背包菜鸟 in 越南 Day6

*long overdue*
Have stopped updating about the trip for quite some time for no other reason but laziness.
Today's second day of my mid sem break and finally, I managed to move my bum to do some of the updates.

If you remember (which I doubt), we went to the indigenous people's village on day 5.
Today, we are going to the Silver Waterfall.
This time we have 2 extra companian, Eva and Lee, who are Dutch.
I think it's their first/second day in Sapa as well.

Well, we started the day with an early rise as well.
After having breakfast, we immediately DEPART!!!

Not sure what's with the crowd

We have to pass through the wet market again

Vege stall stocked with heaps of herbs, cabbage, chokos aka 佛手 etc

SCORPIONS in LIQUOR!!!!!!

Ever-ready herbs on Vietnamese's dining table

Smoking weed anyone?

Woman selling sugarcanes while her cats warming their bodies infront of the fire

It's an interesting morning view even though we didn't buy anything.

Lee's face =____=

JJ, ready for the walk!

Little girl: You ain't wanna challege me!

Really like how the dad bring them around. 

Two infront and one at the back! 

Wondering if my dad ever bring me and my bro that way?

Along the way, it's mostly panoramic scenery dotted with some ...

GOATs

Backpackers

Concrete houses

The gang~

朦胧美

后悔没有买 =_____=

村里的小丫头老爱跟着游客东川西缠 XP

简陋的房子

狗狗也累了

Me and Chee, our guide from the local tribe

An electric saw?!!!

One of our may models along the way

Mountain Fansipan a.k.a. Roof of Indochina

Hard labour 

Water coming from the mountain is so CLEAR!

Me trying to be funny...haha

Now's her turn

Modelling 1 =D

Modelling 2

SIMPLY BREATH-TAKING

Our lunch: baguette, omelette, tomato

Oh Lee, look at yourself =P

Old but still standing strong!

unknown flowers

muddy shoes

 Half-way walking, the mist starts to clear up
and weather's getting hotter.
You actually get some decent sweat! *FEEL SO SO GOOD*

Chee in her cute traditional summer clothing =D

OMG...... All the ling ling long long.

A silver chain that not even a nigga's golden one could BEAT!

TAKE THAT!...hahah

not sure what Chee was trying to tell us,

Traffic, maybe?

We then walked for another half an hour and
finally arrived at the destination, the Silver Waterfall!

Candid one =D

*spot the golden crown on Chee's tooth*

Tired, but ALL GOOD! 

This is our last walk in Sappa.

On the same day, we caught a late night train back to Hanoi.

So long, the eco gem of north Vietnam!

饭-面堡 Rice& 'Men'-Burger

It's Friday and feel like treating myself something special.
and...hmmmm....
Scanned through the pantry and left-over stuffs in the fridge
and kitchen bench.

and I came up with the idea of another prototype!
Japanese Men-Burger 
& Rice burger!!!
JENG JENG JENG!

Got teased by my housemate when I was serving it up.
He said "typical men's food huh?"
Well, indeed, it's a 面 (as in 'Ramen') burger a.k.a men-burger.
Got it? XP

Ma rice-burger shimmering in GOLD!

The Men-Burger with its noodle-pattern =P

The inner side of the Men-Burger

Didn't take a cut view of the Rice burger coz they're 

SIMPLY YUMMO!!! 

No photo of it after the assembly with a fish fillet patty, and lettuce as well.

Too baaaad~ Just imagine in your mind, won't you?

No kidding, it's so crispy that you will complaint for its over-crispiness 

hhahaha.... it's not a bad munch at all, 

provided that you don't mind the fat from deep frying.

Oh man, back to work again.

