Julie's Travel Blog

2025 - Lookback

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This is my customary lookback post which I update in this blog during the last week of each year.

May - Travelled to Andalucía Spain and Lisbon

I made this trip simply because Saudia was selling a return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Madrid at RM2,250.00 only.

I seized the opportunity to visit Andalusia Spain to see the three great monuments of the region, i.e. the Alhambra in Granada, the Seville Cathedral in Seville and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

After ticking off all the monuments, I took the bus from Seville to Lisbon and spent 3 nights there before flying back to Madrid to catch my flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

I fell in love with Plaza de Espana in Seville the moment I saw it for the first time.

June - Travelled to Kluang and Johor Bahru for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

In June we took the opportunity to visit the remaining two Jubilee parishes in the Malacca-Johor Diocese, i.e. the Church of St Louis in Kluang, and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Johor Bahru.

From Kuala Lumpur, we took the bus to Kluang to attend Friday evening Mass at the Church of St Louis. The next day we continued our journey to Johor Bahru to attend Sunset Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

One of the most pleasant discoveries of this pilgrimage was not religious related but food related - I discovered the most delicious cendol ever - Kluang Cendol.

The coconut milk was thick. The gula melaka (palm sugar) was sweet enough. And when both ingredients combined with the shaved ice and condiments, just hits the right spot.

The best part is that a bowl of cendol costs only ... hold your breath ... RM2.50.

Based on my taste buds, the Kluang Cendol is better than the Lebuh Keng Kwee one in Penang.

July - Encore Malacca

Went with the family to watch Encore Melaka - acclaimed to be the most advanced immersive experience in Southeast Asia.

My verdict: The visuals were colourful and vibrant. The choreography was not too bad. And the best part is that the stage is revolving. As the stage turns, the ceiling looks like the bottom of the Millennium Falcon.

However, the story line had no flow. Certain scenes didn't blend into the storyline and didn't make sense at all.

One of the scenes from Encore Melaka.

August - Short get-away to Kota Kinabalu

My work was getting overwhelmed and stressful, so I took a 3-night break to Kota Kinabalu and stayed at the Nexus Karambunai Resort.

The resort had so much potential - large grounds that made it perfect for families with children to run around. I think this is the biggest resort (in terms of physical space) I ever stayed in.

However, the resort lacked maintenance and poorly trained staff. When it's busy during breakfast, it takes a long time for staff to replenish the food, most probably due to lack of manpower. The food is also not delicious and if you order ala carte, it's super expensive. Imagine paying so much for lousy food.

Even though the resort was run down and lack proper maintenance, it had a lovely beach and a glorious sunset.

September - Travelled to Okinawa

When we arrived at Okinawa, we stayed at Naha for a couple of days. We walked Kokusai Dori shopping street and visited Shuri Castle.

In Naha, we took a ferry from Tomami Ferry Terminal to Zamami Island for a day-trip and snorkeled at Furuzamami Beach.

After Naha, we travelled to Chatan to see the American Village, something which is not common in Japan.

Whilst in Chatan, we took the Chatan Adventure Highway Bus for a day-trip to Churaumi Aquarium. The sea life and conservation work at the aquarium is amazing.

Apart from travelling, we also pigged out on Okinawan F&B like shuri soba, spam musubi, goya champuru, Blue Seal ice-cream, and the many flavours of Orion beer. I loved goya champuru so much that I learnt how to prepare it when I returned to KL.

Goya champuru is an Okinawan stir-fried dish.

This is a clip of the ferry ride to Zamami Island. The aquamarine colours of the sea is mesmerizing:

September - Celebrated 10th Anniversary in my current employment

When I first joined the company I did not expect or plan to stay that long. However, when work became busy and the pandemic came a calling, suddenly ten years have passed.

I don't know whether staying in a company for that long is a sign of loyalty, complacency, or a lack of ambition; which is something to reflect on.

October - Travelled to Penang for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

I made this trip to cover the pilgrim centres of Church of the Assumption and Church of St Mary.

I took an early morning flight to Penang and made my way to Church of the Assumption in Georgetown to attend the Friday afternoon Mass.

After Mass, I took the ferry from Pengkalan Weld to Butterworth and checked into a hotel near Penang Sentral.

That evening, I took a GRAB to the Church of St Mary in Permatang Tinggi to attend the Friday evening Mass.

The next morning I took the bus back to Kuala Lumpur.

I was in and out of Penang in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

Church of the Assumption in Georgetown, Penang.

November - Travelled to Oman and United Arab Emirates

When I was planning my trip to Oman, a friend who used to work there advised that the best parts of Oman are outside its capital, Muscat.

So I took his advice and visited Wadi Bani Khalid and Wahiba Desert. The desert experience was amazing!

I also managed to watch a performance at the Royal Opera House in Muscat.

I visited UAE to add another country to the list. Furthermore, it's location beside Oman makes it perfect stopover.

In Dubai I spent most of my time at Dubai Mall watching the fountain show. The sound and light together with the projections on Burj Khalifa was incredible. I enjoyed it very much.

Wahiba Sands.

December - Travelled to Kuantan for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

Did a 1-night trip to Church of St Thomas in Kuantan and with that I can humble brag that I've visited all the designated pilgrim centres in Peninsular Malaysia except for the one in Ipoh because it's located in an area inaccessible by public transport.

Summary

2025 being the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Roman Catholic Church, I spent more resources travelling to the pilgrim centres to gain indulgences. In fact, when the year was launched in December 2024 and the eleven designated pilgrim centres in the three dioceses of Peninsular Malaysia were announced, I made it a goal to visit every one of them except for Chapel of Annai Velangani in Ipoh because it's located in an area inaccessible by public transport. I wanted to stamp my pilgrim passport and a conventional passport (expired) with the special stamps available at the pilgrim centres.

In 2025 I only travelled to 3 new countries as compared to 2024 when I covered 8 new countries.

What will 2026 bring? Well, I already have a big trip planned in May/June. Apart from that I don't have any other trips planned yet.

But I'm certain that more travels will manifest when the time comes. It all depends on my work schedule, availability of cheap flight tickets, etc.

How many countries are there?

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Fri, 23 May 2025 05:56:00 +0800

When I was researching the number of countries, I discovered that it ranges between 193 to 237, depending on your source.

According to The World Factbook by the United States CIA, there're 254 countries in total.

On the other hand, the United Nations has 193 members states + 2 non-member states (Vatican City and Palestine) making it a total of 195 countries.

The difference in numbers is largely due to disputed zones, special administrative regions, and nations that hold either full or partial sovereignty. Some of these areas include Crimea, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Kosovo and Taiwan.

It's in my bucket list to visit 50 countries by the time I reach half a century old. At the point of writing, I'm at country 47.

So which figure should I use to chart my travel plans?

I've decided to use the United Nations figure of 195 countries.

2024 - 'Revenge Travel' Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:17:00 +0800

2024 was a continuation of 'revenge travel' from the year before. I needed to restore hope after the pandemic destroyed my travel hopes and dreams for about 3 years from 2020 till 2023.

Here's a lookback at my travels in 2024.

February - Travelled to Taipei

The main purpose of my trip to Taipei was to visit a fellow traveler whom I had met when I was travelling in Tunis in December 2023. He had relocated temporarily to Taipei and I took the opportunity to visit Taipei too.

The highlight of that trip was hiking at Yangmingshan National Park.

Interestingly, I visited Taipei again in May when I was on a long transit back from Kagoshima.

I love this colourful piece of art becomes life at the Taoyuan International Airport.

April - Travelled to Central Asia

I made this trip simply because AirAsia had launched a new route between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, and there were promotional tickets.

Since I was going to be in that part of the world, I took the opportunity to visit 3 more countries in Central Asia, i.e. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

All in all, I covered 5 cities in 4 different countries. The cities were Almaty, Dushanbe, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bishkek.

If you have the opportunity to visit Samarkand, don't miss the Registan Square. Begin your visit around 7:00pm and end with the light and sound show which begins at 8:00pm daily.

May - Travelled to Kagoshima

This was an unplanned trip.

Earlier in February, I had reconnected with a former college mate after more than 20 years! And whilst talking, he invited me to join him to visit Kagoshima.

Highlights of the trip was taking the ferry to Sakurajima, watched a dolphin show at Kagoshima City Aquarium, and made a road trip to Kirishima Geopark where we hiked to Mt Karakuni.

I was pleasantly surprise to discover that Kagoshima was St Francis Xavier's landing spot when he brought Christianity to Japan.

The Japanese Yen had depreciated against the Malaysian Ringgit, so I took the opportunity to purchase apparels from Muji and Uniqlo because it's cheaper in the home land. As a foreign tourist, I get to shop tax free with min purchase of JPY5,000. Just flash your passport and you'll get the discount on the spot! No need to hassle and redeem the discounts at the airport.

We hiked to the summit of Mt Karakuni (1,700 metres) and saw craters which used to be active volcanoes. Some of the craters were active and I could hear rumblings from the belly of the earth.

