Our generation, narcissistic as it is (guilty*), seems fixated on nursing whatever deep-seated insecurities it might have by subconsciously lowering others' self esteem using glamorized photos that are so perfect, it hurts. "If you're an insecure person, how are you capable in producing such confident photos online that in turn, makes others feel insecure about themselves too??? Why not make everyone feel good together??" With so many people fixing their faces for a little cosmetic "boost", I constantly wonder if standing firmly beside my ideals will eventually cause me to lose out while everyone is looking prettier every minute. Irina, do you want to be the kind of person who advocates for brands that ultimately serve to only deepen feminine insecurities? No, of course, not!
Being in an industry where you're constantly exposed to the ugliness makes me feel really uncomfortable. Thanks to the interconnectedness that social media provides, I've crossed paths with a fair share of people over the years. People who ride on others for satisfaction that is merely temporary. People who set goals at the expense of others. People who use their job as a tool for extortion. When interacting with such individuals, I'm often confused as to how to act or carry myself. If you can't fight them, do you join them? Or do I burn bridges I have yet to cross?
With each passing day, I get more afraid. I'm worried for the kind of generation I might raise. I mean, how did we even go from "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers to Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean?"?
During my last group discussion in class about a research paper pertaining to social media, I learnt that there are people out there who actually believe that most photos on Instagram are true reflections of an individual's reality. FYI: Just like advertisements, not all the photos on Instagram are what you think they are.
The photos above (if I'm not wrong) are great works of a Thai photographer, Champoo Baritone. I love this series so much. There are so many issues that have arisen since the dawn of social media; it has changed social dynamics, altered interpersonal relationships, modified perceptions of self identity etc. It truly and especially breaks my heart when I discover that the people around me believe in such crafted reality. "Guys, I'm in this industry. You guys help me out with my ootd and stuff. You ought to know better." The love-hate relationship from listening to them compare themselves with other individuals and how such discussions lead to self-deprecation is driving me nuts. As much as I want to agree with every word of self loathing coming out from their mouth, I can't help myself from going on a tirade about the lies on Instagram.
Never ever feel shit about yourself because grass will ALWAYS be greener on the other side. Your life is beautiful too; it's just that... maybe you're not equipped with the skills that others have to present a fancier version of reality right?
So.... how come you've been gone for so long, Irina??
The initial plan was to attend a 3-week Summer Exchange programme in London and, at the same time, see what Yi Ming's world was like. However, mere weeks before my flight over, I was informed by the school that both my first and second choices had not meet the achieved the minimum mass of students/attendees/sign-ups and as such would be cancelled. P/S The Summer exchange was really just an elaborate excuse, or rather a much needed boost of courage for me to get my ass out of my ultimate comfort zone. I was disappointed (yet secretly happy at the same time) by how it all turned out, even while the program advisor urged me to choose another course instead. It was a pity that the other courses had not interested me enough... so, that led me to make one of the best decisions in my life: dropping out of King’s College Summer Exchange.
In short, I took a semester off this Summer to travel with Ming :-)
Over the years, I’ve lived vicariously through the travel photos posted by other people on social media platforms as they ventured out of Asia. This Summer, however, it was finally... my turn. Since turning nineteen, I have stopped taking allowance from my mother because I'd discovered how modelling could be a sufficient (albeit temporary) source of income. It was hard to be financially self-sufficient and never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that it was actually possible to save enough for something as big as a trip to Europe. Thus, the furthest I'd ever been from Singapore, prior to this Summer escapade, was on a family trip to New Zealand. Within the first few hours of my departure, I’d unlocked the two of the biggest achievements in my life: flying to Europe and flying ALONE. There was definitely an odd sense of liberation during my solitary flight but oh I can’t deny that I was... to a certain extent, scared (??) ha ha. I've always had a fear for the unknown and that includes unknown destinations. What I meant by that is, somehow it scares me when I can't envisage myself fitting into a place that I just naturally don't belong. My mind just can't translate the 2D Google Images I see online into something concrete, real, and with myself in it. The unknown basically bundled itself up and transformed into fear - a fear which has held me back for a long long time and has, a number of times, prevented me from brilliant opportunities like overseas internship and degree study. So, while I still have the energy, I'd better get moving. You know what they say - when you're old, you've the money but neither the time nor energy. So for now, let's live. I have always been envious of those who have travelled so much with their families, who have seen so much of the world, and those who have managed to absorb so much culture and knowledge by immersing themselves in foreign lands. For those of you who are still waiting for your turn, don't be demoralized. Instead, work harder, save harder, and when it's your turn, you better play motherfucking harder than you thought you ever could.
