Dorinda Gym

So let me give you a little background. In Turkey, there are 3 main mobile operators, namely Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom. Turkcell has the biggest subscriber base, with Vodafone as the second largest, followed by Turk Telecom. If you would like to know more, you can check this link to see the latest figures. 

Check it out here

Should you purchase the Turkey SIM Card at the airport?

There is no right or wrong with purchasing the SIM card first or after arriving in Turkey. However, since we are traveling in a big group, we'd figured that if we get it in advance, it will save a lot of time when we are there. 

In order to skip the hassle of stopping or queuing at the airport, we decided to purchase the SIM card in advance. Our friend helped to check some of the options available in local e-commerce site Lazada and we ended up choosing this - https://bit.ly/34tImus

Actual product received of the Vodafone SIM card we purchased for the Turkey trip:




Review of the Turkey Turkey SIM card - Vodafone: 

Friendly reminder: The SIM doesn't come with the PIN, please bring along yourself 

What about other Turkey SIM Card? 

Additional information: 

Do you need to purchase mobile data in Turkey? 

If you have read the above, I guess you're thinking about getting a SIM card for internet usage in Turkey. So the next question that you have might be: "Is it needed for everyone to get their SIM card?"

Well the answer actually depends greatly on the user. If you want to share every moment, like posting Instagram Stories or going live in Facebook, then it's definitely a yes. You can also ensure that you are able to stay connected with the group of people whom you are traveling with via Whatsapp, WeChat or any messaging platforms.

Other than that, almost all the hotels that we stayed provided WiFi. If you don't need it for those #InstaMoments, then you don't really have to get it.

Guys I made a video below compiling some of the Instagram Stories that I have posted during Turkey trip, check it out :)

Hope you enjoy your trip in Turkey as well!

-Love, Mel 

Let me tell you something straight, it’s highly not recommended to drive yourself if you have more than 5 pax in your group (which means you will driving a bigger vehicle than usual).

Our family of 7 got into a minor car accident- on the FIRST DAY of the Jeju trip. Yup, I said it. It was really a huge blow-off and generated lots of anxiety until the incident was settled.

If you have decided to self-drive in Jeju/ rent a car in Jeju:

1. First thing first, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INCLUDED COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE in whatever package that you have signed up.

This is very very crucial! For our case, our insurance is not comprehensive but just partial. So we had to pay a part of the damage cost while insurance covering the rest of the damage cost.

If we had purchased the full insurance, we would have only paid for the rental cost that the rental car company lose.

2. Make sure you have someone who is a good driver

As the driver seat would be different from Malaysia, which is on the left. It might take some time for the driver to actually get used. Not only does the driver has to get familiarised with the different seat, the entire road is different. Like how cars are making turns, which way to look, even the roundabout becomes anti-clockwise.

2A. Make sure you also have a good GPS Navigator assistant

As mentioned in point 2, it’s already a difficult task enough for the driver in getting used to the different driver seat and road condition. The last thing he/she wants to be doing is to be distracted on checking out on the GPS.

Of course you can choose not to use the in-car GPS and choose your own phone if you prefer that way. Still, the driver will need someone to help so he/she can stay focused on the road instead.

And please, do the driver a favour and don’t sleep throughout the journey. Since the distance between different tourist spots could be from 30mins up to 1.5hours or more (depending on how you arrange your itinerary). But you get my point, it’s better if the driver has some sort of support from the passenger seat.

3. TRY TO ARRANGE YOUR ITINERARY IN EARLIER DAY

My traveling period was quite a popular season of the year- Autumn, 18-21 October. I can say that the day starts really early, and the day ends even earlier. The sky starts getting dark as early as 5pm+. Which also means your visibility starts decreasing 6pm onwards. It’s going to be more difficult for your to find the routes.

4. Check if your hotel/Airbnb provides parking space (and still be prepared to look for parking space even if they do)

Obviously when you are renting a car, you will need to park it in the property that you are staying. For two consecutive nights, we had some difficulties to park. First night was due to the incredibly small parking space to fit our 7-seater car. Second night, the car park was full. We didn’t even get to see the car park and wasn’t sure how many parking space exactly do they have.

