蓝天白云下

Sunshine ^^ Rainbow ^^ Aurora ~

Life, moves on :)

Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Monday, 4 June 2012

Budapest and Prague: So many thoughts and recollections

It's finally the moment when I just come back from Budapest and Prague, when I finally can kind of settle down...

A short walk along the Coronation Avenue...
A short visit to the park...
A cup of iced coffee in the park...

I will do everything quietly, and hopefully peacefully...
Because when the exam is finally over - it doesn't mean that you need to stop studying.

This is the last summer in UK, anyway...

***

For a long period of time, I asked, and believed.
Yet as time went, passed by, a friend asked me, a colleague asked me...
And slowly, my trust that stood firmly on a stone, started to shake, moved on to a sandy basement. Yet I still choose to believe, although the friendship faded away, yet the whole sincerity, I thought, still remains there...
And, when finally, the moment came, when I finally realised the fake truth, that I used to be convinced to believe, for a long time, I shaked...I closed my eyes...

And, out of sudden, the surrounding appeared to be virtual - where is the value of sincerity and trust, at the end?

When we always want to try to tear away a page of life and try to start a new, white, whole blank page - may be some of us, will just never ever, stand a single chance.

***

A recent trip to Budapest and Prague, like when visited other European cities - there was always many cathedrals and churches and basilicas...

Whenever I visited these holy places, I am wondering to myself - whenever they made each single place, when the visitors can come to admire and appreciate the beauty, how about for the poor local people that depend on these holy places for their, hopefully, silent prayer...

Some of the places, even seems to demand money, and sometimes, the keeper or officer in charge, seems to be so cold - no money no talk...

I sighed, materialism and commercialisation just attack every single piece of details in our life - love, relationship, jobs, school - and now, even the religion itself...

What a world, really...

***

Whenever I walked down the streets in Budapest and Prague, sometimes I would meet some of the old ladies, or women, some seems to have Parkinsonian movements, some seems to move very slowly with their 'tongkat'...One time, I even saw an old, blind lady, walking just really beside the buzzling road of city of Prague, with only a stick as the guide...

I really want to help them, yet may be I am not brave enough, yet may be I am still selfish, yet may be we are rushing for the next journey - yet indeed - all of them, are the typical excuses - for stop doing something, which actually -  is beneficial...

I started to think of my mum. The hardship of life makes her wrinkles darker, and more, and more.

One day she (although I never hope that she will be) may have the same difficulty like all the women that I have ever saw on the street...

She worked so hard for us, and in the end, while I am enjoying myself all over everywhere in Europe, she was still in our old house, working really hard, and I start to wonder - may be I am still lucky then? Yet is these everything that I really want?

I used to hope that I will be able to join every single trip that mon ami organised - yet as time passed by, as wisdom grow - what's the point of getting every single page of your passport stamped with stamps of all sorts of colours and shapes and dates, really? You gained the so called different experience, saw the so called different cultures, and talked to people of so called different nationalities - while in another part of the world - somebody, your siblings, still in the same small town, studying in the same school, as you have attended before...

I could never ever imagine what will happen to of our siblings, if out of the sudden somebody, whom are so close to us, just leave us away like that....

Then I will hope that I am the one which is taken over, then...

***

Whenever I was in the dinner in Budapest or Prague - sometimes we will be left with some leftover.

I constantly telling my friend that it's so bad of us to waste this and that food.

Of course moderation is vital - hence you shall not force yourself to eat until you start to want to vomit...

Yet at the same, while we are eating to this extent, at another part of the world - people may be struggling for food - or may be, just to make sure they will not starve to death.

Yet I cannot really stand what friend was saying to me - although - well - it is quite true: "Poor people in Africa that have difficulty to get some food - will not get the food - even if we finish everything on the table now..."

The world is just never a fair place to live. Really...

***

The second morning in Prague.

Wake up.

Nirmala.

Yet I did not slept well.

I dreamed of my aunty, in Brunei.

It's not a bad dream, yet I am worried, I did not know why.

I just felt it.

A relatively short and expensive international call to her...comfirmed - something which is indeed quite bad, happened.

I never know. This never happened to me before. You called it telepathy...or any synonyms...

Yet, yet, when you have such a close relationship with someone, you start to live, partially, for him/her too.

God, bless...

***

I recollected too many thoughts in a few recent trips.

