joy*love

The next great adventure

2012-01-30T05:20:00.000+08:00

Exams are over!

These last two weeks felt like pure torture. We had our first exams for the course and I was a nervous wreck the whole way through. Even though I'd studied everything and did as much as possible, I was still unsure of myself as I went through my first exams in over four years. The levers and pulleys in my head were working overtime to wake every brain cell to make sure that I could pull this through. Thank goodness that it's now finally over!

So now I can focus on the things that are truly important! There must be a million things floating around all at the same time competing for my attention but there is just one tiny little thing that I am constantly turning over affectionately in my head.

During our recent trip to Rome as it turns out, my partner of four years and my favourite traveling buddy, had one very important thing to ask me. He asked, if he could be there for all of my adventures, for the rest of our lives. There in the middle of a busy piazza, with the waters of the Trevi fountain splashing dull gurgles in the background, I said yes! In between tears of joy and hugs in disbelief, I both whispered and shouted my answer over and over.

I felt pure elation. Like no other feeling in this world can be contained together for an emotion so deep. Happiness in its pinkest form. I didn't know that he could find a way to make me happier than I already was everyday with him.

Since announcing the engagement to both our families and friends, my greatest joy has been watching the varied reactions from everyone. From unexpected bursts of tears, to pledges of help when it comes down to the planning, to subtle threats if he didn't take good care of me. All of them good, all of them full of love.

As of now, we have picked a date and will work towards making sure that our biggest adventure - or at least, the start of it - will be smooth sailing. I cannot wait for our lives to begin :)

En route home from Rome, flying over the Swiss Alps

Photo of the week: Forum magnum

2012-01-13T03:19:00.000+08:00

Roman Forum, Northeast exit

At one time, the seat of Western civilisation, Rome, the Republic and the Empire, has left an indelible mark upon this world in many ways that still live on even though most of its appreciable power has ceased to be.

As I walked through the streets of Rome, my mind started to wonder at every brick, each marbled step and column, and gazed in curiosity, all the time thinking: what was it like to live all those centuries ago when the civilisation was at its height? To take in the sight of a city so large, so modern like this, when the rest of the world was still coming out of the jungle, so to speak? Throughout the visit, we had at least one common agreement (of many to be sure!) between us: that the scale of the Roman metropolis, what it was then and even in the evidence left behind, is purely breathtaking.

On a bright and sunny morning, my partner and I put on our more adventurous caps and took a stroll on the Palatine hills, the site of Forum Magnum, or more commonly known as the Roman Forum. Whatever is left of the former centre of Roman life has been lovingly pieced together to give visitors an idea of Rome's true historical might. This was where triumphal processions took place, where politicians congregated, plotted and controlled the world, where Emperors lived and roamed, played and back-stabbed, and where the people of Rome looked to as a symbol of democracy - despite their society's highly undemocratic paradoxes.

Rome is an enigmatic tour de force. Proof of both man's marvelous capacity for creation and the ugly ferociousness within.

Photo of the week: Ciao Roma!

2011-12-25T21:11:00.001+08:00

Have just returned from a five day visit to the Italian capital of Roma. In short, it was the best holiday I have had in a long while!

Rome is a beautiful place and I left with an ache to see more of the country - perhaps Venice, Florence and/or Tuscany next time. The weather was fine throughout our stay, making it the perfect experience to enjoy the countless precious historical sites. And because it was winter, there were very few tourists to compete with at entrance lines, ticket booths and restaurants. If you ever want to visit Rome, please consider winter, especially close to Christmas time. You'll get to see Rome without the heaving weight of tourists, and enjoy the many brilliant Christmas decorations!

There aren't enough words to describe how incredible Rome is. I stood in awe at every street corner as I gazed at each quaint Italian coffee shop or pizzeria, and marveled at the architecture of the various ages of Rome - from classical, to medieval and finally to the age of renaissance.

The trip itself deserves a much longer review but for now, I leave you with the best birds-eye view of the place that I could find. This was taken at the top of the Spanish Steps as we were making our way to Villa Borghese. We chanced upon the most unique cloud formation I had ever seen, seemingly to highlight the powerful and unique quality of the city below - with its old crooked streets lined with colourful buildings and dotted with ancient monuments dedicated to a life centuries ago when this was the centre of the world.

Until I write again.

Winter whimsies

2011-12-16T08:49:00.000+08:00

The cold weather is starting to get serious. It rains practically everyday now and no one can stand being still outdoors for more than 5 minutes. Today it actually hailed - small slimy pellets of ice rained down on the city like a shower of stones threatening to break glass and pavement. A good thing though that it did not last very long because we could have been stuck indoors at the university and would finally have to admit openly to sleeping in the library.

It won't be long now before it snows and then, I predict all hell will break loose as the city will be inundated with Asians (obviously unused to the white stuff) jumping and squealing about with their cameras in tow. Just the thing to bring about that warm and fuzzy feeling.

The prospect of frost-bite has driven most of us to stay home, strapped to our portable heaters and wearing 5 layers of socks and 6 layers of underpants. And even though it's that time of the academic calender when we really should be going over the books, most of us have found some other more pleasant pursuits.

For me, I have discovered the wonderful world of Downton Abbey.

Having spent the greater part of the last four years never having any time for television, it seems that I am back with a vengeance. I have been completely drawn in to the show's exquisite story-telling, period costumes, tantalizing dialogue, sumptuous cinematography, and addictive cliff-hangers.

Downton Abbey is the story of the household of the Earl of Grantham, the head of the Crawley family and landlord extraordinaire of Downton during the early 1910s to 1920s. At a time when the estate came perilously close to bankruptcy, the Earl married an American heiress but failed to produce male heirs. Such is British law that the estate and title cannot then pass to any of his daughters upon his death and so, we now have a story. Throw in bitter rivalry amongst the help, children who don't get along to the point of conspiracy, a sassy grandma (Dame Maggie Smith, of McGonagall fame), love in the oddest places, and you have yourself an Emmy-award winning tv drama series like only the English could.

My favourite bits about the series is the effective acting from all but especially by Maggie Smith, who is proof positive that not only is age ain't nothing but a number, but that women are like fine wine that ages into perfection. She is simply sublime as Dowager Countess (mum to Earl of Grantham). Another point is the fantastic work put into making everyone look so good and authentically turn-of-the-century. The costumes have clearly been put together by a team who knows their worth. And finally, the artful realism with which the writer of the series has sewn together historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and World War I into the story line makes you relate to the cast and plot effortlessly.

If you haven't come across it before, I implore you to watch at least the pilot episode and see where you go from there. If you think yourself an anglophile, then even better! If you need more encouragement than what I have said, then certainly these snapshots (photos from ITV and various other sources) should do the trick.

Apart from this, I am very much enjoying the fact that it really is the season to be jolly. Christmas is indeed upon us as carolers stroll the streets singing joyful music, everyone huddles around a hot chocolate cart trying to keep warm and steal some delicious whiffs, children waddle around in their shiny red Wellingtons, and adults bustle around the city clutching paper bags full of Christmas goodies.

The entire city is decked out in every kind of decorations from colourful Christmas trees to icicle lights and boughs and boughs of holly. There's a Christmas market in the centre of town with their boxy wooden huts housing sellers displaying their wares from wine racks to jellied apples. We even have a German quarter where people stand around all day drinking beer and gobbling down foot long frankfurters and cheering something inaudible every 5 minutes just because.

Cardiff Winter Wonderland

Perhaps the most exciting thing to do is the Winter Wonderland which has taken up residence this season on the lawns of the city hall. We call it a funfair back home and it really isn't all that different with the dodgy rides that make you sick, carnival music blaring and games that make you feel like you've just been had. But the centrepiece of the Winter Wonderland is the outdoor skating rink. I have yet to go on it but it does look tempting. Maybe when my wobbly knees can finally get up the courage?

For now, I am days away from shipping off on my next adventure - Rome! I am beside myself with excitement at the thought of roaming the streets of the world's most famous centre for the antiquities. I can just imagine admiring the historical sights with every turn and have already in mind a mental list of places to take photographs and make memories. Our hotel is just one street over from the Spanish Steps and promises quick access to the important attractions like the Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, and the Pantheon. Not to mention, one of my other favourite things to do, shopping! As a Christmas present, I was given a highly informative guidebook by SS. and Amirul (did I mention that I love this holiday?) and ever since then I have been busy making plans. Everything in the book seems so exotic to me and leaves me aching to leave as soon as possible so I can explore it all.

Making plans

Alas, time is a cruel mistress, always so painfully slow when you are looking forward to something, and so incredibly short when you are having the time of your life.

Until the next time, friends.

Refocus

2011-12-10T09:43:00.001+08:00

I had my first exams week and felt a miserable heaviness after it. The only comfort I can find is the fact that everyone else I know seemed to have felt the same way -- though in hindsight I'm not sure if that's really a comfort after all.

Feeling dejected I wandered around the city a bit when a brainwave struck. I kept thinking about how miserable I felt and how horrid the exam was and I realised that not only was this the most trivial heartache I have had since I left my job, I had completely forgotten what I was here for. This was supposed to be an indulgent respite from the horrors of working life back home, and a time for me to refocus, re-energise and re-train.

I had grown only a little unhappy over the past few years and wanted to get my feet back on the right path and finally here is my chance to do it. I should be rejoicing not whinging about things, and it's high time I remind myself of the whole point of coming here in the first place.

