tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46070398657224606822024-03-13T23:40:23.105+08:00when the bug bites the girlthe girl goes travelling.
a.k.a. the travels of brown selipar and other storiesaudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-75002130242201181952016-08-16T10:59:00.000+08:002016-08-16T10:59:12.395+08:00Of Dreams and Lists ( Hello! )<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OH MY GOD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Allow me to settle in the shock of realising how long ago I've left this blog inactive. It took me quite a while to figure out how to login, and what my password is, LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, it just crossed my mind to update the UNESCO sites that I have been. The past 2-3 years have felt a bit slow for me in terms of travelling, and I'm hoping to plan a few trips in the near future while keeping the Big Trips dreams alive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have that list somewhere in one of my notebooks (probably not updated as well) but I can't find it right now. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here goes, from the top of my head and with Google help:-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Kinabalu Park, Malaysia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Gunung Mulu Park, Malaysia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Georgetown and Melaka, Malaysia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Prambanan, Indonesia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Borobudur, Indonesia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. Bali, Indonesia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">7. Angkor Wat, Cambodia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8. Hoi Ann, Vietnam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">9. Hue, Vietnam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">10. Luang Prabang, Laos</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">11. Baroque churches, The Philippines (2/4)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">12. Puerto Princessa Subterranean River, Palawan, The Philippines</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">13. Vigan Historical City, The Philippines</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">14. Rice Terraces of the Cordilerras, The Philippines</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">15. Singapore Botanical Gardens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">16. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Terracotta Army), Xi'an, China</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">17. Red Fort, Delhi, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18. Humayun Tomb, Delhi, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19. Qutb Minar, Delhi, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">20. Taj Mahal, Agra, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">21. Agra Fort, Agra, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">22. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">23. <b>Petra, Jordan</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">24. Bethany beyond the Jordan, Jordan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">25. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">26. Chitwan, Nepal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">27. Lumbini, Nepal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">28. Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">29. Kandy, Sri Lanka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">30. Galle Fort, Sri Lanka </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">31. Sigiraya, Sri Lanka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">32. Dambulla, Sri Lanka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">33. Central Highlands of Sri Lanka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">34. Damascus, Syria</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">35. Aleppo, Syria</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">36. Palmyra, Syria</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">37. Crac des Chevaliers and Qalat Salah El Din, Syria</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">38. <b>Goreme and Cappadocia, Turkey</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">39. <b>Historic Areas of Istanbul, Turkey</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">40. <b>Hierapolis-Pamukkale, Turkey</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">41. Ephesus, Turkey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">42. Tower of London, UK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">43. Westminster Abbey, London, UK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">44. Liverpool, UK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">45. Macao, China</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After my trip to Bagan in 2013, I became more convinced that the World Heritage List isn't something that is ... 'fair'; for want of a better word. It just seemed really strange to me to not have Bagan on that list, regardless their reasons (something to do with authenticity and restoration standards etc).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reading random travel </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">blogs led me to learn of many not-so-popular, off-the-beaten-path kind of places, activities and trips. This appeals to me on many levels, and encourages me to not limit my motivation to lists and popular recommendations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favourite random find so far - Batanes. I can say absolutely that for Batanes, 'it started with a picture, then a pursuit ensued'. Such a beautiful place!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With the not-so-great currency rates in recent times, I think I would like to look at re-visiting our neighbours again in the next year. Keep on dreaming!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amen. Amen. Amen.</span><br />
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<br />audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-18615358754627319452015-01-30T15:52:00.001+08:002015-01-30T15:55:45.114+08:00Xi'an - The Muslim Quarter aka "Eat Street"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Other than the Terracotta Army, Xi'an is also very well-known for its Muslim Quarter - a centrally located area next to the Drum Tower that offers a myriad of food, glorious food. I regret reading up too much on this, as it made me indecisive over which food I should try, and for which meal. LOL<br />
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I can only eat so much, you see ;)<br />
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So here's some pictures I took along the street - also known as Bei Yuan Men. I went there early at abvout 5 pm before the dinner crowd started arriving. Walked the whole length and turned back to see what was on offer.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTVsDexyobo/VMsSUo_Xi9I/AAAAAAAAG2Q/FvMAjUI1lnk/s1600/P1040898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTVsDexyobo/VMsSUo_Xi9I/AAAAAAAAG2Q/FvMAjUI1lnk/s1600/P1040898.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTO46UYwS04/VMsSdsw1-3I/AAAAAAAAG2g/I590E5q7Sq4/s1600/P1040960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTO46UYwS04/VMsSdsw1-3I/AAAAAAAAG2g/I590E5q7Sq4/s1600/P1040960.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Drum Tower, all lit up.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEgZkzVLYcI/VMsSlT4jBkI/AAAAAAAAG2o/BGS6kOoImAw/s1600/P1040959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEgZkzVLYcI/VMsSlT4jBkI/AAAAAAAAG2o/BGS6kOoImAw/s1600/P1040959.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Early crowd.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMvZLiCB5fk/VMiceTDz1bI/AAAAAAAAGxg/Pv31QbIrQ_4/s1600/P1040914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMvZLiCB5fk/VMiceTDz1bI/AAAAAAAAGxg/Pv31QbIrQ_4/s1600/P1040914.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fried baby potatoes came highly recommended - and did not disappoint. It was quite good, all hot and spicy and salty. Lots of salt, cumin and chili!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZFuTM1hEg/VMsN1jA8VGI/AAAAAAAAGyg/2CAfCsd4dh4/s1600/P1040918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZFuTM1hEg/VMsN1jA8VGI/AAAAAAAAGyg/2CAfCsd4dh4/s1600/P1040918.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was my very first bite of Xi'an street food. Yums.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYBcLDviLrU/VMickNYaiMI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FZR9CFIHMmQ/s1600/P1040908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYBcLDviLrU/VMickNYaiMI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FZR9CFIHMmQ/s1600/P1040908.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know what this is - some sort of rice cakes. Reminds me of our radish cakes.</div>
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This is a similar one at another stall.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ny_NPS_80r4/VMsM7UHs6tI/AAAAAAAAGyA/mvEVDX9mpWw/s1600/DSC09256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ny_NPS_80r4/VMsM7UHs6tI/AAAAAAAAGyA/mvEVDX9mpWw/s1600/DSC09256.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hooves? Trotters? For sure it's halal though. I was very tempted to try. Alas I did not.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxAsbBtxbMI/VMsQPiu4vJI/AAAAAAAAG0g/evj0-ORIb4M/s1600/P1040907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxAsbBtxbMI/VMsQPiu4vJI/AAAAAAAAG0g/evj0-ORIb4M/s1600/P1040907.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CyG8zeJUz2k/VMsNgWmZIhI/AAAAAAAAGyY/sOytCKgNn_E/s1600/DSC09221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CyG8zeJUz2k/VMsNgWmZIhI/AAAAAAAAGyY/sOytCKgNn_E/s1600/DSC09221.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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These trotters must be popular, there are many stalls selling it.</div>
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Oodles of noodles.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZbpwS_kIJ0/VMsNbpKtIxI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/lbAiU41i8Ho/s1600/DSC09216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZbpwS_kIJ0/VMsNbpKtIxI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/lbAiU41i8Ho/s1600/DSC09216.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Candy-puller pulling candy :) I did not try any sweets.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C6uRkQIOhQ/VMsOK5SiXZI/AAAAAAAAGyo/Y9xJx7RJjLM/s1600/P1040899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C6uRkQIOhQ/VMsOK5SiXZI/AAAAAAAAGyo/Y9xJx7RJjLM/s1600/P1040899.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I did buy a slice of this - rather bland, it's made of rice and before you eat it, you dip it in some kind of sweet rose water syrup. Looks better than the taste.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub2hH6F1svU/VMsONDBO50I/AAAAAAAAGyw/D8sYc2ckzMY/s1600/P1040911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub2hH6F1svU/VMsONDBO50I/AAAAAAAAGyw/D8sYc2ckzMY/s1600/P1040911.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Uh. Goat meat aplenty.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_GojUdUxR_w/VMsOQTkf2UI/AAAAAAAAGy4/hh9puKUgHgo/s1600/P1040928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_GojUdUxR_w/VMsOQTkf2UI/AAAAAAAAGy4/hh9puKUgHgo/s1600/P1040928.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quail eggs on a skewer, some takoyaki-kinda thing. Not bad.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwElSL1Nx0U/VMsOnuIbpPI/AAAAAAAAGzA/-Z8_C_G6a4o/s1600/P1040929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwElSL1Nx0U/VMsOnuIbpPI/AAAAAAAAGzA/-Z8_C_G6a4o/s1600/P1040929.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cold soba like noodles with peanut sauce and chillies for dinner. And they eat beads of fresh garlic. I tried a few, they were alright, very fresh and crunchy. I felt so healthy!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dn-Xv5lwcFs/VMsOqYnp8cI/AAAAAAAAGzI/rcpb2klTDCM/s1600/P1040933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dn-Xv5lwcFs/VMsOqYnp8cI/AAAAAAAAGzI/rcpb2klTDCM/s1600/P1040933.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are many, many, many types of grilled meat on a stick here. Strong flavours from the spices used, and not oily.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0c6KhqnShA/VMsPA9CRSRI/AAAAAAAAGzY/GotpI2zCiUk/s1600/P1040949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0c6KhqnShA/VMsPA9CRSRI/AAAAAAAAGzY/GotpI2zCiUk/s1600/P1040949.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Meat for the sandwiches! *Don't mess with a guy with a chopper.</div>
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This was not in Muslim Quarter, but on the street where my hostel was located. My FAVOURITE ! I had it twice for breakfast. If not for my desire to eat as many things as possible I would've been happy to just eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's like a big, light, crunchy wrap, with egg. Freshly made to order. I put in my order via sign language :)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdeDPJ7lLvk/VMsPHe71jmI/AAAAAAAAGzo/0UjhTopFGAo/s1600/P1040975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdeDPJ7lLvk/VMsPHe71jmI/AAAAAAAAGzo/0UjhTopFGAo/s1600/P1040975.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here goes the egg onto the wrap, that's on a hot flat pan of some sort.</div>
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On goes the chillies! The next order I managed to ask her to double the chillies :)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDdanucuV_c/VMsPgdmdTcI/AAAAAAAAGz4/CLUZTwKgGj0/s1600/P1040977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDdanucuV_c/VMsPgdmdTcI/AAAAAAAAGz4/CLUZTwKgGj0/s1600/P1040977.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some onions, scallions, a little salt I think.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-690MVCnN_sA/VMsPj6CxaOI/AAAAAAAAG0A/H67q9UNRyTA/s1600/P1040978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-690MVCnN_sA/VMsPj6CxaOI/AAAAAAAAG0A/H67q9UNRyTA/s1600/P1040978.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then she adds on this fried crunchy flake/wafer thingy I don't know what it is. Also some lettuce.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvHxkW83izc/VMsP2ihAzYI/AAAAAAAAG0I/PFE44W4tdS4/s1600/P1040979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvHxkW83izc/VMsP2ihAzYI/AAAAAAAAG0I/PFE44W4tdS4/s1600/P1040979.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a close-up of that flake/wafer thingy.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9T2yIKC3RJs/VMsP-ot5jQI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/tXnlpJd9uNI/s1600/P1040980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9T2yIKC3RJs/VMsP-ot5jQI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/tXnlpJd9uNI/s1600/P1040980.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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She rolls it up and cuts it into halves. It's now ready to eat! Yumminess. It's so light and needs to be eaten while it's still warm. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axpODygtAqI/VMsQB6KUsBI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/TD3ioOua8GU/s1600/P1040902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axpODygtAqI/VMsQB6KUsBI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/TD3ioOua8GU/s1600/P1040902.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Again, chillies and spicese were common toppings.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUBrdq11cd4/VMsQcnCpoEI/AAAAAAAAG0o/gogljEBYUWI/s1600/DSC09259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUBrdq11cd4/VMsQcnCpoEI/AAAAAAAAG0o/gogljEBYUWI/s1600/DSC09259.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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They love their chillies here. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGOOAdz6HC0/VMsQew59voI/AAAAAAAAG0w/ypRJcJNvN4E/s1600/DSC09244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGOOAdz6HC0/VMsQew59voI/AAAAAAAAG0w/ypRJcJNvN4E/s1600/DSC09244.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This squid on a stick was super tasty and super hot, I got sniffy and shed happy tears eating it.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLK3nHqPUmY/VMsSVkXlreI/AAAAAAAAG2Y/7_3sbh10SAA/s1600/P1040897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLK3nHqPUmY/VMsSVkXlreI/AAAAAAAAG2Y/7_3sbh10SAA/s1600/P1040897.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Actually I did wonder where these came from as Xi'an is smack in the middle of the mainland. They tasted fresh. (please, no fake squids!)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AgubDUmanjQ/VMsQoO6tLAI/AAAAAAAAG04/nqc37y6KhaU/s1600/DSC09232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AgubDUmanjQ/VMsQoO6tLAI/AAAAAAAAG04/nqc37y6KhaU/s1600/DSC09232.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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This stall always had a long queue, so I finally gave in and went to check out what's the story here.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luGORjz1eYQ/VMsQ6Psd8ZI/AAAAAAAAG1E/ErTMbRS7X28/s1600/DSC09233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luGORjz1eYQ/VMsQ6Psd8ZI/AAAAAAAAG1E/ErTMbRS7X28/s1600/DSC09233.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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You pay for the sandwich 15 yuan to one of these guys and you'll get a 'ticket'. Now join the queue.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5p3vrTZlA0o/VMsQ6OW3AbI/AAAAAAAAG1A/qfgxl5Hw_Wo/s1600/DSC09234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5p3vrTZlA0o/VMsQ6OW3AbI/AAAAAAAAG1A/qfgxl5Hw_Wo/s1600/DSC09234.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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See the plastic bag on the right side? You're supposed to take it yourself when you're in front of the queue. I just watched what everyone did. Monkey.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8O9tbl2YS08/VMsQ99aCViI/AAAAAAAAG1Q/NpB2lCRqRO4/s1600/DSC09236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8O9tbl2YS08/VMsQ99aCViI/AAAAAAAAG1Q/NpB2lCRqRO4/s1600/DSC09236.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the ticket thing, by the way. You give it to the guy when you place your order.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YU0CfA0EfXc/VMsRVnexpGI/AAAAAAAAG1Y/aJq4w1Hs-Y0/s1600/DSC09237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YU0CfA0EfXc/VMsRVnexpGI/AAAAAAAAG1Y/aJq4w1Hs-Y0/s1600/DSC09237.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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He'll take a freshly steamed bun, place it in this paper pocket, and fill it with chopped stewed meat</div>
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This chunk of meat is freshly stewed or boiled. It looks soft.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUJVtckvhMs/VMsRvC_eGGI/AAAAAAAAG1w/AuiH9DDMV5M/s1600/DSC09240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUJVtckvhMs/VMsRvC_eGGI/AAAAAAAAG1w/AuiH9DDMV5M/s1600/DSC09240.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hey look there's another queue next door!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ir_n9kW3DM8/VMsR0gDh_8I/AAAAAAAAG14/7JvWgVC9_qU/s1600/DSC09241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ir_n9kW3DM8/VMsR0gDh_8I/AAAAAAAAG14/7JvWgVC9_qU/s1600/DSC09241.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chop chop chop and in it goes.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPD-f-YukTc/VMsR2chx4CI/AAAAAAAAG2A/xuMmmGuOuCA/s1600/DSC09242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPD-f-YukTc/VMsR2chx4CI/AAAAAAAAG2A/xuMmmGuOuCA/s1600/DSC09242.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It tasted like soft, salty corned beef. Definitely a comfort food. I do like it, but don't think it deserves the hype it gets. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUzj0FIeckU/VMsSE0eD-3I/AAAAAAAAG2I/JLRIZPLF8UM/s1600/DSC09266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUzj0FIeckU/VMsSE0eD-3I/AAAAAAAAG2I/JLRIZPLF8UM/s1600/DSC09266.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Freshly pressed pure pomegranate juice to cleanse the palate.</div>
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Okay that's the express post on the Xi'an's Muslim Quarter for now - I'm blogging in the middle of doing some work so I gotta run.</div>
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(Not very good blogger :p)</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-82041341277016511992015-01-12T15:47:00.000+08:002015-01-12T15:53:24.967+08:00Peek : Xi'an Marks the Spot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, finally, I stepped foot onto mainland China, to a city that has captivated me since 1990.<br />
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Why 1990? I've only heard of Xi'an in that year, when a friend shared a photo of her dad accompanying the then Agong to visit the Terracotta Army. (They went down into Pit 1, okay)<br />
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In the short trip I managed to cover most of what I wanted to see and experience.<br />
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The place that took my breath away - Hua Shan.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCZHV_hraQM/VLN6nZZSsxI/AAAAAAAAGw4/gDUaKnYDOpQ/s1600/IMG_20150109_133454%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCZHV_hraQM/VLN6nZZSsxI/AAAAAAAAGw4/gDUaKnYDOpQ/s1600/IMG_20150109_133454%5B1%5D.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>View of the West Peak. Mesmerizing.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRzPPw9C-zI/VLN6zK_CgMI/AAAAAAAAGxA/7L7LpxsAL7k/s1600/IMG_20150109_140230%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRzPPw9C-zI/VLN6zK_CgMI/AAAAAAAAGxA/7L7LpxsAL7k/s1600/IMG_20150109_140230%5B1%5D.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a><br />
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<i>Lovelocks.</i></div>
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More soon :)<br />
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-44953295258991519332014-12-09T10:53:00.001+08:002016-08-23T20:42:58.374+08:00Wandering Thoughts Brought Me Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm left to my own devices for more than a month, so I need to use up my time productively. *cough* Kinda bored right now so I thought, why not dust off that cobweb off this blog?<br />
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Here's another random selection of pictures - mostly of food. My mouth is watering right now thinking of the flavours.</div>
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And my "selfeet" collections. Err.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IkdhOfcmwU/VIZeXn9feOI/AAAAAAAAGvY/e505LZ4HSQM/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IkdhOfcmwU/VIZeXn9feOI/AAAAAAAAGvY/e505LZ4HSQM/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was dinner in Istanbul - at a small cafe, far off the main street, with a friendly host who served us complimentary tea and salads and spicy dips. I had the adana kebab which was - holy smoke - super delicious! The host kept on giving us bits of stuff to try, it was really nice. Glad we went out of the way and found this place.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zJ6o88svuq4/VIZebmUcA2I/AAAAAAAAGvg/yUl1I3Vz-Ak/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zJ6o88svuq4/VIZebmUcA2I/AAAAAAAAGvg/yUl1I3Vz-Ak/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My thing with tiles and floors.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_YUJxED42M/VIZelWwpjkI/AAAAAAAAGvo/TTi4zhr_DhY/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_YUJxED42M/VIZelWwpjkI/AAAAAAAAGvo/TTi4zhr_DhY/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stones.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBoWpxXjFMU/VIZemlt6r7I/AAAAAAAAGvw/9Nu3dLXCefk/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBoWpxXjFMU/VIZemlt6r7I/AAAAAAAAGvw/9Nu3dLXCefk/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B1137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have you noticed how I love old tiles like these?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOi5uFrxhX8/VIZetcd56VI/AAAAAAAAGv4/jGMsS7DdfkM/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOi5uFrxhX8/VIZetcd56VI/AAAAAAAAGv4/jGMsS7DdfkM/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Walking on the cold stones of Pammukkale. My feet were numb by the time we reached the end.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HS-V3_07gMU/VIZfFCjdhQI/AAAAAAAAGwI/ERtyC55nflE/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HS-V3_07gMU/VIZfFCjdhQI/AAAAAAAAGwI/ERtyC55nflE/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B1996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My first meal in Yangon. Mild, I had to ask for chillies :)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SuBvj7ZUaPI/VIZfD2U7DWI/AAAAAAAAGwA/Ww0Ql4loX1M/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SuBvj7ZUaPI/VIZfD2U7DWI/AAAAAAAAGwA/Ww0Ql4loX1M/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2402.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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Closer to home, I think this was in Central Market.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9FSgdz2DLY/VIZfWORrRHI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/NyR9F_ucA84/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v9FSgdz2DLY/VIZfWORrRHI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/NyR9F_ucA84/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Midnight supper at some R&R mid-way between Yangon to Bagan. Yeay for chillies!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18oxX__xUkg/VIZfZhKrMBI/AAAAAAAAGwY/xMDsfvNiDzQ/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18oxX__xUkg/VIZfZhKrMBI/AAAAAAAAGwY/xMDsfvNiDzQ/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B2534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this, might've been Penang, at the Blue Mansion.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDrPyIL2jz8/VIZdl3RI6bI/AAAAAAAAGvI/JRgHLrD8Xqo/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDrPyIL2jz8/VIZdl3RI6bI/AAAAAAAAGvI/JRgHLrD8Xqo/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B3817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The best chilli chips ever. Must eat with chilled beer.</div>
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Sunset drinks at Chitwan NP, Nepal.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2JDKd71N9Y/VIZdwp2s1aI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/Fk2Fu4KPujk/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B3773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2JDKd71N9Y/VIZdwp2s1aI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/Fk2Fu4KPujk/s1600/S2%2BImports%2B3773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lunch of dhal bhat, Pokhara.</div>
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I'm keeping myself busy researching and planning for 2015. So many places! I think I'll add robbing a bank to fuel this affliction. Who's with me?</div>
audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-49704759685435332832014-06-26T14:15:00.002+08:002014-06-26T14:36:05.690+08:00In Not So Many Words.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while. Actually, it's been yonks since my last post.<br />
Can I do a wordless post?<br />
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I'd like to share with you these - from my first trip to Nepal. Totally random, no sequence. Well..maybe a few words here and there.<br />
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Some green plant, thriving on the hillsides and along footpaths.</div>
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Patan Durbar Square. </div>
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Resting - hike up to Nagarkot. Trying to smile despite my aching legs and fatigue.</div>
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Colourful boats at Fewa Lake, Pokhara. </div>
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The beauty of small things. On the way down from Sarangkot. </div>
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My favourite shop! WSDO in Pokhara. </div>
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Cute little girl in Sarangkot. Love her hat!</div>
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Boy in at public park, Pokhara.</div>
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Jersey : Arsenal. Backpack: FCB. Name : it was something like Ozil. </div>
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Tibetan lady at her shop at the Tibetan settlement. </div>
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So many really nice things. </div>
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Newari gentleman, at his bookshop in Pokhara lakeside.</div>
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Rakam I think his name is. A Tibetan descendant, at his thangka shop in Patan.</div>
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Simply amazing painting skills, so fine.</div>
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Jibi, my hiking guide for Sarangkot explaining to me some thing. He's been to EBC countless times. </div>
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Man selling some kind of fruit or veg, in a street off Patan Durbar Square. </div>
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Turning the prayer wheel.</div>
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Random. Patan.</div>
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Mother and baby on the way down from Sarangkot. They overtook me!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">("This alien is too slow")</span></div>
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With my (very handsome) paragliding pilot, Suren aka Maila. </div>
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So much fun flying that afternoon! What an experience!</div>
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Babi for sale at Thamel meat stall. I think it's cured or smoked already.</div>
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Young boy, cutting green/turquoise stones for jewellery. </div>
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This was in Patan.</div>
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Young girl, dressed up nicely and with kohl-ed eyes at her family's juice shop, Pokhara. </div>
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Puppets on strings, at Kathmandu Durbar Square. </div>
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Cycling day in Pokhara. As usual, I got beaten by the heat. </div>
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Surprise welcome garland upon my arrival upon Kathmandu. Come to think of it, this is my first time getting garlanded with flowers.</div>
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Hanuman Dhoka (?) at Kathmandu Durbar Square.</div>
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Observing a cremation at Pashupatinath on a rainy afternoon.</div>
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Beautiful.</div>
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I'm going to return to you. </div>
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#happyplace #meromaya</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-80232681486825223362014-02-27T15:06:00.004+08:002014-02-27T15:06:34.841+08:00The List Only We Know <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I like lists (as if that isn't obvious by now :p)<br />
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Anyway, other than pre-trip packing lists there's usually another miscellaneous list of OTHER things that need to be done before you go for that long-awaited trip.<br />
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For me, some of the items on that list are:-<br />
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1. Check-in and print boarding passes, booking forms, visa forms, insurance certs etc.<br />
2. Pay all bills that are due or fall due within the trip<br />
3. Call bank to inform my itinerary and enable the use of my credit card abroad.<br />
4. Charge the camera batteries, transfer pictures from memory card (I always forget this!)<br />
5. Put aside a book/ books for the trip. I am quite selective here.<br />
6. Check if you have enough foreign currency. (remember to buy in advance when the rates are good!)<br />
7. Check my food stock in the office drawer :p Don't leave chocolate lying around.<br />
8. Prepare my little 'pharmacy' of meds, sanitiser and wet wipes.<br />
9. Visit my doctor if needed for special meds.<br />
10. Prepare my little notebook with my notes and 'research' stuff.<br />
11. Check and bring passport size photos.<br />
12. Download new music/playlist if there is time.<br />
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Hmm...I think that's generally it. I am sure everyone has their own quirky list(s).<br />
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-5234273988833139482014-02-12T15:35:00.003+08:002014-02-12T15:36:18.289+08:00A Bowl of Pho and then ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wanderlust strikes back.<br />
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-79310950419531197712014-02-02T16:46:00.002+08:002014-02-02T16:46:19.952+08:00Pinatubo Conquest - Done and Dusted, Literally.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Twitter won't let me post pictures right now (boo!) so I'm gonna show it all off here.<br />
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Daybreak as we started our 4x4 jeep ride towards the volcano and to start the trek.</div>
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A very bumpy ride!</div>
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Photo-op stop at these rock formations. They remind me of the Pinnacles. It was brrrr cold, 13-15 degrees.</div>
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And we start trekking! </div>
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Look at that sky! This is raw - no filter, no nothing.</div>
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It was not easy walking on this 'screed'. </div>
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Then we reached the rest huts after about an hour I think, or was it longer? I can't recall now.</div>
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I think we took 25 minutes :p Congestion on the trail.</div>
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Already excited to see what's beyond this point. </div>
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Hey hey we're there! </div>
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Someone in the group helped me to take this picture :) Very nice, thank you po.</div>
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Isn't this lovely? The colours were nice. It was peaceful. Weather, perfect!</div>
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Obligatory selfie.</div>
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Went down the steps towards the lake edge. </div>
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View half way down. There were small avalanches on the slopes across the lake.</div>
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Selfie again. Don't mind my hair please.</div>
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I thought these steps would help me train for Tikhedunga :) </div>
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Celebrity spotted! Christian Bautista, Filipino actor and singer, had to endure his legions of female fans in photo-taking. I do not know who he is :p The one on the right is another Malaysian, J, who happened to be in the same group.</div>
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Okay then we needed to trek back the same way. It was high noon, the sun unforgiving, the trail dusty. The guy in green was our local guide Romero. He was kind but only knew very limited English.</div>
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At the end of the trail my feet and sandals were all white. </div>
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After the 4x4 ride back, our hair were all white too from the dust!</div>
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Trek : Mount Pinatubo, via O'Donell trail<br />
Elevation : 1,485 asl<br />
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<u>Note:</u><br />
This trip was booked through TRIPinas, and it cost me Php2,099 which included return transfer from Manila to Capas, 4x4 jeep and guided trek to the crater. Meals and everything else are on personal account. We were given a Certificate of Conquest upon completion of the trek. We had to meet up with the coordinator at 2:30 am for final registration and briefing at McD Pueblo at Ortigas (Mr Tee the coordinator was quietly amazing in handling this big open group on his own), and the convoy of vans left Manila at 3 am. Reached Capas early at around 5:30 am and waited for the local tourism body to register us and assign guides and jeeps. Took off just around 6am and reached starting point around 7:30 am. Trekked at normal pace and reached crater around 9:15 am. We had two hours to rest and have lunch. The return trek starts at 11:30 am. We got back to Capas at almost 3:00 pm, washed up and some changed into fresh clothes. Then it was back in the van and we were back in Manila by 5:30 pm. </div>
audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-46433940985615147442014-02-01T22:47:00.001+08:002014-02-02T21:47:28.241+08:00Pinatubo Conquest - Whistle While You Trek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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An 'oh-I'm-not-ready picture' of me somewhere mid-trek to Mt Pinatubo crater last week :)</div>
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It's admittedly the highlight of this trip to the Philippines, I thought I'd be ecstatic over Vigan.</div>
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Loved the perfect weather though it did get really hot on the way back.</div>
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Barely slept the night before so I was pretty low on energy.</div>
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Was it worth it?</div>
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Yes! I can't believe why I have not done this trek earlier.</div>
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I'd do it again if I can.<br />
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I did Taal Volcano Lake a few days later.<br />
So that's two volcanoes in a week.<br />
I might need a third for a volcano slam dunk this year.<br />
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I did not really plan to be in the Philippines 3 times in a period of 7 months. I hope to be back soon, and that would be dependent on you Air Asia. More cheap flights please!<br />
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Where to next in this country of 7107 islands and 80 provinces?<br />
I am undecided. But for sure it will be either the mountains or the sea.<br />
It has plenty of both :)</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-87798725495854306022014-01-16T12:16:00.000+08:002014-02-02T15:35:18.587+08:00My Super Storm Usagi Experience, Basco 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It started on Friday, we knew there was a storm that was expected to land sometime in the afternoon. We were told it was Category 3-4. Little did we know it would later escalate to a Category 5 superstorm, on par with Katrina.</div>
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The skies began to darken in the early morning and there was an eerie feeling - I think the atmospheric pressure (?) was also low so it felt kinda strange, seriously. At some point it felt like ... we were in some kind of vacuum.</div>
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Friday lunch time. I still went out for lunch at the college canteen. Because I was hungry.</div>
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Schools were already ordered to close on the day. View across a little park in front of the Municipal Building.</div>
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It was windy too. Selfie pre-storm on the National Road.</div>
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I walked towards the sea near Shanedel. Big white waves already started crashing on the cliffs and seaside.</div>
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View from the rooftop of my hostel, after my lunch.</div>
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Then the rain came a little later. Heavy. Non stop.</div>
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Night fall. No change in stormy weather. No, actually, it got serious.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Really scary, howling wind. HOWLING AND WAILING. ALL NIGHT.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">My bed got soaked. Water was puddling as the windows couldn't bear the brunt of the rain.</span></div>
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I could not sleep. I think no one did. It wasn't possible. Room got flooded by midnight and water seeped steadily into the corridors. </div>
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Day break. Still at it.</div>
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The storm. Like a wrecking ball x 100.</div>
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View from my room window. That palm tree suffered severe whiplash.</div>
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Things and stuff were flying around. The wind was howling like nothing I've ever heard.</div>
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That roof just got blown off from somewhere.</div>
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When the rain got really heavy, all we could see outside was white.</div>
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By the second day, my room became the lepak place cos it had an extra bed and this big window looking out. We had snacks and coffee and tea, and our landlady was so kind in preparing delicious meals for us. Very simple, yet so flavourful. Later we taked about this and I realised that the meat, vegetables (pricier here) and fish are all organic! Never have I eaten such flavourful beef. No pictures though, it would be rude.</div>
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Sunday morning, after close to 40 hours, the storm finally moved on and left Batanes. We decided to venture outside to see how the town held up. First, to the pier. </div>
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A ship wreck still being thrown about by strong waves.</div>
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Crashing waves - still scary post-storm.</div>
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This was an unexpectedly strong wave which sent us scrambling to safer levels. Gila.</div>
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At the same time, there was something fascinating about such fury which had us transfixed in silence watching the rough sea unleash the remnants of Usagi.</div>
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View from the pintu gerbang. Angry angry waves.</div>
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Back on the National Road, they've started to clear the debris and trees and branches. Water was still flowing like a river.</div>
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Electricity poles snapped in two - just like that. And these things were like 12-15 inches in diameter.</div>
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We had no power at all from Friday 7 pm till the day we flew out, which was .... Tuesday?</div>
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Mitch, my hostel-mate had local friends so they brought us around on the bike to survey the damage.</div>
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I wonder how it sounded like when this treetrunk snapped.</div>
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Poor bananas :( we were very sad when we realised this would mean months of no fruits from these trees.</div>
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More trees like this everywhere along the roads.</div>
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Someone's house :( Many smaller ones just ..crashed.</div>
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Like this one, a traditional-style house.</div>
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Some streets were not passable yet.</div>
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After a while, I had no words to say. While the devastation was thankfully not on a scale of 10, it still was very painful to see. </div>
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I bought something from this souvenir handicraft shop the day before. Told the lady I'll be back, but this happened :(</div>
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Road towards the hills. We wanted to go up to the Fundacion but the road was not passable.</div>
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Looking out from my window on Sunday mid-morning. Locals start clearing and cleaning. They don't wait for any assistance or cry for sympathy with the predicaments. </div>
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No livestock was harmed during the storm. Amazingly, no human fatalities too.</div>
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Coconut trees, badly damaged.</div>
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Airport Control Tower. The glass panels were all shattered.</div>
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Arrival Hall.</div>
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Departure area :(</div>
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The rectory of the cathedral - the roof was badly damaged. They lost vestments and documents, books etc.</div>
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I can't think of a caption for this right now.</div>
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Documents drying out in the sun, outside the council building.</div>
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BASCO on the go trucks were working non-stop to clear fallen trees and debris as soon as it was safe to do so. Much respect for their work ethics and professionalism.</div>
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The National Road was cleared of fallen branches and trees by Sunday noon.</div>
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Er. This is the inside of the belly of a Hercules C130. </div>
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Hopefully I will write about this dramatic exit from Basco soon.</div>
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I whole-heartedly respect and admire the resilience and faith of the Ivatans in such a catastrophe. Not one person had a sad, pitiful face. They immediately went to work cleaning up the mess and fixing things up. I went to look for my guide's house as I wanted to make sure he and his family were okay. His front porch caved in, but by the time I visited it was cleared up already, just needed a bit of rebuilding.<br />
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We outsiders had to accept the fact that there is no power supply. No charging, no lights, no TV, no wi-fi, nothing. Most of our phones were dead by the Sunday. We had to use candles and torchlights at night. There was one local telco that was working, you had to buy a local SIM and reload which was also fast running out (already limited in the first place).<br />
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All travellers got busy trying to get on to the next flight out. Flights were cancelled again and again. Thank God I had room to wiggle, unlucky for some they had to re-book outgoing international flights with hefty price tags.<br />
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I'm thankful everyone was safe after the storm. An experience I will never forget.<br />
Nature won (it will always win).</div>
audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-56249616154942579302014-01-13T14:23:00.000+08:002014-01-13T14:35:20.530+08:00BATANES : A Picture Started It All. And A Pursuit Ensued <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
*Today is a slow day so I think I'll blog*<br />
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BATANES!<br />
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I have never heard of this place before, only stumbled on it while researching Palawan one fine day.<br />
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Flying there isn't cheap, so I stalked the airlines for a while before taking advantage of a promotional fare by Phil Express (still not cheap I tell you) and buying it on the spot without even checking if I would be able to get away on those dates.<br />
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I slept at NAIA3 for the night, and again for the return trip. Too lazy to get a room for less than a day and I'd rather save the pesos to spend on Batanes.<br />
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Pictures of Batanes were unbelievable. Seriously. Try googling them and you'll see what I mean.<br />
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My camera and skills are not able to capture the beauty of this island, so go ahead please I beg you to go google for the superb photos taken with fancy cameras by professional bloggers and photographers.<br />
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*You're welcome :) *<br />
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Okay here are some pictures (random order! again!)<br />
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GORGEOUS. I need all the synonyms to that to describe the views. </div>
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At the Boulder Beach. Round boulders, thrown up from some volcanic eruption hundreds of years ago. History lesson from my guide, I have forgotten by now. Sorry!</div>
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Tukon Chapel, designed by the Abad family. Very quaint!</div>
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Fundacion Pacita. Exclusive and classy place to stay and dine. With a price tag. They don't open all year through though. Seasonal business.</div>
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The Abads. Owners of the place. Artists and local Ivatans.</div>
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Benches at the Fundacion Pacita. I have more pictures of this place somewhere. </div>
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At the Fundacion - it means May God Bless You All in Ivatan language.</div>
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At the viewpoint and 'pintu gerbang'.</div>
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It was super breezy I could get blown off the roof of this place. It's a PAGASA weather station, the northernmost in the Philippines but no longer in operations after storms blew away some equipment. The views were amazingggggg.</div>
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How did I get up there to the roof? I had to climb up and up (excuse my bum shot)</div>
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I did feel a bit gayat but was okay. Got a gash (bleeding shit) on my right thigh near the top as you have to maneouver your body in such a way to climb out of the stairwell. Champ. LOL</div>
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The Japanese Tunnel. Spooky,damp, cold and dark inside. </div>
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You could exit the other side of the hill. </div>
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The Basco Cathedral. The churches here are lovely. Google for Batanes churches. I went to a few.</div>
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Er, I don't remember the name of this church. Will update when I find my notes. </div>
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Wavebreakers? Wave watching here is a fascinating past-time.</div>
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A wharf (looks natural), beautiful from top of the cliff. Apparently some of the boats here are illegal foreign fishing boats seized by the authorities.</div>
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I continued to gasp at every other turn at how beautiful the views are. It just takes your breath away.</div>
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It was exciting touring the island on a motorbike. I wish I could drive one, but I had to be content as a pillion rider on my guide's bike. This road goes through a cliff.</div>
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"Blow Ur Horn" is uniquely Batanes. No other place has this (legal) traffic sign.</div>
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It is everywhere along the winding curvy road and cliffs.</div>
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The Ruins at Song Song beach. This village was wiped out in a tsunami hundreds of years ago. I went down to explore closer and found some piglets in one of the ruins. Some one used it as a pig pen :)</div>
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Selfie on the bike!</div>
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Posing at the entrance to the town of Ivana.</div>
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This church in Imnajbu is very special. It is the spot where the first Holy Mass and the first Baptism was performed on Batanes soil in 1682.</div>
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Trying to be Wonder Woman. hahah. This was another absolutely gorgeous spot for views.</div>
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You see how I got so tanned? I just sat there soaking in the sun for so long, no cares. It's too beautiful. And I get extra Vitamin D.</div>
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Entrance gate to Rakuh Panyaman (some call it Marlboro County, but we should respect and use the local name). I made myself useful and went down to open and close the gate.</div>
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I sat here. For an hour.</div>
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Under the bright sun. Cool strong breeze. Surrounded by green rolling hills and the blue sky above. A view to die for. Is this how Heaven could look like?</div>
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Got style or not? Me and my ride.</div>
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The Fountain of Youth, at a fishing village called ...Diara? I can't recall right now.</div>
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The waters were so cool, and you could bathe here.</div>
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More views of rolling green hills.</div>
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You don't wanna know how many selfies I took! LOL</div>
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One of my favourite pictures which I will never get tired of sharing, hahah!</div>
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That's just a bit of Batanes for now. I just wanted to share some the pictures and poison your mind.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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#LandscapeJunkie</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-56880115659538254882014-01-09T15:47:00.003+08:002014-01-09T15:47:43.229+08:00Peace. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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World Peace Pagoda, Pokhara.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_F5e_BlwKkE/Us5QQGnWv2I/AAAAAAAAGYA/Q3Rn1Ob0ICw/s1600/DSC07039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_F5e_BlwKkE/Us5QQGnWv2I/AAAAAAAAGYA/Q3Rn1Ob0ICw/s1600/DSC07039.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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It wasn't easy getting up the Pagoda, so unfit I was that afternoon. I had hired a driver for the day and this was our last spot to visit.<br />
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The view all around was breathtaking.<br />
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I stayed for a good hour - resting, soaking in the views, even managed a short nap because it was quite peaceful and breezy (there was a small group of noisy tourists, grrr! felt like smacking the back of their heads).<br />
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Next time maybe I'll try the route from the lake.<br />
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-38558589741675638562014-01-02T19:50:00.003+08:002014-01-02T19:57:15.301+08:00Conquer Your Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>(Random post. Cooked dinner today but no one is hungry so I am protesting by way of doing my own thing in my room, LOL).</i></div>
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Today I had one of those extended conversations with a friend which started from me wanting to borrow some stuff instead of buying it (cheapskate mode on).<br />
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Eventually we got to talking about personal fears and all that shit.<br />
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In my case, it was definitely scuba diving.<br />
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I have been postponing it over and over again since my first trip to Mabul in 2009 .... or was it 2010?<br />
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I got reminded of so many excuses that I made up:<br />
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<i>So hard to decide between PADI and SSI.</i><br />
<i>Didn't want to do it in KK (despite this being the most convenient!)</i><br />
<i>What about my contacts?</i><br />
<i>I heard the instructors can be harsh.</i><br />
<i>Expensive lah!</i><br />
<i>No time lah, got classes to attend then two days practical. Mehh.</i><br />
<i>Can't really swim (major excuse). Oh well.</i><br />
<i>I have nothing to wear! (seriously)</i><br />
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So you see, those are my excuses why.<br />
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Truthfully, I was just consumed with fear.<br />
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I finally kicked myself in the ass last December when we did Project 12.12.12. The underwater world in Mabul knocked me off my feet and pedestal and I cursed myself for NOT even trying!<br />
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So, I made sure that before 2013 ended, I will need to get that certification.<br />
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No more fc*king excuses.<br />
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Typical me this got dragged till very late (too much work, travelling, clashing dates etc etc etc).<br />
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The perfect opportunity (time, resources, my own guts) finally presented itself in November, and I found myself not having any more excuses.<br />
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This was it.<br />
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DO or DIE. (well, not really ... but you get the idea)<br />
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And I went ahead determined not to let myself down.<br />
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And hey I did it!<br />
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F*cking unbelievable I did it.<br />
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So happy!<br />
Now I need to get more dives logged this year so that I can prepare myself for destinations that offer diving and I won't be the sore loser who only snorkels at the shallow waters. Pfffttt!<br />
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Actually the point of this post is that, to my friend particularly, if I can, you can too.<br />
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I may be the biggest chicken you'll ever meet so, thing is, you can do it just like I did, maybe better.<br />
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Face your fears. I still have many demons I need to exorcise.<br />
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One day at a time.</div>
audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-34191869671628163612013-12-28T16:00:00.003+08:002013-12-29T08:50:44.309+08:00Twenty Thirteen : Some Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Confession: I am no longer familiar with how to post pictures properly here. So here goes some random travel pictures that could be posted and not remain stubbornly stuck in the folder. My laptop revived itself (hurrah!) and I was pleasantly surprised everything is still intact (I think!). </div>
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Hopefully I'll be in the mood to write more here. The only thing is ... my pictures are saved all over the place, here there and a little bit of everything everywhere else. Yupp - it's a holy mess. </div>
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Highlights? Oh, there are so many!</div>
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El Nido.</div>
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Beautiful and peaceful.</div>
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Waters so clear they made me gasp at every turn.</div>
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Islands so gorgeous I wish I could buy one. I want to see you again.</div>
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Batanes for its heartbreaking natural beauty. </div>
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Vivid, fresh, a burst of sunshine. Beautiful people.</div>
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Not forgetting super typhoon Usagi and C130.</div>
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Nepal, all its quirky unexpected charms.</div>
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Mountains and ranges that made me feel tiny, in awe of His creation.</div>
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Its people. Its villages. </div>
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Oh Kathmandu, you hot, dusty, noisy, messy city! Do I love thee or hate thee? I am undecided but veering towards liking it, in some mad, strange way. I promised to return.</div>
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Myanmar, chaotic and romantic at the same time. There is orderliness that's hidden beneath the surface of seeming madness. It's fast becoming rather touristy, and there may no longer be too many less-travelled, unbeaten paths soon. I'd like to be wrong on this. </div>
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Georgetown holds a special fort in my heart, for years I have fallen for its old town charm and heritage. My old soul settles into its vibes effortlessly. And the food! oh, I'd walk miles!</div>
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The like-minded people I've met along the way, who don't even blink hearing the funniest or weirdest travel experiences on the road. We laughed too much at seemingly unbelievable true stories. May your travels be safe with your guardian angels, and your journeys add to the beautiful memories.</div>
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I have been quite successful in travelling light I deserve a pat in the back (here you go). Less is more. </div>
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A toast:</div>
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Here's to more stories soon!</div>
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and...</div>
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to more travels in 2014!</div>
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It's a lighthouse! Basco. </div>
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Padaung ("long necks") weavers at Inle Lake. Fascinating how they preserve this culture.</div>
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Trying out winter woolies in Thamel. </div>
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Le Maison Bleu, Georgetown. Finally here after years and years!</div>
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With a Llama girl, Rina at Patan Square, Kathmandu. </div>
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If I had 30 million dollars I'd buy this island off El Nido. It already has a chapel and some buildings.</div>
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A Gorgeous day in Batanes! Fell in love with the place.</div>
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Reclining Buddha at the temple in Yangon. Cannot recall the name.</div>
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'Holy man' at the World Peace Pagoda, Pokhara. I huffed and puffed all the way up. The day was beautiful. </div>
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Horse cart day in Bagan. Bumpy and almost got thrown off a few times. We laughed but it was scary too.The next day we got on electric bikes on a grand day out all around town.</div>
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Sunset at the other side of Bagan's famous temple. We decided to avoid the crowd and spent time here in peace.</div>
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Obligatory shot - Le Maison Bleu, Georgetown. I love old tiles!</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-74631576073848922912013-11-24T11:38:00.001+08:002013-11-24T11:44:18.696+08:00GONE GIRL - A Bucket List Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been away because .... my laptop is broken and I haven't got it fixed. *bad bad me*<br />
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Anyway, Sunday morning - happy days because Arsenal won last night yippee! So I was energised to go online (when I am supposed to be doing some work on this borrowed laptop actually, haha) and do some updating to this list.<br />
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Will have to get my laptop fixed soon!<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ORIGINAL LIST</span></u></b></h2>
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<b>1. <strike>Mabul</strike>. Sipadan. 15 dives to go before Sipadan.</b></div>
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<b>2. <strike>Tawau</strike>. <s>Sandakan</s>. </b></div>
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<b>3. <strike>Learn to cook the perfect nasi lemak. </strike>DROPPED. I cook freestyle, no fast rules so perfection is out.</b></div>
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<b>4. <strike>Read all Bryson. Have read all his travel books and others.</strike></b></div>
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<b>5. <strike>Touch the stones of Borobudur</strike></b></div>
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<b>6. <strike>Touch the stones of Angkor Wat</strike></b></div>
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<b>7. <strike>Thaipusam at Batu Caves</strike></b></div>
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<b>8. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Jason Mraz LIVE!</span></b></div>
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<b>9. <strike>Run a (half) marathon. Have ran in two events (11K and 10K) so far.</strike></b></div>
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<b>10. <strike>Travel solo.</strike></b></div>
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<b>11. <strike>Backpack travelling.</strike></b></div>
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<b>12. Learn a foreign language.</b></div>
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<b>13. Get rid of credit card debt. </b></div>
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<b>14. <strike>Healthy Eating. Ongoing, with the occasional relapse :P</strike></b></div>
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<b>15. <strike>Get Fit. Ongoing, albeit rather slow, I have 1000 excuses sometimes.</strike></b></div>
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<b>16. <strike>Write a column. or a Book. I wrote a short advertorial and it came out in a magazine. </strike> </b></div>
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<b>17.<strike> RWMF, Kuching</strike></b></div>
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<b>18. <strike>Read daily. 50 books in a year. Didn't really keep track last year, so I am re-starting a new count for 2010.</strike></b></div>
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<b>20. Learn to play the guitar - at least one song! My ukulele needs to be hugged.</b></div>
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<b>21. <strike>London 2012. Didn't happen. Maybe next year</strike>. B/F to next list.</b></div>
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<b>22.<strike> Sew something. I think this may be too ambitious?</strike> DROPPED. I tried. I have no talent.</b></div>
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<b>23. Grow own vegetables. </b></div>
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<b>24. Step foot in all Malaysian states. 1 left - Perlis!</b></div>
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<b>25. Borneo overland trip. Done KK to Brunei via Lawas. Wanna do KK Kuching !</b></div>
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<b>26.<strike> Volunteer. When? </strike></b></div>
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<b>27. <strike>Go green - recycle. reduce. reuse. Trying.</strike></b></div>
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<b>28. <strike>Take one photograph a day. </strike><strike>Some days more than one to make up for what I missed. Even if it's just my own face. Haha.</strike> </b></div>
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<b>29. <strike>See Jason LIVE again.</strike><strike> </strike><strike>What I'd give for this!</strike> </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>BUCKET LIST PART DEUX</u> </b></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>1.<strike> Up close and personal with endangered animals - Bornean elephant, orang utan and Sumatra rhinoceros</strike>. DONE, Christmas 2011.</b></div>
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<b>2. <strike>Helicopter ride</strike>. DONE, Christmas 2011. </b></div>
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<b>3. <strike>Float in the Dead Sea</strike>. DONE. July 2010.</b></div>
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<b>4.<strike> Taj Mahal</strike>. DONE, July 2011.</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">5.</span><span style="color: red;"> Parasailing.</span></b></div>
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<b>6. <strike>Paragliding</strike>. DONE. Pokhara, August 2013.</b></div>
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<b>7. <strike>Rock Climbing</strike>. Technically DONE, April 2013. But I need to do this again outdoors.</b></div>
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<b>8. <strike>Open Water Diving Certification</strike> - DONE DONE DONE, yeay! So proud of myself! November 2013.</b></div>
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<b>9. <strike>Palawan</strike> - DONE. July 2013.</b></div>
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<b>10. <strike>Nepal </strike>- DONE. August 2013. I will be back, I know :) I left my heart there.</b></div>
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<b>11. <strike>Turkiye. Istanbul.</strike> - DONE. Nov 2012</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">12. </span><span style="color: red;">Morocco</span><span style="color: #444444;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">13. </span><span style="color: red;">Barcelona</span><span style="color: #444444;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">14.</span><span style="color: red;"> Kimchi country. Eat authentic bibimbap. (planning)</span></b></div>
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<b>15. <strike>One foreign run. Singapore does not count, too near</strike>. Istanbul Marathon (category : 16km) Nov 2012.</b></div>
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<b>16.<strike> A full marathon. A medal. A finisher tee</strike> - this almost killed me! :) DONE. PBIM 2012.</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">17. </span><span style="color: red;">London. I'll throw in Dublin for Guinness.</span></b></div>
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<b>18. <strike>Eat at a Michelin rated place</strike> - Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong. July 2012.</b></div>
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<b>19. <strike>Hot air balloon</strike> - Cappadocia, Turkey. Nov 2012.</b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>NEW ADDITIONS 2013</b></span></u></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">1. </span><span style="color: red;">Trail Run.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">2. </span><span style="color: red;">Sri Lanka; Ceylon; Serendip. Adam's Peak. Train ride. (planning)</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">3. </span><span style="color: red;">Mount Fuji. (planning)</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">4. </span><span style="color: red;">Train from BKK to CNX. (planning)</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">5. </span><span style="color: red;">Amsterdam and happy herbs. Haha!</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">6. </span><span style="color: red;">The North Face Run. At least one</span><span style="color: #444444;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>7. <strike>Batanes.</strike> DONE, September 2013. What an AWESOME place! Superstorm Usagi and a ride on c130 thrown in. </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">8. </span><span style="color: red;">The Holy Land. Jerusalem.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">9. </span><span style="color: red;">River Cottage.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">10. </span><span style="color: red;">Sabbatical - 2 months backpacking Europe. Or anywhere, really. I'm opting for a flexible plan.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">11. </span><span style="color: red;">Fruit picking vacation ! Just for the fun of it.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">12. </span><span style="color: red;">Egypt. (why did I not have this on the list before?)</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">13. </span><span style="color: red;">Machu Picchu. Galapagos. Christ The Redeemer. oh, too many places in South and Central America.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b>
<b>14. <strike>Myanmar</strike>. DONE, unexpectedly October 2013.</b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><u>DREAMS 2014 - TRAVEL</u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">1. Makassar</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">2. Flores, Timor Leste.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">3. Somewhere in China, not the cities.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">4. Bhutan, Tibet.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">5. Kolkata and onwards, India.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">6. PEARL JAM CONCERT. Oh God, Eddie please come to Asia somewhere!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">7. Trans-Siberian Railway. Mongolia. Beijing. Big dream this one.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">8. Santiago de Compostela. yes.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-10035662337175529472013-06-19T12:41:00.000+08:002013-06-19T12:41:48.940+08:00Turkiye - an album. unsorted.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Finally.<br />
<br />
Yes. I finally transferred some of my travel pictures from my camera. Another camera to go, maybe er, much later. I'm quite free for a while hence this post :)<br />
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Some of my favourite pictures, in no particular order. I don't know how to arrange the pictures anymore :p<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hL0PLNLSCmI/UcEvqMq9zLI/AAAAAAAAGTI/Q5LZLXTfSps/s1600/2012-11-02+09.31.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hL0PLNLSCmI/UcEvqMq9zLI/AAAAAAAAGTI/Q5LZLXTfSps/s640/2012-11-02+09.31.54.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Traditional Turkish Coffee at Ethem Tezcakar, Grand Bazaar. This was after spending hours happily getting lost in the market.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I10ysNGKur0/UcEv0h6UKVI/AAAAAAAAGTU/X5lcoYgBcB0/s1600/2012-11-03+06.24.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I10ysNGKur0/UcEv0h6UKVI/AAAAAAAAGTU/X5lcoYgBcB0/s640/2012-11-03+06.24.09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fried mussels. So yummy! I love this stuff.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I7ZUZdWbGCM/UcEv9HQ_2qI/AAAAAAAAGTc/cXMhs6xw7Uo/s1600/2012-11-03+10.07.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I7ZUZdWbGCM/UcEv9HQ_2qI/AAAAAAAAGTc/cXMhs6xw7Uo/s640/2012-11-03+10.07.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Beautiful mosaic in the AyaSofya. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhchL0ZMeQg/UcEwBGKaYzI/AAAAAAAAGTk/YEJCSI69EQI/s1600/2012-11-03+07.10.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhchL0ZMeQg/UcEwBGKaYzI/AAAAAAAAGTk/YEJCSI69EQI/s640/2012-11-03+07.10.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a super cat. Nuff said.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ__nBxcI9Q/UcEwBtGccQI/AAAAAAAAGTs/qsjDcYDaYmE/s1600/2012-11-08+06.48.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ__nBxcI9Q/UcEwBtGccQI/AAAAAAAAGTs/qsjDcYDaYmE/s640/2012-11-08+06.48.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pamukkale. Amidst the mist and steam. </div>
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The medal was so big! I was so so tired after the run. </div>
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The bestest Turkish delight - we tried quite a lot. Mhhhmmmmmm, I can imagine munching them now.. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoH_wDfAP4A/UcEwabM6-lI/AAAAAAAAGUE/DZNLP2YdKPg/s1600/2012-11-07+00.48.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoH_wDfAP4A/UcEwabM6-lI/AAAAAAAAGUE/DZNLP2YdKPg/s640/2012-11-07+00.48.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Up Up Up! Cappadocia was such an experience. </div>
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I walked back to the Galata Bridge to eat this again - balik ekmek or fish sandwich. My last lunch in Istanbul. </div>
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Tram on Istiklal Street - didn't manage to ride this. Too busy looking and watching. </div>
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This sight greeted me every day as I return from the tram stop. Breathtaking.</div>
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New friends and fellow travellers, happy hour at Selcuk- Ben and Massimo from Milan, working in London. And Dave from New York. He escaped Sandy.<br />
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Selcuk morning - beautiful beautiful skies! </div>
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Ilhara Valley - this place humbled me even more. </div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-31381133866505187762013-06-17T16:15:00.001+08:002013-06-17T16:15:16.419+08:00A Weed You Have Become<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One year from now.<div>
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I hope I've made up my mind properly and rationally, and have a grand plan in place for a sabbatical.</div>
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At least a month. Ideally two months. Three would be great, or maybe too much?</div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">A weed is</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"> a plant that has mastered every survival skill </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">except for learning how to grow in rows." - Doug Larson </span></span></h2>
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My lappy is broken, just as I feel like blogging again.</div>
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This is how the Universe is testing me. </div>
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Oh, really?</div>
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x</div>
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A weed.</div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-24600643012500414272013-06-15T16:22:00.002+08:002013-06-15T16:22:33.112+08:00Pamukkale Dreaming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Saturday, and I was having a short siesta after spending most of the morning reading.<br />
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I awoke to the thought of a sauna bath (!), probably because in the last chapter of the travel book that I was reading, the author was describing her experiences in Pamukkale.<br />
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November 2012 - I remember arriving Pamukkale on a cold, wet morning on the overnight bus from Cappadoccia. Arriving at the travel agency to get some information, there was an annoying and quite entertaining trio from Mumbai who could not seem to decide what they want to do. The lady especially couldn't stop yakking. Pahh - woman!<br />
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I bought the day trip package as well as the bus ticket onward to Selcuk, as did most of us who were travelling that day. The Mumbai trio was indecisive, in the end we all chipped in and suggested they go stay in Ephesus instead. We smiled knowingly like conspirators, we could do without them - too noisy :-)<br />
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Anyway, we headed on to Karahayit (the hot spring water tasted like blood. Metallic. Heavy on the tongue), then to Necropolis and Hierapolis, then we braved the rain and cold breeze to walk down the grey-white cotton castles to our lunch venue. Oh, had I mentioned it was drizzling the whole time?<br />
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The grey-white cliffs were amazing. I could not describe it. It seems to be this huge white hillside cauldron out of nowhere. Coupled with the mist and the steam from the hot spring water gushing from the earth, it was magical. Truly surreal.<br />
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If I had fallen asleep and woken up to the sight of the hill I'd say it's a dream.<br />
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At the restaurant, lunch was devoured first in silence - as all of us were starving after being exposed to the cold. Then we picked up pace and ate and ate; the food was lovely and comforting, and a few dishes were already familiar. I really liked some of the stews and soups.<br />
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Returning to the hotel later, I was half soaked, and requested to use the washroom to change. Although I was not a guest, they were so kind to direct me to the hot sauna room, which I happily used all on my own. After a relaxing hot bath later, I was nice and warm in dry clothes, ready for our onward bus. I slept most of the journey.<br />
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I was woken up as it got dark and we were almost in Selcuk. I did not have any reservations or a solid plan.<br />
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I was going to wing it again. Hey, far more fun than having everything in place :)</div>
audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-3951228365091065042013-05-13T09:58:00.000+08:002013-05-13T09:58:10.259+08:00Hello ! The Bucket List Rises Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The cobwebs must be thick and all over the place on this little blog of mine :-) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was reading some stuff over the past weekends and felt inspired enough to update The Bucket List. Perhaps, I might even bring myself to blog again soon.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ORIGINAL LIST</span></u></b></h2>
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<b><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1. </span><strike style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Mabul</strike><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">. Sipadan. </span></b></div>
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<b>2. <strike>Tawau</strike>. <s>Sandakan</s>. </b></div>
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<b>3. Learn to cook the perfect nasi lemak.</b></div>
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<b>4. <strike>Read all Bryson. Have read all his travel books and others.</strike></b></div>
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<b>5. <strike>Touch the stones of Borobudur</strike></b></div>
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<b>6. <strike>Touch the stones of Angkor Wat</strike></b></div>
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<b>7. <strike>Thaipusam at Batu Caves</strike></b></div>
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<b>8. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Jason Mraz LIVE!</span></b></div>
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<b>9. <strike>Run a (half) marathon. Have ran in two events (11K and 10K) so far.</strike></b></div>
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<b>10. <strike>Travel solo.</strike></b></div>
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<b>11. <strike>Backpack travelling.</strike></b></div>
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<b>12. Learn a foreign language.</b></div>
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<b>13. Get rid of credit card debt. </b></div>
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<b><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">14.</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><strike style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Healthy Eating. Ongoing, with the occasional relapse :P</strike></b></div>
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<b>15. <strike>Get Fit. Ongoing, albeit rather slow, I have 1000 excuses sometimes.</strike></b></div>
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<b>16. <strike>Write a column. or a Book. I wrote a short advertorial and it came out in a magazine. </strike> </b></div>
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<b>17.<strike> RWMF, Kuching</strike></b></div>
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<b>18. <strike>Read daily. 50 books in a year. Didn't really keep track last year, so I am re-starting a new count for 2010.</strike></b></div>
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<b>20. Learn to play the guitar - at least one song! My ukulele needs to be hugged.</b></div>
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<b>21. London 2012. Didn't happen. Maybe next year.</b></div>
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<b>22. Sew something. I think this may be too ambitious?</b></div>
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<b>23. Grow own vegetables. </b></div>
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<b>24. Step foot in all Malaysian states. 1 left - Perlis!</b></div>
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<b>25. Borneo overland trip. Done KK to Brunei via Lawas. </b></div>
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<b>26.<strike> Volunteer. When? </strike></b></div>
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<b>27. <strike>Go green - recycle. reduce. reuse. Trying.</strike></b></div>
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<b>28. <strike>Take one photograph a day. </strike><strike>Some days more than one to make up for what I missed. Even if it's just my own face. Haha.</strike> </b></div>
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<b>29. <strike>See Jason LIVE again.</strike><strike> </strike><strike>What I'd give for this!</strike> </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>BUCKET LIST PART DEUX</u> </b></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>1.<strike> Up close and personal with endangered animals - Bornean elephant, orang utan and Sumatra rhinoceros</strike>. DONE, Christmas of 2011.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">2. <u>Helicopter ride</u>. DONE, Christmas of 2011. </b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">3. <strike>Float in the Dead Sea</strike>. DONE. July 2010.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">4.<strike> Taj Mahal</strike>. DONE, July 2011.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">5. Parasailing.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">6. Paragliding.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">7. Rock Climbing.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">8. OW diving - Did Discover Scuba Dive in Semporna Dec, 2012. No OWC yet!</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">9. Palawan - soon.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">10. Nepal - soon.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">11. <strike>Turkiye. Istanbul.</strike> - DONE, Nov 2012</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">12. Morocco.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">13. Barcelona.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">14. Kimchi country. Eat authentic bibimbap.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">15. <strike>One foreign run. Singapore does not count, too near</strike>. Istanbul Marathon (category : 16km) Nov 2012.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">16.<strike> A full marathon. A medal. A finisher tee</strike> - this almost killed me! :) DONE. PBIM 2012.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">17. London again. maybe.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">18. <strike>Eat at a Michelin rated place</strike> - Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong. July 2012.</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">19. <strike>Hot air balloon</strike> - Cappadocia, Turkey. Nov 2012.</b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>NEW ADDITIONS 2013</b></span></u></div>
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<b>1. Trail Run.</b></div>
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<b>2. Sri Lanka; Ceylon; Serendip. Adam's Peak. Train ride.</b></div>
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<b>3. Mount Fuji.</b></div>
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<b>4. Train from BKK to CNX.</b></div>
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<b>5. Amsterdam and happy herbs. Haha!</b></div>
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<b>6. The North Face Run. At least one.</b></div>
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<b>7. Batanes.</b></div>
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<b>8. The Holy Land. Jerusalem.</b></div>
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<b>9. River Cottage.</b></div>
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<b>10. Sabbatical - 2 months backpacking Europe.</b></div>
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<b>11. Fruit picking vacation ! :-)</b></div>
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<b>12. Egypt. (why did I not have this on the list before?)</b></div>
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<b>13. Machu Picchu. Galapagos. Christ The Redeemer. oh, too many places in South and Latin America.</b></div>
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audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-33455355452331019412012-07-25T14:53:00.000+08:002012-07-25T14:53:36.436+08:00Updated : Bucket List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am revisiting my Life List today :) It's been left too long.</div>
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From today on I'll call it My Bucket List because that's essentially what it is. I have drawn up another list Bucket List Part Deux:-</div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">1. </span><strike style="color: #444444;">Mabul</strike><span style="color: #444444;">. Sipadan. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">When? </span><span style="color: red;">Need to get my OW. Maybe not necessarily Sipadan.</span></div>
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2. <strike>Tawau</strike>. <s>Sandakan</s>. </div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">3. Learn to cook the perfect nasi lemak. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">When? </span><span style="color: red;">Not perfected yet.</span></div>
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4. <strike>Read all Bryson. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Have read all his travel books except for African Diary, which I have yet to find in any bookstores</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003300;">.</span></strike></div>
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5. <strike>Touch the stones of Borobudur</strike></div>
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6. <strike>Touch the stones of Angkor Wat</strike></div>
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7. <strike>Thaipusam at Batu Caves</strike></div>
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8. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Jason Mraz LIVE!</span></div>
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9. <strike>Run a (half) marathon. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Have ran in two events (11K and 10K) so far. Have committed to take part in at least four in 2010</span></strike><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003300;">.</span></div>
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10. <strike>Travel solo.</strike></div>
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11. <strike>Backpack travelling.</strike></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">12. Learn a foreign language. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">I know some Spanish words :) </span><span style="color: red;">Hmmm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">13. Get rid of credit card debt. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">Using the Snowball method. </span><span style="color: red;">Cut down to two</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">.</span></div>
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14. <strike>Healthy Eating. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Ongoing, with the occasional relapse :P</span></strike></div>
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15. <strike>Get Fit. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Ongoing, albeit rather slow, I have 1000 excuses sometimes</span>.</strike></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">16. </span><strike style="color: #444444;">Write a column. or a Book. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">I wrote a short advertorial and it came out in a magazine</span>. </strike><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;"><strike>Hmm, does that count?</strike> </span><span style="color: red;">I got paid for 2 articles so, yes!</span></div>
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17.<strike> RWMF, Kuching</strike></div>
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18. <strike>Read daily. 50 books in a year. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Didn't really keep track last year, so I am re-starting a new count for 2010. To date, am on my 12th book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003300;">.</span></strike></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">20. Learn to play the guitar - at least one song! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">Need to find a guru</span><span style="color: #444444;">. </span><span style="color: red;">Bought an Uke, still learning!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">21. London 2012. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">Hope floats</span>. </span><span style="color: red;">Postponed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">22. Sew something. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">When? </span><span style="color: red;">I think this may be too ambitious? :p</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">23. Grow own vegetables. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">When? </span><span style="color: red;">Cili padi can?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">24. Step foot in all Malaysian states. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">4 left</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003300;">. </span><span style="color: red;">1 left - Perlis!</span></div>
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25. Borneo overland trip. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Done KK to Brunei via Lawas. One day, KK to Kuching and maybe onwards to Pontianak. Maybe.</span></div>
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26.<strike> Volunteer. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066;">When? </span></strike></div>
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27. <strike>Go green - recycle. reduce. reuse. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;">Trying.</span></strike></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">28. </span><strike style="color: #444444;">Take one photograph a day. </strike><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;"><strike>Some days more than one to make up for what I missed. Even if it's just my own face. Haha.</strike> </span><span style="color: red;">Done. After a while, no can do, I realised I am not that vain :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">29. <strike>See Jason LIVE again.</strike></span><b><span style="color: #444444;"><strike> </strike></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #006600;"><strike>What I'd give for this!</strike> </span><span style="color: red;">Went to his concert Oct 2011 and June 2012. YEAY!</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">BUCKET LIST PART DEUX (this was recorded in my notebook, where various other lists reside and grow and get struck off every now and then).</span></b></div>
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<b>1. Up close and personal with endangered animals - Bornean elephant, orang utan and Sumatra rhinoceros. DONE, Christmas of 2011. Best Ever.</b></div>
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<b>2. Helicopter ride. DONE, Christmas of 2011. Best Ever.</b></div>
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<b>3. Float in the Dead Sea. DONE. July 2010.</b></div>
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<b>4. Taj Mahal. DONE, July 2011.</b></div>
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<b>5. Parasailing.</b></div>
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<b>6. Paragliding.</b></div>
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<b>7. Rock Climbing.</b></div>
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<b>8. OW diving.</b></div>
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<b>9. Palawan.</b></div>
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<b>10. Nepal.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>11. Turkiye. Istanbul.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>12. Morocco.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>13. Barcelona.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>14. Kimchi country. Eat authentic bibimbap.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>15. One foreign run/race. Singapore does not count, too near :p</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>16. A full marathon. A medal. A finisher tee.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>17. London again. maybe.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>18. Eat at a Michelin rated place.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>19. Hot air balloon.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b>..... and maybe a few more additions. When I get some inspiration.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-1285916831142310032012-06-30T18:46:00.001+08:002012-06-30T18:46:23.955+08:00Bitter Tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white;">Have you ever tried Wong Lo Kat herbal tea?</span><br />
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It's a bitter-tasting tea, which helps to reduce heatiness in the body.<br />
<br />
I like the taste. Acquired, for sure.<br />
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This bowl costs RM1.30 I think, at the outlet in Petaling Street.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojk4bMdbUUo/T-7W4K_SStI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/MGRU6baOjgo/s1600/P1000066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojk4bMdbUUo/T-7W4K_SStI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/MGRU6baOjgo/s320/P1000066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-76963436105989508012012-06-30T17:59:00.002+08:002012-06-30T17:59:32.715+08:00Daytripping : Kedah Darul Aman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Remember my bucket list item - to go to all states in Malaysia?<br />
<br />
After a long break from domestic travels, I finally got the time and opportunity to visit Kedah recently, it was only a 'day-trip' though.<br />
<br />
Initially I had planned to go to two places - Alor Setar and Sg Petani - but in the end I decided to only visit the former as I had not much faith in the bus schedule and also worried I might not make it back to KL on time.<br />
<br />
I boarded the north bound overnight express coach from Pudu Sentral (the new name for Puduraya) and braced myself for the 6-7 hours journey. Finding out that there were no reading lights on the bus (what was I thinking?) I settled to catch some sleep and I must say I did sleep quite well. We reached the bus terminal - Shahab Perdana? - at around 6:30 am and I waited for the local bus service to start at 7:00 am for the trip to the city centre. A taxi costs RM12.00, the bus RM1.00 so it's clear why I'd rather wait for the bus.<br />
<br />
The slow and steady journey took about 20-25 minutes and I went off at the bus stop right in front of Pekan Rabu Complex. It was still very early, shops were still closed so I decided to take a walk around the city and have some look-see and get some bearings.<br />
<br />
I was surprised to find out that Alor Setar has many old Chinese shoplots, like the ones we'd find in Melaka or Georgetown. There was a Pekan Cina and Pekan Melayu section as well. After trudging around I found the shop that sells the infamous Nasi Lemak Royale (something I was introduced to on Twitter!) so that was breakfast.<br />
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I did not have any map in hand so I just followed the road signages - which led me to the Tourism Malaysia office and information counter. I got maps and guides there which were a help, especially the Heritage Trail. I also was given a Food Trail Guide, alas, while some were within the city, most were open at night and one would need transportation. I decided to go to Mee Abu for lunch later.<br />
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Tun M's family house. Well maintained within a small complex of its own. I enjoyed spending time here - maybe because I had lower expectations :-\ </div>
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An old building which still has its Hotel signage - didn't look like it was still in operations. </div>
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Old Balai Polis.</div>
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Old Post Office. </div>
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Tourism Malaysia Complex. </div>
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Masjid Zahir. What a beautiful building! I think, the most beautiful mosque in the country. Quiet, understated elegance. Chic colours. Very Chanel, I thought.</div>
