Haanism

It's another day again. After today, there are 3 more days in Siem Reap, before flying off to Singapore.


Nothing too special today. Have spent half day on the bus traveling from HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) -> PP (Phnom Penh) -> SR (Siem Reap). Passed by the Moc Bai customs in the morning.

Crossing Vietnam into Cambodia.

Logged on to CAMSHIN, a mobile operator in Cambodia.

The weather along the way was good. Took quite some photos from the bus coz the sky and sceneries were truly amazing. Slept on and off. Every time, when I was in sound sleep, I was waken up... sigh...

The weather was... so bloody NICE!!! Love it sooooooo much!!!

The barge we took for a short while.

After stepping on the land of Cambodia, our bus was at a crowded yet unknown area, just before taking the 30-min barge to cross over to the opposite land. Should be somewhere not too far from Phnom Penh, I guess...

At the unknown area, I saw the truly Cambodian styles, where:

1. when a vehicle arrives, the people would flock around to sell stuff (mostly food).
   
   


2. the kids either wear nothing or are in dirty clothes... they ran around the area, hoping to get money from people.




3. local transports are always fully loaded... people sit on the top of the vehicle, together with lotsa belongings.
   
   


4. cows freely walk around just like they are humans... no one look at them in odd eyes, or chase them away.

At that moment, I suddenly felt that I'd like to stay forever on the bus. Perhaps I did not have any idea how should I react to them. Any better way apart from ignoring them?

The bus arrived at its Siem Reap office only at 7:30pm (local time, which is one hour behind Malaysia). It's 1.5 hour later than the time I was told.

At the bus office, several tuk-tuk drivers had got ready. They came over to ask if you've booked your accommodation, and would like to send you there for free. Of course, they hope you'll hire them on the next day to visit Angkor Wat.

Many people go to Siem Reap nowadays.

I intended to go to Red Lodge Guesthouse. He sent us there but it was already full. The tuk-tuk friver, Mr Bean, asked me what's my budget. I answers $6-7 (USD) for a 2-person room. He then sent us to "Wats Up" Guesthouse. I inspected the room first before saying yes, then... DEAL!

Will meet him at 5am tomorrow to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. $15 per tuk-tuk per day is a standard price in Siem Reap.

Tuk Tuk in Cambodia.

After today, there is no longer any accommodation finding. Sometimes it worries you coz of the uncertainties, but I'm always quite lucky. Or, it's really true that there is always a solution to every problem?

This is a backdated post (originally written on paper on 27/12).

Was having lotsa thoughs in mind. Thinking to stop by the Highlands Coffee located not far from where we stay to get online and blog, but finally headed back to our accommodation, after an almost 7-hour walk.

Highlands Coffee (Pham Ngu Lao area, HCMC).. visited this shop once in Hanoi. There is free Internet service.

Last night (26/12), Andrew and Ivy started their way to Hue, by taking the 11pm night train leaving Hanoi. For Wyng and I, we left Hanoi only this morning. Arrived at HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) during noon by flying Jetstar.

My previous plan was to arrive at Phnom Penh (capital city of Cambodia, pronounced as "Norm Pen") today. However, I was a bit worried to reach a new country at night, so finally opted to spend a day here.

Bird-eye view of HCMC from the plane. Hmm, what river is that?

HCMC is such a greenish city!!

Tomorrow, the bus ride will start from 7am, and arrive at Siem Reap at around 6pm. A bloody long journey - 11 hours!! Anyway, booked the tickets!

Over the one week in Hanoi, we have been treated and taken care too well. There was at least one Vietnamese being together with 4 of us, except when following a tour to Halong Bay (since it's a tour, everything was well-organized).


Honestly, I was feeling this was not like a backpack, due to the lack of uncertainties and challenges. Nevertheless, thinking from another perspective, we had the chance to know/experience what the locals do. The most obvious thing is cheap food. Those hawkers, they charge non-locals at least DOUBLE. We are definitely unable to learn Vietnamese language in time to pretend that we are locals.

The real adventure started only TODAY, when we are out of Hanoi...


A lot of people claimed that HCMC is boring. Today, we just simply walked around, starting from the Ben Thanh Market. Amazingly, our 7-hour walk has brought us to a lot of places, allowing me to take satisfactory photos.

The People Committee Hall at night.

The Notre Dame Cathedral.

A full view of it. Shooting a cathedral is always a challenge, coz... it's very big!!

If you are coming to HCMC, do not miss the People Committee Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, in a neo-Romanesque form. Its red bricks and its colored glass windows were imported from France. The cathedral was consecrated in 1962. Full services in both Vietnamese and English are held every Sunday morning.

