Workouts and diets have played an important part of my life. You probably have heard many success stories of fat people becoming skinny through some form of diet and workout plans / routines. I am one of them. Well not exactly, because I would not call or label myself skinny. On a scientific basis, the weighing scale does not lie, and I am definitely well within the range of what is considered the "healthy weight".

My story that I hope to share today aims to kickstart the documentation of my yoga journey, which I hope to now make a sustainable part of my workout routine.

In our most recent travels to Bali, D managed to join a morning beginners' yoga class,
which I continued thereafter with more poses in our pool villa whilst he started taking photos!

My first encounter with yoga started when I was about 14 years old. I can't believe that's more than a decade ago! More specifically, Hatha Yoga. It was not by personal choice, but as a part of a wider cross training routine that my school's tennis team was made to participate in. The other cross trainings that I participated in include pilates and a variety of static workouts done circuit training style. It certainly helped in my initial stamina build up and more importantly, resilience and focus which I take with me in the many things that I now embark on.

With the wind-down of tennis trainings when preparing for the GCE "O" levels examinations, I decided to pursue yoga as a form of relaxation and mini workout. I started to participate religiously in weekly beginner Hatha Yoga classes at a yoga studio near my house. Being one of the youngest in the class back then, I enjoyed being able to keep up with the postures that demanded some flexibility. That motivated me to continue on into the beginner-advance class. However, my enthusiasm and interest died down after I got into junior college, where I decided to focus more on running, which I started to do on a daily basis.

During my university days, I kept up with a regular run routine and occasionally mixed it up with static workouts. All these in the hope of maintaining my weight and keeping the fats that I had lost at bay. I also tried to keep up with some yoga videos, mainly for stretching purposes, but nothing got too serious.

After I started working about 3 years ago, "tennis" came back to find me through what I would possibly would call it as fate and coincidence. I started to play tennis regularly with my best friend recreationally. At work, I found a few colleagues who were extremely passionate about the sport and I began joining them for more regular sessions.

This year, I am in Europe for an international assignment as part of my job. In the midst of figuring out what would possibly work for me as a workout routine, I found a yoga school just a stone's throw away from my apartment and this got me started on yoga once again. I got more serious approximately 3 months ago, and I definitely hope to be good at it one day! The yoga that I am currently practising is called Ashtanga Vinyasa - which focuses on the breathing and synchronisation of breaths through a series of structured and progressive yoga flow postures.

Slowly but surely, practice makes perfect.
PS: Baby abs in the making. ;)

I particularly enjoy how yoga has a strong focuses on the "you". For me, it has challenged me to take the battle against flexibility, balance and stamina / cardio limitations to the next level. I am also starting to examine my lifestyle choices - specifically my diet, which I intend to share in a future post. Hopefully at some point, I will also start to appreciate the beauty of meditation.

Morning yoga routine in Kamandalu Ubud in Bali

Till the next time!

xx,
L

Munich was 1 of my first trips booked after arriving in Poland in March this year.

You must be wondering “Why Munich?”

In learning more about the geographical location of where Poland is in Europe and its neighboring countries, the idea of participating in Oktoberfest sprung up.

Well, and I do miss the beer nights D & I have weekly in Singapore. After work, we often visit a bar for beer / wine, ideally accompanied with a live music band. That is definition of date night for us.

In late September, this long awaited trip finally materialized.

My colleagues on knowing about my upcoming visit to Munich for Oktoberfest, started flooding me with information about this festival – from (asking if I were to dress up) traditional costumes to cautionary notes on pickpockets AND hangovers.

The drinking starts early here in Oktoberfest! So pace yourself, or you will be knocked out by mid-day!

Truth be told, I knew little to nothing about this festival before going for it.

All I was expecting – Beers, music, huge crowds and possibly, how to deal with drunkards.
An experience to tick that bucket list, but not something I would do twice.

