On Timing and Being Ready

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

They said timing is everything, and there is nothing like one’s birthday to reflect on life.

I turn another year older as I write this. The New Year’s celebration is still fresh in mind, and so are the resolutions. It almost feels like I get to celebrate a new beginning twice in the month of January.

Last Year's Birthday Champagne in Sydney

Last Year’s Birthday Celebration in Sydney

When I wrote my last post to reflect on 2012, I had one major goal for the new year, which would eventually end the last 18-months period I referred to as my sabbatical. And that is, to finally start on a project in the family business, that would involve me applying some of the things I learned from those years working in the corporate world.

Wait, Wait…What?! I thought you made peace with the whole thing last year after talking to your mother?

The truth is, I never said never to working with the family. The truth is, I was probably 15 when I realised that I would one day want to do this (I just didn’t know it yet). If I wanted to be really honest, I was probably buying time…time to feel ready to take up the challenge?

It took some time and a lot of digging inside for me to realise and finally come to this conclusion.  This included talking to a friend who said this to me, upon hearing how anxious I was feeling:

“Is it the feeling that there’s something else you should be doing and you’re still not doing?”

And how right he was.

The anxiety I had at that time, talking to my mother, was because I wasn’t done exploring. I needed to keep exploring. And I felt that, had I say yes to her back then, I would just be doing it to keep her happy, regardless how I felt.

I felt like I had to give up everything that was important to me, back then.

And I’m glad I kept on going because everything that happened in the second half of last year was more than anything I could have ever asked for, especially with all the travelling I got to do in Indonesia. 

This time around, strangely, even to me, I want to do it, not just for my family, but…for me. The timing is right, and more importantly, it felt right.

Maybe I was meant to do all those things I did in the last 18 months. May be I was meant to “run away” from it all, go out, explore and finally come back home, ready to do something more substantial with my life.

Who knows. But, if there was anything to go by from the last couple of years, is do what feels right. Trust your hunch. Do what excites you, even if it scares you.

This new journey scares me. It makes me feel anxious. There’s a lot of uncertainty ahead. But apparently, uncertainty is a good. It’s a sign that you should be doing it. As crazy as that sounds, I know.

Coincidentally, I also read this line from Edward Suhadi’s latest post yesterday, one that resonates so much with what I am feeling right now. (A really good post that I highly recommend you to read)

“The right things will either bump you on your path or they will come knock on your door when you are ready.” 

He is making history, realising his dreams, one step at a time.

And here I am, treading carefully, trying to make another dream come true.

Timing is everything.  This time, I think I am ready.

PS: And In case you are wondering,  I am not abandoning my travel, writing or photography. I am still going to be around (here, on the blog), and taking up some travel and writing related projects on the side, when time within my main work allows it.  

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2012: The Year of Experiments & Explorations

Posted on December 29, 2012 by

If 2011 was the year of courage, revelations and self-fulfillment, my 2012 was the year of…

…experiments and explorations, full of spontaneity with a dash of serendipity.

Sydney Fireworkds

This time last year, I was in Sydney, in time to ring in the New Years in a few days, with that spectacular Sydney fireworks display. It was the start of a very eventful three months stay. Everything was hazy then, for I didn’t know where I was heading this year. All I knew was, I needed more time to fulfil my curiosity, to see if my love for writing, travelling and photography would lead me somewhere.

And, they kind of have led me to where I wanted to be. Or…have they, really?

On Writing, Travelling and Photography: The Experiments

I got a few more articles published this year on the glossy magazines, including some travel related ones out of my time in Australia. Then there was the various technical writing jobs that kept me busy, including some that involved fashion and IT as subjects. What did I learn? Writing jobs that pay the bills, are not always that fun. At the end, it’s work and you don’t always have to like it. The difference is, freelancing allows you to pick the jobs you do like.

I got to travel more this year that I have ever been in a year, with trips to many new places in Indonesia such as Menjangan, Lombok, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Tanjung Lesung. Then there was the ultimate dream project of travelling around Indonesia with the International Travel Blogger, as part of the Indonesia Tourism promotion, to places such as Mount Bromo and Komodo National Park, and many more.

Then there was also the Singapore trip I took this year, the only other overseas trip from Sydney, that left me with a different set of sentiments about the place.

Not everything was rosy though. I started off Project 365 at the beginning of this year. While I still take photos and posting these on Instagram, Project 365 was neglected – it is currently posted up to Day 146. It takes a lot discipline to take not only photos, but also posting them. Somehow, in the midst of everything that was going on this year, I couldn’t find the time to keep at it, lost the motivation and stopped posting.

Then there was the strange relationship I had with my DSLR this year. While I still love taking photos with it, I found myself often neglecting it for iPhone – unless I was out on an assignment for an article. Not exactly a good move for someone who had wanted to improve her photography. I kick myself for slacking off on this, but eventually, I know I’ll pick up the camera again.

On Everything Else in Between: People, Uncertainty and Finding Balance

This year, I got to meet up with many of them for the first time, especially people I had previously interacted online. I like how Mike puts it here on his 2012 round-up post – “turning two-dimensional head shots into 3D I could sit and eat cake with.” Well, in my case, there were dinners in Jakarta, Singapore, Bali, and even all over Indonesia. It was a real pleasure meeting every one of you. For those I haven’t met, let’s do that soon.

There were also many low points in this year – moments where I felt I didn’t know what I was doing in this journey of discovery. Or when I had my heart broken. Or when I faced uncertainty and fear, that I felt my world was slipping away. To those people who have given me their helping hands, yes, even you whom I have yet to meet, thank you. You have no idea how grateful I am to have many of you in my life.

There were moments when I felt I wasn’t going anywhere this year, including when I struggled to write here. In the last few weeks, after 18 months of drifting along on this path, my head was noisy with questions. I was constantly restless – not just this last few weeks, but possibly for the last 18 months.

I confided to several friends on what I felt and as I approached Christmas, one day I got a big piece of paper and wrote down everything that was important to me. I wrote dreams that seem impossible right now. I list down everything that I wanted, not caring whether I will get them or not.

