Phuket Trip: Il Dolce Far Niente

13 July to 16 July 2012

Impromptu trip to Phuket turns out great. After days of preparation and melayan VIPs, I'm totally drained. So in Phuket, I had a great time of doing nothing :) Betul. I'm a lazy bear. All I do is hibernate. Kind of surprised with my own ability of not doing anything. Everything turns into a slower pace. No plans or itinerary in mind. Free and easy style.

Arrived Phuket late evening and journey from the airport to Patong beach took about one hour. Banyak ulat-ulat yang menunggu, nasib si pemandu sudah sedia menunggu. Rasa selesa dan selamat. Maklum lah, banyak sangat mendengar cerita ditipu pemandu teksi.

The Nap Hotel was excellent. I have no complaints what so ever. The hotel has its own special promotions which give more value for money (with same price @ agoda, booking.com and hotel.com, you can get free return airport transfer, in room wifi, breakfast and daily free minibar). I like the white colour base with the hint of blue combination. Relax and soothing. Room was spacious, cozy and comfy. Like.

The turtle says hello :)

The open space counter and lepak place. Nice

All rooms have its own special turtle

View from my balcony. Cant wait going to the beach

Check in dan letak bag, terus keluar. Mahu pusing pusing keliling. Tapi sebab sudah terasa letihnya, tak lah jauh mana pusingan nya. Yalah, tadi dari office terus ke airport. Tapi sempat juga buat foot massage (THB 200) untuk sejam.Warm up. Rasa nak tertidur pun ada.

SELAMAT PAGI PATONG :)

I woke up late and heading to the bar where they serve the breakfast. Punya la malas, sampai tak mandi. Sepatutnya mahu bangun awal dan ke beach tengok sunrise, tapi tak pe masih banyak hari lagi. As usual, my morning breakfast consist of coffee, omlette without meat, toasted bread, baked potato, juice and fruits. Lapar sangat sebab malam tadi tak makan :)

Nice kan, it's actually where u put off your cigarette

The balcony that I love. I can hear the music from here

Selesai breakfast, saya sambung tidur sampai tengah hari hehehe. Kemuadian buat research sikit and get ready for massage. Yeay!. Jauh tempat yang mahu dituju. Kata google 3km. Cuaca boleh tahan panasnya. Tapi sebab tempat massage ni kat trip advisor di tempat pertama, gagahkan juga sambil window shopping.

Since tempat tu tersorok, banyak kali juga bertanya orang. Tapi sampai juga. Tempatnya biasa biasa sahaja tapi bersih dan berbau harum. Tidak banyak pilihan jika di lihat di menu. Saya memilih 2 jam aromatherapy (THB 700). Memang puas hati lah. Si tukang urut sangat cermat, tidak kasar dan point yang di tekan memang kena. Suasana pun selesa, tanpa bunyi bising dan iringan music yang relax. Highly recommended - Sweet Lemongrass Massage (unfortunately they did not have any website). Pulang menaiki tuk-tuk kerna tak sanggup berjalan jauh (THB200). Agak mahal sebenarnya, tapi tiada option.

Malam itu mahu makan makanan thai. Hasil pencarian di internet, maka saya mahu mencari restoran thai/kelantan yang katanya tersangat sedap - Kusuma. Jalan punya jalan tak jumpa. Dalam pada berjalan itu, melihat lihat night life kat Patong - memang ha-pening. Ada shopping mall dan cinema juga pub dan yang similar. Merata-rata mat saleh berpacaran bersama local Thai, juga yang sejenis dan tak lupa ladyboy :) Hampir nak putus asa, tetiba stranger yang di tanya tahu pula tempat yang mahu dituju. Rupa-rupanya, restoran Kusuma tu dekat gila dengan hotel. Cumanya saya berjalan ke arah yang bertentangan (ikut google map yang tak berapa betul). Tomyam seafood dan telur dadar jadi pilihan. Tak berani nak order banyak sebab takut tak sedap. Tapi memang betul. Sedap betul :) Cuma nya sangat malas utk mengambil gambar. Malam itu tidur dengan sangat lena dek penangan 2 jam massage :) zzZZzzzzzzzzzz

HELLO BEACH

Bangun pagi, terus ke beach. Tak ada pun sunrise. So jalan-jalan sendiri layan tangkap gambar. Papan tanda amaran Tsunami masih banyak. Kedai-kedai dan payung-payungan untuk bersantai di pantai masih belum terpasang. Kelihatan juga yang berjogging di persisiran pantai.

Asking for prayers

quiet beach in the morning

early bird gets the worm

Starting the day

partially done, umbrella please

Tengah hari itu, panas terik tapi keluar juga. Mahu lihat-lihat dan membeli kiranya tertarik. Kebanyakan yang menjual bukannya local tetapi rasanya pendatang dari India/bangla. Kalau rajin dan punya skill tawar menawar boleh lah shopping bagai. Tapi tidak utk saya. Tak berapa selesa apabila bargain. Barangan yang dijual sebenarnya hampir sama sahaja. Singgah untuk pedicure (THB 250). Average sahaja. Tapi saya suka colour merah jambu yang saya pilih :) Nice.

Petang itu, dari balcony saya dapat lihat matahari bulat terik. Apabila semakin hampir, saya ke pantai lagi untuk sunset. Lebih meriah di waktu petang. Ada para-sailing dan jet ski. Berjalan sendirian menyusuri pantai yang di penuhi dengan pelbagai ragam manusia.

hard work at the beach

I'm amazed with the sunset. Ianya sempurna. Saya seakan obsess, akan tetapi tidak melihat sesiapa pun memegang camera di sekeliling saya. Tak sia-sia saya menunggu. Yep, I have cumpulsive disorder in regards to things that shine :)  Let the photos do the talking.

lying down while watching the sunset

awesome kan :)

I see Orange

See the movement

Setelah itu bersiap sedia untuk massage sekali lagi. Kali ini yang di dalam Jungceylon shopping mall. Decided untuk mencuba hot herbal compress + aromatherapy massage (THB880) for two hours. Unfortunately, its such a let down. Big time. Tiada apa yang positive utk dikatakan. Kalau ikutkan hati mahu sahaja saya katakan pada situkang urut untuk berhenti. Entahlah. Tak suka langsung. Nasib baik juga satu jam yang seterusnya tetiba entah kenapa jadi facial reflexology pulak. Ada baiknya. Sebab badan sudah tidak tertahan sakit rasanya. :( Saya tak berapa ingat, mungkin namaya Montra. Mungkin dia sudah penat, maka terasa kasar.

Malam terakhir celebrate dengan makan besar di Kusuma. Menunya : tom yam goong, telur dadar, ikan siakap masak cili dan udang sos bawang putih. Licin. 

Sampai di hotel, lepak di bar mendengar live band sehingga lewat malam. Pilihan lagu agak sentimental, tapi layan je. Holiday kan. Secara jujurnya, hotel ini mengingatkan saya kepada hotel di Maldives. The coziness and the pleasant warm feeling by the staff. Memang tidak sehebat Maldives, tapi yang bestnya saya tidak perlu terbang jauh plus mini barnya di replenish setiap hari. Setiap hari minum coke, sprite dan pineapple juice :)

GOODBYE PHUKET :(

Awal pagi sudah bangun. Tidak mahu kelam kabut. Sampai KLIA terus berkejaran mengambil erl untuk ke TBS dan terus ke office. Plan asal cuti satu hari. Tapi tidak mengapa, ada meeting jam 2.30 pm. Sampai depan pintu cukup cukup jam 2.34 pm :) Tanpa berlengah, terus re-set minda ke perihal kerja.

Thank you Phuket, you have thought me how to do nothing :)

I am weary and tired

Reflection of the twin tower

but not yet broken.

'Keep your chin up. Dont take your troubles to bed with you - hang them on a chair with your trousers or drop them in a glass of water with your teeth' - anynomous

Perlahan berkata dalam hati : I have been paid for all this :) So JJL - Jangan Jadi Lembik. Hot shower and old pillow are just what i need. Perfect.

Awesome sunset view from The Troika, KLCC

Royal Belum Rainforest: A humble journey

9 Nov 2011 to 13 Nov 2011

Love the reflection @ the lake

Five days journey to the forest makes me realised all the basic ingredients of living. A humble yet full of flavour. I have yet to share the photos and story and here it goes:


Day One and Two

Travel by van that night entah kenapa seems like forever. Rasa macam naik Catamaran. Tak sampai-sampai. Finally arrived safely early morning and after breakfast check out Jabatan Perhilitan Perak to take our permit and finalised our itinerary.

Belang Belong turns into Belum

Jadi student for an hour :)

The resort - nice and comfy

Checking aroud the resort, rafting anyone?