June - Travelled to Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB)

I purposely made this trip to BSB so that I can add another country to my List of Countries that I've Visited.

Two highlights of the trip were attending Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and visiting Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

There's nothing much to see and do in BSB (which explains why I've never had a desire to visit Brunei) so we went to a mall to watch Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga which I found difficult to like especially after the genius of Mad Max: Fury Road.

Inside the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

September - Travelled to Colombo

In about two days we covered the main sights in Colombo such as St Anthony's Shrine, Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, and Gangaramaya Temple.

On the third day, we hired a car and a driver to visit Sigiriya Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple. Initially we wanted to join a local tour to those places, but Sri Lanka does not have group tours like other countries. So we had no choice but to pay for a car and a driver which were relatively expensive.

I was eager to visit Kandy but we only had a limited number of days for this trip. But now I have an excuse to revisit Sri Lanka.

It was a public holiday in Sri Lanka when we visited Sigiriya Fortress and the locals were out and about. The crowd was so big that we ditched the idea of climbing to the top of the fortress.

October - Travelled to Penang for a pilgrimage

This is the second consecutive year that Samaritan Hope Home organised a pilgrimage for its volunteers and benefactors.

On this pilgrimage we visited the Penang Diocesan Museum in Georgetown, College General in Tanjung Bungah and the Minor Basilica of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam.

The Minor Basilica of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam was one of the places we visited.

November - Travelled to Maldives

The highlight of my trip to Maldives was a day trip where we visited a sand bank in the middle of the sea, stopped for lunch at Himmafushi, and went snorkeling to look for stingray.

Along the way, we spotted a pod of dolphins which got everyone on the boat excited. Who doesn't love dolphins.

Artificial Beach in Male. When I posted this pic in Instagram, someone asked why do they need to create an artificial beach when Maldives already have natural beaches.

December - Travelled to Langkawi for a wedding

This is the first destination wedding that I've attended.

It was held at The Danna Langkawi which was a great experience albeit the rates. After discount, a basic room was RM1,300.00 per night for 2 pax with breakfast.

Looking ahead

In conclusion, I visited 8 new countries in 2024, and made a second visit to Japan (last visit was in June 2017).

How many new countries will I visit in 2025? I better start planning now.

Cheap meal in Colombo

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 03:30:00 +0800

During my trip to Colombo, Sri Lanka in September, I enjoyed one of the cheapest meals.

It consists of steamed white rice, two types of vegetables, a hard boiled egg, and a generous portion of dhal curry.

We even asked for a second helping of dhal curry which the eatery gave us generously.

All this for LDR 300.

When I converted LDR300 into my local currency it was a steal.

The taste was quite good and I finished the whole plate. It was a lot of carbs but provided sufficient energy for all the walking done on that day.

Review on Uncle Roger's Fried Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 05:26:00 +0800

A couple of Mondays ago, I left work on time and decided to drop by the Fuiyoh! It's Uncle Roger outlet at Pavilion Bukit Bintang mall to try his infamous fried rice.

There was a queue in front of the outlet, comprising of working crowd in the area who had got off work, as well as tourists. Thankfully, the patrons inside the restaurant finished their meal fast and I was seated within 20 minutes.

The menu had limited choices of food. Apart from a few types of fried rice and side dishes, there was nothing else. I was disappointed.

In the end, I ordered the UR's Special Fry Rice with Crispy Sunny Side Up that looks like this:

It costs RM27.85 for this plate of fried rice, which in my opinion is totally not worth the money.

The fried rice was quite dry to my liking, and the taste was average if eaten on its own. What gave the rice a taste boost was the accompanying sambal which was served in a soy sauce plate.

The portion was small. If I'm playing almost RM30.00 for a plate of fried rice which had to depend on sambal to save it, it better well be a bigger portion. However, that was not the case. Hungry patrons or big eaters would need at least two portions to fill their bellies.

The couple at the table beside me shared a tiny plate of fried rice, so I assumed they were there just to try the fried rice and see what the hype is all about.

For me, it would certainly be a long time till I patronize the outlet again.

Riding the Metro in Tashkent

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 05:29:00 +0800

When I was in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in April, I used the Metro to travel around the city. It was fast, reliable and economical. The Metro was my sole mode of transport, apart from the Yandex e-hailing app that I used to travel between Gulnara Guesthouse and Tashkent International Airport to catch my flights around Central Asia.

When I first stepped into a Metro station in Tashkent, the signages are in Russian. Even the announcements before the train was about to stop at each station was made in the local language.

I thought how the hell am I gonna know which platform to wait at, which train to take, or which station to get off.

So I downloaded the Metro map, and kept track of the number of stops. And after listening attentively, I soon became accustomed to hearing the station name being announced in the local language.

You may find the Tashkent Metro Map and other information in the official website here.

Entrance to a metro station. Notice that the name is written in Cyrillic.

The Metro stations in Tashkent are works of art. These stations have a similar look and feel to the Metro stations in Saint Petersburg, Russia because Uzbekistan was formerly under the Soviet Union.

A little history: The Soviet government had established the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic as a constituent (union) republic of the U.S.S.R. in 1924. Uzbekistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on 31 August 1991 (same independence day as Malaysia!).

Now let me share with you three stunning Metro stations in Tashkent that I came across whilst roaming the city using the Metro:

Tinchlik station

Alisher Navoi station

Tashkent station

If you have the opportunity, I hope you will be inspired to visit Tashkent, if not simply to see these beautiful Metro stations.

And if you wish to learn more about the Metro in Tashkent, I stumbled across this very informative blog, Journal of Nomads, link here. You're welcome.

4 Reasons Why I Prefer Hostels to Airbnb

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:57:00 +0800

As a solo traveler, I prefer staying at hostels instead of the ever popular Airbnb.

I have friends who always opt for Airbnbs whenever they travel, even when they're travelling solo. They like the interiors of the accommodation (Instagrammable!), they like the privacy and facilities that Airbnb offers, etc. Well, to each his/her own.

Here, I list down four reasons why hostels are my favorite type of accommodation whenever I travel.

Reason #1 - Hostels are economical

Travelling can be expensive, especially when travelling to a country which has a stronger currency compared to the currency in which we're earning.

Coming from Malaysia and travelling to countries in Scandinavia or Western Europe may burn deep holes in my pocket. One way to manage travelling expenses is to opt for economical options such as hostels.

If I'm travelling with a companion or two, it would make sense to stay at an Airbnb because the cost is shared. However, that option would be costly for a solo traveler as I'll have to solely bear the cost. Therefore, hostels offer the most economical option for solo travelers.

Having said that, in some cheaper countries, the rate of a private room with ensuite bathroom may be equivalent to that of a dorm bed in a more expensive country. If I'm travelling to these cheaper countries, I'll usually select the private room.

My first experience staying at an Airbnb was in Japan (June 2017). We selected that option because my travel partner wanted to experience it. Our Airbnb in Tokyo was located in this building. Pardon the garbage bags in the photo.

Reason #2 - **Hostels are the place to meet fellow travelers**

In many of my trips, I've met other wonderful travelers at the hostels where I stayed. We exchange travel stories and travel tips. And if we connect, we go out for meals and drinks, and even do day-trips together.

During my trip to Central Asia in March, I visited five cities in four different countries. When I was in Dushanbe, Tajikistan there were only three other travelers at Bruce Hostel where I stayed. So the four of us went out for meals and drinks and had deep conversations about life. We can never be alone at hostels.

On the other end of the personality pole, I understand that staying at hostels may not be everyone's preference especially for introverts, private people, or people who have a general dislike for other homo sapiens. For people with such personalities, staying at Airbnb or hotels makes them feel comfortable.

I stayed at Soul Kitchen hostel when I was in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Sept 2018). The large common area/living room was a great place to meet other travelers. I snapped this photo at around 5:00pm when all the travelers were out.

Reason #3 - Hostels are a good source of information

Whenever I arrive at a particular city or town for the first time, I usually look for information such as how to get to a particular location, are there local tours, the best eateries serving local delicacies, etc. Hostels usually have such information readily available. More established hostels even organize in-house activities for their guests such as walking tours, pub crawls, and cooking classes.

I stayed at Tree House Hostel in Riga, Latvia (Sept 2018). I love the white color interiors which makes it look immaculate. Posting the pic here, just because.

Reason #4 - Safety / Help is at hand

Whenever I travel solo, safety would be a priority.

If I stay at hostels, I can always seek help from the staff or from other travelers staying at the hostel. For instance, when I was in Cairo in February 2008, local men tried to chat me up, and some even followed me. I remember one guy asked me to help him promote his tour business. Another became aggressive when I politely turned down his offer to see his souvenir shop. Whenever it gets overwhelming and I feel that my safety is being compromised, I would quickly return to my hostel. In all of those instances, the men stopped following me.

If I stay at an Airbnb, I would be alone in the unit. If anything untoward happens such as a health situation, or an accident, there won't be anyone around where I can seek immediate help.

