There is something about beaches that I cannot get enough of.  Perhaps it’s the water, or the breeze. The smell of saltwater, the freedom it represents. The meditation with nature. Untied to anything. Free to roam for as far as you like. Freedom from constraints. The connection with foreign places. One can just swim away to the deep blue sea.

Important question: Would I get “beach fatigue”, a condition afflicting a small number of  people who haven’t yet figured out how much of the beach and water they could stomach without having their stomachs churn? I have to admit, I did experience it. Still,  it’s my dream to retire somewhere near the beach. Still thinking of which one below. Ah, I dream on. Here are the dreams that might become reality.

Technorati Tags: beach, beach fatigue, beaches, meditation with nature, retire to the beach, smell of saltwater

With all the negative press about Malaysia especially stories about extreme Islamists activities, the high price of alcohol and political turmoil, it’s hardly surprising that tourists numbers have dived since last year. To be fair however, this is a great place for good and reasonably-priced food at all hours of the day.  Despite endless concrete skyscrapers and characterless shoe box residential houses in KL city, there are pockets of redeeming activities taking place. Check out some of them below:

Akasha, an all-girl band from Canada grooving and pumping up the heat at Zeta bar, KL Hilton. Zeta is widely regarded as the top bar in KL, where well-heeled locals and foreigners hang out. I had fun on the 2 or 3 occasions that I was there. I especially like their rendition of some of the popular old songs, in particular songs like YMCA (think it was by Village People) which practically caused the whole floor to burst into an energetic jumping and hands-up routine. That was fun.

The left pix above is not a giant Christmas cake with figurines in colourful costumes. These are live dancers performing some Christmas story on top of a set made to look like the cake. The shopping malls become alive during festival periods. Not to be outdone, Chinese New Year sees some serious drumming by some semi-naked drummers from the local acting/music school. Multiracial and multi-religious Malaysians are so exposed to different cultures that having these indigenous-looking fellows doing the drums during CNY is no big deal. After all, tolerance is something all Malaysians strive for.  

Seriously, we are so tolerant that we have come to accept the that a bunch of girls dancing around the pole in  a club is as common as mum eschewing the outdoor wet market nowadays for the huge hypermarkets.

We are also thrilled when men, or rather boys, display their pole-dancing skills. A recent club party had the crowds going into hysteria when men were asked to belly dance topless in a glass cage in the middle of the bar.

And then, we also have the strange spectre of a former PM becoming an overnight blogger celebrity. Pix on the left below shows Dr Mahathir giving an autograph to a smitten fan. On the right, a Spanish flamenco dance giving Malaysians a taste of Espanyol in the heart of KL. Yes, we are that open and tolerant. In the middle of the strife, we are still capable of enjoying ourselves among Malaysians of other races. Our sense of humour remains very much intact too as demonstrated by our acceptance of all things strange in Malaysia. This includes prosecuting a former Deputy PM for sodomy ie. forcible anal penetration between two men. But this is another story better covered in a political and current affairs blog than this one.

Technorati Tags: Akasha, anwar, Canadian girl-band, celebrity blogger, Chinese New Year drum, Christmas cake, Dr Mahathir, flamenco KL, KL, KL Hilton, Malaysia, male pole dancer, sodomy, Zeta Bar

Now, you will wonder why a military coup comes under a travel blog. Simple reason is that while I was stopping over in Bangkok in Sept 2006, the ouster of then PM Thaksin Shinawatra took place. Lest it be said that I am trivialising a serious political upheaveal in Thailand, I venture to let it be known that the atmosphere around Government House during that time was - shall I put it - “JOVIAL”.  Anti-Thaksin supporters were having a field day. Some were seen selling T-shirts showing a cartoonish Thaksin with his trademark flat hair and the words “GET OUT” prominently displayed below. Many soldiers received roses from members of the public. The street pedlers wasted no time to make money. Where there is a crowd, there is opportunity to make money.

