Regaining My Sanity In [Taipei]

Dear Pipsqueaks,

Writing this on the plane...

Once again, I'm amazed at how I always manage to start a trip with such "excitement". This time was really coming too close.

The plan: 6.15am wake and a 7.15am depart to KL Sentral. Estimating for an easy pace to wash up and pack. Train at 7.45am to KLIA2 to check in at 8.18am (ride was 33mins) for my 10am flight. All times locked in.

What really went down: waking up to the 7.10 "Time To Move" alarm, which was actually set for us to get ready to leave the front door, and literally jumped up from bed. 3mins brush and  wash, 2mins dress, 5mins to pack toiletries and the rest of my clothes and lock luggages. Within 10mins, we were on the car zooming to KL Sentral. When we arrived, it was about 7.40am so I rushed to purchase my ticket and descended to the platform downstairs. Then, I realised the board was showing "Next Train in 19mins". Huh? How could that be?! I had a good 5mins! So I quickly searched online and...yes, I looked at the wrong schedule. 7.45am departure was for weekends. Weekends are every 20mins, so the train actually left at 7.40am. G R E A T.

At that point, the only way to save myself from wanting to scream at myself was to remove myself mentally from the situation. Sometimes, you just have to recognise the situation and understand nothing more can be done. Just go with the flow. So I got on the next train at 8am, arrived at KLIA2 at 8.33am, checked in my luggage, zoomed through all the check points, and finally arrived at my gate at 9am. I was at least 20mins ahead of boarding time.

Now, writing this from the middle seat of the 2nd last row of an A330, I'm on my way back to typhoon Taiwan. Luckily, the typhoon had left the region during the night. Otherwise, I'd be stuck in KL...stuck in that unhappy bubble created by work. Yes, I desperately want to get away and clear my mind. I NEED this vacation!

Now, prepare for my arrival y'all.

You Win, Allergies!

Dear Pipsqueaks,

After coming back from Bangkok - at supper to be exact - it was brought to my attention that my face had begun to turn very red. I didn't take much notice then because I reasoned it from being too dehydrated from the trip as a whole. I normally drink about 3~4L of water a day, and that wasn't convenient when we travel, so yes I definitely dropped it to about 2L a day. So, legit to see some reaction from the body.

But when I got home, I realised it wasn't only turning red...but bumpy. Like a horrendous allergy attack. Funny enough, it stayed very well within the face region, nothing on the ear, neck or scalp. I started to wonder whether it was the facial mask, but that couldn't be because I used it since day 1 of the trip. So if that were the cause, this would have happened on day 2. It just didn't make any sense as I was also quite careful with what I ate, though I may have had a little too many squids...

Back From Bangkok!

Dear Pipsqueaks,

Seriously getting too old to stay up late and not give myself time to recover - so yes, I literally KO-ed from the trip that I had to take leave yesterday. It wasn't entirely because I couldn't keep my eyes open; I had developed some sort of rash/allergy all over my face. Okay, allergies are not foreign to me, but all over my face? Yes, it's so weird! Normally, it'd be on my arms, back or legs, but on my face...this is the first time ever. So, I had to just stay home and recover...and not go out to scare the public or my colleagues.

Anyways, now that I'm 'back in action', I'll hopefully be able to do the recap for Bangkok on my flight to Singapore tomorrow! It's been a while since I recapped my trips, so let's pray my memory doesn't fail me now. 4D3N really flew by...but LOTS of action, I must say. Can't wait to share it with y'all!

Peace out for now.
Have to finish a few more emails before I head home to pack...or just top up my luggage back from Bangkok!

(One of my favourite drink in the world - Thai Tea! Oh, how I missed you!)

Month of Random Travels

Dear Pipsqueaks,

Okay, I just realised how crazy my travel schedule is for most of July...and I'm definitely to blame because I caved!

Thursday - Sunday [Bangkok] = I'll be heading to Bangkok with a bunch of friends. Now, this trip had been talked about for probably less than a month. For the first few attempts at getting me to go with them, I managed to leash my inner travel-addict to say no. Then, one dinner before singk, I surrendered to temptations. Next minute, my flights have been arranged. It's not that I don't want to go - I desperately need a break out of this office before I lose my sanity, but I've already planned to visit family mid-July, so it's a bit too frequent for me. Oh wells, too late to back out now. So...pad thai, here I come!

Monday - Tuesday [Kuala Lumpur] = back to repack.