Women in Mid 40s

Menopause (Pic source: Google.com)

Hey hi, how have you been?

It has been a while since the last time I posted here. Time flies like crazy. In few more years, I would enter the middle age that I never thought I would be one day. Hahaha...

Talking about this, I want to share what I have been through while passing these years. I would not shy sharing all these because one day, all young ladies (readers) would also one day reach this phase, if you are lucky enough, of course! :D

I wanted to share my menopause experience here. I have it already now. It considered quite early but still under normal age category. I had the pre-menopause moments for about two years before the period had actually stopped.

The most obvious symptoms was irregular periods. In the beginning, the period duration became shorten where usually it took 4-5 days each, had become 2-3 days. The flow had also reduced. 

Slowly, the frequency had also lessen  From the regular once a month, it had reduced to once every 2 months, 3 months, and even it stopped for almost a year. 

The other symptom that appeared was hot flush - a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body. In my case, it was happened mostly at the back upper part, below the neck area. 

I heard about it before, but when I experienced it myself, it still felt weird and funny :D 

Brain fog and forgetfulness. You know, it was when you went somewhere like kitchen, room, toilet, etc., and then suddenly you could not remember what you were going to do by entering those places. Or when in your mind you could picture one thing but suddenly you could not remember "that particular word" of that thing. Or you just lost focus and harder to concentrate.

Well, we thought it was because it was parts of getting older, but apparently, that was symptoms from pre-menopause as well.

Some people would be having difficulty to sleep. Not to the stage of insomnia, but it was not as easy to sleep as before. Luckily so far I have no such thing unless I had a very high dose of caffeine after lunch time or took a nap in the afternoon. And I had to practice a simple mediation before slowly dosing off to the dreamland.

The infamous thing from perimenopause is mood change, which includes easy to get irritation, sometimes could feel depressed too as our hormones changed. Especially when you were alone. 

When I told the doctor that I had my menopause already, one thing she asked me if I did any additional measure in taking care of my bones. The lack of ovarian estrogen after menopause could cause a significant loss in bone strength, placing women at higher risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, I needed enough dose of Calcium and vitamin D taken into a daily basis. As I could not be exposed into the sunlight, I had to take vitamin D supplement into my diet.

I was also advised to do light exercise as not to exert the joint parts too much. So instead of running, I could do walking on a daily basis and light aerobic or Zumba few times in a week.

Food was also playing a big part to lead a healthier lifestyle. You could observe what you get in your basket each time you buy your weekly shopping. 

I just shared with my sister-in-law recently on how lucky we are for staying in Singapore as the Singapore government really takes care of its citizens by always encouraging us to take healthier food (less salt, less sugar, less oil campaign), do at least 150 mins exercise a week by providing us free exercises that we could book through the Healthy 365 apps, providing exercise places, grounds and parks accessible in each neighborhood housings for free or with lesser/ subsidized fees, free checkup for men and women above 40s, sometimes free in-body check up (to check how much muscles are in our body parts) and providing us advises on how to improve them - by exercising and taking more proteins in our food, and many more.

The high cost of hospital bill has also become the deterrent for us to prevent sickness and improve our health being.

I mean, how many countries in the world would bother to care to its citizens health like that? 

Maintain the moderate BMI is still difficult for me, so far, I have always fallen in borderline overweight category. But I tried my best to balance my meals and eat more healthier food. 

Most importantly, keep positive mind everyday. It is not easy, but we can do it. Especially morning time. It is the most important time of the day to have a positive mind. 

Getting old is part of process of living as a human being. We have to accept it that nothing stays permanent. Wrinkles, white hair, loosen cheeks and eye bags, slow metabolism, weaken joints and bones are something we need to face soon or later. 

We cannot avoid it all (unless you go for face-lifting surgery, or Botox, of course). But by growing old, we can focus on how we could grow wiser, calm in time of crisis, and maintain peace in mind despite whatever thing that happen worldwide - high oil and gold prices, wars, natural disaster, economic crisis, and so on. Also spend our money and time wisely in everyday life.

There are more and more people in their 60s, 70s and 80s in Singapore these days. Soon, I too will be there. Hope everything will be in smooth journey and most importantly blessed with good health so I still can travel and visit more countries in the world and do what I love doing.

So, one day at one time. Focus on what is there at the present moment. Just get ready of what will come ahead. Cheers and wish everyone be happy and healthy always..... :)

Life

Change the way you look (IG: rimareyka.writes)

L I F E

Life is too short,

to be unhappy,

to not doing what you want to do,

to not following your dreams,

to regret not doing things with people you love,

to not be where you want to be,

to miss the chance or lifetime's opportunity,

to keep thinking of your failure,

to hold on to your past (be it good and bad),

to keep relationship with the wrong people,

to keep thinking but not doing,

to keep what you feel inside,

to always live for others but yourself,

to focus on what you don't have,

to indulge in things that you knew were not good for you and others,

to think negative,

to hold on to something that is not worth having,

to not appreciate of what you have,

to always blame others for everything that happens in your life,

to not show the love to the person you love.