However, after my virgin experience with Oktoberfest, I believe it should be on everyone’s “life” bucket list. Certainly an event I would definitely LOVE to return to Munich for again!

It was a huge expectation-reality gap, in the positive direction.

Hosted on a horse race track, Oktoberfest hosts beer tents and livens up with a carnival, suitable
for families, couples and friends! According to some locals, companies would reserve tables in advance as a
"treat" for their executives or key customers to this annual affair.

Joining the crowd with my first beer in hand!
I learnt from my walking tour that it is important to "hug" the mug (like above) if you wish to drink like a local.
REMEMBER: Do NOT hold the mug like a tea cup. i.e. with 2 hands. You will be judged!

Given how much I have been raving about it to D, friends and colleagues, I felt it would be useful to share some tips that I hope will be helpful for you as first time visitors to this highly popular German beer festival.

Top Tip 1: Book flights & accommodation in advance

As a global event, this more than 200 year old festival is visited not only by Germans or Europeans.

I was told by my walking tour guide (who shared some tips on this event) that Oktoberfest welcomes approximately 7 million visitors globally in its annual 2-week beer festival.

I was in a bubble of excitement in this high energy environment.

Nationalities that top the charts outside of Europe are Australians and Americans. So you can imagine, there would be a high demand for flights into Munich and a tough fight for accommodations.

Even though I booked my flights months in advance (securing tickets that were “normal” price), I thought accommodations would not be a major issue. I booked my accommodations one month before the event and felt that it was already ridiculously priced. On average, accommodations ranged from being 2.5 times to 4 times more expensive than its usual rates, both in the core center and its fringe areas.

Given that Munich has a pretty developed train system, I recommend staying on the fringe of the city center, even if you are there to visit just for the weekend. Surprising to me was that Oktoberfest's beer serving hours start from as early as 9am (on weekends) or 10am (on weekdays) and ends at 10.30pm (weekdays and weekends). This leaves you with a lot of buffer to ride the trains back to your accommodation.

Where to Stay: This refers to the area from "Pasing" to "Marienplatz". Many train lines go pass these places and they are easy to get to and fro the airport. Perfect for a weekend stay, if you are here just for Oktoberfest.

S-bahn train system map is taken from this link.

Top Tip 2: Travel light to Oktoberfest

Today, many who attend Oktoberfest recall the terror attack that happened during this event in 1980. Following an explosion, 13 people died and 211 people were injured. Also, with the increased terror threat in Europe, security to major events have been raised.

Translating this to what it means for Oktoberfest party-goers, your bag cannot exceed a volume of 3 litres or a size of 20cm x 15xm x 10cm. The guards are pretty strict about this rule. Even though on-site baggage lockers are available, you would not want to count on searching for your bags after downing loads of beer during this event. And, even if you fulfill the above requirement, you will still need to go through bag checks. Why create such trouble for yourself?

A slightly congested entrance due to tight security checks.
But don't worry, the lines move pretty fast.

What to bring: A small pouch to contain money (notes ideally), your phone and have loads of fun by letting your hair down!

Not forgetting, Oktoberfest greets with not just beers but it is a huge fun fair with carnival games and amusement park rides, suitable for all ages and risk appetite. By travelling light, you would not feel restricted in any way to just hop onto something!

When to visit: The best time to visit is around 3pm. This is because, the first wave of excited Oktoberfest party-goers who start at 9am would be drunk by then, and the second wave of dinner crowd would only arrive later.

Top Tip 3: Bring more cash than you would normally expect to pay for a beer in Germany

Did you know, all beers served in Oktoberfest carried the tradition of beer deliveries via these horses?

Oktoberfest is a free public event. Even though you do not have to pay for entrance fees, beer tents work in oligopoly by charging a "Oktoberfest" premium. This year, the official 2017 beer price ranged between 10.60 Euros to 10.95 Euros for 1 litre of beer. And yes, beers served here are mostly by the liter. One can only expect inflation to tip this over the 11 Euro mark soon!

