Thursday, December 1, 2016

Fascinated by: Eday

I've been busy with work, the weather and a mind boggling PMS (i thought i was going crazy or maybe i already am?). Totally a legit reason for the delay, right?
About 10 years back, we used to rush to Loft (Zouk) in Jalan Ampang (now Pelita Nasi Kandar) every Friday night, reaching there before 12am to get in free, to dance to the Friday night anthem by The Cure. That's where i met Eday and his brother Hackem, to which we later found out that we're sort of connected (his grandfather was my grandfather's cousin).

1. Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
I'm on my bed and writing this using my macbook. Yesterday I had dinner with two close friends whom we had not seen for a few weeks. Duhh

2. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
I have a decent job. Funny how when you start having adult responsibilities and adult worries, you start thinking like an adult.

3. How many bills per month do you have to settle?
Increased! I’m just trying to do a budget and cost breakdown to make sure i can afford and being able to save money each month.

By posting this, i hope VANS would wanna gift him a pair.

4. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it's good for you?
Nasi lemak with telor mata (mesti kuning cair ok). I just can’t.

5. What was the last thing you doodle-d?
An eyes

6. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
I just received my pay cheque, oh yes I need new shoes. I need new shoes. Yes. Vans

7. What's the difference between holiday and travel?
Holiday is when you feels like a tourist with your ugly big hat and buying freezer magnets and keychains for your friends.
Travel is exploration and really really getting to know the local characters, history, politics, cultures and no shopping.

8. How do you really wanna live your life?
Be kind to everyone, to animals and plants. Be a grateful person and always humble. Living aware and in the present moment. Bringing happiness to others and living life to its full potential. Ok lame. But I really meant it.

9. What is you favourite print pattern?
Arabesque & Moorish.

10. Have you found your purpose in life?
He teaches that the purpose of life is worship Him. Im not really a good muslim but I try lately. And I started to pray 5 times a day. Fuhh it was really hard in the beginning then after a while everything goes smooth.
-
11. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
Three things not enough. Too many!
i. Art & History
ii. Politics & Cultures
iii. Spotify

12. Why are you wearing that shirt today?
Because I like casual attire. Hmm does wearing a tie make us work harder or smarter? Actually I like to dress well, by dressing well guys can give off the appearance of being confident and attractive.


More photos of Eday dressing well here!

Jalan: Street Speak International 1.0

Come thru!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Fascinated by: Mila

Whoops! Missed a day! Hopefully just this once heheh.
So, Mila and I met way back, most probably in 2006 when we were working in Cyberjaya (that was my first job as a graphic designer). Nowadays, it's hard for us to meet because she's staying in Kajang (that's about 30-40mins from where i'm staying) and also because time is a b*tch. However, I managed to force her sweetly for this interview with the reason that her birthday was 4 days back and that this is good for her to look/revise on her life.

1.  Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
At work doing my usual routines and It was same for yesterday.

2. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
Just go with the flow.

3. How many bills per month do you have to settle?
Normal utilities - about 4?

4. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it's good for you?
Typical local dish like nasi lemak, I cannot say it's good but at least it boast my energy and mood to kick-start my morning.
I wanted to put a photo of her karaoke-ing but of course she won't allow it.
5. Describe the smell of your perfume.
Warm, fresh and subtle.

6. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
Spending quality times with my family.

7. What's the difference between holiday and travel?
Holiday means taking break for 9-5 job and I might just stay home all day long watching my fave drama while travel means taking my time off discovering the outside world while learning about people around and your my own self.

8. How do you really wanna live your life?
As simple as it can.

9. Do you like folding or ironing your clothes?
Not really

10. Have you found your purpose in life?
Yes but I rather not talking about that.

11. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
i. Earth
ii. People
iii. Fashion

12. Why are you wearing that shirt today?
Just because it makes me feel comfortable and it suits my current style.


Stalk her here.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Fascinated by: Raja Syarafina

Raja and I go way back before play school. Her mom's bed was next to my mom's when they were in labour for our youngest sister. Met up again when i got in the same class as her in standard 3 (that'd be 9 years old) in Subang Jaya. Besides dancing and eating cakes, she dishes out (unwanted) sarcastic remarks, whether in print or not, fo lyfe.

1. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
i. Relatives’, friends’ and strangers’ interest in my personal life. They only want the answers to ‘Who’ and ‘When’ but completely uninterested in the ‘Why’, ‘How’ and ‘What’; 
ii. Going out for meals and seeing that everyone is far more interested in catching up with people NOT at the table/restaurant;
iii. Prices of properties because someone said I’m gonna be a real-estate tycoon! Objectively, that person could be mad.

2. Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
I am now in office, going through documents for the upcoming Penang State Assembly session. It’s a Sunday, mind you. I was at home yesterday, fighting through household chores.
Am not a high-living jet-setting socialite. Oh well.

3. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
My job is a lovely rainbow of colours with sprinkles of fairy dust and unicorns. I would love to believe that but those that have crossed the wrong path may not think so. Seems that I’m paid for a few reasons. One is being born with in-built magnifying glass, spotting mistakes (especially in documents) at one glance. Second, making people toe the line when we have different views. I’m quite easygoing, it is my way or the highway. Third, finding that loophole when things don’t seem to be in our favour. Fourth, make things happen, no matter what.  


4. How many bills per month do you have to settle?Quite a few but none gives the same impact as my credit card bills. At that point, there’ll always be the familiar regret of choosing wants over needs. But that lesson will repeat itself!
I bet she was thinking about her credit card bills.

5. What was your ambition when you were 7 years old, and when you were 15?
At 7, I thought being 12 was a good thing. The ‘seniors’ seemed to know what they were doing while I was adjusting from a 2-hour a day kindergarten routine to daily half-day worth of textbooks and ringing bells.
At 15, I was hoping I could scrape through the PMR. It took me awhile to discover that I’ll be tested on 3 years’ worth of content for few miserable subjects!


6. What was the last movie you watched at the cinema and was it good?
It was ‘Brides’, a 2004 Greek movie shown during the 17th European Union Film Festival in November 2016. I thought it was a romantic comedy but it was actually a romance drama. A story about mail-brides back in the 1920’s, 700 women and girls who had to leave their families and homelands for a future with men they’ve not met before. Their journey encapsulated the many different types of women among us (the realist, the romantic, the doormat, the survivor) as well as their hopes and aspirations. To many, a marriage is their key to happily-ever-after. Few wanted the marriage as an escape from a forgettable past.  To the female protagonist, marriage was not about love but companionship and business partnership. She chose a man who is waiting at the port than the man she met on the ship.
Good movie, but may not be favoured in today’s fast-paced action/CGI/chick-lit movie age.


7. What will you be doing this coming weekend?I’ll probably drive up to Hard Rock Penang. The Jazzhats will be performing and their lead singer, Ray Rozells is just superb. His rendition of Luther Vandross’ Dance with My Father is a bit too personal for me but an evening of songs will never go wrong. Could also try to slot in a game of pool or two.


8. Do you like folding or ironing your clothes?
I prefer neither but…there is that perverse masochistic tendency of appreciating clothes that have crisp lines e.g. shirt sleeves or pants. I feel more comfortable if the clothes I wear are well-ironed, even if the material states ‘no ironing needed’! I don’t have a maid so the hardest part for me is to really lift the iron and start ironing. But once I start, I can’t seem to stop…
By the way, the question does seem like one which a prospective mother-in-law will ask!


9. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it’s good for you?
Toasted bread and half-boiled eggs. Am not sure if they’re good for me but the kopitiam version is a good start for any day.


10. What was the last awkward situation you were in?
Me having to listen to a guy’s problematic past romance over dinner. I actually liked that guy enough to see prospects of a relationship but when that tornado came out of nowhere, something inside of me switched off. From a close friend and relationship hopeful, I became someone who dished out advice from the sidelines. I don’t think I will have the courage or patience to experience that again so I wrote and sent him a letter the next day. It was of mixed signals, missed opportunities and me moving on from this comedy of mistakes.

I am not sure if his comprehension skills are functioning...

She managed to purr a salsa fiesta in Penang.
11.  What is your favourite print patterns? 
Does a string of ‘SALE’ stickers at shops of my favourite brands count?


12. How do you really wanna live your life?
I think I’m happy the way I am now. Used to dream of many possibilities but considering how things have worked out, God must have intended this for me. No doubt things can be a lot better but it could be a lot worse. 
I hope to have a life that provides me just enough in terms of material wealth, a little bit but manageable amount of stress and pressure to push me forward, and an abundance of love and memories with family and close friends. And as what I learnt from my Dad’s passing, a peaceful end after a life well-lived.



Read her opinions here.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Neue Artisans 4.0

Another event you should check out too (if you're not into books so much).

Kuala Lumpur Literary Festival 2016

Ugh so many interesting events this weekend but i'll be busy sorting out stuff for Black Market Weekend. However, check out this event if you have the time.



Chof Kukis

Chof kukis is soft chocolate cookies yang tak jadi (because it's wayyy chewy). I LOVE soft cookies and the easiest and most affordable cookies i can get is from Subway. However, i think it's great if i can bake my own, so i did. As you can see from the stories i posted on my blog (like, blogging last year's event, this year), that i am very busy dealing with life. So time is very precious and i like things that don't really take my time. Insert some mathematic biological formula, that, sort of equals to being lazy, heh. But you see, lazy people are good at doing things in a very limited time. We love the pressure!

Right.

So i searched on Pinterest "easy soft cookies recipe" and found this. Read through and it seemed easy which is true, it is easy! Tastes good but a bit too sweet for me (but one of my colleague said not sweet enough for her).
I replaced the chocolate chips with 3/5 Tango milk chocolate bar and added a little bit of raw peanuts. Gigih okay malam malam tumbuk kacang padahal tak raya puunn. However, actually, my cookies didn't turn out like the photos because as someone who bakes once in a blue moon, i was questioning why is my oven's temperature only up to 250 when in the recipe stated 350. After baking the first batch and discussing it with a friend, because the cookies didn't actually 'deflated' per recipe instruction, apparently i made a mistake thinking that 350 was for degree celsius, which is not because in the US they use fahrenheit instead. Bummer. Anyway, i'm gonna bake the left over dough because i was too tired and sleepy already (baked the cookies on a weeknight. So determined riiight), this time i'm gonna try make smaller balls. Wish me luck!

Had to use cupcake..cups(?) because i forgot to get the cookie sheet.
There's only one photo because i was really into baking this chof kukis. Also, i kinda suck at multitasking. Focus guys, concentration. Baking something you love, with love, for your loved ones. Hah!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Fascinated by: Andre

We sat at the same table during his high school prom party (our drummer went to the same school) and turned out we were in the same graphic design course in college. Full name Andre Riantiarno Nasution, he was the one who introduced to me the riot grrrl music scene.

1. Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
Now, I think I am where I should be. Yesterday, probably trying to figure out where I should be.

2. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
I don’t have to get by the system. I mean, I am my own system. Fair enough?

3. How many bills per month do you have to settle?
A few. 3 to 4 monthly bills.

4. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it's good for you?
Nasi lemak with less sambal and telur mata tak nak cair. Because I’m tryin’ to gain those lemaks which I think I can get by eating nasi lemak on daily basis.

Nasution is pronounced Nah-soo-tee-on
 5. What was the last thing you read?
I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk and some celebrities buzz feeds.

6. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
Baliiiiiiii!

7. What's the difference between holiday and travel?
I think holiday is more on a relaxation and spiritual awakening thing. Probably just do nothing and relaxing by the beach, cocktails from 2pm by the pool, a little fancy dinner, drinking session at nice pubs with good music and repeat.
While travel usually need more energy. Walking from place to place, experiencing different cultures, trying euww foods for the first and the last time, meeting new people, taking instaworthy photos (LOL), etc.

8. How do you really wanna live your life?
Enjoy being in uncommitted relationship, with peace and harmony, and lotsa money to get by. ☺

He bakes!
9. What was the last awkward situation you were in?
Probably few months back. Got hugged by someone who thought they know me (or maybe I just couldn’t recall who the hell he was).

10. Have you found your purpose in life?
For me personally, just living life, do good and trying to be good.

11. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
i  - Travelling to European countries.
ii – Things that I think I can do more.
iii – How shitty can a marriage be and reasons of why I shouldn’t sign up.

12. Why are you wearing that shirt today?
Lazy Wednesday = Easy iron shirt from H&M (no explanation needed)

Go like his photos.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Fascinated By: Ajiera

Ajiera is someone i constantly talk to at the office and considered as my Grey's Anatomy person (you have to watch the show to get it). Born in 1985, back then she studied interior design but not really practising it nowadays.

1. Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
Literally? Office and home. Super generally? Yesterday a hustler. Now trying to be a survivor/human.

2. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
Fighting and struggling the normalities. The more i do now, the more i think we're going nowhere. (forgive my negativity)

3. How many bills per month do you have to settle?
Around RM2,500+

4. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it's good for you?
Self-made omelette with potatoes and cheese and half-fried onions. It will make me full & happy obviously. #potatorules

5. What was the last thing you read?
The above question. If it's a book, it's Buy Me The Sky by Xin Ran.

6. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
Work/ on duty this Saturday (i was forced to buy nasi dagang, soto and nasi lemak from a girl friend who's opening a stall this coming Saturday).
Sunday- maybe helping her at her stall?????

That time i forced her to join me at YSDAF2016

7. What's the difference between holiday and travel?
Holidays stops at the age of 17 where you worry nothing because your parents settled everything for you, including your swimming suit/trunk, and pay anything you choose at souvenir shop or even better, give you money to spend yourself - OVERSEAS.
Travel is when you get lost and you learn.

8. How do you really wanna live your life?
I still don't know what i want in life generally but the decent way of living in my opinion is by having sufficient love, support, understanding, respect and enough moneyto eat and pay what should be paid. To be specific I need someone to talk to and share my life with, able to listen to good music and watch good movies, read books and spend quality time with loved ones, like an evening at Pantai Sepat.

9. What was the last awkward situation you were in?
Today (almost) shouting at a friend "but you are the one who is sighing!" during meeting on site with tenant from Japan and some contractors. Only one of them turned and look at me thank God.

10. Have you found your purpose in life?
Ahh...no. But i believe everything we search for will always come back to love.

Ajiera's Brandon Flower.

11. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
i. Finding out who's having period at the same time, right now at the office, there are 6 girls and 2 soon. I learned in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" that girls who spend time together will get their period sync with each other.
ii. A girl band and i won't let you know which because it's embarrassing.
iii. The taste of my healthy breakfast.

12. Why are you wearing that shirt today?
Because i know there's a board meeting today and to help myself feeling a little bit better from the day before but turned out that if there's a jerk in between your work, you'll be ruined anyway.

She is single but i'm not sure if she's available.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Picnic in Bangsar

It was Syima's birthday about 2 weeks back and we had a little picnic to celebrate her becoming old. I am still not sure why we celebrate people getting older but i'm in for any kind of parties, heh. We decided a picnic should be suitable since most of my friends have kids and well, you know, dah banyak umur ni, can't really stay up late.






Happy birthday Syima!
At first we wanted to picnic at Taman Lembah Kiara however that park is so popular in the neighbourhood that it's always packed in the morning and since some of my friends have babies and pregnant, it'll be a bit of a problem to park so far from the park. So Yati suggested a park near her place in Bangsar, which i found out later, is just behind Kompleks Sukan Bangsar (a location that i will blog about, sometime next year).

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Fascinated By: Shuz

So i've decided that Wednesday should be the day we be nosy! Because Wednesday and We-Be-Nosy starts and ends with the same alphabet, hah! (the fact is, i'm just too excited to post my first interview and tomorrow is already too late).

This is Khairunnisa Noor bka Shuz. Born in 1987, she is awkward, a walking list of creative projects and buat je anything she feel like doing. She loves cats but wouldn't wanna be one because the thought of being molested totally creep her out.


1. Where are you now and where were you yesterday?
now: in my personal space getting my shit done.
yesterday: out and about getting other people's shit done.


2. What are you doing in life right now to get by the system?
i make things, especially clothes.
i teach things, especially garment construction.


3. How many bills per month do you have to settle?
three + one. tho i wish i could afford to contribute more.


4. What is your favourite breakfast and why do you think it's good for you?
dua telur mata goyang
a fuckload of spinach and mushrooms
pinch of bamboo salt + pepper
(all cooked together in one pan in coconut oil)
+ four to six slices of grained roti.

same thing every. single. day.
good because buat sendiri + consumed within an hour of bangun tidur.


