BY DENISE HUNG
We are told to travel light. Travel as light as you can so that you don’t have to carry any baggage while exploring or globe-trotting. The airline companies put a limit to our checked-in luggage. Budget airlines make us pay for anything more than a hand carrier. When we pay a premium, we are allowed to carry on more items.
“What for?” I always asked.
If what you need for a five-day-four-night trip are a couple of T-shirts, an extra pair of jeans, a few more undies and perhaps a cardigan for the occasional chill wind on a long night out, why load the colourful bermuda shorts or fancy top? If there isn’t an official reason such as a wedding or luxurious event, then there is no need for such excess. Looking good comes from graciously feeling great.
I have always been a backpacker. Even when I am given the opportunity for a free checked-in luggage, I pack lightly so there is no reason to stand around the belt waiting to identify bags. I much prefer grabbing my belongings, making a beeline from the immigrations to the arrival gate, then right in line for a cab. If time permits, I will take the hour train ride home to reflect on the journey or what’s to come in the far-distant future.
However, I have also been the excessive traveller while moving across countries. The last business class flight was purchased on the notion that my extra baggage cost more than the front row seats, hence, there was a need. The wide legroom, proper cutleries and better-looking meal were part of the package. I always feel that packages or bundles are undesired. As light travellers, we much rather enjoy the choice of having to choose our meals, mode of transport, traveling itinerary and so forth. Hence, I was a fish out of water on the business class journey.
The way you do one thing is how you do almost, everything. I sincerely believe the practice of having just enough. Enough sauce for the noodles, enough clothes for the days ahead, enough water for the road, sufficient drinks for a party and adequate materials to fulfill our altruistic needs. Anything more is merely partial.
I have stopped buying as many local handcrafted objects. I hold back taking more sauce or drinking more (alcohol or caffeine). I have ceased to take on more work or personal projects to focus on the present. Finding significance in experiencing life more by having less. Less on our shoulders, in our luggages, on our shelves and in our fridges. I walk more with a lighter load which lets me soak in the sunlight or observe the environment. I fall in a deeper state of mindfulness during my meditation. I put in more passion and creativity with singular projects. I find challenge in simplifying things and peace in being simple. Just, simply be.
我們被告知要輕裝旅行。盡量地輕裝上陣，這樣你在探險或環遊世界時就不用攜帶任何行李。航空公司給托運的行李限重。廉價航空要我們支付手提包之外的一切費用。只有當支付額外的費用時，我們才能被允許帶更多的物品。
“何必呢？” 我總是問。
如果你在一個五天四夜的旅程中所需要的就是幾件T恤，一條備用的牛仔褲，一些內衣，或許再加一件羊毛開衫以備在寒冷的長夜外出所需，那麽為什麽還要帶色彩鮮艷的短褲或花哨的上衣呢？如果沒有任何正式的理由，例如說參加婚禮或時尚活動，那麽就沒有必要帶這些多余的。漂亮來自於優雅地自在。
我一直都是一個背包客，即使我有免費的行李托運可用，我還是輕裝打包，這樣就不用圍站在行李傳輸帶邊上等著確認箱包。我更喜歡抓著包，從入境口直線去往達到口，然後直接排隊等出租車。如果時間允許的話，我會坐上一小時的地鐵回家，去反省一下之前的旅程或在遙遠的未來將發生什麽。
然而在跨國旅行中，我也曾是那個奢侈的乘客。我上一次購買商務艙是因為超重的行李費比商務艙本身還貴，因此有這個必要購買。商務艙裏寬敞的放腳空間、合宜的餐具、更養眼的餐食是消費裏的一部分。我一直認為打包或捆綁消費並不是大家想要的。對於輕裝上陣的旅行者來說，我們更喜歡能夠選擇我們的餐食、交通方式、旅行路線等等，在商務艙裏我如同一條離魚的水一般不自在。
你做一件事的方式就是你做幾乎所有事的方式。我真心相信實踐知足很好。知足於面條上的醬料，知足於未來幾天所需的衣服，知足於路上所需的水，知足於派對上的飲料，知足於適當的物質以滿足利他。任何多出來的東西其實只是私心所需。
我已經停止去購買更多當地的手工物品。我已有節制地不去食用更多的醬料和飲品（酒精或咖啡因）。我已經不再接更多的工作或個人項目以專註在當下。通過擁有更少去體驗更多的生活以找到意義。肩上背得少一些，行李裏裝得少一些，架子上和冰箱裏裝得少一些。更輕盈的裝備讓我能走更多的路，讓我能沈浸在陽光中並觀察到周圍的環境。我得以在冥想中進入更深層的正念覺知；得以在單一的物品上投註更多的熱情和創造力。我在簡化事物上得到了挑戰，也在簡單的狀態裏找到了平靜。就，簡單一些吧。
Denise Hung is a mileage collector, on a plant-based diet, and enjoys immersing herself in nature and being upside down on a yoga mat. Denise graduated with a patisserie degree and lived in Yorkshire, Orlando & Santa Monica, and is about to leave Singapore for Hong Kong. She has co-written a cookbook (Kitchen Stories) with a talented food stylist, Elodie Bellegarde, and is thinking of publishing another book. While on this journey, she often contemplates about the impermanence of form and bring awareness towards the space within.
Denise Hung 基於美食的旅程裏數收集者，喜歡將自己沈浸在自然中，在瑜伽墊上翻轉倒立。Denise 是西點師畢業，曾居住在 Yorkshire, Orlando & Santa Monica，即將離開新加坡啟程香港。她曾和有才華的食品設計 Elodie Bellegarde 一起編寫了一本食譜（廚房裏的故事）。如今她正為另一本書的出版做打算。在旅程中，她通常會去思考形式的無常，並將覺知帶向內在的空間。
