2012 : Oh what a year

It has been a blessing for me being able to spend some time at home with family before 2012 end. Some how its balance up the year. I may not able to get the perfect balance (eg: 8 hours work + 8 hours play + 8 hours sleep) but I had enough time for everything. Like I said in previous post the 'perfect sweetness'.

I did achieved some of the main ingredient of my Happiness List. Yippie. I'm thankful and grateful for that. Challenges were there. A lot. Be it at work, family, friends and travel.  Be it with time and money. Whatever and whatsover, if i had reached the lowest, what else is there? Things gonna be better.

I met people with beautiful heart and somehow it build up my faith. I met people with disgusting attitude and somehow makes me more careful. I have new positive perspective in terms of my relationship with time, money and work and it refreshing. I'm no more the same old same old :)

13 countries in a year and Japan will always close to my heart. Japan is the turning point. The serendipity that i need. Just to recap my travelouge this year :

January : Singapore & Japan - Osaka and Kyoto

February : Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh

March : Thailand - Krabi

April  : Extra Work - CAT office :)

May : New Zealand - South Island

June : Italy & Switzerland

July : Thailand - Phuket

August : Maldives

Sept : Hong Kong & Macau

Oct : Turkey & Greece - Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos

Nov : Singapore

Dec : Indonesia - Aceh

Based on result, I travel in average once a month and all DIY style. How much in total i spent? Banyak gila. Oh tapi money cant buy the memories and experience, the lesson learned and somehow how it has changed me.

I do hope I always change, for good. No huge plan for 2013 but to continue my happiness list indeed.

Like i said last year

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be - Moses

Hello 2013. Happy New Year

For the young, the road is life

Cant help but to copy and paste an interesting article by Johan Jaaffar from NST online.

SEEK AN ADVENTURE: Don't let life and responsibilities hold you back from discovering what the world offers

WHEN is the best time to travel? When you are young, of course. No, I am not talking about those guided tours where you join a group of tired and bored tourists being dragged from one destination to another or staying in those tourist hotels. What I mean is really travelling the world, backpacking and hopping on a bus, ride a bicycle or just walk, and write about the experience.

Few of our young are actually taking the risk of losing jobs and careers to seek adventures.

It reminds me of someone I met in Afghanistan in the spring of 1989. He was a photojournalist from a newspaper company. He smuggled into Afghanistan and was bowled over by the bravery of the Mujahidin; he joined a group operating from Kabul and Herat. There were times when they were ambushed by president Najibullah's army. He stayed on for six months, lost his job, but did not regret it. He was a changed man after the experience.

One of Indonesia's best-known travel writer today is a young woman known only as Trinity. Her "NakedTraveller" series is a hit in Indonesia. Her first three books were about her travels to 44 countries and 30 provinces in Indonesia. She is somewhere in Brazil now, on a grand tour of Latin America. She sets a new standard in travel writing in her country; more importantly, a young woman travelling alone. And she travelled cheap. It cost her RM3,400 or RM566 a month or RM18 a day to travel in Europe for six month.

I did a bit of travelling after I lost my job as editor of a newspaper in 1998. I was almost 45 then. I wish I had been travelling the entire Indian sub-continent or took the trans-Siberian railway when I was younger. But the adventures awakened me. I was simply spending too much time working for others. I was not doing much to achieve my own dream: to see the world.

Wahab Hamzah was 48 when he journeyed through 21 countries in 113 days searching for birth places of Muslim scholars, thinkers and artisans. He spent all his savings (RM30,000) and he was very much enlightened by his experience. He took another leave and travelled through India early this year.

I wish many of our young can follow the footsteps of Mahandas Nagappan and Magendran Munisamy, who summited the highest mountain in the world in 1997. No Malaysians had done that before them. And we should all be envious of Muhamad Mugharabbin Mokhtaruddin or Qobin, who had climbed Everest in 2004. He lusted to conquer all the seven peaks in seven continents, which he did. His next quest is to climb all the hills and mountains mentioned in the Quran.

