tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211703182024-03-13T20:54:29.376-07:00The Pondering Introvert©Grüezi. 안녕하세요. The day I began to live is the day I discovered being an introvert was awesome - Maxime Lagacé
The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.comBlogger1759125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-56614532950758106342024-01-15T11:11:00.000-08:002024-01-15T16:36:45.747-08:00How I lost weight and fats<span style="font-family: trebuchet;">For the first time in my life 10 years ago, I went for a health check-up conducted by a former company I worked for and I was told that I was at borderline high cholesterol. Initially, I thought, it was my lifestyle I led for my entire 20s. It was of course. I gotta admit that I took advantage of being young, and being in the hotel industry for 2.5 years didn't help. On top of that, I ate whatever I felt like eating, I was also at the mamak during my college years and never will it cross my mind that, it wasn't just purely my lifestyle, it was in fact hereditary too. I was asked to reduce fast food and red meat intake, and I attempted by cutting down my fast food to a month once. Did that help? I maintained my lifestyle, but reduced my fast food intake and they came back the following year. Instead of showing improvement (but it's not possible by doing that nano step, I was too naive), the result came back with a jump from borderline to high cholesterol, skipping another level of slightly high. I was officially high risk at the age of 31.</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I continue leading that unhealthy lifestyle. Reducing by that little in such a small scale will not make a difference (and without working out). Alcohol was a big chunk of my life too in my 20s. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Fast forward to late 30s, I have the habit of eating when a really bad event befalls on my family to avoid family members worry. I shove food to my mouth just because I did not want others to be worried. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Finally, I started meeting new people and making new connections. I have always been told I was too thin. Fact is, nobody knows that I am skinny-fat, a condition where I look thin on the outside but the fats are all hidden between all my organs as what people call as visceral fat. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What did I do? I have to do something before I hit my 4th decade on Earth. I was in a lose fat program for 90 days. My lifestyle had 180 degrees change, with supplements and meal replacement. After going through that program, I now identified what food are considered unhealthy. People go for no carbs, no sugar, but is it sustainable? It's not. If low carbs and low sugar, it's do-able. The program was like this:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Low sugar</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Low sodium</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Low carbs</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">No processed food</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">No dairy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">High protein</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This means I was sacrificing all my desserts, switch my coffee from dairy to plant-based milk, vegetables, certain types of fruits, avoid deep-fried food with one cheat day. I'm a carb lover, so I would binge (but not to the extreme) on that day, sticking with 3 meals (binge on one).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The result after 90 days?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9hliiof_5Bf9c_Ig2loRRYgRrdL3aKMNVOqAAl12gk8-ZQT4YiVOuhOQemRDoC9i2q8J04g50xwAH_2lK6WBcZj-JVMpwW2jibYMVIHi9mphJpGkKqTkMDCWVhyphenhyphend9jRwiqs-rF3HWDMAssWEojrXQXSMY1gIw62_pRU3JwHubenIr2bSeSXI/s932/3332f69e-e14f-40f3-a50e-44be80e35600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="932" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9hliiof_5Bf9c_Ig2loRRYgRrdL3aKMNVOqAAl12gk8-ZQT4YiVOuhOQemRDoC9i2q8J04g50xwAH_2lK6WBcZj-JVMpwW2jibYMVIHi9mphJpGkKqTkMDCWVhyphenhyphend9jRwiqs-rF3HWDMAssWEojrXQXSMY1gIw62_pRU3JwHubenIr2bSeSXI/s320/3332f69e-e14f-40f3-a50e-44be80e35600.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Nothing comes easy, no pain no gain. This was my pain, but also my gain. It was difficult kickstarting but if I wanna improve my overall health by 40, this was what I gotta do. That has been a very transformative journey as I have permanently changed my lifestyle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I weighed 56kgs when I first started, and 47 kgs when I completed the program with 3 visceral fat, reduced to 1. Body fats from 33% went down to 23%. Do I still munch and snack, and everything? Yes I do. Almost 2 years later, I am between 49 kgs to 50 kgs and have been this weight for the past 1 year. I have incorporated workout as part of my lifestyle. So, I would say, this is for the best.</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-42121112303686208102024-01-05T13:05:00.000-08:002024-01-05T13:09:17.193-08:00Part 3: Bangkok Trip<p>Happy New Year 2024! It has been such a rollercoaster ride in 2023, with many big decisions, big changes and challenges made in 2023. Phew, what a change. What's interesting is that the monks I went to in the past said there will be a major change each time our age has the digit 9 in the second digit. How interesting! Indeed, it has for me in 2023. The older you get, the less interested you are with celebration, which includes New Year. It's just another day, another night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw7n1f_-_JYHv4YdMSOrT23Fl513-wXULqqKffYw5ivZ7VNYdkoN2g_GoRt_bB7pX6v-VHmB1ZNfdLsvYnqES0STG8sJ3jwqkrShtn1W7dnBDp2Y_cw_ZJud3f8b2UjKZ1LiQCEghVnKuA87nJs3UekaKEomoJtGnjy9MRLvCxym82H71BiDq/s2048/bkk%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw7n1f_-_JYHv4YdMSOrT23Fl513-wXULqqKffYw5ivZ7VNYdkoN2g_GoRt_bB7pX6v-VHmB1ZNfdLsvYnqES0STG8sJ3jwqkrShtn1W7dnBDp2Y_cw_ZJud3f8b2UjKZ1LiQCEghVnKuA87nJs3UekaKEomoJtGnjy9MRLvCxym82H71BiDq/w400-h300/bkk%2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Often times, I heard about Sukhumvit and finally, I'm in the area. This is a really eccentric and trendy Japanese-inspired cafe. They have gone into merchandising with coffee accessories like coffee machines ranging of different prices, coffee products etc. A great place to hang out for sure!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJXcdO-ToITPS7AMn56GkppJgxLNiNu2GAAa4qkvsUUkjmIF-xPZLtPjZoxCfXycaoElhOC0X-ww-YyR49pM4VgOs-ItrsmN-GJCvtWQqMmHTdvgOrS5P84qilkbXu6t0CngDxKIGs5bmkED8BYRaT6wekzHmEKkSLYAcPZN4sWMiy0KBwgf_/s1080/bkk%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJXcdO-ToITPS7AMn56GkppJgxLNiNu2GAAa4qkvsUUkjmIF-xPZLtPjZoxCfXycaoElhOC0X-ww-YyR49pM4VgOs-ItrsmN-GJCvtWQqMmHTdvgOrS5P84qilkbXu6t0CngDxKIGs5bmkED8BYRaT6wekzHmEKkSLYAcPZN4sWMiy0KBwgf_/w400-h300/bkk%2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Met a Bumble friend who happened to be in Bangkok the same time as me. Yay!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt8gTlrD4qniZ_peNbohXNwwSNL_Y8ONFNapc_NU5PLISaNx40lma6WxKi92mNBKikIgsWQmHuPOyLeI3_6AmT8aT2Pi_jMpRx3lLOJPFnXyeAePuR5cPpu5aUu_Kxzy2VJVrs4nZ0ORokmaoy-x9Qk_DZmWNbq4t4NQ_hVWHdsNnifiW-Vw7/s2048/bkk%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt8gTlrD4qniZ_peNbohXNwwSNL_Y8ONFNapc_NU5PLISaNx40lma6WxKi92mNBKikIgsWQmHuPOyLeI3_6AmT8aT2Pi_jMpRx3lLOJPFnXyeAePuR5cPpu5aUu_Kxzy2VJVrs4nZ0ORokmaoy-x9Qk_DZmWNbq4t4NQ_hVWHdsNnifiW-Vw7/w400-h300/bkk%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, without a doubt, I met my uni friends, where the mixed Teochews gather. I don't have many friends with Teochew blood but I came all the way to Bangkok to meet them. haha. Jokes aside, we had a really good time, reminiscing our uni days! Those times were good. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOW2tzAbNCci8Z7L8LY9EYPwH-h1RDdrt7dCm-5SL2TO83JctiNwxQ1di-k8qs1cgzctOUxgBdb51QyGhN30DSfEmgmVJl0r9wWaXNXQmnqjk8ypW5jgyhd9QD8b-qVIZlAUGP0rAIOQHPwqZcpvR8HW90E4xIqdU9v1n7Aevx26Cr9Fjahj7/s2048/bkk%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOW2tzAbNCci8Z7L8LY9EYPwH-h1RDdrt7dCm-5SL2TO83JctiNwxQ1di-k8qs1cgzctOUxgBdb51QyGhN30DSfEmgmVJl0r9wWaXNXQmnqjk8ypW5jgyhd9QD8b-qVIZlAUGP0rAIOQHPwqZcpvR8HW90E4xIqdU9v1n7Aevx26Cr9Fjahj7/w400-h300/bkk%2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, they brought us to this dessert place. Dang! My favorite - mango!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxbfSPhiRKqF4iaI1j2mN63pfBUzgSxqpM_ad3yZ-sdvUjod5OmJhe2hVod8esNQhwHDIFAJQAvmnARdVehkA2FDJO4t1y-kNwVAym2mnQT2v9HgIjVQ41ge5a3S01JVx7jQG6TShAewEs1ilAFxGVBo38TacXlByOL8D4hZ8I67Vnn_R7pkW/s1170/bkk%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1170" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxbfSPhiRKqF4iaI1j2mN63pfBUzgSxqpM_ad3yZ-sdvUjod5OmJhe2hVod8esNQhwHDIFAJQAvmnARdVehkA2FDJO4t1y-kNwVAym2mnQT2v9HgIjVQ41ge5a3S01JVx7jQG6TShAewEs1ilAFxGVBo38TacXlByOL8D4hZ8I67Vnn_R7pkW/w400-h301/bkk%2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A mandatory photo with these 2. Not sure when is the next time I'll be meeting them again. I should honestly do it more. The fact that I do once in 10 years is beyond sad.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmod50szQ3VKENpfrmx2GGD_nhZYQlWUlczf87dDFurEQM3sMZjUE-mMiX4eGLjdGYYcuygNxtHrhbdqb4Bs9MGB33jFB_TkleRPeCbUj0_W3IaWEc3wteAjuWUg-XAexe-CPWF-wvUWHzrt41FZ5L_8-oK42I1vz26Ar-so9ZZNuCCjsRsfM/s2048/bkk%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmod50szQ3VKENpfrmx2GGD_nhZYQlWUlczf87dDFurEQM3sMZjUE-mMiX4eGLjdGYYcuygNxtHrhbdqb4Bs9MGB33jFB_TkleRPeCbUj0_W3IaWEc3wteAjuWUg-XAexe-CPWF-wvUWHzrt41FZ5L_8-oK42I1vz26Ar-so9ZZNuCCjsRsfM/w400-h300/bkk%2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day, spent some time in an Australian cafe instead - Toby. Ah that's my late dog's name too! I love scrambled with coffee. So here I am. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweRFbA_fL7MlFTTyjKM4d5Uv4bjYIwZzJPo4E2AgSGC4HGyZTgxpVt7y83RFIyVpWYRphqNSdPAKG2EgvwlVkFRyWEX1xs5hNpROUEWHrJJQxHzR-9W7gRxc2RziZdnc7PLAQze-XUaqLi5r7g5LX8o_LGyt7kuhXh9nQPRffaFwKt1p1PmuV/s2048/bkk%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweRFbA_fL7MlFTTyjKM4d5Uv4bjYIwZzJPo4E2AgSGC4HGyZTgxpVt7y83RFIyVpWYRphqNSdPAKG2EgvwlVkFRyWEX1xs5hNpROUEWHrJJQxHzR-9W7gRxc2RziZdnc7PLAQze-XUaqLi5r7g5LX8o_LGyt7kuhXh9nQPRffaFwKt1p1PmuV/w300-h400/bkk%2024.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't remember Chatuchak to be like this, I guess it has changed, or I have memory problem I am not sure. Haha. Dropped by for more coffee but of course, how can it be good, just for the sake of I guess. Got some good deals from there though, so no complaints. Department stores are not meant for me, I wouldn't spend so much on clothes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9kqWSS1UMIeSr62RLxMBAnphEbWsejuhR5wEaOJZsqEIzEJT8ZGsr_fGoL4x9Iyw6WamTQKWMR0ps28FhF-0-qSTd82zXe6hgIjbeovKgrT0tQ2jV_W0tgveqiIU-mDTPuPwL9tobxOLKmYgF3Or_kDS2rEbH4696I1GQAckWB0Xx6wlABq7/s2048/bkk%2025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9kqWSS1UMIeSr62RLxMBAnphEbWsejuhR5wEaOJZsqEIzEJT8ZGsr_fGoL4x9Iyw6WamTQKWMR0ps28FhF-0-qSTd82zXe6hgIjbeovKgrT0tQ2jV_W0tgveqiIU-mDTPuPwL9tobxOLKmYgF3Or_kDS2rEbH4696I1GQAckWB0Xx6wlABq7/w400-h300/bkk%2025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up, I went to this dessert shop, the Thai version of ABC in Cheng Sim Ei, located within the Chulalongkorn University district. I guess similar to University District in Seattle, Ewha University of Hongdae.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeWks71fbzUlmz-EYovkhAVcuUiu1A_XG7K4vNKvV89fJHz7noAdYuJP1uw_jHG8WbjmE4OUzX_cX1k9h-6y-iCqNUCU15M-9cct5s0FyLmy-FNc0doAYLgzHKrSLFkc-ovsb8PbtdmwYijYoiH_YTX8DAxCb37HssjsjmLyRZWyKF9cKrV1Z/s2048/bkk%2026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeWks71fbzUlmz-EYovkhAVcuUiu1A_XG7K4vNKvV89fJHz7noAdYuJP1uw_jHG8WbjmE4OUzX_cX1k9h-6y-iCqNUCU15M-9cct5s0FyLmy-FNc0doAYLgzHKrSLFkc-ovsb8PbtdmwYijYoiH_YTX8DAxCb37HssjsjmLyRZWyKF9cKrV1Z/w300-h400/bkk%2026.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not long after he went back to Bangkok, he got to see me again. Haha. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVNUqzJxYRF72ibUMPm4w3Rn0l1cXwbVMzbTny_hGtnp8CzAa0Y-7OHf_w4PniQZuTqv3fBw5cybNmXMR9EHNmtyJGf2w3rLpL00K9wDCa-amp0Owh6NQb-aEz7VNrr1rQNO7RKkPCCGaJxs_W2T7Y8eKrNdmQ6494-C26G22BpND7fZxs25Q/s2048/bkk%2027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVNUqzJxYRF72ibUMPm4w3Rn0l1cXwbVMzbTny_hGtnp8CzAa0Y-7OHf_w4PniQZuTqv3fBw5cybNmXMR9EHNmtyJGf2w3rLpL00K9wDCa-amp0Owh6NQb-aEz7VNrr1rQNO7RKkPCCGaJxs_W2T7Y8eKrNdmQ6494-C26G22BpND7fZxs25Q/w300-h400/bkk%2027.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The local food is a must! Cheap and good. Hainanese noodle thailand in Bangkok.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAZT21h0y8eBQoM1jrsLQZJJP4mmplDRcZ-uxxq9rM-OJsN_vp_3s80oJRMml-dfpWdNpQZJX2JtgFaxT8-C-yStteAdG9v2PfjbFJqSMeHlgIK0qA-QYlOBodSU6mMBawDH7xvFqBvPalBDNp1i_zBS40gS9fOC6KzC8jAV-zIJzKMudVzv_/s2048/bkk%2028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAZT21h0y8eBQoM1jrsLQZJJP4mmplDRcZ-uxxq9rM-OJsN_vp_3s80oJRMml-dfpWdNpQZJX2JtgFaxT8-C-yStteAdG9v2PfjbFJqSMeHlgIK0qA-QYlOBodSU6mMBawDH7xvFqBvPalBDNp1i_zBS40gS9fOC6KzC8jAV-zIJzKMudVzv_/w400-h300/bkk%2028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Small-scale, a little run down and dodgy, is my kinda vibe for good food. This place checks all the boxes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJPbHv_UYbf4AV7p3cUGJeqx-8XwZO3AcnKT-j-Tm9hxFT3A1jIZtLD1Q2yGuZcb8EXtTQ6gd20Y1KESxXHkmHi5CS0zzgpL2b1E9ZCvGWipRTNKcdrDLocjAhM8rxqkAhuPSkBjNayKFFdtZZCLKWEq6bOrUO5MBP4BWHFPiQgCW0Or6GFg-/s2048/bkk%2029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJPbHv_UYbf4AV7p3cUGJeqx-8XwZO3AcnKT-j-Tm9hxFT3A1jIZtLD1Q2yGuZcb8EXtTQ6gd20Y1KESxXHkmHi5CS0zzgpL2b1E9ZCvGWipRTNKcdrDLocjAhM8rxqkAhuPSkBjNayKFFdtZZCLKWEq6bOrUO5MBP4BWHFPiQgCW0Or6GFg-/w400-h300/bkk%2029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second round? Sure. I can't remember the name of the restaurant and bar, but here for some French pastry with cocktail before we call it a night.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESXgvEl3D6P2IcdEItTQluiPyjQUHu9kLPkesbYdPsSMnNP6ZHWGB3TomXK6au1lMyth_ohPvBLteFjjVlxCm6KT1AiyrfwGU0ZRKXInnJT7T0hTTDXJX3tD1TFGObiuITq8zr20GF3wKJyx1oRA0ie5WiMtFdKScYcuqG3dW3uENRMknacvj/s2048/bkk%2030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESXgvEl3D6P2IcdEItTQluiPyjQUHu9kLPkesbYdPsSMnNP6ZHWGB3TomXK6au1lMyth_ohPvBLteFjjVlxCm6KT1AiyrfwGU0ZRKXInnJT7T0hTTDXJX3tD1TFGObiuITq8zr20GF3wKJyx1oRA0ie5WiMtFdKScYcuqG3dW3uENRMknacvj/w300-h400/bkk%2030.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course</div><p>Since Bangkok is named the most visited city in 2023, I visited as a very supportive neighbor. It was a good trip catching up with really old friends and a new friend. Vibrant, lively city as what I have known Bangkok as and it never disappoints. Perhaps, next time I should consider going with someone who has the same mentality as I am then it's way easier. Everyone is different, but to make things easier, let's stick to the people I am familiar with or people that travels the same way as I do. That's the takeaway. </p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-20141249332569232692023-12-18T21:59:00.000-08:002023-12-18T21:59:07.846-08:00Part 2: Bangkok Trip<p> Since I am on school break right now, here comes Part 2 from last year's trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJEJYx_2BcEoPrWPnexlBQp4YYQiH7srtvWRCyGgLTAqmBIr7LabdijmF9aFUHSHTOytpvTZ7UR4ucfJr3iT-24rghLJ08WGp0FjU1aXuaX3XaHSO4VBVfpz9H3N-1sx0KVbCmFenUXvKGeffuq5mQee3OddAcyaGPwmsjjaqwyYYO4WCEOHy/s2048/bkk%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJEJYx_2BcEoPrWPnexlBQp4YYQiH7srtvWRCyGgLTAqmBIr7LabdijmF9aFUHSHTOytpvTZ7UR4ucfJr3iT-24rghLJ08WGp0FjU1aXuaX3XaHSO4VBVfpz9H3N-1sx0KVbCmFenUXvKGeffuq5mQee3OddAcyaGPwmsjjaqwyYYO4WCEOHy/s320/bkk%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From Icon Siam, we caught this boat to Chinatown (Yaowarat Road). It's like a mini cruise in a boat, it's not bad at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv7fBtNfjsoj-rPKJAYd7KeVgM8dKUj-vw7bGF2UCuq9nlhoA8K6YBU9XZ8f5KWFsDRvNIZPklJJg6kBYrFcKksfYACMdkVjWnisMdySgO6kQl0r6YrDFvdUildHuvq67dq0lLYo_6nsO-sR8uShXFxbeddwE9AGrqTehQAItJgD9WlFcew8t/s2048/bkk%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv7fBtNfjsoj-rPKJAYd7KeVgM8dKUj-vw7bGF2UCuq9nlhoA8K6YBU9XZ8f5KWFsDRvNIZPklJJg6kBYrFcKksfYACMdkVjWnisMdySgO6kQl0r6YrDFvdUildHuvq67dq0lLYo_6nsO-sR8uShXFxbeddwE9AGrqTehQAItJgD9WlFcew8t/s320/bkk%2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here comes Yaowarat. When you see chaos, it means you're at a right place. The more chaotic it looks, the better it is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku3yFKtByv_4WMtA_RSNI6eFyrXEQ6eDpkXh8r4ef5r1cYSti274UyvWXPUEID7DQlesJjn8_RvHAD0o7q2sGg_EkYu3dCA5C9QMitnwFW9cFXfeuCmIhCZlhM9Ht7V9fNApR7Ow3Ao1iyabsgY-Oz4ontezfXZEYmgSgTM3rjebxr6L3L58c/s2048/bkk%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku3yFKtByv_4WMtA_RSNI6eFyrXEQ6eDpkXh8r4ef5r1cYSti274UyvWXPUEID7DQlesJjn8_RvHAD0o7q2sGg_EkYu3dCA5C9QMitnwFW9cFXfeuCmIhCZlhM9Ht7V9fNApR7Ow3Ao1iyabsgY-Oz4ontezfXZEYmgSgTM3rjebxr6L3L58c/s320/bkk%2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were there early, even then, we had to line up. Amazingly popular with decades of history. I'm not a fan of this, so I couldn't tell if it's THAT great or it's nothing special.