# Fran's Adventure > A checkpoint for your next adventure! ## Posts - [Longevity Paradox](https://franadventure.com/longevity-paradox/): From the last article, we know that the environment has major effects on our bodies, and how our bodies are not programmed for the modern world. Let’s dive deeper into this topic by providing you with these two ideas: “The Disposable Soma Theory” and “Antagonistic Pleiotropy”, which may explain the occurrence of these ageing diseases.  There is always a trade off I am sure you have been through this scenario many times.  You wanted to live a healthy life, so you began your day by waking up in the early morning to go exercising. Then you come home and cook […] - [Are Ageing Diseases An Evolutionary Mistake? (Part 1)](https://franadventure.com/are-ageing-diseases-an-evolutionary-mistake/): Evolutionary Mismatch Let me introduce to you a concept called “Evolutionary Mismatch”, which is an idea that our bodies are still being programmed for an environment that no longer exists. Imagine you are a Prehistoric human. You need to hunt for food, or you need to gather fruits and berries for your family. You had many dangerous encounters in the wild. Some of your friends did not make it past the age of 15.  You would think that these ageing diseases barely occurred because prehistoric humans lived in a brutal environment.  Prehistoric humans can live long The old way of […] - [A Simple Guide to Ageing](https://franadventure.com/a-simple-guide-to-ageing/): In the era of social media, you may come across some reels depicting people in their late 20s and early 30s suffering back pain and stiff joints. While these reels are meant to poke fun at their age, ageing is a biological process that happens to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, and cultural background.  So why do we grow old? Why do these symptoms appear? And perhaps the most important question: Can we slow down, or even prevent, ageing? Welcome to my very first article of an ongoing series about ageing. Our cells have a limited amount of replication If […] - [Diving at Koh Lipe - it's alright ](https://franadventure.com/diving-at-koh-lipe-its-alright/): Diving in January felt like a perfect way to start the year. I chose Koh Lipe due to its proximity to Malaysia, and I missed authentic Thai food. Day one started horribly. Before arriving here, I booked my place with this dive centre (Let’s call it P centre). When I checked out P centre in person, the vibe was absolutely dreadful. To make things worse, the divemaster and the customer service were shambolic. Their behaviour was unacceptably rude. I genuinely think it is because of my skin colour. Although I paid the deposit, I immediately searched for another dive centre. […] - [Birthday in KL, with a little circle of trouble ](https://franadventure.com/birthday-in-kl-with-a-little-circle-of-trouble/): Funnily enough, even as a Malaysian, I’m still not familiar with KL. I can name you the routes, the tube/subway, streets, specific locations, etc. in Norwich, London, Osaka and some parts of NYC and Tokyo, but for some bizarre reason, I always feel lost in KL. This was my second time in KL this year. Although I love my hometown Penang, it is simply too dang small. I needed a getaway. Plus, it was my birthday week as well; I needed a change of scenery. I asked a friend out but, as usual, he flaked on me. From now on, […] - [Third (and final time?) at Sipadan](https://franadventure.com/third-and-final-time-at-sipadan/): Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I went back to Sipadan, again, staying at Seaventure Dive Rig, again. To be fair, it was a good discount, so I couldn’t say no. However, this time is different compared to 2021. There were many tourists from other countries besides me, so it was always a pleasure to talk and learn from them. My single room was a lot cleaner and surprisingly large. The food was still the same, always delicious, and I always had a second helping. It was also nice to see some familiar dive guides/instructors and some new faces as well. One […] - [Short Roadtrip to Ipoh ... with an EV](https://franadventure.com/short-roadtrip-to-ipoh-with-an-ev/): I couldn’t remember the last time I had gone on a road trip in my own country. Therefore, I decided to take an EV to Ipoh, the capital of Perak. To be frank, I don’t think there is much to do in Ipoh. The main reason to travel to Ipoh is for food, especially chicken rice (one of my favourites) and dim sum. If you are a prayer, you can choose one of many caves that house Buddhist/Taoist/Indian deities. However, I just learnt that there are natural hot springs in Perak, so I have a good excuse to return to […] - [Quick