“I’m interested in new worlds, new universes, and new challenges. I always said the only reason to make a film is not for the result but for what you learn for the next one.” – Alfonso Cuaron (world renowned film maker from Mexico) Last 2017, I challenged myself to complete the 7 New Wonders of …
“Ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go.” – Captain James Cook (British explorer who first cross the Antarctic Circle) It was 2007 when I first joined an online travel community named – Travbuddy. On one TB meet-up …
“One has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.” – Paolo Coelho (world renowned Brazilian writer from Rio de Janeiro) So finally, after 6 long weeks of travelling around South America & Antarctica, I will see my husband again in …
“Seek and see all the marvels around you. You will get tired of looking at yourself alone, and that fatigue will make you deaf and blind to everything else.” ― Carlos Castaneda (a Peruvian writer, The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge) Peru has always been on the list of countries I want to …
“All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise.” – Cleopatra (the last active Pharaoh of ancient Egypt) Egypt has always been a top tourist destination because of the only remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World – The Great Pyramids of Giza. When I was still in Singapore, it’s just too expensive …
“Great souls have wills, feeble ones have only wishes.” – Chinese Proverb Great Wall of China is one of the places on my travel bucketlist, but I always put it aside from my holiday choices when I was still living in Singapore, I thought it’s just nearby I can just visit it some other time …
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi India is the land of unity in diversity. You will find a multitude of cultures, religions, traditions, cuisines and people in India. It is a magical land and most people fall in love with this country …
“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, …
“L’arte d’arrangiarsi – the art of making something out of nothing. The art of turning a few simple ingredients into a feast, or a few gathered friends into a festival. Anyone with a talent for happiness can do this, not only the rich.” – Eat, Pray, Love Perhaps, this Italian expression is ancient too, coz …
“Despite everything he’s suffered he can still look at life in the most uncomplicated way. I’ve never known that kind of faith. It makes me so sad that people like Kostas who have lost everything can still be open to love, while I, who have lost nothing, am not.” – Lena (The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) … Continue reading
“I wanted to tell you, that song “Major Tom” and that beard guy (Walter’s boss), he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That song is about courage and going into the unknown.” – Cheryl (a character from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty referring to David Bowie’s Space Oddity) I used to be one of … Continue reading
“Emotions weren’t created to just lie around. You should experience things to the full. I’ve got a sense of the clock ticking. We have to feel all those things to the maximum. Like, I don’t eat a lot but I really love eating. And I like being precise and particular. There is a certain respect … Continue reading
“At the end of the day we can endure much more than we think we can.” – Frida Kahlo (Mexican artist and a feminist icon) Mexico City is the capital of, well, Mexico, lol. I was only in Mexico City for 2 days because there were only 3 things I want to do & see … Continue reading
“No one was going to hand me my future. It was up to me to reach for my dream, grab it tight and make it come true.” – Ernesto dela Cruz (a character from the cartoons, Coco) I only wanted to visit Mexico before so I can see the Chichen Itza and see Frida Kahlo’s … Continue reading
“What we had in common is our restlessness, our impassioned spirits, and love for the open road.” – Che Guevarra (The Motorcycle Diaries) While I was planning my solo trip to USA & Mexico, the idea of going to Havana also crossed my mind several times since I will be already in the area. But … Continue reading
“Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” – Anthony Bourdain (world-renowned chef from New York City) I’ve always believed ever since I was younger, that … Continue reading
“There is one purpose to life and one only: to bear witness to and understand as much as possible of the complexity of the world – its beauty, its mysteries, its riddles.” – Anne Rice (Gothic fiction writer from New Orleans) To be honest, New Orleans was not on my top list to visit in … Continue reading
“If I’m remembered for having done a few good things, and if my presence here has sparked some good energies, that’s plenty.” – Sidney Poitier (Hollywood actor from Miami) Miami has always been on the list of places I wanted to visit in USA, I’ve only seen it in tellies and movies but its vibe … Continue reading
“Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either take them or you stay afraid of taking them.” – Jim Carrey (Hollywood comedian actor from Toronto) I never planned to visit Canada just yet because I want to stay longer if I visit it as it is a very huge country. However, when I was … Continue reading
“Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured, each step of the way.” – Anonymous In 2007, the New7Wonders Foundation and United Nations announced the winners of the 7 NEW WONDERS OF THE WORLD and naming the Pyramids of Giza from Egypt an honorary status being it’s the only remaining ancient … Continue reading
“I’m happy quite a lot of the time. I’ve done far more than I ever thought I would have, so I’d be very hard-pressed to walk around miserable.” – Robert Smith (lead member of The Cure from Blackpool) My husband and I planned to have our Christmas holiday in 2017 in the UK for the … Continue reading
