2022

31 December 2022 in DIARY, SINGAPORE

2022 was… actually pretty wonderful. :) Not in any particularly dramatic and exciting way where I went skydiving, met the love of my life or even travelled (I haven’t left Singapore for 5 years), but in the quiet everyday ways.

In 2022, for the first time in a while, I felt calm and settled, at peace with where I am and very happy about it. After many twists and turns and much prayer and hard work, I have landed at a place right where I want to be in my career journey. I finally managed to tick off some life to do items this year, found a new hair salon which suits me really well, and thanks to Singapore gradually opening up from the whole pandemic situation, life has felt a lot better and as close to normal as we can get.

This year, I spend at least 4 days in the office every week (I’m team office all the way, WFH just doesn’t really work for me!), I started a new job in February which has been great, visited 25 exhibitions across various museums in Singapore, went to the cinema to catch 11 movies on the big screen and read 17 books. In between, I catch up with my friends and blogging whenever possible! A good friend from my university days in Hong Kong recently moved to Singapore, and it’s been great getting to catch up regularly in the same city!

I’m well aware what a privilege and a blessing it is to have such a great year in such difficult times and while I truly love living my city life in Singapore, it comes with its own set of challenges too, especially since prices for literally everything in Singapore has gone up this year. Having said that, we’ll try our best to roll with it, all part and parcel of life, yes?

I don’t make much big plans or resolutions for the new year, but I’ll just allow myself one potential plan for 2023… and that is to FINALLY make a trip back to Hong Kong! I have been patiently waiting, and with Hong Kong finally announcing their opening up and dropping all PCR and ART tests and quarantine etc, I think it’s about time I start planning a trip to the other city I used to call home. It’s been way too long and I’ve been away for a very long time. Hoping very much to see HK in 2023!

But before we reach 2023, here is my 2022, represented in a bunch of snapshots in order from January to December. :)

Taken at the Epigram Bookshop at their old location in the URA Centre

From the National Gallery Singapore’s exhibition: **Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real**

From the National Museum of Singapore’s exhibition: **A Voyage of Love and Longing**

From the National Library Board’s exhibition: **Mapping the World: Perspectives from Asian Cartography**

Delicious dinner at **Pistachio Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Grill** and wonderful catch ups with friends!

**Hong Kong: Through the Looking Glass** miniature exhibition

From the Louis Vuitton **200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries** exhibition

**Yuugo Cafe** – a new discovery this year I really like!

More tea at one of my favourite cafes **Little Oasis**

From the National Museum of Singapore’s exhibition: **OFF / ON: Everyday Technology that Changed our Lives, 1970s – 2000s**, probably my favourite exhibition of 2022.

Re-visiting the **Singapore City Gallery**

**Singapore Botanic Gardens – Gallop Extension**, such a beautiful place!

From the Asian Civilisations Museum’s exhibition: **Batik Kita: Dressing in Port Cities**

From the Malay Heritage Centre’s exhibition: **Cerita**

So many cafes in the Kampong Glam area! :)

Visiting the Singapore Art Museum (at Tanjong Pagar Distripark). Contemporary art is not really for me hahaha, but I did like this! From the **Superfluous Things: Paper** exhibition.

The real reason why I went to Tanjong Pagar Distripark! Epigram moved here this year. :)

Meeting author Lauren Ho at a book signing event! I told her how much I enjoyed her first book and also got her second book!

I’ve been meaning to visit the **Baba House** for ages! It was so interesting learning more about Peranakan heritage and history and wandering around this house!

I loved the Barbie themed exhibition **House of Dreams** held at ION Orchard so much! This was my other favourite exhibition of 2022!

Visiting the **Istana** during its open house!

**The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022** held at the National Museum of Singapore

Attending a fashion show for the first time, pretty fun! This was organised by **The Front Row** as part of Singapore Design Week.

Visiting the **The Library of Unread Books**! I love this library and project!

From the ArtScience Museum’s exhibition: **MENTAL: Colours of Wellbeing** :)

First time at the BookFest@Singapore (2022 edition)! So many books and stationery and wonderful things. :) My sister and I got new books and little gifts and discovered some Singapore small businesses!

Sending you all my best wishes for the new year ahead and as always, thank you for being here and journeying along with my Singapore city adventures. :) May 2023 surprise us, in all ways, big and small. Hope you’re having a great New Year’s Eve and see you again in 2023!