Shanghai Trip 2013

On 24 December 2013, I went on another company trip—this time to Shanghai. I never thought I would ever step into China. I had only been there twice before, to Guangzhou and Shanghai.

This time, my mum joined me. She had been to Shanghai once before on a business trip, but it was mostly work and she didn’t really get to do any sightseeing. When I was younger, I used to watch Hong Kong dramas set in Shanghai in the 1950s and 60s—always full of gangsters and nightclubs. But over the years, Shanghai has transformed into a modern and beautiful city.

My mum was very excited, as this was our first trip together—just the two of us. My dad and sisters didn’t join us this time. She immediately started Googling our hotel location and messaged me on WhatsApp, saying, “Wow! The hotel we are staying in is very beautiful.” I replied, “Yes, it’s a nice hotel. When you arrive, it will make you go ‘wow’ even more,” haha.

We took a midnight flight to Shanghai, and by the time we landed at Pudong Airport, it was already morning. On the coach, my colleagues, my mum, and I were all very tired, so we didn’t really pay much attention to what the tour guide was saying. Only my AMG had the energy to entertain the tour guide—wahaha. The weather was extremely cold.

Our first stop was The Bund, a 1.5-kilometre-long waterfront boulevard along the Huangpu River, stretching from Jinling Road in the south to Waibaidu Bridge in the north. We walked along Zhongshan Road and took photos along the riverside.

The second stop was Wuxi Ting, where we enjoyed xiaolongbao and bought some local peanut candy. The third stop was Xintiandi, a lively area with charming shophouses, where my mum picked up some souvenirs. After that, we headed to our hotel—the Marriott Shanghai City Centre.

I had a slight headache, probably due to the cold weather. One thing I must say about the Marriott Hotel is their excellent service. The staff were friendly, warm, and very helpful. After my mum and I settled into our room, we heard the doorbell chime. I thought it was one of my colleagues, but it turned out to be the chambermaid checking if everything was alright. That’s what I call good hotel service.

My mum began looking around the room, and the first thing that caught her eye was the glass wall between the bathroom and the bedroom. She asked, “Shouldn’t there be a curtain blind?” I turned to her and laughed. “Yes, there is—it’s controlled from the bathroom side.”

She went into the bathroom and said, “How do I pull the blind down? There’s no string.” Still laughing, I walked in and showed her. “Mum, do you see this button on the wall here?” She looked closely and said, “Oh… yes!” I pressed it, and she watched as the curtain slowly moved down. We both laughed.

I told her, “Let’s rest first. The shopping malls aren’t open yet.”

In the evening, we walked to a mall next to the hotel for dinner. After dinner, we strolled along the streets and stopped by Starbucks for a hot drink. The night was even colder, and after finishing our drinks, we headed back to the hotel to rest for the day.

The next day, we had breakfast at the hotel and waited for our coach to take us to China’s No. 1 water town—Zhouzhuang. I believe many people have seen it in Chinese movies or dramas. I even remember a few films being shot there before.

My mum and I felt like we had stepped onto a movie set. Luckily, we had a tour guide who brought us around and shared stories about the two wealthy families who once lived there—the Shen and Zhang families. As we walked through the town and visited the Shen and Zhang residences, it felt like we were going back in time, into the lives of our ancestors in old China.

After a full day tour in Zhouzhuang, we headed back to our hotel. The journey took about an hour, and we rested for a while before heading out again for dinner.

Because the weather was so cold, I invited my colleague and her husband for steamboat. We ordered two types of soup—tomato and herbal. It was so satisfying… hot soup in freezing weather, truly shiok.

After dinner, we went out for some street shopping again. These few days with my mum were truly unforgettable, especially experiencing the cold winter together while travelling through Shanghai.

South Korea

 In 2023, I finally had the chance to visit South Korea, covering three beautiful destinations — Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island.

Each place had its own unique charm. Seoul was vibrant and full of energy, with modern skyscrapers standing alongside traditional palaces. I enjoyed exploring the shopping districts, trying Korean street food, and experiencing the city's lively atmosphere.

Busan gave me a completely different experience. Being a coastal city, it offered beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, and a more relaxed pace compared to Seoul. The sea views were simply stunning, and I enjoyed taking leisurely walks while admiring the scenery.

Jeju was another highlight of the trip. The island was peaceful, with beautiful natural landscapes, scenic coastlines, waterfalls, and fresh air. It was the perfect place to slow down and appreciate nature.

Of course, one of the best parts of the trip was the food. From Korean BBQ and fried chicken to bibimbap and delicious street snacks, I enjoyed every meal. The locals were friendly, and I found the public transportation system very convenient and easy to use.

