Vientiane in a Day – Tuk tuk and buses

Morning came and it’s a day to explore the city of Vientiane.

It is very possible to explore the whole of Vientiane in a day, but that depends how big your wallet is.




I rented a tuk-tuk for 90,000 kip (which is expensive in my opinion, that’s like USD10) to get a tour around town, back to the inn and to the bus stop.


tuk-tuk is the best invention in the world


1. Patuxai, or known as the Victory Monument.







Looks pretty much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, except it’s full of the early Hinduism design










Seven floors high, it offers an panoramic view of the city.






Makes you wonder how their roads are so straight?

The history adds a slight mystery behind every wall, perfect place to cam-whore.


Spiral staircase inside Patuxai



Window scene

Graffitis are found inside the walls of Patuxai



It intrigues me to think if those were ancient wordings or just love confessions of local Laotians.


2. Pha That Luang, the most prominent monument in Laos.











Flying pose





You gotta admire the details though.




It's a huge gold monument that stood out without a doubt from miles away. There are stones and ruins around the inside of Pha That Luang that resemble Buddhist statues. Mostly headless.


Pose 1



Pose 2. Look, three arms



Pose 3. Tall macho me



Pose 4.


I bet you're wondering how did I squat so low for this photo (yes the statue is extremely small)

It's all about the angle.




Some stones there are just plainly disturbing.


tell me this doesn't look like a giant penis


According to Lonely Planet, it’s a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Laos sovereignty. Since its construction in 1566, four wat were built around it, but two only remain.

My question is, is this the Wat That Luang Tai or the Wat That Luang Neua?




They all look the same to me.




Outside of Pha That Luang, sparrows in cages are sold for luck (you're suppose to buy and free them)




This really saddens me. For all I know, sparrows can't be kept in cages, they'll die of confined space. I was tempted to buy all of them and set them free but this is just provoking business in this area.




3. Talat Sao – morning market. I love this place, it sells from everything authentic to everything that’s famous for in Laos.







Like the Balut (duck fetus eggs),




I have read two cases on food poisoning after eating this.




So no! I will not try it. Over my dead body. Especially not after my food poisoning case.

You can find little frogs on a stick, or mini bats on a stick here too.

Or their famous snacks, baguette with condense milk (simple but genius recipe).




You can find the bus station right next to Talat Sao too, where you can get on a local bus at a fair rate to Vang Vieng or Luang Phrabang.

4. Buddha Park. Apparently this is a place with gazillion Buddhist statues, the one place I didn’t get the chance to visit because it’s 25km from the city and renting a tuk-tuk would cost me at least 100,000 kip.


*Three hours later*


Sitting on the public bus which is going to depart from Talat Sao to Vang Vieng in another half an hour (which I were to discover later half an hour means three hours). Public bus, the agony of bumpy ride, sacrificing air-conditioning and premium bus service for pain in the bottom and sweats in an enclosed tin is well worth saving another 35,000 kip for. (VIP bus rides for tourists are 60,000 kip per person, get your ride with the locals will set you back 25,000 kip)

Yep~ just another 5 hours away~ 5 painstakingly LONG hours...

Bought myself a 5000 kip sandwich from the Hmong Market next door for lunch, been eating this awesome shit for two days now.




They call it khào jįi pátêh (a split French baguette stuffed with Lao-style pâte and ham) which is going to last me till dinner. Well worth it in my point of view. Simply love Laotian sandwich, yum~

And I shall end my Vientiane Journey with a photo.




My Nike moment in Pha That Luang. Tell me that looks totally like a Nike Woman pose~! :D

Vientiane, Vietnam – River? What river?

I arrived in the land of Laos feeling a bit more than disturbed.

It has been an awful morning, hectic almost. And it felt like a bad omen.

Laos is humid hot. HOT HOT HUMID HOT.







I have been sweating inconsistently the second I stepped out of the glorious air-conditioned cabin of Airasia, oh how I miss the cabin right now.

Vientiane is again, like how I made assumptions of any other country, is not what I expected it to be. Rather than the third-world country I heard and perceived, it’s actually more developed than I expected it to be, though it is no where near a developed city, but with mini-mart, internet café and money exchanger lingering at every corner of the street in the city; I’m pretty much pampered.

The street of Th Fa Ngum bustles with tourists and travellers from all walks of life, I spent my first night here, had my first meal beside the Mekong river, or what’s left of the river.




It was soon that I realized the street contains some of the more expensive street-side food in Laos and miraculously as you walked further away from the area, things get cheaper. Amazing what tourism can do to a place, even if it is just 500 metres away from every other non-touristy street.




Don’t get my wrong, Laos is cheap, but it’s more expensive than I expected it to be (mind note not to underestimate financial growth of another country).


Laos food is either very healthy, or very spicy. Or both.


This should be called spicy noodle in spicy sauce cooked in spicy seasonings and spicy vegetables. Not for the faint hearted.


It’s no wonder I have yet to spot an obese Laotian in sight. They should call Laos the thinnest country in the world, not France.

I love how they pronounce English here though. I remember reading this “must-visit” place called Phu Si in Luang Prabang on lonely planet. Phu Si land… ermm~~~

Or how this menu keeps misleading my innocent little mind…


Anyone want whisky with Cock? I mean cok



Paying money to see ppl chop pig?








This city depresses me for some reason. I can’t quite put it in words.

It could be the fact that the city bears centuries of different rulings and has been under the hands of many kings, once a powerful land beautiful named Land of a Million Elephants in the 17th century, now diminished to a city made up of semi beautiful sculptures and monuments and semi crumbled buildings.








old primary school


The French even misspelled the original Lao as Laos during its last colonisation.

It could be something else that sets me in that mood. No matter.

