To Tote or not to Tote

Half the time. I am quite happy to be known as a suburban. I take trains to the city and back(hell no, not the komuter!) and somehow I am still charmed by the chug-a-chug and squeals of the brakes on the tracks. Well, maybe not so much of a chug a chug from the ERL, but the squeals are definitely there.

Anyways, it was during one of these train rides I noticed something peculiar. Getting off the train, a man and woman, presumably a married couple, was walking about 10 steps ahead of me. The woman seemed unwell, she was swaying slightly and had on a thick jacket. The husband was walking next to her and asked her if she was tired. She said she was, and he offered to help her.

How would you help someone who was tired? Probably offer an arm for her to lean on? Direct her to the elevator instead of standing in the crowded escalator? Or maybe gently support her back on the escalator up(she seemed to almost double over anyway)

No, not this man. He instead, takes her 0.2kg handbag from her shoulder. Slings in on his shoulder and continues walking.

Correct me if I am mistaken in the scenario. How does carrying off a load of 200grams (it was a VERY tiny bag) help the poor woman?

It’s probably some sort of trend, but I did notice a lot of men carry their women’s handbags for them in the malls too. Imagine this, here is this tall, hunky man, in his levis and a Polo tee. With a mint green Furla bag on his arm.

Don’t get me wrong,  I am all out for the gentleman who carries bags for ladies, but I mean grocery bags, shopping bags,or bags from Ikea. I just don’t think chivalry and coach tote go hand in hand.

Having said that, I still am of the opinion its socially acceptable for a man to carry a bag, but one designed with a man in mind. Maybe, just maybe, there should be more promotion from Radley For Men. I know some people would say its still a bag, but I suppose a manbag would look better than a C&K bowling bag.

Just my thought, no pun intended to any man or handbag.

Orlando Bloom looks hot with his man-o

Hanoi Winter- Feb 2016

Hanoi has got to be one of those crazy amazing places where chaos rules the day.

The people are everywhere, the food is sold in every corner, hidden coffee shops just waiting to be found, and the best of all, the traffic.

There are no rules to the traffic in Hanoi. One has to just close eyes(ok, don’t do that literally), say a prayer, keep your fingers crossed, check your rabbits foot, and step off the curb. Keep a steady pace and you will get to the other side in one piece. Hanoi is 95% bikes and they will just zoom around the pedestrians. Does it make me wonder though, was the term “why did the chicken cross the road” created in Hanoi? Though I can imagine the chicken owner asking his wife this in bewilderment, no sane chicken would take that journey.

And PS. Don’t cross by this rules on Malaysian roads.

Food in Hanoi, is a plenty, every corner you turn, you can find a peddler or café. The first day we were there, we did get a bit lost with the food. I mean this literally, we went Into a restaurant, and they placed a plate of a few items and we had no idea that the items are supposed to be joined and rolled into a popiah and eaten with the sauce on the side. But as all good things go, once we learnt our way around the Vietnamese food, we were enjoying it massively. Fish with Dill (Cha ca thang long), Pho ga/bo(which we had in different shops, trick is to add extra lime and spicy chili, and then it’s better than our local kuey teow soup!), Bun Nem(basically popiah), Bun Cha(Bun Cha Ta), and my absolute favourite, Banh Mi. Fruits and Desserts are also all great, with peddlers all over Old Town. In fact the fruits seller outside our hotel (Gia Thinh) sold the best, RM5 for a cup of mixed fruits with yogurt, milk and coconut milk.. it should be called heaven in a cup.

Bun Cha

heaven in a Cup

Coffee cafes are in every corner. A specialty of Hanoi, we had to go into the maze of Old Quarter with our guide to try the EGG-celent Egg Coffee(Giang Café). First time in our lives did we have to sit on stall tiny stools(not very easy as I am a baby elephant as compared to an average viet lady). Hanoi people love to sit on this little stools , and they are placed very close to one another and the best part. All coffee drinkers eat kuaci with their coffee. I kid you not, it’s a cultural thing to do here. Anyway, the egg coffee is made by whisking the egg till its frothy and is poured over the coffee. Drink It hot if you don’t like the eggy smell in your coffee. There are loads of coffee cafes strewn all over Old Quarter and beyond, and we were excited when we found a hidden spot- a rooftop café overlooking the lake. We almost missed it and had to round the street few times before we found it..we needed to go through a fabric store, down a small alley which opens into a courtyard and up flights after flights of stairs until the rooftop(Café Pho Co)

