Bye Bye, Seoul Trip

Just cancelled my flights and hotels to Seoul today amidst the sudden CoViD-19 outbreak in South Korea, and I never thought that cancelling this trip would make me so... sad...

I just wanted to travel the world, but money has always been a big issue.

So I worked hard and I saved up - I invest and I really did hustle. And finally, I had the resources to travel! I could even be somewhat loose with the expenditure in Seoul and spend without too much of a worry!

But little did I know, S.Korea had a sudden virus outbreak, making it the "most-infected" country outside of China. According to news reports, 80% of the 833 cases are in Daegu and its neighbouring region, I contemplated for a while since Daegu is quite far from Seoul, but realized that 833 is too big of a sum to just ignore and go.

So I cancelled everything. And now I'm feeling so down about it.

I just wanted a holiday (and to experience the Seoul culture!) before I graduate and work. To experience it while I am still young and somewhat carefree - but guess this is not what the universe planned for me.

Cancelling this trip made me realize how little "young time" I have left, and feel sad for people like me who can't travel in their early 20's because of money so we are left with no choice but to travel when we are older. We ultimately will be able to travel, but it just will not be the same.

Next March, I would probably be chambering and the year after, I would either be working or doing graduate studies. It will probably be a long while till I can go to Seoul in its early Spring.

But oh well, such is life. This just made me even more resolved to work harder, smarter and wiser, and to appreciate the time I have. And also, to take good care of my health.

Wishing that everyone affected by the virus will be able to go through it and feel better soon.

x,
audrey

Alone in Bangkok: a 3D3N affair

I've always wanted to travel alone. No particular reason, I just want to experience it. I want to know how it feels to be alone in a foreign place, not knowing anyone or anything.

So I did it. As a 21st birthday gift for myself, I brought myself to Bangkok.

Bangkok was great. It was hot as hell but the people are nice and friendly enough. Everything is cheap, and public transportation is convenient and easy to use. They are also very accessible!

Everyone around me was worried about me. I am after all a "petite female solo traveler". But let me assure you, Thailand (well, at least Bangkok) is pretty safe and suitable for a solo backpack traveler. I'm back unscratched and in love with the City- so don't worry!

Anyways, so I've posted my itinerary and travel tips on Facebook but here is a copy of it:

So a challenge I set for myself is to spend less than RM100 each day, and see if I can still be comfortable.

The answer is Yes. Excluding plane tickets.

With just a 2kg backpack on my back, I set off to The Land of Smiles, City of Angels.
Here’s my experience:

Day 1: Union Mall ➡️ Khao San Road ➡️ Soi Rambuttri
✈️ 12PM Landed in DMK
🚕Taxi to Union Mall. This is to cut traveling cost from DMK to KSR. There is no train from DMK into the city, so you can either wait for the bus or take the taxi. From Union Mall, I took the MRT right outside to 🚇Chatuchak, transferred to BTS and headed towards 🚝Saphon Taksin.

From Saphon Taksin (Water Taxi Central), I took their 🛥Express Boat (Orange Flag) and headed towards Phra Athit (N13). And from the pier, I walked to KSR. It’s located 5 mins walk away.

I stayed in Ploen Bangkok Hostel KSR, which is right outside of KSR and next to Soi Rambuttri, so it’s pretty safe from the craziness in KSR. Since I reached KSR at around 5-6pm, it was just nice to walk around and explore KSR before sundown. KSR is alright. Lots of young tourists on their Summer Break. Cheap food, Cheap stay, Cheap Beer🍻

There’s a shortcut from KSR to Soi Rambuttri. It’s at the entrance of “Susie Wong”; you won’t miss it- there’ll be people walking in and out through that.

Soi Rambuttri has a more chill vibe than KSR. It feels more laid back and vintage-ish. Had dinner here coz I wasn’t feeling street food yet.

Day 2: The Old City ➡️ Pratunam
8:30AM Woke up later than planned. Had my free breakfast at the Hostel (always eat your free food!), checked-out and headed to The Grand Palace. It was a ~30 minutes walk.
The entrance fee was 500B but I was mistaken for one of the Chinese tourists in a tour group and so I didn’t pay for my entry hahaha.

After that I continued walking to Wat Pho to see the largest reclining Golden Buddha and to experience Traditional Thai Massage from the place of origin! It was fantastic! I highly recommend it! My backpack felt 4kg lighter and I 10 years younger.

After Wat Pho, I walked some distance to 🌻Pat Klong (the 24/7 Flower Market). For some reason, it was a kinda down day so not many stalls were open, hence less flowers 😞 it’s pretty wet too, just in case you planned to wear sweeping pants/skirt like I did.