I want to see Rafflesia, please

 

The House Boat

Like the brown shade

Boat ride for night watch, hoping to see elephant and tiger maybe?

Malam itu tidak dapat melihat apa-apa hanya kedengaran ranting patah dek gajah. Torch light kurang power, tried hard to spot any creatures but unsuccessful. Pulang sedikit hampa.

 

Day Three





Awal pagi, menaiki 4x4 untuk ke rumah orang asli. Lebih kurang sejam lebih. Cuaca terik, tetapi bernasib baik duduk di sebelah driver (psst... ada aircond :)

The road, nak isi petrol pun kena ada skill :)

The kids @ school

Smile :)

Ada kisah yang mencuit hati apabila sampai di rumah orang asli. Ya lah.. perjalanan agak jauh dan jalan tanah merah agak teruk. Bila sahaja sampai di rumah orang asli, jalan bertukar tar. Macam ada magic. Kami tidak terus turun apabila sampai. Saya tidak turun kerana melihat-lihat pada anjing yang agak banyak. Takut juga digigit nanti. Jadi, menantikan rakan-rakan di belakang turun dahulu. 

Tetiba, Pak Samad si ketua kampung terus menyambut kami dengan kata-kata yang kuat dan amat manis sekali - ' Kalau tak nak turun baik balik aje'. Haha... terbaek lah. Terus lintang pukang kami turun.

Seorang rakan juga terkena kata-kata manis Pak Samad apabila cuba meminjam pen utk menulis di guest book - 'Saya ingatkan kamu sekolah tinggi tinggi tahu bawa pen. Karang kalau saya sambung cakap lagi marah pulak'...hehe..

Selesai semua, kami pulang ke resort dan packing. Malam ini kami tidur camping style di Sungai Enam Base Camp. Singgah sebentar di town utk membeli makanan mentah utk makan malam dan breakfast. Kemudiannya menaiki bot dan diteruskan dengan trekking lebih kurang sejam. Nak kata sukar sangat tidak lah. Masih boleh handle. Cuma sebab dah malam dan baru lepas hujan, kurang selesa, hati terasa mahu cepat sampai.

Malam itu kami masak ayam masak merah dan sayur. Pak Long yang menjaga camping site, dengan baik hati membersihkan ikan sungai utk digoreng sebagai lauk tambahan kami. Kalau tak silap namanya ikan ayam. Sembang-sembang dengan Pak Long, tentang hutan.

Sungai Enam memang basic habis tapi at least masih ada toilet dan tempat mandi. Itu sudah cukup bagus buat saya. Malam itu kami tidur di camp bed beramai-ramai. Entah. Mungkin penat atau mungkin kerana bunyi air sungai, tidur saya sangat nyenyak malam itu. Terpaling nyenyak seingat saya. Betul. Sampai sekarang saya masih ingat.

My 5 star bed in blue...ZzzZZ

Day Four

 The next morning, baru boleh lihat dengan jelas disekeliling camp site.

Back to Basic

Bilik air dengan hiasan keladi. Hebat dan real.

Pagi itu, kami terlambat bangun dan  Pak Long sudah siapkan sarapan pagi kami -  nasi goreng. Malu juga. Roti yang kononnya nak buat sandwich masih di atas bot. Lain rasanya menikmati kopi kampung kaww di waktu pagi di dalam hutan. Ada feeeel sikit.

Kami meneruskan perjalanan dan berharap untuk melihat sang burung engang aka hornbill.

Mengingatkan saya kepada Mulu, camp 5

I feel calm

Yeay! Jumpa juga, tapi jauh nun.

Iklan: Gunakan KAPS untuk membunuh sang pacat

Naik bot, turun bot. Begitulah kami sepanjang trip ini. Bak kata tour guide kami, asal naik bot hujan, asal hujan, naik bot :) Cuaca tidak menentu. Tiba-tiba hujan boleh jadi lebat gila.

Kerana dek rumah orang asli yang terdahulu agak sudah moden, kami meneruskan misi ke rumah orang asli yang lebih asli. Oh ya. Kalau ke rumah orang asli, jangan lupa bawa buah tangan. Nasib baik sampai sahaja di sini, hujan reda. Lihat lah kehidupan mereka.

Basuh pinggan pun ada view :)

Manisnya senyumanmu

:)

I have lots of stories to tell, care to listen?

