The American Tour (2)

The first sight of Grand Canyon wowed us all. It was just like a painting, picturesque. I don't think we could use any words to describe it, we were speechless and just couldn't stop clicking our cameras away. It was filled with tourists. We didn't get to the Skywalk which has a glass bridge, it's at the west area of the main canyon, and I think we were at another part. Anyhow it wasn't part of our tour and we had to pay extra to just walk on that bridge. Instead we were offered another option - a helicopter ride, it took a lot of hesitation before 6 of us decided to do it! It was USD250, not cheap at all, but it might be my first and last time in Grand Canyon... so why not. It was my first helicopter ride as well!

The weather was really bad when we arrived, with thunderstorm ahead. So the helicopters couldn't take off that afternoon. We had to reschedule it to the next morning. So we went to locate our ideal camping spot and set up our tents. I couldn't remember who cooked that night, but it was burgers and mash on the menu. But before dinner, all of us set off to witness the sunset at Grand Canyon. We didn't know the way and no one had a detailed map, so we walked a long roundabout and barely made it in time for the sunset. We were all dispersed by then, but I was with Michele, a Swiss girl... We both ran and ran and managed to see the yolk descending in time.

But this was also when trouble started to brew. A few of them managed to made it back to the campsite whilst there was light, and the rest of us whom were staying to see the sun going down eventually got lost in the darkness. The sky darkened very quickly, we managed to get on the first shuttle bus before alighting to wait for the second one. The temperature also took a dip and most of us were shivering in the cold. The campsite wasn't well lit at all, there wasn't any lamp posts or lights to show us the way. None of us had a map or a torch, we could only relied on our instincts and using lights from our mobile phones to get back to the campsite.

Upon alighting from the second shuttle bus, we tried to figure our way back. We walked some distance before we saw a vehicle shining its lights on us. It was Josh, our saviour; apparently Emily who got back with a few others informed him that we might not be able to find our way back. So they set off to look for us. I couldn't remember how cold it was but it must be around 0 degree celcius. It was so cold and there wasn't any hot water in the bathroom, but anyway they were a distance away and closed. So I guess none of us could take a shower till the next morning. I didn't want one in the morning too, it was still freezing!

By the time we got back, we were hungry like wolves. All of us dived in for the burgers but there wasn't enough for all. I think the rest got hot dogs or sausages as a substitute. I thought we were going to have S'mores but unfortunately we didn't have the ingredients. We did have burnt marshmallow but it was sticky and too sweet, not really my kind of thing. We tried to warm ourselves by the campfire but it didn't help much too. All of us tried to turn in early as we had to be up at 4am for sunrise! But before that, we had to make our breakfast and lunches for the following day.

I must have left my brain somewhere by misplacing my camera in the toilet. Fortunately a kind soul returned it to me, else my holiday would really have been ruined!

Syndy complained she had altitude sickness that day and didn't want to join us for the sunrise the following morning. It was weird as she was an air stewardess for so long and seen more mountains than I did but she felt unwell. So we didn't force her, but the next morning she apparently changed her mind and came along! Was it for Josh's attention, LOL, I really don't know!

The next morning, I woke up earlier than I was supposed to... and the rest did too on time. We dragged ourselves to wash up and got ready. This time, we knew the shorter route and managed to find a good spot waiting for the magnificent sunrise. This was definitely worthwhile, you can forgo the sunset but never miss the sunrise! I could watch it over and over again, I would bear the 0 degree celcius all over again just to witness this again!

We did a short rim trail because some of us had the helicopter ride in a few hours' time. It was a shame we didn't stay for two nights or we would have more time to go deeper down to the Canyon. I would still feel a little fearful doing that without a proper guide or experienced trekkers. The 127 hours movie left a mark in my head, I watched it during my trip in Hanoi, and it was still lingering in my head how he survived on his urine! Gosh.

One of my tour mates got a close encounter with a stag after she went too close to snap a picture. Thankfully God watched over her!

Then a bunch of us headed over for our long awaited helicopter ride. We had to measure our weight first to determine where we were going to be seated in the helicopter. Syndy is always the lucky one, she got to sit besides our very cute pilot, Mathew. I got the window seat on the second row, I wasn't too bothered not seated in the first row as I still got a pretty cool view. Those in the middle of the second row felt a bit dampened in spirit! Here are some pictures I took from my seat:

 

Before I end our Grand Canyon adventure here, here is our awesome group photo! Though someone is missing, but this still got to be the best one from the tour. Next, a long drive to Las Vegas...

Note: Trip was in May 2012.

The American Tour (1)

And so on Monday, Syndy and I set off to meet the rest of the tour mates to start our Western Wonder with TrekAmerica. We took a taxi as the assigned meeting place was a hotel nearby, that was my first time in a taxi in America and I also noted there was this sign saying all drivers only carry $5 in change (how believable is that?).

It was a hassle to get my tour booked as this tour company although operates in USA but based themselves in UK. If you are outside UK and booking from Asia, they refer you to their Korean partner instead. I just thought they should just invest in a credit card payment system than having to do a fund transfer to Korea! Even though I had a UK account, they didn't allow me to pay! Absurd. But somehow Matt from TrekAmerica was patient enough to call and resolve my issue. Thankfully. It made me a happy customer to be going with them definitely.

Syndy's decision to tag along was very last minute. She couldn't make up her mind so her husband did it for her. I don't know whether it's a good thing or bad, we did travel together before with the Fab 4 or maybe just a day or two with just two of us. But going on a tour with her for a week sounds like a challenge. Her over-mothering nature and attention-seeking behaviour just sometimes drove me up the wall. Read on to find out!

We met up with Josh our guide, it was his first tour with TrekAmerica (I think) and I bet it must be very stressful finding the ways around things. But I thought he did pretty well for a first time! Our group consisted of 3 x Korean, 2 x English, 1 x Scottish, 3 x Dutch, 2 x Swiss and us, 2 Singaporean. Syndy thought our guide was quite cute, I had no doubt if she had more crushes on the guys in our group as well :P

So we started with a drive along Beverly Hills and then stopped to take a snap of the Hollywood sign from afar. Initially I thought we were driving up to the signboard, it was a little disappointment it wasn't, but we were in this mini Hollywood town with the footprints of the celebrities. We stopped by a lot of hypermarts along the way to stock up food and drinks to make our sandwiches and meals. I didn't mind at all because I could go crazy in just supermarkets!

Our first stop was a camp site along Colorado river where we would set up our tents for the night. The last time I camped was during my secondary school days, probably 15 years ago! Setting up the tent for the first time was a task but then it just got easier and easier every time. Soon it was all up and we settled in and watched a lovely sunset before dinner. I heard from Angela that her guide never cooked for them but we were extremely lucky Josh did that for our first night. He made awesome pasta! For that, I could have a crush on him, LOL.

We also had a roster listing whose going to be cooking or cleaning the coming days. After dinner, we just sat around the tables sharing stories. John, one of the English blokes, had this entertaining app on his iPad that could tell us the name of the stars by pointing it in the sky. It was our third day in America and jet lag had began to set in for us. Syndy was definitely hit by it, so I decided to turn in early with her.

We woke up to a beautiful morning, I had a little stroll and was greeted by many friendly faces. I also found out Josh did not slept in a tent, he laid under the tree when we saw him in the morning.

After breakfast, we dismantled our tents and moved on. We went to this little English town with "London Bridge", it didn't impress me of course.

Then we had a stop along the historic Route 66. Now that was more interesting, even though everything looked set up but it was like in a movie. It was also this place I started to my souvenir coin collection. I used to do that while I first went to London, but I can't remember where are those coins now! I don't know how long we spent there, but we also made and had our sandwiches there. Then we had some time to walk around the cool "houses" along this road. Most of them are souvenir shops selling anything that has "Route 66" on them! I feel regretful now for not getting some magnets.

