Random Ramblings #2
Freaking busy. But still found time to agree to a translation project due tomorrow to earn some measly small bucks. Why la do I always do this to myself?? And I am also a teensy bit tipsy on the beer I had at the Press Club earlier this evening. That makes me sleepy. But still have to work. And that makes me cranky.
I'm going back to Singapore this Friday, the day after tomorrow. You know the worst part about coming back is having to leave again. This is totally the opposite of travelling. After every trip there is the delightful prospect of returning to good ol' home. To manipulate my mind I would have to work along the logic of, whenever I go to Singapore there will also be homecoming at the end. But to base my existence in Singapore on that is bloody pathetic and depressing.
I refuse to be pathetic and depressed!
I have big plans for my transient three-year stay in Singapore. I am going to achieve a good work-life balance (yeah yeah I know I am blogging right now when I'm supposed to do translation but you might notice that I was talking about Singapore. Right now I'm in KL so it doesn't count.) Work will only be done in the office, and I shall refuse to bring any work back to my room. I've bought a pair of running shoes and shall run around the campus like a gust of wheezing and panting wind.
I think I shall return to my translation. Shall continue to write when I get bored with that coz it's 1 freaking am and I haven't even done a third of it yet.
---
I just had the most disgusting and genetically engineered persimmon ever. The reason why I think it's GE crap is because I find it hard to believe that the Supreme Being or Evolution, whichever you believe in, would find any use for persimmons that are shaped in vague squares. Eep!
So I downed a bowl of wholesome instant miso soup to cleanse the aftertaste of the persimmon. Very dry and yucky. This is the first time that I've not been able to finish a persimmon, which in nature is an exceedingly satisfying fruit. Stupid GE.
Argh I have to take my antibiotics, almost forgot. I commenced my root canal procedure today at the dentist's. Cost a bomb but at least I will safeguard my back teeth which are extremely important for chewing my food. Basically what's wrong is that I have a cavity which is near to the nerve endings, and if it is filled, I will end up having The Worst Toothache Ever because the filling will disturb my nerves. The solution? Kill the nerve!
'Tis a society of instant gratification. Yay!
And back to work.
---
I have this inexplicable desire for food right now. No I'm not hungry but I just want to chew on something.
---
Val, I probably won't be able to reply your email in a bit till I get back to Singapore and pack everything, so here's some pictures of you and your favourite buddies to compensate ;)
Yeah somehow this post has got pictures of monkeys in it. That's why it's called a rambling post.
---
I think I shall go to bed. Work can wait. Sleep should come first. Two thirds more to go T.T
I'm going back to Singapore this Friday, the day after tomorrow. You know the worst part about coming back is having to leave again. This is totally the opposite of travelling. After every trip there is the delightful prospect of returning to good ol' home. To manipulate my mind I would have to work along the logic of, whenever I go to Singapore there will also be homecoming at the end. But to base my existence in Singapore on that is bloody pathetic and depressing.
I refuse to be pathetic and depressed!
I have big plans for my transient three-year stay in Singapore. I am going to achieve a good work-life balance (yeah yeah I know I am blogging right now when I'm supposed to do translation but you might notice that I was talking about Singapore. Right now I'm in KL so it doesn't count.) Work will only be done in the office, and I shall refuse to bring any work back to my room. I've bought a pair of running shoes and shall run around the campus like a gust of wheezing and panting wind.
I think I shall return to my translation. Shall continue to write when I get bored with that coz it's 1 freaking am and I haven't even done a third of it yet.
---
I just had the most disgusting and genetically engineered persimmon ever. The reason why I think it's GE crap is because I find it hard to believe that the Supreme Being or Evolution, whichever you believe in, would find any use for persimmons that are shaped in vague squares. Eep!
So I downed a bowl of wholesome instant miso soup to cleanse the aftertaste of the persimmon. Very dry and yucky. This is the first time that I've not been able to finish a persimmon, which in nature is an exceedingly satisfying fruit. Stupid GE.
Argh I have to take my antibiotics, almost forgot. I commenced my root canal procedure today at the dentist's. Cost a bomb but at least I will safeguard my back teeth which are extremely important for chewing my food. Basically what's wrong is that I have a cavity which is near to the nerve endings, and if it is filled, I will end up having The Worst Toothache Ever because the filling will disturb my nerves. The solution? Kill the nerve!
'Tis a society of instant gratification. Yay!
And back to work.
---
I have this inexplicable desire for food right now. No I'm not hungry but I just want to chew on something.
---
Val, I probably won't be able to reply your email in a bit till I get back to Singapore and pack everything, so here's some pictures of you and your favourite buddies to compensate ;)
Yeah somehow this post has got pictures of monkeys in it. That's why it's called a rambling post.
---
I think I shall go to bed. Work can wait. Sleep should come first. Two thirds more to go T.T
The Glamorous Maserati Grand Turismo 2007
This automotive has glamorous and elegant design, this sophisticated Italian super coupe also fast and rare. Maserati Grand Turismo 2007 is styled by Pininfarina and the first worlwide debut was at Geneva Motorshow. This high performance sport car also has 4.2 liter V8 engine.
General Specifications :
7
Average User FC Rating : 18.2 km/litre
Authorised Distributors : Parallel Imported
Car Type : Super Car
Engine :
Engine Capacity : 4244 cc
Engine Layout : Vee
Cylinders : 8
Valves : 32 Max
Power and Speed :
Power : 405 Bhp / 7100 rpm
Max Torque : 460 Nm / 4750 rpm
0-100 : 5.2 secs
Top Speed :
Drive Train : FF
Gears : 6
Transmission : Auto
Curb Weight :
Power to Weight : 215.43
bhp/litre : 95.4 bhp/litre
Dimensions :
Length :
Height :
Width :
Wheelbase :
Seating Capacity : 4
Front Brakes : Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes : Ventilated Discs
Fuel Consumption (Urban) : 22.6 litre/100km (4.4 km/litre)
Fuel Consumption (Extra Urban) : 9.77 litre/100km (10.2 km/litre)
Fuel Consumption (Combined) : 15.22 litre/100km (6.6 km/litre)
Random Ramblings
So Singapore wasn't so bad after all. The first night was horrible as I subconsciously repeated a mantra in my head *Three fucking years three fucking years three fucking years* as I looked at the window, which coincidentally had a mosquito netting which looked like prison bars. That is not an encouraging sight when all you want to do is to take flight and get the hell out of there.
This is the view from the door when I go into my room. My bed's on the left and the view's quite pretty six floors up because of the surrounding green. I haven't packed anything yet, I went with a backpack and when I left I left with the backpack so the room looks pretty much untouched. But not for long. Muahahahahaha.
But then the second day I immersed myself in running errands and getting to know people, so things became better. The system in Singapore is damn efficient, this much you gotta give to them. (No I did not say it in a grudging tone you imagined that stop making things up) I imagine that the cogs of the system would feel really bored, but in the words of kindly ol' Marten - well, sucks for them! Everything was very well-organized and I found myself with extra time on my hands after going through all the bureaucratic crap.
With the extra time I got lost leisurely in the campus. The campus map is essential to my well-being. The map gets lost, I get lost. Simple as that.
Sigh. Who am I kidding. I am hopeless even with the map. I mean, I can read everything that's on it, so technically I can read the map, but I never know which direction to hold the map to reflect my current position. Maybe I should supplement my navigation kit (the map) with a compass.
But getting lost has its merits too, it forces you to talk to people and through that I got to know Handi the Indonesian guy and Roman the Russian/German. Also in my growing bunch of international friends is Zhang Yan, a Chinese girl whom I met during the campus tour and who's in my school. She's into travelling as well. I have yet to meet any Malaysians. The place is swarming with Chinese people! Lucky I speak the lingo =D
Life back at home doesn't seem to be real and life there doesn't seem to be real either. I keep walking around like in some sort of daze. Also I'm running around sending copies of my book to people. That doesn't feel real either. This past year has been crazy - I've got to know so many dear people and done so many things that I'd never do in the past - that I sometimes feel that I would wake up and find myself back in the days when I was still doing my Master's, still trying to write my thesis, and that I somehow dreamt up Val, Robert and Marten, and the Japanese didn't go to the South Pacific Seas to kill all those whales.
Which would suck, except for the whale part.
Speaking of dreaming - I still can't decide whether to bring my comforter along to Singapore or not. On one hand it will make my new bed familiar and I would use it for the next three years. On the other I would hate coming back home without my blanky on my bed! It's almost like an act of betrayal. So long, KL! I'm bringing my blanky with me and there's nothing you can do about it!
No. Still can't decide. See how lah.
I'm going to be super busy for the rest of the week. Busy meeting up with people, doing shopping for various stuff that I need, Roman might bring a horde of Germans to KL so it's up to me to be a good host and make them love Malaysia, and I also need to see a dentist. If this is a dream this is a very hectic dream.
