Throwback: My Favourite Destinations in 2014

2014 has been a blast for me. I’d really like to do it justice by savouring my memories slowly, going through the best of them. Travel-wise, I’ve really been blessed in the past year. I’ve been to India (and also live there now), China, UK, Ireland, UAE, and my lovely home Singapore.

So to round up the year, here are the top 5 favourite destinations I’ve been blessed to have experienced:

#1 – Scotland. Rugged landscape, beautiful lochs, and medieval castles are only some of the awesome experiences Scotland has to offer. Edinburgh itself may possibly be one of my favourite cities of all time. Add to that bagpipers and hairy coos, and Scotland seals the deal for my top destination in 2014. See more here and here.

Bagpiper in front of Eileen Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

#2 – Ireland. To be fair, I’ve wanted to visit Ireland since I was 13 or so. It was everything I imagined and then some. The gloomy rain doesn’t get the Irish down. They are a happy people, proud of their land and their heritage. There’s so much greenery and flowers and coasts, and with it, peace and calm and tranquility. I share a few of the many highlights in Ireland here, here and here.

The view of Ha Penny Bridge from a lovely cafe | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

#3 – Great Wall of China. The Great Wall literally took my breath away – blame it on my poor stamina. It also did take my breath away figuratively speaking. I hadn’t expected it to be as vast and as far-reaching as it was. And the landscape was as vast and hilly and never-ending. We made it to the 5th tower before we decided that it was an achievement that we could be proud of, and turned back in spite of all the older but physically fitter aunties and uncles who continued on (actually they were all well ahead of us).

Conquering the Great Wall one step at a time | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

#4 – Ladakh. I’ll always be glad to have braved the high altitude and cold for Ladakh. In my opinion, the best place to explore within the Indian subcontinent. (Disclaimer: I have not been to Sikkim and Darjeeling, which I have heard is amazing as well.) I would definitely recommend the Ladakh region to any of my friends who are coming to visit India. Most visitors make it to Delhi and to Taj Mahal. Leh is a mere 1 plus hour flight away from Delhi and would fit nicely into your India itinerary. Read more about my favourite Indian adventure here, here and here.

Nubra Valley, part of the ancient Silk Route | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

#5 – Shanghai. Or Beijing. So hard to choose because they are both amazing places but for different reasons. I ultimately chose Shanghai because it felt more modern Chinese which I really liked. I had a great time eating a wide variety of mouth-watering Chinese food too – from soup buns to Chinese-style high tea sessions to authentic Shanghainese cuisine. My belly was grateful for the culinary adventure. Shanghai also had quaint, albeit slightly touristy alleys and lanes that I loved getting lost in. Bonus points for it’s proximity to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town which is a must-see for every visitor to Shanghai.

The famous Shanghai skyline – prettier by night | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Not in the list but of notable mention:

1. London. I’ll always love London, but since this was my second trip there, it’ll have to make way for the other exciting destinations.
2. Singapore. Going home feels like a holiday these days. I love taking trips back home, but it just seems unfair to list my home as a favourite destination. It’ll always be my favourite cos I’m biased.

Flying away from Singapore for the umpteenth time this year | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Things I Miss About Living in Singapore – Part I

Tonight, I fly back to Singapore for a day, before flying off for my Summer Vacay (and Parts II & III).

The past week has been filled with bringing Singaporeans around Ahmedabad and preparing for our trip. And one task that I do diligently before every trip, is to clear out old photos in my cellphone to make space for new ones. My cellphone is constantly out of storage space.

While doing that today, I stumbled upon some things I’ve missed.

Salmon Sashimi. My ultimate craving! It’s raw fish, so even if I did find it here, I might be hesitant to eat it. I tend to avoid raw vegetables and cut fruits here. Food poisoning is not pleasant. This one here’s from Sushi Tei, it’s salmon, salmon belly, and salmon roe. What I first fell in love with at Sushi Tei is their Sashimi Salad – sounds boring, but it might just be my favourite dish there!

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Coffee + macarons at any random hipster cafe. I really miss macarons. It’s hard to find really good ones, even in Singapore. They’re not easy to perfect. Believe me, I’ve tried. This one’s from a cafe called Smitten, somewhere along Robertson Quay.

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

I don’t have many days back home this time around, but I’ll definitely be cafe-hunting in the UK! I hope to be able to share more on that with you soon. (: