It takes guts to leave a well-paying job to grow yourself as a person through travel, and takes greater guts to be a young woman doing it all on your own on a limited budget.
That’s what Mardy Malka did in 2010 with $7,000 in her pocket, leaving her “dream job” as a producer at a major production company in Singapore to fulfil her wanderlust, embrace life, hitchhike and find peace within herself.
Since then she has met nomads, buskers, shamans in her travels which have taken her to Europe and South America. One year turned to two and three when she was invited by the collective of international buskers, known as The Busking Project, to help them produce a documentary over nine countries.
In South America, Mardy volunteered with the United Nations and the Ministry of Education of Chile as an English teacher serving public schools – institutions of learning beseeched by violence.
We are doing this documentary to empower other women like us to speak out and heal. For many, decades have passed and the scar of sexual abuse has yet to fade.Mardy Malik, writing on her Indiegogo site about her documentary
But it was an experience in the Peruvian Amazon where Mardy encountered a life-changing moment, where after her first encounter with indigenous people, she met her friend’s mother who was on a journey of healing from a dark past, and one that was very similar to Mardy’s.
Writing for Coconuts Singapore, Mardy said: “I met Lieve. She was the mother of my friend, Sacha. Lieve and I were introduced, and I discovered that she, too, suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for the last 26 years.
“It took awhile for me to get the story out of her, but eventually I found out her condition was caused by an act of sexual violation she experienced at the age of 19.
“Sacha had introduced us because he wanted me to document his mother’s healing experience in the Amazon jungle, something that had taken her three years to agree to.”
Since then, Mardy has finished the filming the documentary, titled Arkayana: A Healing Journey Into The Amazon, of Lieve’s healing in the Amazon. She successfully financed the production through crowd funding site Indiegogo.
Mardy has just finished filming and took time out of her busy post-production schedule to chat with Contented about the joys of travelling alone, meeting strangers and taking baby steps to see the world and meet people with an open and positive mind.
How much did you start off with on your travels?
My first big solo journey was in May 2010 to Europe, I travelled for a year for $7,000. I then went on to travel South America for two years with $5000.
Did you intend to be gone for three years?
When I first started traveling, I met many nomads and travellers who travelled for many years. I was so fascinated by this lifestyle. After my one year of travels in Europe, I was back in Singapore for three months before leaving for South America. I was invited to be part of a documentary project called The Busking Project that paid for my tickets to and fro.
It has always been my dream to learn to speak Spanish and I promised myself that I would not leave the continent until I could be conversational in the language. So with that intention, I really did not expect to stay for two years but I definitely learnt a lot during these three years of travels.
What was your route like on the map?
My European leg was – Istanbul, Athens, Santorini (Greece), Berlin, Amsterdam, Austria, Italy, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France and Switzerland.
My South American leg – Mexico, Cuba, Columbia, Peru,Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil.
There’s a common belief that being a lone female traveller can be dangerous. How did you find the courage to do it?
The main reason why I wanted to travel alone initially was because I had a big fear of being alone. I was in a relationship for a big part of my life and I wanted to know what it would be like to be alone and to learn more about myself.
I think that fear limits so many of us. We always think too much before doing something but I think trusting oneself is a big part in overcoming fear. Of course there is always danger, but i always believe if you have good intentions and be constantly aware and of course take the necessary precautions, chances are that you will be fine.
I set a mission to travel in a way that allows me to see this. I hitchhike and couch surf because it allows me to connect with locals and live their lives during my time there.
What memory from your travels comes to mind if I were to ask, “What’s so awesome about humanity?”
It is the connection that one can have with anyone on the streets from any part of the world. A smile can connect, a laughter can bind us, and yes, music unites us in that we really are one. We all want to feel that we can help another, to feel our purpose.
When the poor can share their last plate of rice with me, it really makes me feel so humbled and yeah, humanity is awesome.
What sucks about travelling alone?
I really enjoy traveling alone but of course there are downsides especially when you are sick, hitchhiking or when you have your heartbroken.
When you are sick, of course, it will be nice to have someone look after you. When you are hitchhiking, it is always better to hitch with someone, so you can take turns to rest while the other entertains the driver with random yet insightful conversations.
I think for me personally, it sucks to travel alone when you have to walk the open roads with a broken heart. You do not have your girlfriends to pacify your aching heart.
What was the book and song that travelled with you from start to end?
Words and music are very important to me. There were two books that inspired me to take the plunge and leave everything behind.
They were The Zahir by Paolo Coelo and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
I didn’t travel with them but I carried their inspiration and quotes with me in my heart. Especially from Eat, Pray, Love.
“If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself… then truth will not be withheld from you.”
I have also grown to like singing more and more as I travel, and it is my way of remembering places and times.
But whenever I am waiting on the side of the road for hours I tend to sing along to old-school Malay rock songs and Yuna. They make me feel happy.
Best meal?
I am a vegetarian and it makes eating out a little more complicated, and I prefer to eat home-cooked meals made with love and care.
So the best meal I have eaten were made in the kitchens of friends. I still think Asian food is the best.
Best destination?
It is really difficult to pick one.
At this point, my travels have turned into pilgrimage. I am interested in learning about alternative healing, permaculture and just learning in general about living in nature.
I say Brazil. It will always have a special place in my heart with its strong sense of identity and culture. Brazilians are such a happy, sexy bunch.
I am a huge fan of the Balkan countries; Macedonia, Romania and Serbia. They have such beautiful nature. The mountains, the trees and the people have such big big hearts. I had so many beautiful experiences while hitchhiking through these countries. And the Balkan music, I love it.
Best sunset?
I was living in a cabana facing the sea when I was volunteering in Concón, Chile. I was really lucky to have found that house with amazing friends.
It was the best sunset for me because I didn’t have to leave home to see the sun setting over the Pacific ocean.
While hitchhiking to the Amazon jungle, a friend and I crossed the northern part of Argentina to a place call Pumamarca, where the mountains had colourful rocks. The sun was setting and we felt we had discovered a treasure. Well, mainly because we did not read up about the place before going on the trip so everything else became a beautiful surprise.
What are your travel essentials?
I travel with 1kg of spices. Yes, I am very passionate about my curry. I feel it is the best way to share my culture through my food.
Head torch, sleeping bag and colour pencils – drawing is the best way to interact with children. Once, I was just hanging out at the park in Marrakech and the local kids and I had a camel drawing competition. It was really fun.
My thermos – I love to be able to share some tea. It is also a great way to break the ice.
My Malika Doll – I have a travel companion which has been going everywhere with me. She might just be the few constant things in my life.
And yu yee oil. It is a Chinese medicated oil that my mum used to apply on me when I was a child. I smell it whenever I miss her or have tummy pains.
Any travel tips for the budding backpacker?
I had many people asking me – what if they don’t have much time. What and how is the best way to travel.
Even if you have only two months, it is about how you spend your time. Go out of your comfort zone. Staying in hotels and resorts will just be you being in the same bubble in a different place.
Stay with locals and do what they do. I am always very curious to know about the mundane stuff. I have been to a dentist in Romania, attended a class in Serbia, gone to an optometrist in Peru, a experienced a voodoo spirit day in Cuba.
Traveling for me is living the reality of the people there as objectively as I can.
Be open to new experiences. That is the best travel tip I can offer and always be proud of where you come from.