So the exam was a brutal jolt for me to start making serious strides. That lesson is well and truly learnt. The next thing to do is to keep the spirit and body up, and with that in mind I've joined Laguna, a health and wellness spa in the city that caters to the better heeled set -- this might not be me, necessarily, but I am trying to make a meaningful change here. I closed my eyes shut and with trembling hands, swiped my credit card.

Several times too because I'd only come to Cardiff with the bare minimum of gym essentials. I didn't have a swim suit for example (Laguna has a massive indoor heated swimming pool) or any kind of yoga apparel. Tomorrow will be my first Ashtanga Yoga class. I've heard good things about the instructor and about the technique so I am having high hopes.

Meanwhile, I have in my haste, acquired many books to read. Admittedly I am a slow reader but this will not deter my hopes one bit. Among others, I just bought Bill Clinton's newest book, Back to Work, so that I might understand why exactly it is that the American political economy is the way it is (a favourite subject of mine) and maybe see what the old man might have to say about trying to pull themselves out of the mud, so to speak. This should be interesting. And at 208 pages, it's not too much of a monstrosity to overcome.

In a week's time, I will be off on another adventure, this time in Europe with my favourite traveler of them all :-) I will update again just before leaving and of course post a write up on the entire trip when I get back. Til then, good night and have an excellent weekend, everyone.

Photo of the week: The best of my Ho Chi Minh experience

2011-11-28T10:11:00.000+08:00

Cyclo driver, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

It was March 2008 when I was first in Vietnam. There was little notion of the financial shambles that was to occur later that year so my company, confident then, as most banks probably were, of remaining in the pinkest of health, took around ninety of us on an all expenses paid four day trip to Ho Chi Minh City for a bit of team building, company debrief of the year that was, and general innocent fun.

In the hazy office hustle and bustle in the last few weeks before getting there, I hadn't given Vietnam much thought. The only time I stopped for a moment to consider it was when my secretary chased me across the office with a seamstress measure so that she can take my measurement for a tailor-made au-dai that we had to wear on the first night's formal dinner. Standing in the middle of the floor with colleagues busy on phones at their cubicles, I dropped my folders and thrust my hands to the sky. What are they doing to me?

In hindsight the entire trip was a gross misrepresentation of what Vietnam probably is. We were collected from the airport by the chauffeur driven town car owned by our 5-star hotel, expressed checked-in by the frazzled but overly friendly staff probably unused to 90 people checking-in at once, and whisked to our individual rooms where our perfectly fitted au-dais and welcome stuffed bears were waiting on our 700 thread count sheets.

Morning cast a more revealing light over the place. Vietnam is well ordered but cramped with anything between 60 and 600 motorbikes roaming any single street at any given time of day. The air smelled like boiled fish balls and fresh cut pandan leaves. There was no sense of desperation among the people I saw as you might stereotypically (and might I add, unfairly) expect after watching a Hollywood movie or two. And I did feel a bit safe to wander about alone one afternoon after managing to break free of my colleagues to do a spot of shopping at Ben Thanh Market. It was splendid.

The best of my Ho Chi Minh experience was riding the cyclo as part of a full day of an Amazing Race style game we played. A cyclo is a modified trishaw where a single passenger is placed in the seat attached at the front of a bicycle. I was so close to the ground and very exposed to the traffic that I'd be lying if I said there wasn't one or two moments when I felt a little anxious. We were each assigned a specific cyclo driver who would be responsible to take us to the various designated venues. We weren't introduced, just made to jump on his cyclo like you would on a ferris wheel car as it passed by. Delicately trying to mind the gap.

By this time I had had a rough night before and the world around me was swirling a little bit so I couldn't be trusted to remember my man. But the miraculous thing was, he remembered me. I would finish doing a task at a particular venue, say a large indoor gymnasium where we'd just been challenged to a round of tai-chi with the locals, stumble out into the heat and feel a hand gently grab my arm and leading me to a cyclo. I'd get on, after discreetly checking that this was the right cyclo troop and that my equally dazed colleagues around me were doing the same.

All day he led me in and out of venues that way like a father holding on to his kid in an intense crowd. It was the oddest most reassuring feeling.

I did not bring a camera during this trip, a mistake I hope to remedy by going back to HCMC one day to properly get to know the place. The only visual memento I have of the trip was this photo captured using my camera phone of my cyclo driver from the back as he pulled the contraption around to face another way. Now, three years later, and I'm still fascinated by the funny words at the back of his shirt and the fake gold Rolex on his tanned and veiny arms. How I wish I had asked his name.

Photo of the week: Norman Keep

2011-11-22T09:25:00.000+08:00

Norman Keep, Cardiff Castle

I suffer from the lack of in-depth education in history, and being in a place whose past involves a tapestry of civilisations, cultures and eras, I was bound to be hopelessly lost.

Cardiff has been the centre of action for Wales for much of history. From an invasion by the Romans, the princely tribal wars, to the overt threats from English kings and lords, to the visionary efforts of the local marquess, the discovery of coal that propelled a nation into prosperity, to the attack by the Germans and the formation of a local government, there has never been a dull moment, I have learned.

And much like this rich mixture of tragedy and drama, I found myself bewildered in the beginning by the stark contrast between extremely old structures and generally newer buildings co-mingling within the city limits. This is of course by no means extraordinary (think of Istanbul, Rome, Venice, London, Paris, etc.) but coming from a very young city like Kuala Lumpur, it is quite something to think that I currently live within a few city blocks of a 2,000 year old castle.

The Norman Keep is the centrepiece of Cardiff Castle, a fortress built primarily during war times but later becoming a summer home for a local nobility family during the late 19th and early 20th century. Today it is managed by a Welsh government trust that also oversees the numerous other Welsh castles peppered throughout the country.

As for the locals, they are proud of their piece-de-resistance. Any resident, myself included, may come and go as they so wish free of charge so that they might enjoy a picnic or two when the sun is up, the skies are clear and the Welsh flag proudly waving.

Arrived!

2011-10-01T08:10:00.000+08:00

City Council and grounds, Cardiff

One week into my postgraduate adventure and I have (thankfully) put to bed an entire roller coaster of emotions. A feat only reserved for the emotionally well-developed -- otherwise known as the acute quarter-life crisis.

It has been quite an out-of-body experience, learning to live somewhere completely different in a hurry. Classes were beginning within a few days' of my arrival and I had to get my affairs in order quick smart. But I would say seeing my room for the first time was really what drove it all home for me. The sight of a single bed with a mattress less than a foot thick and no other bedding was more than my 400 thread-count body could bear.

But shopping is and will always be my best forte and within a day or two, a new nest was formed and I felt calmer.

The Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Adjusting to local life was a bit more of a challenge. Finding out that it would take a week to open a bank account, more than 24 hours before getting your mobile to work properly, needing to make an appointment with a doctor even though you have an emergency, and that televisions require licenses were all extremely strange and truthfully, rather at odds with what you would imagine an advanced country would have to offer.

The worst has got to be the appalling mobile service. The moment you step into a building, any building, you're rendered communication-less. If you do not see the sky, then don't expect to be able to text, call, tweet or email from your phone because you will not have any kind of coverage. I've tested this with various telco companies and phone models and they've all fizzled the moment you get yourself under a roof. Coming from Asia, where phones work even inside commuter trains, this is something that will never fail to amaze me.

Still other aspects, the more familiar and wonderful things about living in the UK (which I can also draw direct parallels with Australian life), such as the consumerisme and excellent (human) service, are a welcome change. Wales is the gentler cousin to its British neighbour and an undoubtedly warmer host. The Welsh are are a friendlier, happier bunch with a penchant for a quick song and a dirty mind for laughs. It is a country of castles, daffodils, and Roman ruins and proudly proclaims its unique differences from the English with every lengthy signpost. The land of Dylan Thomas, Roald Dahl, Shirley Bassey and Catherine Zeta-Jones lays open for me to discover with each passing day.

Main university building

I will blog again in the coming days about the (mis)adventures of my first week. Until then, noson dda ac yn cymryd gofal (Goodnight and take care!).

The short break

2011-09-04T14:04:00.002+08:00

Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang

This year's eid and merdeka came side-by-side in a perfect calender month. A poignant coincidence as I celebrated the death of my life's first career during the country's independence day. I mostly felt numb. Made a lot of references to work and colleagues during the holidays and feeling so strange that I didn't have a blackberry to check for messages from the bosses.

Life was still for almost a week. I guess my parents sensed that I would be nursing the loss by whisking me away for a family holiday in Penang.

Mostly I don't like family holidays. Being in a single-child family there is plenty of opportunity for awkward silences and strained overtures of planned itineraries. But this time, I was glad for the solitude it afforded me. I was in a town I didn't recognise and didn't care to get to know. Everything was familiar yet strange, trying hard to look pretty but failing at the edges.

On either side of the holiday I had time with the extended family. Cousins and nieces and nephews all crammed together in my grandmother's ancient home all trying to talk over each other. That was the nice part of the break. The attention on everything else but me. Other times I just buried myself into this new book I can't stop reading. About black maids in 1963 Mississippi that can make me cry actual tears and laugh out loud all under 5 minutes.

Verandah, Suffolk House, Penang

Penang itself was inexhaustible. Constantly churning as rich Penang-ites try to turn the island into something resembling closer to a cosmopolitan while ordinary folk cling to the old traditions of nasi kandar, wet markets and white colonial buildings in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint. Still there is money in the air, of that I have no doubt. What else could explain the hot soup of roads crammed with imported cars and gleaming new apartment towers soon to be outdone by new upcoming ones still under construction.

