Let’s start the series for my Singapore trip, since today is Singapore National Day.

You see, when we touched down KL after Jakarta trip on last year, we felt like we’re in a better place cause traffic jam in KL is nothing if compare to Jakarta and the highway is slightly cleaner and less dust. So, KL wins!

Then after Singapore trip, KL becomes.. well, an ugly duckling to me. Singapore is like a swan. Hehe. But, shouldn’t even compare them cause KL is a city while Singapore is a country -tiny, yes but has so much to offer.

Here’s what I, as a tourist, love from Singapore:

• Cleanliness

Need I say more? No chewing gum, no smoke/awful cigarette smell at tourist place, the trees are in green color not dusty green, a heaven for a clean-freak like me. Even the infrastructure is so clean, neat and organize. Being tiny is great, you get to plan and organize everything accordingly. The same goes to tiny house (apt) #offtopic

• Efficient & effective public transportation

Always heard how fast and on-time the bus and MRT in Singapore are, proven to be true. The MRT is faster than KTM/LRT in KL, escalators at the MRT station are very fast as well, no wasting time. The passengers also walk faster. I’m all about moving fast, so this is super great.

Best of all, the whole island as a country is connected by public transport (bus and MRT). No car? No problemo at all, as long as that you can walk. Many of the train stations are connecting to another train line, so effective. Going to the tourist places is not a problem at all.

• Taxi by meter

Yes, no haggling with the taxi driver, how awesome eh? Save my breath and mood a lot. In KL, 7 out of 10 times you’ll need to bargain with the taxi driver and their fave lame excuse for asking ridiculous high price -> traffic jam!

• Clean lovely Chinatown

Although the souvenirs are nothing to shout for, but the place is clean and nice. Compare it to KL’s Chinatown, quite dirty and the highlight is on the imitation branded bags/watches where people bargains like no tomorrow. Sellers are like gangsters. -__-”

• Tourist Tax Refund

Lost control during Singapore Great Sale? Bought lots of *cough* fishnet tops, shoes, shirts, etc? No worry, tourists get to claim the refund of their shopping sprees for the 7% GST. Awesome eh? Of course there is some terms and conditions, but still awesome.

All the good words about Singapore; cleanliness, safety, great public transport, etc are proven to be true. One thing I haven’t experienced is the fast internet connection. Scratch that, hubby just reminded me in a funny yet awkward way that I did experience the Singapore’s internet line way back in 2007, long story bout that

Anyway, it’s a dream place to live, when I’m young of course (doesn’t see it as a great place to retire), if not because of the high living cost.

I noticed for the past few days I can’t sleep well or sit still, my mind is kind of messy, keep on worrying about the upcoming trip + work although everything is in place, etc. No words can describe this feeling. This is just.. I don’t know, certainly not the pre-holiday mood that I usually have. Not relax at all.

Weird cause hey, this isn’t the first time I’m taking leave from work (on holiday with no access to laptop & work). Besides I’m going to be away for freaking 4 days ONLY, to the neighborhood country which is just one hour flight. Certainly not Europe, not Alaska, not USA.

It keeps me from wondering why and I think I’ve found the answer.

First, it’s my first time delegating my work to other people (in this case, to my husband). Not on design work part, but on dealing with clients, what needs to be done, what’s not, basically the project management. I always scare other person might not able to meet my expectation/certain standard, yeah even to my husband working partner (we do separate personal and working line ) cause we have different style of working & , hence this is a huge leap for me. #TrustProblem

Secondly, it’s my first time going to other country that I’m not familiar with without my husband therefore I’m so worry that things might go wrong although I have done many research on the place. If I mess up and he is around, I know I have someone to rely on. #DependantProblem

Anyway, at the end of the day, it is just a family trip, not exam and there is no mark if I arrange the day in a messy order or take a wrong transport. Just relax and enjoy, Kat! Of course before that, finish your to-do-list first.

I’ll be flying to KL on tomorrow morning 9ish am flight, while my busy boy is still in Kuching since yesterday. So, My life savior, who will send me to airport tomorrow, is this MLM auntie – the family’s friend. I already scare that the 30 minutes ride will feel like a 3 hours if she were to talk about MLM. Fingers cross.

Update: He is home and going to send me to the airport instead. Yay! Being the understanding and lovely husband, he took 9pm bus despite me telling him no need to, cause night bus will be very cold (he didn’t bring jacket, long pant, whatever to keep warm) and I haven’t been driving for ages (although it’s sedan and auto) though deep inside I wanted him to be home. That’s how woman operates, or me only maybe.

he called before 4am and asked me to pick him up from bus station. I almost thought I was dreaming. Whether I want or not, I need to confront my driving fear, shoo the 13+ dogs into their ‘house’, and vroom. At such wee hour, the road feels like mine. Hehe..

After this, the next trip will be on November to attend my auntie’s wedding (differs few ages only from me). The thing is.. we have a new plan for October and now I am in dilemma. Should I just fly back to Medan to attend the bride side’s reception, cause I damn miss Medan food already and looking at Medan food’s blogs doesn’t help my craving (also miss my family and friends, of course), OR fly to Jakarta for 3 – 4 days to attend the wedding day, cause it’s been long time I never go there and want to meet-up with long lost friends, though I doubt the traffic in Jakarta will allow me to move easily.

How ah? *flipping coin for answers*

I love traveling; seeing new places, different culture, people’s behavior, variation of food, etc. Last year, I even though of quiting from my graphic designer job and work as a tour guide in travel agency. Probably start as a staff in ticketing first. But I don’t have the guts to do that.

I have a dream of introducing the hidden travel destinations in Indonesia to worldwide. I mean, there is so many wonderful places in Indonesia with hidden potential that aren’t exposed to the world yet. All the while people only know about Bali, the paradise island and Jakarta, the capital city. I don’t know how to start and what to do, so it remains a dream in the corner of my mind.

Thamrin road in Medan.

Recently I had the opportunity to be a writer for Medan travel guide. Alright, it is not a mumbo jumbo project but it’s till an opportunity to present Medan to other people. I took some time to think about it and ask myself some questions about Medan. I realized that even though I was born and raise here, I don’t know much about this city. I can blog and post daily pictures of this town but I can’t write about the travel guide.

That’s part of the reason. The remaining part is because I don’t think I can handle this. My activity now is time-consuming enough. I don’t wanna look for trouble.