Hi! This time, I would like some my best week spent with the most special person who came all the way from Melbourne to see me. I went to visit JR in Melbourne in June 2017, and JR just visited me in Singapore in February 2018. We have actually planned this trip since December 2017 when he had to cancel going back to our hometown, Jakarta. JR and I have actually been together for almost 4 years and we've been on this long-distance-relationship (LDR) for almost 2 years since June 2016.
Not to mention that LDR requires lots of effort to put into, it is completely an adventurous journey for us to go through.
Having said that, after meeting him 8 months ago in Melbourne last year, we were tremendously grateful that we are finally able to see each other in Singapore using our own savings. Nobody would ever understand how excited we were seeing each other after almost a year. In fact, it felt so crazy how long we have been counting months, days, and hours just to meet and hug someone you really love the most in a person. Eights months that are worth waiting for.
Not to mention that LDR requires lots of effort to put into, it is completely an adventurous journey for us to go through.
Having said that, after meeting him 8 months ago in Melbourne last year, we were tremendously grateful that we are finally able to see each other in Singapore using our own savings. Nobody would ever understand how excited we were seeing each other after almost a year. In fact, it felt so crazy how long we have been counting months, days, and hours just to meet and hug someone you really love the most in a person. Eights months that are worth waiting for.
He stayed in Singapore from 12th February until 20th February. On the first day, I had an exhibition and gallery assignment at 3 pm and I was rushing to the airport right after. He came out from the Changi Arrival Hall at 5:16 pm and that was the exact time when I cried. Do you ever feel like you are speechless because you are too happy and your tears unconsciously come out? That was exactly how I felt. I cried because it felt so wonderful how he still loves me through all the hardships. We were hugging and all I could think was “This isn’t real. Is this real? The guy I could only see through skype. Is this real?” Some people were looking at us but they’ll never know the story behind my tears.
On the second day, we met my friend at NAFA to do a short photoshoot session. In the evening, we had our lovely dinner in Lau Pa Sat. It is a famous street food located in Raffles Quay that is best known for its satay. It is quite pricey as they were mainly targeting white-collar workers who work around there. It is a nice place where you get to enjoy your food while surrounded by the skyscrapers. We spent about $50 for us to be full but it was worth the taste. But not to worry, there are various food stalls where you can get to try various of Singapore’s famous food.
After dinner, we decided to find a place to chill so we ended spending time our night sitting at the side of Marina Bay Sands while looking at beautiful Singapore’s city lights. We weren’t there just to chill, however, we had a deep talk, to share our thoughts, to recreate our commitments and things to be done in order to align our vision that we want to achieve in years from now.
We didn’t have any Valentine’s Day dinner as I had to attend four classes in that day. Jason’s family welcomed me warmly and we went to Orchard to have some sort of a ‘photoshoot session’. I can’t lie but his dad’s photography skill is LIT. Here are some of my favorite photos of us taken by his dad. We actually intended to wear matching outfits every day, so what we did every morning was to inform each other what color that matched #EffortWorthEveryPicture. It was sweet how he wanted to ensure that we have cool photos of our memories, we build our love in this photograph.
After dinner, we decided to find a place to chill so we ended spending time our night sitting at the side of Marina Bay Sands while looking at beautiful Singapore’s city lights. We weren’t there just to chill, however, we had a deep talk, to share our thoughts, to recreate our commitments and things to be done in order to align our vision that we want to achieve in years from now.
We didn’t have any Valentine’s Day dinner as I had to attend four classes in that day. Jason’s family welcomed me warmly and we went to Orchard to have some sort of a ‘photoshoot session’. I can’t lie but his dad’s photography skill is LIT. Here are some of my favorite photos of us taken by his dad. We actually intended to wear matching outfits every day, so what we did every morning was to inform each other what color that matched #EffortWorthEveryPicture. It was sweet how he wanted to ensure that we have cool photos of our memories, we build our love in this photograph.
*Ps: His dad was the one who forced us to take this photo.
Our photoshoot session did not end up in Orchard, as we managed to go to Gardens by the Bay. Anyway, if you prefer to take pictures of nature or floral theme, you should come by to take pictures as many as you want. We did not go inside cause we went there before, however, it is divided into three places including OCBC Skyway, Cloud Forest and Flower Bloom which costs $24 for each. The weather was too hot, but it was such an enjoyable trip in Gardens by the Bay, I really a great experience spent with him and his family.
After Gardens by the bay, probably around 11 pm, we managed to take the last boat from Clarke Quay to enjoy Singapore’s iconic cityscape. It costs $25 for each of us to go around Clarke Quay-Esplanade-Marina Bay Sands roughly for 45 minutes. It was a great experience especially if you go with your family and friends. Interestingly, the boat is provided a speaker that clearly explained the history behind every building that we passed through. So, if you are curious about Singapore’s architecture, the Boat Quay is definitely something you should experience! Additionally, you will have to see Singapore’s skyscrapers in a closer look from a different perspective!
Sunday Funday! We went to IFGF church in the morning and ate lunch with eight of my friends at Fish and Co at Vivocity. After lunch, we took a tram to Sentosa island. It was a short yet a fun trip. There are three ways to get there: Take a walk (Free), bus ($1), or tram ($4). Again, Philip followed us to take pictures. Guess who was prepared for the ‘pre-wedding’ HAHAHA but, honestly, all of the results were just higher than our expectation, we really really really love it.