Update- SSI React Right!](https://franadventure.com/quick-update-ssi-react-right/): First of all, I had gotten my SSI React Right license! Although the course is not designed around scuba diving, the skills and knowledge are vital for almost all emergencies. Without a doubt, the most valuable skills I learnt are CPR and AED. So, what prompted me to do the course? Well, my goal is to achieve the SSI Stress and Rescue. However, to conduct this course, you must do SSI React Right. Secondly, just before I did the practical bit of the course, there was a Facebook post about how the OP was shocked that no one in the […] - [Singapore December 2024 ](https://franadventure.com/singapore-december-2024/): After the Bangkok trip, we were expecting a grand Christmas in Singapore. Unfortunately, the decorations didn’t awe us. The 2023 decorations were significantly better. Although the atmosphere wasn’t as merry ( Singaporeans are rich and probably in Korea or Japan at this time), we managed to entertain ourselves. It was quite an eventful and productive trip for me. My highlight was scuba diving at SEA Aquarium after a decade. However, the twist is that my family can see me diving around in the aquarium! I always wanted to show my mum that I could care for myself underwater. After this […] - [Bangkok December 2024](https://franadventure.com/bangkok-december-2024/): At this moment, Bangkok is the best city for me to go to as a tourist. The city is full of exceptional food and great vibes. The price here is also very reasonable, and not many stores will try to rip tourists off (unless you go to dodgy districts). I loved Bangkok so much in May that I returned there in December. However, the weather was much cooler this time, and the Christmas decorations were the best I had seen. Singapore and Hong Kong’s Christmas decorations were a huge letdown, but we will talk about it in the near future. […] - [End of Year reflection](https://franadventure.com/end-of-year-reflection/): **I am trying to migrate my blog to WordPress.org to further improve my blog. At the moment, I am learning how to transfer my website to another hosting service. Thank you all for taking your time to read my blog posts!** 2023 was one of the worst years I’ve ever had; I literally hit rock bottom last year. So 2024 can’t be any worse, right?  I got a job at the start of 2024, so it was going well. Although the job is different from what I wanted, beggars can’t be choosers. I just need the momentum to be better. […] - [Nanchang November 2024](https://franadventure.com/nanchang-november-2024/): The last time I was in China was as a kid in 2004. I remember Dongguan being extremely dirty and dusty. To be fair, China was classified as a developing country back then. After 20 years, I came back. China is a new country—the streets are clean and safe, and all public transport (besides big buses) uses EVs. The metro is fast and smooth, and unlike the London tube, you can use your data underground. Bear in mind that Nanchang is just a Tier 2 city. I went on mountain excursions with my mum in Jiangxi province. The scenery was […] - [Lucky the Alaskan Malamute update : WE FOUND A NEW OWNER!](https://franadventure.com/lucky-the-alaskan-malamute-update-we-found-a-new-owner/): Finally, after nine months, we found an owner. The best part is that he is our neighbour so we can see Lucky occasionally! I also just discovered Lucky’s origin, or rather, the lack of it. I contacted the previous owner to obtain some documents on Lucky. However, they felt frustrated at me because I was asking some questions about Lucky. I asked for Lucky’s documents and the pet shop where they got Lucky. They gave me the standard BS answer—” Oh, we used translation for everything, and we lost the documents.” That was some “horse sheet”. I can’t trust a […] - [Lucky the Alaskan Malamute](https://franadventure.com/lucky-the-alaskan-malamute/): Who would have thought I’d end up caring for a dog, let alone an Alaskan Malamute? It’s been a journey of unexpected joy and learning. Lucky is an enormous four-year-old Alaskan Malamute. Due to his size, many people are afraid of him. However, he fears other dogs, especially smaller ones, and prefers being around humans. I have tried to have Lucky socialise with other dogs, but he always “cries” when he faces them. I am still trying to figure out what to do except to have him socialise with more dogs. At first, I was hesitant to take care of […] - [Thailand May 2024 - Day 3 + 4 ](https://franadventure.com/thailand-may-2024-day-3-4/): The highlight of Day 3 was the Chao Phraya cruise tour at Asiatique. It was my first-ever river cruise tour, so I was looking forward to it. The food was alright, nothing special, and of course, everyone lined up for the salmon sashimi. The Chao Phraya River lights up at night and is a sight to behold.  