Around Marina Bay with Blue Star Yachting

It seems like there's a recent trend of yacht parties in Singapore. So riding on the wave, I went for a wine appreciation sunset cruise courtesy of Blue Star Yachting.

We were greeted with a glass of champagne to start the evening. Nuts, cheese and ham platters were served to go with our drinks.

It was a delightful evening as everyone let their hair down and lounged on the deck, enjoying the breeze.

We caught a bit of the sunset but the sun was mostly hidden behind the clouds sadly. I imagine it would be really breath-taking on a clear day.

I went to take a peek under the deck and found this cozy bedroom! It's a lot more spacious than I thought it would be. The Sunreef is air-conditioned throughout and boasts 4 en-suite double cabins. It has a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, freezer, ice maker, oven and microwave. The spacious saloon area is ideal for entertaining and is fitted with an impressive Harman/Kardon surround sound stereo system, complete with 2 outdoor loudspeakers, and a widescreen Samsung TV and DVD player.

We sailed to Marina Bay and took in the beautiful city lights. It's an angle you rarely get to view Singapore from. Unfortunately since we were on waters, the photos I took were all blurry. Then we turned back and passed by Sentosa where Celine, the captain, stopped us at the perfect spot to watch the fireworks!

Besides chilling on the deck, you will also have access to water activities such as inflatable floats, kayaks and snorkeling masks. I don't know about you but I think it would make such a great getaway! Imagine crusing down to Southern Islands, stopping for a snorkeling or kayaking session, then relaxing on the hammock watchiig the sunset. Ah, bliss.

And what's a yacht ride without food? They have BBQ, buffet and finger food menus for you to choose from. You can also choose to self cater with a $200 self catering fee which inclues access to kitchen, BBQ equipment, service by crew, etc.

The Sunset Cruise we went for is available from Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 9pm.
Up to 23 guests: S$ 2,050
Up to 30 guests: S$ 2,350
Up to 37 guests: S$ 2,550

There are other itineraries to choose from, you can even customize your trip! For more details, visit www.bluestaryachting.net

Thanks Illka for the invite! :)

10 tips on budget travelling

In line with the recent interview I did with 联合早报 (the local Chinese newspaper) where I briefly talked about how travelling doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket. Here are a few tips on how to travel on a shoestring.

0) Start a travelling fund.
Set aside a sum of money every month for travelling so that you won't find yourself saying 'But I don't have the money to!'

1) Buy a cheap air ticket.
Subscribe to airlines newsletters so that you'll be the first to know when they are having promotions. For travels within Asia or Australia, I look out for sales on all the budget airlines. For travels to further places such as Europe, I look out for Qatar, Qantas, Emirates and Malaysia Airline sales. Sometimes when I have a few destinations in mind (or none in particular), I enter the dates that I want to go and then I type "everywhere" into the destination bar on skyscanner.com. They will show me a list of countries with prices during the period that I want to fly. I can then choose the cheapest/most reasonable priced air ticket.

2) Book everything early.
I saved A LOT by booking in advance. Hostels, bus rides, flights, everything. Yes this means that I can't change my itinerary but it's not like I have a lot of time to play with. As soon as I've planned my route, I start booking everything.

3) Stay in a hostel or airBnB or tent.
Hostels are the cheapest accommodation you can find. The more people in the room, the cheaper your bed. The biggest dorm I've slept in was 20 people? But the room was really well organized, so it wasn't crowded nor noisy at all. AirBnB has cheap rooms to rent too and it's can be better than a hostel if you are travelling with friends. Camping sites are even cheaper but you have to bring your own tent and sleeping bag. I really want to try a camping road trip (drive in the day and then pitch a tent for the night) or a road trip in a campervan.

4) Do some research.
Google and find out about the cheapest way to get around, whether there are many tourist/student discounts you can make use of, tips and advice from other travellers, etc. Also, speak to the other travellers and see if they have any money saving tips. Like when I was in Paris, I met Singaporeans on exchange who told me about the unlimited ride metro ticket or when I was researching about Ho Chi Minh, I found a local bus that takes you to the city center for a few cents instead of a few dollars if I were to take a taxi.

5) Choose a few tourist attractions to visit.
Tourist attractions are often very expensive to visit, so choose a few that you really want to go. You can admire the rest from the outside. Travelling isn't just about ticking off tourist attractions, so there's no need to visit every one when there are so many other free things to enjoy!

6) Go for "free" walking tours.
I say "free" because they are more like tip-supported walking tours. You pay whatever amount you want to at the end of the walking tours. I love going for walking tours because some guides tell really interesting stories about the city and they give good recommendations and tips. Plus, I've already mentioned this before but I made a lot of friends through these walks. It's a great way to see the city and know people.

7) Don't buy useless souvenirs.
I never buy myself any souvenirs (key chains, fridge magnets, I ♥ Paris Tshirts, etc) because they'll just end up collecting dust at home. The only "souvenir" I bought was carpet in Istanbul haha. Photos and memories are the best souvenirs for me.

