It all started and ended with a taxi ride. Let's go somewhere, I told ally. diving in thailand or backpacking in vietnam. well it nv got to that, but i wldn't say these 2 options wld be better.
my halfday leave was dragged down by work... at 2+pm i decided to cancel it, coz wasn't worth it anymore. had "no objections" from my manager, who didn't bother to ask me why i still returned to office after work.
so rushed home at 520pm, hurriedly packed, and did unnecessary stuff like showering before rushing out again with hurried goodbyes for mum & dad - their travelling smurf is off again, with his own travelling smurf.
10pm: the bus company was very malaysia style - lots of shouting, lots of chaos. so i didn't feel much different when we crossed over. it took a bloody long time though. we waited a long while for the bus to start, waited to crawl thru sg customs, and took a while to read every bus liscence plate at m'sia customs until we found ours; breathing in plenty of noxious fumes along the way.
at least the bus to KL was comfortable enuff - it better be, we paid $47 for it. ally fell asleep quickly as usual, while my mp3s kept me company until i dozed off. woke up in KL 4.30am, had prata for breakfast, secured our bus tix home with multiple tries, and then read book + newspaper (i always wanted to buy a copy of The Star - m'sia's number 1 tabloid) at the wrong Puduraya platform until signs of life started stirring. then the fun began. we asked abt the bus to Kuala Kubu Bahru and were sent back and forth 2-3 times Puduraya and it's surroundings.
1/2 hr before panic time ensued, ally happened to ask a bus driver who pointed us to somewhere and told us the bus was straight that way. we walked thru the almost deserted streets and came across the bus stop, and was told the bus was further on. luckily we managed to find the correct bus in the end - C S Bus Bus no 43 to Rawang. there we could connect to Metro bus no 36 to KKB. the KL-KKB service was disconnected yrs ago. that's wat happens when ur sole source of info is the internet.
the bus driver and fare collector were very nice, told us we could hv a drink at the kopitiam next to the rd coz they wldn't leave for 1/2 hr more. it was then i noticed something abt KL kopitiams/prata shops/anyplace that sells food. even if u only had a drink, u'd come out feeling as oily as a pisang goreng.
the bus ride was ok... 1 hr and uneventful. at rawang we were directed by the nice bus driver and fare collected to alight, and get bus no 36. i guess ppl are nice when you are. we stood around amidst the chaotic traffic, old shophouses and dug up roads for a while, looking out for 36. soon enuff we got tired of looking and jumped into 7-11 for some snacks, and sure enuff - 36 came along. a watched pot nv boils.
a short, middle-aged man at the bus door asked in cantonese if we were going to KKB, and let us up. couldn't help but notice he had a tiny right shoulder, and his arm was limp. made me think if he had dislocated his shoulder in a really bad way. poor guy. probably no access to good healthcare.
ride was uneventful too - and we got to KKB just nicely, the bus to Fraser's was already there. KKB looked like it nv changed since 5 yrs ago i was there. the bus station still looked like the one i waited for hours in so many yrs ago. the same plastic seats, worn and discoloured, were still there.
the last bus ride was exciting to say the least. smooth PVC seats gave no grip whatsoever as the driver skillfully negotiated every turn in the mountains, keeping the vehicle on the road and from sliding off it, like his passengers in our seats. there was just enuff straight road opportunity to use one hand to take out my jacket, with the other hand strangling the bar in front of me to keep me from landing on the floor. my jacket stopped me from feeling cold, but didn't stop me from shaking uncontrollably.
14 hrs and 5 buses later, we arrived at the iconic clock tower. 15 yrs later, I arrived at Fraser's Hill once again.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Kukup Wkend
Had a good time over the wkend. Ate so much my body started feeling funny. this is, of coz, after always eating just enuff in europe. Overate every meal. hahahah
breakfast was along the way from JB, at a place called 88. good porridge, dimsum, coffee.
lunch was at kukup town, seafood 8 course meal.
we then took a boat across the muddy waters of straits of malacca to kukup ayer masin - the kampung on the mangrove swamp. vendor(s?) came by and sold us otah, coconuts, ice cream, while we tok cock and played werewolf card games. then it was time for tea break.
actually i wasn't keen on eating anything more than greenbean soup. but i saw the curry calling out to me to add it to the beehoon. so bo pian. and i had to wash it down with another bowl of green bean soup.
after that we went out with a fishing boat to see see look look. the boat went out to empty 100m long nets, and they mainly caught hair bee, but quite a number of others got caught as well: a small pomfret, a horseshoe crab, a baby octopus, full grown orange/red/black prawns, a myriad of small fish, 1 or 2 small eels and 20 unfortunate HUGE 30cm diameter jellyfish. they die very quickly once in nets, and the fishermen didn't process jellyfish. kinda sad.
then i tried my hand at fishing. didn't hv much success getting a bite, nor holding on to the rod. was getting bored, so let others try. the only fish i saw in the muddy milo-kaukau mangrove waters was a trumpetfish which was right at the surface, but it wasn't interested in the hooked prawn that chased it (as opposed to the predator chasing the prey)
next was bbq dinner. i never had time to feel hungry. best satay i ever had - no fat meat, yet so tender i hardly needed to chew. huge prawns, usual stingray, otah, and so much more i forgot then all. i vaguely remember the usual boring stuff like chicken wings, sausages and fishballs... at most i ate only one of each.
as we were finishing, the otah vendor came by with fireworks. yay. we fooled around with rockets, spinning firecrackers, and had our own mini-ndp-in-a-can. i had so much fun i didn't bother with taking videos. hahhah
then i went fishing again. for quite a while it was boring, watching others catch some fish, setting free those that were caught by others in the afternoon and barely alive, including a trumpet fish (maybe the same one earlier). but not long after i lamented my luck was always low and my line was shortest among the guys, i got a bite!
the fight was short but tough and exhilarating. not that my mind registered it much. and soon i was waving a stingray inches away from my frens' faces. took a photo of it, but no one was going to eat it, so we decided to set it free.
easier said than done. i stepped on her stinging tail and tried to dislodge my hook from her mouth, and somehow something red and bloody looking came out from her belly. initially i thot i must hv stepped too hard and squeezed her intestines out, but one of the guys said she was giving birth. whether she pushed the baby out from panic, i dunno. i struggled with her to pull the sharp hook out of her mouth, and felt her pain. in the end someone else managed to do it. and i, her tormentor, quickly dropped her back into the sea. thankfully, she swam away.
after that, a catfish was caught by someone else, with the hook much deeper in - couldn't be seen from outside. by the time the hook was forcefully yanked from its throat, it was half dead. i kicked it into the sea, and it floated away with the current.
that was it. i had enuff of fishing. pretty soon i kept my line and went to bed. the constant thot was that if i see a stingray when i dive, i wld be estatic! and here i was torturing a pregnant one with a hook. i'm not fishing again.
next morning i woke up, found out we still had abt 3 more hrs, and went back to sleep. after a not-so-big breakfast, packed up and went for kelong visit - picked up urchin, dogfish shark and some small crab to take photos!!
across the milo kau for the last time, we reached back kukup town to hv 9 course seafood lunch. then take van to jusco - did some shopping + dinner. then with some extra ringgit, the driver dropped us all the way at city hall at 10plus.
damn relak wkend. so i wanna bring my closest frens there next time round.......