Day 4 was quite tiresome. In the early morning, we went to the Maeklong Railway Market. I swear almost everyone here was a tourist except the vendors. We went to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the afternoon since it is close to our friend’s house. It is a […] - [Initial D roadtrip part3D (Finale) - Arakurayama Sengen Park](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part3d-finale-arakurayama-sengen-park/): There are no prizes if you guess it right. We headed to Arakuraya Sengen Park to view Mount Fuji the next day. I was excited about this destination. However, 天公不作美, it was cloudy the whole day. It was such a disappointment. On the “bright” side, Fujiyoshida City is a lovely city for a drive-by. Thankfully, the car park is in the park, so reaching the observation deck was a short walk. However, the stairs were so bloody steep, and it took us quite a while to reach the top. So many tourists! But to be honest, it could have been […] - [Initial D roadtrip part 3c - Hoshino Ryokan, Hakone ](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-3c-hoshino-ryokan-hakone/): A ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn. At a ryokan, you don’t do much besides eating, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying more hot springs; they basically treat you and feed you like a king. Instead, I requested a private massage. I was knackered after driving from Gunma to Hakone. The massage therapist immediately saw that my body muscles were tight from all the driving, and I genuinely thought she had exhausted herself from massaging my back. It was one of the best massages I have ever had. Azaimasu! After the massage, I hopped into the hot spring. Surprisingly, no one […] - [Initial D roadtrip Part 3b - Hakone Yuryo onsen](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-3b-hakone-yuryo-onsen/): The next day, we woke up early to relax at the onsen. Hakone is one of the top destinations in Japan for onsen, but since we were travelling around spring break, it was packed with local tourists. Thank God we had our transportation, or we would have been stuck. After researching the different onsen, we decided to pick Hakone Yuryo since the locals seemed to like it more than others. The trade-off was that there were no English-speaking staff at that time. (However, I think they do have it now; I can’t confirm). It didn’t matter anyway since some of […] - [Initial D roadtrip Part 3a - Hakone](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-3a-hakone/): Hakone was the next stop. It is known for Mount Fuji and some of Japan’s best onsen (hot springs). On our way, we got to enjoy Mount Fuji; the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, our journey to Hakone wasn’t as smooth as we hoped. On our way to Hakone, there was a massive traffic jam on the highway, and nobody could move. This got me curious since I always thought Japanese people drive relatively safely and that there shouldn’t be any accidents. Well, not quite. While Japan’s accident rate is relatively low compared to other countries, most accidents are due to […] - [Thailand May 2024 - Day 1 + 2](https://franadventure.com/thailand-may-2024-day-1/): I was fortunate enough to have a friend gathering after four years! For our very first gathering, we would be in Bangkok. I always wanted to return to Bangkok, and this time, it was even better than the last time since one of our friends is a local. Thanks to him, we got to live in his accommodation and a driver—massive credit to Mr N.P. Our first meal in Bangkok was the famous 50-year-old noodle soup, Wattana Panich Beef Broth. The soup is very savoury; you could argue it is better than Taiwanese beef Noodles! Thankfully, we arrived early, so […] - [Initial D roadtrip Part 2B - Mount Akina during daytime](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-2b-mount-akina-during-daytime/): After we checked out of our hotel, we went to Mount Akina again during the daytime. Since we were there during Golden Week, there have been so many tourists to Shibukawa. I remember Miss M and I were screaming when we saw an AE86 and FD on our way up the mountain. We were living in the moment! There were many JDMs, including LanEvo, S2000, AE86 and more. Our lunch at the mountain was interesting as it wasn’t a well-known Japanese meal outside Japan. It was fried fish with yam sauce. After lunch, we headed to Haruna Shrine for blessings. […] - [Seaventure Dive Rig: Exceptional Resort for Hardcore Divers](https://franadventure.com/seaventure-dive-rig-exceptional-resort-for-hardcore-divers/): For a truly unique experience, I visited the Seaventure Dive Rig, a decommissioned oil rig transformed into a dive resort. I hoped to witness a barracuda storm this time, a sight I had missed on my previous visit. The rig, essentially a stationary liveaboard, promised an adventure unlike any other, and of course, I can’t ever get tired of Sipadan.  