记录

这几天都在听的。。。


刚去了由塔斯中国留学生所举办的中秋晚会。
人潮有点。。。hmmm。。。
可以说有点少吧~
气氛有点冷清。
幸好有卡拉ok助阵，
要不然真的会有寒风阵阵的感觉。

hmm....
最近发觉随着班里的学生越来越少，
少了热闹，但多了情切。
其实本人不是很喜欢大学校，
什么名校，明星教师，
一等设施，高才生。。。
呸~有志者事竟成嘛。

较小的学校的好处是
大家都一定认识。
还记得first year 时，
差不多有百五个学生。
因为太多学生了，
大家也开始组起自己的‘小天地’。
当然，亚洲的自然归亚洲，
红毛的也就归红毛，
谁都不鸟谁。
班里大家也你忙你的，
我忙我的，连邻座同学叫舍都不知道。
hmmm.....
沟通其实很没有问题，
问题就是‘脸’。
大家就是太爱那张脸了，
装酷扮矜持。。。哈哈
不是说我没有，
我也有啦！
人家黄花闺男嘛！

今年班同学从百五减到了不到七十，
超不多一半吧。
大家的关系真的进步很多很多。
现在，大伙都能有说有笑，
甚至还为彼此取了花名。
哈哈。。。 \(^____^o)/
当然，班里还是会有些吊高来卖的家伙。
well,既然他们已经如鱼得水，
我们也别打扰他们的美丽新世界吧！
haha...

要是哪天得离开了，
我觉得,
我会想念你们的。
哈哈。。。
找个洋妞嫁嫁去吧！
哈！

应节の玉蝴蝶 Yuki Butterfly

Been busy during the weekdays, 

writing bullshit essay... haha

I love to talk crap but not write them out though.

Well, made myself this to unwind a little bit....

just a little bit though.

在finals 接踵而来弄之前，

给自己弄了冰皮月饼。

馅是港式的奶黄馅

*懒得去买莲蓉/豆沙*。

接下来不多说了，

让我的“玉蝴蝶们”向你们报告吧！

食谱取自网站

冰皮跟道具

奶黄馅

糕粉 （干炒过的糯米粉）

厨房里唯一能找到的模（silicon的）

玉蝴蝶！！！

还弄了还给它弄了好几只朋友！

弄到后面，料剩不多了，
所以弄了一只小蜜蜂。 KAWAII!!

这就是所谓的皮薄馅多！！

个人觉得那冰皮如果能稍微硬一点点，

肯定SUPERB!!!

hahah..... 中秋节快乐！

（迟到好过没到吧！）

掰~

猪猪pig pig

When I was small,
there's a boy, just like me.
Same, I would say.
Perhaps 98 per cent?

We share lots of stuffs,
from papa to mama
granny to grandpa,
aunties to uncles,
look to voice
height to weight.

At the same time,
we have similar
taste, friend circles,
shirts, pants, but not undies.... coz
we don't wear one when young
hahaha....
I think I could only describe us as
"bagai pinang dibelah dua"
hahha.... you know what I mean.
Kalah semua pengantin baru!!

When we were in our teens,
we regularly confuse our
classmates, teachers and friends.
Not that we still look 100% alike,
but just slightly more similar
than any other siblings in school.
especially the days
when we wear the wrong uniform to school.
I feel bad for not pulling off
some huge pranks at that time.
haha.... Well, that proves that
I'm a good boy after all.
yeah~

Unconsciously, we went through so much together.
From the ridiculous scouting activities,
to the heart-warming dragonboating,
and not to forget ....
the sort-of-lost key club activities,
and the pretty embarrassing swimming shit.
haha....
I know it might not sound like it, but...
thanks for pulling through those hard-shits with me
same goes to our monkey-boy and cabo gui.

I miss the time when we bad-mouthed about
you know... the BAD people.
and laughed with all our hearts,
till the whole neighbourhood could hear.
which would eventually end up with
some canning by Mrs Crab.
=D

Now, we are already in our early twenties.
Being in different countries,
different environments
and different friend circles.
Well....
I do feel that we look more and more different.
But, I'm trying to put on more weight
just to make up the gap over these years.
*actually just an excuse to grow fat*
But, seriously...
I do feel a little disappointment when
friends or relatives manage to differentiate us.
hah~ just reminiscing the good old time.
Time when people believe who we say we are.
=D

Still, we're still connected in some ways.
It might not be as much as 20 years ago,
but, I believe, there're some sort of bond.
Be it water or blood, urine or saliva,
a thick bond stays a thick bond.
*chuckles*

It feels like magic
to have you as my brother.
haha... it sounds so 'geli'
despite coming out from my own mouth.
Still remember...
A twin friend in college once said
he really like the feeling of being part of a twin.
haha... he totally have my vote in it.

