Traveling Alone To Shanghai Part 1

Part 1 is to share my whole day journey alone. Later that night I met up with husband and that’s part 2. 

Hubs asked if I wanted to go 3 weeks before. Sure, October is a busy month with work. And sure its the kids exam week. I didn’t factor in the bad haze that caused school to open one day and close one day. Is there a better time? Sure there could be. Would there be another opportunity like this? There might not be. 

When I said I wanted to be fit. This is the reason. To climb mountains in another country on a whim.

I couldn’t sleep thinking about the plan. Hubs is already in China. I had to fly there and travel 500km+ inland to get to him. 

The part where I couldn’t sleep is actually from home to airport at 3am. What if I get kidnapped during that journey. No I wasn’t thinking about the solo journey in China. That I could handle. Traveling in daylight anywhere is okay for me. So I was really grateful to my dad (!) for accompanying me to the airport that night.

In the dead quiet of the night in the Alphard, soft music in the background reminded me of a time in the past when I traveled with my dad. It felt bittersweet. 

At the airport, dad laughed and said wow I haven’t been in the airport for a long time. Me neither actually. Not this airport. We had coffee until 5am. Then dad went to catch the ERL and I went through security.

Went through immigration, then boarded the bus to my gate. I kept some food in my bag. My thermos that I can’t live without. In the plane, I missed my kids. Wishing they were there with me. And doggone I forgot to request for window seat. I sat between two guys. Its uncomfortable but manageable. I took out my sleeping mask and slept the whole flight.

I touchdown in Pudong Airport around noon. I got out and properly looked at the sky. It was blue. Back home, the sky has been grey for 3 months because of Indonesian fires. The sky in Shanghai was beautiful. 

From Pudong, I had to get the train to Shanghai Hongqiao Station. Mind you, I was given instructions by hubs and I didn’t study the route beforehand. It was disorienting to arrive in a country that doesn’t speak nor write your language. I LOVE IT. Here I was, the lone hijabi traveller who doesn’t speak chinese navigating the big airport and trying to use their train. 

The ticketing guy pointed me toward the train. I managed to pay using Alipay. Off I went. The sign seems to be pointing the right way. I ran into the train with the crowd. I must be in the right train. 

The train moved. I checked the journey. It is 58km away. SO FAR? 

I was about to have many rude realisations like this throughout the journey. China is HUGE. I was starting to appreciate the vastness of this country. After 58km, it is still Shanghai area. Imagine that! 

I think I revel in the unknown. I was being hyper aware during the journey that I was the only hijabi. Before reaching Shanghai, I knew I’ll probably be safe in the big city. But I was on hyper alert anyway. Shanghai gave a good first impression. I felt safe and even though everyone didn’t speak english, I had chatgpt my trusty travel buddy. People were polite and they helped when I asked. 

I didn’t encounter anyone rude. Thank goodness what a relief!

I arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao station. It was abit confusing because there’s the Shanghai Hongqiao Terminal and station is on the opposite side. The signages were all in mandarin. So I asked for directions. I didn’t want to be misunderstood, so I made sure I typed in what I was looking for in mandarin. The walk to the station took about 10 minutes. 

Huge Shanghai Hongqiao station

I came to a big entrance with baggage security. Shanghai Hongqiao train station. It was disorienting because what do you mean this is a train station? It was bigger than the airport. 

My bullet train to Huangshan was at 4pm. I had 2 hours to spare. I was hungry because the plane food wasn’t halal. I looked around and everything was in chinese I felt a bit lost. I saw mcdonalds and familymart. Got into Familymart. Everything was either beef or chicken. I almost forgot about halal food and I felt a pang of homesickness for Malaysian food, just because I can eat without thinking. 

Nevermind. Into Mcdonalds. Ordered fillet o fish and taro pie. Omg delicious. 

At the station, there must’ve been at least 4000 people. I couldn’t see any muslims anywhere. It felt a bit jarring. I haven’t felt like a minority in a long time. So many feelings. But my giddiness of being in travel mode overcame anything else I was feeling. 

