Lesson 1: Don’t beat yourself up

When it came to parts of my professional life, as a doctoral student, I found myself having to experience a large amount of change. My comprehensive exams did not go as well as expected, and I also ended up changing advisors as my current advisor, Judy, embarked on her long-awaited retirement. During those moments, I did end up on a mild spiral, especially when I thought my life in this field was over as I knew it. I also felt a bit lost with Judy leaving, as we ended up forming a great working relationship and struck up quite a friendship as well. She always looked out for me, and with her leaving BC, I felt quite isolated. The doctoral student journey is already a lonely one, even when surrounded by social support, so when you’re feeling loneliness on top of all this, you inevitably beat yourself up. However, thanks to the wonders of therapy, as well as some exceptionally long bike rides and chats with newfound mentor figures, and, of course, Erin, I reached a new state of clarity. A point where I could honestly reflect on myself and think, yes, I know I made mistakes, but I do have opportunities to learn and rectify them, and that in the grand scheme of things, it’s not the worst thing in the world. I am also happy to report that Judy and I still catch up every now and then over meals, and they have been quite a highlight of the summer. This reflection of clarity brings me on to my next lesson.

Lesson 2: Celebrate each and every single victory no matter how small.

We do not often celebrate the little things during this crazy time as doctoral students and ultimately that can lead to our detriment. Professional and personal goals should be celebrated in one form or another. I sadly did not come to this realization till a speaker event we had at Boston College, where, in a session with the faculty speaker and the PhD students, she asked us a simple question, “When was the last time you celebrated an accomplishment, be it personal or professional?” What shook me was how no one raised their hand in the room, me included. It serves as a stark reminder that these small victories can have a profound impact on our own mental well-being. I got to celebrate some brilliant milestones in my professional and personal life. I managed to complete my first draft of my third-year paper, and it was accepted in the form of poster and paper presentations at multiple conferences, including our big conference, the Academy of Management. In my personal life, I crossed a significant milestone, the big 30, had some long overdue reunions with old friends, spent some quality time with family and moved in with Erin (easily one of the best achievements of this past year). It brings me on to my final lesson.

Lesson 3: Try to have a colossal amount of fun on the way

While this might be a reused lesson from last year, I can safely say that it still remains true. This time, however, what I have realized is that I need to stick to this lesson more closely. There is a lot of fun to be had within the mad rigors of a doctoral program. For instance, I started a new research project with some brilliant collaborators, and there is renewed excitement in this field. It is a feeling I have not had since I first entered the program. In addition, when attending the most recent iteration of the Academy of Management Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, I discovered a new joy in running to explore the city. Amidst all the conference events, I made some new friends along the way. Between work and life, I found myself making time for social events, as there needs to be a decent balance between work and personal life. Perhaps it is why I am now drawn to this scholarship, as it pertains very much to my own struggles.

On the whole, the renewed energy I was missing this past year has returned. I feel a sense of gratitude to the people I care deeply about for helping me stay true to my path. Moreover, I am also grateful for their patience with me as I figure out the next steps for making the most of the coming year. All that is left to say is, bring on year 3.

It’s been about a year since we last spoke, and it’s time I caught you up on what has been happening. As I conclude my second year in this doctoral program, I fondly recall your unwavering support, which was always there, regardless of the circumstances.

As I wrap up my second year in this doctoral program and by some miracle start my third, I fondly recall your unwavering support, which was always there, regardless of the circumstances. There were many moments when I wished I could’ve sought your guidance. While I have to redo my comprehensive exams, navigate many health scares, battled imposter syndrome, and navigated some tough relationships, I know you would’ve told me to put my nose to the ground to persevere. I should’ve looked at our old photo on my desk more often. However, despite these absurd trials, there were some great moments over the past year that I know you would’ve enjoyed.

I ended up having some great reunions with old friends, led cooking workshops for my fellow doctoral students, and (this would have been a point where you would’ve mocked me relentlessly) picked up hobbies that are quintessential for individuals crossing into their thirties. I’ve picked up hobbies that relate to the intricate world of coffee and have embraced my inner oenophile. To balance it all out, I have a newfound aim to run a triathlon (I’ve spent too much on gels and bike equipment).

I also ended up moving in with my lovely partner; you would’ve absolutely enjoyed the space we've created. I also truly cherished the moments and travels done with my family as they, like you, are a constant source of guidance and wisdom. However, the one thing you will be most proud of is that I know what I want to get out of this doctorate and the academic I aspire to be. It took some soul searching, but ultimately, it boiled down to what I truly enjoy in life and what I want to get out of it.

Two years without you is a concept that is hard for many of us to grasp, as we continue to miss you every single day. As I begin the following steps, your amazing character and spirit will continue to be a source of inspiration. As always, our time together will always be absolutely amazing, and I will always continue to treasure it. To you Erin, there will never be enough words to describe how much I miss you and never enough to describe your impact.

My twenties were marked with key milestones, beginning with completing my National Service - Completing two years in the Singapore Police Force was one of the best tests of my resolve that I would face in this decade. While there were many I did not enjoy about that time, the rampant bullying and fat shaming faced in basic training being one, it did teach me a lot about engaging with people. There really is a significant deal to learn when you shut up and actually listen - a tool I carry to this day.

Another big milestone would have to be six weeks in South America with my close mates, Ethan and Vinay. Though it has been a decade since that wild and wacky adventure, I still rank it as one of the best trips, if not the best trip I will do in my life. To entertain my nostalgia, I try to sneak in reminders of my travels there in my daily life; for instance, I use a photo taken from the Inca Trail in Peru as my laptop wallpaper.

Another milestone would have to be my undergraduate days, a generally happy time despite being a member of the illustrious class of 2020 (five years on we still have some hang ups). Attending Skidmore, three years older than most of my classmates, did present some challenges. Still, remarkably, these were not in the form of being the designated uncle of my college friend groups, but more cultural changes. While I have traveled to the United States before on numerous occasions, even staying for six weeks in Chicago in the summer as a high schooler, I felt a strong sense of disconnect with some of my American friends. While some of them are some of my closest friends, to this day, we still have occasional jokes about some of our cultural differences and just how we interact. The differences may seem. minute, namely how individuals interact (I found myself quieter in comparison to my American friends) and eating rice with a fork rather than a spoon, yet they can add up. This is not to say that I did not enjoy myself, I throughoughly did. College was a time of great learning and a time of making valuable friendships who imparted knowledge on how to make the best of my time at Skidmore whilst having a collasal amount of fun. I can safely say all the cliches about college do reign true.

While college was a great time of my life, the years following proved to be a great hurdle, namely due to Covid. Covid was transformational to everyone, there is zero doubt about it. I ended up returning back to Singapore to finish off my semester and go through a quarter life-crisis to figure out what to do with my life. While navigating Covid restrictions I ended up falling for trends such as baking and cycling but I did find them to be good fun. To this day I will occasionally indulge in some baking but in all honestly, it pales in comparison to the experts (my mum). However cycling is something I still do frequently, more so now, since falling for the trap of aiming to do a ridiculous fitness event (ahem, ironman).

Eventually, while spending endless time job hunting I found myself at a research job at INSEAD. I started getting into research work in the last year of my undergraduate and just became simply hooked with this career path. For a bit of context, INSEAD were one of many organizations that took part in a scheme run by the Singapore government to help subsidize salaries. Little did I know at the time, that my two years there would prove to be incredibly formative. I got to work with a great supervisor and despite having co-author troubles when writing and publishing a paper, I still found the process to be incredibly beneficial to my growth and recentring on what I want to do with my life. I was then motivated to ultimately apply for my doctorate. While it was a big investment, it was ultimately a decision I wanted to make as I knew to continue my research passions, this is the step I must take.

During this time, I also took the chance to connect and reconnect with some fantastic individuals in my life, which was made infinitely easier when travel restrictions lifted post-COVID. Feel free to check those out those stories on the blog (shameless plug alert). Those trips that I went on were illuminating, not only because they were to brand-new countries and familiar places but also because of how I approached these trips. These trips allowed me to re-look at how I travel to examine each experience from a sense of genuine appreciation. Each trip I went on I approached with appreciation for the fact that I get to live these experiences. I know that I will carry on as I venture into the new decade.

As I look back upon this decade, I, remarkably, think about the research I am currently working on. The bulk of my research encompasses passion and how the relationships you have help to foster this passion and engagement with work and life. While passion is seen as an intrinsically motivating concept, in reality it is more than that. The enjoyment in life, while it can come from within, it is also made all the more better with amazing people around you. I have an unfortunate tendency to isolate myself when times to get rough and it is a personal mission to be more aware of when I need help. Admittedly, there are many things I do enjoy by myself, long walks in nature for instance, but for the most part, things are more fun when there are others to share them with you.

Last, I feel such a post would not be complete without acknowledging the rock that is my mum, brother and partner. The past years would not be as fun and enlightening without your invaluable input. There are only so many words to express my gratitude but the best I can say is thank you for putting up with ALL of my nonsense over the past few years.