“The older you get, the more you find yourself looking for things you used to see and liked when you were younger.” – Jonathan Pryce (Tony and Olivier awardee from Wales) My husband and I planned to have our Christmas holiday in 2017 in the UK for the first time since we got married. It … Continue reading
“Idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It’s very real. It’s very strong.” – Bono of U2 (Musician activist from Dublin) My husband and I planned to have our Christmas holiday in 2017 in … Continue reading
“When at last I took the time to look into the heart of a flower, it opened up a whole new world; a world where every country walk would be an adventure, where every garden would become an enchanted one.” – Grace Kelly of Monaco (Hollywood actress who married Prince Rainier III of Monaco) Back … Continue reading
“Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.” – Captain James Cook (British explorer who first cross the Antarctic Circle) Imagine plunging in the below zero cold waters of Antarctica? No matter how stupid this one sounds, this is the story that you would … Continue reading
“If you want it, you must will it. If you will it, it will be yours.” – Rinaldo of Happy Feet There are 2 activities offered to us on this Antarctica expedition cruise – kayaking and camping. I chose camping because kayaking will take away more time from my landings as you will be in … Continue reading
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele (Brazil’s football superstar) Going to Ubatuba was suggested to me by my friend from São Paolo when she found out that we are going to Brazil. We … Continue reading
“There is good in everything; it’s just how you choose to look at it. Everything that’s worth it has a price…There are sacrifices. Life is meant to be a challenge, because challenges are what make you grow.” – Gisele Bundchen (Brazilian super model) It was my husband’s idea to drive a little bit outside Rio … Continue reading
“One of the greatest things you have in life is that no one has the authority to tell you what you want to be. You’re the one who’ll decide what you want to be. Respect yourself and respect the integrity of others as well. The greatest thing you have is your self image, a positive … Continue reading
“Life is not about how many times you fall down. It’s about how many times you get back up.” – a famous quote from Jaime Escalante (a Bolivian educator who inspired the movie, Stand and Deliver) I was not familiar of Bolivia before so it wasn’t really on my bucket list and not even on … Continue reading
“Love looks through spectacles that make copper look like gold, poverty like riches, and tears like pearls.” – Peruvian Proverb Honestly, before this trip, I do not know anything about Peru but Machu Picchu. Almost a decade ago when I visited Ankor Wat, Cambodia in 2008 when I was at awe with the ancient … Continue reading
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Carlos Castaneda (a Peruvian writer of Journey to Ixtian) That same day when I went inside Machu Picchu and climbed Huayna Picchu, I took the train going to Cuzco to spend the night there. I arrived around 8pm … Continue reading
“The secret story is the one we’ll never know, although we’re living it from day to day, thinking we’re alive, thinking we’ve got it all under control and the stuff we overlook doesn’t matter. But every single damn thing matters! Only we don’t realize.” – Roberto Bolaño (Chilean novelist) There are so many places one … Continue reading
“This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.” – Pope Francis Ushuaia is our base point going to our expedition cruise going to Antarctica. Our … Continue reading
When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success. – Diego Maradona In between my stay in Buenos Aires, I flew to Puerto Iguazu to meet-up friends I met on Travbuddy to join them in going to Iguazu Falls on both Argentina and Brazil sides for 2 days. … Continue reading
“I know that, like every woman of the people, I have more strength than I appear to have.” – Evita Peron This South America + Antarctica trip was something I was planning and saving up for 2 years already (or more!). The unstable economy made my job not so easy to plan a huge trip … Continue reading
“Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga.” (With only a drop of alcohol, a pot of milk is damaged) – Indonesian Proverb I visited Borubudor in 2010 when there was another long weekend in Singapore and we all felt we needed to have some break from work. A month before that, my friend, Reychel, have … Continue reading
“If you are happy, you can always learn to dance.” – Balinese Proverb Everyone loves Bali, they all love Bali even before Eat, Pray, Love was even written. And people get surprised every time I tell them, that for me, it’s just okay. Don’t judge me yet, too, I LOVE my experience in Bali, … Continue reading
Batam Indonesia is also one of the closest places outside Singapore, which is about an hour ferry ride only from Harbourfront Singapore. So when my friend, Basti, asked me if we could try wakeboarding over the weekend in 2009, I thought of organising one to Batam Waterfront City together with our other friends from Singapore. … Continue reading
“You are better than you think you are.” – Joe Jer Tee (one of Amazing Race Asia’s first winners) Bintan in Indonesia is one of the closest place outside Singapore for a quick getaway, and is or was usually a go-to-place for “visa runs” for those staying in Singapore and are still waiting for their … Continue reading
“Habis akal baru tawakal.” (Once wit ends, then shall hope proceeds.) – Malayan Proverb My trip to Perhentian Islands was my last holiday trip to Malaysia when I was still living in Singapore. It was in 2011 when we went just before I relocated here in Dubai. My closest friends in Singapore whom I’ve … Continue reading
