Travel Heart

On the road again

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Not exactly but I do feel like it right now. I guess relocation issues are covered in most expat blog (or long dead expat blogs). For a person that has moved to and from three countries in the last 6 years, I still feel the same stress and emotions as when I first started packing my bags for London. All right let's not get emotional in this post. Let's just stick to packing for our relocation.

I guess there are always tons of things that I or we wish we could move easily across the miles. Containers are a good idea for many but for skint folks like me, I resort to packing my bags till it went over the luggage limit and pray that the airlines let me bring it on board!

With quite a lot of experiences packing my bags when we decided to spread my wings to another land, I'm able to make notes about what are important to carry and what can be left behind for picking up next time. For me, my tools of trade have first priority. Yeah, my knives and cake decorating tools. Not forgetting a couple of books. So all these easily come up to 20 kg. Trust me, when you are relocating to another place for a year or more, clothings are no longer essential items. They are just not worth it to take up the extra kilo or two that you could have spared for something else. Things of sentimental value? Do you bring them along? Most of the time I'll try not to. I can pack them in a parcel and send them over as I would bound not to use these stuff but they are more for display purposes.

So there you have it, my list in the luggage bag. What's yours? Any relocation experiences to share?

Travel and Living

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:39:00 +0000

This blog has been closed to access for quite a while and I sincerely apologise. I guess it was for the better as there was no new content for months. I'm just not inspired to blog!

With this new post, I'm opening up my blog again. I'm starting another chapter in my life in another country. Not a new one but my homeland. I've been living outside of Singapore for almost 6 years. Now my homeland is welcoming me back with open arms and new opportunities.

So I'm reviving this blog with a new injection .. a new theme.. Living in a Foreign Land, An Expatriate's experience. How it feels to live, study and work in another land. I hope my blog inspires those who are considering about the move to boldly step forward. Do feel free to share your experiences. Or I'll be most willing to share my part of the story.

All said and done, I guess we all know it's vastly different when you live or travel in a country. When you are on vacation, everything seems prettier. The flowers smell fresher. The local culture looks interesting. But when you live in it, you'll start to develop certain resentments which I think most people pick up overtime. It is an unhealthy obsession to nitpick your host country but I think this helps in a certain way to cope with the homesickness.

And looking forward to the next post, do come back or leave a comment.

To Travel or not to Travel?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:10:00 +0000

With the number of Influenza A (H1N1) also known as the Mexican Flu or the Swine Flu hitting the 10,000th mark today, as an avid traveller, is that the question on your mind?

It was lucky for us that we made ou travel plans in April and by the time we stepped onto the Croatian soils again, the news of the above contagious Flu hit us. On our second day of our travel, the Flu begun to spread like wildfire but it hadn't left the country of origin (or not, no one is sure) Mexico when we completed our travels. Since then, the mood of fear is in the air. Every single traveller from Mexico is screened or in the Chinese case, the Mexicans were "contained" till the authorities were happy that the foreigners were not carriers.

Almost a month after the whole Pandemic (as WHO has raised the Pandemic to Level 4 worldwide) begun, we witnessed more than 5,000 cases in US alone with deaths in numerous countries. Countries such as the perfectly clean Japan are not spared. As of this hour, the number of cases are 200 and counting. My homeland Singapore seems to be the only one safe from all the hoo-ha at the moment. But we can never be too sure. As the standards of hygiene is not an influential factor in the spreading of this Flu.

Although global authorities have informed us that this Flu is not deadly, we are not exactly safe as vaccines are yet to be found. To the traveller, the thought of being stuck in a confined space (airplane or coach) for a few hours is a worry. You'll never know if the coughing man next to you is a carrier or simply ill.

For me, I will not take the risk. I have been through the horrifying episode of SARS in Singapore and I shall not attempt to be brave. They tell us that wearing a mask if we have a cold, washing our hands to ensure a high level of hygiene and taking lots of vitamins are the safest way to go? I tell you, the only way is NOT to travel. Yeah shoot me.

Are you still travelling?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Not for a while now. The trip of the year is our next trip to London, UK. Yeah. It seems like forever since we last had a break. So now, we are saving up for our upcoming 3-day holiday.

Entrecard has deleted my blog from its database. Yes, no new content for ages. Like I said, I'm not inspired if I can't travel yeah? Oh well, not like EC is bringing me any traffic.

In the meantime, everyone's waiting for summer. Everyone loves to travel during that time of the year. They'll pack their bikinis and lotions for the sunny beaches. However, with the bleak economic situation in most countries.. UK, US and Germany, I wonder if anyone is still travelling? Do you?

