car plate

13 Nov 2006
time: 16:25


I was driving home from campus and been trailing a van for a long..long..long while..and the plate bothers me so I took photos:



Trailing....and trailing....




And I stared at the plate...and stared...



Finally I figured out why.

Look at the alphabets...




...They stick to the numbers, which is salah by law.

Aiyo, what are you thinking?! Take your minds off the gutters!

Comments:
GenieOnTheLoose made this comment,
... my mind need some cleaning indeed XDDD

raining

11 Nov 2006
Time: 15:35


It rained hard today. Monsoon's here. I like driving in the rain. More challenging. Of course I won't talk this loud if my car breaks down or if there's flash floods and 5 hour traffic congestions (knock on wood), but...to add to the challenge, I break the law to take these photos:


Section 17, PJ



Almost 0 visibility for a while there (woo hoo hoo!)



Congestion at Section 16 junction, what's new. Lucky me I got my signals/blinkers fixed last night (it went out) else...I'll so be in trouble trying to switch lane in the rain



LDP near 1U


LDP Kepong toll plaza


Well the downpour slowed down to a trickle at the Kepong junction


The clouds look beautiful after the rain


Clouds...I wanna flout in those gorgeous clouds


View of Sri Damansara ...and some hills


My street! Home at last!


My home.

step up

11 Nov 2006
Time: 00:09


4 movies in one week.

Sun - Flushed Away (Amelia and Jun Hoe) @ Midvalley
Funny! Loved the "Behooooold...! Bewaaaaaaare!" and Lonely song parts by the slugs.

Wed - The Diary *Canto* (Darlene, Meikeng, Daphnie, Wen Xin, Esther, Jenna, Phoebe, Ming Yang, KK) @ 1U
And it is the dumbest, slowest movie I ever had the misfortune to pay for to torture myself with. Halfway through the movie everyone looked at the person suggesting it (Ming Yang) and ask "is it good?" ..."Her acting's really improved!" and now we're walking around reciting "EAT! EAT! Why don't you EAT!"

But on the flip side, we ate at Italiannies!

Thurs - Flushed Away (again, Lean Chiew) @ Times Square

Fri - Step Up (Darlene, Daphnie) @ 1U

All at GSC and my fav is 1U's still.

Step Up's good. The storyline's not amazing, but its a feel good movie, especially if music and dancing rock your boat.

Oh, oh, here.



Channing Tatum

is

HAWT!!!

*wipes drool*


Shoutout: And well, people around me, sorry I know I'm a pain in the ass lately. Will try to control my moodiness.

Comments:
Jun Hoe made this comment,
Haha, you really liked Flushed Away a lot huh. Me also kinda on a movie-watching spree, and supposedly I'm having exams now. And yeah, channing tatum is hot. First saw him in She's The Man. But erm, not sure I want to watch this movie though.

Shirley made this comment,
YA, Channing Tatum is hot. woot. kinda young , but I like my man young anyway. WAHAHAHHAHAHAA :p

sunway lagoon

5 Nov 2006
Time: 00:27


Two days ago i.e. on Thursday, 6 of us went to Sunway Lagoon. We were Darlene, Meikeng, Jenna, Wai Jee, Wen Xin and me.

It was fun and all that.

Almost exactly the same as it was when I was first there 7 years ago, except slight differences in the attractions. The place seemed smaller than I remembered. But it was essentially the same.

Me am the klutz as usual. Sigh. Nothing but trouble for my friends.

I gatal la, bring along my sunglasses. It was pretty useful actually at first. Especially at the dry park.

Til we reach wet park, jumped into the river when I took it off, put it on top of my head, and then got it knocked off by the cascading water. I dived in to look. My friends dived in to look. We borrowed goggles from a lifeguard. We peered through our clear tubes.

When I dived, I must've hit my feet onto the manmade rocks on the edge or the rough edges where the tiles came loose. I knew I cut my toes a little. But I ignored it. Aiya, don't wanna trouble my friends more, right.

But actually it stings like shit and when we reach the "shore" I lifted my feet out of water and blood start dripping. I hobbled over to the cafe nearby, leaving bloody footprints and asked from the reluctant waitress for tissue paper. I think I freak some of those lifeguards out cos they practically run over when they see blood all over my feet.

I'm a klutz. But first time I ended up in a First Aid Room. =(
And I thank all those Sunway Lagoon staff. They're really, really nice. The medic bandaged my toes well. And okayed me back into the water. Hahah.
Thank you, guys.
And thank you to my friends too.

But. Sigh. I miss my old faithful Virus shades. It's just an ordinary inexpensive RM150 shades, but it's been with me everywhere. Penang, China, Singapore. All those driving and walking in the sun. It hangs about my neck just so when I don't need it. It's tough and withstood many being crushed by my bag and even being sat on. Its reflection is mirror-clear. And 2 years on, barely a scratch, for which I'm very proud of.

But I can't drive without sunglasses so I went ahead and got another one today. My brother commented it looked just like the old one. But it's not quite the same la. Feels different. Looser too, can't use it as a hairband or put around my neck without risking it flying off.

But eh, it's Speedo, cost me RM200 and better be good for me for at least another 2-3 years.



Owh well. At least I had a great day at the park. With my friends and having fun.

journalism

27 Oct 2006
Time: 15:08


At today's Feature Writing tutorial, we did Media Law and our instructor showed us a 29 minute documentary featuring the incinerator project in Bogra, 50km away from KL, at the KL/NS border.

To put a finer point to the story and to cut it really short, it mainly talked about a woman, Alice, who fought against the incinerator (biggest in Asia! Malaysia Boleh! Yay!) being built there and brought it to the media (who finally black out all related news because of instructions from people "above"), directly to the politicians (who wanted to wallop people for asking questions) and finally, through the legal road.

Took em 3 years but the end result is that the project is scrapped without explanation.

However, the government spent RM3.5mil on advertising campaign, and the company contracted to do the project estimated the price to be at RM1.3bil, but the government estimation was RM1.5bil.

So, my dear readers, what is the RM.2bil for? Politicians pockets.
Where is this figure from? Taxpayers, there's where.
And there were a trip to Japan for the village headmen and Wakil Rakyat to see their modern, *safe* incinerators so that they can come back and turn their back to people whose interest they're supposed to look after and become government propagandaists...
Wanna bet who funded this so-called trip?

I seeth with anger sometimes seeing the way people's money is used.

But, it's another divide in the road once again.

This documentary is meant to tell us that in Malaysia, where free press is pretty much just a theory on textbooks, where every single damn act we do that is not in the interest in the government can be placed under OSA, ISA, PPPA and Seditions Act, there is hope. There are small steps we can take, loopholes we can use, things left for us to do yet.

And this is the kind of things that matter to the people, to reveal the truth, for a fair, just and objective truth.
Where journalists are able to give people information, not some watered down, over-PRed, copywriting-edited flowery words to convince people to part with their money, uttering Malaysia Boleh.

To investigate, to not twist words...to be the watchdog.

Knowledge is power, indeed.

Never forget that.

Thing is. This is the road that divides me. I know I don't care about entertainment. Economics is something I do not understand. I care. I care about my country. But, for what cause can I champion? Is this what I want to do? Should I join in the masses, get a stable livinghood, or champion for the people, not knowing when's my next paycheck and risk getting thrown into jail?

And of course I'm scared. I'm not on auto-pilot. How would I know where to find my sources, whose truth to believe in, how to put the story together and tell people about it?

And in the middle of it all, I still want to travel. This is what I want to do. And I talked with Ms. Ngoi again, and yes, I want to earn my masters. This is my dream. Travel. One I will not let go. One I will hold on to.

Perhaps I'm thinking a little too one-sidedly lah. There are many ways to reach out to people, to help make Malaysia a better country. I will find my niche.

But I also think, it is our responsibility to be politically and socially aware of what's happening around us, what the government is doing, because we ain't getting them from the government, because our media is controlled by them, because it is their purpose that our education taught us nothing politically and because we're Malaysians. We. Us. Not the person sitting next to you, not the masses on the streets and malls, but you. You and me.

Comments:
GenieOnTheLoose made this comment,
Funny, I just watched a video on that last week. It's called 'Alice Lives Here" and it's over at think.com.my. But when the movie ended, Alice was still fighting for the cause. So I'm glad to hear that the stupid project has been scrapped

Jun Hoe made this comment,
Yeah, I can relate to it. Getting a simple desk job with stable pay sounds so tempting, is it really worth it to risk going out trying to build a better world? Well, as much as I try to be politically aware, the cause close to my heart is well, the environment. It'll be really amazing, if each of us really do champion different causes in our own way.

sportsnut218 made this comment,
If you come work in a less opressed country, your words are printed whether you agree or disagree with the government. You can create a website about the opression to let everyone know what's wrong and what needs to be changed.

PSAs

26 Oct 2006
Time: 21:16


Yeah, been like, a month since I last blogged. Holidays ended, semester begun (in fact, week 3 now, opps) and assignment deadlines are coming and going.

What changed, everybody asks.

Well, nothing.

Really! Nothing!

Just the usual. Watching from afar, knowing some things are just not mine. And this time, I even turned my back.

I was just given the links to some of the PSAs the broadcast majors in my university did, and here's some of the best (There are Groups up to O, I believe. Try watching ALL of 'em.):

Group B's PSA
Group I's PSA
Group D's PSA

Anyhoo, this is in rare support of my university, so...GO WATCH.

This semester: Moral Studies and Feature Writing.
One, I can actually afford to not give a fook about, the other, well, I just have to toughen it out. Last semester's results came out early too, and I must say I'm pretty pleasantly surprised. After the disappointment about getting a B for Mass Media and Society, I wrote off Communication Theories as a dud for an A. But I worked my ass off for it. Every concept in there, I tried to apply, to understand, to grasp. I sat in Starbucks, compensating for a semester of sleeping in lectures, scribbled on paper, closed my eyes and drew inspiration from these theorists. I draw air, I muttered words, talked to myself and basically make everyone in vicinity think they have a mad girl in their presence. I sat for that paper, and I thought, maybe, maybe a B+? I felt good about it. And it. Was. An. A. Incredible.

I already know they'll make us write features during finals. Sometimes, predictability plain sucks. We have Dr. Carmen Nge tutoring us, and I already love her, and her sarcasm.
So many lecturers come and go in UTAR, yet, ones that I really hold my respect for and will remember by are so few.
What constitute a good educator to me? Ones that comes in, explains a concept, and challenges me to think. *Snap* and enlightenment. Add a dosage of extreme sarcasm and LOVEEEE.

Dr. Carmen talked about free press and corruption. She was supposed to lecture about media law. How an idealistic picture can be, and what is the reality. The politics of this country. How every single damn media is owned by the government. We had a debate during tutorial. I guess I'm the only one enjoying that 3-hour session (because it extended to 3 hours!), but I thrived in it. I had my say. My brain felt stimulated. Challenged.

Alive.

Sociology. That's my forté, not writing, not creativity. Observing and learning about people. If you've ever sat quietly somewhere and people-watched and found yourself enjoying it, you will know what I mean. Like, in a restaurant while waiting for your food, how families interact, how people eat, the way they hold their chopsticks, whether they stand up to pick their dishes. Different rituals. Exams when some people ask for 3, 4 booklets (when I myself use only half a booklet), or keep sighing and annoying his neighbour, or writing at lightning speed and still writing as the invigilator literally tug the answer booklet out of people's hands, and how some people can finish in less than an hour and jump up and bolt away from the exam hall (okay, I fall under this category too). Like in Starbucks, the way the staff interacts, who walks into the café, what they order, who they're with, why they're there, and all those people tapping away on their laptops.

I've been accused of staring by many friends, yanno? Hahah.

But eat what with sociology? Air?

Forget about it for now la. I can make this work. I know I can.

Anyway, I've just read Gianne's blog and here are some excerpts (in italics):

Sometimes I feel hopeless without a manual. I don't own an "auto pilot". God forgot to install a little life instruction book into me. Maybe you're all the newer versions while I'm a remake of a vintage prototype. Damn manual controls. Of course, each versions have their personal struggles and this is mine. So I plod along, trying to understand, trying to take in all. Oh, we're supposed to be like this? Do it like this? I see, I see... 20 years on, I'm still confused and bewildred as I am before. Yes, I'm learning, but how slowly it is. Some things cannot be changed.

My reply is:

Actually, I feel lost most of the time. I didn't come with an auto pilot, either, telling me what to do. All these years, I have been under subtle control, binded by trust, love and fear. I feel inferior to a lot of people, feeling I can never measure up. Wondering how some people know how to do, this "auto pilot" thing where they pilot themselves to the top and you're left behind, yelling "heyyyy, wait for me! Tell me how'd you do it!" in vain. Worst, feeling like I don't even deserve to feel like this, somehow that it is ungrateful and that I have no right to feel like this.


A friend once told me that even though I'm upset, but 5 minutes later, I'd 'bounce' up again. True or false? You tell me. If it's true, then I'm very tired of picking myself off the ground and say, "it's okay, it's okay", pat the dust off my clothes and walk again smiling. Is it really okay? Perhaps I repeat those words to myself all the time, one day it will actually come true.

My reply is:

It makes me wonder, reading this paragraph. It might as well have been written by myself, only less abstract and eloquent. Must say I really admire your abstract style of writing that I'll never be able to learn to express, boo. Every single fight, every argument, I picked myself up and brush it off. I didn't keep it inside of me, but at my deepest, darkest moments, those pain always, always resurface. I scoff at the idea of seeking help, of people who fall into depression. If I can bounce back, so can they. But their pain is not mine. How can I judge. But all this accumulates. And make me into a person with little self-confidence.

But yes. I too, bounce back.


I really wish I can reach the day when I'll be perfectly happy just as I am.Stop getting angry at myself for the things I've done or the things I should had said, or had not. Because my talent as a person is lacking, all I can do is to keep becoming better, but at the moment, I feel that my efforts have not paid off. It's sad to understand that I'm like that in every other aspect of my life; I'm just inept at it. But hey, I try. Not that it sounds like a consolation to me though. Every fall hurts and bruises. My skin is thick, but I can still feel.

No one is truly happy being who they are. Self-acceptance don't come by in a magic carpet. No prince will come and sweep us off our feet and show us a whole new world. Sometimes, I wish I never existed. Sometimes, I want to disappear from this world, walk into a blackhole and just...hilang. I can't be someone's perfect daughter. I can't. I just can't. I want to make her realise, no matter what kind of person I am, I'll never do something that will embarass or break her heart. That she might never find a reason to be proud to have me as her child, but at least I will not do anything to shame her. I wish that much is enough. It never will. Acceptance is what I'm craving for. Accept me. Love me for who I am.

I feel so faulted. Like I should've been tossed into the "reject" bin at the factory and shipped to the incinerator to be destroyed. That I'm a useless piece of nothing no one has any use for.

Defected. Yes. That's the word.

And worst, worst of all, I feel I have no right to feel like this.

After we finish secondary school, then enrol in a course, and after a while, some of us may have doubts to their choice. "Is this right for me?" A barrage of worries. It's never as simple as when we were 7 year olds, and when asked what we'd like to be in the future, we'd all go in chorus, "DOCTOR! PILOT!" (or maybe like that unforgetable boy who went, "GOD!" <-- FTW!!!)

If only it's so clear cut, I'm on my way to earning an M.D. That everyone will become doctors and engineers and lawyers and pilots. If only the road is straight.


Because most of us aren't immediately supplied with talents for said course. For those who are... well, damn you! (jkjk =P) It's not unusual to feel discouraged. It's also not unusual to have wobbly skills in the beginning. That's what classes are for ;P. Even though the quote above have some truth to it, don't let it pull you down and make you give up so easily. But of course, if you hate what you're doing, feel free to leave (if your parents allow it anyway), but if you do love and enjoy it... a try is definitely worth it.

The paragraphs above is dedicated to someone. You know who you are. Besides, it's only been your first year! I think in your case, the door should be unlocked, and you're free to leave, but you don't. I wonder what does that mean =P. Learn more, explore more in your field, outside of classes.


I know 90% it's not for me, but yes, ma'am. Discouraged don't begin to describe me. Fear, feeling inept, unable to meet expectations, bored...haunting me, paralysing me. Fear of not being good enough. Not able to handle my chosen vocation.

Sometimes, I want to go back to the time, if only for an hour, just an hour, to primary school, playing games at the kawasan tertutup, in a circle, where my immediate worry is to think up of a word to say when it's my turn.

In Moulin Rouge (the movie), the premise of the movie is:
The greatest gift of all is to love, and to be loved.

Oh, how simple and complicated it is.

All, ALL we all want, is to love, and to be loved.


Faith. I need it now.

Comments:
GenieOnTheLoose made this comment,
I read once, that everyone has a 'candy' on their back. We see these candies everyday; all come in different shapes, sizes, tastes... but the thing is, we cannot see our own. so we'd feel down and depressed because we often think that we do not have a candy, but it's right there, out of your eyes' range.
I see one goddamn big candy on your back, PY.

Goodness, I'm envying your writing skills, so it's kinda ironic, don't you think?

We're all defected creatures. Let's start a club. I don't seem to fit the perfect daughter mold either, but my mom has her own flaws. Took me 18 years to realise she's a human being who errs too. We can't completely satisfy our parents, no matter what.

Kahlil Gibran: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.You may strive to be like them,but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.<-- this guy is dead for centuries, but those words still ring true.

I miss kawasan bertutup =(.

One more thing.... Yay, I got featured in your blog! Hahahaha *gets shot*

Singapore Trip

6 Oct 2006
Time: 23:41

Mission: Singapore 1-4 Oct
Transport: Transtar Bus
Accommodation: The InnCrowd Backpackers’ Hostel
People: Me, I and moi alone



Sunday October 1
Day 1

Okay. I woke up about 6.45am (about 30 minutes too early, according to mom) and showered and made sure I had everything packed, right down to candy, flip flops and a comb. Passport, check. Money, check. We went to Manjalara, had an early breakfast, and arrived at Pasarakyat in Imbi, as my mom predicted, almost 30 minutes way too early.

So, checked in, mom left about 8am, and I waited til 8.30am when I had to board the bus. Okay, for some reason, my bladder control seems to fail me, and when I have an urge, I pee. I learnt my lesson very very very well in China when I almost peed in my pants when I refused to enter a toilet because it’s dirty. Pasarakyat’s was...abysmal. But when a girl’s gotta pee, a girl’s gotta pee. Even if she almost vomited in the toilet.

Bus trip was uneventful (what can I say?) it’s not heavenly comfy, even if it costs S$36 and there’s a steward serving breakfast (which I refused) and water, and even if the seats have massage function (which, when used, makes the bumpy roads seem rocky, rockier or rockiest depending on mode 1 - 4) and the LCD screen I did not utilize and all I did was listen to my mp3 player. Seem such a waste of money eh, refusing all amenities the bus can give and of which I paid to use. And I was bored.


I think it shows.

Reached immigration (Malaysia side) about 1.30pm and embarrassment, I can’t get my thumb scanned on our smart-chip-reading-machine. Exasperated, I went to the officers, who laughed and waved me through. Oookay...

Bus dropped us off at Lavender (and I found out later is also a bus hub) and for the first time I’m lost and in a whole new country and I don’t know how to flag a cab in this new country. I stood back and watched a couple of ang mohs doing it. They just, well, they just flag one. So I imitated them. First taxi didn’t stop. My courage faltered. Cab approaching. Oh, fook it, just wave madly at it. It took me right to hostel’s front doors at $4.30. Very cool.

I admit it, when I entered, and saw the entire room full of strangers, and what more, white strangers, I’m intimidated. And the receptionist was terrible. She ignored me after asking what she can do for me, finally demanding to see my passport, ignored me more, and then deigned to check me in, and brought me to InnCrowd@Campbell which is 3 minutes away from the main InnCrowd@Dunlop. Yeah, two InnCrowd buildings. One I stayed in is the original, and the older one.

I’m happy with the arrangements. I got a bottom bunk, and the toilets and the shower stalls are small, but clean. Really clean. Of course, with a naked guy showering next stall, I swallow back a shriek when a small roach attempt to climb my left leg and instead, stamped til it dropped and mercifully run out of the stall.


View of dorm from my bunk.

Right after I arrived, I met with Shirley, who brought me to places I don’t even remember if it’s not for photos:

Marina Square



Esplanade







Mini Merlion



Real Merlion



Quite a good view of Esplanade and the Durian (funny how in Malaysia we have Twin Corns and a Pineapple and in Singapore they made a Durian...)




I really was here! Look, proof!


Boat Quay (pronounced like “key”)



English guy with labourers from the old British Colonial Days



Statues scared me, I told Shirley if they start moving, at least warn me.



Sir Stamford Raffles, the guy who opened Singapore. Singaporeans hail him as a genius.



Not sure where is this...somewhere near Raffles’ statue, and the courts I think...




There, the road signs will tell you, ha.

Black Raffles (statue)




This pic is of kids supposedly swimming in the old days, but to me they look like mini orang utans...sorta grotesque, even.



Hazy Singapore



Beautiful sun down, isn’t it?



This is...someone. Apparently. Yeah. Talking to a Chinese, Malay and Indian statue(s).


Then we walked and walked and walked to Clarke Quay, where I think is more commercialized and touristy than Boat Quay (not that Boat Quay isn’t) and then we visited the loo and it was so beautiful I took pics. I’m depraved. There is not many clean public toilets in Malaysia.



This is Clarke Quay, that is. Not the loo.

This is the loo:






Shirley took me back all the way to Little India MRT Station, where I successfully made my way back to the hostel (so I’m not that terribly blur afterall!) and then joined the people from the hostel for a weekly BBQ. It was held at their own bar and pub called BarBaaBlackChic. Cute, eh. I paid S$6 for spaghetti, 1 sausage and 1 wing...and another $2 for a drink. Bleh. Most importantly, I get to mingle, though. I was shy, and so quiet, only listening and smiling and just being shy and we sat on this huge padded er, booth (that’s as big as a bed, oy) with a small wooden table perched on the pad so people were crossing legs or sticking them straight out and I learn, to these white people, feet ain’t that a dirty thing to them, ha ha! Eventually I start to notice this CUTE Brazilian guy (move aside, Kaka!) who’s talking animatedly, and when people start moving off and leaving, we ended up sitting side by side. However, when he started uhm, I think it was hitting on me? I..dashed off. Yes people. I have no balls. Yes people, I regret that. Dammit people, I wish I answered his question coyly and cheekily instead of acting dumb.

Hits. Head. On. Any. Hard. Surface.

Not knowing what do to (not sleepy) I walked back to the main lobby where I went online for a bit (only 30 minutes but ha, they don’t keep track! People don’t surf that long cos there’s only 2 terminals and there are waiting people though) so I just uhm, read a bit here and there and finally went for a (mostly) sleepless night, sharing a room with 15 other roomies.


Monday October 2
Day 2

So I set my alarm for 10am (oy makes no sense to wake up early) but people start packing and moving since 7am and my phone rang at 10am when my dad messaged and I replied I’ll meet him at 11am, and his next text was “I can pick you. I’m outside your hostel now” and I was like, whatttttt! Damn, and run to do my morning things and dashed off and hooboy, who was downstairs cleaning out his locker? Cute Brazilian Guy. He said hi, and all I can do is stutter a “M-m-morning!” before I run off. That is the last I see of Cute Brazilian Guy.

Sigh

However, had a good morning and afternoon when dad brought me to Suntec City to see the Fountain of Fortune


Use your right hand to touch the water and circulate the fountain 3 times and make a wish and your prosperity is guaranteed. Right.

My breakfast. Fish slice noodles.




Here’s the fountain at full blast, and it looks rather impressive, I must say.







Skyscrapers of Singapore




Chinatown







Orchard Road with Robinson’s and all the expensive outlets and shops. To enter here by road, you gotta pay toll, which is fully electronic. It’s called ERP, which, according to my dad, really stands for Everyday Rob People, another of his jokes, er, ha ha.

We went to have lunch nearby Chinatown where we had these 2 plates of absolutely delicious Chinese dumplings. I like my dumplings. Love dumplings.

However I told dad I’m tired and he sent me back to hostel about 2pm, and pointed out Tekka Food Court to me which is about 5 minutes from my hostel. I intend to nap, but signed up for the Night Safari (hostel organizes something almost every evening) and then ended up chatting with Nikhil from Nepal who is studying in Japan, Morgan (a girl) from Canada and Rasmus of Denmark. We had early dinner at the food court where Rasmus bought us some beer and then headed off to the Safari. And boy, it was the best part of the whole trip.


Its night time so most pics I took was worthless anyway but here’s one of the entrance.


And of the tram.



Eight of us went in a group, and at East Lodge, took a hella lot of time looking at animals, and went looking for tigers. We missed the “Creatures of the Night” show though, which is a waste but sheesh, next time.

Here:

Denmark, Spain, UK, Canada.
There was also a guy from NZ, another from England and the Nepalese guy, of course.
We are well represented.

It was fun because Safari’s cool. There were a lot of jibes around. We walked to the hyenna pan and this lil thing was walking back and forth, back and forth, pacing that one same small spot for like, 10 minutes, and they said it was distressed or bored, but to me it looked like a hyenna...poop moment, and before I can complete my thoughts, I was laughing cos he squatted and pooped and giving us the "can you leave me and my poop alone" glare. Then the tram went to really dark places and there were animals beside the roads and then we saw this figure and someone's like, "what is that animal?" very excitedly. And the figure darts onto the road and the someone said flatly..."Oh. It's a homo sapien".

As the tram pass by the lion pan, there was a lion perched majestically on a cliff and the guide in front of the tram said the lions are the only social cats and then a guy said, "Wow, for a social animal, he sure looks lonely", which is of course, ironic. And funny. The guide speaks in this high pitched, cartoon-ish voice which made the Brit guy laugh non-stop and me giggling til he told me "Stop! Stop!" and then when we pass by tiger, the signboard says "Tiger. Adopted by Tiger Balm". How...apt. Then we walked to the flying squirrels and they love us cos one flew almost to Nikhil's face, landed on the floor and walked over my feet. It was a freaky moment for all of us!

It was also fun because at that moment in time, we were companions, sharing jokes, laughter and even helped each other out. Eight strangers. From 7 countries. It’s really, really cool.

We reached hostel pretty late where I watched some TV, went online some more and went to bed around 1am, where thanks to the creaks and groans from my bunkmate above, I spent another night sleeping not-so-soundly. And the aircond is freezing cold when I wake up in the morning. Freezing cold. Absolutely cold. Don’t know how some of the guys can sleep in their underwear.


Tuesday October 3
Day 3

But by the third day, I admit I’m a little sick of the way people come and go in this place, where nothing is permanent, and of Singapore’s weather. It is a whole lot more humid than KL is, and when I stayed outdoors, I sweat. As in, the just-showered look variety kind of sweating. It’s not good to look at and I’m phobic about stinking myself and others. Yes, I am spoilt, lazy and not used to the great outdoors (much less wilderness).

So after breakfast (we made our own, 2 eggs and 2 toasts for everyone, and I had my leftover dumplings as well, and I went to the 7-11 next door to get juice, absolutely convenient) I sat around awhile, wondering should I get my bus ticket home already and then I finally did. I asked the snotty receptionist how to go to Golden Mile Complex (our equivalent to Puduraya) and she kindly trace the directions on the map and told me to WALK. Owh, Gawd. I walked right onto the highway before I realize I missed the turning and walked back and walked and walked and walked and met this...insane guy who stopped me and said “You’re a very lucky woman, do you know why?” and moved on. I saw him stopping a corporate-type lady walking towards me and said something to her as well. As she and I pass by each other, she muttered “Crazy!” to which I enthusiastically replied “Yeah!”. It took me 40 minutes to reach the Complex where I purchased my ticket and wondering should I waste money on cab and decided to, well, walk back. Of course, as I did, I went “darn you woman, darn you woman, darn you woman” for telling me it’s within walking distance. I will walk THAT long in cooler climates, 10 times longer, even, but this is freaking Singapore!

However, I’d give them credit; Singapore is really walking-friendly. The sidewalks are wide, the pedestrian crossings are convenient and here, cars really do stop for you, unlike a certain place I came from. I wanted to laugh aloud when I was the only one crossing the street and all these traffic halted for me. For ME! ME! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Okay, so I had a lot of sakai and jakun moments in Singapore. Cannot ar?

After all that walking and sweating (I returned almost 2 hours later), all I could do was sit in front of the table fan, then slump onto my bed, sweat and all, and tried to grab a nap, when 2 big, buff Irish guys check in and one of them took my top bunk and proceed to make some noise with his sheets and rearranging stuff and...nap. It wasn’t bad, except he’s all of 200lbs and when he turns, the bed creaks and shakes. I smirked at the irony of which I can now tell people, hey, 2 guys slept on top of me.

Top bunk, get it?

Then when I drift off, a Swiss guy check in and took the bunk next to me and I gave up napping and walked over to Buffalo Street where I had my eyebrows threaded. All I can say is, ouch.

Ouch.

Then, I’m not sure, I think I went back to nap some more, and eventually, around 4pm, went for a meal at the food court (green curry and rice) and then hang out, reading at the main lobby til it’s time to go out to meet Shirley. I noticed one thing though, giving out serviettes in food courts is not done in Singapore.

Funny, I went for a shower and I thought I was all alone in the hostel (a rare luxury) so I walked about with a towel and underwear wrapped around myself only, and after showering, I listened and it was all silent so I walked out with towel and underwear and then the toilet stall opened and a guy saw me and slam the door back and spent, like, 10 minutes in there. I nearly laughed out loud, in this place, guys are the ones freaking out (cos other girls of all sizes walk about in towels too) and girls are the ones making a lot of noise when they pack/unpack and sleep.

Not bad leh, I manage to remember how to change MRTs (after asking a nice lady) and looked for Shirley at City Hall MRT Station. She bought me a Japanese dinner then we went for a cup of tea and dessert at a coffee chain, name eluded me now haha. She say it’s pretty popular in Singapore and every chain has different interior designs. We chatted til around 10pm, and then I headed back to Little India.

If you ask me do I not fear walking about in a place full of foreign Indian workers in an old part of Singapore, I’d tell you I feel safer there than I would walking in, say, Kepong Baru after dark.

I thought I’d empty my locker and pack quickly before lights out, so I did, leaving stuff only to use the next morning, then took my book to the main lobby and read some. But really, I ended up chatting about Malaysia and traveling with 2 Canadian girls and an Australian couple who’re all headed to Mersing and Tioman.

We talked a lot, joked about public transport and make some jabs at the Snotty Receptionist Lady (she made them walk too!) and the Aussie guy freaked out when I told him about buses in China. His eyes literally...bulged. I feel bad. I didn’t exaggerate, but ..anything to ease his fear, man. After they left, I read a little more (I am SO determined to finish Catherine Lim’s Bringing the Wrong God Home) and then talked to a Japanese lady who’s with her boyfriend who’re waiting there for a flight back to Japan at 6am. They didn’t pay for beds, each paid $6 transit fees which entitle them to all facilities, well, except a bed. There was also a very young Taiwanese guy, and a Chinese guy.


Wednesday October 4
Day 4

I woke up regretting I’m going home, but I know I’ll return to this place (yes, I will) and at 7.30am, took my last shower there, packed most of everything and reminded myself to return the locker key to reception to collect my deposit of S$10.

People, I admit. I can’t make scrambled eggs. Mine turned up to be this nasty, thick glop after I painstakenly stirred it for like, 30 minutes. The guy behind me (who caught me forgetting the front door access code, also same one who caught me with only underwear and towel) must be either being very disgusted or laughing at me inside. He seem to witness all my worst moments at the hostel, blah!

I had my yucky eggs, my toast, and half of my instant soup when I realize I should not drink much prior to long bus journey and throw the other half, finish my 1 litre apple juice from yesterday and made last minute rearrangement to my stuff, and saw that I had more than 40 minutes to kill before I need to go, and what dya think I did? Went online. But there’s nothing to do so I read.

About 9.40am (bus at 10.30am, check in at 10) I bid a quiet, real quiet adieu to the hostel (no one even notices me going), and walked for like, 30 seconds before I hailed a cab, took the bus (yes, I peed at the complex before I need to get on the bus, and I peed at the immigration, yes I am now the take-a-piss-everywhere girl) and when I tried entering Malaysia, the machine can’t read my thumb print (again) and again, the officer waved me through. Hey, sir, there’s like, 10 pounds of crack in my bag! *Roll eyes*

Again, I didn’t watch the tv, I ate half the fried rice, and managed to fall asleep and jolt awake twice. 2 hours into the journey, with a sinking heart, I realize my locker key is STILL in my bag, argh. And when I reached Sungai Besi, my phone rang, and you know what, I forgot to inform my parents I’m coming home today, ha. My dad was, um, offended I didn’t inform him, and mom called and chided me for not telling her but I said I thought I’d surprise her, and I can take the cab and commuter back home. She said no, she’ll pick me up from Pasarakyat. Heh, that made me happy.

When I got home, I emailed the hostel about the locker key, telling them my dad will be in town next week and return the key to them, and they say they’ll return the deposit to him. It was done so quickly! So efficiently! I like Singapore, well, except the humidity.

I managed to mingle with foreigners for 4 freaking days. I traveled in a country I haven’t been to for 10 years. However, there’s still Botanical Gardens, Singapore Zoo, Bukit Timah, Arab Street, Bugis Street, Chinatown and Orchard Road to reckon with. Next time.

And I’m utterly grateful to Shirley for bringing me around and buying me meals. Oy I’ll buy you meals when you’re in KL okay? THANK YOU!

And also thank you to a friend who told me, since I need a change of scenery and away from home, to just do it, book tickets, room and go!

So now, I can say:

Mission Accomplished.

Bah ha ha ha ha ha!

Comments:
sportsnut218 made this comment,
That's one hell of a long blog post .. but a good blog post :)

GenieOnTheLoose made this comment,
wow, that sounds so damn nice! I guess the good thing abt being alone is that it forces you to mingle with other people. don't know if i could go alone though; i'd be quite nervous! enjoyed reading this entry. yum

sephquartz made this comment,
woah you are so brave. i hate doing things alone, that includes travelling alone,but reading from your experience, traveliing alone dont seem so bad. now u make me feel like backpacking alone somewhere... ho hum. i think before we go europe all of us my try backpacking alone. i'm gonna try it one day soon. if i can tear myself away from work that is. oh haha.
nicely written journal tho, i enjoyed reading your quirky observation.

cheerios

Shirley made this comment,
glad you made the trip! see you in Sg/KL again! haha! :)

Jun Hoe made this comment,
Cool pics. And glad to read your experiences in Singapore there. Really trooper of you to be able to mingle and enjoy ur little backpack trip. Make me feel like engaging in one too..