This is the view from the door when I go into my room. My bed's on the left and the view's quite pretty six floors up because of the surrounding green. I haven't packed anything yet, I went with a backpack and when I left I left with the backpack so the room looks pretty much untouched. But not for long. Muahahahahaha.But then the second day I immersed myself in running errands and getting to know people, so things became better. The system in Singapore is damn efficient, this much you gotta give to them. (No I did not say it in a grudging tone you imagined that stop making things up) I imagine that the cogs of the system would feel really bored, but in the words of kindly ol' Marten - well, sucks for them! Everything was very well-organized and I found myself with extra time on my hands after going through all the bureaucratic crap.
With the extra time I got lost leisurely in the campus. The campus map is essential to my well-being. The map gets lost, I get lost. Simple as that.
Sigh. Who am I kidding. I am hopeless even with the map. I mean, I can read everything that's on it, so technically I can read the map, but I never know which direction to hold the map to reflect my current position. Maybe I should supplement my navigation kit (the map) with a compass.
But getting lost has its merits too, it forces you to talk to people and through that I got to know Handi the Indonesian guy and Roman the Russian/German. Also in my growing bunch of international friends is Zhang Yan, a Chinese girl whom I met during the campus tour and who's in my school. She's into travelling as well. I have yet to meet any Malaysians. The place is swarming with Chinese people! Lucky I speak the lingo =D
Life back at home doesn't seem to be real and life there doesn't seem to be real either. I keep walking around like in some sort of daze. Also I'm running around sending copies of my book to people. That doesn't feel real either. This past year has been crazy - I've got to know so many dear people and done so many things that I'd never do in the past - that I sometimes feel that I would wake up and find myself back in the days when I was still doing my Master's, still trying to write my thesis, and that I somehow dreamt up Val, Robert and Marten, and the Japanese didn't go to the South Pacific Seas to kill all those whales.
Which would suck, except for the whale part.
Speaking of dreaming - I still can't decide whether to bring my comforter along to Singapore or not. On one hand it will make my new bed familiar and I would use it for the next three years. On the other I would hate coming back home without my blanky on my bed! It's almost like an act of betrayal. So long, KL! I'm bringing my blanky with me and there's nothing you can do about it!
No. Still can't decide. See how lah.
I'm going to be super busy for the rest of the week. Busy meeting up with people, doing shopping for various stuff that I need, Roman might bring a horde of Germans to KL so it's up to me to be a good host and make them love Malaysia, and I also need to see a dentist. If this is a dream this is a very hectic dream.
So I'm in Singapore.
And I'm going home today. Haha this post is so pointless.
But anyway I have been trying to blog for the past few days and could never finish a post because I would be busy or accidentally fall asleep. So there are about three unborn posts in the draft which I'll not publish because the moment has passed.
In short let's just say that I got homesick, got adjusted, met up with some friends in Singapore, got to know some new friends as well, and all my administrative errands have been done so it should be alright. And my supervisor seems to be a nice and knowledgeable guy as well. Yay!
Oh yeah. My book is out already, so there is a point to this post after all. I don't know where and when it will be distributed, but I have some in hand and if you want a copy you can buy from me =D RM25 per book.
My first book. =)
Well, more when I'm back. Cheers!
But anyway I have been trying to blog for the past few days and could never finish a post because I would be busy or accidentally fall asleep. So there are about three unborn posts in the draft which I'll not publish because the moment has passed.
In short let's just say that I got homesick, got adjusted, met up with some friends in Singapore, got to know some new friends as well, and all my administrative errands have been done so it should be alright. And my supervisor seems to be a nice and knowledgeable guy as well. Yay!
Oh yeah. My book is out already, so there is a point to this post after all. I don't know where and when it will be distributed, but I have some in hand and if you want a copy you can buy from me =D RM25 per book.
My first book. =)Well, more when I'm back. Cheers!
Moment of Truth
知己。Literally translated - "know yourself". Meaning of word - best friend who knows you better than you. It really takes a best friend (I am lucky to have a few best friends, so "best" not as in superlative) to knock some sense into you.
*POW*
Haha I've been such an ass for the past few days. Been painfully oblivious to so many obvious things, been self-indulgent to the point of terrorism, been immature bordering on childishness. In true Taurean spirit I went for it, with tunnel vision, insisting that I could fix it, I could make it better, everything will be alright if I am determined to make it better. At a point there was even a flowchart in my head. If, then, else. Loop.
*BANG*
When what I should have done was to leave the problem alone. But the time pressure blinded me. I still have time! I can fix it! Please let me fix it! It's so simple!
*BOOM*
So what I did was to screw things up to the point of no return, when my intention was to salvage what I could. Irony irony irony. So is life. And I would've continued with the downward spiral if it weren't for you. My best friend, my mirror.
Pain. Pain because I see how stupid and simplistic I'd been. Pain because I can see it so clearly in theory but it's not within my practical control. Pain! Why the hell am I trying to explain my pain just pain lah damnit raw stinging teeth-gritting pain. Fuck.
Tomorrow I'll wake up into strong mode again, a useful self-defense mechanism. But still have to go through tonight. Tomorrow my new shell will withstand the stinging humiliation. But tonight still have to pack. Tomorrow I will move on. Tomorrow quickly come. Now have to quickly pack.
I'm sorry. I'm rarely like that. You just caught me at the worst possible moment. I'm sorry.
And Ying Jian, thanks. I love you mate.
*POW*
Haha I've been such an ass for the past few days. Been painfully oblivious to so many obvious things, been self-indulgent to the point of terrorism, been immature bordering on childishness. In true Taurean spirit I went for it, with tunnel vision, insisting that I could fix it, I could make it better, everything will be alright if I am determined to make it better. At a point there was even a flowchart in my head. If, then, else. Loop.
*BANG*
When what I should have done was to leave the problem alone. But the time pressure blinded me. I still have time! I can fix it! Please let me fix it! It's so simple!
*BOOM*
So what I did was to screw things up to the point of no return, when my intention was to salvage what I could. Irony irony irony. So is life. And I would've continued with the downward spiral if it weren't for you. My best friend, my mirror.
Pain. Pain because I see how stupid and simplistic I'd been. Pain because I can see it so clearly in theory but it's not within my practical control. Pain! Why the hell am I trying to explain my pain just pain lah damnit raw stinging teeth-gritting pain. Fuck.
Tomorrow I'll wake up into strong mode again, a useful self-defense mechanism. But still have to go through tonight. Tomorrow my new shell will withstand the stinging humiliation. But tonight still have to pack. Tomorrow I will move on. Tomorrow quickly come. Now have to quickly pack.
I'm sorry. I'm rarely like that. You just caught me at the worst possible moment. I'm sorry.
And Ying Jian, thanks. I love you mate.
Well, so much for trying.
I peed, finally.
I think I am going to wake up feeling extremely foolish tomorrow.
I think I am going to wake up feeling extremely foolish tomorrow.
I love you.
I love you all.
Who would get you a perfect parting present - an idea book which has the inscription "What would life be if you have no courage to attempt anything?" Jen Hui you have no idea how much I love the book. Very, very much.
Who would delight in enthusing about the best pen in the world - the formidable 5566? Ah Boon who's going to give birth to a beautiful and feisty baby girl in 7 weeks time, I think you will be a brilliant and cool mum, and I will love your kid too.
Who would spend hours with me spurting adrenaline planning other people's travel routes, while assuming our face-to-face-fetal-position on my bed? Asa my ultimate travel partner, we shall travel again. And again and again.
Who would beg plaintively on the phone "Don't forget poor me in Sabah"? Guang Hong who was on call in the hospital in KK when we called him to demand why he didn't reply my text, you bet I'll get my ass over to KK within two years just to leech on your hospitality. (And to point at your hospital saying "My friend's a doctor in there".)
Who would bring us for foosball and drinks and say "No dice, no signature" to the stupid waiter who insisted that there were no more dice but brought some right after? Sze Yee whom I will always refrain from addressing as "Steven", thanks for loving Jen Hui. I love you for that =D
Who would eat steamboat with me? YKent, we will continue supporting the Malaysian steamboat industry. Jen Hui asked me if there's any steamboat to be eaten in Singapore. I replied, yes but noone to eat it with.
Who would walk right past our table, decide that he was in the wrong gathering place, return to the car and almost drive away if we did not call him to tell him to get his ass back in there? Wiun, getting more and more blur by the day, I wish you a successful career and a lifetime of happiness with Pei Shyuan the gorgeous copywriter. (Pei Shyuan has the. most. beautiful. handwriting. ever.)
Who would give me a text "if u had anything to share no matter what even climb knife mountain swim in sizzling oil pot i'll also be there ok?" Ying Jian whose text is dated 18 months ago I still keep , hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs! I'll see you tomorrow!
Special cameos for the gathering yesterday Kang Wei and Lee Chih Feng - told you my house was easy to reach. Kan?
And those abroad. I miss you all very very much.
Ling I'm happy for your you-know-what and worried about the you-know-what and I hope everything will work out perfectly for you and you would be the happiest you-know-what ever!