Customs Officers

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:52:00 +0000

I mean do they scare the hell out of you? Sometimes I really wonder... do the immigration department in each country choose the ugliest and fiercest looking persons to be a Customs Officer.

"Hey you over there! Yeah you with the face like a Bull Dog. You are appointed as the Customs Officer!"

Most of the time when I had to pass through the customs gate, my heart rate increases to a supersonic pace, my palms get sweaty and yes, I get tongue-tied when I'm standing there at the booth.. coming face to face with a guy that seems ready to bite my head off if I answered his question of why on earth I'm stepping foot into his precious homeland.

I know these dedicated individuals are trained to sniff the drugs out of those criminals or make those illegal immigrants turn around and catch the next flight home. But hey.. I'm a lone female traveller who had just alighted from a 12-hour flight.. can you at least squeeze a smile for me? Oh.. wait a minute. I prefer you not to smile. Just try to speak in a gentler voice. Ok ok.. just keep that rifle away from my direction. Thanks a lot. *whimper* *whimper*

I have heard of a few frightening tales involving Customs Officer in a certain Latin American country. He was picking on a friend's aunt (a Singaporean) who was travelling with her British (white) husband.. well just because the Singapore passport is RED. Something wrong with that you asked? Not that I know of.. but if she did pass any remarks, she might get retained for ..erm.. being rude?

Recently I've changed my old Singapore passport to Biometric passport (in accordance with US standards??). And oh, you should see the faces of puzzled Customs Officers who were trying to figure out what on earth was in my passport!

Why on earth am I picking on Customs Officers of other countries? Want to know why? Try approaching a Singaporean customs officer. A simple "Welcome home!" and "Enjoy your stay!" make a whole lot of difference to the start of every journey.

Flights, flights, flights Part 2

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:10:00 +0000

As promised, this is the overdue Part 2. Now let me start by saying... what is the event that you look forward to the most during a long haul flight? The take-off? The landing? Or the screening of another movie?

For me, MEAL time! Yeah.. half the time I complain about the meals on board. I'm one of those passengers who will feel extremely miserable if the portions are too small or the food is bad (I mean tastes bad). I'm always really hungry once the plane takes off from the runway. I look forward to every single thing that is served up to me. A pack of peanuts, a cup of orange juice or (HOORAY!!!) the plate of plane food.

I usually start to doze off during the take-off. But my super sensory skills will alert me that a meal will be served soon once I hear the sound of the Meal Cart (or whatever you call it). I will start to straighten my seat or grumble under my breath when the passenger in front of me has his seat leaned towards my direction. Prepare the nice little tablette and wait for my portion of food. I guess I must be real easy to please! Yes and I gobble up all the food at lightning pace too!

The other strange phenomenon on board a flight occurs right after meal time and the trays of waste are collected from each seat. You will see a sudden wave of people getting up from their seats and charging towards the toilet. Erm.. 4 cubicles to an entire plane of passengers... you can imagine the queue.... gosh. I wonder if everyone has suddenly developed the habit to rinse their mouth or brush their teeth after every meal??? Good dental habits there eh?

Next complaint on the list... the in flight entertainment. I'm appalled how big a difference this makes to my entire journey. A couple of times I've chosen to take a cheaper airline and was stuck with some crap seat controls for that don't work (so I had to endure the entire flight without any sort of entertainment). And what I took for granted, the individual LCD monitor instead of the shared 3 TV screens for the entire flight. Help! I don't want to see the passenger's head while watching the movie.

So what's your complaint list?

Flights, flights, flights Part 1

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:44:00 +0000

Been over a year since I took a long haul flight. Well..it is one of the most dreaded part of the journey. Those more than 12 hours of lonesomeness spent with another complete stranger that you could only share the simplest conversations of "Hi!", "Can I pass?", or slightly more complicated "Where are you heading?" or the even more complex "Hey! Stop pushing the seat!" can prove to heighten one's stress level.. on top of the terrible lack of sleep.

Seriously, I don't think there are many lucky ones out there who get to travel first class, so it's the Economy Class for most of us. Pray tell.. how did you manage to sleep on a seat with absolutely no head support. And whenever you doze off a little, your head does the repeated nodding action till you finally wake yourself up with a jerk?

Hm.. frankly, does tilting the seat all the way.. that is only 45 degrees maximum.. help to make our seating any more comfortable? I am definitely one who hates those that decide to recline their seat towards my direction. You will see me swear under my breath each time the 100kg mister in front of me leans back.