From there, I took 🛥Express Boat again (the jetty is right behind the market) to Si Phraya (N3), and took 🚕GrabCar to Neilson Hayes Library.

After an hour plus in Neilson Hayes, I just walked around and walked for ~30mins all the way to 🚝Siam BTS Station. Took the train to 🚝Ratchatewi, which is where Pratunam is at. Walked for around 20 minutes to reach to my hostel.

Cocoon Hostel is located in a "courtyard", so it's relatively quieter, making it a pleasant place to stay in.

The rest of my day were spent shopping and just walking around the crowded Platinum Mall. I didn't really like it coz 1. too many tourists, and 2. not much options to choose from. I realized then how much I like Union Mall and local areas like where Neilson Hayes is at.

Retired around 9PM+ and just chill in my hostel.

Day 3: Siam ➡️ Union Mall ➡️ DMK
The third day was a super chill one. Woke up a bit later, checked out, and walked to The Siam Paragon (20+ mins) to exchange money as I thought they offer the best rate. I'm not too sure if the exchange rate hiked, but I personally think SuperRich 1965 offers better rate than SuperRich.

Anyways.

From there I just walked around window shopping, till I reached Siam Square. Visited Eve & Boy and bought quite some beauty products ❤️

After lunch, I headed once again to Union Mall (🚝Siam-🚝MoChit-🚇Chatuchak-🚇Phahon Yothin) so I can shop and move to DMK.

Walked around the alley outside Union Mall. I enjoyed exploring a more local area. I actually felt safer in local area than touristy places. People are friendlier and no one is blatantly trying to scam me.

Around 6PM, I flagged a taxi (make sure its meter is running! It's actually cheaper than Grab. And faster coz 6PM is their rush hour so Grab might take some time if it’s not in your area) and went to DMK. Flew back and reached KLIA2 at 1:45AM, stayed overnight, and my adventure ended there.

💸Cost Breakdown💸
Day 1
Taxi to Union Mall 280B
MRT to Chatuchak 16B
BTS to Saphon Taksin 44B
Express Boat to Phra Athit 15B
Sticky Rice Mango 50B
Pork skewer 15B
Pad Thai 140B
Hostel RM29.25
Total: 560B + RM29.95

Day 2
Wat Pho Entrance fee 200B
Express boat to Si Phraya 15B
Grab to NSL 180B
Neilson Hayes library 100B
BTS Siam to Ratchatewi
Pork skewer 15B
Street Pad Thai 40B
Thai milk tea 25B
Hostel RM49.89
Total: 629B + RM49.89

Day 3
Lunch: pork skewer 15B
Pastry 40B
BTS to Mo Chit 44B
MRT Chatuchak to Phanon Yothin 16B
Coconut drink 45B
Taxi to DMK (including toll) 180B
Dinner at DMK (chocolate roll) 60B
Sleep in KLIA2 Free
Total: 400B

Grand Total: <RM280.84 in 3 Days 3 Nights 🎉

I don't feel like I suffered or anything. I was comfortable and well. I think it's possible to go lower, perhaps I'll try that next time 😉

Fun Tips:
1️⃣Book your hostel via Agoda. It's the cheapest out of other hostel sites. They also have "lowest price guarantee".
2️⃣When using Agoda, use it via Shopback link so you can get 6% cashback. You can sign up here and get RM5 right off: https://www.shopback.my/?raf=JZN23V
3️⃣Bring a selfie stick and/or a tripod so you can take pics of yourself.

What's the cheapest trip you have taken? To where? Let me know! I’d love to challenge myself to more budget backpack travels!

Climbing Mount Kinabalu

I wrote a bucket list on this blog before and I said I wanted to climb Mount Kinabalu before I turn 19 (or before 2016 ended) and I partly did it!

My Singapore Trip - UPDATED!!

Hmm I did promised to blog about Singapore right... So here goes :D

Day 1: Bugis Street & Forever Living Singapore!

Went to Bugis Street coz Flenny said shopping is amazing there. But when i got there i was like, meh, doesn't suit my style hahaha! Plus there are waaaay too many people there lor i don't like 挤来挤去... So in the end i only bought a pleather shorts at $8 i think... Cute lar the shorts hehe! Oh ya and i bought a *fake* Ked's hehe.

Forever Living SG is so nice! 古色古香!

Day 2: Universal Studio Singapore!

