Unexpected

Just came back from Ulaanbaatar a few days back.

A life changing trip I would say as it is not the usual holiday or work trip that I went previously.

I went with the main aim of assisting (in any way that I can) a group of medical personnel (doctors, nurses and pharmacists) to do some medical screening for the poor and/or homeless people there.

It was tiring but rewarding trip with a feel of extreme satisfaction whenever we could help someone in need.

Friendship was also formed among the group and I guess I should say that I gain a bonus on this trip, which is something totally unexpected.

Updates on my life

Hey guys....

It has been a while since I update this blog. Sorry if you have been waiting.

Life has been exceptionally busy due to work in office. But I guess I am lucky enough to managed one backpacking trip so far. Yes, I went backpacking to China and I visited three cities there. The three cities are Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou. It is one great experience since China is where my root is, even though I am more Malaysian.

And, going there when spring is just starting to move in, I experience something I never experience before, Subzero temperature. One word would explained that particular experience... FREEZING. 

I thought my trip to Paris would have prepared me for it but I was darn wrong. The coldness can really make me freeze there.

The places that I visited is definitely worth it and I must says Hangzhou is the best of it all...

What is a flashpacker, anyway?

Those who know me know that I would not hesitate to hop onto a plane one day and go to a place that is completely new to me. To many people, I am like a backpacker, going anywhere for a trip with just a backpack with me. But backpacker define half of me only. In real term, I am a flashpacker more than a backpacker.

"What is a flashpacker?" you are asking in your head now...

In short, flashpacker is a backpacker who has the ability to spend abit more so that more comfort could be attained during the trip.

Flashpacker would:

1. opt for a private room instead of sharing the dorm
2. travel on a plane instead of overland transportation like trains or buses
3. eat at mid-range restaurant or cafe instead of stall by the roadside

* these are some things that flashpacker may do but it still depend on the person himself

Another way of identifying a flashpacker would be the amount of electronic gadgets he would bring on a trip. While a backpacker might not bring much, a flashpacker would most likely to have the following with him:

1. Camera - dSLR or EVIL are the choice of flashpackers. While some may opt for a compact point and shoot, it would have to be on the higher end camera. Flashpacker would not settle for average. They want the photos to be better.
2. Cellphone / Mobile phone - Another essential for flashpacker as the prefer to be able to stay connected to the world all the time. It helps to be able to contact the hostel or even arrange meetings with friends. Some smart phones are capable to act as a music player, video player or even access to the internet.
3. Laptop - While it is possible to get connected to the internet via your smart phone, its function is still very limited. A laptop would be a better option to connect to the internet. With many hotels, hostels or even public places offering free internet connection via wifi, why not use it to the fullest. Still, some older laptop may be heavy to carry around. Another alternative would the netbook, which is getting more popular nowadays.
4. External hard drive - photos in memory cards is okay but why take the risk? External hard drive offer a great option to back-up the photos, making sure it would be there when you come back. Sure you can use the harddisk drive on the laptop but even that would have its limit.
5. Power adapter - a travel essential since all the electronic gadgets need electric to operate. While you can rely on the long life battery provided with the gadget, sooner or later, it would drain dry. That is where the power adapter comes in. It make sure your electronic gadget would be alive when you need it.

Sg Pisang Waterfall, Gombak

Went to Sg Pisang Waterfall, Gombak with weoili, lijin, hanxue and meeleng today. It was supposedly not hard to get to the waterfall but we took longer than expected due to my mistake on the route taken...

Luckily, we managed to find the correct path and reach the waterfall.

Main waterfall

Side waterfall

If we had more time, I would definitely stay back to take more photos. But we were hungry and pressed of time. Thus, I believe I would be going there again...

Chiling Waterfall

Chiling Waterfall is one of the nice waterfall that you find not far away from KL. It is located in Kuala Kubu Bharu, on the way up to Fraser's Hill.

The waterfall is part of a fish sanctuary and to get to the waterfall, you would need to trek for about 90 minutes from the Ranger's office.

The waterfall is not too much to shout about (maybe becoz I have seen something better but for Selangor's standard, it is good enough) but the journey to the waterfall is an unforgettable feat. I am not sure if they purposely do it as it is but to reach the waterfall, one would need to cross the river 6 times.

