Perpetual resource-building mode, excited traveller, breathes by sketching, and a human work-in-progress. Loves coffee, tea, wine and food.

Made my way here from Interpals: I enjoy learning about the diverse culture and heritage of the world, meeting people from all walks of life, language exchanges, snail-mailing and penpals.

Besides people-watching, sketching, adventures and exploring, I love nature and reading non-fiction/travel writing/literature/classics too!

IG accounts -
my drawings: @turtileart
books and words: @turtilents

In 2017, i traversed Europe and made the most out of 68 days,
a decision made between immediately jumping into a hectic race up the corporate ladder and travelling for so long a time. So many adults who've adult-ed rightly (or so it seems) tell me that if there was one thing they could do differently, it would be to travel before they enrolled themselves in work. How true.

My goal is to defy all of that and embrace being in the present, learn to appreciate every moment as it goes, and do my future self some good - carpe diem.

Now a year has passed, i have no regrets doing that.
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In 2018, I challenged myself to get out of the comfort zone: identity, security, monotony, settling for less. And I'm glad I did, for it led me to embarking on yet another epic trip of self-discovery: a solo sojourn to Myanmar.

While I desired solitude, life blessed me in every other way possible: ensuring I was never alone, yet granting me sufficient space to grow in good company and positive vibes.

In 2019, I longed to go not just where the wind took me, but also to where my dreams venture to. That sorta worked, making it to Laos before the year ended.

This year, I hope to continuously discover the wisdom that travels unravel, meet more amazing human beings, and learn more while giving back to the community. So far, so good - I recently hosted an event on solo female travel, in-lieu with International Women's Day, to help inspire and empower other like-minded females in Yangon. I am glad my story rang through, and look forward to seeing their adventures and dreams take flight.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

- To *try to* make sense of this world and find meaning while learning to be a better human being

- Also, the experiences i wouldn't have otherwise encountered if it were not for CS! eye-opening experiences and meeting new people, to new perspectives and being altogether awe-inspired by the beautiful souls we meet... and nature.
i have received so generously, and i hope i will be able to pay it forward :)

- Learning to be a citizen of the world, one country at a time.
It'd be amazing to connect and exchange inputs on local recommendations and cultures, song and book recommendations more than welcome!

- To satiate your curiosity, if there's anything you'd like to find out about Singapore - feel free to ask away and I will try my best to answer! A lot of people think we are a country of crazy rich Asians after the Hollywood film, but there's more than meets the eye!

Currently UNable to host - I live with my parents and unfortunately this is non-negotiable.
But I'll take you around this little country if you're here and time permits; local food, heritage and exploring if you're up for it - don't say i bojio (Hokkien, a dialect, which means "didn't invite") 😉

Interests

I love exploring and adventure, and i really like nature because of the clarity it provides me with during times of introspection.

Have been drawing since forever - mostly for leisure, sometimes it covers my allowance -somehow-, but it is always soulful and therapeutic.

Reading: poetry, non-fiction, and local literature - i am learning to diversify. Complementary to this is writing that I do - travel blogging and some poetry (and for work, content that's related to insurance).

Coffee recharges me and I love a great cup of macchiato lungo / shakerato / affogato! And tiramisu too.

Above all, local food is something I always look forward to!!! Apart from amazing people, cultural exchange, learning and experiencing the diverse ways of life.

• arts
• culture
• literature
• poetry
• sketching
• coffee
• reading
• geography
• history
• food
• nature
• tea
• trekking
• exploring
• indie music
• outdoors
• local food
• local history
• heritage
• nature walks
• urban sketching

Music, Movies, and Books

Music -
Gregory Alan Isakov, Death Cab For Cutie, Brazzaville, Cocoon, Jehro, Of Monsters and Men, Matthew and The Atlas, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Kodaline, The Script, Coldplay, Birdy, Daughter, Lucy Rose, Tom Odell, Amber Run, Natalia Lafourcade, etc.
(mostly Indie/Alternative rock/Cantopop and instrumentals)
Yanni, Olafur Arnalds, Rodrigo, Leão, Joe Hisaishi, The Carpenters
Ronghao Li, JJ Lin and Jay Chou (pre-2007)
(special mention to the Galway Street Club - seeing them performing in the Spanish Quarters was amazing)

Movies -
Ghibli productions (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Laputa, Mononoke Hime, etc.)
Harry Potter
Leon the Professional
Dead Poets' Society
The Seventh Seal
Life is Beautiful
Cinema Paradiso
Into the Wild
Before Sunrise / Before Midnight / Before Sunset
Waking Life
( Roy Anderson / Kiarostami / Richard Linklater's productions )

Books -
Fernando Pessoa: The Book of Disquiet
Pablo Neruda: The Book of Questions
Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar, Johnny Panic and The Bible of Dreams, Poetry collection
Joseph Roth: The Hotel Years
Lonely Planet's compilation of travel writings: Tales from Nowhere
Cheryl Strayed: Wild
Peter Mayle: My Twenty Five Years in Provence

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Solo travelling first in 2017, then cultivating an addiction to it, and being able to share my learnings with others, inspiring other women to do the same and embark on that journey that begins with the present that paves the way into the future of their dreams.

Booking a flight to France again just two days before, only to chance upon the gems and beauty of the South 😍, meeting more amazing, kindred souls! Absolutely splendid way to end the Eurotrip, experiencing the best of CS culture once more - and i wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world.

Cambodia in May 2018 was an impromptu idea with a pen-friend that turned out to be quite epic!

solo trip to Myanmar, living for each sunrise and sunset and to learn the meaning of life when I fell.

Hey, this list is never-ending!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
- Singlish, Basic Mandarin; Hokkien (dialect)
- Children art and craft / math

Learn:
Would very much like to learn the locals' way of life, about the food, culture and heritage, literature, folklore, and of course - about the person I'm meeting :D

Share:
- Exchange book recommendations, perspectives and conversations
- food,
- sketching/watercolour tips and
- snail-mailing/exchange postcards! : )

- Budgeting or other stuff
- Travel tips for all the places travelled to, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Scotland, Slovakia, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Myanmar, Singapore