Upon arrival at the oil rig, a unique lift transports you to the platform, where a mini welcome ceremony awaits. This personal touch sets the tone for your stay. After some paperwork, you’re ready for your first dive beneath the […] - [Sipadan-Kapalai resort](https://franadventure.com/sipadan-kapalai-resort/): Sipadan is a world-class scuba diving spot globally because you can find almost every exotic creature on one island. However, you can not live on the island to protect the ecosystem, and thus, you have to live either at Mabul or Kapalai Islands or at Semporna. For today, I will talk about Sipadan-Kapalai Resort.  The Sipadan-Kapalai resort, often compared to the Maldives in Malaysia, offers a similar experience at a significantly more affordable price. Your accommodation here would be a charming chalet-style bungalow. For divers, I recommend requesting a bungalow closer to the dive centre for convenience. The rooms are […] - [Sipadan island -  a truly world class dive site ](https://franadventure.com/sipadan-island-a-truly-world-class-dive-site/): After diving at Koh Tao, I realised how lucky I am to be able to visit Sipadan, which is in Malaysian waters. Thus, it is a wee bit easier for me to travel to Sipadan. When I went through my blog, I was surprised that I had yet to write a blog post on Sipadan. Here we go! Sipadan Island, located off the east coast of Sabah in Malaysia, is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and vibrant marine biodiversity. It is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 meters from the seabed, and is often cited as one of […] - [Diving at Koh Tao - Overrated and Disappointing (A mini rant)](https://franadventure.com/diving-at-koh-tao-overrated-and-disappointing-a-mini-rant/): *Disclosure – The dive operator was great. The dive masters I met were professional.   I might get cancelled for saying my opinion, but scuba diving in Koh Tao is not the way to go unless you want to get an open water license cheaply. Thailand is well-known for many things, such as cheap food, elephants, nightlife, ladyboys etc. But for me, Thailand is known for their great dive sites … until now. Koh Tao, a name that translates to ‘Turtle Island’, is a popular destination for scuba diving in Thailand. What sets it apart is the affordability it offers, making it a top choice for divers seeking […] - [Quick update: Back from Thailand](https://franadventure.com/quick-update-back-from-thailand/): A quick update: I spent a week in Thailand for a reunion with some uni friends. It was a great trip. Of course I went scuba diving at Koh Tao (and Sail Rock). Which means more things to write! Thanks for everyone for being so patient. I still have not done my exam yet. Wish me luck! - [Initial D roadtrip part 2a - Mount Akina](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-2a-mount-akina/): Yes, I last posted a while ago since I got to study for an exam. I thought my last exam would be in 2020, but it seems that exam has returned to haunt me. After visiting Irohazaka, we drove to Gunma, specifically Takasaki, for our hotel. Takasaki is where the Takahashi brothers live, by the way. This part of the trip was perhaps the most exciting time in Japan, along with diving at the USS Emmons. After watching Initial D for god knows how long, I am finally here to see the real thing. From this point onward, I will […] - [Initial D roadtrip part 1 - Irohazaka](https://franadventure.com/initial-d-roadtrip-part-1-irohazaka/): Since I was young, I have been an avid fan of Initial D. I swear I have watched all the series, including the live-action, at least ten times or more. Since I was working in Japan, I had to go to the touge (mountain pass) that appeared in the series. The gist of Initial D is a high school kid (Fujiwara Takumi) accidentally overtook a street racer while delivering tofu, and the street racer community started to challenge him. There are six anime seasons (the third season is a movie), three reboot movies, and a live-action Hong Kong movie. The […] - [Manza scuba diving (and THAT BOX JELLYFISH)](https://franadventure.com/manza-scuba-diving-and-that-box-jellyfish/): If Kerama Islands are too far for you, or USS Emmons is out of your league, you can try diving at Manza. The most well-known site at Manza is the Dream Hole. One good thing about diving at the Dream