Yen Yi hahahhahaa you sa po congrats for being one of the most beautiful Asian girls in NZ! Muaks! (Ooo I just kissed one of the most beautiful Asian girls in NZ)
Woei don't worry I'll be a good girl and study hard in Singapore and I shall love with the passion of a child! I really miss our long chats - the next time you come back to KL I shall come back from Singapore and we'll talk.
Long post! No mean feat for still vaguely hungover little me. What did I do to deserve such wonderful lifelong friends? Bear hugs all around.
Who would get you a perfect parting present - an idea book which has the inscription "What would life be if you have no courage to attempt anything?" Jen Hui you have no idea how much I love the book. Very, very much.
Who would delight in enthusing about the best pen in the world - the formidable 5566? Ah Boon who's going to give birth to a beautiful and feisty baby girl in 7 weeks time, I think you will be a brilliant and cool mum, and I will love your kid too.
Who would spend hours with me spurting adrenaline planning other people's travel routes, while assuming our face-to-face-fetal-position on my bed? Asa my ultimate travel partner, we shall travel again. And again and again.
Who would beg plaintively on the phone "Don't forget poor me in Sabah"? Guang Hong who was on call in the hospital in KK when we called him to demand why he didn't reply my text, you bet I'll get my ass over to KK within two years just to leech on your hospitality. (And to point at your hospital saying "My friend's a doctor in there".)
Who would bring us for foosball and drinks and say "No dice, no signature" to the stupid waiter who insisted that there were no more dice but brought some right after? Sze Yee whom I will always refrain from addressing as "Steven", thanks for loving Jen Hui. I love you for that =D
Who would eat steamboat with me? YKent, we will continue supporting the Malaysian steamboat industry. Jen Hui asked me if there's any steamboat to be eaten in Singapore. I replied, yes but noone to eat it with.
Who would walk right past our table, decide that he was in the wrong gathering place, return to the car and almost drive away if we did not call him to tell him to get his ass back in there? Wiun, getting more and more blur by the day, I wish you a successful career and a lifetime of happiness with Pei Shyuan the gorgeous copywriter. (Pei Shyuan has the. most. beautiful. handwriting. ever.)
Who would give me a text "if u had anything to share no matter what even climb knife mountain swim in sizzling oil pot i'll also be there ok?" Ying Jian whose text is dated 18 months ago I still keep , hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs! I'll see you tomorrow!
Special cameos for the gathering yesterday Kang Wei and Lee Chih Feng - told you my house was easy to reach. Kan?
And those abroad. I miss you all very very much.
Ling I'm happy for your you-know-what and worried about the you-know-what and I hope everything will work out perfectly for you and you would be the happiest you-know-what ever!
Yen Yi hahahhahaa you sa po congrats for being one of the most beautiful Asian girls in NZ! Muaks! (Ooo I just kissed one of the most beautiful Asian girls in NZ)
Woei don't worry I'll be a good girl and study hard in Singapore and I shall love with the passion of a child! I really miss our long chats - the next time you come back to KL I shall come back from Singapore and we'll talk.
Long post! No mean feat for still vaguely hungover little me. What did I do to deserve such wonderful lifelong friends? Bear hugs all around.
The Limited Corvette Victory Edition
This cool automotive is a limited series of 250 Victory Edition Corvette Coupes. This sportcar is based on the Corvette C6 Coupe. This Victory Edition has the LS2 6.0L V-8 engine which can produce 297kW (404 hp) and 546 Nm of torque. This limited car only available in two colours, black or yellow. The interior has two tone leather seats, grey door spill plates and numbered Victory Edition badge.
General Specifications :
Limited : only 250 built
Produced in : 2007
Configuration : LS2 90º V 8
Engine Location : Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction : cast-aluminum block and head
Displacement :
Bore / Stroke :
Compression : 10.9:1
Valvetrain : 2 valves / cylinder, OHV
Fuel Feed : Sequential Fuel injection
Aspiration : Naturally Aspirated
Chassis / Body : composite body panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum & magnesium structural and chassis components
Suspension (fr/r) : short/long arm double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Steering : rack-and-pinion, power assisted, speed sensitive
Brakes : vented discs, all round. ABS
Gearbox : Tremec T56 6 speed Manual
Drive : Rear wheel drive
Dimension :
Weight : 1470 kilo /
Lenght :
Width :
Height :
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) :
Performance :
Power : 400 bhp / 298 KW @ 6000 rpm
Torque : 542 Nm /
BHP / Liter : 67 bhp / liter
Power to weight : 0.27 bhp / kg
Top Speed :
0-
Top 9 Moments in Thailand
I'm in a rather good mood today so I shall backtrack onto one of the Thailand posts that I promised! With loads of pictures like what is preferred! =D
Thailand - The Land of Smiles
Have I mentioned before that I love Asa? (Asasasasaasasasasa) Because without Asa I wouldn't have enjoyed my Thailand trip that much. We always end up doing the most random of things, not seeing the "important" sights dutifully as we should, just because we can't be bothered wahaha! We're not very good tourists as you can see.
So firstly, here's a copy-paste of the itinerary that I made before going to Thailand.
#1. Running under heavy rain at the Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi.
One of the tiers of the Erawan Falls.
So what happened was we went to this beautiful national park, hiked 1.5kms up to see all seven tiers of the famed Erawan Falls, abstaining from soaking ourselves in the turquoise waters because we did not bring a change of clothes - towards the end of the hike, when we were almost at the base, it started to rain. Furiously.
We wanted to catch a bus at 2:20pm, and it was already 2pm. And what's a little tropical rain? So we decided to run for it! We ended up drenched from head to toe, legs covered in mud, stared at by Europeans who undoubtedly thought that we were mad. The last time that I had run under such heavy rain was probably when I was in Form 2, with XiaoCi (XC - you remember?). Rain is such tremendous fun!
When we reached the visitor centre, the kind lady at the counter told us that there was no 2:20pm bus, contrary to what was printed on the schedule. The bus would come at 4pm. =_=
Sopping wet, waiting for the 4pm bus while enjoying a Thai coconut.
#2: Asking how much it would cost to make a fake ID.
I was so fascinated by the dodginess of the fake ID stalls at Khao San Road that I stopped to ask how much they cost, after failing to take a picture of the signs they put up. (The sign was speedily whipped away before I could take a shot.) Apparently for 300Baht (RM30) you can get a fake student ID/fake press card/fake identity card/fake etc. customized for you.
I did play with the idea of making one, just for the hell of it, but then "just for the hell of it" would probably not impress the cops if I got caught. So I decided not to. Which was just as well, 'coz Elli a German girl whom I met at Mr. Yee's place, who had resided in Thailand for 2 years, said that she could get a fake ID at only 50Baht. Whoa almost got ripped off, by a dodgy fake ID seller! Who would've guessed!
Dodgy Khao San Road
#3. Waking up and realizing that we were on top of River Kwai
We put a night at Kanchanaburi at Sam's River Guesthouse. The second morning when we woke up, I realized that we were on a floating rafthouse, sprang up, threw the door open and there it was, a huge as river right below us =D For some reason I was extremely happy about that. And it feels very good waking up extremely happy.
Right outside our room.
#4. Finding the perfect little dress and buying two more =D
The first day we went to Chatuchak market, I bought this really cute dress (220Baht). Tried it on when we got back to the guesthouse, found that it fit perfectly, and ended up going to Chatuchak the following day and buying two more!
According to Wikipedia there are more than 15,000 stalls in Chatuchak. And we managed to locate the 1/15,000, all thanks to Asa's biological GPS!
I didn't take a picture of my dresses, so here's a picture of random door knobs to compensate:
Picture of Random Door Knobs to Compensate
#5. Taking a nap at Chatuchak Park.
After shopping and having hawker food for lunch at Chatuchak, we found ourselves at Chatuchak Park, right beside the Chatuchak Park Skytrain Station, where many locals were chilling despite the hot weather. We took a shady spot beside the lake.
Lake at Chatuchak Park
Can you see the huge picture of the Thai King on one of the buildings? We have dubbed him "Andy Lau" because of his overwhelming popularity and his hawk-like nose. The resemblance is uncanny.
So then we lay on the grass.
Us lying on the grass.
And slept. For about an hour. I was told by Asa that I was snoring (but in an adorable way). None of the locals looked alarmed (just rather curious) when I awoke so I don't think I disrupted public order.
#6. Watching Rak Sam Sao in Paragon Cineplex.
Of all the debauchery we could have indulged in, at the heart of Bangkok, we chose to go watch a movie. Yeah we missed the Thai massages, gay bars, strip clubs, bizarre sex shows.
Go Bangkok cannot have good, clean fun ah?
The movie we watched. Rak Sam Sao.
The movie was in Thai but there were English subs so we were fine. Rak Sam Sao means "The Last Moment". Yay an addition to my limited Thai vocab! The tickets cost 150Baht each, but the popcorn combo cost 190Baht! So instead of getting the expensive popcorn we got the following snacks instead.
Dodgy popcorn. 9Baht. Indecipherable Lays snack. 14Baht.