5. Parking space are REALLY SMALL and roads could be narrow in the Jeju town area

We were in the area near the black pork street, I’m not even kidding, the roads were so so narrow and the cars were just simply parked on the side of the road. Literally we had to check left and right to make sure we don’t brush any cars. Phew!

It's #MotivationWednesday again, today I would like to share with you a few quotes that I relate to all the time.

Now that you are reading this, this Gif explains my mood perfectly 

Drum-rolls please...

Jason Mraz - Have It All 
First of all, the rhythm and tune itself are uplifting and so nice to our ears already. Wait till you listen to the lyrics!

May you have auspiciousness and causes of success 
May you have the confidence to always do your best

You know during new year, we always like to wish people with abundance on this auspicious occasion. But we shouldn't only remember this on occasions like new year or Christmas. I wish that people around me are motivated to be successful (in your own definition, doesn't necessarily mean a great career or wealth, could be anything!) all the time. Let there be lesser self-doubts and more self-convincing and self-loving moments. I know it's not easy to stay confident in the society today because negative words and criticism are everywhere. Especially in the prime age of Social Media, so many people are trying to bring people down and say hurtful words without thinking about the implications.

The matte, vivid blue-ish red lipstick has been on every girl’s makeup pouch, or at least on their to-have-list. Especially suitable for pale skin, the color is rich, soft, matte and moisturizing. It’s one of the best MAC lipsticks that flatter almost everyone, not only the ones with pale skin tones. Celebrities like Rihanna, Rita Ora and Taylor Swift are also fangirls to this shade.
 


Candy Yum-Yum

When you feel like going a little extra like how Katy Perry does it all the time, this neon pink shade will get the job done. Although it is in matte finishing, the neon pink colour is still able to make your look pop. Being one of the most popular pink lipsticks, instantly you are taken back to the 80’s when you put it on.


Velvet Teddy

If you are looking for the go-to nude shade, this is your answer. Velvet Teddy is a deep beige with matte finishing colour that is ‘just right’. If you are into Kylie Jennner lip trend, chances are you’ll love this too! Since the colour is not too overwhelming or underwhelming, this is suitable for your daily wear.

Russian Red

This is very close and an alternative to Ruby Woo. The bold and intense bluish-red will give you long-lasting wear all day long. Add suspense and drama to your humdrum everyday life by simply wearing the Mac Russian red matte lipstick. The red lipstick is ideal for fair skin, giving a smooth and opaque finishing.
Rebel

A purple and berry colour that is unapologetically bright. Rebel is a satin lipstick with sheer to full-coverage that showcases that fierce look of yours. Not only it gives your beautiful colour, it stays on your lips for hours. Now are you ready to add a pinch of electricity to bring your look to the next level?
Twig

Mac Twig is an old-school favourite that comes in shades of soft brownish-pink. It’s definitely a combination of lovely nude and standard mauve. Since it comes in a satin-finishing- it means it is a little glossier than matte but still suitable for everyday wear. The colour is a dusty rose/brown colour that gives you that creamy and buttery look.
Heroine

Bright purple may not be the common choice when it comes to picking up a lipstick but Heroine is definitely worth trying. The bright purple hue of Heroine doesn’t only define the lips, but brings out a different character that usual colours like red or pink are unable to. It could be a light sheer of purple or layered to an intense purple - suitable for day and night wear.
Honeylove

The perfect beige lipstick that you need can be none other than Honeylove. It is closest to having your naked lip but in a nicer shade. The longtime favorite is a staple color that everyone should invest. Honeylove is able to bring attention to your lips without going too obvious with other colours. It makes your lips stand out naturally.
Diva

Whether you are having that diva mood or feeling like a boss, this intense reddish-burgundy dark lipstick is the perfect choice. Wonder Woman Gal Gadot wears Diva for bold lips even on the red carpet.

I recently wrote a piece to participate in a contest, wrote it in less than 2 days (that is after working hours), figured I shouldn't waste it- so here goes:

Day 2 Taichung City 台中市 - Nantou County 南投