Feels like it was only yesterday I posted my 2017 highlights here and now I'm drafting another one for 2018! Looking back, last year I made a resolution to cut down my time on social media and I kinda aced it. I've been spending more time with my parents, family, cousins and my furry kids. I pushed myself to step out my comfy cocoon and to meet new people. Heck! I even signed myself up to some dance classes like hip hop, zumba, waacking and pound fit pro. After a century, I almost forgot how happy I am when I dance, though my matured bones and muscles hated me for this (I can assure you there's lots of 'OUCH' and 'FFF' in the morning after). Oh well! I believe it's never too old or too fat to start dancing again. Don't you think? π¬
2018 was indeed a blessed year, a much better year than 2017. As usual, some trips started from an impulsive decision. What I realised is that after nearly 40 years of intense travel (OMG! I feel so old! π), I am now in slowing down phase. I'm still very much curious about exploring new countries and places but I also don't mind re-visiting same destinations just to chill. My friends used to have a hard time to locate where I was but now I can appreciate more having a quality time at home with my loved ones. Though honestly it feels a bit odd to start with, because I'm so used to always o the move since I was born.
Okay! Enough yadda yadda yadda and here's my 2018 in a nutshell:
January - Bali
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| I couldn't ask for better team |
*click here to read how we spent our days during the retreat
March - Hong Kong
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| meat galore |
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| Temple Street Night Market |
By the way, I experienced something spooky when I took the photo above, the Temple Street Night Market. After dinner my parents and my sister were quite tired that they went back to hotel, in the other hand I was having a caffeine high. I decided to walk around the night market and found a parking building where I could take some pictures from above. The view was pretty awesome from the 8th floor (or was it 5th floor? Gosh, I'm so bad with numbers!). I spent probably an hour there, shooting and enjoying the view. But from time to time I would keep looking back because the strange feeling of someone was watching me or I heard footsteps when there was no one around in the dingy parking lot. It was around 9pm when I took the lift down to get back to my hotel. I was all alone inside the dimly lit lift. Suddenly I felt a gust of wind on the back of my neck. A cold wind. I turned back to check whether there's a hole on the wall but I couldn't find any. Then came another gust of wind. It blew harder that some parts of my hair moved. Felt like someone was blowing on my neck. Okay! Probably I'm not alone here. I told myself not to turn around because I could feel that someone (or something?) was there behind me. I cursed the lift for moving ever so slowly and flee faster than Usain Bolt as soon as the door slid open to the side. Phew! What a night!
April - Jakarta
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| Kopi Es Tak Kie |
June - Adopting 2 senior dogs
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| the Leksonos new members |
July - Bali
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| Omnia |
August - Yogyakarta
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| love them both! |
September - Malang Flower Carnival
Kinda embarrassed to admit that only this year I managed to experience Malang Flower Carnival, an annual event which take place in my neighbourhood, Ijen Street. Every year this event is attended by thousands of visitors, not only from across Indonesia but also from more than 40 countries around the world. In total, there was more than 200 participants in striking flower theme costumes made of recycle materials, designed by 150 talented designers. I really enjoyed the carnival and it was beyond my expectation, to be honest. Can't wait to join the event again this year. See you there ?
October - Bali (again)
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| Tanah Lot, Bali |
November - Myanmar
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| Hsinbyume Pagoda |
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| sunrise in Bagan |
December - Thailand
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| Khao Yai |
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| SookSiam |
Checked on the newest and biggest mall in Thailand, the Icon Siam and ended up staying the whole evening at their indoor floating market. I really love the SookSiam stall concept and pretty interior. You can also find a huge variety of Thai food too here. I visited this mall twice only for the delicious food so I can't really say much about the shops.
Happy New Year 2019, guys! Wishing us all a blessed year full of love and laugh!
My resolution this year is to love myself more (along with my family, friends and furry kiddos of course) and to live a healthier lifestyle. I went for yearly blood screening a couple days ago and by looking at my doctor's reaction...grimaced face, shook his head and massaged his temple...I knew the result is far from good π
So let's see how long I will stick on his new rules (less coffee, less fried goodies, less fatty food and less other 1 million items) for, lol.
Do you have any resolutions for 2019? Please share π