World's best mango ice-blended. Bloody good. 25Baht for this small bottle.
When we were going into the cinema there was a bag check. Expecting to surrender all my snacks and my world's best mango ice-blended, I was pleasantly surprised that they asked us to proceed. Apparently they were only looking for video cameras.
Did you know that tucked between the trailers and ads, is a propaganda short film of the King, and everybody is expected to stand for the duration of the film? I didn't. Now I do. And I feel a newfound and profound respect for the monarch of Thailand. In fact I think I should hang a calendar with his picture on my wall. Give the big guy a salute every time I check the date.
#7. Shower at Bann Kun Pra, Ayutthaya
After a whole day of covering Ayutthaya by foot, walking under the scorching sun, we returned to the guesthouse. I was covered with an inch-thick film of grime (exaggerated but heart-felt), and the shower felt. so. good. Best shower I had in Thailand, gushing cold water in a spacious bathroom, hell yeah!
No pictures for this one.
#8. A pseudo-explosion at the night market at Ayutthaya.
Before going to Thailand, my mum kept reminding me not to have hawker food in case I'd get diarrhea, which I responded with half-hearted ehm, ehm, ehms with my fingers crossed behind my back. Thai hawker food is sublime, okay. What is diarrhea to gastronomic heavens for the cheapest prices ever?
Yum.
Yum.
So there we were, enjoying hawker food in explicit disobedience to my mum's orders, when there was a loud "POP" from the stall right across where we were seated. Hawkers beside the stall gasped and ducked. The stall owner bounded to the gas canister and turned it off. All looked visibly relieved.
Probably that was The Supreme Being's way of telling me that hawker food could kill me - and it needn't be by food poisoning. But being the daredevils we were, we just continued eating happily and even went back to the night market later for dinner.
#9. Asking for directions at Chulalongkorn University
On our last day in Bangkok, we decided to muck around nearby the Hualampong Train Station till it was time for us to leave. On the free map we got from the airport, there was the Museum of National History within walking distance (which, for us may mean a radius of up to 3kms), so we decided to go there and have a look.
The Museum of National History appeared to be situated within the campus of Chulalongkorn University. Within the university grounds, we stopped to ask a bunch of students the directions. The bunch of students were rather shy at first, but soon they began jabbing the map enthusiastically, speaking in gibberish. Two friends passing by were waylaid and invited into the extensive discourse over the geography of Chulalongkorn University.
(Digression: I think the two friends were a couple. One was a cute guy and the other was a cute girl - till the cute girl started to speak. Then I realized that she was a ladyboy, the first that I've ever got to observe up close. Sadly, as with all ladyboy stories, she was way cuter than me and Asa. How could we ever compete??)
The discussion wore long and thick, arms were flailed and fingers were pointed at all directions. This was the longest time that we've ever taken to ask directions and it may have took up to 15 minutes of pure gibberish, with a brief intermission of Cute Guy's polite "Just a moment, we are discussing."
Turns out that there was a typo in the map, there was another Museum of National History in the city, the museum on the map may have been Museum of Natural History instead. And then there was Chulalongkorn University's own little museum. Having no particular agenda, we decided to choose the nearest and easiest one, the Chulalongkorn University Memorial Centre.
Chulalongkorn University Memorial Center with my reflection
Everything was in Thai, so we just amused ourselves looking at pictures and trophies. Can you believe that the following medal was for winning the Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987? We couldn't believe it either!
Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987
OK I was lying. It could've been anything and a tomyam eating contest just sounds like fun.
Then we walked around the campus and ate within the campus canteen. Cheap and tasty. University students in Thailand wear uniforms, like our secondary/primary school students.
Uniform-clad mannequins and humans
OK so they weren't all moments (some lasted for more than 2 hours). But I enjoyed them the most out of this trip, and you would have noticed that they did not include our visits to Wat Pho, Bridge over River Kwai, ruins at Ayutthaya etc. though they too were quite pleasant. And who dictates that sights must be the centre of delight in travelling? Doing the most commonplace things in a foreign land is much more fun!
Ei funny lah. Today I'm really hyper happy and I don't even know why. Oh well, a long as post for you anyway!
Thailand - The Land of SmilesHave I mentioned before that I love Asa? (Asasasasaasasasasa) Because without Asa I wouldn't have enjoyed my Thailand trip that much. We always end up doing the most random of things, not seeing the "important" sights dutifully as we should, just because we can't be bothered wahaha! We're not very good tourists as you can see.
So firstly, here's a copy-paste of the itinerary that I made before going to Thailand.
- 18/6/2008 - Reach Bangkok in the evening.
- 19/6/2008 - Take a train to Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and surrounding museums, spend the night at Kanchanaburi
- 20/6/2008 - Go to the Erawan National Park for its beautiful waterfalls. Take a bus back to BKK.
- 21/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping
- 22/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping =D
- 23/6/2008 - Take a train to Ayutthaya, potter around for the day, stay for the night.
- 24/6/2008 - Leave Ayutthaya by train, be in time for the train back to Butterworth. Night in train.
- 25/6/2008 - Reach Butterworth, go to Penang, stuff face.
- 26/6/2008 - Leave Penang back to KL.
#1. Running under heavy rain at the Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi.
One of the tiers of the Erawan Falls.So what happened was we went to this beautiful national park, hiked 1.5kms up to see all seven tiers of the famed Erawan Falls, abstaining from soaking ourselves in the turquoise waters because we did not bring a change of clothes - towards the end of the hike, when we were almost at the base, it started to rain. Furiously.
We wanted to catch a bus at 2:20pm, and it was already 2pm. And what's a little tropical rain? So we decided to run for it! We ended up drenched from head to toe, legs covered in mud, stared at by Europeans who undoubtedly thought that we were mad. The last time that I had run under such heavy rain was probably when I was in Form 2, with XiaoCi (XC - you remember?). Rain is such tremendous fun!
When we reached the visitor centre, the kind lady at the counter told us that there was no 2:20pm bus, contrary to what was printed on the schedule. The bus would come at 4pm. =_=
Sopping wet, waiting for the 4pm bus while enjoying a Thai coconut.#2: Asking how much it would cost to make a fake ID.
I was so fascinated by the dodginess of the fake ID stalls at Khao San Road that I stopped to ask how much they cost, after failing to take a picture of the signs they put up. (The sign was speedily whipped away before I could take a shot.) Apparently for 300Baht (RM30) you can get a fake student ID/fake press card/fake identity card/fake etc. customized for you.
I did play with the idea of making one, just for the hell of it, but then "just for the hell of it" would probably not impress the cops if I got caught. So I decided not to. Which was just as well, 'coz Elli a German girl whom I met at Mr. Yee's place, who had resided in Thailand for 2 years, said that she could get a fake ID at only 50Baht. Whoa almost got ripped off, by a dodgy fake ID seller! Who would've guessed!
Dodgy Khao San Road#3. Waking up and realizing that we were on top of River Kwai
We put a night at Kanchanaburi at Sam's River Guesthouse. The second morning when we woke up, I realized that we were on a floating rafthouse, sprang up, threw the door open and there it was, a huge as river right below us =D For some reason I was extremely happy about that. And it feels very good waking up extremely happy.
Right outside our room.#4. Finding the perfect little dress and buying two more =D
The first day we went to Chatuchak market, I bought this really cute dress (220Baht). Tried it on when we got back to the guesthouse, found that it fit perfectly, and ended up going to Chatuchak the following day and buying two more!
According to Wikipedia there are more than 15,000 stalls in Chatuchak. And we managed to locate the 1/15,000, all thanks to Asa's biological GPS!
I didn't take a picture of my dresses, so here's a picture of random door knobs to compensate:
Picture of Random Door Knobs to Compensate#5. Taking a nap at Chatuchak Park.
After shopping and having hawker food for lunch at Chatuchak, we found ourselves at Chatuchak Park, right beside the Chatuchak Park Skytrain Station, where many locals were chilling despite the hot weather. We took a shady spot beside the lake.
Lake at Chatuchak ParkCan you see the huge picture of the Thai King on one of the buildings? We have dubbed him "Andy Lau" because of his overwhelming popularity and his hawk-like nose. The resemblance is uncanny.
So then we lay on the grass.
Us lying on the grass.And slept. For about an hour. I was told by Asa that I was snoring (but in an adorable way). None of the locals looked alarmed (just rather curious) when I awoke so I don't think I disrupted public order.
#6. Watching Rak Sam Sao in Paragon Cineplex.
Of all the debauchery we could have indulged in, at the heart of Bangkok, we chose to go watch a movie. Yeah we missed the Thai massages, gay bars, strip clubs, bizarre sex shows.
Go Bangkok cannot have good, clean fun ah?
The movie we watched. Rak Sam Sao.The movie was in Thai but there were English subs so we were fine. Rak Sam Sao means "The Last Moment". Yay an addition to my limited Thai vocab! The tickets cost 150Baht each, but the popcorn combo cost 190Baht! So instead of getting the expensive popcorn we got the following snacks instead.