Guess I'm not exactly the friendliest person to share a flight with. And well.. I'm the Aisle seat person. I do not wish to hold my bladder till the fella next to me decides to stir in his sleep and let my pass. No way. I rather be seated at the Aisle and the unfortunate traveller next to me is at my mercy. Read my facial expression: I will let you pass if I choose to. Do not attempt to poke me for any attention!

More long haul flight complaints coming up. Do come back for more or drop a comment if you share my sentiments. Else just sit back, relax and enjoy the flight!

Just a little Krk Island tour!

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:10:00 +0000

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted in here. So here I am with our latest Krk Island tour. For those who do not know Krk island or Otok Krk as it is known in Croatian is the largest island in the Kvarner Bay. At a whooping size of 409,9 square kilometres, it is more than half the size of Singapore island. You can find my earlier post about the island here.

There are many small towns and villages on this island. So I will introduce another sweet little town Njivice. The statue pictured above is the symbol of the once Fishing town which has become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. Located in the bay of Beli Kamik, it has a beautiful seaview, with crystal clear water and lots of nice places to sit down for a cup of Macchiatto. For more information about this little town, be sure to visit the web site.

If you are into Folk Dancing, be sure to hit Njivice town sometime between June to August. Check out the event schedule listed on the site!

As it's off tourist season, we only see a couple of Germans and Italians lazing on the beaches of this town. It was one of those rare Autumn afternoons when the waters are warm enough for swimming. In the distance standing on the pier, we spotted two men fishing. Perhaps some locals passing time or simply enjoying the sunshine which is usually shining on this island.

It is not hard to find this town from the main road that leads from the Krk bridge (there is a road toll for entering this island) as the towns are clearly labelled. However, it is quite a long drive to get to the centre of Njivice which is one of the minus points of this town. There are too many houses along the road. Apartments of sorts before you make a left turn to go straight down to the town centre where all the restaurants are located.

So I'll leave you with a few little pictures of this town and hope you'll pop by next summer!

Travelling to Religious Countries

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:49:00 +0000

All right.. this is more of a followup post from the one I did about Ramadan on Sing-Cr o. Hm.. I wonder how many travellers out there are aware when they are travelling to religious countries? To observe certain religious customs at specific times of the year, etc..?

Personally I've never travelled within the UAE or any of the Arabic countries. I've been in transit at Doha and Dubai a couple of times but not stepped foot in the countries. But I recalled hearing announcements on the plane before we alighted and at the airport while waiting for my plane... travellers are adviced to refrain from eating in public whilst in the country or airport. Why? It is the holy month of Ramadan. The month of fasting. It was the first time for me to hear that but I respected the custom even though my stomach was growling.

I was in Thailand too many times that I've lost count. For those out there, Thailand is a Buddhist country. So one will see Buddhist monks on the streets and various Buddhist temples all over the country. But do keep in mind that certain customs need to be observed too... In certain temples, lady travellers are advised to be "well-covered" before entering the premises, that is, no shorts, clothes that expose the shoulders or bosoms.

That's my experiences. Do you have any to share regarding your travels to religious countries?

A Tropical Creature, eh?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:33:00 +0000

It's not really weird how I got that name from my brother. I was constantly complaining about the slightest winter over here. It's already 5 years living outside of Singapore with nice equatorial weather all year round and yet I'm still not liking Winter.

If you read some of my earlier posts, I was complaining constantly about the weather. I dislike COLD weather, period. And now, I discovered I do not actually like the HOT counterpart too much either.

Whenever it comes to travelling, I am one of those that will try to avoid the colder winter months. This is because the cold makes me feel miserable and make the vacation unenjoyable in a way. I hate having to drag a kilo of coats and boots in my bag when I travel. It's too troublesome and that means there goes the extra kilo of souvenirs to carry home.

However, after travelling around Europe for a couple of years, I realised winter months are actually the best months for touring. All the extra luggage aside, well.. for those in Singapore who don't get to enjoy having an extra Winter wardrobe, this is the best time to show off that mouldy leather jacket.

What's the best part about travelling in the Off-peak travel season is..? The prices! Yes. Everything is relatively cheaper. If you book a tour, your room might be upgraded to a larger one! I'm not joking about it!

Oh and the last point to note about Winter travel...you get to see the world in a different light. Snow. Or even the lack of it. If you arrive earlier in Autumn, you can catch the beautiful shades of coloured leaved everywhere. Simply gorgeous I tell ya!

