I didn't know I am an 'IN' thing to watch in 2013

What did I do on New Year’s Eve?

Nursing an injured ankle after an eventful jungle trekking near Lake Banding, about a 30 minute drive from Gerik, Perak.

Together with a friend who is also a photo enthusiast and two guides, I had one of the best holidays ever in my life.

We spent three days taking photographs of nature at its best, eating in the jungle and the scary but fun part was running away from wild elephants.

The breathtaking scenery at Lake Banding

The exhaustion must have resulted in my ankle giving up on me later in the day.

But the minor accident will not stop me from going for more adventures taking photographs of birds, wild plants and animals. And yesterday, while reading JWT’s “100 Things To Watch in 2013”, I realised, there are many people like me who are into “nature as antidote”. (Wow, I am part of the global “IN” crowd)

At number 61 on JWT’s list, “nature as antidote” is a choice for many, in many parts of the world.

According to JWT, with urbanisation rising steadily, today, more than half the world’s population lives in cities, compared to less than 40 per cent in 1990.

As a result of this, more people will go back to nature to escape the pressures, noise, pollution, traffic and other stressors of the city. The boat house at Lake Banding

We will also see this urge manifest in other ways from embracing natural and organic elements in decor to buying nature-themed entertainment products.

Also, in JWT’s “100 Things To Watch in 2013”, another trend that made me feel that I am in the “IN” crowd is #79, river cruising.

River cruising is slated to make a splash in the travel industry.

In 2012, according to JWT, British cruise brands Voyages of Discovery and Hebridean Island cruises introduced river cruises.

A shot taken near Temenggong Dam

Many travel companies worldwide are adding river cruise itineraries.

It is about time, we hear more stories about river cruises at Royal Belum, Tasik Banding and Temenggor Dam.

I had fun during a boat ride at Lake Banding.

And one interesting thing on JWT’s “100 Things To Watch in 2013” that I tried to embrace but made me feel guilty sometimes, is #50, JOMO (Joy of Missing Out).

It is the flip side of FOMO or Fear of Missing Out.

It is about consciously opting out of the endless social media stream, the 24/7 news cycle, the deluge of emails and countless other distractions and demands.

According to JWT, more and more people are putting their fear of missing out to rest by exercising the extraneous and often irrelevant, finding a joy in missing out.

They are consuming information on a need-to-know basis so they can slow down, savour the moment and focus on what’s really important without feeling anxious or stressed.

An Orang Asli boy from Kg Sungai Chuweh

Now, wait a minute... If you are all about building empires, or if you are a super control freak you may not be at # 50 and just cannot relate to JOMO.

One more thing to watch in 2013, and at #2 is Adult Playgrounds.

That one, you will have to read on your own.

Have a great year.