Dodgy popcorn. 9Baht. Indecipherable Lays snack. 14Baht. 
World's best mango ice-blended. Bloody good. 25Baht for this small bottle. When we were going into the cinema there was a bag check. Expecting to surrender all my snacks and my world's best mango ice-blended, I was pleasantly surprised that they asked us to proceed. Apparently they were only looking for video cameras.
Did you know that tucked between the trailers and ads, is a propaganda short film of the King, and everybody is expected to stand for the duration of the film? I didn't. Now I do. And I feel a newfound and profound respect for the monarch of Thailand. In fact I think I should hang a calendar with his picture on my wall. Give the big guy a salute every time I check the date.
#7. Shower at Bann Kun Pra, Ayutthaya
After a whole day of covering Ayutthaya by foot, walking under the scorching sun, we returned to the guesthouse. I was covered with an inch-thick film of grime (exaggerated but heart-felt), and the shower felt. so. good. Best shower I had in Thailand, gushing cold water in a spacious bathroom, hell yeah!
No pictures for this one.
#8. A pseudo-explosion at the night market at Ayutthaya.
Before going to Thailand, my mum kept reminding me not to have hawker food in case I'd get diarrhea, which I responded with half-hearted ehm, ehm, ehms with my fingers crossed behind my back. Thai hawker food is sublime, okay. What is diarrhea to gastronomic heavens for the cheapest prices ever?
Yum.
Yum. So there we were, enjoying hawker food in explicit disobedience to my mum's orders, when there was a loud "POP" from the stall right across where we were seated. Hawkers beside the stall gasped and ducked. The stall owner bounded to the gas canister and turned it off. All looked visibly relieved.
Probably that was The Supreme Being's way of telling me that hawker food could kill me - and it needn't be by food poisoning. But being the daredevils we were, we just continued eating happily and even went back to the night market later for dinner.
#9. Asking for directions at Chulalongkorn University
On our last day in Bangkok, we decided to muck around nearby the Hualampong Train Station till it was time for us to leave. On the free map we got from the airport, there was the Museum of National History within walking distance (which, for us may mean a radius of up to 3kms), so we decided to go there and have a look.
The Museum of National History appeared to be situated within the campus of Chulalongkorn University. Within the university grounds, we stopped to ask a bunch of students the directions. The bunch of students were rather shy at first, but soon they began jabbing the map enthusiastically, speaking in gibberish. Two friends passing by were waylaid and invited into the extensive discourse over the geography of Chulalongkorn University.
(Digression: I think the two friends were a couple. One was a cute guy and the other was a cute girl - till the cute girl started to speak. Then I realized that she was a ladyboy, the first that I've ever got to observe up close. Sadly, as with all ladyboy stories, she was way cuter than me and Asa. How could we ever compete??)
The discussion wore long and thick, arms were flailed and fingers were pointed at all directions. This was the longest time that we've ever taken to ask directions and it may have took up to 15 minutes of pure gibberish, with a brief intermission of Cute Guy's polite "Just a moment, we are discussing."
Turns out that there was a typo in the map, there was another Museum of National History in the city, the museum on the map may have been Museum of Natural History instead. And then there was Chulalongkorn University's own little museum. Having no particular agenda, we decided to choose the nearest and easiest one, the Chulalongkorn University Memorial Centre.
Chulalongkorn University Memorial Center with my reflectionEverything was in Thai, so we just amused ourselves looking at pictures and trophies. Can you believe that the following medal was for winning the Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987? We couldn't believe it either!
Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987OK I was lying. It could've been anything and a tomyam eating contest just sounds like fun.
Then we walked around the campus and ate within the campus canteen. Cheap and tasty. University students in Thailand wear uniforms, like our secondary/primary school students.
Uniform-clad mannequins and humansOK so they weren't all moments (some lasted for more than 2 hours). But I enjoyed them the most out of this trip, and you would have noticed that they did not include our visits to Wat Pho, Bridge over River Kwai, ruins at Ayutthaya etc. though they too were quite pleasant. And who dictates that sights must be the centre of delight in travelling? Doing the most commonplace things in a foreign land is much more fun!
Ei funny lah. Today I'm really hyper happy and I don't even know why. Oh well, a long as post for you anyway!
Wednesday Morning
Since I woke up this morning I have been reading this remarkably interesting self-help book, What do I do when I want to do Everything? by Barbara Sher. I think I may have found some explanation and help for my perpetual procrastination, perfectionism and indecisiveness! From this point on I am invincible!! I love the positive rush self-help books give me =D
There's one exercise within, called the "What have I done so far?" list. Here's my list, in no chronological order but loosely grouped by subject:
Me an author!
*reverent silence*
I think I shall go dry the clothes before my mum kicks my ass.
There's one exercise within, called the "What have I done so far?" list. Here's my list, in no chronological order but loosely grouped by subject:
- Signed up more than 100 people to join Greenpeace New Zealand. I should check out the exact number with Hannah.
- Bungy jumped off Auckland Harbour Bridge (and coerced 7 other people to do it with me).
- Hitchhiked around the South Island of NZ (about 1400kms).
- Hitchhiked from Butterworth to KL and got home within 5 hours.
- Got an article published in Forward (June 2008 issue) on my hitchhiking experience in NZ - AND THEY PUBLISHED IT UNDER "SHAMSUL YUSOF" - TOOK MY BABY FROM ME - in a mistake. I haven't got the cheque yet. The article is unmistakably mine - it has Val's name in it and my picture and my map. I was extremely incensed about it before, but now have relapsed into some sort of angsty indifference. They promised that they will republish the article - a shorter version of it (HAVE TO QUARTER MY BABY SOMEMORE) - but since Zul has left the magazine I don't know if they'll follow through.
- Got a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems and a Master's degree in Public Policy and about to get a PhD in Communications and New Media.
- Got an email interview by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (yes Val I checked it's this paper indeed =D) and radio interview by online radio Radio Singapore International and some other media interest, all on my blog research.
- Wrote a book, to be launched soon.
- Helped with the constitution of All-Blogs, though things seem to have quieted down.
- Fundraised and helped to organize a Christmas party for some underprivileged children and single mothers of the Indian community. Ended up going to an Indian gathering complete with dance and song performances =D
- Have been (with family or work) to Indonesia (Bandung and Yogyakarta), Thailand (Phuket), China (Yunnan - Kunming, Dali, Lijiang), UK (London - when I was 3. So it doesn't count, except for statistical purposes like now.), Singapore.
- Have backpacked (i.e. planned in shoestring budget, though LL and Asa planned for my debut Oz trip) in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra), New Zealand (all over, too many to list), Thailand (Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya), Hong Kong, Taiwan (Taipei and Hua-lien), Malaysia (all over as well)
- Have got Japanese Language Proficiency Test certification to Level 3 (two more levels to go), probably can survive in Japan, where I shall go in the future.
- Speak smatterings of German. Mostly random words and phrases, greetings, insults, counting from one to ten. I should probably not starve in Germany. (Ich bin hungrig.) Or die of some forewarned accident. (Achtung!)
- And while we're at languages well I do English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien reasonably well.
- Told a guy that I like him. Which is kinda a big thing for me. Though he's probably not into me. Well, no regrets, I've done all I can and the only thing left is to flinch and then to heal.
- Organized countless gatherings for our group of friends - so dependent they grew that they didn't see each other for the 6 months that I was in NZ.
- Have overcome my fear of culinary disasters and will cook more in the future.
- Built a website on Joomla! and PHP, but didn't launch it onto the web at the end stages. But it works locally haha.
- Wrote a paper on the website (pt. 19) and presented it at a conference in Yogyakarta.
- Learnt pottery for almost a year. Though I feel scammed by the art school, I am still kinda proud of some of the end products that came back.
Me an author!
*reverent silence*
I think I shall go dry the clothes before my mum kicks my ass.
Confirmed.
I reach Singapore on the 23rd of July. Matriculation and a welcome tea will be held on 24th and 25th. If nothing else happens I shall flee back to KL after that.
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention in the previous post that Asa, Val and I picked up two Nepalese hitchhikers when we were in Semenyih. Time to return the love!
Couchsurfing all across Europe. That is one of my dreams. And this dream I shall postpone for 3 years to get the PhD out of the way. I will study hard, real hard, to make sure that the postponement will be worth it. ^^^
Tomorrow I am taking Val for a KL public transport tour. He will leave the day after, back to the land of "Ich möchte Brot, Speck, Ei und Wasser, bitte" (<-- that's me ordering bread, bacon and eggs and water in German =D)
I will miss Val. Good times. Jawohl!
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention in the previous post that Asa, Val and I picked up two Nepalese hitchhikers when we were in Semenyih. Time to return the love!
Couchsurfing all across Europe. That is one of my dreams. And this dream I shall postpone for 3 years to get the PhD out of the way. I will study hard, real hard, to make sure that the postponement will be worth it. ^^^
Tomorrow I am taking Val for a KL public transport tour. He will leave the day after, back to the land of "Ich möchte Brot, Speck, Ei und Wasser, bitte" (<-- that's me ordering bread, bacon and eggs and water in German =D)
I will miss Val. Good times. Jawohl!