Everything in Laos is transacted using US dollars or Kip, and ironically, the cheapest exchange rate you can find here is actually at the airport. So for those of you planning to visit Laos, remember to change most of your US currency in Kip at the Laos airport. RM1 is around 2700 Kip (USD 1 = 8740 Kip or 8735 in the city)


At night, the street is sprawled with vendors. The kaleidoscope of colours should not be missed.







It’s nice to see, but seriously.. why do I need a home light deco for?










You will able to locate some local bars around the area where you find most foreign travellers gather.




The most happening club however, and surprisingly, is opened by a Malaysian (so I heard), called the Mekong Deck.




Fancy little place, price of a bistro menu in Melaka.

World Conquest – Fulfilling a dream

It’s been a year of planning. In fact it’s been a dream my entire life, so I might have been secretly planning for this since god knows when.

Finally, it’s realizing. I can feel it under my toes and I have butterflies every time I think about it.

Much contemplation has come in between many times and I always ask if I am doing the right thing, if I will ever regret doing this. Constantly worrying if this is the right path to choose.

Then I realize there is no right or wrong path in life. That life is all about how you want to live it and living it without regrets. The cliché phrase of living it once and living it full suits what I feel just about now. If not now, when?

I have the rest of my life to worry about what comes after responsibility and commitments, and many travellers I’ve met have already understood this concept. I am not holding back anymore.

What is one year or two years compare to the 80 years I am going to live out? Sure mid twenties might be a very important part of my youth that will never return, but so does every year in my existence, It doesn’t mean I don’t have a life at 30, 40, and 50 onwards. The guilt not pursuing what I want in life will haunt me for the rest of my living days. That thought alone depresses me.

Who says I need to stop living after 50? I have met people who are still living large in their 80s, and these people inspire me all the time.

Go out and explore the world. They say.

Go all out I shall.


So here goes…

I am travelling the world.


Been playing with google earth a lot lately


This will spread over year 2008 and 2009. How it would end after that is a mystery, if god allows I might even end up some where else working and settling down.

Tomorrow is the day I depart for Indo-China, first stop Laos. And after that, Northern Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. I will probably make it to the Songkran (water festival) in Bangkok, anyone joining me? And Angkor Wat is just calling me. Angelina Jolie, that’s how much your movie has its influence one me k?


*heart* her


China follows closely behind (by now it should be around June, Wendy my girl, I’m coming to see you and don’t get wedded yet k!!!! Sean of Shanghai, I want Xiao Long Bao!) and then it’s back to Sipadan for more diving! (Jackie my instructor will you be there?! Jeff of Sipadan, bring me to see the Barracudas!) Hopefully I have an underwater camera casing then, god that is going to cost. And maybe to climb Mount KK (hey Willy of KK, get ready cause we’re going hiking!).


Barracuda point in Sipadan


I’m struggling with the destinations Australia + New Zealand (Lachy!!! How was your world trip? Damn it I have so many things to ask you~!) and India + Nepal + Bangladesh around August and September because those will be the times I graduate if I do graduate in Australia but also the time my Blangadesh-y friend invited me over to Blangadesh for a homestay.

When the year end comes around, it’s either Middle East (Abeer of Oman, I know I know, I have been saying I will visit you since forever! Patience my best friend in the whole wide world)


Dubai


or Japan (Edmund, you probably need to cover everything from accommodation to food if I visit you, because I’m putting you and visiting you as a priority in front of my best friend here -.-, and Japan ain’t cheap! Kakaka~)


More photos of where Edmund wanna bring me, the village of 白川乡


As for next year, Europe! (Geraint of Netherlands, get my bed ready k? :D; Ole of Germany, reply me in facebook! Uncle Sonny of England, I miss you guys!!! Tell Joanne my dear cousin she looks lovely!)


Sweet Joanne in the middle, she’s in college now. They grow up so fast, sniff.


and hopefully hopefully hopefully the most expensive place on earth to fly to from Malaysia, Hawaii! (CK, we really should visit Amanda, she made me wanna go Hawaii every time I see her photos).


Amanda (left), is it me or is it hot in over there?


With that the states (Cass of USA, are you still working in Texas then?! When are you going to bring me to Israel? :p) and Canada (Hung of Vancouver, are we meeting up when you return this May? We need to talk, lol)


I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping in dire desperation that everything will turn out well in the end. Like that Chinese saying: the boat will sail straight at the bridge; something like that.

But what about money? Where does that come from? I definitely need some odd jobs for income as I travel so hope everyone I mentioned above can help me out here. :D

I have saved up enough to last me till after China, for now. Notice I’m going to all the ‘cheaper’ countries in the first few travels? I don’t really spend when I travel, most expenditure goes to travelling - bus, train at most, and accommodation. I don’t even eat much when I’m away, perfect reason to go on a diet (I believed I spent less than RM150 on food for a week in Sabah).

After that everything is very uncertain, but I’m not handicap, I have hands, legs, and most importantly a degree in software (though I don’t see how this can help, I hate programming) and hopefully by then a Master to backup. I’m sure I can find means to survive.

Even if I have to pluck apples for a week to last me another week in Australia;




I heard waiting tips big in the states too, illegal employment in Chinese restaurants if it’s the last resort. If only I own a divemaster certification, I can probably work part time at a scuba centre in Mauritius or Maldives, that would have come in handy.

As I mentioned, everything is indefinite. But that is the fun part. You will not know where you will go next, what you will do or who you will meet. And that is life isn’t it? Uncertain.

To a lot of people out there, this might mean nothing to them, heck many out there can afford to travel the world at the snap of a finger.

To me, it’s a big step. HUGE step actually.




I’m giving up a lot of things and putting myself at uncertainty, forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and putting aside a lot of my aims and goals to follow this dream of mine.