In spite of the peace of mind that staying in hostels offers, there are certain hostels without a reception or staff. For example, when I was in Malta in December 2023, both the hostels that I stayed in did not have staff. Instead, instructions to check-in, the code to access the main door, how to find the dorm and bed, location of bathroom, etc. were communicated via WhatsApp prior to my check-in date. If I needed anything, I would have to either text the person who sent me those instructions, or ask the other travelers at the hostel. I find this way of operating a hostel impersonal and there's no immediate place to seek help if I needed it.

Certain hostels provide travel warnings to their guests, like this signage at Wombat's The City Hostel in Budapest, Hungary (Oct 2019).

Now that I've shared four reasons why I prefer hostels to Airbnb, let me know in the comments section which is your favorite type of accommodation.

St Francis Xavier Brought Christianity to Japan, Kagoshima was His Landing Spot

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:53:00 +0800

During my recent trip to Kagoshima (in May 2024), I discovered that St Francis Xavier had brought Christianity to Japan.

His point of landing in the Land of the Rising Sun was at Kagoshima in August 1549. Today, the Diocese of Kagoshima have named their cathedral in honour of the saint.

St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Kagoshima.

Statue of St Francis Xavier in front of the cathedral.

Like most churches in Japan, Mass is celebrated on the first floor instead of the ground floor.

Sanctuary and altar.

There is a pipe organ in the choir loft.

A cathedral is the seat of the bishop and that is the Bishop of Kagoshima's coat of arms.

A monstrance displayed by the side of the sanctuary:

English language Mass on Sundays are celebrated at 3:00pm, here's the signage:

The English language Mass is celebrated in the chapel on the ground floor:

Mass is celebrated in this chapel.

Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the grounds of the cathedral.

Opposite the cathedral there is a park aptly named "Xavier Park" in honour of St Francis Xavier.

Let me show you some pics of what's in the park.

Ruins of a doorway that marks the entrance to the park.

Bust head of St Francis Xavier.

Statue of St Francis Xavier on mission in Kagoshima.

At the park there's a signage displaying a chronological record of St Francis Xavier in Japan. I was delighted to see that his last port of call before sailing to Japan was good old Malacca!

It took St Francis Xavier around 2 months to sail from Malacca to Kagoshima.

There is also a St Francis Xavier Historical Trail that pilgrims and history buffs could do in Kagoshima.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to do the trail and that is a good excuse to revisit Kagoshima.

Day trip from Catania to Syracuse

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 22:36:00 +0800

When I was planning my trip to Sicily in November 2023, Syracuse was in the list of must-visit places.

One of the reasons was because the movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny had featured Greek mathematician and psychist Archimedes (287 B.C. - 212 B.C) who was born in Syracuse. The inventions of Archimedes, some of which are still used today has caused him to be regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time.

On that morning, I headed to the ticket office in Catania to purchase a return ticket to Syracuse. The ticket office is located on the ground floor of this building:

The ticket office is the blue coloured lot on the right.

Buses to Syracuse leaves around the clock. The journey takes about 1.5 hours (one way).

I bought a ticket for the 9:45am bus that leaves from Catania to Syracuse, and a return ticket (on the same day) for the bus that leaves Syracuse at 4:00pm to Catania. The return ticket costs Euro 9.60.

After purchasing the tickets, I headed to Terminal Bus Citta di Catania which is located about 50 metres from the ticket office:

If you're unsure which berth the bus to Syracuse departs from, ask the Security Office at the entrance of the station.

The bus from Catania to Syracuse looks like this:

This is the bus station in Syracuse where the bus drops off passengers:

It actually looks more like a bus stop than a bus station.

When I got off the bus, I made sure I could find my way back to the station in time to catch the 4:00pm bus back to Catania.

On this day trip, I didn't make a plan to visit every "must-see" in Syracuse. I just wanted to walk around and see what's in Syracuse. After all, it was a day trip and there is only so much one can do in a day trip.

I whipped out my mobile phone, activated Google Maps and navigated myself to Ponte Umbertino which separates Syracuse from the island of Ortigia.

On my way to Ponte Umbertino, I stopped at a cafe to have a traditional Sicilian dessert which I found too sweet for my liking:

Cassata Siciliana

This is the view from Ponte Umbertino which separates Syracuse from the island of Ortigia:

After crossing Ponte Umbertino, I continued walking and came across this lovely fountain depicting the myth of Diana, Arethusa and Alphaeus:

Soon, I arrived at the Syracuse Cathedral which is one of the city's star attraction:

Syracuse Cathedral

There was an entrance fee to enter the cathedral, so I decided to skip it. After all, I have already visited so many beautiful and magnificent churches in Sicily. Not visiting this one ain't gonna make a difference.

By the time I took all the photos I wanted of the Syracuse Cathedral, it was already past lunchtime. So I started looking for a place to eat.

A fellow traveler whom I had met in Catania had recommended a reasonably priced restaurant in Syracuse.

When I located the restaurant, it was full of people. I went up to the staff and enquired if there are tables available. The lady at the counter quickly set up a table for me, and I happily ordered my food.

I ordered this traditional Sicilian eggplant dish (which was bloody delicious!) and a glass of red wine:

Caponata

After lunch I walked along the corniche to look at ships:

It was a windy day and the waves were choppy. I was imagining how the seafarers and navigators in ancient times steered their boats and ships in such a condition and without modern equipment.

Soon it was time to head back to the bus station to take the bus back to Catania.

All in all, it was an interesting day-trip to Syracuse. Although I didn't visit many of the top spots in Syracuse such as the museums, and I barely scratched the surface of exploring Syracuse thoroughly, I am glad to have the opportunity to visit the beautiful city.

Bye bye Taffy :-(

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 22:17:00 +0800

After 17 years with the family, our beloved Australian Silky Terrier, Taffy was put down.

At that age, she had become blind and had deteriorated to skin and bones. She could hardly stand up and could only consume liquid food.

So, with a very heavy heart, a decision was made to end her suffering.

Taffy was given a grand pet farewell. She was cremated and her ashes are now mixed with soil and kept in a flower pot in the garden with a tombstone.

With the lost of Rambo in December 2023, and now Taffy, we lost two dogs within four months of each other.

English language Mass at the Church of St Benedict in Catania

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:23:00 +0800

(Information correct as at November 2023)

Visitors in Catania who wish to attend English language Mass would naturally go to the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Agatha.

However, there are no English language Mass celebrated there. Furthermore, the website is in Italian and the Mass times are not updated in the website.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Agatha is located at Piazza del Duomo in Catania.

When I went to the cathedral to see if they had English language Mass, I was pleasantly surprised to see a notice on the bulletin board that English language Mass is celebrated at the Church of Saint Benedict which is located 350m away from the cathedral.

English language Mass is celebrated at the Church of St Benedict on Sundays and Solemnities at 11:00am.

I quickly used Google Maps and navigated myself to the church.

Along the way, I saw information on the history and significance of the church. Here, read the information before I show you to the interiors of the church:

When I found the church and entered it, I could only gap in amazement at the interiors, particularly the ceiling:

The sentence in the information board outside the Church of St Benedict, describing it as "Among the most important churches of the Sicilian baroque and among the most beautiful in Europe" is true indeed.

Since I was the first person who arrived for Mass, the person-in-charge invited me to become lector for the First Reading. I was delighted at the opportunity and agreed immediately. It was the Feast of Christ the King.

Here are more pics of the church:

So if you wish to attend English language Mass in Catania, make your way to the Church of St Benedict. English language Mass is celebrated there on Sundays and Solemnities at 11:00am.

Taking the Ferry from Palermo to Tunis

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:10:00 +0800

(All information correct as at December 2023)

During a big trip to the Mediterranean in December 2023, I took the GNV ferry from Palermo, Sicily to Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

Here is an account of my experience purchasing the ticket, getting onto the ferry, reaching Tunis and clearing immigration, and finally taking the taxi to my hostel at past midnight.

Grandi Navi Veloci ("GNV") is the only ferry line that sails between Palermo and Tunis. It departs the port of Palermo every Saturday at 12:30pm and reaches the port of Tunis (La Goulette) at around 11:30pm, a journey of approximately 12 hours.

Instead of purchasing the ticket online, I decided to do so in-person at the ticket office because I wanted to familiarize myself with the area so that I won't get lost on the day the ferry departs. The ticket office and where the ferry departs is at the same location.

The GNV ticket office is located inside the port of Palermo.

This is the entrance to the port. It's a busy area with many trucks and wheelers moving in and out.

The ticket office is on the left side as I walked into the port.

It was challenging to find the ticket office but I kept my eyes peeled for the GNV signage.

There was a path that leads to the GNV ticket office. Notice the blue colored signage pointing the direction.

After much walking I finally found the ticket office.

So happy to finally found the GNV ticket office!

On sailing day, I arrived early at GNV ticket office to pick-up my boarding pass and pay a fee.

Then, I headed to Immigration to stamp my passport out from Sicily. Immigration is a simple set-up under white tents.

