5 Things I Loved About Brisbane

A little outdated but I thought that it'll be great to finally talk about my spontaneous trip to Brisbane. I was going through a dark season at that time: a creative burn-out, the end of a friendship, lack of focus and dealing with rejection. It was an impulsive decision to book a flight just days before landing with my family, since I had initially said no to going with them. Looking back, I really think that it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Here's what I loved about Brisbane:

1. The Laid Back Culture
I loved that the locals would spread out their mats and lie on the grass, regardless if it's a work day or a weekend. It was odd to see people in corporate garb lying down on the grass after having their lunch. It was also odd to me that people walked slower, articulated their words properly and enjoyed simple things like grabbing beers after work and mowing the lawn. I liked that there were birds singing (though it did get a little bit annoying after a while), I liked that the weather was great and that people smiled at you when you smiled at them.


2. The Farmers' Market
One word: amazing! Lots of food (I had the best Danish pancakes and seafood paella), fresh produce, organic soaps/skincare, vintage clothes, old books, coffee trucks, live music, dogs! I looted a bunch of organic hemp seed soaps, a wide brimmed black hat and a book of poetry by Tolkien for the boyfriend. I wish I had taken more photos to capture the scene. Going to a farmers' market like this one was a great refresher from the wet pasar that I was used to back home.


3. The good food (and dessert, coffee, etc)
Swiss ice-cream, Italian gelato, Ben & Jerry's, soft serve. I went crazy with the bunch of ice-cream coupons I had. I found the taste a lot richer than the ones back home, the portions were generous and the variety was nicer. Same went to the food and coffee. It was so nice to be able to grab quality food for a good price, which all came with impeccable customer service. I had coffee every single day of the week that I was there and the best part was that I did not experience any form of acid reflux, lactose intolerance or tremors. My dad insists that it's the milk but I think otherwise.

4. The fact that people were nice and courteous
Growing up in Malaysia, I've been used to being around rude people and experiencing horrible customer service. I actually found it odd that people were generally friendly with 'how are you?'s thrown in almost all the time, even while paying for groceries. I like that the locals were helpful and that the service crew, from the train station staff to the waiter, were respectful and polite. The church that we went to (Anne Street) was beautiful and the people were so friendly. I'm really glad that my sister is plugged in there and growing in her faith with a bunch of people that really know the Word.


5. The overall vibe
I like that the vibe in the city was very liberating. I felt safe wondering alone around Queens Plaza and South Bank. It felt good to see women dress the way they want and speak however they want. It was nice to see a more matured side to a city: no litter, no one spitting by the side of the road, no cat-calling. I saw street musicians everywhere and people actually stopping to spare some change and to enjoy the music. My mom and I went on a Heritage Trail with a bunch of other tourists and it was a great experience to spend 2 hours exploring and learning about the city from a historical perspective. It was quite obvious that my family (especially my dad) had taken quite a liking to Brisbane.

The trip was refreshing, both creatively and personally. I came home armed with healthy ingredients and soaps to last till my next trip. I hope to have the chance to explore other parts of Australia, like Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. As of now, I can't wait to return in 2018 when my sister graduates!

Exploring Seoul Through Sulwhasoo

Just barely three days since returning from Korea and I've already booked a flight to my next destination: i'll reveal this soon as the weeks draw closer. 

Korea was a blast. The only reason why I was in Korea was because my team and I had to shoot a special VR (Virtual Reality) project for one of Amore Pacific's brands, Sulwhasoo. If you're ever in Gangnam, go check out Sulwhasoo's flagship store, so intricately designed by Neri & Hu, an award-winning design duo. I didn't take a lot of photos of the store because I was too busy working, admiring the store, trying samples, etc. I think I tried waaay too many samples.

The view right when I woke up! It was 5am and I had woken up from a brief nap. Midnight flights are my favorite kind of flights for long-distance traveling because it's quiet. It does get uncomfortable to sleep on the flight but fortunately, I was too tired from a long day and slept like a baby. 

The rooftop event space at Sulwhasoo's flagship store! I love love love the design of this entire building, but my favorite place was definitely this one. The six-storey store boasts in two spas, VIP lounges, workshop areas and retail spaces. Upon entering, you'll be treated to soothing iced green tea and if you're lucky, an ampoule with ginseng extract for the extra kick.

Of course, the food was awesome! The Korean BBQ was my favorite besides this heavenly piece of Nutella and banana crepe, one of the many street foods you'll find in Myeong Dong, the shopping haven of the city.