It’s a dream. A very childish dream, friends and family, even strangers reassure me. But it is the one dream I want to live out, without regrets and know for one day in the future I have done it and be satisfied.

Hence…

Goodbye age 24 and 25.

I will remember you dearly and close to my heart at 26.

Poor as a Church Mouse

I’m poor. It’s official.

I’m so dead poor.

And I want so many more things. I want a laptop, an underwater camera casing, my own wetsuit and diving regulator, in fact I want the full gear of diving equipments; then there’s DSLR, a Deuter backpack, unlimited supply of Airasia tickets (come to think of it, why not MAS? Or Qantas?), hey… I think I need a pair of ear muff too.

I know I know, these are just materials I can live without and I don’t really need them anyway and there are more important and needy people out there. Hey, there’s no wrong in WANTING right? At least I didn’t say I NEED them.

Ever heard of the famous phrase poor as a church mouse?


I'm born in the year of the mouse, the irony


I came across this question in Yahoo: Why is a church mouse poorer than a regular mouse?

Fascinating question, obvious answer but it will still get you thinking.

And this guy solved my curiosity.

“Church Mouse who has dedicated his life to Jesus will live in poverty and donate all of his riches to the other mouses who need it more. Soon he finds himself worse off than those who he once pitied. Not long after that, the church recognizes his existence and hires the best rodent exterminator money can get to destroy their preception of an evil vermin. Church Mouse spends the rest of his life on the run. He is worse off than Regular Mouse ever was.
”


Haha, brilliant answer!!! I know it’s not true, but admit it! It’s funny!!! Or maybe it’s just my sense of dry humour.


Back to my point. I’m broke!!!

No seriously. I’m not joking.

I am so broke I only realised it today when I opened my purse and saw piles of receipts bursting from the paper note slits.

Not a single ringgit. OMFG.

And I was hungry!

I need food!! And food need money!!!

My purse was dirt dry!




The ATM was too far and I have my reasons to save up some reserve these few days. (Shall announce the reason/news in the next post)

I could only do the only thing any living human would do at this point of time.

.
.
.
.
.
.





Scout of coins lying around the house.

I scattered through the entire house looking for small little shiny coins. God, the happiness it brought me when I flipped over the carpet and found at least 20 cents!!!!!




There’s also 6 cents under the keyboard.




God! I never knew I have so many coins lying around the house. I am SO LUCKY!!!

I would have probably sliced my opened my sofa if I own one in the house.

Like seriously!!!! DO NOT underestimate coins!!! They’re worth something ok!! And they CAN BUY you food when you are dying of hunger!

I mean, half an hour of treasure hunt (pun alert!) landed me with…

*deng deng deng*




RM 2.59!!!!!!


Haha!! Food!! Here I come!! *rushed down to the grocery to buy food*

With RM2.50, I got myself a decent loaf of bread (chocolate somemore!) and even a snack!!!! Hail coins!!!


This can probably last me till tomorrow.


This is what you get when you travel too much. *sob* T_T



PS// if you’re wondering, the real meaning of the idiom is this - The proverbial church mouse is supposedly less well-off then his neighbours because people do not regularly take their meals in church. In a church, there is no pantry and no large foodstuffs, and thus the church mouse is poor in food, which is presumably how mice measure their wealth.

The World I Pursue?

I want to run to the end of the earth.
And back.
And to go around again once more.

Why does one live? I often question myself.

Subjective question, with more than one way to deliver those answers.

I want to live my life on the edge, the brink of fantasy and reality. To live the life few humans live and to go through things most people would deem impossible to achieve.

Yet I am only human, and there is so much one can achieve. It’s true when they say only sky is the limit, because human do have more potential and ability than we believe ourselves to have. And to stretch that ability only goes to prove our mere existence is no longer insignificant, no longer trivial.

I don’t come from a wealthy background, yet I believe there are certain aspects of life the wealthy will never understand nor experience. The same as I will never experience one of wealthy’s. Fair’s fair.

Freedom, to me is to wake up every single day, knowing I am in a new place, a new city, a new country; to sleep every single night, not knowing where I will be tomorrow, the next day, or the week after.

To sleep on the street, the airport, the train station, a park, on a boat; to stay awake going through lonely street, wandering through a lost city, meeting locals and falling in love with a stranger.

To meet great people, be friendly, go party, have a blast of a time of which memory would last me a life time, and part the next minute knowing I will never see them again.

To learn a new language, cook a new dish, dance a new step, play an odd instrument, study a ruin, listen to stories, acknowledge a history, visit a landmark, climb a mountain, rent a bicycle, smile to passersby, stroke a stray kitty, pat a dog, pick a flower and wave down a car.

To whip out a map, close my eyes, pin down a place, and to be on the train the next hour heading to that city/village pin-pointed. The joy knowing the world is yours to explore, and the excitement not knowing what’s to be installed for you the next day. The happiness people bring to you every single day, the wonder of new things you learn every single day, hour, minute.

With freedom comes sacrifices.

Youth? Wealth? Time? Commitment? Responsibility?

How much are you willing to let go? How much are you willing to give in?

How much, do you crave freedom?

Food Poisoning and Hospital

I really hate the stench of hospital. I can't remember how many times I have been here and how many times I have sat on this wheelchair in a semi-conscious in the middle of the night.

A whole night of rushing to the toilet and puking into the bowl of all the food I took the evening earlier, I woke up finding myself dozing off on the toilet floor. Feeling upside down and everything inside out, I dreaded this feeling. And once I puked all I could out, and there's nothing left more to come out, I still lay before the bowl trying to dig more out.

Many times I found myself dozing off pretty fast into unconsciousness and woke up to the oblivious hour of the day, and then, the night.

