Home Sweet Home

5 months of traveling, independence and freedom, I must say it was a tough emotional struggle when it's time to pack up and go home. I know there was little opportunity to have the luxury to travel around the globe like this again. It was truly a one in a lifetime experience. Nevertheless, I also know how dearly I was missed by my parents, and there's of course the responsibility of going back to school (after skipping two weeks of classes).

Yet, whatever (little) anticipation I had of going back to this sunny island was dismissed when my luggage didn't appear at the airport conveyor belt when I touched down in Singapore. From jokingly laughing at myself that my luggage must be too heavy, to impatiently shifting the weight of my feet, to cursing and swearing silently, to desperate moments of praying, to ... despair.



ALL the 5 months worth of memories containing my Europe travels were gone. To me, it's not about those tangible belongings like my DSLR camera and handphone (which I stupidly left in my luggage in order to squeeze more things into my hand carry). Rather, it's souvenirs for my family and friends, little momentos I got for myself and ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE MEMORY CARD. How could I ever be compensated for that, even if I file for insurance claims? I was so looking forward to seeing the happy expressions on my friends' faces on receiving their souvenirs, but no, that's not gonna happen already. It certainly didn't help that my parents chided me for being "careless". Felt like I was blamed for something that wasn't entirely my fault, no?

/update So I got my luggage back intact after a day's delay - it was sadly being left behind in Shanghai when I transited there. Thanks to everyone who showed much concern, encouragement and gave me hope when I was at the brink of giving up!

東京ディズニーリゾート! | Tokyo Disney Land

It was a crazy idea to begin with, to forfeit our return ticket from Milan back to Singapore and flew to Tokyo instead, but we did!

One of the highlights of our Tokyo trip besides the crazy shopping bargains at Shibuya/Harajuku during the Japanese New Year holiday, praying and writing our wishes at Meiji shrine, doing cheap thrills like overspending on UFO catcher machines just to get the cutest soft toys and anime collectibles at Akihabara, eating oishii authentic Japanese food, is of course, TOKYO DISNEY LAND!

Happiest place on Earth

Disney merchandise are too cute to resist!

So are Disney mascots!  (Notice that they are always "armed" with kids!)
Woody!
And his cowgirl, Jessie
Captain Hook!
And because the mascots are too busy with the continuous influx of kids to entertain youths/adults, here's a solo of me and a non-impersonated one:

Japanese kids are so adorable! I JUST have to capture their faces on my camera

He's my favorite!
Start of Daytime "Jubilation" Parade!
Here's Minnie!
My favorite Disney couple - Beauty & the Beast!
Eeyore, Pinky & Pooh!
Aloha! It's Stitch!
And Lilo!
Pinocchio!
Donald and Goofy
WALT DISNEY CASTLE ♥
DISNEY FIREWORKS!

Disneyland is indeed a magical place. Once you step foot in Disneyland, you will be transported back to your childhood almost instantaneously. It makes you feel like you're a kid again, getting you excited over anything and everything that is cute, and makes you willingly queue long hours for the rides. Still, it will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope to visit DisneySea sometime soon!