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFD9IROD9nZcqXdRcwARWnVeT595O6gsGvxBsBZcnBJ_LFrEUcQsQ1OcaYhdMmn8prAVX9vys1Ok9O8majsxw2xtyfJ5giVLLpVXDx1qq-s5njJzay2wd169C0hBoEA2YdTAhkG-eL1hXOtAeyP_bJRqTPu00aUvYpGuTvoGlis61KvOxEMkN/s2048/bkk%2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFD9IROD9nZcqXdRcwARWnVeT595O6gsGvxBsBZcnBJ_LFrEUcQsQ1OcaYhdMmn8prAVX9vys1Ok9O8majsxw2xtyfJ5giVLLpVXDx1qq-s5njJzay2wd169C0hBoEA2YdTAhkG-eL1hXOtAeyP_bJRqTPu00aUvYpGuTvoGlis61KvOxEMkN/s320/bkk%2014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I guess if you're a normal chinese, you would like it. But, I don't take spare parts and I forgot to tell them. So, haha.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKhZNutji1Ocd5HTheglzYVFumOiUJjsMAqXI4TnfjHAC5bolUJg7IOFPacGOGFwMwe6x3esGrWS8A4vw5U5q-BzhNcCE0L_kkHUkGIpp_aMStwyghDyu4Aq224O8EQWi_ezGWd3DiZ0XJXADrX2uO3NJ9ScKqJT1a1d2XIy2GSyJFnuyIZOI/s2048/bkk%2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKhZNutji1Ocd5HTheglzYVFumOiUJjsMAqXI4TnfjHAC5bolUJg7IOFPacGOGFwMwe6x3esGrWS8A4vw5U5q-BzhNcCE0L_kkHUkGIpp_aMStwyghDyu4Aq224O8EQWi_ezGWd3DiZ0XJXADrX2uO3NJ9ScKqJT1a1d2XIy2GSyJFnuyIZOI/s320/bkk%2015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The night comes, so does the life.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaT2yAMEyxTCnANQ2jl6K1AzMXUTJHSYg6gh_L6SQeYKjKMvilHSM5s_i4wfsc3t0G1-eFpygWR-ak_cUFZeN2f6p_Ot9z5Use3WrYPmfr5Xuw4ZXnoO8Cforh9N43YAIjIll_vcOcP8IMevupGbk8t7DGlkSTG2e7gyaSt9hAQSJtqZPR_ih/s2048/bkk%2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaT2yAMEyxTCnANQ2jl6K1AzMXUTJHSYg6gh_L6SQeYKjKMvilHSM5s_i4wfsc3t0G1-eFpygWR-ak_cUFZeN2f6p_Ot9z5Use3WrYPmfr5Xuw4ZXnoO8Cforh9N43YAIjIll_vcOcP8IMevupGbk8t7DGlkSTG2e7gyaSt9hAQSJtqZPR_ih/s320/bkk%2016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a tourist, I like doing this wherever I am, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Vietnam. I have done those. And I will continue to do this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiqQssRlq0OdLCjvqtBkVT5TulDAjB2WIOQ66ZTJL_Z1jlo_ImGff-ARuzFNI2WO6_VPIlpa3FG_MeYawdBb5ob8RYcGEDbIAlz1E6hGwlVcjoQ_BrdqLqH0O3ZHBsw0XvX0nogxjziCJyG7WlFwcKTDcYdMnRW9mvwq7Ff6Ut2LR4g48AE4b/s2048/bkk%2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiqQssRlq0OdLCjvqtBkVT5TulDAjB2WIOQ66ZTJL_Z1jlo_ImGff-ARuzFNI2WO6_VPIlpa3FG_MeYawdBb5ob8RYcGEDbIAlz1E6hGwlVcjoQ_BrdqLqH0O3ZHBsw0XvX0nogxjziCJyG7WlFwcKTDcYdMnRW9mvwq7Ff6Ut2LR4g48AE4b/s320/bkk%2017.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BTS.. they have upgraded their infrastructure and it's so great! But, this is actually expensive. For the well-connected line and not having to go through the traffic, I guess it's okay? The best part is it's all shaded. Locals there actually even do their workout there. Saw people jogging stations after stations. Damn!</div><br /><p></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-92168774111886429772023-11-17T12:45:00.000-08:002023-11-17T12:45:21.393-08:00Part 1: Bangkok Trip <p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">When Covid hit, I didn't think that it was going to be this long. And, certain things were permanent. My last leisure trip was back in 2019 to Seattle. My last trip overseas was to The Philippines in early 2020 for a business trip. I was lucky I got to go on that trip because all travels were halted when I was there. Any trips that have yet to happen were canceled with immediate effect. Imagine the emptiness my passport is right now. No stamps, nothing, and it has gone to waste to renew for 5 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">There were people I met online in 2022 and decided, hey, let's go to Bangkok. I haven't been to Bangkok since 2014. Man, that's been 8 years. I am talking in the 2022 year. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATXR0jhmIbK9XJZgEUqP90W6KPWcfX7pk3cdmKe422WMoOETmFAMXPtrnsRxRlB9Qh9NTgmyH4hyphenhyphen53mGbZrXhG6xPY9IMabWijkMdOVChUIs5KUM2HIr_CG_wlVEt9ebg2gCUzpZJx-3-zuYCovBJD1ZoVjf1QilSr-Dy9C0fvoWv58rxjwfU/s2048/bkk%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATXR0jhmIbK9XJZgEUqP90W6KPWcfX7pk3cdmKe422WMoOETmFAMXPtrnsRxRlB9Qh9NTgmyH4hyphenhyphen53mGbZrXhG6xPY9IMabWijkMdOVChUIs5KUM2HIr_CG_wlVEt9ebg2gCUzpZJx-3-zuYCovBJD1ZoVjf1QilSr-Dy9C0fvoWv58rxjwfU/w300-h400/bkk%201.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">That's the sky. And how I miss this. I sit by the window all the time. So whoever you are, do not try to take that away from me, especially long haul.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_SpXq6T0t_gZfgCXV2YHJ_ZQZhRSJOsu7p1fIlpJmD-3MA7xgNEIxSUUKvRZg5-uj80_y2_lRcZpLRlpX5Rgo2fYw1IaJ66tzxDRf7IdJEaSGn-5vI_xPO8BGSLgC2_llFUuhFyeidf7g2P4R8Sy2YD7irkPVetpxRdm83Hb1Z1XFW-JQsd7/s2048/bkk%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_SpXq6T0t_gZfgCXV2YHJ_ZQZhRSJOsu7p1fIlpJmD-3MA7xgNEIxSUUKvRZg5-uj80_y2_lRcZpLRlpX5Rgo2fYw1IaJ66tzxDRf7IdJEaSGn-5vI_xPO8BGSLgC2_llFUuhFyeidf7g2P4R8Sy2YD7irkPVetpxRdm83Hb1Z1XFW-JQsd7/w300-h400/bkk%202.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This was where we got food the first night. Siam Paragon. It's just another foodcourt. I was told, hey it's a great place for food. I don't know about that man. It's a foodcourt, in a mall. haha. Obviously, I do not resonate with them but that's fine. To each their own and I respect that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGRO02sdMgWyIfScHj5_2GsmZ-TGgn9MJdxiR8WwCmwXyhRHmC6DqXMkdB5KS7Xlpl3CfdiWoxuEFSEIOeATtB_xmRL_xiND6g4MmHAW5w5-a1aaMwGYPJfZtZB9F2eL1FPyr-0RFpsjEy423-XKe61NDrPXmOJThJYIBbcHKT9bXaNv69Hpf/s2048/bkk%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGRO02sdMgWyIfScHj5_2GsmZ-TGgn9MJdxiR8WwCmwXyhRHmC6DqXMkdB5KS7Xlpl3CfdiWoxuEFSEIOeATtB_xmRL_xiND6g4MmHAW5w5-a1aaMwGYPJfZtZB9F2eL1FPyr-0RFpsjEy423-XKe61NDrPXmOJThJYIBbcHKT9bXaNv69Hpf/w400-h300/bkk%203.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We came to this newly-built place, Icon Siam where I saw it made its round in Instagram during Covid. It's so vibrant and lively, they were selling all sorts of things, from food like pasta, fried chicken to fruits, drinks and seafood. I meant, fresh seafood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium1Bcz4bNXwf2zRTUlAlKk3aNe_2I2suc5ZsBCDB2NBibewS3mS-KVcPUOy_YpaRLSB88UyKlu3UnTCBx0RkCZzVTVAO8dcAfnL1Tspp0Ig8BWLrTMdFQ9o4v_qYuWjzQlv0dM0KZRb0N6RclVetLlheG4Svo88fjK63SzVoJAwpwamYLUbVK/s2048/bkk%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium1Bcz4bNXwf2zRTUlAlKk3aNe_2I2suc5ZsBCDB2NBibewS3mS-KVcPUOy_YpaRLSB88UyKlu3UnTCBx0RkCZzVTVAO8dcAfnL1Tspp0Ig8BWLrTMdFQ9o4v_qYuWjzQlv0dM0KZRb0N6RclVetLlheG4Svo88fjK63SzVoJAwpwamYLUbVK/w400-h300/bkk%204.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The lobster they were selling. Damn! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XR74_DoEK8j7J-so0IcCAtio85YhbArfv6zekPwh6oH6OjucsIKbaLlcEhveu1z9jqfSX6_7ZViYeuwmNPEPQTz9UNyVPN2y1_mmpBx8dPc1E9uGZ3L1m_nAq9RNCNRx5ImtL01rY-Qc8sQz_toEeS56DwcccJbQbLgqAhotQ6d_ztVi4hTU/s2048/bkk%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XR74_DoEK8j7J-so0IcCAtio85YhbArfv6zekPwh6oH6OjucsIKbaLlcEhveu1z9jqfSX6_7ZViYeuwmNPEPQTz9UNyVPN2y1_mmpBx8dPc1E9uGZ3L1m_nAq9RNCNRx5ImtL01rY-Qc8sQz_toEeS56DwcccJbQbLgqAhotQ6d_ztVi4hTU/w400-h300/bkk%208.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">After walking around, came to a place at the center court, all sorts of coffee were there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvod0h4CRbzfkgKlajLS9TV_W9r_Seq8pvBIyH6ss8haQ3eIx06hGl90WgDIN8n573Sqy5i6UOhZzhTc-AFr8x0MEZAEoNxKQCV5mHcVdlKaoHKvzfcbpq2Vp1vr13FI-J77d3-XvEukEAtRnQE6KsXza68keKR3zXTom2WoTcUa-_q8M7TYRk/s2048/bkk%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvod0h4CRbzfkgKlajLS9TV_W9r_Seq8pvBIyH6ss8haQ3eIx06hGl90WgDIN8n573Sqy5i6UOhZzhTc-AFr8x0MEZAEoNxKQCV5mHcVdlKaoHKvzfcbpq2Vp1vr13FI-J77d3-XvEukEAtRnQE6KsXza68keKR3zXTom2WoTcUa-_q8M7TYRk/w300-h400/bkk%206.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Having coffee as part of my blood, I can't say no to coffee. Got myself one, of course. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflp948jWLd0GM7bQIBhVlrHt7p0H32pjO4Ag2myx0wFUhuIuALd_I5VE6jM4-mRxqOO25nAL5w6Leg1Y_Pv3sCh8u3TBkIvsVSiiqCCiR0QjGX_IGgu9l6pFbruUDbIqj-1KVEnRTbCH3mo-EvknNg0iqEI89CCVskt6vWnMNQPeKPW65KZ40/s2048/bkk%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflp948jWLd0GM7bQIBhVlrHt7p0H32pjO4Ag2myx0wFUhuIuALd_I5VE6jM4-mRxqOO25nAL5w6Leg1Y_Pv3sCh8u3TBkIvsVSiiqCCiR0QjGX_IGgu9l6pFbruUDbIqj-1KVEnRTbCH3mo-EvknNg0iqEI89CCVskt6vWnMNQPeKPW65KZ40/w300-h400/bkk%207.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Icon Siam is like Pavilion in KL, nicely decorated and made it feel Premium. Upper class market and tourists as their target market. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIqEQGmzc8Ojg81lEYkPOiKBu_kbHZCqWAv81ISuumKuRuX1Ua81oMhCan2pCDdTNnu2AsZvaOmi88zht7_GEEQhDE-79uW5t39Z4z-FItUZil3g_y2eQHM0hyphenhyphenymisuFf8JJyg3B6sC24QcLSwcuvwEeE3PM-ZTZ42l2CZZTsJOB_sAA0htbh/s2048/bkk%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIqEQGmzc8Ojg81lEYkPOiKBu_kbHZCqWAv81ISuumKuRuX1Ua81oMhCan2pCDdTNnu2AsZvaOmi88zht7_GEEQhDE-79uW5t39Z4z-FItUZil3g_y2eQHM0hyphenhyphenymisuFf8JJyg3B6sC24QcLSwcuvwEeE3PM-ZTZ42l2CZZTsJOB_sAA0htbh/w400-h199/bkk%209.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I wasn't the tourist that was going to buy anything. Well, I did, from Victoria Secret but that was all. Once you walk out from Icon Siam, you see this view. This feels like a KLCC kinda thing, water fountain outside the mall. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wHv2c8zpRB-JkqW4aKNiFpBlOYbkwc9wXn4wSbjJYloH0YUez7x2QBY5y5nApml4G9Y2TpAaGK1fXJ66ubG3FzO6kE_hCKk8g5mWNyb0eGeB9ZuleL2Req0XfiBw8ChiCZlBDk6Mx5OaL2I9kHff-myhk-5oLwDTnfAUnmWKghbqciFnbJok/s2048/bkk%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wHv2c8zpRB-JkqW4aKNiFpBlOYbkwc9wXn4wSbjJYloH0YUez7x2QBY5y5nApml4G9Y2TpAaGK1fXJ66ubG3FzO6kE_hCKk8g5mWNyb0eGeB9ZuleL2Req0XfiBw8ChiCZlBDk6Mx5OaL2I9kHff-myhk-5oLwDTnfAUnmWKghbqciFnbJok/w300-h400/bkk%2010.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Of course, me. Back then, I was still with mask. I didn't want to but. Bleh. lol.</span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Places visited:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Siam Paragon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Icon Siam</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-74791366647192842272023-10-30T18:30:00.001-07:002023-10-30T18:30:35.441-07:00Another goodbye<p>My last update on my job was 2 years ago when I left IKEA after a huge project I worked on which also happened to be my first legit and formal project I took on. From then on, I went to an e-commerce platform. If you're in Asia, you gotta work there to say you have worked in a large e-commerce company.</p><p>My mind wasn't at the best state when I attended the interview. But, I gotta do what I was hired for. I was lucky I got hired. haha. After 6-7 years of being around, it's still a start up culture. In comparison of PayPal, IKEA looks like a manual-labored company. I'm not going into the nitty-gritty stuff due to compliance and confidentiality (based on my own integrity, no NDA or anything like that). But, it came as even more of a surprise when I started working here.</p><p>Putting complaints of manual labor aside, you learn the most when being put in an environment like that. You don't maximize your learning from a well-established infrastructure because the AI helps you complete your job quicker, faster and more efficient. </p><p>I continue taking on the project management role, swaying further and further away from Compliance. Well, in project management, specifically in the Fraud/Compliance function haha. I left after 1 year and 8 months. I have heard people leaving within 3 months and I get it. </p><p>Anyone young, who has the drive and energy to put up with the effort and hours, go for it. Just don't expect things to be easy and chill. When it comes to learning curve, dang, there's a lot to learn even for someone like me (meaning not fresh grad). If you get a good lead, learn the most you can. They are the ones that make the difference and they make tough jobs more bearable.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSWbYJt0iMECoTv2oi1H361eiR6Z3GYf4rJCU964MSEjmodVrrJCFFnm9aVhBKOko69o9Tjlct7T00OmE-Mor7ZMlDY4kdlKOvWZs8J8ajgEgWroTJazUFn_lWs1ooHcp6es_xSchv6FJ3NkqGRhWkwU0yCBNZY4t7C5KfKm1qR6r1zumH4S5/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="2048" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSWbYJt0iMECoTv2oi1H361eiR6Z3GYf4rJCU964MSEjmodVrrJCFFnm9aVhBKOko69o9Tjlct7T00OmE-Mor7ZMlDY4kdlKOvWZs8J8ajgEgWroTJazUFn_lWs1ooHcp6es_xSchv6FJ3NkqGRhWkwU0yCBNZY4t7C5KfKm1qR6r1zumH4S5/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's where I worked. Be fully prepared for interviews if you plan to work there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBbI9r3SMZLllB3vSlubYTQxv3DS6Hhw5EgXsHVPTGb7NYJFpn41SSepbxE_6HGPgy6T5V7X2mrmF8zL9x94bUe5129H6vPChdgxIIZYQ9JsO9qrFgPRrvnxpWpfWTj__xKvdOtCUtwLygsY5CY0nLCfxS7fK34PBbrNZQ8ptIX-gvp4HHfrZ/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBbI9r3SMZLllB3vSlubYTQxv3DS6Hhw5EgXsHVPTGb7NYJFpn41SSepbxE_6HGPgy6T5V7X2mrmF8zL9x94bUe5129H6vPChdgxIIZYQ9JsO9qrFgPRrvnxpWpfWTj__xKvdOtCUtwLygsY5CY0nLCfxS7fK34PBbrNZQ8ptIX-gvp4HHfrZ/s320/2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hanging up my tag and lanyard. Goodbye Eco city.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFkdDzq4ZXGhCh-c2UlGALNJAOLO4sjm-tmuvEMeWCJERGWZcq8SArKBm6bRB6zJ57lKC5-EuMT3O0dDjML2K7n7fUFAC4JKEgGDs0kP88D2AdE_X1NBJCqMiDOTPv4Fe7VPY4qxHQNTtvE3tAAZA7efOxQh1P9uRTUwOq1zRvrSjLuf0VE5u/s1609/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFkdDzq4ZXGhCh-c2UlGALNJAOLO4sjm-tmuvEMeWCJERGWZcq8SArKBm6bRB6zJ57lKC5-EuMT3O0dDjML2K7n7fUFAC4JKEgGDs0kP88D2AdE_X1NBJCqMiDOTPv4Fe7VPY4qxHQNTtvE3tAAZA7efOxQh1P9uRTUwOq1zRvrSjLuf0VE5u/s320/3.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally, the last time wearing lanyard. I was in the restroom haha. </div><p></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-72592528594536541532023-10-26T21:06:00.002-07:002023-10-26T21:08:03.328-07:00Day 4: Langkawi<p> After a year of pause, here I am back with my mannerism. And, to finish up my Langkawi postings, of course. Haha.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG-ip6fJaRbiSMzrDBl-Q3bId6nKLRTh5A3VR0UQezYAyc_32H6-pl6etxoJqbPLtRBcSrMyU8TlWhcUAQ_I6RNuf2tqVY3DsbUuC6-pLq3MQMypAYfHgC4Sbx2SidbMsGpb0h1N0SDW8rk-uC6CUHKk6POznXzaMZkYB2MHfAkOE8aV6P5-j/s2048/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2048" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG-ip6fJaRbiSMzrDBl-Q3bId6nKLRTh5A3VR0UQezYAyc_32H6-pl6etxoJqbPLtRBcSrMyU8TlWhcUAQ_I6RNuf2tqVY3DsbUuC6-pLq3MQMypAYfHgC4Sbx2SidbMsGpb0h1N0SDW8rk-uC6CUHKk6POznXzaMZkYB2MHfAkOE8aV6P5-j/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a morning drive, quite a distance away from where we stayed. We first got to Pantai Tengkorak, it was such a gem but, the mother said let's go because it's such a dodgy place. Haha. What a waste. So, we ended up here, which, isn't entirely a bad idea. We still had the beach all by ourselves, with nobody meddling our business, the wind was breezy, weather was good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTvYjnOLeBE3DF-TqCJomrNL3Z0fjlfbOsK4TvpFH1UEl4QN9ibQenAY6qgo9wF85eDp7LV0G7opOAyHRZXZ-me0WI_0SDlQGUUHSHb2P8ee0DTf0xeTErkwx0vVKuwZADzYqcsfRq5ejvD4ojUWS5FthvAf7V3K_BfwZ4fqOiRtmgEjqfSSf/s1280/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTvYjnOLeBE3DF-TqCJomrNL3Z0fjlfbOsK4TvpFH1UEl4QN9ibQenAY6qgo9wF85eDp7LV0G7opOAyHRZXZ-me0WI_0SDlQGUUHSHb2P8ee0DTf0xeTErkwx0vVKuwZADzYqcsfRq5ejvD4ojUWS5FthvAf7V3K_BfwZ4fqOiRtmgEjqfSSf/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The last time I went to Langkawi, I stayed here in Tanjung Rhu which isn't entirely cheap but had a good deal. The problem with it is, it's quite a distance from everything. Well, the weather had a shift, the rain is about to arrive. Before we even left the place, the rain came, and it was pretty heavy.