My phone rang few times at some point, I couldn't remember, too far to be reached. And as I laid there on my bed, I asked myself when would this be over. The last time it took a night, the last two times it took two days. But oh I could never forget the awfulness, the smell of vomit at my throat and in my nose, the fatigues in all my joints and the pain in my stomach caused by gastric. There's no point taking in any food, all would just come out in the end, in a more horrible way and feel; even water makes me feel queezy. I was facing dehydration fast, and I knew it.

The pain when they try to insert needles for drip woke me up for a while, and I teared to be here, the uncomfortable bed and the unkind words of the doctor who treats non-fatal sickness as nuisance.

I woke up three hours ago, in my bed in Melaka few hundred kilometres away from Sunway hospital. Three holes on the back of my hand, two of which seemed to be pointless poking. Chewing slowly and cautiously on a piece of bread, my first proper meal in two days.

Getting my Open Water Diver License and Diving in Sipadan

Now there are many questions asking if one is allowed to take his diving course in Sipadan, or is one allowed to dive in Sipadan without a license.

The answer here is, yes and no.


It is possible to take your open water license in Semporna, the mainland which is an hour boat ride from Sipadan.


Living on boat


A place called Sibuan Island. Pretty small, some minority tribes stay on it (they don’t have IC so I don’t think they can ever leave the island).




But with sand and beaches beautiful as a baby’s bottom.




And water clears as crystal.


Diving in Sabah


The chance to interact with the locals and experience life at sea







I couldn’t ask for a better place to learn diving and earn my first scuba license.





Fabien checking my weight belt for me



Putting on my fins in water (god see how clear the water is?)


Four arrived for the course, but only two managed to pass with flying colours.

Ladies and Gentleman, I am now officially a certified PADI Open Water Diver!!!!




You have no idea how excited I felt that day. I remembered screaming at the top of my lungs for joy the moment I ascent the water and spit out my regulator (after my instructor announced we passed underwater using sign languages).


And then I went for my first real dive after the license in Sibuan Borneo itself. Fabien led us this time.

Click on the video to see me attempt a boat dive for the second time (first time during the lesson).




You don’t get to do that in a pool do you?! Haha~ it’s so awesome!


And the answer to my first question, it is possible to learn diving in Sipadan? Yes, if you are pursuing your Advanced Open Water course, it is possible that they bring you out to Sipadan to learn because by now you are a qualified diver.

I didn’t pursue my Advanced course, firstly because of limited time, I was running short of days to stay in Semporna/Sipadan (oh god how I wish I can stay there forever) even though it only takes two days to finish advance course; secondly, I was running out of budget. It’s simply too costly to take up TWO diving license in such a short period of time.

But as a reward to myself, I booked a permit and a 3-dive ride into Sipadan the very next day.

That day, we were guided by (so they claimed) The King of Sipadan, DiveMaster Jeff, who has been diving in Sipadan for the past 10 years and probably know every single corals like the back of his fin.


Really funny dude, lol


While Fabien (DiveMaster in training) was responsible for taking another team of Advanced Open Water divers out to sea that day.




We made a pit stop at Mabul Island (45 mins away from Semporna) to pick up some other divers staying there. Mabul is a simply magnificent, mind note to stay here the next time I visit.

I took some really nice photos and you can download the full photo here (I didn’t put any watermark so you can use it as wallpapers)

The first one is wide screen shot (because I own a wide screen LCD)


Mabul Island_Wide Screen, Click here for large



Mabul Island, Click here for large



Click here for large.


We have the tanks and BCDs ready,




The water’s blue and clear as ever,




Sipadan was ready for us.


Sipadan Island from afar


Fabien have the Advanced Open Water Divers dived out of the boat following us beginners later with Jeff.

Here’s a video of them doing simultaneous boat dives.




Here you find many other divers from other boats and country


A group of rich Chinese divers (they have uniform custom-made pink and yellow diving suit and each of them has a underwater camera)



My dive buddies chilling on board (the one standing comes from Michigan and has travelled for 9 months in Asia, 5 of which he spent in China and can speak fluent Mandarin, the other two are brothers who have also travelled for several months)


During breaks (dive intervals), we would head back to the island to chill or to have lunch.


Small island with no accommodation (rest house ashore)



Dive buddies playing ping pong


I found these two Caucasian kids playing DS Lite during dive intervals.




Kids? Diving? Diving suit? DS Lite? Why don’t I have that kind of childhood when I was young?!!! @#!$!@#%#!%$&


I can only say that, Sipadan, IS A SUPA GORGEOUS PLACE to dive in. The coral reef, the drop off where you can see not hundreds, but thousands of fish circling inches above you, sharks and turtles every few metres away; where you will swim above a forest of corals of all shapes and colours and into the drop off below, you will reach a point when you can’t see the surface, the bottom, where there’s only water behind you and to your sides and facing only a wall, an endless HUGE wall of corals and fish.

Where the endangered green turtle as big as me minus the legs swim so close you can almost touch them, or dive into an underwater cave where you will find a turtle’s tomb where all the turtles lay in peace.


The only regret I have when leaving the island, was that I do no own an underwater camera (casing). Those magnificent views can only be left in my memories.

As we finished our last dive, the sun was reflecting beautifully on the deep blue sea. It was magical.




(Video of me saying bye to everyone)

Back from Sipadan!!!!

I'm back back back from my awesomest trip of gorgeous beautiful lovely Sipadan!!!




I don't even know how to start say this, but OMFGGGGGGod Sipadan is the LOVELIEST PLACE ON EARTH!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU SIPADAN.

I almost never wanted to come back.

Oh oh oh .... I am now officially a certified Open Water Diver!!!!!




