My Travel Experience, Part 2 (France)

Bon Jour, we are talking about France today. France is worth to visit a dozen. Fashion, political power, wine, agriculture, architecture, history, sports, glamour, cinema…. Anything you can think of elegance, France has it all and be the best. It is a country which can self provide and self maintain, a country with veto power, strong defense system and yet stylish and artistic to the max. There are hundreds reasons French people can be so proud of themselves. Strangely, I found French people warm and friendly. The trick is to speak French with them, no matter how broken, they will offer their help more than willingly. Why they abhor English so much? Please study European history.

Paris is the most beautiful metropolitan city I have visited. No question about it. The air is aromatic with scent of romance and roses. Café and perfume shops are around corners all the time. The fact that from London to France is just 3-hours train distance made me travel to Paris for 5 times during my study. Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacré Coeur, The Louvre….. You definitely need more than a week to explore Paris. The Louvre… how can I not mention that. The museum design is a beauty itself. It holds 4 most famous masterpiece in the world– the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike), Venus de Milo and Slave statue by Michelangelo. Another art museum worth a visit is Centre Pompidou. Totally different style from the Louvre, Pompidou exhibits the most futuristic and modern art works, be it in video, painting, audio clips or merely random poets. It may not be the cup of your tea but it definitely stretches your imagination and challenges your tolerance.

I travelled to Southern France (Loire Valley) with a small group of friends and had a blast of mid-spring time. At the heat of my final PhD writing, I decided to take a break and it was the most relaxing tour ever. We cycled to the suburb of Southern France, where Poppy flower blanketed the field casually, the sunny sky was painted with bright blue hue, freshest air and green vineyard combination, backdrop of unbelievable royal castles, mouth watering foods served in any restaurant you bumped into…. The peace, relaxation, fulfilment and tranquility was something I can never forget. I can only imagine if I retire there, I can live more than 150 year-old.

Next stop is Europe…. Yup, you heard it right, Europe. I always believe in lucky draws because I did win a Europe trip before. Yup, you heard it right again, do not shot me. I paid nothing to travel Europe one time when I won a lucky draw from STA Travel…. To be continued…

Moulin Rouge


Castle in Loire Valley

Poppy Field at suburb of Southern France


Rideau Castle in Tours

The most famous landmark - Eiffel Tower in Paris

My Travel Experience, Part 1 (England)

I always want to write something about my travel experiences. This is the best timing to flash back as I started to explore the world in year 1998. That will make it 10 years of unforgettable experiences. Flashing back, I am contended and proud of the journey I overtook. Most of my friends already knew that I am a travel hunger freak. My travel style and expectation changed with time. I will write it in many parts, symbolizing phases how I embraced my travel hobby, how I felt about each country.... The feeling are raw and personal, please do not get offended.

England was my virginity (God bless Queen Elizabeth!). Well, practically, I conquered Singapore before England but please forgive me for saving my virginity to England. The culture shock was nothing but all. Ashamed of myself, I was clueless about the differences between England and United Kingdom during my very first visit. In fact, they spoke ‘unconventionally’ as what I expected from TV. England oh England… I definitely had mixed feeling on this country. I love Her and I hate Her as much as I love London and I hate London. It was the country full of palpable antiquity, academic excellence and staunch believe in science and novelty but at the same time, it was also a country stained with hypocritical history, notorious gloomy weather and filthy snobbishness.

I had been staying in England for more than 5 years. It was my greatest privilege to pay countless visits to British Museum, my favourite place besides Science Museum. Living in London is excruciating when costs and expenses drown you but it will be a paradise if you have no worry on money. Leceister Square, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Buckingham Palaces, Greenwich….some places worth to set my footprint. I did explore other cities besides London, such as Manchester, York, New Castle etc. but they were somehow shapeless to me, similar castles, similar garden and similar weather. Scotland was something different. It was William Wallace (Mel Gibson from Braveheart) who drafted the image of Scotland to me and it was exactly how I felt when I visited Edinburgh, a city with preserved history, breathtaking sceneries and unique accent.