Many journalists were spotted going in and out of Government House. Many Bangkokians, with children in tow,  came to see the great turning point in Thai history and politics.  Billionaire ousted by military with popular support? Rare but true. At least, that’s the impression I got. Now, I will let the photos talk instead.

Technorati Tags: Bangkok, billionaire get out, coup, Government House, happy coup, roses for soldiers, Thai military, Thaksin, Thaksin ouster, Thaksin t-shirts

Widely regarded as the capital of tubing in the world, Vang Vieng is one of a kind of place in the world. So are many sights in Laos, that enigmatic country that I haven’t had enough of even after 2 visits. Tubing, for the uninitiated, is simply getting yourself into a tyre tube and floating down the river.  It’s almost surreal - tubing down the river with occasional refreshment (read: alcoholic) stops at the bars by the river.  One can get happily high while on the tube and forget oneself.  To add to the surreal experience, order a Happy Pizza and Happy mango milkshake after that, and well, reality starts getting redefined post Happy Tubing and all that.

Well, thankfully for me, the “re-defining” only started after I left the bar. On my way up to my room in a guesthouse, I was wondering why the staircase was bending and moving as I walked up. The staircases have come alive!!! If that wasn’t enough, when I struggled to bring myself to brush my teeth, the bathroom sink started to do a twisting act like it wasn’t happy that it’s spit at with toothpaste froth from my mouth.

I only remembered I sank into bed into a dreamless and fitful sleep that night. Thank goodness, I didn’t try the extra happy meals or the magic mushrooms etc. Reality would really have been twisted then. Still, it’s a re-defining moment for me. At least I know my limits now.

Technorati Tags: happy meals, Laos, reality redefined, tubing, tubing capital, Vang Vieng

Everything is big in Bangkok especially when it comes to retail/wholesale of goods/food. One of the sights not to be missed is THE Chatuchak market in Bangkok.  Widely believed to be the world’s biggest market with an estimated 15000 plus stalls set in 14 hectares of land, the weekend market requires at least one whole day of exploration. Each area has its own specialty eg. army wear, apparel, gifts, pets (yes, they sell all manner of live pets including snakes, iguana etc), garden wear, household items - you name it, they probaby have it. They even have live cock-fighting sessions in a more secluded part of the huge market. I was lucky that the last time I was there, I managed to see the cock fight. However, not all tourists are welcome. Maybe I look like a Thai.

Some interesting shots of Chatuchak - it’s a huge tourist attraction in Bangkok. Buskers are aplenty. Even an Australian doing the digeridoo (I am assuming he is Oz). Probably some backpackers hoping to extend their stay with some side income. The best is the balding guy with a football propped at the side of his head in a stationary position. You pay him to take a shot of him.

Technorati Tags: Bangkok, biggest market in the world, buskers, Chatuchak, chatuchak market

Most people probaby assume that thankas are made in Tibet since Tibet is famous for its thankas. In fact, most thankas are made in Nepal, where it’s cheaper. I have had the privilege of visiting a thanka school in Nepal. The above 2 are bought while there. I no longer have them as I have either given them away or sold them upon my return to Malaysia.

Here are some snapshots of the students at the school. Actually, the last picture was taken at a shop. In many parts of Kathmandu, you can see such shops where the shop owners/workers actually work on the thankas while keeping watch on the shop. The symbolisms on the paintings are lost on me. I admit I have little interest on them, but the minute details the painters go into for each painting is nothing less than spectacular.

Technorati Tags: Kathmandu, nepal, thanka paintings, thanka school, thankas, tibet

The chef boils the ingredients in cow’s milk for about 20 mins  in a big wok.

and hey presto, you get a hot tasty Masala milk - very nutritious, I must say.

RM2.50 for small or RM3.00 big. Worth it.

Technorati Tags: Klang, Little India, masala milk, spice milk, wok

It was one of those moments. A death wish turned out to be one of the most pleasurable and fun activities I have ever had.  It was rather recent in memory (a few years ago) -after two (or three) successive bombings in Bali, the tourists naturally disappeared. In desperation, Air Asia offerred ZERO fares. Free to Bali? Hey, I jumped in.

