Short Getaway to Korea

Hi Blog,

As you know, travelling with a group of friends is one of my wishes, and that also includes travelling with colleagues. Why so? Because, personally, I think being able to travel together is an art; it shows a willingness to bond and to get to know one another.

But sometimes, it has an issue. Is there anyone who wants to do so, especially with me? Haha. When it happens, it is a blessing for me.

But there is a risk when travelling together; it can break the relationship or leave scars during or after the trip. Personally, I take every moment of travelling to get to know a person and determine whether that person is a good travel partner.

Anyway, I will be going to spend four days on a four-day getaway in Korea with my colleagues! I won't divide my four-day trip into four posts and will keep it all in one. By the way, in case you might have missed my previous trips to Korea, if you are keen, you may click on My First Korea Trip (2024) & Korea Trip with my Mother (2025)

Bus Over The Border Together

Hi Blog,

In 2024 and 2025, I mentioned that one of my wishlists was to travel with colleagues, because it can help build memories besides work and also means they are comfortable and enjoy travelling together. The same rules applied to friends.

Today was the day to continue building good memories with my colleagues.

Travelling can really test an individual's character when they aren't carrying job professionalism and politeness, bringing out their actual personality and social awareness, especially in a group. Also, it is a test for myself too.

Staying at Montigo Resort Batam

Hi Blog,

This year, I didn't go to Halloween night at USS, and I also wanted to visit some resorts in Bintan or other places with D. However, I can't forget that I spoiled D's mood during the trip. I think not just him; I also nearly spoiled HD before too. So I decided to go on a solo staycation, but for this trip, I wanted to give one more chance to test other people's patience with me, so I got SKK to accompany me.

Anyway, I should stay focused on the topic. Today, I will be going to a resort in Batam, where I always ask my friends or colleagues why staycations in Batam don't have nice beaches.

Until I came to a website that always has special offers for civil servants, I found that this resort would be my first staycation, which I decided to try: Montigo Resort at Batam.

Australia D5 - Beach & Phillip Island

Hi Blog,

After the State Coal Mine, our next plan for the day was to visit Phillip Island and meet some adorable pet penguins. It was highly recommended by my friends.

WC told me there was a road that I was looking for, so I quickly snapped it with my phone, as I couldn't spare any time to hesitate. It turned out to be good enough, if not the best!

Along the way, I asked WC to stop by one of the beaches on Phillip Island, and he agreed! Let's go!

Australia D5 - State Coal Mine

Hi Blog,

Today marked the fifth day of our trip to Melbourne. Staying at someone's house puts me at ease.

Sitting on a carpet at home is a unique experience, but I understand it requires a lot of upkeep.

Where will we go today? We tried to keep it simple with three locations, starting with the farthest (not as far as the Twelve Apostles), and as the title suggests, WC had never heard of it.

Australia D4 - Go Suburbs

Good Morning Blog,

Fourth day in Melbourne, and there are still so many things and places I have not seen... Anyway, I intended to spend the first three with my friend Sf and the last three with my Australian friend WC. Fortunately, Sf and WC do not mind making new friends, so Sf will not be alone in the city while I am away with WC.

WC will be coming to our hotel to pick us up.

I was wondering what and where we would be going next. The fourth day was spent visiting the suburbs where WC lived to gain a general understanding of how the locals live.

Australia D3 - Geelong Waterfront

Alright Blog,

Where were we? Oh, yeah. So, after checking out Sovereign Hill, we headed to our next stop.

It was a different kind of road, and I was admiring how long and twisted it was. I like the road that leads up to the sky because it creates a beautiful image that is both unreachable and reachable.

Will anything be interesting to look out for at the next location? Should have. I will not make many comments and will let my photos speak for themselves.

Australia D3 - Sovereign Hill

Good Morning Blog,

Let us continue with our third day in Australia. Where are we headed today? You knew from the title.

It would be another long car ride, but still shorter than the Great Ocean Road on Day 2.

You may be thinking that Sovereign Hill is just a place; what makes it special? We were going to the Sovereign Hill Gold Mine Tour, which a few people had recommended to me, but Sf suggested it, and it would be a great place to visit.

Australia D2 - Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

Yoh Blog,

Let us continue from where we left off in the previous post: the Great Ocean Road. Sf recognised that I enjoy seeing the natural side of a new location, so he suggested we visit Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, which offers free admission! Yippee!

Another long ride, but not far from the Great Ocean Road.

What's Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve? In short, Tower Hill is home to some of Australia's native wildlife, including emus, kangaroos, and koalas, which live in a large dormant volcano. Visitors can explore the area's wetlands, craters, and bush. My imagination began to run wild, as if there would be a large number of animals roaming around like on a safari. Let's see if we can find any!

Australia D2 - Great Ocean Way

Good morning Blog,

Today we went on a road trip to the Great Ocean Road! Anyone who knows I am going to Melbourne has highly recommended it.

You may be wondering if my title is incorrectly named. It should be 'Road' rather than 'Way', correct? There is a reason, which I will explain last.