“Gajah berhati, kuman pun berhati juga.” (An elephant got a heart and so does a germ.) – Malayan Proverb Pulau Rawa is one of the best island you can visit in Malaysia that is very close from Singapore for just a weekend getaway that you don’t need to fly. It is often visited by … Continue reading
“Ombak yang kecil jangan diabaikan.” (Small waves are not to be ignored.) – Malayan Proverb When I got my Open –Water PADI Certification in Pulau Dayang Malaysia, I thought we were in Pulau Tioman the whole time, I thought Dayang is just the name of our resort, lol! So I told myself, I have … Continue reading
“Alang-alang menyeluk pekasam, biar sampai ke pangkal lengan.” (Since you happen to put your hand in a container full of pickles, might as well dip your whole arm in the container.) – Malayan Proverb When I was still living in Singapore in 2010, my friend, Mark, invited us to get Open-Water PADI Certification with … Continue reading
“Ibarat burung, mata lepas badan terkurung.” (Like a bird with eyes so free yet body imprisoned.) – Malayan Proverb Another closest border to Malaysia from Singapore is Johor Bahru (JB). There are even people living in JB that works in Singapore just to cut the cost of their living. During the times I was … Continue reading
“Ada batang mati, adalah cendawan tumbuh.” (When there is dead tree stump, then there is mushroom growing) – Malayan Proverb I went to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia in 2008 when I was still living in Singapore, so it was very quick and easy to just go here over a weekend when we needed to … Continue reading
You can deliver yourselves if you try, not by taking action, but merely by willing to be free.” – Étienne de La Boétie (author from Sarlat-la-Cañeda) We only booked a train from Barcelona going to Gourdon, the closest train station to our place in south of France (Prat, Salviac). However, as it becoming a usual thing … Continue reading
“I think the most important thing about music is the sense of escape.” – Thom Yorke (Radiohead) Last year (2016) was a bit tough in Dubai (or perhaps just to Laurie and I only!) a lot of experimental events in global politics have happened so it was quite tight for us financially. Fortunately, as most … Continue reading
“Tinging bumigkis sa dalawa nang di sinasadya’y magkita, pinagbuhol, pinag-isa mga pusong noo’y magkaiba.” (“An unanticipated look bound them, where once there were two hearts, now beat as one, together.”) – by Bienvenido Lumbera, a National artist from Lipa, Batangas (Music composed for Hari Rama by Ryan Cayabyab, a renowned composer from Taal) Tagaytay is just an … Continue reading
“There ought to be system of manners in every nation which a well-formed mind would be disposed to relish. To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.” – Edmund Burke Unfortunately, Philippines is an under-rated destination compared to other Southeast Asian countries marketed aggressively especially with their beaches. Thanks to social … Continue reading
“Living in Washington, a friend of mine told me that my colors were losing intensity. Right then and there, I knew that it was time to get back to my roots. I have observed over the past twenty years that weather and cultural surroundings have a major impact on one’s outlook.” – Pacita Abad (International artist … Continue reading
“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” -Salvador Dali (a Catalan surrealist artist) At first, I wasn’t so keen on visiting Barcelona, especially alone. I have heard so many first hand horror stories about their experience in Barcelona and in fact my very first plan to go here was cancelled because a … Continue reading
“I’m so afraid of mistakes that I’ve made. Shaking every time that I awake. I feel like a cardboard cut-out man. So build me a time, when the characters rhyme and the storyline is kind. I’ve aged and aged since the first page, I’ve lived every line that you wrote.” – (Ibiza Bar by Pink … Continue reading
“In Spain, we mainly use red plum tomatoes, but it is always fun to experiment. Try using a mix of colors or substitute green tomatoes for plum next time you make a tomato dish.” – Jose Andres Puerta (famous Spanish chef) I was glad that my friend, RH, was okay with the plans of going … Continue reading
“I appreciate a lot in this life; the things you cannot buy. Life is only once.” – Rafael Nadal (famous Spanish tennis player) Originally, my friend’s itinerary is just Madrid & Ibiza for this trip, and like I mentioned on my previous post (Madrid), I hesitated at first but when I found out that her trip … Continue reading
“Madrid has none of the look that you expect of Spain… yet when you get to know it, it is the most Spanish of all cities, the best to live in, the finest people, month in month out, the finest climate…” – Ernest Hemingway I have planned going to Spain three times in the past, … Continue reading
“Today there are opportunities that no one knows if they will come round again in the future.” – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugese football player) This was just a sidetrip for my Spanish trip but it turned out to be one of my unforgettable trips! I was meeting my friend in Madrid but since I am few days … Continue reading
“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.- Don Corleone” ― Mario Puzo, The Godfather Our family friends from The Netherlands, Tom and Tineke, is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year and they wanted to celebrate it in Sicily. They’ve invited us … Continue reading
“Right is only the goodness you carry in your heart…wrong is all that comes between you and the love.” – Papa from Heaven And Earth I first visited Ho Chi Minh (or I still prefer to call it Saigon!) in May 2009 just over the weekend, then few months after that, around October 2009, I … Continue reading
