GG Friend: Darren Chiong from Singapore to South Korea, Iran, Ethopia, Mexico, Italy

 🐸 hello, I’m Darren Chiong from Singapore and welcome to my corner of the internet! a space for stories, small adventures, and slightly chaotic reflections 🧛🏻✨

If you’ve heard the word “chiong” before, you probably know it’s Singlish for rushing headfirst or partying full-send till 3 a.m. — which makes my last name both a curse and a personality test 😆

For me, it’s more of the latter (minus the hangover).

🛤️ wanderer at heart

Earlier this year, I spent a semester on exchange at Waseda University in Japan and it has completely changed how I see travel. I fell in love with the quiet corners, the in-between moments, and the places that don’t make into the guidebooks.

Now, I’m the type who plans just enough, but leaves room for getting lost.

I also picked up an interest in hiking, as it allows me to slow down and fully immerse myself in nature.

One of my most memorable experiences was hiking the Kumano Kodo in Wakayama, a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that wind through forests and mountain passes. It’s one of the only two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes in the world, alongside Spain’s Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James).

While in the region, I also witnessed the Nachi Fire Festival, a Shinto ritual where participants carry massive flaming torches down the path from the shrine to a sacred waterfall (the Nachi Waterfall, which boasts  the longest drop in Japan at a 133 meters). The procession represents guiding the shrine’s twelve deities down to the waterfall, purifying the route in the process.

Another memorable experience was walking the Nakasendo, a historic Japanese highway in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) that connected Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto. Interestingly, I crossed from Gifu to Nagano Prefecture ON FOOT! ISN’T THAT AMAZING?

One of my favourite discoveries was Shimo-Imaichi Station in Nikko, Tochigi: the real-life backdrop for the Mugen Train arc from Demon Slayer.

Being the spontaneous (and slightly unhinged) people we are, my friends and I bought a wooden sword on the spot just to recreate Rengoku Kyojuro’s iconic pose (yes, I know we ate, thank you).

As someone into fitness, I’ve also tried surfing for the first time in Bali, Indonesia, and let’s just say I spent more times in the sea than on the board. But would I do it again? A thousand times yes.

🌏 regional governance & diplomacy

My interest in international relations was sparked when I represented Singapore at the AFMAM-EAS Summit 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This was a crash course in how ASEAN diplomacy actually works.

Now, I’m serving as Country Coordinator for the upcoming Singapore Model ASEAN Meeting 2025, bringing together passionate students to debate, negotiate, and (hopefully) not lose our voices in the process.

 

👕 retro soul, modern mind

I’ve also got a soft spot for retro and vintage fashion. Not just for the look, but for what it stands for.

To me, it’s a quiet rebellion against fast fashion and consumerism. There’s something poetic about wearing the times, it’s almost like keeping a story alive.

During my time as a Sustainability Intern at the Singapore Fashion Council, I dove deeper into this passion, researching on circular business models and exploring how creativity and social responsibility can work hand-in-hand.

One of my favourite moments was leading a PVC upcycling workshop for youth leaders from Malaysia, where we transformed discarded advertisement banners into coin pouches and functional items.

All in all, I guess you could say that I’m somewhere between serious about life and never taking it too seriously. One thing for sure is that I don’t believe in being balanced or neutral, but I really believe in going ALL OUT if I something catches my interest.

If you’re into spontaneous trips, or just an ABSOLUTE NERD about something, tell me ALL about your obsessions! I’m all ears :)

📸 taken somewhere between adventure and chaos