Foodful Taiwan
It’s my third day in Taiwan. I’m currently staying at a guesthouse that has a cafe downstairs. It’s a very nice place, very low profile, very friendly staffs. Then again, I wish that it stays low profile for a while!
The last 2 days had been foodful. It was a strange experience for me, I guess it was because of the collection of food advises and names via word of mouth and Taiwanese entertainment shows over the years… I could already identify which food is famous not by the long queue but the recollection and retrieval of mental notes I have taken since I had the thought of going to Taiwan (10 years ago maybe). To name a few, the betel nuts (that gave me red flush), smelly tofu, oyster vermicelli (Misua), soya bean with oil strip ( Doujiang Youtiao), milk tea…
The famous food stores selling soya bean – oil strip and oyster vermicelli require some etiquette in ordering: one must have to make up their mind before they queue for the order and one must not expect their food to be overly customized – to question the food they serve is to being a drag of the queue. It’s quite an unwritten food-ordering etiquette when you are in Asia countries queuing for the famous food (I would love to testify if this rule is applied outside of Asia if I’m sponsored a flight). In Malaysia, my verdict for this would be located at Malacca’ at the Jonker 88 restaurant – try spending more than 1 minute to customize and question the food they serve and instantly you will be the prick of the century receiving stares of famished customers from the long queue.
If you are a first- timer and you have read this post, I suggest that you research the ingredients of which food you could take, and make up your mind before you started queuing. If you can’t see the menu from afar, here have some binoculars. I am trained efficiently to these pre-food etiquette because I’m Malaysian lah. I have the ability to click with a person instantly if they liked Malaysian food.
Just kidding on the binoculars. The rest is true.
My sister and friends said that Taiwanese are friendly people and they love Taiwan so much. Maybe not that girl who overworked and hated her job at the telecommunication service provider booth where I got my SIM card in the airport. No second questions were replied from her and I was next-ed. I had to prevent myself from blogging that day, clearly I have been brilliant to give myself another chance on the matter of first impressions of Taiwan.
Yangshuo
Every year we would have this family trip. Last year we went to Bali; this Chinese New Year we have decided to venture Yangshuo for a couple of days. While it’s a horror to walk outside during the winter, we took a step further – we rent bikes and decided to venture the mountains and challenged the cold.
Yangshuo’s traffic is getting worse I heard, it was a quite a strawberry jam where the cars were all directed to only one pathway to enter Yangshuo. As much as the tourists are flocking in, it’s the locals who were really stuck in the jam. We also went out of car petrol, so Vincent had to take a ride (he hitchhiked) to get us petrol. We spent 2 hours waiting in the car, it was almost like a big horizontal refrigerator parking beside the the road – we were almost frozen.
The night we reached Yangshuo, we checked in to our villa and then we drove to West street and around for food and some touristy experience. Nothing to comment really, family vacation is really about family.
The next morning we rented the bikes and scooters to explore the mountain pathways. It wasn’t a great option when we were a big family with the young’s and old’s…
I changed my mind – it turned out to be the best option. Because we went through it. As a family.
We’ve spent almost 9 hours out on the road. Mom fell off from the bike as she felt mousy to cross the road; Dad and uncle almost fell into the mud when they were trying to ride through the mud. The kids fell asleep and my cousin called me a bitch for being so comfy sitting on a motorbike with the tour guide while she had to ride her ass off. Truth is, I didn’t know how to ride a bicycle. I only took the backseat of the Chinese tour guide.
We stopped at a restaurant for lunch, and tried beer fish. No one got drunk, and everyone had no excuse but to continue the cycling journey back to our remote villa. Moon Hill could be observed from the restaurant, I guess we accidentally ticked one famous hill off from the Yangshuo must-see list.
My ass was saved for that day but I secretly felt that I was abandoned by the family. It’s something about that two-wheeled thing, and the fact that I never get into family photos – I was the one shooting them scenic photographs when they were riding behind the mountains.