Suddenly a short quote from one of the dramas twinkling in my mind:

"In the end, parent(s) are the one that will never betray you. When you only live for your partner/friend, just never forget who is/are the one that will be there to support you, very firmly."

When your partner/friend/sibling can tear your heart away, there is another moment when you calmly rethink / recollecting your thoughts - another hope, may be. =)

***

'In life there is some moment when we really should just give up.'

May be that's true, indeed.

I look forward for another 1.2 years to go - it's not too long from now on.

I sighed, I cried, I prayed - I really just want to be myself - again.

Only when with him I can find my trueself - with no hatred, no worries, where I really can pour out almost everything...

When my sister and I are confused for her future life choice - the friend that I hope can guide me - appeared to be hopeless - while you, although know less, shed another angle of hope and shine...

***

人人常说:别靠上天,要靠自己——这样才会有希望。
但如果这个希望是假的,那这份所谓的希望,
倒不如从来都没有出现过,这样就不会有失望了。


Sunday, 21 August 2011

想撒娇

Reach St.Ives.

在海边,听着海浪拍岸,风儿呼啸,海鸥哦哦叫着,再加上草丛沙沙的婆娑起舞——这是一份大自然美妙的交响曲。

躺在英国最后的夏天阳光下,草丛仍是那么的舒服。

上帝,感谢给与我来到英国的机会。

***

六人行变三人行。

我想念槟城的海边。

我想念坦率,坦诚,没有束缚的过日子。

我不时撇过脸,只因不想让我的朋友看到我那痛苦的表情。

我不太介意我不能好好的享受最后一天。

只因憋得太久了,太委屈了,想起种种对我无意有意的背叛,不能坦诚的相处,我,遗憾。。。

但原来,别人永远看不到我的付出,永远只看到我欠佳的一面。

也许时间会证明一切吧,但我不再奢望。

***

爸爸妈妈弟弟妹妹。

我要回来了。

我知道还有几个人等着我。

曾经,有人质疑我对你们的爱。

但我自己知道,当我不再赖家,过度想家——我渐渐自我独立、成人,也正是你们想要的。

我不需让别人知道,我的钱包守着我们的全家福,而偶尔看着你们的笑容,就是那份力量与信念的泉源之一。

当人家渐渐长大,才发觉我不能再管太多。弟妹就像我的juniors一样,当羽翼丰满时,即使我多不舍,已经是放手的时刻。

只因当哥哥久了,虽不是个100%称职的哥哥,但只要有你们的recognition,我不再需要向别人交待。

有时很想将一直以来背着的那份责任感,放在一边休息一下。。。

也许终有一天,我能够休息一下,做回一次撒娇的儿子与弟弟吧。。。

(偶然想起一些兄弟不和或反目的家庭——本是同根生,相煎何太急。若肯下定决心,行的!)




Sunday, 26 June 2011

June's Update


已经几乎一个月没有向大家报告最新状况了。。。

六月三号到七号,我们在马来西亚的物理讲师,MR TAN 和他的老婆,过来英国一趟。

也并没有陪了多久,然后我们又得为了我们的德国之行赶旅程表。。。我负责柏林之行,虽尽力但仍为大家留下些许遗憾,我再次作出抱歉,也许大家介意,也许不,但我如何也有一些责任。。。抱歉。。。

德国之行,五天四夜,先得有些匆忙。。。但没办法,时间紧凑,惟有赶了,但也不赶得太快。旅程仍得注重享受哇!

去了天鹅堡,看了这个在山崖上建造的城堡。地势险恶,然由于其充满通话与浪漫气息的纯真色彩,许多人仍慕名而来。我,也有些许赞叹,感谢上帝呀=)

徐徐从慕尼黑赶到柏林,在那漫漫前进的火车上,很早很早,太阳公公就起身了。早上五时的阳光竟向马来西亚七点半般的明媚!看着一望无际的绿洲,有时偶尔再过一些小城市,或工业区,更赞叹了德国的魅力!经济成长是可以与绿色环保并存的!然,也让我感叹,太容易感恩,显得太多愁善感。。。而成为多愁善感的动物,容易感动之余,就是永远会折磨自己吧?