Sukan selepas hujan

My attempt to be Angelina Jolie :D

Selesai tugasan, kami menaiki bot menuju Sungai Papan, Royal Belum. Air tasik bertukar hijau. Cantik dan tenang.

Spot the King Fish

This is one of the offices, can you imagine working here?

Sampai semula di resort, kami kelaparan bagai. Makan malam tak ingat. Semua terasa sedap.


Day Five

Kami bergerak awal pagi itu. Mahu bertemu si cantik manis Refflesia dan berkelah di air terjun. Seperti biasa, kami naik bot :)

Untuk sampai ke air terjun, perlu trekking. Biasalah saya. Habis moziguard saya sembur satu badan. Takut pacat. Tapi bak kata rakan saya, masuk hutan kononnya untuk jumpa flora dan fauna, tapi sembur satu badan nak menghalau serangga. Tak ke tak berapa betul tu.

Sira Gajah

Dalam perjalanan, terdapat kesan laluan gajah dan juga poo mereka yang masih agak fresh bersepah-sepah. Kami berjalan perlahan kerana risau in case we bump into the wild elephant. Sira Gajah / Salt Lick adalah kawasan di mana terdapatnya garam mineral yang diperlukan oleh gajah dan juga haiwan yang lain untuk diet dan pemakanan seimbang mereka. Mereka akan berkunjung untuk menjilat mineral ini.

Refflesia: Tiada yang kembang, hanya kobis nya sahaja. Sedih.

Cendawan hutan

Selesai sudah, kami pulang ke resort dan melepak di House Boat. Boleh memuatkan maximum 16 orang. Package 2D1N include fishing, kayaking, picnic etc. Check it out.

Sepanjang saya disini, ramai sungguh pelancong luar. Berbas-bas yang datang. Saya kira, ini adalah satu kelebihan Malaysia. Rugi kalau tidak pernah ke Taman Negara. Paling tidak, mesti cuba sekali seumur hidup. Berbaloi :)

See Things Differently

This is how easy my darling niece changed her perspective :)

In need of a fresh start with new positive eyes. To see the same things differently.

Story : "A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea"

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea.

She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The Oolong tea was unique, however.

After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water color and taste.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the Oolong tea?

The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?

Step Up and make the most of everything. Kan.

Real Mermaids from the Sea

I have my 'wow' moment while reading the story about these women divers of Jeju, Korea. Yes, they are real alive mermaid goddesses. Look at this photo, it explains everything. photo & story here

Ini baru real SuperHero, bawa Octopus

Super tak berapa Hero :)

 I was in the plane reading Airasia magazine and the article moved me. I could not found the same article over the internet but found other article written by X-Ray magazine. This is how they make a living - the hard way. Wow.


Excerpt below. Full article also could not be downloaded. Don't know why.

The island of Jeju, Korea, is an island of myths, gods and goddesses. It is also the birthplace of the women divers of Jeju. Although the women divers of Jeju are not the goddesses of myths, they are real alive mermaid goddesses.

The women divers of Jeju have been diving—diving without breathing equipment for centuries. It is not exactly known when the first women divers appeared, but ancient shrines honoring women divers indicate that they began gathering food from the sea prior to the Common Era. Historical documents from the Three Kingdoms period, which lasted between the 4th and 7th century, mention the women divers of Jeju.

The name for these women divers, in Korean, is haenyeo. It literally means ‘women of the sea’. Traditionally, the women wore only a simple home-sewn white linen combination of pants and a top with lead weighted vests where they tucked the specialized tools of their trade.

Precise rituals ensure the women’s survival as they free dive in all kinds of weather searching for shell fish and special seaweeds. The divers stay submerged for two to three minutes at depths of 10 to 30 meters with only a float, or taewak, to mark their position. A bag, or mangsiri, that attaches to the float holds the day’s catch. Although the diving tradition continues today, the women now take advantage of modern wetsuits, fins and goggles.

When the divers surface, they make a unique shrill, high-pitched whistling sound that is their way of expelling carbon dioxide from their lungs and breathing in the fresh air.

The women divers usually work in groups. During breaks and at the end of the day, they retire to their bulteok. Although the word means ‘bonfire’ in Korean, a bulteok serves as much more than that. It is a term which signifies an open-air dressing room. It also serves as a place where the women meet to exchange information, opinions and foster the diving profession.

Diving is still an excellent source of income, and as a consequence, the women divers enjoy more freedom, independence and self-respect than other Korean women.

