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When I was younger, I used to only go to Shilin Night Market but now I find myself gravitating towards Ningxia and Raohe. Maybe it’s because there’s more food options, though I’m sure it’s because of the people. If you ever visit Taiwan, you will most likely find yourself captivated by Taiwanese people too. There's a certain charm, especially when you're willing to spend those extra minutes to observe the random things that happen around the streets of Taipei. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll capture a piece of it which then becomes engraved deep within your memory. Where there's a ocean, piers, and a cozy sunset — is my favourite place to shoot and wander around. Much of the last two weeks has just been me visiting Tamsui Fisherman Wharf over and over again. I'll sit amongst the rocks right before sunset, watching not only the sun go down, but also the fisherman catch the last few fresh fishes for the day. As the tide starts to rise, the sea water begins to slowly creep back to shore as well. All you see in front of you at that moment is the bright golden red sun's last rays glimmering against the ocean. It's my hidden spot, but if you ever visit Taiwan when I'm there I'll definitely show you where it is :) What most people who visit Taiwan don’t realize either are the day markets throughout this beautiful island. Someone who I look up to gave a small demo on Taiwan’s fruit markets recently which I was fortunate to have attended. And he reminded me of how hard these people work — day and night, night and day. These last two weeks — I felt what these fruit market owners felt too. We all work behind the scenes. When the rest of Taipei city is sleeping, we're hustling and bustling before the crack of dawn so that people have fruits to buy and vegetables to eat. For me, it's making sure that everything I need or someone needs for either work or school the next day is completed. And it becomes a never-ending cycle on repeat. Though it gets tiring at one point, Jerry told me one thing and that was "只要你把這些回憶好好記住,即使別人再怎麼遺忘,也都搶不走你曾經置身的事實。" This roughly translates to: you just have to remember the memories that come with all the hardships we go through, whether good or bad, as long as you hold onto these memories — it serves as a lesson and the laughter you need. After his demo, I remembered I named this one picture I took after Taiwan’s name “Ilha Formosa” which translates to beautiful island. And this one trip studying abroad, I came home at least five times. But, every single time — there was always a familiar view waiting for me. Even if it was to go to somewhere I’ve been to a hundred times, I never grew tired of those views. That's the beauty of Taiwan to me. I hope that this is what you feel too when you embark on your study abroad journey to whichever country you choose. It'll become your second home without a doubt, just like Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong has become to me. So remember those memories you make because even if everyone else forgets about them, it'll never take away the person who you've grown to become. I'd like to think I grew more too, although I know I still have a long way to go after this. As I’m leaving Taiwan in less than two days, I searched through my memory of the brief but rewarding four months I spent in Singapore. I was able to witness the whole Singaporean life, how tough it is to be a student at NUS, and still be able to showcase the best of themselves to compete in our world today. Every module I took, every time I sat in the canteens, and though I hid in HSSML almost every day — the determination of everyone at NUS motivated me again and again. It’s been one of the best experiences in my entire life and I’m positive that I’ll return one day. For now, I guess I’m kind of ready to go home, study some more, and wish I could get a cup of milo-c from the aunties down at Old Airport Road. The following pictures are my handpicked favourites that I collated from this trip abroad starting from Singapore - Hong Kong - Seoul - Penang - Bangkok - KL - Bali - Macau - Nagoya - Osaka - Kyoto - Kaohsiung - & Taipei. Most of these are just pictures of the backs of people who I've met or known for years, but they're equally important and a huge part of my life. Thinking back, I met up with Anna in most places and got to meet her roommate, Qiuyi, too when they visited Taiwan together. It's always nice to have someone to travel with and they gave me the chance to put everything I was doing on hold to be a tour guide again. Funnest week I've had in a while :) Jonathan just hopped onto a plane from Boston and dragged me to various parts of Singapore I probably would never have discovered if it weren't for him. Because PGP is such a hard place to meet people, I'm glad Felice invited me to the performances that NUS's Wind Ensemble & Orchestra showcases so that I could get to know her more. Everyone that I met in Biz in general truly showed me what the word "teamwork" means and I couldn't have asked for better teammates than every single one of them. Most importantly, I caught my old students right before they graduated down in Ruisui, Hualien County, Taiwan so that I could congratulate them. A.I.D. was definitely a big reason why I decided to study abroad and to think that they're already graduating — the least I could do was sub in for team C3-6 to visit and give them our well-wishes. And hearing them call me teacher one last time brought me back to two years ago that very day where I stood in front of them for the very first time, introduced myself, and tried so hard not to speak Chinese to them (we gave up by day two). Once my students, now they're like my little brothers and sisters. I couldn't be any prouder. With that, I'm humbled for these people who gave me the absolute trust to travel with them and to be able to call them my friends, thank you. Thank you to everyone else who visited me as well, it meant the world to me and it’s been a pleasure to document this awesome journey up till here in Taipei. I'll always be thankful too for the Freeman Foundation and the Shidler College of Business for bringing me to places where I've only dreamt of. Here's to bigger dreams.
「長髮短髮捲髮, 記住每個瞬間 / 直髮黑髮白髮, 直到我們白髮漸漸 / 百看不厭妳容顏, 一輩子都不變。」 While I waited for the sunset, there was an old couple sitting nearby which is pretty usual. But, they're special - they've been coming to the pier every single day for the past forty years of their marriage. And I guess they remember me still because only a handful of people call me by my taiwanese nickname. If they didn't, I would've never noticed - although they're healthy and strong, you can tell that they've aged since six years ago. We exchanged a few small conversations and I caught them up on what I've been up to since I left TAS. When I told them that I was at the pier to bid farewell to my old friend, a-ma (taiwanese for grandma) just held me tightly. At that moment, whatever I was worried about didn't matter - just seeing the cute interactions between a-ma and a-gong was enough to cheer me up :) These past few months, whether I was in s'pore or somewhere across Asia - I ran into people who left me with stories to tell. Though some events were heartbreaking, most put a smile on my face. Like Aidan said during our unintentional reunion in Hong Kong, "this opportunity for you to be abroad is not just life-changing, there's so much more to it - the people you meet and catch up with through you being here, the things you discover spontaneously, the everlasting memories that we both know you won't forget, it's a raw human connection that you of all people always appreciate." It's friends like him where I always have to pinch myself every now and then, to tell myself how fortunate I am to be able to witness the places I've been meaning to go but haven't gone in a while. And in those places, are people who I either care about or have become friends with in such a short amount of time. Thank you. Currently typing this in the hospital due to the amount of check-ups I need to do before I depart for Hawaii in about two weeks. And aside from being a responsible human being, it's been a slow week in Taiwan. My daily shenanigans consist of bribing my cousin to get him to finish his homework, waiting for the rain to stop, cafe hopping here and there, but mostly catching the sunsets when I get the chance. After a semester of no accounting, I've been trying to catch up on my studies too. If I feel like I studied enough for the day, I either hike Xiangshan or rent a U-bike and bike down Tamsui River. These are all just things I would do in Taipei if I actually lived here every day. Today also marks exactly a month since I left Singapore. Though I left, my group for MNO 3303 still keeps in touch with Mr. Koh on Project Dignity. They update me as well and for all the hard work that we put into creating our presentations, I am content with the final grades that we received for that module. There's more adventures to come next week, and if you want to see those pictures, just hover over the "TPE" tab and click on "TPE PT. 三"