Remember,

nothing is perfect,

and no one is perfect.

Our life is not perfect either.

Just make the best of it,

and be happy.

Life is short.

Love life,

and live life the the fullest.

Healthy food, healthy lifestyle, healthy me :)

Healthy food quotes - Rimareyka.writes

I did not know when it started. Perhaps after being diagnosed with SLE almost 15 years ago, with regular visits to the hospital for blood/urine tests, consultations with doctor, accompanied my parents for their regular body check up, made me realized how important good health was, especially when we grew older.

We all knew that wealth was not something that we should take for granted. Chronic diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and by having high cholesterol level, obesity, smoking habits, over consumption of alcohol, and so on, could lead to cardiovascular or heart disease and stroke. 

It was uncommon to hear many people in their late 30s or early 40s were getting stroke, cancer and heart disease. Many were even died because of that. It was not like before, that those diseases were only attacking people in their 50s and above. High stress level, pressures, expectations, competitions, lack of exercises added into it. 

"We are what we eat." - Rimareyka.writes

I was sure you must have heard of the above quote as well. It was not just important, but very very very and very important!!! 

I loved food, super loved food. I was born in Indonesia, so we were pampered with so many kind of delicious food. I studied in few different countries for few years and now lived in Singapore for more than half of my life now. Travelling too had exposed me to taste and love so many kind of food. However, since few years ago, my food intake had gradually changed, especially after started working.

In the morning, after waking up, I made a big cup of fruit and sometimes, mixed with vegetable juice. Apple and tomatoes, banana and blueberries, celeries and tomatoes, apple and carrots, apple and celeries, kiwi and cucumber, pineapple and orange, and lately, added in kale, the superfood, with my apple, cucumber and lemon juice. (Fruits chosen would depend on the season, but most common one would be apple since the quote "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" must be there for a reason. 

Kale article (Source: The Sunday Times July 20, 2014)

I was very lucky being able to find fresh 'kale' in the supermarket nearby my house and sometimes nearby my working place, as it was not a common vegetable to be found in Singapore. The one that I usually bought - fresh bunch of green curly kale - was grown and imported from Australia.

I found the above article at the shopfront nearby where I took my language course. The article was from ten years ago. Even since before, it had become famous due to its healthy contents.

"Kale is a nutritious food rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene. It also contains nutrients that can support eye health, weight management, heart health, and more." - healthline.com

It did not taste good when eaten raw. That was why I always added it into my fruit juice mixture. Much better to consume that way.

How to make Kale Salad (Source: Love and Lemons.com)

In case you wanted to eat as salad, the above information would be very useful for first-timer. 

How would you pick out the best bunch of kale? The leaves and stalks should be dark green with small- to medium-sized leaves free of any yellowing or browning. Kale leaves should be firm and dry, not wilted and mushy.

I recommended this highly to everyone and hoped that you too could benefit from it.

I had quick breakfast after reaching office. A piece of avocado and a cup of black coffee. Sometimes, I added in banana, peach, nectarine, plum, kiwi, or any other fruits to increase my immune level - to prevent flu or cough, and so on. (Fyi, I used to eat supplements such as Vitamin C, lutein, bilberry eye support, but stopped it and replaced them with fresh fruit/vegetables as eating them too much might not good for kidney).

I brought my own lunch most days (at least 4 days per week). Expensive lunch costs at the area where I worked was only one of the reasons. Too heavy meals - too much carbohydrates, too salty, too oily, too much coconut milk, were the main reasons. 

My lunch content was the organic raw oatmeal, chia seeds soaked overnight with soybean milk with no sugar (used to added with fresh milk but after learning about the content, I changed it to soybean milk), added with a piece of dried prune, some nuts (used to add pecan but now changed to walnut and almond), and sometimes fruits (blueberries or banana).

After work, I would eat at home, my mother-in-law home-cooked meals, usually without rice or very less rice. Stir-fried vegetables, fish (steamed or deep fried), sometimes chicken or pork, sometimes prawns or sotong (cuttlefish), and soup. The only thing I could not stop yet was nibbling snacks and sipping beer or any other type of alcohol drinks while watching TV. But I did my best to lessen the portion (and many times failed), hahaha....

Blue sky - perfect weather for some exercise!!!

And with the free exercise programs given by the government, read here, I signed up two Zumba classes held nearby my house each week and one Nirvana Fitness or Pilate session nearby my office. I wanted to have both but could not as it clashed with each other and with my language class. So for now, just be active with these activities first.

It did not help me with losing weight because it was not enough and I still loved eating and ate anyhow during weekend and holiday time, but.... with the eating habits that I mentioned above, it had helped me decreasing my cholesterol level, from the recent health screening that I took freely organized by Get Fit 2024. Perhaps I would blog about it next time.

