Friday, 5 May 2017

Yogyakarta Trip

Hello everyone,

Lately. I haven't been posting anything on my blog due to work load and extra activities that i have decided to take up.
Ever since my solo trip to Bangkok i decided to change and step out of my comfort zone.

Yup, life wasn't as simple as it was back then.
Bored, slacking, running around the park and blah blah blah blah...
But recently, i decided to come out of my comfort zone.

Forcing myself into something different.
Adventuring in different aspect, making new friends and learning more on my own.
It's been almost 5 months pass.
As i went overseas for a family holiday trip in Hong Kong.
And recently just return from Yogyakarta for an adventurous trip.

It was any type of "Let's go visit the town" or "Let's go and do some relaxing trip".
Nope, it wasn't anything of the sort.
It's was a Trekking/Hiking trip to Mt Merapi aka Puncak Merapi.
Yes!! Climb the mountain trip.

It was something I always wanted to do because of it aftermaths view from the top.
The beautiful scenery of mother nature was always something that i look forward too.
But like they say " Everything comes with a price!!"

Let me run thru the entire trip plan here with pictures instead. :D

Day 1:
Just me and my secondary school friend.
Queuing up at the check-in long queue due to the holiday period.
Board the plane at 11.00am and took off at 11.25am.
Arrived at yogyakarta - Adisutjipto International Airport at about 12.25pm (Indonesia timing).
Walked out and was greeted by our guide and her team.
Bubbly and funny, we drove off for lunch.
and head straight for Timang Beach aka Pulau Timang.
Spending the whole evening enjoying to the sunset and scenery view.
Headed back to the hotel for a good night sleep.

Reached Yogyakarta with Airasia
Timang island up ahead.
With the guide and gang exploring the tiny island.
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Day 2:
Woke up and greeted with a cold shower. (Something that i am used too and they did not have any water heater.)
Served to a light breakfast before driving off to Goa Tanding (which was beside the populated Goa Pindul).
It was a quiet morning for a 1st activity of cave rafting. (Exploring a length of 450m and 7m-25m of deep water, plus, tons of small bats).
The next activity within the facility was Fish Therapy. (The fish were bigger than what we usually see in singapore)
Last, washed up and lunch break with the team before heading out on a 5-6hr ride to Mt Merapi.
Settle down at Basecamp Aria/Selo for final preparation and set off at 9pm.
Reaching the 1st Pos at 10.25pm, rest and waited out for my friends (she was far behind me, i went ahead with 1 guide in front of me,)
Reached 2nd Pos at 2.15am, rested and waited again for my friends and guide before camping out for the night.


The best Mee Bakso i have ever tasted!! :D
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Day 3:
As the cold wind and temperature drops, (knowing myself well that I could not handle cold temperature well) i stay up the whole night.
While everyone else was sleeping, i step out to see the sky which was full of star in a very milky way feeling. (Eventually, i fell in love with the scenery.)
Waited out to 6am, as the sun rise.
The majestic view of being on top of the clouds and sun rising felt unrealisticly beautiful (and you can only see something like this in the movies, but not, it was right infront of me, such a surreal scene).
Having to be greeted by the rest after sometime to breakfast in the majestic view.
We hike up again to the peak at 8am.
Towards the peak, it was the challenging moment, hiking up sands and rumbling rocks wasn't easy at all.
It was like a mission impossible scene. (sand keeps sinking as you climb, rocks keeps rumbling down).
After about 1hr later, we reach to the peak. YES!! LIKE FINALLY!!
It wasn't a good view as the mist started to cover the entire area. (Nonetheless, that wasn't our actual objective, our objective is to climb and reach the peak point)
Climbed down to the camp area for breakfast, rested and decided to hike down to basecamp.
It took another 2.5hrs to climb down as it was drizzling. (I had to look out on my footstep as my knees were starting to hint me the painful decent)
Reaching the basecamp safely and feeling totally drained out to the max.
As the guide brought us to a restaurant for dinner before sending us to the hotel to prepare for our morning flight.

Top at 5am. Bottom at 6am
 


Right before the hike towards the peak

The view from the peak. It was misty as it rains at the camp site.
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Day 4:
Barely getting enough sleep, we woke up to finalize our last packing.
Having the hotel crew to drive us towards Airport. (Thank you uncle driver!!)
Having to say goodbye to both guide and this country.
Boarding the plane and home we go.