You know how during travel, time goes by swiftly. I remember checking the boarding messages (using chatgpt!!! YES YOU’RE AT THE RIGHT GATE! GET IN LINE NOW) and it was suddenly time to board the train. 

There were about 40 gates, all going to different destinations around China. 

I secretly hoped my destination is going to be the best one in the whole of China. I mean, it has to be. Otherwise, why am I choosing this one instead of gate 25, right?

 

Hubs got me 1st class tickets for bullet train because. 

…to be continued in part 2.

I Shall Die On This Hill of Blaming Smartphones For Everything

When smartphones came into our lives many years ago, I embraced it with skepticism. Anything that makes you lose time without gaining anything else is not healthy. I've always hold on to this philosophy. 

I felt like I was alone when I raised my kids first without TVs, then I had 2 kids so it became too chaotic without one. So yes, eventually we relaxed the rules. TVs, screens are one way communication with no feedback. Smartphones is 10x lethal for having social media fast scrolling.

Botch your focus and attention, shorter memory, shrink brain gray matter, gives you anxiety and depression, earlier onset of Dementia, lower IQ. Look it up, it's all out in research papers now.

In the core of my soul I knew it wasn't good for us, and I've never shown my kids gadgets before they hit 7. They still don't have smartphones and not allowed to consume short form videos or getting free reign of any gadgets. 

TV series, movies, console games are relatively safe, within reason. It's still mostly a group activity, and requires interaction. It doesn't slice your attention span into seconds.

I definitely do not preach except telling people what I do for my kids. But I feel like no one else is spreading the dangers of screentime.

If I wanted to make a long article about dangers of screentime it would take days to compile data and write. 

But you can see the signs already appearing in the masses. Gen z reported to have less common sense, higher possibility of getting fired, mentally fragile, wanting instantaneous result.. all symptoms of a bigger problem. They grew up "digital natives". 

Gen Alpha and Beta, is bearing the brunt. Things are going to get worse. People with severe mental health problems, low cognitive abilities, an exposure to vile things online and a mind influenced by their own echo chamber will be among our kids.

I'm straight out fearmongering here, vomiting worst case apocalyptic scenarios but it's already happening. The symptoms are out in the open but people can't connect it to being chronically online. 

I feel so yuck but this is the world that my kids generation are growing into. I caution everyone to beware. Zero screentime is better than having excessive screentime. There are researches coming out everyday about the dangers. It's like taking drugs. One time doesn't damage you. But its a slippery road downhill. 

6th Trip To Cameron Highlands: Review By An Avid Chill Traveller

This will be the 6th time that me and the fam went to Cameron Highlands in 10 years. 

1st trip: 2012 when we just got married

2nd trip: 2013 when I was pregnant with Naila

3rd trip: 2014 when Naila was 6 months old

4th trip: 2016 when I was pregnant with Hassan

5th trip: 2018 when Hassan when 1 year old

6th trip: 2023 now. 

Although covid was the only reason we didn't return from 2020-2022. 

So this is a dedication to Cameron Highlands, a place that we love so much. Alot of people wonder why do we go back time and time again. Some even comment "what to do in Cameron Highlands?" 

First of all, you have to understand what kind of family we are :D We love going to the park every week. We've been to almost all the parks in KL/Selangor. We also love Penang Botanical Gardens & Taiping Botanical Gardens. Our kids idea of adventure is hiking sunrise hill and they get excited whenever we mention hiking. 

So our idea of holiday in Cameron Highlands is a slow paced, enjoying the hilly town scenery and cold weather, eating fresh veggies & fruits from the farm, walking but never getting sweaty and playing with fluffy animals. 

Normally, we'd spend 2 or 3 days staying in Cameron Highlands. 

This time, we spent 3 days and 2 nights, choosing to stay in Snooze Hotel, Brinchang. Two reasons, because this holiday isn't supposed to be stressful. Second, it's not supposed to cost alot. 