Upon clearing Immigration, passengers moved to the waiting area which is also under a tent.

Immigration and waiting area are under tents, which certainly needs improvement.

There are limited chairs/seats in the waiting area and it became congested when more passengers started arriving. People were sitting on their luggage and even on the floor. The authorities needs to provide a more comfortable waiting area instead of a tiny tent.

After waiting for about 2 hours, it was time to board the ferry.

Passengers hurrying across the tarmac with their luggage to board the ferry.

At the entrance to the ferry an officer was checking passports before we could board. When it was my turn, she flipped open my passport and glanced at it with a puzzled look on her face. She asked my purpose of travelling to Tunisia and appeared unsure whether Malaysians needed a visa to enter the country. Then she told me to wait by the side whilst she called someone on the walkie talkie to check. After waiting for about 15 minutes, I was allowed to board the ferry. What a relief!

Passengers boarding the ferry.

There are three types of tickets available on the ferry, i.e. the Pullman seats, cabin and suite.

Since the journey between Palermo and Tunis was around 12 hours, I figured it would be more comfortable to take the cabin instead of Pullman seats so that I can snooze comfortably.

I thought that I was going to be the only one in the cabin but was surprised when another lady was already there when I finally found the cabin.

This is how a cabin in the ferry looks like.

The cabin has an ensuite bathroom complete with shower, sink and WC.

At around 10:00pm, they announced that the ferry was to arrive at the port of Tunis (La Goulette) at 11:45pm, and that passengers are to leave the cabins and wait in the common area.

When I left my cabin, the crew were already waiting outside waiting to clean it.

Everything that happened after that was a mess, from the Tunisian Immigration to the taxi driver trying to fleece me.

At Immigration at La Goulette, I experienced the same thing like when boarding the ferry. This time the immigration officer brought me to see his superior who was standing by the side. The superior asked my purpose of travelling to Tunisia and appeared unsure whether Malaysians needed a visa to enter the country. With all these challenges, I couldn't help thinking that I'm probably the first Malaysian to travel to Tunisia via ferry. After thinking long and hard, the superior nodded to the officer signaling that I could proceed to enter the country. A second relief on that journey!

When I exited the area, a bunch of taxi drivers a.k.a. touts surrounded me. After bargaining with one of them, we agreed on a price and I boarded the taxi.

Throughout the journey to the hostel, the driver explained about the port of La Goulette.

When we arrived at the area where my hostel, Auberge El Medina is located, the driver couldn't find the hostel. He said that the hostel is located inside the souk where a taxi is unable to access. I was tempted to leave the taxi and find the hostel on foot because it would be much easier. But because it was already pass midnight, and my first time in Tunis - I was certainly not going to risk my safety. So I requested the driver to continue looking for the hostel.

After driving around in circles and asking a few people for directions, we finally met a guy who said that he knows where the hostel is and that he would bring me to it. He probably saw my anxious and tired face because he said that he promised my safety.

When I got out of the taxi with my luggage, the guy asked the driver how much was the fare. Then I saw them talking and the guy raised his voice at the driver who then took some cash out of his breast pocket and gave it to the guy.

After the driver drove off in a haste, the guy said that the driver had overcharged me and returned me the money. I thought that was such a good gesture!

Then the guy brought me to the doorstep of the hostel which was not very far away.

As we were walking, he told me that he works for a bank. I suppose that is why he speaks good English and has integrity. If I remember correctly, he said that his name was Fareed and that he lives in the area. Well, Fareed, thank you for being a gentleman; you made my day.

Malta to Sicily with Virtu Ferries

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:21:00 +0800

During my trip to the Mediterranean in November, I visited Malta, the island of Sicily (in Italy) and Tunis (capital of Tunisia).

From Malta, I travelled to Sicily on Virtu Ferries.

Since it was the low season, there was only one ferry which departs Valletta (in Malta) at 5:00am, and arrives at Pozzallo (in Sicily) at 6:45am.

I was glad that Virtu Ferries also provides a coach transfer from Pozzallo to Catania (capital of Sicily). The journey was approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and saves passengers the hassle of having to look for transport from Pozzallo to Catania.

This is the route from Malta to Catania:

I took the ferry from Virtu Ferries Passenger Terminal in Malta to Pozzallo, and then onwards to Catania by coach.

The day before my ferry was scheduled to depart from Valletta, I received an SMS saying that the departure time has been brought forward to 4:00am (original time was 5:00am) due to bad weather. And the coach from Pozzallo to Catania will arrive at 8:45am.

Since foot passengers are required to be at the passenger terminal 1 hour before the ferry departs, I didn't want to be late and left my hostel in Valletta early around 2:15am. I booked a Bolt and reached Virtue Ferries Passenger Terminal around 2.30am.

This is the passenger terminal:

I was around 30 minutes early and there was no one else around at that time:

It is always good to be early when catching planes, buses and ferries.

When the gates opened at 3:00am, I showed my boarding pass and passport to the personnel and proceeded to board the vessel named Saint John Paul II:

Virtu Ferries must have strong connections with the Vatican. Both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have made visits on board the ferries.

Saint John Paul II vessel has 3 levels, as shown in the Evacuation Plan:

It was free seating so I found a seat towards the back where there was a power point to charge my devices:

The vessel doesn't look like a typical ferry at all, but more like a cruise ship (although I haven't been on one myself)

There're slot machines for passengers who need to while away time on the high seas:

It was around 4:00am and in the low season (read: not many passengers), therefore the slot machines were not switched on.

Passengers who don't play slot machines may window shop:

There is a section upstairs for First Class Passengers. However the area was not accessible at that time:

Just like airlines, Virtu Ferries has its own in-house magazine too:

It can get choppy on the high seas and Virtu Ferries have prepared vomit bags:

If you decide to travel from Malta to Sicily, do consider taking the ferry. It is convenient, safe and comfortable.

My new travel sling bag

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Mon, 1 Jan 2024 14:28:00 +0800

Meet my new crossbody sling bag that I had purchase specially for my travels:

The bag is from Kenvelo, a brand with origins from the Czech Republic.

A plus point of getting this brand is that its products meet the Global Recycled Standard:

I got the bag from Travel for All at RM129.00 which was a 50% discount from the original price of RM259.00. Year-end sale, mah.

I used to carry a medium size Longchamp Le Pilage when travelling. I carried in when exploring cities, on trains and busses, etc. but it was a tad too big and inconvenient when moving around. Each time I wanted to retrieve something from the bag, I had to place it on a flat surface first before pulling the zip open.

Soon, I moved to an Adidas crossbody sling bag. With such a bag, I could unzip the bag whilst the bag still slung over my body. Going in and out of airports and immigration is convenient with a sling bag because I can easily fish out my passport.

I can also keep the bag in front of me, or hold it close to my body in case of pick pockets or theft.

However, the Adidas crossbody sling bag have become too small for my needs. I need a bigger bag, but not one that is too big either. The Kenvelo crossbody sling bag fits the bill! It can fit a water bottle, folded umbrella, passport, wallet, pen and mobile phone with room for other essentials.

I can't wait to bring this bag on my next travel!

2023 - Reignited my travel mojo

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 08:55:00 +0800

2023 was an interesting year filled with many travels, and an unexpected big trip to the Mediterranean at the end of the year.

Here's a recap of the places I travelled to, as well as personal highs and lows in 2023:

Holiday to Perhentian Island (June)

I've been visiting the island annually, and this was my third consecutive year. I always stay at the same resort because I love the beach there!

Even though I've been to the same resort three times, and I see the same staff working there, interestingly, they never acknowledge me as a returning guest. As a former employee of an international hotel chain, and having written articles on hospitality, I feel that the resort could have a returning guest programme, or improve on its existing one (if there is one to begin with).

This year we splurged on a beach front chalet, and this was the view from our chalet:

Participated in Kuching Marathon (1 October)

Two days before the half marathon, I fell sick.

I had a sore throat, flu and body aches. I was praying that I would recover before the run, which I did, albeit not fully.

As my body was still weak, I walked for most parts of the race and completed it within the 4 hour cut-off time (not gonna reveal my embarrassing time here).

Trip to Sandakan (November)

A colleague wanted to see monkeys and sun bears, so I organised the trip for her, considering that I went on the same trip couple of years ago.

We hired a driver for the day who drove us to the following places:

a) Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
b) Sepilok Orang Utan Centre
c) Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
d) Rainforest Discovery Centre

Amongst all the spots, my favourite was the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

This proboscis monkey looks like it's wearing a bomber jacket.

Pilgrimage got cancelled (November)

I was supposed to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but it got cancelled due to the war. I wrote about the experience in my column in Herald.

As there's a silver lining in every dark cloud, I went on a "revenge" trip instead to make-up for the disappointment of a cancelled pilgrimage.

Trip to Malta, Sicily and Tunis (November/December)

Since it was a last minute trip. it took me roughly a month to plan the trip and make all the bookings.