Bye bye Yogyakarta and Mount Merapi!! I will miss your beautiful view.
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Overall, it was a delightful and enjoyable trip. Having to cancel off 1 area in our trip due to our hike tiredness. Having to make new friends along the way. Having to see mother nature scenery. Having to taste of Yogyakarta street food and many more. (I could go on and on and on and on...)
I will definitely return back to Yogyakarta next time as my legs is addicted to hiking and my eyes addicted to sceneries.

Time to train!! LET'S GO!! :D


Friday, 23 December 2016

Solo yolo Bangkok Trip 2016

Bangkok trip 15-18 Dec


Just another normal weekday that I decided to make this decision to travel on alone.
Something most women wouldn’t dare to even do. It was a tough decision, staring at the computer, half-clicking the “Pay” flight button. Figuring to either accept this decision or not?
An hour pass, I finally hit the “Pay” button and off I go.

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DAY 1.

As I left the empty house with my backpack, (family went to Bali/Korea a day before my trip.) took a public transport towards the Changi International Airport. With the flight itinerary ready, stepping forward the “Self-check in” machine to officially print out the flight tickets. Being a “early bird” I hung around for a quick breakfast before boarding the plane. Fast forward 3hours after flying in the bright sky, I arrive.

With that nostalgic feeling walking towards the immigration section. A tsunami of human being waiting patiently to get thru the immigration site. Fast forward again, 1.5hrs later, got out of the immigration section and hit straight to taxi stand!! A touch screen machine with the word “Book Taxi” line in a row.As people book for a taxi, issued a receipt and waited.

Fast forward 45mins as the taxi driver was kind to answered to most of my needed question. Which he happily inform me that the area I was staying was filled with Japanese people. True enough as I look out of the window and see groups of Japanese people walking along the streets. Checked into the hotel. Went up to my room and was amazed by the room itself. It was more than what I thought. Huge kings size bed with a good view of the area. (Well it wasn’t that a full view of the place but it was good enough.) Unpacked my bag and rested for a few hours before heading out again.

Past 6pm local time in Bangkok, I got ready and head out towards terminal 21 situated near Asoke BTS station. (It was a 10mins walk from the hotel.) At the same time, I wanted to explore the neighbourhood a little bit more. As soon as I reach, the 1st quest inside a shopping mall was to hunt for “Food!!” 
Yes, Food.

Exploring each and every shop and finally hitting into 1 sometime 20mins later. Fast forward 1hr later, tummy filled, I continue exploring the mall and moved to explore Phrom Phong BTS station. Touching 9.30pm as I head back to the hotel as It was the close by. (About 5mins walk.) Head straight to bed to reenergize my body battery power again.

Before Departing from Singapore Changi Airport
The tiny jetstart flight to bangkok

Let me enjoy the view after a long day.
Mr Bear including by the hotel to keep me company throughout my stay.
Ternimal 21 @ Asoke Station
New year wishes!!
Loving these Christmas and New Year lighting.
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DAY 2

Woke up to a full solo day. Got ready and head out to explore Bangkok. Took a train towards Siam Station (Got a recommendation from colleagues to try out the food at this station.) A few well known shopping mall and attraction situated in 1 area. (Lets me list it down on the area I visited.)

  •         Siam Square (Japanese and Korean food paradise)
  •         Siam Paragon (Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World)
  •         Central World (Christmas Lighting and a mini pasar malam)
  •         The Platinum Fashion Mall (like far east plaza)
  •         Pratunam Market (Cheap stuff down here.)
  •         Siam Discovery
  •         MBK Center (For a bite of Mango Sticky Rice)

As listed, that was the sequence of mall I visited by foot. As it got late and my leg was taring apart really badly and quickly took the BTS station back to the hotel. In the hotel, screaming in pain as I have never walked for more than 6 hours straight without stopping. Tuck myself into bed to recharge myself for another day for mad walking.