8) Cook your own meals.
Cooking can save you a lot of money if you're on a long trip. Do eat out and try the local cuisines but do it at most once a day and cook for the other meals. I'm not a fussy eater and sometimes I just eat bread and yogurt when I'm lazy to cook.

9) Walk, walk and walk.
Walking is my favourite way of getting around. Buses/Metro can only get you from one point to another, but you don't really get to experience and enjoy the place so I walk A LOT when I'm travelling (explains my need for a comfy pair of shoes). Besides, you get to save on transportation too!

10) Set a daily budget.
Calculate how much you think you will need per day and stick to that budget. If you overshot one day, spend less the next day. And don't tempt yourself to withdraw money overseas, bad exchange rate and transaction fees.

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This is how I manage to travel and not be too broke haha. If you find that keeping to a budget is really too hard for you, just forget about it and enjoy yourself. Money can always come later. :) At the end of the day, it's all about your priorities I guess. I put travelling as my top priority, so instead of going for a fancy dinner or buying new shoes/bags, I book a new flight or a night in a hostel.

10 tips on how to stay safe while travelling

After this post on The good, bad and ugly of travelling solo, people came to me and asked me how to stay safe overseas so here's a list I came up with.

1) Always put your bag in front of you.
This should be an obvious one but just a reminder to those who have taken safety for granted growing up in Singapore. I've heard stories where someone's wallet was stolen from an inner pocket.. o.o I carry my sling bag postman style so that my bag is in front of me at all times. I see many people carrying sling/shoulder bags which can be easily snatched away. Oh and please just leave your Pradas at home.

2) Dress like a local.
I know, I know, we all want to take new Profile Pictures but safety first yes? By dressing up too much, you are giving it away that you are a tourist and that makes you an easy target. I always try to blend into the crowd by acting somewhat like a local. Causal dressing, camera inside my bag until necessary, an I-live-here expression and a pair of comfortable shoes so that I can flee in case of danger.

3) Adopt a false identity & don't reveal that you're alone.
Ok I don't usually do this but I did tell a Turk who was trying to chat me up and another dude who offered me a lift that my name is Sally (couldn't think of a new name fast enough) and I was from Malaysia. Choose a country that you know at least something about, just in case the other party starts asking you questions or happens to have travelled/lived there before. But basically tell them nothing real about yourself. And also, if random strangers ask if you are alone, always say NO. Tell them that you are with your friends/partner/spouse. But again, I normally admit that I travel alone to other travellers especially those I'm keen to make friends with because you'll be exposed soon anyway.

4) Be very aware of your surroundings.
Keep your eyes wide open, observe your surroundings carefully and (sorry to say this but) don't trust people too easily.

5) Keep your cash separately. 
I always divide my cash and put them in different envelopes, like maybe 200 in one. This helps me to track my expenses and also to check if any money is missing easily. It's also advisable to keep money on you in different places; wallet, bag, safety pouch (I used one during my recent trip to Europe, just so happens that Qatar gave them out containing flight essentials), backpack, socks..

6) Always keep a list of numbers with you. 
I have a list of emergency numbers (local police numbers, embassy numbers and addresses) given to me by a friend on my first solo trip and I always keep it in my phone. Also, have your hostel number and address with you at all times. In case you need a taxi, you can show them the address and in case you need some help but not serious enough to involve the police, call the hostel.

7) Keep someone updated.
Let someone know where you are everyday and tell them to panic alert the embassy where you were last contactable if they don't hear from you for more than X number of days. I am extremely thankful for friends who constantly messaged me to ensure that I was safe, you guys know who you are <3

8) Learn some self defense moves.
I have been wanting to learn a martial arts for quite some time now but still haven't gotten to it. You can learn judo, taekwondo or kickboxing, anything that teaches you how to fight defend yourself.

9) Learn some local words/phrases.
Learn how to say "Help me!" or maybe "Call the police!" I usually learn local tongue to have small chats with the locals or at least say hi, bye and thank you to them. They appreciate the effort even if you're terrible. Just like how I'm impressed when non-Chinese people say a few sentences of Chinese, it is the same way around. I met a lot of Koreans on my recent trip and they were already praising my Korean when I've only said hello hahaha.

10) Don't stay out too late.
I sound like your grandmother but it is really a piece of advice I adhere closely to. It posed a problem for me when I was in Europe during the summer because the sun sets at 10pm. So if I wanted to enjoy the city lights, I had to be out till at least 11pm for the sky to be totally dark. One solution is to find a friend (preferably someone who stays near or in your hostel) to go with you. Or choose a hostel in the heart of the city so you can return there easily and quickly after dark.

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Just take care and you will be fine. Happy travels!