I learnt also that tipping is a "culture" here to thank the beer servers, who are working extremely hard to serve the hungry alcoholics. More importantly, tables are hot property in big beer tents. So, unless you want to be chased out, tip decently. I would say approximately 10 - 15% at minimum.

Also, if you are keen for a game or a roller coaster ride, the cash would come in handy as these are charged per game or ride.

Top Tip 4: Visit Oide Wiesn

Oide Wiesn is located at the end of Wiesn, but not clearly found on the map.
Walk to the end of Wiesn and you will see signs leading you to this spot!

Since 2010, Oide Wiesn has become an essential part of the Oktoberfest culture.
Wiesn is the local name for Oktoberfest. And Oide Wiesn simply means Old Oktoberfest.

Oide Wiesn is located in the old grounds of Oktoberfest, where this used to be held back in the day. There is a 3 Euro admission charge for entrance, which in my opinion, is well worth a visit!

In its grounds, there is a beer museum, a big beer tent and a beer garden. My favourite of it all is the ambience of this place. Live Bavarian music, a dance floor and everyone being so welcoming to huddle and share seats. It was also here that we spoke to a local German couple who shared stories of their annual visits to Oktoberfest.

Live music and full of energy, everyone was definitely on party mode.

Top Tip 5: Visit both the big and small beer tents, share a table with the locals (or tourists) and taste some Bavarian delights!

My appetite for beer definitely increased after this weekend!

With a grand total of 14 big beer tents and 20 small beer tents, you will be spoilt for choice.

I suggest doing some research on the brewery and "theme" of each of the big beer tents. Because, even though each big beer tent can house up to 10,000 people, they are often crowded with lines to enter. Not forgetting, I doubt one can drink 14 litres of beer in 1 day?!

I recommend first timers to visit the Augustiner tent (where they serve the similarly named beer, a local favourite) as a safe choice. My personal favourite, however, actually goes to the Braurosl beer tent operated by the Heide family, who have been around for seven generations!

Last but not least, some final moments here as the night drew to an end.

Beautiful lights that adorn with nightfall.
Bidding summer goodbye, we are starting to experience lesser daylight.

Goodbye Oktoberfest 2017!
I will certainly return back for more!

Prost!

xx,

L

In July, I (L) visited Amsterdam for the first time. Similar to my prior travel experiences in Poland, I received a few recommendations and travel tips from my Dutch colleagues who are also here on an international assignment. An initially planned solo trip turned out to be one full of company! In my 3 days spent in Amsterdam, I met up with a Singaporean friend / colleague, and coincidentally, made a friend of American-Korean descent also on a solo travel.

Through this post, beyond sharing my favourite (or rather, touristy) experiences, I will also be sharing some tips for first time travellers to Amsterdam to save time and disappointment!

Streets of canals & bicycles are a unique sight in Amsterdam.

What to do #1: Visit Rijksmuseum

Greeting visitors before the museum entrance is a beautiful Gardens. It was a warm greeting with the beautiful blooms during summertime.

This Dutch museum focuses primarily on arts and history, with a pretty extensive collection of Dutch artists' works. The most famous artwork here is the Night Watch, which I heard is the only artwork that has a special contingency planned in case of a fire or if any disaster strikes.

I must say, I am still at a "beginner" on the topic of art appreciation. I am keen to learn and be exposed more to this area. So, if you have tips or sharing, feel free to share them with me via email! Renting the audio guide was a good decision in going through the highlights of this big museum. I particularly enjoy the process of figuring out what the artist was trying to depict and subsequently, hearing the stories behind them through the audio guide. It amuses me, more often than not, when my interpretation is markedly different from the artist's. What I have learnt through having viewed some of these major artworks, is that historical paintings are sometimes used for propaganda purposes, depicting a different scene from what was reality. Also, famous artists enjoy putting themselves in the paintings, as part of the scene depicted. Is that their hope for a shot to fame or to make it seem like they are part of the elite / royal group's events and ceremonies?