Good morning!! Mini Breakfast in bed with Mr Bear.
Lunch time with the Siam station view.
More mini shop outside of the shopping mall.
The famous Siam Paragon.
Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

Selfie into the so called "Deep blue sea".
Food fair outside of Central World
Bought the freshest fruit juice here. It was awesome!! :D
Beautiful Christmas Lighting outside Central World.
Glad to be here.. :)

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DAY 3

Waking up to Mr Bear next to me as I drag myself out to set of on my 2nd last day of this solo trip. Mini breakfast on the go before setting my foot out for the day. Thinking to either go for a full body massage or shop souvenirs for my family. But I made my decision and decided to head out.
Fast forward 1hour later, I arrived “Chatucak Market”. Known to many frequent Bangkok retreats. The 1st eye popping stop was the Coconut Ice-cream booth. Too delicious to resist as I decided to join the long queue. For only 50baht, It was simply delicious and marvellous!!

Continue walking around to bargain the items on sale. From shops to shops, countless of hours of footsteps again. As my legs became jelly once again I decided to stop and look for the exit.
2 – 4 rounds around the area, I could not find the exit sign at all. Pop my phone and GPS my way out of the area. (Like FINALLY!!!!)

Heading back to hotel to deposit the souvenirs for my family. Recharge myself for a little bit before heading out again.

Out I went as I look out for a massage parlour recommended by my colleagues. To finally found 1, going thru its packages and booking a slot for myself. With the waiting time of 1.5hr, I went out to purchase a shoe which I need for my weekly training. Purchase and head back to the massage parlour.
Fast forward 2hrs later, I felt good but at the same time weird. (Wasn’t used to stretching and cracking my bones.)

Walk back to the hotel for another day of good night sleep.

#ootd
THE BEST COCONUT ICE-CREAM EVER!! :D




Bought starbucks for lunch it was near the hotel I am staying, 
Spa @ Health Land Asoke
Prices of the spa packages. I took the last package. :D


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DAY 4

The final day came, as it was time to fly back home. As I spend my last few final hours enjoying the view of Bangkok on bed with Mr bear. I just felt happy to be able to achieve something new this year in which was to travel solo.

Having to last those moment as I carry my backpack and check out of the hotel. Getting into a taxi and driving off to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok International Airport) Being the usual “Early bird” again, I wonder off to find some food. Locating myself starbucks and settling down before heading towards my flight.

As time pass, it was time to fly back home. Fast forward to 3hrs later. Touching down safely after a dumping ride from Malaysia towards Singapore. (Totally felt that sudden decent drop followed by people screaming as the plane got caught in a turbulence)

Immigration, baggage collection and head straight towards the taxi. Upon reaching home, family decided to head out for dinner. Jetlag but yet, still went with the plan as I did not eat anything since afternoon. Coming home to finally be able to fall asleep. As I head back to my normal working life again.

Last moment with Mr Bear before checking out. Miss you Mr Bear!! 
#ootd
Last Selfie outside Suvarnabhumi Airport

Simple Tuna sandwich and Frappe Caramel for breakfast before flying.
Leaving soon!!
Goodbye Bangkok!! See ya soon!!
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With this trip, it has taught me a few lesson. In which I will need to work more on it. But was definitely was a good solo trip where I was able to feel freedom and self-learn a new beginning. J


Monday, 5 December 2016

Another Blessed Wedding


From 2 years to months to days and finally the actual event.
Time flies really fast.

A memorable day for my elder sis as she is getting married!!
Yes!! My elder sis!!

Someone who I have grown up with for my entire life.
All the hardship we went thru together.
All the craziness we went thru together.
All those laughter we crack thru together.
She is official marrying off to some guy whom my family know for ages.
(Yes... Sadly someone is stealing the idiot away from me. I wanna cry so badly....)

It was a simple wedding.
But to some people thinking it was "Grand"...
By far, this is the simplest but yet a blessed wedding.
Everything was smoothly going as plan.

 A simple void deck malay wedding,
awesome food, awesome candy corner,
awesome family and a awesome live acoustic band. 
(Singing to a collection of slow-rock music which suits the entire event.)

As our prayers rings for a safe ceremony.
Thank you for everything.
A Happy Blessed wedding to my elder sis and husband.
CONGRATS!!!



Elder sis and her husband
Welcome on-board!! Bro-in-law!!! :D


We're best at candid shot!! :D

The closest cousins/family!! :D