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Bonne année 2013 tout le monde! Better late than never. 

So here's a quickie post; I'd just like to wish everyone a very happy new year! I hope 2012 was an amazing year filled with great memories because it certainly wasn't for me. But looking back, there were experiences that had occurred which gave me (a) reason(s) to smile. Despite moving back home. That was definitely one of the downfall to my 2012... seriously.

Anyway, I ended my 2012 in bravery, I scratched "Cut your hair short!" off my 2012 resolution list. Keep in mind that you are limited with hairstyles when it comes to short hair. (insert sad face) Still no regrets whatsoever! HOWEVER you don't need a new year to make changes in your life.

I'm hoping this year will start off smoothly. Fingers crossed!!! 

Have a good year ahead lovelies!

xoxo,
F

Reminiscing

While I'm recovering from.. post Europe vacation I figured hey lets post more pictures that I took in Switzerland. 

Raya '12 in pictures

photobomb level: Iqah >:(

Dubai goodies

It has been exactly 4 weeks since the whole family came back from Switzerland. En route back to home was Dubai where we only spent a night, and that was too short for my liking. I haven't been outside of Dubai's airport before so the trip is counted as my first.

The whole family stayed at The Address just next to the world's largest shopping mall! We didn't get to finish seeing all the shops offered in the great Dubai Mall (no surprises there). And being a part time summer owl as usual, I thought I'd make a little detour of our time spent in the UAE.

 Burj al Khalifa; the world's tallest building.

Dubai's finest trinkets.

Lastly, Selamat Hari Raya & Eid Mubarak everyone!
love,
A.

UK calling

Salut! As those of you who have me on twitter and Facebook will have gathered, I got accepted into my firm university choice.. Leicester in the UK!

I have a huge amount of love for the UK; I first traveled there when I was about 8 to visit my cousin who used to live in London. I remember spending the entire journey with my mouth hanging open with wonderment as it was my first time being in Europe and it was also my first time travelling without my parents. 

I have to admit, albeit I'm not the brightest bulb amongst my peers but I know what I want and it is Leicester that I wanted. (yes that includes the Mulberry bag and that $1000 piece of lingerie is necessary)

And as for my sister who will be finishing off school in 2 more years, it really is the time to show off what you know and you could do so much better than me. Trust me this is my worst results ever! Just keep working hard and pray + make du'a 24/7. You're forever in my prayers and happy advanced birthday!

Many love & Eid Mubarak,

A.

Ramadhan Kareem!

How cute are these illustrations? 
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We have only 10 more days left until we bid farewell to the loveliest month of the year for all of us Muslims and days are counted until we welcome back Eid! ALL HYPED UP FOR RAYA? Not me. No. Results are due out next Thursday and it just had to fall on the same day as my dad's birthday. Great. 

Forever a nocturnal,
A.

Why you should travel

I beg young people to travel. If you don't have a passport, get one. Take a summer, get a backpack and go to Delhi, go to Saigon, go to Bangkok, go to Kenya. Have your mind blown. Eat interesting food. Dig some interesting people. Have an adventure. Be careful. Come back and you're going to see your country differently, you're going to see your president differently, no matter who it is. Music, culture, food, water. Your showers will become shorter. You're going to get a sense of what globalization looks like. It's not what Tom Friedman writes about; I'm sorry. You're going to see that global climate change is very real. And that for some people, their day consists of walking 12 miles for four buckets of water. And so there are lessons that you can't get out of a book that are waiting for you at the other end of that flight. A lot of people-Americans and Europeans-come back and go, Ohhhhh. And the light bulb goes on.
-Henry Rollins

It is true that when you actually get out of your country frequently you do begin to question things like: why is there a huge segregation between the richer and the poor in Bangkok but not back at home? Why is the wifi connection better in Laos when it's ranked 2nd lowest for HDI in ASEAN? If Brunei is richer than Thailand then why don't we have Sephora? An average income of a cashier in Switzerland is B$5000 a month.. reallyyyy???!!

The many questions an 18 year old would ponder when travelling.
But really though. Just get out there.
Love,
A.

The 2 pictures above were taken during my last summer in Laos. I miss Vientiane dearly & the "baw penyang (no problem)" vibe!

M I L A N O 

My sister took this shot from our hotel room in Dubai that we spent for a night early this week. A beautiful city indeed but I wouldn't want to go back there. I can't stand being in a complete concrete jungle and I actually had to dress for the weather.

And a little more detour of Geneva:

ps: If you ever get the chance to go to Thailand don't just stay in one city. Bangkok is a good start then the perfect next stop would be Phuket for the gorgeous beaches!

pps: put down "travel to Europe" in your bucketlist!  I just crossed mine off my list and I kid you not it will be amazing!

ppps: we almost got ourselves stranded in Geneva's airport so that was kind of an adventure.