Hole is that you are almost sure to observe white-tip reef sharks resting. Since I requested to see some sharks during my dive trip, the divemaster brought me to this cave system to check them out. They were surprisingly calm; it was still very early in the morning. I am confident I spent at least 20 minutes with the sharks […] - [Lewis Hamiton to Ferrari - WOW](https://franadventure.com/lewis-hamiton-to-ferrari-wow/): My mum does not watch F1, yet she knew this news. When my mum told me that Lewis Hamilton signed for Ferrari, I only realised the magnitude of this news. Many people, including myself as a Mercedes fan, did not see this coming. As a Mercedes fan, I understand why he chose to leave. According to Hamilton, the team did not take his feedback to improve the cars. However, I think one of the major reasons for him quitting the team is that the team did not support him enough after the end of the 2021 Abu Dhabi race. After […] - [Kerama Islands diving](https://franadventure.com/kerama-islands-diving/): I know I didn’t post last week; hence, there will be two blog posts this week. Chinese New Year is coming soon, so I was busy preparing. Kerama Islands is one of the more well-known dive spots in Okinawa. It suits both divers and non-divers, as you can do island hopping here. When I was there, it was the annual whale migration season, and oh boy, it was a pleasant surprise to see whales breaching out of the water. The first dive was straightforward since the divemaster wanted to check if my buoyancy was okay. It was only 6 meters […] - [Okinawa Churami Aquarium](https://franadventure.com/okinawa-churami-aquarium/): One of the largest aquariums in Asia is the Okinawa Churami Aquarium; it is a must-go location when you plan to visit the island. The catch is the aquarium is very far from Naha, around 2-3 hours away. You have only three choices: I took the taxi option because my primary purpose in Okinawa was to go scuba diving, and I did not plan to go anywhere. Furthermore, scuba diving can be pretty tiresome, and I want to avoid dozing off while driving.  When I arrived, I only realised that the aquarium is part of a theme/natural park. The aquarium […] - [USS Emmons](https://franadventure.com/uss-emmons/): While living in Japan, I had the opportunity to visit Okinawa. You can notice that the atmosphere of Okinawa is significantly slower and much more relaxed compared to mainland Japan. Hence, people here are happier and live longer. Well, I was in Okinawa to go scuba diving, duh. Of course, I made a video about it. One of the most memorable sites I visited was the USS Emmons. Initially, it was a destroyer in the Atlantic Ocean, and later in its life, it was converted into a mine sweeper before participating in the Battle of Okinwana in 1945. Multiple kamikazes […] - [Happy 2024](https://franadventure.com/happy-2024/): Hi everyone, I am back. 2022-2023 hadn’t been great for me, and I took enough time away to rethink about my life. At one point, I was so sick that I was constantly spitting blood, and my body was failing. However, I feel like my confidence is slowly but surely coming back. My aim for my blog is to write one blog post per week. Thanks for sticking by me. Let’s have a good 2024 together, shall we? - [F1 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix - Bottas' bowling arena](https://franadventure.com/f1-2021-hungarian-grand-prix-bottas-bowling-arena/): Sorry for the hiatus; I was busy finding a job and was not in the mood of writing my blog. Back to my review of the Hungarian Grand Prix. By this time, the constructor and driver’s championships are tight between two of the fiercest rival in the current era of F1. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is trying to close the gap to future world champion – Redbull’s Max Verstappen. Verstappen is on form right now, having five wins so far. Perhaps the most discussed incident was Verstappen’s 51G crash at Silverstone, thanks to Hamiton. Some said it was Hamilton’s fault; some […] - [F1 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix - Redbull is charging hard](https://franadventure.com/f1-2021-bahrain-grand-prix-redbull-is-charging-hard/): A new year, a new F1 season, but this time with some vital changes. The first significant shift is the budget cut for the teams due to the Covid situation (short term) and to adopt the new regulations for 2022. The second change is the reduction of aerodynamic advantages, losing 10-20% of speed compared to last year. Perelli revised the tyres to be thicker to increase durability (and advertise the brand to the public better). - [Swaziland 2017](https://franadventure.com/swaziland-2017/): In my second year of undergraduate, I