You do not want to be hit by a flying durian.
Or, unwittingly receive a durian with your open palms the first time you see it, not realizing that it is covered with thorns. Poor poor Val.
Continuing with his series of unfortunate and painful events, Val got stung by an anemone on his lower back and got horribly sunburnt on his whole back. For my part, I got sunburnt on my shoulders as well (right where the straps of the backpack rests, thank you Perhentian sun) and cut myself on some barnacles while trying to get into the sea via a rocky route. Real smart. I'll spare you the gory details, but basically there are bits of me floating in the South China Sea right now.
A lot of sweat and blood (mostly mine) and dead epidermis (mostly Val's) were involved, but did we enjoy ourselves?
Hell YEAH!!! =D
OK. Long post ahead, to make up for lost time. Since the last post, we've been to Malacca, Putrajaya, Semenyih, Taman Negara, the Perhentian Islands and Kota Bharu. That's a lot of ground to cover, and a lot of stinky laundry at the end of the week. Can you believe how hot Malaysia actually is?? I mean I've always suspected, us being tropical and all, but now I know. I am so brown right now, which is kinda cool, if my shoulders aren't burning so badly. My tan lines are ridiculously obvious. Pain.
So. Places and stories.
Malacca (5/7 - 6/7)
We went to D'Paradise Tropical Fruits World, near Alor Gajah. It's not very well-maintained but we got to drive the electricity-powered buggy which was good fun.
In Malacca, we stayed at Mr. Yee's place for a night. True blue Malaysian Hospitality - they cooked dinner for us, really good food with prawns and shellfish and all, and Mr. Yee even fried some extra tofu and veges just for Val. Then after dinner, he took us for a walk down Jonker Street, where Val was "caught" by the local Medicine Man who made him hold a coconut for about half an hour, while he busied himself with selling his medicine, busker style. He is able to poke a hole in a coconut, with his bare finger. That is to demonstrate the special healing powers of his medicine. Val got a bottle of the magic potion for his efforts. Good stuff.
Then later we sat by the riverside and got entertained with live music by a few Malay blokes, who were apparently doing it for free and because they enjoyed it. There was this single Indian uncle who was dancing to the music, quirkily good at it and totally absorbed. He danced and danced, and when he had to leave he continued dancing further and further away, till a point when he walked off normally. It was mesmerizing, and he was adorable =D
And we saw him the second day when we had breakfast at the Restoran Amituofo, where food is provided for free, or you put a sum of money as you see fit into the donation box. Val and I both donated some.
Then we left Malacca.
Putrajaya (6/7)
Putrajaya was empty. As usual. We decided to walk into the gorgeous red mosque but it was coincidentally closed. Too bad.
Semenyih (6/7)
Then we went to Semenyih to meet Asa. Took Val to see the Nirvana Chinese graveyard, where he was understandably impressed by the huge dragon they have, to put people's ashes in. Do you know - and I've never known - that Nirvana even has a pet graveyard?? The gravestones are cute animal statues. Very interesting. On to less morbid attractions, we went to the Semenyih Dam for its beautiful scenery, and stopped by the roadside for Val to feed the monkeys with coconut biscuits.
I've never seen someone so happy to see monkeys. Val says that the monkeys are definitely the highlight of his trip. Not even the Medicine Man could beat that.
Then we went to the waterfalls of Sungai Tekala, where we enjoyed a good bath and encountered two different groups of moronic boys who kept taunting Val with gibberish he couldn't understand. Unfortunately I could (first time in Mandarin, second time in Hokkien). Imbeciles.
12:30am already. Lazy to go on, maybe later. Although we had lots of fun, I am glad to be back. A little more than a week till Singapore engulfs me. Before I become emo again I shall close this post.
Continuing with his series of unfortunate and painful events, Val got stung by an anemone on his lower back and got horribly sunburnt on his whole back. For my part, I got sunburnt on my shoulders as well (right where the straps of the backpack rests, thank you Perhentian sun) and cut myself on some barnacles while trying to get into the sea via a rocky route. Real smart. I'll spare you the gory details, but basically there are bits of me floating in the South China Sea right now.
A lot of sweat and blood (mostly mine) and dead epidermis (mostly Val's) were involved, but did we enjoy ourselves?
Hell YEAH!!! =D
OK. Long post ahead, to make up for lost time. Since the last post, we've been to Malacca, Putrajaya, Semenyih, Taman Negara, the Perhentian Islands and Kota Bharu. That's a lot of ground to cover, and a lot of stinky laundry at the end of the week. Can you believe how hot Malaysia actually is?? I mean I've always suspected, us being tropical and all, but now I know. I am so brown right now, which is kinda cool, if my shoulders aren't burning so badly. My tan lines are ridiculously obvious. Pain.
So. Places and stories.
Malacca (5/7 - 6/7)
We went to D'Paradise Tropical Fruits World, near Alor Gajah. It's not very well-maintained but we got to drive the electricity-powered buggy which was good fun.
In Malacca, we stayed at Mr. Yee's place for a night. True blue Malaysian Hospitality - they cooked dinner for us, really good food with prawns and shellfish and all, and Mr. Yee even fried some extra tofu and veges just for Val. Then after dinner, he took us for a walk down Jonker Street, where Val was "caught" by the local Medicine Man who made him hold a coconut for about half an hour, while he busied himself with selling his medicine, busker style. He is able to poke a hole in a coconut, with his bare finger. That is to demonstrate the special healing powers of his medicine. Val got a bottle of the magic potion for his efforts. Good stuff.
Then later we sat by the riverside and got entertained with live music by a few Malay blokes, who were apparently doing it for free and because they enjoyed it. There was this single Indian uncle who was dancing to the music, quirkily good at it and totally absorbed. He danced and danced, and when he had to leave he continued dancing further and further away, till a point when he walked off normally. It was mesmerizing, and he was adorable =D
And we saw him the second day when we had breakfast at the Restoran Amituofo, where food is provided for free, or you put a sum of money as you see fit into the donation box. Val and I both donated some.
Then we left Malacca.
Putrajaya (6/7)
Putrajaya was empty. As usual. We decided to walk into the gorgeous red mosque but it was coincidentally closed. Too bad.
Semenyih (6/7)
Then we went to Semenyih to meet Asa. Took Val to see the Nirvana Chinese graveyard, where he was understandably impressed by the huge dragon they have, to put people's ashes in. Do you know - and I've never known - that Nirvana even has a pet graveyard?? The gravestones are cute animal statues. Very interesting. On to less morbid attractions, we went to the Semenyih Dam for its beautiful scenery, and stopped by the roadside for Val to feed the monkeys with coconut biscuits.
I've never seen someone so happy to see monkeys. Val says that the monkeys are definitely the highlight of his trip. Not even the Medicine Man could beat that.
Then we went to the waterfalls of Sungai Tekala, where we enjoyed a good bath and encountered two different groups of moronic boys who kept taunting Val with gibberish he couldn't understand. Unfortunately I could (first time in Mandarin, second time in Hokkien). Imbeciles.
12:30am already. Lazy to go on, maybe later. Although we had lots of fun, I am glad to be back. A little more than a week till Singapore engulfs me. Before I become emo again I shall close this post.
The Sexy Design of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
This car was first introduced at the 2003 Frankfurt Motorshow. Alfa Romeo
General specifications :
Country of origin : Italy
Numbers built : N/A Prototype
Produced in : 2003
Engine :
Configuration : 90º V 8
Location : Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction : alloy (block), head (block)
Dispalcement :
Bore / Stroke :
Valvetrain : 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed : Fuel Injection
Aspiration : Supercharger
Drivetrain :
Chassis / Body : Carbon Fibre Monocoque
Suspension (fr/r) : dual wishbone
Steering : rack and pinion, power assisted
Brakes : vented discs, all round
Gearbox : 6 speed (Manual)
Drive : Rear Wheel Drive
Dimensions :
Weight : 1500 kilo /
Length :
Width :
Height :
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) :
Performance :
Power : 400 bhp / 298 KW @ 7000 rpm
Torque : 441 Nm /
BHP / Liter : 94 bhp / liter
Power to Weight : 0.27 bhp / kg
Top Speed :
0-
Official Website : Alfa Romeo
Cameron Highlands, and on to Malacca!
Val and I are back from Cameron Highlands. Since he spent most of last night puking his guts out and having diarrhea, we decided to stay in KL for one night for him to recuperate, and move on to Malacca only tomorrow.
It really is unfortunate that food poisoning had to mar the brilliant trip we have had so far. I am having so much fun pointing stuff out and pretending to be streetwise in front of him, haha! (No thanks to my mum blowing my cover when I introduced the hockey stadium at Jalan Duta as a football stadium *cringe* - Han Solo, this is my bimbo moment for you)
And food wise Val has enjoyed everything we've fed him ("We" as in Malaysia =D), so it really is too bad that we might have to be a little bit more careful now on what we order, though we didn't have hawker stuff and the suspected culprit is the Indian food served at one of the restaurants in Tanah Rata. Since Val's vegan, Indian food's convenient because they always have vegetarian options with no eggs or dairy products.