As I looked into her eyes — I saw a glimpse of what our past used to be. She used to either sit in front of me or next to me in class, eating, and lighting up the faces of everyone around her. I’d be sleeping and while everyone ignored me, she’d find some way to get me to talk. Little did she know, I was glad she did. She might’ve never known what was going on during that time but those little moments with her was all I looked forward to. Eventually, we came to realize that although we’re from two different worlds, we always had each other’s back. At that moment, I thought to myself: since when did we get so busy that we forgot how big of an impact our small actions can be? Some connections, outlast others. This is one of them. She brought me back to life when I needed someone to be there. I knew I owed her one. But, after her special day, I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing her a favor because she deserves it, always. Because I didn’t want to get all choked up before walking her down the aisle, all I could say was, you look beautiful today as you always do. And as she laid her head on my shoulder — I finally knew how much it took for her to ask me to step in for her father. She used to only rest her head when she was tired or she had asked me for help and that was her way of saying thank you. So when I placed her hand with the one she’ll hopefully be with for life, I told him one thing. For the amount of times I purposely did something whether big or small for her own benefit and found some excuse to cover it up so she didn’t know — he will do the same too. I never grew up in a healthy environment, and the only way I could express that I cared was to go to extents beyond my limit to accomplish something for her. As long as no one was hurt in the process and no crime was involved, nothing’s impossible — I want him to understand that. We all wish for the best for the ones we care about and she’s no exception. 「陪伴是什麼? 我想對我來說,大概就是妳看透了我這個人,還依然站在我身邊,陪我走過每次風雨。」 Though I was neither a best man or a maid of honour, walking her down that aisle, heads turned, people clapping, ring bearer and flower girls in front — nothing beats the smile she had on her face. And I hope that smile never fades. Like my trust in her at the end of every day. She’s my day one and if he’s the right one, he’ll treat her the same way too. Japan | May 21 - May 27, 2019 more or less six days in japan — not enough & more than enough time to see what 1/4 of the Kansai region has to offer. First stop, Nagoya! Flying into Chubu International Airport via AirAsia’s newest route for Taipei-Nagoya (and the only one), I fell in love with Japan’s landscape already. In the city, it’s oddly quiet and deserted looking even during rush hour which was a nice change of pace for the past few days. Felice was kind enough to let me stay at her house. After picking me up from Fujigaoka Station, her mother prepared the best misokatsu (special red miso paste used in Nagoya + tonkatsu) I’ve had. Homemade food is always the best :) I also got to experience what it’s like living in a Japanese household and funnily, they were showing a special on TV about Oahu. It gave me a chance to share a bit of aloha and remind myself there’s a couple things in Hawaii I’ve yet to do too. Woke up bright and early the next day to beat the crowds at Nagoya Castle. Since we bought the one-day metro pass (740¥), admission to the castle was 400¥. Next was to Sakae district to eat a special type of pasta called Nagoya’s Dera Shiro Meat Sauce Pasta. Having been in Asia all semester, I barely eat Western food so it was quite surprising to see Nagoya turn it into something unique to their prefecture. I definitely recommend anyone going to Nagoya to try it :) We took a detour to Shirotori Garden and again used the pass to get a discount. The inside of the garden would be the perfect place to relax after eating a huge lunch if it wasn’t so hot. Afterwards, we shopped around at Osu Kannon, had some takoyaki, and visited the shrine. Because I didn’t plan anything for Japan, we didn’t realize Nagoya Tower (at Sakae) was under construction or it’s usually lit up :( But, if you watch the sunset from Oasis 21 — it’s really pretty. We had abura soba from Kaijiken which is another Nagoya specialty for dinner, then it was back to Fujigaoka because I had to leave early the next morning. The next day, I departed on the earliest bus I could for Kyoto. Prior to arriving in Japan, I already booked the JR Tokai bus for $26 but I heard it’s actually cheaper if you book it in Japan. Although I was sad to leave Nagoya, I had to eventually make my way to Osaka. Without knowing, I booked a guesthouse close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple which is where I went first and then I roamed the streets packed with little shops along the way to Yasaka Shrine. Ended up grabbing a quick lunch/dinner around the Gion District before moving on to Fushimi-Inari Taisha. When it comes to these places, I really suggest getting there right at opening hours because as the tour groups come in, it spoils the fun :( On top of that, I somehow got really sick after Nagoya and I had a hard time enjoying the rest of the trip. But, when I had a few moments to each place for myself, I made sure to appreciate it. Despite feeling unwell, I decided to make a trip to Arashiyama the next day anyway. Living close to Kiyomizu-Gojo station on the Keihan Line, it was easier for me to transfer at Tofukuji for the JR line to Kyoto before transferring again onto another JR train towards Sago-Arashiyama. I did this route instead because it saved me money but you could also alight at Arashiyama Station which is not apart of JR. There’s a Kimono Forest at that station, though I wasn’t well enough to check it out unfortunately. Since I arrived around 10 am, I went to the bamboo grove first before it got too hot. Then, I hiked a bit along the river until you hit a shrine in order to avoid all the tourists. I spent a good 2-3 hours just sitting at the river bank watching the green, clear water crash onto shore. Found a hole in the wall okonomiyaki joint and ordered a modanyaki (okonomiyaki + yakisoba) right before they closed. Afterwards, it was back to Kyoto to visit Nishiki Market before they closed for the day. And to end my time in Kyoto, I watched the sunset along the Kamogawa river before grabbing some ramen for dinner. Onwards to Osaka! Since I stayed on the Keihan line, it’s a good 300¥ cheaper just to take the limited express (red train) to Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka. From there, I transferred onto the metro to get to Namba station. After dropping off my luggage, I explored Ktown (Koreatown) and had yakiniku at a joint my friends and I used to frequent in Osaka. Walking along the JR line and enjoying the quiet streets of Ktown was something I didn’t know I needed. There’s just something about watching the trains zoom by over you while you observe the daily lives of Japanese people. Ended back at Dontonburi and had some gyukatsu (fried beef cutlet) to wait for nightfall. The glico sign was lit up by the time I finished dinner which I’d say is a main attraction in Osaka. Called it a night afterwards so that I could fight off my fever which got worse as the trip went on :( The day before I left, I received a call from an old friend & next thing I knew, I was on the earliest train I could bound for Nara. Her father passed away not too long ago and I knew she had a wedding coming up. However, out of respect, I was never going to attend in the first place because we all parted on bad terms. Who knew I’d be the one to walk her down the aisle? But, no questions asked & I was on my way. I spent much of the morning exploring Nara since I was pretty excited to finally be able to see the wild deers. Aside from their pellets scattered all over the streets, they’re quite cute :) Just do take the be careful warnings to heart, if not you’ll be chased and headbutted for food. First stop was Kofuku-ji Temple where there’s a couple of national treasures for all to see. The most pictured part would be the three-story pagodas off to the side. Around this temple is where you’ll start to see the deers & if you’re lucky, some of them will be laying there for you to take a quick picture with. Next was Todai-ji Temple, famous for the Great Buddha. Although the entrance fee was only 600¥, there was way too many tourists & I still wasn’t feeling any better from my sickness so I had to skip it :( But, seeing the deers & feeding them made up for it. On my way out from the temple, I took a detour to Mount Wakakusa. A short 30 minute hike for you would be a good hour half for me but I suggest climbing past the first plateau until you get to the peak. You’ll see people picnicking & more deers too. Then, walk back down to the plateau to get a better view of Nara. For only 150¥, you could definitely spend a good 2 hours there just enjoying the view. The mountain/park closes at 5:30 pm but I’m pretty sure you can stay there past that time so if you do go during summer after the end of March (closed end of Dec-Mar), it’s a great place for the sunset. Feeling quite hungry, I found a nice little shop in the alleyway that sold Kitsune Udon (a must-try in Osaka). Then it was off to Kasuga-Taisha before I made my way to the wedding venue. Next morning was my last day and I made an extra effort to wake up at 4 am in the morning to go back to Kyoto. When I visited Fushimi-Inari Taisha the first time, I could barely get through the crowds. I wanted to catch those emojis in the wild one last time so after eating my last famichiki from Family Mart, I rushed to catch the 5:30 am metro to Yodoyabashi Station. Made it to Kyoto right at 6:45 am and besides a couple foreigners here and there, finally had the place to myself :) You don’t realize how nice it is to have some peace and quiet in these type of places until you’re there all by yourself. As you walk through all the torii’s, it becomes a hike up to the summit (sign said 25 mins but I didn’t believe it). The round trip should take you 2-3 hours though. Once I got all the shots I needed, it was time to say goodbye :( Honestly wished I could do the whole hike but I’ll save it for next time! All the snippets of my Japan adventures are under the “Candids” tab, just hover over it and click Nagoya, Kyoto, or Osaka :) I’m still feeling weak and nauseous so I’ve been trying to take it slow back in Taiwan. Family Mart’s famichiki is the best, but I missed Taiwanese breakfast just as much. Can’t go wrong with piping hot soy milk, some you tiao, and a side of egg pancakes for the weary soul. As much as I don’t want to think about it, however, Japan is officially my last trip during this semester abroad due to my current health conditions. My next flight will be on an airplane back to Hawaii homebound. Not now, but soon and it’s been a mix of emotions ever since the semester ended in Singapore. Still waiting for my grades to come out and that will be updated soon too.