I wrote all my dreams and wishes that doing so, scared the hell out of me.

And as moments of clarity came through, on Christmas Day in fact, I realise that the people I often resented all this time, my family – my parents and siblings – were people who are important to me. More than I realised.

There were other things I discovered to be important for me, and I need to find balance for everything, and ultimately work towards that bigger picture.

So with that, I am going into 2013 with several options and plans. Plans that may work out or totally fail.

But, as with anything, you never really know until you try.

Well, I hope your 2012 has been a grand one, with lots of fulfillment. If you were out there exploring like me, I hope you found what you were looking for. If you haven’t, keep digging. The truth is, I am still not sure if I have found what I am looking for.

Thank you for reading and following my journey this year. Here’s hoping for a more exciting and fulfilling 2013 for all of us with more dreams and wishes to come true. Happy holidays!

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On Fear and Writing

Posted on November 17, 2012 by

I know some of you have been waiting for more stories from the recent Indonesia blog trip. Give me a moment to get my writing voice back again, yes? I promise, I’ll be back with them. For now, this post, partly the reason why I have been quiet here. 

***

I thought I was fearless ever since I took up scuba diving, when I was terrified of the sea back then. Or when I finally quit my day job in July last year.  I thought nothing would scare me much after taking several leaps of faith in the last year.

Wrong.

I found myself blanketed with fear in the last few weeks. I wish it was over sharks, like Torre had or anything else more exciting than…writing.

You see, I had a writing job I was going for in the last couple of weeks.  I spent some time doing the research on the topic and decided at the end, I just could not do the piece. I backed out. I couldn’t figure out why at the time, considering that the topic wasn’t terribly difficult.

I have had writers block before (case in point: this blog when it’s quiet). But, if there was ever a moment of how writers get paralysed, as in really paralysed, that would be it for me.

I spent the next few days after trying to analyse why I did what I did.  (But not before I lost myself in a book, lots of sleep and useless scribbles on my notebook!).  I even questioned my sanity with internal dialogs like these:

“I thought you are a writer? I mean, you have had pieces published before, so what was the big deal?”

“I thought you want to write for that publication?”

“What the hell were you thinking?”

…and many other questions which probably ended up making me feel even smaller. (Tip: Never have a dialog with yourself when your confidence is at the lowest).

Looking back at it today, I let fear took the better part of me. It crippled me. Yes, fear, that one thing I thought I was getting good at conquering. I let myself feel inadequate after doing my research and reading what others have written, that I felt I could not possibly have something different. Instead of getting inspired by others – which is what I usually get when reading other people’s writing – I got intimidated.

It’s not the first time I felt intimidated by others’ work, but it’s the first time that I had let it become destructive. All because of my mind playing stupid tricks on me, and letting fear win on this game.

Fear is supposed to be good, and it is. I should know that. It’s a sign that you care for the result of your work. My friend Edward once wrote about how Fear is Good, that it means you are on the right track.  Whenever that fear came around, you just have to push through.

In my case, I failed to push through. But it’s okay. I have accepted that this is probably what I needed to remind myself that I have so much more to learn on the craft of writing, technically and mentally.

Fear will always be around. I just need to get better fighting it when it creeps up on me.

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On The Indonesia International Blogger Trip: A Wrap Up Note

Posted on October 24, 2012 by

After 14 days, six flights, hours of boat rides and bus trips, hopping on seven of the 17,000 islands in Indonesia, the eight international travel bloggers have finally left Indonesia from Bali last Friday.

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It has been one amazing trip, courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, that showcase what Indonesia has to offer. The first half of the trip saw us going from…

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…the remote jungle of Kalimantan to witness the Orang Utans up close and personal, then…

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…immersing ourselves – albeit in a rush – in history and culture at the Borobudur temple and city of Yogyakarta, to…

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…a 3am start to see the magical sunrise view from Pananjakan, overlooking Mount Bromo, Semeru and Batok. We later climbed a-250 steps stair across the sea of sands to check out the crater of Mount Bromo.

We left the history, culture and mountains of Java to start the second half of the trip with a transit in Bali before flying across to the island of Flores, to explore the Komodo National Park.

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It was during our time at the Komodo National Park that saw some of us with energy level dipping to its lowest, even falling sick. Luckily, the rest of our time in Bali, the last leg of our journey, was relatively easy – thanks to some last minute change of the itinerary – allowing us some time to recharge our energy before home time with some leisurely walk around Ubud, great personal conversations (my favourite part of the trip) and a spa treatment just before everyone left.

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Was the press trip a successful one? It depends on how one looks at it.

Meticulous organisation is required when arranging a large group travels, with itineraries built by the hour. Thanks to our fixers, who were quick to attend our needs even when things changed along the way, we were treated to some of the best food, accommodations and service available in this country. At the end of it, while many of us felt some days could not get any longer and we could do with more free time, we all agreed it was one hell of an amazing trip. We all loved it. A successful one from that perspective.

As for the impact of the trip on Indonesia’s tourism, it’s too early to say what, or how much it has made. It definitely got a lot of people talking on social media networks, creating some buzz for the two weeks we were travelling, both within and outside Indonesia.

It’s a start to working with travel writers and bloggers. Ultimately, it would be nice to see the impact of this trip for the longer term.

The trip has given us the opportunity for a taste of what Indonesia has to offer, and it has a lot to offer. For a couple of the bloggers, it gave them the first step into the Asian continent; if there was any culture shocks on their part, it was hidden pretty well – or I was too tired to notice them.

The trip has certainly fueled the desire in many of us to explore this country more in the future on our own pace, taking it slow and immersing ourselves more within each place.

I am still in Bali as I write this, having extended the trip on a personal account to meet with some people here, and spending some time to clear my head and the knots in my body. There are post-trip homework that I need to do that includes some reports for the Ministry. Then there are also stories I need to pull from the trip and write about.

