With that being said, I guess this is going to be a very sparse post, eh?
All posts by ishg
I Dream of Santorini
Santorini is much like the pretty gal that every other girl would love to hate. You know, the one who gets out of bed looking every inch exquisite, the one who exudes charm without even trying, the type who you would compliment all day and would just shrug it all off, as if gorgeousness was something you got for free with your kiddie snack.
Yes, it seems this island is blessed — with its amazing vantage points overlooking the sea, its picturesque artisan town of Oia, a muti-faceted terrain which allows one to comb through vineyards at one hour, climb a volcano the next, all before having a pick of whether to lounge the day away at a black, red or white beach. Continue reading I Dream of Santorini
Catching Our Breath at Paros
Even party girls need some chill-time. After busy, lively Mykonos, the almost sleepy-town of Paroikia in Paros was a welcome breather.
We were booked to stay for two nights at Jimmy’s Hostel, and who else would be the first person at the pier who would greet us? No less but Jimmy himself! Quite a character with his booming voice and ubiquitous grin, he helped us load our bags onto to his van and whisked us off to the apartments, which was only a few blocks away from the pier. Continue reading Catching Our Breath at Paros
Mykonos: Blue and White and Everything Nice
Finally meeting up with familiar faces after weeks of solo travel is nothing less than awesome. Sheng and I should know — when we had our rendezvous at the Athens airport, we surely must have annoyed the hell out of everyone else. Here we were, two chatty lasses, who swapped stories NON-STOP on the hour-long airport shuttle to our digs at the city center. Later on, we would meet up with Mara, another friend of mine who I haven’t seen since she moved to Abu Dhabi.
After a fun hostel overnighter fueled by pub-karaoke and local beer, we dragged ourselves out of bed and set off for Port Piraeus in the early morn. We were to jumpstart our island-hopping adventure with Mykonos as our first stop, and I could hardly keep myself from being giddy. As a child, I always thought that the Greek Isles were only something I’d lay eyes upon while watching snotty tanned lovey-dovey couples on The Lives of the Rich and Famous. Now, not only was I being whisked off via ferry to the Cyclades, but on a rare treat, I was sharing the rush of experiencing something new with two very good friends! Continue reading Mykonos: Blue and White and Everything Nice
I Heart Italy
In the short span of of five days, I was floored, smitten, head-over-heels in love with Italy — to think that I only got to explore dreamy Venice and beguiling Rome. Never was I so sad to leave a destination, but crossed fingers, I pray that the magic of Trevi Fountain works for me, so that I’ll find myself back for another Italian adventure.
Swiss Dreams: The Vid
Switzerland was the dreamland that I didn’t expect to wander into. With stunning mountains and breathtaking vistas at your disposal, I reckon it must be pretty good to call Switzerland home. Sometimes, fate always knows best. I’m grateful that it led me to shuffle my plans to include a peek of Zurich and the Alps.
Song: Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis
Venice and the Art of Getting Lost
Things to do when in Venice:
Eat a lot of gelato.
Get a map and plot out all sights you want to see in this labyrinth.
Bring the map and get lost anyway.
Eat more gelato and everything will be okay.
As I got off the platform in Venezia Santa Lucia, I had to struggle to keep from jumping up and down as I got an eyeful of Venice. Busy waterway streets, gondoliers bedecked in stripes and straw hats — it was unreal, a whimsical pace of life defying the logical world as I knew it. It was perfect. Continue reading Venice and the Art of Getting Lost
Seventh Heaven at the Jungfraujoch
The trip up Europe’s highest railway wasn’t originally in the itinerary, but I took the very pleasant weather as a push from fate. Launching myself into a fury, I cancelled and made last-minute bookings left and right. It almost looked like it wasn’t happening, but then at last, the day trip to Jungfraujoch was a go, and the sights were worth every bit of the trouble.
Happy Knabenschiessen!
When I was first told I was to report to the Zurich office, I was expecting it to be more formal than what I’m used to, since this was our home base after all. Maybe austere, even.
When I got off the bus stop at Uetlihof, there was a carnival outside my office. I kid you not. Food stalls lined the sidewalk, peddling every kind of cuisine your tummy can demand of you — Swiss, German, Chinese, Greek, Brazilian. From my desk window, I could see a giant ferris wheel. Talk about rolling out the red carpet.
Six-Thousand Close Shaves
Six-thousand people signing up to get their heads shaved — now that’s something you don’t see everyday.
I’ve bungeed off ledges and jumped off cliffs — but on the subject of allowing someone to clip off all my hair, I’m afraid I’ll have to wimp out, thank you. Going for something less-thrilling-but-still-relevant instead, I volunteered to be a stage sweeper in this year’s Hair for Hope fundraising event, organized by Singapore’s Children’s Cancer Foundation. Continue reading Six-Thousand Close Shaves
Project 366 – 2012: The First Half
Since the start of the year, I’ve been bent on capturing at least a second’s worth of clips each day, so that I can compile it to a 2012-series video, which I can look back to whenever I’m wondering where my time went.
I’m supposed to wait until the actual end of year before I begin piecing the clips together, but just in case we don’t make it past Dec 21, I decided to go ahead and do the first half’s worth. =P
Watching the vids once again brought me to a nostalgia trip, as can be expected. Like that first splash of water at my face in the morning, about a dozen realizations washed upon me as well. Like how everyday can’t really be a spine-tingling adventure, but can still be an opportunity to learn, to rediscover, to reconnect with loved ones and appreciate people and things simply for being there.
This vid is for all the family and friends who have paid me a visit, for those took me in whenever I dropped by, for all those who brushed against my life and made it a bit more interesting. Thank you, I sincerely mean it that this piece of work would have no meaning without you guys.
Song: Computer by State Shirt (http://stateshirt.com/music/computer/)
Reasons Why Krabi Rocks
Ladies and gentlemen, Thailand has finally crept its way up to my heart. Or, to be more apt, it rock-climbed its way.
My first glimpse of the Kingdom of Siam was Phuket, and although it was nothing to be scoffed at, a lot of things were too ‘in-your-face’ for me, and its beaches still left me wanting.
Enter Krabi.
The first time I heard of this sweet-spot for scrambling up crags, I instantly knew it was an eventuality. It was just a matter of time of when I’ll score a promo flight to this weekend warrior’s haven. Finally, that time rolled around. Continue reading Reasons Why Krabi Rocks
.: ishcapades 