Down Below!!! Look out!!
Just touched down few hours ago, super tired right now. Going to head to bed straight. Night.

Diving into the Blue - Sibuan Borneo

As the story went…




I had my allergy on the first 30 mins upon arriving in Semporna, Sabah, which in my opinion, was a BAD start. Like a tragic omen, something was going to go wrong~

The source of my skin reaction was this.




The bed of Lee Resthouse. Like seriously, their bed sheets were sooo old, it’s like they never changed it. You could find yellowing stains on it. Like Eww~!

It could be due to detergent with strong chemicals reactions.

Or the bed was just plain dirty.

Anyway, since there’s no refund (at one point I checked out and decided never to go back, but because the boss came to look for me because I swore to blog about it, I obliged after a room exchange was promised), I slept with three towels spread over it to sleep on.




This made me look like a hygienic freak.

-___-


After settling the final check in, I went to the Scuba Centre for my first day of course. I’ll skip you the boring details.

Basically the first ever course for PADI license is Open Water Course where you will become a certified Open Water Diver capable to dive to 18m below sea level on your own.

Here, the license costs RM750. Which I thought was cheap seeing that I am learning to dive at the MOST MOST beautiful dive site on earth (I can’t seem to stop saying that, it’s true!!!)

The first day was to sit through a 6 hours video crash course.




I finished reading the book, and was on quiz the next day. :D

Not before I made some dives in the morning.




OMG it’s the most wonderful and horrific experience ever!!

First the horrific then the wonderful.

It was drizzling when we met at the dive centre 8am that morning.

But the show must go on, nothing stops a diver! And as a diver in training, I have to do what I got to do, rain or storm (in this case, both)!




The rain began to pour furiously as the speed boat sped into the sea, and I was soaked in rain for at least what seemed like half an hour!!!! In the freeeeezing cold weather!!! And the wind, oh don’t get my started on the cold merciless wind!!! and then the boat drove out the rain and towards Sibuan Island.




But the clouds were gaining on us.

The first sentence that got out of my lovely instructor’s mouth was: “throw them into sea, let them swim for 200m out to the open and back. No equipments!”

My mind went “…………………………………………”

WTFFFF?!!!! No goggles? In the rain?!!!!! WITH THE STORM?!!!!!!!!!!


Out in the openness. (I was chucked into the sea shortly after this photo was taken)


So we (me and my dive buddies for the course) were all chucked into the sea, swam like jelly fish on the sea, under the even mounting waves and UNDER the rain (water top and bottom, do you know how that feels?!!!!).

Before any diving started, I was already tired as a slug and legs of jelly when I reached the shore. And it was only 10am.



People were preparing for the diving equipments the moment I climbed into the boat. It’s time to dive.

Oh god kill me.


My dive buddies, couples from Denmark – Anne and Nic


Without any prior knowledge, we were again chucked into the sea with 20 KG more on our bodies for our first ever Open Water Dive courses.

Yea baby!!! We don’t practise in the pool, we do it on the spot!!! Where else but the beautiful sea of Borneo.

Where you find minority kids roaming the island and hijacking dive boats.




Playing around boats are like games to them.




The sea is where they grew up and live in.


I know where you are looking at, sorry, it's hidden in the water


And I? I’m just excited for my first ever scuba lesson




It was awesome, on the first day, there were two dives. Confined water - learning all the basic diving skills like changing your air (regulator) under water…etc.




And basic skill in deeper water (10metres maybe?)

I passed with flying colours. :D (Thanks Hung, I wouldn’t be here taking this if it weren’t for you)

And cam-whoring around the boat.





My diver buddies – Anne and Nic from left, me and my beloved instructor – Jackie (she’s from KL ;) )



(from left)Fabien the master diver in training (assistant instructor to my course), me and Ole (Rescue Diver in training? Ole, I want to visit Germany!!!!)



Beautiful Scenery


In the diving world, the sea is your playground, as well as your toilet.




Tsk tsk tsk Ole, You’re scaring poor Anne.


It was a great day, tiring, but absolutely exhilarating for me.




Tomorrow would be my final exam. In my mind I was thinking, it would have suck big time after all I have gone through today if I fail tomorrow.

But today, the weather was too beautiful to care for that.




Besides, if I do fail tomorrow, I can always piss in the sea




and have everyone drink my eh hem…*cough cough*

Semporna, Sabah – port to Sipadan!

Waking up at the Kinabalu Backpacker’s lodge was a refreshing sight…




of the street of KK!!

I never knew I’ll see the day of brushing my teeth facing against a busy road of city street with roaming cars.




It also helped waking up to the sight of two really hot Dutch boys in their sun tanned muscular topless body jumping into shower next to you. Eh hem~ *cough*

I decided to take a day off chilling around the city and have a cup of ice Nescafe beside the roadside while doing my paper research typing under the shade of trees.




I don’t usually drink coffee but Sabah has the WORST Milo Ais you will ever get, anywhere, anytime. It’s like diluted Milo with three tablespoons of sweetened condense milk. Seriously, it is THAT horrible.

I managed to type up quite a bit. *proud*

As evening drew nearer, I hopped onto the public bus to Inanam to board my overnight bus to Semporna, a little fish village at the South East of Sabah that would still be unheard and unknown if not for it’s passage way to the world BEST diving spot – Sipadan Island.




Second rule of backpacking – always save up a night’s stay by travelling overnight.


Evening of Inanam, beautiful moonlight.


Because of the geographical position of Sabah, the sun sets an hour earlier here. I thought I saw the time wrongly when I arrived at the terminal for my 7:30pm bus.




What? I’m an hour and 30 mins early? How can?

Only to realize later that this watch was bought in Bangkok, hence the time was still set an hour back.