30 does not seem as scary as it once was; I feel I am in a stronger place with these reflections, entering this new unknown. I feel more confident in tackling whatever outrageous nonsense comes my way. Come on, 30s let’s see what you got.

Lesson number one: Keeping time for enjoyment.

When embarking on the program, I knew it would not be smooth sailing, but I was not fully prepared for how manic the waters would be as I navigated the first year. There have been moments of stress, panic, and bouts of imposter syndrome, effectively the three stages of the seven of pain for every doctoral student. I have yet to discover the other four and count my blessings, but let’s revisit this after the comprehensive exams.  However, despite the rough sailing, what kept me going was finding moments where I could embark on genuine enjoyment. When starting the program, I promised myself that though it would be hard, I would try to have some colossal good fun in the process. Within the program, I started to embark on exciting research projects on topics near and dear to my interests. I also kept up my cooking and tried to stay mostly healthy – I could never say no to a good cookie or cocktail or, if I was feeling particularly sinful, both. I also tried some quintessential New England activities for the first time, such as sampling Maine lobster rolls in Maine, apple picking in the fall, suffering the horrendous traffic in Cape Cod, and surviving the extraordinary move-in day of September 1st in Boston (IFKYK). I also tried a spartan race for the first time, one of the most demanding races I’ve run in my life, but it is one I would love to do again. All these random activities provided a perspective that balance is critical in navigating this program. However, what is expected is that the program will take up more time, but it is part of the journey. I, for one, am excited. I know I will still find time for life and what I came to Boston College to do.

Lesson number 2: Patience

You might think hitting your personal best in the gym is a challenging exercise, but the real test is exercising the critical skill of patience. The past year has tested me in different ways; truth be told, it has impacted me differently. Whether it be complex assignments, injuries, genuine confusion, or the loss of a close friend, I had to learn some hard lessons, and the most important one is patience. I need to be patient with myself and with others. It is a skill that most individuals should exercise more. I needed to acknowledge that I had a tough going with the program and life in general and needed to cut myself some slack. Life is always messy, but acknowledging who you are and the progress you make makes things a bit sweeter in the end. Life has funny ways of working out, almost always in the last way you would expect

Lesson number 3: The importance of social support

To use a term from the breath of scholarly research, I have immersed myself in over the past five months, having a robust social support system is proving more essential than ever. I would not have kept my strength up in the madness of the doctoral program had it not been for the fantastic people in my life. While there are victories, losses, and obscene bouts of doubt, it is only great when you have amazing people to share it with. I am eternally grateful to the fantastic people in my personal and work lives for their treasured support. I do not think I would be embracing the program with such vigor had it not been for these special people. Let’s bring on the next step of the program with renewed energy.

I’ll check back in, in one year’s time for another recap.

It has been a year since I received the news that you finally found peace. It has been a long year, but your spirit, sense of humor, compassion, and love have and will always remain. Over the past year, with your photo at my desk, you kept watch as I got thrown around like a ping-pong ball navigating the first year of my doctoral program. There were many moments when I felt lost, confused, hilariously anxious, and suffering from an obscene case of impostor syndrome. However, despite these trials, your presence was felt, and the photo of us from Fun Day 2017 reminds me daily that even though you’re gone, your support is still and will always be felt.

It also reminds me that you would always encourage me to keep going. No matter what happens, I should not give up. You would always offer encouraging words, and you would also be an ear I could count on. Even if I were talking some irrelevant twaddle, you would still try to offer some form of insight. I have forged new and meaningful connections and reformed ones I value deeply in the years since. In many ways, the connections made remind me a lot about our friendship, owing to the tremendous laughter and meaningful support we would give one another.

In other news, we finally took that long-overdue trip to Singapore. On the adventure to my humble home country, it presented a fantastic opportunity for you to meet the people near and dearest to my heart. We also managed to go on a boating adventure to explore parts of Singapore I always wanted to show you.

The weather was ideal for me to pay you one more tribute as I helped you dive into the great beyond. I am grateful that you can continue the adventure we started together. Though we could not make the trip the way I would have liked to, I am still happy you got to visit my home and meet my family. While you are gone, in many ways, your glorious spirit has not left us. As we begin yet another chapter, the dynamism of your beautiful character and spirit will guide me toward making you proud and achieving something brilliant. It does not get any easier as the days pass, but I know you are smiling down on us, and your spirit will never leave us. The time spent together will never be forgotten, and I will treasure it forever more. To my friend Erin, words cannot describe how much I miss you dearly, but know you have left a lasting impact that will stand the test of time.

When it comes to the European continent, one thing immediately pops to mind, and no, it is not the rich (and occasionally sordid) history or the fantastic food but the trains. This may come as a shock to many of you, but since I was a young boy, I have been obsessed with trains, particularly the high-speed trains of Europe (yes, even counting the German ICE IYKYK). Traversing the continent is made more civilized with rail travel, and this issue of my trip newsletter is indicative of the fantastic cities, sights, and food we could experience taking a humble train. Welcome to a story of trains, food, family, trains, weddings, wine, and, you guessed it – trains.

Planning for this trip started with a humble email from mum's first cousin, Geeta, who had invited me, mum, and my brother to her daughter Priya's wedding in the UK in June 2023. The wedding provided an opportune moment for us to go on one big holiday, for Mum to tick off three new countries on her list, and for her to reunite with her sisters and cousins. We planned out our potential route around the wedding along with the availability of points tickets to the European continent from Singapore and sights we wanted to see, and thus came our travel route. We flew into Frankfurt, where we spent the night, and then took an ICE from Frankfurt to Brussels in Belgium (a new country for the three of us). We would subsequently take the Eurostar right into the heart of London (spoiler alert, the channel tunnel does not have any windows for you to see the fish 😠). We would then spend a week in the UK touring London, an extraordinary train ride my brother and I embarked on, and the wedding. Then we'd spend a few days with my aunt in Paris (again by the Eurostar), then to wine country in Burgundy by the TGV. We'd spend a few days in and around Dijon and Beaune, then take the same TGV to Zurich through part of the Alps. It turned out to be quite the little European adventure.

Highlights:

Before you ask, the food and drink will be coming as part of the highlights, but I have to say one of my highlights of this trip was spending time with family and friends. I had the opportunity to meet with a couple of friends in London, mainly from my UWC days and my friend Naira from Skidmore. She was keen to meet not only me but my mum as well. I was delighted to see they got along well, and I hope it is not the last time they meet. Another fun reunion was with my old kindergarten teacher, Mrs Fensom (for the life of me I can never refer to her by her first name). It was the first time in roughly ten year that we saw each other and I almost felt like that five year old again, when interacting with my teacher.

The main highlight of this trip was seeing my mum genuinely enjoying herself on holiday with little worry. Mum has not treated herself to a long holiday like this in eons, so it was amazing to see Mum going out and exploring all these places, some of them being for the first time.

Despite some of my earlier doubts about my enjoyment of this wedding, especially some individuals causing some headaches, the wedding was good fun. I met some relatives for the first time and got along with them almost instantly, particularly the second cousins (most of whom were around my age). For my mum, being with her cousins and especially her sisters was humorous and good fun. When we were driving from London to the wedding venue in Essex, a bit of role reversal took place as my mum and one of her sisters were acting like rambunctious teenagers. In contrast, myself, my cousin, and brother took the role of the stern parent. One bit of solace I can take from that short drive is that I have most definitely inherited my own rambunctious tendencies from my dear mother, thus cementing the fact that I have indeed inherited her best qualities.

We have come to everybody's favorite section, food and drink. We found ourselves enjoying the food significantly across the various cities we visited. In Mainz (just outside Frankfurt), I revisited an Italin restaurant, Da Vito, I previously went to back in 2021 when Singapore was first experimenting with travel. The food I can safely say is still excellent, and I am glad I got to share it with mum.

In Brussels, we enjoyed some classic waffles (both sweet and savory) and some remarkable Lebanese food (a literal food coma occurred after this meal).

In the UK, we ended up sampling some of its national cuisine, Indian food, with our personal favorite being the absolutely fabulous restaurant Gymkhana (I strongly recommend their lunch menu; it is excellent value for money).

Mum is also a big fan of the chef Ottolenghi and so we had to try one of his restaurants in London.

I also paid a visit to an old friend, Borough Market where I indulged in a pita sandwich and a frozen cider, perfect for a June afternoon.

Within the UK, my brother and I, while exploring the quaint town of Salisbury, found a small hotel serving up a delectable afternoon tea for the princely sum of £5. It included a pot of tea, hilariously buttery scones with jam and clotted cream.

I also ended up revisiting a bar that my Georgian friend David took me to on my last visit, Opium, with an old Skidmore friend of mine, Naira. They have an excellent range of dumplings paired with awfully potent cocktails.

*Insert food photos of dumplings (I ended up committing a cardinal blogger sin and forgot to take photos of the dumplings*

Across the channel in France, my aunt, now in Paris, treated us to some of her favorite cheeses and several bottles of excellent wine, a trend that will continue as we ventured on the TGV to Dijon and Burgundy.