==================================================================
this entry was half written exactly 1 mth ago, didn't hv time to complete it and forgot abt it until now. tired after work lah, so chop chop finished it lor. hahaha
breakfast was along the way from JB, at a place called 88. good porridge, dimsum, coffee.
lunch was at kukup town, seafood 8 course meal.
we then took a boat across the muddy waters of straits of malacca to kukup ayer masin - the kampung on the mangrove swamp. vendor(s?) came by and sold us otah, coconuts, ice cream, while we tok cock and played werewolf card games. then it was time for tea break.
actually i wasn't keen on eating anything more than greenbean soup. but i saw the curry calling out to me to add it to the beehoon. so bo pian. and i had to wash it down with another bowl of green bean soup.
after that we went out with a fishing boat to see see look look. the boat went out to empty 100m long nets, and they mainly caught hair bee, but quite a number of others got caught as well: a small pomfret, a horseshoe crab, a baby octopus, full grown orange/red/black prawns, a myriad of small fish, 1 or 2 small eels and 20 unfortunate HUGE 30cm diameter jellyfish. they die very quickly once in nets, and the fishermen didn't process jellyfish. kinda sad.
then i tried my hand at fishing. didn't hv much success getting a bite, nor holding on to the rod. was getting bored, so let others try. the only fish i saw in the muddy milo-kaukau mangrove waters was a trumpetfish which was right at the surface, but it wasn't interested in the hooked prawn that chased it (as opposed to the predator chasing the prey)
next was bbq dinner. i never had time to feel hungry. best satay i ever had - no fat meat, yet so tender i hardly needed to chew. huge prawns, usual stingray, otah, and so much more i forgot then all. i vaguely remember the usual boring stuff like chicken wings, sausages and fishballs... at most i ate only one of each.
as we were finishing, the otah vendor came by with fireworks. yay. we fooled around with rockets, spinning firecrackers, and had our own mini-ndp-in-a-can. i had so much fun i didn't bother with taking videos. hahhah
then i went fishing again. for quite a while it was boring, watching others catch some fish, setting free those that were caught by others in the afternoon and barely alive, including a trumpet fish (maybe the same one earlier). but not long after i lamented my luck was always low and my line was shortest among the guys, i got a bite!
the fight was short but tough and exhilarating. not that my mind registered it much. and soon i was waving a stingray inches away from my frens' faces. took a photo of it, but no one was going to eat it, so we decided to set it free.
easier said than done. i stepped on her stinging tail and tried to dislodge my hook from her mouth, and somehow something red and bloody looking came out from her belly. initially i thot i must hv stepped too hard and squeezed her intestines out, but one of the guys said she was giving birth. whether she pushed the baby out from panic, i dunno. i struggled with her to pull the sharp hook out of her mouth, and felt her pain. in the end someone else managed to do it. and i, her tormentor, quickly dropped her back into the sea. thankfully, she swam away.
after that, a catfish was caught by someone else, with the hook much deeper in - couldn't be seen from outside. by the time the hook was forcefully yanked from its throat, it was half dead. i kicked it into the sea, and it floated away with the current.
that was it. i had enuff of fishing. pretty soon i kept my line and went to bed. the constant thot was that if i see a stingray when i dive, i wld be estatic! and here i was torturing a pregnant one with a hook. i'm not fishing again.
next morning i woke up, found out we still had abt 3 more hrs, and went back to sleep. after a not-so-big breakfast, packed up and went for kelong visit - picked up urchin, dogfish shark and some small crab to take photos!!
across the milo kau for the last time, we reached back kukup town to hv 9 course seafood lunch. then take van to jusco - did some shopping + dinner. then with some extra ringgit, the driver dropped us all the way at city hall at 10plus.
damn relak wkend. so i wanna bring my closest frens there next time round.......
==================================================================
this entry was half written exactly 1 mth ago, didn't hv time to complete it and forgot abt it until now. tired after work lah, so chop chop finished it lor. hahaha
Friday, July 21, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
There And Back Again - A Traveller's Tale
I'm home. Been so for almost 12 days now.
What I never fail to start off with is to explain why I ended earlier. The story of the evil fren and the unforeseen abandonment.
But what I remember is:
- The wonderful breakfast we had on the 1st day at Frankfurt
- The magic mushrooms from Amsterdam flower market
- The hailstones near the Eiffel Tower, and the indian touts that swarmed all around it
- The shifty backpacker place, the pickpocket, and the maze of streets at Florence
- The Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and the homely Bed & Breakfast at Rome
- The surprisingly comfortable (super) ferry rides to and fro the Adriatic Sea
- The disgusting incident at Athens
- The gloomy beach & friendly people at Schinias, and the frighteningly deep "hot" spring outside Athens
- The brownish-green waters of crumbling Venice
- The wild rugged scenery at Slovenia and Croatia
- The perplexed border guards at Slovenia and Croatia, thanx to a never-before-seen red passport
- The stripping of a CPU in Zagreb, and the unfinishable carbonara
- The beautiful studio apartment and old city centre at Split, and my 1st fish in weeks.
- The clear blue waters off Hvar, an eyeful
- Feeling lost and helpless on the way to Munich
- Feeling free and relieved on the way to Innsbruck
- Being shocked that I'm staying at the 4star hotel
- Feeling very lonely in my 4star room
- The totally unprepared hike up the 1st mountain I saw from the road, and the lovely couple who brought me down
- Cowmine!
- The sterile, characterless hostel at Vienna, and the unhelpful staff
- The rickety, cramped, dirty but fun caravan at Innsbruck
- The guided hike round the valley, thru flower-strewn meadows, gravel slopes, conifer forests
- My first touch of snow
- My hesitancy bunking in with a friend at Frankfurt
- My sadness when I was about to leave
- The children I played with
- Making up Chinese characters and hoping I wldn't get found out
- Getting immensely bored of cities
- Feeling horrified to know I was cooking the ENTIRE dinner for my friend's family, and not 1 or 2 dishes as I earlier thought
- My relief when they loved my cooking
Paiseh, all these must be very boring to read. Especially when there's so much, and all in point form. But be relieved that I'm not going to sit you down and talk about everything that's happened - it is definitely more than this list of highlights.
I leave it here for me, so i don't have to strain my eyes to read the infinite scribbles in my journal.
I come back, hopefully, a better person. more thankful, more appreciative, more kind, i hope.
Amazing what good 5 weeks, and some money, can do. Compared to 5 years, and a whole lot more money. hahah.
I'm glad I've gone away, coz it makes things back here seem so much better.
Its like an enlightening dream. It doesn't really change anything, but you see everything with new eyes, and hopefully better equiped to deal with a new day.
Time to wake up.
What I never fail to start off with is to explain why I ended earlier. The story of the evil fren and the unforeseen abandonment.
But what I remember is:
- The wonderful breakfast we had on the 1st day at Frankfurt
- The magic mushrooms from Amsterdam flower market
- The hailstones near the Eiffel Tower, and the indian touts that swarmed all around it
- The shifty backpacker place, the pickpocket, and the maze of streets at Florence
- The Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and the homely Bed & Breakfast at Rome
- The surprisingly comfortable (super) ferry rides to and fro the Adriatic Sea
- The disgusting incident at Athens
- The gloomy beach & friendly people at Schinias, and the frighteningly deep "hot" spring outside Athens
- The brownish-green waters of crumbling Venice
- The wild rugged scenery at Slovenia and Croatia
- The perplexed border guards at Slovenia and Croatia, thanx to a never-before-seen red passport
- The stripping of a CPU in Zagreb, and the unfinishable carbonara
- The beautiful studio apartment and old city centre at Split, and my 1st fish in weeks.
- The clear blue waters off Hvar, an eyeful
- Feeling lost and helpless on the way to Munich
- Feeling free and relieved on the way to Innsbruck
- Being shocked that I'm staying at the 4star hotel
- Feeling very lonely in my 4star room
- The totally unprepared hike up the 1st mountain I saw from the road, and the lovely couple who brought me down
- Cowmine!
- The sterile, characterless hostel at Vienna, and the unhelpful staff
- The rickety, cramped, dirty but fun caravan at Innsbruck
- The guided hike round the valley, thru flower-strewn meadows, gravel slopes, conifer forests
- My first touch of snow
- My hesitancy bunking in with a friend at Frankfurt
- My sadness when I was about to leave
- The children I played with
- Making up Chinese characters and hoping I wldn't get found out
- Getting immensely bored of cities
- Feeling horrified to know I was cooking the ENTIRE dinner for my friend's family, and not 1 or 2 dishes as I earlier thought
- My relief when they loved my cooking
Paiseh, all these must be very boring to read. Especially when there's so much, and all in point form. But be relieved that I'm not going to sit you down and talk about everything that's happened - it is definitely more than this list of highlights.
I leave it here for me, so i don't have to strain my eyes to read the infinite scribbles in my journal.
I come back, hopefully, a better person. more thankful, more appreciative, more kind, i hope.
Amazing what good 5 weeks, and some money, can do. Compared to 5 years, and a whole lot more money. hahah.
I'm glad I've gone away, coz it makes things back here seem so much better.