Singapore Blog Awards 2014: Best Travel Blog

I can't believe it happened but I won the Best Travel Blog award at today's Singapore Blog Awards 2014! I thought I didn't have much chance so I went to the awards alone and stood awkwardly in a corner by myself. Then when I was announced the winner, I dropped my bags on the floor and went up the stage in a daze. I really want to thank all my friends and everyone who voted for me, couldn't have made it today without you guys!! I hope that all of you will continue to support this blog and I will definitely work harder to bring you better travel stories and tips! :D

Photos at the event by omy.sg, I brought my camera but forgot the battery -_- yay me. I was really really honoured to be presented the prize by Ms. Sim Ann, the trophy is super heavy! Had the chance to meet some nice people at the event too :) Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, thank you omy.sg for organizing the event and thank you judges!!

By the way, the door gift contained something super awesome: a SELFIE STICK HAHAHA! Ms Sim Ann took a group selfie with it on stage LOL.

GIVEAWAY

To thank everyone, I've decided to do a small giveaway! I'll be giving away:

• 1 x $50 CHANG Korean BBQ restaurant voucher. (No minimum spending)
• ALIVE museum 15% discount card (like them on FB for additional 5% off)
• Part of my prize - 4 x Hoyu hair dyes (4 colours: lightest brown, darkest pure brown, light mahogany copper brown, and one erm honey light brown I think, no colour indicated).

Comment below with your name, email and which item you wish to win! One item for each winner, so there will be 6 winners. :) Or maybe if I'm lazy, I'll just give everything to one person hahahaha! Let's see how it goes. :p

Like my Facebook page to increase your chances of winning! Wheee. Thanks again everybody!!!!

Barcelona, Spain II: Casa Batlló & Sagrada Familia

One can hardly go to Barcelona without visiting Casa Batlló and judging by the longggg queue outside, I'm sure everyone agrees. I did not go in though because I was turned off by the queue. Kind of regretting it now after seeing some photos of the interior.

Casa Batlló is designed by Gaudi who is the first person you will get to know when you land in Barcelona. He was a Modernisme architect who integrated crafts as ceramics, stained glass, wrought ironwork forging and carpentry into his architecture. He also introduced new techniques in the treatment of materials, such as trencadís which involves the use broken ceramic tiles to form colourful mosaics as can be seen on the benches and the dragon sculpture in Park Güell and also on the façade of Casa Batlló.

The walking guide told us that Modernisme architecture incooperates many natural elements into the designs. You can see that the pillars infront of the windows look like bones and the windows themselves resemble open mouths. So this house has two nicknames, "The house of bones" and "The house of yawns". The "Venetian eye mask" balconies are supposed to evoke imageries of the surface of a lake with water lilies, gentle ripples and reflections caused by the glass and ceramic mosaic. (I still see Venetian eye masks..) The roof is arched and was likened to the back of a dragon. Hmm seems like Gaudi really liked dragons. On top of the building is a cross of four arms oriented to the cardinal directions. It is a bulbous, root-like structure that evokes plant life.

The house next to Casa Batlló is also really intriguing but often overlooked. It's called Casa Amatller designed by Cadafalch, another famous Modernisme architect who designed many significant buildings in Barcelona.

Another famous Gaudi architecture. I was pretty disappointed by the exterior of Sagrada Familia. I guess it was mainly due to the unsightly cranes and scaffolding surrounding it. I don't know why but it just looks so run down.. and they are not even repairing it, they are building it. It broke the Guinness World Record as the building under construction for the longest time. No kidding, seeing that it's still under construction since work began in 1882. Our walking guide said that they are definitely not in a hurry to finish it so that they can stay in the Records longer haha. The carvings are stories from the Bible, such as the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.

I went inside Sagrada Familia after about an hour of standing in the queue. It wasn't that bad because I made a friend in the hostel riiiight before I left for Sagrada Familia. She came up to me and said hi so suddenly I was quite surprised haha. We talked for a bit and she decided to join me so off we went!

We got the student tickets without any add-ons. There is a timing for you to enter, just like the ticket for Park Güell. It was still quite crowded inside despite the attempt to crowd control but I guess it could be worse. The interior was way more impressive than the exterior. I love the tall tinted windows that stretch up to the ceilings! The ceiling was another thing that blew my socks off. How unique is that! I've never seen anything quite like it.. We spent an hour or so inside full of wonder. Gaudi really lives up to his name but he died so unfortunately. He was knocked down by a vehicle one day but because he was dressed so shabbily, people thought he was a homeless beggar and didn't do anything to help him. When someone finally recognized him and sent him to the hospital, it was too late. :( What a tragic tale, the world lost a great architect due to prejudice sigh. Anywayyy, I hope I will get to visit Barcelona again when Sagrada Familia is completed!

I also went to Casa Milà which is apparently the most famous one. It is one of the last buildings of Gaudi's and at this house he broke all arquitectonical taboo and spent a bomb. The owner who was a lawyer didn't want to pay him that much and the two went to court andddd Gaudi won haha. Most unfortunately, the house was under restoration so the facade was covered up. :( On top of the building, you can see these sculptures which look like Darth Raider. Or rather, Darth Raider was perhaps inspired by these sculptures. You can also see them on Sagrada Familia by the way! Try to spot them if you're there. ;) It's on the side where you buy tickets.