• Suare toed shoes summer trend 2019
    Fashion

    Summer Shoes Trend 2019: Square-toed

    In case you forget because of the hectic summer, we’re still breathing in the month of August. This means, it’s STILL summer and we all should embrace the playful season like walking on square-toed shoes! On top of that, if you missed some fashion updates or haven’t filled your wardrobe with the latest trend, here’s a summer trend 2019 that guarantees won’t make you regret spending some cash or swiping your credit card. Some of My Favourite Square-toed Shoes Here are some of my favourite square-toed shoes: Kohai Ok, these shoes aren’t exactly square-toed but it’s my first ever. When I was in Jakarta, my sister went to the Wakai…

  • Money

    Tony Robbins’ Investing Rules of Thumb – Simplified

    Every Thursday in the office, I and a group of friends would gather during lunch hour to discuss a random topic. On one occasion, we were discussing life plans and I shared that I wanted to plan for my retirement because I read Tony Robbins’ investment book. “Clara, why do you have to plan for your retirement? You can just get married to someone who can help you. Look at our friend, she’s getting married and will be moving overseas!” said one of my friends. The thing is, everyone has a different fate. Therefore, whether you’re a man or a woman, NEVER hope that one day someone will come to…

  • Health & Beauty,  Life

    Eat Fresh, Eat Well: Ryoshi Izakaya Signature

    This isn’t a paid post for Ryoshi Izakaya Signature. The rule of thumb when it comes to socializing is to appreciate the ones who are kind to you. Perhaps someone asks you out for a date, friends send you home although their house isn’t in the same direction as yours, or you’re invited for dinner. The appreciation doesn’t have to be ‘tit-for-tat’. It’s as simple as bringing them their favorite snack from your home country when you balik kampong and paying for the parking ticket. Or, you can also write a blog post about it, as I do 🙂 Last weekend, I was invited by a friend to his newly-opened…

  • Travel

    I Flew Almost 24h to Cuba Only to Find It’s Quite Similar to Asia – Updated

    When it comes to Latin American countries like Cuba, what pops into your mind? Exotic culture, sensual music, sexy people… “Despacito” and “Havana”, perhaps? Been to Cuba in April 2018, and I agree with that. However, there are things that many people, especially Asian, will find it shocking when they travel to Cuba. That’s mainly because we don’t realise that Latin American countries are underdeveloped. After sitting on the plane for almost 24 hours and feeling my a$$ flatten like chapati, quite a number of things made my jaws drop during my 15-day tour. I was like, ‘I traveled from far far away to find this??’. Although surprising, I enjoyed…

  • Travel

    Breakfast and Birdwatching at M.P.S. Village, Sri Lanka

    In the previous blog post, I shared that to travel is also to enjoy food. In addition, I feel that your travel experience is also affected by your choice of accommodation. This isn’t a paid post. I just want to share my experience staying at M.P.S. Village, a budget hotel in Sri Lanka with a wonderful view and yummy breakfast. Imagine hearing the sound of peacocks and other kinds of birds while enjoying your breakfast! Peacocks? Where do they come from? I’ll tell you later 😉 M.P.S. Village, a Budget Hotel Surrounded by Greens and Birds First of all, this beautiful budget hotel isn’t located in Dambulla city center. You…

  • Life,  Money,  Travel

    How “Begpackers” Make Me Feel Grateful for My Powerless Passport

    I used to feel bitter towards “begpackers” because of my powerless passport, but not anymore. First of all, according to Global Passport Power Rank, my Indonesian passport is ranked 58th out of 93. While doing this research, I get to know that my passport is ranked lower than the passport of the countries I never heard of like Nauru, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. More surprisingly, the passport of Timor-Leste, which was part of Indonesia until 1999, is doing better – sitting at the 45th position! The Roots of My Bitterness Towards “Begpackers” For someone who loves travelling, the roots of my bitterness towards “begpackers” are obvious. I have to work hard…

  • Travel

    Nuwara Eliya: An English Tale in Sri Lanka

    Being a tropical country located near South India, I used to think that when visiting Sri Lanka, all I needed to pack was summer clothes. Wrong. Especially if you’re planning to stay in Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful English town on top of a hill. Dubbed Little England, the town is a contrast to other cities in Sri Lanka not only because of the English history, but also the climate and architecture. Founded by Samuel Baker in 1846, Nuwara Eliya’s cool climate (daily average of 16°C) made the town a favourite place to stay for British civil servants and colonialists. I’m so happy to include Nuwara Eliya in my Sri Lanka…

  • Life,  Travel

    I Visit Lonely Planet’s Hottest Destination 2019 and Regret

    Like most of my friends, or should I say, most Asians, Sri Lanka, Lonely Planet’s hottest destination in 2019, is a country that we never dream of visiting. It doesn’t even cross my mind. However, my crush tells me that he’s been to Sri Lanka four times and the country is one of travel’s best-kept secrets. Really? What are the good things in Sri Lanka? Soon after, Lonely Planet named Sri Lanka the best country in the world to visit in 2019! I feel so curious. I know that I need to see and experience the country myself. “You better hurry or it’ll soon become packed with travellers, just like…