ANN/THE STAR – How far would you go to appease the travel bug within you?
For husband-and-wife Azmi Ahmad and Salina Umar, both 59, the answer was clear: They needed to move closer to the airport.
The couple decided to trade Kuala Lumpur – the city they had lived in for nearly four decades – for the quiet town of Nilai in Negri Sembilan.
“We lived in the city throughout our working lives, but as the traffic became increasingly unbearable, we decided it was time for a change,” Azmi explained.
But their move in 2019 wasn’t just about finding calm and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city; it was also a strategic decision to bring them closer to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which is about 20 minutes away by car from their new home.
“Moving to Nilai was the best move for our travels,” said Azmi, who retired in 2015, while his wife of 38 years, Salina, retired three years later. Both were accountants in private companies.
The travel-loving couple were first bitten by the travel bug while studying in Canberra, Australia from 1982 to 1986.
“When we became financially stable three years after we started working in 1987, we made it a point to go on family vacations at least twice a year,” said Azmi, now a grandfather of six.
These vacations, along with work-related travels, trips with relatives and friends, and their couple holidays, have taken them far and wide.
“Combined, we have travelled to almost 50 countries and counting,” Azmi shares, adding that one of their most adventurous activities while on holiday was bungee jumping in New Zealand at the age of 50.
TRAVELLING TAKES FLIGHT
Retirement opened the door for 61-year-old N Govindarajoo to let the travel bug within him take flight alongside his wife, Adeline Ranjini, 50. “Retirement is the best opportunity I have to travel with my wife.
“So far, we have visited 10 countries together,” said the retired director of engineering with 30 years of work experience.
However, travelling is not something Govindarajoo just picked up. The father of four, aged 21 to 27, started collecting stamps on his passport in his early 20s when he became a sailor, before joining the hospitality industry seven years later.
Govindarajoo says as a couple, their trips aren’t overly planned, relying instead on tips from other travellers as their guide.
On average, the couple travels twice a year, with frequent trips to India for pilgrimage.
Other countries they have visited include Hawaii, the United States, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
“We do our travelling arrangements all by ourselves. We backpack, use the internet as our guide and reference, or rent a car to go around. We like challenges,” said the seasoned traveller from Puchong, Selangor.
GIRLS TRIP
Unlike the two men who enjoy golden age travel with their spouses, 61-year-old Umarani Seevaratnam from Ampang, Selangor prefers to travel with her older sister, Navamani Seevaratnam, 63.
“My husband’s idea of a holiday is backpacking, camping or roughing it out with nature, which is totally the opposite of my kind of dream holidays,” said the former manager in a financial institution.
For Umarani, her sister – whom she regards as her best friend – is the mastermind behind their holidays, planning and designing their itineraries and handling all the bookings.
“My super knowledgeable sister has been instrumental in awakening the travel bug in me,” she said.
However, the mother of two, aged 26 and 33, notes that she only picked up travelling after her retirement due to work and family obligations.
To date, Umarani has travelled to 13 countries, with India being her favourite.
She has explored the South, North, East, and West regions of the Indian subcontinent.
“After working for 37 years, I owe it to myself to unwind and see the world in ways I can afford. I have always been interested in learning about other countries’ culture and food, and travelling to other countries offers me that opportunity,” said Umarani.
Retired teacher Rokiah Mustafa, 67, has always been fascinated by the countries mentioned in the textbooks of her school subjects, World History and Islamic History, so she pledged to visit each of them once she retired.
“Since 2001, I began to travel at least twice a year, and after retirement in 2017, my travel frequency doubled to four times a year, depending on the duration and distance. So far, I have travelled to 37 countries,” said the grandmother of 11 from Perak. Rokiah has a long list of favourite countries, and she doesn’t mind visiting them multiple times. These countries include Indonesia (which she has visited 15 times), Thailand (10 times), China (four), and Saudi Arabia (twice).
“I love their historical sites, geographical charms like landscapes and climates, their culture and economy. They make good subjects for my holiday photography too,” she added.
Rokiah has different strategies for planning her holidays, depending on whom she’s travelling with.
“When I travel with my family, I only use ground services, but with my friends, whether from school, college or work, I will take the service of a travel agency I am familiar with,” she explained.
TRAVELLING TIPS
“Age is catching up. Take this opportunity to travel and see the world, to face new challenges and learn new lessons, and do it within your means,” advises Govindarajoo, reflecting on the experiences he and his wife had during their 26-day backpacking trip to Spain, Morocco and Portugal.
“While we are still strong and able, we should travel and enjoy the most to gain some experience,” he adds.Umarani agrees: “It doesn’t have to be overseas. Malaysia has equally breathtaking places to visit and explore. Just don’t carry your home together with you when travelling.”
She added, “Don’t micromanage whatever or whoever is at home. You are on holiday, just enjoy it and only check on your loved ones when required.”
Azmi’s tip for fully enjoying a holiday is to go with an open mind without expecting perfection.
“When you have already chosen to go with your trusted travel company, all you need to do is just enjoy yourself and pray for the best and smooth travel,” he advised.
Since travelling is not a cheap passion, Rokiah says the younger generation who like to travel should start planning their finances wisely from the early years of their careers.
“Set aside some of your income for travel depending on your monthly expenses, and try to earn extra income with the skills you have,” she concluded.
“When you have retired, it’s good to have some money to do what you like, and for me, that’s travelling,” she said.
“While we are still strong and able, we should travel and enjoy the most to gain some experience.” – Zalina Mohd Som
