This is kind of a really belated post because I have had many mentally draining weeks at work and I kind of got lazy over weekends. *glares at RAG*

So I turned 30 last month.

I was genuinely excited about this one, actually. Not normal but to me it is a significant milestone even if I have not exactly achieved everything I envisioned myself achieving at this age. Work wise, I think I am in a good position so no qualms about it. Personal life wise, not so much. There’s a tinge of fear and regret but it’s mostly excitement, so I suppose that’s a good thing.

I spent the first half of my 20s, dare I say, depressed and in a self pity/shame mode over the state of my skin and it’s not until a couple of months before I turned 25 did I decide to act on it, only because I hit rock bottom and couldn’t sleep well at night. It gradually got better with treatment - I don’t think I will ever be completely out of the woods - but I think I am ready to put that behind me now. In essence, starting off my 30s feeling as goofy as I would when I turned 21 or something hahaha.

I have this practice of getting myself a birthday present and this year, I asked myself what I really need at this moment (a partner is not a logical answer). And the answer is actually crystal clear - I needed a break from work to keep myself sane. Because it’s actually really tough to go to work everyday, executing a project which I have a hard time agreeing that it should be the way forward, and have to remind myself every time that it is ultimately beneficial despite all the drawbacks.

And so that’s what I did. I booked myself a holiday. To Melbourne.

Details of the trip in a separate post because it’s wordy as usual haha. I deliberately picked a more atas hotel for the first two nights because birthday, left a note to the hotel when booking hoping for some surprise (ended up with none, disappointing tsk tsk), and booked myself a nice birthday dinner and left a note to them too (more on that later).

Anyway, I enjoyed the trip. I always enjoyed solo trips, because there’s so much freedom (no offense to my travel partners). You get to decide what time to start the day, change plans on a whim, pause and admire things that caught your eye for as long as you like, and most of all, a lot of time for reflections which is something that an introvert like myself really appreciate.

So on my birthday itself I didn’t do anything that is too out of the ordinary (relative to the few days I had in Melbourne). Started with a nice brunch, a good cup of coffee, lots of walking and sightseeing, a bit of shopping, and finished with the aforementioned nice meal at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Left a note via the third party booking site hoping for some surprise, in the end I did get one surprise dessert so I thought it worked. Turns out it didn’t - but while I am alone in Melbourne, I have been posting Insta stories regularly and my pals found out where I am having dinner, and called up the restaurant to arrange for the surprise. Felt the love and couldn't be more thankful.


Reflections wise - did get some private thoughts sorted out so I think I definitely returned home at the end of the trip feeling rejuvenated, and with clear goals in mind. Although, spoiler alert, it didn’t take too long for me to feel the need for another break :/

30 is the new 20 indeed.

Labels: australia, milestones, thoughts, travel