Why did I wake up so early, like 6:30 a.m.? Aside from the need to get the vehicle out early due to the long distance, there was another reason...

Australia D1 - Melbourne City

Hi Blog,

It is finally here: time to travel! Many people have asked me if I am wealthy or something for travelling so frequently over the years, and I must admit that there are two primary reasons for this trip. I do not expect anyone to believe my words.

First, we had promised my Australian friend, WC, that we would visit him sooner than last year. He told us that this year would be a good time to visit him because he had just moved into a new house that could accommodate us. However, I did not see anyone making any plans to make it happen, so I decided to fulfil the promise myself.

Second, I enjoy travelling, exploring, and learning new things outside of my normal routine. When I was younger or first started working, I could not afford to travel because I did not earn enough to cover everything, including flight tickets and accommodations, let alone spending; it was out of reach. In recent years, I have been able to save enough money to allow myself to travel.

Vietnam D5 - Sapa Part Two

Good Morning Blog,

I was amazed that I took over 200 photos for today's post... I felt exhausted because I knew I would have a lot to write. Anyway, back to the topic. Sapa's Fansipan Halong Bay and Ninh Bình are must-see destinations among Vietnam's diverse landscapes.

I awoke early today to check the window, hoping to see the sunrise, but then I realised it was foggy.

I was worried that today's Fansipan would be foggy and freezing. I do not take colds well, and I was afraid that my mother would also be unable to cope with the cold.

Vietnam D4 - Sapa Part One

Merry Christmas Blog,

On Day 4, we travelled to Sapa, which was the highlight of our trip. I was so excited about it! And, thank goodness, I was able to output at night and overcome my constipation before travelling to a distant location.

Wearing my sleeping bag (sleeping suit) helps me stay warm in a hotel room. I am simply a weirdo... Anyway, we needed to get up early the next day.

I will do my best to post pictures first on this blog post, and then I will gradually add text. I should not rush things because it will make me feel stressed.

Vietnam D3 - Sail Along the Dragons

Hi Blog,

It was my third day in Vietnam. Overall, the experience was positive except for a bloated tummy with days of constipation, which was painful, especially when sitting down. Yes, most people will criticise me for always wearing tight trousers, which reminds me to learn to be more self-aware. Little did they know that the bloating was concentrated in the upper abdomen rather than the entire tummy.

Day 3 morning seemed hazier and greyish.

Anyway, I will be fine today if I eat less to ease myself. Where are we headed today? Explore Ninh Bình - Halong Bay on Land!

Vietnam D2 - Meet the Dragons

Good Morning Blog,

On my second day in Vietnam, I could not sleep well because I was bloated, and I hoped to unload myself before heading out.

I feel pain whenever I am bloated.

Today's itinerary includes a visit to HạLong Bay, a well-known and breathtaking landscape in Vietnam.

Vietnam D1 - Life in the City

Hi Blog,

With many worries, the time has come to travel again... As stated in the title, this time we were going to Vietnam. People who know me understand that I prefer not to travel abroad frequently in order to save money; personally, I would like to travel once a year, but this year has already passed... My mother asked me to accompany her because my auntie could not go and no one was sharing the room with her, so I simply accompanied her.

Anyway, before I get too far off track, let me stay focused and broaden my horizons to include countries that I have never considered visiting.

Many of my friends have mentioned that Vietnam is a beautiful and simple place. My concerns were about safety... I guess I should just be cautious.

Meeting Ipoh Friends in KL

Hi Blog,

You were well aware of this. Yes, on 18th Oct 2024, I will be travelling again. I am going to KL to catch up with my Ipoh friends. We try to get together once a year as a ritual to bond with one another and look forward to it.

I took Friday off because EK intended to drive up to KL and avoid the traffic jam at JB Customs later in the day.

Honestly, I am not a wealthy man. I have been extremely disciplined and mindful of my spending, only covering our lodging and food. How I wish I did not have to worry about money. It does not matter; the main goal was to catch up, so I should look forward to it.

Korea D4 & 5 - Seoul Chill

Hi Blog,

I decided to combine Days 4 and 5; I wondered if I should post Day 1 through Day 5 as a single post. This was not a wise decision. Because I like to divide my content into meaningful sections with titles.

Anyway, what were we going to do on Day 4?

HD wanted to bring me to experience the beautiful city side of Korea. Thanks, HD, for bringing me around.

Korea D3 - Seoul Architect

Hi Blog,

Today was my third day in Korea, and our two ladies would be returning to Singapore. HD had some ideas for our day's itinerary in the morning.

We woke up early, but we still considered it late compared to what we had agreed upon. I suppose that is how group travel works; different personalities and characters must be taken into account.

HD wanted us to experience some Korean culture and heritage, which he thought I would enjoy.

Korea D2 - Seoul Searching

Good Morning Blog,

Today was the second day in Korea. Everyone's body clock simply woke us up to prepare for the day ahead.

ML and I decided to step out to explore the place where we stayed.

HD was on his way, taking a transit flight to Korea to join our group. He should arrive within the next few hours to bring us around.