travel – Site Title

20 Hours and Counting!

I’m not sure if the trip to Hawaii was around 20 hours, it could have been more or rather it felt like forever!

It was supposed to be a second honeymoon trip and my ex did all the planning. We were going to touchdown in Maui, check into a nice hotel, fly first class no less, and have a great time. The problem, my ex decided that our preschooler should tag along. A big mistake! Never take a young child with you on your honeymoon.

You guessed it. It was a horror trip. The little brat decided that he was going to call all the shots and to add more fuel to the fire, he was made to feel like the little prince all along the journey. The flight was more than comfortable, I think we had a stopover in New York before heading to Hawaii. The minute we boarded the flight at New York JFK Airport, the trouble started. It was too long of a flight for the little guy and he started acting up royally. I tried my best to quiet him down but it was a no go. The other passengers had to put up with his antics although they thought he was very cute.

Once we arrived in Hawaii, he gave us more of the same. He didn’t want to do anything! Anything we suggested was met with an absolute NO! Then he perked up when his dad told him about this defunct volcano high above the clouds. It meant a harrowing drive up there but the little brat was into it. Once there, he walked around collecting volcanic rocks with a grin across his face!

Needless to say, it wasn’t a honeymoon at all. The trip was a long one and that was the longest trip I’ve ever made. I’d opt for time travel when flying with a young child. Someone should design just that. Any takers?

Elon?

Oh, I forget that yours rides shotgun on your shoulders!

Daily writing prompt

What’s the longest trip you’ve ever taken?

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Traveling Frugally

Sounds like a great idea if you don’t have the cash to splurge on extravagance but want to go places anyway. Unfortunately or fortunately, I don’t have much experience with this mode of traveling.

When I started traveling, I stayed at good hotels, went to really nice restaurants, and never had to worry if I was staying in a good location or not. I don’t think in all my years of traveling, I had a shoestring budget.

However, it is not hard to figure out what budget travel entails. It means, “exploring the world while keeping your spending low and intentional through smart choices.” It also takes work and careful planning to put a trip together but things can still go wrong.

Pay careful attention to these four items when planning your trip.

Accommodation:

No fancy hotels here. Look for hostel rooms, and or guesthouses. Pay careful attention to the ratings as well.

Food:

No fancy restaurants, instead rely on street food or cook your own meals.

Transport:

Public buses, trains, and or depend on your own two feet to get you places. No rental cars or taxis.

Activities:

Hiking trails, low-cost or free things to do like visiting public parks, beaches or other similar activities that cost very little or next to nothing.

Budget travel will take you places but I would rather stick with the normal variety or mode of travel. I’d rather be safe than sorry so I stick to traveling the way I do it. Book flight, get there, check in at hotel, know I’m safe, and take off from there!

Not everyone can afford that so my best tips for budget travel is, pay attention to details, look at the ratings carefully before booking anything, be aware of your surroundings, AND stay safe!

Daily writing prompt

What’s your best tip for budget travel?

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Airports

I don’t do much traveling anymore but during the time I did, I would rate Japan as having one of the worst airports.

I was new to traveling at that time and ill at ease with international travel and that could have been the problem. However, I had a hard time there. Most announcements were in Japanese, terminals were hard to get to, and finding where you needed to go to was hard especially when all the instructions were in Japanese. It may have changed now but when I was there, I almost didn’t make my connecting flight because I didn’t know where to go. A kind Japanese man helped me out and he said, “Don’t worry. I have the same problem here!”

The best and what is the top-rated airport in the world is Singapore Changi Airport. Everything about this airport is run with efficiency, precision, and getting around is no problem at all. Add the indoor forest that spans five stories housing a large indoor collection of plants and this place is captivating. It is a vacation in itself! If that isn’t enough, the entire forest wraps around the HSBC Rain Vortex. What? Yes, I have never seen anything like it before in an airport but leave it to the Singaporeans to do things differently. The Vortex houses the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 130 feet high. It is completely free and open 24/7. There are also over 200 food and beverage outlets showcasing Singapore’s best. I think you can literally pitch a tent there and never miss anything!

I give this airport three thumbs up. 👍👍👍

You’ve guessed it, I am a Singapore fan but rightfully so. You can’t beat it for cleanliness, thinking out of the box concepts, and for being virtually crime free. This tiny island nation has much to offer. Rules and regulations exist but without them Singapore would be in utter chaos but that’s just my opinion.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best and worst airport you’ve been to?

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Hari Raya Puasa

I love Thanksgiving but I decided to go with Hari Raya Puasa from a country that I love and having spent a lot of time there, I have come to know the cultural traditions well.

Singapore is a diverse society and it embraces many cultural traditions wholeheartedly. Multiculturalism is part and parcel of Singapore and during my stay there, I came to know the different cultural traditions well. I think I have written about some of them here but I’m going to go with Hari Raya Puasa because it is a lovely tradition and one worth noting.

