“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
I’ve always been someone who plans every detail meticulously before embarking on a journey. However, once, due to time constraints, I decided to take a 30-day trip to China with the intention of planning as I went. But as soon as I landed, my smartphone became useless—Google services were blocked, and I didn’t have a VPN. That’s where my adventure truly began.
“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travellers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux
With no immediate solutions, I was faced with two choices: return to the UAE or take a leap and explore China on my own. Despite my fear, I chose to embrace the unknown and become a traveller, not just a tourist. It turned out to be a life-changing experience that I’ll cherish forever.
I’m someone who’d never approach a stranger, yet here I was, completely dependent on the kindness of locals. Armed with a Chinese translation app on a new phone, I forced myself to ask for help.
“Only one who wanders finds new paths.” – Norwegian proverb
Though I had no sense of direction, a path gradually revealed itself. Over the next 30 days, I journeyed through 9 cities across 7 provinces. Along the way, I connected with people from all walks of life-Chinese police officers, ISO consultants, nurses, and more.
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are detours you didn’t mean to take.” – Angela Blount
In China, I witnessed the grandeur of the 233-foot Leshan Giant Buddha, experienced the mind-bending martial arts at the Shaolin Temple, cruised along the stunning Li River in Guangxi, explored the stalactite caves of Yangshuo, marvelled at the preserved bell towers in Xi’an, and spent a night in the picturesque town of Hangzhou. I savoured delicious local foods at a food festival in Ningbo, visited the adorable pandas in Chengdu, and much more.
As a teetotaller, I’ve never been into drinking, but when it comes to food, I’m all in. This helped me bond with the locals, dive deeper into their cultures, and understand their views on life. Travel teaches us tolerance, especially when we find ourselves in the minority. But true growth comes when we don’t just tolerate, but make an effort to understand. That’s how I made so many incredible friends on this trip.
Watching my travels, many friends wanted to join me. That’s when the idea for Planet 3 was born-because I wanted to help others experience the transformative power of travel.