无知的人说,欲苦而无泪,假也;然而余老师说得对,欲苦而无泪,乃太过伤心也。

回来后,再赶上六天五夜的医院实习,读药剂系的当然得到药剂部报到。英国的医院果然不同。我的医院虽小,然五脏俱全。而很多职员都显得很helpful,愿意牺牲宝贵的时间来知道我们。药剂部的阿头更是为我们这两个无名小卒见面谈论了两次,让我深感感动。他们并没有让我们自生自灭,用心的教导,循序渐进,更尽力让我们有first hand 的经验。这让我明白,我也期望在此后的人生里,能为身边的人贡献些什么。有时,个人贡献不在于多少,而是贵于诚心诚意=)

最近则到伦敦一趟。Solo的单人旅程。但我不孤独,因为伦敦永远有成千上万在赶路的,侧身陪伴着我。自己亲身走一趟,迷了路,也没时间害怕了,只好再来跑一趟,想必人生的体验,也其实就是如此吧?去了伦敦桥,再去唐人街扫一些货,最后则是探望久违的沙巴朋友了。

Aunty 老了,然仍不失当年所给我的亲切感。还记得她照顾我,顾到大约七八岁吧,然后就带着打我一岁的女儿嫁到远方的伦敦来了。她人很好,看着现在的她拥有待他如宝的人生伙伴,我在心里默默祝福:以前的您辛苦了,这是您应得的幸福,愿您永远开心=)

这是一个非常不典型的英国家庭。家里用马来文说话。和他们说话,没有生疏的感觉。Aunty 更是尽心尽力陪伴着我这个短期的客人。短短的两个小时对话,让我看到真诚,童年往事,在这些老一辈人的衬托下,一切变得历历在目。原来,aunty的母亲在当年也有照顾我的时候。才知道,小时原来受到这么多人的眷顾。。。沙巴的影子有更清晰了,我多了一份不能不为故乡服务的理由 =)

然后,就要回家了。心里很不舍,要做工了。再一次,看得出愿意教导我的supervisor, 就像我的姐姐曾经说过,也许我今生今世也不能报答你对我的恩惠,但上帝会与你同在的。

也许我很坏吧,但在坏的人儿也总有善良的一面。这不知是千年的真材实料,还是另一份假惺惺的谎言?

末了,才发觉不许为了blogging而blogging。也许以后会更少update吧。反正关心的人也不多。。。偶尔受到激励性的短信,感谢赏心悦目的、柔情似水的。。。也许曾经无意气了你,我很抱歉。但最后真正能留下的冰心,恐怕也只有你能明了了。。。

夏天来了,今天好热,连马来西亚恐怕都要输了。但是,感恩阳光很明媚。

德国的夏天,很美。

英国的夏天,很美。

大马的夏天,很美。

只因为,夏天终于到了,真的到了。。。


最后,我在Piaza Trafalgar:


Laugh, Love, La vie =)

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Journey for the next 4 months

It's a quiet moment at library.
Alone, yet not really alone.
Especially when you can make some head and tail out of your seems nonsense Drug Metabolism lecture.

I thought I will go back with an empty hand again.
I lost some time, yet what I get back is even more, perhaps.

Be grateful for whatever that you can have now.
As things may not be the same, in the future.
To love, and to be loved.

Thanks for the lovely maggi dinner and nice pork pie!
Simple yet meaningful.
Sometimes, more people doesn't mean, more fun.
This is true, especially for me.

To 194, a belated happy birthday! A new winter cloth, a new swimming suit, a new goggle =)

To others, exams soon! Exam is fun! Enjoy!

I mean it really, as in the end everything make sense only at exam period.

Hmm, bad boy, bad student, yet...yeah, that's what university student really is isn't it?

Finish exam, quite soon in 1 week time.
Indeed time is so short now.
Yet there will be even more after the exam:



Berlin, Germany



Munich, Germany



Germany - Neuschwanstein Castle - in The Fairytale


London, United Kingdom


South Devon, United Kingdom


Bristol, United Kingdom

And on the very nice courtesy of Malaysia Airlines - Syarikat Penerbangan Rasmi Paling Terkemuka di Malaysia, I will be flying back to my homeland Malaysia hometown Keningau. For the very 1st time I am so proud to be a MAS customer - chepaest international ticket ever...



Malaysia Airlines - MAS, purposely make it so big so that you can see it very clearly  =)

Kuala Lumpur - Federal Territory - My transit point for home journey

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Keningau, Sabah
(and please don't ask me why I should put a shop as the picture here.
That's the biggest that I can get for this moment really)

And just reverse the journey sequence for the return journey -luo...