Yes, it lowered my cholesterol level. In the past, my cholesterol levels were always in borderline high. That was why I was happy and surprised when I received my blood test result. It had been 5 years since the last time I checked (before Covid). The blood pressure, glucose level, and cholesterol level were all normal. The only thing that I had to change was the BMI. It was borderline high. I had to lose at least 5 kg of body weight. Blamed it to the aging and slow metabolism (plus unhealthy snack, tidbits, beer, liquor, etc. etc. etc.) hahahaha....

I was not as hardcore as others to really train their fitness and build muscles. For now, let me maintain the healthy eating habit and have regular exercises, not forgetting to be mindful of what is going on in my mind - to be peaceful and at ease, maintain positivity in every aspect of life, live, love and laugh more, and have good relationship with everyone. 

I hope with this post, you would pick a thing or two to implement into your daily life (only the good ones, of course, hehehe...) and more conscious, care, and love about yourself (your body, mind and soul), and most importantly be grateful and happy with your life. I wish you all the very best in everything that you do. Cheers..... :)

Let's be active and healthy!

Health quote (Pic source: Google.com)

As a fellow Singaporean, I feel very grateful that we have a government that takes care of its citizens well being, as well as health. In this matter, I want to spread this information as far as possible, so that more fellow Singaporean, permanent resident, employment pass holder or work permit holder aged 17 years and above can benefit from the exercise events that you can find out from the Healthy 365 app. 

Despite being Singaporean for almost two decades, I only started joining the event last week. Hahaha... It is never too late though. I believe, there are still many more who do not even know or aware about such benefits. What I am talking about is the free exercise programs that are available all over this tiny island and country.

Sample of Healthy 365 app

First of all, I hope by now you have downloaded the Healthy 365 app on your mobile phone, and also have collected points from many sources, such as steps that you walk every day, minutes from your physical activities (MVPA - Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity), number of hours of your sleep, points collected from healthy meals, drinks, desserts or groceries that you purchased from various shops by joining the Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge 2024 and National Steps Challenge.

Fyi, the Sleep Tracking Challenge has ended on 31st May 2024, so there is no longer needed to wear your digital watch when you sleep.

And from those points that you collect, you can redeem it to various eVoucher. From as low as 150 points, you can exchange it to a S$1 SimplyGo eVoucher (for those who do not know, SimplyGo is a travel card - can be used to pay for public transport such as: MRT and bus). You can use your point to donate to various organizations too, such as: Community Chest, SGH Needy Patients Fund. You can buy soya bean drinks, bubble tea, and many more. For me, I usually change my points to the FairPrice eVoucher - the supermarket voucher. I can buy more healthy food as a result - fresh fruits and vegetables.

I used to use the app up to this point only.

Sample of Healthy Workplace Ecosystem (HWE) events - Healthy 365

Last week my friend messaged me and asked if I ever joined their exercise program. She sent me one of the exercise events that is held at my office building. I told her, so far I had not joined any yet. I heard about those events from my Boss last year. However, when I tried to find suitable programs around my areas, I did not know how to search. Feeling hopeless, I never pursued it any more.

But this time, since the exercise event that she told me was just being held above my office, so I thought, why not? I did not even know that there was such events at this building. So that day, I brought the exercise mat (as they did not provide) and joined my first Pilates for free. Yes, it was free!!! All the programs stated there, were provided free and led by professional and experienced instructors.

As you can see the above, they have this so called Healthy Workplace Ecosystem (HWE), usually located near office buildings or city area, so that office workers can join the activity after work instead of going back home. Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Dance Fitness, KpopX Fitness, Piloxing, Line Dance, Steel Combat, Dance Remix, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) - are some of the exercise programs they offer. You can see the level of intensity of the training from that page too so you can have a mental preparation before registering the event.

It was perfect for me! I heard about Pilates since long time ago but I never gave it a try. There is classes being held but usually it comes with a price (nothing is free for those private health centers). Even when my friend told me the above, I was still hesitating as I worried that I might not be able to follow - since I never tried it before. But she encouraged me to give it a try. So, I thanked her for her support and encouragement that I finally gave it a try. Perhaps I may try other type of exercises too since it was opened to public and it was free. From the trial, then I can decide which one to keep joining and which one to let go. Isn't it fantastic??? :)

How to check exercise events at Healthy 365 App

Apart from those located near workplaces, I could also find activities nearby my home. How to find? From the Healthy 365 App, click "Explore" at below page and click "Events". You can type the area where you live in or nearby you. Here, I typed "Punggol". But Punggol is big, so is Jurong, Tampines, and other parts of Singapore. To find a more specific area, I click "Map View" Here I could use my fingers to move the map around and find the location nearby my home. 