I'm picky enough and always criticize, but when I stepped into the post office, I said "this is so beautiful... it's the nicest post office I've ever seen".

The external view of the post office. Luckily we were curious enough to walk in, coz we didn't understand Vietnamese language.

The most beautiful ever post office in my life!

The entrance.

In total, there are 2 "sets" of these public phone booths.

Saigon's French-styled post office was built between 1886 and 1891. The ochre-colored building has a glass canopy, ceiling fans and enormous wall maps of "Saigon et Ses Environs". At the far end of the arched building is a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh.

We also shopped around and bought things to spend off the remaining Vietnam Dong.

It's now raining outside. This morning, there was also long rain in Hanoi. Felt so lucky that the rain came only today in Hanoi, and another came only now, at night in HCMC.

Hope the good luck continues for my reamining days in Cambodia.

Some food we tasted at the Ben Thanh Market.

Better don't simply name it to avoid mistake :) not sure it's called Banh Beo (rice cakes), Banh Bot Loc Tom Thit (fines flour cake) or Banh Uot Thit Nuong (ravioli)...??

The familiar kind of "rat noodle" cooked in Vietnamese style. They call it Rice Spaghetti.

P/S: HCMC is not cold. I can now take cold shower and get rid of the thick clothes I've gotta wear. I always prefer hot to cold weather.

More HCMC photos are available here (48 photos) and here (41 photos).

I sat in front of the Internet PC of the guest house since 9pm+. I think at least one hour has gone.

Just feel don't want to talk to anybody tonight. However, after signing in to messenger, still chatting a lot with my boss, not about work but other topics.

I don't want to talk, but still need certain kind of communications. Coz a lot of times, things and people make me ponder, if my decision is right.

Supposed to write something here when having the chance, but sorry, really no mood for that today.

Leaving Sapa tonight by the 9pm train, and will be reaching Hanoi early tomorrow morning, around 5am.

These 2 days in Sapa have been extremely cold. I've not experienced such a weather for 2.5 years, after the winter in Australia, 2006. On the day we arrived, the pick-up van was delaying the trip from train station (Lao Cai) to Sapa. He was wandering around to get more customers whilst having us on board.

After certain while, we got impatient, coz we were really tired and wishing to go toilet. I told him, please go, do not waste our time. They ignored, then I went down from the car, telling him, you either bring us to Sapa NOW, or you drive us back to the train station and we will catch the bus by ourselves to Sapa.

I was thinking I would need to pretend to take the luggage, only that will change his mind. Unexpectedly, he reacted as I wished after my abovementioned statement.

First day in Sapa, we went trekking. Supposed while being in the village, we could take very nice pictures. However due to foggy weather, we could not really shoot much nice photos. The locals said, it's always like this when it's near to Xmas. They day before we reached was still better.

The tracks were truly slippery. Shame to say, I fell down twice.

Today, the second day, we went walked around the streets and market, and ATE A LOT!!

I'm waiting for the pick-up to Lao Cai to catch the train back to Hanoi. That would be another hard-to-sleep night. Most of the places are having celebration tonight, due to Xmas eve.

We are so 'clever' to choose to have the day on the train. haha.. gtg now, see u.


P/S: Read this post by Binh. Would like to express my heartiest appreciation to Feng, for helping to buy the Jetstar flight ticket to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Both train and flight would cost around USD70, so we wish not to waste time, then we could have the chance to slightly tour around HCMC. Thanks, Feng!!

I'm now sitting in front of the Internet PC at Highlands Coffee, Hanoi Tower. Just had a very "thick" Vietnam Coffee here, and I doubt if I could fall asleep tonight! Andrew is beside me using another PC, Ivy and Binh are at the dining table, Wyng and Huong are out for currency exchange.

We are just back to Hanoi from our 2-day-1-night Halong Bay (sleep on boat) tour. Till we finished the tour, no one has asked us to pay for the tour fees. However, will wait for the person-in-charge to call me, then we will go to her office and pay. Could not simply pay to the driver... else... troublesome.

As usual, the post written on the road will contain no photo.

Tonight, we will take a night train to Sapa. No chance for any shower today. Binh will tag along as he has not been to the place too. It's good to have a Vietnamese going along, as Vietnam is full of tricks and cheats.