This trip has been so laid back that I've taken like five pictures, which I somehow can't copy into this machine! I don't know why =_= but it's just as well that I didn't take shitloads of pictures and can't use them at the end. I didn't even take the Boh Tea plantation because it was raining and I didn't bring my camera along for the half day tour we had in Cameron.
We were on the tour with a French couple, Laura and Fabien. The first stop was the Butterfly Farm, where I held a live scorpion on my palm for a while, just for the heck of it (since we had no camera and couldn't take pictures). Initially I thought that they had removed the venom from the scorpion, but when it was on my palm (it was as long as my palm actually, the scorpion) the guide said that it was still poisonous. o_O But it wouldn't sting you if you didn't attack him at the abdomen. And the sting wouldn't kill you, it would just hurt a bit like if a bee stung you.
Having held the scorpion I had the bragging rights for the day, such as when we were climbing the Gunung Brinchang watch tower and I was concerned about the rungs being slippery, and Val was like "don't be a wuss", I went, "Oh well, I held a live scorpion today, so who's Da Man now??" Damn right. I am. The Frenchman, Fabien, was so afraid of snakes and scorpions and the like, that he and Laura skipped the Butterfly Farm altogether, waiting outside. I was of the opinion that Europeans are wimps (no offense - I do think it's only wise to be wary about creatures you don't know - they could potentially kill, infect or tickle you) and Val concurs.
We also visited the Mossy Forest, quite an interesting experience trekking through a wet mess of moss and mud and dead leaves. But since it was raining we didn't see much, not as much as I would've wanted to anyway. Val and I were dressed in mere t-shirts and shorts, as opposed to Fabien and Laura's heavy pants and raincoats, but we turned out alright. I'm glad I didn't wear my long pants since I'd get mud all over them and the cold wasn't that unbearable, even though Gunung Brinchang is 6,666ft high and it was raining all afternoon.
I wanted to post a picture of a bonfire they had in Kang Traveller's Lodge (will do a review after the entire trip), but you'd have to use your imagination instead - that Val and I sat in front of, chatting at length about life during NZ, life beyond NZ and evil people who didn't bother to text.
In fact, for the four days that Val's been here, we've just been talking our heads off. In front of the bonfire, while enjoying 100% fresh mango juice, while taking a walk to Parit Falls, while stalking a kid who was quite agitated at two strangers tailing him. Sharing our different culture, learning new words (I now know how to say "You can touch my feet" in German) and cringing over downright disgusting dirty jokes involving glass eyes, eughh.
Oh yeah. Our bus crashed into another bus while on the way to Tapah from Cameron today. We didn't fall into a ravine or anything. I also have a picture of that, so you can use your imagination again.
Annnnd, this subject would come up somehow - I have to pack now. For one night in Malacca, and we're going to do couchsurfing. I'm really curious about how it's like in Malaysia. We're going to visit D'Paradise Tropical Fruit World and will buy some fruits for Mr. Yee in Malacca who has kindly agreed to host us.
Here's Val's post on what's happened so far, and he has even got a label "I-Love-Malaysia", how sweet is that =D
It really is unfortunate that food poisoning had to mar the brilliant trip we have had so far. I am having so much fun pointing stuff out and pretending to be streetwise in front of him, haha! (No thanks to my mum blowing my cover when I introduced the hockey stadium at Jalan Duta as a football stadium *cringe* - Han Solo, this is my bimbo moment for you)
And food wise Val has enjoyed everything we've fed him ("We" as in Malaysia =D), so it really is too bad that we might have to be a little bit more careful now on what we order, though we didn't have hawker stuff and the suspected culprit is the Indian food served at one of the restaurants in Tanah Rata. Since Val's vegan, Indian food's convenient because they always have vegetarian options with no eggs or dairy products.
This trip has been so laid back that I've taken like five pictures, which I somehow can't copy into this machine! I don't know why =_= but it's just as well that I didn't take shitloads of pictures and can't use them at the end. I didn't even take the Boh Tea plantation because it was raining and I didn't bring my camera along for the half day tour we had in Cameron.
We were on the tour with a French couple, Laura and Fabien. The first stop was the Butterfly Farm, where I held a live scorpion on my palm for a while, just for the heck of it (since we had no camera and couldn't take pictures). Initially I thought that they had removed the venom from the scorpion, but when it was on my palm (it was as long as my palm actually, the scorpion) the guide said that it was still poisonous. o_O But it wouldn't sting you if you didn't attack him at the abdomen. And the sting wouldn't kill you, it would just hurt a bit like if a bee stung you.
Having held the scorpion I had the bragging rights for the day, such as when we were climbing the Gunung Brinchang watch tower and I was concerned about the rungs being slippery, and Val was like "don't be a wuss", I went, "Oh well, I held a live scorpion today, so who's Da Man now??" Damn right. I am. The Frenchman, Fabien, was so afraid of snakes and scorpions and the like, that he and Laura skipped the Butterfly Farm altogether, waiting outside. I was of the opinion that Europeans are wimps (no offense - I do think it's only wise to be wary about creatures you don't know - they could potentially kill, infect or tickle you) and Val concurs.
We also visited the Mossy Forest, quite an interesting experience trekking through a wet mess of moss and mud and dead leaves. But since it was raining we didn't see much, not as much as I would've wanted to anyway. Val and I were dressed in mere t-shirts and shorts, as opposed to Fabien and Laura's heavy pants and raincoats, but we turned out alright. I'm glad I didn't wear my long pants since I'd get mud all over them and the cold wasn't that unbearable, even though Gunung Brinchang is 6,666ft high and it was raining all afternoon.
I wanted to post a picture of a bonfire they had in Kang Traveller's Lodge (will do a review after the entire trip), but you'd have to use your imagination instead - that Val and I sat in front of, chatting at length about life during NZ, life beyond NZ and evil people who didn't bother to text.
In fact, for the four days that Val's been here, we've just been talking our heads off. In front of the bonfire, while enjoying 100% fresh mango juice, while taking a walk to Parit Falls, while stalking a kid who was quite agitated at two strangers tailing him. Sharing our different culture, learning new words (I now know how to say "You can touch my feet" in German) and cringing over downright disgusting dirty jokes involving glass eyes, eughh.
Oh yeah. Our bus crashed into another bus while on the way to Tapah from Cameron today. We didn't fall into a ravine or anything. I also have a picture of that, so you can use your imagination again.
Annnnd, this subject would come up somehow - I have to pack now. For one night in Malacca, and we're going to do couchsurfing. I'm really curious about how it's like in Malaysia. We're going to visit D'Paradise Tropical Fruit World and will buy some fruits for Mr. Yee in Malacca who has kindly agreed to host us.
Here's Val's post on what's happened so far, and he has even got a label "I-Love-Malaysia", how sweet is that =D
Frankfurt Travel Guide
Frankfurt Travel Guide
Frankfurt City Sights
Frankfurt Zoo - Germany's second-oldest zoo has been delighting fans since 1858. Today, you can encounter an international cast of furry, feathered and finned friends on a trip that might take you from the Amazonian jungle to Antarctica via the African Savannah and the Australian Outback. If you're lucky, the howls of wolves can be heard throughout the surrounding neighbourhood of Ostend. When doors close, the zoo's own beer garden opens to help you wind down.
Frankfurt Travel Guide for HotelsClick customers travelling to Frankfurt in Summer 2008. This is no easy task. A city of 6 million people known mostly for its business travel Frankfurt actually offers plenty to the leisure tourist. Located in West Central Germany, Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important cities, in fact, one of Europe's business hubs and has a unique and varied scene. There is something for everyone in Frankfurt, young or old, male or female, straight or gay, you are going to find something to tickle your fancy in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt - The QT
Parks, a central river, skyscrapers, wonderful museums and an eclectic and award winning culinary scene, Frankfurt could remind you of a couple of other world famous cities out there. So what makes Frankfurt worth a visit? It is actually surprisingly cheap, New York hotels are insanely priced and if you're a European, like me, the air fare and hotel combined is enough to put you off. In Frankfurt we have also what New York can not create, for Frankfurt is also European at heart and the fabulous Germanic cultural alleyways and boulevards, together with the beer (never forget the beer) come together to create one of Europe's hidden travel gems.
Back to price, would you believe it possible to stay 3 nights over a weekend in a 5 star Intercontinental hotel in the middle of the city for £170 including breakfast? I'm not kidding! 2 People inclusive, 3 Nights inclusive, Breakfast inclusive! Maybe in Riga right. but Frankfurt? Check it out below.
Back to price, would you believe it possible to stay 3 nights over a weekend in a 5 star Intercontinental hotel in the middle of the city for £170 including breakfast? I'm not kidding! 2 People inclusive, 3 Nights inclusive, Breakfast inclusive! Maybe in Riga right. but Frankfurt? Check it out below.