(All pictures and images are strictly for illustration purposes only. Nothing is for commercial purposes, OK??? And therefore I, am, not responsible for any damage, financially or whatsoeva, due to the use of any content in this post. Harap maklum.)

Monday, 2 August 2010

Borneo Trip 6 - Still Marudi+ Kuala Baram, Sarawak

Haloooo everybody... again is time for my busy reporting again! Well, seems internet line is harder to access for me, I better finish m Marudi trip updates a.s.a.p. now!

So yesterday I have travelled to the Lubok Nibong. That's my mom's old village, about 50-60 minutes from the centre of Marudi city centre. Well, nothing much to comment really. Just that my mom's old school - Chew Nan Primary School, will be closed and shifted to Miri very soon. So I'm requested to take some pictures for my dear mom so that she can see the shapes and colours of her old school before it is demolished...(so bad...)

Then we're back to Marudi again. i'm not driving, but the hot weather really 'cooks' me like oven when in the car! Plus as you know, sunshine is always free and available everywhere in Malaysia, as it is situated soooooo close to the Equator! Well...but I don't have time for naps as I need to update my memory card's pictures. or it's going to have memory burst! (LOL, of course not so bad de lah, just that my counsin loves to take videos, that makes the memory card instantly half-full already~)

Then at night my lovely Kayan aunty cooks me Tapah fish (fried version), which is a type of freshwater fish. It is caught from the Baram River, and then straightaway sold in the fresh market. Then my uncle also immediately buy it! hence, the fish is never frozen at all. That makes the fish tastes so soft and good! It's very different, not like the fish that you eat at restaurants everyday. The texture and aroma is significantly different! Tapah fish is very expensive according to mu uncle. A single 1 kg will cost you about MYR 300!!! Wow! That's super-expensive! Yet as it is caught locally here, the price is significantly cheaper, loh~

***

This morning I wake up at 7.10 am. All my cousins went to school already. Later my aunty also wanna 'cabut' / escaped to her hospital already! Yet before that she prepared me a glass of hot milo, and then as I'm leaving quite soon at 2pm today. She adviced me to take care (jaga diri baik-baik), then she gave me a hug! Oh my God, a simple hug, yet I feel sooooo touched by it! She did that likes it's a normal practise, and that makes me feel even more 感嘆。。。Why human relationships can't just be so simple? Between friends and familes, a simple hug, a sincere heart, why not?

Then my uncle fetch me to Marudi Airport. Hahaha, this is one of the good thing to be commented about! Hmm..Hmm...(clear my throat first)...It is one of the most important airport in the interior part of Sarawak, as Marudi Airport has flights (via MASWings) to connect Marudi to Miri, Bario, Bakelalan, Long Seridan, Long Akah, etc etc... Hence there is no surprise at all to see so many packets of 'keropok' / junk food, even canned drinks are brought home in cartons. I guessed that this is because it is very hard to get these so called 'easily-available-food' at interior part of Sawarak, especially when the road connection is just soooooo bad! Luckily we still have these marvelous flights! INTEGRASI NASIONAL! LOL~ And this makes me even appreciate more. Perhaps due to better tar road connection even in the interior part of Sabah (we have excellent road connection, hence Kota Kinabalu-Brunei-Miri-Bintulu-Sibu-Kuching road is established quite-long time already and has brought very significant development and improvement to the life quality of Sabahana and Sarawakians as a whole), hence my old airport at Keningau is closed already, and it is 'upgraded' to a Kara-oke centre now! Haiz, feel slightly sad when think about this...If Keningau got airport, the travelling time Kota Kinabalu-Keningau can be significantly reduced to just about 30 minutes!

Then it's time for my very own self-directed journey again! I travelled to almost the whole Marudi City. This time it's quite on my own, as my cousins are schooling now! I even travelled to the Te-Pe-Kong, the traditional Chinese temple here, the Dataran Marudi (Marudi  Square), and of course can't forget the most essential part, which is beside the tranquil Baram River, which is just beside the Marudi Port! The water may not be crystal clear, yet it is this yellowish water that has supported the agriculture, fishery, forestry and transport network here! (Kinda like the HuangHo / Yellow River at China huh? Yet I'm not very sure if HuangHo has played all the same functions or even more, ok??!!)