Scenes of Penang

English afternoon tea at the E&O and Suffolk House

The highlight of my trip was the Suffolk House and the hotel we stayed in, the Eastern & Oriental Penang. Both very old and lovingly restored to their full 1800s colonial glory. I love colonial architecture and its clever use of space and windows to allow its occupants to remain cool despite the sweltering tropical heat. Rooms tend to take their time to unfold before you so that enough air can dance in and out without making you feel that you've plonked yourself into a steamer.

Suffolk House used to be the residence of British Governors and other important colonial officers. We were told that it was probably also the setting for many an expat social scenes in those days and though the actual building was smallish in size, there was a modest hall in the middle of each level that hinted at how central those events were in the lives of the occupants. The property has been lovingly restored by donations from private individuals and various corporations. It was a little tricky to get to but once there, it was worth the trek. Try the afternoon tea to calm the nerves a bit and just stare out onto the green lawns for a minute to help clear the head.

View of the Suffolk House tea room and the upstairs verandah

On the whole I would not say that Penang left much of an impression on me but I suspect that it's the sort of place that grows on you. The food was good but I didn't get the chance to sample as wide a variety as I would have liked. Give it ten more years and I also think that the island will surprise us so much more.

***

Back in KL and the first thing I did when I walked into my house is thank the heavens that I live on my own. More quietness and all my things left undisturbed. But mostly, I'm glad I can be left alone for the rest of the weekend. I took off my trousers and walked my heavy heart to bed.

Tomorrow will be better. The sun will come out again and make things look as different as they already are.

Green grass and blue skies

2011-08-25T08:13:00.001+08:00

It is now less than a month to go before I leave and my life is sliding back into the familiar transient feel of the nomad student as I shed, dispose or mothball my commitments, responsibilities and assets. Already I have a price tag on my car, made arrangements for several house-sitters, squaring off my projects by unloading them onto unsuspecting colleagues, and making as much time as possible for friends and family to say goodbye. I’m never one to be overly emotional about good-byes; particularly given my absence will only be for 12 short months. Still, the last time I was going somewhere far away for a lengthy period, I wasn’t leaving behind quite so many things.

The last four years have been extremely eventful, both good and bad. I’ve learned life lessons that will carry me through a lifetime. But even as things on the surface may seem for many to be near ideal, it will be unfair for me to say that I have been completely happy. Like wearing a shirt several sizes too small, some things felt like they simply did not fit. I’ve never said this out loud for fear I may appear ungrateful for the blessings I have been given, but I believe that I have a right to try harder for a better life.

For months now I’ve been day-dreaming about the solitude and carefree lifestyle of being a student again. I’ve made all sorts of plans to laze about for days on green grass that meet blue skies and idle chatter. Of travel and study, discovery and learning. I want to think through what I want to do with my life and hopefully, decide.

A quick catch up

2011-08-06T08:51:00.001+08:00

I always wonder at people who regardless of what may happen in their lives, can seem to stick to a routine that anchors their world to a more normal axis. Old dependable. That's what's so amazing.

I, on the other hand, seem to be living my life one week at a time these days and the one time I raise my head slightly above water, I find that a whole month has gone by and the face of the world has changed more drastically than I could have ever thought possible.

The last time I visited these pages, Malaysia was going through another one of those episodes that may or may not define a different future for some if not most. For the rest of us, we went about our daily lives, only just quietly resenting the glaring limelight that's been poured over our corner of the world over such an unglamorous cause.

Personally, I've had far too much on my plate to give more than a days' worth of contemplation. Quite frankly I found other things to be far more disturbing, such as one women's movement that's getting far too much attention all over the world for all the wrong reasons. My thoughts and feelings about that have evolved steadily from being scandalised, to embarrassed, to disappointment, sadness and finally, apathy.

Still, other things went on. Most of them administrative as I tidy up loose ends in order to leave the country in September without much to worry about.

Why have I decided to do this Masters' degree? A combination of factors really, not the least of which, is to get a little bit smarter. But there are other reasons including my serious need to get a break and revert back to a time in life when things were a whole lot simpler. I could go on and on about how my undergrad years were the best years of my life but not without sounding like I'm making a sad attempt to recapture a moment in youth out of desperation.

No, this programme will serve a nobler purpose. By my estimation at least. The story behind that will deserve a post on its own. For now, rest assured, I go in peace.

In the meantime, I am adjusting to the strange feeling of letting go. I will say a final good bye at the end of this month to the first employer I had ever known. Possibly the best organisation I will have the good fortune of being a part of. It's a very odd feeling. A mixture of sadness, sanguine, and dread. A prickly box of confusion as I experience my work fall away from me, and my team adjusting themselves clumsily for the day when I don't show up to work to pick up the pieces.

Such a strange contrast to the rest of the maddening world as I continue to worry about my own circumstances. The explosion of bad news after bad news to have come from the Western world is astonishing. Today I was reading about how markets across the world tumbled ferociously to levels never seen before since the crisis three years ago.

I was brought up on the kind of thinking diet where a powerful and almighty West with benevolent intentions (though sometimes less obviously so) will continue to champion the ideals of democracy, economy and modernity, and yet, the past three years have been nothing short of earth shattering. Every other month there seems to be a new low (a default here, a disgraced CEO there, a potential downgrade, and an embezzlement or two) and my core belief system gets shaken ever more apart. It's a whole new world out there and one never short of possibilities.

So there, we've come a little close to catching up. There's lots more to say so I'll keep writing. In the meantime, have a pleasant week ahead and don't forget to breathe before taking any headlong plunges.

Come back soon :)

Photo of the week: What I feel like doing this weekend

2011-07-08T14:40:00.001+08:00

Sleepy kangaroo - Caversham Wildlife Park, Perth, Western Australia

The whole country is in a state of flux. But all I want to do is to crawl under the covers and sleep.

And wake up next Tuesday.

With baited breath

2011-07-03T17:03:00.000+08:00

Tracking my Kilimanjaro climber from this website

Day 1 and my Kilimanjaro climber now appears on the tracking website. I am nervous.

Godspeed boys.

And then come home.

Hope

2011-07-03T00:52:00.000+08:00

I found a beautiful poem by Emily Dickinson tonight which I couldn't stop reading over and over.

(continued from a previous post)

"Hope is a thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all - "

Emily led a sad life that was eventually extinguished by what I can imagine to be a slow and painful death from a disease. But her words here make me think of lonely days and nights wondering about delicious possibilities. Of hope and how it never dies. It will sing from the heart of a song that only you can hear.

"I've heard it in the chillest land -

And of the strangest sea -

Yet, never, in extremity -

It asked a crumb - of me."

E.D. 1861

I am finally listening to the song in my heart.

2011-06-27T00:26:00.000+08:00

Everyone has two kinds of family: the one you were born into and the ones you choose to be with.

I grew up with a small set of women whom after nearly two decades, I have grown to consider as family. We've been through everything together from triumphant personal battles, lengthy separations, disastrous relationships and even more disastrous fashion choices. To this day, we are for ever more sisters, and sisters we were when one of our own happily crossed one of life's most significant thresholds over the weekend.

We love you so very much my dear, and we couldn't be happier or prouder of you than when we held your hand through it and cried tears of joy right beside you.

You are strength itself. May love never cease and happiness be forever.

Photo of the week: There's no place like home

2011-06-18T22:01:00.001+08:00

Bottom up view of the Petronas Twin Towers

Have you ever seen the Petronas Twin Towers at night?

***
I once heard a story about an absolutely forgettable country that lay between Europe and Asia. Land-locked and largely barren, they spend half the year buried in 6 feet of snow and the other half trying to persuade an impossible soil to grow their seeds. Meanwhile, the world had slowly passed them by leaving them behind in a hopeless state of morass, growing ever poorer and ever more desperate.

Then one day they had heard of a great train that was being built by the powerful countries in the West that would bring explorers, artists, writers and philosophers to the new world, in search of inspiration, glory and riches. Hope was finally rekindled and the people of this tiny nation set about building train tracks across their country, snaking and winding its way through the most beautiful countryside they possessed.

They built even though they weren't sure that the train would come. And they kept building even though there were those who would say it would be a great folly. That the train would not pass and the great artists, writers, philosophers and discoverers would not find them, write about them, and would not then, save them from their helpless existence. But still they kept on building until finally they were done.

And then winter came. And a spring after that, then summer. More time flew by and still, no train passed on their tracks. It was as though time had forgotten them completely and was holding them back in suspense. Waiting until all hope was lost.

Then one day, they saw the tell-tale white billowing clouds from a coal engine in the distance. Chugging along as it went straight through their country side, making stops along the way as its occupants took leave to admire the nature around them. The train had come at last. And with it, the country's hopes and spirits lifted beyond anything they had ever wished for.

They had found their salvation.

***

We all need a symbol of hope, and of pride. All those years ago when someone said it might be a good idea to build an 88-storey shining double structure in the centre of the city, they faced a mountain of criticism. They were told that it would cost too much, that no one would appreciate it and it would just flood the market with more unused floor space.

But we built it anyway. We needed hope, and we needed something to tell the world of the promise that we knew we had.

And now, we know that our train is making its way through our country side. We just need to continue believing.

Because we only think of one thing

2011-06-13T23:54:00.000+08:00

What did you think it was gonna be?

Hungry workers at lunch will scale mountains to reach good food. We were no different one Thursday afternoon when we decided to cross the busy street in front of our building to get to a new restaurant we heard had just opened. It had very little publicity apart from word-of-mouth, but 10 minutes after we sat down at our table we realised they didn't need any more advertising than that.