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk3AsTHZIBkNFW8DQorXKHVn_VczGxbLnPVuGvvcJfouxCZZrHu2OeYis-ly1s9NQRaf4cpk5uudLQ3WZ8Tmo4LIlQEZxJ5jBovfgFQpdde0QY3AcORB6RIuJOM423ldAWf9j7ec7nuoez7iVJ7eVHguDWxkNtAFYfwk-brKT-2NofiKdZrhO/s2048/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk3AsTHZIBkNFW8DQorXKHVn_VczGxbLnPVuGvvcJfouxCZZrHu2OeYis-ly1s9NQRaf4cpk5uudLQ3WZ8Tmo4LIlQEZxJ5jBovfgFQpdde0QY3AcORB6RIuJOM423ldAWf9j7ec7nuoez7iVJ7eVHguDWxkNtAFYfwk-brKT-2NofiKdZrhO/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back to our area, Pantai Tengah (is it?) haha. Weather wasn't entirely ideal but it was alright to chill for a little.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZEH00HbQBB7LpZdCvtnzQdMkRIP2-WSKx5P4b7O0oL5Cj33JM3KOD_UNw4zeV_jKjr2DFl3Z4lheBs_W-ptIRDtV-KEaiwelqhoCUO8bhj6y9IRYktwfCd5ijYejljhtOp7F6tJZwjYD0zs3VAk7E0bgzElKddh4VhL7T2b6DyPs5W5-rcDX/s2048/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZEH00HbQBB7LpZdCvtnzQdMkRIP2-WSKx5P4b7O0oL5Cj33JM3KOD_UNw4zeV_jKjr2DFl3Z4lheBs_W-ptIRDtV-KEaiwelqhoCUO8bhj6y9IRYktwfCd5ijYejljhtOp7F6tJZwjYD0zs3VAk7E0bgzElKddh4VhL7T2b6DyPs5W5-rcDX/s320/5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The most expensive coffee I had in a long time. RM18.50 for this but I was as desperate as heck. And I lost to temptation.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3YvXD_vdSS_m2OFiwV19R0zJXUoU2ARj3tUZt1_TVgBnMYENPMcntiPtVZ9xjlThZkVxRhbUJjMO5iAxVMO3iS02ZgRGEVpLKDwHpN8FOhgJmGHMUxzTjOjnGWyIGm_XDuUSlfyXag_Xj0mQcaKHYzLtCzES5i8JMlkPUV-AcPpNCT8qW9eb/s2048/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3YvXD_vdSS_m2OFiwV19R0zJXUoU2ARj3tUZt1_TVgBnMYENPMcntiPtVZ9xjlThZkVxRhbUJjMO5iAxVMO3iS02ZgRGEVpLKDwHpN8FOhgJmGHMUxzTjOjnGWyIGm_XDuUSlfyXag_Xj0mQcaKHYzLtCzES5i8JMlkPUV-AcPpNCT8qW9eb/s320/4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been a long time since I flew. Before this trip, it was my business trip to The Philippines in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit. During my trip, the company had a direction to cancel all trips globally. I was so lucky that I got to go for that trip. That was, of course, my last before the pandemic said hello to the world, to us with open hands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Places visited:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pantai Kok</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pantai Tanjung Rhu</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pantai Tengah</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps, I should start doing my story telling in Seattle sometime soon eh?</div><p></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-69679302720977424702023-10-14T12:14:00.004-07:002023-10-14T12:14:33.879-07:00Update: Moved<p>I've been missing for awhile now, slightly more than a year due to, well, life.</p><p>When I visited a monk when I was in my early 20s, I was told that there will be a major change or event in our lives when the second digit of our age turns 9. So, it's 9, 19, 29, 39, 49....99. Only if you manage to reach 99 (I do not want to either). Please don't make me live such a long life. </p><p>So, the year I turned 39, in fact, it was just last month, yay, Happy Birthday to myself. There has been a huge shift in my life this year. First, I packed my bags, then I moved country. Second, I resigned, and went back into studying. </p><p>Until I did my highest education prior to this (degree for me), I was neither a good student nor a good learner. I'm not sure if it's partly due to the fact I wasn't working and lack experience before I can be grateful that studying is way easier than work. Or perhaps, the education system did not fit my way of learning. My memorizing skill is bad, I just did not know just how to memorize for an exam. To get to a passing grade, I can already be content. That was how bad it was. </p><p>Anyway, I passed my degree in Bachelor of Arts, I still had my Honors, phew. Haha. I went to work in the field of my studies and quit 2.5 years later and went into something unrelated. The reason why I worked in a hotel was really just to build my foundation in my mental state, personality and character as I was still discovering the world and myself. </p><p>Right now, I know who I am, I know my likes and dislikes, I know exactly what I want now. Therefore, studying right now might be a good idea too. </p><p>That's a short little update about myself. </p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-78649910679209932422022-09-09T07:34:00.001-07:002022-09-09T07:34:39.050-07:00Day 3: Langkawi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It's already Day 3! Where have all the days gone by? We get older in just a glimpse, it's so scary. Anyway, let's get it started. I have not been a super fan of aquariums, it's not the first thing in my mind when I travel. Reason being, it's usually expensive for the ticket. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw6moq-U-bQ6Ig1AgwBnbOwxsNluEsVdzNoZ34Y9XpJhoOMzYo6OvpX4XVS_XPEuvDje9fweoIvNp7BOcInljSrFyIM9dI-Zin5_KZ18cyAXx4C1Kjp_MvCKugl_puaXRxvGPLmDfmko_3sGYcAf76N4DNrmZ5Um-79_DCwjDff8awVYzPQ/s4032/IMG_3775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw6moq-U-bQ6Ig1AgwBnbOwxsNluEsVdzNoZ34Y9XpJhoOMzYo6OvpX4XVS_XPEuvDje9fweoIvNp7BOcInljSrFyIM9dI-Zin5_KZ18cyAXx4C1Kjp_MvCKugl_puaXRxvGPLmDfmko_3sGYcAf76N4DNrmZ5Um-79_DCwjDff8awVYzPQ/s320/IMG_3775.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Since Aquarium was located along the Pantai Cenang / Cenang beach area, we headed to this place for brekkie. Nothing fancy, nothing special, yet it's kinda pricey considering the area we were in.</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tUlakQp_cMEZBRfN7JVdQNL32nXOUA4aHa7fOXiI0NcpXHdJ4p2-RqEEWDi1lDRlOSSg49qUiMmWJO4SwAjGxnRQWXVeAWXU7Z3B1ZGJ5PLep2CW-Rop1etHOZAtF4oQhoHR_tpoDcic5_7icbmb-Cl_7I2qQ6UO1gO2EBtD_phbIepOWQ/s4032/IMG_3786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tUlakQp_cMEZBRfN7JVdQNL32nXOUA4aHa7fOXiI0NcpXHdJ4p2-RqEEWDi1lDRlOSSg49qUiMmWJO4SwAjGxnRQWXVeAWXU7Z3B1ZGJ5PLep2CW-Rop1etHOZAtF4oQhoHR_tpoDcic5_7icbmb-Cl_7I2qQ6UO1gO2EBtD_phbIepOWQ/s320/IMG_3786.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">An example of the penguins at the Underwater World Langkawi. Haha. Those who have senior citizens with you, there are wheelchairs available complimentary. All you need to do is to fill in a form and voila. But bear in mind that if you're alone, it might be very challenging to push up the wheelchair all by yourself. So best is to go with 2 or 3, or if there are some kind hearted passersby, why not? Local adult is at RM43 for walk-ins, and RM40 online purchase.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCIJN9VjGKyHW4m_IdCuXWziuhiI213FwD4xBmyZZh0SzU8vfF1skzPYJ5u-GKUY7dG6pvMc7doPbNwH_g2ya-t981dlxrt-DVglpv0qvlU50CDekrSkgxDTUQjkH_yOxzrw0hRYlc200XhdUp0smhkp8lrxBDB1RVyDTzRZzU9ltmRa0CA/s4032/IMG_3894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCIJN9VjGKyHW4m_IdCuXWziuhiI213FwD4xBmyZZh0SzU8vfF1skzPYJ5u-GKUY7dG6pvMc7doPbNwH_g2ya-t981dlxrt-DVglpv0qvlU50CDekrSkgxDTUQjkH_yOxzrw0hRYlc200XhdUp0smhkp8lrxBDB1RVyDTzRZzU9ltmRa0CA/s320/IMG_3894.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">By the time we were done with that, it's already lunch time. We drove past this place on the way to the airport a couple of times. Go to where the crowd goes they say. But, we were wrong. I am familiar with Malay food, at least the commercialized ones, but this is not it. Everything in this picture came out wrong. We ordered ABC too because how bad can it be? Yeah, it was really bad. Ice, coloring and sugar. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLjk9bBYrI-46WJtPlQxO5Xd-PME5UTCrUPTX_5FR-89fxOgelzVLO8aceQfc-Km3Qu21bL639zQ6mQW26FKvF58PuKGOMC8XCSKQBFxBddFHBljkfOheMUUQR_Y4Nx6bUKMukdT00NXna-FxSL7ftWR98claDwd9xz9V9SMhAY594JK8HQ/s4032/IMG_3899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLjk9bBYrI-46WJtPlQxO5Xd-PME5UTCrUPTX_5FR-89fxOgelzVLO8aceQfc-Km3Qu21bL639zQ6mQW26FKvF58PuKGOMC8XCSKQBFxBddFHBljkfOheMUUQR_Y4Nx6bUKMukdT00NXna-FxSL7ftWR98claDwd9xz9V9SMhAY594JK8HQ/s320/IMG_3899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here, an evidence of the crowd. Perhaps, this suits their local taste but really, how is it so bad? The good thing? It's by the beach haha</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9D6crLocfP1kAHVyqEsb2jLFYaYxsKshXWXOpq5TpNCrcyoDE3vmUtedGV4Wr57tpcPCbpz6uHr1xZ7NklGGSsSRuoCEPZcFANFA29WoMM7FZCVDAOyVL1ur6wPy_0F2oTbGUZKG1QdJ_7yh17rGqp8opANLOVFBGY6NZokP7qzW0OKCFg/s4032/IMG_3913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9D6crLocfP1kAHVyqEsb2jLFYaYxsKshXWXOpq5TpNCrcyoDE3vmUtedGV4Wr57tpcPCbpz6uHr1xZ7NklGGSsSRuoCEPZcFANFA29WoMM7FZCVDAOyVL1ur6wPy_0F2oTbGUZKG1QdJ_7yh17rGqp8opANLOVFBGY6NZokP7qzW0OKCFg/s320/IMG_3913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">After that, we went back to the hotel, went for a swim before we top up calories in our stomachs again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhF8GwKL9meASuxwMy7lupNxUyZ8r3-f0wzrnfKZT2Ct8f4AjGk1iCCwakt4mQ6zWqjGCftifNSbadM7jWLcta4ZkIEVXnnAx0n3nF_W183CMDqcbzsRDHMYkP9VBXxrsooROn3vMb6gKmSaWRvqMjX1h4V-NbhJ1ANirSbcTsRPQW9gvDA/s4032/IMG_3915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhF8GwKL9meASuxwMy7lupNxUyZ8r3-f0wzrnfKZT2Ct8f4AjGk1iCCwakt4mQ6zWqjGCftifNSbadM7jWLcta4ZkIEVXnnAx0n3nF_W183CMDqcbzsRDHMYkP9VBXxrsooROn3vMb6gKmSaWRvqMjX1h4V-NbhJ1ANirSbcTsRPQW9gvDA/s320/IMG_3915.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We were early, we had fish, vegetable, tomyum, juice and it's more economical than I expected. Ambiance was nice, service was great and attentive. Everything was delicious! At least, it made up for the horrible lunch.</span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Places visited:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Underwater World Langkawi, Pantai Cenang</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Laksa Ikan Sekoq, Jalan Kuala Kedah</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Cactus Restaurant, Pantai Tengah</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-78893386026146614892022-06-17T06:10:00.007-07:002022-06-17T06:15:34.695-07:00The supernatural force<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Has anyone encountered a supernatural existence? We have read and heard stories and tales from our family, friends, teachers and what not. But, have you?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I came from a non-believer family of this power and growing up, until today, I'm not exactly certain if the encounters I had were purely imagination, a dream, or something really happened. Nobody told me about ghosts, spirits etc and my late grandparents were still around at that time. I was afraid of many things, one included a burglar breaking into houses, and it left me terrified and ended up dreaming about it for nights. Okay this is not supernatural, but an example of how I get scared and I would hide under my comforter and stop breathing. Thinking about it makes me wonder what was I thinking at that age.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Fast forward, became an adult voila, I shouldn't be afraid of anything I cannot see with my naked eyes right? Wrong. I was even more afraid haha. I heard many stories happened in Genting Highland, abandoned places, hotels etc and guess what, I went into the hospitality industry. Well done to myself haha.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Working in a hotel means we gotta work on shift which includes a graveyard shift. When it's quiet and eerie, your imagination runs a million times worse than it already was. I was working at a Front Desk at that time, and it was 4am, I wanted to go to the toilet. What do I do? I can't wait until 7am. I had 2 options, to go through the quiet staff locker which is cold and quiet, OR, I go to the guest toilet 1 minute away. I opted for the guest toilet and I ran for my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Before I started working there, I was on the fence whether there is or not. After I joined the hotel, there was even a team of people with gifted abilities to see all these spirits. I heard so many stories, and them telling me what they could see at that point of time. It was haunted at that time. The hotel was the top hotel in KL that time, and our business was rather bad and many unfortunate events had happened, one after another including a not-so-young housekeeper was possessed and needed 5 big-sized security guards to hold on to her. There's no logic in all of these, yet it happens. Another was, my co-worker heard a boy crying in the locker, and when she went to check it out, there was nobody.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">There was someone committed suicide in the hotel room just before I joined. Guess what? Each time for that 2.5 years I worked there after 9pm, the elevator was definitely gonna stop on a certain level, whether there are guests in front or not. This has been years ago, but it doesn't mean that it's not there. I'm sure it's there, somewhere around us. I was told that my body is very yin from a legit medium. Therefore, I need to be very careful as I am an easy catch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Since I left the hotel industry, do I still believe in it? Even more than ever. Have you heard of anyone being followed around? Do you have any friends that can see these things? Or some, they can even communicate to ask what do they really want? I have and when I hear these things, I still get goosebumps each time.</span></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-55439259365621659772022-06-09T05:00:00.024-07:002022-06-09T20:12:33.521-07:00Day 2: Langkawi<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">After spending the first night in the hotel, let's start going places. In the past when I went to Langkawi, it's always getting drunk. Now that I am much older, I don't fancy those things anymore. Talking about getting older huh. haha.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g_GXO2myX0X3c13vWeKs0obxv9lPpysKYW69N3eLeMlvwykFluC5RbRwB0f2mNpPOkgd_0R4PxfY7dl3uQh-0byqPIK_Hh4xWmkmNi9WGOgeL7YtPJmuoZuTpq90Ah507tGWCJsIYVS_8zhJWUMtjxjAfxjVXZY516bGa0PtD5trMSAdeA/s2048/IMG_3556.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g_GXO2myX0X3c13vWeKs0obxv9lPpysKYW69N3eLeMlvwykFluC5RbRwB0f2mNpPOkgd_0R4PxfY7dl3uQh-0byqPIK_Hh4xWmkmNi9WGOgeL7YtPJmuoZuTpq90Ah507tGWCJsIYVS_8zhJWUMtjxjAfxjVXZY516bGa0PtD5trMSAdeA/s320/IMG_3556.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Upon recommendation from the hotel's concierge, we are here filled with locals. This is their specialty, Roti Canai Sarang Burung special. 2 sunny-side up eggs, the bread is crispier than the regular roti canai and minced chicken. It was good! Damn. With so much things happening inside, it's RM 7. Not cheap but it's unique. </span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">After making our stomachs happy and full of energy, we headed over to Langkawi Sky Bridge. It was close when I wanted to take the cable car years ago. But, here I am now. Before going up, a note to take, it's all outdoor parking but there are a few types. The Premium parking is obviously more expensive, which is RM10 I believe? I went to the next one, which is RM5. The difference? It's just slightly nearer to the station. If you have the capability to walk, why not?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOrdkEUho9b9cFMqrxzYYOJ-AG2Ky4WbNYpX4bm0Qrb8FQvyUNxsBlpHNaPWdCuk49NPClWsEPhPy2IX6pZfTjwvjTLRMSQG2GW9NBwlVwRBvunIQOEZPB99Y9lvBpEtc1gEt2kMpXFze-JAh5c78DPXoajb5bVieNEpYFvA2ednp3QAE2w/s2048/IMG_3571.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOrdkEUho9b9cFMqrxzYYOJ-AG2Ky4WbNYpX4bm0Qrb8FQvyUNxsBlpHNaPWdCuk49NPClWsEPhPy2IX6pZfTjwvjTLRMSQG2GW9NBwlVwRBvunIQOEZPB99Y9lvBpEtc1gEt2kMpXFze-JAh5c78DPXoajb5bVieNEpYFvA2ednp3QAE2w/s320/IMG_3571.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In the cable car. Price per pax for the cable car is RM45 if I'm not mistaken. Senior citizens get a discount. The view is great, overlooking the Andaman sea with the clear blue sky. There's a stop in the middle where it's nothing much to see. We didn't bother to get down because, it's just mid-way and there's nothing much there and the wait that comes after is perhaps, not worth it. We went straight up to the top with 15 minutes in total. Some gondolas are glass floor but I didn't get that. This cable car is said to be the steepest gradient in the world. The ventilation though, is just a small window on the top of each side which can be stuffy when it rains as you would close everything up. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01mtjj-QIFZrSbjNQX25fpvT6Tp780q6jrNx9HcvEWyyl1dJ0ZJdZ1-ucQrlZ7n2i83KA45aFIxeFgr8FGnUj1lQnp6srG2yyJry9OLA2K3NI2Tqwc0NrimRImDFNvi6KrzzrQtK4Zy-Ga2ySV0ydaIX0a_6X9GqDGCcLqpdMU_4mld_GwA/s2048/IMG_3576.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01mtjj-QIFZrSbjNQX25fpvT6Tp780q6jrNx9HcvEWyyl1dJ0ZJdZ1-ucQrlZ7n2i83KA45aFIxeFgr8FGnUj1lQnp6srG2yyJry9OLA2K3NI2Tqwc0NrimRImDFNvi6KrzzrQtK4Zy-Ga2ySV0ydaIX0a_6X9GqDGCcLqpdMU_4mld_GwA/s320/IMG_3576.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is what I'm talking about. The mountains, valleys, sea and islands. It's all covered in that 15 minutes way up. When the weather is good, it's really pretty. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4tZhXMyqrJGO5cYy4tPpGcvisqVXsv0jiDqxtlwZo9EbeGCvg_r5YADIDVL9VYPQo4p61A3WuyzxWwIiofuRz-sQq3YAXVz4wYLAYiW6OB5VXVUG5u9bxL04cKa7mwno0t40PfPe1qcfORM62Oz0xxB4oslY7GG4iYYfm5u3O3N61uehZw/s2048/IMG_3628.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4tZhXMyqrJGO5cYy4tPpGcvisqVXsv0jiDqxtlwZo9EbeGCvg_r5YADIDVL9VYPQo4p61A3WuyzxWwIiofuRz-sQq3YAXVz4wYLAYiW6OB5VXVUG5u9bxL04cKa7mwno0t40PfPe1qcfORM62Oz0xxB4oslY7GG4iYYfm5u3O3N61uehZw/s320/IMG_3628.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here we are up here at the highest point. It was really windy, therefore, hats off. Ignore the face haha.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZTcnbUkIH2EocOeUm6oqc8i34fFRjPEWAtdLBsuLrEnTy_TeyfH1gKZtVLj4OYUzSh1AxJ5e7WjBOowO7reOsUmSXICySArsVTqWFL9ZOgp21aI-2LkKKVl1HXFRDUKV5P0kl_sp2k6S3XRSA-OalzazKaMmZSXVBZnXk7RAMfdl3gLCZg/s2048/IMG_3635.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZTcnbUkIH2EocOeUm6oqc8i34fFRjPEWAtdLBsuLrEnTy_TeyfH1gKZtVLj4OYUzSh1AxJ5e7WjBOowO7reOsUmSXICySArsVTqWFL9ZOgp21aI-2LkKKVl1HXFRDUKV5P0kl_sp2k6S3XRSA-OalzazKaMmZSXVBZnXk7RAMfdl3gLCZg/s320/IMG_3635.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is a 10 - 20 minute-trail. At least, a little work out during vacation. Those with walking disabilities, you may take the glide which is an additional of RM6 to get to the Sky Bridge. It's not a hard hike but it's not a flat road so there may be challenges. Use the railings for assistance.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KBcLNeCCB9W1Zn9i_7KPdY9N1b-ArTCvQojvtWYIqLZ5Z42PkcjYyucPbl3sIkmtAIMEgUBXxteQxDgfR7vOUCfHvj8CKitRR-Exo1XlPhfufHuV6CPnhJXApg7QVRGxU8oLM5zjqwcW2OlRpHFOHsGEw3BUEfRJYnN7_RfoyFdB7Xwv0A/s2048/IMG_3645.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KBcLNeCCB9W1Zn9i_7KPdY9N1b-ArTCvQojvtWYIqLZ5Z42PkcjYyucPbl3sIkmtAIMEgUBXxteQxDgfR7vOUCfHvj8CKitRR-Exo1XlPhfufHuV6CPnhJXApg7QVRGxU8oLM5zjqwcW2OlRpHFOHsGEw3BUEfRJYnN7_RfoyFdB7Xwv0A/s320/IMG_3645.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">That's the bridge, super windy, I love it! Weeee.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZC6OBqRQeSBu5lPhILSqSji3hI7XWn4KbQWQEvrX_uF0UXjpFtHLqakXYYTvnOuOMT-7f9GtgUQxNpba3n8LcPKYUOz4DbrnbLeBDZME849l57qSOL8WCYC2sN1pSS00e51Cf7BM-2WI-YX2rtjoIOf8dN94iQxSmpQX1L9849SjjkWQWw/s2048/IMG_3661.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZC6OBqRQeSBu5lPhILSqSji3hI7XWn4KbQWQEvrX_uF0UXjpFtHLqakXYYTvnOuOMT-7f9GtgUQxNpba3n8LcPKYUOz4DbrnbLeBDZME849l57qSOL8WCYC2sN1pSS00e51Cf7BM-2WI-YX2rtjoIOf8dN94iQxSmpQX1L9849SjjkWQWw/s320/IMG_3661.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Enjoying the cable car view going up and down haha. Okay so nearby here, there's this waterfall called Telaga Tujuh and in order to get to the waterfall is really steep. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJsRnQ0U6owghlSI9j0kaU8mtSaZWhV3Te1WqtGD1fIqynlizW1J85fUKB_dcOVYoOG7KSMyXgjZtqF9xSIIK1ibgLpPkrrrUCzuc6XLgPemUzSrCRrGnWEWod9808xVItfx7kcvZNejogrdNUIMGizQYUM0VT_KPZD06yo8r3E6n_viGpw/s2048/IMG_3670.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJsRnQ0U6owghlSI9j0kaU8mtSaZWhV3Te1WqtGD1fIqynlizW1J85fUKB_dcOVYoOG7KSMyXgjZtqF9xSIIK1ibgLpPkrrrUCzuc6XLgPemUzSrCRrGnWEWod9808xVItfx7kcvZNejogrdNUIMGizQYUM0VT_KPZD06yo8r3E6n_viGpw/s320/IMG_3670.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Next up, it's lunch time. I found this place with quite a good review so here we are to fill our stomachs. I took just a few bites due to my diet program haha. We ordered some really simple food and it's tasty!</span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL_ocd6kM0INtHeykDJXc-fxBEaTGEtgSSbHfd4qbOBo6KTwM20VvrUyFHSwY_U5jTuG6Vmag9DaKq_2uHsX8Dv6_iHMfuyH9EhDC6blBpG5wVSC5l5siXGlnxsRmTurJ5AOEsepHbCGRmoi2d_yOrrkfqqTP2aHdz19VVR4vtlx_ovFrZg/s2048/IMG_3677.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL_ocd6kM0INtHeykDJXc-fxBEaTGEtgSSbHfd4qbOBo6KTwM20VvrUyFHSwY_U5jTuG6Vmag9DaKq_2uHsX8Dv6_iHMfuyH9EhDC6blBpG5wVSC5l5siXGlnxsRmTurJ5AOEsepHbCGRmoi2d_yOrrkfqqTP2aHdz19VVR4vtlx_ovFrZg/s320/IMG_3677.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">While driving to the restaurant earlier, I stumbled upon this place. It's a wide empty space and the ocean. Man, the wind.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPJrbBCBB36nZil7kJg72yLTFCVpQSscTJyM8mTDB1rT2oKkxnmDWsX6K5O18esYfP88keyBcCHv4ciffPUUr3lOGRQY8w7GoVxJ4JWGtXmmSvbF8SHWJwf8Yrek19MZXluTtgw9jiSKTE8WjDubq5BMkUwVtfrNJqAPLbq_97mhXmwIpNw/s2048/IMG_3686.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPJrbBCBB36nZil7kJg72yLTFCVpQSscTJyM8mTDB1rT2oKkxnmDWsX6K5O18esYfP88keyBcCHv4ciffPUUr3lOGRQY8w7GoVxJ4JWGtXmmSvbF8SHWJwf8Yrek19MZXluTtgw9jiSKTE8WjDubq5BMkUwVtfrNJqAPLbq_97mhXmwIpNw/s320/IMG_3686.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Of course, the mandatory picture of me in it haha. The cloud is heavy and right after that, it rained. haha. After studying for 2 days, the rain doesn't last long like in KL. It's really just 5-minute rain. I have concluded it as the emotional Langkawi.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oJkp-2_mQgvN9tnyZBstsc90aUNO3IXgQUUKNA8jPbJ5sXBrZIoWFQX7mFLIy7xWinzpCVORELIYaPYTAqyAT3MW64Vk19KBVNzeC9TJKXESMI-EcV9yLXvx4YI7xIBX-vgmDsOrIXMtBNYxV8p1NciU3Ewm5MEJ4fzScYKprA8Vj-954g/s2048/IMG_3722.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oJkp-2_mQgvN9tnyZBstsc90aUNO3IXgQUUKNA8jPbJ5sXBrZIoWFQX7mFLIy7xWinzpCVORELIYaPYTAqyAT3MW64Vk19KBVNzeC9TJKXESMI-EcV9yLXvx4YI7xIBX-vgmDsOrIXMtBNYxV8p1NciU3Ewm5MEJ4fzScYKprA8Vj-954g/s320/IMG_3722.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Next up is our alcohol shopping haha. There are so many duty frees around and we just don't know which to go. Teow Soon Huat doesn't look exclusive or extravaganza, but it was good in terms of price! We bought everything from there. The last time I was in Langkawi I came here too haha. Chocolates and alcohol. They own the supermarket too, which we bought our mineral water from and it's economical!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSjoQJfYJjrKRYu_iCSirmMg4mKvywI2jpQcYWfMcqs8UcRSKO3Oy2Q2Ymy68aKcBHx2JpEY3uma_FPjC-zMgRaodLla7lTp_M7yqDTd8MvhJnhdHrroAkNf8kxiTmFHoml5EnlRfjqSVKt1sFwp6a3ccksKVNBuZqp6Wf8CmJBLaF5zVKA/s2048/IMG_3750.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSjoQJfYJjrKRYu_iCSirmMg4mKvywI2jpQcYWfMcqs8UcRSKO3Oy2Q2Ymy68aKcBHx2JpEY3uma_FPjC-zMgRaodLla7lTp_M7yqDTd8MvhJnhdHrroAkNf8kxiTmFHoml5EnlRfjqSVKt1sFwp6a3ccksKVNBuZqp6Wf8CmJBLaF5zVKA/s320/IMG_3750.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Dinner is super important when you're on a vacation. Quah in Kuah. With the mom, aunt and grandma together waiting. The line to this place Wonderland Food Store is super long. I learned from the past looking at how long we waited just to get in and another long wait for the food, we were there this time at 6pm. haha! After the meal 2 years ago, is it worth it? YES. If I can avoid, then we should haha. That's why we ended there at 6pm.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dxCGnVJ3V5h1zAhmmkKT6F-DdKW68c01khEYHkrPIn4g0OV_y29DNsVZu8XBBIo-cTRyT_OVv5SppIXcnCJ1mXJm8bqNLDMslG2qSKtkT9Nkl35acFZgb_X6znurNGfxxGOjpny3K_pKcFXIjZMFzxzzTHwL1W9V3a_eX-2gk66F4kkp0w/s2048/IMG_3754.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dxCGnVJ3V5h1zAhmmkKT6F-DdKW68c01khEYHkrPIn4g0OV_y29DNsVZu8XBBIo-cTRyT_OVv5SppIXcnCJ1mXJm8bqNLDMslG2qSKtkT9Nkl35acFZgb_X6znurNGfxxGOjpny3K_pKcFXIjZMFzxzzTHwL1W9V3a_eX-2gk66F4kkp0w/s320/IMG_3754.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is by the way, Chinese halal food to cater to the locals there. I love the squid. It's really bad for my diet but heck, I'm not there everyday, I don't eat it everyday. Everything was good except for the Lala that doesn't taste kamheong at all. This was also RM70+ haha. Prawns, squids, lala and vegetables.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LWN1U9RgPm8aqIeA0m0fUglVDIJFU7q4k_PLjJOWUlOwxSmmRk5qV_4bzp4YtF7UaNTAXv2Fs82ed3f8iDYUtSBrby-ASFHs_99h1i2xBLGY9Jauj7tPcRAAOCheBuHYVhpU9_V43y_ouRnGApaVDb4gOyZhbL1GC8_OhftA0WdqUuBwSw/s2048/IMG_3759.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LWN1U9RgPm8aqIeA0m0fUglVDIJFU7q4k_PLjJOWUlOwxSmmRk5qV_4bzp4YtF7UaNTAXv2Fs82ed3f8iDYUtSBrby-ASFHs_99h1i2xBLGY9Jauj7tPcRAAOCheBuHYVhpU9_V43y_ouRnGApaVDb4gOyZhbL1GC8_OhftA0WdqUuBwSw/s320/IMG_3759.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We crossed the road where the car is parked and the variety of alcohol we see. The sight of it is lovely enough, especially the green ones on the right. It's RM11.50 if I'm not mistaken and KL is about RM 16.90.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSOCDf2LTQtM1FdzNYw3x9oF-SakmyOBjnLC8QApYRTO_TodPGskHf9K-QDtjDRtEgjl9B8DfCGvCZJd1hjj06XSzhJjAPVp4ZHZSj1mY_pTT2iSN3B3gcsWM_gUspVObheNn172VFzz6I893CFdwzBmOP5hJhLnXbYjTf_9uXDnU6O71tA/s2048/IMG_3761.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSOCDf2LTQtM1FdzNYw3x9oF-SakmyOBjnLC8QApYRTO_TodPGskHf9K-QDtjDRtEgjl9B8DfCGvCZJd1hjj06XSzhJjAPVp4ZHZSj1mY_pTT2iSN3B3gcsWM_gUspVObheNn172VFzz6I893CFdwzBmOP5hJhLnXbYjTf_9uXDnU6O71tA/s320/IMG_3761.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We ended up taking these 2. I love 1664 Blanc as it's very fragrant. I didn't drink much except for just a few sips. I'm controlling like crazy as I have a timeframe to achieve my health goal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It's day filled with activities. It isn't too hectic and isn't too chilled, it was just nice. No, we did not go to the 3D museum. I prefer something outdoorsy that we can do. We are blessed with the weather though, each time we get into the car, then it rains. When we are out and about, it didn't rain. Talking about perfect timing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Places visited:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Roti Canai Otai - Kampung Bubor, Kedawang</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Langkawi Cable Car</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Langkawi Sky Bridge</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Kuah Town Seafood , Kuah town</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Teow Soon Huat Duty Free - Padang Matsirat, Kuah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Wonderland Foodstore - Pusat Perdangan Kelana Mas</span></div><p><br /></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0Langkawi, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia6.35 99.8-21.960233836178844 64.64375 34.660233836178847 134.95625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-82775901316699065782022-06-03T04:28:00.008-07:002022-06-08T22:27:20.215-07:00Day 1: Langkawi<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">2 weeks ago, I received a text from my mom asking if I wanted to go to Langkawi. Nobody would ever say no to a vacation. Times are not like before, I'll say yes to anywhere. It doesn't really matter where, I just needed this break very badly. The last time I had a so-called break was also to Langkawi but that felt a long time ago.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mihT3N5KTMvZ-U_B5LDWU11e9TUunzUvjNqtZ_V1irDwl8M0hANNRlo-DuCzEyxfqFoIccBQ1JBvUFaalAe5GYVOYhHylLtxOL-R0SCmAkhrIZe7eX1Cew3MZyBMbgfEG-iNv2mcUavvJ1piHRZnnlqFaXMOOXJxfaTZJjVZjyA-5SsErQ/s2048/IMG_3509.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mihT3N5KTMvZ-U_B5LDWU11e9TUunzUvjNqtZ_V1irDwl8M0hANNRlo-DuCzEyxfqFoIccBQ1JBvUFaalAe5GYVOYhHylLtxOL-R0SCmAkhrIZe7eX1Cew3MZyBMbgfEG-iNv2mcUavvJ1piHRZnnlqFaXMOOXJxfaTZJjVZjyA-5SsErQ/s320/IMG_3509.png" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Took Air Asia there. RM 712 for 4 pax, it's not that bad of a deal. Gone are the days of a RM55/pax flight. Just because I had to do check in, I downloaded their app and Oh Lord, they have an Air Asia ride to the airport that's even cheaper than Grab that I took years ago. On top of that, they offered RM5 discount for the first ride. Holy! Too bad, they were too late. I would love to take that but I have already booked a car that's RM100. I haven't tried the AA ride, but, with that price, why not? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Az599305crtauwxnIk-PPMqnXu2BQspC4YyOHxQIykSQTtyXEPqlcKCnnp2J5zuPd7BR38yDH-nrYCROYS5fRjhbpSSAeXIIG4OTrhxeUGWMMALf7hOhASl1LzYWrXlcZxlVnuHXODLSom9cDj6iy03TUxrAnRPAvyTF7IkIel6LHRDTnA/s2048/IMG_3513.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Az599305crtauwxnIk-PPMqnXu2BQspC4YyOHxQIykSQTtyXEPqlcKCnnp2J5zuPd7BR38yDH-nrYCROYS5fRjhbpSSAeXIIG4OTrhxeUGWMMALf7hOhASl1LzYWrXlcZxlVnuHXODLSom9cDj6iy03TUxrAnRPAvyTF7IkIel6LHRDTnA/s320/IMG_3513.JPEG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Thank you Captain! That's a pretty smooth landing. I love window seat, short or long haul.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDL2E3dVLXF110Vxbu2C0Wq8QcOzz4SPzgbL7MWjmBF-RBsiR61axWF18X6NLiKeW96FFCvfNl7nBV-_U0T-0chCdJSbQriSVFvsVaqVRrihwMvdtZlFbJXsldDL7N5ZE2CyCr9ihk2GTtlmRTHzzQQ5dmScji-U5QpGV0awtUwWYyfc8XA/s2048/IMG_3517.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDL2E3dVLXF110Vxbu2C0Wq8QcOzz4SPzgbL7MWjmBF-RBsiR61axWF18X6NLiKeW96FFCvfNl7nBV-_U0T-0chCdJSbQriSVFvsVaqVRrihwMvdtZlFbJXsldDL7N5ZE2CyCr9ihk2GTtlmRTHzzQQ5dmScji-U5QpGV0awtUwWYyfc8XA/s320/IMG_3517.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We rented a car RM325 for 5 days 4 nights, a Myvi. There were scratches, dents around the car with some squeaky sound when driving. But generally it was okay. The petrol was at 35 km left and blinking. haha. We managed to get to the nearest Petronas, located just a few minutes away from the airport.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5edqIDvPS5U_-XIcOuh7LWTkMJa0Je1eeZIOnNfTbzVTOw3GLfCWZIL2VoQq4XQmpEq55H0rZ2oJ0HuCt0YglpC0y_cu3YZEAE9mUcDRZa4nOGvU1BWceHMhmmgVJNw9tOdVCMu3cyrjeadJFIFnfSj3uAXGcrgzqjBuOdmpSgv6nsM3gg/s2048/IMG_3519.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5edqIDvPS5U_-XIcOuh7LWTkMJa0Je1eeZIOnNfTbzVTOw3GLfCWZIL2VoQq4XQmpEq55H0rZ2oJ0HuCt0YglpC0y_cu3YZEAE9mUcDRZa4nOGvU1BWceHMhmmgVJNw9tOdVCMu3cyrjeadJFIFnfSj3uAXGcrgzqjBuOdmpSgv6nsM3gg/s320/IMG_3519.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here's our room, we requested for connecting room. Ample of parking space in the hotel. There are people here and there, but I didn't see many. I guess they are all out going places, like us. The rooms need refurbishment. Apparently, the hotel was closed for 2 years, and they have just reopened. After experiencing the hotel in Tanjung Rhu, I don't expect much from a hotel I've not heard before. We asked them to clean the room once, but it wasn't even cleaning. A small piece of paper dropped on the bathroom floor and it was still untouched when I returned. We asked for a toilet paper from the housekeeping, and they wanted to charge us for that. It's ridiculous.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2f1u0Cz9Oz6KDb2fqgOGYXhZ1zv2A_FO4kGlSDFmfu9fLuu_CW5TBwR85XIQrqvuJ4JRkGQGpnGvM2ftjhjrb1qEjjiU4Lca6QzeMLZmgQCOMSOijeHUIyapvZICTCIYBlGaWCkCIdLNupoqqrCOzUukKJOkfuO4sZhdkfshhFXkY1Mj7Q/s2048/IMG_3521.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2f1u0Cz9Oz6KDb2fqgOGYXhZ1zv2A_FO4kGlSDFmfu9fLuu_CW5TBwR85XIQrqvuJ4JRkGQGpnGvM2ftjhjrb1qEjjiU4Lca6QzeMLZmgQCOMSOijeHUIyapvZICTCIYBlGaWCkCIdLNupoqqrCOzUukKJOkfuO4sZhdkfshhFXkY1Mj7Q/s320/IMG_3521.JPEG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is the spa, there's a small decor in front that looks like a place for dengue mosquitos to breed. The exterior looks rundown where I don't even feel like I wanna enter the spa. Nobody was there, it says, if we wanna book, I need to call a number they provided. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">There's a lot of work to be done, from the exterior right until the training of the employees. We did not dine in any of the restaurants there because, we can get pretty good food outside. We go to where they are good at, restaurants and warungs. The first day is a pretty chilled day. What's really good with this hotel is the location where it is minutes away from the beach - Pantai Cenang, yeah that busy beach. haha.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3NFNSfe3WRAUxuXx8zPioQylLv5LNMXwLEBum8pbWIOKRjQVYUGk-J7L_bKDw4sXXcHEB_0YM9vqK3KqPCzd67gFPt9NjH87pRSwZrXSz4Jbxz7CuFRN-cuYYxyRIGkoDW9bnvkWjamQ0FU4eAbWm7qGn3Mv_2-h-gKFLv0zQwYj2-W0ow/s2048/IMG_3550.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3NFNSfe3WRAUxuXx8zPioQylLv5LNMXwLEBum8pbWIOKRjQVYUGk-J7L_bKDw4sXXcHEB_0YM9vqK3KqPCzd67gFPt9NjH87pRSwZrXSz4Jbxz7CuFRN-cuYYxyRIGkoDW9bnvkWjamQ0FU4eAbWm7qGn3Mv_2-h-gKFLv0zQwYj2-W0ow/s320/IMG_3550.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Since it's such an easy going day, we went over to Pantai Cenang to check out how busy it is. Surprisingly, it isn't THAT busy that I thought it would. I guess everyone has been to Langkawi at the time of this writing due to Langkawi bubble haha.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1BxYChyu_SCK-RJKgwiihFMoZyHMD8yUNiSt4hr3-MXIMu4p_F2x__BuymGvG5xD-zyx0NcF6s_7lXMIpi59j-mTN2wn2Hzuz9bU3C_vvQNCG9u6NVp5NWY8QXT32ukTgicUvwWDnWAKRHiAHb-LHQJM51hBUdym-qDfBX1ud72FFBIIg/s2048/IMG_3546.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1BxYChyu_SCK-RJKgwiihFMoZyHMD8yUNiSt4hr3-MXIMu4p_F2x__BuymGvG5xD-zyx0NcF6s_7lXMIpi59j-mTN2wn2Hzuz9bU3C_vvQNCG9u6NVp5NWY8QXT32ukTgicUvwWDnWAKRHiAHb-LHQJM51hBUdym-qDfBX1ud72FFBIIg/s320/IMG_3546.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What a sunny evening. This should have been the weather everyday, not raining. If you have nothing to do at 9pm, there are some fire performance daily here in Pantai Cenang, except if it rains. </span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4krakB_UsQTgI502ZUApVBJAWkoxrLVGfXiy69TZdESxCN--44-Mi8x1vsn9QsS1ERmGAyDk3smb8auwf8Y0nCA8aNlzKzy5v0tK-KTUP7G9uNQZh3Q_YVpZsAWA6_wthewVQjZ3cODhEDaiBW3teERFiJUWivlBz266DXvRB39jUk8Mqg/s2048/IMG_3555.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4krakB_UsQTgI502ZUApVBJAWkoxrLVGfXiy69TZdESxCN--44-Mi8x1vsn9QsS1ERmGAyDk3smb8auwf8Y0nCA8aNlzKzy5v0tK-KTUP7G9uNQZh3Q_YVpZsAWA6_wthewVQjZ3cODhEDaiBW3teERFiJUWivlBz266DXvRB39jUk8Mqg/s320/IMG_3555.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Went over to Lubuk Buaya to have a nice dinner. Tomyam was great, the fish lacks flavor though it was okay. Vegetables and egg were good! RM79. It's not exactly cheap but it's acceptable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Places visited: </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Langkawi International Airport</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Pantai Cenang</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lubuk Buaya </span> </div></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-8949848991409512772022-05-10T07:15:00.008-07:002022-05-10T07:16:40.191-07:00Hiking @ Cheras<p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">I haven't been an outdoorsy person my entire life. The only "workout" that I have done in the past in a regular basis was my dance class. Even that was just 1 hour a week, sometimes twice, or thrice depending on the events we had. Ever since Sensei left us, the classes were just kept at a bare minimum, one hour, once a week. Then, Covid happened. As we stayed longer at home, nobody wanted to go back to classes anymore. And that was how the class literally died.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Once in a blue moon, I would find other things to do, but it was really like once a year kinda thing. Last year, when things were briefly opened, we quickly went hiking to this place deep into Cheras. I have not been a fan of Cheras at all, but this was a place I just had to go to see for myself. Furthermore, we had lockdown for a long time. It's just about getting myself out there.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is actually a private area but I see many people hiking up, just like I did as long as we start hiking before 7am on the weekends. Some people had advised not to go during the weekdays anyway as the owners are around and this is considered as trespassing? Don't blame me if this is a wrong info, as this was in April 2021, a year ago.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgYOWm4j5HqpR5IHLYgwKa4Ik1QNyC5rUKQdeNOPSeryclMJPXtAfVu6-bygLsaFaVy3m32V3QJfKpP_9bO0S6eQKDhuB1qJpjeZdYZO3E9Q0bEVnWz418zPdiMTydtQoDhKdiUMr3hljhu54w8GXN6QN0ibrXxlR9lIA8zQgp8qRbXGd9Q/s1440/Hiking_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1440" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgYOWm4j5HqpR5IHLYgwKa4Ik1QNyC5rUKQdeNOPSeryclMJPXtAfVu6-bygLsaFaVy3m32V3QJfKpP_9bO0S6eQKDhuB1qJpjeZdYZO3E9Q0bEVnWz418zPdiMTydtQoDhKdiUMr3hljhu54w8GXN6QN0ibrXxlR9lIA8zQgp8qRbXGd9Q/s320/Hiking_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The typical hiking pose. LOL. The trail can be quite confusing at certain parts though, so we had to explore and some hikers led the way up. There were no obvious trail, no signs, we just followed. Some parts are knotted with ropes which can be helpful to some. Overall, a very easy hike that takes within 45 minutes. It rained the night before, that made some parts challenging for me due to my shoes. So, please get suitable shoes. haha.</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuBzvt4c3Kr7H9C8maog2SVvjUfuZCtaxJ1LL_7bKJ65Ud0uDt2gZxyPyHTxanANziemy-i18nkMDLlI5ZQLp1fNWn5_4GJsGzTC-EPJfqDA14qnWizI-8yQsyXJ6Rn-JO04h5_cIDFuzCMKz9GX6uRexxXrB2eoidPCCHD5VNt0CevWhUw/s1440/Hiking_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1440" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuBzvt4c3Kr7H9C8maog2SVvjUfuZCtaxJ1LL_7bKJ65Ud0uDt2gZxyPyHTxanANziemy-i18nkMDLlI5ZQLp1fNWn5_4GJsGzTC-EPJfqDA14qnWizI-8yQsyXJ6Rn-JO04h5_cIDFuzCMKz9GX6uRexxXrB2eoidPCCHD5VNt0CevWhUw/s320/Hiking_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">With just 45 minutes hike to get this, why not right? I am a total beginner, an unfit one that is, and it is easy even for me. Struggle a little here and there due to the slippery surface, for, as always, I do not have proper shoes for hiking.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">That was my only hike in 2021. Covid was not the reason, I just didn't have the hiking thing in me. But interestingly, I would go to FRIM almost every single week when I was in my primary years. I became more and more unfit and unhealthy. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'll be back with more hiking. haha.</span></p></div><div> <p></p></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-74067656980116922192022-04-15T06:32:00.006-07:002022-04-15T06:36:37.900-07:00Balkans Day 2 - 082018 - Old town Zadar (Croatia)<span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It's Friday! Not sure what people do these days on a Friday. I guess, this is what I do or what I can do from now onwards. Be more active and be more hardworking updating this so that I have stories many years to come. </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWSV7dWFvq4gthhvJGa-8EHJGVVJ7Ee4cON5CorGtzjgzn0u_pC9vZu655DQoKxS8DeDmgSPREx6igU7noUESSnKDEupnWRlaj4Zb-U1pWVfItLytYEE9qfq1fyozRlvrBpRd4wqy_OE8Y1_jh6FWmo0n4jtFxaLANSyAsZahHsro0MKyCg/s1200/Balkans-02-01-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWSV7dWFvq4gthhvJGa-8EHJGVVJ7Ee4cON5CorGtzjgzn0u_pC9vZu655DQoKxS8DeDmgSPREx6igU7noUESSnKDEupnWRlaj4Zb-U1pWVfItLytYEE9qfq1fyozRlvrBpRd4wqy_OE8Y1_jh6FWmo0n4jtFxaLANSyAsZahHsro0MKyCg/s320/Balkans-02-01-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Picking up from the previous post about my vacation back in 2018, we woke up here, sunshine! </span><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzSIhxNvBi0r4AqruEddphMnesPE4iqlG-R7HQXYusp5htDVbvBb4NLQzvYmCUDfvL8YxpkcgHyVfg4mHUkkQwweaeDVO9h823O2LC0-9kBoRjqZ6Q1x4L52tFvs_sxJX0qb-wvz58BLGKesAVnTv5c8qLzb-ej1mvwaKFrdJWnEEXXN1sw/s2048/Balkans-02-01-02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzSIhxNvBi0r4AqruEddphMnesPE4iqlG-R7HQXYusp5htDVbvBb4NLQzvYmCUDfvL8YxpkcgHyVfg4mHUkkQwweaeDVO9h823O2LC0-9kBoRjqZ6Q1x4L52tFvs_sxJX0qb-wvz58BLGKesAVnTv5c8qLzb-ej1mvwaKFrdJWnEEXXN1sw/s320/Balkans-02-01-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Bonn Appetit! We have carbs over there. I like carbs haha. My body might not like it.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM8Ud4p8YnRs41VtfTDghyyESmDmgwRq0liH2p_TZEurOypKdQVKd9XmEZvEZMOJ8cR0hB-dkX1-v-_QKag0XqArphUAgfG9GBQwmiMkyHidSg4i0G3873JRdvIhOGjjsOeqlpL8cYUjIup02LCh_hom5HRJmaGMli9jwe-S2Dinn0z_DYQ/s2048/Balkans-02-01-03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM8Ud4p8YnRs41VtfTDghyyESmDmgwRq0liH2p_TZEurOypKdQVKd9XmEZvEZMOJ8cR0hB-dkX1-v-_QKag0XqArphUAgfG9GBQwmiMkyHidSg4i0G3873JRdvIhOGjjsOeqlpL8cYUjIup02LCh_hom5HRJmaGMli9jwe-S2Dinn0z_DYQ/s320/Balkans-02-01-03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Or some healthier options, the fruits haha. Let's get the stomach happy before leaving.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LWbR33mojdHrtx9SXmgMoOMqZv2ey1lcwym5NJwPg6S5reX9amyulfUXgVP-8mle7SVzSrkP0hcQqUpBrhn-bL417N3ljUvk8cBPUYbEiPA2--R_bqnZsiDjti2ypAIp_ub8ZqxC8myfXLRsO5Q96kBp1jcOkDi3Tm4gE6-jRmt40UNbiw/s2048/Balkans-02-01-04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LWbR33mojdHrtx9SXmgMoOMqZv2ey1lcwym5NJwPg6S5reX9amyulfUXgVP-8mle7SVzSrkP0hcQqUpBrhn-bL417N3ljUvk8cBPUYbEiPA2--R_bqnZsiDjti2ypAIp_ub8ZqxC8myfXLRsO5Q96kBp1jcOkDi3Tm4gE6-jRmt40UNbiw/s320/Balkans-02-01-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The blue sky, leaving Dubrovnik. Until we see you again on our last day. What's the best thing doing road trips like this? Blast those classic Malay songs! haha. So Malaysian right? haha. Yes we are, of course.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ScQmsR2QLzuC_ElZiwLixgpewOWpXtUaFfuj1pVjiYybH1kV4IzwZxoiTnbSmJSMNJo28bzXijIq4CiX3ZiqZJ1K1q4KrnDjqmCiXSzfq0u-Tc6FoC1_AvrO2oyh5T_4NjPAEsk6EnVFWE0HG3lJZO5Elm9P4TOT5YRwyqPsYP-KVg719Q/s2048/Balkans-02-01-06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ScQmsR2QLzuC_ElZiwLixgpewOWpXtUaFfuj1pVjiYybH1kV4IzwZxoiTnbSmJSMNJo28bzXijIq4CiX3ZiqZJ1K1q4KrnDjqmCiXSzfq0u-Tc6FoC1_AvrO2oyh5T_4NjPAEsk6EnVFWE0HG3lJZO5Elm9P4TOT5YRwyqPsYP-KVg719Q/s320/Balkans-02-01-06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">After a couple of hours of drive, here we are at Old town Zadar. Roughly 3 ish to 4 ish hours depending on traffic. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9scWQd-9DfSmWpK8Ly6oAaTghvpLejH-_EAIoqB-JB0o59zhBIFHJ_zYIxIA8DAzUwJvzQoDmTwWA7bSMaIuHGH7kXFUBn-Mnp4e4HXf2tOwQwXAZa8CQpZ1ZHiIN0_K1ZLSQ-eQdqKXTlp6IjUJH7ksSVPd5KH7NZK46ZXN2VDmFROO9nA/s2048/Balkans-02-01-07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9scWQd-9DfSmWpK8Ly6oAaTghvpLejH-_EAIoqB-JB0o59zhBIFHJ_zYIxIA8DAzUwJvzQoDmTwWA7bSMaIuHGH7kXFUBn-Mnp4e4HXf2tOwQwXAZa8CQpZ1ZHiIN0_K1ZLSQ-eQdqKXTlp6IjUJH7ksSVPd5KH7NZK46ZXN2VDmFROO9nA/s320/Balkans-02-01-07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Read some really good reviews about Pet Bunara, so here we are</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTNe8TxpI57r9P-mafnpVwx3KAV2KDDa7mvAi__SEr1pdj363wKhcZ9TyP_yGQu69BCLA8R3N_roAuQPL0bUXgbGXxk_uHzCHV233_PEJhKylZyI1rYs30O0VCYnK635b-1vcDwAorUNnCw_PSADrgpPt2MkiNA-dNeU05pJbsWIhhbt8xA/s2048/Balkans-02-01-08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTNe8TxpI57r9P-mafnpVwx3KAV2KDDa7mvAi__SEr1pdj363wKhcZ9TyP_yGQu69BCLA8R3N_roAuQPL0bUXgbGXxk_uHzCHV233_PEJhKylZyI1rYs30O0VCYnK635b-1vcDwAorUNnCw_PSADrgpPt2MkiNA-dNeU05pJbsWIhhbt8xA/s320/Balkans-02-01-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Just us two. Honestly, I can't remember how the experience was 4 years ago. I shall then not comment about it.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopZCXevLN4HrHIRq0fplBIxApy3dIGJwJ3b8_SDVKQmXFE5LWNNt8SvIOlif2eO6bdkP9_5gV-PWUOd5FfUdapLl9NDS3J_y2f_eF2uxHSfkzyzhpNS8v3lti69FV32P3JC3ciiSirj2_G_LVL4JAJBotRnn4xd_EeO6xaIg7GFcq07JBPw/s2048/Balkans-02-01-09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopZCXevLN4HrHIRq0fplBIxApy3dIGJwJ3b8_SDVKQmXFE5LWNNt8SvIOlif2eO6bdkP9_5gV-PWUOd5FfUdapLl9NDS3J_y2f_eF2uxHSfkzyzhpNS8v3lti69FV32P3JC3ciiSirj2_G_LVL4JAJBotRnn4xd_EeO6xaIg7GFcq07JBPw/s320/Balkans-02-01-09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Walking around, from one alley to another, waiting for sunset. It's a nice place to walk around for some insta-worthy pictures and yes, remember to grab some gelato while walking around. Not sure how that works with Covid now if we can walk around eating ice-cream.</span><br /> </div><div>Location: Old town Zadar, Croatia</div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-33728470433514366062022-04-13T06:24:00.003-07:002022-04-13T21:46:57.343-07:00My 3 weeks job<span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A long time ago when I was still young and innocent, I took up the hospitality course as my future was cloudy and bleak. You know how some people knew what they wanted to do, the path they wanted to go from a very young age? I did not have that. When I was in F4, I wanted to drop Accounts as I clearly did not have the brains or the interest for it. My teacher back then did not allow me. I ended up scoring 9/100 in the final examination. Cool huh? haha. So I withdrew from Business Admin course and took up hospitality only to end up taking Financial Accounting (wth?).</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Anyway, I did my internship in Switzerland and happily flew home to be with my friends and family. I then started to work in a hotel here. It was tough, physically and emotionally demanding. I saw so many people cried due to the stress that they went through. Everyone cope with stress and pressure differently, but back then, I was stone cold. I did not understand it. After 2.5 years, I thought, it's time to resign as I could not take the pressure of working the graveyard shift every single week. It was too much and I was also getting older, my body might not be able to take that kind of intensity. I was turning 25. To add on to that, my low EPF, I can't retire with the rate it's going.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I attended a couple of interviews. One of that is a well-known foreign bank. Took me 4 hours just to get to an interviewer (those assessments, tests etc) only to find out that they were just paying a salary lesser than my hotel job. The disadvantage working in a hotel is that you get minimum EPF due to a rather low basic income. I used to get RM50 a month. Crazy right?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I went on unemployed for 6 months. I went to Korea to travel for 2 weeks then bum my way round for 6 months only to realize that my money is at "low." I grabbed whatever job that came offering to me just so that I can get cash in to my bank account.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This was purely for convenience. I took this job with a maid agency. I'm talking about something that happened 12 years ago, not today (or if it does, then I do not know). So I got hired from a maid agency as a consultant (in other terms sales). Though I did some sort of sales work (without the target), it's not my forte. I'm weak in that department, right until today. Okay, so judging from the office appearance, I cannot expect anything great or grand. I was dull, I was sluggish, I did not even know what I was doing there. One day, this kind client came by, as he was sending his domestic helper off back to her origin country. As an appreciation, he even gifted her a laptop. How nice and kind some people really are. He hasn't seen me before then, he asked what was I doing there in that agency. I explained my path and he said he's in the hotel industry for 10 years and there's a lot else to learn. Well, I may agree on that but I don't think I can take a hotel's lifestyle for much longer. But he said very softly to me to leave that company, I have got no future there. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I took that advice and considering all the things that have been happening there, I decided to leave. I just thought, what can I learn there? To match a client with a domestic helper? Is that success to me? Knowing the personality that I have, I cannot witness at all the fraudulent activities that were happening at that time and pretend it is okay. Even more so, since I work there, I was contributing to the fraudsters? It may be something "normal" within the industry for all that God knows but is it the right thing to do? The answer to myself was no, it is legally and morally wrong. The final blow was, I could not accept the fact that when a meeting occurs, someone smokes cigar in an enclosed room. Can anyone say anything regarding that? No.