Then travel back to my uncle's house on my own, but get lost for about 15 minutes, and I have travelled in a big circle (hate this!) before I managed to get the right direction back to my uncle's sweet house, again! Phew! Well, that's fine...that's what quite-always happen when I am involved in self-directed journey, as I said before, my sense of direction...haiz...
\
And now I realised that my Geography knowledge is actually quite applicable as I always tried to link or to compare and contrast between different cities, such as Keningau and Marudi, Bristol and Kota Kinabalu, Bandar Seri Begawan and Kota Kinabalu, even Marudi and Kudat (Sabah)? That's good is it? Learn to use the knowledge that you have learnt! Therefore my travel trip is actually quite different from others. Well, usually what tourists do is to take pictures only at the hot-spot! For me, it's about learning how others live with other people, and how they interact with their surrounding, be it city, sub-urb, or even village! And sometimes I admit that I do pay attention to thye tiny details that seems so petty to deal with, especially for a tourist! well, isn't the tiny-tiny bits that has contributed to the perfectness of this world? For me, appreciate each detail, they do exist for some reason, huh? Haha~ So perhaps I should changed my profession, not a pharmacist, but a human geologist (physical geologist sounds of kinda crazy!)??? LOL, too bad, not now, plus I don;t think Malaysian Government pays high attention to this type of profession, although actually it's very important to understand the development of each city/area/state and how their development has contributed to the development of others!

I don't want to give a Geography lesson here. Later I'll be blamed for 班門弄斧!LOL~

To my friends that will have Penang Trip and Singapore Trip, (I know I know, plus Shanghai Trip right?) may you have a safe and enjoyable journey! (Wanna go to Peninsular also, yet due to time strain and budget strain, 算了啦)。。。

Till then, take care, guys!


Will love,
Jack =)




***   BACK TO NEST ZZZzzz   ***

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Borneo Trip 5 - Marudi + Kuala Baram, Sarawak

It's my second day at Miri, 1st day at Marudi...Both are located in the Miri state in Sarawak, Malaysia!

From my sharp observation, which is significantly confirmed by my uncle later, Marudi as an interior city which is 2 hours away from Miri City by car, is one of the most important city in interior Sarawak. Hence there is no surprise at all to see so many government agencies and even complete sets of banks in its city! Here got Public, RHB, BSN, AmBank...etc...etc...

This morning I accidentally drop my cousin's hubby NOKIA E63, and that makes me feel sooooooo bad! Almost lose the strength to continue my next Borneo journey. I dropped it, so of course, I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT! Although Ling keep telling me that's it's ok...yet I still feel very very bad...

Luckily thank God. HE does send me some mesenggers to cheer me up again! From Miri we travel down to Marudi, a small city situated beside the Baram River. It's 2 hours from Miri City by car, or 2 hours by ferry, or 20 minutes away by airplane (MASWings!). Well, choice is really yours...which in turn depends on your time requirement and your budget...

We are welcomed quite warmly by my Marudi uncle's family. It's a very unique family that I should say can be seen nowhere. My uncle is a Chinese ( of course ), and his wife is a typical traditional Kayan woman. They have two sons that seems stilll quite 'innocent'. The uniqueness is, my uncle and his wife chatting in Malay, later the sons talk in Chinese with their dad, and in Kayan with their mom! Wow! My lovely cousins know at least 4 languages due to their soooo called unique background. A harmonious blend of cultures and religions, real reflection of 1 Malaysia. That's why I love Sabah and Sarawak. Not much whatever so called 'issue', and free to talk to other friends even if they are Kadazandusun, Murut or Kayan! Suddenly make me remember when I still schooling at Ken Hwa during my Form 5. That's what really happen. 1MALAYSIA. PERPADUAN KAUM. INTERGRASI NASIONAL. And still remember Keezya Ubong, another my Kayan friend that shares the same root as me, everything is just harmonious blend... :)

Then at afternoon, a small incident happen, really makes me think back for a while, really should have no feelings already...I don't wish my each action is interpreted with thousands meanings...perhaps...may be...probably...silent is the best policy now...

Then I'm served with whole lot of traditional 'kueh' ordered by my Kayan aunty...Kuih Mawar, Kuih Mihun, Kuih Kapit (nipis-nipis~), in return I give them 'chun1 juan3" from Tenom, Sabah, Kuih Cincin and of course the Thorton's chocolates that I bring back from England far-away.

Then at night more traditional plus delicious food come as dinner. We have 'black soup' / chinese herbal soup aka 'ba1 zhen1 tang1' special in Sarawak. Then got fried 'long mirin' (a traditional vegetables), 'rebung' (bambooshoots), plus babi hutan (wild boar) and ikan air tawar (freshwater fish, caught from Baram River, very famous at Marudi)...