They had a cute name befitting our unplanned romp across the divide - Impromptu, but a generic enough decor that was easily overlooked, save for the odd glass chamber where they have seemingly imprisoned their cook for passers-by to see. Pasta, we were told, have been lovingly handmade. Something I was most appreciative of especially at the sight of an unusually dark linguini that ensured it was not lost amongst the creamy sauce.

Food is a bit of a hit and miss. Depending on what you order it could be absolutely sublime but my colleagues who had been there the day before were cautioning me against a certain chicken tandoori. My pick was the seafood thai pasta and it was wonderful. Another colleague on the other hand who had opted for the chicken pesto was less than impressed.

Prices are quite reasonable (high teens for my bowl of pasta) if you were to compare them with the likes of Delicious, who with all their gimmicky claims of fine cafe dining are reasonably...well...delicious if you haven't already gotten bored of a menu that has not changed in years. So for a bit of good variety, and if you don't mind the trial and error process needed to find the real gems in the menu, do drop by Impromptu, Menara Hap Seng. Go early if you're doing lunch as the office crowd can overwhelm.

Love, life and the pursuit of happiness

2011-06-03T19:28:00.000+08:00

Sunset over Doha

When I was around 13 years-old, a teacher thought that it might be a good idea as an ice breaker to go around the class and ask everyone what they would like to be when they grew up. It was the first day of secondary school and I can still remember the apprehension I felt despite the majority of the class being people I had grown up with for seven years prior. It was our first day, and we were trying to seem as grown up as possible.

She got the usual answers: engineer, doctor, lawyer, but I was struggling to figure out what brilliant answer I could give. Something different, something I thought would make the whole class wake up.

Then I got it. The perfect answer.

But before it came to my turn, the boy who sat in front of me quickly whipped round to ask ~~obnoxiously~~ what my answer was going to be and two thoughts immediately entered my mind: I was going to tell him the truth, but not the whole truth to the class.

To the class later, I said I wanted to be an economist. Slightly prophetic for a 13 year-old but more on that later.

To this boy, I said, I just wanted to be happy.

***

Have a good weekend everyone.

(to be continued...)

Have food, will travel

2011-05-24T14:19:00.004+08:00

If there is one thing that I will always remember Istanbul fondly for is the food. In anticipation of my next travel post (sorry!), I have decided to load up some photographic proof of the life philosophy that all Malaysians swear by: "have food, will travel".

We were walking around in Taksim quite aimlessly one evening when we came across a little hole in the wall. All that was for sale were every kind of Turkish sweets: Turkish delights in every colour of the rainbow, nougat rolls with whole pistachios in the centre, banana toffee slices, crispy fried swirls that look like birds' nests and raspberry coloured fig sandwich pastries. We did what every self respecting Malaysian would do - we bought one in every flavour, sat down with a good strong cup of Turkish coffee (not that they ever make weak ones), and people watched.

As music drifted in through our cafe window from the street outside married with laughter and smoke from multicoloured hashish, our Turkish adventure quickly turned into a delight for the senses.

More write up on the entire trip to come!

Photo of the week: My favourite subject

2011-05-23T23:06:00.000+08:00

My favourite traveling partner, laughing buddy, and warm embrace. For life.

A day at the temples

2011-05-23T22:57:00.004+08:00

I made it!

The climax of our trip to Siem Reap was sure to be the Angkorian temples. The most famous and well preserved of them all is the Angkor Wat and by all accounts, the crowning glory of Cambodia's rich historical heritage. Quite rightly too as the sheer magnitude of the place as physical documentation of the once opulent splendour of the Angkor civilisation should deserve no lesser attention than those already laid at its feet.

Walkway across the moat towards the gates of Angkor Wat

We spent an entire day exploring the different temples in the area but none left such an indellible mark on me and my fellow travelers as the Angkor Wat.

Top: my first glimpse of the Angkor Wat, Bottom left: one of the naga statues that guard the main entrance, Bottom right: main corridor

Side view of the impressive gallery

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century and while many temple complexes have been built after it, none have survived in as pristine a condition. Most have succumbed to the will of the jungles while others have been all but destroyed in the hands of time and man.

Angkor Wat is still an active temple so you will most likely find worshippers in the middle of prayer along the corridors or find trays of flowers and fruits laid in offering at various statues within the complex. Hindu mythology and beliefs were the guiding hand for the construction and rich decoration of the temple, however, the later conversion to buddhism has brought about a marriage of the two styles that persist to this day.

Nowadays, worshippers are mainly buddhists who have transformed what may have been statues of the multi-armed Lord Vishnu into representations of Buddha.

Made up of multiple tiers of towers and galleries, the most recognisable feature is the four conical towers surrounding the fifth main central tower. We were told that access to the central tower was blocked for many years after the accidental death of a Korean tourist who took a fatal tumble down the steep incline towards the central tower block. Thankfully, the ban was listed quite recently after many visitors' disappointment started to rattle the pocket change of Cambodia's tourism industry.

View through a window

Standing at the bottom of the central tower, I felt a strong sense of small-ness. Looking up at the detailed work on the surface of the tower and indeed the many preceding galleries, I finally understood what our tourguide kept insisting: that it's like magic. Impossible is the thought that so many centuries ago human beings were capable of such sophisticated building, that advancement in culture and learning had enabled us to dream the impossible, and yet here it was. Proof positive of what determination can bring.

View of the central tower

Bas relief of aksara dancers found
throughout Angkor Wat

As mentioned in my previous post, aksara dancers are an important and thus omnipresent feature of Khmer art. The mystical nymphs that arose from the harmonious existence between heaven and hell are also famous for another reason. It was extremely amusing to observe the reactions from male visitors wising up to the fact that the upper part of a female's body was not customarily covered during ancient times.

Which made me wonder: is nudity a mark of a society's level of evolution in civility - as we are conditioned to think - or is it a way of society's acceptance of the human form and thus a more enlightened and sophisticated way of thinking?

Whatever the philosophies that lay behind it, should you find yourself wandering the halls of Angkor Wat, you may find that certain body parts of the aksaras are shinier than the rest from heavy fondling. What a distateful thought! Still, one can surely appreciate that they are amazing works of art whose astounding detailing and craftsmanship have survived centuries with remarkable preservation.

Near 45degree angle steps to climb up
the central tower

As a final note, I strongly feel that if you have a spare long weekend coming up, do take the time to visist Cambodia and especially Siem Reap. It is a wonder to behold and an enriching experience all around, all for very affordable prices and located just around the corner (if you live in Southeast Asia of course!). My recommendation if you are traveling in a small group (we were four in ours) and you are not pressed for time, is to engage a personal tourguide. The narrations, the ability to ask questions however silly, the download on the historical contexts of each "new" relic you come across, will enhance your visit by a long way. For our visit, we simple clicked through the services offered through AirAsia's online travel "pyo", AirAsiaGo. For more insights on our trip, visit Imran Kifli's blog here, here and here for his perspective on Angkor Wat.

Until next time!

(couple spotted along the banks of the moat
surrounding Angkor Wat)

The Palm House

2011-04-28T16:53:00.004+08:00

During the winter of 2009, my family and I found ourselves in the darkest of London. We woke up one morning to discover that the clouds had overstayed their welcome and on hearing the weather channel announce the possibility of snow, we felt particularly hard done by. Still, we didn't want to waste an entire day during our holiday and decided to throw caution to the wind, some scarves on, and head off for a day with nature at Kew Gardens. As it turned out, it didn't snow that day and the clouds eventually gave way a little for the sun to shine through, making our visit quite pleasant.

The Kew Gardens, in my view, is a grossly under-rated attraction. But then I've always liked anything to do with gardens and there being as few people as possible so I suppose it is understandable that the average tourist might give it a miss. This garden has been in existence for hundreds of years, lovingly cared for and presided over by generations of kings and queens who were themselves botanical enthusiasts.

One of the main attractions was the Palm House, a multi-domed glass building in the middle of Kew Gardens that houses a variety of temperate climate vegetation under controlled temperature and humidity. First of all, it was an interesting feeling walking in from the dry and freezing weather outside to the sauna like environment inside. According to their website, the building was built between 1844 and 1848, but somehow the architecture has transcended its time. It is both contemporary and classic given its clean lines and almost all glass exterior save for the white wrought iron grills that form the skeleton of the building.

On the internal canopy level, you can see out from the building into a great portion of the gardens outside. One angle I found was the view of Museum No. 1 that sat across a modest pond from the Palm House. That's where I took this picture, this week's Photo of the Week.

I can almost imagine the ladies and gentlemen of the day walking in from their English environment into a more exotic one, gazing in awe at banana trees, oil palms and orchids. Treasures from exploits of English travelers who have circled the globe many times over in search of knowledge and riches, and no doubt, tales of exotic tropical lands where such strange and foreign horticulture wonders grow and thrive.

***

Meanwhile, further travelling awaits. Life is good this year.

Coming up next month!

"Here is the stuff of which fairytales are made..."

2011-04-26T23:35:00.002+08:00

So declared the Archbishop of Canterbury nearly thirty years ago after he officiated the marriage of a young woman with the heir to the throne of England.

It really did seem like a fairytale come true as Diana Spencer began her journey down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, her very long dress following behind her. As the world watched with rose coloured glasses at the shy twenty year old, they could just barely see her delicate blush gracefully peeking through her veil.