Its like an enlightening dream. It doesn't really change anything, but you see everything with new eyes, and hopefully better equiped to deal with a new day.
Time to wake up.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Abandoned In Austria
Well... I DO feel kinda that way.
Now i´m travelling solo, and cutting my trip back by 2 weeks. Details of my flights:
Frankfurt - Bangkok
29 June TG 923
Bangkok - Singapore
30 June TG 411
will probably touch down 2-3pm SG time.
What happened? I´m not too sure also, coz it all happened so fast. Let me try to recall here...
Yesterday in Zagreb, after signing off from blogger, I went to meet zo and jo for dinner. There zo didn´t know how to tell me but told me anyway, she wanted to go home. For those who dunno, Jo´s flight is today. I asked zo if she had decided, and she said yes. She said she missed home, her bf, tired of travelling, mum is sick, blah blah blah... sounded just like a lot of excuses. Of coz i was pissed lah. but how to argue against a ´parent sick´reason? I don´t doubt she´s lying, but maybe there´s more to it.
Anyway the night train ride from Zagreb to Munich was tense... I didn´t sleep much, coz of the uncomfortable seats, the rowdy world cup supporters, making sure no one disturbed the 2 girls and feeling very very lost.
We had it all roughly planned out, and I was looking forward to travelling with one fren instead of two acquaintances, u know how its like when 2 good gal pals are together. the odd guy out is totally ignored. And suddenly i was being abandoned. I really didn´t know if i shd continue with the plan or go back with her.
I was feeling lost all the way until at Munich airport, where zo was queueing up to change her air tickets. I looked at the plan and realised some places just wldn´t be fun alone. So to save money also, I decided to cut Poland and Hungary out, and cut Vienna really short.
So now i´m staying in Innsbruck for 2 nights, going to Vienna for 1 night, then back to Innsbruck for another 2 nights before Frankfurt 2 more nights, then flying home.
Once i got a plan out, i didn´t feel so lost anymore. And actually after i kinda told zo off abt pang seh-ing me so last minute (she did ´hint´that she was homesick but never explicitly said she wanted to go home except once, when she seemed like she was joking), and after i ended our trip together on a less sour note and bid goodbye to them, i was feeling great. I don´t have that much time alone, yet i can go see the stuff i wanna see in austria, without needing to take care of the girls and put up with them. they do irritate me sometimes.
But now, sitting here banging away on the hotel´s laptop in an absolutely swanky room (the website must have made a mistake - this is a 4 star HOTEL, not hostel), with TV, fridge, bathtub, 4 cupboards, 3 chairs, etc etc etc (better than Bangkok´s Asia Hotel, misa) i can´t help feeling lonely and missing them. a month together, and now i´m all alone. sigh.
send me an sms now and then, ppl.
Now i´m travelling solo, and cutting my trip back by 2 weeks. Details of my flights:
Frankfurt - Bangkok
29 June TG 923
Bangkok - Singapore
30 June TG 411
will probably touch down 2-3pm SG time.
What happened? I´m not too sure also, coz it all happened so fast. Let me try to recall here...
Yesterday in Zagreb, after signing off from blogger, I went to meet zo and jo for dinner. There zo didn´t know how to tell me but told me anyway, she wanted to go home. For those who dunno, Jo´s flight is today. I asked zo if she had decided, and she said yes. She said she missed home, her bf, tired of travelling, mum is sick, blah blah blah... sounded just like a lot of excuses. Of coz i was pissed lah. but how to argue against a ´parent sick´reason? I don´t doubt she´s lying, but maybe there´s more to it.
Anyway the night train ride from Zagreb to Munich was tense... I didn´t sleep much, coz of the uncomfortable seats, the rowdy world cup supporters, making sure no one disturbed the 2 girls and feeling very very lost.
We had it all roughly planned out, and I was looking forward to travelling with one fren instead of two acquaintances, u know how its like when 2 good gal pals are together. the odd guy out is totally ignored. And suddenly i was being abandoned. I really didn´t know if i shd continue with the plan or go back with her.
I was feeling lost all the way until at Munich airport, where zo was queueing up to change her air tickets. I looked at the plan and realised some places just wldn´t be fun alone. So to save money also, I decided to cut Poland and Hungary out, and cut Vienna really short.
So now i´m staying in Innsbruck for 2 nights, going to Vienna for 1 night, then back to Innsbruck for another 2 nights before Frankfurt 2 more nights, then flying home.
Once i got a plan out, i didn´t feel so lost anymore. And actually after i kinda told zo off abt pang seh-ing me so last minute (she did ´hint´that she was homesick but never explicitly said she wanted to go home except once, when she seemed like she was joking), and after i ended our trip together on a less sour note and bid goodbye to them, i was feeling great. I don´t have that much time alone, yet i can go see the stuff i wanna see in austria, without needing to take care of the girls and put up with them. they do irritate me sometimes.
But now, sitting here banging away on the hotel´s laptop in an absolutely swanky room (the website must have made a mistake - this is a 4 star HOTEL, not hostel), with TV, fridge, bathtub, 4 cupboards, 3 chairs, etc etc etc (better than Bangkok´s Asia Hotel, misa) i can´t help feeling lonely and missing them. a month together, and now i´m all alone. sigh.
send me an sms now and then, ppl.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Zagreb Again
Does anyone even read this? Hahahaha make some noise leh!! Else i might as well just stick to a pen & paper journal.
Been rushing around a lot. will have more internet time in Austria, where hopefully its not too expensive.
Been rushing around a lot. will have more internet time in Austria, where hopefully its not too expensive.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Zagreb Unplanned
Paiseh ah, long time never update. After Rome I went to Athens, Venice. Internet Access at these places damn expensive, and not much time to play also. short entry here coz internet cafe going to close soon
Now in Zagreb, an unplanned stop at capital of Croatia. coz we missed a train, gotta take overnight one.
Internet guy told us they're closing liao. so gtg liao. hahahah
photos will only be up when i'm back home.
Now in Zagreb, an unplanned stop at capital of Croatia. coz we missed a train, gotta take overnight one.
Internet guy told us they're closing liao. so gtg liao. hahahah
photos will only be up when i'm back home.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
In Rome!
I'm in the city which once conquered more than half of Europe and parts of the middle east and north africa - Rome! Unfortunately no one wears togas, little leather skirts and carries pointy spears around anymore.
How Do You Reconcile 3 Different Objectives?
To Zo, Rome means the Vatican City - the heart of her religion. To Jo, Rome means Shopping! + a must see landmark called the Colosseum. To me, Rome is the heart of a once great empire, of which only the Colosseum is left.
How do you explain to them that it is more that another landmark in a city far far away, that in your pre-teens you had raced chariots, fought gladiators, and clashed with armies outside its walls? True, it is only a computer game, with poor graphics at today's standards - but you learnt so much, felt its ancient glory, read up on life in those times half a world away. When you played, you were here, 2000 years ago.
And now all that are left are ruins. Abandoned, accidentally damaged, purposely pillaged. Once magnificent gleaming marble stripped from its walls, exposing ugly bricks and mortar. Rusty iron clamps grip pillars tightly to prevent them from crumbling further. And half of the outer walls totally gone. And that is just the Colosseum.
The Roman Forum, where Caesar was murdered is just an empty field littered with old marble pieces. The palace at Palatine Hill has, at most 20% of its walls still left, with only 1 corner giving some clue of its 5-7 storey height. Its Roman Baths are taken over by weeds and moss, with warnings around some structures to vacate once there's rain or strong wind.
I was surprised and delighted that the Colosseum guide told me there was a good view of Circus Maximus from the Palatine Hill - The venue of the famous chariot races of Rome. But when i got there, I could only stare at the empty bowl of grass and rocks - Worse than the Colosseum, worse than the Forum, worse than Palatine. It was completely gone. I think i had a ticklish feeling at the back of my eyes. All Gone. stripped of its marble, iron, bricks and mortar; its stands, its statues, its walls. and built over many times at the years passed.
I felt 2 thousand years too late.
===================================================================
Worry is The Most Exhausting Emotion I Know Of.