A favourite from Rijksmuseum - "Dutch Lady" looking surprisingly peaceful.
This image exuberates a nice warmth & fuzzy feeling

Of the artworks that I had gone through here in Rijksmuseum, my favourite pieces are the Dutch Lady (pictured above) and the Cupyers Library (pictured below).

One of my favourites - "The Cuypers Library"
looks and feels so inviting.

Top Tip #1: Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum are situated close to each other. Plan your itinerary in such a way that you visit them on the same day. They are also a couple of museums in this area. If you are a museum buff, make sure to plan well! Besides setting aside some time to go through them, do check also the museum's opening hours.

What to do #2: Visit Anne Frank's House, even if you had not read the Anne Frank's Diaries.

Anne Frank's Diaries has been translated to many different languages and has reached a worldwide audience.

Top Tip #2: Make an online reservation for Anne Frank's House, to avoid disappointment and long queues.

Starting with a tip for 2 reasons. Firstly, without an online reservation, you will have to wait till 3.30pm, where the doors are opened to the public. And secondly, you will have to join a really long "snaking" line, together with others who have not made one.

Anne Frank's House struck me hard for 2 reasons. One, this secret annexe was a real hide-out for a family and their friends', fearing for their lives (or deaths), in the not-too-distant WWII. Secondly, I visited the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Krakow a few weeks ago, the visuals and stories of Prisoners-of-Wars were still fresh in my head.

The chestnut tree that still stands strong outside Anne Frank's House.
It feels like a "guardian angel" to this place, doesn't it?

What to do #3: Visit Van Gogh Museum

On a lighter and happier note, I enjoyed my visit to the Van Gogh Museum. This museum houses a series of paintings, drawings and letters by the famous Vincent van Gogh. As earlier mentioned, I have a really basic knowledge about art and the arts scene. Through this museum, I felt I had known a new person. A really talented individual of his time, who experienced sufferings. All these through his artworks, and short stories gathered from the audio guide.

Van Gogh enjoys painting self-portraits, through which
you can get a glimpse of how his life transformed with time. 

My favourite pieces from his collection include, the Sunflowers, and a scene that depicts 3 couples in a garden. I picked these up in postcards from the Museum Shop, which had now reached D's hands. His "Europe" postcard collection is definitely growing (with location and what I particularly like in each city) with my frequent weekend travels!

A painting that depicts 3 couples in a garden.
I love how each of them can be interpreted so differently, but still remain in context.

It was pity this talented artist suffered from mental illness. One of the craziest thing he did was to cut off his left ear and sent it to a brothel. As his illness increased in severity, he was subsequently sent to an asylum, where he eventually made the bold decision of committing suicide at a tender age of 37.

Top Tip #3: If you still have some time after Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum and enjoy the contemporary arts, the Stedelijk Museum is round the corner.

What to do #4: Bask in the food scene

Food is often a big part of our travels. Beyond trying out traditional local foods & snacks (where else to find better right?), I can't miss checking out the best breakfast / brunch spots and am always in the hunt for the best coffee in town.

PS: Beware when you ask the locals where the best coffeeshop is, because you might be led to a shop that sells weed and not coffee! Proper, legit coffees are sold in "cafes". Weed is sold in "coffeeshops".

A fact indeed that in Amsterdam, you can find weed related products readily & easily!

Recommendation #1: The best stroopwafels can be found in Albert Cuyp Market & specifically, at this store called "Original Stroopwafels".

Stroopwafels from "Original Stroopwafels" in Albert Cuyp Market is a must-try!
The market close on Sundays. This photo taken is with the owner's son. The recipe is a family kept secret.

Freshly made stroopwafels are the best you can find,
and not to be missed when you are in Amsterdam!

An early start on my last day meant watching the Albert Cuyp Market open its doors to visitors. 

