Pangkor island – day 3

First time in my life, I come face to face with this black, beetle-like creature feared by many known as ‘bed bugs’.

As true as it can be, ignorance is bliss. I’ve never came across any bed bugs in my backpacking experience. When Mich suggested that we bring along a sleeping back for our previous Cambodia trip, I casually dismissed her concern. Bed bugs? What nonsense. As arrogant as I can be, I somehow don’t believe that I’ll ever come across one. Well…not until 2 days ago.

I didn’t really pay much attention to the beetle-like creature. Casually swept them away when I spotted one. Until I had one crawling down my back and spotted more of them on the mattress. Damn gross! I immediately had the mattress removed. Doesn’t matter if my back hurts the next day, as long as I don’t have another bug crawling on me!

A part from all that spoiler, I had a great day today. Got up at 6.30am, rented a bicycle and cycle all the way to town and back. Legs were dead numb but a great experience nevertheless.

Pangkor island – day 2

The sun decided to sleep in till late afternoon today. Was a very ‘naughty’ thing to do. I couldn’t go for a swim this morning and my cloths were drenched from the heavy rain. So…I spend most of my time today swinging in the hammock, listening to my favorite Indonesian band – Cokelat.

I called fab yesterday and chatted with him for a good 10 mins. It’s so cool now that he has a hand phone. It feels as though he is just next door. The wonders of technology.

Now that he is back in Australia, and it’s almost times up for his ‘one-year-work-free-no-stress-sun-&-beach’ way of life, I find myself adjusting to the shift that is taking place soon. Soon, he will be one of us who gets up every morning planning for the next big break. Soon he will have bills to pay and that inevitable stress that haunts every city dwellers. How would I adjust to the other side of him that I’ve not met? Beats me.

His one month stay in the island left quite an impression among the locals especially the beach boys. I get people asking where is the french? There is just something about him that makes him blends so well in this little island and in all makes him so fucking sexy hmmm….

’nuff said.

Pangkor island it is

The heavy rain in Lumut is what I least expected at this time of the year. The rain started at 6.30am. Merciless downpour.

The bus ride from KL on the night before took a good 5 hours. The bus – a horrific sight. Old, dirty and it didn’t look like it could survive a 5 hour journey. I felt cheated. Everyone on the bus did. We paid RM19 for this piece of shit? It was the shittiest shit.

Most of the seats were in really bad condition, smelly and full of stains. It was quite impossible to try focus on the good things esp. when my new Sony MP3 player decided to die on me. It was only 2 day old for god sake. Lesson learned. Never buy something with a ‘reset’ button on it. Crap.

I reached Lumut at 3.30am. Walked straight to Galaxy Inn. The hotel that fab and I stayed 3 weeks ago. And bargained my way to a RM30 for a half day stay instead of paying a ridiculous RM 85. Sometimes in life, all we need to do is ask. And very often, we get what we ask for.

9.30am
This is pure heaven! To laze around on the beach, without a hint of stressful city life. Only the welcoming sound of sea breeze kissing gently on my face.

Seeing familiar faces never fail to lighten me up. People like G, Pak Abu, Nazri, Wan, the makcik at the warung that gives me extra pisang goreng and allowing me to bring my cup of coffee to the beach. And all the locals that remembers me from my past visits. Now why would I trait for anything else for this comforting space that I now call my 2nd home?

w.a.y.s

Our state of mind defines how we view the world around us. Although this is not something new to me, it did manage to slipped through but now finding its way back to my occasionally disturbed state of mind.

I’ve always thought that I’ve done ‘one thing’ for all the wrong reasons. But I realise now that what ever I am now (a part from all the hard work) is sheer luck. I’ve been very very lucky indeed. I didn’t even realise that I am unwrapping one of the best gift the universe has bestowed upon me. Silly huh?

Today’s been great. I’ve completed 3 Approval Paper and I think I am getting better at it hehe…I’ve also re looked into my current state of life and what I want to achieve now and in 6 months time.

I don’t believe in doing a half baked job. It’s either I do it or I don’t (with passion). Truth is, I questioned if I made the right decision where my career is concerned…it’s amazing how a few good books can do to me. Honest to my dear life, I feel ‘passion’ again!

It’s gonna be a long weekend. The initial plan to Bali has been cancelled due to the expensive air fare. Though I have more buying power now compare to my previous job, I’ve made a pack with myself to stop splurging on expensive coffee, food, bags (especially), shoes and stationery that I don’t need. It’s a relatively new experience for me, and I am not complaining coz it’s ‘fun’ to regain some control over spending :p

planing in progress

My leave on the 30th has been approved! Being and 1st and 2nd May is a public holiday, I now have 5 days to explore another country! Yeah, another mini backpacking trip is planning in progress :D

Since I’ve busted all my saving and will solely feed on my first month salary from the new job, I can only afford an inexpensive getaway. Bali was my first choice but the return air ticket cost RM600-ish! Which is quite a lot to fork out. If compare with a getaway in Pangkor Island, RM600 can last me a good 1 month for accommodation!

Aah…we’ll see.

bye bye see u soon

It’s painful when you have to let go of someone so close to the heart.

Letting go has also been easy for me. I realize now that although it comes easily and seems to be the most logical thing to do. It’s also because I have little experience of letting go someone/something that is dear to me.

Sunday passed us by a little too quick. We had our last stroll at Central Market – our weekend highlight. It’s always a joy to just hang out at the kopitiam, looking at passer by, or to look at the artists at work to quench our artistic hunger.

We watched 3 DVD that evening and humor ourselves with a bottle of wine, some cheese and chocolate. Funny how I used to think that DVD watching is pale in comparison to the big screen, I’ve actually come to appreciate DVD watching with him. The little moments we had debating on our own interpretations and helping each other understand certain scenes in the movie that doesn’t make sense…

It’s a solemn day, I am trying to be the best that I can and not dwell too much on the pain. Sigh…well at least now I have more to look forward to :)

the exchange

I never thought he would agree to ring exchange. Let alone wearing a ring on his finger. I want to believe that it meant something. Commitment is still a big word for both of us, but I very much want the ring to signify no sleeping around until we figure out what to do with ‘us’. Whatever it is, he’s wearing it and I am happy :D

We had a great day today, though it was a shit start this morning. Got busted while trying to sneak in to the next door condo for a swim. I realise that sometimes people just wanna hear what they wanna hear. If I said I was visiting a friend we would have got in easily.

Anyways, we went to Time Square as planned. Because fab was all excited about the roller coaster ride and I thought a little thrill wouldn’t hurt. Turns out that it was damn hardcore and nasty. Enough to make me wanna throw up. The ride in Time Square made Genting look so pale in comparison! It’s a must go if you haven’t try it. Worth every penny of your RM25.

On a different note, I’ve registered myself with UN volunteer today. I’ve been thinking about this for couple of months, and felt that this is the right thing to do now.
Ever since I left the previous company, I’ve been thinking alot about what I wanna do with my life. Money and power doesn’t excite me anymore.

I’ve been very lucky so far in my career path. To have started with nothing to where I am today. I am just so sick of playing other people’s game, and the idea of working for a living. I don’t know, all these just doesn’t feel right to me. Right now.

But whatever it is, going with the flow is what I live by everyday. So we’ll see where the universe leads me to next :)

about a guy

I am not counting to the days of his departure. Not drowning myself in sorrow and missed out the last few days of our life together.

Although plans has been made to visit him in December and out super duper backpacking trip on a motobike in 2-3 years time, nobody knows what’s gonna happen tomorrow. I know this too well. Life is too unpredictable to hold on to something so fragile as ‘the future’. What I could do, is to rejoice on the very meaningful 4 months that I had with him. On how my perception of relationship and love has evolved.

Our time spend was not all rosy all the time. Despite our similarity in certain aspect, we are undeniably 2 very different individuals who wants different things in life (at this point of time). I don’t have the nicest temper and my unpredictabilty is not something that I am proud of. But I am lucky in a sense that he always comes back. Which led me to believe that at the little corner of his heart, he must feel love too. It’s not a big deal if he fears commitment, and I am not about to make do with what he has to offer. But what I can do, and will always do is to go with the flow. And believe that we will be led to all the good in life.

rainbow life

My 3rd week at work and I’ve been asked umpteen times how do I feel about working in the company.