For now, if you’re in Taiwan — hit me up! If not, I hope you continue to join me through this last month of random adventures I’ll have when I’m feeling better. Cheers to you & thank you for sticking around. — Irene
Taipei, Taiwan | May 08 - May 13, 2019 Three years ago, I traveled with Anna to Taiwan. It’s already been three years & a lot has happened since then — but, nothing’s changed. For the past week, Anna and her roommate, Qiuyi, visited Taiwan which gave me a chance to explore too :) After dropping off my TAS kids to Taoyuan International, I waited for them to arrive at Terminal 1. First stop was Gongguan (NTU) for some traditional Taiwanese milk tea & gua bao. Then, Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall where they were setting up for the Mother’s Day Ceremony held every year by Tzu Chi Foundation. Can’t end the night without some night market food so we went to Raohe Night Market for their famous pepper buns & other delicious treats! The next day, I met them at Taipei Main Station bright and early to do a day trip to northern Taiwan. I like to catch the train to Ruifang before the 10 am train to Pingxi so that we could have breakfast at Yonghe Soymilk. It’s usually 49 NTD to Ruifang if you buy a physical ticket but 44 NTD with your yoyo card. And 17 NTD to Shifen. Since it was raining that day, Shifen Waterfall was quite a sight! (only a short 20 minute walk from Shifen Station). To kill time, they wrote their wishes on sky lanterns which I hope do come true. Jiufen was next & you can catch a bus from the police station in Ruifang. Famous for their taro balls dessert & A-Mei Tea House which inspired part of Spirited Away, you can’t miss this place! To squeeze in a night market per day, I took them to Keelung Night Market which is only a 40 min. bus ride from Jiufen. This night market is known for their seafood dishes and pao pao bing (a type of shave ice). We managed to catch the sun setting as we hiked up Xiangshan and then to the Taipei 101 Observatory (540 NTD w/student ID). There are four mountains that interconnect with Xiangshan, but it’s the most easiest trail and shortest out of the four beasts. If you’re ever lucky with nice weather, do go up Taipei 101 for the sunset (especially if this is your first time to Taiwan). On the way home, I took them to Ningxia Night Market (@Shuanglian Station) which has the best sweet potato balls :) Taipei has many cheap breakfast joints wherever you stay at, but sometimes I like to go to Loco Food for their famous egg pancakes. And that’s what I did before heading to meet up with Anna & Qiuyi at Tamsui. By the time we got there, the sun was just about to set. Normally, if you have time I’d suggest going to Fisherman’s Wharf (via the R26 bus) to watch the sunset. But, if you walk all the way to the back of Tamsui Old Street and sit at the pier, it’s just as beautiful. I always warn against going to Shilin Night Market but it’s not a bad place if you really want to grab a quick bite. If you really like soy milk and youtiao (fried breadsticks), Fu Hang Soy Milk is the place to go! Since it was their last full day in Taiwan, we went hiking again but this time up Junjianyan (Battleship Rock). The rest of the day was just lounging around Taipei and visiting Ningxia Night Market one last time. I had to leave for Hong Kong the day after them so I couldn’t drop them off to the airport :( — love you 3000. Those short five days was enough to pack in most of Taipei, but if you ever want to take your time and not feel rushed — a week is the ideal amount of time. Although I was only around to guide them through the places they wanted to go since it is their trip together, it was nice to force myself to get up early, and be adventure-ready :) I don’t always have time like these to take people around and with close friends, too. So to say that I miss traveling is an understatement. Every day is a different decision and my mind is distracted left and right. Life as I know it. But, I couldn’t have asked to be around a better crew than Anna and Qiuyi — I just hope y’all enjoyed Taipei despite all the ups and downs along the way. Thank you both. For giving me a reason to smile again. For letting me be myself though I know I’m a terrible tour guide. I could rant on and on but next time, hopefully I’m a little better. At least, thank you for the few happy moments I didn’t know I needed. Cheers for the nudge as always. Hong Kong pt.03 | May 14 - May 17,2019 After Anna and Qiuyi left Taiwan, I departed for Hong Kong on a short three day trip. There were some important things I had to take care of; however, that didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun! Although Tsui Wah is one of the more expensive cha-chaan-teng in Hong Kong, it’s open 24 hours and has just about everything you need. My favorite is always the crispy buns drizzled in condense milk with a hot steaming Hong Kong style milk tea after a long flight. The weather was extremely nice, so I took a chance and watched my last sunset in Hong Kong at Sai Wan. And nice weather meant good hiking weather too. It took me a while to climb up The Peak from HKU but I made it :) By the time I got back to TST, it was almost midnight but I decided to grab some pulled chicken rice. Macau | May 15,2019 My important things to take care of meant a impromptu trip to Macau for the day. Exchange rate from HKD to MOP is 1:1 so you could pay in HKD but change would be in MOP. I had some breakfast at Australia Dairy Co. then rushed to barely make the 9 am ferry from China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon. Be careful when purchasing the round trip ferry tickets from Kowloon because the last ferry back from Macau is at 9:35 pm (370 HKD or $50 total). After an hour, I arrived at Macau Ferry Terminal. I took a short detour to Tempolo A-ma and Ruins of St. Paul's via bus which are pretty easy to catch, but just make sure you have exact change ($6 MOP). From there, I took another bus to Coloane Village to visit the original Lord Stow's Bakery — famous for their Portuguese egg tarts :) Nearby was a place that sold serredra (sawdust pudding). Next was to the Parisian and the Venetian in Cotai before I walked 20 minutes to Old Taipa Village to grab the best Pork Chop buns I’ve had and also my favorite from Sei Kee Cafe (don’t forget their clay-pot coffee, milk tea, and lemon black tea). Nearby was the Galaxy Macau where I took care of what I had to before taking the free shuttle back to Macau Ferry Terminal to see the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. Qiuyi recommended that if I’d yet to hike in Hong Kong, Dragon’s Back would be the perfect place. After having breakfast at Chrisly’s Cafe (best place for scrambled eggs), I took the tram all the way to Shau Kei Wan and then the #9 bus up to To Tei Wan. For someone with poor health, I was surprised I made it up to the top in less than 30 minutes. It’s like Makapuu Lighthouse back home with mountains one side, beach views the other. Only difference was how low the clouds were due to the approaching monsoon season. I actually bumped into an old friend up at the top of the Shek O Peak. Two polo baos, a few egg tarts, and a bunch of Hong Kong style milk teas later — he dragged me all the way down to Tai Long Bay which concluded the whole Hong Kong Trail. Dragon’s Back should only take 1 hour round trip but 3-4 hours if you go all the way down. A couple friends had been raving about eating pigeon so I decided to try it before I left Hong Kong too. Spent the remaining of my last day just sitting down at the pier, watching the stars, and listening to the waves crash against shore. Couldn’t leave Hong Kong without having one last breakfast. At Wan Chai, there’s Kam Fung Cafe which is famous for their chilled Hong Kong style milk tea (they never put ice so it doesn’t dilute) and polo baos. Then, I had some lunch at Mak Man Kee for wonton mien and a last bowl of steam milk from Yeeshun. Also, Yeeshun fixes up the best hot ginger lemon coke if you’re ever sick :) A quick hike up the Peak again and that concluded my last HKG trip for the semester. As expensive as Hong Kong is, it’s always been easier for me to get used to another country’s lifestyle. Because of that, I pick up a lot of habits despite only being there for a couple days each time. And I guess that’s what makes me love HKG so much. On a side note, in about a week, I might be back in Singapore again but as a tourist. I forgot I promised my old, old friend that I’d do one last trip to a certain place in South East Asia with her. Though she’s there, it’ll mostly be a solo trip by myself again which means more endless but breathtaking walks :) Better late than never! Time just flew by. Currently at Hong Kong International Airport. Leaving Hong Kong today. This might be my last trip too so I’m feeling all the feels again. Goodbyes are never easy and I hate them, so I always say see you later because I know — I’ll be back in these countries that have captured my heart — chaotic streets, delicious food, beautiful scenery, vibrant culture, & most importantly, catching up with my talented best friend or two :)
