Hello! 👋 Welcome to Girl Eat World.
My name is Melissa and I am the “girl” in Girl Eat World. As the name of this blog might have suggested, I live to eat – one of my biggest motivation for traveling is to taste more food from all over the world!
There is no “About Us” on this blog, because there is no “us”. Everything you see here was done by yours truly. I’ve written every single post, taken and edited 99% of the photos (sometimes I use free royalty images, if my photos sucked), and done all the back end maintenance required to keep this blog up and running. It’s a one-woman show!
Lastly, you might have gotten to know about me through my Instagram @girleatworld. Well, I hardly ever update Instagram anymore after losing interest in the platform. This blog is where I now record my extensive travel tips and food stories.
How Girl Eat World Started
Blogging and I go way back. I have been blogging for nearly two decades since 2001 when I was still in school.
I was pretty nerdy as a kid. I preferred to be sitting in front of my computer, learning HTML and CSS after school instead of going out. I fell in love with coding and building websites. I was part of the early adopter of Blogger before switching to WordPress in its beta days (back when it was still called b2/cafelog!).
Back then, I was blogging about video games and all kinds of cringe-worthy topics as any teenager would. I kept a blog until well into early adulthood, but it did not survive after I started working full-time and had less idle time on my hands. I abandoned blogging for a few years.
Fast forward to 2014, I accidentally found success with my instagram and discovered that I still love sharing travel tips and stories. With this renewed enthusiasm, I decided to give blogging another try. This time, I created a dedicated travel blog and named it Girl Eat World – which is the blog you are viewing right now!
Long story short, that’s how Girl Eat World started. Since then, I’ve been super lucky to have explored places I never thought I would visit – such as Ukraine, Jordan, the middle of Australia, and Tasmania – I’ve also done the diving trip of a lifetime in Raja Ampat, spent loads of time in Bali and Japan, crossed New Zealand off my bucket list… and the list goes on!
Lastly, I just have to add that blogging is not my full-time job. It’s my hobby! Professionally, I work as a product designer in a tech company.
So, you want to know more about me?
- If you want to know how I started traveling, what camera I use, and how I edit my photos, please visit my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
- For features or articles that have been written about Girl Eat World (both on Instagram and this blog), please visit the press page
- I have visited 36 countries so far – you can view my travel map here
- To keep up with my travels in real time, you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I also have a personal Instagram that is more geared toward general travel pictures and my daily life in Singapore!
What else do I spend my time on?
Food, Travel, and Visual storytelling are my three main passions. That much is obvious from this blog. Other than that, I’m really just a geeky person at heart.
Growing up, I enjoyed playing video games – mostly RPGs and tower-defense games – and it shaped me as a person. My first-ever website, the one that inspired me to self-teach myself front-end coding and is the entire reason I have a job, was a character shrine for my favorite game of all time – Final Fantasy VII.
I love watching sci-fi shows – I have been a die-hard fan of The X-Files since 13, and the show is pivotal to my life.
I also enjoy diving, the kind that takes you underwater, which conveniently overlaps with travel most of the time. It has taken me to obscure places I never thought I would ever visit. I have Advanced PADI certification and have logged over 100 dives so far.
Most recently, I became a Formula 1 fan after getting hooked by Netflix’s Drive to Survive show. I don’t have a specific driver or team that I support, but I will say Sergio Perez’s story at Sakhir Grand Prix 2020 played a huge part in converting me into a fan.
Hi, Melissa,
Thank you so much for the extensive, invaluable and well-organized information that you provide on travel to Japan.
Much appreciated.
Hey Jennifer, I’m glad I can help!
Hi Melissa,
We disembark in Singapore in mid-January after a SE Asia sea cruise. We are planning to spend three or four days in Singapore, then possibly go to a resort nearby for a few more days. So your piece on eight nearby places to visit is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. I have three questions;
1. Mid-January is monsoon season. Are there typically enough breaks in the rain then to make a beach resort visit worthwhile?
