#FitrinaTravels: Copenhagen 2014

Copenhagen is a regular in international happiness surveys. Not just any regular customer, but a top one. The most recent one is October 2013's World Happiness Report from the Earth Institute at New York's Columbia University.

After spending 9 days in Copenhagen, I have to say that the city deserves the title through and through. I saw zero angry individual and had the pleasure to exchange smiles with countless others, even strangers. No one hesitates to say "good morning" to each other when you accidentally (or intentionally; the Danes are a good-looking bunch) see each other in the eye. My Danish colleagues were truly dedicated to their jobs and they were incredibly accomodating and cooperative, while still being critical at the same time. Makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with the Singapore working culture. 

As my boss said, "every employee is a boss in the company in Denmark". Nobody can force someone to do anything if they are not comfortable doing it. Saying "no" to a project is more recommended when extremely busy than saying "yes" and screwing the project up because you cannot handle your time well. If there's a question that cannot be solved, just ask someone else who knows something about it and discuss. Vertical hierarchy is non-existent. I just simply adore this kind of working culture because sometimes I get extremely irritated when questions were not asked prior to a project development and these questions could have prevented possible flaws in the completed project. And then when I have questions, I get conflicted myself because I'm dying to ask them, but I'm also scared I'll be annoying those people that I asked. This made me realise how communication is of utmost vital importance in any organisation. 

While being in the Copenhagen headquarters, both my colleague and I were taught of basically using "tough love" to enrich ourselves and enrich the Asian branch. Going into details will be stupid because of confidential company information. To sum it all up in on sentence - we are going to shadow the Danish working culture, hopefully to a large extent. 

Ok enough of the mundane work stuff. Continuing on my enjoyable (mostly) experience....

Copenhagen is not only home to very jolly folks, it's also the city that has the world's best restaurant (Noma!), the city with extremely commendable "green" efforts and a lot of other awards lah. 

Perhaps I should list the more memorable experiences:

• almost everyone cycles. There's a special lane on roads just for cycling. If you are a cyclist, you should be happy. I'm not, so... 
• you can walk to most of the attractions. Copenhagen is also "the most walkable city" in 2013. I only took train/metro 4 times in the 9 days and 2 were the rides to and from airport. It's very economical to walk and of course very healthy. Public transport fares are not cheap in Copenhagen (as with everything else lol) so just walk!
• the weather was phenomenal. Averaging 14-20 degrees during the days we were there. It rained heavily on one day (on the day we planned to go to the most numbers of attractions. Murphy did it again!) and the other days were simply magnificent. I loved how I could wear my normal blazers and layer up a couple of scarves and I was good to go. I don't have to get any new blazers for women online!
• there was SO MUCH SPACE. I think I wasn't used to it because in Singapore, we are used to crowds, and staying at home to avoid crowds. In Copenhagen, it's so spacious and empty! 
• ah, the good-looking people. I was so mesmerised by so many breathtakingly beautiful ladies who were rocking their monochrome outfits and high heels. Same sentiments for the suited up males. And then they cycle some more. It's like I'm living in the life of a fashion paparazzi blog or something. The 7-11 girl was damn pretty. The hotel girl was damn pretty. The guy selling hot dog was damn handsome. Aiyoh, good genes man good genes!! These vikings!!
• everything was expensive. I spent S$500 in 9 days and it was mostly spent on food from supermarkets and 7-11. Very small portion of my money was used on shopping and souvenirs. But lucky can claim. Heheehhehehhe.
• at first I loved the food. Then I got sick of it really quickly. Cannot man. I thought I could eat salads and breads for all my meals but urgh I want my wanton mee and porridge and bibimbap and cheap fruit juice. I'm not saying there are no similar food in Copenhagen. I just was not willing to spend more than $30 for every meal. 

I'm going to stop writing. Getting boring already haha. Photos!! 

I seriously love my job. :')

Have a great week guys! 

Omakase Burger | 25th birthday dinner with family

Omakase Burger is like a cult that's slowly becoming mainstream. 

I heard so many people (mostly bloggers) raving about this location, but wahlao not cheap at all okay. Quite expensive lor. But okay, my mom was treating dinner, so my sister and I decided to grab the opportunity HAHA. 