The actual time


How smart of me. -.- (this is what you get when you buy all sorts of junk from around the world)


Preparing to hop on a 11 hours ride.


The bus stopped at several location for food and pee break.

I managed to find some realllllly cheap candies, all selling at RM0.10 to RM0.30.


Dinner for the night.


*Fast-forwarding 11 hours later*

6:30am

I landed with my backpack standing in the middle of no where.


*not a sound, total silence*


Right~~~



ermm... to my lodge!

Dumping my bag, I headed straight out for my first city exploration. What better time to see the town wakes up?


Morning market at the jetty


Sabah has most of its cities situated right by the sea, Semporna included.




The morning market gets busy as the fishermen returned from sea with load of goods.


Tuna Fish



Stingray?



Puffer Fish!!!!!! I want!!!


It’s quite a sight to view. :D


It’s common for people here to live on water, and the land, side by side.




And kids jumping on and off boat for fun.




Cheap is the first name of Semporna. By that I mean they will go all out to make things sold at a very cheap and affordable price.


Anyone want to buy RM1 cooking oil?


And not to forget, a BN dominated state. ;)




I’m seeing this everywhere!

I’m going to take my diving license today, tomorrow and day after. Yes, soon I will a certified PADI diver!!! Woo hoo~~~~ and my first dive is going to be in the world's MOST MOST beautiful diving spot~~!!!!

Before that….

I think… I got…



an allergy :(




*to be continued*

Kota Kinabalu – Nicolekiss has arrived!!!!

Flying in from the sea crossing countless of clouds, land finally came into view.




This is the third time I have visited East Malaysia and my very first time entering the final state of the Malaysia I have yet to step foot on - SABAH.

I’m excited.

This is the first time in half a year since I have backpack, which is a hell LONG time. The last time I actually slept in a dorm was in Vietnam (Kenny did you hear that?!!! I have not travelled for half a year!!! Hah!!! My mom was wrong for thinking I could only stay put for 2 weeks!)

Hoping onto the public bus at RM1.00, we headed straight into town centre.


First rule of backpacking - check-in on arrival. You don’t want to heave your load everywhere you go right?


Showing off my super mini flashdrive on my bunk bed (always go for lower bunk)


So I dumped my super heavy bag at Kinabalu Backpacker’s and headed out to town.


Yea baby I’m at Signal Hill!!!! (can overlook KK here)


Kiss KK first.




Ok, now it’s time to explore.

Fortunately and unfortunately, the first thing that caught my eye was this,


A spoof Wine Cellar?! Eh Ron!!! Sue them!! They don’t freaking sell Moscato d’Asti here!!!


I scouted the second love of my life at Tong Hing…




selling at RM113!!!!!! Holy Mother of GAWD!!!! A total ripped off k!!! That’s almost twice of the price of what Wine Cellar was selling!!

*heart shatters*


I took a stroll near waterfront earlier this evening and spotted some really neat bistros.




Waterfront reminds me a bit of Gurney Drive in Penang and bears a uncanny resemblance to Clark Quay in Singapore, minus the crowd.




Managed to catch the sunset there, which was utterly gorgeous.




Just when I was admiring the beauty of the orange planet, a group of Filipino kids hijacked me.




They were sooooo fascinated by the cameras and the photos they kept asking for more photos to be taken (of them la), I couldn’t help but to play with them for a while.


“1+1 = 11, get it?”


Just before dinner, I passed by a seafood restaurant with a whole collection of sea marines!!


Live Abalones!!! OMFG!!!!





Like this super gorgeous lobster I was holding. *drool~*

Yes, this is what KK is all about!! Seafood and more seafood!!

Hence at night, I had this for dinner.


.
.
.
.
.






Shut up. Seafood not cheap k.

Wine, Wine and Wine

When I was first invited to Tasting Room by Ron to sample some wines, I jumped at the opportunity. And I am not paid anything to write this entry but purely want to share my new found knowledge with everyone.




I have always wanted to learn more about the world of wineries and spirits, but it’s an expensive hobby to keep and for a noob like me, I wouldn’t be able to differentiate between a RM10 wine to a RM1000 wine.


If you place the wine glasses against a white sheet of paper, you will the colour thickness of the red wine. The thicker the older.


It’s the perfect chance. Ron and his partner Eu Jin were kind enough to show me how to taste wine, explain in detail each and every type of wines they serve.




I was taught the difference between a good year wine and a bad year wine (1984 was a bad year *sniff* my birth year; whereas 1985 was a good year) decides the price of the wine that year; and how wine from different vineyards and countries have different taste.




And because Malaysians are not brought up in a wine drinking culture, Ron and partners came up with a brilliant concept such as Tasting Room: to serve flights of food and wine – it means instead of ordering a whole bottle of wine, you can order glasses of wine individually at reasonable price and taste them side by side.




They have beer flights too.




Another thing that fascinated me that night was the Into The Future flight.




Basically it’s a contraption scientists recently invented to age wine on the spot. One second for a year.


This little metal baby costs RM1080


What you do is you dip the tip the metal end with the red spot into the wine, say for 10 seconds,




And your wine will instantly taste 10 years older. Now isn’t that cool!!!!!

I have tried a year 2006 wine in the year of 2008, 2016, 2021, 2026, 2050 (at this point the wine is uttely bitter and sour, yuck~). However it doesn’t last so it’s only for pure drinking pleasure on the spot. I still think it’s an awesome creation!!!! Now I can tell people I have drank a 44 year old wine before!!!!


Ron “aging” my wine.


Now that night, was a memorable night. Because, in one short night, I have finally found MY wine. Yes!! MY WINE!!

THE WINE for MUAAA~~~!!!!

