Third Day in Chiang Mai

Last day is always the shortest and most hesitate. We rent 3 tut-tuts (one for each couple) and went for city tour. We went to a couple of temples, with long names which I don't remember at all. Chiang Mai is a small town with so much to explore. Transportation is cheap too (with so many tuk-tuks around).

Tuk-tuk car.
Actually is modified from a motorcycle. Very comfortable and windy. I even felt asleep on the tuk-tuk. But definitely not comfortable when 6 people board one tuk-tuk, like the night we went to Sunday Night Market.

Sight seeing on the tut-tut.

Uncle tuk-tuk has a very good(consider very good among the Thais) command of English and very friendly. Uncle kept us entertain by telling us about his city and the history. Uncle tuk-tuk also said I don't look like Chinese, more like Thai girl. Sheeshh...-_-

Chiang Mai has more than 300 temples but we only manage to quickly see 3 of them. We couldn't make it to Doi Suthep which is on the hilltop but the temples we went to was not any less fascinating. Upon arrival of the first temple, we were already too awed and busy posing and clicking our cameras.

"Three tiered umbrellas adorning the tops of the temples, Singha lions guarding the entrances and high-base chedi are all Burmese influences imported into the city by wealthy teak merchants when they migrated to this important trade centre."

From Southeast Asia On A Shoestring

Wat Chiang Man was the first temple we set foot on. This wat claimed to be the oldest standing temple within the city, erected by King Mengrai in 1296. There were two famous Buddha statue kept in here, one is Buddha Sila and the Chrystal Buddha. I saw the Chrystal Buddha but couldn't find the other one. We had to move to another wat.

Wat Chiang Man

Colourful murals are hallmarks of the Lanna periods.

Then we moved forward to Wat Phra Singh, which is 700 years old constructed by King Phayoo of Mengrai Dynasty in 1345. Architecture of the wat were of Lanna's influence too. Inside the wat is a lot of pictures telling history about Buddha but we don't have much time to read all, just amusingly glance through.

Me and Nai.

Love this picture a lot!

Singha lion guarding the temples.

What the.....??

The couples.
Yeah, all couples, which was also one of the main excuse that Yokie used for not joining us.

Lastly, we went to Wat Chedi Luang which has ruins of a huge chedi that collapsed during an earthquake in 1545. Shouldn't call it ruins because it is still very much restore it's charms and beauty.

The ruins.

A partial restoration has preserved the chedi ruined look while ensuring it doesn't crumble further. From Southeast Asia On A Shoestring

Inside the these temple were a few wax figure of some respectful monks, which looks really real and really spooked me out.

Another funny incident was that one of the tuk-tuk we hired broken down, and we had to wait for another tuk-tuk to replace. We waited for like 30 minutes and was quite pissed off because we don't have much time and were so eager to see more.

And then brilliant Fai asked uncle tuk-tuk to look for durians along the streets. OMG....durians?? OMG......

Thai durians. I thought Malaysia's durians are better. Whatever...not my favourite fruit anyway.

Durian expert konon.

Everyone was enjoying. Can't they smell the smell??

You're wearing a sh*t while eating sh*t. eeewww......

After the brief durian feast, we head off to Bo Sang, the handicraft center of Chiang Mai. Bo Sang is also know as the 'umbrella village' is 9km east of Chiang Mai. There's many handicraft workshops open for public viewing.

Eggshells painting.

The artistically skillful worker were so concentrated with their work that make me felt almost invincible. We stared at them, took pictures of them but they won't even look at us or let alone smile. They just monotonously continue to do their masterpiece which will take days or perhaps months to finish. Perhaps some of them don't even like art so much but has to do so for earning a living. And yet we always complain about our job.

Souvenirs. Expensive like hell.

Best part was the umbrella painting workshop. Not only they paint the umbrella, they make the umbrella too. How fascinating.

Umbrella paper making process.

Being a very art person, I could spend hours looking at them doing their work. Somehow I feel that umbrella art is much much more interesting than the eggshell art.

Square umbrellas.

Not only umbrellas, they paint shirts too.

And hand-fans too.

Aiks...?? Such big umbrella...for pasar malam hawkers?

Really huge umbrellas.

Finished good. Sold at the souvenir store nearby.

Food in Chiang Mai. Yummy~~

And pork is everywhere. YUMMMMMMYYY!!!!!

Happy 50th Birthday Malaysia

I'm a little occupied lately (partly due to travelling Ipoh-KL), so I will not blog about my Chiang Mai trips yet because it will be hell loads of pictures.

So here's how I celebrated Malaysia's 50th birthday.