This Korean holiday was truly a memorable experience. From the bustling city life of Seoul to the coastal beauty of Busan and the natural wonders of Jeju, each destination left me with wonderful memories. South Korea is definitely a country I would love to visit again in the future.

 

Phuket Vacation with my two buddies

When I first came across a promotion for a Royal Caribbean cruise, I immediately shared it with my two buddies. At first, when I told them the price of the whole holiday, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

My guy buddy asked, “What? Are you sure this is so cheap?”

I said, “Yes lah! It’s a really good deal!”Without much hesitation, all three of us applied for leave and booked the cruise to Phuket. It was both of their first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise. My guy buddy was especially excited—he kept WhatsApping me, asking what to wear for fine dining, whether he needed jogging shoes for morning runs on the deck, and many other questions, haha.

The day finally came.

Once we boarded the cruise, I brought them around and we had our first buffet lunch on board. After that, we headed to our cabins. I even snapped photos of my room and posted them on Facebook. Many friends commented, “Wow, such a nice cabin! How much did you pay?”

I replied privately, and they were all surprised—it really was a good deal.

At 8pm, we went for our fine dining dinner. We ordered the chef’s signature dishes. Halfway through, my guy buddy said he wasn’t full yet. I told him, “Just order another round lah.”

He asked, “Huh? Can meh?”

I said, “Of course can!”

So he happily called the waiter over for the menu, haha.

After an amazing dinner, we took a walk on the deck, enjoying the cool sea breeze and the peaceful night view.

The next morning, while we were having breakfast, we looked out the window and saw that the cruise was about to dock at Port Klang, Malaysia.

After breakfast, we disembarked and shared a taxi with my colleague and her husband. Our destination was KLCC, where our shopping adventure began.

My lady buddy and I went straight to MAC for cosmetics, while my guy buddy sat nearby waiting patiently. He said he only planned to buy chocolates, haha.

Before heading back to the cruise, we had lunch at a restaurant opposite KLCC in a new mall. We made sure to return before 4pm, and thankfully there was no traffic jam. We were back on board by around 2pm.

After that, we headed up to the pool deck to relax—soaking in the Jacuzzi and enjoying the open sea atmosphere.

In the evening, we went for fine dining again. After the great experience from the first night, we were all looking forward to it. This time we ordered coconut herbal soup—oh my goodness, it was so good that we all ordered another round. 

The next morning, my two buddies went for their morning jog while I stayed comfortably in bed, haha. When I woke up and got ready for breakfast, we heard announcements about onboard promotions—sunglasses, shawls, evening bags, jewellery, and more.

Naturally, we went to take a look. I ended up buying an evening bag, a shawl, and a bracelet. My lady buddy was still deciding whether to buy alcohol, ha...ha...

By noon, we arrived in Phuket.

We took a small ferry to the jetty, and were greeted by beautiful scenery. This marked the beginning of another shopping adventure.

We took a tuk-tuk to the mall and did quite a bit of shopping—local snacks, coin pouches, keychains, T-shirts, slippers… the list goes on.

But the weather was really hot. My lady buddy and I couldn’t take it anymore and ended up buying sleeveless T-shirts to change into. I also started getting a slight headache from the heat, so I drank a lot of water.

After finishing our shopping, we went for a foot massage—and it was absolutely heavenly. My headache slowly disappeared, and we felt completely relaxed again.

Before heading back to the cruise, we had seafood dinner by the beach. While waiting for our food, we watched the sunset right across from us—it was beautiful.

As we ate, fireworks suddenly lit up the sky. We quickly asked our guy buddy to take photos. It was such a perfect moment.

When we returned to Singapore, my buddies told me they really enjoyed the cruise and said, “Next time got such good deals, must tell us again!”

I was really happy that they had such a good experience. It became one of those unforgettable trips—full of laughter, food, shopping, sea breeze, and friendship.

New Zealand Vacation

Some of my friends often ask me, “Are you excited about your holidays?”

My answer is always the same—especially when it comes to New Zealand. It’s a country I would love to visit again and again. I first travelled there four years ago, and ever since that trip, I’ve called it my “second home.” =)

Why I love New Zealand

I love New Zealand because of its weather and its spectacular scenery. Every moment there feels refreshing, peaceful, and unforgettable.

I still remember my very first arrival. When the plane landed at Auckland International Airport, I felt so excited stepping out into a new country. What made it even more special was being welcomed by my relatives—and a beautiful rainbow in the sky. It was such a magical moment.

