I usually travel with friends or family but I have had to go solo on a number of trips for both work and leisure.

Is it safe for a lady to travel alone to a foreign land? Well, it really depends on where you choose to go, how you present yourself, how well-prepared you are, and your attitude when things don’t go as planned.

Some smart travel tips can also be useful, but if you’re thinking of going solo, here are a couple of tips from my personal experience that I hope you’ll find useful!

Do some research online (e.g. Tripadvisor) and shortlist some hotels within your budget. I can’t emphasise how important it is to err on the side of caution when you’re traveling alone, which is why I prefer to avoid Airbnb until stricter regulations come into play. At the end of the day, hotels have a reputation to protect, but not all homeowners do.

Get a wireless router before you depart or buy a local SIM card upon arrival. Personally, I only use Google Maps or Baidu Maps (in China) on my mobile phone. Holding a map in your hand seems like the most sensible thing to do in a foreign country, but unfortunately, this only highlights to the rest of the world that you are a tourist. It only gets worse when you hold a map and look like you’re completely lost, which brings me to my next point.

I don’t always have the best sense of direction but Google Maps definitely makes me feel like I know where I’m going ( make sure your phone is fully charged and bring along a portable charger). Double check the addresses and directions with your hotel concierge before heading out and if all fails, pop by a cafe or eatery to ask for directions.

Always look like you know what you’re doing and where you’re going, even if you don’t. Look confident, remain calm, and never have fear or lost written all over your face or you’ll risk being singled-out by scammers and pickpockets. If you do get approached by random strangers, just keep moving. Yup, now’s the time to put on your “resting bitch” face.

Shanghai – Yu Garden

 

4. Dress in neutral or dull colours

The whole idea is to be able to blend in with the crowd. The last thing we want is to attract unwanted attention when we are alone. Research the locations that you’re traveling to and find out what the locals typically wear. If you obviously can’t pass off as a local due to your race, at least try to pass off as an expatriate who has been living there for a long time.

Always do your research and find out where the potential danger zones are located – e.g. dodgy neighbourhoods and certain modes of transport or transport companies that should be avoided. It is also important to find out where the nearest clinics/hospitals are, what the local police hotline is and where your country’s embassy or consulate is located in case of emergencies.

I once booked an accommodation in a relatively unsafe neighbourhood (I found out only on hindsight) when traveling alone. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened but it was rather unnerving to have to live in fear, even if it was only for a few days.

 

6. Keep your valuables close to you at all times

Never place important documents like your passport, cash and credit cards or valuables like your laptop or iPad in your luggage. I always keep them close to me, preferably in a sling bag that comes with a zip. I also make it a point to keep a separate stash of cash in a hidden compartment in another bag. This will come in handy in the event that I do fall prey to pickpockets.

 

London – Exploring Buckingham Palace on my own

 

7. Never provide real-time updates on social media

Being a social media addict myself, I know how tempting and instantly gratifying it is to share real-time updates. To protect myself, I never ever reveal the name of my hotel when I’m traveling alone, and even when I do share pictures on my social media platforms, these are not real-time updates. With so much public information readily available these days, you’ll never know who is trying to keep track of you.

 

8.  Keep in touch with friends and family back home

You may be miles apart, but letting your family and friends back home know where you are at every point of your journey is important when you’re traveling alone. In the worst case scenario that you get into trouble, they’ll have a better idea of how to reach you.

 

9. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish

Thriftiness is a virtue, but not when safety is compromised as a result. There are just some things that aren’t worth scrimping on. Choosing to walk down an empty street late at night instead of forking out extra cash to take a cab puts you at a greater risk of getting into trouble. Whatever it is, we need to constantly remind ourselves that safety should always be our top priority.

 

10. Buy Travel Insurance

As I travel pretty frequently, I always make it a point to purchase annual travel insurance for peace of mind. Comprehensive travel insurance is relatively affordable these days and will adequately compensate you for loss of baggage, delayed baggage and medical expenses incurred overseas.

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These are just some general rules that I abide by when I travel and I find that they have worked well for me thus far. If you’ve any other travel tips that you’ll like to share, do drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com.

For more of my latest travel updates, follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/shoppingqueenshaven)

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This post was brought to you in collaboration with Hotels Combined.

 

Happy New Year!!

If
you don’t already know by now (I’m guessing many of you do if you’re
following me on instagram @reginachow_sg), I have been shuttling between
Singapore and China in the recent months as JW is currently based in
Nanjing.

Over these few months, I had the opportunity to explore Nanjing and new cities such as Hangzhou (courtesy of Che’fle Canal Hotel Hangzhou – do watch out for my review soon), Suzhou, Kunshan. I also revisited Shanghai, one of my favourite cities in China.

The Bund, Shanghai

Che’fle Canal Hotel Hangzhou

Beautiful autumn foliage in Hangzhou

Much to my surprise, my experience thus far has been fairly pleasant. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone yells at the top of their voices (these are usually farmers from the rural areas) and the habit of cutting queues is also fast-becoming a phenomenon of the past. I am honestly very impressed by how civilized they have become in just a matter of years. The service quality, especially in restaurants, is excellent. We have been getting the royal treatment, and I am not even exaggerating. I am also particularly drawn to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage as it gives me deeper insights into my ancestry and roots. Of course, it helps that the scenery doesn’t disappoint and is particularly mesmerizing during autumn. 

