At 12, there was no internet—just books that promised magical lands beyond Singapore’s borders. I secretly hoped Enid Blyton’s Enchanted Wood was real, that the Magic Faraway Tree existed, and that I could shimmy up its branches after school to see which bizarre new land had drifted in with the clouds. Spoiler alert: that never happened. But what did happen was a lifelong obsession with discovering places that do exist—and a quiet little dream of becoming a writer. (Fun fact: when it came time to choose a path, it was between journalism school and art school. I picked the latter, but writing was never far behind.)

Blogging came along not long after the internet did. I started in 2000 on pitas.com (feel old yet?), taught myself basic HTML, and helped set up blogs for friends just for fun. I cycled through Geocities, LiveJournal, Diaryland, and eventually bought my first domain—quietcore.org—which was basically a moody band photography site. Later came helloembrace.org, a home for my art and photography that, strangely enough, still exists even though I haven’t touched it in ages.

Despite all that, I drifted away from writing for a long while. Life happened. But the itch never really went away.

In 2017, I found myself riding shotgun in a Kia sedan, somewhere deep in the vast, dusty nothingness of Mongolia. I was locked out of my phone, so my brain did what it does best: spiral into ideas. Blog entry titles came tumbling in like souvenirs I wasn’t ready to lose. That’s when the seed for this travel blog was planted. Of course, in true scenic-detour fashion, it took another six years (and an overflow of Google Maps and half-finished guides) to finally bring it to life.

Hi, I’m Dewi-Marie. Born and raised in Singapore, powered by green tea and an insatiable need for visual stimulation. Pictures in books and on screens? Nice, but not enough. I need to be there—soaking in the chaos of a street market, the eerie quiet of a foggy mountain, or the precise shade of blue in a remote Mongolian sky.

I spent years waiting for the “right” travel companion—someone with the same pace, same interests, same willingness to chase golden hour light for a photo. Eventually, I realised that person might not exist… so I went anyway. Alone. And somewhere between missed trains and perfect sunsets, I found a rhythm in solo travel that just fit. These days, I go it alone more often than not—though I’m open to company, if they can match my energy (and not complain about walking 20,000 steps a day).

I’m also the kind of travel planner who collects itineraries the way others collect fridge magnets—obsessively, and in too many tabs. Colour-coded maps, layered spreadsheets, seasonal comparisons? Love it. Even if I end up ignoring half the plan, I need to have one. Or five.

So welcome to my little corner of the internet—where I share my travel stories first and foremost: the moments, the mayhem, and the magic that make each journey unforgettable. Alongside the storytelling, you’ll find detailed guides, tips, and itineraries—drawn from my personal experiences and (slightly obsessive) planning. I have a growing backlog of destinations to write about, and I hope what you find here inspires your own adventures—or at the very least, gives you something good to read with your coffee.

If you’re curious about how I travel (read: fast-paced, photo-fueled, with detours for the occasional cathedral or pastry), I’ve got a whole post about that right here.

Thanks for stopping by. This journey isn’t just mine anymore. It’s yours too.