It was a lot of hours on the road. I couldn't remember when I was awake or asleep. I think it's a good thing being able to sleep anywhere, I had no problem napping in our mini van. But Syndy isn't anything like me, she would be screaming or mothering the other tour mates... or just doing silly things like taking pictures of me sleeping. I suspect she was high on sugar, maybe from too much fruits we stocked up in the vehicle. LOL.

Our next stop was Grand Canyon... so stay tuned for more exciting stories.

Note: Trip was in May 2012.

The American Dream

And the last few months prior the trip, I literally had no time to think about the trip. Work just drained me out. It was about a month or so before the trip, I bought a SQ promotional fare to LA. I have heard so much about America especially California but it was only till I stepped my foot in there, this dream became a reality.

Dates: 5 - 21 May 2012
Destination: Los Angeles, California
Airline: Singapore Airlines

The flight was via Narita and in total it took over 19 hours if I didn't remember wrongly. The thought of flying alone thrilled me, I even got myself into the lounge at Terminal 3 before I boarded. Too bad, it wasn't the KrisFlyer lounge :P The transit in Tokyo also marked my first time in Japan, even though I was trapped in the airport!! But anything Japanese easily got me excited... such as...

They seem to have vending machines filled with anything! Then a long flight to Los Angeles... Sorry, by the time I write this now, I have forgotten who I was sitting with! Probably someone not worth mentioning since I can't recall, except for this Thai boy on my way home - that I will tell you later.

Syndy and I met up at Holiday Inn LAX which my friend had kindly booked for me. She arrived earlier via Cathay from Hong Kong and I was amazed she managed to get checked in without me! ;) Angela and Dan crashed at Joy's place (sneakily!) but it was okay, it was nice having our own bed and space. We each stayed two nights in Los Angeles before we got on our tours before coming back for the wedding. Syndy decided to tag along my TrekAmerica tour which her husband had kindly sponsored! The pea and her man would be touring San Diego on their own instead as they already took the same tour we were going to do. The tour would take us to Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite and then San Francisco... the best combination we could ever find. It's a shame they didn't include a stop at Joshua Tree which would be perfect!

So that weekend we landed, the groom and bride-to-be took us out! They came to fetch us to their house, did some grocery shopping (Oh boy, I love supermarkets!), the rest of them took a nap recovering their jet lag while Joy and I cooked! She made orange chicken while I helped her with salad and the preparation. I also met Mocha, the cat (see below). That night, we went out to a cool bar decorated with antique books to have some drinks and met some of their friends (Joy got drunk that night!!!). I also managed a late night snack, strawberry and creme pie, from our friendly 24/7 McDonalds right next to our hotel.

The following morning, as expected, some of them had a bad hangover... But we managed to get out and grabbed lunch at a Mexican fastfood joint then some mini cupcakes and had a preview of Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade. The sight of all the brands got us a little overwhelmed, we spent too much time there but we decided we had to save shopping for the last. Syndy, as usual, had some crush on some guys, this time on a busker along the promenade!

Then we went to the Griffith Observatory at dusk. It was beautiful but getting cold and foggy, we couldn't see the Hollywood sign! The weather in LA was perfect, just the way I like. We caught a 3D show on stars, milky way and galaxy, which most of us were struggling not to fall asleep! LOL. It wasn't that boring, but I guess the music was too soothing to our minds. By the end of it, we were starving!

Aaron and Joy took us to this must-try hot dog place named Pink's. It was crowded by the time we went, the queue was already forming a winding snake, but it gave us ample time to decide from the huge menu what to order! I couldn't remember which I ordered but it had bacon, nacho cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms on polish hot dog topped with sauerkraut! OMG. It could be die for! But I felt so sinful after that honestly! I don't know how Aaron and Joy finished 3 together! I decided I do not want a polish hot dog any more, because it was huge and spicy!

At the end of the night, just before we got back to the hotel, we managed to get ourselves each a Randy donut! Oh, the start of an American life!

Note: Trip was in May 2012.

3 more days

... to the new year!

I can't help but look forward. There's just something about 2012 that I really want to bid farewell to! I don't know what, or perhaps I have reached my travelling quota this year and need a new one once 2013 arrives. And I know, I still haven't wrote about my America trip! I hope I can get some things done this weekend (fingers crossed).

So many things happened this year... good and bad. Seriously, a lot of bad things around me than the good. I want to give thanks that we are all still live and have a choice to choose to be happy. Some of the highlights for 2012:

1. My dear friend, Joy, got married.
2. Joy's wedding also became my first trip to USA. A new continent conquered.
3. FAB 4 reunited again at the wedding after so many years!
4. My mum got hospitalized, this is probably the first time in my life I saw her on a hospital bed.
5. My cousin is still in a coma, but good or bad, she didn't give up on her life after being taken off the life support.
6. I permed my hair for the first time, though many would say I didn't need it. It's not as curly any more but I definitely like them, just that it is damaging to the hair.
7. I left a job which sucked the life out of me, and am doing one I'm actually enjoying the work.
8. Sometimes distance or even years apart do not kill a real friendship, I have met up with many old friends this year! And I received Christmas cards from all the members of the FAB 4 gang, a rare occurrence.
9. I had so much good food this year, it's hard to keep the waistline from expanding! The most memorable has to be The Line at Shangri-La.
10. I found out "The Laws of Attraction" do work. Focus on what you want and bring it to you!
11. I did another solo trip, this time to Hanoi & Sapa. It was rough, but life's not smooth-sailing all the time!
12. I also did a group trip to Malacca and Bangkok. Both were awesome in different ways. Travelling also sometimes helps to put things in perspective, to witness what some people are really like.
13. I had my first spray-on tattoo ;)
14. I took a few months break in between jobs and those were my most fruitful time!

Bring it on 2013! Show me what you have got!

Boxing Day Blues

It's boxing day today. Why am I working???

Oh dear, somehow the Europeans have influenced me. I need my holiday after Christmas!

I have shopped a little more than usual this December. Is it Christmas mood? Or more retail therapy? Do you men know why women need to buy stuff? Because if you can't read our mind and make us feel better, somehow shopping would.

When you earn money, you can afford it and you just want to treat yourself. Sometimes it would be shoes, at times it would be cosmetics or clothes... This time it just happened to be bags. When I have time to pack my bags, I often am surprised how many I do have. When you don't, you just lose track and keep buying. Two weeks ago, I just donated two big bags of stuff to Salvation Army, I guess I got myself an excuse to buy replacements.

Last week, I managed to put aside some time for the LoveFAD event. My boss finally approved my leave after much consideration. Some weeks ago, my company did a charity event at an orphanage, it struck a cord in me. I see what volunteering is about. I don't like it when you do it to boast your company image, because a lot of companies just do it more as a responsibility than a genuine contribution. When I do it on my own, I know I really enjoy it and that's the reason I took time off (using my own leave) to do it. "Love For A Dollar (LoveFAD)" is an charity event organized by Anderson Junior College to raise fund for Salvation Army through gift wrapping. This is my second year volunteering, and I hope I can continue in the years to come :)

Winter nails

My Christmas mani-pedi, courtesy of my friends, Cheryl and Susan. I normally do not fancy glitter, but the gelish nails of friends make me crave for them. It's almost half gone by now, but loving it while it lasts.

Essie's Sand Tropez with bubbles in the nails. I read it's due to the temperature of the nails. We should soak them in warm waters before or perhaps there were bubbles in the polish?

I got the Three Beauties from John Little Sale, for that price they are better off than the other Taiwanese brand I got earlier which is a little smelly. The neon blue finishes off with a matte texture. There's another range that would glow in the dark but the colours are very bright and the formula is more translucent! The glitter is great too, just a hassle to remove! I had Wild N Wet on my fingers, one of the polishes I bought from USA earlier, but it was my first time using them. Very sweet peach coral color!

Before bedtime...

Second day of December, I'm in bed with a cramp! What a start but I just need to sleep the day away and things will be bright and colorful tomorrow.

One night ago, I had my secondary school gathering. It's usually once a year and there are so many people dreading it. I never fail to attend it if I'm here in Singapore. It's strange some people feel its harder to talk to people they haven't seen for a long time. They should believe me its even worse to talk to strangers! We once spent a few years together studying, working on projects, singing and playing sports. What is so difficult? There are fond memories to talk about, life updates to catch up or even future goals to share. It's amazing we still managed to get two teachers out and they never failed to share their words of wisdom! It's so fun and I wish we do this more often :)

I have worked for 2 months now and I wish time flies faster. Somehow I know this place is not the one for me, 4 more months and I get my much treasured freedom back :)

21 days of wardrobe

I survived the first month at work. Five more to go. It will be really fast.

To make work a little more interesting, I decided not to repeat my wardrobe (i.e. clothes) for the whole month. Of course, it excluded pants as I do not have enough bottoms to run across the whole month! I should have enough to last a few months, provided I am diligent enough to dig them out from my closet and iron them. Unfortunately, there are always lazy weekends! Not to mention, the task of hand washing the delicate ones! *dreadful*

I didn't manage to switch my bag, maybe once. I hate changing bags because I will bound to forget some stuff, even with a bag organizer, things do not improve :p Though I suspect I might have enough bags to last me a whole working month too! And to be honest, I haven't been buying much this year.

I think I still deserve a pat for managing a whole month of fashion show at work. And no, I'm not going to continue this frenzy ;)

p.s: Edited. Forgot I was on a day MC.

Movember

November reminds me of Movember, where people celebrated for a cause by growing a 'mo'. It has been a year then! Wow. I'm definitely getting nearer and nearer to where I want to be. Thanks to all the signs leading my life till here today.

Yet life is often making me ponder... Is this really where I want to head? Should I try something? I often have an answer inside me, it's responding to a calling. There's so many people who complain about their lives, why don't ask yourself why? It is there to make us think, it happens so we can then pave our path.

The last few days when work really bugged me along with a recovering sickness, it pulled me down. The following morning, I forcefully pulled back my positivity jacket because I knew I wasn't going to let it get me down. That afternoon, I feel enlightened. Things got better and my head was clearer. I had another thought, and maybe I should work towards that! My motivation returned, my focus too.

Why am I here? I know the answer - I am here to learn, to try, to do a good job and get the money for the next phase of my life. Europe is calling me. I hear him.

Thinking of you

My facebook status read,"Be with someone who brings out the best in you!"

A message I wanted to send to my friends in relationship woes. I finally realised what others meant when they say being single isn't a bad thing. Two of my friends were tearing over their men. I wanted to console them but I felt so helpless. That quote just came to me when I was in the shower and I thought I would share it.

Everyone of us is imperfect. But there is that someone who will still love us for who we are, accomodate us, compromise together and tries to bring out the best in us. Right? Well, I believe so.

In my past, I had been with guys whom brought out the worst in me. I guess probably I was also younger then, more inexperienced and somehow naive. I could recall my impatient nature, jealousy and insecurity surfacing when I was with R (names are protected for privacy issue). While A constantly put me down, and with him I was never good enough. I even thought it was okay to be treated bad when you really liked the other person. How foolish! One fine day, H came along, I realised that someone does exist. He encouraged me, he listened, I never felt the need to be insecure, jealous or even impatient. Yet, we aren't together. Somebody said loving someone is not owning them, is that true?

Well if there was one, there will be others. But now I do know that's the one I'm searching for. I believe he's also looking for me now ;)

In search of happiness

Friends have left... to seek that true happiness that was lacking in their lives.


Joy has gone back to America, I feel happy for her to be reunited with the husband. They will move to Canada soon. I guess there's a possibility I might be able to visit ;)

The time Joy was here, we learnt a lot about each other. Even though we were part of FAB 4, but we never really spent time together. I did with the other two separately. But it's funny how God played a trick on us. I was in UK, then she was in USA. Finally, we reunited again in Singapore. We discovered our hobby of painting nails and we are actually quite talented ;) She introduced a sketch group to me where I once again picked up my love for drawing. We swam. We celebrated occasions, ate and drank. We travelled. We talked a lot, from the past to the future, from deep sensitive issues to the larger things in life. She made me feel at ease being myself, she also made me think deeper. She made me see a different side of being human.

Thank you, Joy!


Stephanie, a temp staff from my past job, is leaving for Japan. She's going to be an English teacher, and she's only 24. Half Japanese and half Chinese, she's going back to her roots and hopefully brush up her Japanese language. That's an exciting phase and I'm glad she has the courage to do it!

Gambatte Stephanie!

YAY older & happier

It has been more than a week since I turned another year older. My celebrations started as early as end of September. I have been going out 4 consecutive nights last week and 5 this week. As age catches up with me, my stamina is also rapidly deteriorating. Oh boy!

I usually don't count my Facebook blessings, but one friend just mentioned she did. SHUCKS! I got influenced! LOL. Of course, I'm not measuring them but it's fun to know more than 20% of my friends (in my friend list) made an effort to send a virtual greeting. Others came in the form of SMS, whatsapp or even a card.

Thank you all!

One man's trash is another man's treasure

I like this idea of recycling. In the nice name of donating, we are also getting rid of things we do not want anymore.

I was chatting with an intern in my company about perfume yesterday. I mentioned about my "over 10" bottles at home, while she said she's running low on 2! I decided to bring one I didn't use or fancy anymore to see if she would like it. Not only can she save some money but she also have a bottle of "new" perfume. To my surprise, she likes it! It just didn't grow on me after a while, the smell was horrendous on me.

I also recall one time, Angela and me had a perfume swap. We both didn't like a particular bottle we bought, and it would be a waste to leave it untouched or chuck it in the bin. We were both happy with the exchange :) That's also a reason why I do like swapping. Besides that, we are going GREEN. We should do this more among friends!

In the past, I attended a swap event for clothes even. Though not my favourite activity, sometimes I would just prefer to donate them to the event.

Melaka makan trip III (part 2)

The next morning, all of us managed to wake up fresh, ready and hungry for more foodie adventures.

Shortly past 10 in the morning, we were already queueing up for the chicken rice balls. I am glad we did because the queue at noon turned out to be even worse. Chicken rice for breakfast! To be honest, the rice balls are just a novelty, they just taste like the normal rice. The chicken was good though, tender and yummy.

After that, we headed for Jonker 88 for chendol and ice kachang. Joy managed to squeeze in a slot for mango juice between all that! I know, it was just irresistable. Ice kachang is BAD, not at all special. But as I'm getting used to the chendol, I don't find it extraordinary anymore, though their brown sugar syrup is still the main ingredient that makes it outstanding! I just had chendol at the hawker near my office recently, as my memory of the Jonker 88's chendol started to fade, I actually enjoy the local one too.

Thereafter it was souvenir shopping time. We stocked up stuff from tau sar piah, pineapple tarts, plum lime syrup, mee sua, bei teh sor to chicken biscuits. We then checked out and headed to the malls.

It was amazing how much food stops we had scheduled for that day. Next, A&W root beer float and curly fries are on the list. 5 of us ended up sharing 2 mugs and a large curly fries, it was a very small portion for each of us, but inorder to save room for dessert, it was a sacrifice we had to make. Our initial cake stop was Secret Recipe but WK suggested an even better place. Since we do have Secret Recipe in Singapore, we decided to go to the new cake stop and try it out before Secret Recipe. In the end, we skipped the later, because Nadeje Patisserie proved to be just too good! The mille crêpe were fabulous, even right now, I am drooling just thinking about it! We had the original, chocolate strawberry and mango yogurt. I saw many more, the next time I am back, I will do chocolate banana and green tea!! OMG, they were so light and fluffy... and you would just keep wanting more and more. Of course, they went really well with the TOKYO coffee we had.

