It was for the simple reason of escaping the grind that drove Krystal Tan to embark on journeys to some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. No matter how busy the lawyer is at work, she always finds time for a holiday. But don’t expect to hear tales of beach frolics in Bali or shopping sprees in Paris.
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Above Krystal with 15days-worth of supply in lgii, Mongolia.

“My ideal holiday would involve an element of adventure and allow me to get under the skin of the place I’m visiting,” muses the co-founder of boutique travel specialists Blue Sky Escapes, the passion project she founded with partner Chervin Chow last June. The company grew from their Peru-based trekking business, Andean Condor Voyager, and now includes thoughtfully curated trips to other frontiers such as Bhutan and Mongolia.

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For Krystal and Chervin, turning their love for travel into a business was an easy decision. The intrepid travellers actively seek out life-changing journeys that provide “positive and transformative life experiences that will make me relook my life and return home with a different perspective of matters”, says Krystal, who made Singapore Tatler’s inaugural Generation T list. “No two trips should ever be the same. None of mine have been!”

“You really don’t need very much in life to be happy”

In June, Krystal and Chervin, along with six close friends, travelled to Mongolia where they assisted two Mongolian-Kazakh families with the migration of their herd of cattle to a summer camp some 100km away. Perched atop semi-wild horses, the group spent three days shepherding over 400 animals across the rugged terrains of the Altai Mountains. “It was unreal,” enthuses Krystal. “We had a few days to get accustomed to the Mongolian horses, which were constantly trying to break free and were easily spooked. They’d bolt at unfamiliar sounds, from the ripping of Velcro to the fluttering of windbreakers. We also had to ensure that the baby goats and lambs kept up with the cows as we crossed rivers and went uphill. They’d always fall behind and get lost. So we pushed forward in a U-shaped formation, which enveloped the herd from the back.”

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On arrival at the summer camp set in a lush valley covered with flowers, Krystal helped her hosts to erect their ger or a traditional Mongolian yurt. The simplicity of the Mongolian nomad’s life struck her: “You really don’t need very much in life to be happy.” So while amassing memories and tatler_tatler_stories are her travel goals, what often results is also a journey of self-reflection.

Krystal’s Travel Essentials

  • Fuji X-T1 camera
  • Waterproof toilet roll holder with a neck cord
  • Supportive neck pillow (“I rely heavily on naps to keep me going”)
  • Medical kit
  • Sunscreen

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