West Lake, Hangzhou

Autumn in Nanjing

Xiema Bridge Ancient Village, Kunshan (Read more about it here)

The past year has also taken me to Bangkok, Gold Coast 

(courtesy of Scoot who sponsored the SAF50 bloggers contest winners – click here to read more about my adventures in Australia), Copenhagen (click here to read more about my trip) and London. 

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Burger & Lobster, London

Traveling is a big part of my life and I truly believe that traveling together with your partner and loved ones helps to forge closer bonds. Uncertainties abound when you step foot in a foreign land and to overcome these challenges as a unit while still managing to have fun is no mean feat.

 For 2016, my key priorities are to travel and to lead a healthier lifestyle. More traveling
awaits in 2016. My first stop is Tibet in end January with JW before
jetting back to Singapore for Chinese New Year, and then to Bangkok in
February for a short getaway, followed by girly
trips in April and July. The other months are blank canvases for now,
but a little spontaneity never fails to spice up our lives right? In a bid to lead a healthier lifestyle, I
have been attending yoga lessons, attempting to eat clean by
including more organic food in my diet and trying very hard to go to
bed earlier (still not happening unfortunately).

What about you? What are your priorities? 

Whatever your priorities may be, may you be blessed with good health, happiness and a fruitful year ahead!

What are you doing during the school holidays? It is a good time to take a break after the exams, go for a short holiday, or even take up a part-time job or internship to make full use of your time before school reopens.

Why should you take up a part-time job or internship?

Good grades may be important, but practical working experience and testimonials from past employers will set you apart from the sea of fresh graduates seeking job opportunities as our job market becomes increasingly competitive. 

I remember grabbing every opportunity to take up part-time jobs and internships to build up my resume and make some extra pocket money when I was still schooling eons ago. On hindsight, I realized that besides monetary remuneration and invaluable working experience, I gained a deeper understanding of myself, my strengths and weaknesses and most importantly, what I was looking for in a career upon graduation.

 It was an eye-opening experience. I learned that desk bound jobs were not my cup of tea and I really couldn’t sit down for hours on end facing a computer screen or filing documents. On the contrary, I really enjoyed marketing and sales promoter roles where I got to meet and interact with people from all walks of life. It was challenging having to deal with difficult customers from time to time, but being able to put a smile on their faces and turn things around gave me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Fast forward to today, and yes, if you were wondering, I am currently still in customer-facing role.

 

What about you? Do
you know what you want to do with your life upon graduation? Some of us
do, but most of us don’t. The fastest and easiest way to get an inkling
of what you would like to do and develop the relevant skills in the process is to embark on a journey of self-discovery
through part-time jobs and internships. 

What is the difference between part-time jobs and internships?

The key difference between part-time jobs for students and a Singapore internship is that the latter is generally in line with your field of study and serves to supplement your academic learning. Part-time jobs on the other hand, have less stringent requirements when it comes to hiring students from a certain field, but this doesn’t make them any less challenging or meaningful. 

Through part-time jobs and internships, you will also get to assess if a particular industry or corporate culture gels with your personality and career aspirations. With a better understanding of yourself, your environment and the necessary skills required to succeed in an industry of your choice, you will certainly get a head start when it comes to securing your dream job later on.

More importantly, if you take the initiative to do well in your job, connect with your bosses and co-workers and leave them with a positive impression, be it in a part-time job or internship, there’s always a good chance that opportunities would come knocking on your door when full-time positions need to be filled. 

Where should you start looking for part-time jobs and internships?

 Thanks to technological advancements, information on anything and everything is readily available at the touch of your fingertips these days. A quick desktop research on “part time jobs singapore” and “internship singapore” would give you a better idea of current opportunities in the market and what potential employers are looking for. 

Remember, first impressions count, so I thought I would leave you with 5 tips to secure that job/internship:

1. Customize your resume to highlight skills and experiences that are relevant to the job that you are applying for (most candidates tend to omit this critical step.)

 2. Highlight your strengths and experiences that are relevant to the job that you’ve applied for in your resume and at the interview

3. Do your due diligence on the company that you’ve applied to prior to the interview

4. Dress appropriately for the interview

5. Go in with a positive attitude. Employers are always on the lookout for people who are eager to learn and contribute.  

Hope you found this post useful and here’s wishing you all the best in your job search!

 Singapore has come a long way since it achieved independence 50 years ago. We have a beautiful garden city, a democratic and multi-racial society, and a safe and secure country where everyone lives in harmony. Most importantly, we have a place that we are all proud to call home.

 As we celebrate SG50 this year, let’s take one step further and let our imagination run wild as we envision Singapore 50 years down the road. 

What will Singapore look like in 2065?

What do you hope to see in Singapore in 2065?

The Straits Times and CapitaLand are calling out to all Singaporeans to submit your ideas here . A total of 50 attractive prizes are to be won, including the top 3 prizes below:

  

Your ideas can be submitted in the form of videos, images and text. Remember, the only limit is your imagination, so let your creative juices flow and think out of the box. Who knows? You might just be a winner!

Your ideas should fall under one of these topics:

• Smart Spaces

• Space-Age Kampungs

• Weatherproof World