2014

2014 has been one of the most amazing years I've experienced. I welcomed 2014 in Edinburgh with the girls, and it wasn't the most pleasant experience from what I remember. Lost my favorite scarf, waited eons in the cold for the bus after the street party.

2014 was the year that I started backpacking alone, and this has to be one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Fell in love with it, wouldnt want it any other way.

Welcomed 2014 in Edinburgh, and started the year with travels. The first stop was to Madrid, Spain. I remember encountering a culture shock when I first arrived in Madrid. Then it was to Toledo, Seville and Barcelona. It was not all pleasant a situation in Madrid and Toledo as I was not adequately dressed for the weather. I remember having to go into a shop every 2-3 minutes to hide from the cold, and there was a time that I went curling up and squatting at a corner of the street cos it was just too cold.

An uncharming rainy night in Madrid

A beautiful night view of the New Town in Toldeo ;)

But it was also in these places that I encountered the warmest hospitality :) Seville has to be my favorite. First, it was the weather. It was nice and sunny! Have never felt happier to soak in the sun's warmth. Second, I was lucky to be there during the Three King's Day celebration. It was amazing tho I got hit by hard candy on the head thrice. Of course, I had really good company in Seville. These made me decide against going to Valencia and stay on for 2 extra days instead. Barcelona - The first city I couchsurfed in Europe. It was also then that I was left stranded in the streets in the suburb past midnight. It was an experience, tho it wasn't the best experience.

Hello Seville!

:)

Three Kings Day parade in Seville

A snippet of Casa Batllo, my favorite of Gaudi's works apart from Sagrada Familia

Then it was to Italy. First stop, Rome. This was where I had my second couchsurfing experience. It wasn't a pleasant one as well. I don't think it's an over statement to say that he's a sex driven couchsurfing host. Had some tricky situations but glad I made it out of his flat safe. It was also in Rome that my toe nails turned green after being soaked in the water for hours and hours (cos the soles of my boots were torn). Nevertheless, I loved Rome :) Then it was to Vatican City then to Florence.

St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

 

En route from Rome to Florence, I encountered another tricky situation on the train. The train inspector was somehow trying to coerce me into paying a silly fine, in which I refused to. He told me to alight from the train in the middle of nowhere at 8pm (it's winter time so it was super dark). I ended up hiding in the toilet for the next 1.5 hours while watching the GPS on google maps, and ran out of the toilet and straight to the exit when google maps said that I arrived in Florence. It was a nightmare. It was in Florence that I met Yu Ting again, was an immense comfort to see her after the series of scares. There was another scare in Florence when I lost my wallet, thank goodness it was found the day after.

 

Next stop was to Venice. I fell in love with Venice the moment I stepped out of the train station, it was beautiful! By the time I was in Venice, I felt burnt out from the travels. It was tiring to have to have your guard on 24/7, and I was tired of being in miserable situations. But it was also in Venice that I met a special friend. It was through him that I learned how to appreciate the beauty of travelling again. That night. It was first time I learnt how to open up about my feelings. It was the turning point. I was rejuvenated about traveling again :)

Burano Island, Venice

After Venice, I left for Trieste. Intended to spend just 1 day in Trieste (as I needed to pass through Trieste to get to Slovenia then Croatia), but I liked it so much that I decided to stay for another day. It's a nice little town, and it's beauty lies in it being a non-touristy city. Had my third couchsurfing experience of the trip in Trieste, and it was great! My host, Corrado, must be the most hospitable and generous guy on couchsurfing :)

Up next was Croatia. It is I first saw snow. The temperature was sub zero, it was -6 degrees celcius and it went down to -16 degrees celcius one morning. Of course, it was unforeseen and I was not adequately prepared for it. The cold caused me to be incontinent on 3 occassions, and it was embarrasing. But I loved Croatia :) Arrived in Zagreb from Trieste, went south to Plitvice, Split, Dubrovnik and back to Zagreb again.

Plitvice Lakes

A snippet of Split, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The route to Zagreb's oldest coffee shop :)

 

 

 Other places of travels this year also included:

Stirling, Scotland

Stirling Castle

 

 Dublin, Ireland

Wicklow, Ireland

Glencoe, Scotland

Geneva, Switzerland

 Val D'isere, France

Was thrilled to meet Noelie again in Val d'isere, and she was so nice to host me for the next 4 days in Val D'isere and it was one of the most precious experiences I've ever had

Amazing views of the Alps

La Folie Douce - Fancy a party at the peak of the Alps? ;)

Berlin, Germany

Prague, Czech Republic

loved the easter market!

 Auschwitz, Poland

Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Krakow, Poland

Budapest, Hungary

Chain Bridge

 Belgrade, Serbia

Athens, Greece

Panthenon

Santorini, Greece

 Rekjavik, Iceland

Pingvellir National Park

 Vik, Iceland

Hverageroi, Iceland

 Lisse, Netherlands

It may sound silly but a I shed a tears of joy when I saw the fields of tulips - never expected a little childhood dream to materalise :)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

 Darwin, Australia

Sunset at Mindil Beach

Crocodile Cage Diving at the Crocosaurus Cove

 Bangkok, Thailand

A lotus pond near Wat Pho Temple

 Ayutthaya, Thailand

Taipei, Taiwan

Ximen Ding

Thrilled to meet Yu Ting again! Joined her and her uni friends for their mid autumn BBQ :)

 Shifen, Taiwan

Hualien, Taiwan

Taroko National Park

Tioman Island

Leisure dive trip with dory. Felt good to be back in the waters again :)

Tried underwater photography for the first time :)

I'm thankful to be able to do some traveling in 2014, it's been a truely enriching journey. Academics wise, I have graduated with a bachelors in occupational therapy. Also in 2014, I lost Fishball. I sincerely hope that he's reunited with Puppy on rainbow bridge. I love you my dearest boys, and will always do. Taffy came into the family, and I'm thankful for her. Work wise, I've also started work at SGH, and am currently into my second rotation in Neurology. 2014 has been nothing short of beautiful and fruitful, and may the coming year be a fantabulous year for my dearest friends and family. Cheers to 2015 :)