She Went To Afghanistan Alone!

Our team had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Siti Noridah, a fellow Malaysian who defied all the normal odds of a female traveler and did what a lot of us would not even think of doing, travelling solo to Afghanistan. Yes, you heard it right, female, solo, Afghanistan.

Brave, witty and full of life, she shares with us on her experience not only travelling the road less taken but also her experience in life.

1. I’m sure the audience are really curious about who you are. Could you please tell us a little about yourself?

Nama penuh saya Siti Noridah Binti Ab.Rahaman, pemegang Ijazah Business Computer daripada UITM. Saya berasal daripada Johor. Saya gemar travel dan hiking.

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My name is Siti Noridah Binti Ab Rahaman, a degree graduate from UITM in Business Computer. My hometown is in Johor. I love to travel and hike. 

2. Of course, it’s obvious that one of you passion in life is travelling. When or where did you catch the travel addiction?

Saya gemar mengembara sejak kecil lagi. Sebagai contoh, dulu sewaktu sekolah rendah dariah 1,  saya telah berjalan kaki balik ke rumah walaupun sepatutnya saya perlu menaiki bas sekolah yang disediakan oleh ibu bapa saya. Ibu bapa saya risau saya tidak pulang ke sekolah, mereka cari saya dan menemui saya sedang berjalan kaki pulang ke rumah.

Selain itu, sewaktu saya menuntut di universiti saya sering menaiki bas lokal (lompat-lompat) instead of naik bas ekspress daripada Negeri Sembilan ke Johor. Jika menaiki bas ekspress cuma mengambil masa selama 3 jam tetapi saya lebih suka menaiki bas lokal (harus menukar sebanyak 4 bas) yang mengambil masa sehari suntuk lamanya.

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I love exploring since I was a kid. For example, when I was in standard 1, I walked back home from school instead of taking the bus which my parents paid for. My parents got really worried that I did not come home that they had to head out and find me, only to find that I was actually walking home from school.

Back when I was in university, I would take the local bus from Negeri Sembilan to Johor instead of a direct bus, in which I would have to change the bus from time to time. Usually, it would take 3 hours if you take the express bus but instead, I took the local bus (which I had to change 4 times) and it took me about a day to reach home. 

3. The mentality out there is: Girls shouldn’t travel alone because it’s dangerous. You have done that before, countless times. What is your opinion on the above statement?

Pada saya, bahaya ada di mana-mana sahaja. Di depan rumah juga boleh menjadi bahaya jika tidak kena pada caranya. Sebagai perempuan yang mengembara sendiri ke tempat asing, banyak langkah-langkah keselamatan yang perlu di ambil. Sebagai contoh yang paling mudah, jangan keluar berjalan kaki pada waktu malam di tempat yang sunyi, jangan memakai pakaian yang terlalu mendedahkan (hendaklah sentiada bersederhana bagi mengelakkan perhatian yang tidak diingini), jangan mudah percaya pada orang asing, sentiasa memaklumkan pada orang yang rapat apa rancangan yang ingin dibuat pada setiap hari, berbaik dengan pekerja hostel/hotel dan memaklumkan mereka apa rancangan pada setiap hari (supaya sekiranya berlaku apa-apa kejadian mereka tahu di mana untuk mencari anda) dan sebagainya.

Yang paling penting bagi pengembara solo wanita adalah keyakinan diri dan sentiasa berfikiran positif. Sekiranya sentiasa berfikiran positif biasanya hanya benda positif yang akan datang kepada kita.

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Personally, I think that danger exists everywhere. If you are unlucky, there could be danger lurking right in front of your front door. As a female traveler in a foreign country, there are precautions that we all have to take. For example, it’s not advisable to go for a night walk in a quiet place, be moderate when it comes to dressing, do not always trust strangers, always inform your loved ones on your daily plans and also make friends with the hostel/hotel staffs, tell them your plan so that they know where to find you in case something happens. 

It is very important for a female solo traveler to always be confident and to always think positive. It is very true that positive thoughts will attract positive events around you. 

4. Would you tell us about your adventure to Afghanistan? I am sure a lot of people would be motivated by your story!

Afghanistan sebuah negara yang berisiko sebenarnya untuk di lawati. Pengembara terdedah dengan bahaya diculik oleh pihak Taliban, dan pengembara biasa akan ditahan oleh pihak kerajaan  dan dipenjarakan berbulan lamanya. Kerana mereka sentiasa mengesyaki pengembara dari luar adalah pengintip dari sesebuah negara.

Saya sendiri pernah di tangkap oleh pihak tentera Afghanistan kerana mereka mengesyaki saya adalah pengintip daripada Pakistan. Tapi setelah soal siasat yang panjang, akhirnya saya disabitkan tidak bersalah.

Saya juga pernah melihat seorang penduduk tempatan mati ditembak di tengah jalan. Perkara itu adalah scenario biasa di Afghanistan. Menurut pepatah, semuanya mahal di Afghanistan kecuali nyawa.

Walaupun begitu bahaya untuk mengembara di Afghanistan, sebenarnya negara ini adalah antara negara yang sangat cantik dari segi landskapnya. 80% daripada bumi Afghanistan adalah terdiri daripada gunung-ganang.