Tired of Coffee? Try the Hot Choco

Crime in Hanoi is there, be it in any country. So do beware especially when leaving the bank or the money changer. The banks opposite the lake do change RM to VND, but it’s still best to carry USD and change it there. On Sundays the banks are closed, but you can exchange at most goldsmith shops in Old Quarter. I would recommend the Money Changer at No 9, Hang Bac(Gold Smith Shop), a stone throws away from Gia Thinh. Taxis tend to overcharge here, the Mai linh cabs are ok, but on our last day, we travelled by Uber which was pretty easy too.

The younger people in Hanoi do speak English, so trying to speak to an older person would just include finger pointing, sounds of monkeys and tons of head nods and shakes. We had taken a tour with Hanoi Free Tour Guides, we had one guide in the morning. He shared with us Vietnam’s culture and heritage and gave us his honest politically correct views of the “socialist party” leading the country today. He is an engineering student learning English and German with hopes of furthering his education in the west, and it was interesting to share and hear his young opinions. The second half of the day we had Dung, a medical student studying locally. Though a little more reserved, he was more than happy to talk and teach us about the Vietnamese cuisine and left us with a few much needed pointers on what to eat and where. I would definitely recommend this Guides for anyone visiting Hanoi, as there is no fee apart from a donation made to the organization.

Guardians to the One Pillar Pagoda

The truth is spending 5 days in Hanoi is just not enough. Some people were a little surprised that we would spend that many days there without visiting Ha Long Bay, but I found there was much to do and see around Hanoi without the rush of travelling to another place. Take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem lake, (though end of winter, the flowers were blooming)the weather is perfect for walking. I could have just sat there for hours with a book, the water is just peaceful. The women’s museum and the prison are both worth a visit, teaching us of the times and tirade this beautiful country went through during the war.  Seep in the knowing and enlightening aura of the  Temple of Literature, wonder at the actual size of the Old Citadel, where does it end? Say a prayer and the oldest Pagoda, Have a coffee on a ferry turned-café by Highway Coffee near the Pagoda.

Unique Bonsai Gardens of Hanoi

Ferry Coffee

Sit by the Cathedral, enjoy a coffee at La Place while the church bells ring during mass(btw, visit during Mass on Sunday, church is closed on other days).Get lost in the maze of the 36 streets that make up Old Quarter. Its always surprising where the next corner might take you. Buy a ticket, grab your seat and enjoy the unique water puppet show.

La Place Coffee and Toast

Shop,eat, relax, unwind and let the Turtle tell you it’s tale.

"do you trust me? " ~ Alladdin~

I believe one of the hardest things to do is trust. But yet, it is the foundation of having  a sound relationship, be it between parents, friends, or even with your ice cream man. And therefore it is the most crucial part of our everyday interactions.

But recently I learnt that trust is not something so straightforward. Its not just about trusting someone with an object, with your secrets, or trusting them to catch you when you fall. Its an interwoven piece into the streams of the rope that binds us, it is of you trusting that I will not make a decision that will hurt me.

Odd statement? Probably. But it didn’t come by, if not out of a situation. Since, you insist, I will share it with you.

Couple of years ago, I had met a man named Sloth. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) around me thought him to be a caring and wonderful person and I should be so lucky to have him. I followed through that thinking and after a lecture or two on giving him a chance, I decided to do it. I had a million doubts, but I took a chance, thinking maybe everyone else saw something I didn’t. Probably I’m partially blind. That man, ladies and gentlemen, turned out to be the biggest loser sloth I had ever laid eyes on. And that made me realize. I probably was not blind.

Now coming back to the present, I admit that I have been making decisions in the past 10 months without consideration of anyone’s opinion. After all, If I fall, you will be there to catch me, so what worry should I have? But one decision is lying in front of me. And your point of view, this time, is way off the line of trust.

Handle me a spatula, Ill bake you a cake. Hand me a knife, ill whip you a dinner with drinks, hand me a book, I will tell you its hidden messages. Trust me, I will find the truth hidden in every sentence, I will find the emotion hiding behind that heart, I will care and cherish my own feelings, but trust me to do it. Allow me to make that decision and tell me your opinion without treating me as a child. As I have treated you.