And of course there is Mohd Noor Mat Amin, the photojournalist from Utusan Melayu who had done something thought humanly impossible. To commemorate Malaysia's 50th independence in 2007, he attempted to climb Gunung Kinabalu 50 times in 50 days. He did it in 60 days due to bad weather and sickness.

In 2009, he did something even crazier -- he climbed Kinabalu 111 times in 111 days. He wasn't that young but his spirit and dedication should be an inspiration to the young. You don't expect Adnan Osman, at 70, doing the works for you -- cycling all the way to the Beijing and London Olympics or completing the Marathon of the Sands in the Sahara desert.

Many young people do dream of travelling, I am sure. But many of those dreams never materialised. Perhaps adventurism is not part of our trait. And travel literature as a genre is under-developed here. Or we are too comfortable to even think of succumbing to difficulties in foreign lands. I have always been encouraging the young to travel, climb mountains, ride a bicycle, go the Kon-Tiki way, cover a war, walk the entire distance of Australia or the Sahara, whatever.

When you are young, you are in total control of your life -- no worries, no responsibilities. Travelling opens your horizon, your worldview and your compassion for others. It is an opportunity to experience different cultures, meeting new people and understanding others. The world is an incredible place.

Forget about the comfort of your homes, your favourite mamak stalls or your familiar surroundings. It is about places and people in faraway lands.

So, no excuses, young men! Go see the world!

Original source here

Nota kaki 

This is so true and i'm not that young anymore to travel the world. Kan. The trans-Siberian railway... hmmm...

Missing you much, Maldives :(

30 August to 3 Sept 2012

Jom kita ke Maldives. Tempat yang di rindu bagai. Masih belum berkesempatan untuk share. Bila rasa penat kan, mesti rasa nak ke Maldives. A stress free destination. Cuma pocket je yang rasa stress :D Surely, i'm very grateful to be able to come back at different resort. This time during Merdeka day.

Day One

Kali ni tidak lah terbang dengan Sri Lanka Air dah. Naik MH terus. Dapat grab promo ticket. Kali ni nak cut cost sikit, tidur kat Male city one night. The other two nights kat resort. Keluar je airport dah ada yang menunggu. Lega. Al maklumlah sudah malam gelap. Then naik public ferry untuk ke City. Tak lah lama sangat. Maybe sebab sibuk memerhatikan local people. Then, naik teksi ke hotel.

Sampai hotel, diberikan cold towel and ginger tea. Lega rasa. Good news, they upgraded the room. Dapat gila besar bilik. Hebat. Diberinya Loft room. Tak lama terus pengsan, tidur.

Day Two

Pagi-pagi dapat email dari resort yang mengatakan ada tunjuk perasaan di city. Tidak digalakkan untuk keluar. Dari tingkap, kelihatan juga beberapa orang askar berjalan kaki. Terus saya tanyakan pada reception yang tersangat lah helpful dan suka berkongsi cerita. Katanya, ada sedikit tunjuk perasaan malam tadi. Tetapi tidaklah bahaya. Tunjuk perasaan di lakukan kerana perasaan tidak puas hati atas cara pertukaran pemimpin dilakukan. Seorang pemimpin atau parti yang menang mendapat empat tahun memerintah. Walaubagaimanapun, katanya telah berlaku perselisihan kerana yang sekarang memerintah telah ditamatkan walaupun masih ada satu tahun lagi. (Sebenarnya dah terlupa cerita versi panjang).

Keluar juga pagi itu.. melihat-lihat bandar Male yang majoriti 99% muslim. Katanya, rakyat Maldives hanya dibenarkan beragama Islam.

Laut yg dikepung menjadi swimming pool

Singgah sebentar di pasar. Mungkin kerna hari Jumaat, hari cuti pasar agak lengang. Hanya ada lelaki sahaja di pasar.

Hujan sudah mula turun. Maka melangkah kaki untuk pulang. Terserempak dengan beberapa orang kumpulan parti yang mungkin malam tadi berkumpul di situ. Interesting nya, bendera parti mereka adalah gabungan Barisan Nasional dan bersih. Tergelak sendiri saya.

