Hidden Gem of Malaysia- Melaka D’Riverside Inn

On March 23, 2016March 23, 2016 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

“Malacca (also spelled Melaka) is a Malaysian state on the Malay Peninsula’s southwest coast. The capital, Malacca City, has a colonial past seen in its preserved town center, the site of 16th-century, Portuguese St. Paul’s Church. It’s also home to Christ Church, built by the Dutch in the 18th century and converted to the Anglican denomination under British rule in the 19th century.”- Google

Over the last month, I’ve been analyzing and regrouping what I want my website to be, I want to stay completely authentic to my vision because it is my business and life!

Well, when I was in Southeast Asia, I felt led to visit Malaysia after a month in Vietnam. I was at Hanoi at the moment and basically had nothing booked. I managed to be my own booking agent and found 2 flights connecting in Bangkok, which would save me approximately $50 since I was booking a day before. Here’s a tip, any flight coming out of Bangkok will be cheaper since Bangkok has such a large airport (flights are cheaper!).

I spent a week in Kuala Lumpur at a bed and breakfast and proceeded to look up buses to the next city. I had never heard of Melaka, but the pictures looked old world, vintage. I was the only one in the van. I stayed at the most expensive hotel since I had nothing booked and really needed to recharge (after walking around the whole city with a broken luggage). Later, I remembered Discovery Cafe and Hostel, a bright dutch looking building. I walked over with my heavy backpack and I guess mentioned I had a blog, but TOTALLY forgot about it.

Anyways, the manager approached me and asked if I wanted to write about a new hotel they had opened up. IT WAS SUCH A GEM, with such love and history by the owner David.

D’Riverside Inn – click here to visit the site!

This boutique hotel is a 3 level beauty tucked away just half a minute walk to the peaceful river of Melaka.

Why is this hotel different from any other? The colors are vibrant, every antique and vintage beauty is from David (the owner’s collection). The hotel has character, is built from the heart of the owner, and sparks nostalgia in any visitor’s hearts.

The color scheme is inspired by Greece with white, red and sky blue. In 1999, Discovery Hotel was a 3 story building with a cafe. An Aussie suggested “why not have rooms?”, from that day on, the business has expanded to hostels across the cafe, and of course D’Riverside Inn, the unique boutique it is today.

ROOMS- there are single bed rooms, duplexes that fit 1-6 people. There are only 9 hotel rooms in this boutique hotel and it is catered towards families, solo travelers, friends and colleagues. You can even book the WHOLE hotel if you have a company of people. The architecture of this hotel is meant to build community, friendship, and ease for travelers. The first floor is functional and easy for grandparents that have trouble climbing stairs. There is a cute garden on the top floor where I would write in my journal. 🙂

David is a self proclaimed china-man whose grandparents immigrated to Malaysia. He worked for a travel publisher for 18 years and came to love the world of travel. Not only is he owner of Discovery Cafe and Hotel, his business is a family one. I had the opportunity to stay at D’Riverside Inn for more than a week and felt like a queen in my own palace.

The staff also welcomed me with open arms. After traveling for two months already, I was worn out and felt home sick, but I regained energy and peace again in Melaka. In fact, I felt like I had been adopted to a Malaysia family. Some staff were from Philippines, some from various countries, but I always felt at home.

Below: These amazing rides that takes you around town and plays any music you want. 2. Dancing with ladies at a temple. 3. Eating with the family, did I mention MALAYSIAN FOOD IS AWESOME?!!!! THE FOOD IS RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. Seafood especially.

12227071_10156253345480603_7888732592250683629_n

12227647_10156239663885603_572912086054926248_n

12249817_10156253336745603_5954944047819283327_n

11222057_10156253345375603_1669095696190327408_n

Christ Church

12239611_10156253339420603_4715710783607701335_n

Beautiful Mosque by the sea

Visit the website at http://www.d-riversideinn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/driversideinn/

Put Your Dreams First Not The HOW

On March 18, 2016March 18, 2016 By Rebekka LienIn entrepreneur, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My analysis of faith

I am releasing faith today.