Long story short, here's a sneak peek we've put together before breaking the travel-logs up into parts!
P/S: The morning I departed did not start too well. I lost my phone the moment I arrived at the airport but a good-hearted taxi driver returned me my phone and guess what?? I didn’t even take his ride (my uncle sent me to the airport instead)! He was very reassuring when he sensed the panic in my voice over the phone. SMRT cab driver of plate XXX883X, thank you for being such a life saver. I couldn’t note down his plate fast enough cause he drove off so quickly around the corner. Singapore is really small; just thought I should say my thanks here and give him the commendation he deserves. Maybe if someone he’s related to reads this, he/she can help me pass on my thanks and feel absolutely proud of what an exemplary man he is.
On this Sunday evening, if you're bored and wished to do something, I'd recommend this movie. I've just watched it and I love it. It's been a long time since a movie fed my soul.
Hope that each and everyone of you are doing fine this May. The Summer holiday is just around the corner, and for some it has already begun (a.k.a me hehe)! Have you guys made any plans yet? If not, maybe this long overdue Vietnam trip entry will inspire you to get out there and find yourself a dose of adventure *winks*
It was a one-week long holiday from 11 - 18 December in Hanoi (Northern Vietnam). Thank you to all who helped with the planning, including Isabelle Kim who sent me a guide to Hanoi with lots of amazing recommendations and other lovely Instagrammers (@sharerll and @habajaa) who introduced delicious local delicacies to Yi Ming and I while we were there! As such, I was well-prepped for my trip (except for the wardrobe department - it turned out to be a lot colder than I thought). If you'd like to know more, Isabelle Kim blogged about her trip too, here.
For those who've emailed me for the itinerary, I'm sorry that I didn't reply because we honestly thought we had misplaced the itinerary or didn't even have one in the first place. I've found it though - JUST. It looks rather pathetic; maybe that's why I didn't recall having one anyway haha. Yi Ming had been to Hanoi before, which explains why our itinerary was really brief because everything there was to know was already in his head and I trusted him.
Don't worry so much about the itinerary. I'm just pasting it here for those who asked and may find useful. I think the photos and my vlog (yes, vlog!) will do a better job of explaining and supporting our itinerary decisions as we go along.
So this is "bun cha." It's Yi Ming's favourite. It is really really nice if you land yourself at the correct place to eat because there are A LOT of self-proclaimed "legit" buncha places that extort tourists.
So, as the itinerary stated, Day 1 was free and easy after we checked into our Airbnb. I'll admit that our first Airbnb wasn't the most spacious of apartments (because we booked it rather late) but it had a good and central location (near the excellent Bun Cha kopitiam - refer above! Ask the hotel staff for the recommendation if you're interested). We made do with what we had anyway, and we were perfectly fine with it :-)
It's just for one night, so it's cool. No fuss.
The weather turned out to be much much colder than I expected. Please do your homework on the weather and never overestimate your ability to weather the cold haha.
We had a real good time getting tickled by the names of places.
"Impressive Hotel" "Awesome Restaurant"
Singaporeans be like, 'really meh?'