5. What was the last thing you draw/doodle?
http://wtfruga.tumblr.com/tagged/420

Shuz is also a very shy person.




















6. What will you be doing this coming weekend?
i would like to say lepak lepak have fun with the homies and go to my husband's show but most likely work because i'm obsessed.


7. What's the difference between holiday and travel?
holiday is the beach / hutan / outskirts where you just chill, smoke some greens, look at clouds, free from work and other city burdens.

travel is the city where you walk and look at things, surrounded by capitalism and hyper consumerism and bump into other tourists (literally). sometimes you even have to work.

both are cool because you get to observe new things.


8. How do you really wanna live your life?
free of debt most definitely.
free of the need to succumb to consumer capitalism.
free of human politics / democracy / kakistocracy.
on a hill / by the river or sea in a tiny open space cottage.
one husband, a couple of goats, a number of chickens, zero humans.
fuckload of plants and of course endless supply of herbs.
doing whatevertf i want but never forgetting god.

tldr; basically off the grid.

#wilderpeople

Besides this, she also made my nikah kebaya.
9. Do you like folding or ironing your clothes?
yes to folding (sambil angkat baju sambil lipat kain).
no (never) to ironing because i love that hobo look.

10. Have you found your purpose in life?
found it in a book revealed verbally 1400 years ago.

11. List three things that you are currently fascinated with.
i. god's meticulous planning.
ii. god's intricate creations and the creations they create.
iii. dmt.

12. Why are you wearing that shirt today?
top of the pile.

You can stalk her more, here.

I can be a writer if i feel like it

Okay fine, not exactly a writer but that status gives me the advantage of holding an interview. I've always been curious about people, like what they do, how they survive. Basically, just being nosy. Since i'm not eligible to be a real writer or journalist (because i don't really have a purpose in life), i will be doing a weekly interview post with my friends (hopefully i can get 10 people to agree to this). I'm calling it: Fascinated By:. People who think they're normal but they're not.
I haven't decide which day of the week i'm gonna post the interview because consistency is not my middle name, duhh.
Okay, now i will have to go think of a real solid purpose why i wanna do this interview post, so my friends would agree to it, willingly. Because i don't like being pushy. I don't like being pushed, therefore.

Friday, October 14, 2016

My lovely Japanese lady-bike


It was a birthday gift from my brother back in 2010.
At first it was orange.
And then a friend rented it in 2011 for a local shampoo ad.


And after so long the bike was left abandoned (because it was too pink for my dad to ride), finally shuben helped out to paint it in grey and changed the brake wire, pedal and added rear LED. He's planning to install a basket in front so he can ride it to the pasar.
Okay.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Wind turbines at Pulau Perhentian Kecil

You can find a lot of beautiful islands in Malaysia. I think i've blogged about Redang somewhere here (but i missed blogging about Tioman. Omg, i forgot to blog about our New York trip. And the part where i got married 3 days before flying off).
Aaanyway, i'm just gonna share some stuff on our recent Pulau Perhentian Kecil trip. If you don't know already, there's Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil. The big island (Besar) is laid back and family friendly (the truth is i've never been there hoho). The small island (Kecil) is more lively with noise, curious young wanderlusts and 'what happens on the island, stays on the island' kinda vibe. There was a phase in my life where i went there a few times in a year, that time i was single. In fact everytime i travelled, i was always single because i was open in meeting new people, well, not sure what i was looking for though. Now that i'm married, it's a bit hard to adjust but i'm sure i'll fit fine. Because i'm that adaptable type (i think).
I can't remember the last time i went to the island so for that recent trip i was acting a bit anxious in surveying the transport and accommodation because it's my first trip there with shuben so i wanted him to really like the island trip. Previously you can't really book the rooms on the island, they preferred walk-ins but i guess there's a lot of changes in 6 years because as i browsed for chalets, most of them offered packages (like Redang). I mean, it's great but whenever it's meal time you have to go back to your chalet (first world problem). So despite it being a long holiday weekend (end of August-Merdeka weekend) we bought our bus tickets, return boat and just go without any room booked. That's how we ended up in Rock Garden Chalet. Sorry guys, no photos but heyyy, here's a video of us going up the other side of the beach, up to the wind turbine.