Those of you who know me have always known that I put the dream first, not the how.

Because of this, I rely heavily on faith.

Not on my own ability.

And miracles have conspired to help me.

Resting in grace is for the brave.

I never thought I would have the opportunities I have today, getting on tv shows, traveling, writing, everything I love doing. And to be honest, it never manifested because of one big break….

I just believed I could live that way without being a slave to the system of work.

Today I’ve untangled myself from the needs of western society, you know the propaganda of the american Dream, white picket fence and 2.5 kids….I want marriage, I want kids, but that doesn’t have to look like the jonnesses. I haven’t had a car, one apartment, laptop for one year. I’ve been SIM card less for almost 3 months.

Before I feared that I’d miss a call from my agent or casting directors but today I know if it’s for me, it’ll reach me without me having to be on my phone 24/7.

Setting healthy boundaries on love.

I get to live the way I want because it’s my life. So that means traveling with family, working from home, relaxing when most of society is striving under the lie of not being enough, helping the world by empowering people with stories of hope….

I thank God everyday.

Why Traveling Is Difficult

On January 13, 2016 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

rebekka

Just a catchy title.

But this blog post is about the reality of traveling…for those that admire that I sold and gave away almost everything to be homeless for a few months, half a year. Guess what, I didn’t do it as an escape, I did it because I felt the spirit leading and I needed to prioritize what I valued in life.

Traveling IS actually NOT easy (Specifically talking about solo travel).

Yes, I know you see people posting these HD photos of oceans and mountains, but it’s not easy because…if you’re not “vacationing” and staying on an island for a week, and you’re actually straight up having a coming of age, spiritual awakening, journey of growth and healing, it will fuck you up good.

If you want to grow and you’re not just there to get drunk and make out with random backpackers….then yes you are going to have a difficult and AMAZING time growing as a person.

WHY is TRAVELING not easy:

If you don’t like yourself, you will need to spend time with yourself like a lot. I spend about 95% of my time by myself. So if your thoughts drive you mad, and you can’t control it or find peace, then you might just go mad. Get ready to face the shit that you are unwilling to face back home.
It’s uncomfortable- obviously. Like when people yell at you or grab your arm when they’re trying to sell you t-shirts on the streets, this happened to me in Bali. So no, I don’t like Bali as much as I like other cities on the earth. So no, not everyone will like the picturesque places that people keep posting on instagram.
If you’re on a budget…it’s uncomfortable: yes hostels are great, but when there are 24 beds in one room. I’ve had to grow some boldness by telling a guy to turn down his fucking music because I need to sleep.
It’s all about healing the junk in your heart- If you’re ready to face some prejudices, racism, uncomfortable situations, tiredness, weariness, sleepiness, bug bites, being stranded on an island when your card stops working, trusting God to save your ass, not killing the guy who keeps pervertedly staring at you, healing the prejudices in your own heart, healing from past breakups, letting go of past unforgiveness, forgiving people, forgiving everyone who wrongs you on the trip, try to not be a jackass when people don’t serve you with the same politeness that people serve you back home….
Accidents and shit might happen- I got into a moped accident and couldn’t walk for two weeks (AND YES I was crying, it hurt like a mother fucker! and I was ALONE but thank God this dude came and took the heavy moped off my foot. I was in my hotel room for the next 5 nights showering alone with a plastic bag around my leg, room servicing, watching MTV, and resenting that I couldn’t swim but then….learning to rest) this is when God told me to slow the fuck down and rest. Some stomach uneasiness in Thailand, being harassed by men in all of southeast asia.

So when people ask me “how is__________? (insert city)

I don’t reply, because it’s not going to be like one sentence “oh it’s beautiful”.