We(with KF's of friends) went to had Japanese buffet dinner (supper to be more precise) at Jogoya. There were 12 peoples (hungry giants) but I don't feel too hungry perhaps from the tiring traveling and strolling along Bintang Walk for 4 hours. I'm not alone, KF's friends were nice enough to spend time with me while waiting for the buffet at 9.30pm. We had to hang out at Dome at Lot 10 and watched a really boring Nicole Kidman's new movie at Time Square to kill time. I was only able to meet up with my bf at Jogoya.

And guess who we saw at Jogoya? What an coincidence. KF and friends rush over to take photos with Mr. Rexy.

What a crowd....

We did not stay long in the crowd because a huge crowd like this can be very dangerous.

Haha...guess what is this. This is one of the cooking tool we use while having my dinner at Sunway. Nope, it's not steamboat.

And with sauce. Yummy....

It's actually steam Bar B Q. Haha...how healthy. :) And the bacons were darn good.

Night at Putrajaya with fireworks.

We went all the way to Putrajaya to catch just a few minutes of fireworks. I thought it will go on for at least 15mins to 30mins since it was an international firework competition. But it's ok, we enjoyed the view at Putrajaya a lot, it was a remarkably beautiful place, like a total different country.

Love and miss you.

Ok, I know this entry is a bit out of place here and there....but I wrote this in less than 30mins. Not bad lar....haha.

Nite~~

I am still alive

Yeah, I still am here. I just realized I haven't write anything for almost a month. I shouldn't call myself a blogger. I'm a lazy blogger, a sleeping blogger. I have no rights to scold Nai Nai for being a dead blogger who never post. I'm no good example myself, although I'm the earliest among my friends who blogs.
Well, my scanner broke down. Ok, I know that's not a good reason.

Anyway....

Over the month I'd been through a lot of fun stuff and some hardship too. Not hardcore hard stuff, just something that I need some time to adjust to it. Finally, Fai moved out to KL, his dream city, leaving me striving alone here in quiet Ipoh. Well, it's not a bad thing and I'm happy that he'd got what he always wanted. But as for me, I'm not quite sure what I want for myself. And for the moment, I'm still struggling to adjust my life in Ipoh without him. Can't blame me, we used to be together all the time and now the sudden change. And now I'm having all the time to myself, doing stuff that I never have the time to do before (like continue my postcards and stamps collecting hobbies and reading the books that are beginning to collect dust now) but the weeks are slow.

Anyway, I will post my Chiang Mai pictures very soon. :)

The courses of true love never did run smooth
William Shakespeare

While I Pack

I know I went missing again but those who are following my blog will know I'm a lazy bum and keep disappearing without any interesting post. SORRWWWEEE.....
And while I'm packing for my Chiang Mai trip, here's loads of pictures so that you guys wont miss me much.

Date : 22/July
Venue : Ee's place
Last Sunday me and my bunch of crazy colleagues went to Ee's big house for a barbecue feast. I craveeeed for BBQ so much. It has been some time since the good old days with my friends, BBQing at either Deb's or Nai's house.
It was a rainy night but this keep us cool and not too hot while BBQing.

Only fishballs and sausages? Where's the wing? Where's the wing???? How can we BBQ without any wingsss???

Girls preparing the food.

Guys preparing the stove.

Here's the chicken wing. Hehe.

Wong!! You lazy bum. Everyone is helping but you.

Cooking. Cooking.
BBQ is always tedious but tonnes of fun.

Everyone is happy with the food. Cook or not I'm not sure...but we're already too hungry.

All full now.
And who has the biggest belly?

Group photo time. How boring.
But for a piece of memory, it's priceless.

Hehe..

Date : 14/July
Venue : McD
At last, Lulu came back from the states...after how many years, 6? 8? I don't remember....it has been too long. But ppl just never change. She's still as cute as ever.
She bought along her DSLR camera (Yokie insisted her to bring along, dunno how many time she reminded Lulu) and Yokie was hugging the camera like a baby for the whole night. But the camera was undeniably a photography miracle. It transformed our ugliness(although not much, haha) into beauty.

We love black and look good in it. keke.

I don't know what else to pose and Yokie keep snapping the camera.

We are so prettyyyyyy!!!!!!

Lulu scolding Yokie for being such a nuisance with the camera.
You'll notice she's not in any of the pictures (except the one above).

We scold her together.
But she's a good photographer.

Nainai said, 'Haiyaa...my Lumix oso not bad mar...Night mode very darn cun geh'.
Lulu hissed, 'Nowhere near my Canon'.

Me : I'm tired of smiling all night long.
Nai : Then don't smile lor.
Me : I CANNOT not smile in front of the camera. *roll eyes*

Nai : Not creative at all!! You can always pose something like this.
Me : AAAHAHAHAHAHA

I dunno why. I always tend to pose like this. See the BBQ picture above with bubble dialogues.

Kissy kissy muaks muaks.
I'm leaving early to fetch my dad from the bus station. I will miss you soooo much Lulu.

Bad habit of this photographer. Nai's always a victim.

And I'm still packing. I'm soooooo excited. This is my first oversea trip with my best friends. Will have loads of photos to blog about.

So excited that I can't write anymore......aaarrrggghhhhhh

The Bad Year

2005 is a bad year for me and I had a hard time going through by myself. Losing someone (my grandma) I loved dearly was a painful experience. She was as close to my as my parents. Her funeral was on the third day of my second job. I never gave her any money after I graduated. First job paid me a scratch RM1200. I was just too happy to get a new job that pays me double. But unfortunately, she could not wait for me. On her funeral, I believe there's no one that cried more than me. But on the day of cremation, there's no more tears to cry. And that was when I felt my heart ached.
And also going through a staling relationship was definitely another reason why 2005 was a bad year.

2006 was a superb year. There were just too many reasons why it was so great. I was having too much fun that year and just a few days before celebrating the New Year of 2007, I ended up lying in Hospital Pantai Putri....and that was a very bad indication for the coming year.

Despite the super bonus and promotion I got from work, everything else was going downhill. Another painful incident happened to me which will be the burden and resentment for the rest of my life. And I had to carry this burden of guilt for the rest of my life without telling anyone. And then my dad. I always know cancer illness runs in the family but only when it hit my dad I could feel the shock and anxiety. But don't worry, my family and I are going through this strongly.

And then suddenly I realize I'm in a relationship that doesn't promise me anything. Am happy. But what is happiness? What does happiness promise me? Does happiness promise me any future? Happiness is intangible. I always thought I have happiness but actually, I don't really know if happiness is there. I can't touch it, taste it or feel it. I just think I have happiness. Ignorance is bliss.

But it's just a matter of time on how long I can ignore. And wait.

Everyone sees me as an optimistic and smart gal, which I have to keep on portraying, which is tough. Especially during a bad year like this one.

Quickie

Ok...a quick one here. I'm coming up with a longer post but I'm too tire now. Woke up 6.15am early in the morning (I never woke up so darn early even on working days, aaakkkkk) and went all the way to Sungkai for my colleague's wedding ceremony. Sungkai is a small and quiet town but they has a popular hot springs park. I'd been there last year and I know Yokie is dying to go there. hehe...
Lots of lovebirds are tying their knots today because of the significant date 07.07.2007. Almost everywhere we went to, there's kenduri or wedding ceremony and decorated rows of cars parading the streets and restaurants jam-packed with wedding dinners. Ain't that lovely? Couples tend to pick the best date to represent their happiest day. Same will happen next year 08.08.2008 and also 09.09.2009 (I believe this will be the hotcake because of the number '9' longevity meaning). Sigh...some couples are just so romantic. And I don't even have my own official relationship anniversary date.

Erm, the quick post is a bit too short but I wanted to write something before I take my noon nap.

Here's two song that I'm listening over and over and over again and still can't get enough of them. They are such beautiful song with dramatically sad lyrics. Sing along with meeeeeee.



Title : The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore (so good that it's haunting)
Artist : James Morrison (can't stop drooling at his curls)
I've been twisting and turning,
In a space that's too small.
I've been drawing the line and watching it fall,
You've been closing me in, closing the space in my heart.
Watching us fading and watching it all fall apart.

Chorus
Well I can't explain why it's not enough, Cause I gave it all to you.
And if you leave me now, oh just leave me now.
It's the better thing to do,
It's time to surrender,
It's been to long pretending.
Theres no use in trying,
When the pieces don't fit anymore, Pieces don't fit here anymore.

You pulled me under,
If I had to give in.
Such a beautiful myth,
That's breaking my skin.
Well I'll hide all the bruises,
I'll hide all the damage that's done.
But I show how I'm feeling until all the feeling has gone.

(Chorus)

Ooh don't missunderstand,
How I feel.
Cause I've tried, yes I've tried.
But still I don't know why, no I don't know why.
III dont know why...... whyyyyyyyy!

(Chorus)









Title : What Hurts The Most (Listening to the song is sad enough, watching the music video made me want to cryyyyy)
Artist : Rascal Flatts

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house
That don't bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let 'em out
I'm not afraid to cry every once in a while
Even though going on with you gone still upsets me
There are days every now and again I pretend I'm ok
But that's not what gets me

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was tryin' to do

It's hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go
But I'm doin' It
It's hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I'm alone
Still Harder
Getting up, getting dressed, livin' with this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade give away all the words that I saved in my heart
That I left unspoken

What hurts the most
Is being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do

What hurts the most was being
so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was trying to do

Not seeing that loving you
That's what I was trying to do


Done karaoke-ing. Time for my beauty nap now. And then dinner at Menglembu (so far errr...) and then hanging out with my friends.