The blue pins indicate the place where the exercise events being held. So I can just click on the blue pins, and the name of the place will appear at below, then I click "View events at location".

Healthy 365 App

The above left page will appear. There, you can see which day and date, what type of exercise, level of intensity, for who, and so on. For details, click on that event and the right page will appear. If you are interested and want to join, click "Book now" below.

So, there are many ways to search for the suitable exercise and location that you want. Once you click Book now, they will send an email for your as confirmation. If you are unable to go, you have to cancel it beforehand, otherwise there will be penalty - and it also gives other people chance to join that empty slot. Fyi, Active Ageing means for people age 65 and above.

This way, you can have as many exercise as you want and all at the convenient of your fingertips. 

You can check the Health Hub website here to find out government programs for the healthier Singapore, not only physically, but also mentally. 

So, are you ready for your next exercise event??? I hope this post can benefit you and motivate you to exercise more in your daily life. Jia you!!! :)

Wrap Up the 2023 and Welcome the 2024

 

:) (Pic source: wonder_doodles)

Today is the last day of the year 2023. It has been a great year for me. A year filled with time enjoyed with my dear families and friends. A year filled with so many travel and to many new places. A year filled with so many beautiful moments, especially it marks a transformation of my dear son entering the adulthood. I could see how people surrounded me changed too, many for the better and some for the worse. 

This is a year when I join the work life back. Not just any work, but relates to what I have learned and experienced before. Fate plays a big part of it because I work back with my Boss from my first job here in Singapore.

The job and environment are still felt like a dream for me. Not many people are having this kind of job. Back to office hours and five-days a week. Strategic and good location. With one very good and understanding Boss to report to. 

Somehow, it changes me. With most of the time working alone, it has transformed me to enjoy my own accompany more. It gives me room to learn and do what I love doing. 

Never stop being grateful :)

In less than 24 hours, we will embrace to another year. There are so many things I feel thankful and grateful for - all the time that has transformed me to where I am now. 

I want to thank everyone who ever been part of my life journey, for their love, friendships, time spent, and things to learn from them.

I want to thank those who choose to leave too, because from them, I also learn many things in life - impermanence, human nature, and so on. 

On friendships (Pic source: innergrowthreset)

With the experience, it teaches me that not everyone is treating friendship the same way I do. For those who knows me well or long enough, I was the type who try my best to maintain friendship by keeping in touch often (no matter where my friends are - near or far), because I feel grateful for their presence in my life. 

I am no longer treating it the same way now. I take this matter easily now. If people do not wish to part of my life, I will be happily let them go. Why make life difficult? I will treasure those who stay and who treasure the friendship back.

Earlier on, I planned to travel only to new places and less to those I often travel to. However, my priority changes now. Time keeps going. We are getting older every seconds every minutes. My parents and siblings are getting older each day. I myself am getting older too. I just think that I want to spend more time with them, especially we live in different countries and my time to travel is limited. I hope we will spend good time together.

Law of attraction - money affirmation for 2024
(Pic source: financial_wanderlust)

I know it seems a bit late for me to start thinking about retirement. Many of my friends had started it much earlier. But I believe that everyone has their own time for what they do. And I have positive thought about this. At least it gives me motivation and short-term goals at least for the next 5 years :D Hope the above money affirmations, will help me to achieve my goals, and yours too :)

2024 Resolutions

My goals in life is still the same: to be healthy and happy, in peace, and blessed with loving people throughout my life. 

Life, no matter how rich you are, how you are able to travel to many new and wonderful places, but if you do not take care of your health, you will lose the joy. As I get older, I learn more from people surrounded me. And I learn from myself too.

When I was sick, even just a mere fever, flu  and cough - not a life threatening disease - it made my life miserable enough. Everything felt cold. I had to wear winter sweater in such a tropical country like Singapore. 

Non-stop cough disturbed my sleep all through the night. Packets of tissues were used to clear my mucus and made my nose red and dry. Tasteless bud and not being able to smell ruined even the most delicious dishes in front of you. 

Weigh loss that in the beginning seemed to be a happy thing, became something that I got worried of. 

With more variants of Covid and lung infections spreading, I pray that everyone will be free from it.

I wish for more exercises and eat a balance and healthy food intake in order to maintain a good healthy. 

Don't worry, be happy :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

And as I grow older, I realised that mental health is very important too!!! I truly wish and hope that everyone could be free themselves from such suffering and rest their mind in peace, so that they can focus on their life goals - mainly for their happiness and health being. 

Find your happy place :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

I always see my life like a book. I imagine my past as the chapters that has been written and flipped. And I keep writing with a new fresh of paper, the empty and blank one, with the ongoing life that I will live through. 

