Hello from Don Mueng Airport, Thailand, I just finished travelling to Thailand and waiting for my return flight. 2023 has been an incredible year, I revisited Terengganu state, South Korea and Thailand, explored many new places and made countless memories that will last a lifetime.
Who and what I meet and lose in the year 2023?
MET
1. My long-lost Sarawakian friends – Soon Hung & Xiu Bin
2. My long-lost university and Lang Chao Drama Club friend - Wand Chih
3. My long-lost Korean Friend – 관식
5. Friends when I travel to South Korea
LOST
1. Luggage that means a lot to me
2. GSC Berjaya Times Square
3. Ryu Jun Yeol and Hyeri couple, my favourite Korean celebrity couple
What I have done in the year 2023?
1. Joined a few university gatherings, with my PAP mates, my direct senior, my coursemate and Lang Chao Drama Club friends
2. Joined the “18 Years Old Friends Gathering”
3. Reunited with my long lost Korean Friend – 관식 3 times, in 3 different countries, in 3 different seasons
4. Travelled to Redang Island, which is also the first Peninsula East Coast Island I went
5. Travelled and explored Metro Prima, Putrajaya, UPM, Sungai Besi, and Sentul Barat by the newly fully launched MRT Putrajaya Line
6. Travelled to Penang with ETS again after 5 years, experiencing the newly launched Penang Ferry
7. Travelled by train in Thailand
8. Took 12 watercraft rides while travelling to Redang Island, 2 boat rides while doing an interview about Klang River, and 1 ferry ride to Penang, so it’s a total of 13 watercraft rides this year, which is the most I have taken since I was born
9. Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu-Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur-Incheon, Gimpo-Jeju, Jeju-Gimpo, Incheon-Kuala Lumpur, Penang-Bangkok, Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur, so it’s a total of 8 flights I took this year, which is the most I have taken since I was born
10. Flew on a foreign airline for the first time
11. Flew abroad from an airport other than the main international airport for the first time
12. Overnight at Don Mueang International Airport and Incheon International Airport
13. Visited the Olympic Stadium and World Cup Stadium for the first time
14. Visited VAN GOGH ALIVE: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE EXHIBITION
15. Watched 2 performances – MAMA LOOKING FOR HER CAT and ROADS AWAIT at Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre (KLPAC)
16. Experienced daycation in KL Hotel 2 times
17. Swim in the rooftop pool for the first time
18. Swim in the sea for the first time
19. Experienced and learned snorkelling, it’s fun to snorkel with sea turtles
22. Attended Itaewon Halloween crowd crush tragedy memorial event
23. Attended Klang River Festival
24. Dined at MICHELIN Bib Gourmand award winner restaurant for the first time
25. Ate Mookata in Thailand for the first time (Mookata originated from Thailand, but I only ate in Malaysia before that)
26. Ate TWG Tea ice cream for the very first time
Conclusion: 2023 is a year filled with unforgettable first-time experiences, unexpected fun and dreams come true moments.
Where I have travelled in the year 2023?
1. Jeju City, Jeju-do, South Korea
2. Jeolmul Natural Forest, Jeju-do, South Korea
3. Gwangchigi Beach, Jeju-do, South Korea
4. Seongeup Folk Village, Jeju-do, South Korea (33.39°N 126.80°E, currently the southernmost place I reached in South Korea)
5. Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju-do, South Korea (UNESCO World Natural Heritage site)
6. Manjanggul Lava Tube, Jeju-do, South Korea (UNESCO World Natural Heritage site)
7. Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea(Host City of 2018 Winter Olympics)
8. Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
9. Mount Seorak, Gangwon-do, South Korea
10. Hwadamsup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
11. Korean Folk Village, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
12. Unification Village, The DMZ, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
13. Imjingak Park, The DMZ, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
14. Dorasan Observatory, The DMZ, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
15. The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, The DMZ, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (37.92°N 126.80°E, currently the northernmost place I reached in South Korea and the world)
16. Misari Speedboat Park, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
17. Haneul Park, World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
18. Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
19. Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
20. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
21. Gimpo International Airport, South Korea
22. Jeju International Airport, South Korea
23. Don Mueang International Airport, Thailand
24. Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, Bangkok, Thailand
25. Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
26. Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
28. Hua Hin Night Market, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
29. Cicada Market, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
30. Siam Venezia, Phetchaburi, Thailand
31. Redang Island, Terengganu
32. Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
33. Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
35. Genting Skyworld, Genting Highland, Pahang
37. Sam Poh Footprint Temple, Batu Maung, Penang
38. Penang War Museum, Batu Maung, Penang
39. Balik Pulau paddy field, Penang
40. Penang International Airport, Penang
41. Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal, Butterworth, Penang
42. Mangrove Point, Port Klang, Selangor
43. Hotel Maya, KL
45. The Freedom Club Hostel KL
46. Eslite Spectrum Kuala Lumpur
47. BookXcess The Garden Rooftop, KL
48. Muzium Orang Asli, Gombak, KL
49. Muzium Seni Kraf Orang Asli, KL
50. Saloma Link, KL
51. Taman Midah Night Market, KL, a night market that I hadn't visited for more than a decade
53. KLIA 2 airport for 6 times
Conclusion: This section reached the highest amount of all time, with more than half places in foreign countries, I travelled and explored many new places in 2023, and this is my biggest achievement so far.
Which movie I watched in the year 2023?
1. 《PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH》
2. 《THE FABELMANS》
3. 《TITANIC》(25th Anniversary Re-Release)
4. 《毒舌大壮 A GUILTY CONSCIENCE》
5. 《AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER》
6. 《EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE》
7. 《BARBIE》
8. 《PAST LIVES》
9. 《WISH》
10. 《富都青年 ABANG ADIK》
Conclusion: The year 2016 was the last year I watched more than 10 movies, feel great to achieve 10 movies a year again after 7 years.
When was the most unforgettable day for me in the year 2023?
3. 20 October 2023 – Revisited my favourite country - South Korea after 8 years
4. 21 October 2023 - Reached South Korea - North Korea Border, better known as the 38th parallel in Korea for the first time, and deeply fell in love with my first fall experience
5. 30 October 2023 – Done crossing Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do and Jeju-do, 5 provinces of South Korea in 11 days, re-broaden the area I visited in South Korea, being The Third Tunnel at the 38th parallel is the northernmost place I reached; Seongeup Folk Village at Jeju Island is the southernmost place I reached
6. 27 December 2022 – Travelled Hua Hin, a Thailand beachside town that I wanted to visit for so long
Conclusion: 2023 is a year with 4 seasons for me, from the Genting Highland trip in Spring, the Redang Island trip in Summer, the South Korea Trip in Autumn, and the Thailand Trip in Winter.
All I can say is that 2023 has been the best year of my 2020s. Thank you so much for creating these unforgettable memories, you guys mean the world to me and let's have an amazing time together in 2024.