Still remember, when
you went for National Service,
the SECRETE letter that you sent home.
ahhahah.... never expect you to be so
TRUTHFUL!!!
haha.... not sure how did 'he' perceive it,
but I don't think it's a bad thing though.
When I read it, I was like
"MAMAMIA, SHAKALAKA BAMBAM!
WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU
GATHER THE COURAGE TO
SPIT THAT OUT??"
*don't worry, the content stays Private&Confidential with me*
You must be drunk when you wrote that master piece!
hahah... well, that proves you have a 'hark-lorn' too!
Don't be plastic, and never shall we.

Still remember,
when I first got the confirmation
that I'll be going to KL for studies,
and probably Aussie afterwards....
My heart sunk...
It sunk so deep that I feel nothing, literally,
amidst the surface covered with overjoy.
Not that I'm not happy, sad or sorrow.
There're just too much unknown and uncertainties
in my mind,
in my heart,
every corner in my body.
It's like gaining a long-awaited independence,
but on an island with no one but myself.
It felt so .... hmmm...
Unused and strange, perhaps?
Not good in describing that sort of feelings though.
ha~ just not used of not having a brother around my side
ALL THE TIME...
well, you know what I mean.
=D

So fast, you're graduating and already working.
As a '大哥’,I have not much to say,
not to mention the 'contribution-less'.
But ALL THE BEST and BAMBATEH KUDA屎!

Being in the same age is sometimes bugging me.
Why? You might be asking...
Well, if I were a few years older
instead of a mere 20 minutes,
then we might set on a different path today.
haha... oh my imagination,
it does run wild from time to time.
XP

But, I'm glad you found your summer in Uni.
Both literal and implicit ~
A perfect timing for that! =D
I'm sure she's miles ahead of me now,
but just hope that there's always a
biscuit tin reserved for me at some random corner.
haha... emo huh?
Nawh~ just trying to be more realistic, MAAAN!
Not like I'm gonna marry you and have babies with you
Oh DUDE~! please lah~
I ain't having any vagina in my life!!!
haha.... *I think I just crossed the 18SX line*

All in all.....
Happy graduation and
well.... not much to say but
All the best in everything
in future, in career,
in health, in study
(if you got the intention)
in money, in makan-makan,
in clothing, in transportation,
in love, in friends-making,
in happiness, in ...
in in in in in in in in in in .....
IN EVEYTHING SINGLE THING
YOU CAN and YOU CAN'T THINK OF.

Take good care of yourself
and 大大力加油哦！

Mr P's Big day

It's my pa's B'day, but before I manage to call him,
HE CALLED ME... LOL~
Normally if I do call back, I call around afternoon/early evening,
that's when my mum's most bored time.
haha... If I were home,
I bet she will be eating her nut while reading newspaper at that time.

Well, again, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR. P!
(the 'P' is not Papa, it's something else...well, only insiders know)

By the way, I bought this giant chocolate bar for post submission award.
Don't care about what the tutors think,
since they screw everyone up, every single time.
*JUST KIDDING*

*Drum rolls~*

HAIL THE ALMIGHTY 
1KG OVERSIZED 
CHOCK-COLATE!
(p/s: that's a 32cm ruler)

see me again when you see me XP

Boredom before the break!

Still have one class and a submission till our mid sem break.
I'm not supposed to be free, but...
*sigh* I've just got sick with checking and rechecking my essay every day.
Every morning, the first thing I do when switch on my lappie is
TO CHECK THAT GOD DAMN ESSAY!
Well, not that I don't want it to end up good (never excellent though =S)
I just find that I change my mind every effing single time I read it.
The main point shifts whenever I glance through it.... till it is lost.
= _______ =  (tired)
Well, not gonna touch that piece of shit till the end of ma break!

It's Mrs Crabby's birthday and of course,
as her filial son, I CALLED.
She shared the same Birthday as my aunt,
so I never forget both of them!

The first ever question she threw at me is:
"Have you finish your instant noodles?"

Well, she knew my bachelor's life pretty well,
and did send me some instant noodles last semester.
But, I sure not see that question coming.
haa~ You're a champ Mum. =D

We chat for a little while and she told me
that she had a small celebration with my aunties
the night before.
I asked her how much (typical Chinese Chingchong man)
and she said it's not that costly,
roughly < RM20 per head.
haha... so Chinese, right?
I think so, but can't help it.
It's already in the blood. *chuckles*

Then, as the usual routine,
phone will be passed around the house.
Talked with my sis and realized that
SHE GOING INTO UNI THIS WEEKEND!!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!
The cabo kui is entering UNI liao!

Should have felt freaking old by now,
but, naaaah~
I'm young at heart mah! *puke*

Then, the phone got onto PigPig's hand.
He said he's gonna cook Mummy a feast!
Fish and Chippiiie!
He got Dory fillets from the market,
and planned to serve it crumbed, battered.
Of course, with salad and the CHIPS!
Now, I miss you all!
I think the last time I cook back home is
when I made a Vietnamese roll. YUM~
haha...卖花赞花香！

Always feel good when I called home.
Too bad, Mr Potato wasn't there (twice).
Well.... wait till ur Birthday, boy~

Ja-Ne!

P/s: My mum's sexy pose!

又是星期五了！

刚刚拿了下个星期要交的文章的草稿给讲师批，
批了还是有点雾水~
今晚就什么功课都不动吧！

本来是想静静的看部电影，
但突然飞兰奇竟然来了个简讯！
问我今年年底会不会？
最后还上了skype聊~

谈了蛮多的，
工作，功课，
烦人的，不烦人的，
天气，风景，
周围人事物，
地震，无聊养养羊，
某某结婚了，
某某明年年头要生了，
谁又有新欢了，
谁又在房里放不开，
背包旅行，年纪。。。

哈哈。。。
谈到年纪，
大伙儿都说不可以老哦！
是成熟！

当然，也谈了昔日绕在身边的人们，
谁变了，谁还一样，
谁安然无恙，
谁又石沉大海。

*倒抽一口气*

小子，听歌吧。。。

推荐：
李代末 - 《他们》
扣人心玄的口琴开场，
爷里带柔的声线，
配上逐步渐进的交响乐，
IICHIBANG!



不知道为什么，
从小就有个梦，
就是想 。。。

"骑单车去流浪
 累了有碗热汤

 幸福的摸样
 不在乎几栋房
 生活不如意是没学会放下
 幸福，
 它就在当下"

o^_^o 

Amateur cooks in the class!

In order to get us into Indonesian context,

my lecturer suggested to have a class dinner

  INDONESIAN STYLE!

My group volunteered to cook gado-gado and chicken rendang.

It's our first time making these two dish from scratch *菜鸟*

From scratch, I say 'from scratch', 

not buying some instant sauces KAY~

But glad things turned out pretty well *Pat on the back*

1pm and IT'S BLOODY LUNCH TIME! 

Yaiee!

MENU OF THE DAY

-   GADO - GADO (by Saiful and Zahir)

peanut sauce with pan-seared tofu, 

blanched long beans, bean sprouts,

spinach, hard boiled eggs and prawn fritters)

-  CHICKEN  RENDANG

(by me)

- CHILI  AND  LIME 

CUCUMBER APPLE 

ACAR

(prepared by Cerridwen , my studio lecturer)

- ONDEH-ONDEH

(prepared by my Hong Kong classmate Corrine)

way to go HK gal!

- SIRAP BANDUNG 

aka 

SODA GEMBIRA

(Prepared by Fern, Malaysian classmate who worked in SG)

HAPPY HAPPY SODA!

*My classmates're curious with the pink colour intensity*

We were so full that afternoon.
It's been a long time since I last have a proper lunch.
I mean a filling, home-cooked lunch! =P

*BLURRRRRPPPPPPP*

wish this is not our first and last! 

=D

Recent updates

It's already the 5th week of my second semester in Master....
gosh, means have less time till graduation! OMG

This sem, we're required to select a particular design studio.
The one I chose is called "Informal Urbanism".
Sort of the reminds me of my old house.
Too bad, I don't have the opportunity to see it off.
(     _____     )

We are dealing with some illegal settlement issues and of course SLUMs.
So far so good, really hope that I could bring back some of my childhood memories.
=P

once lak-eek-lak-K, forever we shall be
=D

坠落感

发觉简单的配乐，加上有深度的摇滚，
原来能如此有味道的！
嘶吼间。。。
唱出了自己
唱出了不满，
唱出了生活，
唱出了遗憾，
唱出了坚毅，
唱出了血泪。。。
当然，也呐喊出了
一路在  背后
默默地支持那些人。

多少人走着，却困在原地。
多少人活着，却如同死去。
多少人爱着，却好似分离。
多少人笑着，却满含泪滴。

谁知道我们，该去向何处。
谁明白生命，已沦为何物
是否找个理由，继续苛活”

Spring's coming pretty soon!

