It's been TWO years!

Belated new year greetings! Sorry we’ve been silent for a while again. It’s already Chinese New Year! Greetings to our friends and family celebrating CNY! Also thinking of Friday & Yoda as we welcome the Year of the Dog!

Much awaited steamboat Reunion Dinner

Yummy 8 course CNY Dinner @ Rendezvous

It's been two years since we set off on this "adventure" and it surely has been one. But more than that, it's given us the opportunity to take a step back and think about what life has given us and what we hope to steer towards. I can’t speak for both of us entirely, coz Navin and I think differently most of the time (that’s why they say opposites attract) Most of you would know that Navin is the more open-minded of us two while I’m the conservative, old-school one that has been on a path of enlightenment lately. Here’s how:

Our time away from the near-perfect system we've grown up in has had me appreciating more, the efficiency and forward planning we’re familiar with. At the same time, the past two years have taught me to manage my expectations as well. It's totally alright when not everything goes perfectly to plan. It’s during these times of imperfection that we witness acts of kindness and compassion, have more meaningful conversations and simply sit back, relax and appreciate the goodness around. I've been known to fret over the tiniest issues but I now know that it really isn’t worth fussing over minor hiccups as there is much more to spend our time and attention on. Not implying we should simply let everything go, but to choose our battles wisely instead.

It hasn’t been all chill and easy settling in to the Aussie lifestyle, in case you think we’re just partying and picnic-ing all the time. Adjusting to new systems and cultures has been a challenge, especially when taking on relatively junior roles and significantly lower pay compared to what we left behind (and NO bonuses!) From being part of a 6,000 strong organisation to a 4-person office, settling in also means getting used to having to do more than what you've signed up for and having less people around to motivate you to get through the day's work. Yet this balances off as we get more opportunities to travel and explore the great outdoors, and we’ve proven to be able to do that on half our previous incomes. Over time, I have left my chase for career advancements behind and am also trying to be less materialistic in terms of patronizing posh places and wanting to own pricey stuff (trying…as of now, I still want a pretty house and a cool car..😄) I'm glad we have the time and energy to do the chores ourselves instead of relying on a helper! I’ve also learnt how it really doesn’t matter as much if you’ve been to top schools in the country and world class universities, as ultimately what matters is your capability, confidence and character. While I'm still proud of the institutions we’ve come through, our two years here have given me the thrill of gaining new experiences and taught me the value of building relationships. 

Another great example of how the way we relate to people around us makes a difference is Navin's photography journey. Having embarked on professional photography since moving to Darwin, he’s put in countless hours on tutorials, practice, understudying and networking. Staying humble, helpful and genuine towards the people around us have given him the biggest push to his business - in the form of friends who have been supportive of his growth, making recommendations and offering spaces in their businesses to display his work. Truly grateful to them! Of course, he’s damn good at his work too!

Navin's photos on display @ Kopistop

Time away from Singapore has seen us spending a significant amount of time outdoors with our multiple trips to national parks, soaking in beautiful sunsets (I haven’t woken up for many sunrises but Navin has) and learning about the flora, fauna, culture and history of these incredible places!  Navin’s photos are proof of that. (If you haven’t already been following him on Facebook and Instagram, I dunno what to say…haizz..) Anyways, we might dedicate a separate blog post to our trip to Tasmania in Dec 2017– my first official camping trip. Watch this space! Personally, this has changed me tremendously - from being the person who'd walk strictly on cement pavements to braving the weather and surroundings as I go to the bush toilet (Pls message me privately if you need more details on "bush toilets") 

Surely the most painful part of our two years away has been missing the amazing FOOD, we’ve grown up loving and spending countless hours with. Ooops, did I say “food”? Oh no! I really meant “FRIENDS & FAMILY”!! So my brother got married last year and Navin and I were back in Singapore briefly to be part of the celebrations. Being away while everyone back home prepares for the big day was quite upsetting, but we knew some sacrifices had to be made. I’m thankful my brother has been this understanding too! We’ve been missing birthdays, events and simply being with our favourite people in Singapore, and do wish we could spend time together like before. Even long weekends like the Chinese New Year have us missing all the fun times with friends and family. Life does go on, regardless...

On a happier note, leaving familiar people behind in Singapore has also found us lovely people in Darwin to spend time with. Special mention to Aunty Pearl & Uncle Sid for caring for us like their own kids, feeding us and helping us settle in way faster than we thought possible! They've taught us so much about gardening, preparing healthy meals and many simple skills that we'd previously taken for granted. I've even learnt to make pineapple tarts and love letters for Chinese New Year! Over these two years, we’ve made many new friends, reconnected with past acquaintances and renewed old friendships – it’s like a refresh button on life! 

We've even made appearances in the local newspaper! 

We’ve learnt that gatherings don’t always have to surround food. Meaningful conversations (and some drunken talk) and talking long walks and drives are great ways to spend time too! That said, in Singapore, food IS king, and eat we must! Navin and I build a list of must-eats during our next visit home and have been arranging our catch ups at the places we miss most. If you know our previous haunts, you’ll know where to find us when we visit.

Life away from home has changed us in many more ways and I'd say, on the whole, it's been amazing! This has been the second best move we've made in our years together (the first was choosing each other la!) We've since been to every state in Australia and look forward to experiencing the rest of this big, big world!