And if you asked your mother if she was watching that day, I can guarantee that not only will she say yes, but that she would confirm there not to be a single dry eye in the room.

Now, all those years later, the same thing is about to happen again: a fairytale union between a man who would be king and the woman he will make his princess. The world is in love again.

One famous actress recently remarked on the breathtaking pace with which the world has snapped into avid attention: "every woman wants to find her prince". It is no wonder then that people all over the world are captivated by a fantasy that has come true. That Kate is the commoner who has captured the attention of the most eligible royal in the world makes this story all the more romantic, causing even the crustiest of sceptics to watch in fascination as the couple move towards the day they tell the world how much they love each other.

I am actually old enough to remember obscure memories that have been arranged haphazardly in my mind: images of William's first day at kindergarten, his awkwardness whilst at Eton, a lanky 16-year old walking side-by-side with a distraught younger brother - both sombrely following a decorated hearse through the streets of London, glimpses of him tumbling about in St Andrews, lots of army garb and marching, photographs of partying in nightclubs, skiing holidays and charity works in Africa, all have been banded together to form a lifetime of memories.

Memories which are close enough to me to feel as though I am about to watch a very good friend get married.

***

"... [our faith] sees the wedding day not as the place of arrival, but the place where the adventure really begins..."

And as I watch the events unfold this Friday, I and several million others who will also be watching will undoubtedly wish the couple the truest of love and the best of journeys. Together, always.

Photo of the week: Angkor Wat

2011-04-14T00:10:00.000+08:00

In keeping with my Cambodian theme for the past few posts, I thought I'd share one of my prized souvenirs from the entire trip: the Angkor Wat vista.

Seeing the Angkor Wat is both a dream come true and an affirmation of the power of having a dream.

Nearly a thousand years ago, an Angkorian king dreamt of having a city that could fit thousands. A city that is both palatial home and tributary monument to devotion. His will, and the will of his people, whose desire for greatness and cultural dominance saw the erection of one of mankind's grandest feat. A true wonder of the world and a gift to his people then and for many centuries to come.

Lady, you want tuk-tuk? - A trip to magical Siem Reap

2011-04-02T01:22:00.003+08:00

Much has been said about the famous 9th century temples hidden in the dense jungles of Cambodia. Vintage posters and photographs have now given way to popular culture in the form of Indiana Jones and the Tomb Raider, making the place a lightning rod for movie buffs who flock the sites in hopes of getting a glimpse of some exotic setting where Angelina Jolie or Harrison Ford might have deigned to set foot on.

But Siem Reap is so much more than that as we delightfully discovered on the very first day of our visit.

Tourism in the city, as we were told, really began in the 1930s when Hollywood movie stars descended upon Siem Reap within the first few years of the discovery of the great temples of Angkor. Although the French had been in the country much longer before that, it wasn't until then that the world really took notice.

Our ride and tour package company extraordinaire
Just RM1,139 pp for return flights + accommodations + two tours - unbeatable!

Nowadays, the throngs of visitors hail from all four corners of the world. In 2010 alone, 3 million visitors came to Siem Reap in search of the magic of Indochina. This year, the government reckons that that number will rise to nearly 4 million, with the largest group of visitors to come from mainland China followed closely by Koreans and Taiwanese. Cambodians for their part, are quick to recognise the importance of courting the tourist dollar. For a city of around 170,000 people and a land area less than 4% that of Kuala Lumpur's, it houses a total of 125 hotels and guest houses and nearly everyone will speak at least French and English (some do take the trouble of learning Mandarin and other European languages).

French influences in the country are still apparent in everyday life. After 90 years of being a French protectorate (with a short interruption in the middle by the Japanese occupation) some infrastructure, systems and culture from Cambodia's colonial past still exist today. Most evident is the widespread use of the French language in communications - road signs, shop signs, newpapers and not to mention that the average Cambodian usually can speak French (which actually sounded a bit more creole to my untrained ears). More noticeable are the stacks and stacks of baguettes and croissants that are omnipresent in every tuckshop, road stalls and even hardware stores.

View of the inner courtyard of Prince D'Angkor Hotel

Our hotel was near enough to the city to walk when we had the energy. Most times this was conveniently overlooked in favour of getting one of the tuk-tuk drivers who position themselves strategically at every hotel and every other points of interest. These guys do harass you a bit for business but because the competition is great, they can be bargained down to perhaps US$1 for a one way trip.

Cambodians are generally a gentle and hospitable people. Which makes it even more astonishing to think of the horrors that they went through from Year Zero, the start of the Khmer Rouge rampage. Our tour guide gave us a rundown of what and how the Khmer people suffered - including his own family - during those 3 years and 8 months when 4 million people (mostly intellectuals) lost their lives and an entire culture and heritage nearly died along with them. For now it seems, everyday life is back to normal. Though the scars of war and the terrors that Cambodians who are old enough to remember will live on. Memories of pain and terrible loss will forever run deep in the hearts of these people.

Psar Chas or "Old Market"

A stroll down Sivatha Road from our hotel took us into the old French Quarter and ended up in Psar Chas or "Old Market" where you might find everything from household supplies to fresh produce and souvenirs. The grey surroundings are punctuated by bursts of colour from the curious silk shops offering everything from pillow cases to scarves and handbags. I read somewhere that most of the items on sale are actually imports from Vietnam and Thailand and only the rare few are made in Cambodia, such as the colourful patterned silk that display distinctive Cambodian art made into purses and wall hangings, and the table and bed cloths made from gold threaded tapestries with woven images of apsara dancers and elephants.

Haggling here is expected and driving a hard bargain is something of an art form. Some books we read recommended starting at 30% of the quoted price before negotiating upwards up to 50% off retail at a maximum. I personally felt that the prices were already pretty low to begin with so as little as 50 US cents over the price I really wanted was easily overlooked. Do keep in mind that 50 US cents is a lot of money for them so try to know when to let go.

The rest of our afternoon was spent exploring other parts of Siem Reap city by foot. For a city this small this didn't take long to accomplish and before long we ended up making a near full circle back to our starting point. This was also the best way to observe Siem Reap at its most normal. To see how life unfolds beyond the curb and to take in the simple pleasures as well as the back-breaking challenges that the locals face.

Poverty is widespread here and you can see this from the scores of dilapidated homes that use plywood or thin pieces of asbestos for walls and corrugated aluminium sheets for roofs. Children play by the road side and young men gather around a television set at a local eatery to watch muay thai matches and forget their troubles for an hour or two. But every now and then, just about every kilometre or so, a tall imposing mansion fully adorned in Khmer decoration and fine luxuries surrounded by lush green gardens pokes up like a sore thumb amongst the endless sea of shoe box plywood homes. Sights like these really make you wonder at the state of things in a country like that.

We hadn't realised that the Angkor National Museum was about
5 minutes from the hotel. This is a newly opened museum which has
an exhorbitant entrance fee of US$12.

Not completely worth it in my humble opinion.

At the recommendation of the concierge, we went to a nearby restaurant supposedly famous amongst tourists who want to see the traditional apsara dance performance. From what I understand, apsaras are mythical nymphs in Hindu legend that sprang from the stirring of a great sea of milk for a thousand years. The act of stirring the milk maintains the balance between heaven and earth and when harmony is achieved, heavenly bodies rejoyce and dance. Apsara dances were traditionally performed for the courts of the kings of old, but now this dance is available for the average tourist for a mere US$12 and conveniently includes a dinner buffet (drinks are separate). The restaurant is called Koulen II and definitely a must-do recommendation from me. The food was passable at best but the atmosphere and the dance itself is completely worth it.

Atmosphere at the Koulen II

Apsara dancers

After dark, Siem Reap offers a plethora of virtues and vices that await the willing buyer. But unlike places like Bangkok, the streets aren't awash with an unshakeable feeling of grime and the looming possibility of indictment. This isn't a cowboy town where anything goes. In fact, uniformed policemen roam the streets at night, keeping it relatively safe and clean.

For the more adventurous sort, the destination of choice is likely to be Pub Street where rows of restaurants and bars that cater heavily to western tastes - and pockets - teem with tourists of every race and creed. But if you're of the family friendly variety, then chances are that the Siem Reap Night Market is where you'll be headed. Our group drew this card, which wasn't a difficult choice given the alluringly cheap massages, manicures and fish spas available in between stalls upon stalls of handicraft items for sale. For US$2, we found ourselves sampling a half an hour khmer foot massage plus complimentary head and shoulders massage. As for me, I thought I'd satisfy my curiosity and pay the "premium" price of US$4 for a half hour pedicure (which includes artful flower paintings). I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of my manicurist's work and I was more than satisfied with the result.

Pedicure (with flower painting) at the night market - US$4
Tip to manicurist - US$1
Experience of having a pedicure in the middle of a busy night
market with hundreds of pairs of eyes staring - priceless

Feeling well pampered, we slowly made our way back to the hotel. Along the way however, we stumbled across a modern but deserted looking restaurant called The Nest. After examining the menu we decided on supper. By this time we had formed a budget monitor squad among us who used numbers of dollar signs as an effective decision making tool. This was started by thorough reading of our trusty Lonely Planet Guide which would list restaurants based on how expensive they were using the dollar sign. One dollar sign is the cheapest eats you will find in the city.

This was definitely TWO whole dollar signs but absolutely worth it

I loved the layout of the restaurant. They had an entire outdoor section reserved for lounging, which really looked like a row of twin beds on rattan frames. The idea is so you can lie on the beds, stare at the open sky and perhaps count the stars. Coffee was perfection here and if you're feeling a bit daring, there's an option to order fried frog legs to go with your latte!