Huh… I definitely need more spaces to blog. England itself already consumes a substantial part. To be continued… my next country is the dearest France, where I keep going back falling under Her irresistible charms. London or Paris? You must be kidding me, my friends….. London is old grumpy grandma and Paris is young sinful gorgeous mistress, make your pick….

Tower Bridge

Oxford

Chatsworth House, Sheffield


Trinity College, Cambridge

Visit to Malaysian Association for the Blind

I was glad to begin year 2009 with such a meaningful day. Serving community service organized by PETRONAS, I had the chance to visit Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) in Brickfields. Part of the new executive training, we were required to design activities for the blind people but out of our surprises, the MAB principal decided to plan the activities to surprise us. We virtually reached there without a clue what to expect.

I was so worried that I might step into a gloomy hut where many blind people started to complain and weep. I realized the thought was absolutely silly! We were welcomed by cheerful Geofrey, a blind graduate from University of Malaya. Watching him deliver a lively speech with Braille note, we were all deeply touched. Later, we were shown a short video clip on their Mt. Kinabalu conquer. Personally, I climbed Mt. Kinabalu before and I knew exactly how challenging it was. To me, they were more than heroes, but living proves that determination was invincible. According to the principal, they were planning to conquer Mt. Tahan, which was more challenging and thrilling.

Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) in Tun Sambanthan. www.mab.org.my

Touring the centre, we knew more about the MAB facilities. MAB is a place for blind people to learn their skills and having fun, such as Braille reading, learning massage techniques, friendship networking etc. By then, we knew how blind people read, use computer, carry out sports and recreation activities etc. We were paired with a blind buddy each to interact and communicate. A blind person can officially declare blind for 3 level – B1, B2 and B3 (Total blindness, visual impaired and blur vision). My blind buddy, Rostam, was fully blind since born. We chatted about living, activities, future and so on. Throughout the conversation, I had not heard him complaining a single thing about his life even though he had not seen the world before. At that particular moment, I was so ashamed of myself. We complaint how ugly is the colour of a shirt, we complaint how dark is the sky, we complaint how bad is the building design, we complaint how ridiculous is the movie, on and on….

My cheerful buddy, Rostam, who has the positive attitude about his life. My full respect.

My buddy was a skillful massager. He was due to finish his course in this May. Of course, I was more than willing when he asked me to become his practice subject. Huh…. That was such an awesome experience, a first class massage. I was no doubt that he could pass his test with flying colour. He told me that he hoped to earn living by himself with this skill. It was a fine Friday. So, after lunch, Rostam would have to walk for almost 1 km to reach the mosque for praying. As a non-Muslim, I stayed in the centre and chatted with other colleagues. We were all touched by many different true stories – some lost their eyesight after brain cancer or accidents, some born with blindness, some gradually became blind out of no reason etc. The most heartbroken one was about a little girl who could not see, hear and talk. All she could interact was by hand touching signal.

Afternoon activities were fun. We had the chance to experience their leisure activities. I played goal ball (blind hand ball) and blind ping pong. How? By hearing of course, you can imagine the difficulty. Our day ended with ‘We Are The Champion’ song and whole-hearted speech. The day was unforgettable, the day that I remind myself how to cherish life, how to appreciate everything in my life, how to treasure each moment you can see…. No doubt this visit changes the perspective on how I view life. I will always remember this day before I complain something.

Any donation to Malaysian Association for the Blind:
P.O. Box No. 10687, Kuala Lumpur 50722.
You can donate, to be a volunteer or to provide employment for the blind. MAB is just off the Tun Sambathan station in Brickfields. Around Jalan Tun Sambanthan, there are also plenty of massage centres by blind people.