Penduduk di sana pada saya adalah orang yang sangat berbeza, very proud people. They have their own integrity tapi sayangnya negara mereka kucar kacir kerana peperangan.

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Truth to be told, Afghanistan is a risky country for travelers. Travelers are exposed to the risk of being kidnapped by the Taliban and usually, they will be arrested by the government and sometimes are locked up for months at once. They are always suspicious of spies from other countries which are playing the role of a traveler. 

I was arrested once by militants from Afghanistan. They thought I was a spy from Pakistan. However, I was released after a long investigation. 

I once saw a local civilian shot dead in the streets. It seems that the scene is somewhat common in Afghanistan. They say that everything is expensive in Afghanistan except for human lives. 

Despite all risks, Afghanistan is a beautiful country in terms of it’s landscape. 80% of its land are high mountains in fact!

The people of Afghanistan are very proud people. They have their own integrity and their own identity, but it’s really unfortunate that the war turned their country upside down.

5. One of the main reasons a lot of people don’t travel is because of money. Money seems to always be the reason/excuse as to why someone should not travel. What do you think of that?

Betul, ramai berfikir mereka tidak dapat mengembara kerana wang. Sebenarnya wang bukanlah factor utama yang membataskan seseorang itu daripada  mengembara. Selagi ada kemahuan di situ ada jalan. Saya sendiri bukanlah kaya, tapi boleh juga mengembara selama 6 bulan tanpa bekerja.

Caranya adalah menyimpan wang dengan berdisiplin. Dahulu sebelum mengembara saya banyak berkorban dan cut-off perbelanjaan yang tidak perlu. Contohnya seperti, mengurangkan membeli kopi di Starbucks, makan tengahari secara bajet dan murah (sewaktu saya bekerja di ofis) dan sebagainya.

Jika kita boleh membelanjakan duit untuk barang-barang mewah berjenama tetapi merungut tiada duit untuk mengembara, itu sebenarnya bergantung kepada apa kehendak dan keutamaan kita dalam berbelanja.

Sekarang juga ada pelbagai cara untuk kita mengembara dengan bajet yang rendah. Sebagai contoh boleh menggunakan CouchSurfing untuk mendapatkan tempat tinggal secara percuma, boleh hithchike untuk mendapatkan kemudahan pengangkutan secara percuma dan sebagainya.

Saya pernah terjumpa pengembara yang tidak mempunyai wang tapi boleh mengembara selama bertahun-tahun. Pada mereka mengembara tanpa wang adalah lebih mencabar dan trill bagi mereka.

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I can agree with your statement that a lot of people limit themselves from traveling because of money. The truth is, money should not be a reason why people are not traveling. Where there is a will, there is a way. I’m not rich or financially free, but I can travel 6 months without working.

One of the methods is to save. Previously, before I went traveling, I used to cut off a lot on unnecessary expenditures. That would mean lesser money spent on my Starbucks and I even save on lunch money back when I was working in an office.

If we can spend on luxuries but complain about having no money to travel, that speaks volume on what we prioritize more in life and spending.

There are many ways that we can travel nowadays with a low budget. For example, you can use CouchSurfing to get free accommodation when you are traveling or hitchhike around to save on transportation. 

Throughout my journey, I have met with travelers who does not have any money but they have been travelling for years! For them, travelling without money is what challenges them and gives them the thrill that they need!

6. You travelled around a lot. What did you learn from so much of travelling?

Sebenarnya banyak, tapi apa yang paling memberi kesan adalah, hidup ini sendiri adalah sebuah perjalanan. Walaupun betapa susah sebuah perjalanan, hidup perlu diteruskan.

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Travelling have thought me a lot, but one of the biggest lessons would be that life is a journey. No matter how difficult a journey can be, life has to go on.

7. What was the toughest place that you travelled before so far?

Semestinya, Afghanistan.

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Definitely, Afghanistan. 

8. Where is your current favourite place in the world?

Pakistan

9. Any advice for our fellow Malaysians who loves to travel? Maybe a self-created on the road survival technique?

Mengembara secara adventure memerlukan kesihatan fizikal yang baik. Sebelum memulakan pengembaraan secara adventure, lebih baik sekiranya training your fitness. Sebagai contoh trekking, gym dan amalkan cara hidup sihat.

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Adventure traveling requires good physical conditioning. Before starting your adventure, train up on your fitness. Hiking and some sessions in the gym would be good to keep a healthy lifestyle going.

10. Do you have any funny travel stories that you can share with us?

Di China saya pernah di kejar dengan anjing di kawasan gurun Gobi. Saya terpaksa berlari dengan membawa backpack menyelamatkan diri dan mujur saya jumpa orang kampung di situ untuk mendapatkan pertolongan.

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Back in China, I was chased by dogs in Gobi Desert. Imagine this, I had to run while carrying my backpack in a desert! Good thing I found some local villagers who are willing to help me. 

Author’s Note:
The stereotypes would tell of how females should not travel alone and never to the road less taken. But who are they to dictate someone’s life? There are so much to see out there that even a lifetime might be inadequate to witness everything. The world was created for us to explore and to find, not for us to hide from and evade. The author hopes that through Siti’s sharing, many will be motivated to step out and EXPLORE THE WORLD!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

For those of you who are interested, you can follow Siti’s journey in her blog: http://derubirusiti.blogspot.com