2011 new year resolution

Its the new year and what better to start with my list of new year resolution! Looking back at 2010, it hasn't been all rosy...infact, there were lots of heartache with people who really tested my patience. But in all, it had made me a stronger and better person.

I have much to look forwad to in 2011. New travel destinations, new friendship and new experiences. And by end of 2011, I would be able to bit farewell to all the familiarity of mundance activities and embark in an experience of a lifetime. Pretty much what I've set myself to accomplish before I hit my 35th birthday.

Every year, I sat myself in solitute with a whole bunch of to do list for the year, only to have forgotten it thereafter. This year, I just want to focus on several things that are close to heart and is of utmost importance.

1. Write more
2. To save enough money for my one year travel
3. To put aside some fund to support my parents while I am traveling
4. To be more involved in humanitarian effort to make this world a better place for generations to come.

May I be blessed on my 2011 resolution.

my tosai-man and I

Tosai - must-have for Sunday

It has become a weekly ritual for me, to indulge in tosai on Sunday morning. To me, life without tosai is like life without balance. And my tosai is what keep me sane after week of constant emotional turmoil at work.

Surprise to some, I have a knack of knowing whether a person has a good heart (or not) by feeling the vibe around them, looking straight pass the surface level and dive straight to the heart. A skill that comes in handy during my solo travels.

When I first met tosai-man, I developed an unexplainable admiration towards him. He has the warmest brown eyes and a beautiful smile that never fail to cheer me up on a Sunday morning (along with the tosai of cause!) Always in his long cotton sleeve shirt and lungi - I could not make out his age because of his full and untrimmed beard. He should be approaching his late thirties, I think.

It's been a while since we meet. His absence during the month of Ramadhan was hard to ignore. I, missed my tosai-man.

It was a pleasant surprise to see him again this morning! He beamed with excitement when he saw me approaching the tosai shop. As me to him when I enter his tosai shop.

"How are you?" He asked as though we were two old friends who has not met for many months.

"I am good, and you? I have not seen you around during Ramadhan".

"Oh I went back to India!" He said.

"Aah! Which part of India?" I've always thought that tosai-man is a Malaysian.

"Kerala" He said, not expecting me to know where that is.

And when I exclaimed "Oh! Cochin!". Tosai-man was grinning from ear to ear.

We chatted for a few minutes and he ended the conversation by telling me that he missed me.

3 simple words and I was touched. By a fellow human being whom on the surface is so different from me and yet so similar because we both are capable of love and respect.

It was heartwarming...The realization that I was missed by a man thousands of miles away during Ramadhan, a city in the State of Kerala known as Cochin. By a man whom I only see once a week and exchange no more than a "hello", and "good bye" every time we meet.

I wished there more tosai-man among us.

Mystical Bali (or not)

Bali - The land of the gods. The artistic and culture heart of central Java.

Almost everyone I knew has been to Bali. The cousin who had the most romantic wedding reception in Bali, the lovey dovey couple who flew to Bali for a romantic weekend getaway, and anyone who managed to save up a little moolah for oversea trips. Bali is usually a destination that top the list.
 
For me, my fascination with Bali begun after I read about Ketut Liyer, the Balinese medicine man in Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Eat, Pray, Love'. That was in 2007, before the book became a media sensation! Oh never mind about the surf, the beach, the bazaar, nor the culture bit or the artistic production of Balinese craft which would normally tickle my fancy. I just wanna meet a 'Ketut Liyer' :) And that was why I was saving Bali for a longer trip instead of a weekend getaway.

I went to Bali about a month ago with my parents. It was a 5 day 4 night trip and of cause I didn't put much hope in meeting a 'Ketut Liyer'.

Beach wear are plentiful at Jalan Double Six

My first impression of Bali is that, its too touristy for my liking. Every corner I turned, there is bound to be a Caucasian with a surf board. Given that we stayed at Jln Double Six, it's probably not a fair judgment of how Bali was portrayed.. Massage parlor, cafes, shops selling Balinese souvenirs and craft are also bountiful at Jln Double Six. Compared to Jogja (which I affectionately called 'My Soul City'), I couldn't quite relate to Bali. And so, my fine impression of Bali has indeed been tainted by such unpleasant sight that is too commercialized for my liking.


Nevertheless, I enjoyed the time spend with my parents. We pretty much covered the highlights of Bali - Taman Ayun, Alas Kedaton, Tanah Lot, GWK, Uluwatu and Jimbaran Bay.

Bali, definitely warrants a second visit. And the next time I am in Bali, I'll make sure I stay away from Kuta and Legian area!

This, that and everything in between

Feeling a lil beaten-up at this point in time.

Of all the time I've been planing my epic journey in June 2010, I've conveniently forgot about my parents. Without a fixed income, how on earth will I have the means to take care of my parents' monthly expenses?

Dad has long retired but its freelancing with a consulting company. He said his service might not be required because he is 'getting old'. (he is 65 by the way). I didn't think it was a biggie because I can still support him with my monthly income. But what happens if I decided to quit my 9-5 job. Without a steady revenue stream, I wouldn't be able to support my parents and have the luxury of wanderlust the world. 

