Manifesting recently took me farther than I ever expected: to the Russian Federation, the world’s largest country.
It was a sharp contrast to an earlier dream I had of traveling to the Middle East, a region I had long wanted to explore.
After covering Indonesia and Taiwan as a journalist, I was hoping to venture into a new part of the world.
Maybe the wanderlust stemmed from watching and reading too much Al Jazeera – reporting that inspired me – and eventually, I got the chance to write for them, after years of hoping for such an opportunity.
It reminded me of a quote from Brazilian author Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
A mantra, really.
Fast forward to early May 2025. Senjaya Mulia, the founder of the ASEAN Youth Organization, posted a message in a WhatsApp foreign policy group I’m in:
“Anyone interested in joining a Global Digital Forum in Russia, June 5–6, 2025? We might cover the flights and accommodation. Please DM me…”
I messaged him. Of course, sign me up. It was a terrific opportunity to represent RadVoice Indonesia at GDF. (While the forum was hosted by the Russian government and included an all-expenses-paid arrangement, everything shared here reflects my viewpoint.)
I was selected. A month later, I was ready to head to Nizhny Novgorod, one of Russia’s largest cities over 400 kilometers from Moscow.
But the trip soon became more than just what was printed on my e-ticket: two flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport via Doha, the Qatari capital and home to Al Jazeera’s headquarters.
Then came a bus ride to Nizhny.
Another magic.
An ‘International Community’ – Just Without the West This Time
Before the trip, I had reservations about traveling to Russia amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Still, the opportunity to meet people from around the world – and to finally set foot in Russia – was rare.
And since the host city was far from the conflict zone, I decided it was safe enough to go.
But something struck me upon arrival: I didn’t encounter a single Westerner at Sheremetyevo.
Not during the hours-long bus ride to Nizhny. Not at the forum itself.
For years, I’d noticed how the term “international community” in some news coverage meant only the West, or the Global North, while sidelining other perspectives.
The GDF offered a refreshing contrast. I met people from countries I had never visited on assignment before.
I exchanged contacts with delegates from Kazakhstan, Iraq, Pakistan, Zambia, Russia, and others.
I also grew closer to fellow Southeast Asian participants from Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines – all of whom had been added to a separate WhatsApp group before the trip.
Everyone was from the Global South.
This was a version of the “international community” that felt more inclusive.
After more than 24 hours in transit from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to our hotel in Dzerzhinsk, about an hour away from the Nizhny Novgorod Fair, where the event took place, the international atmosphere was worth the wait.
It also felt like a long-term investment: I needed to nurture these connections to grow the agency.
And the opportunity had arrived at exactly the right time.
Looking back, I kept recalling the word “Indonesia” in RadVoice’s full name.
Each time I handed over my business card, it was intentional – to highlight the company’s Indonesian roots right from the start.
That week encouraged me to expand beyond what had previously felt impossible.
Foreign Trips: From Reporting Assignments to Business Opportunities
Once home, I realized the trip reminded me of past press assignments I’d done while working in journalism.
I loved visiting new places, returning with fresh insights and new ways of seeing the world.
After interviews, I would shape the story and try to capture the scene.
Even if some details faded over time, the lessons stayed. The Russia trip was no different, though the objective had changed.
I scanned signage in Cyrillic, immersed myself in an unfamiliar culture, and enjoyed a slow life in Nizhny.
I then asked myself: “What did I learn from this experience?”
This time, the answer was: positive affirmation. The trip happened, and another trip could happen again.
After all, who’s to say what the next story will be?
Maybe the next opportunity will be even better.