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Wat .. something. This was on the way to Mee Abu place under the hot hot sun! </div>
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Okay. I forgot the name of this Pintu Gerbang, it is a replica though. I think the original was burnt down. </div>
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Muzium Diraja? I did not go in. </div>
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Inside Pekan Rabu, offering all sorts of Malay attire and food items and snacks - didn't buy anything. </div>
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Gerbang - Pekan Cina on the left and Pekan Melayu on the right. </div>
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Clock Tower.</div>
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Nasi Lemak Royale, which is actually more of a nasi kandar. RM5.50. </div>
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The crowd was non-stop the whole morning, dine-ins as well as take-aways.</div>
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Mee Abu. plus teh-o-ais, RM5.20 . More like a mee rebus.</div>
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Apparently also favoured by the royalty here.</div>
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Cendol at Pekan Rabu food court. RM2.00.</div>
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After the cendol I decided to take the afternoon bus back to KL. It was a looong journey, I feel asleep a few times but I remember we passed through Taiping and at an R&R for a 30 minute rest. Reached KL at 9:30 pm, and felt really tired so I showered and rested before calling it a day.<br />
<br />
To get to Alor Setar:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: white;">buy tickets from the counters at Pudu Sentral. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">tickets are from RM39.00 one-way.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">get a single seater, more comfortable.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">buses are freezing cold, bring a jacket.</span></li>
</ul>
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With that I have one more state to do - Perlis! The Kayangan state! (though when I mentioned this, someone remarked '<i>but there's nothing to see in Perlis'. </i>Oh, great :-\ </div>
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But I'll keep it on my list anyway. Who knows? :)</div>
</div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-64872536846961380442012-06-22T11:11:00.000+08:002012-06-22T11:11:00.042+08:00Things That Make Me Happy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In no particular order.<br />
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And by no means exhaustive.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZWk9LAUI/AAAAAAAAFK8/C4PjCjcwbE0/s1600/IMGP3874.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511026444686000450" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZWk9LAUI/AAAAAAAAFK8/C4PjCjcwbE0/s320/IMGP3874.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Being in a bookstore</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZWD_J8dI/AAAAAAAAFK0/NUbBWDxybFg/s1600/11032010970.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511026435835949522" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZWD_J8dI/AAAAAAAAFK0/NUbBWDxybFg/s320/11032010970.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<i>Bows on shoes.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZVTaxvyI/AAAAAAAAFKs/FnuFoLfDd3E/s1600/080420101051.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511026422798466850" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZVTaxvyI/AAAAAAAAFKs/FnuFoLfDd3E/s320/080420101051.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Double rainbows.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsVhXDk6EI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/w9KySVYCzHI/s320/17-happy-dance.jpg" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Calvin and Hobbes. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZVEoXYrI/AAAAAAAAFKk/R0gKd4raJoU/s1600/160420101068.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511026418828927666" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZVEoXYrI/AAAAAAAAFKk/R0gKd4raJoU/s320/160420101068.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Avocados.</i></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZUrzSvzI/AAAAAAAAFKc/ackaQsPXiz0/s1600/Up+carl+and+ellie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511026412163874610" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsZUrzSvzI/AAAAAAAAFKc/ackaQsPXiz0/s320/Up+carl+and+ellie.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 160px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Watching UP. Actually this made me cry too.</i></div>
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<div>
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsVif5LxmI/AAAAAAAAFKU/UhbhzZsnWDE/s1600/jm+heart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511022251439015522" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAc8L31mbIY/THsVif5LxmI/AAAAAAAAFKU/UhbhzZsnWDE/s320/jm+heart.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jason Thomas Mraz :)</i></div>
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<i>Friends.</i></div>
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<i>Books. Lots of 'em.</i></div>
</div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-11034738519240889732012-06-20T11:11:00.000+08:002012-06-20T11:11:00.399+08:00INDIA : Taj and Go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I know I'd be excited to see Taj Mahal. In fact, we agreed that if anything happens to our plans, Taj Mahal must stay on the to-do list.<br />
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But nothing prepared me for that first glimpse as you go through the gate.<br />
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Wow.<br />
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I mean, really. Oh wow.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and I am not that easily bowled over)</span></i><br />
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Whether it is really a monument dedicated to love, I am doubtful. For me, it was built by a megalomaniac who made his subjects suffer for 22 years. And it was dark inside. Was it for the love of his wife, or himself?<br />
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I'd rather build a garden full of flowers and trees. Fountains and mini lakes. But then again, maybe at that time they still had forests everywhere so a building would be a grander choice. Maybe.<br />
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Leave it to me to spoil your romantic impressions of the Taj, haha<br />
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Anyway, of course it IS a superbly magnificent building, architecturally (sp?). Dear Taj Mahal, you're off my list. Been there done that.</div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607039865722460682.post-5561362284742054402012-06-18T10:37:00.000+08:002012-06-18T10:41:11.534+08:00India : Curry On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sue me.<br />
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I failed to honour my word that I would write 'soon' about my adventures in India, and hey look how time flies it's already 11 months since my trip there! *hangs head in shame*<br />
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Well, life and work and other stuff came in the way (lame pathetic excuses I know) hence the hiatus. In recent weeks I have been contemplating a 'return' and today is the day I finally get off my lazy arse and post my first entry for 2012 can you believe it?<br />
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I would still like to talk about India at some point ... hmm, how about now? Maybe I'll just mention the highlights?<br />
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What I can still quite clearly remember about India is the food. Yummy. You know I do enjoy Indian food - spice and curry and all. Of all things that I worried about before the trip was catching the infamous Delhi Belly. That would just ruin everything not to mention the unpleasant blah of suffering in a foreign land while on the move. Thus the week before we left I armed myself with a mini-pharmacy of medications in case I get a tummy bug. Well I ended up not using any. Thank God! But one can never be too sure so it is a good idea to pack with you oral salts, lomotils, antacids and what nots, in addition to panadols, minyak angin, ubat sapu, band-aids and other things you might need when faced with a minor medical emergency.<br />
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Back to the food.<br />
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Jipp, my travel buddy said I am the Bold, Adventurous One when it came to eating choices. Yes I am, thank you very much :) (So Mourinho-like, eh?) I was very very wary at first but after a few meals I caved in and gave in to my curiosity and took the risk of trying some street food.<br />
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Here's a rundown of what we ate. (I am having trouble uploading the pictures with this new Blogger format. Dang. How to tell a story about food without visuals? Im-possible)<br />
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<i> Our late night dinner was at Pahar Ganj. Why I do not have a picture of that I don't remember. Up in a restaurant that had a steep and narrow staircase. Appropriately named Mount Everest Restaurant.</i></div>
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<i>We ate this on the train to Agra. It was lovely. The vegetable cutlet is the most delicious cutlet I have ever eaten. Alas, it was only one serving :( I was quietly disappointed as I have a good breakfast appetite (there goes my secret).</i></div>
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<i>Our lunch in the only air-conditioned restaurant in Agra (for us on a backpackers budget). There was a steady waiting list. Everyone wanted to stay on after finishing their lunch because of the air-cond. </i></div>
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<i>While waiting for seats to be available at air-cond resto, (we were given an hour) I bought and ate this from the street vendor. Some kind of samosa. Cheap and tasty, but Jipp hated it ;-)</i></div>
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<i>This was dinner in Yashi Cafe, Agra - and there was a blackout. At first we were at another rooftop cafe but the service there was atrocious. Horrible. Rude even, I thought. They seemed more eager to serve the other tourists and leave us Asians waiting so we walked out. Oh, Taj Mahal during a blackout. What did that look like? I am trying to remember.</i></div>
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<i>Arriving in Jaipur, we were determined to seek out ANYTHING else other than curries for lunch. Fortune favours the brave, we were led to KFC! (well, we saw McDs first but the store was experiencing an electricity failure or something) And they had virgin mojitos!</i></div>
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<i>Lunch in Jaipur after a sweltering day out was at a restaurant near Jantar Mantar that's recommended in Lonely Planet (pinch of salt, nothing great actually) We ended up there as we were already sun-beaten and hot and grumpy. I do not have a picture of the food. Strange.</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>This was one of the meals we had at our hotel in Jaipur. The uncle there got used to our requests - roti, instant noodles (Maggi Masala!) chai masala etc. Simple and filling. </i></span></div>
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<i>This was a breakfast at one of the cafes along Pahar Ganj. Not bad. We had lunch here once as well I think. Not bad. I forgot the name. Something Bakery?</i></div>
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<i>Back in Delhi, we found the Golden Arches! Actually we made sure we locate McDs. It took effort you know. If you saw how excited we were, you'd think that this was our first McD experience! holy yum! I had the huge Chicken Maharaja for lunch. Thanks Jipp for the sundae!</i></div>
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<i>Best momos everrrrr. Well not that I eat them all the time but the momos from this stall on Pahar Ganj were the bomb. Simple straightforward flavours.</i></div>
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<i>This was an uninspiring dinner in Delhi. I ordered vegetarian noodles. It came like this and tasted like ... noodles drenched in tomato sauce.</i></div>
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<i>Our dinner feast in New Delhi. We re-ordered after delightfully discovering how tasty the tandoori was! I loved the jeera rice amd the aloo gobi.</i></div>
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<i>Alas, our final meal turned out to be .... Mc Donalds at the airport :D haha. We wanted to use up the balance of our rupees and McDs was within what we could afford.</i></div>
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<i>Okay I lied. Our very last rupees were used to purchase coffee! Turns out we had enough for one more coffee at Cafe Coffee Day.</i></div>
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I still need to ask Jipp for a picture of what I thought was my 'best achievement in India' - buying and drinking a huge glass of cold, fresh sugar cane juice from a street vendor outside of Masjid Jama. It was way too hot, it was way too crowded, I was sweating like a pig, it was a long wait to hail a tuktuk, there were many locals buying drinks there etc etc. I gave in. After a few minutes of quietly observing their preparations methods and decided it was acceptable, I went in for the kill.<br />
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I swear my thoughts then were, if anything is going to make me sick here, this is it. I told Jipp that if anything happened, please take me to the hospital. Again, I thank my lucky stars as I did not suffer from even a smidgen of stomach discomfort.<br />
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And I tell you one thing - it was refreshingly DELICIOUS. True story.<br />
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So that's some of the food we ate.<br />
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More India and others soon. Otherwise I owe each one of you a drink.<br />
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Chai masala, anyone? :)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Note : As this is written 11 months after the trip, any inaccuracies are to be blamed on old age. Thank you.</i></span></b></div>audhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17441075109672276572noreply@blogger.com3