When will I see you again..

Next year would be the 10th anniversary of the best 3 months of my travel life. I spent it mostly in UK. I went there on a shoestring budget, explored many many ways to skim and save while going from the extreme north, south, east and west. I went there alone with not a care to the world or strings attached, the ultimate liberation of a carefree life. I had planned to sort out the photos after I came back but my procastination prowess proved to be superbly strong. They are all still sitting (stuffed) in my study cupboard. Perhaps I would be able to sort it after I retire.. Hark!

Nevertheless, I will try to share some of the photos I took while I was in Great Britain.

And also share some snippets of my travelling experiences and lessons learnt while knocking around on my own.

But I will leave that in the later blogs...

For the time being, I am content with looking at the photos and sighing to myself..

How time flies...

All are not gone : My take of Singapore

I never miss Singapore. I love travelling and I love the cultural exposures, but somehow.. Maybe it's the crowd. Anyway, coming back to Singapore after a decade does gave me a better chance to get acquainted and I do find a spot that I might get comfy. Not Orchard Road, hell no....
It's the rightly named Oasis of Cool and Extended Walk at Ann Siang Hill Park area. I went during the weekends and weekdays. It's somehow pretty calming for me.

Silent arches and figurines standing still amidst the blowing winds and bristling leaves.

I love the simple and stoic Nagore Durgha Shrine. Silence do express much more than words.

Looking over the doors, I see them all opening and doves flying towards the bright sunshine. Funny eh... How we tend to relate places of worship with lights and birds. These are all effects of too much impressions implanted into our heads since young. Photos.. Idiot box.. Anyway,

I do not really like the look of this supposedly one of the oldest temples in Singapore. The bright colours and compact deco just shouting commercialisation. Erghh... The only remnants of historical expression I find is the rooftop.

Dragons in the sky overseeing the community. May we all blessed with good health!

Sometimes it's hard to manage how much exposure I'd like for these shots. I'd like the bright lights but I'd like some colours to my photos too. But I thought this turns out quite ok.

I anticipated lots of greeneries when walking into Ann Siang Hill Park, only to find it all blocked by the shops' backdoors.

Silver lining beyond the dull cloudy walk, there are rows and rows of beautiful buildings of the past. Love the airy windows of yesteryears.

Why do we need standardisation? Why ignore the uniqueness within us?

This is the best place I found in Singapore! "Books Actually". That's a place to remember.

I love books. I do not believe that IT and television can ever take away the beauty of words and our own free will of imaginations. And this place seems to spell out all the good things in life. For me, at least.

The first picture that greets me when I stepped into the shop are cameras. Get it?

It's a small boutique shop of all things I hold dear. Meaningful literature, fanciful arts and beautiful past.

Simple deco at a contrast of black & white background. Who says books are boring? It's a matter of how we look at it.

The likes of classics and children ladybirds. What's not to love?

And all these settings with a background of jazzy french. Wow.. awesome!

All I can say is that, I finally found something in Singapore!

And the walk home will not be filled with void impressions of rushing souls and greying blocks.

Manifique Sabah June 2008

I took the plunge!

This isn't me. But I am no better. I guess my bulging eyes and screaming mouth was way bigger than hers?

My sister has been telling me about the slides and how one of them is almost 90 degrees in shape. She told me that I must go and try it. In my heart I was thinking "Nah... How scary would that be? It is just a kiddie slide afterall..". But I have decided to go and try it to see if it is that scary.

I've been crazy over all these rides and I never scream in them, be it in Australia's hanging roller coasters or Hong Kong's sunflower ride. What would a kiddie slide has that could scare me. Until I sat on top of the red slide looking down. My legs starts feeling numb. I started to have qualms and second thoughts. I now regreted laughing at Ben, when he first slid down. But sigh... It's too late to back up now. After a short goodbye with my loved ones, I took the plunge. aaaAAAAHHHHHH...... I left my heart at the top of the slide. To think that it was embarassing to scream all the way down. Sigh... I never got to stop screaming on my subsequent plunges. The feeling of falling freely without anything to hold was.. was... terror!

I guess age is really catching up. I see kids sliding down the terror slide like eating cabbage. They did it with such simplicity and grace. I wonder if my screamings were due to fear or jealousy.

After the adrenaline rush, we had a go at the obstacle course. Climbing up and down the padded walls and floors, slipping in between 2 cushioned rollers, falling onto nets, slipping down the firemen poles and hanging on a rope. We were positive we have burnt all the fats we have gathered from all the chompings in this trip. It was a really good work out.

You must be thinking that we are too old for this. Does age got to do with it? The equipment is meant for both adults and kids. The only thing matter here is...

Do you dare to take the plunge?