In Burgundy, we spent a couple of days educating ourselves on the rich history of wine growing in the region and exploring it in some traditional modes of transport, an electric assisted bicycle, and a Citroen 2CV. The 2CV was driven by our guide Gaetan from My French Tour, who provided an excellent tour as we explored the stunning scenery, which was appropriately paired with multiple tastings. While exploring Beaune, we enjoyed simple pleasures when it came to food, namely croissants, and sandwiches, all of which were sublime owing to the quality of the produce. It would be rude of me to not mention some of the wines we enjoyed in this region. We learned that the Burgundy region in France is known more for its rich variety of white wines over reds (not to discount the pinot noirs we had). Gaetan, our guide who grew up in the region, highlighted the narrow channel between the hills and the flat lands where the wine grows and the different grading systems. I garnered a newfound appreciation for the region's wine growers and the fantastic produce.

Our time in this veritable Eden came to an end as we ventured to our last country, Switzerland. We only visited Zurich, but exploring the city we had spent barely a day in on our previous visit was great. The biggest highlight of our short venture in Zurich was the Lindt chocolate factory. It is definitely well worth the holiday. My favorite aspect of the tour is the remarkably sassy mobile audio guide commenting on what she described as the ill intentions of the colonial powers when exploring the world for cocoa beans. The tour did include numerous opportunities for tasting, and no, I have to preface I am not the biggest chocolate fan, but I had an absolute field day with the tasting. I did become mildly hyper with my poor mother and brother having to deal with my nonsense and "zoomies." An unexpected highlight came in the form of the restaurant Haus Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the Western world at over 125 years old. They have a proper a la carte menu, but the three of us ended up enjoying the buffet, which is priced by weight, so for those buffet fans among you, you need to strategize accordingly.

Now we come to a fun section of the highlights: the amazing trains we rode in Europe. From a young age, I have always had a great love of all things trains, and with the region of western Europe being a hub for all things high-speed rail (DB's ICE is a bit of a stretch here), I was having a field day. Train travel, I find, is indeed a civilized way to cross a continent, I felt relaxed the entire time and found myself to be surprisingly productive while on the rails cruising at 300-320 kilometers an hour. We took the French TGV, everyone's favorite German ICE, and the Eurostar during this trip.

My train highlights were the Eurostar that took us under the water to the UK from the Schengen travel zone and an old steam train my brother and I took in the UK. It is important to note that this is not just any steam train, but THE steam train – the legendary Flying Scotsman. Named for the London to Edinburgh service, the A3 class steam train from the UK became famous for being one of the first trains to hit 100 mph on mainline service and has driven more than several billion miles. It is a celebrated train, and 2023 was its centenary. For its centenary, the current owners, the national railway museum, were running special rail tours, and one lined up nicely with our travel dates. My brother and I could not miss the opportunity to cross off the ultimate train lovers bucket list, a journey on the Flying Scotsman. It was one of my favorite days out with my brother as our rail tour took us to Salisbury, home to a beautiful Cathedral and an honestly excellently priced afternoon tea. The best part was simply that my brother and I enjoyed each other's company and crossed off a childhood bucket list item that the two of us could not imagine doing.

Trip reflections:

The trip to Europe might have been one of the better family holidays the three of us have been on in recent history. I suppose the previous stresses that had plagued some of our earlier trips were gone, and we could finally focus on truly enjoying the destination. It was lovely just seeing my mum happy and enjoying a trip, plus witnessing her rambunctious tendencies. On this trip, I was truly spoiled by the quality of the food I consumed; there is not much more to say other than that vegetarian food in Europe is truly outstanding. I cannot forget the trains; my inner child had an epic time on the rails. It reaffirmed how the train is the superior mode of transport for regional/short-haul travel. I am hoping for another adventure like this with my family, as we found a great travel dynamic together.

In the first week of May, I made the long overdue trip to visit my grandparents in Australia. This trip, albeit slightly last-minute, is one I was glad to do as it was in 2016 that I made my last trip to see them in Sydney before I started my undergraduate studies. It is fitting that before I start my PhD program at Boston College, I should go and visit them. This trip report will be slightly different from previous iterations featuring fewer shenanigans. Rest assured, the highlight will still be the food. Many things about Sydney have changed since my last visit; however, the apartment my Grandparents live in, albeit with a couple of changes, remains the same since I first visited them as a young lad. So welcome to a blog post about revisiting old favorites and enjoyable moments with family and friends.

Highlights:

If I did not mention visiting my grandparents being the number one highlight, I would get a comical amount of grief. However, as I spent the ten days with them, I witnessed them in their element, which was a big relief. During the pandemic, with Australia undergoing some of the strictest lockdowns, I worried about how they were coping with the isolation and, more importantly, their health. When reuniting with my grandfather for the first time since the pandemic started in 2022, I was mildly alarmed by his weight loss and how slowly he moved. However, since then, he's changed his diet and tied it with the country's reopening; I've seen him at his fastest, healthiest, and most importantly, happiest. While he does get tired more quickly, he still has his sense of humor, which I have grown fond of, along with his culinary skills. With my grandmother, I particularly enjoyed our trip towards the southern coast as it was a fun day driving, just the two of us. We enjoyed a visit to the temple she frequents, along with lunch and ice cream with a stunning view.

One part of this trip I also enjoyed was taking her to try more food than her usual fare. One thing I have always admired about my grandmother is that when it comes to culinary prowess, she will try anything, so long as it is vegetarian. I took her to sample various different cuisines ranging from Vietnamese to Italian, items she wouldn't usually get unless myself, mum or my brother would take her. All this talk of food brings me to my next highlight, the food.

Since I was a young boy, a consistent memory of the country was the superb produce quality. I can happily say the produce is still outstanding. The quality of the produce translated into the food my grandparents made. My earliest memory of my grandparents was the South Indian food they would cook for me, my brother, and my mum. It is still something I look forward to this day whenever they visit. I consistently rank the South Indian food my grandparents make to be the best in the world, and I will stand by this statement.

Speaking of hot takes, I know many people will be coming at me for this, but I will stand by it. Australia has the best coffee out of the countries I have been to on my recent travels, and I'm talking about espresso-based coffee. I call it the best as there is consistency among the coffee shops in Australia, even at a McCafé (not sponsored), you can find decent coffee. Beyond the comfort foods made by my grandparents, I did get to sample different cuisine ranging from Vietnamese to Italian and Lebanese, and thanks to the quality of the produce, they were fabulous. I'll let some of my photos do the speaking.

Another highlight was exploring the city with an old friend, Rory. I've known Rory since I was about 12 years old, and we recently reconnected for the first time in coming on to a decade. He visited Singapore in February of this year, where I also met his now fiancé, Danielle (massive congratulations again to you both). We spent time reminiscing about our mildly rambunctious middle school days. We promised to visit each other the next time we were in our respective cities. We also ended up grabbing dinner with his parents, whom I remember fondly from my youth. During our short time together, Rory took me on a tour of his neighborhood. I got to experience parts of Sydney I had not visited previously and witnessed some truly amazing sights. As always, it is time I let what Australia has to offer through my many photos.

Trip reflections:

As I write this, I am currently a couple of weeks from departing to the US to begin my PhD program at Boston College. I am incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to visit Australia and my grandparents on home turf for the first time in seven years. I was happy to see them so active and simply thriving at home. Seeing Rory again was also excellent as he shared some exciting life updates; I know he will go quite far with his passion for music studies. I know it will not be my last trip; I just hope it won't be nearly another decade before I visit Australia again.

Planning for this trip came about in late 2022 when me Ethan, Amanda, and Su-Jean decided to do a joint birthday celebration in lieu of separate celebrations. We realized none of us were hitting milestone years, and Amanda suggested a trip to Bali. It was not hard not to convince us as a weekend in Bali is hard to pass up. So, after a couple months of planning, we went to Bali with our new friend Miguel adding a fun dynamic to our little friend family. It is safe to say that this particular trip to Bali was one of the more memorable trips I’ve been on, and it has made me more excited to go on future trips with friends.

Bali highlights:

Easily one of the top highlights from the trip was the villa Amanda helped us book on AirBnb. It was an unbelievably beautiful property with spacious rooms, a long pool, a stunning kitchen, and peaceful views of the rice terraces of Ubud. It was easy to spend hours in the villa just enjoying each other’s company, and in the case of Ethan, Miguel, and myself, slowly sip away at a bottle of whiskey over the course of a day while playing a game. The vibes in the villa were immaculate, and was a much-needed escape/celebration away from Singapore.

To go along with the relaxing nature of the trip, another highlight would have to be the accidental all-nighter we pulled in a bid to climb Mount Batur. Despite having been to Bali numerous times, climbing Mount Batur was not something I had yet to do until now. The five of us had little to no sleep, and it was somewhat commendable that we could climb up and down the mountain in remarkably decent time. While on the climb up, we spent the time making casual conversation, though, with the lack of sleep, I doubt much of what we said was what you would call cohesive. Nevertheless, the views were worth the climb, particularly the sun rising over scattered clouds.