Then at night my uncle go for an acupunture treatment while my cousins bring me hanging around...a significantly smaller town that my hometown ,Keningau, Sabah...yet that's why I love Marudi, Sarawak again, everything is within walking distance, gone to almost the whole Marudi already! Perhaps Marudi is not as modern as Kangar or Keningau, yet does that really matter? Why don't appreciate the peace and tranquility available free to us on this marvelous land of Sarawak? Together with a cool terrestrial breeze...plus my innocent counsin's friendly chatter...everything turns out to be simple...and that's absolutely lovely (super deeeeee duper)!

Then later we're back we're served with more fruits. There is starfruit, dragonfruit, papaya, apple and the most wonderful thing, durian! Plan to eat long time already after back to Malaysia but my first attempt with durian is actually at here! Haha~ again, as metting with Pei Ru at BSB, Brunei, UNEXPECTED, LOL~ But I can't et some of the fruit, LOL~ (again...)

When I wanna close my 'tirai' for today, suddenly realise that my handphone is full of message already.

To my dear aunty at BSB, thousand thanks to raise me up since young and teach me how to love. We're not your children but we get te best care from you that some other real mom can't provide to their child. Deep in my heart, may you blessed with health and happiness...Great to see that you are living a simple yet quite-happy life at BSB now...Thanks again for everything...you are a great aunty...I know you should never visit this tiny corner of your nephew...hahaha...that's fine...=)

To Rou, again is a mixed mixture of remorse and confusion? Real friends will understand you and bless you with support. Balance your time, as before. Keep your studying pace, as before...When you seems confused, perhaps you actually already got the answer in your heart, just that you wanna confirmation from others. You can't be blamed in this case, that's kinda of human nature. No matter what, this is your 1st month. Don't push yourself too much. Just try your best. And do the things that you feel should be right. Remember, confidence =)

My real blessing to all my friends and family =)



With love,
Jack =)



- Lubok Nibong tomorrow -


 
- Back to nest ZZZzzz -

Friday, 30 July 2010

Borneo Trip 4 - My Fourth Day

Have travelled to Royal Regalia and the Mosque at Kiulap area today!

Again, it's a self directed journey! Finish trip earlier today, so got some time to talk to my aunt and my Uncle Ah Boon, LOL~

No matter what, it's a really a good trip! Personally I feel that such self-directed journey is good for me, as I feel soooooo comfy with it! No pressure from others, pressure to finish the journey don't really come from others, except yourself that determine the extent of initiative! Haha~ And you don't need to feel afraid that you can;t finish the journey and makes a whole-life-regret for you and your friends!

Anyway, that's why I like about SELF-DIRECTED JOURNEY, it's not really a new experience, I have conquered Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan quite on my own! Of course, that's can be done due to significantly smaller size of the capital of this royal kingdom of Brunei Darussalam!

Had Special Mee Mamak and Teh-C Special with Afifah at the morning in Gadong Area, namely the C.A.Mohamad corner! Then at evening I had a very very unexpected meeting with Pei Ru! I just turned my head, and then, 'eii???'. Haha~ that kinda funny! And the location was a Pasar Malam opposite to Royal Regalia, and the most funny was, she was arrived at BSB at 10am on the same day itself! As what Juliana said, OMG! you proved that Brunei is soooo small...well... for me...That's jodoh! That's nasib! That's 缘份!LOL~

Then at night, went to Sabuk Area, namely the Terindak corner to have dinner with Aqilah and her bf...well...of course....I felt so bad, just thinking myself as a very shiny light bulb!!!! Haiz...so bad of me...Although Qilah kept telling 'it's ok', yet...well...

That's in short for what had happened actually between my University of Bath's collegues on my third day at this capital of Brunei Darussalam! And today I had gone to more places as stated above, and truthfully speaking, BSB is kinda of quite easy to travel around just by real buses and buses number 11, of course! Not much hassle, and personally I myself quite enjoy that! I had my own rhythm, flied at my own blue sky, swimed in the blue ocean that I prefer - and everything - are considerably without the inetrference of others!

But truthfully I don't think I'll do the same at Europe, the network is very very much complicated and sophisticated, and it's quite difficult to do the same thing on your own at Europe, and truthfully speaking, I really don't have much much feelings of direction! Success at BSB is due to familiarities, as I had travelled around the same area for almost 3 days. At Europe, everything is rushing...hence the situation is kinda of very different, as I wil say, as it involves train, buses with stations changing, and even underground tubes or whatsoever! Well...