Recommendation #2: Dutch pancakes are not to be missed. I never knew pancakes were that big in the Dutch cuisine before my trip to Amsterdam. This was a personal recommendation provided. I came across a couple of different pancake stores on my trip there, but nothing beats this one that we visited - Pancake Upstairs! 

A cosy joint with just 4 tables, you MUST make a reservation before you visit. Each table only gets an hour to dine in, and the owner is not afraid to say no when reservations are full. There are no takeaways too, so be sure to reserve or be prepared to be disappointed (because they do receive reservation requests aplenty)!

Happiness spelt in my facial expressions when someone did not turn up for their reservations,
probably due to the storm that day, and we were really lucky to have a table!

We shared a savoury & sweet pancake.
Each pancake is made fresh on order and done on point.
The savoury one especially blew me away!

Recommendation #3: Did you know...Amsterdam is also known for its Apple Pies? Once again, my ignorance but I am thankful for the recommendations received all around! For the best Apple Pies in town, you need to have one at Dwinkel 43.

A place that specialises in Apple Pies, it was FULL HOUSE in the afternoon.
Thankfully this place allows takeaway, because people were flooding out of the cafe & lines are long.

Recommendation #4: Food is one thing that I would spend time and effort to research on before a trip. I recall D asking me once what my favourite food is, and I started listing them in this order: eggs done any style, although preferably poached, COFFEE, fruits, muesli, yoghurt, tomatoes, bread / pastry etc. And he said, you just want a breakfast buffet! That said, I love breakfasts, my favourite meal of the day because I believe in starting my day right. Of the breakfast spots I managed to check out on this trip, I recommend having brunch at Bakers & Roasters. A Kiwi (New Zealand) cafe that serves the best brunch (& possibly coffee too) in town. Go early to beat the crowds for brunch at Bakers & Roasters.

Recommendation #5: I never knew before, but food halls are a big thing in Europe. Since our trip to Lyon in France where we had a gastronomic experience of our lives, visiting the first food hall I have ever been in Europe, I look out for food halls in my various weekend city explorations. Food halls typically come in two forms. The first operate mainly from morning till late afternoon, where they offer a variety of fresh meats and produce and there are also stores that serve food by the bar. The second type operate from afternoon till late at night. They offer a variety of global food selections and play great music. One can always expect a bustling crowd. And in Amsterdam, the best place to have dinner is at Food Hallen. Not to be missed is a great Gin & Tonic cocktail bar on site!

I couldn't resist this Bitterballen tasting platter.
It consists of 5 different flavours -
1 traditional beef, 1 truffle, 1 bouillabaisse, 1 Tom Kah Khai and 1 goats cheese. 

This G&T bar on-site Food Hallen dishes out a great variety of G&T concoctions.

Recommendation #6: If you are on a healthy diet / lifestyle, besides the tasty but slightly sinful street food like Bitterballen and French Fries, there are also the healthier and inexpensive Herrings that you can also try!

Herring served sashimi style from street carts.
Slightly fishy, but when served fresh, they make a delicious snack!

A girlfriend who was in the Netherlands for exchange a couple of years ago, highly recommended a try at the french fries!
Quoting her, the potatoes here are so "sweet", you wouldn't believe it! To top it off, she had to mention that Singapore imports potatose from the Netherlands. Where else to get fresher?!
Vleminckx, apparently the most popular one here in Amsterdam, should not be missed!

Top Tip #4: The health food scene is pretty big in Amsterdam. So if you are a healthy eater, do check out Pluk for a tasty treat of acai bowls or Juice by Nature for a bottle of cultured Kombucha.

We were in love with this open concept kitchen!
Loads of fresh, vibrant colours - dream kitchen for the future.

I love acai bowls!
They are perfect as a sweet treat that still falls into the category of a healthy lifestyle.