Some of you may know it has Eid al-Fitr, a major religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide and it marks the end of Ramadan. Muslims make up about 15% of the population and Islam is the third-largest religion in the country. What are the other two? The ethnic Chinese community practice Buddhism and they make up about 31.1 % followed by Christianity which makes up 18.9 %. Here’s the thing about Singapore, all religions are accepted and practiced with no restrictions.

Coming back to Hari Raya Puasa, it is celebrated by Singaporeans and not just the Muslim population. People wear vibrant outfits, visit the mosque for prayers, and the best part is the food. The feasting usually involves a massive amount of traditonal Malay delicacies. People also open their homes to relatives, friends, and neighbors of all races and religions. It is time for celebration and the food fest is delicious and finger-licking good. My favorite is rendang. It is a spicy beef stew or it can also be made with chicken and it is served with rice cakes (ketupat), and sometimes satay, meat on skewers but that is not all. The dessert list is massive as well and just as good.

Singaporeans celebrate each other’s cultural traditions and the country comes together as a nation during these times. It is a lovely place that has made diversity a way of life and harmony among the different races is their mainstay and they work hard at keeping it that way.

Thumbs up Singapore! 👍

Daily writing prompt

What’s a cultural tradition from your country that you love?

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The Misunderstanding

I don’t know if you would call it the funniest misunderstanding but it was funny at the time. I’ve spent a lot of time in Asia and I thought I knew all the customs and how not to step on someone’s toes but there was one time when we, my ex and son, went to Singapore to see why I loved the place so much.

Things change very quickly in Singapore. It never stays the same and perhaps that is the attraction of this tiny island nation and we were prepared for a great time with good food and lots of things to see. We did get some delicious food and lots to see as well. However, things had changed again. They have these food courts or rather hawker centers and if you want really good food at low prices, it is the place to be.

We went there one evening. The atmosphere was great and the place was bustling. All the tables were taken and then I spotted one in the midst of all the chaos and it was empty! We rushed to it glad to have found it. There was a pack of tissues on the table and we were very grateful. It was hot and that pack of tissues came in handy. We opened it, cleaned our hands, and wiped the sweat off our faces. We noticed people glancing in our direction but paid them no mind.

A few minutes later, a young couple approached us and said, “Excuse me, this is our table.”

Me: “Sorry, we saw it first. It is ours.”

Lady: “We choped it first.”

Me: “What do you mean choped? What is that?”

Lady: “In Singapore, if there is a pack of tissues on the table, it means it is taken.”

You can imagine our embarrassment. We apologized and left the table politely and quickly.

Choping or rather reserving a seat is done by placing a pack of tissue paper on the table. This only applies at the hawker centers or at least I think so, maybe they’ve changed that again! It means it is taken or rather reserved. It is also considered a massive local taboo to break that rule.

We later laughed about it BUT we learned to read up on the rules and regulations and believe me when I say, breaking of rules and or laws in Singapore can cost you more than a pretty penny! The one we broke only cost us a laugh, but it could have been worse.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?

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Magazines

I can’t remember their names! Dad used to order lots of books, puzzles, and things of interest and I got my hands on them! I would work the puzzles, and read all the other stuff that was there. That’s how I took an interest in reading. I have dad to thank for that.

Then one day, those new magazines started arriving. They had beautiful pictures of faraway places. I could go there and dream without ever leaving home. Switzerland became my fav place and I read up on everything I needed to know about that place. One day I was going to visit this marvelous place and experience it for myself. It never happened.

Other places came along. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Hawaii, Asia, and many many more. I would visit some of those places in real life and experience the culture, the people, and the cuisine for myself.

I realized that I didn’t have to leave home to go to my dream places. I could do that right from my bedroom and flipping pages took me to some wonderful lands and faraway destinations.

Traveling was not a choice. I married somehow who traveled alot, career choices helped with some other visits, and I went along whether I wanted to or not. These days I am content with where I am at. Peace and quiet is what I seek the most and those faraway places will remain undiscovered as far as I am concerned. I’ve done enough traveling in my life, time to hang up those shoes and COOL it for a while at least.

To answer your question, no movie or book inspired me to travel or maybe it did but I can’t think of any right now. Those magazines come to mind so question answered!

Daily writing prompt

What’s a movie or book that inspired you to travel?

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Switzerland

A long time ago when I was doing my armchair traveling, I came across pictures of this faraway land and it kept me captive. I told myself that one day I will visit this gorgeous place and even live there.

Life had other plans! I would travel the world experiencing life in some strange and wonderful places but I never made it to Switzerland! I lived in Asia and then I met my German ex and life got turned on its head. We fell in love, got married, and I got pregnant. He wanted to move back home, to a tiny little village that time forgot. Sometimes you can hear a pin drop.

I’ve raised my son here, learned to speak the language fluently, got divorced, and am learning to live here on my own. I think I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. It’s not perfect but it is perfect enough for me. If you’re a writer, this is a dream place. It is quiet so that you can hear yourself think. The fields are gorgeous and some days you may think that no one else exists! There is very little to do here but that’s okay for a recluse like me. I love the peace and quiet. The people take some getting used to, they are set in their ways and they are way too conservative. However, when you get to know them and they invite you into their circle, that’s right “invite” you in, you’ve made it and you are treated like one of them. It is how I feel now.

