SINGAPORE: A 36-year-old Singaporean woman left her software engineering job to cycle solo across five countries over 101 days, describing the journey as one without a neat answer but rich in experience.
Puah Hui Ying (
pic), who goes by Wing, has travelled through Malaysia, Thailand, India, Laos and Vietnam on a heavily loaded bicycle. She has faced crashes, rough terrain, broken devices and mechanical issues while repeatedly questioning her purpose.
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She said the idea had lingered since she was about 30 and, after giving up a Build-To-Order flat for greater flexibility, took a year off seeking clarity beyond what she described as “a life that just pays the bill”, as reported by
Mothership on Wednesday.
Her career had included roles at a zoo, Marine Life Park, organic cafes and a small events start-up before more than six years in tech, ending in green technology and smart buildings, yet she still felt something was missing.
Physically, she found Laos the most demanding with steep climbs exceeding 1,400 metres on worn tyres, while a visit to the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, marked her most difficult emotional moment and deepened her interest in history and context.
Despite travelling alone, she said encounters with strangers—from a Malacca host who offered accommodation to a Singaporean woman she met in Thailand—made the journey feel shared, with her bicycle often sparking conversations and connections.
Although she returned without a clear answer, she said the experience strengthened her resolve to pursue work in sustainability and smart buildings, advising others to start small, save prudently and approach travel in the region with awareness and common sense.
