Happy 16,660-million-mile journey.

Happy 28th Birthday to me! It has been 16,660 million miles journey since I was born.

What am I talking about? Well 'day,month,year' as we know it is measured on the journey the planet Earth makes while orbiting the sun. So instead of saying I am 28yo And get depressed coz I'm old bla bla bla, I can say; I have journeyed 16,660 million miles. Now that's a lot of mileage to be thankful for.

Source: Passenger Planet

In Mabul Island.

Greetings from Mabul Island,Sabah. The boat ride took 45min to reach this coral island from Semporna. It was quite smooth and too bumpy ride. I checked into this backpacker's lodge called Uncle Chang's. I love the simplicity of it, and the fact that I'm staying on water (long house on stilts).The view is stunning and expanse, overlooking the Celebes Sea.

Greetings from Semporna.

Hello Semporna! I just arrived here on a 2 hour 45min evening flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau. From Tawau I took an hour car ride to Semporna, a little seaside town in Sabah.I'm staying in Semporna so that tomorrow I can catch the early 7am boat ride to Mabul Island, not too far from the infamous Sipadan Island.Right now I'm at this unique floating inn called Rumah Rehat Naga (Dragon Inn), modelled after the Bajau floating longhouses. Yeay I'm in Borneo!!!

A moment in Paris.

I had a couple of hours (6 hours to be exact) transit in Paris en route to Milan. I deliberately pick this flight schedule so that I could visit Eiffel tower, an all time cliche yet it's my favourite tower ever.

After clearing the immigration, I quickly caught the RER train to the city center, and within 45min I was staring at this lovely view. It was drizzling and cold but it didn't stop me. I had to lug around my hand carry bag, which of course, was a Longchamp Eiffel :-) Since it was still early morning, there was hardly anyone so it was quite a moment.

An album of Milan.

After a very long journey (half-day transit in Dubai and another half-day transit in Paris - of course I went out of the airports for a quick stroll), I arrived atMilan Linate airport via Air France. Welcome to fashion capital! I was grinning ear to ear all the way!

From airport, I took the inexpensive shuttle bus (€4) to Central station.I have already printed my accommodation's map, and thought it should be easy enough to navigate from the station. I walked hopelessly (OMG so many streets/vias), and in the end I took a cab and learned the street quickly.

I stayed  at this shoestring hotel,  Nettuno . Reminds me of my student dorm circa 2001.

Most of the time I travelled via train/metro. It was only (€3) for a day-pass so that made commuting convenient andinexpensive compared to other major cities...and it is relatively small and compact (and I loved it!)

First time in Milan, so pedestrian/yokel-mode on!

Of course I went to via Montenapoleone and some other spots.

I was there for only 3 days, but it was quite enough for me. I almost didn't shop at all. Well I said almost because I did shop some H&M stuff for my friends. Other than that, Im so proud I got hold of myself and my vow (to consume less)!

More photos after the jump.

Frida Kahlo, Gandhi and E-reader.

Yesterday I went to MPH to pick up some books. I always like to read autobiographies, so current read would be:

I've decided to get an e-book reader as well since I read a lot on the internet.The backlit LCD screen has been straining my eyes too much. There weren't many e-readers available, but I liked this particular Oaxis model. Very simple buttons, slim and light (160g)and able to store around 4k pages. Plus it's the cheapest available (RM599).

Is that all there is

My all-time favorite song. I think it describes the way I approach life.



I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up
in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire?"

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to the circus, the greatest show on earth.
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears
And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don't know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a circus?"

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in the world.
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.
We were so very much in love.
Then one day, he went away. And I thought I'd die -- but I didn't.
And when I didn't I said to myself, "Is that all there is to love?"

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing

I know what you must be saying to yourselves.
If that's the way she feels about it why doesn't she just end it all?
Oh, no. Not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment.
For I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,
when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my lst breath, I'll be saying to myself,

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

Atypical weekend

I'm in the process of moving out of my rented apartment before this month-end. Hooray but there's a lot of packing up going on. I also need to pack my bags for my trips to Sipadan Island, Hong Kong, Bali and then to Cameron Highlands. One after another, all within the next 3 months.

The horror of packing up.

..but somewhere in between, I managed to grab some Upin & Ipin stationery for the ashram kids from a merchandise store in Shah Alam. Apparently Upin & Ipin is HUGE in Indonesia. This is how the kindergarten teacher introduced me to the children, "Anak-anak, ini teman ibu guru dari negara Upin Ipin Malaysia." (Translation: Children, this is my friend from Upin Ipin's country,Malaysia!")

..and I watched Harry Potter right after that. I definitely prefer to read the book than to watch the movie.

Ok, gotta get packin' now. Have a nice day y'all.

It was raining hail in Milan.

My first time in Milan...and it was my first time to witness heavy hail pouring out of the sky. It was in June, not winter!

Hmm..THEY say Ice Age is coming, but don't panic!

 

 

Air-oo Oh-lahss

I ordered this DVD set a week ago from Éiriú Eolas (pronounced Air-oo Oh-lahss)  website.It's time to learn to properly breathe and rejuvenate, Darrlingg.

I went shopping in Cameron Highlands

At Cameron Highlands for the weekend.

Tenganan Village Karangasem

Not far from ashram gandhi (about 20min drive) is Tenganan Village. It's an ancient village with a history origin from India (proved by a DNA test). The village has a unique local community life pattern which is one example of Bali Aga Village cultures (Hindu Prehistoric) and different with other parts of Bali. Pak Sadra, the Vice Chair of Ashram (and Karangasem Regency's Parliament member) is from this village.

One of the unique bit about Tenganan is their double ikat technique and patterns (which again are related to its Indian origin). According to this lady, the whole process takes about 1.5 to 2 years to complete one small piece of artwork. She demonstrated to us the weaving technique which really look so complicated.

The thread are dyed and left to dry on the compound. The yellowish spots are 'plastic', wrapping the pattern and colour. After 1st colour-dipping, these plastic wraps are removed according to the pattern needed, and then the 2nd colour-dipping starts with different colour. The 1st colour will now turn into black or other desired colour.

One of the shop's interior.

Now that's a lot of work and passion.