It's not going to be easy I know. But I am not giving up yet. We'll see.

How I trick my mind into believing I am healthy.

Or rather...how I cured myself.

Thousand apologies for the hiatus. Been crazily busy at work. BUT! Never a day gone by without me day dreaming about my epic journey come June 2011 :)

Also, been down with very bad flu, sore throat and fever yesterday.

'Oh FUCK! There goes my weekend'. I thought.

Went to the clinic and was attended by a young male doctor. And the conversation went on like this.

Me: 'Can you give me something real strong because I NEED to be cured by tomorrow.'

Young male doctor: 'Why do you NEED to be cured by tomorrow'?

Me: 'Well, because I've got lots to do and I need to my brain to function'.

Young male doctor: 'You have been infected by a virus. And if you can be cured by tomorrow then I'd be famous!'.

Me: =_=|||

So the young male doctor said my condition will worsen and it's a process that I have to go through in order to get well.

But having my weekend doomed by a virus is just not gonna be it. I knew if I took the doctor's prescription my sore throat, flu, fever will worsen the next day. So, I self cured. To cure my sore throat, I gargled tons of salt water. Then I drank nothing but 100Plus and took this miracle Chinese tablet called 'YingChiao'. (always works for me!)

And I tricked my mind into believing I am healthy by refusing to nurse my sickness in bed. I did what I would normally do on a Saturday. Like breakfast at the 'mamak' stall, visited the bookstore, watched a DVD etc! And it worked!

The fever and sore throat is gone now! Left with the flu but that's manageable. I am sure by tomorrow I would be as healthy as a energizer bunny! :)

WIP : Kuala Lumpur-Chiangmai (ETA June 2011)

Honestly, planning a one year trip is not a piece of cake. First of all I am not the kinda person who 'plan' for events in life to happen. Rather, I am more of a...go-with-the-flow type. So you can imagine how tough is it for me to plan for a 1 year trip in 12 countries.

Nevertheless, while I was doing my pedicure, I pretty much decided on KL-Bangkok-Ayuthaya-Khorat-Sukhothai-Chiangmai. And of all these, by rail :)

Now I've been to Bangkok many times. Once to Ayuthaya and once to Chiangmai. And my reasoning for the revisits is because I need to kick start my epic journey in a country that I am familiar with. Knowing that I have friends within reach and that I can hop on the next flight back home if I am too chicken to continue the journey sounds very assuring (Which I hope will not happen to me!). After all, it's a 12 months trip we are talking about and there is literary no turning back or else I would probably die in shame :)

So yeah, that's the strategy.

Why I love train travel

Solo train station, heading to Jogja, Indonesia.

I have a confession.
I am insanely in love with train travel :-)

The lovely aspect of train travel, is no doubt the trip itself.  The sound of the swaying wheels on the rails, and that magical haunting whistle that gives me a sense of purpose in life - the anticipation of arrival in a foreign land.
 
My first train travel, dated back in 2006: Penang (Butterworth) – Bangkok, Thailand. The 20 hours train ride was nothing but a wonderful experience.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka

I remembered a group of teenage Malays whom I befriended during that 20 hour journey - The beautiful wide-eyed Indian boy with a ray of sunlight planted on his soft cheeks. The food and drink vendors with abundance of  Sweet pineapple, Pad Thai, "bamboo rice", a mildly sweet and savory sticky rice and spicy raw salads to feed everyone in the car. 

There is also something very romantic about train travel. Especially when you wake up in the morning to the choo choo sound of the train and the sweet aroma of coffee from the snack car. A book in your hand, watching the sun rises from the break of dawn :)

In between dreams and reality

Have you ever wanted something so badly while all you could do every night before you go to bed is nothing but to bask in the thought of it becoming a reality?
Then there is another part of you that wants to surrender to normality set forth by the people around you and the comfort zone that you have grown accustom to.

Everyday has been a constant battle for me. Some days I live in fear, not for what I have planned for the future but rather not having enough courage to materialize my dreams.

But I've always live by my philosophy that if we want something bad enough, owning it its just a matter of time...

So if there's something in life that you have always wanted to do, have faith and courage. The universe will take care of the rest.

The List (Still a work in progress)

June 2011 - Thailand, Laos
July 2011 - Myanmar
August 2011 - China
September 2011 - Mongolia
October 2011 -Kazakhstan
November 2011 - Uzbekistan
December 2011 - Iran

******************
January 2012 - Afghanistan
February 2012 - Pakistan
March 2012 - India
April 2012 - Nepal
May 2012 - Bhutan
June 2012 - Indonesia

A new begining 06.2011

It's liberating. I've finally made up my mind to follow my heart.

I've gotten a fair share of wide-eye stare when I announced my intention to quit the corporate world and jump onto the bandwagon of globe-tracking in 365 days. Yes! All that talking for years and I am finally gonna do it! :)

In less than 10 months, I'll be begin my shoestring travel across SEA, China, Middle Eastern and India! The plan is to do it all in 365 days. But I am hoping for it to last as long as it can. So I hope freelance writing and some consultation work on social media marketing will do the trick :)

Wish me luck!