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I left after 3 weeks.</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-84667126606357831512022-04-07T06:33:00.005-07:002022-04-26T22:05:21.454-07:00Balkans Day 1 - 082018 - Dubrovnik (Croatia)<span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Right before this pandemic, it really felt like my life was so colorful. I was busy going places enjoying the view, chasing after sunsets from different locations. I thought that was easy, until this whole thing hit the human race. Boom! Everyone back to their homes. </span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here, this was my travel back in 2018. </span><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisF10qamqbl-RM8lf-JtEWDiMVsmhc1xy8gLhjFI1IUTOJCrzL9uVcRoaF3ZRv3Pm-uPJKFL6zUze3pZbCYevEG21tSYVX-A8ayoGPuJrMHDWXJZCF1NhkbHJckdNxa8-KqpgqhP67BRZ9VcRAJvsaKcdKGF2hb9Bwngsrheo50EvSCRbvjQ/s2048/Balkans-01-01-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisF10qamqbl-RM8lf-JtEWDiMVsmhc1xy8gLhjFI1IUTOJCrzL9uVcRoaF3ZRv3Pm-uPJKFL6zUze3pZbCYevEG21tSYVX-A8ayoGPuJrMHDWXJZCF1NhkbHJckdNxa8-KqpgqhP67BRZ9VcRAJvsaKcdKGF2hb9Bwngsrheo50EvSCRbvjQ/w300-h400/Balkans-01-01-01.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This is the view before I landed. Since it has been so long ago, I can't remember if this was Turkey or Croatia. Either way, my fave is the window seat. Do not exchange seats with me just because you do not want to be separated with your partner. After touching down, now, take a deep breath, and breathe in the air. Haha.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitavlDGf03aL40kQ5T1kNvdcJrcXUTywZkw47kBd-QKgS98cphyrYQcc_N29RLb9gdlyXWWq9HAJPF5UNUcrVEJRrkCVwTIbDL9icnanf-GB-3udeM6xlrz0ObOilsYM9ApaK7jnv-7h_sVIqRqAeyl2KenvVCUqZbOzhsBiCDY-pQyCjYww/s2048/Balkans-01-01-02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitavlDGf03aL40kQ5T1kNvdcJrcXUTywZkw47kBd-QKgS98cphyrYQcc_N29RLb9gdlyXWWq9HAJPF5UNUcrVEJRrkCVwTIbDL9icnanf-GB-3udeM6xlrz0ObOilsYM9ApaK7jnv-7h_sVIqRqAeyl2KenvVCUqZbOzhsBiCDY-pQyCjYww/w400-h300/Balkans-01-01-02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Right after I landed in Croatia, I waited for my friend to land from Dubai. Just because, we are awesome like that, like as though we are having some secret relationships. haha. Anyways, we picked up the car for rent and here we are. Hello Penang, just kidding. Welcome to Croatia! </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytlzHNRJHpbUQqEJ2rtwT26EWbFaHqQ6C8-nHJo7MauPIvjRoADulJ4D9nqbMntUKeH59YAviUyZ4GShIFbfm5BiSmh72VvYZaDk-CgsJHCETiBJ2sSmrYTvbW33wI4sLHT3i1RoN_8NaqznVcHEH_gmfuGumyzicFwn3L5KiQvyileJARg/s2048/Balkans-01-01-03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytlzHNRJHpbUQqEJ2rtwT26EWbFaHqQ6C8-nHJo7MauPIvjRoADulJ4D9nqbMntUKeH59YAviUyZ4GShIFbfm5BiSmh72VvYZaDk-CgsJHCETiBJ2sSmrYTvbW33wI4sLHT3i1RoN_8NaqznVcHEH_gmfuGumyzicFwn3L5KiQvyileJARg/w400-h300/Balkans-01-01-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What's the first people do after landing. It's not the hotel, it's not the tour, or the sightseeing. It's the food. Welcome to the Balkans food.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFvG40kCx3OStwHvKelj3X4fO8fapxYeje5EurP0aARJCpaR0awIlHE_Zmh1Ggq-6QWPDnXorAw7dNjgqNcxlN4mBIH6rNNxsT9KMfYAikbsrwQTSYhZ8ME4Hl2YZH9Wf1uAebQOduvd8r31BzUhhJtV91I25CZ6IoGkG3jpc3QOj50H93Q/s2048/Balkans-01-01-04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFvG40kCx3OStwHvKelj3X4fO8fapxYeje5EurP0aARJCpaR0awIlHE_Zmh1Ggq-6QWPDnXorAw7dNjgqNcxlN4mBIH6rNNxsT9KMfYAikbsrwQTSYhZ8ME4Hl2YZH9Wf1uAebQOduvd8r31BzUhhJtV91I25CZ6IoGkG3jpc3QOj50H93Q/w400-h300/Balkans-01-01-04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We did our check-in and here we are, walking towards the free walking tour around Croatia. This is so we can return on our last day here.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4jBxnLv-15XpfmTioSX6HNbHdxCjPpOVj3Z418SKu4eYvbZANtg2BQwgL5-xU1VKE9grcqNIpa7YBpSDvoQGDXQ0Ysih4LM_opNaNEeWf9jbxsVgqm9uH-a3Pgb3dNwbR1nteX2vCwR1Oe2zOV_QbIVeFG7puwlkjinbZElDafT9FaxCXg/s2048/Balkans-01-01-05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4jBxnLv-15XpfmTioSX6HNbHdxCjPpOVj3Z418SKu4eYvbZANtg2BQwgL5-xU1VKE9grcqNIpa7YBpSDvoQGDXQ0Ysih4LM_opNaNEeWf9jbxsVgqm9uH-a3Pgb3dNwbR1nteX2vCwR1Oe2zOV_QbIVeFG7puwlkjinbZElDafT9FaxCXg/w400-h300/Balkans-01-01-05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm not sure about you guys, but I am that 1% who did not watch any Game of Thrones. As you walk along inside here in Dubrovnik, all you can see is the Game of Thrones tour, the GoT merchandise. I couldn't relate, I did not watch a single episode so I don't understand the hype and the craze over the series. If the amount of people is this during today's era, it's scary. People are more conscious towards their surroundings. Before covid, I had this issue with people disrupting my personal space. Not sure if it's related to being an introvert, but now, people finally understand me. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7RmxOismeDjLhUJdQtJn_6E8qYbxZJ7ul_QBqtwC-I1YIp2CGWPAfYRYu8SnAlydZEXV_xlSjz1_GUOvzDOdP8v8MBw0g9qfA2bga5k1WZaL1VchbcHijy4ZBQ-WXzQrIcE-vvUIfQo06j7Jpi3vG3OjFzP42aMgEWv1Lq2TMbSuIUT-ug/s2048/Balkans-01-01-06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7RmxOismeDjLhUJdQtJn_6E8qYbxZJ7ul_QBqtwC-I1YIp2CGWPAfYRYu8SnAlydZEXV_xlSjz1_GUOvzDOdP8v8MBw0g9qfA2bga5k1WZaL1VchbcHijy4ZBQ-WXzQrIcE-vvUIfQo06j7Jpi3vG3OjFzP42aMgEWv1Lq2TMbSuIUT-ug/s320/Balkans-01-01-06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I have some memory issue, if I am not mistaken, Dubrovnik is well-known for the best saltwater fishing grounds in Croatia. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJZ-k3kp2sAxFxHSxLiGSlENjsgvo6-4pqIplHoo7P8--ayoaS30zmDloLPM50LMlZl41-zzLv5qMgzo_nTViGj8io1AQhcMICqXcKMlpJ7HXiutGVGrZ-CMLuBVcS03DCJd1MgqQJbGmjqj11tg60Mk65KeS0UsxDM3T4AkZTzsQvkTzGw/s2048/Balkans-01-01-07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJZ-k3kp2sAxFxHSxLiGSlENjsgvo6-4pqIplHoo7P8--ayoaS30zmDloLPM50LMlZl41-zzLv5qMgzo_nTViGj8io1AQhcMICqXcKMlpJ7HXiutGVGrZ-CMLuBVcS03DCJd1MgqQJbGmjqj11tg60Mk65KeS0UsxDM3T4AkZTzsQvkTzGw/w300-h400/Balkans-01-01-07.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here I am within the Walls of Dubrovnik. It's kinda narrow, so becareful on who comes close to you. Geez, look at how thin I was 4 years ago haha.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo0vyFbGL8njEldCgjsYF_EPp4bT5TMq_micoRqzzj4MxANSXgScmGWTuG6giZiDPzSD3wt_c1Yo3VbgMjYhhj3g3Px9g7B9-P0DTBY5deUK28XPfWfljxTR3-AUAKn4Ee7ZfAS0QJ94_t2ONtTqM2oFNfv7wPnbNzMLugfXj4SgD736N9Q/s2048/Balkans-01-01-08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1262" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo0vyFbGL8njEldCgjsYF_EPp4bT5TMq_micoRqzzj4MxANSXgScmGWTuG6giZiDPzSD3wt_c1Yo3VbgMjYhhj3g3Px9g7B9-P0DTBY5deUK28XPfWfljxTR3-AUAKn4Ee7ZfAS0QJ94_t2ONtTqM2oFNfv7wPnbNzMLugfXj4SgD736N9Q/w400-h246/Balkans-01-01-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We were tired after finishing the walking tour. What's the next most natural thing to do? Food. We just hopped into this restaurant. God, we were wrong to do that. I didn't have wide lens back then yeah haha. Hence, the picture. We had this pizza, we were full but not satisfied. It wasn't satisfying, expensive and the service was really bad, like as if they are all very content with life, there's no sense of urgency. Perhaps, that's just how it works over there. Or maybe, we just ordered the wrong food.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-60490142003394408642022-04-01T07:27:00.006-07:002022-04-01T07:29:38.052-07:00What's your vision?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Hej! It's about time I share what I have been doing the past 2 years. As mentioned <a href="https://michystudio.blogspot.com/2020/06/paypal-check-out-043019.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, my colleagues (back then) and I lost our jobs and with uncertainties had fallen upon us, our future was dark and gloomy. But, one door closes, another door opens.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIxND9-Apnl39BVriSQMoCS3w27-WqyCHA2hGQStC4HmjFc64k-UIFIGTLgUwkreKB-lApGokd67o-ZVbY1PTH1QIyWYSFu8zMra8Knwd8Zj9_7mFbrHonNZ2_ufc0X6OMNplsZ5LMXoBGuKABf6aj0AjDV73GxjK7oImxL9YVt_bLSEkqA/s1440/IKEA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIxND9-Apnl39BVriSQMoCS3w27-WqyCHA2hGQStC4HmjFc64k-UIFIGTLgUwkreKB-lApGokd67o-ZVbY1PTH1QIyWYSFu8zMra8Knwd8Zj9_7mFbrHonNZ2_ufc0X6OMNplsZ5LMXoBGuKABf6aj0AjDV73GxjK7oImxL9YVt_bLSEkqA/s320/IKEA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">With what I did previously, it came as a shock as to how I went through the interviews and got selected to join the project team. The competition was pretty fierce and aggressive. My experience prior to this is probably just 10-15% relevant to what it is in the project. I am really thankful and glad that I was jobless for only 4 months (including vacation to Seattle) before I started work. I have jumped in the trend into e-commerce, right before Covid said hello to all of us. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In these 2 years, it was such a rollercoaster ride, and being first time in such a huge project to open a store in PH, it's definitely an eye-opener to me personally. The amount of things I have learnt on the job is immeasurable especially in the payment aspect. Thank you to those that I have worked with, both internal and external. When I saw the door opened for the locals in November, I cannot help but to feel that this has got to be the biggest achievement thus far. It's especially heart-warming to see how we grew from zero to something so massive. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The only drawback is a contract-basis job. Considering that all the commitments we have in life, I can't do anymore contract-based jobs. It's human nature to want to feel secure. There's a lot of first-time in the job and saying thank you for the opportunity isn't enough. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A highlight in the whole experience is knowing how and why the founder started the company in the first place. And most importantly, I hope that the company continue to stand strong in what the founder believed in. Thank you for this experience! It was such a pleasure to be part of a strong team and I really enjoyed my whole journey here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">And heck, a very unfortunate news had befallen on my family and I thank God I was working for this company, and for this manager in particular who went out all the way to support my welfare and well-being. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This chapter has officially closed in July 2021 and I have moved on to something else :)</span></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-50860736372001370122022-03-31T06:44:00.007-07:002022-03-31T06:45:20.228-07:00Starstruck<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I often hear about fans getting starstruck while on the job, they take advantage of their position. What I really miss about working in a hotel is this, to meet these stars and celebrities in person. But, it puts me in such a huge dilemma, my personal gain or to remain professional. My conscious and principle won the battle. In the end, I treat them like any other guests, smile and I was dying inside. I was so close yet so far away from them, literally one meter apart. I see them right before my eyes, yet I could not take a photo with them, I could not get their autograph, all in the name of professionalism. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">So when I hear about these "fans" asking for autograph or a photo with them and they get turned down, or get a complaint thereafter, I understand the star's position. They pay for business class, or they pay for a suite room is to have sufficient rest, and be private about it. They escaped from the public, doesn't make it okay for the service line employees to interrupt their rests. They could have said no, I get it. But, if his or her time is occupied to turn fans down, what kind of organization is that to not protect their privacy? As a guest, you want to be in peace, and comfortable.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">If they signed just one, there'll be a line of other fans waiting for that autograph too. Back to 2008/2009 when I was still that noob in my first job, the celebrities I really liked appeared in front of me. I died several times in the course of few seconds when I took the same elevator as them. All I could say to them was <b>"How was your day?"</b> instead of <b>"OMG I really love you, can I take a photo with you."</b> It's SO hard. Another encounter was to get an invoice signature from him. I died multiple times. Then, the final one was him being locked out from his room, shirtless. Geez. The chocolate abs. That "him" is actually referring to all different celebrities haha. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Did I regret not taking photo or autograph? Yeah, in the back of my head, it's always <b>"what if." </b>But then, if I turn back the clock, I would still do the same thing and respect their privacy. It is a huge responsibility as a frontliner and in the service line. The guests and organizers had entrusted you to handle these VIPs with care, so we should render the service as how it should be. You need to be responsible and you're representing that organization. I would just die multiple times inside and that's about it. I chose to be in this line, I need to be able to handle these moments too. But oh well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I know this was nothing, there's no proof, but there's no need for proof, there's no need for evidence. I keep it safe with me in my memories. Such a waste I know, but well. It's not all about social media though we are all steering towards that unhealthy direction. That's one of those sweet memories I had during my hospitality era. </span></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-26699620937419109232022-02-24T04:30:00.001-08:002022-02-24T04:30:00.238-08:00Goodbye -vid<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It's such boring topic talking about Covid, with the variants until Omnicron now. But, it's necessary. We just need to be aware of what is happening in the world, if we should be worried sick or just accept it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The other day, or some day, I got to know that I was a close contact just before the new update from the government. The answer to confirm all of this used to be a PCR test, not anymore as the time of this writing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The next morning after I know I was a close contact, I did a self-test. I have been doing this on off when the price was still RM19.90. It's so cheap now, it's good to have a few kits kept at home though I know it's not mandatory anymore. Not mandatory doesn't mean that we can't do it. We just have to do what is right for the sake of ourselves, for the sake of the community.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPwzudIuu6osDeOYe86AghyQaKWxMTa3Wdy5Hku9_KjGIWtk_jTRrAo1IbjiN-NyJv9B5GkkvDiXGwSD82T5X5J5Y2c6mug4HfDkKJ4OFV0sRmkQ3yTGpQgHgei12-ZVHHclLT0Gor9JIAdS0eVyMKjJ08xnRKUK09H4b7FvsjI2M-4SdD4Q=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPwzudIuu6osDeOYe86AghyQaKWxMTa3Wdy5Hku9_KjGIWtk_jTRrAo1IbjiN-NyJv9B5GkkvDiXGwSD82T5X5J5Y2c6mug4HfDkKJ4OFV0sRmkQ3yTGpQgHgei12-ZVHHclLT0Gor9JIAdS0eVyMKjJ08xnRKUK09H4b7FvsjI2M-4SdD4Q=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Very simple instruction to follow by. Yes people, it looks just like a pregnancy test. So no, no Baby Rona for me this time as well. I am a free person. Am I? Not really.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqsN-rsDayoYMRPfn_MWUDPNw5U-S_2aEtINuZHiCW-yoZg7m8fNXdWRL-0OCl4WKkcSM6xzD-EEA3HSbBessPSwqX3fwh85Wt5D9hsxhHYXIL_eYBT1G98f4LPexhsl_Pb-C49MU21t6DCzNXxdgNXKLMrSUMugEznAG2gWzigJA2bGfiHQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqsN-rsDayoYMRPfn_MWUDPNw5U-S_2aEtINuZHiCW-yoZg7m8fNXdWRL-0OCl4WKkcSM6xzD-EEA3HSbBessPSwqX3fwh85Wt5D9hsxhHYXIL_eYBT1G98f4LPexhsl_Pb-C49MU21t6DCzNXxdgNXKLMrSUMugEznAG2gWzigJA2bGfiHQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;">I still did PCR test twice. It may not detect the virus if you do it on the very first day. I did it on the 4th day since exposure and the 2nd time was on the 9th day. Both came out as negative. Awesome! That was also the last day of my quarantine.