That says, I’m attempting to ride a bicycle this weekend with my 2 best friends. I want to live up to The Queen’s song!
Not in nude though.
Giveaway list!
Tune Hotel 3D2N free stay voucher:
1. emily fong
Rebtel calling credits worth USD 15 each:
1. HUI XIN MAH
2. Wy Lyn
3. pM
Thank you for commenting!
(Told you it was easy).
The Rebtel calling credits are especially useful when you make calls to traditional phones. (: The credits will be added in your account in no time, I will keep you updated!
First Giveaway by mkismkismk
The oldest email subscriber of my blog is 3 years 2 months; the newest is 1 week 2 days ago. I had 20 subscribers last month, and now it has dropped to 19 subscribers, and with this amount of readers I just know who had unsubscribed without any conscious memorizing. Pretty horrible, isn’t it?
I don’t know what got me to these 19 faithful readers, but if you have been quietly reading my posts, subscribing to my feelings and shyly favouriting my style, I want to get to know you. And first in my blog ever, I am now humbly announcing a giveaway.
Hushhhhhhh, dear readers.
I only have 4 items to giveaway.
I really do appreciate all your silent loyalty. With my low blogging rate and random, unpromising posts, you still drop by a while just to check if I’m dead. You are patient, accepting, and you are not harsh at all. This applies to the friends I know personally too – you have been reading and you have been supportive.
2 months ago Dennis from Rebtel emailed me on a possible collaboration. Rebtel is somewhat like Skype, except that it’s a rather small community (just like my blog readers), that emphasizes on emotional importance and communication quality (just like my blog readers, hah).
Dennis offered me some free credits to use and I thought, well, why not? (: I installed Rebtel and didn’t think it would come in handy until one fine traveling day in Hong Kong…
My family and I were landed at the Hong Kong International Airport; we were trying to give a call to our sister who was expecting us. With 2 iPhones, 1 Blackberry and 1 Samsung S3, a sum of 4 functional SIM cards with international roaming activated, we all failed to make that call. Frustrating, it was very.
In my sneaky experiences of spontaneous attempts to overcome trivial misfortunes, there I used the airport’s free wifi and decided to give Rebtel a try. It uses my phone’s contact number (my sister didn’t have to login/ be a member for me to make a call). And voila, it worked – one true story of my brilliant contribution for the family.
It used up a little of the (free) credits, but if you are making a Rebtel to Rebtel user call, it’s free. You need a smartphone/ iPad/ Android tablet to download the apps.
To be honest, I don’t use Rebtel regularly (because I’m currently out of a long distance relationship *come give me a virtual hug*) and I don’t make international calls that often. But I do keep this apps on my phone – who knows I just need it in a case of emergency. Alongside with this apps, I also downloaded an apps that simulate the police sirens that goes like WOWOWOWOWOW.
If you are traveling overseas, Rebtel might come in handy. If you are studying/ working overseas, Rebtel keeps you connected with your family. If you’re in a long distance relationship, have your last say amidst the quarrel via a Rebtel call (it’s quality call, nobody gets excuses like ‘line problem’). If you’re single and local, lets meet up and entertain a buffalo some day.
Back to the giveaway!
3 x Rebtel free calling credits worth USD 15 each
1 x 3D2N Tune Hotel stay voucher for 2 person
Contest ends 30th March 2013, 12:00 noon.
What you have to do:
1. Sign up for a Rebtel account using a valid email.
2. *Comment (praise the mighty blogger/ praise Rebtel/ praise Tune Hotel/ anything) below and include the email you have used to sign up for the Rebtel account.
3. Wait for 31st March 2013, 00:00 midnight and check for the updates on mkismkismk.wordpress.com.
Tips: For you to receive the hotel vouchers, please state that you are traveling to Malaysia or Bali, Indonesia before 17 July 2013 (I will pick the most needy commenter*).