I usually prefer travelling to New Zealand in April because the weather is pleasant. My advice to friends planning a trip there: don’t forget your sunscreen! The UV level can be quite strong, even in the morning and afternoon. 

 

Christchurch & Canterbury

“Ia Ora” means welcome to Christchurch and Canterbury.

Christchurch and Canterbury offer an incredible landscape—an “ocean to Alps” backdrop, with stunning Pacific coastlines, snow-capped mountains in the west, and hidden bays around an ancient volcanic peninsula in the south.

While walking through Christchurch, I also saw signs of the earthquake damage. It was truly emotional to witness how the city and its people were affected—many lost their homes, jobs, and loved ones. It was a sad reminder of how life can change so suddenly, even in such a beautiful place. 

Arriving in Queenstown

It was a long journey from Christchurch to Queenstown. By the time we arrived, it was already around 7–8 pm NZ time. Our coach dropped us at our hotel, located on top of a hill. Thankfully, we made it safely.

Before leaving, our coach captain said, “Guys, I hope you all have a wonderful time in Queenstown.”

And we truly did.

Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s top travel destinations, and it’s easy to see why. It offers adventure activities like skydiving, bungy jumping, white-water rafting, jet boating, scenic helicopter rides, wine tasting, and trips to Milford Sound—one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world.

The next morning, my family and I had breakfast at the hotel café before heading out again for sightseeing, ready for another day of adventure.

Thailand Vacation

My family and I had a holiday in Thailand from 30 December 2006 to 1 January 2007. During this trip, I got to learn more about Thailand and its culture.

One thing that impressed me was how highly respected the King was by the Thai people. Everywhere I went, I could see portraits of the King displayed outside buildings. Whenever people mentioned the King, they would put their hands together and bow slightly as a sign of respect.

Our plane landed at Bangkok's new international airport. At that time, some parts of the airport were still under construction. What caught my attention most was the design of the car park opposite the airport. I really liked its unique design.

After leaving the airport, the first place we went to was a restaurant called "Kuang" for dinner. This restaurant was recommended by my dad's godson. We ordered steamed fish, oyster omelette, prawns, vegetables, and Tom Yum soup.

If you want to try one of the best Tom Yum soups in Bangkok, this is the restaurant to visit. The Tom Yum soup was absolutely delicious! I tried Tom Yum soup at several other places during the trip, but none tasted as good as the one at Kuang. Another thing I noticed was that you could have as many bowls of rice as you wanted without being charged extra. After several bowls of Tom Yum soup, I had to stop because my stomach simply could not take any more! Ha... ha... Maybe that's why I seldom see overweight people in Thailand — they eat Tom Yum soup every day! 😁😁

After dinner, we checked into Bangkok Palace Hotel. The next morning, we enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast. The chefs would personally ask how you wanted your eggs cooked. After breakfast, we boarded our coach and began our sightseeing tour around Bangkok. Along the way, we passed by the Royal Palace, which was very beautiful, and our tour guide shared many interesting stories about the Royal Family.

Besides Bangkok, we also visited Pattaya. In Pattaya, we watched an elephant show. The baby elephants were so cute! We bought some bananas to feed them. When you placed a banana on an elephant's trunk, it would step backwards and bow, as if saying "thank you" for the treat.

We also watched a tiger show — and yes, I mean real tigers, not the kind of tiger show everyone is thinking about! Ha... ha...

People often say that pigs are not intelligent animals, but the pigs at the Pattaya zoo proved otherwise. One pig named Laura could actually do mathematics! I know many people may not believe it, but it is true. Visitors could test Laura with simple calculations, and she would give the correct answer.

Who would believe that tigers, dogs, and pigs could live under the same roof? Well, we saw it with our own eyes in Pattaya.

We also took a boat trip to see the sea corals and spent time at the beach. There were many water sports available, including banana boat rides. We also enjoyed shopping near the beach. Some of the shop owners could even speak Chinese and Hokkien. Of course, we tried bargaining before buying anything!

When the bombings happened in Bangkok, we were already in Pattaya. We were truly thankful that God was watching over us. We immediately called home to let our relatives and friends know that we were safe.

Our tour guide showed us the local newspaper, which contained photographs of the bombing sites. Looking at those pictures made us feel very sad, and we felt deeply sorry for the innocent people who were affected.

When we returned to Bangkok from Pattaya, our coach had to take an alternative route back to the hotel because some of the roads and junctions near the affected areas were still closed.

Although the trip ended on a sad note because of the tragic events, I will always remember Thailand for its friendly people, delicious food, beautiful sights, and the wonderful experiences my family and I shared together.