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now, we have people walking about on the streets despite being positive as the virus is weaker now. Is this the end of the pandemic? Perhaps so and let's hope it is. We just gotta accept that this is the way of life now. Having said that, if you are positive, please stay home. Let's be a better nation and be responsible.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Those above 60, please still proceed to CAC to get yourselves assessed or those with comorbidities if you are required to be warded. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Above all of these, I hope that this is the end of the pandemic and we see some light in the end of the tunnel. I truly hope so. We are all tired.</span></div><div><p><br /></p></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-24352728079642907482022-01-29T09:42:00.005-08:002022-01-29T09:47:46.166-08:00Happy New Year 2022, goodbye 2021<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> It's a bit late here, but Goodbye 2021, and Hello 2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Every year, I have this ritual of summarizing the whole year in a few words, if the year was fulfilling, found a new hobby, a new purpose, a year I learned things etc. But, 2021 was the first I did not do that and going forward, I might stop it all together. 2021 was a very bad year for me personally and truth to be told, I hated 2021. Hence why I did not want to remember this at all. Due to that too, 2021 has changed my life forever. I guess, it's human nature to react the way I did when you lose something very precious to you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I really hope 2022 can be better for all of us in the smallest way possible. Wishing that this is really the end of the whole chaos. We need to get back to our lives. We need to get out, we need to know new people. I gotta say that I have been out and about since August. I am boosted, so that gives me more security to be out there. I just do not want to be stuck and stranded anymore. I wanna see the world again. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I hope everyone is vaccinated though I know some who are not. I am not gonna judge but I hope you have a legit reason for not getting vaccinated. If you're not, and don't plan to, I deeply appreciate it if you can share it with me if we ever going to meet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Let's all try to see things in a different light despite life's challenges. Having said that, the color for this year is purple! haha.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8N6pGMahKdAXx_bcKF4bZiueayadXh_L6d7GO-6URAVkzUQ2Pj0EPOMAojUWzeApo3W-h2Jo247hTRCjPphelhskF5daY1yOZbdGkOCSnuSFl5OwqbFtLhz-I4O7SCskhyxpoya6nbECiWQq2Aj1zN2B0P8H7SP6AnzxbIMfDzsKL_jal4Q=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8N6pGMahKdAXx_bcKF4bZiueayadXh_L6d7GO-6URAVkzUQ2Pj0EPOMAojUWzeApo3W-h2Jo247hTRCjPphelhskF5daY1yOZbdGkOCSnuSFl5OwqbFtLhz-I4O7SCskhyxpoya6nbECiWQq2Aj1zN2B0P8H7SP6AnzxbIMfDzsKL_jal4Q=s320" width="256" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLWMa487c_h_ZS8txTsxZsbJw09QaJg9oajvVTYYxRxsbyumrsdBKoGCEZNKLoPIo9kxZYt3WoOhs7yVJAadQT8I7rxmIjcEfwdcQCdJH3K1EyhHgJjWIphFhxAo_y_NJqi-fTGYtRJLD4REJFlXOF_S_mj3cIk9ITppopAkFzmxeDCuLKg=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLWMa487c_h_ZS8txTsxZsbJw09QaJg9oajvVTYYxRxsbyumrsdBKoGCEZNKLoPIo9kxZYt3WoOhs7yVJAadQT8I7rxmIjcEfwdcQCdJH3K1EyhHgJjWIphFhxAo_y_NJqi-fTGYtRJLD4REJFlXOF_S_mj3cIk9ITppopAkFzmxeDCuLKg=s320" width="256" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We have not seen each other, or the majority of our friends for at least 2 years. If you don't work together, or if you don't live nearby to each other, you just don't have the reason to meet up eh. Without realizing, we have all become virtual friends more than anything else.</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Hmm, maybe it's time to pick up a new class. What is it out there? I'm thinking of:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">1. Pilates</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">2. Painting</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">haha</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">If anyone knows affordable classes and good vibes, please send them my way. Thanks!</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-83893897930926243222021-12-07T20:56:00.005-08:002021-12-07T22:44:07.467-08:00Staycation @ Kuala Kubu Bharu<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We have been waiting for a staycation for the longest time. It has been a long wait. We planned all in April to go in May. But, that was the time our country hit rock bottom. The Covid situation was so bad that we had to cancel all plans to stay home. I mean, I know I am blessed to have a job and everything. But, that was also the very same time our family was hit with a tragedy.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anyway, after a very long wait, no cancelation policy, and with us all started our jobs, we have to go somehow. Only the few of us made it in the end. But it was better than ever. It's a much needed getaway. It's a challenge to get everyone together. These guys I went with were people that I have worked with. How often can you say, hey I hang out with my colleagues. It happens more now because, how else do we meet people right. I don't believe in "I don't hang out with my colleagues because I need to separate colleagues and friends." I've heard that from someone. You do you.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiurdDzfrSWiN82hfInXGr04SvLY95mvTI-5FoZgwuYaLMQCwYYh53f1zxJ3zONUiXD__iIDNBVh8xI7cZbk542dEAHDHfV-3s7zJBlBl3w7w1lWiZtwAkd0Wc0dcPTODw2eFnPvybjQODOuL1JZNqMRBQypmfFSlmpXCtRu2M-WqnL5INotA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiurdDzfrSWiN82hfInXGr04SvLY95mvTI-5FoZgwuYaLMQCwYYh53f1zxJ3zONUiXD__iIDNBVh8xI7cZbk542dEAHDHfV-3s7zJBlBl3w7w1lWiZtwAkd0Wc0dcPTODw2eFnPvybjQODOuL1JZNqMRBQypmfFSlmpXCtRu2M-WqnL5INotA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Pondering Introvert's fresh start in the morning before departing KL. Yay, it's finally happening!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpcwWcdQY1-RbYDxglCfzf0RrvxumDg_94VbXxjyp4u0YiYvt7nZeXdLlcW54nMz0B-_7fsoQRtq3Zdr0eCVIY2UfHt6LN0SiZKmuq_NEnn8yul4CDBvkJTKREhSuCnmrdFL89uk54qae4GDfLpEMRzpp218ollCStbFqePGsMscsmwbSMDA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpcwWcdQY1-RbYDxglCfzf0RrvxumDg_94VbXxjyp4u0YiYvt7nZeXdLlcW54nMz0B-_7fsoQRtq3Zdr0eCVIY2UfHt6LN0SiZKmuq_NEnn8yul4CDBvkJTKREhSuCnmrdFL89uk54qae4GDfLpEMRzpp218ollCStbFqePGsMscsmwbSMDA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Welcome to Kuala Kubu Bharu! Cleanse your organ. We arrived at 1-ish and check in was 3pm. It's a private area so they don't allow us to enter. I didn't understand why he couldn't let us in but once I got there, I understood why. There's no common area where we all park our cars. No, it's literally just the villa all by yourselves. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUHtPO1wUHq9Mv--mr5aE8cN7AOJgPVCv23SJJhBVstU7kGIcVCpGNcRRJsSJF6Bn1Kqe0__ZeF5ZI1-7tPrOJ6ZjukPWfm7tAMNLZw4xiiXUP3njgZfxoRGz0c5twKTmbM7hEB6DGoNm1JTO8eKo1t7lJJFUDCS9e0v8-8Bxbj-6ZUIT3A=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUHtPO1wUHq9Mv--mr5aE8cN7AOJgPVCv23SJJhBVstU7kGIcVCpGNcRRJsSJF6Bn1Kqe0__ZeF5ZI1-7tPrOJ6ZjukPWfm7tAMNLZw4xiiXUP3njgZfxoRGz0c5twKTmbM7hEB6DGoNm1JTO8eKo1t7lJJFUDCS9e0v8-8Bxbj-6ZUIT3A=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Imagine having champagne in this pool here, haha. It's not to swim of course haha. So the brick walls on the left and right, it's one room each on both sides.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHgGwcngAamTvzGGIQZCAM-aIqwSE_Kvx2TiqwzNDJoSlcu--ty7B91x_iBPyaUFNTfqY6gnDHZHWfENGqDwtEquevuQG-2MzatkmdpFEPCG8Mo3HeWAU6zAr8MEzlLLVGpr8Va1yUlKIzDofTrV0J7W5OUDHF9F-R-F7KkVO_00Q-jc_7IA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHgGwcngAamTvzGGIQZCAM-aIqwSE_Kvx2TiqwzNDJoSlcu--ty7B91x_iBPyaUFNTfqY6gnDHZHWfENGqDwtEquevuQG-2MzatkmdpFEPCG8Mo3HeWAU6zAr8MEzlLLVGpr8Va1yUlKIzDofTrV0J7W5OUDHF9F-R-F7KkVO_00Q-jc_7IA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">After soaking in the pool, get all ready for the BBQ. I didn't take any pictures of the BBQ, the amount of food we had simply because, I was hangry! I had no time for that but just, gobble up the food! Yums. And blessed. What a lovely night.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1pJXTAj1dXjCCnjHw2PHG9TeimvK5Dr-8FVzRHM8ixpukTuayxaEqrpoE8yRvVjR1GdorePuOba-RF_PIOFT6sp290F_FimAjEf-6hPML2X5RvXxtCDfpL4M2WT60d7xOvq2rbKjGtMSLGX-YkKnQDL4Z5scsgCjci1l_lGm_IpFlaGxL5A=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1pJXTAj1dXjCCnjHw2PHG9TeimvK5Dr-8FVzRHM8ixpukTuayxaEqrpoE8yRvVjR1GdorePuOba-RF_PIOFT6sp290F_FimAjEf-6hPML2X5RvXxtCDfpL4M2WT60d7xOvq2rbKjGtMSLGX-YkKnQDL4Z5scsgCjci1l_lGm_IpFlaGxL5A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;">The very next day, Hello, Good morning world! I've been in KL my whole life and no, we don't have fresh air. It was so nice to breathe some fresh air once in awhile.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF4XN-1z6JGBiXnE3pwGgFurQKN1MdCRiVdd97oa0DrMKthDsuLdzBIEQAGXuknt4orFYB3pNbkg5q22fLFZ2qsWSoLtMH2cFzLyUZFoLL5dLNgF1lChnfPMHiXp3Rfkp-YvS3eGeK01K1xXyF8YrgaltySYkozBJe-LYyz69gHoZMZGoMHg=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF4XN-1z6JGBiXnE3pwGgFurQKN1MdCRiVdd97oa0DrMKthDsuLdzBIEQAGXuknt4orFYB3pNbkg5q22fLFZ2qsWSoLtMH2cFzLyUZFoLL5dLNgF1lChnfPMHiXp3Rfkp-YvS3eGeK01K1xXyF8YrgaltySYkozBJe-LYyz69gHoZMZGoMHg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Laying on this hammock lookalike under the tree. How can it get better than this? It's been awhile I haven't been in tune with nature. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimxnMlEkSP7VZgSVMgL7ySTl8BNxe6K-CsFnUU5x3T-72H-FKSQ19UIanQkD0LrTAA21koky6CpPMTPLqP_jzWn2CooPfZGlZUZKrjvbNXjqWQ_gOPIrn3epc6OOoJFdKWDousu_ERfEGYHz89SMB3LQDrkY1_ImtUvmoDBbRnFfcLulsteQ=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimxnMlEkSP7VZgSVMgL7ySTl8BNxe6K-CsFnUU5x3T-72H-FKSQ19UIanQkD0LrTAA21koky6CpPMTPLqP_jzWn2CooPfZGlZUZKrjvbNXjqWQ_gOPIrn3epc6OOoJFdKWDousu_ERfEGYHz89SMB3LQDrkY1_ImtUvmoDBbRnFfcLulsteQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Stopped by at nearby town. People stopped here for this. It's really just this. haha.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8SR0LMtG5T6RX62WxYSGl5Qt8kn-Y25RHk2J4-jobOQAl6ctqkO00SK4Ny3Ux_1j0D5HE2FXIuvHorvbq9bxz6ygHrI9YTJg2JSrcBvKN_IMBvn-IPGm_BQwE-JA849jE7BbrOd-Nw5BOXt-JaeDC1S9lbf07QMWpwz2YVPjRzVg4SRuaaA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8SR0LMtG5T6RX62WxYSGl5Qt8kn-Y25RHk2J4-jobOQAl6ctqkO00SK4Ny3Ux_1j0D5HE2FXIuvHorvbq9bxz6ygHrI9YTJg2JSrcBvKN_IMBvn-IPGm_BQwE-JA849jE7BbrOd-Nw5BOXt-JaeDC1S9lbf07QMWpwz2YVPjRzVg4SRuaaA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Loved the vintage feel of this town. It isn't far from KL but this kind of primitive vibe cannot be found in KL anymore. I appreciate stuff like this. It's priceless. And, it's clean! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Finally, a short video on a stroll in the villa.</span></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/gkp-BawkenE" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was a really nice, needed getaway. The caretaker there has been nothing short of fantastic. This villa can fit up to 10 pax. It might just be 2 bedrooms there but there were extra beds available. We went in a group of 6 and we were all very comfortable, including those that slept on the extra bed. It isn't just a mattress, it's a pull out bed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nice break from the bustling city life. Most importantly, you get to spend time with family and friends, or friends like family. They even have board games available, but bring your own. Of course, you gotta go with the right people. This place is mostly occupied, so if you wanna go, book it much earlier. We managed to book the night as we went on a Sunday. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, we ate, we laughed, we played games, we talked, then off to bed. haha. Thank you for making this happen.</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-50992676098599307392021-11-28T00:05:00.007-08:002021-11-30T02:27:19.425-08:00Hello December<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here we are, it's the end of the year. For some people, Christmas is just one day, for a song, it's 12 days, while for The Philippines, it starts in September. What does Christmas really mean? Historically, it is celebrated by Christians around the world celebrating the birth of Jesus. There are different renditions of Dec 25th. But in today's world, it's celebrated by a lot of people, Christians or not, as a year-end get-together. It's no longer a religious event only. I celebrate everything. Haha. I'm proudly Malaysian.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">People enjoy being a Secret Santa to others, to put a smile on someone else's face. Admit it, it's a nice feeling. Of course, if you wanna get something, get something from your heart, not to get something just because you have to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thanksgiving and Black Friday are over. Next is Cyber Monday. It's the sales for Christmas. It means, there's going to be good sales around, online and offline. It's been awhile I have not done any shopping for the last one year to say the least. It has been a very challenging year for everyone, and I had my own share. I deserve some splurging. Haha.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omK_ABFQjo8/YaMy9bGRXlI/AAAAAAAAYX8/bbf_MV0uDqcUseGJUC-_RXCcOZ4QG7bcACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20211114_145315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omK_ABFQjo8/YaMy9bGRXlI/AAAAAAAAYX8/bbf_MV0uDqcUseGJUC-_RXCcOZ4QG7bcACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20211114_145315.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some random picture. First time in Malay traditional wear to attend a wedding recently. Don't worry, I wore mask and had social distancing. That's what we all do when we go out. Ah I have not worn this pair of ear rings for such a long time!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's about time to top up my products, especially foundation, I need the <a href="https://www.zalora.com.my/beauty/make-up/bb-cc-cream/" target="_blank">BB CC Cream</a> and not to forget my <a href="https://www.zalora.com.my/women/beauty/innisfree/" target="_blank">Innisfree</a> too, are all finishing. I have not been to malls much since this year. I'll be honest, I am a bum. I don't like going to physical shops, one after another to go shopping and getting followed. Sure, it's nice to increase your step counts, to physically see it right before your eyes but I guess that's it. If you know the products well enough, then why not just get it online. For an introvert like me and especially during this difficult time, it's the best feeling ever that I need to thank the founder of food delivery apps (I don't need to call and talk to a human) as well as an <a href="https://www.zalora.com.my/beauty/make-up/face-make-up/" target="_blank">e-retailer</a>. It's the shopping season, yay! Just to clarify, I don't shop all year round. I ain't no shopaholic. I cannot afford to be that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">December, please treat me well. </span></p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-44618650910526680802021-11-26T06:41:00.001-08:002021-11-26T06:41:25.080-08:00Arabic-Yemeni Food @ Seri Kembangan Round 1<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm back with more Arabic Yemeni food. Yeahhh... we went to look for Habibi. This was, in fact, before Half Moon. So that particular day, we decided to go to Seri Kembangan, that was the day we found out that Half Moon is closed on Fridays. It turns out as a super good coincidence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The lighting was good, looks quite premium-ish but let's take a bet to try this. There were many diners there, mostly Arabs and that's a pretty good sign.