It consists of good and bad memories. Some chapters are worth to read through again, while some, I never wish to remember. Always remember: we are the author of our own book. Write the way we want it to be. Live from your own heart, not by the expectation of others. Keep it in balance: not too extreme at each side. Most important, fill it with happy memory that one day, you may want to look back and smile reading it. And never give up, when life gives you a hardship to overcome. You are not alone. Share your sadness with anyone near you. Do not keep it to yourself. 

Well, I wish everyone for a wonderful year ahead. For your new beginning in life, and for the continuation of it. All the very best!!! :)

Another Memorable Journey From Sapa :D

Oh oo.... (Pic source: Google.com)

I felt like that day was really not my day, like lots of things were just wrong. It started as early as 2.30am when I woke up for my toilet break. The room was dark and I found out that there was not electricity inside our room. I used the torch apps from my mobile to go to toilet and back to my bed right after.

I finally woke up again at 6.30am and the electricity was still not there. I wanted to take bath and wash my hair but suddenly I was worrying that the heater might not there since the electricity was not available. I sent message to Jacky and informed him about my situation. He checked with the hotel and soon he got back to me, saying that the staff was trying to resolve the issue and I still could use the water heater since the hotel had the generator back-up. I thanked him for checking it out and immediately went to bathroom. And just nice when I finished bathing, the electricity returned, so I could blow my hair dry right after.

My body had gotten better comparing with the night before. The fever had gone and I was strong and well to face another new day in Sapa. 

Handmade sling bag by Dinh - Sapa, Vietnam

We had our breakfast in the hotel and later on Dinh came bringing her handcraft souvenirs like bags, wallets, hanging decoration, and showed those to us, as per promised the day before. It was not all handmade though. She brought the machine made stuffs as well. I bought sling bag, wallet, and hanging decoration thing and bargained reasonable price from her (not too low as I thought of 4 young children that she had to feed back home).

The car that picked us up was coming late due to the marathon event that was going on in the area. We were brought to the Sun World Fansipan cable car station as we wanted to reach the Mount Fansipan. The mountain's height was 3147 meter's height, the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula, hence called "The Rooftop of Indochina."

Sun World Fansipan Cable Car - Vietnam

Dinh did not follow us, so it was only two of us. She only handed us the online ticket to enter the cable car for return trip and waited us there at the station until we came back. When weather was good, the view from the cable car supposed to be beautiful. But as I said earlier, it seemed like it was not really my day. It rained a little on our way up and when we reached the temple on top, we were surrounded mostly by fogs. 

Sun World Fansipan Cable Car

One cable car could fit up to 35 people inside. Ours was quite full, mostly filled by Vietnamese visitors. They came as a big group and were talking loudly with each other, as if only them occupied the cable car. Aileen and I were just sitting down, trying to enjoy the scenery and hoping that they could lower down their voice or just stop talking, but to no avail :D So we endured lo until reached the station.

Kim Sơn Bảo Thắng Tự Buddhist Temple - Fansipan, Vietnam

Good thing that the rain did not last long. It stopped after a while. I went inside the Kim Sơn Bảo Thắng Tự temple and offered my prayer there before continuing our journey up. There were so many succulent plants around there, decorating the temple and area beautifully. 

f

Fogs everywhere - not our day :D

From there, we could choose to go up either by staircases or by funicular. Aileen's ankles were not well, and I was not in my tip top condition as well, so we both chose taking funicular. The cable car ticket was included in our tour package, but not the funicular, so we had to pay on our own. Ticket for going up was VND99,000 and for return trip would be VND178,000 per pax.

How the view should like on a clear day (Expectation) Pic source: Google map

Hahahahaha... If you saw the photos I posted earlier (the reality), was really different from the expectation right? Nevertheless, I still felt grateful for being able to be there and enjoyed my stay as much as I could.

Our funicular ride to the peak of Mount Fansipan, Vietnam

We purchased the hot cinnamon apple drink once we reached the top. It was sweet, so we asked the seller to add hot water into it. I really loved it!!! We brought it and had it later at the summit.

Posed with Vietnam flag at the Mount Fansipan Summit :)

We took a rest there. Just nice a group of people came and one of them brought a guitar. They sang Vietnam songs which I did not understand. But I enjoyed the melody and the joy they brought for us. It made our trip special. Despite the foggy weather, we were given something extra, that made us happy :)

Made the trip enjoyable to the fullest :)

I thought they might be some famous Vietnamese singers, so I took photo with them. Hahahahaha.... But when I showed it to Jacky, he had no clue of who they were :D

Sapa view from the cable car - Fansipan, Vietnam

After some time we went down by funicular and the walked towards the cable car station. We took the cable car back and took more photos as the rain had stopped and weather had somehow become clearer.

Sapa rice terraces

And as we got nearer to the station, we could see the beautiful rice terraces from the above. Overall, we had a good time there and enjoyed as much as we could.

Chợ Sapa Market - Lao Cai, Vietnam

Dinh came to pick us and we went to Le Gecko Cafe for lunch. After that we went to the Chợ Sapa Market, located not very far from the restaurant. We walked there.