Sunday Funday! We went to IFGF church in the morning and ate lunch with eight of my friends at Fish and Co at Vivocity. After lunch, we took a tram to Sentosa island. It was a short yet a fun trip. There are three ways to get there: Take a walk (Free), bus ($1), or tram ($4). Again, Philip followed us to take pictures. Guess who was prepared for the ‘pre-wedding’ HAHAHA but, honestly, all of the results were just higher than our expectation, we really really really love it.
Photo was taken by @philms_51 and processed with VSCO with HB2 preset
There goes another fun day we spent at Sentosa Island. We left house at 10 AM and rushed to Universal Studio Singapore. Luckily, USS was not really crowded so we managed to experience 7 different rides in a day. Anyway, I purchased the ticket which cost $68 each through online. It is cheaper than if you buy it on the spot that will cost you $74. I could say this was the best part of our trip. We really enjoyed every second that we had. Luckily none of us were scared of height haha! However, I found it sweet when he kept on telling that I still look pretty even when I sweat plus he was kinda angry as I preferred to take the rides instead of eating. (Didn’t want to waste my time lol) #AWW But honestly, thanks to JR for the effort to truly understand me and to always make me feel secure.
#BESTEXPERIENCEintheUSS would be when we were screaming and looking at each other while riding the Cylon, the scariest ride in USS. Our feet were hanging and we were twisted and turned upside down for about five times. We both screamed out our names and laughed while looking at each other expressions. HAHA funny right. It was truly insane yet really memorable! And what is funny was our mouth went dry after the ride.
Sadly, we didn’t take many photos because too bad, my friend Philip wasn’t with us. Lol. BUT YEAY! we managed to ask strangers a favor to help us take pictures. Well, the results were not too bad. Anyways, our date to USS was extremely fun and we truly enjoyed every second that we had to wait there. Thanks, USS, you’ve been great! We will absolutely come back!
Sadly, we didn’t take many photos because too bad, my friend Philip wasn’t with us. Lol. BUT YEAY! we managed to ask strangers a favor to help us take pictures. Well, the results were not too bad. Anyways, our date to USS was extremely fun and we truly enjoyed every second that we had to wait there. Thanks, USS, you’ve been great! We will absolutely come back!
Our day didn’t end at USS but we were actually rushing from Vivocity to go back home to change clothes for our first fine dining at Level 33, the best rooftop bar we have gone so far. It was our best dinner ever where we were laughing at each other knowing the fact that we couldn’t eat the European food we ordered. It was Ploughman’s Board, Octopus Spinach, and French Fries that were served on our table. It was funny how we had to fake every time the waitress went to our table to ask whether the food was fair, cause it was just not for us.
20th February – Last day of our trip. It was packed as we had to rush to the airport by 5 pm. We were actually planning to buy same hoodies which at the end, we couldn’t find it. So we went to Uniqlo Somerset (last minute) and found the striped cardigan that I have been looking for. Coincidentally it came with two similar designs available in both men and women sections. So, we went to the fitting room to try on for a minute and directly brought it to the cashier. YEAY! What matchy-catchy clothes we have. (It was just 4 hours before the flight)
We were rushing back home to bring Jason’s luggage for 10 minutes, took grab to NAFA for my lighting and sound assignment and we rushed to the airport.
Now, the drama begins. We were wearing the clothes we just purposely bought for photo shoots while killing our time until 6:30 pm (an hour before his flight). We were not sad until the time when before he went inside for immigration. It was the last he hugged me tightly and I started sobbing. I honestly tried not to but realizing that we will be split was the worst feeling ever. Could you imagine when you finally got to spend only a week with your loved one and you realized that it will be the last time of you seeing each other? I tried not to cry but I just felt like I am losing a best friend, a brother, and a boyfriend. The sad thing is we don’t even know when we are going to meet again, whether it’s eight, nine months, or a year after. We’ve got no idea. All we have to do is just holding to our commitments and communicating through Skype.
Now, the drama begins. We were wearing the clothes we just purposely bought for photo shoots while killing our time until 6:30 pm (an hour before his flight). We were not sad until the time when before he went inside for immigration. It was the last he hugged me tightly and I started sobbing. I honestly tried not to but realizing that we will be split was the worst feeling ever. Could you imagine when you finally got to spend only a week with your loved one and you realized that it will be the last time of you seeing each other? I tried not to cry but I just felt like I am losing a best friend, a brother, and a boyfriend. The sad thing is we don’t even know when we are going to meet again, whether it’s eight, nine months, or a year after. We’ve got no idea. All we have to do is just holding to our commitments and communicating through Skype.
*Ps: It was exactly the plane that Jason was going to fly on.
Thanks for the memories in Singapore, it was definitely a week to remember. The feeling of me being loved, appreciated and cared by someone I love the most was the best feeling I could ever ask for. I hope to see you soon, JR. #BacktoLDR
Long distance relationship doesn’t always make us stronger. But at the end, all the distance, time and effort that we both sacrificed are gonna be worth it everytime we meet each other. In fact, we truly appreciated every second that we had in Singapore. We promised not to let any of us down, we really just want to spend our tim together and to show our love towards each other. And it is worth all the distance we will have to go through.
Long distance relationship doesn’t always make us stronger. But at the end, all the distance, time and effort that we both sacrificed are gonna be worth it everytime we meet each other. In fact, we truly appreciated every second that we had in Singapore. We promised not to let any of us down, we really just want to spend our tim together and to show our love towards each other. And it is worth all the distance we will have to go through.
We didn't hug. We cried.
“We are the perfect couple. We’re just not in the perfect situation.“
[Photo was taken by @philms_51]
Thank you for reading! #STAYTUNED and #DONTMISS my next blog post!
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