And yes, the raves are all true. I have no other words because I didn't pay for it. I'm quite sure if I paid for this meal, I will have ... more things to say. OKAY PHOTOS PHOTOS. I have zero talent as a food blogger. 

Omakase Burger @ Grandstand

200 Turf Club Road #01-05

Bukit Timah, Singapore 287994

Contact: +65 6763 2698

My siblings were very nice. They bought me macarons and my sister made me her highly-coveted cads!

Turning 25 has so far been amazing. 5 more years before things go cray? D:

Recent reads: Worlds of Tsukuru Tazaki and Tsukiko Omachi

There's something strangely charming about Haruki Murakami's books. Give them to someone new and they wouldn't be able to take the bizarre stories. The first Murakami book that I read was 1Q84 and I remembered thinking how the book was freaking ridiculous. 1Q84 started with a taxi ride on a congested road. That's it. Just a simple taxi ride on a congested road. The more ridiculous the story got, the more I was sucked in into the world of Aomame and Tengo. Ohmy, I really loved that book. I actually had it on my iBooks, but I once was done (I finished reading it at the end of my Japan graduation trip. Very apt.), I decided to get the hard copy for future rereads. After that book, I have purchased almost all of Murakami's works. My favourite currently is Kafka on the Shore. Actually, wait, maybe The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. 

Hmm. I cannot decide...

The emptiness I get after completing a Murakami book is weirdly addictive. It goes from whatthefuck to self-reflection, and then to contentment. 

So, yes, I purchased Haruki Murakami's latest (number 13!) novel - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. As I was browsing bookdepository.com, I saw Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami and bought it too - motivated by pure curiosity. 

I have started on Strange Weather in Tokyo and it's surprisingly good. I'm hooked. It's just a book written to amplify two characters' loneliness, but aiyoh just very good lah. 

My experience with Book Depository was not as pleasant as I wanted it to be. The books were definitely cheaper than in stores, but delivery took almost a month. I wanted to get these books for my Copenhagen trip - nope, no such luck. 

Ok, back to Strange Weather in Tokyo!

Have a great weekend guys! :) 

#FitrinaTravels: What's Inside My Carry-On Bag

I AM BACK! Touched down this morning and I'm not having the most enjoyable time right now. Headache, sleepy and red eyes, and all the fabulous aftermath of a 12-hour flight. I slept for 2 hours on the plane and spent the other 10 hours rewatching 2 X-Men movies, 1 Masterchef Junior episode and The Other Woman.

I know I said I was taking a break till October but FINGERS ITCHY LAH, must type something. :D
So here's a #FitrinaTravels post! Most of the people I know who travels have some kind of hashtag, so okay, I must be as trendy.

Disclaimer

This post was written during my flight to Copenhagen. I could not sleep and all I could think was what my next blog post was going to be about and so I typed out this post on my phone. That time was also when I realised last-minute packing was a terrible idea. I forgot to bring so many things. :(

Also, I'm sorry there are no photos to make this post more ... easy to read. I washed all my pouches and my backpack so maybe I'll update this post the next time I travel!

Here I am, almost 7 hours into the flight, all awake and my brain refuses to let my body sleep. I close my eye and the next thing I know, I'll have thoughts. I'm supposed to have no thoughts to sleep, brain!! 

But oh well, since I'm obviously overflowing with ideas and creativity (harhar), let's get on with this rather useful blogpost. Useful for you - good tips for you! - and useful for me - reference point for future trips. 

Usually I try not to bring too many things. I hate having no free hand when I'm on a flight. So, my carry-on bag is almost always only a backpack. A good, sturdy, can-take-laptop's-weight-and-have-laptop-compartment backpack. 