Brinchang Town

Staying in Brinchang gave us the freedom to walk to many places. As you would hear from many accounts, Cameron Highlands is JAM CITY with capital J on weekends. A simple 3km drive would take one hour at peak jam. We are a family of 5, therefore it's the car or walking. 

So for those wondering, this is our itinerary: 

Saturday

12.00pm   drive to Cameron Highlands from KL

4.00pm     arrive in Cameron Highlands 

4.30pm     arrive at Agro Technology Park MARDI, Tanah Rata

6.00pm     dinner at Restoran Ferm Nyonya (Steamboat)

7.30pm     night market

Sunday

8.00am     Kea Farm morning market/breakfast 

9.00am     Sheep Sanctuary

11.30am   Back to hotel, R&R 

3.00pm    Lunch/Dinner at Pizzarella Misokimchi Brinchang

4.00pm    Walk around Brinchang shops (rain heavily)

5.00pm    Ice Cream/Cake/Hot Chocolate break at Cado Cafe

6.30pm    Back at hotel

Monday

7.30am     Breakfast at food court Kea Farm

9.30am     Check out from hotel

10.00am   Cameron Highlands Flora Park

1.00pm     Head back to KL

So on the way up, we took the Tapah road. Hassan vomited at the very last minute when we're about 15 minutes to Tanah Rata. The rest were okay. I missed Cameron Highlands! We wind down the window the feel the fresh jungle smell and cold air. It wasn't too congested when we arrived at 4pm. Most of the people on day trip were already heading down.

When we arrived at MARDI Tanah Rata, first we had to wash off the vomit. MARDI had a nearby 

We did all the things we didn't do before in Cameron Highlands. Believe it or not, so much has changed since we last came 4 years ago! Also, the kids are a little bit older and they can enjoy the attractions more..

Work Life Balance

I think I knew what kind of mom I wanted to be since I was young. When I was in form 4, my dad bought me a book about women doctors reflections on work and life. He knew I was enamored by the "surgeon" title. 

So I read the book and it changed my mind 100%. I stopped wanting to be a doctor because that wasn't the life I wanted for my future children. For the high ambitions that I had in that moment, a life of balance is not in the cards based on what I read. I mean, coming back home at night? NO WAY MAN. 

But again, I was 16 at the time. I made up my mind based on what little information I had. But I finished that book. (Can't believe how much of a bookworm I was. 1 book each week.) 

When I was younger, I said to myself, I'm NEVER going to be like my mom. I'm never going to be a stay at home mom. 

I'm going to have my own thing.

I'm going to be successful. 

Well having my own kids changed my perspective again. I started seeing my mom through the eyes of my kid self. I felt safe and mom's always home. I never knew what danger was. I was quite emotionally safe. I ate home cooked food (such a blessing), mom picked me up from school. 

When the two realities meet, I became hybrid. I think my kids have the best of both worlds. I send them to school every morning. There are times that I can't be there because of work but they usually see me. 

I've started cooking a whole lot more, because of that health awakening and I'd like my kids to have a good head start.

I involve them in everything that I do, from running, to real estate. 

Yeah I have boundaries when it comes to work. When my kids need me I'd cancel everything. The virtue of working by myself. 

No 1 is always family. No 2 is work.

Minimalist Consumer

Don't know if the title makes sense. I've been thrifting since 2020 now. I suppose covid has in many ways changed our outlook of life. 

I kind of feel disgust by the amount of consumption right now. I blame the capitalist world, how they shove marketing down our throats. But then again, who doesn't want to profit and live a nice life?

It's so ironic, considering I'm selling new houses to people. But that's why I never stopped the subsale side of the business and .. rentals. I feel this responsibility to shine light on subsale houses because buying used is always better for the environment. 

Buying new is good for the economy. 

It's hard when you see good sides to everything. You can vouch for either sides. 

But now I'm heavy into "used" items.

