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!