Depending on the water level, it could be as high as the waist of a full grown man. And the force of the river flow may be too strong that one would need rope to move across.

Nevertheless, the trek to the waterfall is not that hard. Mostly flat land. But to move to the 3rd level, one would have to work hard abit on the climbing.  But the climb is most rewarding as the place is most of the time deserted.

200905 Trip to Penang

Talk Out Loud: Too many thing running around my brain... hard to concentrate...

........................................

Hanxue, Mee Leng, Fay Chin, Gee Way and me @ Khoo Kongsi, Penang

Was on a trip recently to Penang, thanks to Hanxue and Mee Leng for inviting me, for a 2-days holiday and food-hunt.

More photos coming up...

Me @ Bali

Talk Out Loud: Wanna strangle that someone dat "destroy" my day.

.........................................................

@ Kintamani, with Mount Batur in the background.

@ Turtle Island

@ Uluwatu

@ Tanah Lot

More photos in my other blog. Wanna see it? Click here.

Bali - A summary

Talk Out Loud: I didnt realize I took so many photos. Now processing like hell…

……………………………………….

It is always good to be able to go to a foreign country (either for work or for holidays) and learn about a different culture.

Last Saturday, a group of friends and me departed from LCCT KLIA to Bali, Indonesia. The whole group, eight of us, consisted of Weoi Li, Li Jin, Ji Long, Ling Sze, Kok Lim, Wen Chai, Suk Fun and, of course, me!

It is a 5 days trip where we would be covering many place there.

I wont write much about the daily events. Instead, I would just put in a summary of where we went and what we did there.

Day 1:
Jimbaran Bay – Seafood dinner by the sea. Too bad didnt managed to catch the sunset. Ride to Lovina and check-in to the hotel and rest.

Day 2:
Lovina Beach – ride on boat to the middle of the sea to watch dolphin in the wild. Visited the Holy Hotspring and dip in the hotspring (not so hot actually), Brahma Vihara Temple (largest Buddhist temple in Bali). Went to Kintamani for lunch (forgotten what restaurant) before check-in to Lakeview Hotel with best view of Gunung Batur and Lake Batur. Visited Puncak Penulisan, Pura Ulun Danu. Dinner in hotel and slept early.

Day 3:
Woke up early again to watch sunrise but disappointed as there were many clouds. Visited Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi before lunch in Denpasar. Went for water sport in Tanjung Benoa (tried Parasailing and visited the Turtle island where I hold onto a snake, turtles and iguana. Visited some craft shop (selling gold, silver, arts and souvenirs) in Denpasar before watching Kecak dance somewhere nearby). Had dinner in Bebek Bengil (must-try: crispy fried duck). Check-in at hotel at Kuta before going out for a stroll around the beach.

Day 4:
Visited Uluwatu, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary before dropping by Bu Oka for lunch (must try: Babi Guling aka suckling pig but not for those who are not adventurous). Continue with visit to Goa Gajah before going to Tanah Lot for the sea temple, sunset and of course, shopping. Managed to get a tattoo for myself plus some other souvenirs for colleagues. After dinner, went for another stroll at Legian Street. Should hav came here earlier… it was so happening.

Day 5:
Went for a walk at the beach before walking around Legian again, this time with a purpose – find a place for Balinese massage. It does feel great and maybe, I am hooked. Also visited a coffee factory and a shop selling Bali layer cake before going to the airport to check in.

So, here is a list of new things that I managed to do:

• See dolphins in the wild
• Parasailing
• Touch a turtle
• Hold onto a python (I hold a green snake before)
• Watch kecak dance
• Eat crispy fried duck
• Get a tattoo
• Got a Balinese massage

Photos would be available soon. Some already available in Facebook but more to come soon.

Back from Bali

Talk Out Loud: Holidays over! Back to reality.

……………………………………………..

As some of you may know, I went to Bali last Saturday.

After a five days holidays, I am finally back in Malaysia yesterday night.

It is another one of those great trip that I went on…

More posts and photos on the trip soon… (I captured all the photos in RAW mode… Thus I would need more time to work on it… Will start my work later today!)

I did many new things there… more info? wait for my upcoming posts…

Back from Paris

Whispers: Appraisal is here... what am I gonna do???

...........................................

Glass Pyramid @ Musee de Louvre

Just a quick one before I load up more photos of the trip, maybe next week... keep my fingers crossed.

Bonjour de la part de Paris

Whispers: Paris is so darn foreign to me... cant understand them at all...

..............................................

Yes... you read it right... I am blogging from Paris right now...


For those who dont know, I am actually on a "business trip" to this City of Light to participate in an exhibition (name SIAL, dun believe me?? google for SIAL.fr) to promote my company's products and name.

So, I would be here for one whole week, beginning today (18 Oct 2008) until next Friday (24 October 2008). Taking MAS plane, I would be back to Malaisie (how French write Malaysia) on 25 October 2008.

By now, many of you would be thinking of asking me for souveniers... I know but please understand that my budget to come here is very limited... 1 Euro = RM 4.85... I would try to get some but it would be on first-come-first-serve basis, except for the few that are special cases la...

Anyway, taking that 12 hours plus flight is really a great experience... will talk about that later...

I am blogging at KLIA

Say what you like but I do admit that this is my first time going oversea, apart from South China Sea that I cross to go to KK for study...

Yes, I am a "katak di bawah tempurung" but it is never too late to learn...

So, this is what I learnt today... I can blog at KLIA... hahaha...

Just a quick one before my flight...

Picture of Rafting Trip @ Sg Kampar (31st August 2008)

Whispers: I support "Hari Malaysia" to be declare as a public holiday.

.................................................


Me, getting ready to conquer Sg Kampar (somehow, I look like those ancient chinese god holding his weapon... just that I looked kinda silly here :P)

Weng Phoon and his friends...

Bee Chuen, Yee Han, Pick Koon, Wei Lyn, Ai June and Hui Phing

Pei Yun and Huey Ying

Fay Chin and Gee Way

Weoi Li, Li Jin, Mee Leng and Hanxue

Andrew and Pei Yi

The girls...

more girls...

them again...

many of us...

my raftmates (Yee Han, Bee Chuen, Pick Koon, Ai June, Ling Chong) and me...

Conquering Sg Kampar

my raftmates...

Forward!!!

Half-time...

Moving on...

Reat for a while...

We are having fun....

Tiring le.... Cheeze!

Weoi Li and me...

Everyone shouting YEAH!

What now?

Pei Yun and Mee Leng

Huey Ying thinking "Why did I come here to torture myself???"... hav to make a fake smile for the camera somemore... (Just kidding...)

Where are those people going???

Come, mari come...

Paddle forward!!!

The guides...

More guides...

Having lunch as the reward of conquering Sg Kampar...

The people that make it happens...

Adventurous Weekend

Whispers: I got pain on my a** after hitting onto a rock during the rafting trip...

...............................................

It was a great weekend...

On Saturday, I purposely took a half day leave to join my friends for their adventure on Skytrex in Taman Pertanian Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam.

Imagine climbing up to 17 meter above ground... moving from one tree to another across some man-made track and doing some flying fox stunts to complete the track.


On Sunday, things get more extreme... 2 1/2 hours of drive bring us from Klang to Gua Tempurung for an adventure like no other... We went for a white water river rafting adventure in Kampar River...

Imagine riding a raft that may capside anytime while going through those rapids. The only thing that keep you on the raft is your feet, trying to hold you from going overboard plus the paddle that you use to move the raft, sometimes against the current... Water flashing from all over and before you realize, you are floating in the river and the guides would try to save you by throwing ropes to you...

*Photographs coming soon... promised...

White Water River Rafting @ Sungai Kampar

Whispers: Going overboard with badminton again yesterday... now whole body is aching....

................................................

Dear All,

Would like to let you know that I am organizing a White Water River Rafting event on the 31st August 2008. This is going to be a one-day event and it is going to be challenging and alot of fun.


Here are more details of the event:
River to Conquer: Kampar River, Perak
Fee: RM155 per pax (including lunch, insurance coverage, entrance fee, life jacket and helmet's rental and a participating certificate). Transportation to Gua Tempurung is not included (Suggest to carpool to go to Gua Tempurung)
Age limit: None. As long as you are up to the challenge...

