Macedonia.

Remember my solo-travel sifu, Afiqah?  Well she's now in Cuba. Alone. Winging it a-lone. Oh wow. I've been wanting to do it. Just that, of course, wanting and actually doing it are two very different things. So I thought, maybe, hm, this time, I'll just jump into it and see if it's for me. For all I know, I might like the idea of it, rather than the actual thing.

There's a long weekend before I start a new rotation in 3 weeks' time, sounds like a perfect time.

Randomly checking flight tickets, found a reasonable one with good timing. Hm, looks like luck is on my side so far. Until...

Of course, the two As.

Adam & Ayah.

Oh btw did I say where I was planning to go to? It's Macedonia. Sounds adventurous enough, heh? (smug face)

Right, back to the two As.

Adam was looking at me (on Facetime of course) like I was nuts. Where the heck is Macedonia anyway? He did some googling and found some random picture of naked guys on the beach. And there's not even a beach in Macedonia! Oh why why I'm not surprised..

-_______-"

"Why you go see naked people?"

"You see, I would let you.. But then it's 3 hours away, it's really far.."

"I'll be busy around that time, what if something happens, then I cannot come and rescue you."

"I think you'll be okay alone.. Then I think again, WHAT THE HECK are you doing on your own?"

"I think sticking to UK is probably a better idea."

And the best one,

"Why don't you wait for me then we go together? I want to go to Macedonia too."

1. He has never heard of Macedonia before.

2. The last time we went travelling together in Europe was in 2012. It's really hard to get things properly done when we see each other. We're just too cuddly like that.

Okay.. So that's Adam. It sounds like a no. Although I do appreciate his effort in trying not to sound too obvious.. That he's not really sure if I can do this solo travelling thing.

Fine. I called Ayah the next day. Told him the whole story.

"Do you know that Macedonia is having some conflict now? So yes, I agree with Adam, at least bring a friend with you."

I thought he was joking! Honestly for all I know he has never heard of the country then suddenly just throw the conflict in to scare me off.

"Trust me, I know where the country is. It's near Albania, and (insert some other countries here).. Google it. There's a political tension going on."

Aaaaaaand damn he's right. There is actually something going on. But but butttt, how on Earth does he know that???!!?? It's half way across the world from Malaysia, and who reads Macedonian news??!??

So here I am, contemplating if it's even worth asking if they will let me go to Norway instead..