"WITH YOUR HELP, OUR WORLD BECOMES A LITTLE BRIGHTER, EVERYDAY"
~ Malaysian Association for the Blind

World Heritage - Malacca

Being recognized as world heritage (Penang and Malacca) is definitely a good news to Malaysian. Congratulation! This means an influx of foreign tourist, booming the tourism to maximum. Malacca has indeed full of its own charms. This place is the birthplace of Sultan system in Malaysia as well as many tradition and culture. Baba and Nyonya are legendary while Hang Li Po story gives you endless imagination. Let's hope Malacca flourishes with more colour of history....

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This building is absolutely an eye candy for photographer.

Unique and colourful trishaws add spices to Malacca culture.

Stunning statue to guard the church.

Typical protocol and counsel arrangement with Sultan.

Pearl of West Coast - Langkawi Island

It has been more than ten years I set foot in Langkawi. Back there, I still vaguely remember I and several schoolmates started from Ipoh bus station. Only after a long bus journey, we reached Kedah harbour which was full of rats, then it took us many ferry hours to arrive Langkawi harbour. Now, just after an hour flight and you are heading the way to your hotel from Langkawi airport. Langkawi’s development really amazed me - wide roads with many traffic lights. The most shocking one was the Makam Mahsuri, which transformed from a tiny graveyard within my reaching hand to a big guarded graveyard, with video story-telling auditorium!

The residents where Mahsuri family were resided, tourist junk probably.

Makam Mahsuri. Apparently, according to the guide, many people came to consult for lottery tips.

Laman Padi, providing you an experience of agricultural activities.

In this recent trip, I visited two places which impressed me so much. The first place was so-called Laman Padi, where you could get acquainted to all the agricultural activities. It was nicely set up, one of the paradise for photographer. The second place was The Bon Ton Resort. It was a famous honeymoon resort, ranging from RM 900 onwards for a night stay. We had a gourmet dinner at its sunset deck. The Nyonya food was delicious while the sunset view was more than breathtaking. I ranked it the best sunset after the Santorini sunset in my travel log. Frenzily and losing my mind, my Canon 40D was virtually clicking non-stop for half an hour. The view was a simple pond, floating with many little bright white flowers as if they were shinning under the amazing hue of sunset. The background was a natural artistic tree to perfect the view. All in all, it was spechlessly scenic! My picture could hardly justify my description.

The breathtaking sunset view from Bon Ton sunset deck.

The Bon Ton Resort, a famous honeymoon resort owned by a foreigner.

Will I revisit Langkawi? Absolutely, I still have not tried the cable car and diving there. Anyone is visiting there, book me in please…

My Cleaner Shrimps Spawned!!!

Look carefully, the microscopic juvenile shrimps 'snowed' in my aquarium.

It had been 2 months since I established my nano marine aquarium. A lot of busy incidents happened inside, of course. First, my bully damsel killed most of my bottom feeder fish. Then, it started to annoy my clown fish and someday later, the pair of clown fish could not take anymore and went to netherland too. It finally hit my boundary when it attacked my favourite fire goby (the cutie fish in the picture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemateleotris_magnifica) until it hopped out from the aquarium. Furiously, I isolated the damsel and the residents in my aquarium now are only a fire goby and a pair of cleaner shrimps. I expected to loose my fire goby as I noticed that it bleeded after falling to the floor. In fact, it survived the ordeal and getting more active and happier ever since! Miracle did happen sometimes.

With the bully damsel gone, the shrimps practically felt more safe. They devoured anything I dropped in. Sometimes, they even swam upside down to catch the floating pellets! I suspected that the lady shrimp had eggs under her belly. It proved me right last night when I found that my aquarium was 'snowing romantically'. The shrimp spawned! Not eggs but juvenile microscopic shrimps! It was an interesting sighting. The happiest one should be my goby, first time ever tasted live food in aquarium. This morning, all of the baby shrimps were gone, which I have expected to be eaten or being sucked by into the filter. Nevermind, at least the shrimps are happy with their lifes and I am not a bad fish keeper afterall.... Make more babies please....

Whale Shark Smiles at Tenggol Island

The blog title speaks all - a memorable dive in Tenggol Island, close encounter with a juvenile whale shark at Tokong Timur. To feed you the details, carry on reading then…. All of the photos were captured by my fellow divers as I did not rent or bring any camera this time.