What I would do:
1. 3 valid emails will be chosen to receive the Rebtel free calling credits worth USD 15 each.
2. 1 reader with valid email will be chosen based on the suitability to travel* to receive the 3D2N Tune Hotel stay voucher.
Disclaimer:
1. While the prizes are to be given away surely, I have no decision powers nor managing rights over Rebtel and Tune Hotel on the giveaways. Any issues regarding the regulation and use of above mentioned companies are as stated on their respective websites. I am not representing Rebtel or Tune Hotel.
2. Any questions beyond my knowledge would be directed to the above mentioned names. I could only use my experiences to guide you, you may take my advice at your own risk.
3. I PICK WHO I PICK and it’s final.
Malacca 2012
On Christmas eve morning, I went to Malacca town with a friend and we stayed a night there. It was a planned trip and I was glad that my friend could make it (so that I don’t feel so lonely walking along the Jonker streets and eating all the nice food myself).
The morning begun with checking in and getting card pass at the Voyage Traveller’s Lounge. The guesthouse staff then took us to the actual dorm place which is just a stone’s throw away. I was happy to settle down and unpack a few things so I decided to shower (you don’t really have to make sense of the linkage between happiness and shower).
Refreshing! Off went hunting for food.
First nom nom we got was yam paste dessert. It required patience to let the yam pass cool off but minutes after we were slowly sipping for the pinch of goodness from the tip of our dessert spoons because… we can’t wait. After that… I forgot what went into my stomach like a nom nom monster with amnesia.
To have the eat-walk balance, we also joined a tour to visit a Nyonya house, it was a very secluded tour as the tour sessions are very limited.
When I was there, I was also searching for the low profile, sacred place I’ve serendipitously discovered amidst my search for defecation emergency the previous time I was in Malacca on January 2012. There isn’t a Facebook page for this place but in short it’s a 5-phase traditional Malaccan long house I’ve stumbled upon from the toilet trip.
I am not revealing its name here because I found this place with a bit of my poo luck (and I’m abit selfish you see), but if you’re determined you would find it. I do secretly hope that it is not packed with people the next time I come around. (:
I had a very contented Christmas celebration in Malacca. On Christmas eve night, we were by the common area and making new friends by commenting on the artists which we proudly claim/ disclaim of our different generations. There I’ve met a South African working in London with autistic children; and a Korean-looking Japanese (he has curly hair – dyed), majoring in Sports Science and currently a sports teacher in his country. It was also a good platform for me to converse and practice Japanese seeing this opportunity.
There’s something about this cute, young Japanese guy that reminds me of my weird Japanese dreams I’ve experienced in Japan. I don’t know why… it’s so awkward yet common; but whenever I think of it, I can’t stop giggling. Here’s another private joke that I could only tell a few. So ask me when you see me in person!
Later that night, I couldn’t sleep at all at my dorm bed – for once, it’s not for the sentimental reasons… The bed frames were bad and they were making noises when I flip/ roll on the bed. Secondly, my whole body was itching from the mosquito bites; though our beds come with mosquito nets attached to the ceiling, I still got bitten and I guess I didn’t cover myself well (I’m not used to using a mosquito net). Thirdly, I was sweating. Growing up in Malaysia certainly did not help to ease my frustration with mosquitoes and hot weather.
I had enough of the itch, sweat and noise and decided to sleep on the couch at the common area. After a while, a retired senior came and join me after his post-mosquito-bite shower. We talked for a while. He introduced me to asage, a Japanese kind of miso soup customized for breakfast and he gladly shared the sachets of asage with me. After he left for his sleep, I took a short nap on the couch.
To recall year 2011’s Christmas, I was stuck in a jam back home from a mall. I didn’t spend time with people who I would like to, didn’t get to watch a movie despite I did queue up at the purchase lane till it was our turn; I was on the verge of getting beyond mad.
I appreciate all the new people and experiences in year 2012 that have made me grow a little wiser. It was a bittersweet year for me, and I’ve marked several milestones, which include a few ‘sketches’ on the relationship page. I’d love to sort out the big picture next time. By the way,
Happy New Year!
Viva Circus Festival
This festival needs your support.
From 15th – 16th December, VIVA CIRCUS FESTIVAL presents workshops and shows in aid of raising funds for at risks youths to get access to the arts for expression.
What puts youths at risk?
Family structure deterioration, substance abuse, bullies, abuse (verbal or physical), teen pregnancies, alarming media images resulting in food/ bodily dysmorphic disorders, gang activity…
Wouldn’t it be nice to watch beautiful aerial acrobatic stunts with a cause? Bonus if you like poles (other images in your mind is allowed for once).
I’m attending the festival. Please come and show your support tomorrow! http://www.vivacircus.com
If you’d like to kick start on a relationship with the poles and ropes, click on to their event page and participate in their workshops (prices are waived/partially waived if you are a ticket holder).
Buy tickets here: http://www.vivacircus.com
For more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/193882867413025/
Contact: 016 2096997
Travelling year 2012 in review
Bali
A family vacation. The food places where we were brought to were either fried or spicy, or both. Most of us fell sick during/after the trip except my dad. Saw an Australian (don’t ask how I know that) peeing in public while some kind of police/guard half-heartedly warning him while watching him finish his business. Beach boys were so little, sand is not white. Approached by three young, half naked Australians (don’t ask how I know that) and was offered a drink; sisters were protective. Tripped and fell in front of Hard Rock Hotel where we rushed through the vehicles and wet floors to catch our bus amidst the rain. No Balinese romance, myth busted. It was a family trip to begin with…
It was also a Happy Coughing New Year.
Bangkok
First couch surfing abroad (previously I only did hosting). Second time to have spent birthday away from home. Parents were worried. Second time visiting Bangkok. Saw my host walking out naked and hands covering his stick. Too angry to wear something on? Wore earplugs amidst the screaming. Comforted the girlfriend, wiped her tears. Learnt about extended families. Couldn’t sleep well and wrote it down. Got kiss-raped by host’s friend, very, very annoyed. Not telling family, shhhhhh. Met two Japanese travelers on the way to the snake farm. We all wore baggy pants – matching! Changed host, slept well. Went Amphawa Floating Market, took van, tuk tuk, motorbike, ferry taxi, Song Tiao (truck). Learnt about single parents, learnt about happy endings. Seasons in Bangkok: Hot, hotter, hottest – this joke has its brutal truth. Revisiting Chatuchak. Overwhelmed, overspent.
Tokyo – Fuji – Kyoto – Osaka
First Japanese midnight booty call (I rejected, of course), first missed flight, first Disney experience, first sardine-packed subway experience, first experience of a minor quake, first maid cafe, first love/attraction/ that burning sensation. Serenaded by acoustic version of “Take me out to the ball game”, convinced and agreed to watch baseball (fed my ego so well). First experience at the Koshien Stadium (and a sprinkle of rain to make it memorable).
Decided raincoat is too expensive. Ended up cuddling with new friends and still freezing to death. New friend’s hands turned white. Quiz time from the other new friend immediately after he explained the baseball rules and jargons. Caught red-handed for not paying attention. Kind people shaded us in umbrella for a while. Kind people gave us balloons to join the crowd thing. Cheered in words and names I didn’t know. Cheered when everyone cheered. Friend’s DSLR soaked in water. Amused by Osaka chefs.
Kept the hand-sketched map where the chefs showed the way to a cat café. Appreciated free lattes after someone practiced latte art at the guesthouse. Appreciated kim bab leftovers after the Korean party at the guesthouse. Appreciated free noodles from the Taiwanese girl who couldn’t finish the food (said so out of courtesy I reckon). Sent postcards with the help of dorm mates writing in Japanese. Heard about stories of hentai. Spent on Matcha drinks in Kyoto.
Spent on Hello Kitty. Spent on cat café. Missed Tokyo in Osaka. Group farewell by the guesthouse mates – they were worried about us after knowing that we missed our flight. The latte guy took photo of us walking away from the guesthouse. Missed Japan in Malaysia.
Went to Fuji Kachoen with owls in mind.
Serendipity in the early morning. Imagining a floral theme wedding if I didn’t end up a spinster with three cats.
Lost touch with friend at DisneySea, took advantage of rides that allows single riders to skip queue. Watched Ariel and the candle man from Beauty & the Beast conversing in Japanese. Waited for the night, watched the musical show and fireworks. Inner child amazed! Things turned sour with traveling partner. Learnt about myself. Learnt about more kinds of people.
Post-vacation blues – Japan
Decided to learn French and skating. Decided not to learn skating after July 27. First heartbreaking pain with months of self- demotivation – refer to the Jakarta paragraph below. Learnt about my own blind spots reflected in a relationship. Bought a book on ‘How to be a Grown Up’ after an argument. Refused to be a grown up on July 26. Struggling with my own. Cut ties. Cut my long hair before fleeing to Jakarta.
Enrolled in a Japanese language class. Stalked him occasionally.
Jakarta – Yogyakarta
Met Uncle Rudy and was offered a tour to Bali for free. Kept his name card. Dinner with a Japanese. He hopped onto my bed at night. Defense mode ON. Not telling family, shhhhh. Being treated aloof next morning – message well received. Took train to Yogyakarta. Paid attention to Shima Uta and wept along. Hired motorbike with driver. Long hours, butt hurt. Witnessed Mount Merapi burning during the morning ride. Butt hurt. Driver hummed a song. Laughed hysterically while sun was pouring sweat. Back to Jakarta. Invaded by house cat at the dorm room. Tried to push it out of the room before it jumps onto our beds. Failed. Walked out of the room with toothpaste guy, tricked the cat into believing we’re going out – it worked. Wrote pages dedicated to him.
Wept, slept, recharged. Cooked spaghetti, watched chick flicks. Repeating the eat-sleep-watch-weep routine. Tired of being sad. Met a Chinese and tagged along with his travel plans.
Bought me bracelet. Fine dined. Wrapped me in his arms at night. Defense mode ON. Chinese left in the morning. Lost his bracelet. Kicked someone’s bed sleeping above me for teasing Manglish. Added him on Facebook. Learnt about perks (and others) as a single female traveler. Lunch with a German, spilled chili on the table. Talked about sending letters to Santa, spilled saliva while talking. No touchy, went well. Added him on Facebook. Added avocado to the spaghetti, taste sucks.
Singapore
First trip with cousin/ childhood playmate. Learnt about Malaysians. Learnt about Singaporeans. Learnt about Malaysians finding their place in Singapore. Reevaluating my high school self worth. Reevaluating if being bitchy is the only best way one could show. Toy museum with the childhood friend. Mickey’s grandpa looked horrible. Found Barbie’s grandma.
Shared a brilliant idea with cousin but lost our way at the MRT. Penned down ideas on receipts. Laughed at Singlish… and spoke Manglish. Second time visiting Universal Studio. Second time walking across Bugis Junction. Same feelings for Singapore. Learnt about how much we’ve changed. Learnt about her. Learnt about how we were raised differently. Learnt about our families. Learnt about upbringings.
Shima Uta (島唄)
When I was 15, I thought I love this version from Fish Leong:
I didn’t want to sleep at night because the lyrics said so.
不想睡
我要陪你一整夜
我要今天的完美
不要明天的幻覺
Few years later, I went singing karaoke, I picked this song, and realized the composer is Japanese. I went googling for the original:
It feels like I should hold a bottle of sake in my hands and reminisce over the good and bad times of my life… In short, this version is perhaps too old for my current sentiment.
I found later versions of this song through Miyazawa Kazufumi’s concert performance:
Though Youtube doesn’t allow for complete viewing, the musical introduction has already spoken on how this version could rock the sadness away.
Then, I found Natsukawa Rimi’s version of Shima Uta.
It was an emotional experience of sadness, inspiration and later a sense of relief for me (this experience happened way before something happened). I also took this song with me to Indonesia (for self-indulgence), looked at paddy fields along the train rides, and had several emotional upheavals. I didn’t understand the lyrics but I sure heard ‘Sayonara’; and I felt that this song addresses sadness and then sends it away (by looking at the paddy fields, maybe).
The lyrics is surprisingly matching to my feelings, except that Miyazawa looked at the sea while I visualized it from the paddy fields.
A-mei performed it live during her concert, and Sodagreen performed it live during their concert in Hong Kong just recently in March 2012. Shima Uta also have English versions. I’ve heard, but I thought I could relate better with Natsukawa Rimi’s performance – her pitch is high but it didn’t seem piercing and annoying to my ears even if I’ve been raping the repeat button.
Natsukawa Rimi also sounded very familiar, and I recalled (well, I googled) that I first learnt how to sing Nada Sou Sou, my first Japanese song during my first Japanese Language Beginner class from Japanese School Kuala Lumpur.
When in Tokyo, a girl told me that I resemble Okinawan girls. For one moment I was happy to look like a Japanese – but only to find that Okinawan girls are tanner because they’re exposed to the sun and beach. I am feeling better now, of course.
Hint:
(Shima Uta is an Okinawan folk song)
So… a string of events has happened over the years while I was going through my discovery phases of this song. It has been 8 years.
I’m glad to say that I’ve been able to look pass these events with a smile.
And I love listening to Shima Uta. (:
Mini conversations
They all took place in the guesthouse.
1. In the dorm room:
“Can I borrow some toothpaste?”
“Sure.”
“Oh you’re also using Sensodyne… I lost mine, don’t know where it went”
“I lost my pants”
“Wow that’s more important than losing toothpaste”
Toothpaste guy went out to brush his teeth. The French girl on the next bed woke up and LOL. She also repeated the whole of our conversation.
2. In the movie/ Wii lounge with a girl:
“What kind of movie do you want to watch?”
“Chick flicks”
“Well of course!”
John Tucker Must Die.
3. In the movie/ Wii lounge with toothpaste guy:
“What movie do you want to watch?”
“Chick flicks”
“Ng hmmmm,” Toothpaste guy shook his head.
“I can choose a mediocre one.”
“Just watch anything you want.”
I Love You, Man.
4. At the toilet door:
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“…”
“You won’t want to go inside now”
“Why”
“I just took a dump” *smiling in pride*
“OH HAHAHA, WELL WELL”
“I’ll just go back in a minute”
5. Everywhere in the guesthouse:
“HELLO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?”
“I’m fine, thank you” *smile*
“HELLO HOW’S YOUR SLEEP?”
“It’s great!”
“GOOD MORNING, MUN/ MANG/ MOON”
*Thinking why they just don’t get the Chinese names*
“Morning” *smile*
I’m no bus-person in Jakarta
I went to visit the museums again in Kota (Old City/ Batavia). After taking a bajet from my guest house to Gambir Station, I took the Transjakarta bus to Harmoni, then transit from Harmoni to Kota. The bajet is 20,000 rupiah as usual, and the bus tickets from Gambir – Harmoni – Kota is 3,500 rupiah. Had no troubles there.
I went back during peak hour. Buses passed us by without stopping, and the crowd grew even longer in queue (not sure if it’s a queue, everyone’s trying to squeeze in). There wasn’t enough air for us, I was sweating, the girl in front of me was shaking/ vibrating her body (a very bad habit / my super pet peeve); to make it worse, the old man behind me leaning his body towards mine – you can tell that I was very, very annoyed.
Only 2 bus came during the long wait, not many could get in. A girl fainted and some she was carried away from the queue; people were seeing this as an opportunity to squeeze and push the crowd forward.
After an hour of queuing to get into the bus, I dashed away from the people (unintentionally stepped on some foot as well), and took a cab back to my guest house. Could have walked away earlier!
I failed to cultivate my patience to queue for a nonsensical bus ride in Jakarta, during peak hours. So what, I HAVE RUPIAH.
Just wanted to make a statement:
This is JAKARTAAAAAAAA!
Title failed me
Last night I hung out with a Beijingese. We went to the north side of Jakarta, Kota (known as old city). There’s only one comfy place which most foreigners hang out at – Cafe Batavia. It was huge. Looking through the windows, it stands Museum Fatahillah. We couldn’t get in because all musuems are closed on Mondays. We walked around the old city, there were nice abandoned walls wrapped in tree roots, you get it. Besides the old buildings, the city was bustling with locals, most of them are warung (stall) owners selling bakso/ soto.
It got late, we wet to Grand Indonesia for dinner. Li likes collecting maps, so whenever we go, we had to find maps. I gave him mine too. There’s SKYE, a bar on the 56th floor of Grand Indonesia, we took some pretty awesome shots of the night view of Jakarta from there. He wore slippers but the bouncer just let us in. I could have imagined the Japanese kicking us out without taking a peep at the night view! It’s really unfair for Indonesia – everything I see and do here, it just reminds me of how the Japanese could do it differently, efficiently. The post-travel effects of Japan is completely mind-fucking.
Back to the Beijingese.
Apparently it’s not about the Japanese anymore. It’s about my messages that I’ve sent, that I failed to recognize them myself (if I did, I would have known how to stop this). After we hung out for a night, he begins to wrap his arms around me on the way back to our guesthouse.
It could be the Italian dinner that I’ve chosen. It could be that I’ve been traveling alone. It could be that he didn’t understand that I hang out with guys, I fine-dine, and then I don’t want sex.
I didn’t even feel that his gestures showed romance.
Then I realized, I’m not sweet 16 anymore.
Jakarta – 疗伤之旅
I’m explaining everything.
A year ago, I booked a flight to Jakarta because of the AirAsia promotion. Few months later, I found some barista courses in Jakarta, which I would love to join. Inevitably, my period of travel clashes with Ramadhan, which it is a huge festive season here. The classes wouldn’t begin soon enough for me to join in, which explains part of my misery when I arrived here. I went to Yogyakarta for 5 days, and I have 13 days to discover the city.
What I am doing here everyday is to attend breakfast before 11am, and the rest of the day I surf the internet, I cook spaghetti for lunch, read a book or watch a movie on the couch. Some times when I feel rich, I go wandering in the malls doing some people-watching. If the dorm is empty, I write journals, watch movies from my netbook, and cry, if I may.
Why would I cry? I am in pain from an idealized but expired relationship, long distance. He cut ties by blocking me on Facebook and Skype, because that’s what he does to move on. The essential thing he didn’t cut is my neurons associated with him, that fires, every time, I login Facebook, and the chat box I have anticipated isn’t there anymore. I didn’t like it dramatic, but I’ve deactivated Facebook giving many other reasons I would rather believe in. I am hurt, so is he, I reckon.
I was so reckless and it has cost me a friend. A friend I would associate with France, Hong Kong, Japan, Facebook, Skype and other things. Even if the wind blows at the rooftop, there’d be tears rolling down on my cheeks. I wondered if there’s a limit to my wrecked sentiments. Fortunately, there’s also a punch bag on the rooftop that allows me to punch. But my knuckles hurt, then I stopped. WHY WOULD THE GUESTHOUSE PROVIDE A PUNCH BAG WITHOUT GIVING THE GLOVES?
People in the guesthouse come and go… while I still have 8 more days in Jakarta – and this is the limit I would allow myself to turn over a new leaf when I’m back home (because cutting my hair short obviously didn’t work, it just made me look younger but still a shit face).
I don’t know how to put a title to this trip in English, but in Mandarin it’s just a 疗伤之旅. I’m indulging in self-pity and this is the first step I’m taking, as a grieving process of a heartbreak. I couldn’t have done this better at home – my work consumes me, I wasn’t really given time and energy to even grieve.
I need more bear hugs. And more hot guys in my dorm that regulates self control, though I know I’m hard to resist.
Just to let you know I would be fine. (:
A friendly fashion for the wardrobe malfunction
Last month Nadzirah sent me an email, and invited me to be part of their Wonderful Women Bloggers.
I’m becoming a woman, an adult, a person very responsible for my own fashion sense, and also all the grooming responsibility that comes with puberty 10 years ago.
Still glad to be wonderful though.
Originated in the Europe by two lovely siblings, Nadzirah and Diyana, FriendlyFashion.my is an online platform to swap, sell and give away pre-loved clothings. Swapping, selling and giving away clothes are not something new. But there’s an social element in Friendly Fashion that keeps the online community so engaged, exciting and active. Besides earning revenues/ collecting karma points (if you give away for free), you would also be loving their activities (for me, you can tell that I already love ‘Wonderful Women Bloggers’ campaign :p).
A friend asked about where I bought my harem pants (Aladdin pants). It’s not hard to find, however it does require some traveling for a quality search. When I travel and found something I like, I buy extras too. There’s nothing wrong about wearing the same shirt with different colors, but it sometimes take me a flight back home to realize that I couldn’t wear it often enough – maladaptation of weather, culture, mental fitness to match with my foreign purchases. And often I couldn’t let it go… so it’s just piling in my wardrobe meanwhile I seek for more daily-wearable outfits.
For people like myself, I joined Friendly Fashion in hopes to turn my wardrobe malfunction to a wardrobe inspiration.
But I’m turning over a new leaf.
I’m going to give away under appreciated goods to Friendly Fashion. Start anew. (:
Quick fact: Friendly Fashion was crowned Online Shop of the Year at the Digi WWWOW Awards 2012.
I was featured here: http://www.friendlyfashion.my/blog/2012/7/39-wonderful-women-bloggers-how-mun-kuan
Yogyakarta
Viola! I just came back from Yogyakarta last night.
I hired a bike and driver to cover my trip for 2 days. The drivers were brothers, so Day 1 I went with the elder brother to Parangtritis and Water Castle, and Day 2 I switched to the younger brother, ‘Meow’.
I went to Parangtritis beach to watch the sand dune. However, the sand dune has been flattening in height, and I was quite disappointed by the fact that it’s gone. The beach has been unique for sand dune, southern sea and the beautiful sunset.
The most unforgettable moment in Yogyakarta is bittersweet for me.
The bitter part is that my butt hurts. Bike rides are not meant to last for more than 1 hour, for me. My back aches, and butt went numb and flat.
The sweet part is that Meow had to ride through slopes and bumps before reaching Mount Merapi. The sun is burning hot and we couldn’t ride any faster due to the slope…
He then started singing! With him being silly, I felt rather relieved. I laughed so hard, my bum bum didn’t seem to hurt anymore.
With Meow, I went to Borobudur (we left at 5 in the morning), Mount Merapi’s village (how it got ruined back in year 2010) and Prambanan. I watched Mount Merapi burning more clearly from afar, than when I was actually at the bottom of the volcano. Must be the damn clouds. I truly regretted not taking a picture of Mount Merapi! It was so nonchalant among the other scenic views that surround.
For future reference to myself and anybody else, please take a picture of whatever you saw before it got raped by the clouds.
mk (: 
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