Just like the 1st morning in Hanoi, a lady wanted to sell me 1 banana for 10,000 VND (appx RM2.14), so crazy. Eventually the hotel staff helped to get rid of her. Tonight, while having breakfast on the boat, we were charged for the coffee, which was "logically assumed" to be part of the provided breakfast. After the charged coffee, they further offered more which were FREE.

Funny, right? If they offered the free coffee first, then the subsequent ones with charge, people would have said NO. They are kinda clever, if we want to look at this from a positive perspective.

It's not the best season to visit Halong Bay, but it's hard for us to always get a right season to visit the right place.. so.. don't care la.. it's lucky enough that we did see and experience something, without the disturbance of rain, thunder etc. Last night, after our dinner at 6am, we were like... not sure what else to do.

Nevertheless, this is how a holiday should be, right?? There should be no need to fill up our time with tasks as usual. Instead, we should just relax, chat and then sleep.

After Sapa, we will have our Xmas day here in Hanoi, celebrating it together with 2 local friends, Binh and Huong. Then we tour Tam Coc on the next day. After that, Andrew and Ivy will continue their exploration in Vietnam, whilst Wyng and I will head to Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh then Siem Reap.

Okay.. I think this is enough for this round. I've been bad to leave my friends at the table and come update my blog here. See ya.

Have been wanting to write this for long, but then... kept procrastinating...

Today, when my colleagues asked me, where am I going for my holidays, my answer was:
- go to Thailand to join the riot, and
- go to Pakistan to throw a bomb there

No one wanted to believe me :)

Okay.. the serious answer is.. I'm going to Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore, from 20/12/08 to 4/1/09, a total of 16 days.

Sixteen days are actually not long. Previously we thought could go Laos, but after research, it's truly impossible. The transportation system in Laos is really under-developed, hence to get from one place to another, it takes long.

Moreover, the buses are always late, and the period of travel actually depends on the weather or road condition. At last, we decided to give up Laos.


Travel to Singapore seems weird also. That is just coz, I claimed a free ticket using my Singapore Airlines Krisflyer accumulated miles (they are expiring soon in Jan 09). The flight will no matter how stopover at Singapore. Then just spend 1-2 nights in Singapore, a place that I have not visited for 14 years!!

As a result, I could not really tour Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, before heading to Siem Reap for the Angkor Wat. It's okay, coz I wanna be together with my friend. There is no daily flight from Siem Reap to Singapore, so we have gotta leave on the available date.


My uni-mate, Binh, is in Vietnam now. He lives in Hai Phong. These 2 days, he told me he's going to travel with us in northern Vietnam. I have actually booked the Guesthouse taxi to pick us from the Noi Bai airport, but he insisted want to pick us. Then today I've gotta cancel the booking.

There is another lady friend in Hanoi too, who has been very helpful to buy train tickets and book the accommodation in Sapa... on our behalf... at local price. The fun of backpacking and the preparation is, you find out a lot of truth by doing everything by yourself.


I've not finished packing my stuff. Basically everything is HERE but I just have not put them into the backpack. Turned on laptop to finish my work but then nothing is done till now. Keep chatting and blogging only.

I shall be back to Malaysia on 4/1/2009 and go to office on the next day. That week, I may need to go Indonesia for a kickoff meeting (date is not confirmed but should be in that week).

Just hope... everything will be fine then! I wanna have a good trip, learn new things, enhance my travel experience, enjoy and be happy!!

P/S: Look back at some old photos, and choose a few to use here. This was the thinnest me ever in my life! No longer seeing "such a me" nowadays!!

I've lived for 26 years, and this is my first time having a pair of Nike sport shoes.

Don't laugh at me, coz all this while I'm a stingy person. When I did not work and earn my own money, any pair of sport shoes that is more than RM100 was considered "very expensive".

Now, I'm more able to afford such a luxury item.


Last week, when I was shopping around in Penang, I wished to get myself a new pair of sport shoes. Reason being, there are already 2 holes on the existing pair (one on the right, another on the left), though they are not very obvious.

The existing pair was bought around July last year, just before my backpacking trip to China. It was bought from Alamanda (located in Putrajaya) and was not paid by me. No matter how, I think I should still say "thank you" again to the buyer, since this pair of shoes has accompanied me to a lot of places... China, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brunei, around Malaysia.

The current pair.. in Shanghai. The color matches easily to most of my jeans that are in blue!

In the past, I used to hesitate, if I should also abandon the existing pair of sport shoes, after no topic can exist between me and the buyer. However I usually throw away something only when it's no longer usable.