I wish we had more time to spend in Hanoi. I didn't expect to like it that much. It's like a slower, less humid and cooler (in terms of climate) version of Bangkok. I really enjoyed walking through the alleys of blocks and watching the locals going about their day. Check out the photo above and the people chilling outside the balcony. The Vietnamese love tea. They love sitting on small low stools surrounding a small table while savouring the tea and engaging in nice conversation.
Hanoi has a lot of beauty for one to take in. Look at the details above hung on a tree. Vietnam was a former French colony and hence, the buildings in Hanoi had a Parisian taste to them. The architecture was messy but pleasing to the eyes (at least to mine). I loved that no matter how cluttered the buildings looked, there remained a profound beauty in the mess. There was just something very comforting about it.
(like I said, it's not for everyone)
If you're ONLY into modern architecture, then Hanoi is probably not for you.
This place was a highly recommended by Yi Ming - the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He loved it there the last time he went. We walked a great distance from the heart of Hanoi only to find out that most parts of the place was closed for army training or something. Damn. So, once again, do your homework well ha ha.
Went to this place for dinner because it was highly recommended and it was amazing!!!!!!!!!!! The food there was truly value for money. The menu has a great variety of cuisines; from local to western to eastern. This was no doubt one of the best meals I had in Vietnam and set the bar high for the rest of the trip since it was only the first day ha ha.
when boyfriend loses a bet?
To have laid me eyes on something so different to Singapore was refreshing and, at the same time, left me feeling very grateful.
This is Day 2 where we set out to Halong Bay!
The bus from the cruise company picked us from our hotel - amazing service.
So here's the story: Yi Ming booked a room on the Golden Lotus Cruise but we got upgraded to a 5-star cruise. They're still trying out the cruise and training the staff for service so we were basically their guinea pigs. The cabin was so so beautiful?? We even had a tube in the room and it was very spacious. Lucky us!
(lost the actual video so introducing...... the Snapchat version)
(also, if you've watched Happy Ending before, you'd get the amaaaazing lingo)
(if you haven't, you should watch it)
Sneakers got trashed so bad
From dawn to dusk, the sky was simply magnificent :')
The very next day, we got an option to go either hiking or kayaking. By that time, I knew the cold had gotten to me good and I didn't even try to opt for the kayak though I knew I'd enjoy it. The thought of the water being so so cold.... I can't, I just can't.
The brave souls who chose to kayak haha
Saw the outline of the 1969 islands that make up Halong Bay at the end destination of our hike.
Saw the odd sky with an overcast cloud on one end and bright sun on the other.
Feel so heart pain seeing them working so hard, but damn... women pride.
After Halong Bay, we went around exploring Hanoi for a bit before catching our overnight train to Sapa - very beautiful place, you'd be in awe. While we had time to kill, we went to check out SEN restaurant, also recommended by the lovely local Instagrammer- and it was amazing! The buffet was so cheap?! It was less than $25 per person, omg. SECOND BEST MEAL EVER.
Yi Ming: I'm glad that she enjoyed it so much - I had food poisoning since the afternoon and so I just sat there and watched her as she...decimated the buffet. Didn't know one girl could cram so many desserts into her mouth; 8th wonder of the world, indeed.
So, right here is where I decide to plonk my Vietnam Vlog.
Watch it to get a better idea of places I'd been!
It's always easier when you can put visuals to things I say.
I admit the video quality isn't the best but iPhone is just the most convenient thing ever isn't it?
So, we arrived at Sapa and decided to stay at this place we found on Airbnb: Topas Ecolodge. We stumbled upon it. The place looked absolutely stunning and we thought it was a little too good to be true. What was scarier was that it didn't have any reviews! So we thought, should we risk it? And yeah, we did and made what seem to be the best decision ever.
Basically we were just surrounded by nature's beauty. This is how it is like in Fall/Winter. In Summer, it'll ought to be more interesting. The natives will be busy with their harvest :-)
Speaking of natives, we met them as they gathered outside our hotel.
They're eager to show tourists around Sapa in the hopes that they will buy a thing or two from them. This is how they make money: by being an unofficial but undisputedly authentic tour guide.