After the cakes, we decided we were done with food. The guys still managed to down a KFC meal (of course, they shared). Poor WK got a parking ticket due to the wrong state coupon (he put the JB's instead of Melaka's). Oh dear! Then it was time to head back down to Singapore. It started to pour really heavily after we drove out of Melaka. The rest of the journey back to JB I couldn't recall because I was dozing off half the time! LOL. The girls managed some sleep while the poor boys got to keep awake on the road.

We finally reached JB around 6pm. Finally, I could use the toilet after hours in the car!!! We had the nasi lemak WK recommended, accompanied with honey glazed satay. That marked the end of our makan trip - very fruitful indeed. Thanks to Joy and her colleagues for being such great company; special thanks to WK for being on the wheels and showing us around.

Melaka makan trip III

This is my 3rd trip to Malacca/Melaka, and I am never ever going to get sick of this place ;) Everything is perfect, except for the weather, it is seriously as bad as Singapore's or even worse.

Thanks to Joy, I got my mini-getaway this September. Her colleagues had organized a trip up, and I asked Joy if I could tag along. They, being very kind, agreed and saved me the last seat in the car.

September 8, 730am: We met at Bugis to take a coach into JB. At JB, WK picked us up and drove us to a Dim Sum place named 大四喜 for breakfast. I ciouldn't believe how much we ordered for 5 of us and it costed only over 70MYR. Here's a photo of our round one.

After breakfast, WK drove us to Melaka with a break where we replenished ourselves with some guavas and jumbus. It took slightly over 2 hours to get there. I am impressed at WK's age, he's already a tour guide and driving all over Malaysia. His independence gave me better hope of the younger generation (maybe more towards Malaysians like him who are inspired to come to work in Singapore)! I have to say, people whom come over are really more mature and independent than our "boys" of the same age whom have never lived out of home except for 2 years of National Service.

We finally got into Melaka slightly past noon, found a parking slot, and checked into the hostel. It was lunch time, WK took us to a Nonya restaurant named Atlantic One where he usually brings his tour passengers. It was full, but he knew the boss, and immediately we were ushered in and seated. Connections do make a difference. We had some typical pot of Nonya vegetables, Rendang chicken and a huge Sambal fish. The meal wasn't very cheap, but the boss gave us chendol on the house, so it made up for it!

After the meal, we took a stroll down Jonker Street and revisited Christchurch and St Paul's. We also had the refreshing mango juice, under the influence of Joy! She got hooked to it the first time she had it in Melaka. WK took us up St Paul in a new route from the usual one I took, and explained to us the history. Sightseeing is really quite different when you've a guide ;)

 All I could remember most was the heat was killing us!! LOL. So we headed back to the hostel, this time on a different route. Joy and me sketched along the way, this was the first time I properly drew something on a trip. We decided to laze in. The hostel is very basic, 9 rooms and a shared toilet and bathroom. The rooms were almost full that night, and there was only a toilet and bathroom to share amongst all the people, I was surprised all of us managed to get by! The guys took a nap, whilst the girls did a little sketch. The location of the hostel is not bad, its off an alley by Jonker Street; looking out of the window, we could watch the night market setting up. We also had WiFi!

It started to drizzle. Despite that, it didn't dampen our mood for food! We got a table and started ordering food. Laksa, stir-fried clams, charcoal grilled clams and satay! The laksa wasn't impressive, but we were stuffed. I had the Kiwi shake I bought off the night market and it was really worth the 4MYR. We strolled down the night market and couldn't resist more food. We ended up each with an egg sorbet (2 x apple custard/lover fruit, 1 x passion fruit, 1 x mint, 1 x boysenberry - if I recall correctly), what an innovative idea! Ah, and that white box is half a dozen of baby portuguese egg tarts. I couldn't believe how much we could eat. So we walked and walked... towards the river, hoping to burn some calories and find a good spot for drinks. The bars by the river were slightly overpriced, so we settled on Libar (besides the overcrowded Geographer Cafe). I didn't forget about my Muah Chee craving, so that was my supper even though I was forcing myself to finish it :p

I also got a Henna done on my hand, it was beautiful and cheap (much better than the one I got in Singapore). I don't know why but I love getting them. It stings a little when you first do it, but after it all dries up and falls off, it leaves a very beautiful color. Just like a temporary tattoo but less the pain!

That concluded the first night! We were all exhausted but happy from all the eating... More to go the following day before we return to Singapore!

Nails can date too

A nail art date with Joy.

This is the leopard spots Joy done over my China Glaze's "For Audrey". She's getting really pro at doing the spots. Loving it!

This is Joy's monotone of yellow! A cheery add-on to her already cheerful disposition. She used 5 types of yellow from my collection. Yea, my collection is just growing!

What are we living for...

Again. I had some random thoughts.

We are all borned with nothing and will leave empty-handed. Yet while we live, many of us strive for wealth, power or even fame... We almost forgot about true happiness. And that doesn't come from those things we are striving for.

I visited Marisa with my aunties and uncle earlier today. Soon we have to say goodbye. Even though she has only about 17 years this life, maybe she has had a happier one than some others. She has doting parents, she was able to study, she was able to have what she wanted, she had a roof over her head, friends and never needed to starve. And in this world, some people have much worse lives than hers. Someone from the church came to say a little prayer for her. She said God is taking her back.

Again, it makes me think, is it often worth it to live without seeking true happiness (contentment)?

My hidden talent

It is only recently I realised I have this super power of tracking someone down using the internet. Just provide me the basic information, best with a photo, and I will be able to find out for you, like a private detective. Believe it or not? Haha. But I am not providing such service to anyone now, it is only for my personal use. It scares me sometimes how I am able to do that ;)

New stuff

A color I tried recently and loving it. Orange-brown.

A design I did recently and looking quite neat ;) Checkered.

Gelish

Thanks to my buddy, Cyn, I got my first try on gelish nails. But yucksss, I hate it. Everyone says it would last 3 weeks but within a week, my nails chipped. In fact, on the second day, my nail art (made with acrylic paint) was already self-destroying. I admit I'm not very gentle usually with my fingers (HAHA), so it's better to have short nails most of the time! But while it lasted, here's a photo(mine's on the right, Cyn's on the left):

I chose the stained glass effect, it was lovely. The choice of colors was perfect as well! Given the choice, I would not opt for gelish again, the normal polish rocks!!! I can change colors whenever I feel like it :)

It's already September

Time flies. We just celebrated one of my close friends' birthday. She has been back in Singapore for almost 1.5 years now and she is leaving soon. My heart aches. Another one comes and goes. It's already the norm, yet I can't help but still feel the pain. In the earlier years, I was away in UK, then she went away to USA for studies when I returned... Finally, we reunited but only for a short time. As the chinese phrase says, “不管天长地久，只在乎曾经拥有” (it's not the quantity, it's the quality)! I have also began to appreciate the real meaning of the phrase regarding many things in life! Joy, I will miss you!!

The wonder of optimism is making an impact on my life. Never say "No"! I have been using that during my job hunting recently, even for jobs I am uncertain about, jobs that can never pay enough... I didn't say "No". I went ahead for the interviews, some made me laugh, the others made me cry! The lessons learnt each time is only making me stronger and wiser :) Why be afraid, why do we reject? I enjoyed the time I went down to talk to the interviewers, it might not work out, but there was nothing I had to lose! I wish my younger sister is learning this but unfortunately she has been taking things a little to hard and it's difficult to make someone see positivity when one is so down.