So what are you waiting for? Book that ticket for the next few months! Don't be a tropical creature like me!

Do you like Summer?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:53:00 +0000

Finding a space to park your boats?

Oh I used to think so. I thought I would be excited to travel in the summer just like millions out there who flood our Croatian beaches even on a normal weekday .. melting in the summer heat.

Let me state my reasons why.. First, I don't really like the heat. Yeap, walking around anywhere at a blazing 34 degrees Celsius is not considered a holiday for me. Personally, holidays are a time to enjoy the sights, sounds and the weather. Not having to worry about my skin being burnt if I travel from point A to B at a certain time of the day!!

Second, I am a crowd person. To be frank, I can't stand crowds. I wonder if I'm the only one out there. Nope, my fiance M feels the same too. Walking on the Split promenade since Roman times, it should be an experience to feel the gorgeous ancient structure around you. But not when, I have to squeeze by throngs of Germans, Italians and heaven knows whatever nationalities. In this sticky weather, it's not that wonderful if your fellow traveller decided to leave a patch of her sweaty arm on me!

Third, everything is more expensive!!! Why on earth? Of course those merchants couldn't wait for summer. So they could hike their prices to whatever amount they desire and yet tourists came pouring in!!!!

With all said and done, drop me a line. Tell me I'm not the only one who hates to travel in Summer!

Introducing Senj

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:38:00 +0000

The old settlement town of Senj is founded 3,000 years ago. It was passed from the Roman hands who named the town Senia while maintaining its importance as a port for exchange of goods and culture to the Hungarian and some tribes throughout its history. To learn more about Senj's history, visit this website.

Senj also provided the base for the development of the ancient Glagolic alphabets. It houses one of the oldest Glagolic printing press in Southeastern Europe which was established in 1494.

Senj is geographically located between the two major towns in Croatia namely Rijeka and Zadar. Running along its 76km long Adriatic coastline, the Jadranska magistrala is the old road that links Rijeka to the south. For visitors who wish to take the slow and scenic route along Croatia's coastline (from North to South), this is the choice. And of course, you will avoid paying the expensive road toll on the Zagreb-Split Autocesta.

Do stop by and relax in this pretty little town by the sea. Or simply experience the famous Senjska Bura!

Absurd travel behaviour?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:13:00 +0000

Have you realised that your travel companions behave differently when they are in a foreign land? I do. I had travelled with tour groups of up to 20 and with friends over the years. And I have observed strange behaviours that are sometimes really irritating or hilarious to the observer. Here I start with a few:

When in a foreign land that does not speak English, expect them to have one channel and news broadcasted in English.

How would you justify this type of behaviour? I definitely would never comprehend.

Ignore the local cuisine. Head straight for McDonald's!

I notice this in some Americans that were in my tour group. The reason they gave me is: At least we know how the Big Mac tastes like! Unadventurous? You tell me.

Nothing in the foreign country can compare to my home country!!!

What is this mentality? Why is there a constant need to think that what one has back home is the BEST?

I speak English. So must everyone else in the world!

Erm.. I've touched on this before in one of my previous posts. I rest my case.

Do you notice any strange behaviour in your fellow travellers? Do share them!

Relax and let yourself go...

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:00:00 +0000

I think holidays should be relaxing. Slow your pace down. Sit down whenever possible and savour in the local sights and sounds. Hang out at the local caffee and let your tired legs rest. That is the way vacations should be...

Have fun travelling! And don't forget your sun block!

Guest Posting - My First Impression of London

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:14:00 +0000

For those who are interested to know about how I see London, read my posts on CK's (A Singaporean in London) blog. Here's my first article:

SheR's First Impression of London

Take care while Travelling!

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:06:00 +0000

I'm sure lots of sites have done up travel tips regarding personal safety but I would still like to remind you with the following tips:

Watch out for your camera. Keep it close to you always.

In a crowded area, keep your wallet or purse in your front pocket. Your bag do get open unnoticed on a crowded street. So it's not a safe option. Get a jacket with a front pocket if possible.

If you are travelling to a country for the first time, read travel forums or blogs online that give you tips that you should look out for in a specific country.

That's it for now! Happy travelling and be safe!

Peak Travel Season: Summer

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:44:00 +0000

Turn the heat up, it's Summer! And everyone loves to travel at this precious 3 months of the year. While you are busy travelling, do take good care of yourself. Don't forget..

