Oh, the joy of being a wanderlust! Being grateful for life, even in countries we haven’t been to The fireworks of our soul, the twinkles of our eyes Sparking joy in little things we do Home-cooked lunches for winter gear and flight tickets Hygge at home with books and teas over cafes Sweating out at the gym instead of clubs Oh, the joy of being a wanderlust! A passion, a teacher, one of the purposes in life Sparking joy in everything we work for Dreams we know we’ll achieve, the dates we promised ourselves A love for oneself, a world without broken promises A love for others, a world without…
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Your Food Survival Guide When Traveling in Cuba
Travelers, has this ever cross your mind? As long as I can travel to my dream destination, I don’t care if I like the food. Before I went to Havana Cuba, I did some research and uncle Google said the food in Cuba was a challenge to most travelers. As someone who’s not a picky eater, I was very confident that I could survive that 15-day Cuba trip. Generally, the food in Cuba tastes bland. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up in a cafe or restaurant with food that tastes as good as it looks. On my 5th day, I started to hope that I would be luckier. On the…
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Serene Sunset and Floating Houses at Tempe Lake
My trip to floating houses at Tempe Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, brought back my love for my home country. Some of us would agree that although they’ve traveled far and visited many countries, they feel most comfortable in their home country. So do I. I love staying in Malaysia, but my love for my home country will never change. Actually, I’ve been to more European countries than destinations in Indonesia. Up until now, I’ve only been to Bandung, Jogja, Solo, Bali, Raja Ampat and Makassar. The reason is very cliche. As a native, I think I can visit other parts of Indonesia anytime. Strangely, the day that I fall in…
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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…
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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…
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Globetrotters and ‘Macarons’, Is It True?
Some people think that globetrotters or people who travel a lot will kiss and bang strangers from around the world. Perhaps, in every country they visit. Where’s this perception comes from?? Once I had caught up with my ex-colleagues. We’re very close and brutally honest, we discuss anything. At one point, my male friend asked me, “So Clara… Do you try a lot of ‘macarons’ when you’re travelling?” “Macarons?” I asked in confusion. The first thing that popped up in my mind was Ladurée, the famous French macaron that I tried while in transit in Charles de Gaulle. “You know what I mean,” he looked at me with a naughty…
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5 Things People Got Wrong About Joining Tours
I agree that when we arrange our own trip, we’ll have total freedom. However, what’s bugging me is when some people think they’re better travellers because they arrange their own trips. They got the wrong impression about joining tours! It’s like the traveller snobs. Perhaps they forget to check the dictionary that “tourist” is the synonym of “traveller”? I have some reasons to arrange a private tour or join a tour, but the strongest reason is to help me attain the tourist visas. That’s how I got my very first Schengen Visa, even though I was in a complicated situation. This article isn’t about boosting the benefit of joining a…
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You Need to Stop Judging How Female Solo Travellers Fund Their Trips
People need to stop judging how female solo travellers fund their trips because it’s none of their business. By this time, I guess you’ve read some news about female solo travellers getting raped or killed while travelling. Some people blame the victims for travelling alone (yes, it’s not just about the funding). An article published in 2016 by The Guardian “Why is Travelling Alone Still Considered a Risky, Frivolous Pursuit for Women?” discusses a very interesting topic about double standards for female solo travellers. Besides sexual violence and gender inequality, let me add one more double standard on female solo travellers: how we fund the trips. People often praise male…