Inside the Chợ Sapa Market

We browsed around the market throughout the whole places. They were selling local produces there, such as: nuts, flower tea, herbal medicines, dried fruits, grains, spices, and so on.

Wet market at the building behind - Chợ Sapa market, Vietnam

At the building behind, there were food stalls selling cooked food. Behind that, they were selling meat, vegetables, snacks, drinks, and so on.

Chợ Sapa Market - Vietnam

We had a chance for last minute shopping before going back to Hanoi. You could purchase the macadamia nut and cashew nut (still with its shell) there as gifts back home. Their herbal tea was special too. You could try before buying them. At some shop, the seller gave sample for people to try. They were also selling fake brand trekking clothes. Local handicrafts and souvenirs could also be found.

Passing by Sapa town

Dinh sent us back to our hotel at 2pm. On the way there, we passed by the beautiful Sapa lake (which was beautiful at night time too - as they put lighting decorations), and view of Sapa town. I did not know that Sapa town could be quite big. Many hotels, shops, and restaurants there. I felt like I only browsed less than 50% of it (due to limited time and not a very healthy body). But it was fine lah.

Passing by the beautiful Sapa Lake

We had a final packing and took some rest at the hotel lobby before continuing our journey back to Hanoi. The van came at 3.30pm, much later than expected. We were the first passengers he picked, and the driver lost ways while picking up the rest of the passengers. Perhaps he was new and was not familiar with hotels and places in the area. It took more than half an hour until we left Sapa town.

Beautiful Sapa rice terrace on our way back to Hanoi

The rice terrace view was beautiful. But too bad we could not stop and take good photos. So I could only took photos from inside the van, and many wires could be shown, some resulted in blurry pictures. Hehehe.. better than nothing. We had three break stops before reaching Hanoi. The driver sent us the last, that too, to the wrong hotel.

Hahahaha... what a day, really!!! I think we reached hotel around 10.40pm. I was very tired and hungry too. Jacky was in the hotel waiting for us. The hotel staffs who knew our condition, welcomed us back with friendly smile. We checked in and put our luggage and went out for supper with Jacky.

Vietnamese chicken noodle - Hanoi, Vietnam

I wanted to eat something soupy and he brought us to the stall above by Grab. It was not very far from where we stayed but it was quite late already (around 11pm) and he knew we both were tired and hungry from our journey, that was why we took Grab there.

Aileen and I had chicken noodle soup while Jacky had the dried one (he said dried one nicer). While eating, Jacky asked us how our trip was. He asked all kind of feedback from both of us so that he could improve what not and take note what had already good.

After finished, we walked back to our hotel. Before saying goodbye, he handed each of us souvenir from Hanoi (now hung on my house's wall). He also passed a bottle of water for each of us and gave me herbal candy when he knew my throat was unwell.

I was very lucky being able to know him not only as our tour guide and emergency contact, but we had also become friend now. At any time, I could message him asking something about Vietnam and he always replied it as soon as he could. He was reliable, helpful, and friendly. Based on our feedback, he made the follow up the day after with the company that he engaged with, to ensure he could offer better service for the next following customers.

That was why I would not hesitant to give his contact to anyone who had interest to visit Hanoi, and if you too wanted to use his travel service, please do not hesitate to contact him here or you could message me for his contact number too :)

Thank you Jacky for your service, help, guide, hospitality, and friendship that you offered for both of us. Stay in touch and wish you all the best for your travel business :)

Local souvenirs - Hanoi Airport

We flew back home the day after and was provided with transfer service from our hotel to the Hanoi Airport. You could have last minute shopping inside the airport too, as there were so many shops selling souvenirs, as well as snacks and Vietnam liquor. You could pay both in Vietnamese Dong and USD.

Guess what I bought??? Hahahahha....

Vietnam Trip - Memorable Journey to Sapa :D

Memorable journey to Sapa :D (Photo source: Google.com)

I never thought that my journey to Sapa would be the unforgettable moment of my traveling life. When on our first day Jacky told us to be our emergency contact, whenever and wherever we needed, I never thought that I would need the service so badly. Here was the story.

We were fetched by our driver at 7am in the morning. We left early because it took around 6 hours to reach Sapa from Hanoi. Aileen and I had filled our stomach full with breakfast provided by our hotel. Since it was a long journey, I made sure I had enough food until reaching there in the afternoon.

The van was slowly leaving Hanoi. My phone network started becoming so weak when we entered the highway. I could not browse the internet. Suddenly, I felt my stomach wanting to pee. That was one thing I most afraid of when traveling on road, toilet break. I told myself not think about it, and tried to sleep instead. Sometimes it worked.

