Hello Sinned 79,
Like you, I used to have about 18days of annual leave and i have never hesitate to used them well. Once, I flew 30hours (including transit) to Brazil just for the carnival and to see another 2 cities before flying another 32hours back to Singapore.. I arrive back at home and work with major post travel depression.
I also realised - there is holiday and there is travel. Holiday you can go to a country or a city, see the sights, take some fantastic shots, enjoy the food and weather and head home with memories.
With travel, i had the time and flexiblity like never before to experience some other people's lives.
I had a chance to live with an african family in Maritania, bathing, wash hair and clothes with one pail of water, had flies sticking to me every minute of the day before they disappear and the mozzies attack. I travelled by the local boat transportation to Timbuktu instead of flying there in 45 mins, went for african weddings in a remote village where the children are gawking at me instead as I am the odd one out, i take the buses in the city and travel out to surburbs to meet locales I met on the trip and so many other opportunities to peek into their real lives.. a side that we will hardly get to see if we are tourists and seeing the beautiful sights only. (and seriously when you spend time in a country/city, you will eventually get the chance to see the ugly side too which is reality)
I think I have spent about 3 months worth of hours travelling on buses during this 15 months and the amount of coversations with the local people gives so much information than we will ever read on guidebooks.
My holidays always left me depressed and that is why I left for this trip
There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking holidays which we all need but travelling will give you an insight to many things beyond the surface.
you are still young and I am sure you will be able to do this if you set your heart to it.
Everyone can do it.. you just need to want it bad enough