In keeping with the “relaxing” theme, another highlight would be the quad biking tour Amanda helped us book. The tour felt like a combination of intensive off-road riding mixed with the mobile phone game temple run. While it may seem a bit gimmicky on the surface, it is an experience I would recommend doing, but hot tip, make sure the wellies (rubber boots) they provide don’t have a hole in them; otherwise, you’ll end up with mildly ruined socks.

In addition to the serenity theme, I’d also have to talk about motorbike riding in Bali. It is important to note that since my trip to Bali, there is now a new law restricting tourists from renting motorbikes, so any shenanigans that you may see in this blog post may not be continued anymore.

Riding in Bali is an experience, especially when coming from Singapore’s relatively calm traffic conditions. Thankfully, my experiences of riding in Vietnam and Thailand proved to be an adequate prerequisite. While I don’t often have pillion riders, Amanda and Ethan decided to place their trust in my riding skills. I can safely say one can earn the title of Passenger Queen, the other but a simple Passenger Princess (the former being Amanda and the latter Ethan). I will give Ethan credit for being a fantastic passenger, especially for helping me to carry groceries and coffee on the little motorcycle. At the same time, I got to grips with the traffic, bike condition, and riding confidence. However, I think we did get a bit chaotic with some of my exuberant revving to avoid traffic and navigation of light rain in the area. On the other hand, Amanda provided an incredible amount of entertainment and was incredibly calm when I was stressed about Ubud traffic.

In keeping with tradition on these blogs, I must talk about some of the food we had on this trip. Indonesian food is one of my favorite cuisines (granted, my bias does come from being born in Jakarta), and we had some excellent vegan versions of some favorites. I managed to satisfy my cravings for satay with tempeh, gado gado, and my personal favorite, mie goreng. The staff in the villa also cooked us a wide breakfast spread of nasi goreng and mie goreng.

We also tried a fun magic-themed bar called Merlin’s, with a fantastic spread and some decent cocktails.

On our final day, we ended up getting brunch together near Uluwatu at a place called Milk and Madu, where the five of us got quite the spread, including my broad beverage choices ranging from a pot of earl grey tea to a refreshing ginger drink and a pint of Ubud beer.

Trip reflections:

As I parted ways with the group and nursed a mild hangover, I thought about how much fun this trip was. It was a perfect blend of relaxation and action, plus we could bestow ourselves the honor of executing the trip beyond the group chat. I am eagerly looking forward to any future trip with this group, especially as we are about to embark on some exciting new chapters.

Bangkok is a destination familiar to many Singaporeans, including the stars of this issue of my travel blog. However, the two of us realized that there was a new energy about Bangkok that was missing from our previous trips, or it could very well be our mindset regarding travel to destinations has evolved. We could not put our hands on it, but Bangkok became such a fun city. While in Bangkok, when people would ask the two of us about our travels in Thailand, and we mentioned Chiang Mai, we heard nothing but positive things about the city, especially during the time of year when we went. Chiang Mai, with its plethora of temples and the natural sites we visited, delivered upon the expectations set by our interactions in Bangkok. In a break from the norm, I will divide this article into two sections, namely the highlights of each city.

Bangkok highlights:

It will not surprise anyone when I mention Bangkok being a veritable treasure trove of good food beyond Thai staples and a diverse plant-based food scene with excellent cocktails to pair it with. My top dining experience occurred on our first day in Bangkok (after a mildly crowded train ride to our hotel); we decided to try Haoma, an exceptional Indian restaurant with two special accreditations. In 2023 it retained its one-star rating on the 2023 Michelin Guide for Bangkok and is also a recipient of a green star from Michelin praising its sustainability practices. Founded by chef Deepanker Khosla (or DK for short), the restaurant prides itself on its sustainable practices using ingredients that are all grown in the restaurant or sourced through environmentally friendly and ethical farms.

The two of us do not often go for super fancy dining experiences. However, this particular one was well worth the journey as it was variations of Indian food that I had not witnessed in my life. It is very much a once-in-a-blue-moon type dining expense. After touring their urban farm (including its own beehive and fish farm), we sat down for what the restaurant called 18 expressions. The dishes all used local ingredients and were inspired by the chef’s upbringing in India and Thailand. Each course was represented by a postcard (note: we were so distracted by the food that we forgot to take photos of all the postcards, a consolation here is a photo of one of them).

The menu:

One of my highlights was a dish made entirely out of the scraps of all the ingredients used in the meal thus far, highlighting the sustainability aspect of the dining concept (featured in image three of the second last row of the gallery).

In addition, we also tried out Sra Bua, another Michelin-star restaurant specializing in bringing Thai cuisine to a fine-dining level. The restaurant prepared a vegetarian menu for us, and my highlight was the Tom Yam soup they prepared right in front of us using a coffee machine.

Don’t worry; not everything was Michelin rated on our trip. We found on this trip the number of vegetarian and plant-based options in Bangkok has vastly increased, with the two of us visiting numerous restaurants that cater to the growing vegetarian and plant-based tourism population. We ended up visiting an old favorite from our last trip to Bangkok back in 2018, Veganerie and trying a high-protein version of their Khao Soi, my favorite Thai dish, a northern high specialty. It is a yellow-curry-based noodle dish, and this version had tofu noodles subbed in for regular ones. I have written about Veganerie on my other blog Little Veg Dot which is linked here for you all to read.

In addition to Veganerie we also sampled another vegan restaurant called Golden State, recommended by Nalin’s old UWC friend, Akira, who joined us for dinner. This restaurant specializes in plant-based versions of Chinese and Japanese food, which, paired with excellent highballs and margaritas, make for a wonderful meal.

My friend Paolo, who used to live in Bangkok, gave my brother and me some excellent suggestions for both food and sights to see. One such suggestion is the commons, which has a wide array of dining options ranging from Thai cuisine and Italian to a locale we visited which was ice cream with an appropriate wine pairing.

In addition to the broad dining options, Bangkok also has a vibrant cocktail bar scene which my brother and I were more than happy to sample. We visited three cocktail bars, BKK Social Club, Vesper, and You Know Where. Out of the three, it was hard to select a top choice. For me, it was a bit of a toss-up between BKK Social Club and Vesper as both bars had some unique spins on some classic cocktails, and who knew banana pancakes would pair so well with a rum-based cocktail. Don’t worry, it wasn’t just cocktails; we also explored the café scene, finding what turned out to be our favorite little café – Little Blue near the Thong Lom BTS station. It is a small café with no space to dine in but just simple espresso-based coffees that hit the spot, especially in the cooler “winter” mornings.

In addition to the outstanding food and drink in Bangkok, we found that Bangkok in recent years is significantly easier to get around, thanks to expansions in its public transit and, for those brave enough, an increase in motorcycle rideshares. Nalin and I took this opportunity to not only do a little bit of retail therapy but visit some of the temples we have yet to see in the Thai Capital, specifically, the Golden Mount Temple and Wat Benchamabophit, a temple made entirely out of Italian marble. The Golden Mount Temple offered relatively uninterrupted views of the city from the top, though between us and the top was a reunion with my mortal enemy, stairs. While the cardio up the stairs took my breath away more than the views, I can safely say Wat Benchamabophit was a stunning sight. The pristine marble architecture is hard to miss, even though the courtyard is made of solid marble. Enough of my words, time for a photo interlude.

My brother and I could have spent a whole week eating and exploring our way through Bangkok, but alas, our next destination beckoned – Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai highlights:

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city in the north and is primarily known for its stunning nature. I was keen to do a bit of sightseeing on the first day, but sadly, I had come down with a nasty bout of self-inflicted food poisoning (take care when ordering whisky sours from bars recommended on TikTok the egg white can get you). Thankfully the next day was more fruitful in terms of the sights we went to, and we ultimately managed to rent two motorbikes to go on our first ride together.

Much like Bangkok, Chiang Mai plays host to some fantastic food. Most notably, it is the home of my favorite dish Khao Soi. A place known for its excellent cuisine is the restaurant Ginger Farm Kitchen, located just outside of the old city in the bustling Nimam area of Chiang Mai. Must-try dishes are their Khao Soi, spring rolls, and hilariously spicy papaya salad.

Another restaurant we sampled was at the Tamarind Village, located inside the old city, where we went for what we thought was a Thai-inspired afternoon tea. However, their offerings hardly different to a western-style afternoon tea, but I would like to come back to sample their vegetarian menu.

As I was still on the mend from food poisoning, I jokingly called Chiang Mai the zen part of the trip and did not drink any alcohol during my time there. Instead, I sampled some outstanding coffee at Ristr8tto, where the baristas give the Australians a run for their money. Almost every day, Nalin and I visited this coffee shop as their coffee was superb, and more importantly, it was consistently top-notch.

A trip to Chiang Mai would not be complete without visiting some of the numerous pagodas and natural sights dotted in and around the city. My favorites in the old city include Wat Lok Moli and Wat Chedi Luang.

In addition to the pagodas, Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains on all sides, which extend toward the Laos and Myanmar border. When researching nature sites to visit on motorbikes, Nalin and I came across something not heard of from our previous travels to the local: Doi Inthanon. Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s tallest peak, standing at over 2500 metres above sea level. The views heading up to the peak and the nearby waterfalls were nothing short of spectacular. One part of this national park I did not expect to see on this trip was cherry blossoms. It was evident that we did not need to go to Japan to fight crowds to see the majestic cherry blossoms in bloom. We could take a short trip to northern Chiang Mai. Nevertheless, it is time for yet more stunning photos to do the talking.

Trip reflections:

This recent trip to Thailand brought some unexpected impressions of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. My brother and I returned from this trip with a renewed interest in returning to both destinations, as we absolutely loved these two cities. I attribute it to the two of us being older when visiting these days and being in charge of the itinerary. There are several things that I would do differently for the next trip. With Bangkok, I would like to dive deeper into the increasingly rich plant-based food scene and coffee culture that’s thriving. In Chiang Mai, I would change which company we rent motorbikes from to one that offers a more organized tour and the option to pay in advance. While the quality of the two Honda motorbikes was exceptional, the service at the rental place, Pop Big Bikes, was anything but. In addition, I would want to visit Chiang Mai over a weekend as numerous weekend-only markets crop up all over the city. One of these markets specializes in sourcing and selling Southern Chinese produce only found in the regions near the China-Laos border. Due to my self-inflicted food poisoning, I would also love to explore more plant-based food options Nalin and I discovered when planning this trip. On the whole, this was one fantastic trip where my desire to return began as I boarded the flight back to Singapore. Here’s to my next trip to Thailand.

March 2023 will be an important milestone for all the wrong reasons. It would signify the three-year mark since I stepped foot at my alma mater Skidmore and, more importantly, most of my close friends. However, December of 2022 saw a fun opportunity to be reunited with yet more Skidmore friends, namely Karan and Matthew. Planning for their trip took place in August 2022 when the boys wanted to come to Singapore and travel to another destination with me, specifically Phuket in Thailand. It was shaping up to be an exciting trip, and in hindsight, I can safely say it was, despite how it ended. Welcome to a fun story involving copious amounts of food, sunshine, stunning views, and adventure.

I was excited for my friends to come to Singapore, especially for Matt, as it would be his first time in Singapore and anywhere on the Asian continent. His approach to traveling to new places is broadly like mine, i.e., centered on and around food. For Karan, it would be a second opportunity to visit the country, having previously visited during his exchange in Australia in 2019. I was keen to show the boys my weird and wonderful home country in the best way possible, with copious amounts of food and drink. I was also eager to introduce them to some of my Singapore crew. Eventually, after months of planning, the boys were set to come to Singapore, and I would join them for a few days in Phuket.

Trip highlights:

In return to form on this travel journal, a top highlight was the superb food and drink we had while they visited and when we went to Thailand. The boys were keen to sample some of the best food Singapore has to offer, and before coming, they had a list of dishes they needed to sample, ranging from laksa to satay to Hokkien mee, chicken rice, and chili crab. I am happy to report that we could cross off those things and some. Some classic venues visited included Maxwell centre, Lau Pa Sat, and one that typically isn’t in the guidebook, Golden Mile Complex. It is important to note that this building will be closing down soon for renovation, and many will miss the well-priced quality food available in this locale along with some of the other “amenities.” In addition to these iconic foods, I wanted to introduce them to Singapore’s cocktail scene while avoiding the Singapore Sling. I know what people will say regarding my comments on the Singapore Sling, but it is a drink that does not represent the caliber of creativity of bartenders in Singapore. It is why instead of taking them to my usual haunt, I decided to take them to some unique places, namely Native, a cocktail bar that takes pride in only utilizing spirits made in neighboring countries. To top off our drinking experience, I also took them to Level33, a rooftop bar overlooking the Marina Bay skyline, where they met the people, I call my family here in Singapore. In Thailand, we more or less dove into some classics such as Pad Thai, Thai Iced tea, green curry, and of course, mango sticky rice. 

Their visit to Singapore allowed me to act as a tourist within my own country, visiting sites I would usually not visit. One of these was the brand new Capitaspring building, located right in the heart of the CBD. It is a recent mixed-use development located in the Raffles Place district of Singapore, playing home to a brand-new viewing deck showcasing a 360-degree view of Singapore and, if you’re lucky, parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. The best part about this viewing deck, it’s free for everyone to access (Note the operating hours of 0830-1030 & 1430-1800). I would highly recommend this viewpoint to visitors who come to Singapore as it offers some stunning 360 views of the city-state. In addition to rooftop views, I showed off some nature parks throughout the country. I led Karan to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to see Singapore’s tallest natural peak, towering at a dizzying 160+ meters above sea level. I also brought Karan while navigating old railway tracks and some monkeys to the brand-new Rifle Range Park near Rifle Range Road. When it came to natural sights, however, I was immediately taken in by some of the views we witnessed in Phuket. Being an island, Phuket is surrounded on all sides by outstanding sea views and some hidden gems in the hills and the old town, which reminded me of Penang in northern Malaysia. A personal highlight for me was visiting a big buddha statue offering some serenity from the madness of our villa locale and jaw-dropping views. One part of the trip that turned out to be rather exciting was a visit to the monkey hill viewpoint, where Matt had a slightly unexpected interaction with a monkey. In addition to the nature sites, a highlight came in the form of some of Phuket’s nightlife. Phuket has essentially returned to normal, with live music, dancing, and loud electronic music returning to all the bars and clubs. In addition, some of the more eccentric offerings were also open again though these we did not partake in. Enough of my words; it is time I let my photos do the talking (also want to credit Karan for some of the photos in this post).

Trip Summary:

It was a successful trip, though Matt and I fell sick at the end. I attribute it to multiple factors, but it was not Covid related. The biggest highlight of this trip was seeing my friends again after what felt like an eternity. I think the boys enjoyed the trip since they could get a modicum of reprieve from the horrendous winter back in their base of Boston and bask in the warm weather. Their visit inspired me to make a trip to the United States, but it is one that I am not so sure I could do it any time soon. I am aching to go back with many of my close college friends residing there. If there is one thing I would change about this trip, it is to venture out to try more food places, especially in Phuket. Phuket is home to some unique southern Thai cuisine not found anywhere else. It is one of the main regrets I have about this trip. However, I was glad I could experience the stunning beaches that Phuket is known for. In a future trip I would like to make a trip to the famous plane spotting beach right by the airport as it is a bucket list item for avgeeks worldwide. It’s hard to summarize this trip, but it was certainly a long overdue reunion with Skidmore friends, and I hope the trend of reunions continues into 2023.

As much as I want to fight the urge to use some clichéd title relating to the film Casablanca, it appears I have little willpower. So welcome to my adventure in Marrakech.

Morocco has long been a country on my bucket list, especially after looking at photos and watching movies set in the truly stunning locale. In recent months, as the world began to go back to what we call “normal,” a unique opportunity to visit the country came up, and I couldn’t refuse. One of my old friends from my days in UWC, Samriddhi, sent me a delightful email inviting me to her wedding, which is taking place in Marrakech, Morocco. With an invitation to see not only one of my dear friends get married but also cross off a bucket list destination, I could hardly pass on that opportunity. The trip also allowed me to plan yet another Skidmore reunion with one of my close friends Sarah, a Marrakech native and, most notably, a survivor of the Skidmore College International Affairs Senior Seminar class. Thus, began months of anticipation, planning, and an open mind as I explored yet another new country.

With travel bouncing back more rapidly than initially anticipated, booking the flights to Morocco proved to be a gamble in terms of pricing as it was bouncing all over the place. Around late August, I found a deal on Turkish Airlines that was too good to pass up. I soon bit the proverbial bullet and purchased my plane ticket, and after some planning with fellow UWCers Joyce, Sharlyn, and Joyce’s boyfriend, Yuxin. I was soon off to Marrakech for what turned out to be a bit of a fever trip.

Getting to Marrakech involved two flights on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. I was looking forward to this as it would be my first time flying this airline. However, it would also be my first time flying the Boeing 737 MAX which did put me a bit on edge. The MAX has a certain notoriety about it regarding safety issues and is an example of when aerospace companies listen to stockholders rather than the engineers.

For the most part, my two flights were uneventful (except for some slightly rowdy travelers on the second flight who nearly exhausted the wine supply), and Turkish Airlines did not disappoint. My main qualm was less with the airline and more with the gargantuan scale of the new Istanbul Airport. I joked with Nalin that the gate from the first flight to transit security to the transit area was akin to walking from Ankara to Istanbul. After a relatively calm yet lengthy layover in Istanbul and a mildly stress-free flight, I soon landed in Marrakech, excited to see not only my UWC friends but my dear friend Sarah. Like many previous adventures, despite the appalling lack of sleep, I was keen to hit the ground running with my exploration.

Over the course of three days, it was a series of intensive sightseeing along with essential shopping for spices and the all-important argan oil for my family.

Marrakech highlights:

In a break from my usual trip reports, the top highlight was easily some of the sites rather than the food. The sites in question are dotted in and around the Medina. I will be the first to admit that the Medina is the most visited part of the city. Still, amidst the mad motorbikes running in and around the Medina, there are moments of serenity in the form of specific sites that are a must-visit. Some must-visit sites within the Medina are the Jardin Secret (Secret Garden), Ben Youssef Madrassa, Dar el Baccha, the Bahia Palace, and my personal favorite, Badi Palace. Outside of the Medina, I highly recommend the Jardin Majorelle and its accompanying Berber Museum.