I’ve been to many places in the world but if I could live anywhere in the world, I would pick this one. Why? It feels like home and there is this certain something about this place. Perhaps, it is the mixture of old and new or the smiles and waves that tell me I am welcomed here, but most of all I like the feel of safety that this place gives me. It is almost crime-free and you CAN leave your doors open at night but that’s where I draw the line!

I’m not there yet and I don’t think I ever will be. I have a German friend who leaves all the windows and doors open throughout the day and through the night! He says, “there is nothing to worry about!” Hmm…from his mouth to God’s ears!

I’m in a perfect place, one that works for me and that right there is the important part.

Daily writing prompt

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

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The Awakening

This one is embarrassing. The best compliment I’ve ever received was when I was in my early 20s and it was given to me by a group of businessmen.

I was in Singapore at the time and in McDonalds meeting a girlfriend for lunch. Sitting behind us was a group of men in suits. They kept staring but I didn’t pay it much mind. After 20 minutes they got up and left. I was glad because they made me uneasy for some reason. A few minutes later they walked back in. There were about 10 of them altogether so I froze in mid-conversation. They walked to our table, one guy had a single rose in his hand and an envelope. He didn’t say a word as he handed me both, smiled, and they left. The place was eerily quiet as everyone glanced over at us.

I opened the envelope and there was a card in it. It said:

“To the most beautiful girl in Singapore.”

It also contained 30 dollars to pay for lunch I guess. Nothing else. No telephone number nothing. I never saw them again but that chance meeting has stayed in my memory because it literally blew my mind! I would get plenty more compliments as time went on but that one on a hot day in Singapore took the cake and has remained in my mind as one of the best compliments of all time!

I was a wild child in my teens running around barefoot in the forest and playing with the ducks and most days I was covered with mud from head to toe but I loved it. I blossomed when I was 16 and those things were put aside. I never thought of myself as a beauty but things changed. I went from being a tomboy to a quiet young woman. More introvert than anything else. That compliment was my awakening to a different world. Beauty is more than a buzz word, beauty is power in some cases. These days they still tell me I am attractive but I march to a different drumbeat. It is more about the inner beauty and not about the fading kind.

Daily writing prompt

What was the best compliment you’ve received?

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LOL!

I found this totally hilarious and true to a T! I’ve had a couple of them pull up behind me and they scared the h**l out of me! So this one resonates totally.

DIARY OF A BMW DRIVER..

The other day I was cruising along as usual coming onto one of my motorways, which was very busy with inferior cars

First off, I couldn’t believe that the volume of traffic DIDN’T slow down for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway!

The driver of the car behind me did realise his mistake though and honked an apology to me with a long blast of his horn.

Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane.

Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 110 mph enjoying the adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway, but was driving at a ridiculous 70 mph!

Naturally, I got within a foot or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn’t be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way.

Of course, once he realised it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me!

He also tried to keep up with me and when he realised I would out-run him, he put on some blue lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that he could congratulate me on my excellent car.

Needless to say, I was eager to oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew – that my car goes fast!

Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to take my drivers licence to a police station to be sent away to have some points put on! (They’re not free points either – they’re £20 each and I was only allowed 3.) But the man at the police station said that because I drive a BMW, it won’t be much longer before I earn the full 12 points, and then I won’t even NEED a driving licence, so they will take it off me!

See, now THAT’S the sort of respect you get when you own and drive a BMW!

An Italian Ice Place

I learned about this place from a friend and at first I thought it was an okay place but nothing special. It was run by Italians and most of the staff there are young Italians from Italy. Some don’t speak English, no German whatsoever, and they loved speaking in Italian. The problem? Customers had a tough time placing their orders!

However, the place grew on me. It was nice and cozy, the ambience was comforting and the people friendly. I love the decor and the music playlist had some of my favorite songs on there. It slowly became a favorite place to hang out in whenever I met friends for coffee and sometimes breakfast. If we arrived early, the place was empty and you can hear yourself talk. However, come lunchtime, it gets crowded and very noisy. That’s when it is time to go.

In summer, they serve Italian ice but throughout the year, they have Tiramisu, cakes, cookies, breakfast dishes like Avocado Toast, American style scrambled eggs, toast, and to top it all great coffee.

I am a regular there so they know me well. Just recently, a server from Argentina who speaks English told me that he was leaving to go back home. He is actually an English teacher back home and he was going back for a year to help his family and to teach but he would be back next year. There are others there that I have come to know well.

I have a favorite spot by the window so that I can people watch and sip my coffee in silence when I am there by myself but when I meet a friend, we can talk and laugh like we are the only ones in the place! It’s a nice place and since I don’t like crowded places, it works just fine for those rare moments when I get myself out and about. Oh, the bakery is right across from the Italian place and that is an added bonus. It’s where I get my beloved cheesecake! Not a good thing in one sense but for those days when my willpower isn’t where it should be, I break down and get a slice or two of cheesecake before heading back home. Not a whole cake anymore. We are making progress!

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite place to go in your city?

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