So far it has been good. Good because I can have better control of my life now. I no longer need to slave for work. Leaving very little time for my self and loved ones.

Work now is definately different. There is ample of thinking time for planning. I might not be able to do ‘yet’ what I intended to do in terms of online marketing. But I am learning a completely new forte with different responsibilties – about delegration, managing people, about being a leader and team player at the same time, about realising and growing the team’s potential. There could not be a better timing than this. I’ve worked with good and bad managers in my previous jobs, which certainly helped in shaping what I want to become, which ‘good practises’ to follow and which ‘bad practises’ to not follow.

People at work are genuinely good at heart. Ample of laughter to go by every day! I don’t have much to complain actually. Except that…once a while I might feel that I am not doing ‘enough’. It does took a bit of getting used to, to go back while the sun is still up in the sky. And not having to bring my laptop back or work over the weekend. Not that I am complaining. Not ever! :D

Life’s good. What more can I ask?

weekend getaway

This is what happens when I indulge in a weekend getaway. Endless day dreaming of how I can pursue my backpacking adventures while still have enough money to go by.

Fab and I had a weekend getaway in Pangkor last weekend. It only seems complete to end the our chapter at Pangkor, where we first met last November.

We took the bus from KL at 10.30pm and arrived at Lumut at 2.30am. Luck wasn’t at our side with the backpackers inn opposite the bus station. Feeling grumpy and sleepy, I was determine to get a room in Lumut, no matter how much I had to fork out. After endless of dragging our tired feet we arrived at a hotel at the end of the street. Who wanted to charge us RM85 for a room just because I am with a white guy. WTF!

That shot up my anger 3 levels up. What a rip off! The standard room rate is only at RM65. And he was pushing the Deluxe Room. Furthermore, we only wanted the room for 4 hours.

After some angry bargaining, he finally settled for RM30 for 3 hours. Which means we had to check out at 6am. He didn’t issue a receipt whatsoever, which makes sense now because he probably pocketed the money. Idiot.

Whatever it is, my anger lessen when I see the world wakes up at dawn. And felt better after breakfast at the mamak stall :D

It felt great to come back to Pangkor with fab. To remind us of how good it felt to fall in love in the first place. And to complete what I wanted to do on the island, with him only.

We rented a motorbike to tour the island. It was fun, to explore to the inner islands and to exchange smiles with the locals that I’ve never met before.

One of the highlights in our biking trip was visiting the ‘haunted’ abandon resort which Bio once stayed.

We searched for his hut in the abandon resort. I guess it was pretty obvious it was the biggest wooden house with ‘House of God’ scribbled on it. I felt an eerie feeling when we enter the big hut. True enough, he left his most of his stuffs in the hut. As he told me few months back when he was here in KL, sorting out his passport to the States. What puzzles me most is that he left his bible as well. I mean, a person who is so into his religion wouldn’t have abandon his bible no matter what right?

Anyways, I just couldn’t wait to leave the abandon resort. I kept getting this feeling that someone was wathing at us and that sends shivers down my spine. The feeling lasted back in Nasri nipah camp. I felt as though someone was touching the sole of my foot at the middle of the night and I am damned sure that it wasn’t fab.

So much for the horrific experience. The rest of the time spend in Pangkor was simply enjoyable.

dutch fort

wooden bridge

Kuan yin (goddess of mercy)

Chim…

door handle

foo ling kung

Hindu temple

decorated spear

looking at fab thru the hammock

Sun bathing is really addictive! And I had a good time lazing at the beach…

We decided to go for a swim on Sunday morning before I head back to kl. Ironically, though I like swimming, I’ve always fear the sea and I’ve never ’swam’ in it. And since fab is around I thought I gave it a try lar…u know. At least there is someone to watch my back. And it turned out that it was really fun! Especially when I had the goggles on and could see all the little creatures in the sea.

look what he found! Puff fish!

I am glad we did this trip. And now it feels complete now no matter what the future has for us. Fab’s holiday ends on 15th April and god knows when will I see him again. It’s been a good 4 months. Not all rosy all the time but good enough to have lived that experience of being in a relationship that is more real than any other ones I’ve had in the past.