2. Sentosa looks nice and is closer. What are the advantages of the places you list over Sentosa?
3. Which is your favourite resort? (unfair question perhaps)
Thanks,
John
Hey John,
1. Typically in this region, it would rain only in the afternoon or overnight. Usually it is not all day rain, although it does happen sometimes – no way to tell really! I would still go anyway and hope for a good weather haha
2. While Sentosa is a great place for Singaporean to visit, it is a manmade island. I have to say the beach is nothing to write home about compared to the 8 places I listed. Also, the accommodations there tends to be way more expensive than other beach resorts around Singapore. For that reason I don’t recommend Sentosa unless you really don’t have time.
3. Haha yes this is really hard… I was quite impressed by Anantara at Desaru Coast (Malaysia) and The Residence (Bintan, Indonesia) – super easy to get to from Singapore and nice. Nikoi and Telunas island were also really nice, but it’s better for family – if your travel group is only adults, perhaps you can check out Cempedak Island. These islands are part of Indonesia, so you’ll need to pay for Visa on Arrival (which is around SGD 50 per person).
You have always given us amazing content. Cannot thank you enough.
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for the information on your post. I am interested in visiting tainan. However the tourist bus only comes by during the weekend. Are the public buses in Tainan convenient and accessible; as i have a fear of taking buses as i cant recognize the traditional chinese characters. Would taking uber or taxis be better?
Thankyou and hold to hear from you soon 🙂
hey jochia, i don’t speak or read chinese characters myself but i had no issues taking the bus in Tainan. you should be fine!
Hi Melissa
I have been in Japan for work a few times (Tokyo) and taken a long weekend to Osaska/Kyoto.
This time I will have about a week there and I would like to explore other regions of Japan.
I love the food and drinks (breweries and distilleries), I have no experience with the nightlife (yet) and I enjoy hiking – I enjoy spending time where locals are rather than where the tourists are.
Would you suggest north or south?
Apologies for the very wide and open-ended question
Hey Allan, for 7 days I would head down south to Kyushu. Fukuoka is where hakata ramen comes from and they’re probably the last place in Japan where street food is still a thing so you’ll have fun checking out the food scene there. You can also check out Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima (known for pork). Kyushu is less explored so you’ll see less tourist there too, hopefully!
Question I have looked at the Indonesia VOA B1 & at the beginning l see you post a passport photo but in another later section it asks for a pdf “ Passport valid for 6 months” does that mean l again download my passport.
I am so nervous to use this online application as l only have a few hours to apply before boarding a P & O cruise that states l will be refused boarding without it. I can’t apply for it earlier as will be in Indonesia on a 6 day holiday on aVOA that l intend to get at the airport & my understanding is l can only apply for another VOA to reenter once l leave. I will be flying out of Indonesia to Singapore to board the cruise the following day that goes to Indonesia before arriving Australia. Should it fail or be be refused if l make a mistake in the application what can l do? I was told by the Australian Indonesian consulate to get the VOA at Benoa port when ship docks but P&0 want us to have the VOA before boarding!
Hey Kris, yes you do have to upload the passport twice. It’s a new flow they released and I agree it’s a little weird.
Hi Melissa,
I’m not usually a blog reader but came across your site whilst travelling in Japan this year. Found your info on Kyoto, Osaka and Hakone very useful. You are a gifted writer and know how to pitch things at just the right level. If you ever decided to become a “professional” travel writer, I’m sure you would be very successful. Thank you for all your help! Travis (from NZ)
Hi Travis, thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time to write it! you’ve made my day 🙂 I suppose, my posts work bc I try to be honest and only suggest things that I myself found useful.
This was very helpful, is there a good day tours to take us places which hotel 4 or5 star in the good area so you can go shopping and see sightseeing’s
Jila, which city are you referring to?
Had a great lunch with — yesterday!
Really good man!
Hi Melissa,
Just a heads-up that I really liked your blog – after reading it, I decided to add a few nights in Phuket Town to my itinerary. So, thank you.
Hey P, have fun in Phuket!
