travel | Wenlin Tan

Serenity in Madness: Shamian Island

Shamian Island is a beautiful piece of history and calm in the insanely busy Guangzhou. Another whirlwind business trip brought me to China once again, this time in the busy city of Guangzhou. Famed as one of the up and coming cities after Beijing and Shanghai, Guangzhou is loud, busy and bustling with life. I knew immediately that I wanted a bit of peace and quiet in the loud place so I jumped at the chance to stay at the lovely Shamian Island. Shamian Island, or Shamin Island, is a small sand bank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou.…

Garden of lights

Gardens by the Bay is a newly-opened attraction on the bayfront of Singapore that boasts of beautiful flora and fauna and spectacular light shows. Located in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown Marina Bay, next to the Marina Reservoir, Gardens by the Bay has three distinct waterfront gardens – Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden. It spans 101 hectares and was originally built to enhance the greenery and flora in Singapore. Supertrees are tree-like structures forming the vertical gardens that dominate the Gardens’ landscape and provide plants and shading for the gardens. They are home to…

A piece of Heaven

The richness of its culture, the language I speak as my mother tongue, the diversity of sights and sounds, and the familiar yet strange feeling — these are all the reasons why China is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Due to my work, I am often required to travel to Asian countries, and China is one of them. I’ve been there before since my parents had often brought me to China when I was younger for vacations to explore its beautiful natural scenery. This time, I was brought once again to Beijing, the cultural hub and capital of China…

Stranger in Hong Kong

Cognitive dissonance hits when familiar meets foreign in Hong Kong. I don’t speak Cantonese. Not a word of it. As I set foot into Hong Kong, in the middle of the bustling streets, bright lights, and people hurrying around, as the sound of this foreign language surrounds me, a mix of comfort and alienation overwhelms me. It feels like home; but it isn’t. Familiar, but foreign. The underground trains passing from Central to Hung Hom, the high-rise flats such as Chungking Mansion, the roadside food stalls near Tsim Sha Tsui, even the elderly men, reading the paper at Sheung…

Drifting around in New Zealand

My experience with the beauty of nature in Rotorua, North Island in New Zealand.Home to the elusive kiwis, the place where the epic ‘LOTR’ movie series was shot, I spent my September drifting around in beautiful New Zealand. Though I have considerably extensive travel experience, I had never backpacked before. A free-spirited friend of mine recently quit her job this year to travel in New Zealand and invited me to join her and so I jumped at the chance. I booked a budget flight to New Zealand and met her there, and together with another friend, a very cheerful German…

A different side of Shanghai

Imagine a secluded, peaceful place out of this world- perfect for shooting that low-budget indie film of yours! This place is none other than Wusongkou Pao taiwan wetland park in Shanghai. I travel often to Shanghai for work, and have been to the regular attractions (the Bund, Xintiandi, Pudong, Tianzifang) and I was looking for a different kind of place to spend some time away from the crowds in. It was a photo in an article made by CNN that made me decide to make a trip to Wusonkou Paotaiwan Wetland Park in the suburbs of Shanghai. To get there, you have to take…

Merapi: Hopes and Fears

The aftermath of the eruption of the majestic Mount Merapi through a foreigner’s eyes. Mount Merapi is an iconic landmark of Indonesia, many claim it to be one of the most scenic spots within Southeast Asia. Situated near Jogjakarta, which is located in Central Java, it is the most active volcano in Indonesia. Late last year, Mount Merapi erupted, destroying complete villages and leaving many homeless. What was once a popular tourist destination had become a barren land of despair. I spent some time in Cangkringan Village volunteering with some members of the organisation, Jalin Merapi, which contributes by disseminating…

Daydreaming in Tioman

A couple of friends whom I got to know out of a common love for lomography went on a trip to a small island off the East shore of Malaysia, called Pulau Tioman. The island is rather small but it’s littered with small resorts and chalets. As for the attractions, local eateries and accommodation are all within walking distance, it’s very convenient to get around. From the pier, there is a breathtaking view of the sunset upon the sparkling waters. For adrenaline junkies, there are plenty of activities to do, such as diving, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, banana boat rides,…