Your Suntan lotion
Yeap.. even if you are not into suntanning, you can also get burnt in this heat. Smear yourself with a generous amount of those cream. Read the labels.. the effects usually wear out after 20 minutes. So so take note!

Your Sunglasses
All right.. this might be a vanity item no. 1. But come on, the sun rays are pretty harmful to the eyes and the only way to protect your beautiful eyes is to wear a good pair of sunglasses!

Bikini/Swimwear
Whee... you mean you are leaving them out? Why? It's your chance to hit the beaches and look all nice and sexy parading in bikini. And of course time for some eye candy! Well.. a piece of useless advice. Ha..

Water bottle
Yeap! A must! No matter where you go. Especially travelling underground. Don't forget that London Tube doesn't have air conditioning. It's suicide if you decide not to hydrate yourself all the time!

All right! Enjoy yourself! Share with us your vacations! I'll gladly place them on my blog! :)

Of Flights and Flying

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:18:00 +0000

Ah well.. the traveller has decided to post about her flying experiences today. Nope, I'm not talking about flying a plane myself but rather the act of travelling by Boeing.

My first flight was from Singapore to Perth. Very exciting for me. When I was younger, travelling usually did not involve anything with wings. It was just the plain old coach ride for 3 days in a row. That's why I'm pretty much a seasoned bus traveller. That's good .. because it means I won't feel sick travelling in any sort of vehicle!

Back to my first flight, I was very eager to take the plane since I'd never travelled on one. Going to Changi airport is the most interesting trip to me. Seeing everyone in a huge airport terminal with luggage bags and waiting for their turns to their destinations. It was just an amusing people watching time. Boarding the plane which would take 6 hours to land in Perth airport. I was really astonished about the size of the plane and the interior. Air travel is like an adventure ride.

Now flying is a common thing if I wish to travel to anywhere else in the world. Most of the excitement have died down. The part when I have to pass the customs of each country (scary) and boarding the plane are all pretty mundane for me. What still makes me long to travel by plane is the thought of what is waiting for me at the other end. Will my Mum be there waiting with tears in her eyes? Will any of my mates give me the nice big hug like they always do? Will my fiance be wearing that beautiful smile that I so longed to see each time? So many uncertainties always wear me out on the plane ride that I can easily doze off to sleep.

Besides imagining what will happen when I get to my destination, travelling by plane means a lot of Loneliness for me. For the past few years, I had to fly 9 out of 10 times on my own. All that 10 over hours of sitting in the plane alone, plugged into my own little world of the in-flight entertainment and waiting for my meals. I usually try not to talk to the fellow traveller beside me. I hate having to make small talk and someone constantly stopping me from nodding off to dreamland. No no.. I hate in-flights conversation.. I'd rather limit it to "Excuse me, I need to go to the loo." Or the occasional sorry when I knocked into someone's elbow. That's about it.

So do I still love to fly? Yes. And my next flight will be bound for Singapore, home. What's yours?

Put Croatia as one of your travel destination

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:20:00 +0000

We are expecting a hot hot summer over in Croatia! And the list of articles that mention Croatia as the next big travel destination is never ending..

Here's one of them about Island Hvar, click here.

Do come back for more as I update you with more about Croatia. I'm planning a trip to Hvar myself this July! Hooray!

What to know about travelling in Eastern Europe?

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Read this article here.

Summer Travels

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:18:00 +0000

It's the favourite time of the year for most travellers! It is because we don't have to worry if any special weather conditions that can cause flight delays or cancellations and of course we pack less clothes into our luggage bag... that means more space for everything else.. like a sexy bikini!

I'm not making any travel plans this summer. Well.. I'm still skint from all the cross-continental relocation. And I'm still bumming! What caused me to go green with envy is when my cousin told me about her travel plans to places that I've been longing to go to but couldn't! Oh.. the green-eyed monster!

All right, enough of ranting.. I need to concentrate on whatever issues I have to settle here first.. then we'll talk about the rest.

However, I do have two mates popping by Croatia this summer! Woo hoo!! Making travel plans for them.. where to go.. where to stay, etc. etc. Hopefully Travelheart can provide you with some wonderful travel ideas for this summer. Here are a few that you might consider:

Beach: Sun, surf, swim AND TAN!
All right, if you are from sunny Singapore, this might not interest you that much. But hey it's finally summer.

Vineyards: Grapes, wine, wine,...more wine.
I think it's the best time to tour vineyards. Those luscious looking bunches of joy hanging from their vines. And right... wine tasting!!

