May (1/3) and June (1/2) 2026 Dump Featuring Singapore, Malaysia, and Bali

Y'all, I'm going to be honest, the Salt Late City to Seoul flight nearly got me. My butt hurt so bad and I got no sleep. But I made it, I got a brutal massage at the Seoul airport (1 out of 10.5 massages for the whole trip), and I touched down in Singapore right on schedule.

That extra day in Singapore was crucial. I wanted to explore the airport, and I did, but I also took a four hour nap and ordered room service for dinner. 

The next day (May 24, four days after the last day of school), I flew to Malaysia and I experienced a two and a half week miracle. My back didn't hurt. My shoulder didn't hurt. I felt rested even on early days. Headaches were rare, and I think driven by caffeine withdrawal. Was I hot? Absolutely. Was I sweaty? 100%. But it's Southeast Asia, you just have to embrace the sweat and take 2 showers a day. No biggie.

Where did this miraculous pain-free existence come from? Every other day massages? Those helped, as did the all inclusive spa and no worries nature of the retreat in Bali. But more than that? I was happy. I was doing something I truly enjoy. I was learning new things, meeting incredible new people, trying new foods, and traveling in a way that I love. No emails, no work, none of that. And so even when there were minor hiccups or stresses, it was not a problem. Good vibes only. 

Now obviously, I can't bring all of these travel vibes into my daily life. But the trip refilled my cup, and left me with a renewed spirit. The Balinese people in particular have a very unique religion influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism. It focuses on balance and intention. Three big tenets are harmony with the divine (whatever that means for you), harmony with nature, and harmony with other people. And those tenets are ones I hope to incorporate in life going forward.

This renewed energy was perhaps by biggest philosophical take away from my trip, but I definitely still had a ton of fun here in the more physical world with my mom and friends (both old and new). Let's discuss.

1. I'm loving Malaysia. It was relatively cheap, the food was plentiful, and the activities we did were awesome (I particularly enjoyed our sunset cruise in Langkawi and exploring Kuala Lumpur by Vespa). I also loved learning about how the influx of Chinese and Indian immigrants over centuries has shaped the cultural identity of the country. And, of course, I loved meeting a new Contiki fam. Tour travel is certainly unique, and I know it's not the best fit for everyone. I always have a great time, but it's important to know what style of travel works best for you. Tour travel is a great option for me, and this is a topic I plan to explore with travel advising if anyone is interested (Instagram: @itsonmylisttravelco).

2. Singapore, at leasts parts of it, is Disney World. The Supertree Grove? The Pandora Area in Animal Kingdom. Marina Sands Hotel? Contemporary Resort plus Disney Springs Vibes. Spectra Light Show? Epcot's night show. Hot and humid weather? Say less, Orlando has that too. Incredible organization and efficiency? WDW has that down. I digress. Very much enjoyed the city-state and all it has to offer. Shoutout to Rachel for leading us to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It had not shown up in any of my research and I learned so much.

3. Bali was interesting. As I mentioned, I definitely enjoyed learning about the religion and culture. I also enjoyed the white water rafting I did and visiting Ubud Palace. It is a beautiful island and I only wish I had stayed a few more days to explore more of it. I was there for a wellness retreat hosted by Goddess Retreats. They are amazing. They really anticipate your every need and make you feel special and loved. In fact, they addressed us all as goddesses whenever speaking to us, and I will now only respond to such. 

Also, men could never. Openness? They don't even know. The retreat was women only, and it was quite nice. Everyone was kind and vulnerable to the extent they were comfortable with. We were open and we learned from each other. People shared and we had some lovely times at meals and yoga and workshops and excursions. We also took amazing pictures of each other without prompt, which is key in such a stunning location. 

That all being said, I did not think I could get spa fatigue. I love me a spa. I love a massage. I love a facial and a scrub. But I did get spa fatigue. Every treatment was impeccable (I especially liked the hair spa), but it was a lot. In addition, there were a lot of opportunities to interact with healers and other spiritual consultants. That's not really my vibe, but it was definitely impactful for the other goddesses on the retreat. So overall, the retreat was a great first introduction to Bali. I know now what I can recommend to people based on their needs and what I personally want to go back and explore.

Also, the retreat serves very natural, tasty food and me, with my terrible eatings habits, had processed food and caffeine withdrawals. That's definitely a me problem and I will work on it.

Anyway, 10/10 would recommend everything I did. Except climbing all the steps at the Batu Caves. The best views are definitely from the bottom. My legs felt like jelly. Just go up until you see a monkey (for funsies), then go back down.

Shoutout to my mom, Rachel, my new Contiki fam, and all the other goddesses for a great trip.

Please enjoy these photos as I return to the real world.

















Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 14, 2026 at 10:01 PM

    Hello Ms Terry! I enjoyed your blog. Was great meeting you, Julie and Rachel. Keep it up! Good vibes from Sydney, Deb xx

    ReplyDelete

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