Our first day in Siem Reap turned out to be a series of mini surprises all rolled into a pleasant expedition of discovery. In one day we had covered a large part of our itinerary, but our main goal of coming to Cambodia was to take place the next day - exploring the ancient temples of Angkor.

'til the next post.

Photo of the week: A desperate paddle

2011-04-01T01:17:00.004+08:00

This week's photo is a prelude to my next blog post which will cover our four-day adventure in Siem Reap. The photo is of a child whose family lives on the lake Tonle Sap.

There is an entire community that thrives on the ever changing waters of the Tonle Sap - a lake that, at its peak during monsoon season, covers an area of roughly 22 times the size of Singapore.

The people who live on the floating structures are largely stateless Vietnamese. Their homes, community churches, and even gardens and basketball courts are all strapped to platforms made of bamboos that float each day with the passing current. Transportation, needless to say, is by long and narrow row boats or larger makeshift boats powered by what I can only imagine to be lawnmower engines.

As we were perched on top of a "building" that had an observation deck overlooking the entire "town", I noticed this boy trying to make his way to us using his tin basin which he steers skillfully across a 100m distance. He looked to be about 6 years old and very tiny when compared to the structure jutting out on the left - tree trunks used to anchor the surrounding floating buildings.

When he finally reached his destination, he stayed in his basin and began to beg, knowing full well that we (and other tourists) had been watching.

I felt that it was a touching reminder that poverty is a serious problem in Cambodia, and that tourism may just be their only way out.

There and back again (a borrowed title)

2011-03-25T00:56:00.001+08:00

View of the Singapore Flyer and the Marina Bay Sands. Beyond, the multitude of
floating cargoes off the coast of Singapore.

Two weekends ago I made the trip down to Singapore for a colleague's wedding. It was a quickie affair.

The trip I mean.

I'm currently living in that space between the shock of adulthood, and the ascension into the finally-I-know-what-I'm-doing phase of my life. You know, the time when all you're really doing is running around trying to figure things out. But every now and again, when you take a minute to step away from your own life-shattering problems, you'll find that actually, most other people seem to have things worked out.

So when one morning, my colleague who was in town for the day strode over to my desk to sheepishly ask me to attend his wedding, I literally got the shock of my life. I didn't even know he was dating someone. Granted, he is new to the firm, but that is no excuse for me not to even know his full name (I learned this when I read the invitation).

Shameful.

So I accepted smilingly. It might even impress you to know that I didn't even check my calender. That's how committed I was to this wedding. The whole time I was fiddling with my credit card while buying the air ticket online I was chanting to myself: "I am not a terrible human being. I am not, I tell you".

Why not, I thought. Half our KL office was flying down so I would have good company. And I might as well ring up my (nearly) long lost friends for a brunch to catch up.

What I did not count on was the thunderous snowball of a week I was having just prior to the trip. I had slept a total amount of 5 hours in something like 4 days resulting in an epic migraine the entire time I was in Singapore that no amount of cafergot could hope to cure.

But I was determined. So there I was in a 3-month old dress I had bought on a whim which suddenly didn't fit me anymore (it's a conspiracy I tell you) and shoes that were probably made of nails.

And then I entered the ballroom of the St Regis.

Everything just melted away. It was just lovely being amongst friends who enjoyed each other's company, laughing, joking, just catching up. Everyone dressed up in their crisp tuxedoes and floor length ball gowns that I always wondered who would wear. For those three hours I felt at ease. Happy to be laughing again.

The after party proved too much for me though. So I could not stay longer than the cursory 45 minutes. But being at the 70th storey of an otherwise boring looking hotel had its charms and an unmistakable one is the view it afforded.

Which takes me to my photo of the week: New Asia Bar, Swissotel, Singapore. A must visit for a view of the much talked about Marina Bay. Say what you will of Singapore and its terrrarium-esque city planning, these guys have got it right. An interesting vista - though I won't comment on the exact character of it - is definitely what makes a city.

***

Tomorrow I am off for a new adventure. Even though I technically have to be up again in about two hours, it will be worth it when these nails are done. Yes, a trip anywhere is nothing if a proper pedicure is not in place.

Even though it's bloody 1 a.m. in the morning.

At least I've packed

Photo of the week: The Emerald Buddha Temple

2011-03-15T14:30:00.001+08:00

I recently went through my collection of old photographs taken during the period of between highschool and now. While some of them are very good, others are best left lurking deep within my hard disk drive, never to be seen or heard from again for fear that images of a pubescent teenager with atrocious braces manage to reach the surface.

As anyone who has ever handled a camera in his or her life will know, every captured image carries a story behind it. A story that silent photographs usually cannot convey without some kind of useful narrative by the photographer. It doesn't matter really if the photo was taken under bad lighting, at an awkward angle or simply lacking in any kind of artful composition, a good story will always compensate.

And so as I shuffled through the thousands of photographs that I have taken over these years, I felt that maybe, some of these stories need to be told. They may not be the most earth shattering stories you will hear, it may be that not everyone will read it, understand it or even appreciate it, but at least, I will do those images some justice by telling their stories. To that end, I have created a new label, "photo of the week", to make it easier for future references.

This week, the photo is of a particular view of the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. It was taken between 2004 and 2005 when my family and I went to Bangkok for our annual family holiday. Bangkok is a concrete jungle that operates on a messy noodle of roads that is almost always jam-packed with cars that glimmer in the sweltering heat. The preferred method for travelling short distances is by tuk-tuk and if you're lucky, RM20 will get you a tuk-tuk driver who will stay with you for the rest of your day of sightseeing.

We reached the Emerald Buddha Temple - which is actually a complex of temples - at around noon that day. Already full of visitors baking under the hot sun, we spent about an hour or so touring the complex while reading and listening to the story behind the temples. Apparently, an 18th century Siam king had commissioned for a great temple to be built to house the statue of a seated Buddha made completely from a single piece of green jade (despite the name). However, the royal architects made a major miscalculation resulting in the grand entrance of the temple being too small for the Buddha to be brought inside, and so, after much embarassment I am sure, a new much grander temple was constructed right next to the original building. This time, mercifully, the doors were wide enough.

Visitors, however, are not allowed to go inside.

A little bit of culture and plenty of good company

2011-03-11T17:24:00.002+08:00

Every now and again it's nice to indulge in a little bit of culture to remind ourselves of that which makes us human: an appreciation for the arts.

Last weekend, I followed a group of young ones to an orchestra performance at the PETRONAS Philarmonic Hall to watch visiting conductor Richard Kaufman lead our very own Malaysian Philarmonic Orchestra in a Tribute to John Williams and some of his more notable works.

I thought it was a clever combination of contemporary music and a classical setting, which can be the perfect opportunity for the current generation to learn more about the kind of music inspired from centuries of human enlightenment. By playing compositions written by someone who is so easily identifiable (at least his work certainly is) it can be easier to showcase the fact that civil society has a rich musical heritage beyond the dull thudding produced by digital machineries of modern times.

Also, it was an excellent excuse to dress up :)

Though the entire production was memorable and entertaining, there were several pieces which I felt were beyond incredible. The show opened to the theme song from the original Superman, a fitting pick-me-up - appropriately setting the scene for the rest of the evening. I for one felt a rush of adrenaline upon hearing the soaring melody of the music. Surely a sign of a great composer is one who is able to invoke emotions from his audience. Other notable pieces were theme songs from Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, Jaws (which made everyone let out bursts of laughter), and by far the most anticipated song of the show, the theme from Star Wars.

All in all, it was a really good night out. And it was interesting to note that despite all these years (my last visit was definitely more than 10 years ago), the quality, talent and premises, have retained and in some respects even improved their sheen. Happier still for us to see so many foreign expats able to enjoy a pleasant night of culture as well as many young Malaysians in the audience appreciating the finer things in life :)

Post mortem

In what is becoming our usual custom, we continued on to the next venue for something rather more important - supper. Our "gang" has socialised over many a suppers over the past few months and I find it to be the best method for bonding.

Indeed, we've had so much bonding we're quickly becoming our own little family unit :)

After all, it was the great satirist writer (and my personal favourite), Oscar Wilde, who said "After a good supper, one can forgive just about anybody" ;-)

In the end, we are still Malaysians. And to
Malaysians, food is paramount.

Lately we've been frequently joined by a very curious bunny.

Feeling very satisfied and fortunate for the moment! And looking forward to more weekends of culture and good company ahead!

***

Coming up this weekend is a trip down under for ~~yet another~~ wedding. This time, a colleague's wedding and not to mention, my first Chinese wedding. Should be a blast and a fascinating learning experience! On top of that I will be doing two of my favourite things in the world: shopping and catching up with splendid friends whom I have not connected with for far too long.

See you girls this weekend at the land of the Big Durian!

Day time antics

2011-03-07T16:58:00.003+08:00

I think my fellow worker bees can agree to one universal truth about the work day: immediately after lunch, there is no such thing as coherent concentration. And in some cases, you don't necessarily have had anything for lunch, as is the case during ramadhan.

There is just something about a quiet afternoon, when you are left to your own devices, stomach rumbling along quietly and the spirit folds deeper into useless comfort. You are in sleepyland...

In my case, I not only retreat into this frustrating morass but my mind tends to wander further afield and I become less interested in my work. I daydream. I think about other possibilities and more colourful pursuits and before I know it, an entire unproductive hour passes.