In conclusion, as a person born in and raised in Borneo, BSB just give me a sense of familiarity and hospitality, so adaptation is not much of a problem! And again, thanks to my relatives and my friends that had given me so much invaluable support, during my very short visit to this royal kingdom at the northern Sarawak!

Photos will be uploaded only next week...Stories of Miri and Limbang should come soon!

Til then, take care!


WITH LOVE,
Jack =)


-Back to nest ZZZzzz-

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Borneo Trip 3 - My Third Day

Travelled to Brunei Musuem, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Brunei Stadium and Kampong Ayer!

Next station: Liukap and Royal Regalia!

Special thanks to Afifah Ali Hassan, PeiRu Teo and Aqilah Rahman for great accompanient today! Great foodsssssssss, nice talkssssssssssss! In short, J'ai bon voyage aujourd'hui! =)

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Borneo Trip 2 - My Second Day

Hmm... Really nothing much to do here, at least for this moment...

What I can say, Bandar Seri Begawan is really a quite medium-sized town...and it's truly purely Islamic! No alcohols, no cigarettes (DITEGAH MEROKOK, as Bruneian says). So some of the Bruneians (especially the lucky Bruneian Chineses) wil have some sweet escapes to Limbang or Miri Town, both located in The Bumi Kenyalang, Sarawak!

Even the commercial signboards all got Jawi characters (modified version of Arabic to suit Malay Language). Yes, applicable to almost 95% of the shops here I will say, small or big, fat or thin, tall or short! Even the Chinese shops also applicable! Interesting, huh???

And Sultan / Yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam is very very very highly regarded here! Even my aunt said that Sultan's birthday (15 July) is much more grandly celebrated than the National Day! (If I'm not mistaken, and if my South-East Asians History still functioning, it should be at 23 February).

This is what I can say for this Islamic Monarchy Country, situated at the northern Sarawak...Bruneians really appeciate their status to be able to maintain the highly regarded Malay Sultanate system that may share great history as Kesultanan Melayu Melaka (Malacca Sultanate, too).

Brunei Darussalam, divided into 4 divisions, and some of the main cities are of course, BSB itself, plus Seria (Shelltown), Kuala Belait, Labu, etc etc. (And I plan to have a sweet escape to Miri soon via Seria, or to Limbang via Kuala Lurah!)

My thousand thanks to Afifah and Aqilah for at least replying my message! Not sure whether we will have breakfast as planned at the end, **finger-crossed** , but hopefully 'can-loh'! (Please don't forget to respond to my lovely Bruneian number, ok??? LOL...)

And of course my uttermost thanks to my aunt and my uncle Ah Voon, plus Uncle Ah Boon. At least I got a simple shelter at this BSB...


That's all the updates for today, I guess, as wi-fi connection is not everywhere, and my laptop need to be charged constantly...



**  Stay tuned  **



Monday, 26 July 2010

Borneo Trip 1 - Trailer

Now I'm at KKIA (Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 1), online-ing using wi-fi from Starbucks. Haha, wanna challege myself this time to travel 'self' and try to be reporter for the whole journey! Of course, pictures after trip. Yet perhaps it's very good to update your travel experience every time every day, so that you talk more, give others more information, and you will not tend to procrastinate!

The flight at 6.30pm later will be via Royal Brunei Airlines, a 40 mintues journey flight. Haha, good also -lah, because when I checked the tickets prices last time, Royal Brunei and AirAsia got only few MYR difference! So of course I go for BRA!, ops, I mean, RBA!

Should be nothing much to do tonight, it's almost night when I reach Bandar Seri Begawan (or BSB in short). See what my relatives have arranged for me. Of course, we can't depend 100% on others to do something for us, right?

Stayed up with panda's eyes due to my lovely sister's determination to finish her Ideal Gas Law presentation last night (or I should say, this very early morning), luckily I managed to re-fill my sleeping time on the bus, when travelling from Keningau to Kota Kinabalu. Although I have travelled via this road almost thousands times, I still astonished and mesmerised by the beautiful scenery on the way. The mountains look so grant! 我国的山河似锦!宏伟的山峰、壮丽的山脉,所言不虚!