Until next time. — Irene
By the time this blog post is fully up, I’m in Taiwan running around with friends which means finals are done and so has this past semester at NUS :( Right now, I'm slowly trying to recover from last week's no-sleep sessions at HSSML in Biz. It's been brutal these past 3-4 days, a bit scared of what my final results will be when June hits but as what everyone reminds me - take it slowly, day by day. In the previous blog and a few others, I’ve shared some things on NUS and the final words that my professors have left for us. For this blog, I'll give a final reflection on all Singapore has to offer to me since I will not be back in Hawaii for another month half. To start, Asia is the gateway to a lot of things, especially Singapore. Although I can truthfully say I was not in Singapore at least 25% of the time, but for the remaining 75% where I had classes, assignments, and places to visit/do - I finally realized something. I realized that I have so much room for improvement and NUS is like a boot camp where you will go through many, many periods of self-doubt. Yet, it is all a part of the learning process and it also reminded me that no one is perfect. Through it all, however, I knew I was perfectly where I wanted to be despite all the imperfect moments that tested me to see whether I would make it through. And I did. Since grades are not out yet, I cannot 100% say that I kept all the promises I promised, but I would not have wanted to study in another country besides Singapore. It's true that the weather is terrible, though the brightly lit red sunsets are the best (especially from the PGPH kitchens where I'll study at & the Helix Bridge at Marina Bay). There were many places that I could not squeeze in to visit during my last three days in Singapore; however, if you hover over "Candids" and click "S'pore", you'll find that I explored as much as I could when I wasn't studying. To the North of Singapore, you'll find forests and undeveloped land. To the South, you'll find Chinatown, Harbourfront, and Marina Bay. To the East, you'll find Changi and the National Stadium as well as East Coast Park. And to the West, lies NUS. Scattered throughout Singapore will be the endless shopping malls/department stores where you'll probably visit just to beat the heat. Definitely can't forget about the hawker centers and public libraries where you can fill up your stomach then head over to study. Lastly, Singaporeans have their own unique culture and history so don't forget to make a few Singaporean friends :) It's true the modules are hard - even harder when you barely have much of a choice on what you can take and it's not an introductory course either. I took two upper-division management courses and introduction to marketing without any previous knowledge on any of the concepts that I learned throughout this semester. Although this meant extra work, I walked away from every single module with a fresh set of knowledge that I know will be crucial to the last few semesters I have at Shidler. The group projects I took part of challenged me on how important it is to be a good teammate. If it were not for my teammates and coordinating every single task, I would have struggled much more than I already was. It's true you will stay up for a couple days before your final exams trying to cram a whole semester's worth of notes into the little time you have. Prior to leaving Singapore and after the official last day of classes, I still had my marketing final to take. There were 80 questions, one hour half time limit, and 17 chapters to read. Most of the final exams are taken at the Multi-Purpose Sports Hall but always double check via EduRec. At the same time, do remember to take breaks as well. As much as grades are important, so is your health. Most importantly, it's true you'll have fun regardless. From eating out at the hawker centers to monthly or weekly theatre/concerts at the Esplanade to lounging around at the public libraries around Singapore, I'm sure my definition of fun is different from yours. But, Felice and Jonathan kept me company throughout the whole time at NUS and I managed to meet up with Anna in a couple of places which is enough for me. In the countries I did solo trips to, the local people all had a story to tell and I was there to listen. Because I know that a year from now, I will look back at all the pictures I took and remember all the stories I lived to hear. There are many things I still want to say, but right now I'm not sure how to formulate it into words - all these emotions that I feel. And I'm sure I have said a thousand thank you's up until today, but thank you. I thank the Freeman Foundation for funding and giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity to study abroad. I thank the Shidler College of Business and the University of Hawaii at Manoa for providing me with the rigorous education I needed to be on par with the curriculum at NUS. I thank my close friends and the new friends I met for being there for me every step of the way. I thank myself for getting through the unspoken challenges I faced during the course of this semester. And I thank you, whoever is reading this, for supporting me as well. It's also impossible for me to name everyone, but the Freeman Foundation, the Shidler College of Business, the University of Hawaii of Manoa, the National University of Singapore, and everyone else has left a lasting impact on me that I will forever be indebted to. Though some things I wished I did a little differently, but we can't always get what we want. And if things don't work out in the end - I've accepted that some battles aren't meant for us to win. These past few days in Taiwan, however, I'm just trying to take it day by day. I miss Singapore, but I miss the eerily quietness of home, taking care of my cousins, and being a tour guide around Taipei. Thank you, I appreciate you, and I'm going to enjoy the remaining time I have left with my family and friends in this country I love. Singapore | My Final Days. Once my finals were done, I finally had the time to go to Marina Bay. Unfortunately, the Merlion Statue was receiving repairs and I am unsure when it will be open to the public again. But, the road along Esplanade opened up so it was much easier trying to access the Helix Bridge. As I slowly walked from Raffles Place to Marina Bay, the sun began to set. So I found a spot down at the pier and waited for my last and final sunset in Singapore. The sky lit up red, then purple, then orange pink and all I could think of was, "wow". Singapore sunsets are definitely something else. I'm just sad I couldn't go out more as much as I wanted to. After that, I caught up with Jonathan for one last meal before he goes back to Florida and I Taiwan. Did a few last minute photo shoots on top of the carpark at the People's Complex in Chinatown. Ate at Maxwell's for some chicken rice and Old Airport Road for Malaysian cuisine which I miss (if you have a heart for tofu beancurd, Whampoa has the best). And that concludes my one semester in Singapore :( However, upcoming will be Taipei and the many different cities/counties in Taiwan so stay tuned! Life as I know it - I hope all is well. - Irene a small side story:
Walao! Five months ago, I touched down in Singapore and now I'm leaving to go back home :( The very first day I arrived in Singapore, I dragged at least 60 kg worth of luggage to NUS because I couldn't afford Grab at the time. Mind you, it was a good 20 minute walk up-hill then down-hill before you arrive at PGP if you walk from Kent Ridge, 40 degrees celsius weather too. After check-in, I realized I had no idea how to get out of the building because they only ever tell you how to get in. That's when I met Felice. Gradually, we bonded over the random events that PGPH held throughout the semester and toured quite a bit of Singapore together. I have a habit of observing people and I noticed that while Singaporeans are really nice, it's hard to fit yourself into their friend groups. Most of the time, either you meet other exchange students during the few social events they have at the beginning of the semester or you'll be stuck in the library by yourself. And that is something I know I should've taken more initiative of when it comes to meeting people, but it also helped me meet a few people I knew I could rely on even after we part ways. If you're capable of forging friendships easily, good for you. But, if you're like me then it does get a little harder especially when everyone is already under a lot of pressure at NUS. And for that, I am grateful I met Felice as well as my group mates who kept me afloat this semester. One of my group members, Charmaine, likes to joke whenever she sees me and asks, "Did you go back to Hong Kong for a day trip again?" Although I know she's joking, it made me realize just how much I've been traveling too. Whether it be by myself, with Anna and Jonathan, or just a quick trip home - I stumbled into a lot of things that I would have never imagined before arriving in Singapore. Waking up to sunrises in Penang, going home for Lunar New Years in Taipei, photo shoots with Anna in Hong Kong, almost freezing to death in Seoul, trying not to get attacked by monkeys in KL, unknowingly ended up in Bangkok during Songkran with Jonathan, and watching the most beautiful sunsets in Bali - the highlight of everything is definitely the close friends who were with me and the new friends I met along the way. I can truthfully say that these trips were not as cheap as I'd like to make it, but it was well worth these past few years of savings. It's been rough, too - none of these trips were a smooth ride, neither was this semester at NUS. And I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with either. I guess my point is, hustle hard but remember to slow down too. Because it's not everyday we get chances like these where I can travel, while worrying about school, cheesing from cheek to cheek. It's sad to think that I might not have another opportunity like this, at least I made the best of it. Though I didn't make a lot of friends in Singapore, I made up for it throughout the places I traveled to with the realest people I know. Familiar faces, unfamiliar faces - they've all been nothing but supportive :) Ask me the day I arrived, I would never have known that I would travel to these few countries around Asia the moment i sat down on my bed in PGPH. Now, I'll be reminded of all the crazy shenanigans in these countries that have become so dear to me. And Singapore has become home as well, maybe not somewhere I'd live the rest of my life at but I wouldn't mind returning a few days a year. If that happens, I'll be at the hawker centres catching up on all the chicken rice and carrot cakes I already miss :( Feeling all the feels. A lot has happened in the past two weeks that I had to separate the blogs. But, I’m currently in Bali after finishing up another 50-page study guide for MKT1705X. I guess you can call this trip my study break before figuring out how I’m going to cram a whole textbook again :) Before jumping right into my recent trips, I was fortunate to have a taste of home right in Singapore! Since January, ads for the Shilin Night Market SG had been popping up on my Instagram so I decided to check it out with Felice. My friend, Sharon, reminded me to really support these stalls because a lot of them flew straight in from Taiwan. And I did. From wintermelon lemon aiyu to braised pork on rice to fresh taro milk, I couldn’t have asked for anything better to do after studying. Though pricey, it was well worth every bite. The event gave me a chance to find new places to eat at when I return home! Jewel Changi also opened up, so hopefully if you visit or are flying into Singapore, there’s less foot traffic. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | April 16 - April 19, 2019 Wow, where do I start? At first, KL was only a one day trip to attend a funeral. But, tickets were just the same for two more days so I figured why not fly in a day before to explore. KL’s public transportation surprises me every time. Except the monorail, don’t take it if you have a choice. Wandered around Batu Caves first thing in the morning. Definitely a tourist hot spot (don’t go right at noon) but worth going to. That took up a good three hours and luckily you can reach the caves by the Komuter train for just RM 2.60 one-way from KL Sentral. Ramayana Caves is right off to the side of Batu Caves but don’t waste your RM 5.00 going in. Just keep walking straight when you get out of the station until you hit those colorful rainbow steps. I went to Chinatown and grabbed food from Koon Kee which specializes in Wan Tan Mee (RM 6.50). They’re hidden behind the many souvenir stalls that line up Petaling Street. Then, it was time for the Petronas Twin Tower. Though I didn’t have the money to go all the way up to the observatory, Klook has deals which you should secure early. KL Tower is near Jalan Alor Street where one of the touristy night market scenes are at. Although I can never call McDonald’s a meal, it’s a eye-opener no matter where. And cheaper in Malaysia too. Thailand had these pancake wrapped ice cream sundaes, Malaysia had sarsaparilla cones. I’d say keep an eye open for new dessert flavors when you arrive in Singapore as well as McDonald’s across Asia. You’d be surprised :) On a side note, KL is mostly a one-day trip and I’d suggest spending the rest of Malaysia in Penang. Dropped off my old, old friend to the airport afterwards to live in California for the next few months. Going to miss her but I wouldn’t be upset if she decides not to leave. Her IG stories better be filled with good food daily and of course street photos. And with that, I ended my trip to KL. Bali, Indonesia | April 23 - April 27, 2019 So far, I watched the sun set. And I can definitely say I miss Hawaii. Bali is as Jason put it, a cheat code :) Filled my stomach up with $2 worth of food, listened to the waves crashed back to shore, and reminisced all that’s happened thus far. The traffic in Bali is nuts, but there’s no better place to see cotton candy skies and the sunsets we see back home. For a moment, I thought I was sitting down at Sand Island. Because I haven’t ridden a motorcycle in a year, I didn’t want to risk my life in Bali so I hired a private driver for a day. For the day, I chose Ubud. Known for its art and wood carvings, you will see many stores lined up side by side. These art pieces are made to order which means you can expect really good craftsmanship. First stop was the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Batu Caves had monkeys too but they were more tame. These monkeys aren’t aggressive by nature, just don’t trigger them. And keep everything inside your bag because they’ll snatch anything from you if you get too close. Next was Ubud Royal Palace which I skipped to go eat lunch. Nearby is Ubud Market where you can haggle for cheaper prices for souvenirs. Then it was off to Terrace River Pool Swing which was also a coffee plantation. There’s free tasting for the coffees which I suggest you do first if you don’t want to do the swings. Sadly, I couldn’t do the swings due to my past health history though it seemed really fun. They are also known for their Luwak Coffee which is a staple in Bali (IDR 50,000). A few minutes away was Tegalalang Rice Terrace but the best rice paddies to me were the ones alongside the roads of Ubud. With the setting sun in the background, the lush green fields turned golden brown. At Pura Tirta Empul, a holy spring, you could see the water emit naturally from the ground which