I landed on that job I wanted, out of the 5 interviews I had and one more which had been flying my planes umpteen times. I was even surprised at my patience dealing with that last one. Perhaps there was no rush, no urgency, and I could more vividly see or focus on what I wanted. Nothing to cloud my mind! My heart has been beating so fast since... Am I ready this time? I have decided to let things happen, I will work hard and I shall enjoy this new journey! (Well, at least for the next 6 months ;))

Life does hurt and I wish it's only today...

Today is such an eventful day, and one that very seldom but did today, made me question about life. Is it all written in the stars? Is it all decided up there when we will meet or get married and have kids or even die?

I am recently very much inspired by the optimism book I was reading. But I couldn't help today feeling that everything went wrong. From the morning I started, my interview last minute got cancelled and postponed, the same with my appointment and then mum got a call to go down to the hospital. My mood was definitely dampened. I had to attend a talk in the evening, everything else made me feel like skipping it, but I didn't. I guess I needed the walk out of the house.

Mum came home and broke us the news (that everyone has been trying to hide) that the doctor said Marisa is surviving on life support. Her brain is dead. None of us wants to believe in that. We are hoping for a miracle. Marisa might not be close to us, but we all watched her grew up. She's only 16??? Why are you taking her away when her life hasn't started? Is it destined? Tell me it's not! I really do not know what is the meaning of life? Why are most of us working like slaves trying to survive and dying without really enjoying it? Or got sick and then burdened with debts, and then surviving to pay it off?

Marisa, you made me realise life is so fragile. She also made me realised the importance of having adequate medical insurance in Singapore. With so many recent incidents I witnessed, it is not hard to see how falling sick can ruin a family or make one severely in debt. I feel so sorry for her family. I am not a mother, I can't understand the pain of the loss of one's child. But seeing it happening around me, it still feels like a knife slitting on my skin. Painful.

Law of attraction

Have you heard about something called the law of attraction? If you haven't, you're missing out the cream on top of the cake. Here's Wiki's short explanation for your understanding.

Few months back, a trainer came to our office to give us a brief talk on law of attraction. It was then new to me and I actually like the idea. It's like the "Christians believing in God", "Buddhists beliving in Buddha" or me believing in miracles. You get the idea?

Anyway, I was reading this book called "Meeting Your Half-Orange" by Amy Spencer. It focuses on dating optimism. Well, using the law of attraction really, and it is inspiring. I mean, why do women have to ask ourselves,"Why did that guy not like us?" Geez, it's not our problem, is it, really. I must say this book is only meant for women, as it addresses most of our issues, especially our pessimistic way of looking at rejection. I have no idea if it works, but I'm adopting the positive thinking and going ahead with it. No harm ;) I have also shared the stories with my good friends whom are single!

I did up a love board earlier today! A friend once told me she listed the characteristics of a man she likes, and that guy appeared. Unfortunately, the relationship didn't last. In the book, it tells us not to list the characteristics or how he should look like physically. We should focus on the ideal relationship we want, imagine the things we will be doing together and focus to wanting it. It will come. So I shall believe it!

p.s: It's available on Amazon.
p.p.s: I also found Amy's blog and thought I should list it for future inspiring read.

I miss the elephants

It has been 10 months since I was at the Elephant Park in Chiang Mai. I miss the gentle giants. They are actually so loving and warm, not like the stinking image everyone has of them. I bathed them in their pool of dung, yet I didn't feel dirty at all. I felt so comfortable in their company, the elephant assigned to me (arghh, I forgot her name) sat so quietly and let us scrub her. While the baby elephant was having fun spraying water with its trunk, I recalled splashing pails of water at him and he did it back to me!

I saw this photo in Facebook and it touched my heart. I want to be hugging an elephant!

Starry night

I used to paint for mum, but she didn't fancy it recently. And the sister did! Hehe. I need to grow my nails a little longer before I get my colors out again.

Ganbatte, Marisa

Mummy dearest was there at the hospital, giving moral support to Marisa whose is still having an operation  (a biopsy). I am not sure how old my cousin is. Maybe 16 or 18? I have too many cousins, some nearly 12 years older and others 12 years younger.

It reminded me of the time mum was in the operating theatre. Now I hear mum talking all over again about her story. She just loves to relate her hospital stay to us over and over again. Even though that was only a minor operation, our hearts were heavy and we were pacing up and down. Mum's health hasn't been the greatest, so we were worried having the operation would weaken her further. Now 4 months later, she's healthier than before. She has even put back the weight she lost. Even though old age has caught up with her but I think we all now cherish the time with her even more.

Marisa was admitted over a month ago due to a high fever. She has been in a coma since and now they are doing a biopsy. We aren't updated about her condition as her distraught mother insisted we do not ask anything about it. Whatever it is, I'm sure they are going through a rough time and I hope any of you whom chanced upon this, please say a little prayer for her.

Raspberry pink

Rumour: Glitter on the edge will prolong the manicure.

And so I tested it out. Not too bad, but its the other edge that's wearing off now after a week :P

By the way, this is one of the pinks I got from USA. Very good quality polish for only USD2!

30s

I laughed and cried while I read through those emails. Things that I wrote 4 years ago. I have aged. Now I am able to laugh at the person I used to be, now I can see why women in 30s are more attractive to men. I think when we reached 30, we began a new perspective of life. Maybe not we, but just me? I became more rational, less impulsive, more confident and I have better control of my emotions. Some years ago, I cared about how people look at me, I cried over silly things, I lost my patience over various things and I accomodated people who were obviously in the wrong! Now, I show my dissatisfaction and of course using my rational side. I get more "Sorry" than getting screamed right back and I know that's because I am able to prove they are in the wrong. For once, I'm so thankful that I have hit the 30, and this is only the beginning.

August, you're wonderful. Thank you for waking me up!

New URL

Just a note that I will be changing my blog URL. If you know me personally, ask me for it. I am not certain that the former one will be re-directed to it. If not, I think GOOGLE will be a great help in finding me ;)

BRB

I am having writer's block on blogging the USA trip... So give me some time! It's a long one and I'm trying to recall and look back at those memories.

My nail art projects

And so I unleashed my creativity on my nails...

Waiting for ...

And so sure enough, my friend is on her rebound relationship (job). She texted me today, telling me of her desire to leave the job she barely started for a month! What was my response? "Why start something when you do not even like it (enough)?" Isn't it true? They always say that the one is worth waiting for. Now this better be true :)

BKK: Shop, shop and shop

This trip was booked months ago. A 3D2N free and easy package in Bangkok for the 6 of us. An all girls' trip. We never travelled before, but we did have a number of lunches together. Have you ever heard someone saying,"Travelling with a girl can be a chore, can you imagine x 6?" Haha. How true! I still like the feeling of travelling solo, but once in a while, having a company can be fun.

We stayed at Le Meridien Bangkok. A world apart from the places I usually bunk at when I travel budget. About time to indulge myself I reckoned, even though in America, we did stay in hotels too but not a 5 star. The service was friendly and amiable, especially when it came to arranging for a birthday cake surprise for HQ whose birthday happened to be the second day we were in Bangkok. Our bathroom is huge, with a corner for toilet, shower and bath tub which sits by the sliding door! If only I was alone, I would be watching the TV with a glass of wine, soaking in the tub :D We also got to stay on the highest floor, 24th storey (not sure if that's because we have a birthday girl or I happened to be using my new Starwood Preferred Guest membership). The housekeeping didn't meet our expectation, they did not tidy up our room. We chose to go green, meaning skip changing of towels and sheets, but not everything else. Oh well. The location is near the seedy bars in Bangkok, but we still felt pretty safe.

