• girl holding hat sit on a cruise split port a girl named clara
    Life,  Money,  Travel

    Wanderlust, Behind the Scene 2024

    Hi, everyone! It’s been a long time since I wrote a personal finance blog. This week, let me give you an update about me behind the scene, 2024 edition 😄 Wow, I can’t believe it’s been three years since I wrote Wanderlust Behind the Scene in 2021. In just three years my life has changed for the better. Thank you so much, Jesus!!! If you haven’t read the first version of this blog, it’s here. This update is to give you insights into my version of “Instagram vs Reality”. You may see that I’m always travelling on IG but it doesn’t mean I’m a chaebol, very successful, etc… To sum…

  • asian girl smile in pink dress lake background verona italy agirlnamedclara
    Life,  Money,  Travel

    Wanderlust, Behind the Scene

    This week, I feel like sharing my life behind the scene — behind the travel photos that I shared. If Instagram has “Instagram vs Reality”, this post will be similar. The purpose of this behind-the-scene topic is to motivate all salarymen who love travelling, like me 💪 Many people think I come from a rich family background, seeing that I travel often. The truth is, I’m just an average office employee who pays her bills + rent, has parents to support, and meticulously manages her finances so she can travel, plus still invests some money every month. Luckily, I have a sister so we can share the expenses! There’s always…

  • 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…

  • Life,  Money,  Travel

    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…

  • Money,  Travel

    How to End Your Travel-or-Save Dilemma

    To travel or to save? It’s a question many people have, especially when it’s the holiday season and airlines are giving special prices for flight tickets. If you’re an office worker who wasn’t born with a silver spoon like me, it’s normal to think that it’s better to save for emergency and retirement than to travel. However, what if you’re born with wanderlust and travelling and both are considered as needs? I personally don’t want to live in resentment. Chasing my dream keeps me motivated and passionate in life. After all, what’s the purpose of saving all the money if (touch wood) I’m gonna die tomorrow? #dilemma Travel Without Guilt…