Tobias always carries a teddy panda when traveling and serves as a close companion.
Tobias Bremner (28 years old) is a visitor from Canada. In February 2019, he traveled to Vietnam for the first time and loved the S-shaped land. At the end of 2019, Tobias decided to quit his job, moved to Da Nang to live and teach English. Having a hobby of backpacking by motorbike, he always carries a cotton panda on his journeys. He also has a travel blog called A Stuffed Panda Adventure .
The idea originated when he arrived in Singapore and chanced upon a tourist from Zimbabwe by chance. He has traveled to 180 countries around the world and has always carried a large cotton lion. Tobias was inspired and wanted such a companion, he chose a panda named Hunter.
Tobias does not remember when he owned this panda, only from the story of his parents having it since the age of 5, given by a friend of his parents. “Since then I always carry the panda with me. For a while, like other children, I forgot it. When I started traveling and blogging, I became attached to this bear.” said.
He doesn’t like taking selfies so he often takes pandas with landmarks to mark the places he visits. The places Tobias went to are Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Dak Lak, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue, Phong Nha, Khe Sanh, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Mu Cang Chai, Ta Xua, Sa. Pa and Ha Giang. In which, Ha Giang is the place he likes the most and thinks this place is like the dream country, painted by an artist rather than a real-life place. “Before I came here, I never knew there was such a beautiful place,” said Tobias.
Sharing memories during the trips, he always remembers the spirit of hospitality and enthusiastic help of the Vietnamese. On his visit to Mu Cang Chai, he entered a street that was probably reserved for people and cattle only. The road is very steep, narrow and has to cross a stream. He fell twice, the car was stuck in the stream, but fortunately there was an ethnic person helping him drive to the flat road. He said he was very grateful and wanted to send money to thank him but he refused. In addition, the times at the homestay also touched him because he was always treated like a family member.
He sees Hunter as an irreplaceable companion. “I thought if I was robbed, I would be willing to give them all the money and belongings but please keep the teddy bear. But this never happened,” said Tobias, smiling.
Many visitors or locals also enjoy seeing teddy pandas. “I met Tobias by chance when I came to Ha Giang. After talking, I found his backpacking journey in Vietnam and his blog about pandas very interesting,” said Kim Ngan, a tourist.
Tobias hopes that after the pandemic ends, he can continue with the teddy pandas to continue to fulfill his dream – travel to all parts of the world. Since childhood, he watched movies on National Geographic and always felt fascinated by beautiful lands, wanting to come to explore. But when he got caught up in school to work, he forgot that dream. After 5 years working, that thought returned and he decided to quit his job and move to Vietnam. For him, this is one of the best decisions up to now.
vnexpress/Ảnh:Nhân vật cung cấp