Everyone has to have a wine of his/her own. It’s always, my wine, your wine, Alice’s wine, John’s wine~ Not the the 2006 German Riesling, that’s so scientific! It’s MY wine!

Let me introduce the second love of my life! (aside from chocolates)




Moscato d’Asti – Nivole 2006 from Italy!! (Mua Wine!!!!)

OMG see I can even memorize it by its full name. I’m such a genius. This is a sweet wine! Never heard of a sweet wine? Now you have!!!


I fell in love with the place instantly, not just because of the wine, but of the food, the atmosphere and of course, the friendly director Ron, his partner Ew Jin and not forgetting the uber nice manager – Kennedy.

So much I went back again for my birthday! :D




This lovely cake was a surprise by Tasting Room, which I SUPER loveeee!!!!!




I was so touched I nearly cried. I was also blushing so hard I didn’t know where to hide.




The foods were gorgeous that night (same as every other night).


I love my Paste Duo


If you want to see more of the food served there, go to my food blog.


Thank you CK for paying more than half the bill that night.

Thank you Dominic for the lovely birthday cake.




Thank you Ron, Eu Jin and Kennedy for introducing the lovely wine, and a gift of Moscato d’Asti on my birthday.




Thank you Sally, Joyce, Andy, Allan, Gerald and Thomas for coming to my birthday!




And finally, thank you Tasting Room. And all the wonderful waiters and waitresses of Tasting Room, for the best birthday dinner ever!




Nicole kisses you all!!


P.S. (this is going to be a LONG p.s.)

I have talked with Ron and we came out this brilliant plan to throw a contest for all the bloggers who reads Nicolekiss’ blog.

Two winners of this contest will have an out of this world opportunity to, not ONLY,

1. Fine dine at Tasting Room to his/her full extent with unlimited supply of wine that night can offer; the two winners will ALSO get to…




2. Dine with Nicolekiss (aka MUA) and the director of Tasting Room – Ron himself! And have him teach you what and what’s not of wines.




And and and!!!!

The bloggers will each get a complimentary bottle of wine from Wine Cellar!!!! (promise not the cheap cheap wine ok)

To participate, just write a simple entry (few paragraphs also can, with or without photos) on your blog “Why you want to dine at Tasting Room?”, link back to nicolekiss.blogspot.com, and send your entry link to nicootan@gmail.com.

This contest is only open to all bloggers residing in Malaysia. If you are not a blogger, don’t worry, there’s a contest open to the public at my food blog too (without the complimentary wine, of course la.. exclusiveness reserved for bloggers ma).

Contest ends 22nd March 2008. So faster go and blog about it! I miss my Moscato d’Asti already!!!!

Elephant Trekking in Krabi, Thailand

Ok, this is my last of the last Krabi trip. It’s been over half a year and I still haven’t finish talking and thinking about Krabi. It’s just such a nice place if you know where to look for fun.




First there was rock climbing, then the most amazing kayaking experience. And now, it’s Elephant trekking!!


Growl?


As we travelled up north towards Phuket to board our flight on our last day, we stopped by a forestry area to visit the grand-kings of the jungle. (If tiger is the king here, then elephant should be grand-king)




Elephants are really splendid creatures, up till now I have only seen an elephant up close in Koh Samui last year, touched it at most, but never had the experience to actually ride on it.




Hence was fascinated by these gigantic creatures that have survived through millenniums of evolutions.

Back in 326 BC during the Battle of the Hydaspes River fought between Alexander the Great and the Indian king Porus in ancient India (now known as Pakistan), war elephants from India were brought in to fight off the Romans.


(They use bigger elephants back then)


Imagine a large elephant in full charge.. Brrr…. It’s a scary thought. Horses were no match for one of these creatures.


“Don’t kill me k? I feed you bananas~”


First thing I found out about riding an elephant is that it’s not easy to get on an elephant if you’re not close to it. For tourists like us, a small tower is usually built for easy ‘boarding’.




After that, it’s just fun all the way.

Here’s a video of me feeding and riding an elephant.




It’s simply breath-taking that by just sitting on top of it, you can feel how powerful these creatures are, as they take you down hill and across river, it’s like it doesn’t cost them any ounce of strength going through muddy tracks and river banks.










It’s odd describing this feeling, you know you are riding something immensely strong, like when you drive a kancil and then hop onto a BMW. This ride can easily crush your BMW like cashew nuts.

After an half an hour trek, we returned to where we started, hopped onto the bus and on with our way.

Stopped by a beau----ti---ful restaurant for lunch.




Had our last servings of awesome Thailand seafood before crossing over to Phuket to board the plane.










Took a last look at the beautiful Andaman Sea between Krabi and Phuket.




And finally, check in.


“Aliens? -_______________-||||”


So this is the end of my Krabi trip. Having the elephants to send us off was a wonderful way to mark the end of a truly remarkable journey, like drizzling chocolate sprinkles over the chocolate syrup and whip cream.


(left) Kah Peng from China Press


Next stop, Sipadan!!! (next week - Sabah)

Now… the Happy Moments

You have seen the kids, you felt helpless.


We lend our hands out so we can help. Many are able to contribute food and money, and understand that these homes need constant care and help in supply.




After CNY, the home managed to gather enough food supply to fill their tummies for a month.




And rice enough for two months.

However, there are many things food and contribution can’t do. Money is needed in this case and with money, they can build utilities that can help the disabled to function better.




To allocate more staff to each kid instead of 12 kids to one staff, then you may not be able to see these kids being tied down anymore.

At the end of the day, it’s not about food or money for these kids. To them, those are the concerns of the home. Kids understand little about the basic needs of life.

Many times, it is vital that we reach out hands to touch those kids, literally. Because it is only then, we are able to see scenes like this.