Who Flies to Frankfurt?
Depending on your carrier you'll fly into Frankfurt into the International Airport (Europe's second largest) or the low cost carrier airport Frankfurt Hahn. The low cost option is Bargainous with Ryanair coming in from the London airports. Everyone flies into Frankfurt, finding a flight will not be difficult.
RyanAir - 30 destinations including, Barcelona, Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kerry, London Stansted, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Rome, Stockholm and Venice.
British Airways - Manchester, London, Birmingham
AirFrance - Lyon and Paris
Lufthansa - Seriously everywhere, Amsterdam, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, London Heathrow and City, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Zurich.
What Hotel Deals can you offer?
Over the British Bank Holiday weekend (Fri 22nd August - 3 Nights - 1 Double) we have the following Hot Deals. We have 100 hotels to choose from, but here are the best of the best.
3 Star Hotel - Continental Hotel - Opposite the Train Station - £126,75
4 Star Hotel - Miramar Hotel - Located in the heart of Old Town - £186.75
5 Star Hotel - Intercontinental - Opposite the Train Station - £219.75
What is there to see and do in Frankfurt?
Frankfurt City Sights
Alte Opera - Inaugurated in 1880, the Renaissance-style Alte Oper was designed by Berlin architect Richard Lucae and stylistically influenced by Gottfried Semper, creator of the famous Semperoper in Dresden. After being destroyed in WWII, and then narrowly avoiding being razed and replaced with 1960s cubes, the Alte Oper was rebuilt and its façade reconstructed to resemble the original, graced with statues of Goethe and Mozart. The interior is modern.
Bornheim - Berger Strasse is the spinal cord of the district of Bornheim, the traditional working class part of town. These days, it prefers the label 'bohemian', an image it measures up to well with its mix of dusty bookstores, eccentric boutiques, health food shops and inexpensive cafes and restaurants. Towards the north, the feel gets more mainstream with chain stores and snack bars.
Explora - Immerse yourself and the kids in this family-oriented science and technology museum full of cool optical illusions and three-dimensional works. The photos of turn-of-the-century Frankfurt are a definite highlight.
Frankfurt Zoo - Germany's second-oldest zoo has been delighting fans since 1858. Today, you can encounter an international cast of furry, feathered and finned friends on a trip that might take you from the Amazonian jungle to Antarctica via the African Savannah and the Australian Outback. If you're lucky, the howls of wolves can be heard throughout the surrounding neighbourhood of Ostend. When doors close, the zoo's own beer garden opens to help you wind down. Frankfurter Dom - Dominated by the elegant 15th-century Gothic-style tower (95m; completed in the 1860s), the Frankfurter Dom was one of the few structures to survive the 1944 bombing. The Dommuseum (tel: 1337 6816) has a valuable collection of reliquaries and liturgical objects; it conducts tours of the Dom at 15:00 daily.
On the cathedral's southern side is the small Wahlkapelle (Voting Chapel), where seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire chose the emperor from 1356 onwards. Adjoining it is a choir with beautiful wooden stalls.
Goethe-Haus & Museum - Anyone with an interest in German literature should visit the Goethe Haus, the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1749. Although furnishings are often reproductions, some original pieces remain on show. Highlights are Goethe's original writing desk and the library. Guided tours are conducted in German at 14:00 and 16:00 ; English tours can be arranged, but staff can also help you along.
'He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.' Goethe's parents' house is a wonderful example of how Frankfurt's well-to-do lived in the 18th century. It was Goethe's birthplace, and he lived here until moving to Weimar in 1775, an act that many Frankfurters found hard to forgive. It was here that Goethe penned his ode to suicide, The Sorrows of Young Werther , and began work on Faust . The rooms are nicely decorated with a mix of reproduction and original furniture, offering a glimpse of 18th-century domestic life.
The museum next door illustrates the various stations of his long life with paintings from the late Baroque to the Biedermeier periods. The gorgeous little garden is perfect for getting away from all that Sturm und Drang.
Jüdisches Museum - The city has two notable museums on Jewish life in Frankfurt, reminding visitors that the Jewish community here, with 35,000 people, was once one of the largest in Europe. The main Jüdisches Museum, in the former Rothschildpalais, is a huge place with an exhibit of Jewish life in the city from the Middle Ages to present day, with good detail on well-known Frankfurt Jews persecuted, murdered or exiled by the Nazis. Religious items are also displayed.
Main Tower - A good place to start seeing the sights of Frankfurt is from the Main Tower, Frankfurt's highest public viewing platform. At 200m tall, the tower offers spectacular views of the city. Nearby is Europe's tallest office block, the 258m-high (298m including the antenna) Commerzbank Tower. Main Tower has a restaurant and cocktail bar on the 53rd floor, one below the viewing terrace.
From the viewing terrace to the southeast you can see the Römerberg, a remake of the original city centre; beyond it, across the river, is Sachsenhausen, an entertainment area with lots of pubs, bars and restaurants. To the north and northwest is the banking district with its ever-changing vista of towers, including the 256m-high peak of the elegant Messeturm, which locals call the Bleistift (pencil).
Frankfurt Nightlife
Balalaika - Beer Hall come Jazz Bar in Sachsenhausen
Former New York resident, Balalaika's owner, Anita, was singing long before many of her customers were born, as one of the pace-setters in the jazz and blues scene in the swinging 60s. These days she sings a more mellow song in her tiny, candlelit pub that has the usual cheer of the local taverns but with a more intimate vibe.
Harveys - Upmarket Lounge in Nordend
This odd-shaped, high-ceilinged corner bar looks like Dame Edna's living room. Always on the ball, it will no doubt adjust the style dial to suit Frankfurt's fickle club clientele. It's the perfect setting for flouncing around, and boy, do they flounce. It's a long established location on the gay map but attracts a mixed crowd.
Living XXL - Top Nightclub on the riverbank in Bahnhofsviertel
If the euro goes into free fall, it'll land here - Frankfurt's large, bustling and highly popular club has three bars and a gallery dining room at the foot of the European Central Bank.
Sandbar - Cocktail Lounge in Ostend
If the other bars get too cramped or their glam starts wearing thin, dive into the Sandbar as a chic alternative. The minimalist interior and soft bar stools invite a long evening or a short repose between clubs.
Frankfurt Shopping
Bogner Goethestr 21, Innenstadt
For sportswear that's almost too good to sweat in, Bogner is your brand, as many a stylish German jock will inform you. They also have a rather dapper range of women's and children's clothes with all sorts of accessories to complete the 'B' look.
Bornheimer Wochenmarkt - Am Uhrtürmchen, Bornheim
This farmer's market is a great place to stock up on fresh healthy rations for a hike in the woods, so good they do it twice a week! Met someone you need to impress? They have fresh flowers for next to nothing. As for cheese, don't buy it anywhere else. From an excellent range of markets, this fresh fruit and vegetable emporium is many people's favourite.
Galeria Kaufhof - Zeil 116 -126, Altstadt
You can find homewares, clothing, toys and electronics elsewhere in Frankfurt, but not under a roof as large as the one at Galeria Kaufhof. It also sells a great range of wines and spirits.
Saturn Hansa - Berger Str 125-129, Bornheim
This three-storey electrical good specialist stocks a heap of appliances, but on the top floor has the most comprehensive and one of the cheapest CD selections in Frankfurt. The jazz and blues corner and the classical music section are impressive and, best of all, there are plenty of play stations where you can pre-listen to any song.
Frankfurt Restaurants
Eckhaus - Bornheimer Landstrasse 45, Nordend
The smoke-stained walls, the iron fan above the door and those ancient floorboards all suggest an inelegant, long-toothed past. We love this place, others say the noise level snaps their nerves. The hallmark Rösti (shredded potato pancake), large servings of tasty salads and other main courses have been served in this restaurant-bar for over 100 years.
Grössenwahn - Lenaustrasse 97, Bornheim
The food in this upmarket pub-restaurant relies on pure flavours and the wine seduces your tongue into parts of your mouth you didn't know were there. The downside of this wonderful Frankfurt institution is that the air can be shocking at times, especially if someones tugging on a cigar or a pipe at the next table. Stylish modern German cuisine with plenty of international extras are the order of the day.
Metropol - Weckmarkt 13-15, Altstadt
In the long shadow of the Dom and with a lovely courtyard out the back where children can chill out away from the city heat, Metropol serves dishes from a changing menu that fluctuates between the inspired and the bistro staples. It's a great place for coffee or a drink too.
Tiger - Heiligkreuzgasse 16-20, Bornheim
Culinary guru Martin Göschel concocts delicious Italian and French-inspired cuisine in what many consider to be the best nosh address in town. Expect to pay for the kudos (menus over €100 ). It's part of the Tigerpalast cabaret venue.
We are recommending an August Bank Holiday break to Frankfurt to avoid the fairs and the crazy fair costs of the hotel rooms. That's all Folks.
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