In DIY and Artsy-Craftsy, Life on the Equator, She & Him

8 Wedding Planning Tips for a Creative and Unforgettable Day That Doesn’t Drain Your Wallet

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8 Wedding Planning Tips for a Creative and Unforgettable Day That Doesn’t Drain Your Wallet

I used to think that weddings were overrated. That the whole wedding industry might as well be a glamorized scam. The idea of throwing away that much money for a one-day event that most guests might not even remember in the future sounds like a perfect recipe for a financial disaster.

These, of course, were after I outgrew my much younger self who undoubtedly had her own daydreams about her dream wedding. People have phases, don’t they?

However, at some point, when it was finally our turn to plan and execute our big day, we decided to land somewhere in the middle. An event so warm (quite literally, we’ll get to it), heartwarming, and eye-pleasing that it doesn’t only belong to us – but also to our guests. A day where everything about it is handpicked by yours truly, so that the moment our closest ones pass the entrance they’d immediately wonder how every element and detail truly resembled the two of us both as a couple and also as individuals.

We were never big on celebrations, so when it comes to the day when we finally tie the knot after exactly 9.5 years of being together, why not have fun, consider it a challenge to play with as a couple, and be creative at it?

Most importantly, we wanted to try our best to make every single penny worth it. If we’re going to dig our pocket a little deep for it, it might as well be for all the right reasons only, and as effective as possible. And since we had to stick to a fixed budget, the creativity wasn’t just all about the styling or planning, but also about coming up with workarounds for when the ideal scenario we wanted was too expensive to afford.

Of course, at the end of the day, we were unfortunately unable to realize every single plan, but we took notes on those that didn’t. So that you, who might be planning your wedding day sooner or later, may take a thing or two from our experience and get to make the best out of one the happiest days in your life.

So here it is, a few tips on how we plan and execute the wedding day that every guest that we talked to seems to have enjoyed and left positive thoughts and comments about. Might we add, without necessarily breaking our bank accounts?

And if you’re also wondering how much we end up paying for our 300-pax outdoor wedding at the heart of Bandung; keep reading!

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In (Perhaps) Fiction, Impulsive Writing, Thoughtful Enlightenment

Gone with the Miles

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Gone with the Miles

Every once in a while, our lives get to intersect with a stranger’s, in ways that are a little more meaningful than just holding a door for them or walking in the opposite directions of a sidewalk. Maybe a sustained conversation out of boredom, an impromptu dialogue to break the awkwardness (and curiosity), a solicited exchange of personal preferences about certain thingsโ€”

nevertheless, a brief moment, passing scenes, fleeting opportunities; out of sheer chance, and maybe at times, a sprinkle of luck. Perhaps, it’s your first time stepping foot into that someplace new, and theirs too. Nothing was offered except a transient period of not having to feel so alone in a reality that is completely unknown and moving fast and loud – for there’s another passerby in this very space, at this exact time, who is open to offering a shared pause in that solitude.

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In Wanderlogue

10 Actually Useful Flying Hacks Noone Seems to Be Talking About

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10 Actually Useful Flying Hacks Noone Seems to Be Talking About

Even though I only started properly travelling in my twenties (for obvious financial reasons, and also there isn’t much independence you can gain as a daughter raised in a stereotypical strict Asian household until you actually leave home to live abroad for the first time), I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been on probably countless flights since. In my first few trips, I would collect as many travel and flying hacks from various sources to try to make each trip as smooth as possible. However, as I went on with more travels, I started gathering some on my own as well, including those that, to my surprise, barely anyone seems to be talking about – even though they are absolutely worth doing! Lucky for you, I am no gatekeeper for all things nice, so I will be listing below some of my favourite ones that I would not skip on any trip.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned traveller, I believe you’ll find these tips relevant – and maybe a little life-changing, if I may be so bold. So maybe keep reading?

(Disclaimer: While not sponsored, this post does contain affiliated links.)

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In Wanderlogue

7 Less-Touristy London Walking Tour Ideas

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7 Less-Touristy London Walking Tour Ideas

Truthfully, I was never a fan of bustling metropolitan cities – but London was apparently quite a different breed. As a melting pot of hundreds of years of diverse cultures, the city is remarkably rich in characters and thus has left an imprint on my list of most wonderful memories back in Spring 2022, as I am sure it does many travellers and visitors alike.

Exploring the city on foot was absolutely my favourite activity. From initially following my strict itinerary to finally letting where my footsteps take me, I had eventually made several themed walks and thought they might be worth sharing here. If you are like me, who prefers shifting the landscape from the most touristy places such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, London’s Eye, and so forth to the lesser famous, almost hidden gems sometimes, and make the most out of the local experiences instead, this recommendation might be just for you.

From lovely sights of flowers, splashes of colours, tranquil English villages, inspiring arts, eclectic shopping, and satisfying your tummy’s craving, these themed walks will take you through various experiences and even postcard-worthy photos that are beyond those famous red telephone boxes.

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In Wanderlogue

A Mediterranean Memento

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A Mediterranean Memento

Jakarta, 31/10. It was midnight in the middle of a workweek. Felt quite nice to finally lay on my side of the bed, fingers scrolling mindlessly across my glaring phone screen amid the dimmed light of the bedroom as my husband was already asleep. I had surrendered to the algorithm that put me in the never-ending loop of irrelevant streams of content when a notification popped up.

A French local train app, delivering a message of traffic reduction in Occitanie. I didn’t even remember I had the app installed.

It has been a few days now after my return to Jakarta, following a little over a month of travelling around France and its vicinity. Mainly for work in the city of Montpellier, although it wouldn’t have been me if I hadn’t purposefully crammed a few short leisure getaways in between and at the end.

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In Wanderlogue

7 Petra Tips You Truly Need but Nobody Tells You About

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7 Petra Tips You Truly Need but Nobody Tells You About

Just like everyone else who travelled to Jordan, I absolutely had to put Petra as one of my major destinations. I spent one and a half days in Wadi Musa where Petra is located, which I believe is proper enough to get the best out of the whole complex – if you know how.

Frankly, I came a little unprepared because the vacation was squeezed between two separate business trips. Hence, I did not manage to research any tips about exploring the site prior to the travel. That, however, led me to asking around extensively instead; from fellow tourists that I met there, the tourism office staff in Petra, to a couple of Petra local guides who were keen on helping me probably simply because they felt bad for this tiny Asian lady travelling alone. Those, in addition to experiencing all the strenuous walk and hike myself, made me come up with these tips I think people should know about to make the best out of their Petra experience.

So, if you are like me, or even on a shorter visit, or basically just want to make your trip as effective as possible, this will be the article for you to read on!

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