So how did i find the island after so long of not going there? Very different. Still glad that there's no road there but amagad is that a tractor??? (menjeling Bubu Villa) Why can't you people just maintain the hippie vibe of the island? When i saw photos of the brick path to Coral Bay i was really disappointed because previously it was just a path through the jungle however it made our way easier to and fro Long Beach at night (but it's still dark). The first few nights we were there, it rained lightly so we just stayed in our room. Thankful for the good weather on our last night there, we went for dinner at Ombak Resort Coral Bay. After dinner we went back to Long Beach and people were starting to fill up the beach bars to watch the fire show. We stayed for a bit and spent the night in our room (it was a pricey room for us so there's nothing wrong spending every second cherishing the room). We didn't go for any snorkelling trip this time, just rented the snorkel masks and swam near the rocks, below our chalet.
If you guys are planning to go to Perhentian Kecil expecting to float in the calm clear water, better go next year because the island is closed for tourists during the monsoon season (November - February). For those who hate long road trips, you can fly to Kota Bharu and take a taxi to Kuala Besut jetty. For those who don't mind sleeping on the bus for 7 - 8 hours (like me), you can get bus tickets (return RM90) online and i suggest that you just get the boat tickets (return RM70) once you're at the jetty. Everything is slightly expensive on the island so bring your own snacks and whatnots.

Trip duration: 26 - 30 Aug 2016

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Dancing In Place 2016


I had some free time and wanted to update a draft that's been there for about 5 months and then i came across this upcoming show at the end of July. So excited! I went to Dancing In Place 2016 at Rimbun Dahan earlier this year which transcended me to an amazeballs-dreamlike state, i was angau in a daze for a week. Angau in English is sort of lovesick.
I've been wanting to go to Rimbun Dahan since forever (okay, maybe 7 years back) so I insisted we HAVE to go to that event, plus, there's gonna be people dancing. Outdoor. In the nature. Dalam rumah kampung. Like, how come I didn't know of this annual event before?? Based on the flier above of the upcoming show, I'm guessing it's gonna be the same flow as it was in Rimbun Dahan; divided into 2 groups and then we'll be taken to the sites of the dance show.

Below are a few (literally) photos of that event back in January. Very few photos because i was so engrossed in all the shows. Honestly, that was the first time I watched a contemporary dance show and I fell in love immediately. Maybe because of the concept of the show or maybe I'm just a sucker for anything with pokok (except illegal logging).
Anyway, because I fell in love so much, I went browsing for dance classes around Petaling Jaya and came across Soul To Soul Dance Studio. I was so up in enrolling myself for the 5 months contemporary dance class however I did some research that you really need to know basic ballet to pursue contemporary (and some of the opinions and comments I found online are very strict and stern, like, you can't dance at all if you don't know any ballet. Ouch). Well, for now, I'll just go and support the shows. See you guys at DPAC! (Cewah, macam aku perform je)

Monday, June 6, 2016

Ramadhan Mubarak

First Ramadhan as a wife. This morning i woke up preparing food while thinking, "I feel like mak" and recalled numerous times mak would kinda scream to wake me up for sahur.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Festivals That I'd Love To Check Out

1. This year's Summer Sonic (Radiohead? Suede? At The Drive In???)
2. Electric Forest
3. Boom Festival
4. Burning Man
5. Fuji Rock Festival (RHCP :'( )
6. Jazz Gunung
7. Glastonbury
8. Rock en Seine
9. Wonderfruit Festival
10. Primavera Sound
11. Roskilde Festival

Nope, not too interested in Coachella. Got a feeling akan pening kepala dengan attendees haha.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Sabah - Borneo Reef World

A pontoon is a floatation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. Basically, it's a floating platform. The highlight of this trip was obviously Kundasang but I was more excited for this sea trip hihi. Sabah is well known for its beautiful beaches, islands and diving spots so it's just absurd if we skip the island trip on our first time to Kota Kinabalu (though Mili have been here a few times, i think she went to Manukan). I can't remember how I came across this sea walking activity but I remember reading about it a few years back and that activity was somewhere near Jakarta so I was sort of excited when i found out we've got it here in Malaysia. I still can't swim well, let alone skin dive so I was curious about this sea walking activity. And one of the reason was that I wanted Abah to experience and see what we usually see on our snorkelling trips.
To the pontoon.
We were surprised (and impressed too) that Abah went straight to get his snorkelling gears but he decided not to snorkel when his mask kept fogging and that the water was too deep. However we're proud he didn't hesitate!
We didn't exactly walk on the sand, just an underwater platform but i didn't really mind.
The helmet is 25kg and the glass sort of made me dizzy.
You can see the underwater walk-through at the top of this photo. This pontoon has been around for about 10 years.