Sampai di hotel, katanya mereka akan serve breakfast in room. Wah hebat x2. Tak pernah saya breakfast in bed gitu. While waiting for them setting up the table, saya sambung melepak. Fresh orange - memang terbaek. Haaa... mcm ni la rupa breakfast pagi tu.

Bagus kalau ada bibik kat rumah set upkan meja makan macam ni kaan. Check out dan kembali ke airport untuk menunggu speedboat ke resort.

Canggih speed boat ni. Patutlah mahal.

Hello @ Kurumba Resort

While waiting for the room, they give me ice cream. Yeay!

My favorite spot.

the bathroom is the highlight. Super nice

Petang itu, strolling along the beach and the island. Not that big actually.

Full moon @ Maldives

Day Three - Hello Seabed :)

Me not feeling good. Have been badly coughing. Batuk sampai penat. But its snorkeling time :) Maybe due  to my poor condition, i did not enjoy it. Snorkeling sambil muntah banyak kali.. heee teruk kan. Tapi maybe angin kot. Dalam boat dah rasa mabuk, tu yang termuntah, Two snorkeling and i'm done. Cuba nak ambik gambar pakai camera phone, tapi hopeless. Visibility pun tak seberapa, Back to my gorgeous room.

Petang tu decided to go for dolphins and sunset cruise. Punya lah ombak kuat. Rasa mabuk tak boleh nak kata. Sangat lah menduga. Mula-mula tu banya juga nampak dolphin. Lepas tu hilang dah semuanya. Banyak juga boat-boat lain disitu.

Katanya benda ni utuk elak mabuk laut. Tak de kesan pun.

A bit of challenge to take the photo

 Unfortunately, tiada sunset. Cuaca mendung. Pulang dengan sedikit hampa.

Muka mabuk kepayang

Day Four

Mengejar matahari pagi di hari terakhir. Santai day. No activity what so ever till the speedboat comes and get me. Sigh.

Saying goodbye to you is always hard :(  Leaving Maldives in rain.


Day Five

Arrived KLIA around six am and get ready to the office. Oh!

Location : Shah Alam Hwy, 43000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur,
Posted via Blogaway

21.12.2012

Are you counting the days?

Me.. Not. I even didn't realised all the hype about this untill my brother mentioned it.

Anyway, its pretty number kan. And yesterday was 20.12.2012 :)

Note : Finally managed to redeemed the so needed massage and it was good. Sure tidur lena malam ni. Happy me :)

Location : Bukit Jalil Hwy, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur,
Posted via Blogaway

Solo Trip : Aceh, a meaningful journey

14 to 16 Dec 2012

A short trip to Aceh before 2012 end. I cant help to feel nervous,  knowing that I need to trust strangers. I'm on my own. Solo.

Earlier, I planned to try something new by staying at the homestay. But then, somehow I sense that the owner wants to charge me extra. Plus, I have to depends on the owner transportation to move around. Kind of leceh. So ended up I booked with Agoda, Oasis Atjeh Hotel for 2 nights including return airport transfer.

Day One

Parked my car at RM 16/ day parking and off I go @ 10.35am flight. Ada dua pasukan bola dlm flight - Kelantan dan Selangor. Katanya lawan persahabatan. After satu setengah jam, sampai di Aceh.

Maybe its me. I find some comfort if I know that someone will be waiting at the airport to pick me up. Unfortunately, the hotel driver was late. Terpinga-pinga saya sebentar dengan ulat-ulat teksi yang byk, yg tak henti menyapa saya. I dress consrvatively, tried to blend in with local. Tapi gagal nampaknya.

Sampai hotel, rest sebentar. Kemudian meminta hotel carikan saya becak. Mahu ke pantai Lumpuuk untuk sunset. Saya berdebar-debar juga. Bolehkah saya percaya pembawa becak ni. Namanya Iwan. Saya rasa dia dua puluhan. Tapi air wajahnya menceritakan kesukaran kehidupannya.

Macam-macam rasa naik becak bermotor. Seram pun ada jugak. Jauh juga. Hampir sejam. Layan.

