Skip to content

To travels and trunks

A lover and a fighter, out to see the world.

Primary Navigation

About
Travel
- Australia
- Africa
- Asia
Singapore

Hi, I’m Clara

I’m an author, writer and traveller, but most of all I’m a storyteller. Come with me, and let’s go see the world.

Follow me

Instagram
Goodreads
LinkedIn

People also liked:

Growing up is not that scary: Things I’ve learnt as a 28-year-old
这是个好日子: On travelling and loneliness
Countries that are difficult to love
Pseudo-angkorean temples. Say Wat?
Skydiving in Cape Town
Mate in India

Instagram

I hope someday we'll sit down together / And laugh with each other about these days, these days ❤️

There is a babi guling (suckling pig) stall five minutes from my guesthouse, but it’s famously touristy and only has 3.8 out of 5 stars on Google reviews - anything less than 4 gives me pause. So instead I pay IDR100,000 for a 30 minute ojek ride to a well-reviewed babi guling joint in the next town. There are locals arriving by the carful for a Saturday morning brunch, overlooking the paddy fields. And you know the food is going to be good value when there are groups of students jostling at the counter. Staff hack glistening chunks of meat from a hulking roast pig - not piglet - and serve up sides of pork crackling, intestines and liver fried to a crisp. Bones are boiled into soup, so dark and rich it tastes more like gravy. Sambal, studded with chilli seeds, cuts through the fat and leaves my lips tingly, in a good way. Babi guling is the kind of indulgent meal I can only have once per trip, so I’m very glad my excursion paid off. 10/10 for the food, 2/10 for the food coma on the way back, 💯 would recommend 😴🐷

Shed my clothes, fears and inhibitions for this boudoir photoshoot - part of a story on Singapore women taking sensual yet tasteful photos. Some do it as a gift for their partner, others to commemorate milestone birthdays; yet more take these pics as a confidence boost after major setbacks like a miscarriage or cheating spouse. I am quite good at hiding my frumpy bits with clothes that flatter my body type. In contrast, baring it all for the camera was quite scary... and so is posting about it here. But Carolyn of @theboudoirphotographer somehow worked magic with good lighting and flattering angles to make me feel like a bolder, sassier, more confident version of myself. I hope these pictures will always remind me of that 💁🏻‍♀️💪🏼

There are three pools in Helsinki’s Allas Sea Pool swimming complex - two heated freshwater pools, and a seawater one. As you can see, the seawater pool is nearly always empty and that should have been a warning. But I was on assignment (plus itchy backside) so I had to try it, climbing resolutely down mossy steps into water so cold it felt like pinpricks - even in the middle of summer. I had grand plans of swimming at least one lap, but a quarter of the way in I decided that staying warm was more important than my pride. I turned tail and climbed out, still feeling quite pleased that I had given it a shot, until I learned from my guide the next day that locals swim here even in winter. 🙀❄️

Summer is the best time to see husky puppers at @bearhillhusky, because breeding is timed so the doggos are born into warm weather. In the months ahead they will be trained to run as a pack and pull a sled, with a singular focus on the road. But for now it is good enough that they come when called, earning kibble and hugs as a reward, nipping at my fingers with teeth not yet sharp enough to hurt ❤️🐕

Just seeing a reindeer up close was amazing, to hand feed and pet it was a dream. More on summer in Rovaniemi, Finland in this week’s Straits Times. Thanks @visitrovaniemi and @santaclausreindeer for the bucket list experience 😻🦌

Search for:

Follow To travels and trunks on WordPress.com

Tag: winter

这是个好日子: On travelling and loneliness

这是个好日子: On travelling and loneliness

Inner Mongolia in winter can be a cold and lonely place, but good company makes it a little warmer. Continue reading 这是个好日子: On travelling and loneliness

Advertisements

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy