Reflections on a blockbuster 2024

My 2024 in summary

When you kick off a brand-new year with a major house move and a media trip to China, you know it’s going to be a blockbuster year. And what a year it has been. Somehow, the heaviness has lifted, and I began to live life more energetically. My end-of-year ritual involves jotting down the defining moments as a personal record, so here goes:

1. The Year of Travel

Heading into 2024, I had a clear goal: purposeful travel and to fulfil a long-held dream of overseas reporting. Breaking into the fiercely competitive world of travel journalism and crafting stories with genuine social impact hasn’t been easy. But I’m so proud of myself for having done just that.

This year, I’ve hit the ground running with these travel stories:

· Malaysia: Documented how a farm is rewilding a former palm oil plantation and healing it from the scars of a degraded past

· Malaysia: Wrote about a resort’s ethos of interacting with horses and nature as education for guests

· Phan Thiet and Cam Ranh, Vietnam: Wrote about how Vietnam’s south-central coast is perfect for adrenaline junkies

·Tohoku, Japan: Wrote about how walking the Michinoku Coastal Trail in Tohoku in northeast Japan offers a sobering reminder of nature’s destructive power and a symbol of recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

· Peru, South America: Traveled solo and spent a month volunteering at a horse ranch in the Sacred Valley through Worldwide Vets; wrote about Peru’s potato guardians preserving the country’s rich food heritage and indigenous natural dyeing practices

· Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Learned how a newly built cultural centre seeks to celebrate, preserve, and revitalise the country’s music and arts for future generations of Cambodian children

· Wakayama, Japan: Volunteered at a rice farm in rural Japan

· Ubon, Thailand: Learnt about efforts to decarbonise rice farming

· Dhankuta, East Nepal: Experienced the warmth of community homestays in a lesser-known region of Nepal. hosted by Community Homestay Network

· East Hokkaido, Japan: Volunteered at the charming Heart Ranch in the East Hokkaido countryside, and wrote about how a wave of newcomers revive the countryside

· Xinjiang and Shanghai, China: Embarked on a road trip through some of the most incredible winter landscapes with my family

Life has been pretty much non-stop—but in the best way.

For some, travel is an escape from the humdrum drudgery of daily life or a way to tick off exotic destinations on a bucket list. I recognise how incredibly fortunate I am to weave travel into the fabric of my life. I get to travel slowly, experience multi-location living by shuttling between city life and the countryside. Through my adventures, I immerse myself deeply, invest in a broader world, gain deep insights, and tell people’s stories.

One of the best decisions I made was signing up for a travel writing academy course. Helmed by award-winning writer Jess Vincent, who has written for some of the world’s most well-known publications, I learned the ins and outs of what it takes to make it as a travel writer and, most importantly, became part of an uplifting international community of fellow writers.

2. Lady! film

Four years ago, I would never have dreamt that our tiny film project would grow into something far bigger: a platform for meaningful conversations. On top of receiving accolades in the US, our film has gone on a whirlwind tour to dozens of local venues, including the National Gallery, National Library, Esplanade, Bloomberg, Brahm Centre, and Our Tampines Hub, among others.

It was also surreal to be selected as the opening film of this year’s Singapore Mental Health Festival and to see our film promos playing across the city’s train stations. Film is such a powerful medium to foster connection — we cried, laughed, and felt deeply moved by the other incredible films showcased during the festival. We also learned so much through the post-film panels and rich discussions.

3. Hugo’s Journey book

Having just completed a film, I was itching to work on another creative project. Thus, the idea for Hugo’s Journey was born—my first illustrated book that chronicles the story of a hedgehog in search of a powerful unicorn. I worked with illustrator Kah Hwee of @inwarmregard, who brought my vision to life. I oversaw the entire process from start to finish: writing, storyboarding, coloring, design, layout, printing, publicity, and distribution. In many ways, it was intensely cathartic, a way to process my own experiences of loss.

I did a talk at the National Library and launched the book at Kizuna Cafe, a joyous occasion where friends turned up in full force. Over half of the 250 copies have sold, including to friends in Nepal, South Korea, and China. The National Library called it a “charming read” and requested 25 copies to be stocked across all its branches in the Adult Singapore section. I’m in disbelief that a piece of me will live on, long after I’m gone. And get this—the book’s purchaser at Kinokuniya told me she loves hedgehogs!

I’m constantly filled with wonder when the book lands in the hands of complete strangers. Two stories stand out. One came from a UK teacher who spotted Hugo at Books Beyond Borders in Maxwell while on a visit to Singapore but didn’t buy it. She later pinged me, asking if I could air mail copies to her because she couldn’t stop thinking about it. The second came from a lady who discovered Hugo through the Casual Poet Library Instagram account.