1. Laptop. I don't always bring my laptop; only during work trips.
2. Rosary. I admit I'm not much of a church-goer, but my rosary makes me feel safer. 
3. Notebook/planner. You never know what you may need to note down! 
4. Abundance of pens. I need to have a pen in my bag. Or pens. I hate it when I don't have a good pen to fill in arrival forms. Also, what's the point of bringing my notebook/planner if I don't have pens.
5. Handphone charger/portable charger. Sometimes if I'm lucky, I'll get a flight that has a usb port on every seat, hence I can charge my phone. I think A380 flights all have usb ports. Currently I'm on a B777 flight and nope I have no port, so that's when the portable charger comes in handy.
6. Spectacles and sunglasses. I hate wearing spectacles but I'm blind without mine. Being blind in home country is okay, still can float around due to familiarity. But in a foreign country, I'd rather be safe so yes. The sunglasses is a must, especially for omg-I-need-to-cover-my-cui-eyes moments. Get one that's a good fit for your face shape and you will rock all your holiday photos. Hehe.
7. iBanking device. This is always in my bag. Good for those sudden banking moments. 
8. Smaller wallet. My usual wallet is humongous and heavy. I use a smaller one when travelling, and it contains only the basics like Singapore Dollar, the other countries' money, IC, credit cards and keys. Oh, and KrisFlyer Card (I actually forgot today...shame...but luckily I can still rack up my Singapore-Copenhagen points online!).
9. A ziplock bag specially for receipts. Very useful when I'm making my work claims. 
10. Toothbrush in a toothbrush holder and mini toothpaste. I know some planes provide one-time-usage toothbrush and toothpaste but I don't feel like I have 100% clean teeth when I use those. So I bring my own. I brush my teeth before touching down. Twice if it's a long-haul flight. Buay tahan the feeling of having dirty teeth.
11. Toiletries case. I use my old pencil case for this! Contains mini body lotion (moisturising is very very important!!), lip balm, hand sanitiser, makeup remover towelettes, mini face cleanser, face moisturiser and eye cream. During long haul flights, my routine goes like this - after the first meal, I go to the toilet and remove all my makeup and then try to wash my face as neatly as possible without water splashing everywhere (if really splash, I will wipe off before leaving because...very paiseh for the next user leh). Then I'll go back to my seat and apply my moisturisers and eye cream. THEN TRY TO SLEEP. 
12. Face mask. Yah very important you know. I'm always tempted to bring two but cannot put too many face masks at one go, so one will do. Continuing my routine - I'll not sleep that much because I'm just not good at sleeping on flights, so I apply my mask. Most of the time, the lights on the plane are dim/switched off so I don't scare other passengers, but if the lights are switched on/it's bright outside, then sorry man. 
13. Makeup bag. I bring only the basics with me up the plane. BB cream, concealer, powder, liquid eyeliner. Done! 1-2hours before landing, I'll reapply my makeup. I really cannot go out the plane with my cui face. 
14. Handphone and earphones. These really should be way higher on the list, but I just remembered them haha. During long haul flights when I can't sleep and there's nothing that I want to watch on the "telly", I write my blogposts on my phone. Just like now! :D oh! And I also make sure to update my iBooks with new books. I prefer reading the actual book, but I don't like the extra weight during flights so iBooks lor! 
15. Calculator. I used to carry my $2 Daiso calculator that didn't really work that well, but now I have my $4+ scientific calculator from Taobao that works just like the Casio one. Calculator is very important if you want to bargain or do conversions in a foreign country. Numbers are universal anyway.
16. Passport in a nice travel pouch. Aiyah I just like to have nice travel pouch lah. Very pretentious but travelling with a nice travel pouch with all the nice compartments to store your documents just make me feel better about my travelling. 
17. Heating eye mask. This eye mask has no moisturising purpose. It's a dry eye mask that will heat up when you put it on. Instantly relaxes you and helps to put you to sleep. Or so they say. Have never worked on me before, oops? But I just bring one because very shiok. 
18. Hairclips. Get hair out of the way when sleeping! Also good for face mask application - you don't want hair sticking to your face mask, very gross. 
19. Empty water bottle. I bring my 1L one because hey, you need to constantly hydrate yourself during a flight! Hydrating yourself helps with jetlag too. Just bring the empty one in your bag, go through security and then refill your bottle at the gate.

And that's about it. A long list but all fit nicely into a backpack. 

I have 5 more hours to go. What should I do now?? Maybe I should continue reading Half of a Yellow Sun (by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie). I can't wait for the breakfast platter!! 

Break time!

I'm taking a break from blogging guys! I'll be back next month!

Enjoy your September! :)