I closed my eyes and breathed, trying to catch some sleep. However, instead of reducing the urge for peeing, the reaction changed to a bigger feeling. I wanted to go for big business instead. The wind and various feelings stirred inside my stomach. Oh my God!!! 

I breathed in deeply, concentrated not to make it worse. I looked outside the van's window. It was highway, and only highway. We just left in less than an hour from Hanoi. It would be impossible for the van to go to resting area so soon, that too, if it was available. I started to panic.

I told Aileen who was seated next to me, "Leen, could you inform the driver that I wanted to go to toilet?" She said she did not know how to say as our driver knew only Vietnamese language (usually the driver did not know any English. Their duty was just to send us from hotel to the destination and stopped at resting area sometimes. They used finger to tell us how long we would stop before continuing the journey again.

I opened the Google translation apps on my mobile, trying to translate toilet to Vietnamese language. But as my phone could not catch the network, I was helpless. Aileen also used the same SIM card (I purchased both SIM card together from Singapore), but luckily her network was working. So maybe the problem lies with my three-year-old mobile phone. 

We were seated on third row inside the van. So I had to force Aileen to translate the word fast and inform the driver fast too. She immediately translated the word and went to the driver, showed him the word to him. I saw him nodding, and continued the journey.

The problem was, the speed was the same. I kept looking on my left and right. There was no lane for car to stop. Even if it was there, there was no toilet available. No place to hide as well. All was plain and open space, with some buildings at the side.

Oh my God!!! This would not work!!! My stomach was squeezing and squeezing. I was holding on, trying to endure as much as I could. "Aileen, could you call Jacky please??? Ask him to call the driver, telling him to stop for toilet. It is really bad. I can not hold it so long now," pleaded me. 

She dialed Jacky's number (the emergency number he gave us) and told him about my situation. After calling him, it took a while until the driver received the call from Jacky. When his phone rang, I was relieved. They were talking for a while. The driver looked at me from the rearview mirror. I also looked at his eyes, showing my pale face, pleading face, with no word, trying to tell him to help me as fast as he could!

Once he finished the phone call, he started racing. Hahahahahaha..... I was not kidding. He was really racing on the highway. He kept honking the horn and cutting out lanes, just like the ambulance bringing the patient who was in emergency situation. Wahhh.... when he drove like that, I was really feeling relieved. I thanked my emergency messenger - both Aileen and Jacky - deep inside my heart, for helping me in such situation.

Later on, Aileen received message from Jacky, saying that the driver would drop me to the Airport, and asking me to go to the toilet there. The van was racing with time. I told the rest of the passenger, "Sorry everyone, I am in emergency for going to toilet," because I did not want them to complain about it to the van company and thought of the driver to be reckless unnecessarily. 

I was enduring as much as I could. When I saw the airport signage coming up, I was praying that the distance to there would not be far, hoping that there would not be traffic jam, the stopping area would not be crowded with cars, and toilet would not be far and crowded with people.

Thank Buddha, Buddha heard it all!!! The distance was not far, it was not crowded at all, no traffic with other vehicles, the toilet was not far from the place where the van stopped, and it was empty whenever I reached there, as if the toilet was waiting for me and the rest of situation was really advantaging my situation.

Once the van stopped, I opened the van door, and ran as fast as I could. As I entered, my eyes looked frantically for the toilet sign. When I saw, I immediately ran towards it and went into the first empty cubicle I saw and released!!!! Hahahahahahaha........

Oh myyy..... it was really an embarrassing moment for me to experience!!! I released whatever things that wanted to go out from my stomach. Aileen accompanied me to toilet as well. When I went out from the building, the driver was entering, wanting to go to the toilet. He saw me and smiled, he was asking me if I was ok using his two thumbs. I showed my two thumbs as well and thanked him for the ride!!! He was smiling sheepishly but happy at the same time because he managed helping me in such urgent situation. I was deeply grateful for him and his effort. Without it, I could not imagine what situation I would be inside the van.....

I thanked Jacky too for conveying my message to the driver afterwards (there was network connection in the area). When he was back, we continued the journey to Sapa.

On our way, Jacky told me to give the driver some money to cover the entrance fee to the airport. I told him not to worry about it. I would give even without him noticing me and when we stopped for first resting area, I handed in some money for him as I went down from the van and said "cảm ơn" to him (means "thank you").

The driver was surprised when saw me handing him the money and he immediately refused. I told him, for the parking fee earlier, and he waved his both hands, asking me not to give him anything but I insisted. I just left it at the basket filled with fruits next to him and went down. He was so good, wasn't he??? 

With a rescued driver who brought us to Sapa 

We reached Sapa town at around 1.15pm. Our local guide, Dinh, was waiting for us when we reached. After collected our luggage, suddenly our driver talked to her, asking us to take photo with him. I was wondering why he suddenly wanted to take photo with us (not to any other passenger there). That too, he was requesting to take with my mobile phone and not his. 