More thoughts on my own journey of discovery

I have been following the travel blogging industry (yes, we can call that an industry now, can’t we?) for quite some time now, through spending (too many) hours on social media as well as interacting with people in the industry. Perhaps it was one of the reasons I wanted, and luckily landed, a role to help organise this trip.

Prior to this trip, I know a little bit about how things work behind the scenes with press trips and living the life of a travel blogger, but I got to know even more as I travel with these bloggers and got to know them personally.

There is more to just travelling, having fun, tweeting and blogging about them. Those outside the industry, including a few members of the entourage travelling with them, often wonder how these travel bloggers can travel continuously. Some happen to have long term savings they could dip into, some are long enough in the game to make a living out of travel blogging, and some score, ahem, press trips.

But in most cases, press trips don’t pay the bills. The work that many of these bloggers do outside these trips is what pay the bills. Barely, sometimes.

Being a travel writer and blogger takes a lot of work, that for some this includes continuously maintaining the blog(s), social media networks and audience, even when you are on the road. For others, this also includes meeting freelance work writing deadlines, or moving them days ahead knowing you’d be stuck in areas with no internet access. Or staying up late on Indonesia time trying to interact and deal with your editor who just wake up on the other side of the world, knowing you’d have to be up in a few hours to start the next day.

Sure, no one’s forcing them to do this, and I am not saying all the above things to put them on a pedestal. It’s a lifestyle they have chosen and they’ve taken all the consequences that come with it. But for those out there looking at them with rose tinted glasses, I can tell you it’s not all fine and dandy.

A member of the travelling local team, who recently quit his job and got pulled into this trip as one of the photographers, got a chance to really get to know first hand what it is like living the life of a travel blogger. A funny moment happened when he said this during one dinner,

“I see what you guys do, I admire you guys, and it’s great, but…I don’t want it”.

He meant that with great respect and said it in a way that made all of us on the table chuckled. To him, it’s amazing to see these guys all still full of smiles and staying upbeat, knowing it had been many tiring and sleepy days in Insomnesia, I mean, Indonesia. (Credit to @michaelturtle who came up with that “Insomnesia” on one of his tweets)

The drive to keep going on this path, with many uncertainties, not knowing where they’d travel next, or even sleep, or where they’d find their next paying gig, is what amazed him. It takes a lot of guts to go on this path, and for him, it was something he knows will not work for him.

And indeed, it’s not for everyone. Some people prefer the certainties of a full-time salaried job, and that is okay.

Where does this leave me as part of my journey of discovery?

I had intended to sit and write every night during the trip, processing my notes from each day, to think of stories to produce, only to find myself falling behind on those notes and instead opted for nights of recuperation. I sometimes question my own determination to be a (travel) writer. For now, whatever little notes I have, are still scattered all over my smartphone. I barely touched my notebook.

The trip gave me a taste of what it really feels like being a travelling writer. I think it is safe to say, that I like having my base in Jakarta, and don’t see myself being a nomadic travel blogger in the near future – in case anyone was wondering.

The trip does present me with potential opportunities to create work and mix the things I love doing – writing, travelling and most importantly, sharing more about Indonesia’s tourism.

Freelancing can be fun in terms of the flexibility to come and go as you please, but it is easy to fall into the “go with the flow” mode, without someone kicking your butt. I have to be real when it comes to making a living from it. I have to chase those opportunities – they don’t always fall on to my lap.

For now, sorting out my notes for the time being might be a good start, so, while this is my own wrap up note for the trip overall, stay tune for more stories from the trip.

Note: All photos are taken and processed with my iPhone, and this entry is the first one I made on my iPad/iPhone WordPress app. I guess, I can travel without a laptop.

Posted in Indonesia, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Plans Don’t Always Work Out, but Dreams Can Come True

Posted on October 5, 2012 by

I can’t believe we are in October already. Where did September go? Where did this year go?

(Photo courtesy of the talented Jessy – as featured in National Geographic)

September  was a mixed bag of things. Some idle time, some crazy chasing deadlines time, and some too much time spent on social media (gah!) despite it being research sometimes.  The internet can be a curse.

I was also working on two relatively big projects.  One is on an event that was supposed to happen in November, but for reasons beyond my control – despite being the project manager and supposedly having “control” – the event will not materialise in November. It will be postponed until further notice. I am a little disappointed given the time, energy and enthusiasm put into the project, but these things happen.

It doesn’t matter now. You can plan anything and everything meticulously, but when it comes to certain bureaucracy, or how others work, some plans will just not get executed. And if there was anything I have learned in the last year or so, things happen (or don’t in this case), for a reason. A blessing in disguise perhaps.

Luckily, my other project, which I am so very excited about, is definitely happening. As I write this, a bunch of travel writers/bloggers are making their way, half way around the world, to Jakarta for a two weeks trip around Indonesia,  hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Creative.  I have been working as part of a team that supports the Ministry to research and select the bloggers to go on this trip as well as liaising with them. Many of these bloggers are ones I follow and interact on Twitter. So, I am looking forward to spend time and getting to know them better in person.

Where am I going?

  • Tanjung Puting (Borneo)  - to see the Orang Utans and do a river cruise.
  • Yogyakarta & Borobudur - culture and food!
  • Mount Bromo - where I have to wake up at 2 am for the sunrise hike.
  • Komodo Island - pink beach, snorkelling and checking out the Komodo dragons
  • …and last but not least Bali - the island I spent the most time as far as Indonesian travel is concerned, and probably the only one most of the world know about Indonesia.

And that is exactly the point of this trip. Indonesia is more than Bali.

I for one, have never visited any of those destinations, other than Yogyakarta, Borobudur and Bali, and I am so looking forward to this trip. It is going to be a challenge doing that many destinations in two weeks – while I am typically a slow solo traveller these days – but, while working on the project, I’ve kept in mind the main goal of promoting Indonesia as a destination to the world, while attempting to balance everyone’s interest on this project.

Personally, this is a project I have always wanted to do. One I dare to say, I dreamt about. I really want to see Indonesia getting the exposures it deserves and at the same time, exploring those places myself.  We, as a country, have a long way to go as far as promoting our own backyard, even to the people right at home. But this is a start. We have some learnings to do, and I am excited to be part of this.