OMG I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! So fun! Even more fun than Sunway Lagoon and Genting Highland one!! And i also met a lot of interesting people there. One group of Philippines lady asked me for a picture hahaha! I think maybe coz my hair is purple and they think it's er..... unique? And when they each took pics with me right, a group of people from China i guess also kaypoh and take pics with me wtf. HAHAHA *feeling important*

Too bad i didn't take pics using my camera. My reason is coz they all use their IPHONE 5S to take pics and my camera is just some cheap Sony Digi cam wtf. My samsung ST95 ran out of battery so i used mom's Sony fml. Haiyer... No memories with those people.... Sad...

And then got this guy from India... I don't remember what his city is lol. He sat next to me on the Madagascar Canal Ride (? Don't remember the name) and he kept hitting on me wtf. Noisy lar the guy he's like "woo~this is great! wow~look at that lion! woohooo~~~" WTF not even exciting ride and he's like that, i can't imagine how he's like on the Mummy's Revenge -.-

And then there's this pretty girl from Myanmar. She's 15 if i'm not mistaken. Very pretty lor!!! And friendly too! She was next to me in Lights, Camera, Action! and we chatted a bit... Hmmm i guess every people i befriended with in Universal Studio are those who sits next to me or queue up behind/ in front / beside me...

Everyone who come to USS must take picture here!!! *touristy stuffs hehe

In front of the Far Far Away Castle! The Shrek 4D Adventure is inside...

FRANKENSTEIN!!!! The only character i took picture with wtf. I wanted to take pics with a lot more character but i was alone in there as my bros went around by themselves and i was so paiseh hehe... Plus want to take pics need to queue up leh... Long q wor, not kai wan xiao!

Hahaha my purple hair pretty cool hor? Actually I touched up these pics to make my hair more vibrant lar hehe. But really one, my hair looks like the above pics in real life... Just that my camera didn't do my hair any justice hence my polishing...

Pictures in USS :DDDD

Looking back at these pictures, i'm smiling like an idiot LOL This place is just SOO much fun!! I wish to go to Gold Coast Universal Studio next!!! I can just stay at my aunt's place there hehehe.

Got more pics from inside USS actually but i will put up bit by bit lar coz so big lar the photo size, lazy to wait zzz...

Day 3: Singapore Science Centre!!!

Walked from Jurong East Central to the Science Centre for the Titans of the past exhibition hehe... Pictures unavailable coz there are just too many too dark too blurry pics lar!!!

BUT I've got pictures of a Fire Tornado Demonstration(?) !!! I want to upload the video but dunno what's wrong Blogger keeps saying "Sorry, cannot upload leh..." Gahhhh!!! Maybe it's too big a file... Dunno leh...

Well, nevermind!! I have 3 Pictures! LOL

This Fire Tornado was man-made obviously. There's this guy who went into the glass chamber(?) and lit up something. Then the wind thingy was switched on and the fire starts spiralling and growing and growing... Very 壮观 lor!!!

Day 4: Underwater World, Merlion and Marina Bay Sands!!!

I felt proud to be able to visit to world's largest Marine Aquarium hoho! Outside the aquarium got some exhibition about Maritime which is pretty fascinating coz i like to know about history and people and such...

The ship(?) behind me is the life size replica of the same thing. It may look small in this pic but it really is huge! And the other one which is Zheng He's ship is extremely huuuuuuuuuuuuge!!!!!!! Can't imagine how people in the past can build such thing without the help of modern technologies...

Mr. Zheng He presenting his scroll to me haha *lame

The only pic of me inside the aquarium... Got too fascinated by all those underwater lives that i forgot to take pics...

Merlion pics wa in my mom's iPhone... Upload soon haha.

No pics taken at Marina Bay Sands LOL...

Fyi We stayed at my uncle's house at Bukit Batok. He's my dad's big bro and he got his PR in SG... He said hotel in SG for 5 days is very expensive one, so he invited us to stay at his place hehe.

So i guess that concludes my 5 days trip in beautiful, clean, lawful Singapore... I love that country sooooo much! I felt so safe and peaceful and relaxed, and i don't need to worry about snatchers and rapist and robbers as in Malaysia. Ya lar  i know about the recent riot in Little India in SG, but that is quickly overcome by the SG government y'know. If in Malaysia got stuffs happen like that ar, i doubt that will be handled as good as in SG...

Haiz, i badly want to migrate to SG or other peaceful and developed country... I'm so fed up being in Malaysia and always being scared of getting raped/robed/murdered wtf. One day... One day, I WILL do it! I will emigrate! *determined

LOL ok, that's all!

Tata~ Stay tuned for my Hatyai Trip ok!