What to do #5: Sign up for a Walking Tour

Whenever possible, I would start my trips with a walking tour. It quickly gets you to the "must-sees", and more importantly, the guides would share local insights and secret spots to visit which you would not get from searching on Google or reading travel guide books.

A walking tour offers insights to streets and buildings,
which we would have normally just walked past without knowing or thinking too much about.

I went on a free walking tour with Freedam Tours. It was a company started out of interest by a Geography teacher about 1.5 years ago. There are also a couple of other free walking tours available in Amsterdam, so pick feel free to just pick one that interests you or suits your travel schedule!

A beautiful day checking out the sights of Amsterdam.
This one taken at the Royal Palace.

The oldest church in Amsterdam, located right beside a canal.
This was the starting point for my walking tour.
Definitely iconic for Amsterdam!

What to do #6: Visit the Heineken Brewery for a Heineken Experience!

Did you know... Heineken originated from Amsterdam? 

It was shared that each horse here is named after a senior management
who made significant contributions to the Heineken business.
You know you had made a mark if you have a horse here. Each horse is also treated with utmost care, with a trainer dedicated to each of their lifestyle routines, & diet.

This is an experience not to be missed, even if you are not a fan of beers. Going through rooms of how beers are made, visiting horse stables (there is a history of Heineken & horses), followed by a 4D experience of the brewing process and finally ending the tour on a rooftop bar. The price of a ticket for the Heineken Experience also includes 2 beers (or soft drinks if you wish). It's a steal, isn't it?

What to do #7: Watch a local musical / concert / show

I did not expect to catch a local show here in Amsterdam and this was something decided on-the-fly. A Dutch colleague recommended checking out last minute discounted tickets, and I decided to go for "Boom Chicago - Shot of Improv". It was an extremely interactive show, with managing the participation from audience being key. As with all improvisations, the success of such shows was highly dependent on how well actors manage inputs from audience and think on the spot to create humour. 

Top Tip #5: Check here for last minute discounted tickets, with discounts as good as 50%. The catch, though, is you only get to see what discounted shows are available on the day itself.

What to do #8: Take a Canal Cruise

In a city renown for their canals, a canal tour is not to be missed!

Fun fact: The name of the city, Amsterdam is derived from its origins. A dam in the river Amstel.

Known as the "Venice of the North", Amsterdam houses a number of canals. Historically, this served the purpose of defense and water management. The modern day canals features streets with different "characters". This ranges from fashion, food, art etc.

A giant aquarium, also iconic to visit in Amsterdam!
Unfortunately, my 3 days in Amsterdam did not allow for this visit.

Views from the Canal Tour.
Fun fact: Houses in Amsterdam are built to an angle that leans slightly forward.
This is due to the narrow entrances & stairways, that requires large furniture to be moved into the apartment via the windows. With an angle that leans forward, it enables easier lifting of heavy and bulky goods up the apartment building.

What to do #9: Visit Zaanse Schaans (the land of windmills) for a day.

Zaanse Schaans has a beautiful collection of windmills brought from around the country!
Bidding the city landscape goodbye, it feels good to busk in the lands of mother nature.

If following the above recommendations still allows half a day more of explorations, why not consider exploring the outskirts of Amsterdam?

On my third and final day in Amsterdam, I decided to take a bus from Amsterdam Central Station to the Zaandam neighbourhood. Zaanse Schaans has a collection of 18th and 19th century windmills, houses that feature a variety of crafts and food, and museums (not pictured). 

Travel Tip: To get there, from Amsterdam Central Station, you can hop onto Rnet-bus 391, which departs approximately every 15 minutes. In the summer months of July & August, there is an additional option of riding on Rnet-bus 817 that departs from the same bus stop. Both options will bring you to Zaanse Schaans in 40 minutes.

Amsterdam is such a unique city. One that visitors can associate with the terms "canals", "Heineken", "red light district", "French Fries" and "coffeeshops". The city lives, breathes and thrives with vibrancy. Till the next time (hopefully with D ;))!

xx,

L