Thaipusam at Batu Caves

It was pretty awkward for a Chinese girl and a white guy to gatecrash a religious party during the eve, but it didn't matter because we were curious since: 1) I've never been to Batu Caves during the celebrations and 2), he's a tourist and he has to see this.  

We were being videod and pictured, extremely bizarre good times. I brought him around town not like a tourist guide, but just bringing him to the places that my family and I always visit. 

5 days in Koh Samui

 

View more 35mm pictures at my Flickr album: January trip to Koh Samui

My cousin and I decided to buy flights to Surat Thani instead of having anywhere in mind, she just wanted to extend her already dragged out holidays. Koh Samui is the closest island from the airport that we arrived. 

Koh Samui was wonderful, 100 Thai Baht cocktails by the sea and watching kids running towards a bonfire. 

2 days in Cheung Chau + Airbnb

View more 35mm pictures at my Flickr album: December trip to Cheung Chau/HK

Cheung Chau was phenomenal. I visited Hong Kong during winter and I presumed the island would be chillier than the city (or probably it's just me and my unusual common sense) but the temperature was perfect than ever. The only pity would be the trip was only a 2-day sojourn since I was on a tight budget plus I had my city lodging booked, shorter trips are kind of always the better trips.

Wontonmeen hostel - Hong Kong

Just few stations away from the blue line where the main retail attractions are in Hong Kong, Prince Edward is slightly calmer. The most balanced and optimal neighbourhood to be, located in the middle of the Lane Crawford and Apliu Street electronic market continuum. There's a McDonald's right opposite of the building.

There's also a park opposite of the lodging for people watching instead of the open space in front of the bedroom upstairs, but the park bans smoking tho. Just a heads up. 

The Mustang Nero hotel - Bangkok

Located just 2 stations away from Thong Lor BTS station, the centralised art district of the sleepless city - The Mustang Nero hotel is basically a hidden gem in the Phra Kanong precinct, still orbiting slightly along the line.

Full black exterior of 3 floors, and a whole lot of trees surrounding which makes it hard to miss the building when turned into the road. Whilst the interior charms their visitors with vintage appliances and odd choice of decorations, still with the whole lot of plants everywhere concept. A literal concrete jungle, in and out. 

Your excessive voyage satchel and burdens

Nah, overweight or not, just bring everything you want to use or you think you want to use, moderately. I've chanced upon loads of articles on tips in packing 'the flawless' and meritorious luggage - filling your socks into your shoes then putting shoes inside shower caps, bring paper clips for razors, belts at the collar of shirts, and vacuum pack your clothes by sitting on them.

I've got one and this was probably the realest and possibly the most tangible advice on luggage packing: just pack everything you want to bring, and eliminate 30% of what you have packed. I've attempted, but it doesn't work on me.

I tend to overpack or under pack when I leave my house, regardless a trip to a cafe or just a trip out of town. It's definitely okay to overpack, better to be safe than sorry, yet I don't like forking extra money out. It feels like I'm sending my belongings to some black void of space whenever I check my baggage in, and super insecure when my necessities aren't on top of me. So I always leave it up to fate and luck.

Though, I bring my seal plush to everywhere I go, it was supposed to be the carrot plush toy from IKEA that I named her as Ivana. Ivana was getting mushy and soft, so she's left in my bedroom and my seal follows me around. I haven't exactly named it, but my friend's niece suggested a cute name (which I've forgotten because it had like 4 syllabus I guess) when we met in Hong Kong. I'm still open for suggestions though, but wavering decisions, it's always the name of lovers that went wrong. This is certainly an only child problem. 

Penang, Sinkeh guesthouse
Read about the guesthouse here!

5 days in Seoul + Gwang Ju

I’m grateful towards my mom every time I reminisce this trip to South Korea, since it was just to attend a concert of a rock band - in which I don’t and can’t fully understand Korean at all. I’ve had my savings reserved for this holy grail, and in return I feel like I’ve thrived a little because I’ve accomplished something that I’ve promised myself. 

Like, hey, you’re not too bad after all.