My answers are always going to be about what God is doing in my life…so my answer is more like “I had some shit going on back home, and it was unresolved, and I was worried about it while I was traveling and I had a fucking hard time letting it go because I needed or thought I needed to resolve it before I got on my flight, but it was unresolved….anyways, I spent the next month learning to trust God and letting it go…and I’m still learning after 5 months”.

OR….

“So while I was sitting at a hostel in Singapore, my friend and I skype and then she said these magical words…’you know it wasn’t your fault. None of what has happened in your life, or where you are is your fault’- specifically pertaining to how I felt like I wasted 2.5 years dating a guy that didn’t have the same goals in life….those words magically broke the self-judgement I had placed on myself and suddenly, I felt free as a bird..”

And the inner HEALING has been the best things that have happened to me when I travel. Learning that:

Everything that has ever happened in your life had to happen for you to become the amazing person you are today.
You meet the people you’re supposed to meet at the right time and at the right place.
When you let go and just have fun, amazing shit happens.
It’s not about where you go in life, it’s about learning to cherish the moment because you are always here and now.

XOXO BEX.

And look there were REALLY AMAZING TIMES, but I also want to clear up some weird misunderstanding that leaving everything is easy and fun. It’s hella not. If you saw what I had to go through, learning to let go of the couch that I LOVE and spend so many nights WATCHING netflix no, crying on my bathmat about letting my career go…

Dude. Yah.

My cultural heritage

On December 20, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Having moved from Germany, to Taiwan to America, I encountered a lot of prejudice for being an immigrant or not speaking English.

Traveling through Southeast Asia I’ve encountered daily prejudices that I shrugged off but tonight I felt all the emotions welling up and ended up crying. I confronted it, it felt good.

The thing is I want to be seen as a human being, not a race, culture or country. I’m an individual, with emotions, feelings, personality, hopes and dreams.

How can we make changes in this world?

One person at a time, see people as individuals, not for what the media tells you about a country.

All the hackling on the street, people asking me where I’m from, feels like verbal rape. It’s unwanted.

It’s assault to the soul.

There’s things I can’t explain- maybe just look up what third culture kid is.

Why I’m Done Backpacking

On December 19, 2015December 19, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn travel4 Comments

I am not done traveling, no way -I still have 175 countries to go. But I’m done with the backpackers lifestyle. I will still travel solo with a backpack, but as for sharing a room with 10 people? I think I’m done.

Why?

1. I’m a clean freak. I know, I have issues with stepping on floors that aren’t clean and need to either have socks on or have carpet. Concrete with dirt freaks me out.

2. I’m a clean freak #2- at hostels if you’re paying $3 a night, and sharing bathrooms with 10 people, you usually won’t have 5 star hotel standards. I’m tired of smelling other people’s shit.

3. Having stayed at 5 star hotels in Southeast Asia, I can say I much prefer a quiet room with cable and a big bed to myself versus hearing people snore or rude people blasting music at 11pm.

4. I’m done getting drunk- maybe I’ve really hit the old age mark, but I’m done getting hit on by lonely backpackers…and I am a woman now, I don’t need attention from men, I know what I want in my potential spouse…and it’s definitely not a man who gets drunk every night.

5. I’ve become more introverted and prefer to spend my time with either positive people or myself.

That means I won’t compromise my values just to be with people.

6. I love to dance and I’m social but again, I have standards now…and if it’s not with like minded people, I’d rather choose other activities.

7. I’m a nomad not because I always love to be on the move, but because I like variety and challenge. Most people don’t like change, but when there’s not enough change or what I call growth in life- I get restless. So the last 3 months I’ve gotten to see the world, and I’ll be reconnecting with family and friends for a few more months, but I’d like to be stationed near the beach in LA.

I’d like to create like I used to, alone under a table, in a fantasy world. Where my heart is calm and not constantly responding to the needs of hungry souls.

I’m a quiet soul.

Calm soul. There’s lots of joy in here but I prefer quiet. I prefer ocean waves and hot coco to beligerent drunkenness without class.