So, while one project didn’t quite work out the way I wanted,  my dream project did. And I am okay with that, more than okay in fact. Excited at all the possibilities coming my way. Excited at the thought of writing stories about this trip.

I leave Jakarta first thing Sunday morning. Since everyone is arriving tomorrow, and I am spending tomorrow meeting and greeting them as they arrive, and later possibly hanging out with them in the hotel in Jakarta, I should probably start packing now.

As much as what I want to do right now, after too many late nights this week working on many things on the go, is…sleep.

This is still part of work, this whole trip, not quite a free holiday as some would claim.

But boy, this is going to be fun.

I’ll be on Twitter mostly updating on the trip, so feel free to follow me there at @MissLaiLai. Actually, I have always been on Twitter. Possibly too much on Twitter, possibly one of the many reasons I don’t blog enough. And possibly, that is another story to post…after the trip! Wish me luck!

Posted in Indonesia, Rants & Raves, Travel | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Four-Hour Sleep

Posted on September 7, 2012 by

I’m hopping on a rant box; haven’t been on one for a while here.

I can safely say that the road less travelled, is not an easy one to walk on. Obviously.

Most of the time, it’s fun. But this week, it hasn’t been so. It doesn’t help that I have only managed on average a four-hour sleep each night, simply because I can’t seem to go to bed before 4AM, and my body can’t seem to sleep beyond 8AM.

Four-hour sleep. Meh. One aspired for what should be a four-hour week.

One of the most frustrating things about the whole ordeal is when dealing with people who probably care less about the bigger picture of what I am trying to achieve.

This, from my best friend’s tweet, probably sums it up best:

“You can argue for purity until your face is blue and refuse to deal with people ‘beneath’ you, or work within constraints, and prove your true worth”.

But, boy, trying to prove your worth with a four-hour sleep on most nights, is pretty tough.

Having said all that, the road less travelled, is a little easier to walk on when you’re not alone. Like-minded people, find those. Keep ‘em close.

You will need them to keep you sane. Especially…when you’ve only had a four-hour sleep last night.

07.09.2012

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A Dream of Getting Paid To Travel

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

“I’d like you to meet someone”, said this friend of mine who is nicknamed “The Bald Guy”, at a gathering last Saturday night.

He grabbed a girl’s arm, his cousin, Miss MK, and started introducing me to her.

“She quit her job last year and gets paid to travel”, he said to her.

I almost spat out my drink. What??! No, no, no!

Yesterday, I met up with Adam of Sit Down Disco and his wife, who are in town for a short visit. They have recently come back from a two-month backpacking trip around New Zealand and Australia for their honeymoon – or their term, “backpackneymoon“. We had a great time talking, catching up on what’s going on in our respective non 9-to-5 lifestyle. It was only when a hunger pang hit me, that we realised we had been talking for almost 4 hours.

Adam is one of those people I became friends with through Twitter sometimes last year, as I was going through my sabbatical leave. I followed his blog religiously, taking his tips and advices on how to deal with the things I went through, mainly many moments of “what the hell am I doing” and more.

Now, Adam gets paid to travel. He writes for a guidebook on Travelfish.org

I, on the other hand, contrary to what my friend introduced me as, don’t get paid to travel. While I did quit just over a year ago, and yes, I did travel, I am not quite at that stage that I now get paid to travel. Somewhere along the way, by some stroke of luck, a couple of magazine editors (and bless their hearts) thought I was good enough to write some travel articles, and I got published. Still a small number, but it’s a start on the path of a being a writer.

These days, to those who have been wondering what I fill my time with after one year off the corporate world, I write and take on projects which are aligned to some of my passions in travelling, writing and photography.

The stories of people quitting their jobs to do what they love and follow their passions, always intrigue others. It made them curious how one can do it. After all, such stories told at TEDx Ubud were what pushed me to take on the sabbatical. I told Miss MK about my story.

Learning from my experience, my first advice to her was this: don’t quit your day job just yet. Unless of course you hate it so much and it’s making you miserable. Second advice, start saving up. You will need money (and having too much of them should never, ever, be a problem).

You see, everybody loves the romantic side of my story. I don’t have to wake up in the morning to go to work and get stuck in traffic. I get to do whatever I want with my own time. I get to travel – spent a month in Bali and then later three months in Sydney among the few other trips here and there. And yes, sometimes, I get paid to write.

But I didn’t get where I am today – and I am far from where I want to be – if I didn’t make the sacrifices.

I don’t get my regular paychecks like I used to, or that yearly holiday allowances or bonuses (oh how I miss those for the big trips!). I have cut down my going out for fancy lunches, dinners and drinks – pretty much changed my lifestyle. I don’t see my family and friends as often as I would like to, for I’ll mostly be stuck working on some projects, or chasing deadlines through some ungodly hours, and wrecking up my sleeping pattern. Like lately.

Don’t forget the number of moments I feel lost, or when people such as your family don’t agree with what you do. Those moments are never pleasant. But luckily, I have met likeminded people who made me see that everything will turn out okay.

If all you want to do is travel, don’t quit your day job. Take holidays often to the many different places. And if you live in Indonesia, for the love of god, start here, at home.

But if you want to quit the 9-to-5 rat race, to give you the freedom to travel and do whatever you want, make sure you have saved up enough to do that. It takes a lot of sacrifices. Adam did save up, reaching a financial independence that allows him to have the location independence lifestyle. He had a plan back then and followed it through.

Me? Well, I wish I planned things differently. Wish I knew about people like Adam, and a few other travel bloggers and writers who trail on the same path, much earlier on. But, that is the beauty of hindsight. Everyone’s story and the process to get where they are today is different. I wasn’t going to quit work the way I did. It just happened through a series of calling, that I finally listened to.

I didn’t think I would last for more than six months, or maybe a year at most, before I’d have to go back to work – and by work, I mean the 9-to-5 desk job. But somehow, I managed. The change of lifestyle, of not spending as much has helped to stretch the funds.