They're so cute. Along the way, they'd pluck random branches, twigs etc. to make something that'd make me so ashamed of my own hands. These people are so amazing. Without even going to school, they manage recognise plants from their own personal experience. Really back to basics.
Then, they generously offered us a tour of their home. I was so touched by the gesture. Of course, I was eager and delighted till I saw their home (as seen in vlog); then, I was crushed. The living conditions weren't what I had expected at all. I know Sapa is a rather backward town; our electricity got cut off in the day and would only resume at 7PM, but I didn't expect the natives to live with a floor covered with dust and.... my heart was breaking, especially after the temporary bond we had formed over the last 3 hours.
I am really glad to have taken the risk to stay at Topas Ecolodge, despite the inconvenience and the location being rather inaccessible, Yi Ming and I had the chance to experience something so genuine and authentic - something we would remember a lifetime.
If you guys have a chance to go there again and meet these ladies, do let me know!
This cat was so comical and clingy.... I loved it.
The breakfast buffet was decent!
Wore 5 layers. Doesn't seem like it, but it was very cold.
Yi Ming who was used to the cold by then, said I was exaggerating - I shit you not.
Yi Ming: She is.
So we checked into another hotel in the main town of Sapa, about an hour's from Topas Ecolodge.
Look at that view from our room!
This market has lots of stalls selling amazing food. Just ask any locals or hotel receptionist where to go for food and I'm sure they'll refer you to here. Yi Ming and I actually spent quite a bit of time there from lunch to supper. Did you notice in the vlog where Yi Ming and I were playing chess? Yeap, that was in the market. We made acquaintances with the vendors there and it felt nice, I must say. They amiably taught us the way to eat their local delicacies; which condiment or chilli went well with which dish etc.
In Sapa, there is Baguette & Chocolat Cafe where they serve - you guessed it - baguettes and nice cuppas of hot the chocolate - perfect for cold end of year weather.
THIRD BEST MEAL EVER: a super delish piping hot hotpot in such weather in the market mentioned above - walking distance from Bamboo Sapa Hotel
We decided to go for a trek though it had been drizzling quite a bit. We were told by the motorcyclist that our destination was quite near, so we thought, "ok why not." Guess what? We were on the bike for a good 20-30minutes and we were almost soaked. The motorcyclist tried offering us ponchos but they only helped that much. Still, I would do it again because we were laughing so much from the complaints we spewed to each other to and fro the place.
"Fuck. It's been like 10 minutes, no?"
"I think there's a hole in my poncho"
"Omg. It's so cold my teeth are clattering"
"He said that it was JUST round the corner like 15 minutes ago"
"I swear there's a hole in my poncho"
"On a serious note: do you think we turn back?!?!?!?!"
"But that's like another wasted 15 minutes!??!!?!?"
"Eh, I found the hole"
When the sun finally showed itself, we went on to explore Katkat Village. That was on the last day of our Sapa expedition, before we headed back to Hanoi to catch a flight back to Singapore.
Well, that's about it for my Hanoi trip. It's been very very lovely travelling with you, Mr. Yi Ming. Thank you for being the wonderful man you're, taking proper care of me during the trip and sweeping me off my feet with the simple gift of a rose stalk (the other stalk was given by the florist himself ha ha). Thank you very much, and I look forward damn well to our Summer adventure together.
27 more days to go.
And thank you guys for still popping by this space though the frequency of my updates has been quite erratic of late. You guys are honestly the best. I do hope this entry has managed to tickle the wanderlust bug in you a little bit at least and hopefully egg you on to get out there for on adventure of discovery! Also, if you guys intend to book the Airbnb apartments I've recommended (you totally should because they're really one of the best among the lot - Yi Ming and I did our research), then the first time Airbnb users (all nationalities are welcomed) should use this link below to get yourself $36 OFF* your first booking. That's like.......... almost a FREE ONE-NIGHT STAY at the first apartment I was in. That's a really good bargain, huh?
