetings with a group of secondary students, I can't help but be happy for them. At their young age, they have already been to many of the major cities in the world. But obviously they are still too young to appreciate the true value of their travels. They would get bored with Europe, and Australia means only sea and animals to them.

Gosh, how I wish to visit all the museums in Europe or, if I had time to spare, go diving at all the coral reefs around the world. … I would never have enough of such jolly good fun.

By Dr Singsit

*Translation from Chinese article.