I have managed to land some writing gigs, contract work, and yes, even travel-related projects, that paid me just enough to keep going on this path for the time being. Those gigs and projects will need me beyond the 9-to-5 role, and while there has been an opportunity for me to take up a job in an area I am interested in, it won’t be fair to explore such opportunity until I have the capacity to fulfil it. The next coming months will be filled with a few projects, including at least one that will require me to go away and … travel.

Oh. Wait.

Maybe The Bald Guy is not so wrong after all. I will get paid to travel after all. I have always dreamt of it, or at least have work that requires me to travel. One of the projects I am working on will allow me to do that – travel. And I got a taste of that world on a recent press/blogger trip . I have landed such gig, through a series of serendipities, as well as perhaps my rambling on Twitter that show some people my love for travelling and writing.

It’s one project for now, and it won’t make me a millionaire, but it’s been part of my dreams.

I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t take that leap of faith. The leap of faith that came from knowing that one day, I could be waking up with a regret from not trying. Trying and see if I could reach my dream.

And that’s pretty much the last advice I told Miss MK. You will never really know, until you try.

As someone once told me, the only failure you should avoid, is the failure to try.

Note: That graffiti photo was taken at one of the hostels I stayed on my trip to Singapore last year.

Posted in Rants & Raves | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Tanjung Lesung: The Hidden Gem on the West Coast of Java

Posted on August 28, 2012 by

For someone who quit her 9-to-5 job, whose one of the goals was to see more of Indonesia, it’s safe to say I fail miserably; at least to achieve them in the last year.

Sure, I spent a month in the Island of Gods, Bali, last year. Then there was a weekend getaway in Lombok and the Gili Islands earlier in May this year. But among the approximately 18,000 islands in Indonesia, I have only seen a fraction of this beautiful country I am proud to call home.

So imagine my delight when I was invited on a trip to Tanjung Lesung, a quiet peninsula on the West Coast of Java, in the province of Banten. Finally, a chance to see a bit more of Indonesia! While I have been to this side of the country – mainly to visit the beaches such as Carita or Anyer back in the school days, and later to Umang Island a few years ago – I have never visited Tanjung Lesung and the surrounding areas of the Ujung Kulon National Park.

I joined the trip with five Indonesian travel bloggers consisted of Trinity (The Naked Traveler), Rini, Mumun from Indohoy, Barry, and Harris ; all very passionate about travelling and almost every one of them has seen more of Indonesia than most people I know.

After a three-hour drive from Jakarta, we arrived at Tanjung Lesung Resort around lunch time and checked into our accommodation for the next three days, at Kalicaa Villa a 3-bedroom spacious villa, that comes with open air lounge and kitchen, and a private swimming pool. We all had big grinds on our faces at the thought of lounging and relaxing by the pool for the next three days.

But before all that, we were called for lunch at the seaside Club Villa restaurant with this view.

The resort spreads across an area of 1500 ha, surrounded by several beaches, with parks built around the area. With facilities such as restaurants, a beach club (with snorkeling gear and boats available for use) as well as spacious outdoor area to take a walk or ride on a bicycle, the resort makes a great weekend getaway spot.

A few of us went on bicycles to explore the resort while the rest, that included me, went off for the afternoon to swim by the beach club. Now, I didn’t expect to see this view coming in, maybe because I never thought such scene would exist on the island of Java, having been to places like Bali and Lombok.

But it does.

View from the resort’s beach club

Around 5pm we moved to Bodur Beach, another gorgeous beach on the site, in time to watch the sunset. The sunset that evening, despite a little cloudy, was still mesmerising.

Sunset over Bodur Beach.

Some of us often get so engrossed in taking pictures, that we actually forget to just enjoy and be in the moment. I took a few shots of the sunsets, and later put down the camera, sat on the bench staring at the sun as it went down disappearing into the horizon. Just gazing at the empty space. Stillness. Until my travel buddies, all in the water, giggling and chattering, excitedly called out encouraging me to jump in. I obliged.

I think the last time I swam in the sunset was that one afternoon in Bali on Balangan beach, with a friend. That was almost two years ago, and I had forgotten what it felt like.

If there was one blissful moment from this trip, it was this – swimming in the ray of light, feeling the white soft powdery sands on my feet as I was standing on the soft sea base, with waves came gently crashing on to us, all laughing in joy, being in the moment.

As if we weren’t spoiled enough with the beaches on the first day, the next day we were welcomed by this view as we docked on Peucang Island, an island that would usually take an hour to an hour and half from our resort. The wind was quite strong on that day that our trip took slightly longer, as our boat captain navigated his way through the rough sea. It took us about two and a half hours to cross the strait.

But what a sight to welcome us.

I was telling my travel buddies that the best beach I have seen so far in Indonesia would have to be the ones I saw Gili Air, one of the Gili Islands off Lombok. Obviously, they have seen more of these pristine beaches having travelled to the eastern side of Indonesia, but Peucang Island beach, as we all agree, would rate pretty much up there as the best beach for the west side of the Java region. It has super clear water – check out the photo of a jelly fish I saw in the gallery – and soft powdery sand, that actually made me want to lie and roll around on it.

As much as I wanted to do that, we had some exploring to do on the island.

Peucang Island is part of the Ujung Kulon National Park, declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We went trekking through the forest, 6km trek that saw us walking past some of the craziest looking trees, simply because they are hundreds years old and a sweet looking wild deer.

It took us one and half hours to reach the top of the cliff, overlooking “Karang Copong”, a big piece of rock that looks more like a tiny island in the middle of the sea. We spent about an hour up at the top before we headed back down to the beach for lunch.

I had wished that we spent the whole day on the island just lie on the white sand beach and swim in the clear water, but on our next to do list was snorkeling, which in fact excited me more since I’ve missed diving for quite some time – yes, I realise it’s not quite the same, but it was good enough to see the underwater. We did this about half way between Peucang Island and our resort, at a site called Cimayang.