I’m a lady with a sense of humor who loves order in my closet, cleanliness in my dishes, quiet and dark at night, passion in my relationships, privacy, oh privacy in my life.

That means living in a quiet town with deep conversations and wine, lager and laughter with 3-5 friends instead of 20 people. I cherish intimacy and loyalty, not superficiality.

I spent 5 nights at a hotel while I was healing from my moped accident and that was the most peaceful time I had in 3 months.

I was alone and I probably said 30 words max a day. “Can I order the soto ayam?” Yes room service.

I think I was always an introvert with a sensitive soul, but people liked me so much they made me an extrovert.

But now even if people like me, I realize I don’t have to like them or even respond to their friendliness….not to be mean, but just to guard my heart from their over- dependency on others.

So if you’ve seen the 5 star life I think I can live that life, a life that is luxurious, private and where people will treat me like a human being instead of asking me “where are you from?”

That’s none of your business.

Just call me miss and I’ll converse if I feel like it.

Side note/ I have met amazing friends through staying at hostels or guest houses. That I am grateful for. Just in case you’re wondering I spent half my trip living alone in a private room.

What If Our Lives Were Treasure Maps

On November 5, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ha Long Bay- Vietnam

What if our lives were treasure maps?

And when we are led by the spirit, we are pulled to what feels RIGHT in our hearts. I’ve finally found a quiet place to rest my soul for a day, I’ve said goodbye to a beloved soul and my heart is settling still.

But I’m sad. Sad to say goodbye to the one that understood me for the last few days, sad to say hello to my dear child again. I’m with God, one with God, on this journey, yet sometimes so alone and not knowing how to ask for help.

What if the inklings in our hearts causes us to really FOLLOW.

What if it doesn’t matter how expensive the plane tickets are, that the treasure we find at our next location is worth far more than the last minute tickets we booked, maybe we find a jewel of wisdom or a person that opens up a whole dimension in our lives, causing us to BE BRAVER, to search and follow our gut, to finally live our dreams.

To be more authentic. Priceless.

I followed the spirit and obeyed my inner abundance.

That day, I ate a little more “expensive”, that day I met my provision.

The seed I sowed in faith multiplied 10 fold, literally.

The seed I sowed of my heart, to love and to say goodbye, will one day multiply.

I cannot feel true joy without cleansing the pain, the sorrow.

And perhaps that’s all I want, to feel pain deeply but to laugh widely.

To embrace every season of my life to the full and to let my inner bird sing.

Wisdom From a 27 Year Old Philosopher

On October 13, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn law of attraction, philosophy, travelLeave a comment

Writing from the Airport Resort and Spa Phuket (Thailand)

I’ve studied life and purpose for as long as I can remember. As I travel, I have solidified a few wise sayings…here I go!

1. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s worth it- not all free things are worth taking. Sometimes it comes with a cost.

2. If it belongs to you it will come to you, if it doesn’t, it will eventually leave (even if you try to control or manipulate it). Same goes with people. If you attained something with force or manipulation, it will leave with deceit since it has to.

3. You attract what you think you’re worth- hard work is out the door, i have worked with clients that had lots of debt but know how to create wealth and live a high standard of living- eventually the debt will disappear because worth outweighs debt. They are simply using debt to create wealth.

4. I was eating noodles outside 7 -11 and saw a banana pancake moving stall, I wanted to chase after it but thought “no I’m eating noodles now, I will be present with it. If I’m meant to have a pancake, it will stop”. The stall didn’t stop so I figured a better one will come along or I’ll have one tomorrow.

What’s yours don’t need chasing, it will come in the perfect time. You must be present for what’s in front of you.

5. Now I noticed I often rushed to get to somewhere fun or what I call relaxing and realize I should relax NOW.

You must relax the whole journey- not when you get there, but every moment.