For only In that, can our rope stand.

6 and counting

Silence is Golden. Unless you have kids. Then silence is suspicion

Quarter 1 Five year old.

It’s been a couple of month of School but everyday still feels like the first day. I don’t understand why I need to wake so early and I’m glad its always Nana waking me up..Didi just doesn’t cut it. Don't get me wrong, schools fun, but homework. Yucky. I try to get Bhua to do it for me, but she only does some help with my I-level homework. I got to think of some new tactics to go about this. There is a new girl in school.. Hellllloooo Jessica

Quarter 2 Five year and 4 months old.

I took a flight for the first time! Omg Omg. It was soo cool. Mama showed me what to do and I cgot some colour pencils and I could hear the pilot talking on the radio. It’s final everybody. I am going to be a pilot when I grow older, and I’ll buy mama some diamond earrings and papa some toys ..And Bhuas? Let’s get them some lizards. Yeah, I bet they love lizards.

Last week we had a final year party at Smart Readers. We had to practice the moves to Walla Walla song, I got to be dressed as a cowboy and we had so much fun. I hope I get to dance again next year. But maybe as a pirate.

Quarter 3. Five years and 7 months old

Eureka! I got it! I pretended to be a teacher and made Bhua sit down and imagine herself a student. She fell for it! She did my homework for me..looks like this is going to be my new favorite game now. 

Oh and last week, parents and I went to Penang. I thought we would never reach! Its sooooo faaaarrrrr away. I kept asking them if we were there yet. I must have asked like 2000 million times before we reached the Penang. We had a Foam Party..It was the coolest ever. If only there were dinosaurs in the foam

Quarter 4.Five years and 10 months old.

Bhuas found some man who sells Bubbles in the park. This is my new favourite spot, I even get ice cream after playing with bubbles. Aunty Hema came over and brought Shipa and Sopea along too. I like Sopea, she is a cute baby. 

Last week, Bapu and I went to Toys R Us in IOI City mall, I remember the malls names, cos it’s important to tell Bhuas later where to take me. I still think Alamanda has a better store, but here I got blue ice cream. I think I may actually be turning into the cookie monster.

Caca brought his rabbit from Johor to come live in Bapu house, I still like Shimbu a lot, but now I love rabbits too. Maybe I could ask papa for a puppy for my birthday this year?

Do you know Jimmy Fallon? You have to, he is my new friend because he can sing with all the sesame street monsters. I like cookie monster, not Dipi bhua ok.Dipi bhua likes Big Bird. And Elsa.

I think next year, I wanna be a dinosaur.

Happy birthday (though this post is a couple of weeks late) to my little little monsterface geng member! Our world would not be as bright without you in it.

Now do your own homework.

Of second steps and beyond.

I am taking a break from my other blog today. That one can get to be a bit of a dark and dreary road, sometimes.

So hello! Here I am, as I have said in a posting some time ago, this year is going to be year of exploring and if not doing somethings’ for the first time, then, I am taking seconds steps on a road previously paved.

So lets wind back the clock

It was roughly 9 years ago,  Pekster and I had a Treasure Hunt at the Zoo, back then we had an amazing time running around in our yellow tee-shirts, outdoing each others team in a treasure hunt and to think back, if only I knew then what I knew now, I would be able to beat her in that hunt in flat 30 minutes! Who knew the Giraffes tongue was black??

Fast forward: 2 years ago, I had volunteered for the clean-up effort at the zoo and  I spent some amazing minutes with Appu the Rhino, feeding and learning about the giraffes(oh theres the black tongue) and getting up close and personal with the Ostriches(please dont peck me), Zebras, antelopes and tons of dung. But honestly, I had a wonderful time.

So when a couple of months ago, The Company offered for us to volunteer at the Zoo again, I jumped up and snatched the opportunity because the Pekster was going with me this time. We did have In-Tiara,  Daveman and Bouncy join us and it was crazy fun seeing Bouncy trying to feed 'Do' the giant turtle as though he was a tiger; 4 feet away, stance ready to run..and hand outstretched with a little banana. I wonder how she would feed a baby.