My trip began in Malta, after which I took the ferry from Valletta to Pozzalo (in Sicily) and onwards to Catania. In Catania, I had a great time visiting Mt Etna, Taormina, Isola Bella and Syracuse.

From Catania, I took the bus to Palermo (capital of Sicily).

From Palermo, I took the ferry to Tunis. I may have been the first Malaysian to have travelled into Tunis via ferry. This is because at immigration (in Palermo and Tunis), I was asked to wait aside whilst the immigration officer checked whether Malaysians require a visa to enter Tunisia. You should see the puzzled faces of the immigration officers at La Goulette port in Tunis when they saw my passport. So for the record, Malaysians DO NOT need visa to enter Tunisia (as at December 2023).

When international borders were closed due to the pandemic, I couldn't travel outside Malaysia for 3 years, my last trip was in October 2019 to Central Europe. I thought I had lost my passion for travel. However, the trip to the Mediterranean have reignited my travel mojo.

Street food at Ballaro Market in Palermo.

My mum's dog passed away (3 December)

I was in Tunis when my sister messaged to inform that our beloved dog, Rambo had passed on that morning. She found him lying motionless on the floor with a stream of blood flowing from his mouth.

Rambo was a stray that turned up regularly at my mum's place, and she eventually adopted him into the family in 2017. Therefore, we don't know his exact age.

My only regret was not going back to my mum's place to give Rambo pets and hugs before my big trip to the Mediterranean. Now it's goodbye forever :-(

Bye bye, Rambo ...

Completed my MBA (December)

I enrolled for the course during the pandemic lockdown when I had loads of time being stuck at home. I had ample time to follow the online lessons, and to complete my assignments.

The graduation ceremony was held on 3 December, but I had to give it a miss as I was travelling in Sicily at that time.

At the point of writing, I have yet to collect my certificate from the university. Without revealing the name of the university, I wouldn't encourage anyone to study there. The administrative part(s) of the university needs lots of improvement.

Maid of Honour in Singapore (December)

I was honoured (no pun intended) to become Maid of Honour at a friend's wedding in Singapore.

The Mass was held at the lovely Church of Saints Peter and Paul on Queen Street.

I made two short trips to Singapore on two consecutive weekends - to attend the wedding rehearsal, and for the wedding itself.

So what lies ahead in the new year?

I already have two trips planned in 2024. And this time, I'm planning those trips around projects and events that I need to complete at the office.

Chinese people the world over will also be celebrating the dragon lunar year in 2024 (CNY is on 10 Feb 2024). So I'm looking forward to 2024.

I wish everyone a year that is filled with hope, good health, and keep on having a growth mindset!

Finally Renewed my Passport

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 1 Jun 2023 00:40:00 +0800

I finally renewed my passport. It had expired in June 2020 and I didn't bother to renew it because the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height at that time and international borders were closed. So there was no point having a passport as I couldn't travel abroad.

Before renewing my passport on 8 May 2023, I made sure to read in the Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia website the requirements for passport photo, e.g. must wear dark coloured top, hair must be pulled back and not cover the face, ears must be seen, must not smile and show teeth, etc.

With that knowledge, I went confidently to a tiny photo studio at the Intermark to take my pic. I paid RM30 for 4 hard copies, and the soft copy was sent to my email too.

Next, was to apply for passport renewal through the Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia website. After filling up my details and uploading my pic, my application got accepted on the first try. Thank heavens! I've heard of stories where the pic was rejected and the applicant had to go to the Immigration Office in-person to take the pic there.

After 4 days, I received an email to collect my passport from UTC Kuala Lumpur, the centre which I had selected in my application.

When I went to UTC Kuala Lumpur to pick-up my passport, I presented my Identity Card (IC), receipt of payment (for the RM200 renewal fee) and the expired passport.

Alas, when the officer saw my documents, he said I had to update my IC before they could release my passport. I was aghast! This is why I detest going to Government offices because the nonsense that we need to comply makes life difficult.

The Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara office was opposite the Malaysian Immigration Office in UTC Kuala Lumpur. That is convenient, however I didn't bring necessary documents to update my IC.

To cut a long story short, I managed to update the address in my IC using the assessment rate notification issued by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. I didn't update my IC for 28 years!

After collecting my passport, I now have my travel power back. It is time to plan a trip abroad. Which country shall I go next?

Into my fourth passport now. My current one is in the fancy cover.

2022 - The Year I Climbed a Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:09:00 +0800

The only achievement that I am proud off this year was climbing Mount Kinabalu. It was my second time ascending the mountain, and I posted an entry about it onto my Facebook page. Here, take a read:

"Every hiker will snap a photo at this signboard when they reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu - to proof that they have reached the peak of one of the highest mountains in South East Asia.

To reach the summit, hikers would have to start hiking at 2.30am in pitch darkness with only a head lamp lighting their way. The steep incline, low oxygen level and freezing temperature makes the ascend more challenging. Therefore, when they reach the peak, it is their moment of achievement and glory.

On 20 June 2022, I had my mountaintop experience on the peak of Mount Kinabalu. But it is a shame that my three comrades did not make it to the summit within the time frame, and that is why I am the only one in the photo."

(Pics to come)

2021 - A Lost Year

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:22:00 +0800

Here we are at the end of another year.

2021 had passed by in the blink of an eye. I certainly didn't have time to reflect on the year that was - the wins, hits and misses.

(1) Resurrected my writing stint with Herald (July 2021)

I used to work as a full-time journalist with Herald circa 2001, but left after 1.5 years to join the corporate sector.

Now that a close friend has been appointed as the Editor in July, she had asked me to help with the reporting, which I gladly accepted.

In November, I began a monthly column in Herald titled, 'Faithfully Speaking'. God only knows how long I'll be able to sustain the column, but as the Bible says, nothing is impossible for God.

(2) Commenced postgraduate studies (July 2021)

A prelate said in his sermon that the pandemic lockdown is a time of grace which has been given to us, and that we should make good use of this time which we will not get back again.

After listening to that sermon, and motivated by my circumstances of working from home (indefinitely), I decided to invest in myself by enrolling in a long-distance MBA programme.

The assessment for each module comprises of 70% assignment and 30% written examination, the latter being a 24-hour open book examination. As a person who dislike exams (read my challenges to obtain the Chartered Banker qualifications in item No. 5 below), this long distance MBA programme is ideal for me. However, since it is not an in-person MBA programme, I don't get the full impact and experience of discussing case studies with fellow course mates.

(3) Completed two doses of vaccine on 4 August 2021

I wanted to be one of the last few in the country to take the vaccine so that others may take it first. However, since our turn to take the vaccine is determined by the MySejahtera app, I decided to go with the flow.

I wanted to get Pfizer vaccine because I was under the impression that it is widely accepted in many countries, which would make my global gallivanting easier once international borders reopened. Thanks to an acquaintance who has a wide network of connections, I was able to get the vaccine.

After the first jab, I suffered excruciating back pain that I could not get up whenever I laid down. I had to hold onto the sides and with a deep breath pull myself up. Getting up from bed takes a couple of minutes each morning. My menstrual cycle also became haywire, now early by 5 days each month. I suffered breakouts between my jawline and the bottom of my face. With all these complications I decided not to take the booster shot.

(4) Completed Chartered Banker Diploma (September 2021)

The journey from Professional Banker to Chartered Banker was a long and arduous journey. I certainly wouldn't want to do this again.

Update: I recorded my experience of studying for the Chartered Banker Diploma and posted it on my LinkedIn in August 2022:

"I received my Chartered Banker ("CB") qualification in June 2022. It was a long journey that thought me the importance of staying focus, changing tactics and not giving up. In order to receive the the CB qualification, candidates had to complete three modules which includes a compulsory, 'Professionalism, Ethics & Regulation' ("PER") module. Having completed two modules, PER was the final one that I had to complete in order to become a CB. Unfortunately I had sat for the exam thrice but did not make it. I was always short of 2 or 3 marks to pass. After the third unsuccessful attempt, I had to change tactics, because insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Since the PER module consists of 70% written examination and 30% assignment, I decided to redo my assignment. The decision paid off because my assignment scored higher marks than the initial one, and I finally pulled through the PER module! The three takeaways from this experience are: 1) Stay focused. It is easy to lose focus on our goals especially after failures and disappointments. But we need to keep our eye on the prize and don't let other distractions lure us away from our goal. 2) Change tactics. If what you have been doing is not bearing the results that you desire, perhaps it is time to reflect on what you have been doing wrong and make changes. 3) Don't give up. Few of my colleagues gave up pursuing the CB qualification after failing one module. They were afraid they will continue failing. Some of them lost interest along the way. If you are thinking of throwing in the towel, think instead of the satisfaction of success if you had trudged on and hadn't given up. Good luck!"

(5) Appeared on Conversation Hour (October 2021)

I accepted the invitation to appear on Conversation Hour because a BEC member had asked me.

Conversation Hour is a weekly talk-show on Facebook where guests from different backgrounds are invited to share their reflection on pre-determined Bible verses. The topic that I shared about was on the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14 - 30).