I once ate with a lady who was constantly on her phone while we talked. Now I was helping her and giving her wisdom about her relationship, she had an emotional affair with a guy and her husband left her because of it.

I thought to myself, here I am, a wise woman spending precious time to help her and she is downloading games on her phone.

When we were done eating she said she had a hard time being present, in fact her mind was already planning her next event and which way she was going to walk to her car.

How sad.

She would never see me again, because I knew she wouldn’t appreciate the presence that is me and I wouldn’t waste my time with someone who can’t see my worth.

People who are not able to appreciate the present will not see a goldmine or a prince if they yelled at them. They will not see an opportunity even if it was flying in their face.

People who are not content with themselves or see their own worth will not be able to see other peoples’ worth.

6. Luxury, design does make a difference. Yah I live out of a bag but I’ve been voted best dressed traveller. A big bed, bathtub, cleanliness, light shielding curtains, ac, quiet, coffeemakers, amenities make a huge difference.

Comfort= Sanity

Is it worth paying more for sanity sometimes? Yes. If it means you will feel better inside out so that you can be a magnificent being.

Cheers!

You can get my ebook here http://www.rebekkalien.com/lovemoneywork 

The Process of Leaving Los Angeles – Thailand Sept 12

On August 31, 2015August 31, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

Wow traveling can be a b#tch.

Oh I meant the preparation part.

By no means do I have a savings account with tons of cash to travel. I’m winging it. In fact I’m leaving in a bit over a week, and I probably have enough to buy one month phone service. Actually since I’ve already been self-employed for so long, I realize today I’m not traveling, I’m just living in other countries while still building my empire.

But here’s the deal, you can sponsor me by donating on paypal Rebekkalien@gmail.com (pick family or friends) or Click here to sponsor!

If you have benefitted at ALL by my writing, inspirational podcasts, and everything that I have given to the world for FREE, then you have the opportunity to give back. You can donate $10, which will get me 5-10 meals or a hostel bed in some remote jungle. Or you can sponsor $1000, which will probably help me for a month.

I believe I am carrying Wayne Dyer and Oprah’s torch, so Wayne, if you are up there listening, send some angels to help me. Because shit is getting tough and I have no idea how I’m supposed to get everything together, the product sponsorships, money, po box, etc together. Wayne- it’s going to be okay. R- I know but my brain is going ballistic. Wayne- trust God. R- ugh.

So that’s my conversation with Wayne. This blog post is for you Wayne, you inspired me to wear white pants, you reminded me that when the time is right I’ll meet the right publisher, you showed me how to live inspired, not stressed. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Wayne. Thank you mom for giving birth to me.

Now I shall disappear from LA for a couple of months, 6 months, a year….who knows. I won’t starve I don’t think. I won’t get kidnapped, but I’ll have faith that I’ll walk the line. The thin line and jump face forward, planking my way through a few countries at a time.

Wayne, this is for you. Have a beer in heaven for me!

Vegas Diaries- Monday

On August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 By Rebekka LienIn Fashion, travelLeave a comment

Arrived at 5:30 am on an overnight megabus. Met a cute girl who was working for magic, took a bus to the airport and took another shuttle to my hotel.

Arrived around 6:30am, thank God was able to check in and knocked out until 11:30am.

I tried gambling with $1 and lost it right away. Went to the pool 3 times today.

Will head to Pool Tradeshow tomorrow. I am press.

To add onto this I reflected on the sadness I felt today. Saying goodbye to the past and saying hello to the new season.

Also I’m starting to see such a darkness In Vegas as I was talking to the staff of a casino. One guy said “vegas was built not on winners, but on losers”. I also noted so many frustrated people, drivers, maids, everyone seemed so frustrated, under tipped, many gamblers who have given up on life.

Though Vegas has always been glamorous to the outsiders, my heart breaks for those that are longing for a quick win and sometimes losing their whole livelihood.

I’d like to party, yes, but Let’s not forget that people are broken everywhere. Healing starts from within.