Apam Balik @ Penang, Malaysia

A little more about Penang. This time: a man and his car selling charcoal roasted apam balik. Simple, authentic and delicious. I find myself missing the food in Penang, recalling the time when I went totally berserk on food piling up to four different types of food. That was just dinner. I guess its best that I don't live there lest the amazing culinary experience of Penang reflect itself on my waistline :S

Back to Penang

Visited the place once more during the recent holidays. Brings back memories of me jetting all over town for food in during my internship lunch breaks. This visit was rather short though because the cruise ship would leave in the evening so we practically had a few hours to eat our hearts out. Hmm, don't have much to write about this time, the pictures will probably do a better job explaining.

True Coffee, Phuket

It was early in the morning when the cruise ship docked on the island, Phuket which is called paradise by many, an image obtained thanks to one of the Bond movies. Things is it was raining on that day, so I spent some time holing in coffee shops all over Phuket. Sky was moody and I remember that at one point, while I was strolling along the beaches the sky just broke open. I ran like mad to the nearest shop for shelter, quickly stuffing my camera into my bag. You know, water and technology don't get along to well.

So this is one of the coffee shops I took refuge in. I liked how nice the design was, trendy and cosy. They had this sofa that stretched from one end of the shop to the other and filled with huge pillows. This is definitely where you wanna be on a rainy day.

Universal Studios Singapore

Hello there folks! I went down to Singapore a little more than a week ago with my dad. It was a really good vacation with loads of resting, eating, and of course taking loads of pictures. One of the epic nights was definitely clubbing with dad at Clarke Quay.

Alright its not one of those get-wild-dance-clubs but rather my kind of place which is loud music, food, and a mojito. Funky cuban music was playing all night long to the rhythmic dancing of the syiok sendiri couples, though I admit it was fun to watch. Top that off with a huge messy platter of nachos with beef and melted cheese, that's what I call a vacation.

The other highlight of the trip was our visit to Singapore's Universal Studios. I can't recall much detail of my last trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios, Paris. Everything seems like a blur now, maybe its because everything was in French. But what I did remember was that I had TONS of fun. Disneyland is just such a happy place and you feel that way the moment you step in and see the iconic castle which appears at the start of every Disney movie.

I was pumped to visit Singapore's Universal Studios after hearing so much hype about it after it opened recently. Dad and I woke up early in the morning to catch the 8.30, it was too ambitious. We took the 9.30 bus. My fault because I refused to get up.

Guess what? It rained.

Fire @ Outward Bound School (OBS) in Lumut, Malaysia

There is something about light that draws people to it. Perhaps there's a tiny little pyromaniac in everyone waiting to get out at the opportune moment blazing with fiery gusto. This brings me back to events that happened not too long ago, weeks in fact where a hundred odd teenagers were left to die in the place people call nature.

I recall the day we set out on our expedition (Outward Bound School-OBS) which required us to kayak all the way to the campsite. Six hours later we were stranded on a beach halfway day due to bad weather which was a pity because everyone was pumped to finish the remaining journey. But what to do? The waves were getting to big for kayaking so we had to be transported by boat instead.

Reaching the campsite we were greeted by rain. Not the pouring-down-in-torrents-rain but rather the not-so-much-but-enough-to-annoy-you-rain. We set camp and went looking for firewood. Firewood=food so firewood=important. Somehow there was this other canopy covering this huge pile of dried wood. Well, rain makes it hard to find dry firewood.

I was miserable at that point. Wet and tired- those two don't make very good combinations. Throw in the fact that we're all stuck on an island its only a matter of time someone gets an emotional breakdown. Still it was nice seeing everyone pitch in and set up camp. It didn't take long and thank God the rain stopped after that. Some dry clothes helped cheer up my mood.

That pile of firewood went to our amazing campfire. A camping trip is not complete without a proper campfire! Right in the center of our camp we dug a small hole which would later serve as a spot where we congregate for the night listening to the horror hiking stories from the other group (We had two groups, one starts with kayaking the other with hiking) and drying laundry.

Patong Beach on a Rainy Day @Phuket, Thailand

I'm back! Last week was such a blast, I am in such a relaxed state of mind right now I feel like I could conquer the world. My holiday started with a 4 day cruise on Virgo, Star Cruise and we had two stops starting from Singapore- the first at Penang and then Phuket.

Then, I stayed over for a few more days in Singapore with my day and we visited the newly opened Universal Studios. Later during the week I received extremely exciting news, so exciting that I could not sleep till 3 because I was so happy. Seriously, I was so happy I had butterflies in my stomach. But I shall leave that for another day.

So today, we'll take a look at Phuket.

It rained. Bummer.

First of all the ship arrived at around 9 in the morning. We arrived at Patong Beach about 45 minutes later on to discover that shops do not open until 11 am. Whats more? Thailand is one hour behind Malaysia, so that means on OUR watches the shops only open at 12. We had to be back at the ship by 3.30 pm. That was the amount of time I was given to work with. Oh, and did I mentioned that it rained? =.=

Still, I had a considerably good time walking around snapping photographs. Lighting was not fantastic but still its still a scene waiting to be captured. I got the chance to watch Patong Beach wake up from sleep. Workers were cleaning up the bars while the other employees unload the ice from the truck for business later that night.

Then there's all the ang moh tourist walking around. At one point the sky just started pouring and I had to run for shelter inside a store laden with fake jewelry and branded bags. It was an awkward half and hour as we waited in that store, with that metal barrier pulled down. Felt like I was a trapped shopper who will only be released until a purchase is made.