Especially clothes.

7th Year Fitness Journey: Running & Clean Eating

Wow! 7th year! I don't remember when did I consciously started on this journey but I was surprised to see since 2019 in my old posts. 

So yeah wow 7th year. Alot has changed since my 5th year. I broke my wrist in 2023, I broke another small toe in 2024. I was scared of having brittle bones. I was also under a lot of stress that year. 

Hubs gave me the idea of climbing Gunung Nuang together. So I said yes, started training by climbing 18 steps a day and brisk walking on alternate days. A week before the trip, I ended up breaking my toe so I didn't join the trip. 

I felt frustrated for missing out on the trip, although everyone who made it went through the most horrible experience. 

When I got better, around 3 weeks after the toe incident, I felt determined to get my fitness and bones stronger. So with the old running shoe and fresh off the toe incident I started slow jogging around my local park. At first I was struggling to finish even 1km. My lungs felt like it would burst. So I run walked. 

At the time, I had no idea whatsoever about running methods, pace, heart rate, shoes, zone 2 running. NO IDEA. This was in September 2024. I just ran cold turkey. I had hip pain when I first started running. I now realize that was probably weak hip flexor muscles.

I kept doing the same thing over and over for a few weeks. Until one day, I did the slow jog and finished a whole round without stopping. That was 1.7km. I was silently wiping the tears off my eyes. Felt like such a big accomplishment. 

I kept slow jogging every alternate day until I hit 5km. Mind you, it was a really slow jog. I think it was a 10min/km pace. I told hubs that I could "run" 5 km now without stopping. Hubs said you need to challenge yourself. Something like joining a half marathon. I was like, that's crazy. And dropped the subject. 

Over the next few days, I started researching about half marathons and found a training plan for 3 months. I started learning about the types of runs. Shoes. Nutrition. Heart rate zones. Fueling. I went into the rabbit hole basically.

One month after that, I registered for the Twincity half marathon. To think back, it was pretty crazy. But I was so in the zone and focused. When I find something interesting, I tend to obsess. So running became my life. I was scheduling my days around runs. Weekends were like, .."I have my long run, can't do that". 

And since I was a newbie, I wasn't strong yet. Kept getting shin splints, sore legs. Pain in all places. I was doing work and going to appointments with sore legs from running but I enjoyed it so much. 

Funny thing is, I didn't know there was a culture in running. There are running clubs everywhere. But up until now, I enjoy the solitude of running alone, so I never felt the need to contact running clubs or to run with anyone. 

Hubs follow me on long runs. But he does the slow jogs for a few rounds and we meet for breakfast when my run is over. I haven't been able to convince him to really be into run yet. He says its boring. No idea what's he talking about. I find it invigorating! 

So going into month 7 of running, I'm starting to add some strength training. I did alot of HIIT and body weight training before going into running but once I started being consistent, it became too hard to balance because of scheduling. Previously I needed rest after a running day. So I never had the time to incorporate strength training.. until now. 

I finally feel strong, running a 10km, then going off to appointments, walking and living my day normally. So strength training after a 5km feels good now. Starting to do weights. 

Running has definitely became the highlight and invigorated some things that has been lost. I love being in the student mindset. Learning, adjusting, improving. 

I've never been a runner my whole life and never found the urge to run. Even despised it a little to be honest. I've always been more of an active lifestyle, play tennis, swim, hike, badminton sort of person. Not running. But somehow running found me at this juncture of life. Funny how sometimes we just stumble into things. This is exactly that and it's just caught me unaware. 

In April, I've also started to change my eating habits. I think this is the year I'm becoming my strongest & fittest self. Best part is kids are getting the benefits of having a health conscious mom. 

Whatever I cook for myself is also for them. I learned to blend veggies into meals just to get them to eat veggies. They also eat broccoli/potato/carrots off the plate now. It's been a struggle to get them to eat veggies before but I think we're making great progress.

To being fit and healthy and best self. Till next time.