Travelogue - Zugspitz; Top of Germany

Conquered the highest peak in Germany in October 2015. I didn't exactly climb to the top of it... rather, I got there by cable car. Froze my butt off that day but the view more than made up for it. 

Located a few hours away from Munich, Zugspitz was an easy day trip. It was -1 degrees the day we went and there were scatters of snow, which I feel added to the magic of the mountain. 

Travelogue - Munich

Munich has been on my travel list for the longest time and I finally made it to the lovely city in October 2015. This was a trip years in the making. 

There was so much to see and do both in Munich itself and the other cities/towns that surrounded it. We spent 5 days in Munich and I still feel like I haven't done all that there is to do. 

Traveling Alone

For the longest time, I've read about all the perks of traveling alone, how you discover yourself and all that. Everything sounded great, empowering even. But there was always that small niggling of fear and self doubt. What if I got lost? What if people think I'm weird for eating alone? What if something bad happens to me? 

Travelogue - Ireland, Cliffs of Moher

Have barely touched my Europe trip for last year and I'm already done with my second trip. Just last week, I found myself in the gorgeous country of Ireland for the last few days. Took a day trip out to the cliffs of moher and was super blessed with good weather. Aka the mo(t)her of all cliffs. Lol 

Travelogue - Mt Bromo, Indonesia

It has just dawned upon me on how many backdated trips I have! I heard about Mt. Bromo from a friend the the photos were out of this world. So I decided to take a trip there to satisfy my curiosity about the place. 

The journey there started with a flight to Surabaya before our driver picked us up at the airport. From there.. it was a 4-5 hour drive to Mt. Bromo. 

Travelogue - Ho Chi Minh

Spent a night and half a day in HCM city, which was just the right amount of time to satisfy all my Vietnamese food cravings. 

When I look back at all the photos of food I took, I can't believe we ate that much. 😂 

Travelogue - Mui Ne, Vietnam

Mui Ne has been on the back of my mind since a friend told me about it a few months ago. Something about the endless sand dunes and mystical fairy springs stayed with me. 

A few weeks ago, I flew to HCM and hopped onto a sleeper bus straight from the airport to head to this lovely fishing village. 

Travelogue - Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle

Visited Europe in October and fell in love with Bavaria. I've already mentally listed out the next few places in Bavaria that I definitely want to visit. 

On one of the days, we took a day trip to see the acclaims Neuschwanstein Castle and the town it resides in. I can see why the castle in Sleeping Beauty was inspired by this. 

Travelogue - Sapa

While in Hanoi, my friend and I decided to do an 2 day trip to Sapa. We took an overnight train there and a bus back to Hanoi. It was a definite experience - Sapa was so cold and foggy in February. It added a sense of mystery while we were exploring the area. I also got to experience riding a bike up and down the winding roads of the mountain while getting caught in a hailstorm! 

Travelogue - Bangkok

The last time I went to Bangkok, was 12 years ago. When I went to Bangkok in November 2014, I returned to a completely different city. In recent years, I'd been hearing about the tantalising food and fantastic shopping that the city had to offer. So I decided, why not head back to see how Bangkok has changed?

I didn't really do much site seeing this trip - another excuse in my opinion to head back. All we did was eat and shop and take morning swims in our lovely hotel pool. It was a short and lovely getaway from everything.

Travelogue - Sydney

Sydney happened in July 2014. I'm horribly behind time in updating this space. I've always wanted to visit Sydney, but instead always ended up in other Australian states. So when I finally bought my ticket, I was hyped.

To me, Sydney holds a wonderful balance between the fast paced city life and the slower paced country side. Head to the city's business district and you'll see businessmen in suits walking around, the mandatory cup of coffee in hand. You'll see people of all walks of life hurrying about their daily life.

Travelogue - Blue Mountains, Sydney

Before heading to Sydney in July, I asked around for recommendations and everyone said I had to visit Blue Mountains. Some recommended tours, others said to head there on my own. In the end, we decided to make our own way there, and Blue Mountains did not disappoint. 

Travelogue - Beijing, Sights & Sounds

In April, I found myself on a plane, heading to Beijing. I was filled with anxiety because to put it simply, my Mandarin has deteriorated after years of not using it. Thankfully, the recesses of my brain still kept hold of all the words and phrases drilled into my throughout my years of education. 

We spent the first day exploring the Silicon Valley of Beijing and roaming around. There were no concrete plans due to our lack of sleep (oh, night flights). 

On one night, we decided to check out the Olympic stadiums before dinner, and there were a sight to behold! They were in their lighted glory with crowds trying to snap photos of them. 

Travelogue - Great Wall of China

In April, I visited China for the first time. China's only a few hours away from Singapore, and yet I've never given much thought about visiting it. 

Prior to my trip, I did have certain apprehensions. Was I going to be able to communicate with the locals in my halting Mandarin? Would the city be crowded and jam packed with people? Were the people there friendly? More importantly, what was the toilet situation like. I honestly did not know what to expect. Nonetheless, I decided to ultimately toss my worries aside and conquer the Forbidden City. 

I visited the Great Wall on my second day in Beijing, which was a Friday. Luckily for us, it wasn't too crowded, but there were lots of children on school trips. After much research and deliberation (because of transportation and communication issues) we decided to head to the Mutianyu Section of the wall. 

Gardens by the Bay, Tulipmania

Spent the day at Gardens by the Bay Tulipmania reminiscing about the good old days back in the Netherlands. It's sort of become a yearly tradition for my friend and I to go see tulips (which are my favourite flowers). 

Istanbul Crossroads

The crossroads of Europe and Asia. My stay in Turkey was a definite eye-opener. Istanbul is a melting pot. I have such lovely memories associated with this country. When I read of the latest news about Turkey banning Youtube and Twitter, it makes me sad because Turkey has the potential to charm the world - with its history, people and unassuming charm.

Edinburgh; Scottish Charm

It dawned upon me that I've yet to write about Edinburgh. 

A city where every cobbled turn takes you to yet another precious sight. Edinburgh was a spur of the moment decision. I love everything that has to do with the UK. But Edinburgh, opened up a whole new dimension of awe and appreciation in me. 

Edinburgh is by far one of the most charming cities I've set foot in. The vibe, the history, the Scottish brogues and the friendly locals. Even the weather was beyond beautiful.  

Bali Lovin'

I spent my Chinese New Year over in Bali because a) I really needed a break and b) I didn't feel like fielding the usual barrage of questions while visiting relatives and friends. So I hopped on a plane with a friend, and off we were to this little island of paradise. 

Having already been to Bali once, we decided to spend a day visiting some other places. The weather was sketchy at times, but we nonetheless had a lovely day out. 

Travelogue - La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Before I went to Spain, I had never even heard of Gaudi. I must admit that I did not have much exposure to the world of art. Sure, I knew who all the famous people where, and I'd heard of all the famous paintings. But I just didn't get it. And it did take effort and a lot of understanding on my part, before I was able to appreciate the beauty behind an art piece. Sometimes I still struggle, but I'm slowly learning. 

If you venture into the city of Barcelona, his structures are everywhere. Buildings have been designed to reflect nature. When I first saw Sagrada Familia, I was in awe. I stopped in my tracks, the admire the size and grandeur of it. 

Travelogue - Nou Camp, Barcelona

Now, if you are an avid football fan, no visit to Spain is complete without visiting Nou Camp. The largest football stadium in Europe. Imagine playing before a home crowd. If you are the opposing team, I'd say that it provides a pretty daunting experience. The stadium is well over 60 years old and Barcelona being Barca, has well, a rich history.