One of the things that would occupy my thoughts

Fortunately, it's entirely possible to do this whilst still looking busy. When I first started at my job, my employer made the fateful mistake that no employer should ever make, and that is to allow me to choose my own cubicle, making it imminently easier for to me surf the web undisturbed. Lately, my surfing habits seem to resemble someone suffering from ADHD as my interests swing rapidly from interior decoration, ~~arts and craft~~ knitting to travelling. On one particularly rainy afternoon, even the impressive internet speed at work could not keep up with my furious googling.

Travels

At the end of this month, my friends and I will immerse ourselves in one of Asia's true wonders: the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We've been trying to plan a trip for the longest time but as schedules would have it, busy professionals will inevitably find conflicts. And so finally, during an otherwise languid afternoon, we finally took the plunge, and now the only challenge left for us to worry about is the ability to cram all Siem Reap has to offer into one extended weekend.

Coming up this month!

Nb: Yes I know I still owe you a blog post on the Days 2 to 5 in HK! Eeks!

Interior decoration

In two years' time I will be the proud owner of a home of my own. Bought and paid for (I still technically have a mortgage) with my own blood, sweat and tears! This will perhaps be the subject of many a blog posts to come especially when I actually move into it (it's still under construction) but for now, the internet is the place I turn to for all kinds of ideas on interior decoration.

These days my favourite interior decoration website is Apartment Therapy, which, despite its name, provides a wealth of interior decoration inspiration, tours, and resources for landed properties. Even though I mostly enjoy the pictures on the blog, I do sometimes take up their recommendation on other resources out there. The other day Marcus Design by designer Nancy Marcus was featured due to an innovative spin she put on an innocent piece of IKEA furniture and ever since then, my love for Marcus Design has never faltered. I love everything on her website.

Before... IKEA Rast dresser (I don't know how much it costs
but presumably very cheap!)

After!

Will this work in Malaysia?

Photos from Marcus Design Inc.

Speaking of IKEA (we love! yay!), I also found a neat website that attempts to "crack" IKEA furniture. The idea is to take a modular mass market piece of home furnishing and turn it into a customised centrepiece.

Another kind of design

Any girl worth her salt will dream of one day owning one thing and one thing only: the Hermes Kelly bag. Named after the famed Princess-of-Hollywood-turn-Princess-of-Monaco, the bag costs both arms and both legs but that has not stopped any of us from imagining that one day, the retail fairy will bless us with the gift of the Kelly.

Fortunately for us mere mortals, the folks at Hermes have made this one step closer to being possible by allowing us to download a Kelly. That's right. It's in pdf and you can print one out on pretty paper, origami that baby and you have yourself a paper Kelly.

Download yours now from this link!

I don't know about you but I thought this was way cool.

The real mccoy

However, I'm not sure if I will do this myself - mainly because I suck at origami. In any case, I promise to blog about it if ever I produce one!

So that pretty much chronicles my afternoons over the past month thereabouts. I hope you're having a good arvo yourself. Come back soon!

Kelly - the inspiration and the more classic look

A more modern variation

2011-03-02T00:55:00.000+08:00

I have a strong feeling this is going to be a bit of a rant. It hasn't been the most fabulous day and it's only the latest edition to a long line of absolutely rubbish days.

The kind of days that make me feel like I'm going down absolutely the wrong path without knowing how to turn back.

I need help. And motivation. Some kind of strong wind to knock me over and say don't be a silly arse and just get on with it.

Sitting here nuzzled in my bed I've shielded myself from the horrors of life within a shell made of 560 thread count sheets. It's my panacea. For the moment at least while I plot my next major move. I've never been very good at that, particularly when it comes to my own life, but damn if I don't try. Life's full of rejection and I'm a quarter inch to the left of letting it get the better of me.

God give me strength. Don't tell me I'm just searching for another excuse. My poor heart can't take it.

It's been a lovely week

2011-02-19T02:41:00.002+08:00

You know you've had a good week when you've jam-packed as many things as humanly possible in seven short days and come off still breathing in the end.

And no, I'm not counting work.

When we first heard that a couple of our friends were going to hold their wedding reception in Melaka, our spidey senses began tingling at the thought of a potential roadtrip. You know you've got the perfect travel buddies when all you need is a look, a smile from across the table and a growing sense of adventure in the belly. We were on!

The Stadhuys

Melaka had a minute-by-minute highlight reel unlike any other, and one can certainly appreciate all the hard work that has gone into making the place a bona-fide tourism cash cow. The sense of rejuvenation is almost tangible and it's always great to see a proud city embracing a real sense of self. Definitely a must visit for that spare weekend, even if a one night stay.

He still managed a wave despite working under
an incredibly hot sun

A peculiar sight - perfumery stall, Jonkers St night market

My personal favourites: (1) the food (Sg Duyung Seafood and Perhentian Kuih Kampung. Hit me baby one more time!); (2) clear road signs (coming from KL it's a refreshing change indeed); (3) the people (contrary to some of my unfortunate preconceived notions, they were actually some of the friendliest in the country); and (4) Jonkers Street (see it by day to appreicate the architecture and then come again at night to see vibrant markets and pubs).

Seafood at Sg Duyung Restaurant

Perhentian Kuih Kampung

Our friends' wedding was just sublime. We watched in awe as they walked down the aisle looking so great in each other's arms and happier than we have ever seen them. It was worth the time out we took to share this special moment with them and as we sat together at our table and reflected on the moments we've shared with friends we haven't seen in the longest time, we were truly happy. They had also requested for me to sing a song during the reception and I was only too happy to oblige. I felt so honoured to be part of their special day!

***

As the week began with Valentine's day (and coincidentally, an anniversary too) it was set to become an amorous affair anyway. I was taken to a very romantic date at a little place called Cafe Cafe (review on VKeong's blog). An absolute charmer of a place where you might feel transported back to 1930s Paris. The ambience was perfect as the glimmery crystal hung low from the ceiling and Edith Piaf sang softly in the background while you dined on extremely delicious French cuisine. A little warning though: do not be fooled by the surrounding area. It's much nicer indoors than where you parked your car.

We were given lovely macaroons as takeaways.

I have never been a big fan but these are scrumptious!

As you can tell, I couldn't resist helping
myself to one before taking the pic!

As all other goods things, this too had to come to an end and I had to descend back to earth where I plunged myself into work. Only by day of course, because by night I was busy on other more pressing matters.

Like knitting for example.

Something is forming...

I also bought something which I shouldn't have.

A good excuse for a really, really good party.

I hope everyone is having an equally good time. Have a good rest this weekend and don't forget your ironing.

Meanwhile, I will continue to plan things.

Thirty six months

2011-02-15T00:28:00.000+08:00

All this time has passed.

And yet you're still here, making me laugh, smile, happy.

I never knew there was a kind of magic. Until you :)

Mini wonder

2011-02-09T18:14:00.000+08:00

Going through a property brochure recently by an up and coming developer I noticed something peculiar. It had nothing to do with the property itself but the photographs that they used in the promotional materials as well as the website. Apparently, they had "miniaturised" entire landscapes and structures in order to make the photos looks as though they were images of models or miniatures of the object itself.

I was immediately intrigued. I'm not a photography aficionado by any stretch of the imagination so I did my Googling and found that this feature is available for the ordinary average consumer like me through a handy new edition by Canon called the Powershot S95.

The S95 is a lovely little compact camera that answers a lot of my issues from past compacts. For example, I'd always have a problem with zooming. Despite all the promises in previous digital cameras, I can never get a clear close shot without worrying about unsteady hands. The closer the zoom it seems, the more sensitive the frame becomes and any slight movement will distort the picture. This problem is now solved with the S95 as the camera stays sharp even at very close range and the built-in stabiliser works wonders to make sure you have a clear and crisp photo.

Random close shot

Another problem of the past was that of low lighting. This camera is part of a new generation of Canon offerings that come with a low light feature. I find it annoying when I cannot capture the colours I see through my naked eye with the camera. Even though it seems perfectly clear to me, the camera will always beg to differ. At a recent wedding over the weekend I tried this nifty feature and the photo turned out beautifully. As you can see below, the with and without low light feature are completely different - like night and day!

Before

After

And of course finally, the reason for me getting the camera in the first place, the miniature feature. This very cool technique basically blurs the top and the bottom of the picture and focuses on the centre, somehow making the finished product look like children's miniature landscape. The first thing I did when I bought the camera was to take tonnes of mini photos.

Miniaturised scene in front of my apartment

Junction miniature

From my balcony

I'm in love with my new purchase and glad that I made the decision to get this camera. I've been taking photos everyday with it and miniaturised many a vistas since then. Rest assured, I will continue to do so especially during my upcoming travels. That should be interesting!

Wedding cake mini

Wedding dais mini

Never not knitting

2011-01-30T23:48:00.001+08:00

I have knitting on the brain

Photo courtesy of HappyDoodleLand

My obsession has reached feverish proportions, though thankfully, in a much more pleasant form than most other kinds of obsessions. I hope.

When I started all those years ago it was out of desperation. Canberra (where I was for 4 years) can be a mind numbingly dull place at times and especially during the two extreme seasons of winter (when everyone hides indoors because of the cold) and summer (when it's so hot/nice out that people empty the city to venture to more exciting places like Sydney or Melbourne). I had even pooh-pooh-ed the idea of picking up knitting at a friend's suggestion - much to his disappointment because he thought "I might be quite good at it". Whatever gave him that impression(!). I was going through a self-discovery phase at the time and there wasn't a chance that knitting was to feature in my new cooler persona. I was 21, what did I know?