The first day started about 4pm saw us rushing through Platinum Mall and Naraya at Central World. It was enough to starve us till 9pm before we started looking for food. As one of the girls is a vegetarian, we had to split into two groups. I joined the vegetarian as I wasn't a steamboat fan. It was a bit of a disappointment as we agreed to have Thai food but somehow the "leader of the pack" changed her mind without asking us. I guess this was when things became a little rough. Some of us had some sort of friction with her due to her domineering and hostile behaviour. So the second day, we decided to split into two groups again as she had her own itinerary which not all of us wanted to follow. When you travel, you often can see someone better through all the little things that happened. So keep your eyes peeled!

The following morning past 9am, we arrived at Chatuchak weekend market. (Whoever said 6am?? Well the leader of the pack did, coming from someone who has just been to Bangkok a few months back!) It was barely open, so we grabbed a bite. I had never came here before, my last trip to Bangkok back in 2003 was tagging along my uncle, visiting temples and sightseeing. It was new for most of us, Zen, Andie and me spent almost half a day there, taking a break in between. We did get some good deals, but also skipped a lot as the heat was unbearable and we were not in the mood to bargain. Unfortunately for the other group, they did not get to see Chatuchak as they left in a cab shortly after breakfast (not sure why as one of our intentions was to visit Chatuchak). Poor HQ, I hope she gets to come back again! It was lucky the 3 of us got on quite well and were very accomodating to each other, we managed to survive Chatuchak and Central World before settling for a late McDonalds' dinner. That night, we celebrated HQ birthday with a cake from the hotel. After that, HQ and me went out for a drink at the 24 hours Tom & Toms nearby.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HQ~

The last day, HQ decided to join me, Andie and Zen for some last minute shopping while the two of them went for massage. We spent the morning at MBK, which was a letdown. It was said to be a heaven for mobile accessories but things were way too overpriced for tourists, Andie and me did not manage to buy anything except splurging them on food instead. I spent 1500 bahts just on food souvenir, and Andie beat me hitting over 2000 bahts. We must have gone crazy!! The food like pork floss rolls and durian chips aren't really cheap, they cost about S$6 for a pack, but I guess they are still worthwhile compared to buying overpriced mobile accessories :)

We missed Siam Paragon and the rooftop bar which I initially wanted to give it a go. I want to re-visit Platinum Mall for accessories, it wasn't fantastic for clothings as you need to buy in bulk for wholesale prices. Chatuchak market, yes, definitely again. I guess, it means I have to go back again!! 3D2N is seriously too short but just nice enough to indulge in a superior hotel I think! After the trip, I think we have also realised who we can travel with and who not to ;)

In between men

If there's one thing that I am pleased being "out of love", it is the fact that I can lose weight even without trying. Oh, I seriously do not miss sitting 9 hours a day, with breakfast, lunch and the snacking. I can fit into some of my old pants now. Yeay!

For now, I wilk need to enjoy the flexible sleeping hours, my freedom and a little holiday coming up. Yes, money, you can come later...

Marrying a job

I feel that a job is like a boyfriend. Once you have one, you spend lots of time with it. You sleep thinking about it, it stresses you out, yet it can also provide you with a sense of security, belonging and happiness.

If so, I am out of love again. Why? Because I met the wrong guy?

A contract job sounds like a fling. A job of 10 years seems like a husband. If so, one of my friends just got divorced... It is a very scary thing if that husband happened to be your first love too. From the sound of things, she sounded like she is going to be on a rebound soon. She told me she felt like taking on a job she doesn't feel happy with while she searches for the right one. That's not the way! Having been on a few flings before, I definitely have a different perspective. While she probably felt like she has wasted so many years on that ex-husband, she wants to try a few guys before deciding now. Well, if things are that easy! Many a times, we go by first impression and gut feelings before jumping into a relationship. How often do you think he happens to be "The One"?

"You never try, you never know." My philosophy. So maybe flings suit you while you want to find the perfect husband. But I do realise maybe there is none so perfect afterall, you just need to find one that would give you that happiness, that would not forsake you in events of illness, hardship and bankruptcy. How true?

One month later...

Ooops.

I am so sorry. I know I have been missing in action. After the holiday, I have been winding down from all the madness climaxed from the preparation of the trip, the stress from the planning and sorting out things at work and then the real holiday plus the wedding itself. Not forgetting, the mum got hospitalised just a day before my flight! Overwhelmed.

Yes, that's the word. I was overwhelmed.

One month later now, I am finally easing myself back into a routine, not one that I am very pleased with (at the moment). I am still sorting things out, all the administrative after the holiday, being sick for a week, caring for the mum who had a minor surgery just before I left for the trip, started the job hunt and then preparing myself for an upcoming Bangkok trip. My luggage is still not fully unpacked, because there is another trip coming up or perhaps my heart is just longing to go somewhere?

I still have so much more I wanted to do. I'm just starting to check things off the list, getting bills paid, getting my IC replaced (such a horrifying reminder that I am 30 again), running errands, catching up with friends and doing precious lunches at places I couldn't before. I need to write about the USA trip for sure, I need to submit reviews. I know I owe this blog too many movie and food reviews which I seriously need to put aside time to write, but we will see. I will slowly fill this up again.

In the meantime, I am writing to let you know I'm still breathing and I hope you're still reading :)

Jump?

"You cannot always wait for the perfect time, sometimes you must dare to jump."

I just saw this quote shared on Facebook. It hit me hard. I have jumped many times so far in my life but now I am hesitating. Is it worth another jump... I am not sure anymore.


Just as I thought I am over my jet lag, I began to get worn out in the late afternoon or early evening, especially right after dinner. It has been almost 3 days, it feels unreal, have I really been to America? It is proven when I touch my new Samsung Galaxy Tab which is not released here till the next quarter. I have so many pictures to sort out, wait for them, it will be exciting.

See you sometime somewhere

Saying goodbye is always one of the hardest things I have to do. I don't like the feeling of being left behind, nor do I like being the one leaving. A friend recently shared on her status,"Change is the only constant in life!" Isn't it? I am numbed. I don't know how leaving should feel like anymore. Even if its just leaving for a holiday, now I do it with fear and reluctance. But once I am really out there, I know I never regretted that decision to leave. If you're not happy, would you choose to leave? If leaving doesn't guarantee you happiness, it promises you the possibility but the certainty of leaving the unhappiness, would you choose to leave? So many of you might not know, leaving takes a lot of courage; staying doesn't, staying just requires more perseverance and tolerance. I am very confident my decision this time is right. Instincts? Gut feeling? Common sense? Foolishness? It might be all of them. The only thing I know is I am the one controlling what lies in my hands. Travelling made me realised the more I see out there the harder and further I am away from that simple happiness I am looking for. There are greed, material wealth, jealousy, envy and most importantly a heart that isn't pure and simple like those we seek. There is none of that willingness to let go of everything and live like the poor happy people, those whom are contented with the simple things in life, surviving to support their loved ones. Sometimes living in one of the top 10 most expensive cities of the world, I only feel disgrace, not a tiny bit of pride. What is there to compete? Who is wealthier? Or maybe they should measure who are happier...

I want to come home

Has anyone ever got sick of travelling? I know people who don't like to travel and people who do... But someone who has grown tired of it, no. Maybe I am the first.

It's probably an age thing or probably due to the time being tied down here in Singapore, I begin to like the feeling of coming home. Singapore, as my home? Not really. But coming home to my family. I leave for USA in approximately 3 and a half days, but my heart is fearing than yearning. My mind wants to stop travelling but my heart doesn't. How contradicting! Just as the chinese idiom describes perfectly: 心有余而力不足。 It means the heart has so much yearning but there is insufficient energy to achieve them.

Perhaps all the travelling is to find the real home...