Guestbook :)
So after the sea walking activity, I was given this guestbook and was minding my own business doodling when i heard some guys shouting, "Whale shark! Whale shark!" and i quickly ran to where the fuss were and there it was, a young whale shark swimming around the pontoon. I think it was about 10ft long. The guys who were obviously all divers splashed into the water one by one (even the cook haha) because apparently the whale shark will only come near the area once a year and that this was the first time ever at the pontoon. How lucky!!! We can't miss this opportunity so Mili and I put on our snorkel gears and joined the fun. It was like a dream!
LOVE.



Sabah - Kundasang


We wanted to just travel in Malaysia, maybe Cameron Highlands but my sister & I were too lazy to drive up and that we're not too sure if we're up for the winding road. Then, Mili suggested if we should fly out but too short notice, we couldn't find a good bargain for the flight tickets (in fact, i had only about a week to help plan things). We decided to check out Kundasang since none of us have ever been there (I myself never been to neither Sabah nor Sarawak). And so our belated birthday trip started off in Kota Kinabalu, a surprise treat for Abah.
Jetty, about 15min walk from our hotel next to Padang merdeka.
SEAFOOD!
Mount Kinabalu's reflection. 
We rented a Myvi from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang (RM120/day) and my heart skipped a beat once we saw the beautiful Mount Kinabalu. We made sure to stop at every good viewpoint by the roadside.
Stalking some cattle at Desa Cattle Dairy Farm.
Before planning the trip, I asked my friend if she knew anything about Sabah and she instantly suggested Kundasang (because i can only think about the beautiful islands surrounding the state), of how most of the people who went there described it having somewhat of a New Zealand vibe (with the green hills and chilly wind). After approximately 2 hours drive, we arrived in Kundasang slightly earlier than our check in time so we decided to get some of those New Zealand vibe at Desa Cattle Dairy Farm. At the entrance you will need to pay RM5/adult and drive up to the main farm. The road, as Abah said, "Very very very bad". Seriously, they should have 4x4 ride to take visitors from the entrance to the farm. So at the farm they have a herd of cattle, you can feed the calves and kids and at about 2:30pm, you'll get to see the process of milking the cattle, by machine, not manually (to my sister's disappointment). If you're hungry, you can get pizza, waffle, sausage, ice cream and yogurt. It's just weird they don't have hotdog..
Adik baby.
The kids are alright.
After that we went to the vegetable and fruits market along the roadside. Beautiful vegetables and fruits, so geram! We were looking through the brown rice and saw this packet written 'Brown rice after earthquake' which obviously made us wonder and the makcik chuckled saying, "Means it's fresh laa". Like, duhh haha.. (Major earthquake happened in Sabah back in June 2015)
That pumpkin looking thang is what they call avocado cheese.
View from Kinabalu Pine Resort's restaurant.
Mount Kinabalu from our resort.
I don't know the name but it sure looks like fairies, aye?
While driving up to Kundasang.


About 30mins from Kundasang is the town Ranau (where you can find Maybank) and a bit further up from Ranau is the Poring Hot Spring, which we didn't go because I was already tired from driving and that the next day Mili wasn't feeling very well so we drove back to Kota Kinabalu. Before leaving Kundasang we did stop by Mount Kinabalu National Park however we were not up for hiking so we just drove around the accessible area. Would definitely come to Kundasang next time, gotta get a place with kitchen so we can cook up all those fresh vegetables yum! Heh. Anyway, we stayed at Kinabalu Pine Resort and I think it was a good bargain (because I just like staying at old buildings, my sister not so much), only they really need to upgrade the food a bit. We stayed at Block F, had a clear view of the mountain except that they just had to place the electric pole in the middle of that nice view. So I suggest for you guys to take Block R if you guys wanna stay there.
This is not an advertisement. But I like this hand drawn map.

Trip duration: 30 Jan - 2 Feb 2016