as legend has it, is how the shrine emerged from Earth. You’ll have to put on a sarong before entering and if a girl, must tie up your hair. There you can cleanse yourself spiritually with the holy water. Ended the day at Tegenungan Village Waterfall where I witnessed a ceremony that was being celebrated across Bali for the day. It was a day of offerings to the Balinese Gods. My tour guide said it was called odalan for a day of selfless acts in a self-filled world. As we drove back to Kuta, the sun began to set. And I was mesmerized all over again. Day two was full of surprises. Surprised my old, old friend at Pura Lempuyang Luhur, one of Bali’s oldest and biggest Hindu temples during her photo shoot. While I was waiting for her, one of the kids from a nearby group of Chinese tourists got restless. So she came up to me and asked that I play with her. One of the Balinese tour guides was with me and helped me watch over her while her parents were waiting in line for my friend to finish. Her name is Tang Meng Xiao, six-years-old, and bubbly as can be :) When she grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian because in Guiming, Guizhou, it’s filled with farmlands. She tells me she practically grew up with the farm animals and I really do hope her dreams comes true one day. In those short three hours, I taught her a bit of English (all she knows is apple, orange, and banana because that’s her favourite fruits) and answered her math quizzes. Played some soccer too with random branches I found and wrapped together. It was like I gained another little sister for a few hours and my only job was to make sure she laughed and was safe. She told me 2 + 2 = 3, I agree. But, I think she knew she wasn’t right so she hid behind one of the pillars and recounted. She told me don’t look and I didn’t. Then, she’d confidently tell me 2 + 2 = 4 and she would give me a high-five. Every time she gave me a high-five, my heart was full again. And when she played with the Balinese tour guides, they couldn’t communicate, but something about their smiles made me happy. I smile just thinking about it and writing it all down now. Definitely the highlight of my Bali trip. And if you know me, you’d know I’ll be that person to sit on a sidewalk in the middle of nowhere to eat. And I did. No tables, no chairs. Just the sidewalk as my seat, bakso pakjun (noodles & fishballs) in my hand, and the sun setting in the distance. I visited Tirta Gangga and Goa Lawah Temple but I feel like you could skip it. Just one trip to Lempuyang from Kuta is enough to drive you crazy. If you do have time, do go to Virgin Beach. From this trip, I’ve learned that I still can’t give up my habit of wandering around by foot even with a private driver. If there’s one place in Bali you should visit for sunsets, it’s Uluwatu Temple. My private driver, Wayan, managed to secure a good spot for me at the temple to watch the sun set. It’s like Hanauma Bay if you minus all the tourists and monkeys. Nonetheless, it is what it is and I did what I do best — captured my last breathtaking sunset in Bali, all worth it. As we drove down the mountain, it reminded me how much I missed the night views that you can’t get in Singapore :( Last day meant checking out of my AirBnB but also figuring out what to do before my flight. I bought a overnight flight into Singapore to keep everything within budget so I had a good six hours to kill. Wayan suggested we go to Tanah Lot and why not? In hindsight, this might’ve been a bad choice since Tanah Lot should’ve been done first before Uluwatu. Then again, when did I ever let logic stop me? I spent majority of the afternoon maneuvering through narrow, windy roads after Tanah Lot. But when I finally saw the airport against the setting sun, I realised this will be my last trip with my return ticket saying “To: Singapore.” With that means I’ll be MIA until Taiwan to take care of my health. And after a long but short semester of endless shenanigans with Anna, Felice, and Jonathan — it’s time to say see you later as well. It’s been real, thank you. Not my first and won’t be my last solo trip. But, it was exactly what I needed. I spent some time alone hidden in the crevices of a cove when I landed and let myself feel all that I’ve been holding back. I guess I’ve been pretty disappointed at myself about my academic results and being told I’m not good enough. A part of me knows that it’s true. I felt really defeated and still do. Then I receive a call asking that I attend an old friend’s funeral. Hearing these things were painful. I didn’t cry but every part of me wanted to drop to the floor. I’m not giving up and I’m still going to do the best I can. Let’s hope I don’t let anyone down. But I could really use this break right now. Bali is where I’m at and currently in — feeling free, disconnected, and smiling just a tad bit. Stepped in seven countries, soon to be eight. Nine cities, soon to be twelve. It’s been a rollercoaster of a semester, but I’ll focus on the small wins. Though nine cities might seem like nothing, some I returned more than once to. And that is enough. If you haven’t been able to fully read the blogs, do enjoy the photos under “Candids” They’re all my favourite sets :) I’ll be back in Singapore soon, take my final exam and off to Taipei I go. As much as I love traveling, being constantly on the go does get exhausting. At least I know I’ll be returning home for a few days. And by the end of this when I return to Hawaii, I probably won’t remember much of the touristy things or thousands of temples I visited, I’ll certainly remember all of the stories and conversations I had with every person I had the honor of meeting. Cheers to this insane journey and thank you for being right there with me! I hope all is well. - Irene small side story:
I had to attend a couple of funerals these past few days and when I read this post, it hit me hard.
Today, I was rushing at the airport to get to my gate but this elderly lady seemed quite lost. Within a few seconds, she came up to me and asked for directions to get her home. Remember when you were growing up, your parents told you don’t talk to strangers or mind your own business. It’s true that you should be careful, but sometimes you never know. Rather than her getting more lost, I said I’ll show you the way and she hesitated, asking “why would you waste your time?” I kind of lied that it was on the way, but I wouldn’t have mind wasting my time anyway. So I walked her to the train station and told security that she’s lost. Turned out she had Alzheimer’s and her daughter was looking for her too. Once her daughter arrived, it was nothing but a huge hug for her mother. Her daughter looked my age and I knew at that moment just how hard it must be for her because I understand. Her mother said thank you, and her daughter looked me in the eyes. I just smiled — a smile I’m sure she needed. She smiled back too. These moments are real. You really don’t know whose life you’ll touch. And so I tell everyone to have a day. Because we all have good days and bad days, I don’t think I need to remind someone who’s having a rough day to be happy. Instead, have a day. Feed yourself. Recharge a little. But, don’t give up on yourself and everything else just yet. Hopefully you’ll recollect what happened throughout the day and if you did something good, it must’ve made your day. If something went wrong, it’s okay. I just hope this at least tugged your face muscles upward a little :) As I wrap up my studies and enter in my final exams, I want to start off by saying this semester has been academically challenging in a way I haven’t felt in years. Before I left Singapore, I had to complete one last group presentation for MNO3303. Two of us were under the weather while another had to deal with family emergencies. And yet, the remainder of us managed to come together to pull through for the presentation despite knowing we might not be graded well. This is one thing I’ve noticed about most business students at NUS — teamwork matters & no one wants their personal issues to affect the team as a whole. If someone is missing, it’s up to us to fill in that spot. And that’s reality. But regardless of what happens to our final grade, I couldn’t have asked for a better team.