It was the first time appearing on a live talk show. The one thing I learnt from the experience is the importance of preparation. It is crucial to prepare talking points and rehearse your heart out.

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Now that we are on the onset of another new year, I pray and hope that we will always be healthy in body, mind and soul. And that our economy and livelihoods will improve.

Chasing Nouwen's Rembrandt in St Petersburg, Russia

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 2 Dec 2021 04:01:00 +0800

I first came to know about the book, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri Nouwen in June 2001 at a seminar in church. I must have been drawn to its cover and purchased it almost immediately.

The book essentially captures Nouwen's reflections on a painting by renowned Dutch artist, Rembrandt (1606 - 1669) titled, The Return of the Prodigal Son. As the name suggests, the painting is Rembrandt's interpretation of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11 - 32).

There were three parts in Nouwen's book that grabbed my attention:

From Chapter 7: “The true centre of Rembrandt’s painting is in the hands of the father. On them all the light is concentrated; on them the eyes of the bystanders are focused; in them mercy becomes flesh; upon them forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing come together, and through them, not only the tired son, but also the worn-out father find their rest.”

From Chapter 8: “It all began with the hands. The two are quite different. The father’s left hand touching the son’s shoulder is strong and muscular. The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son’s shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but, with its strength, also to hold. Even though there is a gentleness in the way the father’s left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip."

From Chapter 8: “How different is the father’s right hand! This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender. The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son’s shoulder. It wants to caress, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother’s hand.”

Nouwen’s reflections on Rembrandt’s masterpiece added a new dimension to my understanding of the parable of the prodigal son.

I made a mental note to look for the painting so that I can physically marvel at these observations that Nouwen had meticulously reflected on. I learnt that the painting is displayed at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In 2001, the dream seemed out of reach for me who lived 8,670km away.

Fast forward to September 2018 and I was planning a trip to the Baltics and Poland. My return flight was from Kuala Lumpur to Helsinki after which I would travel south towards the capital cities of the Baltic nations – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius; and onwards to Warsaw and Krakow in Poland.

While researching for the trip, I discovered that there was a free entry visa for travelers who enters Saint Petersburg by cruise ship or ferry.

I also discovered that Moby SPL Limited operates regular ferry services from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg.

That was a fantastic opportunity to organize a trip from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg before flying back to Kuala Lumpur. My quest to look for Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son was alive.

I arrived at Saint Petersburg with a carefully planned itinerary. Since I had less than 48 hours (due to the free entry visa), I could only experience selected activities like search for beautiful underground metro stations:

... watch a ballet performance titled, Le Corsaire at the Mariinsky Theatre:

... attend Sunday Mass at St Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church:

... and visit attractions such as Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood:

The entire ceiling and all walls of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood were covered in art.

... Kazan Cathedral:

I've not been to St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, so Kazan Cathedral is by far the biggest Christian house of worship I've been to.

and the Hermitage State Museum, or Hermitage, as it is popularly known as:

After getting off the ferry and checking into my hostel, I was already tired, but mustered enough energy to walk to the Hermitage.

After purchasing an entrance ticket, I picked up a museum guide and made my way into the building.

This statue of three girls caught my attention when I entered the Hermitage.

The first thing I did was to find my bearings and locate where the main exhibits were, especially Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son.

After wandering from room to room, from exhibit to exhibit, fatigue began to set in. The lack of clear and sufficient signages at the Hermitage didn’t help either. Information in the museum guide started becoming fuzzy.

Soon I came to the end of the building. Thinking that Rembrandt’s masterpiece was in the next building, I exited the building that I was in.

There was a personnel on duty and I asked her where exactly was Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son. When she said that the painting was in the building that I had just exited from, I realized that I had made a mistake. I asked whether I could re-enter the museum. She said that tickets are for single entry only, and that I would have to purchase another ticket. On no! I looked at my wrist watch and realized I didn’t have time to go to the main entrance of the Hermitage to do so as the museum was about to close. I was also tired and wanted to rest.

After mulling over the mistake that I had made, I made a difficult decision to leave the Hermitage without seeing the very painting that I had travelled 8,670km to Saint Petersburg for. I wouldn’t have time to return the next day as I had a packed itinerary. It was a painful decision but I had to learn to let go.

On the ferry back to Helsinki, I clutched Nouwen’s book and reflected on the lessons learnt from this trip.

I may have missed an opportunity to stand in awe before Rembrandt’s masterpiece, but perhaps it was God’s way of telling me that it is alright to let go of things that are not meant to be, or beyond my control. Anyway, this is an excuse to re-visit Saint Petersburg and discover more experiences (and lessons) that the magnificent city has to offer.

2020 - A Pandemic Year of Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 15:32:00 +0800

This will probably be the shortest look back post I've written in this blog as I didn't travel much in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Ronan Keating Concert at Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting - 14 February 2020

An acquaintance from church had given me 2 tics for the concert in return for a ride up to Resorts World Genting and coffee money. I happily agreed on the barter trade and brought a friend to accompany me to the concert.

Although we sang our hearts out at Ronan's hits like When You Say Nothing At All and If Tomorrow Never Comes, I felt that the concert which lasted around 1.5 hours was a tad too short for the price of the tic. Thankfully I didn't pay for the tics or else I would have asked for a refund.

Mr Keating rocking the crowd at the concert.

Participated in Kuala Lumpur City Day Half Marathon - 8 March 2020

This was the first and last run I had participated in before the Movement Control Order (MCO) kicked in on 18 March 2020.

Because COVID-19 was spreading rapidly at that time, many participants didn't turn up and this gave ample room for those who participated to practise physical distancing throughout the run.

COVID-19 pandemic

What can I say but the pandemic has turned our lives upside down. It had indeed been a challenge and perhaps even a blessing to some extend. I captured my experiences during the initial part of the MCO here.

The things that I had learned during the pandemic warrants another blog post on its own.

Started volunteering at Samaritan Hope Home (SHH)

SHH is a centre for the homeless located in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. The homeless could go to SHH for a meal 6 days a week. However when the MCO was enforced on 18 March 2020, SHH had changed its modus operandi to packing food for distribution to the homeless instead.

This is the food that we packed daily during the MCO:

Getting sufficient manpower to pack the food was a challenge as many volunteers were fearful of stepping out of their homes, let alone volunteer at SHH.

In the end we only had around 8 volunteers to pack the food and clean up after. We started at 8.00am and finished around 2.00pm daily, 7 days a week. Back breaking work indeed, but the rewards were immeasurable.

Visited Perhentian Island in August

This was a long awaited trip after not being able to go anywhere since 18 March 2020.

We drove to Kuala Besut, stayed overnight at a small motel beside the bus station, and took the ferry to the island the next day. Along the way we stuffed ourselves silly with nasi kerabu and keropok.

After seeing the beauty of Perhentian Island, I kept asking myself how come I didn't visit this island before.

Perhentian Island is indeed paradise on earth and I'm planning to make a trip there again once the monsoon season is over.

The drive from KL to Kuala Besut was an 8-hour journey which was too long for me. By the time I reached home, my feet had become swollen due to water retention. I had to get a feet massage and went for a short 5km run to get my blood circulating. So no more driving to the East Coast. Instead, I'll fly to Kota Bahru and travel by road to the jetty.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the coming year I hope we'll be able to travel more and that marathons (HM & FM) will be allowed too.

Eventhough I like to travel out of Malaysia, perhaps 2021 is the year I do my part as a citizen by travelling more within Malaysia to help revive the economy.

However the end of the pandemic is not in sight yet. As I type this, a new strain of virus have been found, and eventhough vaccines are being distributed around the world, we do not know whether it'll be effective at all.

So in the meantime, we must take care of our health, watch out for each other, and trust in the Lord that everything will be alright.

Here's to a hopeful 2021.

Life in a time of COVID-19

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 2 Apr 2020 23:24:00 +0800

The Movement Control Order (MCO) has been in effect since 18 March 2020 and will go on till 14 April 2020.

The aim of the MCO is for people to stay home and to practise social distancing. We're also told to wash our hands frequently using soap and water and to use hand sanitisers.

During this time only essential businesses are allowed to operate. Supermarkets and convenient stores can only operate between 8.00am - 8.00pm. However only the head of the family is allowed to go get groceries. Customers are not allowed to dine-in at eateries but take-away and food delivery are allowed. Public transportation such as MRT and e-hailing services have limited operating hours.

The Malaysian Government is very strict on this and many who have flouted the law have been arrested. Yesterday 24 seminarians from College General were arrested for playing football in the college field. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three hours of community service on weekdays for three months.

The World Health Organisation has said today that they expect Malaysia's COVID-19 cases to peak in mid-April. So there's a possibility that the MCO may be extended. I tell you ... if that happens, there'll be more people suffering from psychological problems compared to coronavirus.