I dreaded the boat ride back to the resort as the sea was rough, even worse than when we left the resort; bumpy ride, strong wind and waves up to probably two metres high, water splashing in the boat and all – you name it. All I could think of then was my DSLR camera, not being in a dry bag, a rookie mistake one might say. But luckily, while I wasn’t so dry, the camera was when we got back safely to the resort.

The last day at the resort was spent lazying around before we were due to head back to Jakarta after lunch. We repeated the first day experience of swimming in the sea, off the beach club and added snorkeling this time since it was high tide. I was very pleasantly surprise at how much there was to see snorkeling, not far from the dock by the beach club. I saw butterfly fish, trumpet fish, trevali, some puffer fish even some clown fish. It was only when I saw a trigger fish that I decided to head back to the shore. Every time I see a triggerfish, I am reminded of that dive trip in Amed, Bali, when a pregnant triggerfish attacked me. I thought it was funny at the time (it got my fins instead of my ear), but knowing how bad it could have been, the sight of a triggerfish has become a trigger of that memory (yes, pun intended) and always made me a little nervous.

Since the sensation of feeling the white sand on your feet while swimming was so pleasurable, we went for another dip at Bodur Beach. In day light, as opposed during sunset, you could see how blue and clear the water was.

We made the most of that swim, and I was reminded again on how beautiful Indonesia is, with all these hidden gems. And I still have a long way to go to explore the rest of them.

Note: I visited Tanjung Lesung Resort as a guest of PT Jababeka Tbk, the holding company behind Tanjung Lesung Resort. However all opinions expressed above are all mine

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Rediscovering Singapore | 4. Personal Tips & Recommendations

Posted on August 25, 2012 by

The Marina Bay Sands Promenade

Type the word “Singapore” on Google and you’ll be inundated with all the information you can get your hands on, to visit Singapore.  To end this Rediscovering Singapore series (here’s part 1, part 2 and part 3) , here are my personal tips and recommendations from my last two trips, some of which I was shared to by friends.

How to get there
Almost every airline in the world would stop in Singapore, so you are bound to find one that suits your need. If you can afford it, fly Singapore Airlines. Heck, fly Singapore Airlines ANYWHERE in this world if you can. (No, this is not a sponsored trip or post. I just want to fly Singapore Airlines everywhere. Period). Make sure you compare prices for the great deals often offered by the airlines within South East Asia.

Where to Stay
Accommodations are not cheap in Singapore. Talk about meeting almost every budget points, I got to experience quite a range of accommodations during the two trips I made within the last year; from backpackers hostel to the 5-star hotel.

1) The Hostels: Where the travellers (backpackers) hang out 

It was during the start of my sabbatical that I stayed in backpackers hostel in Singapore; I was travelling solo (after Miss Sassy left during our September trip) and I thought it might be fun to check out the backpackers hostels for some travel stories and meet other travellers.  I have to say, I was impressed with the standard of hostels here. Clean, comfortable and cosy. I will never forget one thing said by the receptionist of one of the hostels, a Malaysian, who said “Well, this is Singapore. They are very anal about everything, including not seeing your footwear all over the place. So yes, please make sure they are in the shoebox”.


The standard shoeboxes, one for each person in the hostel – Rucksack Inn

Both award-winning hostels I stayed in over the two nights period are  located in the same building on 33 Hong Kong Street in Chinatown, a central location within walking distance to Clarke Quay. For just under S$30 (check their websites for latest rate) you get a bed, free breakfast, free wi-fi, a homey feel lounge and common room, most likely filled with fun conversations from other travellers. Don’t feel like sharing your bedroom with strangers? They have private rooms as well.

Rucksack Inn
River City Inn 

2) The Hotels:  the budget to mid-range options (S$100 – S$150 per night)

Hotels in Singapore are generally small in space that I feel claustrophobic at times. But when you are out and about most of the time exploring what Singapore has to offer, it’s probably best to spend your money elsewhere and settle for some of the value-for-money hotels available. Note, that there are “cheap” hotels (in price, quality and who or what goes on there)  and there are “value for money” hotels. Go for the latter.

Here are the ones I stayed in and why I’d recommend them.

Victoria Hotels, 87 Victoria Street  Singapore 188016  :  The hotel might feel a little dated in design, though it is simple, clean and staff is very friendly.  Location is great being  5 minutes walk to Bugis Junction, and very close to the MRT station and the museums district.

Value Hotel Thomson: 592 Balestier Road Singapore 329901  (Website)  : This is a good value for money hotel in a good location. Again, rooms are small, with clean minimalist design.  I was pleasantly surprised with the facilities which include a gym and a rooftop swimming pool (see the picture below) . It’s  close to transport, and  a short walking distance to Novena Square Shopping Mall, where the MRT station is located.

3) The 5-Star Resort: Marina Bay Sands.
Thanks to Finally Woken, I got to experience this hotel on my last trip. But we weren’t that impressed with it.  The hotel is your standard 5-star hotel with a clinical feel that comes with a massive hotel, where you are one of the thousands customers around.  The lobby is one huge open space with a sea of people coming and going, one can easily gets confused in trying to figure out where to check in and what to do. Someone should have figured out the guest-flow design a little bit better.

Don’t get me wrong though, the hotel is not bad. The room is generous in size with plush comfortable bed, iPod docking and flat screen TVs. I did find one design flaw in our hotel suite – there was no electrical plug in the bathroom. There was a hairdryer in that spacious bathroom,  but I looked everywhere and couldn’t find one electric plug.  I thought I had gone mad. After all, it’s a 5-star hotel, surely they wouldn’t miss such important element in a bathroom?

I kid you not.  Upon reading reviews on Trips Advisor, it turned out, I wasn’t the only one who noticed it.

For the price that one pays to stay here, I’d say head out to other 5-Star hotels in the city or even the boutique hotels around (see below). Unless of course all you want to do is sip cocktails by the infinity pool on the 57th Floor, which is exclusive for the guest use only.

4) The Boutique Hotels – Where I would like to stay in next time

I have had friends staying in these hotels and they seem to keep coming back. Just take one look at their websites and the quirky design of the rooms.