Same goes for my very talented best friend in Hong Kong, she’s the best person this world has to offer. I hope she knows that her hard work wasn’t in vain — do enjoy the fruits of your labour in your travels throughout Asia :) I’ll be waiting in Taipei. And you’re going to read this from me a few times but I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. To the people who support me now. To the people who will support me in the future. To the people who I’ve met this semester abroad, who I’ve shared memories with, who I’ve explored with and who I’ve lived with, thank you. You’ve all made me who I am. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Seriously the best few days I’ve had are each time I’m on a trip with or near someone who’s made a difference. Catch up soon! Bangkok, Thailand | April 12 - April 15, 2019 Due to the scorching heat, it was a one-man trip in Bangkok for me. But, in between I caught up with an old, old friend and the first thing she does is splash me with water :) Honestly, I’m proud and sad. Sad that this might be the last time I see her. Proud that everyone is doing bigger, better things. But most of all, it’s the fact that I have those few amazing friends who have always been there for me. Regardless of where I am, wherever they are — I’m home. Whether that be Taiwan, Hawaii, or who knows — I doubt you guys will ever understand how much your encouragement and support means to me, but thank you. sawasdee pee mai! สวัสดีปีใหม่ (happy new years in Thai!) I flew in shortly after Jonathan on Friday which gave me three full days to explore Bangkok. My friend spent most of her time showing me around Chinatown, the Golden Buddha, and the huge water parties down at Silom Road during Songkran (Thai New Years). I actually didn’t realize this trip fell right on the start of the festivities which meant I had to fix my itinerary but you definitely can’t miss out on the water fights so protect your phone, grab a water gun, and get ready to get soaked! Just make sure if you’re at a temple to not throw water at the monks. You can also take part in showering the Buddha with water at the temples as a sign of respect. Also, Thai people might rub a white powder on your face as blessings, just don’t get it in your eyes. For food, we had tom yum and other Thai delicacies while hopping from street cart to street cart down Yaowarat Road :) I spent the rest of Saturday sitting at one of the banks along Chao Phraya River and watched the sun set with her. Tip: Thailand’s exchange rate is +/- the same as Taiwan so $1 USD = 30 something Thai Baht. It was easier for me to just use 100 Thai Baht as a marker ($3 USD) which I always do in Taiwan too. So if anything is over 100 baht, it might not be worth purchasing unless you know you really want it. On Sunday, I used Grab the whole day since Bangkok’s public transportation can get a bit overwhelming especially with the Songkran festivities. First stop was Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where I spent a good 2-3 hours staring at art. Then I took a short detour to Chatuchak Weekend Market for lunch. You’ll find a lot of good deals and coconut ice cream lined up along the market if you need something to cool down. The Siam area is a huge shopping district so if that’s up your alley, go for it! Ended the day hopping on and off the tourist boats down Chao Phraya River. I arrived just in time for sunset at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). People say it’s prettier during sunrise, hence its name, but sunset is pretty too :) And you can’t leave Thailand without visiting at least one night market. I ended up at Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market for dinner. This market is more known for its seafood which isn’t too expensive, but not when you’re on a budget. The only issue is the huge amount of people so if you hate squeezing through, Chinatown has a lot of good street food too. Monday, I just took it easy and went on a food adventure. A lot of things are closed on Mondays so plan accordingly or schedule your trip to Thailand between Tuesday to Sunday. Songkran festivities go from April 13 to 16, but it’ll usually last a whole week which means all the more fun if you come at this time! Braving the chances of getting soaked again, I had pad thai, thai tea, grilled meat and whatever I could stuff my stomach with before my flight. I squeezed in some last minute shopping along the many souvenir shops of Bangkok’s congested streets. And that wrapped up my first time to Thailand. On a side note, registration for classes back at UH Manoa fall around this time too. If you have any questions, don’t forget to email Rikki or [email protected] for help! Arriving back in Singapore on a late night flight meant waking up at 7:30 am to add my courses right before my final seminar for DSC3203. But, I managed to secure what I needed and am currently studying for my MKT1705X final. This final is comprehensive and comprises of 50% of my final grade, therefore, I’m going to get some extra reading in these next two weeks :) Overall, NUS taught me a lot about myself — more so my weaknesses. Through the high standards that NUS holds itself to, and as a business student at NUS, you’re in for really stressful, but eye-opening experience. For me, I’m very shy and timid which isn’t a good thing when most of your grade has some component of group projects to it. However, with the help of my teammates, I managed to pull through. I know I still have a long way to go before I learn to speak up, but I’m working on it. Now, it’s just the final stretch of exams left and I’ll be spending the rest of my time abroad in Taiwan. All the best to you, now and ever. — Irene side story:
After presentations, Prof Mel shared a couple life lessons with all of us. She reminded us that many of the principles we learned in organizational effectiveness can be applied to our own life. And it’s true. “What is your goals and what do you hope to achieve in life? What makes this life count — well-lived and impactful?” Though it sounds cliche, this is something we really have to figure out while we’re still undergrads. “Design you as your own organization.”
Prof Mel left attitude last as she shared her story of her recovery from being diagnosed with brain tumor. It didn’t matter what she achieved at that point in life or what she had yet to achieve, she’d never be able to enjoy what life had to offer if she wasn’t healthy. It makes you realize that what you’ve done so far doesn’t matter but how you lived your life and whether you left even the slightest of an impact on those around you. It might sound farfetched, but we’ll all eventually pass away someday and it takes courage. Fortunate to recover and be our professor for the semester, Prof Mel started a brain tumor society to raise awareness. She started with only 10 members and it has now grown to 370 members. It never occurred to her that she would be with us today, sharing her story, and supporting those who are walking the path she used to face financially and morally. And that’s the most meaningful thing Prof Mel has done with her life. “Impact others when they most need it, even the smallest action can become the most significant thing you do in your life. What is your value proposition? You are all on the path to gaining an enriching career, but remember to do something meaningful as well.” One last story is about a student at NUS and one of her beneficiaries. This student has been battling brain tumor for the past three years. Despite fighting and battling cancer, Prof shared this student only had a few weeks to live, no more than two months. But this student was so determined that they made the best out of these few years traveling. “This is happening amongst you all, in NUS, and your age too. None of you realized, did you?” Prof Mel’s last story to our MNO3303 class reminds us that we’re all human beings. We’re not invincible but we should always know that there’s more to life than just studying. And I think it’s safe to say that NUS as well as this semester abroad has taught me enough lessons again to last me a lifetime. A first chance could be a last chance so don't let it be a missed chance.
Friends: Much of the trips I have taken these past few months are due to the people I have met throughout my life. As my counselor, Jason Lee, from AID said, "when you're on the go, it's always hard to stop and take a moment to really see. Life is a one time offer, use it well and live everyday as if it's your last." And I've been very fortunate to forge a tight relationship with Jason as well as those around me, enough to ask for suggestions and see the world from their perspectives. I know that I don't own any expensive gear and most of the time, it's just my iPhone and I. But, Jason has taught me that the only way these pictures come to life is if the person behind these pictures see something. I see a lot of things — I see stories, I see my friends, and most importantly, I see myself smile. I still have a good four more weeks of stories to capture, so I hope you'll stay around for the remainder of my journey :) I love light and shadow, just as much as I love a good teh-o. Penang, Malaysia | March 30 - April 1, 2019 Beeeeeeeeeeep — that’s the sound of cars and motorcycles honking back and forth because of how congested traffic is. And that was the start of my Malaysia trip to Penang :) Although I flew in a day after Anna, that didn’t stop us from exploring the farther parts of Penang! If you’ve already been to Taipei or any Southeast Asian country, you’d know how bad the traffic is. Instead of taking the bus (Rapid Penang) to each location, we decided to take Grab as it was the most convenient and fastest way to get through since we didn’t have much time. To kick off the day, we went to Kek Lok Si Temple right after noon. It is one the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and one the very few in Malaysia since the country isn’t really Buddhist at all. However, there is quite a lot of people who speak Hokkien, come from Thai or Burma in Penang which plays a huge role in the existence of these Buddhist temples. And although I speak Taiwanese, it’s essentially a variation of the Hokkien dialect which