had chosen a conservation module because I did not want to do exams. Besides, I had never been to Africa before, so I thought this was the best opportunity for me to visit there. - [Natural History Museum, London](https://franadventure.com/natural-history-museum-london/): South Kensington is home to some of the most famous museums and universities in the UK. Perhaps the most outstanding museum in the area is the Natural History Museum. Compared to the Science museum, this is a lot more interesting and grand. Victoria Albert Museum is unique of its own. - [Jay Chou in London](https://franadventure.com/jay-chou-in-london/): The king of Asian pop, Jay Chou （周杰伦）had two concerts in London. Once in 2017 and once in 2019, and due to some unknown external reasons, I got to attend both gigs! Wow! Lucky me. His first-ever concert was held in SS Wembley Area, London. The tickets for this particular concert were sold out in 15 minutes, making this concert one of the fastest-selling ticket event ever in the UK. I wanted to go, after knowing this news, I just gave up. However, one of my friend’s friend could not attend, and she decided to give me the ticket. How […] - [Switzerland Summer 2019](https://franadventure.com/switzerland-summer-2019/): After my graduation in the summer of 2019 (seems ages ago), I had decided to bring my family to Switzerland for an extraordinary family trip. None of us has ever been there before, so everything will be new for us. As usual, I had done in-depth research on that country, and it seems that Switzerland is the best place because it is one of the safest places in Europe. - [RAF museum, London](https://franadventure.com/raf-museum-london/): The Royal Air Force Museum is the collection of different planes that were used from the WW1 period till the modern period. It is located near Colindale station, and you have to walk for around 15 minutes to reach the place. It is free entrance though, and I can recommend everyone (especially families with kids) to come and take a look. I love it so much that I came here twice! Once in 2018 and once in 2019. The museum is vast, and it is divided into 4 – 5 different hangers for multiple different eras of fighter planes. I […] - [Greenwich, London](https://franadventure.com/greenwich-london/): Greenwich is well-known for its maritime history, and this is where Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was named after. The iconic location of Greenwich is the Royal Observatory. I booked for tickets to the observatory and other museums. It was a long journey from my house as Greenwich is located at Zone 2/3. It was very early in the morning, and there were very few people. I could enjoy the fresh air while walking alone in the park. Some children were playing around with leaves while couples were taking a stroll around Greenwich Park. I was sitting on the bench for […] - [Sunny day in Central London](https://franadventure.com/sunny-day-in-central-london/): This academic year was unlike any year before. We could not return to our university to conduct our final year project. The project was replaced by writing a grant proposal. Working in our rooms 24-7 was very dull, but there was a lot more free time available, and one day I decided to chill in Central London. - [Formula 1 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix - Surreal Sergio and Mercedes in the mud](https://franadventure.com/formula-1-2020-sakhir-grand-prix-surreal-sergio-and-mercedes-in-the-mud/): 6th December 2020 was the Sakhir Grand Prix, which has one of the smallest circuits (54 – 55 seconds) in the F1 history. Lewis Hamilton was tested with Covid-19 and had to isolate. His replacement was the highly anticipated (and loved) George Russell from Williams, a relatively new driver under the Mercedes programme. This race would be an opportunity for him to show the world his true potential, and immerse pressure for Valtteri Bottas as he had a rather unlucky season. Jack Atkins would then take Russell’s seat at Williams. At the end of the qualifying, Rusell achieved 2nd place […] - [Richmond Park, London](https://franadventure.com/richmond-park-london/): Richmond Park is the largest park in London, and it has a long history to it. But most of us wanted to go to Richmond Park for the deers (THE BABIES ARE SO CUTE). It was quite a long way to get there. If I was not mistaken, I had to take 2 – 3 buses to go to Richmond Park. I had been to the park twice with 2 groups of people, and both experiences were drastically different. Richmond Park is enormous, and there are multiple entrances. The first time I went there, I entered a relatively flat field […] - [Tottenham Hotspurs vs Burnley - December 