New Majestic Hotel
The Wanderlust Hotel

Other travel tips

Getting around: Get an Ezy Link card from any 7-11 store or the MRT stations and this will allow you to travel on all the extensive bus and MRT network. (The card can also be used for other services and purchases where applicable).  Another great thing I discovered about the transport system is this website gothere.sg that will tell you what transport options to take to your destination and how long the journey will take. You can also purchase the iPhone app that comes with it.

Walking is pleasant in Singapore, but not when the sun is out in its glory; Singapore can be very hot and humid.  Stay in the air-conditioned malls until it’s good to come out and explore. One of the best walk is along the Singapore river from Clarke Quay, all the way to Marina Bay Sands through the Esplanade. A long walk, but do it just in time for the sun set.

Food:  Food is a big part of my travel attraction and luckily, Singapore is a food haven; even friends travel to Singapore just to eat.  Singaporeans love their food –  from the hawker centres to the Michelin-star restaurants, Singapore has them all.

The Hainanese Chicken Rice and Char Kway Teow are my must eat on any visit to Singapore. I don’t have any favourite so far as I tend to explore and stop at any hawker centres or restaurants I find along the way, despite the list I have from friends on places to visit in Singapore.  Best tips? Ask the local friend.   Or check out this foodblog site on the food of Singapore : I Eat, I Shoot, I Post

What to do:  There are too many things to list on what to do in Singapore. (And you obviously have not been reading my part 1, part 2 and part 3 of this Singapore travel series). From shopping, eating, the Sentosa Island resort,  the Universal Studio, art performances and exhibitions, and even the beaches (albeit  man-made), they have got it all covered.   Check out their events calendar (via YourSingapore.com, the official Singapore Tourism website)  for what’s on before you head to Singapore. There is bound to be something on while you visit.

If you are anything like me, head out to the museums and galleries. Check their opening times as free admissions are applicable on specific times.

*****

So there, I have said it;  I am officially infatuated with Singapore. The museums and galleries, the food, the architecture, the comfortable footpath to walk everywhere and the obsession with everything efficient and organised, it makes the place so easy to travel. There are plenty that I want to explore as it is, and given the track record of the Singaporean government’s effort in trying to make Singapore as a tourist destination instead of just a stop-over, I trust there will be something new the next time I am in town.

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Rediscovering Singapore | 3. Officially Infatuated

Posted on August 23, 2012 by

That last September trip left me wondering if there was more soul to Singapore – or if there was any for that matter. But I didn’t think much about when I would find out more about it, especially not after spending three months in Sydney earlier this year. I don’t think I need to play the comparison game between the two cities to explain why.

Sometimes in late June, my friend FinallyWoken texted me and asked if I would like to join her in Singapore for a night in Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Suddenly, I have a reason to visit Singapore. Well, a few reasons actually.

The prospect of catching up with her, and then another person (who made me want to write and capture images better), was very appealing. The idea of just hanging out with people who are good conversationalist was enough to make me want to travel across the strait.

Then there was that – my curiosity about Singapore coupled with my longing for leisurely walking in parks and sitting in museums and art galleries. In a way, I think I was missing my time in Sydney doing all those things, and Singapore was a close one to make up for it.

*****

Marina Bay Sands (MBS): Gardens by The Bay and Andy Warhol Exhibition

FinallyWoken was down with a cold when she arrived that afternoon, poor girl. After talking to her for an hour or so, I left her to rest and went on my own to explore what was on around the Marina Bay Sands.

The MBS resort gives you a sense of overwhelming space that mega-buildings intend to have you experienced. Here’s a description of the S$8billion development, with enough numbers to make your head spin.

“The resort features a 2,561-room hotel, a 1,300,000 square foot convention-exhibition centre, the 800,000 square foot mall, an iconic ArtScience museum, two large theatres, seven “celebrity chef” restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, an ice skating rink, and the world’s largest atrium casino with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Well, add to that the new “Gardens by the Bay“, located across the MBS complex. This latest mega-attraction to Singapore that sprawls across 101 ha (250 acres) of reclaimed land took 7 years in the making with a cost of S$1billion. I guess when it comes to development around the Marina Bay area, no expense was spared.

The first thing you notice immediately from this super garden is the supertrees, 18 of them sticking up above everything else at a height ranging from 25 meters to 50 metres. Those supertrees happened to be the view from our hotel suite. This massive gardens complex offers a range of attractions, including The Flower Dome showcasing hundreds of plants from all over the world.

I came in the late afternoon and had no intention other than taking a leisure walk around the gardens – not quite the whole 101 ha of it, but just a tiny fraction of it through the Heritage Gardens, made up of the Chinese, Malay and Indian themed gardens. While I like pretty things and green space, I don’t think I was so inclined to learn about the horticulture that was available there.

I spent a lot of time stopping and taking in the views around me, including this pretty sight of the Singapore Flyer reflected on one of the man-made lakes on the site. One could possibly mistaken this scenery as the gray London with its own London Eyes and Thames River.

As I walked hurriedly across the bridge, back to Marina Bay Sands after the sun went down, I felt the spit of rain on me. The weather was not the best that day. With a couple of hours before the ArtScience Museum close for the night, I decided to check out the “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal” exhibition. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside, but what I can tell you is this – if you ever get the chance to visit any of his exhibition, just do it. Especially if you love anything quirky and of pop-art. This was the largest exhibition of his work ever held in Singapore. I lost count at how many times I gasped and wowed at the sight of his creations, be them the paintings, including those of the celebrities (Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and more), the drawings of the shoes he designed, including the shoes being displayed; or that Silver Factory exhibit, a replica of his studio in New York, where everything was covered in tin foil and silver paint.

Museum Hopping

FinallyWoken and I parted just after lunch the next day, after we lazed around in the hotel suite the whole morning, skipping the MBS SkyPark for the next time we both feel like it, and preferably without the cold. The adventure on day two started that afternoon when I met Tetanus (“T”) a director, writer and photographer who lives in Singapore, whom I have become acquainted through his blog. I had told him I wanted to check out the museums in Singapore, which friends have been raving about, for they are known as some of the best ones in Asia; he was happy to play host that day.