Yesterday Zo and I went to the Vatican City, leaving Jo to do her shopping. I wasn't as interested in the Vatican, but since I'm here, might as well accompany her and see the place. The day started pleasantly enuff. We queued for the Vatican Museum for a short half hour, and chatted deeply quite a bit; something that's harder to do in a grp of 3.
The Museum wasn't that impressive though, but maybe coz we're sick of Museums already. The only astounding stuff we saw were the Raphael Rooms and Michaelanglo's works. Too bad no Leonardo, Donatello, Splinter and Shredder stuff. HAHAHAHAH!!!
But seriously. One of the best paintings I've seen to date is Raphael's School of Athens. In it you see various Philosophers arguing, debating, writing about what they are famous for, all in various poses - diversity in the same act. Raphael even did a self potrait in a corner of the painting. I like little touches like that.
But nothing beats the Sistine Chapel. Serious. Using light and shadow effects, Michaelanglo tricks the eyes into believing the flat surface of ceiling and walls, cleverly covered by paint, is 3 dimensional, filled with cornices and statues of angels, with intricate hollows filled with statues of popes, and carving of men and women on the ceiling in uncomfortable poses. Even the tapestry painted on the lowest walls look real at eye level until you touch it. Now that is what painting shd be about. Perspective. Not those crappy modern art thingys.
I stumbled out with an aching neck and boggled mind, tired of trying to figure out what was real and what was not. I didn't see Zo in the chapel, so I assumed she went out before me. I staggered thru the remaining long, boring corridors in a blur, pausing now and then to rest my legs and see if Zo would show up. When she didn't I figured she must have gone on ahead.
So I went to the cafe and called her - no response from her hp. Smses went unreplied. I started to worry. So i searched the courtyard where we said we wld hv lunch, the cafe, and even backtracked to the Sistine Chapel (which was not allowed), all the time getting more and more worried. Maybe she got tricked and kidnapped? maybe her problematic knee peng san and she cldn't walk?
After abt 1-2 hrs of searching I made my way out and waited outside the museum exit, reading my book to pass time and staring hard at any pink top for signs of her, half expecting her to show up with a sheepish grin on her face. But she didn't. I had no idea how worried I shd be - she's able to handle any normal situation, but what if the situation wasn't normal?
After 2 hrs of sitting, endlessly looking out for her, and pacing the area, she called me. Her hp had totally no reception in the Vatican, and she was making her her back to the hostel after going thru the museum AND St Peter's Square. Well, she WAS very apologetic. I was too - I shd hv stayed with her thru out.
I turned towards St Peter's Square, but after so much worrying, i was exhausted. I couldn't even remember how we got here by bus. I turned and headed to the Metro instead, stopping by for coffee and a very late 5pm lunch, which i couldn't eat with all that anxiety earlier.
But somewhere between her bus ride back and to the time I got back, Zo changed her mind abt the incident. She was nonchalant abt it, and we both had conflicting versions of what transpired - we supposedly were outside the museum exit at the same time. And i didn't get to see St Peter's Square. Exhausted and slightly irritated, i flopped on to bed and slept for 1 1/2 hrs.
Oh well. at least the nice chinese dinner we had warmed things up again. anyway its under the bridge - today is a new day. And hopefully the day i see St Peter's Square.
How Do You Reconcile 3 Different Objectives?
To Zo, Rome means the Vatican City - the heart of her religion. To Jo, Rome means Shopping! + a must see landmark called the Colosseum. To me, Rome is the heart of a once great empire, of which only the Colosseum is left.
How do you explain to them that it is more that another landmark in a city far far away, that in your pre-teens you had raced chariots, fought gladiators, and clashed with armies outside its walls? True, it is only a computer game, with poor graphics at today's standards - but you learnt so much, felt its ancient glory, read up on life in those times half a world away. When you played, you were here, 2000 years ago.
And now all that are left are ruins. Abandoned, accidentally damaged, purposely pillaged. Once magnificent gleaming marble stripped from its walls, exposing ugly bricks and mortar. Rusty iron clamps grip pillars tightly to prevent them from crumbling further. And half of the outer walls totally gone. And that is just the Colosseum.
The Roman Forum, where Caesar was murdered is just an empty field littered with old marble pieces. The palace at Palatine Hill has, at most 20% of its walls still left, with only 1 corner giving some clue of its 5-7 storey height. Its Roman Baths are taken over by weeds and moss, with warnings around some structures to vacate once there's rain or strong wind.
I was surprised and delighted that the Colosseum guide told me there was a good view of Circus Maximus from the Palatine Hill - The venue of the famous chariot races of Rome. But when i got there, I could only stare at the empty bowl of grass and rocks - Worse than the Colosseum, worse than the Forum, worse than Palatine. It was completely gone. I think i had a ticklish feeling at the back of my eyes. All Gone. stripped of its marble, iron, bricks and mortar; its stands, its statues, its walls. and built over many times at the years passed.
I felt 2 thousand years too late.
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Worry is The Most Exhausting Emotion I Know Of.
Yesterday Zo and I went to the Vatican City, leaving Jo to do her shopping. I wasn't as interested in the Vatican, but since I'm here, might as well accompany her and see the place. The day started pleasantly enuff. We queued for the Vatican Museum for a short half hour, and chatted deeply quite a bit; something that's harder to do in a grp of 3.
The Museum wasn't that impressive though, but maybe coz we're sick of Museums already. The only astounding stuff we saw were the Raphael Rooms and Michaelanglo's works. Too bad no Leonardo, Donatello, Splinter and Shredder stuff. HAHAHAHAH!!!
But seriously. One of the best paintings I've seen to date is Raphael's School of Athens. In it you see various Philosophers arguing, debating, writing about what they are famous for, all in various poses - diversity in the same act. Raphael even did a self potrait in a corner of the painting. I like little touches like that.
But nothing beats the Sistine Chapel. Serious. Using light and shadow effects, Michaelanglo tricks the eyes into believing the flat surface of ceiling and walls, cleverly covered by paint, is 3 dimensional, filled with cornices and statues of angels, with intricate hollows filled with statues of popes, and carving of men and women on the ceiling in uncomfortable poses. Even the tapestry painted on the lowest walls look real at eye level until you touch it. Now that is what painting shd be about. Perspective. Not those crappy modern art thingys.
I stumbled out with an aching neck and boggled mind, tired of trying to figure out what was real and what was not. I didn't see Zo in the chapel, so I assumed she went out before me. I staggered thru the remaining long, boring corridors in a blur, pausing now and then to rest my legs and see if Zo would show up. When she didn't I figured she must have gone on ahead.
So I went to the cafe and called her - no response from her hp. Smses went unreplied. I started to worry. So i searched the courtyard where we said we wld hv lunch, the cafe, and even backtracked to the Sistine Chapel (which was not allowed), all the time getting more and more worried. Maybe she got tricked and kidnapped? maybe her problematic knee peng san and she cldn't walk?
After abt 1-2 hrs of searching I made my way out and waited outside the museum exit, reading my book to pass time and staring hard at any pink top for signs of her, half expecting her to show up with a sheepish grin on her face. But she didn't. I had no idea how worried I shd be - she's able to handle any normal situation, but what if the situation wasn't normal?
After 2 hrs of sitting, endlessly looking out for her, and pacing the area, she called me. Her hp had totally no reception in the Vatican, and she was making her her back to the hostel after going thru the museum AND St Peter's Square. Well, she WAS very apologetic. I was too - I shd hv stayed with her thru out.
I turned towards St Peter's Square, but after so much worrying, i was exhausted. I couldn't even remember how we got here by bus. I turned and headed to the Metro instead, stopping by for coffee and a very late 5pm lunch, which i couldn't eat with all that anxiety earlier.
But somewhere between her bus ride back and to the time I got back, Zo changed her mind abt the incident. She was nonchalant abt it, and we both had conflicting versions of what transpired - we supposedly were outside the museum exit at the same time. And i didn't get to see St Peter's Square. Exhausted and slightly irritated, i flopped on to bed and slept for 1 1/2 hrs.
Oh well. at least the nice chinese dinner we had warmed things up again. anyway its under the bridge - today is a new day. And hopefully the day i see St Peter's Square.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Bloody Italian
I'm burning away Euros coz i cannot understand the farking italian words on this computer. 2 hrs and i only burned 1/2 my photos. CCB. Frustrating and tiring. but i MUST not vent it out on the girls. I will get coffee to sooth my frustration.
