I've visited many temples across the region but the underwater Buddhist temple at Ceningan Island, Bali was by far the most breathtaking. Snorkelling to see the 8.2-feet tall Buddha statue is an adventure I will never forget. Be careful because it may take your breath away - literally!

If I told my Mak I did this, she would use all the air in her lungs for a completely different reason. The kind of reason that hurts my ear waayyy more than any underwater pressure. Can imagine her saying something like... "What? You think Buddha is like Spongebob, living under the sea? Merepek seh, got temples everywhere dia nak masuk dalam sea pulak..."

Bir Billing, an offbeat gem in Himachal Pradesh is also known as the 2nd best paragliding site in the world. The scariest part was the take-off. There's no easy way to do it – I had to run off the mountainside and let myself be swept up into the air. The rest was plain sailing (or flying) once I relax into the sensations of weightlessness and enjoy the majestic scenery around and below my precariously dangling legs!

Didn't tell my mother until AFTER I did it. Didn't want her to send me flying... across the room.

Got tired of exploring the land, so I decided to go deep down under in the sea in Okinawa, Japan! My first few times were scary and even a little panicky because when you're submerged in an alien environment, your life literally depends on the tank on your back and the equipment on you. No regrets there, it's a whole new world down under and it was AMAZING!

But don't tell my mother. She doesn't like the idea of her child voluntarily going into dark depths, life hanging by a tube. She's a firm believer that fishes are better served on the dining table than swimming next to you in the ocean!

Hiking to Tiger's Nest is almost like a pilgrimage. Situated 3,120m above sea level, on the journey there you'll feel short of breath for most of the way, then struck breathless with awe when you finally see the monastery.

Let's not talk about the rough trail with the bonus of horse poop everywhere -- that will certainly trigger my mother.

I was finally marking my 100th dive, and whom better to dive with than the sharks and barracudas of Sipadan?

One flight, a bus ride, and a long boat ride later, I was finally taking a giant stride into the azure waters of the Celebes Sea. It was quite an effort to get there. Was it worth it? Turtles the size of tables, countless schools of sharks and corals buzzing with fishes... Sipadan gifted me what I was seeking for - an unforgettable dive right into the scenes of 'Blue Planet'.

Mum doesn't know I was only arms length from the sharks and nearly got swept away by strong currents. If she knew, she would be the biggest shark chasing after me! But from the sparkle in my eyes as I told her stories of meeting new fishes, Mum was proud to see her girl going after her dreams, even if it was 30 meters underwater.

Getting to Lovina (North Bali) to spot the spinner dolphins takes passion and commitment. As I was staying in Seminyak, I had to force myself to wake up in the wee hours of the morning for the 3 am pickup time, then on to a 3 hours ride to arrive just in time to catch the playful 'residents' at daybreak. Truly a spectacular experience!

"3 am? Gila ker?!" Glad Mak wasn't there to tell me nothing good happens at 3 am. Cos it did. No mothers were harmed in the making of this experience.

Behind this beautiful shot lies a challenging climb in the middle of the day. Back then, I could feel my skin burning, thanks to the scorching sun as I dragged myself uphill. But despite my aching legs and the harsh heat, I was rewarded with the iconic view of Padar Island and it was beyond amazing!

When my other companions reached the same spot, we all shared a smile and agreed that the climb was definitely worth it.

Away from the crowds at the Great Wall of China, lies a great hike with beautiful sights. Jiankou - Mutianyu hike requires guts and fitness to conquer because trails are unpaved and unrestored. At some sections, one wrong step will send you down the steep walls.

If not for the awesome scenic shots, my mother would have flown me back home! #worthit

Although it seems hard to reach Kalibiru National Park, I didn't regret making my way here! Located 1.5-hour drive away from Borobudur, the beautiful, lush green park was indeed a beauty on its own. I could feel my adrenaline rushing through every inch of my body as I sat there to enjoy the spectacular view. So much effort this unforgettable Insta-worthy shot, but it's worth it!

Sometimes Mums worry too much so I didn't tell her about my plans. It's really not as dangerous as it looks after all. But I might have still downplayed how high up it was anyway when I finally told her... Shh.

It was exhilarating. It was fast-paced. It certainly wasn't for the faint-hearted! We spent almost 5 hours riding a jet ski, hitting 70km per hour. It took us far and wide around the islands of Langkawi, with the strong wind and cold water hitting my face. I couldn't stop laughing nervously!

Heard my Mum's voice in my head about safety so I fastened that lifejacket on like my life depended on it. Mum approved and was able to enjoy this picture.