made it a lot easier for me to order food, figure out what’s honestly the best to eat and ask for directions on what to do :) Legend has it there’s at least 10,000 buddhas in the temple which is probably true — a tall Kuan Yin statue stands atop a hill which you access through an incline lift (RM 6 roundtrip). If you’d like to access the pagoda/prayer halls, it’s RM 2. Since we wanted to make it for sunset at Penang Hill, we decided to kill time at Air Itam Market to have some famous Pasar Asam Laksa (Penang’s version of Laksa). If you tried rojak (Indian salad) before, that’s what the laksa tasted like to me — tangy but spicy and refreshing at the same time. In Malaysia, if you want Singaporean style laksa, it’s actually called curry mee shua and there’s a stall close by called Sister Curry Mee but they close at 1 pm or maybe even earlier so best to eat there first! Across the street was another row of food stalls so we treated ourselves to some cendol (shaved ice with red bean, coconut milk, green rice flour jelly, and palm sugar syrup) to cool off. You could easily walk to Penang Hill Lower Station or bus it before catching the train up (RM 30 round trip) but it was too hot and traffic was still bad due to early Tomb-Sweeping Day so we took a Grab. From all four directions, you could see Georgetown, Penang Bridge and mainland Malaysia from the Sky Walk. If you walk some more, you’ll pass by a sign that says The Habitat Penang Hill. With your student ID, you can purchase tickets for RM 42.50 to walk around the nature trail right before sunset. The guides suggested we walk towards the Langur Way Canopy Walk first, hit some giant swings (first one was the best), then walk all the way back to Curtis Crest Treetop Walk right before sunset at 7:15 pm. The crest is the highest point in Penang with nothing above you but the clouds! Due to the thunderstorms, the sunset wasn’t too great but it was well worth the experience. Sadly, we missed out on a few local treats in Penang once we got back to Georgetown :( but everything else was delicious as well! I’d say Chulia Night Market in Little India has the best Oh Chien (oyster omelette) I’ve had since leaving Taiwan. Rather than mixing the oysters with a lot of rice flour and eggs like Taiwan usually does, Malaysia actually fries the egg instead & makes it without too much rice flour. Lok lok (steamboat) on the street is fun but not if you're hungry. Near our AirBnB was New Lane Food Stalls and Food-ker where we grabbed a couple more treats before calling it a day. Tip: Space is really limited in Malaysia so night markets with seating area or food markets all require you to purchase a minimum of one drink along with the food you buy. I’d suggest getting hot/warm drinks during the hot weather because too much cold drinks can actually make you sick quicker. Most kopitiam (coffee shops) sell a variety of drinks ranging from Penang white coffee, teh (milk tea), fruit juice, sodas, to herbal teas. I usually go for herbal teas to soothe myself as I hide from the heat (longan or barley are my go-to!) If I really want a cold drink, I grab fresh sugar cane juice instead. Anna left the next day, so we went to Chew Jetty right after sunrise to catch the first rays of daylight. After sending her off to the airport, I ran around Georgetown for the remaining of the afternoon to see if I could beat the crowd at the street art locations scattered across town. I lounged around at a kopitiam to cool off and waited until it was almost time for sunset before booking a Grab to Batu Ferringhi. Traffic was still bad but I managed to make it to the beach just in the nick of time. It was the first time in a long time since I sat at an actual beach and watched the sun set. Hawaii sunsets are definitely prettier, but I’d say nothing can really beat island-style sunsets anywhere. For a good hour, I just sat there and watched families, elderly, couples, and children enjoy their time at the beach. In the far distance, you could see horses freely galloping along the shoreline, too. I was at ease again — just me, my thoughts, and the sound of waves crashing. What makes Penang’s sunset stand out is how long the sky stays reddish pink even after the sun completely set. I was so mesmerized by the sky I almost forgot to leave. I woke up bright and early to see if I could catch the sunrise at Lee Jetty (one of the only jetties open at 7 am in the morning, but be extremely quiet and respectful if you go). Since the storms come and go, there’s been a lot of clouds which blocked the sun — that didn’t mean it wasn’t pretty :) I grabbed a quick breakfast (roti bakar) at the entrance of the Jetty and had a nice conversation with one of the owners. A lot of people who I spoke to on this trip were actually quite curious why an American who could speak Taiwanese and Mandarin studying in Singapore would end up in Penang. And I always had a hard time explaining, but it’s nice to be able to speak consistently in my mother tongue after these past few months abroad. I went on a food adventure for the rest of the day before I had to leave for the airport. The weather might’ve been bad, yet Penang was a nice getaway before I wrap up the last two-three weeks of presentations and finals. It was also nice being able to catch up with good company knowing that we’ll all be really busy in the upcoming weeks. Dubbed the food central of Malaysia, Penang is a quick place to get a taste of nature if you don’t have time for the rest of Southeast Asia.
Sorry for the lack of updates, life has been hectic — but I guess that’s good. I’ve been so distracted with school work that I just haven’t had the time to properly sit down and ponder on the last two weeks. This week was my last week of big assignments and group projects. Of course, NUS doesn’t make it easy because local students study and prep like crazy. But, I have really good teammates who I’m grateful for in helping me since the start of the semester. Here's a group picture for DSC3203 after we presented about new technologies in the hotel industry. Can you believe I’m leaving Asia soon? :( Before presenting, Prof has been sharing articles lately reminding us that it doesn't take much to be happy. I guess he knew that as finals approach, all of us would be scrambling to get through the semester. If you ever get the chance, definitely take a course with Prof Thompson :) Coursework is tough, but it's worth your time if you are a management major. Coming back from Malaysia meant I only had a week before two huge group presentations and assignments are due. And today, I finally completed all my course requirements (kind of)! I only have one more class (DSC), one last tutorial for MKT, and a final on May 2nd for MKT before I return to Taiwan shortly after. In-between prepping for all those presentations, Felice was kind enough to be my tour guide for a day around Bugis. She’s actually studying abroad in Singapore from Japan but she’s also half Singaporean which was really interesting to hear as I got to know her better. To hide from the heat after we spent much of the afternoon at the National Library reading books, we ended up at Lau Pa Sat Market for dinner (I only go there for carrot cake). It's also been a while since I last step foot in Gardens by the Bay - the Super Tree Grove is beautiful as always!
At NUS, it's only Week 10 of school but that means the semester is coming to an end in three weeks :( As I begin to wrap up the last of midterms and enter into final group presentations, I have also begun to gather where I should have some last few adventures in. Although much of my time at NUS was taken up due to assignments, I found myself in the most unlikeliest of places with the realest people I knew. I am someone who is willing to do the impossible and that is something I learned from those around me. Up until now, I have only been to three different countries, but despite these popular destinations, I often wander off path. And what I find amazes me every single time, even when I flip through all the memories I've captured. To me, that's more important than doing touristy things. So for my last few stories, wherever I am, I'll be all there. After a weeklong battle of group presentations and a take home midterm, I unwounded at our University Cultural Centre’s Concert Hall to support my friend, Felice, for NUS Wind Symphony's InTempo 2019: Of Music and Hope performance. The event took part of NUS Arts Festival 2019 featuring pieces inspired by personal experiences and stories of hope. It was just what I needed before ending Week 10 with another round of group presentations :) My most favorite part of the performance was not only the pieces performed — but, a sense of hope. Music bridges people from all over the world together and it reminds us that we all go through times when nothing seems right. To be able to reflect that message through each individual piece, it creates a brief moment of happiness and hope — something that I have been lacking due to the increasing difficulty in completing my course assignment and requirements. Hong Kong pt. II | March 26 - March 28, 2019 Cathay Pacific has a lot of promotions & there was one recently for students; so, I booked a ticket back to Hong Kong to fit in a few more trips before I leave Singapore. Hong Kong will always be a home away from home for me — I can’t understand or speak Cantonese, but it’s not too hard to adapt in this fast-paced city that never sleeps. Another reason for returning is that sadly, the neon-lights that once lit up Hong Kong are starting to really disappear. I wanted to document whatever I could as well as squeeze in time to visit my very talented best friend. For 48 hours, I zipped through the streets of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon day and night. This time, I didn't have much time to enjoy Hong Kong as much as I wanted to, but as I sat across from my best friend — I knew I made the right choice.
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Apa Kabar, Ni Hao! My name is Irene Chen. I am currently a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa pursuing a BBA in Accounting & Finance. Join me on this journey through Singapore!
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