Yes... coffee later... ahhh.... can feel myself calming down already...
Yes... coffee later... ahhh.... can feel myself calming down already...
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Paris & Florence
In a bustling internet cafe in the main bus/train station in Florence, Santa Maria Novella, struggling with unfamiliar keyboard and with a CD burner that's frustratingly long to burn.
Might as well start from Paris.
Took a train via belgium to Paris, and checked in at this rather ulu budget hotel - the nearest stop is at the end of the metro line. but its ok coz metro is pretty fast. like any city, paris is easy to navigate. Went to eiffel Tower 3 times in 3 days, took numerous photos. Actually the best day was when the 2 girls went to disneyland. I woke up slightly later, had a relaxed breakfast, went to see the historical sights i read about, and took my time getting the right settings for photos.
Heh, guess cat is right... I àm quite a different person from anyone else... so being alone is enjoyable. I feel more freedom, no need to wait for anyone, no stress of anyone waiting for me... i can get a cup of coffee whenever i want, linger as long as i want. But i guess its different when ppl are more significant.
Unfortunately, cant rem much abt paris liao. hahhah... just that the ppl are mostly nice, although there are some idiots who will give u a hard time if you dun speak french, and surprisingly theyàre all in the tourism/service line. 1 ticket seller shouted at a poor jap girl because she cldnt speak french OR english... and she gave us a difficult time as well. Another one was a usher at the eiffel tower. I asked her about ticketing and she said, in perfect english, "i'm sorry i don't speak english." stupid bitch... who u think u're going to kid?
Anyway, Paris does have many many wonderful monuments, easy transportation and it's still a living city, more locals than tourists, unlike Florence. Most ppl are nice too, and i managed to learn a bit of French. It's a damn cool language lor... If i go back, i wanna learn... hahah. Pity things are damn expensive here... S$8 for a cup of coffee!!
Saw: Eiffel Tower, Napolean's Tomb, Mona Lisa, Bastille, Obelisk of Luxor, Arc de Triomphe, etc etc etc.
Florence:
it's so damn irritating to burn CDs when the whole interface is in italian.
we couldn't get the train we wanted out of Paris so we had to take an earlier one. which is good since Paris is so expensive. The night train was ok - we shared a 6 bed cabin with 2 canadians, the girl was frenly but the guy wasn't. Later, they bickered abt where to get off. I was supposed to take the top most bunk (3rd from bottom), and i jokingly objected, then the 2 girls decided the top was fun and took the top 2 instead. they shdnt take me so seriously sometimes. but oh well.. on top was safer, so I didnt kick up a fuss. but on top does seem quite fun.
The hostel we got in Florence actually kena piping system problem, and sent us an email which i didnt check. Heng i had called to change the booking to 1 day earlier when in Paris, and all the guy said was yes yes ok ok, so he cldnt back down on us liao. So he explained on this 1st night, we wld sleep here, 2nd and 3rd night wld move somewhere else.
All doors that open to the streets in Florence are HUGE - at least 2 storeys high. looks grand but coz the buildings are old, inside is actually quite shabby. our dorm had 6 beds from different sources, all squeezed together in the room with minimal space for moving, and no lockers were provided. kinda in secure, and there was no lock on the dorm room door, nor the toilet. the guy changed the sheets of the bed while we watched... the room was messy and littered by the previous guests. i didnt trust the sheets so i slept in my sleeping bag that night.
We met Zo's fren and her frens, a group of 9 who were told upon reaching that they didn't hv a place to stay after that night, coz the hostel had to be closed for repairs and Florence was full of tourists. So they had to travel off to somewhere else. heng we change dates and called the hostel 1st!
We are REALLY lucky due to the change in itinerary - we reached on Italy's national day, public holidays mean all museums are free! so we spent 3 hrs queueing at 2 museums - 1 held Michaelanglo's David, the other had an exhibit solely on Leonardo da Vinci. fascinating, but too many museums + too little sleep = brain over load. I stumbled thru the final quarter of the da Vinci exhibit, down all the hallways to find the 2 girls waiting for me near the exit.
The next day, which was yesterday, we took a break from all the museums. After moving our bags to a new place, which wasnt ready yet, we went to the hill side over looking Florence - magnificent views of the city and the mountains beyond - the city is in a valley. The view of red roofs, grassland, farmland and distant peaks under clear blue skies is damn tok kong! too bad no time to climb the hill crests... had a nice dinner on the hill top, bought cheap groceries, and visited a small cosy church. Just outside the crowded city but very very different, much more real - more locals less tourists.
Getting really damn frustated at burning italian CDs.
Met a beautiful italian girl near the church, with a gray haired father. She caught my eye and smiled sweetly but shyly, and pretended not to notice. She hestitantly walked to the church steps and sat down, and played with her hands. Her father saw me smiling at her, and smiled back at me as well, to which i asked if i could take her picture. As soon as the shutter clicked he said "500 euro." and we both laughed. To my question, he replied that she was 2 years old.
Today we slept in late, and went to the other hill side to take more photos. then went around look for internet cafes until we decided on this one. so now still frustratingly trying to burn CDs.
BTW, we're making use of the honesty system in buses to go around florence for free. here u buy tickets in advance and then get them stamped in machines on the bus, which are front, middle, and back. of coz we always board from the back, and stamp the already-stamped-2-3-times tickets away from the driver. we are so evil... maybe this slow CD burning is my retribution from Florence.
Lesson learnt: dont take so many photos! (yah rite)
Another lesson learnt: i am seriously addicted to coffee. before i get it for the day, i can be cranky towards the girls and confused about streets and inattentive to wat ppl say. i guess no hope liao... hahhaha
Might as well start from Paris.
Took a train via belgium to Paris, and checked in at this rather ulu budget hotel - the nearest stop is at the end of the metro line. but its ok coz metro is pretty fast. like any city, paris is easy to navigate. Went to eiffel Tower 3 times in 3 days, took numerous photos. Actually the best day was when the 2 girls went to disneyland. I woke up slightly later, had a relaxed breakfast, went to see the historical sights i read about, and took my time getting the right settings for photos.
Heh, guess cat is right... I àm quite a different person from anyone else... so being alone is enjoyable. I feel more freedom, no need to wait for anyone, no stress of anyone waiting for me... i can get a cup of coffee whenever i want, linger as long as i want. But i guess its different when ppl are more significant.
Unfortunately, cant rem much abt paris liao. hahhah... just that the ppl are mostly nice, although there are some idiots who will give u a hard time if you dun speak french, and surprisingly theyàre all in the tourism/service line. 1 ticket seller shouted at a poor jap girl because she cldnt speak french OR english... and she gave us a difficult time as well. Another one was a usher at the eiffel tower. I asked her about ticketing and she said, in perfect english, "i'm sorry i don't speak english." stupid bitch... who u think u're going to kid?
Anyway, Paris does have many many wonderful monuments, easy transportation and it's still a living city, more locals than tourists, unlike Florence. Most ppl are nice too, and i managed to learn a bit of French. It's a damn cool language lor... If i go back, i wanna learn... hahah. Pity things are damn expensive here... S$8 for a cup of coffee!!
Saw: Eiffel Tower, Napolean's Tomb, Mona Lisa, Bastille, Obelisk of Luxor, Arc de Triomphe, etc etc etc.
Florence:
it's so damn irritating to burn CDs when the whole interface is in italian.
we couldn't get the train we wanted out of Paris so we had to take an earlier one. which is good since Paris is so expensive. The night train was ok - we shared a 6 bed cabin with 2 canadians, the girl was frenly but the guy wasn't. Later, they bickered abt where to get off. I was supposed to take the top most bunk (3rd from bottom), and i jokingly objected, then the 2 girls decided the top was fun and took the top 2 instead. they shdnt take me so seriously sometimes. but oh well.. on top was safer, so I didnt kick up a fuss. but on top does seem quite fun.
The hostel we got in Florence actually kena piping system problem, and sent us an email which i didnt check. Heng i had called to change the booking to 1 day earlier when in Paris, and all the guy said was yes yes ok ok, so he cldnt back down on us liao. So he explained on this 1st night, we wld sleep here, 2nd and 3rd night wld move somewhere else.
