Outside of 180 degrees

Author: Yoyo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Author's Note: I've been back from Cambodia for over a year, and in the meantime, I've visited some other places. Many people think it's brave of me to travel alone through Vietnam and Cambodia, but in reality, I was often terrified. Especially in late autumn of 2003, when I was tightly holding onto my camera bag with broken buckles, constantly shouting various interjections and curses, I realized that I was still weak and even more insignificant. To me, travel is nothing more than a simple need like a post-meal stroll, and I hope to gain a broader perspective through it. Since I'm still poor, I often visit places that don't cost too much, and as a result, I've encountered many people whose quality of life is far worse than mine. I've found that true hardship isn't about becoming numb due to financial struggles, but rather about harboring unfulfilled dreams without even realizing it. In comparison, I'm always dreaming, and the life where my dreams could come true every second is simply too good. I can't put it into words, so I can only cherish the life I have even more. I choose to believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, for which I've even argued with friends. He called me naive and insisted on convincing me that people are inherently bad. He spoke with such anger, logic, and evidence, but I still insisted on discovering the goodness, beauty, and kindness in this world. I don't mind exposing my naivety and weakness. I just hope this is an honest book. 4.21.2004