But during a night out at the local coffee joint, my friend plonked himself on a worn out armchair nearest to the fireplace and whipped out his knitting. As I watched him skillfully weave his hands in and out, a beautifully textured lengthy fabric started to emerge. At that point, I started to become a little bit curious. Many false starts, an extremely patient knitting circle, countless old fashioned rom-coms during hot summer nights later, I found myself something of a keen dabbler.

At the time I didn't believe that it would last beyond the summer but I was wrong. It has followed me home to Malaysia and stayed with me throughout these years. At first it was pure fun making knitted somethings for purely no reason but eventually, it evolved into a kind of therapy - one that I would turn to after work having brought home with me all the stress and burden the day has wrought. It's become a solace where for a few minutes in a day my mind would empty, my fingers would work, and I could forget my troubles.

As a craft, knitting is not difficult. It's the easiest, in fact, to pick up given you don't need to lug about heavy machinery nor do you need to learn an entirely different language (well, yes you do, but it's minimal at best). But if I had to pinpoint one thing that I like about it, it would be the gifting aspect. Knitting for other people is what satisfies me. Giving the people I care about something that they cannot buy at the shops, or order online, makes me feel like I'm giving them some small part of me. And hopefully they may find that some of my love for them has also been woven alongside those complicated knits.

At the start of the year I drew up a ~~long~~ list of people for whom I was going to knit for this year. It's very ambitious to say the least but I am determined. So far I have completed two projects this year and currently have two ongoing. Somewhere on my messy living room coffee table you may be able to locate 0.75 pair of socks - I am halfway through the second sock, yay! (update since this post began: socks are finished and ready to presented to new owner!) - and half an iPod Touch cosy, which I started late last night against my better judgement. (Update: I have un-furled the iPod Touch cosy because the pattern was just too mad. Will now furiously look for another pattern to accomodate my need of tiny knitting). At all times, you will find that I have knitting on the brain. At work I might steal a minute or two to Google for new patterns or download pattern e-books. At home I'm constantly going through my ever growing stash of gorgeous yarn to work out which best to use or really just to admire the lovely colours and textures of the fine wool yarns that are slowly but surely overtaking my extra bedroom floor space.

Completed pair of socks for one of my closest girlfriends so
she can keep the paws warm!

Last week a new shipment of yarn has arrived from Australia. This bunch of 12 balls natural fibre yarns are for my mother's birthday vest. I am excited as I have never attempted major clothing articles before!

New yarn - new possibilities!

Yarn from Woolbaa

So with that, I am creating a new tag: knitting, to indulge in my favourite of all favourites pastimes. Keep reading and I do hope you'll enjoy creating with me :)

Once a Gemini...

2011-01-24T00:20:00.001+08:00

When I heard about the new astrological sign (Ophiuscus anybody?) I reacted in the most logical way I could: I freaked out. It was absolutely nonsensical to think that you may not be the star sign you thought you were born into and that you may actually be something else altogether! While some (lucky buggers) get to stay put in their old star sign, most people get pushed one back. As a result, while I may have previously been a Gemini, I am now (gulp) a Taurus.

Eww.

My initial reaction bordered on the violent. How can this be?? I am no Taurus. What is a Taurus anyway??? Reading the various descriptions on astrological websites slowly gave me a strong feeling of identity loss. None of it described me, in fact none of it even made sense. And so endless debates and heated conversations amongst friends and colleagues ensued, most of them just as enraged as I was. Quite literally, we felt as though the rug had been pulled from under us.

My whole life has been turned upside down by this. I have even found myself stopping mid-sentence to ask myself, "Would a Taurus say things like this?" or stop to look in the mirror just a minute longer in the mornings to figure out, "Would a Taurus wear this?". At the ice-cream shop the other day I had to ponder "How would a Taurus really feel about green tea ice-cream??"

I feel really terrible about this - I can't sleep, I can't eat. My hair has lost its shine and neither knitting nor the flower pot on my balcony can hold my interest beyond the half-a-second glance. I've completely lost it, I don't know who I am anymore.

Then during one night of furious youtubing, it finally dawned on me. What other kinds of star signs would simultaneously seek out Colbie Caillat and Marilyn Manson? Obama and Palin?? Jackass clips and Anne of Green Gables???

It was like an epiphany. A lightbulb moment.

I choose to be a Gemini. It's what I identify myself with the most and it's what I believe I was born as. There is no other signs that can explain my secret bipolar disorder, my love of practically every music genre, my incredible knack of good conversation, my stunning ability to glide from one group of people to another, and my bone-dry sense of humour! heh.

I also choose to dis-acknowledge this new befangled Ophee-whatever and stay in my blissful 12-star zodiac world. Tonight, my message to the universe is that I choose to remain a Gemini!

Gemini - the twins

*The author would like to note that she in only half serious

Hong Kong - Day 1

2011-01-21T19:17:00.007+08:00

Hong Kong station

Hong Kong remains my favourite place on earth by a long way. Despite having been there three times over the past few years, I have found that its charms have only improved with each visit I make!

This time, however, I made a point of ending the arguments with my boyfriend on the merits of Hong Kong vis a vis any other fabulous place on earth and decided to let Hong Kong speak for itself instead. And so off we went to discover (well, rediscover in my case) that land where many call, the real Pearl of the Orient.

Six days and five nights

Our trip spanned six wonderful days and 5 maddeningly short nights. The agenda included a day trip to Disneyland, a Macau excursion, and soaking up the very best of Hong Kong tourist hot spots! While we felt a bit sad that it seemed 6 days is not nearly enough to see everything we wanted to see, I would definitely recommend to all Hong Kong first-timers to plan for at least 1 week's stay in order to truly appreciate Hong Kong in all her glory :)

I also have to note that while at first the thought of hotel costs was a little worrying, a friend of mine very kindly offered us her place so that we can save on accommodations. We're were extremely blessed! I really am the luckiest to have such wonderful friends!

Day 1

We went budget and took Air Asia to HK and it has to be said, what a great flight and what a great airline! It never ceases to amaze me how rapidly this little company that could has managed to grow into one of the world's most influential corporations. Nothing drives this point home more than arriving at the LCCT at 5.30am and being greeted by a hum of activity by leisure and business travelers alike trying to catch a flight to somewhere. Usually a sight that I only get to see in more developed countries!

3 hours and 45 minutes is apparently enough
for "someone" to catch a nap!

Anyway, our flight was on time (both take off and touch down) and after 3hrs and 45mins, we arrived in HK! Took the train from the airport (easy peesy to do) into the city and then a cab from there to our friend's apartment. What a thing to digest seeing that the apartment building was 50 stories tall and still looked much shorter than some of the other neighbouring buildings.

Our first stop was to Victoria's Peak, which I think is the highest point on Hong Kong Island. There are several ways to get there but I would recommend taking the official tram that goes up the hill. Very touristy but one that cannot be missed. Oh and be sure to check the weather report beforehand as clear skies is best to appreciate the view. Don't be discouraged by the long queues because if there's one thing about HK is that it's efficient! The time will pass quickly (just read your guidebook or something) and when you get to the booth, purchase the Tram+Sky Terrace tickets. Once you're up there, the view will more than make up for the long wait!

View from the Sky Terrace - from here you can see the Northern portion
of Hong Kong Island and the southern tip of Kowloon Peninsula,
the two regions that form the bulk of Hong Kong.

Simply takes your breath away doesn't it? I've seen
a night time version of this view
and it is really something to behold.

I always maintain that you have not really seen Hong Kong until you have spent a few hours wandering around Kowloon and especially in Mongkok / Yau Ma Tei where you should eventually end up at the Ladies Market or the Jade Market. Emerging from the underground MTR station, you will suddenly feel the presence of all 8million of Hong Kong's inhabitants and at the same time, witness the healthy commercial activities for which Hong Kong is famous. My favourite thing to do in this area is to gaze upward as I enter each new street so that I can observe the haphazard arrangements of neon signs that poke out of each skyscraper, threatening to block out the sky entirely with their loud declarations of each new mobile / computing technology.

To me it's like a scene out of a movie like Fifth Element or Star Wars or something where people lived within inches of one another and commerce exists seamlessly with everyday life.

Kowloon is the place to be seduced by fanciful electronics and photographic paraphernalia, many of which are not available in Malaysia. One observation I made during the trip was that you will be hard pressed to find a local Hongky using anything less than an SLR. Just walk 10 minutes along Tsim Sha Tsui (the banks of the Kow Loon harbour) and you will find numerous families and couples straining to position their SLRs on camera stands for that perfect photo.

Speaking of Tsim Sha Tsui, there is only one word to describe it: crowded. You will not believe the number of people that can be squeezes onto a single square feet but somehow Hongkys manage just fine.

We ended our first day in the most perfect way imaginable: a short trip across the harbour to Hong Kong Island on one of the city's oldest mode of transportation - the Star Ferry. It is also arguably the cheapest. At HK$3 (or something like that) one way, it can be the most economical method of seeing the most famous panoramas on earth, the lights of Hong Kong Island's most iconic buildings such as the IFC and the Bank of China building!

The view from our ferry

So that was our first day in Hong Kong. Definitely a memorable one at that having seen the sights, sounds and lights of the place in one whirlwind of a day!

Day two will be our visit to Hong Kong Disneyland! Yay! Stay tuned for my review of that famous place where everyone suddenly embraces their inner child. Until then :)