All doors that open to the streets in Florence are HUGE - at least 2 storeys high. looks grand but coz the buildings are old, inside is actually quite shabby. our dorm had 6 beds from different sources, all squeezed together in the room with minimal space for moving, and no lockers were provided. kinda in secure, and there was no lock on the dorm room door, nor the toilet. the guy changed the sheets of the bed while we watched... the room was messy and littered by the previous guests. i didnt trust the sheets so i slept in my sleeping bag that night.
We met Zo's fren and her frens, a group of 9 who were told upon reaching that they didn't hv a place to stay after that night, coz the hostel had to be closed for repairs and Florence was full of tourists. So they had to travel off to somewhere else. heng we change dates and called the hostel 1st!
We are REALLY lucky due to the change in itinerary - we reached on Italy's national day, public holidays mean all museums are free! so we spent 3 hrs queueing at 2 museums - 1 held Michaelanglo's David, the other had an exhibit solely on Leonardo da Vinci. fascinating, but too many museums + too little sleep = brain over load. I stumbled thru the final quarter of the da Vinci exhibit, down all the hallways to find the 2 girls waiting for me near the exit.
The next day, which was yesterday, we took a break from all the museums. After moving our bags to a new place, which wasnt ready yet, we went to the hill side over looking Florence - magnificent views of the city and the mountains beyond - the city is in a valley. The view of red roofs, grassland, farmland and distant peaks under clear blue skies is damn tok kong! too bad no time to climb the hill crests... had a nice dinner on the hill top, bought cheap groceries, and visited a small cosy church. Just outside the crowded city but very very different, much more real - more locals less tourists.
Getting really damn frustated at burning italian CDs.
Met a beautiful italian girl near the church, with a gray haired father. She caught my eye and smiled sweetly but shyly, and pretended not to notice. She hestitantly walked to the church steps and sat down, and played with her hands. Her father saw me smiling at her, and smiled back at me as well, to which i asked if i could take her picture. As soon as the shutter clicked he said "500 euro." and we both laughed. To my question, he replied that she was 2 years old.
Today we slept in late, and went to the other hill side to take more photos. then went around look for internet cafes until we decided on this one. so now still frustratingly trying to burn CDs.
BTW, we're making use of the honesty system in buses to go around florence for free. here u buy tickets in advance and then get them stamped in machines on the bus, which are front, middle, and back. of coz we always board from the back, and stamp the already-stamped-2-3-times tickets away from the driver. we are so evil... maybe this slow CD burning is my retribution from Florence.
Lesson learnt: dont take so many photos! (yah rite)
Another lesson learnt: i am seriously addicted to coffee. before i get it for the day, i can be cranky towards the girls and confused about streets and inattentive to wat ppl say. i guess no hope liao... hahhaha
Monday, May 29, 2006
Frankfurt & Amsterdam
I'll start from the beginning. Day 1
Short flight to Bangkok followed by waiting at Bangkok airport KFC and waiting area playing asshole taidi. Followed by an absolutely boring 11hr flight to Frankfurt. If I''m not going back home, it's coz I can't stand another 10+hrs sitting in a tiny seat, blocked from the screen by a big head of hair. At least the company made it bearable.
Reached frankfurt at 8pm, but it's still bright here until abt 9-10pm, and sun rises really early. it's bright at 6am, although i hvn't woken up at dawn yet. Took train to Frankfurt city from the airport, where a really nice lady working in a pastry shop showed us all the way to the ticket counter. Vunderbar (wonderful in german). Made arrangements to go Amsterdam the next morning, then checked in at the budget hotel 50m from train station. Actually the place is rather quiet and safe. Ate a pizza for supper with Zo, at a place run by indians. turned in as early as possible, after catching a bit of South Park in German.
Day 2.
We ate a hurried buffet breakfast and caught the morning train to Amsterdam. Played taidi but soon the weak coffee wore off and had to sleep. stoned for most of the 4 hr train ride. after some failed attempts, decided not to get frustrated in trying to take photos of scenery. Reached Amsterdam but forgot to book tickets to Paris at the train station, too busy getting to our budget hotel by tram. Again, in a quiet and safe part of the city.
Quite an enjoyable day in amsterdam. Went to the flower market, where i bought a present for mum, and some *ahem* magic mushrooms. Then went to the largest park here, Vondel Park. Then went to the market area to buy dinner, then went back to hotel, ate mushrooms (Jo didn't like the taste, so I ate most) and ate pasta for dinner.
As dinner was finishing the walls started to move a little. I lost appetite. I don't really remember exactly the sequence of events after that, but I felt cold, sat in bed, scribbled in my journal abt wat i was experiencing and sent out a number of inane SMSes. Laughed a lot, behaved stupidly, while Jo laughed and Zo sighed. Didn't help that i have low tolerance for anything unhealthy, guess i lost points with them liao. oh well. It's all about the experience, that's y i'm here. After numerous attempts at falling asleep and not thinking too much abt it, i finally did.
But one main thing that kept my mind going was: should I be so concerned about control? when should I start loosening up a little? but if i make myself loosen up, isn't that still a form of control? If i keep to my natural controlling self, I'm not controlling myself too much, am i?
yup. magic mushrooms make you think like that. Go try.
Day 3.
woke up with slight hangover. slept some more and woke up 10am. went to train station after a bread brunch and forgot to bring train tickets to book tml's train to Paris. once again, lack of coffee made things worse. Pissed with myself, and too stoned to make things better. Heng the counter lady was understanding enuff to go thru with the reservation.
Went to countryside to see windmills, canals, marshes, ducks, sheep, cows, chicken, ate free cheese samples, drank not-bad coffee, ate nice apple pie, took lots of photos. cheered me up a little, cheered up even more with coffee.
Then on the way back Zo & Jo mentioned they wanted to go clubbing in Paris, maybe with their fren and her bf who were already there. that got me kinda worried, and my dad's words of warning (which i brushed off) went thru my mind: "you going there with 2 girls ah? liddat you got a lot of responsibility u know." I thot it wldn't be a problem coz they seemed well travelled.
So i'm worried, not that they can't control themselves, they seem sensible. but i'm worried that these blardy ang mohs can't. esp when asian girls can be considered exotic, while asian guys can be considered outcasts. somemore they so big and fat, I don't hv a v good chance against anyone aggressive. My main tactic wld be to grab their balls HARD. So i'm worried because, in spite of what they say, i DO have a responsibility towards them and if they go clubbing, I HAVE to follow, if only to protect them against unwanted advances, and getting hospitalised in the process.
Oh well. I do hope they understand my concerns and not go, but from what they said to me i doubt it. So i can only hope we don't attract too much attention. If this blog isn't updated in the next 3 days, do send me an SMS to check if I'm still ok. if not, you can look up the singapore embassy in France at www.mfa.gov.sg.
Anyway the rest of the day was spent wandering into an old church to see world news photo exhibition, the red light district (in the day) and wandering thru the confusing streets and canals of amsterdam. sat down and enjoyed the quiet, then watched inane MTV in the lounge.
signing off now, take care guys. tomorrow morning, Paris via Belgium.
remember, 3 days.
Short flight to Bangkok followed by waiting at Bangkok airport KFC and waiting area playing asshole taidi. Followed by an absolutely boring 11hr flight to Frankfurt. If I''m not going back home, it's coz I can't stand another 10+hrs sitting in a tiny seat, blocked from the screen by a big head of hair. At least the company made it bearable.
Reached frankfurt at 8pm, but it's still bright here until abt 9-10pm, and sun rises really early. it's bright at 6am, although i hvn't woken up at dawn yet. Took train to Frankfurt city from the airport, where a really nice lady working in a pastry shop showed us all the way to the ticket counter. Vunderbar (wonderful in german). Made arrangements to go Amsterdam the next morning, then checked in at the budget hotel 50m from train station. Actually the place is rather quiet and safe. Ate a pizza for supper with Zo, at a place run by indians. turned in as early as possible, after catching a bit of South Park in German.
Day 2.
