A (Polish) Wedding to Remember

This post was originally written for my old travel blog Dream Explore Wander on 14 March 2013.

Back in September, I went to Poland for the first time. I also went to a Polish wedding party, for the first time too. I have written about it before, but as I read my previous post about it, I feel like I didn’t do the great event any justice. I didn’t write enough about its atmosphere, its bursting energy, my mixed emotions – I feel like I just have to re-write the experience in a more personal and deeper meaning. I also think that the event in itself deserves one full post concentrating on that happy moment.

So here I am, rewriting my experience because it was not only a trip, it was a cultural gathering, celebrating the love of two people in a country where I didn’t speak the language and barely know the culture – and somehow I was invited to be a part of it all. Words just cannot describe how happy I was to be a part of that wedding celebration. 50 years from now when I’m grey and old and sitting in a rocking chair, I would like to open my blog and re-read this story because it has given me the chance to explore a culture in a way only a few people could experience. I would like to reminisce about how extremely happy everyone was at the party and the couple gleaming with love. I would like to remember all that and smile about it.

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Weekend di Jogja Bersama Teman Lama

Salah satu teman baik saya yang kebetulan bekerja di Singapore berkunjung ke Jogja 2 minggu yang lalu. Kami bertemu ketika kuliah S2 dan sudah berteman bahkan sebelum kuliah dimulai. Kebetulan nama saya (Agata) adalah nama yang populer di negara asalnya, Polandia. Waktu itu dia mengirimkan pesan untuk saya dan berkata bahwa nama saya familiar buatnya hahaha.

Kami sudah banyak melalui banyak hal bersama dari bete karena assignment yang bikin kepala pecah hingga bersenang-senang saat musim panas datang. Saat dia pindah ke Singapore saya senang sekali namun sayangnya saya sedang parah-parahnya sakit sehingga tidak bisa langsung ketemu dengannya. Beberapa saat setelah dia settle, dia dan adik saya datang ke Kuala Lumpur untuk menjenguk saya yang saat itu sedang tidak bisa apa-apa di rumah sakit. 

Stories Behind Porto’s Buildings

This post was originally written for my old travel blog Dream Explore Wander on 13 June 2016.

If only buildings could talk in Porto, it would tell you stories of romance, sadness and inspirations. It was easy being charmed by the beauty of Porto, perhaps it was love at first sight for me but there was more than just meets the eyes.

As I walked through Porto, I could see buildings that have stood for generations, witnessing many tales and events. I was impressed that the old buildings were still well maintained and used until now, something I still wish to happen in my own country.

Walking through Porto with a local also extended my knowledge of this underrated Portuguese city. There are stories behind the old walls of each building, each story being passed on from generation to generation. It was interesting to listen to each story, making them more than just a building.

The Buried Ones: Herculaneum and Oplontis

This post was originally written for my old travel blog Dream Explore Wander on 22 June 2016.

Discovering a hidden gem is something that I always look forward to when I travel. I love hidden gems as they are usually away from the main crowd and gives you the opportunity to enjoy a place more peacefully. Of course the definition of a hidden gem can be different to everybody. My definition is a place that is away from the busy crowd, a place that might not be as popular as other attractions but just as beautiful.

I talked about my love for Pompeii before and why the place is so personal to me, however little did I know that when I arrived to Pompeii to purchase a ticket, I was able to choose a ticket just to enter Pompeii, or a ticket for several other sites (at a slightly higher price). When I knew about this I immediately bought the ticket for multiple sites as I have never heard of the other sites before and it was a bargain since the ticket could last for several days.

I didn’t have time to see all the five sites listed on my ticket so I settled for Pompeii, which was a must see for me, Herculaneum and Oplontis. Much like Pompeii, Herculaneum and Oplontis were too buried due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. However, these sites are not as big as Pompeii and also less crowded.

10 Things I Love About Studying Abroad

This post was originally written for my old travel blog Dream Explore Wander on 16 November 2016.

There is no doubt that studying abroad is amazing. Of course there are many ups and downs when you’re actually doing it but after successfully finishing it, I realised that there were many things I learned during the process.

Also don’t miss out these posts by my friends:

10 Alasan Mengapa Pariwisata Prancis Sangat Terkenal by Febby of Jalan2Liburan

10 Things I Adore About Myanmar by Noni of Nyonya Sepatu

So without further ado.

1. You learn to push yourself in a way you didn’t know was possible, like adapting yourself in a new country. It seems daunting at first but as you go on, it’s actually pretty doable.

2. You get new friends of many nationalities. If you were like me who went on an international programme then this is a guarantee, but even if you are on a regular programme, chances are you’ll meet people from all over the world anyway. This is one of the best part of studying abroad, the chance to learn new cultures, languages from your own friends!

Indonesian Breakfasts You Should Try at Least Once in a Lifetime

This post was originally written for my old travel blog Dream Explore Wander on 29 March 2017.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day they say. It is also a great time to try new food. Try getting up early when you travel and discover what the locals are having to start the day.

These are some of my favourite breakfasts in Indonesia, I hope you can give it a try when you come here.

Gudeg

Gudeg is Yogyakarta’s pride and joy. There are probably hundredsof gudeg stalls here. From the famous ones to the small ones. Gudeg itself is young jackfruit cooked in coconut sugar, simmered slowly until it is soft.

A gudeg stall in Yogyakarta

Podcasts I Love

I really can’t remember the first time I listened to a podcast. I have known of its existence a long time ago but I was never really into them. Around one or two years ago I started listening to podcasts because I was bored. I started with some boring ones which left me uninspired and sleepy but I searched for some podcasts with topics of my interest and I was hooked.

Picture from Pixabay.

What I love about podcasts is that they can be as long and short as you want. You have 20 minutes to spare? No problem! Your plane is delayed and you have two hours of nothing to do? I’ve got just the podcast for you. Podcasts are also very diverse, there are lots of different topics out there, just find the ones that interest you the most and you’re all set.