Once a travel addict, always a travel addict. Yeoh Siew Hoon caves in to the nature of her beast.

Every year, I make the same resolution – to travel less.

This year though, I have decided to be different. My resolution is to make a few good trips with a few good people.

Over the years, I have made many good friends in the travel business and we've always talked about making a trip somewhere together. But none of us have gotten round to it, mainly due to time constraints but more, I think, due to human inertia and the belief that "well, there's always next year'.

I've talked about going to South America with a friend who knows the continent like the back of her hand, I've dreamt of going to St Petersburg with a friend who's been there a few times, I've pondered the idea of delving deeper into India with a few good friends …

Yet, each year passes and we still haven't done anything about it.

Well, this year is the year of travelling on a higher plane. What this means is I will cut down on quantity and focus on quality. Fewer, shorter trips, but longer, more quality holidays where I will be able to really get under the skin of a place and thus, get under my own skin.

This is what I am doing too with my clothes and shoes as well – come to think of it, my entire life needs that approach – but that's another story.

Anyway, this urge was spurred on over the festive season when I did not travel for a change and had to live vicariously through my friends.

One, from Los Angeles, was in Singapore, after having spent a week in Sri Lanka. It was his first time and he was full of wonder for this island of unexpected treasures. An avid diver and photographer, he had clearly enjoyed discovering and documenting the delights of Sri Lanka, both underwater and above ground.

The diving experience, he said, was similar to Seychelles but what impressed him most were the ancient ruins and "how one man could have so much power in those days to get people to build such monuments for him".

When you think about it though, not much has changed. This still happens today but that's another story.

For Al, the highlight was shooting (on film) a cobra looking at him right in the eye. "I was so close to him I could see his spit," said Al.

I told Al I had been that close to a cobra too – except it was sleeping at my feet in my office in Kuala Lumpur, without me knowing it was there. When I heard it hiss, I ran so quickly I didn't have time to take a photograph.

The other friend, David, from San Francisco, had spent two weeks in India, followed by a visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

One of David's destinations in India was Auroville in Pondicherry which, according to its website, was created " to realise human unity – in diversity".

It adds, "Auroville is recognized as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with – and practically researching into – sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind".

David talked about "the most amazing treatment I've ever had" – the "Sound Bed" where he laid on a hollow wooden board and underneath the board were strings which, when strummed, sent a resonance up through his body. It's supposed to be both a reading of the Chakras and a relaxation and healing treatment.

He then went on the Chennai-Bangalore Express which took eight hours to cover 220km. "Standing between the cars with the carriage doors wide open watching the countryside go by, talking with locals was a travel memory NOT to be forgotten," he said.

Both men then compared experiences. One key difference between countries in South Asia and the US and other Western nations is the concept of personal space, they said.

While they both said service levels in India and Sri Lanka were fantastic and hospitality was warm, the attention of service staff in hotels could be intrusive at times.

Al recalled a butler who would barge into their room without knocking on the door. David recounted the story of how he was stark naked in the shower, and the butler came into the shower, pulled aside the curtain and asked if he wanted his laundry done.

As they sat there, telling their stories, they stirred in me the nature of the beast I had tried to deny the last two years for personal reasons.

I guess, once a travel addict, always a travel addict.

Yes, it's time for me to hit the road again. After all, I've been home for nearly four weeks, without getting on a plane.

Here's to all our travels in 2006. May they be fun and enriching.


The SHY Report
A regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry by one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, Yeoh Siew Hoon.

Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her company's mission is "Content, Communication, Connection".

She is a writer, speaker, facilitator, trainer and events producer. She is also an author, having published "Around Asia In 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries". Her motto is ‘free to do, and be'.

Contacts: Tel: 65-63424934, Mobile: 65-96801460

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