We ate a hurried buffet breakfast and caught the morning train to Amsterdam. Played taidi but soon the weak coffee wore off and had to sleep. stoned for most of the 4 hr train ride. after some failed attempts, decided not to get frustrated in trying to take photos of scenery. Reached Amsterdam but forgot to book tickets to Paris at the train station, too busy getting to our budget hotel by tram. Again, in a quiet and safe part of the city.
Quite an enjoyable day in amsterdam. Went to the flower market, where i bought a present for mum, and some *ahem* magic mushrooms. Then went to the largest park here, Vondel Park. Then went to the market area to buy dinner, then went back to hotel, ate mushrooms (Jo didn't like the taste, so I ate most) and ate pasta for dinner.
As dinner was finishing the walls started to move a little. I lost appetite. I don't really remember exactly the sequence of events after that, but I felt cold, sat in bed, scribbled in my journal abt wat i was experiencing and sent out a number of inane SMSes. Laughed a lot, behaved stupidly, while Jo laughed and Zo sighed. Didn't help that i have low tolerance for anything unhealthy, guess i lost points with them liao. oh well. It's all about the experience, that's y i'm here. After numerous attempts at falling asleep and not thinking too much abt it, i finally did.
But one main thing that kept my mind going was: should I be so concerned about control? when should I start loosening up a little? but if i make myself loosen up, isn't that still a form of control? If i keep to my natural controlling self, I'm not controlling myself too much, am i?
yup. magic mushrooms make you think like that. Go try.
Day 3.
woke up with slight hangover. slept some more and woke up 10am. went to train station after a bread brunch and forgot to bring train tickets to book tml's train to Paris. once again, lack of coffee made things worse. Pissed with myself, and too stoned to make things better. Heng the counter lady was understanding enuff to go thru with the reservation.
Went to countryside to see windmills, canals, marshes, ducks, sheep, cows, chicken, ate free cheese samples, drank not-bad coffee, ate nice apple pie, took lots of photos. cheered me up a little, cheered up even more with coffee.
Then on the way back Zo & Jo mentioned they wanted to go clubbing in Paris, maybe with their fren and her bf who were already there. that got me kinda worried, and my dad's words of warning (which i brushed off) went thru my mind: "you going there with 2 girls ah? liddat you got a lot of responsibility u know." I thot it wldn't be a problem coz they seemed well travelled.
So i'm worried, not that they can't control themselves, they seem sensible. but i'm worried that these blardy ang mohs can't. esp when asian girls can be considered exotic, while asian guys can be considered outcasts. somemore they so big and fat, I don't hv a v good chance against anyone aggressive. My main tactic wld be to grab their balls HARD. So i'm worried because, in spite of what they say, i DO have a responsibility towards them and if they go clubbing, I HAVE to follow, if only to protect them against unwanted advances, and getting hospitalised in the process.
Oh well. I do hope they understand my concerns and not go, but from what they said to me i doubt it. So i can only hope we don't attract too much attention. If this blog isn't updated in the next 3 days, do send me an SMS to check if I'm still ok. if not, you can look up the singapore embassy in France at www.mfa.gov.sg.
Anyway the rest of the day was spent wandering into an old church to see world news photo exhibition, the red light district (in the day) and wandering thru the confusing streets and canals of amsterdam. sat down and enjoyed the quiet, then watched inane MTV in the lounge.
signing off now, take care guys. tomorrow morning, Paris via Belgium.
remember, 3 days.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Diving Sipadan - Day 2
I didn't want my new acquaintance to have to wait for me, so i woke up 10mins earlier to use the bathroom. must be considerate mah. well actually it was coz i wanted to whack the buffet breakfast. hahaha.
but in the end we didn't go down early coz had to wait for the girls. so in my usual fashion, i whacked the measly selection of sausages and eggs, and grabbed 2 pcs of toast and downed 3 cups of very weak coffee.
yesterday's malay-looking chinese guy showed up right on time to bring us to the boat, which was actually sitting on the water just across the road. along with us in the 400hp speedboat was 1 local lady with her kid and 2 angmoh ladies, which we later found out were swedish.
so off we went... holding on to watever we could while we bumped away for 45mins at high speed. we were all sitting on 2 rows of flat slippery seats behind the pilot, and the seat alongside his looked temptingly empty, and temptingly dangerous. the seat was almost flush with the boat's wall, so i would be sitting right next to a huge gap which i could easily fall out of. so i did. sit right next to the huge gap i mean. not fall out.
and it was defintely more exhilarating than holding on to a side of a boat staring at another passenger. i could see our destination far ahead, with my left hand gripping a tiny pole on the roof of the boat, my right grasping my seat itself, my feet bouncing up and down with the boat. after the ride my hands were numb.
as we stepped off the external elevator, we were greeted by smiling staff with a welcome drink of cordial. after filling out the necessary admin forms, with the swedes, we were directed to our rooms and after a while, one of the staff came to call us for lunch - it was cooked chinese style with rice, chicken, fish (of coz), vegetables and soup served buffet style. so in my usual fashion, i whack lah. hahahah.
after lunch we had our check out dive at the in-house reef with Roslan. nice jovial guy. we later found out he's also a malay-looking chinese. his experience really showed as he pointed out to us an octopus in disguise, frogfish, crocodilefish, stonefish, lionfish, and their huge resident moral eel, Elvis. i also encountered a school of triggerfish, flutemouths, some goatfish, a huge batfish and a huge pregnant looking dunnowhatfish, as well as my first nudibranch. it was my 1st dive in more than a yr, so i was kinda unsteady and didn't bring down my camera.
The next dive was with Yong, a DM-in-training, at Pulau Kapalai, called mandarin valley. we didn't see any mandarinfish though. encountered a moral eel, lionfish, cowfish, porcupinefish, pufferfish, trumpetfish, 2 different stingrays, a sleeping cuttlefish, lots of babyfishes among the wrecks, colourful nudibranches and again, lots of triggerfish.
for those bored of all the fishfishfish already, lemme just mention that triggerfish is supposed to be the bane of divers, known to bite a 20-cent sized chunk off anyone who enroached their territory. but maybe it wasn't mating season, so although we encountered many many schools, no one got bitten, and i could get real close to a few of them. ok, so from now on, unless there's anything special, i won't list out the fish i saw again.
for this dive, it was kinda lousy coz visibility was very bad, with lots of sand churned up. it didn't help that i was still unsteady, and had to depth gauge with my BCD. We lost Yong the DM and had to do our own safety stop. He was later found in the boat, and explained that he surfaced coz he was feeling cold.
on the 3rd dive on Pulau Mabul, at Paradise, which was hardly that, the visibility was still damn terok, although i managed to see my 1st turtle, and 1st hermit crab underwater. DM surfaced long before us once again, but not before kinda swimming aimlessly, not pointing out much to us... which showed his inexperience. when we lost the DM, W & M decided to do the safety stop ASAP, but i felt i still had lots of air, so carried on descending. X, who was my buddy, insisted that we had to re-do the safety stop over and over again until i got the idea that i shdn't descend anymore. Once again, on the boat, the DM told us he was feeling cold.
between dives we had a light snack, and after the last dive was dinner on the sun-deck, which was open air and on the top, adorned with colourful lights. very nice really, with the night sky above and strong sea breezes threatening to blow everything off your plate. lunch and dinner was always buffet style, chinese cooking.
at night we gathered in the room I shared with W and talked about what we saw, etc etc. or rather, the others did, as they looked at the photos W had taken. i didn't bring down my camera at all on this 1st diving day, as i wanted to get used to diving, but although i felt i still was a bit unsteady, i thot since he was taking photos, i shd be able to do so as well. thinking abt my own diving inadequacies and inexperience, coupled by the 3 others getting along so well, i fell silent and felt left out. precisely the feeling i hate.
after a while, M decided to turn in and left the room, and with W and X still chatting away, i got into bed and tried to sleep; they didn't seem to notice... heh. but after a while X left too, and soon W was gnashing his teeth away in his slumber. before i fell asleep, i remember thinking that maybe my jokes were a little too cold, that maybe my humour was different from theirs, and that maybe we just didn't have the same topics to talk about.
there and then, i missed my best group of frens, and realised they have spoilt me over the years... always laughing at my damn off jokes, always giving in to my overconfidence, always willing to listen to what i had to say, which at that moment i felt was lacking among this group. hahah. i really, really missed them.