I wasn’t fussed as to which museum we were going to, since I have never been to any of them. The MINT Museums of Toys was the first one we went to and it was a fun trip down memory lane seeing some of the characters I grew up with as a child. After all, MINT is an acronym for Moments of Imagination of Nostalgia with Toys. The first of its kind, the MINT Museums of Toys exhibits an impressive private collection of vintage toys – owned by Mr Chang Yang Fa, a Singapore citizen – that includes rare and unique one of a kind toys, collected from around the world. Over 50,000 pieces of toys are displayed over the five floors of this establishment.

Given its proximity to other museums we hopped across to Singapore Art Museum (SAM) for a quick look around to see what exhibition was on, before we decided it was probably better off to check out the National Museum of Singapore. (I’ll save SAM for my next visit to Singapore).

I was first and foremost impressed with the museum’s architecture.

Housed in a grand colonial building The National Museum of Singapore is impressive both on the interior and exterior. Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, it is one of the most notable museums in Singapore exhibiting all elements of the history on Singapore. Many of the permanent exhibitions have free admissions (during specific times of the day). We went to two of the four Living Galleries; Photography and Food. The other two are Fashion and Film & Wayang (“Wayang” is a Malay word for puppets).

The Photography Living Gallery showcases the history of Singapore through portraits of Singaporean families over 100 years, showing a glimpse of their lives, touching on the many social issues faced by the families, including one openly acknowledging the practice of polygamy.

The Food Living Gallery exhibits the many traditional food of Singapore and the stories behind them, including some quirky displays of the artifacts. I think it was at this point we started talking about noodles, including one that T grew up with, and we became hungry. Yet it was a little too early for dinner.

I took this shot as we walked around the museum district on our way to a lomography shop before we headed out to dinner; the light was just pretty.

I was at the mercy of my host who took me out to dinner, all the way to the other side of town, to the Eastern area that is Changi. Within half an hour in a taxi traversing through the city, the scenery changed from what was the concrete jungle of metropolitan Singapore to what felt like, a middle of nowhere. We arrived at a restaurant called The Coastal Settlement, a wonderful establishment with its rustic charm stemmed from the vintage and wooden furniture decor, surrounded by gardens and large trees. Add to that, the loud sound of crickets that came after the brief downpour while we were there; I almost forgot I was in Singapore.

The food was delicious – oh the truffle fries! I can still taste them to this day – the beer that washed them down was tasty, and the company was even better.

(Thank you, T!)

I had the next day to explore Singapore on my own before catching the last flight back to Jakarta that night. Originally I was going to head down to the Botanical Garden for more of those walk-in-the-park moments. However, after getting tips from T on an independent bookstore, as well was the Tintin shop, both located in Chinatown, I decided on a change of plan; head down to Chinatown for those two things and then see whatever else the day brings. The experience turned out to be a joyful one – giddy all the way through the morning as I browsed through all the comics and merchandises at the Tintin Shop and later in that bookstore, Littered With Books.

Happiness is being in a book store.

Now, what’s a visit to Singapore without going to the hawker centre at least once? I was spoiled with the posh food court in Marina Bay Sands, and being wined and dined last night, that I haven’t had a chance to go and get more of the local cuisine. At Maxwell Food Court, one of the popular ones around, I sampled some Pohpiah and Hainanese Chicken Rice from Tian Tian Chicken Rice, one that was also endorsed by Anthony Bourdain.

Actually, that was probably why I went to that stall of chicken rice. A long queue and Anthony Bourdain picture plastered all over the stall? It should at least worth a try. And the verdict? I’d come back for seconds if I wasn’t so full.

The “whatever the day might bring” attitude had me accidentally discover the Singapore City Gallery (URA Gallery) within the same vicinity of the hawker centre. The gallery has three floors of display (including some interactive ones) and exhibitions on the superb urban planning that makes Singapore what it is today. A visit there only made me even more envious of this little country, which seems obsessed with efficiency and organisation – unlike my own city of Jakarta which, coincidentally at the time of my visit, was having its first round of election for the new Governor.

I also found the Red Dot Design Museum, a contemporary design museum not far from the city gallery. I was excited going in, thinking I’d get another dose of creativity buzz that museums and galleries often give, only to find out it was closed for a private function. So instead I sat in a quiet bar located on the same site as the museum, killing time, enjoying a cold drink while reading and later writing in my journal, reflecting on this short trip that was coming to an end.

*****

The character of a place and my curiosity about the world at large will always trigger the wanderlust in me. But people are also becoming the reason I travel these days. The friends and family I have in Sydney, the expats friend I have yet to visit in Dubai, a place I never thought about visiting anytime soon, or to the extreme, that one friend currently working with the UN in Ethiopia – at least until he convinced everyone that it is much more civilised to meet somewhere other than Ethiopia if all we wanted was to hang out with him.

People make your travel experience that extra memorable. The conversations that tickle your mind, resulting in wandering thoughts to the places and moments in your life in reflection. The discovery that the person you thought you knew about from reading their writing is, well, in fact exactly like you thought they were, and more. The unexpected gems found through the local knowledge. Those fleeting moments you spend talking to some people, wanting those moments to last for as long as possible. Realising you forgot to take photos of the places that you were in, or even of the people you were with, simply because you were so engrossed in deep meaningful conversations, to the point that you didn’t even care if you didn’t make it to what most people think was a must visit.

Those moments. Those encounters. People has definitely made this trip that extra memorable for me.

There was also the nostalgia, the trip down memory lane from the things I saw – the toys, the old photos I saw at the museum, things that reminded me of my childhood and my background, one of a Chinese descent in Indonesia. Or nostalgia from the conversations recalling things from the pasts, the things I have seen, read and listened.

People, places, memories.

Whatever it is, I think I finally found some soul in Singapore. The place doesn’t feel so cold anymore. And dare I say, I think I am officially infatuated by this tiny little red dot.

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