Flowers starting to bloom recently....

which means spring's not too far away!

Can't wait for the summer to come

and wear no jackets and freaking thermals!

but flip flops and shorts!

邻居的梅花竟然在冬天

还没结束之前就开了！

看到梅花绽放，春天一定不远了。。。

“春天来咯！咚咚咚锵！”

*不好意思，脑子坏了。。。

突然很有过年的mood!*

Housekeeping

Recently did a clean up on all the links on my blog.
Of course, I revisited them before deciding to remove or retain them.
Sadly, many... or should I say 'most' of them are out-of-date,
since long long time agoooooo.... *sigh*

Still remember I used to go to the PC lab
almost every morning to check on friends' updates.
Well..... call it 'daily stalking' if you want it so badly~ haha...

Saw a friend's shout-out on FB this morning...

"The furthest distance is felt,
 not when you see your closed friends
frequently posting stuffs he/she did with somebody else.
But, it is when you see all of your closed friends
frequently post stuffs they did together."

Back to the housekeeping of my blog links.....
Out of so many links in college,
less than 3 are actually being updated from time to time.
Well.... no point holding on, right?

Not that I don't appreciate the bonds, but....
Haven't heard from some for a really long time.
It's so long that sometimes,
we hesitate on each others' name (no joking)
It's like seeing the massive swarm of asians in Melbourne CBD,
Who seem sort of familiar,
but you are aware of the disparities.
(not being racist but Lonnie really
have a comparatively smaller population...haha)

Still....... every-buddy counts!
=D

原来他真的会唱歌的！

还记得唱《唸你》的劉子千吗？
无意间听了他的新歌《都是爱》。

静静的夜里，
戴着耳机听
简单的吉他配乐，
真的还蛮有feel的哦 ~

p/s:别看MV，有点破坏气氛 XP

All over again and again!

Uni's gonna start tomorrow..... SIMPLY CAN'T WAIT!!!
Really looking forward to see all my classmates!
haha... even though I'm not sure what's ahead.
Just hope things go according as planned!
=D

Spring has been showing its sign lately, rain and rain.....
Don't like it.... especially when I've to cycle to school.
=______=   Not to mention the hail.... *sigh*

Wasn't really productive during the semester break,
most of the time just rotting in my room,
youtube-ing, cook and eat..haha

But, did read a 散文集 (collection of short stories) by 吴念真。
道道地地的台湾作家，广告，兼戏剧创作者。
最近看的是他的《这些人-那些事》，个人觉得还蛮不错。

他让我想起大马已故，殿堂级的
作家,广告，兼戏剧创作者-Yasmin Ahmad.
他们的作品风格简白，语法朴素，不烦人。
但内容却很动人。

《这些人那些事》里头，
我最喜欢的莫过于这句：

“精子已经满到喉咙，
吐口痰连爬过的蟑螂都会怀孕”
（吴念真用来描述当年服兵役的他们）

这让我想起在钟灵当 和尚 学生的日子。
一旦有女学生来学校造访，大家都会发疯似的，
到处“觅食”，无法专心上课。
想起来，老师那时候根本就是装饰品。
哈哈。。。真的很怀念。=D

《这些人那些事》前言：

生命里某些当时充满怨怼的曲折，
在后来好像都成了一种能量和养分，

因为若非这些曲折，好像
就不会在人生的岔路上遇见别人
可能求之亦不得的 人与事；

而这些人、那些事在经时间的饰滤后
几乎都只剩下
笑与泪与感动和温柔，

曾经的怨与恨与屈辱和不满
仿佛都已云消雾散。
=D

献上他其中一部广告“台湾的杂某人”

