Updates

After leaving Jakarta, I spent about the best part of a week bumming around Singapore, catching up with people and enjoying the city.

Turns out my sister's housemate is also starting his own business - a deli in Suntec. I caught up with Yeen Nie as we went to pick up her new bike (very exciting!) I caught up with the ever growing Grobys family (growing in size, not number... yet) and their new bike (with wheelbarrow attachment in front) and had a great time being driven around their carpark. I suggested that Seb get a becak driver's uniform. I went shopping for a backpack and new insoles with my sister Beatrix, and we found a cool camping store (Camper's Corner in Bras Basah) with a very knowledgeable and helpful "uncle" working there. I caught up with Buci and we talked about life and got lost, as well as discussing the history of his employer, TWG. I have to admit I like Singapore more and more.

The bakfiets being assembled

The bakfiets!

Happy Yeen Nie with her new bike!

Thoughts on TWG

While wandering about the store, waiting for Buci to be released, I admired their extensive and expensive tea collection as well as the impressive range of tea paraphernalia (mostly variously designed teacups, saucers, teapots, mugs, somovars....) More than tea, TWG is selling an experience, a lifestyle, a dream. It's all in the packaging... how else would they be selling so much tea at such a mark up to mainland Chinese who had travelled to Singapore!

It made me think of the "location independent lifestyle" "industry" - offering people an alternative, an enticing dream, and how to get there... for this low low price!

It also made me think of being a producer rather than a consumer - be a producer of content that adds value to the lives of others, whatever that might be. Justify your existence.

I then returned to Bali, where I caught up with Am in Kuta (after much hassle) and got some very sweet deals on the Hotel Quickly app! Spoilt with workspace by a nice pool, even if it was a bit cold to get into. After that, I travelled back up into the hills of Ubud, which seems to be full of Italians for some reason this week. Topping the list of most-heard language (after Indonesian and English of course).

I have also just been paid for my first 2 jobs on Upwork! Woohoo, cashflow!