Hello, I am Mandy. I am from Singapore and I used to live in Stockholm when I was a student. My day job requires me to calculate freight price to different locations in the world and optimise supply chain for industries. My second job will be a frequent traveller that pens my travel adventures on www.buttergoesbudget.wordpress.com. I believe travelling should be an activity that is affordable and to be encouraged. The main reason I write is to debunk misconceptions that travelling is expensive because I always travel on a budget and I (magically) survived. So everyone can survive too.

I also record my daily muse with Instagram (@buttercupzxc) so pop by and say hi! I am an explorer at heart, love meeting new people, love new cultures and love wandering in a new place. I love learning new things too! I love food and I cook in my free time. I feel that food is the best way to connect people. I also like taking photos and my collection of travel photos can be found on my another instagram account (@buttergoesbudget) and my VSCO (@buttercupzxc). I love outdoor activity like picnic, hiking and chasing sunsets.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

I believe Couchsurfing is much more than finding a place to crash for free. It is about people interactions and trust. It is to believe in the good in human. And what is the best way to learn about a new culture? From the locals :)

Intereses

Food. I definitely love to cook.
Current Affairs. Enjoy hought-provoking conversations about politics, sciences and world.
Photography. I love taking photograph of daily muses and human. Feel free to check out my collection of travel photos at instagram, @buttergoesbudget and VSCO, @buttercupzxc.
Writing. I record my travel adventure at www.buttergoesbudget.wordpress.com to inspire people to pack their bag and hit the road because life is too short to wait.
Painting and design. I was in the Arts class since my parents enrolled me into one when I was 4 and only stop when I was 15. Even though I hardly paint now, but I still enjoy doing sketches and occasionally watercolour painting. Currently into interior design. Not a pro, just starting to pick it up. I love minimalistic look of a house.
Hiking and nature and sunset. I enjoy being part of nature and will dedicate my life to chasing lights aka sunsets.

Next destination: Kyrgyzstan + Kazakhstan.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• design
• interior design
• photography
• dining
• cooking
• picnic
• traveling
• painting
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• history

Música, películas y libros

Currently obssessed with Of Monsters and Men and Lorde. I cannot resist indies and folks! Used to be in a symphonic band playing Alto Saxophone for 4 years and know how to play a guitar and ukelele. My forever love will be The Beatles and Jack Johnson. I have collections of their album! I do listen to club and house music too. So in general, my taste of music is very wide.

I love non-fictions like biography and real accounts of human. I like reading newspaper and articles about current affairs. I also love watching documentary about culture, history, animals and mystery. I am a huge movie critic and my type of movie is like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Imitation Game, Argo, Birdman, Dallas Buyer Club and Her.

Algo increíble que he hecho

At 21, I saved up enough to go on a 5 weeks backpacking trip in Europe. I had never been out of Asia back then and thinking back, I still find it the best thing I ever did for myself as I was so empowered that anything is possible if you work hard for it.

Crazy Roadtrip Adventure: Inner Mongolia, China (Dec 2014), Lofoten Islands, Norway (Dec 2015), Northern Territory, Australia (Dec 2016)

In July 2015, I got an opportunity to live in Stockholm, Sweden for half a year and that was one hell of my life. Based in Stockholm, I have hosted people all over the world, met amazing people that I can gladly call friends.

Then I conquered Mount Rinjari, the second highest volcano in Indonesia standing tall at 3726km above sea level that got me addicted to mountain climbing. And since then, I couldn't stop.

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

Definitely eating culture and sharing of recipe. I love food, all kinds of food and ways of preparing food always excite me. And also travel story and life. Most importantly, I think it will be sharing, be it thoughts, culture differences and ideas. The only way to have a good and genuine conversation is to be real and sincere to people. I believe the friendship forged will bring us a long way. I am available for hangout/recommendations/travel advice if you are in the city I am in now (Currently: Singapore)

Países que he visitado

Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Países en los que he vivido

Singapore, Sweden