2026 might officially be my most dramatic year yet. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this much chaos packed into such a short time — and the year isn’t even over.
It all started when I took annual leave beginning March 16. Perfect timing, honestly. March 18–19 was Nyepi, the Hindu Day of Silence, followed closely by the national Ramadan holiday on the 25th. For once, my calendar looked generous.
And for the first time in my life, I decided to go on a birthday freebie hunt.
Stop #1: Ta Wan — Expectations vs Reality
My first destination was Ta Wan. Keep in mind, it was still the fasting so the crowd is something during breaking the fast.
The deal sounded great: buy any food or drink and get a free birthday noodle.
I ordered chicken feet dim sum and a glass of orange juice. Free noodles secured — or so I thought.
Here’s the plot twist:
The noodles were terrible. Completely not my taste. The chicken feet were bland, and halfway through eating I realized I probably could’ve just ordered ocha with unlimited refills and been happier.
Stop #2: Bakmi GM — The Voucher That Wasn’t
Next mission: Bakmi GM.
They had emailed me saying I’d receive a free pangsit worth 45K. But the staff informed me that the reward had to appear in the app — and instead of pangsit, it showed a yogurt drink.
A yogurt drink… that the outlet didn’t even sell.
And because it wasn’t available, they refused to give the pangsit.
Stop #3: KFC — “Free” With Terms and Conditions
Technically, they offered a free chicken and rice set. You needed a minimum purchase of around 50K, which became 60K-something after tax. So the “free” birthday meal felt more like a cleverly disguised spending requirement.
At this point, my birthday hunt was starting to feel like a loyalty program designed to test emotional resilience.
Final Stop: CGV — Redemption Arc
Thankfully, the story had a happy ending.
CGV cinema actually delivered. They gave me a voucher for two drinks and popcorn, no confusing conditions, no disappearing rewards — just actual freebies.
I gave the popcorn to a sweet couple nearby (sharing birthday karma felt appropriate) and kept the drinks for myself. Then I bought an onigiri from AEON’s Nasi Kuning which turned out to be surprisingly delicious.
Final Thoughts
My first birthday freebie hunt taught me several important life lessons:
“Free” often comes with fine print.
Apps may betray you.
Expectations should always be seasoned properly.
And sometimes, the best part of the day is an unexpectedly good onigiri.
Will I do it again next year?
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