These sites are a must-visit, and while I could squeeze all of them in about two days of visiting, I would recommend trying to spread it out as it can get exhausting, particularly after two reasonably lengthy flights halfway around the world. Another suggestion is to visit these sights first thing in the morning as ticket queues, particularly for Bahia palace, can get long. Out of these sites, I found myself drawn to Badi Palace the most.

Badi Palace, a preserved palace ruin, was home to the Sultan Ahmad Al-Mansur of the Saadian Dynasty in the late 1500s/early 1600s. With the preserved ruins of the palace and the underground passageways, I got to live out a bit of an Indiana Jones fantasy, albeit for about 15 minutes. I enjoyed this site simply because I was able to awe the majesty of its size and bask in its relative serenity. This is not to say I enjoyed the other sites less; Jardin Majorelle was tremendously fun to visit as it is simply a beautifully maintained garden and the centerpiece of Yves Saint Laurent’s dark blue house stood out beautifully. YSL’s house is home to the Berber Museum, highlighting the rich traditions of the different North African Berber communities. My only regret is that I was not allowed to take photos because I was in awe of the various jewelry pieces; they are fabulously intricate.

Jardin Secret and Ben Youssef Madrassa were sublime to visit, as I was fortunate not to interact with too much of a crowd when I went to those sights. It allowed me to enjoy the design and architecture of these sights at my own pace. Jardin Secret, like Badi Palace, is a complex dating back to the Saadian Dynasty but was rebuilt in the mid-19th century. The Ben Youssef Madrasa was Morocco’s most prominent Islamic college, dating back to the 1100s. Madrasa is the Arabic word for any form of college or educational institution. This particular one was founded and named after Ali Ibn Yusef, a sultan from the Almoravid era. The Madrasa is an impressive site with numerous courtyards dotted around the complex centering around a sizeable reflective pool in the center. Enough of my words; it’s time I let my photos do some of the hard work for me.

In addition to these sights, a trip report of mine would not be complete without a review of some of the fabulous food and drinks I had on this trip. Having Sarah guiding us around her home city was a treat as she took us to places she usually frequented, so we knew the food would be legit. El Fenn, Barometré, Atay Café, and Mandala society are some restaurants that must visit when going to Marrakech. El Fenn is a hotel right in the Medina with a rooftop restaurant, where Sarah took us on my first night. The restaurant has some great cocktails, which pair well with the Medina rooftop views and some light bites (though it isn’t the most vegetarian-friendly). For the best cocktails, however, I wholeheartedly recommend Barometré, an underground (yes, literally underground) bar home to some spectacular cocktails. Barometré is in the newer part of the city, surrounded by newer malls, restaurants, and office buildings. Sarah is a fan of this venue as the staff is all local and tries their best to utilize as many local ingredients as possible. Another element of the bar that Sarah pointed out is that all the glassware and cocktail vessels are designed and made by local shops. I got a tequila-based cocktail which, while served in a whimsical metal teapot, had an explosion of flavor. However, that may have been partially due to the hilariously spicy chili-infused tequila. Below are some drinks we had that evening, including what I feel is the gold standard for non-alcoholic drinks. I suggest going to Atay Café in the Medina for simple food and equally stunning views like El Fenn. I recommend the vegetarian tagine with local-style bread, paired with a pot of mint tea and spectacular views of the central mosque, the Medina, and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Mandala Society is a cute little brunch place near the Bahia Palace for a quieter vibe. The cuisine is a typical western style brunch fare with some mildly gentrified Moroccan twists (however, the mint tea and beetroot juice were fabulous).

Now on to the main event, my friend’s wedding.

Wedding highlights:

Samriddhi and Sahil’s wedding is one of the most spectacular events I have ever been to in my life. It was rich, colorful, emotional, and truly magical. I could not imagine a better celebration for these two. Over those few days, I relived the marathon disguised as an Indian wedding can be, but thankfully I made it through with some new and old friends along the way.

A significant part of the wedding was reconnecting with some old school friends whom I had not seen in many years, along with Samriddhi’s family, who was incredibly sweet throughout the week. I was touched that they remembered our entire UWC crew so fondly, and the best part, they absolutely killed it on the dance floor. While reconnecting with old friends, I also took the time to make some new friends from both the bride and groom’s side, and safe to say I now have people I can visit in unique corners of the globe, from places like Grenada to Israel. With the fantastic company also came some superb food and drink as an appropriate pairing. I’ve always known Sam to have exceptional taste in cuisine, so the food definitely did not disappoint. The hotel staff at the Oberoi and the location in the Afgay desert went all out with the food for all events.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, with the bride and the groom incorporating traditional Hindu rituals with their own touch, like having vows (which, yes, did make everyone, including this sap of an author, tear up profusely). The real highlight was the sangeet in the desert with everyone, in outfits rivalling most fashion runways getting up to dance till the early morning hours.

Upon the last day, I was tired yet grateful that I had been invited to celebrate their love and what I know will be a lifetime of happiness. I left the hotel with Joyce, Yuxin, and a fellow Singaporean, Aina, as we were all taking the same flight back to Singapore via Istanbul. Thankfully the flights heading back to Singapore were not as chaotic as the Istanbul to Marrakech leg I had on the way to the wedding (though there was a moment as we landed in Singapore where one of the overhead bins opened upon a rough and rainy landing).

Reflections:

Though I only explored a small percentage of the country, Morocco certainly left a strong impression on me. For lack of a better word, there is a vibrancy to Marrakech, which I enjoyed tremendously. What made exploring this city special was having Sarah as an invaluable guide. I am unsure what I would’ve done without her guidance and recommendations. Brief shout-out to Sarah’s cat, Paco, who kept me company while jet lag woke me up absurdly early. Morocco is a country I need to visit again, as those three days in Marrakech barely scratched the surface and only whetted my appetite to explore this country further. The wedding celebrations were equally filled with wanderlust as the rest of my trip.

Those few days at the various venues will forever be some of the most magical in my life. I could not think of a more fitting celebration of love for Sam and Sahil. What I enjoyed most throughout those few days was that almost everyone seemed to get along with everyone. There was no drama; people just laughed, cried, ate, drank profusely, and in my case, I did all four. I made some great connections and hope to meet them again one day.

Ultimately, the word I’d use to sum up, this trip would be enriching. Morocco is one fabulous country, and I am already eager to return.

In 2015, my brother and I went out and got our motorbike license as it was something we had meant to do for a while. The aim of the license at one point was to buy a bike in Singapore, but ultimately, we ended up using it for travel shenanigans. One such shenanigan you will be seeing in this trip reflection. Before the pandemic, my brother and I would go on trips, most being in and around South East Asia, except for a trip to the US back in 2016. With 2022 being the year of revenge travel (thanks to loosening regulations), we decided to plan a trip to one of our favourite countries, Vietnam. We would focus on Central Vietnam rather than the popular destinations of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The two of us would fly in and out of the city of Danang and would spend most of our time in the idyllic seaside locale of Lang Co. Our highlight of this trip would be a self-drive motorbike tour on one of the most famous biker roads, the Hai Van Pass. The Hai Van Pass gained some newfound fame in the 21st Century when Top Gear visited the road back in 2008 as part of what I think is their best road trip episode, The Vietnam Special. While this is not my first time in Vietnam riding a motorbike, this trip (spoiler alert) is the first time I’ve gone on a self-drive motorcycle tour without having any incident.

My last trip to Ho Chi Minh City involved a self-drive motorbike tour to the Viet Cong tunnels, and it ended up with intense off-road riding and an injured wrist. This time, I decided to be more sensible with my riding (age has mellowed me) and not to agree to any crazy off-road riding. The central part of the trip would be riding side-by-side with my brother, which to me, is a bucket list item. However, about a month before the trip, my brother had a mild foot injury and had to pull out of the tour but thankfully not the trip. As you will see, the views on the trip were distractingly spectacular, but I wish I could have enjoyed it with the big brother. The trip was still easily one of the most enjoyable trips the two of us have ever been on.

Highlights from the trip:

As is the norm with most of my trips, one of the highlights was easily the food and drink. Vietnam is known for its food, but historically it was not known for being the most vegetarian-friendly place. This time, however, my brother and I were in for quite the treat as we managed to sample a wide range of Vietnamese food that was indeed vegetarian-friendly. While Pho and Banh Mi are everyday staples that most foreigners associate with Vietnam, we managed to try a variety of dishes not commonly known. While we enjoyed some pho, my favourite out of the ones seen below was a tofu-based dish wrapped in betel nut leaves that was lightly grilled.

While I enjoyed some excellent beer that Vietnam is known for, we enjoyed some delightful cocktails made with locally made spirits that hit the spot without imbibing us too much.

