Tips from Travelblog.org – Around the world backpacking :P

1. Live frugally, forget home cinema systems, save the money for travel. Be stingy at Christmas – get people small presents and ask for small ones in return (or even donations to the travel fund!). Keep an eye on all the bills, record how much you spend on things that aren’t necessary, and save save save !!.

2. Don’t own a car unless you really need it. If you’re living in a city do you really need the car ? Road-taxes are high; yearly servicing and legal requirements add up. Plus if you’re concerned about the environment – the CO2 from long haul flights will be offset by not driving for a year.

3. Give up SMOKING – what an incredible waste of money! If you don’t smoke, give up something else that costs money, and which you really don’t need, but do on a daily basis.

4. Avoid debt. Pay off any credit cards; if you have existing debts, transfer your balance to a new credit card which offers discounts on transferred debt and pay it off as quickly as possible.

5. Material possessions - whenever you want to buy something – think about – “what will I do with this when I’m away on my travels?” – if you can’t take it with you, then you can’t use it, so don’t buy it.

6. Don’t get caught in negative equity – having a disproportionate mortgage to your income or value of your home will be the biggest tie that binds you to your current job and stops you travelling for an extended period.

7. Have a monthly budget, and stick to it; include putting away some money as savings every month.

8. Get a second job – if you need to, try bar work or something completely different from your day job, use this money solely for your travel fund.

9. Be prepared to work during your travels. If you are under 30 and from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or Europe, there are reciprocal agreements enabling you to work.

10. Visit places that are cheap, stay in budget accommodation and be careful how you spend. Some people go travelling and even come back with money from their initial backpacking budget. Location will have the largest impact on the overall cost of your travel. Think about it – a month in Europe will cost you three times as much as a month in South East Asia, so set your itinerary for a whirlwind tour of Europe and a longer spell in South East Asia.

I am getting there….

Word of wisdom from Mark Twain

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!”

KL Bird Park

Was desperately in need of a weekend getaway. Because honestly I am sick of all the familiarity around me. I need to bask in the presence of new people, see sights that I’ve never seen before. OH maybe I just need another new toy?!

But then, there is the Jogja travel guide that is due in 2 weeks, and there is work (never ending work), that is pilling up like crazy!

OH April 30th come QUICK! I need my break in Jogja!

Anyway, I knew a photo outing would do the trick :p So yes, I bought my baby to the Bird Park and shot a couple of nice photographs. Which managed to cheer me up a bit lah.

I wanna be famous

that’s all I can think of lately.

hunting for studio apartment

That’s right. I’ve had enough of this shabby apartment of mine. It’s time to move on and I know just the kinda place I am looking for :p

a whole lot of nothing

Today is somehow uninspiring. A bit wasted actually, nothing much to shout about except I’ve got my hands on several really good photography magazines and ALSO…found out that Crumple does have travel backpacks! Pretty cool stuffs. Can’t wait to get my hands on them :p

Santino, my superstar

I’ts official. Santino Rice is the shit! Santino Rice is my idol! (Not because I am fashion freak ok :p)

I’ve only watched Santino on Project Runway towards the end of season 2. But after reading his blog I just couldn’t help but love Santino. For his PASSION, his authenticity, his honesty and all that he believes in!

When we look at art, be it fashion of photography, there isn’t much a difference really. It’s all about hard work, discipline and originality. And Santino demonstrate all that so that is why he is my inspiration.

I quote some thoughts from Santino’s blog on fashion design.

“Everyone will find their way, eventually, as long as they persevere. People will develop differently and at their own pace. I would never be so ignorant as to count anyone out. Possibilities and opportunities are endless. Decide what your goals are and what will make you the happiest, and take steps in that direction. Advice that helps me daily, is honestly the only advice I’d like to give regarding being a more effective human being, and it is the proverb that says: GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES. Pretty simple…

You don’t need permission from anyone to continue living your dreams. Just be proactive about your career. In the same respect, NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING. Find happiness in the little things when you become frustrated in life. Never take what people say negatively about you to heart. People who make a career out of that are really just envious and secretly wish they had talent. Of all the anonymous hate mail I’ve received never once has someone confronted me in person. That’s just the downside of human nature.

DO NOT GIVE IN TO DEFEAT. Give yourself time, but never quit! Make yourself happy. KNOW YOUR WORTH. Growth takes time. Your agenda is the most important agenda. Surround yourself with visual stimulation and objects of fantasy.
THE END WILL JUSTIFY THE MEANS.“

Beautifully written!

God bless Santino!

just do it

Sometimes in life, we only have that ‘one’ chance to prove what we are capable of, that ‘one’ chance to make an impression, the ‘one’ chance for the big break we are waiting for.

That’s why, don’t sit on things and hope for it to happen. It’s fairly simple.

God help those who help themselves.

livin’ it large

I am so happy today because my mini moo cards FINALLY arrived! And and and…I’ve bought meself a new toy ->Canon Speedlite 580EX II !!

My photography journey has been awesome! There is always something that’s helping me realize my dream of opening my own studio one day. Like the teachers I’ve met, the learning opportunity, the extra cash and the endless business opportunities.

It’s an awesome experience! To be so certain of that direction and seeing it happening day by day.

Having said that, I am still exploring my niche in photography. I don’t just wanna make big bucks with photography, I want to be FAMOUS!!! I wanna be taking photographs that people would frame it up on walls or have it appear in some glamor magazine hehe…

I’m loving every minute of this!

fish

OKAY! I am trying really hard to ignore this insignificant negative energy that emits from this…THIS…horrible person! But this morning really pisses me off when I got to know about some comments he made about a piece of work which he himself approved neons ago!

I really don’t get him. Or maybe I do, maybe I know too much and that’s why I am so pissed off – The kinda person he is, and the kinda unattractive character that I do not want to be associated with!

Blah!