Hanoi: Goodbye chaos

I wonder if its a joy to be back in Hanoi ;)

The traffic drove me nuts and sometimes I just didn't want to step out of the hostel. May De Ville is perfect, there's a room for pool, another for movie and an affordable restaurant. It kept me in for 4 movies! I was put in the hostel room at the highest level 9th storey, with a few long-termed occupants. One of them, a Singaporean uncle, he was a bit too chatty, a little weird yet harmless but he snored!! A friendly American old man and a New Yorker who was teaching English in Hanoi. I wonder if this Japanese girl stalked me! LOL. Kidding. But she ended up at my hostel, after I told her where I was staying. So she got put in the same room as me, I didn't mind since we could go out together despite the communication barrier. She and the Singaporean uncle seemed to have a mutual dislike for each other as they both were talking bad of each other. What a joke!

That day after check-in, I went for a quick bite at Countryside restuarant recommended by the Belgian couple I met earlier. I didn't manage to get my perfect fresh prawn springrolls, apparently the fried ones are everywhere. Maybe it's not a norm in Northern Vietnam?? They did good cheap crepe with ice cream though. The rest of the day, I just lazed in the hostel watching movies (One Night Stand, parts of Black Swan and most parts of 72 hours) and having dinner at the restaurant. They do really good carbonara pasta :)

The following day, I decided to venture out with the Japanese. She's quiet, polite but has a quirky temper (I saw it when she was cursing the Singaporean uncle), quite a character. We had breakfast, then off to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is open daily till 11am, so get there early. There was tight security and a long queue but it was very smooth and orderly. It was cold, dim and very secure, and there his body laid there peacefully under the glow.

We skipped the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Residential Palace, and went to the One Pillar Pagoda which the Japanese was fascinated with. A wee little temple sitting on a pillar, crowded with tourists. I paid my respects, took some pictures and overheard a guide explaining that people came here to pray for fertility. We stopped for a cake and coffee on our way back. The Japanese being very budget conscious would order only a drink or dessert whenever I ate. Sometimes for dinner, she would just buy a 7000 dong bun. Along the way, we chanced upon the Citadel and Flag Tower of Hanoi. I love the yellow and green of Citadel, and it was very peaceful and tourist-free.

It was a long walk back. Then it was movie time for me... I watched Hunger Game with a Singaporean girl, Hui, who managed to get a DVD off the street. By the time it finished, I was starving. We went out to hunt for the famous Bún chả but failed, so we settled for a nice posh dinner at Little Hanoi near the hostel. After the dinner, I stayed up for another movie, Letters to Juliet! Lovely one. This Russian guy whom had chatted me up a few times joined me, but I rejected his over-friendliness and he left (oops). The next morning, I bumped into Hui again at breakfast, I bid farewell to her as I left for the airport. I decided to try my luck again to find Bún chả , but the infamous shop wasn't opened till 10am... What luck! But on my way to the airport shuttle, I found a stall!! I bought it and had it at the airport but it didn't do my tummy any good :(

My flight back was horrible sitting in front of loud misbehaving Vietnamese kids. Thank God I could change seats and found my peace and quiet. I was really glad to be home, away all the chaos in Hanoi.

p.s: In 2010 the citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi". (Quoted from Wiki)

Sapa: A beautiful drama

I was warned how cold it would get in Sapa... I brought my fleece jacket and scarf, and guess what, they were totally not of much use. I had to take them off bit by bit as the heat got to me!! It was a sunny morning!

After an early breakfast, all of us checked out and waited for the trek to begin. It was alarming to see the number of guides standing outside our hotel waiting to pick us up for the trek. We were separated into groups of 8-9. As the groups slowly trickled away, more and more women or girls in ethnic costumes joined in. I had about 5-7 of them following my group, I trekked with two Canadians, a German family and a Japanese. So if you're wondering why they are following us, you will soon find out. I was not with the French and Danish anymore as they were staying one more night at the homestay and were in another group.

I have to say Sapa is worth every penny and sweat, the sight is simply breathtaking.

I believe everyone had a different route but we got to the same destination. Mine wasn't the easiest, we had some slippery steep slopes to go down and my almost 100 bucks worth of trekking sandals wasn't even up for it. The tribal women were doing a better job in slippers and wellies! But I was fortunate enough a 8 year-old tribal girl seemed to be sticking to me, she was helping me all along and even got me 1-2 more assistants along the way. I found myself a bamboo climbing stick :p That said, I did owe her a big favour after the trek which I have to repay by agreeing to buy souvenirs from her. Like I mentioned, tourism is hitting this place hard, they quoted exorbitant prices for them. I bought from 3 of them after managing to push down the prices, not cheap but I guess something I would agree to for all the help offered during the trek ;)

Guess whose the real guide?? ;) The one with a hat, 3rd from the left.

After the 3-4 hours trek, a tedious one by my standard, we finally settled down for lunch. Before that, we were bugged by these people to buy souvenirs ;) Expect 2-3 times the price from Bac Ha market. After lunch, we continued a stroll down the villages, luckily, nothing down steep slope. It was an easy and relaxing walk, passing by many buffalos, pigs, chicks, stunning rice terraces and some handicraft shops. By then, my travel mates had separated from me, while me and the rest headed back to the hotel before our overnight train.

A shower and then an early dinner at 5pm. I bid farewell to the Japanese trek mate as she left to take an overnight bus. A van took us to the train station and we waited for the guide to retrieve our train tickets. At about 8pm, most of them got theirs and made their way to the station. I was stranded with 2 guys and a paranoid old lady. When it came down to just two of us, me and the German dude named Tobias, we felt something was wrong. The guide kept telling us to wait and could not give us our tickets. We were led to the ticket office but could do nothing except wait. The irresponsible guide then left us there.

Tobias got furious and started swearing at the staff, I actually was very calm. I didn't mind if we had to stay an extra night provided we did not have to sleep at the train station. But I tried to tell them they could give us a VIP cabin if our cabins were overbooked. We met an uncle (who seems Singaporean), he told us the train tickets are controlled by black market meaning the tour agencies whom had reserved a big portion of them and only to let go at the very last minute. Tobias then got impatient and started ringing his hostel and mine, which perhaps worked, and we got our tickets in Orient Express cabin, a much better one than the one I arrived in. We shared with a German couple, both very nice and spoke excellent English too. It was a dramatic night, Tobias illustrated to them. I managed to get some sleep but instead of getting cold, it was very warm in this cabin.

Then the usual, someone came knocking on the door, we had arrived. Tobias left, and I bid farewell to the German couple. I was alone again at 530am, and somehow I managed to bargain for a satisfactory motorbike ride to my new hostel, May De Ville.

Bac Ha: A minority ethnic people market

I am back to tell my stories... Sorry, so much happenings since my return, I haven't got time to really sit down and continue my Vietnam tales.

And yes, I managed to get my train ticket and boarded the train to Lao Cai that Saturday night. I shared the cabin with 2 Koreans whom I mistook for a couple, but the guy who spoke surprisingly excellent English is the boss of the younger girl. We had a brief conversation, the boss has been working in Vietnam for over 10 years (WOW) and this girl just briefly arrived (2 weeks when I met them). By about 10pm, the boss retired to bed, I decided not to disturb them and withdrew to my own space. It was a cosy little bunk, I was lucky to get the lower one as it would save me trouble climbing up and down! The train moved very slowly as I cuddled up under my duvet. Yes, I heard the distance is not that great to Lao Cai but because of how undeveloped the rail system is in Vietnam, that was the speed we could go on. It got really cold at night but I slept really well.

It was still pitch dark when someone came knocking on every door, shouting that we had arrived. The Koreans quickly woke up, got their luggages and bid me farewell. I was on my own. I was handed a card before I boarded, I took it out and read the instructions. Fortunately I did as they were many guides, maybe some bogus ones, going around asking to pick you up.

I was picked up by a young pretty Vietnamese lady, but I was the only one not joining the rest, because I signed up for the Bac Ha market (for USD10 more) which happened every Sunday. I was told to wait at a restaurant for about 2 hours before the pick-up, I joined 4 others whom were already there, a French couple and 2 Danish girls. We shared our time eating breakfast and then wondered around Lao Cai station. When we went back, the Danish girls' bag of snacks was mistakenly taken by the owner and displayed for sale. I am not surprised now I am writing this but I was really taken aback then how some of the Vietnamese took advantage of others.