(I regret not taking the hat……)

However, what made this trip was, without a doubt, the motorbike tour I took from Danang to Lang Co. It was a one-on-one tour led by the brilliant people at Easy Riders. My guide met me in the morning, providing me with my ride for the day, a thirty-year-old 125CC Honda Motorbike pictured below that I called the Little Rascal. I called it the Little Rascal since it had an iffy clutch and a mildly convoluted gearbox. Still, it had its charm and a great engine, and since I was riding a considerable distance, I was thankful that it had a good ride.

(Ignore the green strap)

Though the initial learning curve of the bike took place in the occasionally terrifying traffic of Danang, I eventually got to grips with the Little Rascal. While the main part of the tour was the Hai Van Pass, the guide also took me to other temples and shrines in and around Danang.

The first temple we visited, the Non Nuoc Pagoda, offered stunning views of the city. However, getting there involved an altercation with my arch nemesis, stairs. 300-plus stairs stood between me and the top.

I made the arduous journey to the top, paying my respects at the shrine and taking a chance to admire the view. I lucked out on the weather and had clear skies for miles.

After this temple, my guide took me to Tượng Phật nằm, which featured a Lady Buddha statue. The statue was an impressive sight, towering over us at 67 metres (220 ft), and it stood tall on a base of roughly 20 metres (65 ft). I was keen to explore more of this complex, but two things happened. First, I got distracted by some of the Long-Tailed Macaques which called the complex home. Second, I was slightly deterred by the large crowds that had gathered that day to visit the temple, so I did not do too much exploring out of risk of exposure to COVID. This effort in social distancing was, spoiler alert, ultimately fraught.

Soon it was time for the main event, the Hai Van Pass. I was getting excited, and I imagined myself riding along to multiple songs in my head, one such example being the song Voodoo Child (The Jimi Hendrix version). Since the first pagoda offered some incredible vistas, I knew the pass had a tall order to impress me, and it delivered. Despite having to weave in and out of other tourists flocking to the pass, the real miracle was the fact I did not crash while getting distracted admiring the vistas. Like my Sri Lanka blog, I feel it’s time to let some photos do the talking as one can only use so many words to describe picturesque beachfront vistas. After the pass, my guide took us to a waterfall, where we caught some rest before bringing me to the hotel where I would be reunited with my brother. At the end of the tour, I was somewhat sad about having to bid farewell to the little rascal. Having spent the whole day with the bike, I grew fond of it despite all its faults.

Final thoughts:

Vietnam proved again that it is a viable destination for weekend trips from Singapore, and my brother and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My brother and I were blessed with great weather, barring some rain that only occurred on the last day. We enjoyed the stunning beaches and great food and paired it with decent cocktails to wash it down. Not to sound like a cliché, but I found the best way to explore the area was on a motorbike. However, self-drive motorbiking should be done when you have some experience. The chaotic traffic in and around Danang is undoubtedly not for the faint-hearted. My one regret about this trip was that I could not visit the ancient capital of Hue and the citadel, which is the ancient castle. I suppose that will be for the next excursion to Vietnam. As my brother and I boarded our flight home, we were looking forward to sharing our stories with mum as she was keen to know how the trip went and to see photos. Thankfully we had plenty of time as the three of us, in one fell swoop, came down with COVID. While we have since recovered, I am thankful our symptoms were not more severe (power of vaccines, people). Personally, I was glad I did not lose my sense of taste since, throughout the isolation period, I still found myself to be hilarious. I am eager to go back to Vietnam as every trip I have been able to take there has been absolutely fantastic.

https://www.redcross.sg/media-centre/press-releases/1142-humanitarian-crisis-in-sri-lanka-singapore-red-cross-pledges-s-100-000-for-vulnerable-communities-launches-fundraising-appeal.html

https://give2asia.org/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-fund/

I returned from this trip with a positive impression of the country, particularly the people I interacted with, the stunning scenery and the fantastic Sri Lankan food. While my trip was short and barely scratched the surface, I eagerly await the opportunity to revisit the country. For now, I bring you a reflection on a journey to a country that, in recent years, has been through its fair share of eventful history, but one that I know can survive anything.

Growing up, whenever I heard of the country Sri Lanka, the only things that came to mind were the Civil War and the devastation caused by the boxing day tsunami of 2004. Both are not exactly the most positive images when conjuring up a country. However, my curiosity about the country peaked as I became older and (arguably) wiser. It started after some friends visited and showed me photos of their trip, and I was in awe of the seaside and hilltop vistas.

Watching a program made by one of my all-time travel idols, the late Anthony Bourdain, I learnt more about Sri Lankan cuisine. While there are some shared dishes with South Indian cuisine, or as I call it, familiar territory, there was a whole world of spice blends and fragrances waiting to be explored. For lack of a better phrase, I was hooked. With this newfound interest, I started a discussion about travelling to this country with my family, leading to the mutual decision to plan a trip and travel to the island nation.

The three of us (myself, mum and my brother) decided to capitalise on a long weekend in late April 2022 and focused our trip on the capital Colombo and the historic city of Galle for a short getaway. We noted in the news that conditions in the country were rapidly changing due to protests against the government, mainly against the arguably poor policies implemented before and during the pandemic. Regarding safety, we consulted many of our friends who visited around the time of our trip. The consensus from our friends was that their trip was delightful, and they felt safe throughout the journey. We made our decision. It was time to travel.

My uncle from my London trip recommended we hire a guide to take us from Colombo to Galle and show us around. My uncle had met our guide, Mr Samantha, on a previous trip he took just a few weeks before ours. My uncle had grown up in Sri Lanka and studied medicine there; he was excited that we would be visiting. He highly recommended Mr Samantha, and I was thankful that he introduced us to him because he was indeed an excellent guide. Soon we were ready to fly out on not only our first family trip since the start of the pandemic but to a brand-new country.

Trip highlights:

Similar to my previous trip reports, a top highlight was easily the food, though, in the context of Sri Lanka, it won’t come as a surprise. Since Sri Lankan cuisine is a relatively unknown variable in my family’s cooking repertoire, we decided to do a vegetarian cooking class together. We went to the Elita Restaurant in historic Galle Fort, where we learnt from a husband-and-wife team who organised a cooking class in their outdoor kitchen. All the cooking was done in clay pots which we enjoyed using so much that we purchased two to bring back to Singapore. They guided us through making serval Sri Lankan dishes, all vegetarian and all using a similar combination of spices. Our recipes used beetroot, mushrooms, squash, and copious amounts of chilli powder paired with a tomato and coconut-based chutney. I was not expecting all the dishes to use coconut oil, something I am not accustomed to in my daily cooking, but it added a flavourful colour to the dish that I was not expecting. I can use only so many words to describe the food, but mere words cannot do it justice. Instead, I’ll let these photos do the talking.

Another highlight was, quite frankly, the views because, my lord, Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. We were blessed with good weather during our trip. There was still a certain beauty to be appreciated at the various sites, even when greeted by the occasional rainstorm. The coastline at Galle Fort offered jaw-dropping sunset views. Still, one of my favourite views was from the Yatagala temple in the hills near Galle. While visiting the various sites in and around Galle, I was thankful we had our excellent guide, Mr Samantha. He was kind enough to bring us to some stunning lookout points and even provided brief history lessons on some of the temples and locations we visited. It is one of the many reasons I recommend hiring a guide like Mr Samantha since you’ll learn more about a place than initially expected. Despite travelling over a weekend, many of the locales visited were peaceful, with stunning views being the prominent feature. My words can only paint so much of a visual image. Instead, I prefer to let some photos do the talking.

A final highlight would have to be some of my interactions with the people there. Before I elaborate further, I acknowledge that I am writing this from the perspective of a tourist with the privilege of being able to travel easily. My general interactions with the people I met were mostly positive, particularly with the husband-and-wife team at the cooking school and our excellent guide, Mr Samantha. They shared the struggles many in Sri Lanka faced, which was shocking. One of the struggles we noticed firsthand was the effects of inflation within the country, where the cost of a bottle of water increased by some 200% in a few weeks; it was staggering. Despite all this, they are demonstrating some intense resilience against the odds. I hope their future is bright and this crisis can soon end.

Final thoughts:

This trip report was challenging to write as I knew I could not do justice to this amazing place and not acknowledge the political situation. I encourage people to visit the country once it is feasible. I also urge visitors to the country to exercise a degree of sensitivity, particularly concerning the cost of various items in Sri Lanka. While it might be cheap in your currency, for the local people, it is a significant portion of their salary. One day I hope to return as there is a whole treasure trove waiting to be discovered, and I am keen to set out and explore it. Until then, all I can hope is that the country can bounce back from the crisis and emerge stronger than before.

The United Kingdom (UK) is a country known for its "rich" history, for lack of a better phrase. The influence of this country is felt worldwide, particularly in my home country of Singapore. For the longest time, I have always wanted to visit with numerous friends, commenting on how it is surprising that I haven’t gone yet. To put it into context, I have been privileged and fortunate to travel to all six inhabited continents. Yet, I achieved this milestone without setting foot in the UK. This would change with a nine-day whirlwind trip to the UK quickly becoming one of my top solo trips.  