Well, apart from sweeping and chasing down Galapagos Turtles(it’s said their eyes hold the secrets of the universe, so next time you come across one, be sure to make eye contact), I swept the cages around THE CROCODILES and was fortunate enough to spend 15 minutes with the kakak there, learning not only about the Crocs habits, but also of her own family and origins (North Java, with a daughter who is a doctor based in US. Still humbly sweeping cages of turtles, she was)

Our Keeper was a talker too, so we had a good chance to learn about the animals and some insight on how the zoo is run and (confidential infor ahead) the salaries of the staff between this zoo and an unnamed private zoo. He also showed us a special trick- how to clean shedding off Iguanas( I did not know that Iguanas shed so often and our keeper so comfortably peeled the dead skin off and the reptile didn’t move an inch. In fact he seemed to be rather enjoying it), how to see if a Turtle is sick (spotting, people!) and learning that monkeys on trees is never a safe bet, They are just waiting to pee on you.

I did wish the day would have gone longer. Not to compare to my previous visits, but this visit was crazy fun as it always is to spend time with animals (Hence the reason I love the weekly Monkey visits)

Here is another thing I did for the second time. I took a road trip to Penang. Nothing great I know but the things is,  I last went to Penang about 7 years ago, it was the first time I had met The Slothman(not to confuse you, this is my ex whom I broke up with couple years back). I have not been to Penang on such a trip since. That trip was great, we had the best coconut water, walks on the beach and the best ever roti canai. 

So when Momsie decided to have a trip to Penang couple of weeks ago, I jumped at the chance of it being a holiday( don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of family holidays, but Diplodocus and I needed this break) So off we went to Georgetown and my oh my. Some places really do change in the midst of staying the same. We had an amazing time gazing at the street art that can be found at every nook of Georgetown. We found the café style of Kuala Lumpur had moved into the small heritage buildings near Gurney and surprisingly, enjoyed some amazing coffee set in a shop with unique chandeliers and antique phones and pictures. The morning adventure trip down Transfer Road brought us to the Best roti canai place(though the Bakery was closed, I would have loved to get some Roti Bengali) . The Roti is still good, though I sincerely hope the next generation who take over the business will do just an amazing job at it.

We travelled down Lebuh Keng Kwee for the Penang Famous Cendol, last I was here, there weren’t that many other stalls around it, but apart from that, not much has changed as we still had to stand around the stall in a small tiny street to enjoy the cendol. 

Then we headed to Bukit Bendera for a visit to the temple atop the Hill, its really good that there is ample parking now near the foot of the hill and we were lucky that there weren’t many visitors on the island that weekend, we managed to get the tickets fairly easily. I did not need my talents of being a pushing KL-ite (heh, I can be pushy ok?). The train to Bukit Bendera reminded us of Putra LRT(next station, kampong orang asli), and though there weren’t many monkeys about, and maybe the lack of their presence is the one that pushed me and Diplodocus to walk down some tracks up on the hill to find some haunting spots. My favorite being of an old bungalow that has been taken over by vines and moss. Reminds me that at the end, we all belong to our Mother, the earth. 

And a big no- no to Northam Food Court. I mean the view, fantastic! The food? Fantastically sucky. Next trip would definitely be a stop at Pulau Tikus, hopefully the food there is still awesome.  By the end of the trip though, I barely remembered that visit 10 years ago

For both trips, we took steps in the same places I walked years ago, but as Ahern said, we can take the same steps down the memory lane. But with each new step, we are making new memories.

Tree Of Life

I have seen many a things in my lifetime. Would you like to hear about them?

I have stood here for many a years. Come rain, shine, thunder or winds, I have never faltered, knowing this is where my roots will stay.

Everyday, I can feel the sun shining down on me, giving each nerve its life. A life that is part and parcel of what makes this earth. Each nerve connected to one another forming what is my hard body and my soft hair.

As the sun gives me life, the rain breathes new life to my being. From where I stand, I can see the children running in the rain. How odd, they love the rain when they are small, then as they grow and colorful umbrellas shields them from my view.  I have seen them turn from little wild younglings to good young people and to wonderful parents themselves. I believe it is a part of what they call The circle of life.

I am tied to my mother, earth, and I can feel her moving each day. Changing, shaping into a different landscapes. From where I stand , I used to see hills and feel the dew from morning misty air on my hair. Today, the landscape I once knew is now growing into buildings and concrete, housing more life than I had seen in so long.