Before this, I used to wear New Balance (given by my aunt in Penang), Esprit (given by my housemate in Australia), two Reebok pairs (existing pair mentioned above; a pair bought by myself). Seems like most of the time my shoes were bought by others, just like my watches. Don't ask me why, I can't answer.

Last week, I actually spotted 2 pairs, and I had to choose between them.

Another paid is a deep blue Adidas, which can stand more dirt and is nearer to my usual style. It costs RM149.90. However, this Nike really looks nicer though it's not in "my color" (blue). I really felt I wanna bring it home.

How much is this pair? RM149. It's 90 cents cheaper than the Adidas one.

Originally, I planned to get a new pair and start wearing it during my upcoming backpacking trip. But now I've changed my mind... I will wear the old one (with holes)... if it's truly bad after the trip, good, I have a very good reason to throw it away!

And for this pair, I think I will wear it to office first, then only expose it to the "outside world", for more challenges. This is a colour that needs a lot of care.


I was told that this is a fairly new model, so there was no discount, even during this festive season.

I did not believe, so when I was at Gurney Plaza, I looked for the Nike shop there to check again :) then... I found the same pair at the "SOCCER" section.

Funny... soccer? Is a pair of soccer shoes suitable for me?


Don't care la... If you are interested to know what the "Advanced Fit" is all about, you can click on the image above this paragraph for the description.

I will wear this pair in January 2009... to office!

Today, a friend asked me: do u still remember when is the first post of your blog? why u blog? and what u blog?

For sure, yes. But I do not really remember what I exactly wrote about (I remember my mood at that time) and also the exact date (I know is June 2005).

Am not thinking to reveal the old blog. I've changed it, even those who read it in the past, do not know the new URL. It's a nice feeling reading what you wrote in the past. It's like going back to the moment.

However, I know I've grown and learned a lot since the first post, till now. Let me share with you, my first ever blog post, written in Sydney, Australia.

---

First Post of Mine

13 June 2005, 1:40pm

This is the first time for me to write something about myself and make it available on the Internet. Have only written to a few close friends regarding how I feel towards my life before.

I have been in Sydney for a week, temporarily staying at a place called Prospect, which is accessible from the Blacktown station. I use the word "temporarily" because I want to move to a new place, according to where I'm going to get a job soon. Hope that this day is not far away from now. Today's the Queen's Birthday public holiday in Australia. I'd say that I've put enough effort in job hunting last week, and I'll start again tomorrow, for this week.

Have been feeling very down a few days before I left Toowomba, the place I have been during the past 2 years (since 2003). I made the decision to come over to Sydney for more job opportunities once I got my Graduate Skilled visa, and I never thought that I'd feel unwilling to leave my old and good friends there. During my last week in Toowoomba, they have done a lot of things for me. Although their actions were not explicitly spoken out, I could still feel them very well, and was extremely touched with them. During the moment I hugged my really really good friends whom we have known each other for the third year here in Australia (before I got onto the McCafferty's coach) I was unable to control my tears. I slightly wiped away my tears in front of them but I burst into tears when I was on the bus. The old women and men looked at me with smile when I got onto the bus and passed their seats. I felt somewhat embarassed.

I have never had such feeling when I got to leave my friends. This time was just too weird and special for me. I have been thinking of the reasons. Finally, I personally feel that this time I left them with a lot of uncertainties awaiting me in the near future. Hence I was scared and felt I need them to be with me. When I left my secondary school-mates in Sekinchan to Penang; when I left all the friends in Malaysia to Australia, I was sure with what I was going to do soon in the new place. But it's not so for this time.

To be honest, last week was the hardest time I have ever undergone in my 22-year life. Tears came out almost everyday, and the people I normally talked to (which then release my pressure) were not around. Fortunately I still have the Internet and phone with me. I was still able to have email correspondences, chats over the messengers, as well as to talk over the phone. At the same time, I ate something wrongly which then seriously worsened the problems with my skin. I suffered from the skin problems both physically and emotionally.

This added to my negative emotion. That was the first time I felt I was weak. I don't like this feeling indeed. I don't like to feel that I'M WEAK!

One night, I got a call from a good friend from Malaysia. I was surpised with the call and somewhat guilty for the money he had to spend for that. Then, I received my mum's email, which was full of concern and encouragement. I gained energy from them and started the next day with more positive thoughts. Then I realised something again: what happens to us does not actually decide our happiness, but the way we think about what happens to us. I found that I was a happier character when I tried to have positive thinking, even though everything around me was still the same.

Anyway, during the "hard times" I have undergone, I could once again see clearly the people that are nice to me in my life. I appreciate them and I feel I'm a fortunate one compared to a lot of others. Ignorance is bliss?? It could be untrue, especially when the things you realise/know are good.