Anyway, we still took the photo. Later on, the driver talked to Dinh again, asking her to tell us that he would be around Sapa tonight and in case we wanted accompany for drink, could ask her to contact him. Lol....

We had lunch first at Red Dzao House before checking in to our hotel - La Casa Sapa Hotel. We put our luggage inside the room and refreshed for a while. When readied, we headed to Cat Cat Village - the first destination stated in our itinerary.

On our walking path towards Cat Cat Village

We took car to the entrance. It took us only about 10 minutes time. We walked down through the staircases. There were shops on our left and right selling mostly souvenirs (traditional clothes, accessories, traditional dry herbs, and so on).

Throughout walking path towards Cat Cat Village - Sapa, Vietnam

You could rent their local dress and wear it there. We spotted many local Vietnamese renting the dress and took photos with beautiful scenery. It was too troublesome to wear the cloths for me, so I skipped it. While walking we asked many questions to our guide about anything we wanted to know. She told us many about her and her family condition, her situation due to Covid, and so on.

Sapa is famous for its magnificent view of sloping rice terraces. You could spot the view while walking too. It was greenish and yellowish as the season was in September. It was located in the hill, therefore, the weather was cooling.

Waterfalls in Cat Cat Village - Sapa, Vietnam

Soon we reached the Cat Cat Village and welcomed with beautiful waterfalls. We were given free time to enjoy the scenery and watch performance shown by local minority who stayed in the area.  

Traditional performance by Hmong minority - Sapa, Vietnam

We took photo with Dinh at the picture above. She was wearing her traditional cloth and her handmade weaving bag. She said she waived a lot during Covid-19 period as she did not have guiding job to do. She made many handcrafts so that she could sell now to her guests. I requested her to bring some of her handmade produces the day after as my friend was interested to get one.

Photo taking set on the left side with people wearing the rented traditional clothes

The place was beautiful, but very touristic. Many manmade items were made to cater tourists, especially photo taking place set next to the river. I did not really like it. I preferred natural beauty over manmade stuffs. But many were enjoying though, especially when wearing the rented traditional clothes. We saw many couples wearing it together. Some, only ladies were wearing and the guy took their beautiful photos.

View of the traditional house in Cat Cat Vilage - Sapa, Vietnam

There was traditional house for viewing as well, showing the internal and external side. So the visitor could have an idea how they lived.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Sapa Town, Vietnam

After visiting it, we headed back to Sapa town. We went to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral located very near from the Sapa center. While Aileen went inside for prayer, I was sitting down outside with Dinh and had a chit chat. Notre Dame Cathedral was built by the French in 1895. This stone church featured a bell tower and Roman Gothic architecture. It was beautiful.

Medicine bag foot bath and body massage in Sapa, Vietnam

Once done, Dinh went home to cook for her family. The traditional medicine herbs for foot and body bath was famous there. We decided to give a try, but foot only (VND50,000). At the same time, we had a 60-minute head, shoulder and foot massage (VND250,000).

They soaked my foot for so long. The water from hot until became cold. The lady was doing massage while my legs were inside the pail. I think it was soaked for too long and when it was over, I did not feel well. My body was shivering from the cold weather, and the cold feet ( I was wearing slipper instead of shoes).

Preparation for Full Moon festival in Sapa Center - Sapa, Vietnam

We passed by the Sapa Center when walking to the Moment Romantic Restaurant to have our Vietnamese style fish soup dinner. The places started to get crowded. It happened to be Full Moon Festival on that day. What a lucky occasion for us to be there!!! Weren't we??? They were preparing their car (full of light and decoration) for the upcoming night.

Salmon Hotpot - Must try food in Sapa, Vietnam

We were hungry and I was not feeling well. So we decided to have dinner first and go back to hotel afterwards for taking a rest. Jacky asked us to try the local salmon hotpot while we stayed in Sapa. So I browsed internet looking for the nice salmon hotpot in the area. This restaurant seemed to have good review and the location was not far from where we stayed. So we chose it.

We ordered one pot for 2 person. Rice and noodle were included. With tea for 2 pax, it cost us VND580,000. It was not cheap but we enjoyed it very much as the ingredients suited my condition very well. I needed proper food (too many snacks the day before), and hot soup was really good for such a cold weather. We both ate in gusto and the portion was just nice.

We both went back to hotel. I took bath and Aileen helped me 'gua sha' (scratch my back using oil) to let the air coming out from my body, and I took a rest inside the room. She went alone back to Sapa town to watch the Full Moon parade and night scenery over the lake near there. It was too bad that I could not enjoy them, but rest was all I needed so that I could recover fast and go on with my journey.

Overall I had a good day there, but too bad we could not visit the rice terrace as we needed separate tour for trekking or hiking there, which I did not know. So if you wanted to visit it, you should arrange beforehand, and make sure you have enough time. That was all for now. Will continue again...