Discover how living abroad becomes a launch pad for exploring nearby countries and cultures, creating stories that inspired building MyGuideGuru.
By now, it’s clear that I loved to travel and followed my career across the world to immerse myself in different cultures. But what happened once I landed in those new places? Each location became a launch pad, opening up nearby countries and adventures that shaped my outlook on travel, and eventually inspired MyGuideGuru.
Living in Brunei meant Singapore was just a short hop away, where I saw how a small peninsula had transformed into a thriving trade hub - tourism and the F1 included! Vietnam stole my heart with a back-of-the-bike food tour that doubled as a cultural exchange with local students. Cambodia dazzled with temples steeped in centuries of Buddhist traditions. Bali thrived in glorious chaos, from fragrant street markets to seafood feasts. And one unforgettable weekend in Malaysia, I found myself at a rainforest music festival where local traditions came alive under the canopy of the jungle. To top it off, I climbed Mount Kinabalu, soaking in both the physical challenge and the cultural depth of the region.
Korea became my gateway to a whole new set of experiences. In Japan, I marvelled at orderly queues and quirky cafés where hedgehogs were the stars. Kuala Lumpur buzzed with energy, its street food stalls brimming with flavour and its slightly worn edges adding to its charm. Jinhae’s cherry blossom festival was pure magic, with installations and blazing lights juxtaposed against the glorious natural beauty of the blossoms. In Myanmar, the streets reeked of durian but were framed by elegant colonial remnants (pictured), while in China the smog was thick but the Great Wall still stood in radiant glory beneath the sun.
Life in the Netherlands opened doors to adventures across Europe. We trekked the Tour du Mont Blanc, where flavours and languages changed with every mountain pass. In the Dolomites, dramatic granite cliffs told stories of war, with trenches still carved into the landscape. Belgium welcomed us into a local countryside gathering for watching Tour de France and dazzled with fireworks for its national day. Portugal’s northern coast offered sunsets that seemed eternal, while its port wine vineyards whispered tales of history. And in Germany, Cologne’s Christmas markets wrapped us in warmth and cheer, turning the darkest winter days into something magical.
I don’t need photos to share these experiences… your imagination can fill in the colours, sounds, and scents. And that’s what we are passionate about. Each memory came from immersing myself in local life, tasting the food, learning the history, and stepping into traditions – and I took away farm more than photos. That’s why we built MyGuideGuru - to make this way of travelling accessible to everyone. With self-guided tours, you can uncover those same layers of culture at your own pace, turning every trip into something deeper, richer, and unforgettable.
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