Interested? E-mail me at eztoyou@yahoo.com


Write up by the Specialist (Riverbug)
Get up close and personal with nature, experience an exotic and mystifying rainforest where the fastest butterflies swarm by the riverbank while you enjoy swimming in the river or jump from trees or just glide down the river on a raft.

The clear water of Kampar River (Class I-III) is suitable for anyone who is physically fit and those who crave for mild technical adventure whilst safely enjoy a rafting trip.

Test out your river skills and go on an adrenaline rush as you ride through 14 rapids and cooling waters of Kampar River in Perak, just 2 hours from Pangkor Island, Lumut and the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. A state in west Malaysia famous for its’ tin ore, and pomelo fruit, Ipoh hor fun, home-grown white coffee, temples, caves and hot springs!

On the river, you'll have the thrills of tackling exciting rapids and floating down the clear water river amidst a lush rainforest. You will ride the continuous rapids graded from class I-III, and continue down river, passing by some old tin mining plains. Have fun during the rafting like do some body-rafting or even take a spin in the raft with your head in the water....or just get to the traditional fun of water fight with your fellow rafters! Get wet and get in touch with nature once more!

As a standard procedure, safety briefing will be done before going down the river which covers the paddling commands, paddling skills, capsize drills, actions when overboard or river rescue. After 10-15 minutes of briefing by our professional river guide, you are now ready for a river rafting adventure.

(Source: RiverBug's Website)

Retreat Camp 2008

Whispers: I have been staying in my comfort zone for too long, need to walk out of it...

.............................................

Retreat Camp 2008 @ Dhammavijaya, Dengkil (the second time done outside KCBA) started on Saturday morning and end on Sunday afternoon.

A thousand thank you to all of those that joined the retreat camp, namely:

New Generation: Jessy, Shin Ling, Niro, Leonie, Leonard, Benjamin, Kuan Wei, Chia Wei and Justin

Super Senior: Pei Yun, Weng Phoon, Song, Kean Hua, Jonathan, Wei Loong and Ling Sze

I am very grateful to the super-seniors for taking some time from their busy schedule to come and help me "challenge" the New Generations. Hope that the New Generation would actually see how the super-seniors work together and learn from them.

Will try to write something more about the retreat soon.

Taman Negara Extra - Leeches

Whispers: Went to pump my petrol for the first time after the most recent price hike... really feel the pinch...

......................................................

My last post was actually the last post for my Taman Negara trip but there was one thing that I must mentioned as without mentioning it, a trip to Taman Negara would never be complete.

I am talking about the all-too-well-known leeches that prey on your blood... Through a website, I found out that there are actually two type of leeches (brown leech and tiger leech) in Taman Negara. I have encountered one of them (brown leech) previously in Sabah and yes, they suck kinda alot of blood from me... It is easy to identify the kind of leech that bite you... Does it hurt? If it hurt, then it should be the tiger leech. Brown leech's bite does not give you any feeling... sometimes you would not even notice until after it fall off.

The funny thing about leeches is that I was not afraod of them even on my first encounter... In fact, I was fascinated with them and on this trip to Taman Negara, I was actually looking forward to get at least a leech to bite me but it never happens...

In fact, one of the guide actually caught one and pass it to me. I tried to let it bite me but after wandering around my hand for quite a while, it still wont bite. Disappointed, I let it go.

A while after, I caught another leech and to my disappointment, it, too, does not want to bite me.

Anyway, for those who want to go to Taman Negara but are afraid of all these leeches, get bottle of salt water with a nozzle ready. Remember not to cook the salt water as it tend to clot the nozzle when you use it... If you found a leech sucking your blood, just spray it with the salt water... it would come off in a matter of second...

Taman Negara 9 - The Journey Back

Whispers: When can I get to sleep like there is no tomorrow??? I guess in the far future...

............................................

Waking up early, we pack up our stuff and went to the floating restaurant for our breakfast before taking our boat journey to Kuala Tembeling. Managed to find some time to take some group photos and the journey back actually provide some nice scenery for us to take pictures...

Enjoy....

Group photo (serious???)

Group photo (Not so serious???)

Virgin forest

Something different, I think...

Speeding...

For some, it was a boring journey... but for other, like the Caucasian lady, she looks happy...

cruising back

Coconut trees...