This trip initially came about after more travel restrictions entering Singapore were lifted following the introduction of the country's Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs). (Important note this has since been replaced with a significantly easier entry process under what is now called the Vaccinated Travel Framework). I just returned from a trip to Germany to visit my old friend Cedric from my arguably illustrious university days. While my trip to the UK was initially planned as a family holiday, complications due to the omicron variant and scheduling meant I would be venturing out solo. The trip took place this past April, focusing on London along with a day trip to York and a last-minute trip to the seaside town of Eastbourne. All in all, it ended up becoming quite the solo adventure. I soon boarded the recently reintroduced Airbus A380-800 and settled in for my 13-hour flight.

Trip highlights:

One of the top highlights of this trip was seeing the treasure trove of museums in the UK. For many of these museums, it is important to note how these artefacts were obtained, and they were, for lack of a better word, stolen from former British colonies. The collection of these artefacts is a by-product of the UK's illustrious imperial past. One such museum was the famous British Museum. It is difficult to fathom the museum's size as exhibits range from almost any area of human history. It is hard to visit the museum unless you spend an entire day there.

I did enjoy the British Museum during my visit there, with a notable exhibit on currency catching my eye. It details the history of money in human history and examples of coins from every UN member state worldwide. Another top highlight was the National Art Gallery, with the exquisite Van Gogh art pieces being a top highlight along with the Haywain, a seminal work in the exhibit. However, out of all the museums I visited, one stood out the most as my personal favourite, The National Railway Museum in York.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with all things rail-related, whether they’re legendary steam trains or the latest in high-speed rail. I first learnt about the National Railway Museum of York while reading and watching everything to do with Thomas the Tank Engine. I then decided to make it a point to visit, and despite one exhibit being closed, it was well worth the trip. I preface this statement with blatant bias and my general predilection for trains and rail travel. My journey to explore rail history in the UK and, in general, started with the most modern train running in the UK today. It was a nice contrast in comparing the current and historical methods of rail travel. Upon arriving at the museum in York, I genuinely felt like a child again being in that space as I got to witness important trains ranging from Rocket - the genesis of locomotives, Mallard – the fastest steam train ever made, and the 0 Series Shinkansen Bullet Train – The OG high-speed train so to speak and the first generation Eurostar – an international high-speed train linking the UK to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The added benefit was exploring the town of York, which was absolutely stunning due to its Roman-era architecture. I was fortunate to explore the city without the stereotypical English rain getting in the way.

A part of this trip that particularly drew my excitement was the opportunity to see friends whom I had not seen in at least a couple of years. These groups of friends would be from a mixture of my "adventurous" university years and my quieter days during my UWCSEA tenure. Having not seen many of these people in what felt like aeons, we had plenty to catch up on and, in the process, felt a newfound connection with them. We looked back upon old memories and shared some of our new experiences. What really made my time with them was being mutually candid with each other. We felt comfortable sharing high and low points in the years since we saw each other. I learned much about my friends and ended up with a newfound appreciation for who they are, not just as friends but as people. I know that whatever they do, they will accomplish some great things in their life.

On the topic of friends, many of them took the opportunity of it being my first time in the UK to introduce me to some of the diverse restaurants, markets, stalls and cafes that call London home. Their recommendations did not disappoint, and one thing that impressed me the most was the comprehensive range of cuisine. Their suggestions ranged from exquisite mushroom risotto to flavourful Indian food, creamy gelato, classic and vegan fish and chips, sublime Peruvian ceviche and sushi conveyor belt restaurant, where instead of sushi, it was various cheeses and matching accompaniments.

In addition to some top-notch food, my friends also introduced me to some equally brilliant drinks at some fun bars. While the UK is synonymous with pubs, where I imbibed in many a pint, there were also some delightfully enjoyable cocktail bars; Opium in London’s Chinatown immediately springs to mind. While synonymous with beer, the UK is also known for its gin. I decided to partake in a gin tour and tasting, a must for any gin enthusiast. A distillery I highly recommend is the City of London distillery, as you get to try some superb craft gin along. The tour was brilliantly entertaining due to the charismatic tour guide, Steve. At the time of my travel, live music was not yet up and running back in Singapore but was in full swing, pun fully intended, in the UK. A top recommendation among many of my friends was the blues kitchen, and boy did it live up to their hype, especially with its casual atmosphere, potent drinks and fabulous music (at least on the night I went).

While most of the trip centred around culture, food, drink and friendship, it also allowed me to develop new familial relationships, namely, with my mum's cousin's family. Growing up, my mum had a close relationship with her cousins and would speak fondly of their shenanigans. I was rather keen to meet them for the first time, and from what they've told mum, I managed to scratch up a decent first impression. Remarkably, I ended up bonding with mum's cousin's husband, whom I'll refer to as my uncle for simplicity's sake. I spent two full days with my uncle, one in his home in Eastbourne and the Seven Sisters on the south coast, and one in London, where he kindly took me on a walking tour of the sights. We were fortunate with good weather on both of our tours, and since it was our first ever meeting, we took the chance to get to know each other from the get-go. I found we formed quite a bond, and to this day, my mum and her cousin affectionately refer to us as newfound best friends.

Final Thoughts:

As I boarded my flight back home, much like my Germany trip a few months back, I returned with a generally positive attitude about my travels. The main highlight, however, was finally being able to cross off this country on my bucket list. The UK, with London in particular, surprised me in many ways, and I could see why many of my friends enjoyed living there. It is a remarkable treasure trove of cuisine owing to the diverse citizens that call London home. I eagerly look forward to revising the UK and hopefully heading north to Scotland, where my brother and I can partake in discovering the magic of scotch. I hope that trip will come sooner rather than later.

Before covid, Germany was a destination that was never at the top of my list and was, more often than not, a transit point for me as I flew to the US for my studies. However, with an itch for travel, I started exploring things to see in Germany and as a bonus, I would be able to meet with one of my close friends from university, Cedric. Cedric recently moved to the city of Dresden, about 150km south of the capital, Berlin, for work. Since he was a recent resident, I was looking forward to travelling here, and we had not seen each other since our final semester of our undergrad studies went virtual because of the pandemic; it seemed to be fate that this trip should take place.

After a few weeks of planning, I soon found myself at a ghost town disguised as Singapore’s Changi Airport, waiting to board my Singapore Airlines A350 to Germany in late October 2021. As it was my first post-pandemic trip out of the country, I entered the airport with far more caution than before. At the time of my journey, the world was fighting the Delta variant, which added some worries to my trip, namely catching covid. However, despite these worries, it was great to step on an airplane and walk down the aisle, if you will and travel out into the world. Upon arriving in Germany, apart from jetlagged, I found myself excited to see Cedric and explore what turned out to be an absolute gem of a city, Dresden.

Upon disembarking the ICE high-speed train from Frankfurt, I was soon reunited with Cedric, who was eager to show me around his new home over the next few days. It ended up being a trip of friendship and exploration centring around the absolute gem that is Dresden.  

Malagasy-Singapore relations:

After only virtual interactions lasting about 18 months, it was joyous to see a university friend from my year in person. Cedric and I spent this trip catching up on some life updates following graduation. We got along well during our university days, becoming quite close in our final years due to being at the helm of popular culture clubs at our alma mater. However, this trip ended up being a chance for us to really get to know each other more beyond who we were in university. We spent the next few days opening up to each other about some of the various struggles we faced not just d ring this covid period but also from our youth. Through these exchanges, we safely concluded that Malagasy-Singapore relations were well and truly cemented and forged an even stronger friendship than before.

General impressions of Dresden:

I arrived at the following conclusions from my few days in the city. Even if you have little command of the German language, Dresden is an unbelievably easy city to get around, especially on two wheels, thanks to its well-established bike lane and bike-sharing network. In addition, Dresden is home to some stunning historical architecture, or shall I say replicas, since most buildings were destroyed during bombing campaigns in the Second World War. However, it was recreated with a mixture of new and original materials. For my plant-based viewers, you’ll also be relieved that Germany is remarkably vegan/vegetarian-friendly – a pleasant surprise from a country known for various sausages and other meat-based dishes. Nature lovers will also appreciate the parks scattered throughout the city, with my favourite being the Grand Garden of Dresden. Due to its immense size, it is easy to find yourself in awe of nature and feel a sense of ease. Lastly, contrary to stereotypes about German people, most of my interactions were genuinely friendly. I never found myself in any adversarial interactions though I did have a few choice words for the person conducting my Covid PCR test, who I felt shoved the swab hilariously far up into my nose. Dresden is a fun city to visit; if you ever end up in Germany, it is an absolute must-visit.

Final thoughts:

This travel experience was remarkably more pleasant than expected despite some virus-related fears. I found that this type of travel could not be sustained even with proper planning. The hurdles made it too cumbersome to travel and added additional costs making it out of reach for certain travellers. Thankfully my next few trips took place with looser hurdles for travel, making it a far more pleasant experience. However, the true highlight was being able to explore a brand new city and be reacquainted with an old friend. As I boarded the Singapore Airlines flight back to Singapore, I knew this would be the beginning of a new period of travel and exploration.