遇见未来

刚刚又看了一部日本电影-《 いま、会いにゆきます》
大纲讲的是一个单亲家庭
在试着度过没有妻子，
没有妈妈的日子的当儿。。。。。。

老婆/妈妈竟然随着雨季复活了。
可是，她失忆了，
需靠着老公和尚年幼儿子
的开导，慢慢地回想起。。。
可是，她到最后都没有想起任何事。
先在这边卖个关子，
原因是与时空错乱有关的。

这部片子还蛮不错的，
相信它是《Time Traveler's Wife 》
和《不可说的秘密》的始祖。
哈哈。。。

如果，有天。。。
你在时空错乱下，
遇到了未来的他们。

而且你知道了自己的未来，
也知道自己的生命的长短。。。
同时又回到了现代。。。
你会怎么面对？
会照着命运走下去吗？
如果你的未来是改变你的命运呢？

你会坚守目前的一切，
还是彻底改变并
为你所看到的未来准备？

戏里的老婆/妈妈失忆了，
所以她得学习。。。
学习如何再度爱上那初恋的老公，
还有如何参与年幼儿子的生活。
还有。。。在回到过去之前，
她也为未来做了一些些温馨的东西哦！

这部片很有家庭的那种感动与温馨，
很适合看！结尾蛮感动的咯~

p/s: 原来平时用来驱雨的晴天娃娃，
如果倒挂的话就是招雨！！！

ただ、君を愛してる

Have been watching some outdated movies lately.... due to extreme boredom.
< < ただ、君を愛してる > > a.k.a. Heavenly Forest
It's a typical uni love story, but presented with a twist.
Main characters in Japanese movies often come with rare and life-threatening disease.... no idea why~
But, in all, this movie is not a bad one, 
It's pretty realistic when comes to the uni students' life.
Of course, the reason I like it is because it has no happy ending...haha
It's rather cruel, sad, but REAL.
The script writer is pretty good in linking unrelated dialogues.
eg. "I'll die when I fall in love", which does make sense when it comes to the end.

I'm Bored. =____=

Chasing fish and aurora australis

 Again, went fishing with classmates at our old spot.
The weather was pretty good and the good thing is that there's barely any wind!

Our G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S member - Ridz =P

Imported Hong Kong cum Brisbane player - Emily

Experienced but never too old to act cute - AuAu

Imported Hong Kong player - Lok Yean

KL Johny boy - Johnson Baby!

FOCUSING......

Unfortunately, lady luck's not really on our side that day,

Only caught a sizeable cod and numerous small&illegal flatheads and cods.
*SIGH*

At first we planned to fish till late evening, around 10-ish.

But, AuAu suggested to try out our luck on something else instead of fish.

It's the chasing of
AURORA AUSTRALIS!

aka 南极光！！

He got an app on his phone for aurora alert and 

the rating was freaking high for the entire evening!

He said on a usual day, it's always around 20-30%,

but that night was 75%!!!!!

Without further ado, we packed all the stuffs and headed South to avoid the city light. (you ain't going to see any aurora when there's city light or fullmoon)

Extra knowledge:  Aurora Australis normally presents itself in apple-green strip topped with red/tangerine strip. If you were to use up all the luck in your entire life in a night, you might see a purple/indigo strip as well!!!

We tried a few places that are further from the city (like 30 minutes away),and the most important thing is there has to be minimum cloud in the sky and best seen during a new moon period (no moon).

It's winter over here and of course, COLD~
We waited along a street that has no street lights and has little trees for like 3 hours.

When Aurora is weak, it is almost invisible by naked eyes. But our eyes can detect them for sure. I know it's hard to understand my statement, but when you see it, you'll get it. It'll appear like tiny light pillars when you view with naked eyes.

Waited 3 hours for that 1 minute.... oh God, why most beautiful things always live short?

My compact camera is totally out when it comes to taking astronomical photos.

But, at least I got friends who have better cameras.

Present to you, Aurora Australis by Cara Chin.

 I shall not forget this night,
the night we got to see 6 shooting stars,
and a minute of light curtain wavering infront of our eyes.
 We shall meet again!

p/s: According to meteorologists, we get to see aurora more frequent that ever (in Tassie) due to the rigorous solar wind activity, which will only last till the end of this year! *GASP*!