I took a bunch of photos but I was too lazy to edit all.

I really enjoyed Korea. It was definitely a country that I had been wanting to tick off my travel bucket list. To be able to travel there for business was a plus, though I believe I would have enjoyed it more if I was there for leisure instead of work. Seoul is pretty safe for solo travel, though the cost of living can be pretty high (if you're coming from Malaysia). I was pretty happy to have had the experience of seeing another country. I doubt I'll be jumping onto the k-pop bandwagon but I must say that external beauty seems to be a thing around here. Be prepared to see an army of well-dressed, beautiful women and a whole load of beauty shops in the city. I hope I'll be able to go back again, perhaps to Busan or to Jeju Island.

P.S. Yes, I bought too many sheet masks (how could I resist a packet of RED WINE sheet masks?) #noregrets

In-flight skin talk and musings on career satisfaction

I'll be leaving to Korea in one day for what I would call a 'workcation', since I'd obviously want to spend time exploring Seoul and Gangnam. It still hasn't dawned upon me that I've reached a point in my career where I am able to travel internationally. Previously, my stint as a travel writer covered local content, so I would be flying off to Penang (mostly) or joining media trips to other parts of Malaysia.

Truth to be told, I miss the media life. I miss being able to brainstorm fresh content for a new issue with a team of creatives. I miss being able to write longform articles instead of the short blurbs that I write now. I also miss meeting new people, attending new openings and gaining fresh inspiration just by researching for an article or conducting interviews and organizing photo shoots.

People say that a job in the media doesn't 'pay the bills'. However, when I look at the very people who say that, those killing it with the formal attire and the high paycheck, I see that they are not happy. After speaking to a few people in my network, I find that most of them are not happy or fulfilled with the career that allows them to have a hefty paycheck. I look at my situation now, with the long working hours, client meetings, occasionally hell-ish circumstances and the high pressure that comes with advertising, I find myself unhappy and unfulfilled despite the high(er) income than what I used to earn when I was in media.

I'll definitely be thinking a lot about satisfaction and salaries during the six-hour flight. In the mean time, I thought of sharing my in-flight beauty essentials. I've never been much of a beauty junkie (until now) but ever since my addiction to beauty vlogs and such, I started an in-flight beauty routine since my last trip to Australia a few months ago. Six to eight hours in a plane is no joke.

Here's what I make sure I have with me:

1. Reading materials. I consider reading as a part of a beauty routine because refreshing your mind and injecting yourself with new ideas and thoughts is part of the beauty journey, at least for me. I think a beautiful mind outshines a beautiful face and I love reading books and magazines that inspire me. One of which are magazines like ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR or PORTER (especially if it's my #KarlieKween on the cover) and a good book. I read "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano on my flight back to KL from Gold Coast and I found it so hard to put down because Mireille writes about french culture, beauty and food in a witty and informative way. More on this when I get back!

2. Hair serum. My hair tends to frizz (#curlyhairproblems) because of the dry nature of the cabin. I decided to try out Botaneco Garden's Organic Argan & Virgin Olive Oil hair serum since I've heard a lot about the power of argan oil to tame flyaways and bring moisture back to the hair. It's less that 95ml, so I'm positive that I will be allowed to bring this in on the flight.

3. Sheet mask. You'll never hear the end of my adoration for this. I only decided to try out a sheet mask in the plane because it's gonna be six hours of flying at midnight, so I might as well fulfill my sheet mask quota (I do it twice a week) for the week. I decided to try the Jeju Lily Face Mask by Guardian, only because The Face Shop is not available at my area. I'm gonna be meeting international media and the Korean clients once I land, so I might as well wake up to fresher skin and feel good.

4. Lip balm. Same reason regarding dryness but I try not to wear lipstick or any makeup for long flights, so I resort to a tiny lip balm for moisture. I've been keeping this Born Lippy Passionberry lip balm by The Body Shop for some time and I find that it doesn't really absorb into my lips but it does the work of keeping lips moist. Oh well.

5. Facial wipes. I keep this in my bag just in case my skin looks dull from the flight and I need a quick fix-it before landing. I usually have this in my bag at all times, regardless of whether I'm traveling or not. I like Simple's Kind to Skin Cleasing Facial Wipes because it's designed for people with sensitive skin like me.


I've not packed but I'm excited because I'll be meeting new people, exploring new places and yes, I'm definitely coming home with an armful of sheet masks and instant kimchi ramen. To be honest, the last thing on my mind is work but I know *fingers crossed* that I'll be able to get the job done.



Till then,
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