Having lived in New Zealand for 11 years, I returned home to Indonesia in 2005 to have a go at living in the capital city of Jakarta. After working in one of the top 5 tier accounting firms back on the Kiwi land, I tried my hands on the Indonesian consumer banking industry with one of the biggest banks in the world and I grew to like it.
Until recently.
Blogging since 2005 as a way to channel my talkativeness, I realised I found joy in writing. I then discovered photography and found joy in that too, especially when done while traveling. I discovered scuba diving and alas, I fell in love with that too. Realising that life is too short not to pursue my passions, I finally found the courage to quit the 9-to-5 rat race in 2011 for a sabbatical to spend time on the things I love and see where the road takes me.
Why the name “Miss Lai Lai” you may ask? An old junior high school teacher used to tease me by calling me “Lai – Lai” (in Chinese, it can actually be translated like a calling “come here, come here!”). It grew to become a nick name from my closest friends in high school, till this day. Later, close friends at work in Jakarta started calling me affectionately,”Lai” and “Lai Lai” – and before you know it, “Miss Lai Lai” is my identity.
I love the smell and taste of good coffee, food, and wine. I love exploring new places. I love learning new ideas. I love connecting with people and expanding my horizon through talking to them and listening to their stories – everybody has one. Most of all, I love life and always try to put on the positive-but-realistic-pair of glasses when looking into it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.
So worth it, that one would want to document her experience through words and pictures. This blog shall be that. A record of my rants and musings on everything the good life has to offer, be it travel, food, photography, and other things I find worth sharing.
Even if some of them are just random rants, raves, and musings on life from this little exploring soul of mine.
“I don’t know where I am going, but it sure won’t be boring, and let’s hope it is nice when I get there”
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so this is your new blog? i better change the link on my blogroll
congratulations!
OMG!!! Talk about “stranger”! Hello Therry, nice of you to drop by and whoaaaa, visited you blog and almost fell off my chair when I saw the new layout and most notably, you are married?!?! Congratulations!!
And yes this is my new blog (link wise), still a lot of work on the layout but I shall try to keep writing, so please
, yes, change the link ya
Love your layout btw!
Finally i read your blog… Nice
maybe i should have one too 
Is that balangan beach???
Good spotting! Yes it is Balangan Beach.
Great blog. I too am searching for something outside the 9-5 rat race. I spent the last two years teaching in China, where I got my first DSLR and have been obsessed with photography since. I also travelled around New Zealand for 6 weeks, what a beautiful country! Now I’m back in South Africa trying to plan my next adventure as the travel bug has bitten.
Hi Rory, thanks for stopping by, and sounds like you had a fantastic experience in the last two years from your blog. Good luck on your new endeavours!
Nice to catch up with you again after all of these years – and in Sydney of all places!!
Take care
Ross (polar bear)
Hey it’s Polar Bear!
I have been wondering what happened to you and actually thought of looking you up when I am in Sydney. Thanks for dropping by.
hiii….2 nights stand *lol
finally stopby noted your blog fr fb ^^
dreaming about your sabbatical, wish fearlessly make one…
takecare dear; hope to meet you again #somedaysomewhereoutthere
cheers, July
Thanks for stopping by July.
Wonderful! Love your blog and writing. Keep it up
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences.” – Christopher McCandless
Thanks for visiting Taufan! It was such a pleasure meeting and chatting with you during TEDx Jakarta. Hope to see you again sometime. And I love that quote by McCandless. Hit the nails! See you around.
+100
Who dares wins. Those SAS boys are right on this.
Enjoyed so much your blog ! Found this by coincidence! Inspiring write up!! …Can I somehow contact you via email ?
I never realise I don’t have a contact page until you commented here. But anyway, we’ve “spoken” via email, and again, thank you for your kind words.
Found your blog through Aggy’s tweet a few days ago. Today one of my coworkers told me that she knows you through TEDx. What a coincidence! Or should I say, what a small world, indeed!
Hi Bama, thanks for dropping by. I am now very curious about who your co-worker is
but yes, a small world indeed. I have to say though, since I move to Jakarta, it seems like the world is getting smaller and smaller! PS: I remember visiting your blog a while ago and thought it was amazing! Can’t remember how I found it though. Happy travelling!
Small world indeed! I love your blog Miss Lai Lai and yours, Bama, too! So many talented people in our country
Do you know Irma? That’s her.