Managed to travel around KK also, quite self-directed journey, a little bit boring and lonely yet still so meaningful and promising to me!

"Ladies and gentle, your flight to Brunei Darussalam BI0826 (aka MH9008) is now ready for boarding...please..."

Looks like that will be the full stop for today at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Like what I promise before,

Borneo Trip - Across Borders and Boundaries! National and International! On this mystical land of Borneo...

I'll try my best to report my progress and 所见所闻、所听所知,asap!



**  Finger crossed  **




Friday, 23 July 2010

Travel Series 19 - Vatican City (EGO diligo vatican urbs!)

Vatican City - Another UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Official name: Stato della Città del Vaticano OR "State of the City of the Vatican".


Established at 1929 =)

A small country (only about 44 hectares / 110 acres) situated within Rome, Italy, where religious leader is still playing important role here, even in the country's administration!

One of the country that still using Latin (apart from Italian) as the primary (official) language, and it is the only country in the world that uses Latin as its ATM machines!

Unfortunately due to time constriction we just can't take even a quarter of a photo at its ATM machines! (Disappointed...)

Lets pictures do the talkings!

The Entrance

What's the advert about?

I think you must have realised that I purposely rotate this picture... =P




This is taken outside, OBVIOUSLY...

And not forgetting some personal photos of me =)






And, finally out!!! See the sunshine again! Yeah yeah!




Next Station?

Florence, Italy! (Italian: Firenze)

Please refer (back) to Travel Series 1 & Travel Series 18 ...

(Jackie, =.= , why so much cross reference one???)



Anyway ...

More to come!!!




Next Station after 22/07/2010???

Borneo!

Crossing borders and boundaries...



***   Stay tuned =)   ***

Travel Series 18 - Italy II (Io amo l'Italia!)

OK, I know it's kinda weird and random to post like this because my another Italy Post in actually at Travel Series 1! Ok Ok! Forgive me! Only after updating I realise I can do it better, and I think everyone should understand that right ???

Now let's get some random pictures of Italy now =)




Pantheon



Fontana Devi, Rome
(Right spelling, guys?)



Venice (night view)



Gelato, a must-eat to Italy visitors!



Now lets all group photos sorted out ---

Eating Panini at Siena, Italy




Taken in front of Piazza del Campo, Siena

Artistic enough huh?

Famous David - Piazza Michelangelo! Florence!

Happy faces =)

Our cosy "hotel" at Venice!

Fontana Devi, Rome ***

Di mana ini ah?

Italy and European Union (EU) Flags =)


And of course cannot forget own photo, again...

Thanks to Evelyn! This is taken at Venice (City of Million Waterways!)



And finally,

lets end the Italy Trip with our last destination at Italy 
also before back to London ---


**  Beautiful Venice!  **


Venezia bella!


Nessuna promessa


Ma mi dovrebbe venire la prossima volta! 


**  Casa  **


**  Home  ** 



Citation: Facebook photos of Evelyn Chew (ULSOP)

Thursday, 22 July 2010

Travel Series 17 - United Kingdom XII - Cambridge II

Ops, and I have forgotten my own pictures from Cambridge Day 1...

So will post them here =)










Cambridge day 2 (07 June 2010)...

A not very sunny day (and luckily not raining too)...

Enjoying the journey on the canoe/sampan/whatsoever!!!







Not forgetting my own photo, too =)











And for girls...Is the "gondolaman" handsome enough for you?




And our friend also become the "gondolaman" in the end...
Well done!!! Tres bien!!!



(Gondolaman: Ohh, I'm jobless nowww....)



Final UK Trip before back to Malaysia =)



Finish updates!

Weeeee!!!!



***   Back to nest ZZZzzz   ***



Travel Series 16 - United Kingdom XI - Cambridge I

Date: 06-07 June 2010

Cambridge - A city of intelligence!

A typical British city with British traditiona architecture!

(Correct me if I'm wrong...)







Who is this? You know?




Kings College at the right ...




A "strange" plane of Cambridge City ...










日晷




The stone in the middle is a "replica" of Sir Isaac Newton =)




"Canoe"ing ia a usual way to release stress among Cambridge students...




Mathematical Bridge with its very famous myths...



Then, gone into the Angel's Court, 
and the surname of Sim referring to Dr.Nicholas Sim!
Hahaha =D




DoReMiFa...


Stay tuned for Cambridge second day storiessss....

Wooooooooo....

-   Back to nest ZZZzzz   -