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfxFyM7keak/YaDt7TaUXFI/AAAAAAAAYVs/GjO3DsE5HEsgszOLQHVRoyiJm5rSfeghQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfxFyM7keak/YaDt7TaUXFI/AAAAAAAAYVs/GjO3DsE5HEsgszOLQHVRoyiJm5rSfeghQCNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/03.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Al Saraya restaurant. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzcrHcKz-jA/YaDt8WycBcI/AAAAAAAAYV0/8IKd8yXOSR0LHWa2-AMrg6g3Ig-09cC0QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzcrHcKz-jA/YaDt8WycBcI/AAAAAAAAYV0/8IKd8yXOSR0LHWa2-AMrg6g3Ig-09cC0QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a good selection of dishes there, with pictures here and there. Good for people like me who's kinda noob haha.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-X3ZpUg910/YaDt8rnwbEI/AAAAAAAAYV4/AKZTvi93E1Qocw5kHF44_Qq3MIgGYyioQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-X3ZpUg910/YaDt8rnwbEI/AAAAAAAAYV4/AKZTvi93E1Qocw5kHF44_Qq3MIgGYyioQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were first greeted by these two little cute bowl of soup. Not sure what you call this but yeah, it was good!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--t1Clro77q8/YaDt7UouzYI/AAAAAAAAYVw/-i6l_Hj9Xk8qmruBQ6QyeowW-53fM2oeQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--t1Clro77q8/YaDt7UouzYI/AAAAAAAAYVw/-i6l_Hj9Xk8qmruBQ6QyeowW-53fM2oeQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, the lamb haneeth. OMG, this is so good! I loved it. Now that I can compare with the other restaurant, this is SO good.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoSJHsoRrS0/YaDt7fjeNZI/AAAAAAAAYVo/k4ZHqveo-MgT65zZLxQG0eBzx810RzxUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoSJHsoRrS0/YaDt7fjeNZI/AAAAAAAAYVo/k4ZHqveo-MgT65zZLxQG0eBzx810RzxUgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was all we could order. It was just the two of us and it's limited on what we can order. The stone pot with prawns is supposed to eat with the gigantic bread. That one bread can be shared with 4 people, definitely too much for 2. But, it's sooo goood! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It might not be at your typical Klang Valley, but it isn't THAT far off. Overall dining experience there has been fantastic. I would return a second time, but with a bigger crowd this time. The location is good too, as it is along the main road and there was ample place to park. People there were all friendly, bubbly and helpful that can recommend food for us. We went home happily! A happy stomach is a happy person. Agree? A pre-weekend celebration for whatever reason there is. If there's none, we find one. Of course, we can't eat this every single day as we are not used to such heavy flavor in our daily lives. But, this is a place to consider if you ever crave for Yemeni food.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is for sure, recommended! Now I know where to go if I miss Arab food! haha.</span>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-45935317345844892012021-11-20T00:17:00.002-08:002021-11-20T00:27:46.174-08:00Yemeni-Arabic Food<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello y'all. It has been a long long time. This time round, at least, we are almost there, back to normalcy. But, what exactly is normalcy in today's term? Wear your masks, sanitize, social distancing. That's the definition. You know that boring stuff? Yeah, but it is what it is. Glad that I was born in the 80s, I did not have to grow up with masks as my best friend. The worst isn't the masks (sometimes it can get hard too), but it's the check ins and outs (I forget all the time). Prior to the pandemic, I love wearing masks LOL.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Of course, like others, I have removed myself from being a hermit. I have started going out with real people, not just meeting random people on the street while walking my dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Moving on to the actual purpose of this post, on off throughout the years, I have gone for Arabic food. I'm not well-versed with the dishes, just that handful that I know. These days, it's so easy, go with a friend who used to be in Dubai. That's the solution haha. We went for Yemeni food, Yay!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Disclaimer, this is based on my personal taste and experience.</span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGpdY1FCmo/YZig58HSZyI/AAAAAAAAYMo/mztQ3-W_V4wdRNUUseF6IEG9_zusM5IpQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_20211118_202116%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGpdY1FCmo/YZig58HSZyI/AAAAAAAAYMo/mztQ3-W_V4wdRNUUseF6IEG9_zusM5IpQCNcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_20211118_202116%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It was raining the other day and friend said <b>"let's go find Habibi."</b> The proper meaning of <b>"Habibi"</b> means <b>"my love"</b> but we use it loosely whenever we wanna go for Arabic food. The first time I heard this was from my Arabic guests back when I was still working in the hotel industry. Yeah the industry really died. Ok anyway, back in October, friend wanted Arabic food so we went Google searching and with friends recommendation to try this place. But, it was closed on a Friday. What a day to close right? Business owner decides, customers follow. So this time, we have decided to go back to this area to try specifically this restaurant on a Thursday, just to see what the hype was all about. Reviews were really good, but that's also dangerous because that's when you really expect something.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1IlYhY4BHE/YZig5wxyLPI/AAAAAAAAYMs/bcsYBznBno4kL70X0oDv29-vWlqvRcjOQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_20211118_203153.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1IlYhY4BHE/YZig5wxyLPI/AAAAAAAAYMs/bcsYBznBno4kL70X0oDv29-vWlqvRcjOQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20211118_203153.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lamb Haneeth. I have always love Mandi rice. This was average. This comes from someone who rarely eats Arabic food. But I still love the rice, not sure if it's because of the long and winding traffic jam I was stuck in.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjcvTG6Vw9U/YZig5_HmwsI/AAAAAAAAYMw/f736ZdEcpOMyONasdQS4YMy3_i0IAq9uwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_20211118_203207.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjcvTG6Vw9U/YZig5_HmwsI/AAAAAAAAYMw/f736ZdEcpOMyONasdQS4YMy3_i0IAq9uwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20211118_203207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">This might look bigger than it actually is. The bread! A must-have for Arabic food. It's the 4 of us. We had to order another bread.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUf0ZVR51i8/YZig60DhfXI/AAAAAAAAYM0/KWkcK38jt1YCpXQbNtEtJEIzsUyEoWTGwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_20211118_203321.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUf0ZVR51i8/YZig60DhfXI/AAAAAAAAYM0/KWkcK38jt1YCpXQbNtEtJEIzsUyEoWTGwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20211118_203321.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Hummus was not bad. It's one of the first few Arabic dishes I was exposed to. The soup over there was extremely salty. Thank God my hair did not drop off the next day. The black stone pot is Fasha, lamb stew. Salty too. If only it isn't this salty.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3Czf-D-YNQ/YZig7A5YaUI/AAAAAAAAYM4/amlVMzXtuHAfNsTonA8SmyD8UmWYeehkgCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_20211118_203901.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3Czf-D-YNQ/YZig7A5YaUI/AAAAAAAAYM4/amlVMzXtuHAfNsTonA8SmyD8UmWYeehkgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20211118_203901.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Last was mixed grill. I didn't like the rice. It's called the Kabsah rice. Since we already had Mandi rice earlier, so we took a different kind of rice for mixed grill for variation purpose as suggested by the guy who took our order. But okay, I never had this before. So it's a good try though.<br /><br /><span><!--more--></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We ordered an egg too, I forgot what it's called but looks like a pale-looking-scrambled. After looking at that, I actually do not know what to expect, if it's supposed to be looking like that and tasting like that. So apparently no. But what I really like there was the garlic sauce, it was so good! and the lemon mint drink. Damn! That was super refreshing.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is there a possibility to return? It's a no for me. Or perhaps, their standard has dropped because it has been there for a long time. It must be good right? Luck is not on our side this time. I'm sure there are people who would appreciate it. 😉 Or maybe, that was a day gone wrong, I'm not sure then. We weren't feeling very half moonly, just crescent moon that night.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Coming up next: Al Saraya Arabic food. 😆</span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-40345033465697568672021-03-18T23:00:00.005-07:002021-11-20T00:27:33.336-08:00Day 2: Langkawi 122620<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we are, on the second day. I know it's such a short-lived vacation. But at times like this, I can only feel grateful that we are able to do this. My expectation is super low compared to pre-covid. But, that's how it is. Hopefully, the vaccination would be earlier than May next year (estimation) because we all have to return back to our lives. Working from home is nice, but it's not nice when we can't even travel out, or some people have families they cannot go back to due to the restrictions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YmXMYaOxIo/YFQ64BwQ1jI/AAAAAAAARNA/Gpy06VBQ-JU_z0G76WjMsn27JUmxYokqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/langkawi-2-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YmXMYaOxIo/YFQ64BwQ1jI/AAAAAAAARNA/Gpy06VBQ-JU_z0G76WjMsn27JUmxYokqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/langkawi-2-01.jpg" /></a></div>So on the second day after our brekkie time, we went for kayak! I know I am such a noob, but this really is my first time doing it. Fun but of course, I got tanner as expected haha. If anyone wanna try how effective their creation of sunblock is, you may try it on me because none products work on me.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbOyHL_c8A/YFQ635oruOI/AAAAAAAARM8/dopkZXhEva0r0iyfgswhkrkIQoyecl_TgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/langkawi-2-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbOyHL_c8A/YFQ635oruOI/AAAAAAAARM8/dopkZXhEva0r0iyfgswhkrkIQoyecl_TgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/langkawi-2-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We kayak until to this abandoned tiny "island." I didn't know that from our original place, Thailand is just 2 hours kayak away. But from a speedboat, it's much faster. Just don't get caught by marine police.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYhWEihIW8I/YFQ63wbbsnI/AAAAAAAARM4/sSDHvfmsjbc45Z_FVrEkTvdfnVjdTMCTgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/langkawi-2-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYhWEihIW8I/YFQ63wbbsnI/AAAAAAAARM4/sSDHvfmsjbc45Z_FVrEkTvdfnVjdTMCTgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/langkawi-2-03.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Then, the stomachs are all screaming away. Here we are, apparently, recommended in Langkawi. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_vnOuYSlIE/YFQ643vup8I/AAAAAAAARNE/VMoYDlSgyeYlvnlQHGHLizL91gUBtBczQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/langkawi-2-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_vnOuYSlIE/YFQ643vup8I/AAAAAAAARNE/VMoYDlSgyeYlvnlQHGHLizL91gUBtBczQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/langkawi-2-04.jpg" /></a></div>That's the food we ordered. Not very tasty but acceptable I guess.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZB5rZ7KDeY/YFQ65WNjb2I/AAAAAAAARNI/5Nn2YqftdCEGwCilB35C_LD7Av6Z0fsKACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/langkawi-2-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZB5rZ7KDeY/YFQ65WNjb2I/AAAAAAAARNI/5Nn2YqftdCEGwCilB35C_LD7Av6Z0fsKACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/langkawi-2-05.jpg" /></a></div>The decoration is very villagy style. That's what we all appreciate these days. Nobody want to go for urban style anymore.<br /><p></p><p>We played some games, opened champagne for celebration. That's the whole reason why we all went and voila, we did what we needed to do. The next day, we all packed and left, with the horrendous traffic, all going back to KL. Dang!</p>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21170318.post-84179765245051956382021-01-22T02:48:00.000-08:002021-11-20T00:27:33.341-08:00Punctuality in MY<div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Punctuality is a joke here.</span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>So we all know how Malaysians are when it comes to timing. Punctuality is so important. So important that it has a deeper meaning to it, such as, respect towards time, respect towards the other person.</span><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">I'm less fortunate that this is inborn with me, that I grew up adhering to the time so much that at times, it does me no good. During my early adulthood, I had to put up with ridiculous timing from some people, friends mostly.<i> Are they still my friends?</i> I guess. <i>What have changed? </i>Nothing much except that I don't meet them one on one anymore.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Since my major was in the hospitality industry, I was trained well during those few years to get my degree. Timing is no joke. For some lecturers, being on time equals to being late.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><i>But, why? Why are people always late?</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">I have very painful experience waiting for people. It went up to hours before. <i>How did I feel? </i>Like shit.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">In all honesty, I am not super early to an appointment either. I'm just few minutes early. But, I end up waiting 30 minutes, 1 hour that sort of thing. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><i>Are people apologetic?</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Mostly no. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><i>So, why do people promise something they cannot keep?</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">I don't know, I hope someone can enlighten this one day. Perhaps, they want to be included in everything. It's okay to decline an appointment, it's alright to say no. But, it's not right to agree to an appointment and you're late, all the time. It gets so frustrating that the thought of unfriending came up. I have taken a break from a friendship because of this, a couple of times.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">So, I have made a tremendous improvement on my response if people are late compared to 10 years ago. I used to flare up, I used to flip. <i>But now</i>? It's not that I don't care anymore, but let's just say that I'm going out much lesser these days (apart from Covid) <i>and that telling the same person again and again the same thing?</i> I don't feel good too. In the end, I just choose where to go and who I go with.<i> If these people whose hobbies are being late?</i> Either meet me nearby my house, or let's just continue what we do and not meet each other. That's the best way to live. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Either one has to change. If none can change, let's not meet. Everyone will be happy. Win-win in the end.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Respect is so valuable these days. Do not take advantage, and earn it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">Just because everyone is doing it here, we should not normalize it. It's wrong, it's wrong in so many levels. Learn to be better, learn to be punctual. </span></div>The Pondering Introverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066735201138441193noreply@blogger.com0