There is a special ranking among the women divers. Group A are the most able divers. Groups B and C are divided based on experience, character and capability. The groups determine who dives from shore, from boats (to 15 meters) and those who specialize in deep diving (more than 20 meters).

As the women gather around the bonfire, their seating position in the bulteok reflects their position within their group. When a diver is upgraded, her seating position is changed.

Although the working environment of the women divers has not changed appreciably over time, the bulteok has changed. Along with improved diving gear, they have updated their dressing rooms to permanent structures with modern heating. However, the hierarchy of the bulteok is still in practice.

When a diver loses her life, the women stop diving for a while. If they find the body, they have a funeral, but if they fail to find the body, a shaman is invited to soothe the soul of the body and send it to heaven. The shaman also performs an exorcism to prevent evil spirits from preventing further disasters.

A Place I Called Home is

now 5 years old :)

Terasa mahu ke belakang dan berkonsi cerita tentang apartment yang saya beli pada Feb 2005. Bukan apa, office sedang di makeover setelah 13 tahun. Excited dengan perubahan setakat ini. Berdebar debar juga. Di tambah lagi tuan punya office mahu di surprise :) Harap-harap apa yang di rancang dan diimaginasikan menjadi kenyataan.

Entry ini bukanlah untuk menunjuk-nunjuk. Intention hanya mahu berkongsi kisah. Masa beli, masih tiada ada apa-apa yang telah atau sedang dibina. Kosong. Cuma ada rumah contoh. Sebenarnya gerun juga, apa lagi mendengar kisah-kisah developer yang tidak menyiapkan rumah on time. Waktu itu pun bukan lah berkeperluan sangat mahu rumah, tapi dalam hati mahu punya rumah sendiri sebelum cecah 30 tahun :) 

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang~ but i love my old familiar pillow :p

Penat rasa menyewa pun ada. Kalau diingat dah jadi kelakar. Apa taknya, antara kisah yg paling terkesan ialah dipaksa pindah oleh tuan rumah dan kemudiannya dalam kelam kabut tu terpaksa menyewa bilik tapi tak sampai seminggu kena halau, kononnya too crowded. Bayangkan, rasa macam lost, sebab tidak tahu mahu ke mana. Nak cari rumah yang mampu di sewa bukan mudah. Tapi tak pe. Alhamdullilah. Itulah pengalaman kan. Pindah dua kali dalam masa sebulan :)

Berbalik kepada cerita asal, as early bird, dapat lah additional satu lagi aircond dan dapat memilih apt yang hujung sekali, punya space sedikit. Pilih package fully furnished kerana rasanya lebih mudah. Location pun bagus, dekat utk melawat arwah nenek, dekat utk pulang ke kampung dan dekat dengan office (apabila jalan short cut siap dibina). 

Banyak urusannya bila beli rumah ni rupanya. Lepas bayar deposit, bersiap sedia dengan 10% down payment, lepas tu mencari saudagar bank dan akhirnya sang lawyer. Oh bayaran nya juga lumayan. Nasib baik beli yang belum di bina, makanya monthly installment pun ikut progress development.

Ready for some touch up

Akhirnya, May 2007 siap sudah terbina. Apa lagi, mula lah kerja-kerja installation dan lain-lain. Serius steress gila. Semuanya perlu decide dan handle sendiri. Nasib baik dapat Uncle Danny - si Kontraktor yang tidak sangat berkira (oh mungkin juga dah masuk dalam bill). Setiap kali ada barang yang mahu di hantar atau diinstall (dari perabut, barangan elektrik, aircond, grill dsb) dialah yang tolong lihat dan QC. Kerjanya juga pantas, dari cat mengecat, tiles, cornish hinggalah perkara remeh sekecil mentol semua disiapkan.

In the making

Rasa puas hati, excited dan lega bila selesai. Alhamdulliah. Allah permudahkan urusan saya. Banyak $$ juga yang saya habiskan. Itu pun dah cuba berjimat gila dan rumah ni pun kan fully furnished.

Nothing much changed since then - house warming, raya Oct 2007

Now sebab dah lima tahun, sampai masa untuk maintenance dan spring cleaning. Balik dari Italy, checked mailbox dapat surat cinta. Surprise. Dari sang lawyer dan developer. Perlu bayar RM2,000 untuk settle kan - Perfection of Transfer. Hmmmm... begitulah kan. Apa pun, I'm grateful :)