Day 5 – Vientiane going on Luang Prabang

I woke up extremely early today. At 6am. With a purpose of cause – to catch the alms giving ritual! :)

Like being pulled by a magnet, I went straight to the baguette stall and saw Ka Chang (the owner) smoking his cigarette. I guess I caught him by surprise – to see me, a tourist waking up so early in the morning.

We chatted for a while and suddenly monks in saffron robes appear in front of me! Little did I know that Ka Chang took part in the alms giving ritual on a daily basis. I was tempted to take photographs of the monks standing in front of me (!!) but instead observed the alms giving ritual in silence.

Now, although Ka Chang told me it was completely ok to take photographs of the monks during the alms giving but somehow…it just didn’t feel like the right thing to do in front of the monks…I felt that I would be intruding upon what was supposed to be a private and intimate moment between Ka Chang and the monks. So, I let it go. (but secretly vowed that I would return with a zoom lens in near future!) :p

Day 4 – Vientiane (part 2)

The first few hours in Vientiane was spend indulging in my hotel room – equipped with hot shower, air-con, satellite TV and a balcony! After 2 days of non-stop traveling on the road, sleep and laundry was all I could think of.

It took me a while to get acquainted with Vientiane. On the surface level, it appears nothing but dusty and noisy! But Vientiane is like a diamond in the rough. And it’s beauty shines through the people who showed so much kindness and hospitality which makes up for the imperfections of the city.

One of the things I like most about Laos is it’s clear BLUE sky. Cloudless blue sky! Perfect backdrop for any photographs :)

Although I was still tired after a few hours of sleep, I decided to take a stroll to Patuxai in the evening. Turns out to be a very long walk indeed. Took me at least 15 minutes from the hotel!

The Patuxai Park was a hot spots for locals to jog and chill out. And the park came alive with traditional Laotian music playing in the background. It was nice to just sit and do what I do best – people watching haha! But the day was getting darker and I thought that I better head back to the hotel considering the fact that I don’t know the country well enough to be lurking alone at night.

On my way back, I was approached by 2 Filipino gals (who doesn’t look a day passed 16 to me)asking for the nearest restaurant ala the ones at Khaosand Road. So I led them back to somewhere close to the hotel where they can find food and I went for a stall selling baguette instead.

Just when I thought I was gonna have one of those boring nights – finish my baguette, go back to the hotel and doze off in front of the telly, the baguette shop owner (who spoke very good English) delightfully sat next to me after I told him I was from Malaysia. What started of as a simple declaration – that he was a fan of Tun Dr. Mahathir (ME TOO!) had us ended up talking for a good 2 hours on politics and Buddhism :)

Day 4 – Vientiane (part 1)

Although in a VIP bus, the bus ride from Bangkok to Nongkhai was horrible! Turned out that my bus driver was a road bully! He was driving at full speed and kept honking the vehicle in front of him to move to the left lane for him to overtake! And I am sure he nearly dose off because the bus swayed and had our hearts skipped a beat. Ish…

Finally, after a 10 hour ride, we reached Nongkhai at 6am. Settled the border pass and crossed the Friendship-bridge to Vientiane smoothly :) (Fyi, Malaysian do not need a visa to enter Lao)

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So the minibus from the Thai-Laos border took us straight into the city and dropped at us Setthathirat Road. Just in front of Joma Bakery. (where I was supposed to meet Bea the next day)
Took me awhile to get my barrings right. Initially wanted to pamper myself and check in to Mali Namphu Guest House but I just couldn’t find guest house in my guide book! Frustrated, I walked in to Saibaidee Guest House only to know that they are fully booked and asked to wait till 8am for anyone to check out. After a while, I decided to look for another guest house after I got a ’sneak preview’ of their toilet hehe…

Turned out that I made the right choice. Checked into Vayakorn Guest House (paid USD14 per night) and just chilled in the comfortable bed, clean white bed sheets and cable TV!

Day 3 – Bangkok (part 2)

I reached Bangkok at 10.45am. Wanted to do the backpacker thing by exploring Hualumpong station, check in to a nearby guest house and head over to the bus station to get my bus ticket to NongKhai. But instead, I took the easy way out – hailed a taxi to Khaosand Road, checked in to Orkid Guest House and booked my bus ticket from a tour agency next door straight to Vientiane! (must have been my lucky day to secure a bus ticket at wee hours!)

After the 20 hour train ride (2.20pm – 10.45am), I just wouldn’t heck it anymore. I was tired and about to crashed anytime. But when I tried to sleep, my mind was actively awake albeit the tiredness in my body. So, apa lagi? Massage lah! hehe…

Then off I went, to the massage parlor down stair and befriended Congkra and her friends – the friendly masseurs :)

Congrak – laughing

New friends in Bangkok

Day 3 – Butterworth to Bangkok (part 1)

I reached Butterworth’s train station a tad too early for my 2.20pm train to Bangkok. Actually, 2 hours early to be exact! haha…

To my surprise, Butterworth station was really small, the no frills kinda station you know. There is not even a cafe/mamak for me to ‘lepak’.

