VERY VERY LATE in my 2024 wrap up but here it is! The whole of December and start of the new year has been so hectic, I spent the holidays in the Philippines and there were meet ups and celebrations every single day. It was fun and lovely to see everybody but it left no space for quiet and reflection. Now, I’m back in Berlin and have properly decompressed and processed the year that has gone by.

2024 was a year of self-discovery through places and people. I went on sabbatical for 3.5 months, from March to June, to solo travel for the first time and rediscover the places I went to when I was younger. On the latter half of the year, it was mostly short trips, basking in European brat summer. Then, ending the year in Japan and the Philippines. It was magical, no other words for it.

Rediscovering the old: Asia

When I was planning my sabbatical and deciding where to go, it was toss up between the familiar (Asia) and the new (Latin America). My soul needed to be back in my comfort zones, in places where I don’t stick out as a brown Asian person, in countries where the food tastes familiar and have spices, and in the continent where the people and the weather are warm.

And so, I flew to Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, and Manila. I initially only wanted to go to Hong Kong and Seoul, but plans changed and so this crazy-ish route happened. I was so happy to see streets filled with 7-elevens and convenience stores at every corner, fancy coffee shops with cult-like followings, colorful fashion and street wear, endless shopping malls, and of course, delicious street food. Ah, I missed it so much. Everything, including the traffic noise, satiated the longing for home.

These are places I already visited in my 20s and coming back in my 30s felt like a grand homecoming. Traveling there again felt so nostalgic and reminiscent of my youth. Of the years I couldn’t afford much but was still traveling and experiencing life.

In this journey, I learned that solo traveling is fun and finally understood why people rave about it. There is a thrill in doing something scary and unconventional, like navigating Korea’s public transport or finding restaurants to eat alone, and overcoming it. It’s gratifying and I would 10/10 do it again.

Brat Summer: Europe

Whether it was a stroke of luck or great timing, I had 6 months of summer and sunshine in 2024. From summer in Asia straight to the warm European months — it was glorious and perfect. Living in Germany for 8 years, 3 months of summer has been my norm, and experiencing it longer felt like I’m cheating the system or something.

True to being unconventional, I spent some time in the south of Germany and in one of the most scenic places here, Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Before this, I’ve never even given this town one thought. Who knew I was missing so much?! It’s an hour away from Munich by train and home to the iconic Lake Eibsee and the highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze.

On this journey, I discovered that I liked hiking! And solo hiking! There is also something calming staring at mountain ranges all day. Really fell in love with this place and I can’t wait to come back.

My other summer highlight was going to concerts! Taylor Swift, Adele, I.U, and Seventeen in Lollapalooza. So lucky to be able to see and support artists that I love.

Magical December: Japan

My partner and I went to Japan in December and splurged. We pulled out all the stops — flew business class, stayed at 4-star hotels, went wild shopping. We went to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka, and Kyoto. I was only there for 7 days and the itinerary was packed!

Japan is and will always be a dream destination. I went there in 2016 and being able to visit again with my partner felt pretty magical. Fuji-san came out and welcomed us!

My 2024 was pretty awesome. It wasn’t perfect as I’ve been burned out for a while. So, these pockets of joy through traveling are precious and can give fresh perspectives on life.