And yet, some things are left where they are. I can see the kids in the playground, and the boys practicing their football skills.

As the clouds change, I too change with the seasons. Some days I have more hair falling off, I can see the sweepers cleaning away my brown hair. Come sit by me, and I will provide you some shelter. Oh, I can see some of my being eaten a tiny guinea pig residing in a brown house. The earth gives what it makes I guess.

I love the evening winds. The birds chirp away, making their nests between my many hands. It gets ticklish but it gives me a sense of purpose and I enjoy their warmth as much as I love to provide coolness under my shades to anyone who would need it.

But what lives must die, it is so said in the circle of this life. Perhaps in my next life, I could be that little guinea pig.

Written in memory of the wonderful Tree that was with us growing up, but was taken down today.

Chiang Mai's Flowers, Jade, Coffee and Massage..need i say more?

We woke a little later to the same breakfast but this time Pekster and I decided to share as the portion is rather large. The hotel arranged the taxi for us to visit the kings summer palace up the hill and Doi Suthep temple in the hills. We had to leave our dear deviljoe behind due as she wasn’t well, but from what I heard later, she seemed to have had a pretty relaxing day anyway. So I guess anyway you decide to spend your time, Chiang Mai is just the best wind-down place.

The 3 of us left around 11am. The temple and the palace is at the top of the hill and the road is something like going up Cameron’s on the old road. Winding and winding and winding like the pocket watch on the white rabbit.By the time we reached the summer place, there was no way I could stand straight without the nausea and after a painful spill-my-guts session, we thankfully found me a little Medicare at the palace. The nurse spoke perfect English and gave me some anti-nausea tablet and some sort of smelling salts-liquid. She warned me about getting sleepy but I just needed the spinning to stop.

Took me an hour and 5 chicken balls later to actually feel like the world wasn’t going to somehow collapse around me. Sigh.

The palace is a great place! It’s cold, its huge with flowers of all kinds of colours and shapes complete with a green house, log cabin, cottages, a singing water reservoir, formal and informal landscaping and the main palace(which sadly, was under renovation) and the highlight of the day- Giant bamboo trees about 20 feet tall. We took tons of pictures of the flowers, I plan to buy a suit with the color combinations, yeay! Pekster was mistaken as a Thai girl a gazillion times, it would have been cool if she was able to reply the people in their own language!

Dayang dayang sekalian

Beauty's true colors?

XXL Roses

Chilling Beneath Giant Bamboos

We will NOT climb this tree!

From the palace, we came down to the Doi Suthep temple, complete with an elevator. The temple has about 600 steps going up but you can choose to pay 20 baht for the “elevator” and 30 baht tourism fee for foreigners. The stupa is in the middle of the temple grounds, and is made of gold and there are statues of Buddha made with jade but apart from that, I would rather sit at Thean Hou any day. 

Proud that these 2 stood fearlessly so high over the city

600 steps up Doi Suthep Temple

Jade and Gold

Took us only about an hour to linger about the temple and we then drove down to a small waterfall off the road back to the city. It was quiet at the waterfall, there were only a couple of local families and bunches of teenagers hanging about. Nothing much to shout about as have similar falls right here in Malaysia. There was ONE difference though. As you enter the waterfall area, there are stalls selling picnic foodstuff, stalls like ones selling our pisang goreng. But look closer! Its all roaches and maggots for sale –man,  picnic is defined differently for me. Urgh.

Kids will be kids..

As we got back to the hotel, and paid our driver 900 baht for the day, diplodocus and pekster hopped onto the hotel bicycles and off they cycled to the café nearby for coffee. Unfortunately Deviljoe, who is expert ATV rider, doesn’t ride a bicycle, so we had a nice walk instead. We enjoyed the food at the Fern Forest Café, its one of the mushrooming coffee houses around the old city. 

We then got another taxi to the Sompet market to try the local food there. Tom yum and omelet and then an (amazing!) Foot massage for 200 baht.--200 baht for an hour, I’m telling ya, it’s a steal!—

This last night we had the best sleep and rest. Time to head back to the Malaysian Weather tomorrow. Not sure which I miss more of home, Shimbu or Nasi Lemak..

Note: If you are travelling to CM, do try the Gac fruit if it’s in season. This fruit is only available in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar and is supposed as the Fruit from Heaven..

Moat around the Old City