2019](https://franadventure.com/tottenham-hotspurs-vs-burnley-december-2019/): Arsenal fans … look away 🙂 I have a friend who is an avid fan of Tottenham Hotspurs, and since we were all studying in London, this was his chance to watch a game live in the new stadium. I honestly wished they would give the stadium a brand new name instead of naming it “Tottenham Hotspurs stadium”. We called it a toilet bowl because of its shape. - [One day trip from London 2020 (Part 2) - Bovington Tank Museum](https://franadventure.com/one-day-trip-from-london-2020-part-2-bovington-tank-museum/): All of us are gamers and love to play FPS games. I also like WW2 games such as Company of Heroes. And after knowing the largest tank museum in the world is in the UK, we were working on our next road trip. - [One day trip from London 2020 (Part 1)- Stonehenge and Portsmouth](https://franadventure.com/one-day-trip-from-london-2020-part-1/): Before the end of the first lockdown in London, my friends and I had decided to plan a day trip out of London. We were bored till death in our room, and we needed to do something … anything. A day trip out of London sounded wondrous, and this was the second time of me driving in Europe. - [Paris Easter 2018](https://franadventure.com/paris-easter-2018/): I was learning French in my final year of undergraduate, and what is the best way to practise a language? Go to that country! I decided to make a solo trip to Paris for 4 days because why not. Instead of planning my trip from scratch, I had bought the Paris Pass, which gave me unlimited public transport usages, entrance to almost everywhere, exclusive deals and the best part – cutting queues. The first day I was at the Notre Dome (before the fire) and Patheon. I liked the Patheon slightly more than the Notre Dame. Notre Dame was charming, […] - [Iceland Winter 2017](https://franadventure.com/iceland-winter-2017/): It is already December 2020 … and we are all still trying to process what the hell happened in March 2020. This year is horrendous, and many people are looking back to the good old days. During this time in 2017, I was in Iceland with my friends, and let me tell you – it was one of the best December I had in my life. Iceland is genuinely incredible (世外桃源!） As I was the only one who can drive in that group, I did most of the planning based on my ability and the conditions in Iceland, but it […] - [Go-karting in London](https://franadventure.com/go-karting-in-london/): After watching my first F1 race at Silverstone (2019 British Grand Prix), I was starting to get into knowing more about the sport. And the closest form of activity that resembles F1 is go-karting. - [Formula 1 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix - A chaotic and emotional race](https://franadventure.com/formula-1-2020-bahrain-grand-prix-a-chaotic-and-emotional-race/): The Bahrain Grand Prix was held on 29th November 2020, in Sakhir, Bahrain. By this time, Lewis Hamilton was announced as 7th world champion, including Mercedes AMG F1 winning their 7th consecutive constructor championship. Everything seemed pretty normal until the first lap of the race… - [Pulau Payar Marine Park - October 2020](https://franadventure.com/pulau-payar-marine-park-october-2020/): One thing that I missed the most when I was in the UK was to go scuba diving. Don’t get me wrong, you can still go diving in the UK, but you have to wear a drysuit as the water is just too cold. This is not a pleasant feeling for a guy that lives in the equator for his whole life. When I finished my masters, the first thing I did back home (of course after quarantine …) was to jump back into open water. And the first place to dive was at Pulau Payar, where my underwater adventure […] ## Pages - [Medical Portfolio](https://franadventure.com/medical-portfolio/): A collection of Fran’s medical writing, exploring evidence-based topics in health and science. These articles translate research into insights that are easier to understand and apply. ARTICLES - [About](https://franadventure.com/about/): About Fran, Hey everyone, Fran here. I created this blog because I was bored and decided to do something I never thought I would do. Feel free to share it! Thank you. I hope to make this blog as useful and entertaining as possible, so do stick around for a bit! Here’s a quick introduction about myself: I am currently working in Penang, Malaysia. I had an MSc in Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology at Imperial College London and a BSc in Biological Science (with a year in industry). If I had the time and money, I would go scuba diving. […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/franadventure.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)