The book title caught her eye because she had a miscarriage this year, and the baby’s name was Hugo. Upon looking through the Hugo IG account, she shared how its themes of mental health, processing grief and letting go brought her comfort. Her older 4-year-old son loves unicorns, and seeing images of the unicorn and hedgehog together felt very special. She decided to buy the book and postcards to thank those who had journeyed with her family this year. Her story reminds me how art can foster healing in ways I never expected, and makes my work even more meaningful.

4. Community building

I’ve found myself involved with various communities here: my horse-loving friends at Herd, fellow curious wanderers at Stranger Convos, and fellow dreamer book nerds at Casual Poet Library. My time has been so full with these pursuits. I hesitated at first, but a big client project I’ve been invited to join involves designing a walking trail in the Selegie area with a social impact lens. It’s been a really fun ride so far.

5. Downtime rituals

This year, I’ve been trying to be more intentional about spending less time in front of a screen. I’ve returned to some of my old childhood hobbies. The tactile act of art journaling, the ritual of going to the library, and reading bring tiny pleasures to my daily life. I’ve also embraced the mindful practice of making tea and matcha in beautiful ceramics, the art of observation, and listening to meditative soundscapes at night. Next year, I want to spend more time with plants in the garden.

6. Physical health

Growing up with asthma, I struggled with sports and had no competitive streak. Physical exertion? I hated it. That was, until I discovered long-distance walking while on a 10-day hike to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal in my early twenties. Walking revealed a strength I didn’t know I had, and showed me how to move with joy. In a fast-paced world, walking has become my remedy. It’s a radical act of slowing down, a space to process ideas, quiet my mind, and reconnect with the earth. Next year, I hope become more disciplined about fitness. More Pilates, rollerblading, swimming, and bike rides are on my list. I also want to prepare healthier meals and take better care of myself.

7. Mental health

While hiking in Nepal in September, I received the heartbreaking news that a dear one had taken her own life due to post-partum depression. We had lost contact for over a decade, but she was an important part of my growing-up years in school. It was painful to hear that she had been suffering. It also resurfaced memories of others I had loved deeply but had to let go—one with thoughts of passive suicide ideation, and another who shut himself off from the world, refusing help. Some days are still hard. I still wrestle with feelings of sadness, and feeling inadequate and useless. But for the most part, this year has been the most mentally well I’ve felt in a long time.

Being still, spending time in nature, and working with horses has helped keep the negative thoughts at bay. Horses have given me so much comfort when I needed it the most. I count myself as blessed to be able to spend time with these beautiful and gentle creatures, in nature, in silence and away from the chaos of the city.

Earlier this year, an unexpected email landed in my mailbox. It was from a prominent entrepreneur introducing me to Wasfia Nazreen, a Bangladeshi mountaineer and National Geographic explorer. Abandoned by her mother at 13, Wasfia went on to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents. Wasfia’s journey as a fearless advocate for gender equality and her deep spirituality inspired me. She had turned loss and trauma into purpose, finding refuge in Mother Nature’s embrace. “We’re all climbing our own mountains,” she said in this video interview, “and it’s how we live with intention that matters.” Her words stayed with me.

It’s through these anecdotes that I feel God working in my life, sending people my way to remind me that I’m not alone in facing challenges. And how abundantly lucky that a tiny ordinary freelancer like myself has the chance to meet so many amazing humans in my lifetime and write about it. As a Nepali guy I met during my media trip to Dhankuta in the mountain village told me, via Instagram, "Oh what a beautiful life you are living!" Now, I’m walking alongside a dear friend who is struggling with severe anxiety. There’s no quick fix, no perfect solution, but sometimes just listening and holding space is enough. Life is filled with mountains to climb, but it’s in walking them together that we find grace.

8. Family and friends, and guardian angels
Having lived on my own for the past two years, I’ve gained a clearer understanding of how I want to structure my life. I’ve since moved back home, due to skyrocketing rents. It’s not always easy to live within a large, tightly knit family, where my voice often gets drowned out, but I’m learning to set better boundaries. I’ve also been very blessed to receive an abundance of love and support around me. This has also been a season of new friendships—surrounding myself with good, kind energy. I’m endlessly grateful for guardian angels like T and S, whom I met through the Yunnan retreat. One of my favorite moments this year was being invited to S’s atmospheric home for an exquisite dinner with a curated mix of dinner guests, where soulful conversations nourished us late into the night.

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As the year comes to a close, it brings to mind what someone said to me: “Trust the journey. The shadow and the light. The silence and aliveness as the journey unfolds.”

I’m grateful for many things: the ability to live life rich with meaningful experiences, the freedom to chart my own path, and the privilege of sharing my journey through storytelling social impact work. I cherish the kindred spirits who lift me up, the serenity of nature, and the childlike joy of exploring new places and cultures, heartfelt connections, led by a tender heart that loves deeply and a quiet courage. I’m learning to embrace the present moment, to delight in simplicity, and to trust the gentle unfolding of life, as it flows like a river. Here’s to finding light in unexpected places and to walking the path—wherever it may lead—with gratitude, wonder, and an open heart.