Note: This is not an advertisment and I am not paid to scream on that terror slide!

Do you see what I see in Penang?

I love Penang. Mostly because my beloved sister is there, partly because I spent my kiddie days visiting Penang with my family and spent even more teenage days studying there. It's got nostalgic value for me, though not as far back as Penang's history.

When I was a kid, I used to look at all the old mansion along Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road wondering what kind of life goes in there. As time past, I see less and less of these family owned mansions. The mansions-turned-shops and abandoned buildings are like burnt holes on a paper. An eyesore that burns my heart. Lucky me, my sister shared my love and we would travel by public transport or walk around Penang taking down whatever detail left of the old Penang. That's what you are looking at.

My only hope here is that when you do visit Penang, you would spare some time to look around you (besides those fabulous food).

Chinese celebrating 9th Emperor God's visits at Tow Boo Keong, Ipoh

The 1st 9 days of the 9th Chinese Lunar month spells busy period for Tokong Tow Boo Keong (Tow Boo Keong Temple) in Ipoh. In fact, most Chinese Taoist will be busy visiting temples at their area. It is one of those time where wishes were made and thanksgiving were performed(when wish comes true). Why come during this period? It is this time that the 9th Emperor God visits the earth via the waterways. That's why you'll see procession from the river on the first day to the temple, and a return to the river on the 9th day.

About Tow Boo Keong Temple

The temple is situated at Jalan Kampar, Ipoh. Expect double to triple parking at the roadside during this period. There will be usherers to guide you to a parking space and sell you all the prayer paraphernalia.

Inside the temple, you'll be moved to tears (hihi... more like smoked to tears). Worshippers will present the tributes, burn incense and candles, make wishes, ask for direction (using the bamboo sticks) and stand dumb (that would be me). Every donation given will be responded with 3 drum raps and 3 bell rings. Those completed their prayers will walk below the God's table for blessing and get amulets for protection. Full of customs. Full of tears (me again).

The tributes
The usual food presented to 9th Emperor God would be "miku". Miku is a hokkien word meaning tortoise shaped bun.

The demand for miku is astoundingly huge. Everyone who visited the place will buy at least in 3's or 5's. You'll witness many hands behind the making of miku.

Miku is actually steamed bun with slight sweet tinge in taste. The traditional way of using rattan tray to steam the buns are still being practised as it will help ensure no water droplets will fall on the buns. Some may also use fat go (literally prosperity cake in cantonese).

No worries if you have missed the usherers. The basic prayer paraphernalia are piled up at the front door for your easy access. As you can see, you can also pay tribute by presenting oil for the 9th Emperor God's lantern. Light is a common element in many religions.

The coloured papers are clothes to be burnt as present for the 9th Emperor God. Included in there are gold and silver money, as well as papers of good wishes also to be burnt and presented to the God. Wrapped within are incenses and candles. It was said that the more ashes a Deity/God receives, the higher is their power/status.A bamboo tree tied across a high coconut trees carries the light showing the worshippers "the way". It forms as a blessing too.

Traditional Chinese Opera show were also laid out as entertainment and tribute for the God. The show can be in Teo Chew (Ipoh) or Hokkien (Penang). Some temples may go as far as hiring artist from China. The clothes and shows are more elaborated as compared to local troupes. But it is not because local troupes have no initiative, just that the art is diminishing in Malaysia. Difficult to find new blood to take over, and even lesser demand.The way I see it?

It is a belief. It is a custom. It is a culture. It is a part of society. It is a part of life.

Morning Market in Pudu

Parking here is terrible. Some parts of the market emanates certain odour that might not be pleasant (I am trying to down play this). Not only are the car lanes congested, human lanes are just as bad. But despite all those, the place remained one of the popular markets for housewives to do their household ingredients shopping. It is also a place where many people meet and trades all sorts of things, from antiques to rare animals. I say it is a rather good place to show the tourist, if they really want to see Malaysia. But make sure they have gone to restroom prior to the visits and don't drink too much water. Malaysian toilets are still rather appalling.

These are not for sale.
Pet fishes are sold by packets.
Many choices for many preferences.

Fresh & dried herbs for your health.

Veges of all sorts.

More local veges.

A little hill of dried anchovies.

I couldn't believe it at first. But I was really walking on road piled with cockerel shells.

Fresh fishes anyone?

Rows after rows after rows of stalls.

Citruses, seeds, squash, gourds and tubers.

Red hot chilies.

The are still more shops behind the stalls.

Colourful pickles.

Uncle special offer.

Beautiful torch ginger flower/bud (locally called bunga kantan).

Petai, twisted cluster bean, yongchaak or stink bean. Call it whatever you want, true Malaysian love it just the same.

You'll find everything you need to cook up a Malaysian fare from this market.