'Work from Home'

I've been 'working from home' since 23 March 2020 after the Central Bank of Malaysia asked all banks to reduce their staff working in the office to 50%. The thing is ... my bank does not provide laptops for staff due to security issue. Therefore I can only 'work from home' via phone calls and WhatsApp messages. I feel helpless at times but there's no other way.

More Time

Now that I have alot of time on my hands, I'm maximising it by doing all the things that I didn't have time to do before, e.g. catching up on my reading, blogging (already completed 2 blog posts in a week!), Netflix (finished Season 1 of Mindhunter), etc. It would be a shame if I didn't accomplish anything by the time the MCO ends on 14 April 2020.

Routine

On weekdays I've established a daily routine like waking up the same time as on a typical day to the office. I need to report to my Head of Department every morning via WhatsApp about my health condition, i.e. whether I'm having a fever, whether I'm not feeling well, etc.

After showering and taking my breakfast I'll read the news and do some writing or fiddle around on social media.

Since the laundromat is closed during the MCO, I now have to hand wash my clothing which I do twice a week. Thank heavens that the usage of clothing is minimal when one is staying home. And thank heavens for dry-fit t-shirts which dries quickly.

Food

I go out to get groceries about once a week and I wear a face mask each time I go out.

I'm blessed to be living right smack in the middle of the city where there're many supermarkets and convenient stores within walking distance from my flat.

I'm careful whenever I go out as there have been reports of people getting robbed on their way back from grocery shopping. People are getting desparate these days and some are resorting to robbery and thef.

When I went to get groceries during the initial stages of MCO, I bumped into three youth dressed in black jacket and black jeans in one of the lanes. Their menacing way of walking told me they were up to no good and I quickly walked away as fast as I could.

During the early stages of the MCO, I had ordered vegan burgers and sausages online and that has lasted me till now. Today I ordered salad in support of local businesses. I made sure I ordered two salads to maximise the delivery charges.

Influx of Nonsensical Information and Fake News

Now with the MCO is in full force and many of us are staying home, people use their free time to forward anything they receive via WhatsApp without verifying the info first. Most of the time the info turns out to be nonsensical information or fake news. I've muted many chat groups and individuals because there's just too much of these being sent around.

What irritates me most is when two people in the same chat group sends the same shit one after the other to the same chat group. Clearly shows that people don't read their messages.

Chartered Banker Examination

My Chartered Banker examination which was scheduled at the end of March 2020 has been postponed to July 2020.

Part of me was rejoicing when AICB called to inform that my exam had been postponed. When it finally sank in, the other half of me was loathing the thought of having to sit for two papers in July. Well, I'll just have to wing it.

5 Things to See on Suomenlinna

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:43:00 +0800

(This is a throwback post to September 2018)

Suomenlinna is a bastion fortress situated on the islands off the coast of Helsinki in Finland.

Its irregular shape and unique history in serving the defence of three sovereign entities, i.e. Sweden, Russia and Finland makes it a top tourist attraction in Finland.

Contruction of Suomenlinna first began in the mid-18th Century when Finland was still part of Sweden.

The fortress was inducted as a Unesco World Heritage site in 1991 for its unique military architecture of its era.

If you get a chance to visit Suomenlinna, you'll need to visit these five attractions:

1) Suomenlinna Church

The Suomenlinna Church was built as a Russian Orthodox garrison church in 1854. As Finland took cotrol of the island in the 1920s, it was converted into a Lutheran place of worship. A lighthouse, serving both air and sea traffic still operates in the steeple.

2) Great Courtyard

Designed by the fortress' founder Augustin Ehrensvard, the Great Courtyad was completed in the 1760s and served as the main square. It was badly damaged in the Crimean War in 1855. The square contains an impressive memorial to Augustin Ehrensvard, the architect of the Suomenlinna fortress.

3) Dry Dock

Suomenlinna's dry dock is one of Europe's oldest operational dry docks. In the 1760s, ships for the Swedish naval fleet were built here, under the supervision of naval architect, F.H. af Chapman. Nowadays the dry dock is used for renovating old sailing boats.

Here's more info about the Dry Dock:

4) Kustaanmiekka

Kustaanmiekka is home to Suomenlinna's original bastion and a late 19th Century Russian defence line, complete with sand enbankments and artillery points. The Kustaanmiekka bastion area provides stunning seascapes all the way to the mainland.

5) King's Gate

The monumental King's Gate is the iconic symbol of Suomenlinna. It was built between 1753 and 1754 as a ceremonial gateway to the fortress. The gate was built on the site where a ship carrying the fortress' founder, King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, was anchored while he inspected the construction of the fortress.

Getting to Suomenlinna

The most convenient way to get to Suomenlinna is to take the ferry operated by the Helsinki Region Transport Authority (HSL). The ferry departs from the Market Square (Kauppatori in Finnish) in Helsinki:

The Presidential Palace (right side of pic) overlooks the Kauppatori. Operators set up stalls at the harbour selling local food and handicraft.

This is the HSL ferry:

A return ticket (adult) from the ticket machine costs 5.00 Euro:

I opted to use the HSL app to purchase tickets using credit card. It's convenient and you don't have to deal with small change which can be a hassle at times. The app is really useful and I recommend you use it if you're visiting Helsinki.

When I was in Helsinki in September 2018, a one-way ticket to Suomenlinna was 2.20 Euro. After checking the current price for this post, I discovered that the price has increased to 2.80 Euro.

Ljubljana to Bled by Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:07:00 +0800

(All information is correct as at October 2019)

Lake Bled is a lake located in the northwest of Slovenia. Due to its location in the Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region, Lake Bled boasts of serene landscapes making it a popular tourist destination in Slovenia.

I visited Lake Bled on a day trip from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia by taking the public bus, and I'll show you how to do it.

Buses to Bled depart from Ljubljana Bus Station:

There's only one bus station in Ljubljana. So all buses (interstate and inter country) come and go from this station.

Here's the counter to purchase bus tickets:

A return ticket (adult) from Ljubljana to Bled is 12.84 Euro:

Buses leave every 30 min during peak hours, 7 days a week. Not sure though whether they operate during major holidays like Christmas and New Year. Best is to check with the station if you're travelling during those times.

After purchasing your ticket, go to Platform 7 where buses to Bled departs:

The bus left the station 1 minute before departure time, so it's good to arrive early at the bus station.

The distance between Ljubljana and Bled is approximately 55km, and the bus ride to Bled took approximately 50 minutes.

The last stop on the ride is at the Bled Bus Station:

There were not many people around when I reached the station as it was autumn. I reckon the place would be busier in the summer.

Here's the timetable for buses from Bled Bus Station to Ljubljana Bus Station:

The return journey took approximately 1.5 hours as the bus made many stops at small towns along the way back to Ljubljana.

Bled Bus Station is located approximately 400 metres from Lake Bled.

Here's a map of Bled Centre by the Bled Tourist Office:

This map which I snapped at the Bled Bus Station gives you an idea of where the bus station is in relation to Lake Bled.

It was untimely that when I visited Lake Bled the weather was gloomy and cloudy with intermittent drizzles. That explains why my pics in this entry is rather drab, because lighting was bad.

Lake Bled is surrounded by a walkway where visitors could walk the entire 6km circumference of it.

In the middle of Lake Bled is Bled Island which which houses the Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja church (dedicated to the Assumpton of the Virgin Mary):

A trip to Lake Bled would not be complete without taking mirror pics of it.

During my walk around the lake I saw the locals taking pics and lazing around:

One of the best part about visiting Europe in the fall is that the foliage is usually golden in colour which I love so much:

At the hostel in Ljubljana, a fellow traveller told me that he visited Lake Bled just the day before.

The weather was bright and sunny and he followed a few locals climb to the top of a hill overlooking Lake Bled. He showed me photos that he took from that hill and they were amazing.

It was a pity I couldn't do the same walk as he did as I was travelling alone and didn't want to go on forlon forest tracks alone. So that's another excuse to visit Lake Bled again.

Highlights of 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:30:00 +0800

This is my customary look back at what happened to me in the past year.

1) Citizen Action for Tiger (CAT) Walk at Sungai Yu in February

I wanted to do some environmental and awareness work at the beginning of the year.

Since tigers are at the brink of extinction in Malaysia, I decided to join this walk to learn more about efforts by the authorities and NGOs to save these magnificent creatures from extinction.

Click here if you wish to learn more about this programme.

++++++++++++++++++++

2) South Korea in May

I flew into Seoul and did a considerable amount of shopping. Then I took the bus to Busan and stayed at Haeundae beach for a change from the hustle and bustle of Seoul.

I wrote a short note about my South Korea trip which you can read here.

South Korea was a milestone because it was my thirtieth country. This means I had completed one of my bucketlist to visit at least thirty countries.

I stayed at Haeundae Beach when I was in Busan.

++++++++++++++++++++

3) Travelled to the island of Koh Rong, Cambodia in June

Tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville (entry point to Koh Rong) were bloody cheap. Like most things in life that comes cheap, there was a reason for the cheapness and it was because June was the monsoon season in Koh Rong. It rained almost everyday. However there were times when the weather was lovely and we could walk to Saracen Bay and enjoy a swim.