The hustle & bustle of Kathmandu, the starting point of the Himalayas, can't be a bigger contrast from the peacefulness of the mountains. After more than 10 strenuous days (physically and mentally) of walking in between these giant walls of rock and snow, we've made it to Everest Base Camp, the place where the journey of the trekkers ends and that of the climbers starts. And it's an amazing feeling to be at the foot of the Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world!

It's not something to tell your Mum about in terrible detail. With Everest, the reward is all in the challenge after all. So our Mums are just proud to say their children conquered Everest.

We spent 1 hour trying to find our way to come up to this hidden gem in the city. The Turkish people were friendly, giving us some pointers to this place, but the language barrier sure made us lose our mind. After many wrong turns, steps and much frustration, we finally reached here and were rewarded with the stunning view of the entire city. It was a struggle to remember!

Mother would not be pleased to know we went anywhere without full directions. #donttalktostrangers. But we know that is the real secret to hidden gems and most rewarding trips :)

Pictures don't do it justice so you'll have to wake up at 3 AM to see it yourself. Trekking Mount Batur takes you through tricky rocky terrain and steep inclines, quite a task that early. Once the sun creeps out over towering Mount Agung and Lake Batur, you won't regret it.

Before we took off in the tiny plane, I was super psyched, ready to somersault out of the plane and see the world from the top. But halfway up to the sky, as I saw the ground getting smaller and smaller, I started panicking. The strong, cold wind made me numb, but no regrets! 

I did eventually tell my mom about it. She looked like she just swallowed a balloon as she watched my skydiving video. She said, "You're lucky you're not 12 or I would've grounded you for 10 years!" If I could do it again, I wouldn't do it any different!

My journey to the Mayana Peak left me breathless, both in awe and fear. While the hike there was straightforward, the bumpy motorcycle ride left me trembling -- thanks to the muddy, narrow road. As I reached the top, the 360-view of Negros Island blew me away!

If my mom knew about my adventure, kukurutin niya ako sa singit (she'd pinch me on the groin)!

Ever dreamed of seeing the snow-capped peaks from a bird-eye view? The biggest challenge of the adventure is the slippery slope when taking off. Having my legs hanging mid-air gave me a thrilling sensation, but, oh boy, how gorgeous is the scenery below! I couldn't stop smiling and thanking myself for taking the leap of courage.

Mak, however, was not so thrilled about my leap of courage. In her eyes, it was more like a leap of stupidity for a few moments. I regret nothing though!

It's a tough and arduous two-hour trek up to Awa View Deck in Batad. On top of the steep climb, it can be challenging to keep your balance while walking on the often muddy, slippery path. One wrong step and down you'll slide into the rice terrace! Definitely not something to tell your Mum. The scenery is so beautiful though that it will keep you going!

Getting inked by Whang-Od was a dream come true. To get to her home in Buscalan, Kalinga, we had to complete a 16-hour journey that included a 5-kilometre hike along steep and treacherous roads. The tattooing session itself was a long and painful experience. But getting inked by the last mambabatok or tattoo artist of Kalinga was worth all the pain.

I knew my Mum might be horrified that I got a tattoo. But when she saw how much the whole experience meant to me, she's come to embrace it. Every now and again though, she uses it against me if I complain about anything -- she reminds me if I like pain so much, she can give it to me for free.

Or

Brave enough to get a tattoo? Yes. Brave enough to tell my Mak I got a tattoo? Nooope.

I've always loved adrenaline-rush activities and will always try to include them in my trip anywhere. My recent trip to Perak gave me a chance to do white-water rafting, something that I had been planning to try for the longest time! The splash of water on my face, the bumpy boat ride, the shouting and screaming in between the paddling -- I was so thrilled! I am so glad that now I can say "I've done it!"

Mum didn't find out until it was done. When I did, well... that was a whole other kind of "excitement"...

The trail to Kelingking T-Rex (T-Rex's Pinky) was not an easy one! We traced the narrow path, relying only on the bamboo railing on the side, to reach this amazing viewpoint before continuing to the ridge of the T-Rex.

While we thought the journey down was already challenging, the climb back up was so steep that I thought I wouldn't be able to make it. But looking at this photo now, I wouldn't trade the experience with anything else!

Mak, of course, would think I'm crazy for sitting on the edge like that. She'd probably also give me a little lecture to not give in to peer pressure. To which I'd say "Actually Mak, I'm so glad you taught me to persevere to overcome life's obstacles and have good friends around to give me courage when I need it. I got to put all that to good use on this trip. Thank you, Mak." Nice spin right?