In Vietnam, I learnt that the tour mini van are usually booked to the very last seat. So it's impossible if you carry an extra big luggage or to add an additional person at the last minute.

It was over an hour journey to Bac Ha market. When we arrived, it was already buzzing with other tourists. I even managed to get WiFi there while sitting at a cafe, so amazed. It was a stretch full of handicraft stalls where most of us would try to bargain 50% off. I sure needed some warming up as the first purchase I got I agreed at 30%, then I got better it was 50% and then almost 66%... I have to say it was the best place for "shopping" in Vietnam, as the rest of the places would rarely give in to low prices. But then again, there isn't really much to buy, except for handicrafts.

We had about 1-2 hours before lunch was served. There were horses, buffalos and even puppies for trade or sale, wet and dry market. Many of the people wore their ethnic costumes, I wondered if it was meant for the tourists or they really do so in the absence of us. It was just unbelievable, I felt like I was in a TV drama. Bac Ha market is indeed an eye-opener.

After the market, we were taken to a local village where we see how they live. At the house, we saw cat, dog, pig, horse, hen and chicks, goose... little children playing. The inside of the house was nothing like what we live in today, they have no stove, no sofa, no television, no electrical appliances or at least I didn't see any. But it was a funny sight when you see one of them with a mobile phone, working on the rice padi field.

This photo reminds me of my childhood. I brought lollipops on the trip and offered them to the kids I chanced upon, it was a simple gesture but it made them happy. It was a shame I didn't have enough as we were taken to a local school later and there were so many cute little children! At some parts, I didn't really like it especially when an old woman or a young kid asked for money when you casually snapped a photo of them. Tourism is ruining the humanity in places like these, places where values, traditions and kindness should be preserved.

After that, we were taken to the most northern point of Vietnam where it is linked to China. We were right in front of a bridge that separates Vietnam and China. I almost wanted to go over for a stamp in my passport but was told there wasn't enough time as I had to get into the building to get the administration done before I can walk over. What a shame!

A long bus ride awaited us. It was past 5pm when we finally checked in at Sapa Summit Hotel, we didn't have time to check out the little Sapa town as most of us were exhausted. The French and Danish booked for massages in their rooms while I chilled in my room, snapped the beautiful sunset before I caught up with the couple of dinner. It was a quiet and easy night before the trek the following day.

Tip: Don't do the Vietnamese massage. From the experience of my travel mates, it was a horrific experience. The Danish girls seemed to have some luck the Vietnamese people went crazy over their snacks. The masseuses were eating their stuff without their permission!!

Time for change

I have been thinking of a perm for the longest time... And this time, I am finally doing it. I did it once in Hong Kong back in 2007, but it didn't last... A couple of weeks at most. After a lot of disapprovals to get tight curls, I have decided against all your objections to do what I want. This is my life, my hair and it should be how I want it to be.

Go go go, go for it!

Life is indeed a mysterious gift

I should really continue my stories on Vietnam, shouldn't I! I will get down to it, just bogged down with too many things bothering me. Not good, Tigga will say.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the one going to get a heart attack, because life very often surprises me. Saying they are surprises, so they are often unexpected and always give my heart quite a jolt. Some so big, some so small. My poor heart is very prone to hypertensive heart disease.

My mind was twirling, my emotions congested, the agitation is very disturbing. Thank God, I have a positive mind and encouraging friends. Thank God, you're putting me through another test or maybe directing me to another route. I trust you, and I have faith that this will lead me to another hidden path that is now being revealed to me. A cold shower really worked.

Cowardice

I really hate it when someone writes a mean message to hint somebody about something. Have some balls and tell the person. The same goes with work and personal. When a friend did that on Facebook, I was furious. I deleted her. Now we're okay and she knows if she has any issue with me, she's not going be on my friend list if she does it again. So the same goes for work. Don't go behind my back and say some "shit" because I will know it, and I will confront you (rest assured, I'm not the typical asian who will swallow and get hurt and cry). So if you have something you're unhappy about, you're free to speak but not behind my back. And I assure you, I will know it. :)

Life's a handful

Life always has her pinky finger twirling us round and round. Sometimes when she likes you, she gives you a thumb. And when she doesn't, she makes sure f*** you upside-down with her middle finger. The rest of the time, we just try navigating our lives with index finger pointing for us. And the luckier ones just get a big diamond crown on their heads, yea, you ring finger b...., the rest of us, green with envy!

Hanoi: Hostelling

Gray and gloomy, the trees swaying... I sat on my bed on the upper bunk, lazy to move an inch.

I would be checking out today to leave for Sapa that night. The weather wasn't the least encouraging for me to head out, so I took my time for breakfast, packed and talked to a Peru lady, Ruth from my female dorm. She has been on the road for months and she has no destination. Suddenly travelling solo seems like the least courageous thing compared to a lot of the people I met out there. They do it for weeks, for months, on a backpack. They don't plan, they have no itinerary, they come and leave when they like. Isn't that brave? I spoke to various people on this trip, but Ruth makes an impression.

The day before, Max, the Dutch-German guy I canoed with told me the name of the hostel he was staying. He was leaving that day, but I decided to check it out. This place (Hanoi Hostel) was great, more personable, has its own character, interesting people but the only thing that bothers me, the bathroom. So I walked right into the Old Quarter, checked out a few places with terrible customer service before I found it, May De Ville Backpackers Hostel. It was tucked in a cosy little corner. It looked posh, too nice for a backpacker hostel. For almost the same price as the previous two places, they included buffet breakfast, movie and billard room and more importantly a better bathroom. I felt like I had hit the nail on the spot, that was so going to be the place for the last two nights.

The Old Quarter area is really nice, there are always places to eat and drink, even late at night. I really like Ta Hien street too, there I found the stamp shop where I could custom make some wooden stamps. I made my orders to be collected when I return. It was about lunch time and I headed to this place named Cha Ca La Vong recommended by the Singaporean family, the prices gave me a shock - 190,000 VND for a meal. That is ridiculous, I felt conned again. I walked out and then settled for a 30,000 VND chicken pho on the street. "This is what I am in Vietnam for!", I thought. Then I went to the bakery next door, bought some cakes for my train journey tonight.

It was about 1pm, I was on my way to the Women's Museum when I bumped into Shaun (the sheep). I knew I had to get him because the last time I didn't, I had been thinking of it eversince. With Shaun, I entered Fanny, a fanciful ice cream parlour and bought myself a treat. The Women's Museum is an inspiring place that brought many insights about the lives and cultures of Vietnamese, especially the women. If you didn't know:

• They practise polygamy in their earlier days
• Men stayed at the wife's after first wedding ceremony
• Women as young as 17 fought the war some 30-40 years ago

Women's Museum

After almost 2 hours in the museum, it was time to head back to the hostel to get some rest. The constant honkings on the road drove me nuts, crossing the roads was always a challenge. Along the way, I decided to drop by St Joseph for a little sightseeing. Intrigued by the locals all sitting down on the stools drinking lemon tea and having finger food right besides the cathedral, I joined them.

Back in the hostel, I chilled at the rooftop where we had breakfast. Then it was about 6 when many others joined me, it was time for free beer. An hour of free beer. But the staff seemed to have forgotten, the rest of us made conversations while the boy went to seek for help. It was here I met a Belgian couple living in Singapore, two canadians, beat the Australian in the "Four in a line" game and outwitted the Irish that Asians are not stupid. Interesting evening. Bus was really late. I almost thought I was left out. Apparently I was the last few to be picked up, and I had no train ticket. I probably need to worry less as things always worked out at the end :)