Nature Parks: Trekking, hiking, admiring.
I belong to the last group. But nature parks are gorgeous in summer. Though the weather can be excruciating.. Been to Yosemite National Park once and I almost melted!
Cold countries: Only time of the year when it's not snowing!
And you won't have to be frozen.. Try Sweden, Canada (Quebec), New Zealand(all right it's cold for tropical creatures like me!!). Oh.. the countries in the south have complete opposite seasons! That brings me to ....

Australia!!
Don't like hot summer. The Ozzies are enjoying their winters in our summer months! Else go to Singapore. We get summer all year round!

Make plans. Book early! Don't forget your tanning lotion (and sexy bikini). Drink lots of water! Have fun! Bon voyage!

Waking up Early

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:12:00 +0000

Did you realise that when you go on a vacation, you tend to wake up earlier than you usually would? Of course we are not talking about guided tours where most of us get herded around like animals. We don't get to savour enough of the local culture and we can't even remember half of what we've seen last summer vacation?!

I always associate waking up early with my holidays. I am totally not a morning person. And so I am totally dysfunctional in the morning. My eyes can barely open. I had to sip cups of coffee in the hotel before any decent side of me could be portrayed to the outside world. And my usual grumble on holidays: Why do I have to wake up so bloody early? I'm on a vacation for heaven's sake!!!

The usual replies I get from anyone who tried to wake me up during my travels would be:

"The early bird catches the worm!" - I'm not a bird and I don't eat worms!!!

"We need to avoid the morning traffic"- at 6 am in the morning?! What traffic are you trying to avoid???

"We get to see more on our trip if we wake up earlier." - I repeat my eyes could barely open dear!! Can't you see? I will be missing most part of what I see anyway!

All right. You get the point don't you? I like to start a day on my holidays at an earthly hour. What's your favourite time to get up for your holidays? Don't forget the morning worm is waiting!

Celebrity Spotting

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:05:00 +0000

Monaco.. a Celebrity hang-out..

Are you like the thousands of us out there who hope to catch a glimpse of some famous people while on vacation in a foreign land?
Of course being an avid traveller, I've done my fair share of celebrity spotting. Though I never got the chance to spot someone really famous. How do you know where to go to get a slice of star actions? Here are a few suggestions:

Hit the latest Film Festival.

It is a place where you'll have to squeeze to thousands of others. And I had my own horrible experience of being molested in the crowd but it was great excitement to experience how sardines feel like in a can! Usually the areas where the celebrities will step foot on the red carpet is cordoned off and the security is really tight. But not only do you get to see celebrities dressed up and looking glamourous, you will catch loads of good looking people around too. Most of these pretty faces loiter around film fests hoping to be spotted and be the next BIG thing!
I have found a useful site that list some of the film festivals online. Here it is!

Visit famous cities

Well.. don't you know the few cities that celebrities are bound to visit or even live in? Paris, New York, Los Angeles, London, Monte Carlo.. You can ask your tour guide for some advice on which cafe or restaurant do most celebrities dine at. Or simply google on the net for information! But be prepared, you have to pay celebrity prices for your coffee too!

Queue to get your book signed

This can be really boring unless you are a friend of the author or Harry Potter is your hero. Long hours of queueing in line just to say Hi to JK Rowling for a split second. But hey, at least you get to come really close to her. Maybe even snap her picture too. Who says celebrity spotting is easy?

All right have your fun trying to be star dazzled!

Free & Easy vs Guided Tours

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Don't ask me! I'm having a headache deciding!!

What's your option when you decide to travel to a foreign country? What helps you determine which mode to choose from? Here are my set of questions when I need to choose between F&E and guided tours for my travel:

Is it my first trip to the country?
Is it safe for me to travel on my own?
Is it more expensive to travel on my own?
How easy is it to get around?
How is the transport network in the country?
Is there a language problem?
What is my budget?
Do I have travel companions?

After considering all of the above, I will make my decisions and book my holiday accordingly. Usually I prefer to travel on my own in Europe. But when I decided to travel across more than one country, I have to resort to a guided tour. Free and easy gives me more time to enjoy the scenery and appreciate the local culture. And of course, I can skip those places that I do not wish to visit. Hope my list helps. What's yours?

Map Reading for Dummies!

sarinxr@gmail.com (SheR.) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:25:00 +0000

A massive European project is underway to develop a satellite navigation map system that can turn all drivers into mapmakers. This system can warn the driver of any hazards such as sharp bends, dips or accident black spots.

That will be a huge improvement for driving on European roads in the near future!

Here is the news link for further reading!