I remember the time when a thunder storm at night caused a blackout whilst I was in the shower. I pulled on a towel, came out to look for my mobile phone, switched on the torch feature and continued my shower. Life is too short to mope in the dark.

Another thing I need to add here is that the town of Sihanoukville was a mess. The place looked like a mini China as casinos were built all over the place catering to the Chinese crowd.

There was construction work going on in almost every corner which stirred up dust whenever vehicles passed by. Rubbish, especially plastic blottles and wrappers were everywhere. The island of Koh Rong was clean and relaxing, but Sihanoukville was bad.

Pristine Koh Rong.

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4) Ran my first 21km in July

I participated in this race as a ghost runner because the venue was changed to near my house at the last minute. The initial venue was miles away and I couldn't be arsed to travel so far just to run a race at the break of dawn.

My mistake was running too fast at the beginning. Naturally I couldn't maintain the pace and fell short of breathe and energy by the eleventh kilometre. In the end I completed the race in an unimpressive three hours.

I've signed up for my first official half marathon in 2020. It's going to be held in March at Dataran Merdeka. This time I hope to be more prepared and wiser.

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5) East Europe in October

I had initially wanted to do Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania. But flights to Kiev (Ukraine) were pretty expensive when I looked at it. Moreover there were at least two transits which were long and painful.

Then one fine day British Airways had a sale and a return tic from Kuala Lumpur to Prague (via Heathrow) was going for RM2,100. It would have been a sin not to buy it.

My journey began in Prague, followed by Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Ljubljana in that order.

Amongst all the cities on that trip, my fav was Budapest. The city had a certain vibrancy to it, and not to mention the weather was almost perfect. Our hostel was located near the stunning St Stephen's Basilica and I spent a good many hours in it looking at the interiors, attending Mass and also a concert.

My only regret is that we should have spent more time in Budapest. Three nights was certainly not enough. Well, there's another excuse to visit Budapest again.

Upon completion of this trip, I had completed 35 countries.

The colours of fall was very pretty in Cesky Krumlov. We made a day trip there from Prague.

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6) A year of attending concerts

I attended six concerts this year, an unusual number compared to previous years.

Concert 1: Euphrasia - the Musical @ KL Performing Arts Centre (April)

Concert 2: Phantom of the Opera @ Istana Budaya (June)

Concert 3: Haydn and Handle Orgn Concertos @ Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (October)

Concert 4: U2 - The Joshua Tree Tour @ Singapore National Stadium (December)

Concert 5: Madagascar: The Musical @ KL Convention Centre (December)

(no pics - hehehe)

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Today is the last day of the first decade of the new millenium. I'm thankful to have come this far and look forward to another decade of hope and love.

3 Interesting Things to See on Lokrum Island

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Lim) — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 23:37:00 +0800

This is a throwback post to the time when I made a day-trip to Lokrum Island in Dubrovnik, Croatia in September 2017.

Getting to Lokrum Island

Ferries leave from the Old Port (Gradska luka) in Old Town Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island. The ride takes about 10 minutes.

This is the ferry that I took:

The fare (return trip) was 120 Kuna (as at September 2017). It's now 150 Kuna (I checked the website).

After about 15 minutes, the ferry reached Lokrum Island:

The first signboard that greet visitors reminded that the last ferry to leave the island was 6.00pm. The time changes periodically so make sure you check the time when you arrive on the island. The latest ferry timetable is also available here.

'Is is forbidden to stay on the island after the last departure of the boat!'

I wonder what happens to visitors who miss that last ferry. Where will they stay since there's no lodging on the island? Will they get fined by the authorities? So make sure you don't overlook the time and miss the ferry.

There was no entrance fee to the island. The ferry ticket was the only cost to get to the island.

There're no vehicles on the island, so you have to walk everywhere, but it's not a super huge island anyway.

You don't have to worry about getting lost because all locations are marked clearly by signboards such as this:

The numbers indicate the route number based on the map of the island here.

The numbers are not the distance or time taken to walk to that particular spot.

So what's to see on Lokrum Island? Some of the notable spots include The Bay of Portoc, The Monastery Complex, Botanical Gardens, etc.

Here are the Top 3 items that I like about Lokrum Island:

No. 1: Game of Thrones (GoT) Exhibition Centre

This centre is a dream come true for all GoT fans because this stone building ...

... houses the Iron Throne:

Visitors are allowed to sit on the throne for pics.

Since there were not many people around, I took so many photos that will make selfie queens green with envy. I used one of the pics as my WhatsApp profile photo and got many questions on where did I find the Iron Throne. Well, now you know.

Apart from the Iron Throne, the centre has an exhibition about the popular drama series especially about its filming locations in Croatia. The centre was too dark to take pics.

Here's a little info I found in the centre on The Benedictine Curse:

Scary.

No. 2: Rabbits everywhere

Before coming to Lokrum Island, the guide for one of the walking tours in Dubrovnik said that there're many rabbits running free on the island.

Apparently someone had brought a pair of rabbits to Lokrum Island, the rabbits bred like rabbits (pun intended) and now there're so many of them.

The guide said visitors can take the rabbits home because they're breeding rapidly, but I didn't see anyone doing so.

Here's a photo of the rabbits eating, sleeping and chilling on a field:

The rabbits seems to hang out on this field only. I didn't see rabbits in other parts of the island.

Sometimes you have to look hard as they're hiding in the bushes:

Can you see me?

They like to dig holes and bury themselves in it:

Apart from rabbits, there're also peacocks on Lokrum Island:

Peacocks are bold birds who're not afraid to come up to strangers, like this one who came up to me as I was lazing on a lounge chair:

One rabbit also came up to me and here's a pic of it running away before I could touch it:

Random photo of my pedicured feet:

The weather was beautiful that I slept on that lounge chair for about 2 hours.

No. 3: Fort Royal

Fort Royal is located towards the east side of the island and is a bit of a walk through the forest to get there:

Here's a pic of Fort Royal from outside:

Fort Royal is essentially a ruin which was too dark to take pics inside.

The fort is located on a hill with views such as this:

It was drizzling when I reached Fort Royal and a rainbow appeared:

A rainbow is a rare sight and makes me feel all tingly whenever I see one.

After roaming around Fort Royal, I made my way back to the opening where I had entered the area. But I couldn't find it! And there was no one around to ask for directions.

At that point I thought I should have marked the trail with bright red ribbons or leave a trail of bread crumbs like Hansel & Gretel.

After walking around in circles I managed to find the inconspicuous opening and started running to the ferry area. It was almost 6.00pm!

I managed to reach the port about 20 minutes before 6.00pm. Thank heavens for that!

So do keep in mind of the time if you visit Lokrum Island.

Julie's Travel Blog

2025 - Lookback

May - Travelled to Andalucía Spain and Lisbon

June - Travelled to Kluang and Johor Bahru for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

July - Encore Malacca

August - Short get-away to Kota Kinabalu

September - Travelled to Okinawa

September - Celebrated 10th Anniversary in my current employment

October - Travelled to Penang for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

November - Travelled to Oman and United Arab Emirates

December - Travelled to Kuantan for Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage

Summary

How many countries are there?

2024 - 'Revenge Travel' Continues

February - Travelled to Taipei

April - Travelled to Central Asia

May - Travelled to Kagoshima

June - Travelled to Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB)

September - Travelled to Colombo

October - Travelled to Penang for a pilgrimage

November - Travelled to Maldives

December - Travelled to Langkawi for a wedding

Looking ahead

Cheap meal in Colombo

Review on Uncle Roger's Fried Rice

Riding the Metro in Tashkent

4 Reasons Why I Prefer Hostels to Airbnb

Reason #1 - Hostels are economical

Reason #2 - Hostels are the place to meet fellow travelers

Reason #3 - Hostels are a good source of information

Reason #4 - Safety / Help is at hand

St Francis Xavier Brought Christianity to Japan, Kagoshima was His Landing Spot

Day trip from Catania to Syracuse

Bye bye Taffy :-(

English language Mass at the Church of St Benedict in Catania

Taking the Ferry from Palermo to Tunis

Malta to Sicily with Virtu Ferries

My new travel sling bag

2023 - Reignited my travel mojo

Holiday to Perhentian Island (June)

Participated in Kuching Marathon (1 October)

Trip to Sandakan (November)

Pilgrimage got cancelled (November)

Trip to Malta, Sicily and Tunis (November/December)

My mum's dog passed away (3 December)

Completed my MBA (December)

Maid of Honour in Singapore (December)

Finally Renewed my Passport

2022 - The Year I Climbed a Mountain

2021 - A Lost Year

Chasing Nouwen's Rembrandt in St Petersburg, Russia

2020 - A Pandemic Year of Challenges

Life in a time of COVID-19

5 Things to See on Suomenlinna

Ljubljana to Bled by Bus

Highlights of 2019

3 Interesting Things to See on Lokrum Island

Reason #2 - **Hostels are the place to meet fellow travelers**