Sawah Padi

sekarang ni musim durian 

Singgah di Longkha Beach terlebih dahulu

Quiet beach it is

Then -  Lampuuk Beach. Minum air kelapa while waiting for sunset. Tapi cuaca nak hujan. Tak muncul pun sun nya :(

Lampuuk beach

Pulang sedikit hampa. Hujan sudah rintik rintik. Sebelum pulang ke Masjid Baiturrahman. Ketika Tsunami dahulu, masjid ini tidak apa-apa. Mejadi tempat lindungan.

Day

and night

A bit of struggle to take photos as its raining. Lepas Maghrib terus minta dihantar pulang. Sudah capek. Bilang sama Iwan untuk ambil saya jam 1.30 pm esok. Mahu putar putar tempat tsunami. Saya rasa selesa dengannya. Tidak begitu ramah, cakap yang perlu dan sopan. Jika dapat yang pakcik pakcik yg bawa becak, sukar juga.

Day Two

Saya bangun lewat. Sakit kepala pulak. Mungkin kerana hujan.  Layan HBO sampai terlambat nak turun breakfast.

Destinasi pertama untuk hari ini Museum Tsunami. Baru lebih kurang setahun dibuka. Masa mula melangkah masuk ada seakan terowong gelap. Bila melaluinya, ada sedikit titisan air bersama bacaan Quran. Bagus idea itu. Bagi feel sikit.

Segala informasi tentang tsunami ada disini. Pejam celik sudah lapan tahun sudah.

Gambaran situasi semasa Tsunami

Kapal nelayan yg terdampar di desa Lampulo menyelamatkan 59 org penumpangnya

Masjid Lampisang, satu-satunya bangunan di daerah Lampuuk Yang selamat dari terjangan Tsunami

Lukisan - Tsunami dimata Perupa Aceh

Rasa menyayat hati yang melampau. Saya tanya kan iwan dimana dia ketika tsunami? Katanya dia dipasar. Tapi sempat lari menyelamatkan diri. Ketika bercerita, tiada riak sedih dimukanya. Mungkin kerna sudah lama. Sudah tersimpan jauh semua rasa-rasa itu.

Next - Kapal Elektrik PLTD Apung yang hanyut hampir 10km dari pantai.

Masjid Baiturrahim, yang gah berdiri ketika tsunami

Nice view otw to Ulee Lheue beach

Next - Ulee Lheue beach

Di kawasan pantai, terlalu ramai yang jual jagung bakar. Kenapa jual yg sama ya? Di sini lebih meriah, lebih ramai orang

My jagung bakar in the making

Next - Kapal nelayan di atas rumah

Next - ke Pasar Aceh

Canggih cara bawa durian

The one and only mall - Harmes Palace mall

Lepas membeli sedikit barang, saya sudah mahu pulang. Capek. Memberi tips dan bayaran buat iwan. He has been good. Makes my experience here pleasant and safe. Mana tidaknya, dia ikut sahaja saya ke mana mana. Macam bodyguard pun ada. Padahal dia tak perlu ikut saya. Boleh tunggu di becak. Terima kasih ya.

Sampai hotel, kunci kamar pula tak jumpa. Hmmm.. esok sajalah saya berurusan dengan reception. Hari ini internet connection sangat bagus. Tak seperti semalam. Berjaya saya update my travelogue before sampai kl. Caya lah.

Aceh telah bangun semula selepas tsunami. Saya kira pembangunannya juga agak cepat. Bangunan sekitar kotanya sudah banyak. Tidak terasa bahawa lapan tahun sudah semua ini tiada. Kosong dan musnah. Bangunnya kota Aceh itu sudah sama maju dengan bandar Ho Chi Minh.

Esok pesawat jam 11.30 am. Terima kasih Aceh. Good learning and meaningful trip it is. I feel grateful with what I have now. Selamat malam. Jumpa esok KL.

Update

I did get my room key back. Someone from the security at Tsunami Museum returned it back to the hotel. Whoa. Alhamdulillah. Seeeeeee, have faith in people. Terima kasih banyak. Budi baik di kenang jua. Beside lesson learned from Tsunami tragedy, I guess kindness of Iwan and security man will also be remembered :)