After a long wait, the train finally arrived! I’m not sure how to react towards what I see. After all it’s my first time on sleeper train :p
I was a bit disappointed during the ride from Butterworth to Padang Besar because I thought we all have the seats exclusively to ourselves instead of having to share our seats with passengers they picked up along the way. But since we only have 2 cars from Butterworth to Padang Besar, it’s quite inhuman to not share our seats and lets others stand right? So, I did shared my seat. And glared disgustedly at the other Chinese family that refused to share. Sorry to say this, but deep down, I know they are just being racist.

Anyway I befriended 3 siblings who was on their way to Bangkok and sorta ‘hung out’ with them :) Nice people. Which I later on gave them my Bangkok guide book because they seemed so young and I didn’t want them to get ‘bullied’ by the big city.

In all, the train was was quite an experience. Especially when street vendors in Thailand came on board to sell us food :) And oh, Thai people seemed to love giving me free food! hehe…

Thanks Mayte for the free coffee, tea and delicious padthai, the fruit seller who gave me 1 free pineapple, 1 free papaya when I only paid 40baht for my 2 pineapple. Also the canteen worker who let me stepped down the train when I got so excited when we reached Hua Hin station :p

In the train canteen. Azlina sitting beside the window.

In the train. Sleeping time.

Day 2 – Penang

Despite warnings from the fugliest gay stylist in Fusion KLCC who said cutting my hair now would be a waste of time and money (considering I do want to keep my hair long), I went ahead anyway to get my haircut at Prangin Mall in Penang.

‘Hair Impression’ was small set up full of inspiring young stylist. The head and neck massage during shampoo time was better than any top saloon in KL!

So, I got my haircut…wasn’t what I wanted (and probably fugly gay in kl was right) but wtf. There is always the hair band for cover up. Thus I didn’t make a fuss out of it although I swear I would have murder the stylist is this mishap were to happen in KL.

Day 2 in Penang and love every minute of it. Did a lot of walking and revisited Kuan Yin Temple.I could not help but visit the temple whenever I am in Penang. Kuan Yin seems to be granting all my wishes when I prayed here :p

Kuan Yin temple.

Day 1 – Penang

11pm and the clock is ticking. Must not sleep I kept reminding myself. Must not sleep because I haven’t finished packing and I need to be in KL Sentral at 4am to catch the skybus to LCCT. Oh yes, I am flying to Penang at 6.55am. With no hotel/guesthouse room reservation I am just gonna
count on my luck.
I’m starting to feel the butterflies in my stomach…after all, a new adventure was to begun!

Reached LCCT at about 5am and it’s jammed packed with people I feel like I am in a humongous sardin can. For once, I felt I had all the time in the world to enjoy this trip. No rush, just chill. Awesome.

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Reached Penang International Airport at 7.45pm and decided to checked into a guesthouse in Lebuh Muntri – Oriental Guesthouse which reminds me of my grandma’s house back in Batu Pahat. With very high ceiling, spacious halls, narrow hallways, steep staircase and very thin walls. I love these kinda of old houses…enough to let me day dream into it’s glorious days way before our time.

too happy for words

I am soooo happy I am lost for words! haha….

It’s getting closer now…another 2 hours, I’ll be out of the office and off to Penang-Bangkok-Laos! Woo hoo! SYIOK! :D

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Chatted with a cousin of mine (who’s into photography as well) this morning and told her about my plans to setup my own photography studio :D She is interested for a partnership!

We’ll see how it goes. One step at a time :D

Completed – Oud-kestra

This is the completed poster version for Oud-kestra.

Posing by my sifoo, taken by me, visuals with the help of eunice :p

*I hope that one day, I get to work with Dewa on a photo shoot!*

a complete weekend

What a week! :D

Friday ended pretty late for me and Eunice. Left the office at 10pm-ish after we have successfully ‘live’ our Group’s website. Been a while since I feel like this – the late night and the mad rush. Do I missed it? Definitely NOT! :p

Had too much butterflies in my stomach because I was too excited about the photo shoot the next morning which resulted a wee bit of panic attack. Can’t help it! Being my first time shooting for commercial use. Not to mention the opportunity to work with such talented musician!

Luckily that my ’sifu’ was there to help :) He is just…great! Such a humble person who teach without expecting anything in return but for his students to excel.

After the 4 hours photo shoot, although tempted to just hit the sack, I head over to PJ instead for a photo outing with Celeste. Our mission? To shoot xmas scenes at 1Utama hehe…

I totally love the xmas deco in 1Utama. Unlike Suria KLCC’s gigantic xmas tree which they re-use for what….6 years?! Ish…

After the shoot, we head over to Hartamas because we were both craving for a massage! (I especially needed foot reflexology REAL bad) So off we went to this massage parlor run by a bunch of Chinese from China. Hmm…the foot massage was alright. A bit different but acceptable lah. Still nothing beats my yoke kam aunty of cause!

After that, still feeling the itch to take some night scenes, we headed over to Lake Gardens for Eye On Malaysia (yes, again! I know ;p)

Oh this time, they had colorful lights on the ferris wheel. My favorite of cause was PURPLE COlOR!

More at: http://cosmicfavorite.smugmug.com/gallery/3952803#232808259

GREAT FUN!