Thank you for your review of the Royal Albatross-I will be going on the special Christmas Cruise on December 30th after I arrive from🇨🇦. You4 review helped answer all the questions I had & the photos are great too!
Joanne
Hey Joanne, I hope you had a great time on the cruise!
Very Informative. Thanks for the post Melissa.
Melissa, your advice on setting up a Molina account before doing the EVOA application was spot on as was your tip about entering the postal code of the hotel as everything populated automatically thereafter. I discovered that my info from our 016 trip was in the Molina system so that made the account setup and the EVOA app so easy. Once I paid, the EVOA showed up in my email within a minute as well as being visible on my account. Did my husband’s EVOA and same procedured worked like a charm. Thanks for the great advice.
Hi Diane, I am glad it helped you! Have fun in Indonesia
Hi Melissa, I came across you by accident, I was actually on the Wise bank card Webb page, and you had left a review on that site saying how good you found the Wise card and the very good low interest charges as against PayPal etc. I eventually ordered my own Wise card in advance because my wife Sue and I are going to Dubrovnik next May. Then I clicked on your photo, this took me to you and your blog page. Very interesting it is too. Keep at it, please add more photos of the places that you visit. I am a young 76 and still eager to tons more with my life.
For my sins, I ended up working as the Tech Manager at Disney UK. If you are interested in Sci-Fi, I have written a book that came about after I saw a 200ft long cigar shaped UFO.
I am trying to get my book published, [300 pages], it’s called ‘The Journal of Adrian J. Drake’.
In brief, Captain Drake on his last mission in Poland at the tail end of world war 11 discovers a saucer shaped craft. He decides to do the unthinkable, he will keep it. But where do you hide a craft as big as West Ham stadium?
If you are interested, I can send you a copy via my e-mail. If my book can make money, then I could visit your country, lol. Keep up the good work, Melissa, keep eating the world. Regards, Geoff.
Hi Geoff, this is random but if you eventually publish your book I would love to get it and read it!
Cheers
i am trying to pay for my evisa for indonesia getting there by ship filled out application finally but i am unable to pay anywhere
i need help thanks
Hi Melissa,
I am trying to put in the address for my Hotel in Bali but the VoA wont recognise it and enable Captcha.
Could you help.
The Hotel is Radisson Blu Uluwatu and the address is:
Jl. Pemutih, Village: Pecatu, District: Kuta Selatan,
Regency:Badung, Province: Bali
Thanks
Andrew
Can you try zip code 80364
Sorry, try 80362
Hi Melissa
I have the same problem…
Our address in Bali according to Google Maps is:
Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua Lot. North 4, Jl. Nusa Dua, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80363, Indonesia
According to the postal code webside you’re referring to, the postal code is actually 80362. However, this doesn’t help either.
What to do?
Thank you.
Mads
Hey Mads, I was able to complete the form with postal code 80363. Can you try that?
Hi Melissa, thanks for the detailed information on the Visit Japan Web prior to entry into Japan
We realized that under the section for pre-registration for quarantine procedures, there is a remark that travellers could complete a part of the quarantine procedure on a website before entering Japan.
Does it mean that we could do the following:
Create a new VJW account via its website either on computer or mobile phone, input the registration info such as passport number, flight number, arrival date in Japan and other required information and also upload our vaccine certificate for the Quarantine section and await for the square to turn blue.
Thereafter, we will log out of the VJW website either on computer or mobile phone and log in again to the VJW app in our mobile phone to complete the Immigration Clearance and Custom Clearance.
Hey Grace, yes you can login to the VJW account on another device using the same password and username
Hi Melissa
i am traveling to Japan this weekend which not have take to book JR pass thru Klook as exchange order take 14days to receive.
so i plan to have a single trip JR pass to Odawara to Kyoto.
However i do need another JR pass to travel from Kyoto to Nara/Osaka/kobe/Himeji /Hiroshima/Miyajima Island.
Can you advice which pass should i purchase?
Hiyaa
I am planning to travel singapore with my 3.5 year old baby girl.
So i was searching on google for some activities for kids and i found your blog.