Happy divers who spotted Whale Shark at Tenggol Island!

Long journey of driving, stranded boat due to spoiled engine, cumbersome gear up etc. etc. are some of the nightmares that drive diver to the wall. Though we experienced all of these mishaps during the trip, everyone was still going home with a big smile. New friendship + good dive guide + luckiest sighting + positive attitude counterbalanced all of the unlucky events. In fact, I think this is the luckiest dive trip I ever had so far since I am still in one piece after the driving journey. Well, my fellow divers will understand what I am referring to…

Yeah, I was not to be lost thanks to the striking red wetsuit.

Tenggol Island is exclusive for divers. It does not have a breathtaking beachview nor spectacular chalet, nor tempting food, nor bikini girls. What you can do is just dive, dive and dive. I logged 6 dives in two days (5 day dives and 1 night dive) but I could only recollect 3 dives (Tokong Timur, Lost World and House Wreck at Night).

Tokong Timur
This dive site is located at the southern tip. This was the first morning dive of the 2nd day, after a torrential rain at night. Visibility was simply superb. Backrolled into the clear ocean, we were greeted by schoaling ‘DIGI’ fish, i.e. all sorts of yellowish fish such as yellow stripe snapper, yellow fusiliers etc. The sheer number of the yellow species alone would make this dive unique. I could never imagine fusiliers could grow to such an extensive size! Along the dive, I also spotted my favourite schoaling barracudas.

At the turn of the boulder, we spotted the idol of all divers – Whale Shark. I believe I was the first person who spotted the whale shark after Charlie frantically bang his tank. The moment was just sensational. First, its head emerging from far away, then its full length body appeared, with many remora fish sticking under its belly, swimming alongside was a lone king fish. If I started finning upwards, I believe I could reach the whale shark and block its direction. Too afraid to scare it away, I just watched motionless. I had a delusion that the king fish peeped at me with a despicable expression, laughing snobbishly at my fans-met-idol silliness. The whale shark had not fully grown yet, about 4 meters plus. It passed by and almost wanted to turn back to check on us, but later with a flip of tail, it vanished into the blue. Oops, forgot to mention that most of the photographers missed the sighting and, therefore, no photo to prove.

Giant puffer cleaned by a wrasse at cleaning station.

Lost World
The coralscape was something to keep you amazed. Boulders were standing tall and high, lots of bright colour seafans with transparent shrimps and fries as their residence. I spotted some monstrous-size angels, such as bluering and six-banded. I am always an angelfish fan, no matter how frequent I spot them, I will still get excited. The six-banded angels were the largest angels I had ever encountered.

Healthy table corals scattering everywhere.

House Wreck (Night Dive)
I was almost doomed by this dive. First, tangled regulator which made me difficult to grab my first stage while descending. Second, bloody virgin torch light died beneath 20 m. Third, buoyant tank and current which keep pushing me upwards. Definitely struggling not to loose my buddy. To compensate the mishaps, plenty of night creatures to spot – cuttlefish with bioluminescent signals, big banded shrimps, crocodile fish, decorator crab, puffer etc.

Banded shrimp inside the wreck.

Turtle Point, Mini Highway, Tanjung Gemuk
These were the blur dives for me. Right after descending of one dive, we saw a grouper being trapped in tangled robes. Charlie, our dive guide, rescued it by cutting off the robe mess.

Poor grouper trapped within the robes

Turtle Points - checkout dive and spotted a schoal of juvenile barracudas, batfish, giant bumphead, giant puffer at clean station.
Mini Highway - there was a sandy bottom where shrimp gobies were abundant. Also, spotted the red Spanish dancer resting on the bottom.
Tanjung Gemuk - the last dive of the trip. The visibility was crappy, strong and many thermoclines, loud clicking sound made by coral during feeding (told by Charlie).

To sum out the dives, Tenggol Island was incredible. I definitely see myself revisit it again someday sometime. Until then, take care my dearest whale sharky….