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​L I V E   S I M P L E R    .    H A P P I E R    .    H E A L T H I E R    .    W E A L T H I E R

18 Again: Heartwarming Lessons on Life, Love, and Everything In Between

11/26/2020

1 Comment

 
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2020 hasn't been a good year for the world, but thankfully this has been a great year for K-dramas. I decided to watch the new drama "18 Again" and ended up on another 20-hour binge-watch marathon, finishing all 16 episodes in one go. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this remake of Zac Efron's movie "17 Again", but this heartwarming drama is so good I would strongly recommend it to everyone.

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Our 'Crash Landing' Story

5/5/2020

2 Comments

 
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I haven't  paid much attention to K-dramas over the past few years and the last drama I watched was probably 3 - 4 years ago. However, Crash Landing on You (CLOY) caught my interest, mainly because of Hyun Bin and I'm a sucker for romantic comedies. I was happy when I found out that it is on Netflix and ended up binge-watching all 16 episodes within 2 days. It has been more than a month since I finished watching the drama and I still can't get over it, horrible I know. I've watched all the BTS clips, interviews, and listened to the OST countless times in the past month. Yes, I'm obsessed with it but this has been a great distraction away from the whole Covid situation.

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Life in the WWII Era

4/23/2020

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The world is currently battling a war against an invisible enemy and we are living through unprecedented times. The Covid-19 crisis is said to be the worst crisis since WWII. The impact of this crisis have been and will be felt across all aspects of our lives, and it will certainly change the world we once know, for better or worse.

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Life in the Covid Era

3/25/2020

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We're only 3 months into the new decade and oh my, it feels like we've been through a decade already! The past 2 weeks had been crazy and it shows how quick and drastically things can change. Unfortunately, it looks like we're just in the beginning of this roller-coaster ride with no end in sight..

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Not Crazy, Not Rich, Just a Privileged Minority

9/2/2018

2 Comments

 
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Source: Crazy Rich Asians
Thanks to Crazy Rich Asians, there have been a lot of talks surrounding representation and inclusion lately. I enjoyed the movie, and I admit, I've spent a lil' too much time on Youtube and reading articles about the movie. This whole 'representation' thing could be a publicity gimmick, but it is indeed quite an achievement to have an all-Asian cast in a Hollywood movie speaking fluent English in various accents. Imagine seeing an all-Caucasian cast in a Bollywood movie speaking Hindi, that would be quite a 'representation' too huh!? ​

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Not Crazy Rich, But Proudly Malaysian

8/25/2018

4 Comments

 
I don't usually go to the movies (can't even remember the last time I went to a movie theater), but Crazy Rich Asians was one that I've been wanting to watch since I saw the trailer few months back. I've always enjoyed rom-com so this one is right up my alley. Coincidentally, the movie was released around our birthdays so the opening weekend was a perfect timing for a movie date. 

I didn't read the book and went into the movie theater with zero expectations. No doubt there was a lot of hype about it, but we both really enjoyed the movie. The director, Jon Chu definitely did a great job incorporating a lot of unique aspects about that part of the world in the movie - the food, heritage, culture, language, architecture, scenery, etc. 
​

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One Year!

8/2/2018

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This time a year ago, I published this blog/website and was looking forward to embark on our Round-the-World trip. Here's a quick recap of what I've 'accomplished' on this blog/website in the past year:

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Of Luck and Hard Work

3/24/2018

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Browsing through my 30 Before 30 list, I won't deny that I have been incredibly fortunate to have had all these wonderful experiences. Some may say I'm just lucky or that I'm rich to be able to do all these. No I'm not rich, and yes luck played a part, but luck didn't just fall from the sky. I've also put in a lot of hard work and seized many opportunities along the way to build up these experiences and to get to where I am today.  Most importantly, I didn't squander my 'luck'.

As the saying goes, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" - Seneca. I value working hard to create your own luck and I don't believe in sheer dumb luck (unless I win a lottery one day).
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Well, this was kinda like winning a lottery?

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My Uniquely Uniqlo Wardrobe

3/11/2018

4 Comments

 
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Judge me all you want, but I'm an oddball female who doesn't like shopping and I have zero interest in buying trendy clothes. However, I have to at least dress decent and adhere to the business-casual dress code for work, and that's really my main 'motivation' to shop for clothes. I would happily wear uniform if it was an option, but those school days were long gone. =P Anyway, I'm the kind of person who will go shopping once in a blue moon, stock up on few outfits that fit me well, and wear the same thing over and over again until they tear (wear and tear literally).

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Once You Learn How to Die, You Learn How to Live

1/12/2018

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When we are young and able-bodied, we tend to go through life as if we are immortal, and death is a 'taboo' topic. However, the following 'Note before I die' written by 26 years-young Holly serves as a good reminder for us make the most of every second we have to live a better life, because we never know if tomorrow or tragedy will come first. Her note also reminds me of a quote from the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom - Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to jinx anyone here. The point is, when you acknowledge that life is finite and each day is a gift, you learn to truly appreciate everything you have around you.

​Scroll on to read the rest of her life advice....

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    Archives

    May 2021 
    • Traveling to Malaysia during COVID-19 + Hotel Quarantine
    January 2021 
    • 10 Lessons from 10 Years of Work
    • Our Investment Portfolio
    November 2020
    • 18 Again: Heartwarming Lessons on Life, Love, and Everything In Between​
    August 2020 
    • COVID Cancellations Continue
    June 2020 
    • COVID Cancellations
    • Walking Through the Bamboo Forest
    ​May 2020 
    • Our 'Crash Landing' Story
    April 2020 
    • Life in the WWII Era
    ​March 2020 
    • Life in the Covid Era
     December 2019
    • Planning a Points & Miles Trip to Hawaii
    • Our Credit Card Portfolio
    August 2019
    • 8 Nights in 5-Star Hotels for Free
    July 2019
    • IHG Accelerate Promo - 105,000 Points!
    May 2019
    • United Excursionist Itinerary - Asia Hopper
    • British Airways Avios Sweet Spot
    December 2018
    • 2 Weeks in New Zealand & Fiji for $600​
    October 2018
    • New Zealand & Fiji With Points and Miles
    ​September 2018
    • Hotel Review: Courtyard Tokyo Station
    • The Privileged Minority
    August 2018
    • Not Crazy Rich, But Proudly Malaysian
    • Adios SPG
    • One Year!
    July 2018
    • Hotel Review: The Majestic Hotel KL
    • The Rookie Guide to Traveling Iceland in a Camper Van
    June 2018
    • The True Value of Points & Miles
    • Iceland Campervan - Rent.is Review
    May 2018
    • Piecing Together a Home Trip for $450
    March 2018
    • Of Luck and Hard Work
    • My Uniquely Uniqlo Wardrobe
    • Retirement Saving Strategies in the US
    February 2018
    • How Much Did we Spend on Our Wedding?
    • How Far Can You Fly with $400?
    December 2017
    • Lounge Hopping for Free with United Club Card
    • Hobby Hacking - Enjoy More for Less
    • How Much Does it Cost to Travel Around-the-World?
    • International Geoarbitrage - Cost of Living Showdown
    ​​November 2017
    • Thankful for 3 Years - Work Edition
    • ​The Creepy 30s
    October 2017
    • Renting a Car in Cape Town
    • The Lifetime Table
    September 2017
    • London Layover on a Budget
    • Shortcuts to Elite Statuses
    August 2017
    • Travel Around-the-World for Free
    • Turning 30...A New Milestone
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      • Japan >
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