but in the end we didn't go down early coz had to wait for the girls. so in my usual fashion, i whacked the measly selection of sausages and eggs, and grabbed 2 pcs of toast and downed 3 cups of very weak coffee.
yesterday's malay-looking chinese guy showed up right on time to bring us to the boat, which was actually sitting on the water just across the road. along with us in the 400hp speedboat was 1 local lady with her kid and 2 angmoh ladies, which we later found out were swedish.
so off we went... holding on to watever we could while we bumped away for 45mins at high speed. we were all sitting on 2 rows of flat slippery seats behind the pilot, and the seat alongside his looked temptingly empty, and temptingly dangerous. the seat was almost flush with the boat's wall, so i would be sitting right next to a huge gap which i could easily fall out of. so i did. sit right next to the huge gap i mean. not fall out.
and it was defintely more exhilarating than holding on to a side of a boat staring at another passenger. i could see our destination far ahead, with my left hand gripping a tiny pole on the roof of the boat, my right grasping my seat itself, my feet bouncing up and down with the boat. after the ride my hands were numb.
as we stepped off the external elevator, we were greeted by smiling staff with a welcome drink of cordial. after filling out the necessary admin forms, with the swedes, we were directed to our rooms and after a while, one of the staff came to call us for lunch - it was cooked chinese style with rice, chicken, fish (of coz), vegetables and soup served buffet style. so in my usual fashion, i whack lah. hahahah.
after lunch we had our check out dive at the in-house reef with Roslan. nice jovial guy. we later found out he's also a malay-looking chinese. his experience really showed as he pointed out to us an octopus in disguise, frogfish, crocodilefish, stonefish, lionfish, and their huge resident moral eel, Elvis. i also encountered a school of triggerfish, flutemouths, some goatfish, a huge batfish and a huge pregnant looking dunnowhatfish, as well as my first nudibranch. it was my 1st dive in more than a yr, so i was kinda unsteady and didn't bring down my camera.
The next dive was with Yong, a DM-in-training, at Pulau Kapalai, called mandarin valley. we didn't see any mandarinfish though. encountered a moral eel, lionfish, cowfish, porcupinefish, pufferfish, trumpetfish, 2 different stingrays, a sleeping cuttlefish, lots of babyfishes among the wrecks, colourful nudibranches and again, lots of triggerfish.
for those bored of all the fishfishfish already, lemme just mention that triggerfish is supposed to be the bane of divers, known to bite a 20-cent sized chunk off anyone who enroached their territory. but maybe it wasn't mating season, so although we encountered many many schools, no one got bitten, and i could get real close to a few of them. ok, so from now on, unless there's anything special, i won't list out the fish i saw again.
for this dive, it was kinda lousy coz visibility was very bad, with lots of sand churned up. it didn't help that i was still unsteady, and had to depth gauge with my BCD. We lost Yong the DM and had to do our own safety stop. He was later found in the boat, and explained that he surfaced coz he was feeling cold.
on the 3rd dive on Pulau Mabul, at Paradise, which was hardly that, the visibility was still damn terok, although i managed to see my 1st turtle, and 1st hermit crab underwater. DM surfaced long before us once again, but not before kinda swimming aimlessly, not pointing out much to us... which showed his inexperience. when we lost the DM, W & M decided to do the safety stop ASAP, but i felt i still had lots of air, so carried on descending. X, who was my buddy, insisted that we had to re-do the safety stop over and over again until i got the idea that i shdn't descend anymore. Once again, on the boat, the DM told us he was feeling cold.
between dives we had a light snack, and after the last dive was dinner on the sun-deck, which was open air and on the top, adorned with colourful lights. very nice really, with the night sky above and strong sea breezes threatening to blow everything off your plate. lunch and dinner was always buffet style, chinese cooking.
at night we gathered in the room I shared with W and talked about what we saw, etc etc. or rather, the others did, as they looked at the photos W had taken. i didn't bring down my camera at all on this 1st diving day, as i wanted to get used to diving, but although i felt i still was a bit unsteady, i thot since he was taking photos, i shd be able to do so as well. thinking abt my own diving inadequacies and inexperience, coupled by the 3 others getting along so well, i fell silent and felt left out. precisely the feeling i hate.
after a while, M decided to turn in and left the room, and with W and X still chatting away, i got into bed and tried to sleep; they didn't seem to notice... heh. but after a while X left too, and soon W was gnashing his teeth away in his slumber. before i fell asleep, i remember thinking that maybe my jokes were a little too cold, that maybe my humour was different from theirs, and that maybe we just didn't have the same topics to talk about.
there and then, i missed my best group of frens, and realised they have spoilt me over the years... always laughing at my damn off jokes, always giving in to my overconfidence, always willing to listen to what i had to say, which at that moment i felt was lacking among this group. hahah. i really, really missed them.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Diving Sipadan - Day 1
I woke up, as usual, a little later than i planned. and i still hadn't finished packing. so i rush down the small little lanes leading from my house to eunos mrt station with a densely packed little monster grappling my shoulders and a dive bag swinging from my shoulder to my quick pace, and the noon sun glared at me being late.
i reach woodlands interchange, and meet W and M for the first time. X was later than me. made small talk with them, but got a little turned off when W started smoking. got even more turned off when X arrived and tok cock with W non-stop.
earlier before the trip, i asked X if W and M were "together". secretly i was hoping they were, and then X and I could share a room again, like the last trip we had together. oh come on... stop thinking bad of me. i wasn't going to do anything evil. just thot maybe then we could hv some quiet time together and then talk abt the past and finish with the dusty issues that still troubled us/me.
but they weren't together. in fact later i learnt that M's angmoh bf had already proposed to her some time back. so i shared room with W, a complete stranger, instead.
i try to make conversation with M on the bus, since X and W were busily engaged. didn't amount to much. same went for the waiting at woodlands checkpt. at JB checkpt a man behind me in the queue offered to take us to senai for RM40, but X and M found a guy who would do so for RM35. so much for showing my resourcefulness.
senai is seriously nice for an airport that's in nowhere. the long corridor leading to the toilets are adorned with wonderful photos of the natural rivers and waterfalls in johor state, surrounded by lush greenery, so by the time u reach the toilet itself u need no effort to go. and if u still do, for guys we can pee into a GIGANTIC drain-type urinal, where u face an entire wall of constantly flushing water. just imagine peeing straight into a waterfall. damn. recalling all this makes me wanna go too.
ok i'm back. yup... we hung out at senai for a while after checking in... during boarding, i asked X to hold a seat for me as i took pics of the plane. so inadvertently ended up sitting with her. not that it matter coz she spent most of the flight asleep while absolute boredom forced me to browse thru "reasonably priced" menus and aircraft safety information cards. for 2 1/2 hrs.
we landed at tawau... another middle-of-nowhere airport. we walked a few steps from the aircraft baggage collection conveyor belts and there was the road... and beyond that, miles and miles empty, undeveloped land. heng our pick up from the dive resort was waiting for us liao... i tried my hand at speaking to him in malay... wanting to practise. then at the end of the ride he spoke to my frens in chinese. he's a chinese!! but he was so dark complexioned i made a fool of myself.
we hardly spoke during the van ride as well... everyone seemed to be sleeping in the darkness. we passed by many brightly-lit kampong houses on stilts, gazed longingly at lighted interiors of small kedai kopis (we refused to pay RM6 for cup noodles), and slowed down at at least 2 police checkpts of ready M16s. but we didn't care. i didn't anyway. we were on holiday. hahha
we reached semporna and checked in at the tallest building in town - the 6-storey Seafest Hotel. it looked like the sturdiest too, with everything else built out of wood. our chinese driver suggested dinner next door, where they had satay. it wasn't bad, but at tourist prices. meanwhile over dinner, i was getting along slightly better with my new frens, albeit with insidious smoke wafting around.
That night, M came over to play cards with W and me. W and I also chatted abt diving and UW photography. i was a noob, he was a virgin. seems like he went to many dive trips with X liao.
at midnite, i went to sleep in my cheap yet comfortable hotel room (3-star hotels are already more luxurious than i need) with an almost complete stranger. in the other bed of coz. no way i was sharing a double bed. dun wanna risk a brokeback.
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