Edmund, not daring to move



Dawn called me to offer to visit with me that day


To celebrate festivals with them so they don’t feel left out.


Celebrating CNY with the kids - Giving ang pows


To make those faces smile, to make us smile.




Don’t ever think that it is difficult, and don’t ever think that visiting is not important.




It might not mean anything to us, but it means a hell lot to the kids.




Love and care them everyday, because they can’t never experience what we experienced when we are growing up.





Sun Chuang, my high school friend.





As I am creating many happy moments for them, I am in fact, creating many happy moments for myself.




This is my happy moment.




What is yours? :)




PS// anyway, since happy.com.my is having a contest and the winner gets Rm5k. I hope that all Nicolekiss readers out there can vote for this entry here (5 is the highest rank) because if it does win, I want the money to go to the kids. Afterall, these were their happy moments. :)

Please vote k. The link is here. Select your rank (5 is the best), enter the verification code (use IE) and click submit. Vote everyday. :)

Dance of the Light – Rainbow at Night 2

Short Note: Birthday dinner was awesome. Nothing beats a quiet dinner with your the best companies to spend the night over some exquisite wines.


This is so fun. I can’t stop playing with my camera and messing around with the exposure settings and shutter speed.

This is second episode of my light hunting.


Floating




The Worm




Cloth Hanger


This is how the world looks like when you're drunk


The Summersault




Inverted Mcdonald




Red Box




Matrix on the go


This is how the world looks like when you're beyond drunkenness


Messing Around


You're probably high on magic shrooms when you see this.


The Tweezer




Daze




Dance of the Spotlight Trio









*This is a freaking huge spotlight at Taman Jaya.*


Quadruplets Orchestra










Quadruplets with a dead baby




And my fav..

Swirl-y Dreams











Nicolekiss Dream


Looks pretty much like what goes on in my head. S_S

Visiting the Orphanage – Nicolekiss Charity Sad Version

Short note: oh.. it’s midnight. Happy Birthday to me! Yay~!… zzz…


This is going to be a depressing entry. Because truth be told, it is when you view it from a very heartrending perspective.

There are many things out there we (most internet users) will not be able to understand, people who are born in a third world country and has never seen a cable in his life; people who are mentally or physically challenge and not given a chance to live a normal life the rest of us can; and people who are born so poor they are sold to foreigners for labour and slavery.

Life is never fair for these people. No matter how you want to put it.




There are many less fortunate people around us everyday. Often, a lot of us turn a blind eye to their existence because it made our lives easier not to care, for some it’s just plain ignorance.

Despite many out there who is already helping and care enough to understand and offer help to these people, help… is never enough.

On my previous visit to the orphanage, I have grown a liking to most of the kids there. They warmed my heart like no other but at the same times, it breaks my heart too.

Following my charity proposal entry and preparation to visit the orphanage at Taman Megah.


I made my visit to the orphanage to celebrate Chinese New Year with the kids. This journey has made me understand a bit more about different disabled conditions of people and their inability to live life like the rest of us.




Mei mei, as previously introduced, is an 8 year old down syndrome who has captured my heart hands down with her innocence and friendliness.

Everytime mei mei cries due to many unknown reasons, 13 years old down syndrome Kawari (on the right) always has a way to make her happy. She’ll hug her and pamper her like a mother would to a baby, and she is only 13 years old.




Lim siew ping (left) – down syndrome.

As a down syndrome grows older, he/she might face side affects like losing hair, lung or heart problems, and sometimes, all at once. But it never stopped Kawari from loving Mei Mei.

Nicholas (right), from Sabah, is physically challenged, means he’s not able to move as actively as he wishes.


Some of the kids looks perfectly normal in some area but physically incapable in others.




Take Emalatha for example, an adorable 5 year old girl who is born spastic. She’s not able to actively operate her hands and legs, apart from that, she’s as normal as any other kid out there of equivalent learning ability.




However, she has to crawl for the rest of her life.




Gagirl - aged 12. Condition - spina bifida. Unable to sit properly, Gagirl is a girl who constantly asks for hugs from visitors.

Sometimes some of these kids came from abusive family who ill treat them, that stories of their past will send chills down your spine.




Ng bee yen, 21, girl, born blind, mute; has been used by her parents since young to beg on the street.

Because she is never trained to take solid food as the main purpose was to have her to appear as ill as possible, she is malnutrition since birth (hence her small disorientated figure). She can only consume milk for now.

Not all kids are disabled or handicapped though.




Letchumi is a normal 5 year old girl that came from an abusive family. Her two elder sisters (who were also at the home) has been burned and beaten by her ‘father’ and even once set fire on their private parts. Luckily, she was spared before it got to her.

Every unfortunate soul out there, has a story.


Yap kiang choon, aged 40+. Mind retarded.


It is up to you to understand and offer help, or turn away from them.

They might be handicap, unlucky, or unloved; yet same like us, they are human.


Wong Wai Kit, Neuro Sibromati, right eye’s orientation due to swelling to the head, cannot speak, like to play with water


Born the same way as we did to this world.


Mathi, aged 5, brain damage.


But with a different life than what we can have.


Fadi, hyperactive. 8 times more active than a normal kid.


What can you depict from these photos? Can you feel what it’s like to grow up unloved, unwanted, and different?





Ashini, single parent girl, below 5


Are you willing to lend an ear and a hand?

To understand the reasons behind those tears.




To know the story behind that smile.


Kaladevi, normal, standard 3, single parent child


Behind every child, there’s a story.


Dinesh, normal kid, single parent boy, standard 1


They need love more than anyone else, don’t turn away from them.




Protect our kids. Ensure a better tomorrow for them.




Because there’s a chance their life will be different because of you.