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It Was Not Supposed To Be This Good: My Trip to the Philippines
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong When I booked my trip to the Philippines, I thought I might meet some people to have dinner with one night but expected to be alone most of the time. I even brought a novel and colouring book, thinking I’d spend my time alone on the beach, reflecting and maybe journalling. I was not expecting to find myself in the presence of strangers and come back feeling like a piece of my heart had been left behind. What was meant to be a short solo getaway became one of the most joyful and memorable trips I’ve ever taken. I flew from…
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Best Places to Travel from Singapore – My Top Picks from a Year Abroad
Written by Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore As I sit on the plane heading home after a transformative year in Singapore, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible travel experiences that shaped my exchange. While many students chose to travel throughout the semester, I took a slightly different route, saving my big trip for the end of the year. With Singapore’s Changi Airport being the largest and most connected in Southeast Asia, it’s the perfect launchpad for affordable travel across the region. Here are the destinations that stood out most during my time abroad. 1. Tioman Island, Malaysia – Underrated Paradise Tioman Island is one of Southeast Asia’s hidden…
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Bangkok and Shibuya
By Ayero Moro, Australian National University, Australia I booked the trip on a whim: Japan and Thailand, all in one mid-semester break. No spreadsheets, no daily plan. Just a vague outline, an empty suitcase (for thrifting of course), and an old friend who was equally up for the chaos. My friend Hannah had visited Japan a lot recently and at this point, she didn’t know she was going to stay. We started in Tokyo, staying in Shibuya. It was every bit as overwhelming and exciting as I’d imagined. Bright lights, huge crowds, busy and did I mention it was bright? I’d seen the famous crossing in films, but standing in…
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14 Days in Japan
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong With endless things to do and areas to explore, planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. I’m going to share a day-by-day itinerary of what I did…and ate.
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Studying Law Abroad: My Experience at NUS Law School
By Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore Before arriving in Singapore, I was fortunate to connect with a previous exchange student who studied Law at NUS. Thanks to her, I was mentally prepared for some academic differences between NUS and the University of Manchester. Still, there were things I wish I’d known in advance. Hopefully, this post will help you feel better equipped to handle life at the world’s 8th best law school, especially in terms of academic expectations. Picking Your Modules Your NUS journey starts before you even arrive. Module selection can be confusing at first. The system is quite different and takes time to understand—especially the online…
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Weekend Getaways – Traveling Around Southeast Asia on a Student Budget
By Jiaqian Ji Ye, National University of Singapore, Singapore What is one of the most advantageous aspects of studying at NUS? The unparalleled location! My second semester was replete with memorable travel experiences, including weekend excursions to Bali and spontaneous travels to Thailand.
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Travelling from Hong Kong
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Making Friends Abroad – Tips on Building a Social Circle in Singapore
By Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore As someone who once considered themselves an introvert, the idea of packing my life into two suitcases and moving 6,800 miles away from friends and family felt overwhelming. It wasn’t the cultural differences or academic challenges that worried me the most—it was the lingering “What if I don’t make friends?” concern that kept creeping in every time I thought about my exchange. With that in mind, I wanted to share my experience of making friends abroad—the challenges, the unexpected moments, and the strategies that worked for me. If you’re feeling the same pre-departure nerves, I hope my insights help you feel more…
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Birthday Bliss in Bali
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore A gratitude-filled trip to celebrate surviving the first year of my 20s. Follow to see how I did Bali in 5 days. Some may find it cliche but, I feel like a trip to Bali is a must for exchange students coming to South East Asia – and this is coming from someone who had low expectations due to the hype built by the media.
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5 Foods you have to try when you reach Singapore!
By Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore One of the best things about living in Singapore is the endless variety of incredible food. From authentic local dishes at hawker centres to international cuisines at trendy restaurants, there’s something to satisfy every craving. As someone who loves exploring new places to eat, I’ve discovered some absolute gems during my time here. Whether you’re a fan of Italian comfort food, healthy acai bowls, or affordable canteen meals, this list has something for everyone. So, if you’re new to Singapore or just looking for some foodie inspiration, here are my favourite places to eat that you simply must try!
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Why Singapore? Why Asia? Travelling Beyond the National University of Singapore.
By Khay Muhammed, The National University of Singapore, Singapore When I chose Singapore as my first choice for my year abroad, it wasn’t just about studying at a prestigious institution. It was about the opportunity to explore the vibrant and diverse continent of Asia throughout the academic year. Now, three months into my term at The National University of Singapore, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to several incredible countries, including the Philippines (twice!), South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and of course, explore the many facets of Singapore itself.
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Top Places to Visit Whilst on Exchange in Hong Kong
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Out of any place I have been to in my life, I would say that Hong Kong has the most things to do! From such a vibrant city full of museums, temples, parks, shopping, food, to endless beaches and hikes and even islands, it can become very overwhelming when you first arrive, it is hard to know where to begin. This blog post will hopefully give you somewhere to start, but there are still endless amounts of places in Hong Kong that are still on my list to go to, that are not included.
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