---

Reading this again, my only feeling is 轻舟已过万重山. Sorry, don't know how to translate this proverb into English. It's just like... a lot of things that we thought was a problem, has not been a problem, for very very long time (很多东西，都会过去。当年觉得难熬的日子，原来都已经远去。而且还是，很远很远。)

Tonight, I suddenly feel that I'm very bad in translating!

These 2 months, I've kinda overspent on photography stuff.

In Nov, I spent RM750 for a 70-300mm Sigma zoom lens (with Makro). Thanks Andrew for buying it on my behalf. It comes with 2 years warranty.


Guys, meet my son, Siu Sig. Siu means "small" in Cantonese, Sig represents Sigma. I'm his mama, and Andrew is his adopted dad.


I had the courage to purchase, coz Alex already bought it. I think it's coz I trust Alex very much, so I feel this item should have no problem. Furthermore, Andrew forwarded me the reviews which are mostly positive! He also contributed a lot in poisoning me to BUY!!


After buying it, I tested it out during the trip to Cameron Highlands and enjoyed. However, at the same time, I further loved the Nikon D40 kit lens (18-55mm). If the distance is not far, the kit lens could take very fabulous makro images too. Maybe coz my skills are good also, hahaha~~

One fact to mention.. under low light condition, its performance is less remarkable. Just do not expect too much, unless under the presence of sunshine.


I can now shoot candid photos of people from afar!! Yeah!!

Last week, while relaxing in Penang, I stopped by a camera shop (Fotocam) in Prangin Mall. I actually just wanted to buy a UV filter for Siu Sig. I should protect it before it gets hurt.

After some chats, I was recommended to buy a wide angle lens. Basically it's just a special glass that can give you wide angle effect, priced at RM400 (after bargain). Since I like panorama shooting, I was attracted to it.


It's something like this. A piece of thing only!! Just need to append it to the kit lens.

If you want to take makro shots using the kit lens, then you have gotta remove this lens. Wide angle and makro are conflicting each other - one shoots from far, whilst another shoots from close distance.


The salesman told me, it contains the effect of UV filter and polarizing filter. Not sure if he cheats me... no time for any research on the spot.

The benefits of having this lens is, you can easily get a lot of things fit into the small rectangle, without having to move back a lot, or to bend yourself backwards too much. You can see the effect from the photos in this Harvesting post.


Apart from the above two, I also bought a Hoya Pro1 filter for my Siu Sig. Originally, the salesman recommended me a "better" one that can get rid of reflection.



Look at the parts with glass. See the difference?

But then, after several trials, I found that attaching the new filters to my Siu Sig actually produced images with less sharpness. The photo taken without the RM100 filter was even better!!!

Without expensive filter.

With expensive filter.

I went back to the shop. In fact, I called before I went. They said that's maybe the coating problem. However, after trying another brand, it was still the same.

We then tried a just-normal UV filter (only RM40 - I forgot the brand name).. but still... bluuuurrrrrrrrrrrrr :(

All these do not work on Sigma??? He was suspecting so.

I rang Alex, asked him what's the filter he's using. He answered Hoya. Unfortunately, the shop did not have a normal Hoya, but just a Hoya Pro1, which is thinner and more expensive.

After trying and finding it does not cause a blur image, I left with the new Hoya Pro1 filter. I spent quite some time there testing this and that. Almost 2 hours altogether...


Am still using the cheapest DSLR nowadays, Nikon D40. I'm not the kind who likes to stay very updated with all the new brands, keep selling and upgrading.

I'm okay with this D40. A lot of people have all the great camera body or lens but their photos are still just-okay only. I always believe even just a compact camera can produce nice pictures... and the photographer is the key in deciding if an image looks good.

Will bring them along in the coming trip. Wish to take more beautiful photos using my new babies!

I can't wait to share!!!

Today I took photos of the paddy field again. I was fairly envy.. kept asking myself...

"why Kun could take good view of the paddy field during her unfrequent visit, and I could not take any good ones though I come back every week?"

Came back from Penang yesterday, and was lazy and tired for photography. Today, I kept peeping at the sky in the afternoon. Can't say today's weather is extremely good, coz there were rains before and after my shooting session.

This will be the last harvest season in the year of 2008.


For more photos, please click here.

By the way, +0, there is no reason for you to say "Virgo is like that" when I didn't meet with you coz of taking these pictures... I will surely go to you tomorrow :) coz I need your help :)