Generally i dont read blogs too much but i just read your whole blog and it’s really helps me lot.
I dont know how to say thanx to you.. But you are really great writer and eater 🙂 as i have seen ur many pics with foods.
Your all pics are awesome.
Thank you so much Hardik! This means a lot to me. I hope you will have fun with your baby girl!
If you are not a US person, perhaps consider North Korea. The history of the country is fascinating. Thank you
I feel inspired by your blog while researching for my blog! I am also living in Singapore and loves to travel. Started the blog fairly late compared to you and is mainly using it to pen down my experiences and work on my writing. Maybe we can meet up someday? 🙂
Hello Melissa- greetings from England. Like most good things I found you by accident and have really enjoyed what I have read so far. Is England on your travel list- so much history and I am sure that you would really enjoy a Steak and Kidney pudding!
Hi Phil! I have been to the UK twice, but only to London and Bath. I did visit Edinburgh too in one of my trips! This was before i started this blog though, that’s why there are no posts on the UK. Hope to explore more once travel restrictions have been lifted!
Hey there. I just stumbled across your blog when was after some info on Nusa
Penida recently and its really good hope you get back to travelling soon . btw 39 countries is really impressive. I’ve been to 26 so far.
I love your blog, Melissa 🙂
You’re such a great person!!:)
Whatever school project, your blog is the best!!:)
🙂I love your blog 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼I like how you explain the recipes of korean food … I am Mexican but I love korea and I want to visit each of the places you recommend us thank you very much Melissa … You would visit 🇲🇽 is beautiful and we have a meal to suck your fingers 😉😉🤗🙂🙃
Hi Melissa
Just read your 10 days japan itinerary, can you provide a rough estimate for cost(Accommodation, japan internal travel, food & activities cost).
Rest thanks for such a detailed itinerary🫡
hey that’s a great idea! i’ll add it to my post
I would recommend for you to visit Papua New Guinea, located just north of Australia. Check out our Instagram Account @beautiful__png
Greetings from Trinidad & Tobago Melissa. I loved the episode that showcased South Africa so much! Is it possible to get info on the black and white scarf you wore with the leather jacket in some of the final scenes in that episode of Girl Eat World please? Thank you in advance.
Hi Semoy, the person you are looking for is Kamini Pather, who does the TV show Girl Eat World. I am a different person 🙂
Wow thats so cool.
Do you happen to visit KOREA before?
I would like to recommend to come to KOREA to learn more.
Simon
(from KOREA/ Seoul)
Delicious:)
You shoud come to Perú, nominate the world fodie destination.
Drop by here just wanna say hi. I admire your instagram, and thinking to knowing your traveling stories here.
Greeting from Bandung 🙂 Wondering if we can meet up someday 😊
Thank you Efi 😀
i’m so interest to you Melissa. may I got your message to my email? [email protected]
thank you for all your posting. I love it!!
You should come to Mexico we have delicious desserts
Great show
What is your heritage
You’ve got a portuguese-food-lover-fan here. Lovely project, great style and most importantly, FOOD! 🙂
Oh gosh, I hope to visit Portugal some day. Thank you for dropping by Catarina!
I like your hobbies and your all pictures you are doing great job
Thanks Sandeep 🙂
Your photos is so beautiful!!you are so awesome:-)
Thank you Maria!!
I think dI is
Hi dear, u r my all time favourite developer. I have seen ur https://MelissaHie.com site. which was One page site with 6 different colors. N butterfly pic on home page. which was developed in 2007.
I’m big follower of ur. good work. keep it up.
Wow that’s old school 🙂 I’ve recently updated my site though, so the butterfly went away. I’m more of a black-white simple design fan now. So much has changed in 8 years!
Hi Melissa,
Your post is really helpful. We were planning to stay at Ayana Resort and go for new years at Rockbar bali. Would you recommend that? Also can you pls share your insta handle. Had few more questions. Thanks.
You should book ahead if you plan to spend NYE in Bali. I suspect they will have a special event for NYE!