Tom Besides our recent cruise to nowhere, it has been quite a while since our last trip overseas due to the closed borders. Covid-19 has not only affected economies, travel is most certainly for us, a way of life. Travel has always been a part of us and it kinda feels strange not to have travelled since early 2020, where our last trip was to Dubai. That’s more than 1.5 years ago! Although there have been some bright sparks and news that Singapore’s aviation recovery could start in late 2021, with the ongoing pandemic, we wouldn’t be surprise that travelling for common Singaporeans would only start in mid to late 2022.
But…this gives us time to contemplate. If we missed travelling, what exactly do we miss? In this post, we’ll share some of what we really miss about travelling and you can also join in the discussions in our comments section below!
1. Wondering and Exploring New Places
To us, travelling is about gaining new experiences. Wondering the cobbled streets of European cities such as Prague and exploring the nooks and crannies of a destination, somehow brings us a slight adrenaline rush. “What’s around the corner?”, “What’s at the end of the street?”, “What’s at the end of this lava field?” are some of the questions that always piques our curiosity during our travels…
(5 hours of trekking on the lava fields at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was definitely an experience that we will never forget!)
During our travels in Greece, not only did we get to see one of the most beautiful sunsets while sipping upon delectable cocktails and nykteri white wine, we also discovered Imerovigli – an even better destination (in our opinion) than the crowded Oia in Santorini. However, we only managed to discover it because we told ourselves that walking from Fira seems to be possible on Google Maps (though that is not always the case). And because we did try out and explore that path from Fira to Imerovigli, we found a gem of a place in Santorini to share with everyone…
(Treading through paths like this before arriving for views such as these…)
2. Visiting Natural and Man-Made Wonders of the World
While we have some of the “largest” (observation wheel – Singapore Flyer) and “biggest” (sea aquarium – SEA Aquarium Singapore), there are still many natural wonders and man-made wonders out there for us to visit. For instance, we thoroughly enjoyed Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. Especially at Antelope Canyon, every turn was a photo opportunity because the curvatures on the sandstone formations were so beautiful…
(Nope, this picture was not photoshopped)
(This view of the Himalayan mountain range was unbelievable)
Then there’s world-renowned man-made structures such as the Statue of Liberty / Empire State Building, Acropolis and the Taj Mahal. Although we’ve seen photos of the Taj many times before, being there took our breath away, literally…
(We marvelled at the majestic structure of Taj Mahal and reveled in its strange tales…)
3. Trying out Cuisines from all around the World
We love food. We know that you do too. Which is why you’re scrolling down the post to read this segment first right? We understand and food does play a big part in our travels as well. From the freshest seafood in Alaska (Alaskan crab) and Jeju (abalone) to the most tender A5 wagyu in Hida Takayama, travelling has allowed us to savour some of the best cuisine in the world.
Of course, travelling also has allowed us to try out local cuisine that we would otherwise not have tried. For instance, how does egg coffee sound to you? We’ve heard about it but it doesn’t really sound that appetizing to us. However, after trying out the egg coffee in Hoi An, we were converts. Think of it this way. As a dessert. A sweetened egg-based dessert that is infused with a shot of espresso. It does taste really good. Smooth in texture and rich in flavour and aroma – characteristics of the egg and coffee combined.
(Egg coffee from Hoi An is sooo goood)
4. Getting to Know the Local Culture through Shopping
One of the best way to know more about the locals is to visit their shopping malls! Here you’ll be able to have a gauge of how much commercialism has entered the market and what are some of the goods that the locals go for. Turkey was a unique place for us. You’ll be able to visit the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul that is over 500 years old and at the same time check out the largest mall in Istanbul – the Mall of Istanbul. There are also the shopping streets of Europe in Madrid (Spain), the hipster local markets in Brisbane (Australia) as well as the shopping frenzies in Korean supermarkets.
(Experiencing a different local shopping culture at Eumundi Markets)
But, the shopping experience to beat them all, has most definitely got to be the Black Market Shopping at Outlet Malls. Where else would you be able to shop from 8pm to 6am the next morning – 10 straight hours overnight! Where else would you see grabbing (and shoving) of $300 bags as though they were free and paying in full by cash – we witnessed these live! Where else would you be able to get real savings of up to 90% off with free vouchers given – we actually received $110 in vouchers and bought a pair of jeans for 90% off!
(This is how crazy the queues at Black Friday in US Outlet Malls can be!)
5. Trying Out Unique Activities Overseas
While there are more than 101 Things to do in Singapore, there are also some activities that we were only able to do overseas. We enjoyed the hot air balloon ride over the monolith formations in Cappadocia. It was breathtaking.
(Amazing views with many other hot air balloons in flight together)
USA also offers some of the best “Tier 1” amusement parks in the world. We visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter In Universal Studios Hollywood, Bush Gardens where we caught the Bangles live as well as SeaWorld where you can come up close with killer whales!
(Never knew killer whales could be this obedient)
Eventhough we do have pockets of Oktoberfest celebrations in Singapore, nothing is close to the real Oktoberfest in Munich Germany. Oktoberfest is not only about beers. It is actually a HUGE carnival with fun and games for the kids, amusement rides for the teens and young adults and of course, the special brews that are only available at Oktoberfests. Participating in the singing and dancing inside the Oktoberfest beer tents was a different affair altogether! It was pure fun!
(The official “cheers song” at Oktoberfest – Ein Prosit)
6. Appreciation of What We Have in Singapore
Lastly, having been to a few less-developed countries such as Cuba and Lombok, we know how fortunate we are in Singapore – having a good education system, access to quality water by the tap, safety and one the best shot at success in the world.
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So what do you miss most about travelling during this pandemic? Let us know in the comments section below! Let’s continue to hang tight, stay safe and we’ll be able to travel real soon!
