A Smashing 2015

This year, I started off the year with a motto to make every second count. All December, I think I've been patting myself on the back because for once I'd made an ambitious motto to live by (for the year) and nailed it. This year has been possibly one of the best years of my (so far, short) life where I got to try a lot of new things, meet plenty of new people through diverse activities and kind of live a little.

I'm generally a person who puts herself under a lot of self-restraint. Because of my straightforward nature and ability to poke fun at any and everything sarcastically and a live-and-let-live mindset, it's easy to offend people you don't know that well when you speak your mind or call things out. I'm not embarrassed to laugh at things thats are downright absurd (in its face) but sometimes after you vocalise it, your friend may find it appalling and in his/her heart wish you didn't say that out loud. As a result, now I metaphorically bite my tongue every time a 'funny' thought comes to mind about a certain something first, before saying anything.

Either way, everyone has a right to their own brand of humour, right?

Ok, I digress. So yes, with lots of self-control, it's hard to really live. This year, it's been slightly liberating and I will say that I did live more than usual in 2015.

Here are some of the highlights of my smashing 2015:

I am not a foodie.

This Hong Kong trip was all about eating (almost to the point of both our disgust). Even though the sights in Hong Kong were interesting, and Ocean Park was pretty amazing for its price (versus Hong Kong Disneyland which I think is an expensive cute mess), the food's the definite star. The food is outstanding! In particular, the roasted meats were mouth-watering and tasted as impressive as they looked, dripping in dark oil and gravy. 

The trip was different from my usual trips since I am strongly against being a foodie traveller but I kind of became one on this trip. Don't mistake me for one if you see plenty of food pictures on my Instagram. Food makes great photos and I love nice photography, but to be honest I barely have much interest in eating them (except shabu shabu steamboats which are my Kryptonite lol). I mean, hey, I'm a eat-to-live kinda kid. Having so many choices of what to eat - that, is a luxury I appreciate having but it's definitely not necessary.

More photos on Hong Kong: HERE

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Surprise, surprise! So yes I'm now engaged to my boyfriend of (now) 5-ish years. It's none of anyone's business but mine and his, but hey we love to share the joy with our loved ones and friends haha. Albeit late, but thank you everyone for all your kind wishes & congratulations! Photo credits to Bobby Kiran Yeo.

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Due to some kindness from a great person, we received passes to the F1 Pit Lane Experience! This was indescribably eye-opening. We got to watch them change the F1 cars tyres' in like what, 3 seconds tops? It really demonstrated great teamwork and it's cool to watch a 20-man team work together like that. 

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Totally plucked this location out of nowhere. We celebrated our 5th anniversary together in Vietnam in both Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. I'd say Hanoi is a place I'd love to come back to. It has a very old-world feel and the communist identity frankly, makes for unique photos and colours, and the culture and food feel really warm and homely. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but I love this place.

More incredible black-and-white photos of Hanoi HERE.
Review of my home in Hanoi HERE.

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Ha Long Bay is overpriced, but you HAVE to go kayaking here. It is hands-down the most serene and peaceful kind of kayaking you'd ever do in your life. Do some thinking; snap some photos; risk getting your camera wet; swim in the lagoon; do whatever you like - it's awesome and the air is SO fresh.

More on Ha Long Bay HERE.

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Did a 1-week exchange program in Seoul at Ewha Women's University. Advanced Korean classes by native Koreans? Check. Met skinny and hot Korean girls? Check. Spoke Korean for 8 days straight? Check. Met funky new Singaporean friends? Check. Explored the city alone? Check.

See more HERE (Common Ground) and HERE (Exploring Seoul)

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I'd like to say thank you to God and to all the people who have come into my life in 2015, who inadvertently and unintentionally contributed to its awesomeness. Thank you for the opportunities to travel, the finances to keep me going, the unspeakable joy in my heart, the motivation to live every day with some degree of purpose. Thank you for the friends that I have grown to be fond of, for the friends whom I have gotten to know better, for the friends who have taught me the values of friendship and platonic love.

2016 may be good, 2016 may be bad.

Either way, when life gives you lemons, bite right down and make lemonade.