My rationale is simple: 1. Worst case scenario - I end up bombed to smithereens. Fair enough. It’s my wish to die in an exotic locale especially a beach resort. 2. Cheap. Being cost-conscious is after all the rage during economically challenging times. 3. Fewer people - I can really relax.    4. Since the terrorists target Caucasian tourists in high-density areas (read bars , pubs), I will avoid them and stick around the beach.

For lack of exciting activities, I signed up for white water-rafting.  I have paid homage at all the obligatory sights. Even had foie gras by the paddy field in one of the best French restaurants in Bali (so the guide book tells me). Err… it’s definitely an acquired taste. Unfortunately, at the time, I had yet to acquire that taste and had to regurgitate what I swallowed into the paddy field. My, the resulting rice would have tasted superb - to the right taste buds of course.

I digress. The water-rafting was incredibly fun … No need to be fit, you can be as fat as tomcat. No need even to do any paddling. Your raft-mates and the guide plus gravity will ensure that the raft floats down in a gently dramatic fashion. Just pretend to paddle. Hold the paddle like a pro and smile all the way down because the cameras are clicking away at your awe-inspiring efforts.

Some Japanese girls in the other boats added the excitement quotient by screaming and laughing all the way down. It was climactic towards the end when the boat fell over a precipitous rock of about 8 feet high.  Unforgetable. This is more fun than any other sports I have ever done. Yes, beats the surfing (wave surfing) that I tried at Kuta beach. Surfing is just too much hard work. Forget being the poster boy of fun in Bali - just breeze through the Grade 2/3 rapids amidst lush greenery. Guaranteed to make you feel whole and natural again.

Technorati Tags: Air Asia, Bali, Bali bombing, foie gras, surfing, white water rafting

Standing at the edge of a life in danger of being snuffed out  -

With so much brouhaha abt bungy-jumping, I have gotta to try it. 50 metres over a jungle lagoon not too far from the beach. How romantic. My first thought was that even if I die, the location is ideal - I mean what are the chances that you get to be buried in a holiday resort? Apart from the 2004 tsunami, which I unfortunately was not present, this is a once in a lifetime chance to get a decent, romantic burial by the beach.

With such thoughts calming me, I got into the act. Paid the fees. They used a lift-like contraption to lift me up 50 metres from the lagoon. Before that, they strapped my ankles with cords and paddings that can support 100 of me. Not bad. I felt like Spiderman during the ascent up on the outdoor lift. No problem. I can fly.

Upon reaching the top, my knees felt weak. My nerves failed me and I told the guy next to me “Er,… I think you need to start the lift down.”

“Huh, no way. Just jump. Don’t think. No refund if you don’t jump.”

No refund? Ok, I have lived this long, had some major heartbreaks and other breaks, I guess life up to this stage had been worth it. It was an eventful life - challenging but fought hard to the end, although punctuated with many R & Rs sessions in exotic spaces. Life is to be lived after all, and since play had been a big part of my life, I guess it’s only poetic justice to die while at play.

At least, my body parts don’t get all splatterred up in pieces should I hit the water at breakneck speed. Breakneck? Oh, I forgot, it would be like hitting the brick wall at that speed. Still, the image of my heroic death in a romantic setting was too tempting a thought. So, I plunged.

See that? I did fly!

Heading straight into the water. I glimpsed my past for a split second.

Hang on. Something abruptly stopped me from jumping to my watery grave. Ah, the cord - the cord. A sudden jerk up and down again. Then up again. My stomach felt like it’s somewhere up there. Or was that my heart I left up there? Couldn’t be. I felt my heart pounding at breakneck speed.

It was a safe landing. They pulled me into dry land, a wooden platform by the lagoon edge. It took like 5 seconds for the entire jump.

For surviving my death wish, they awarded me a Certificate of Courage.  I now know why some call it a “Hair-Raising experience”. For some strange reason, my hair was standing, I mean it was in a “raised-up” position after the fall. Despite the strong pull of gravity, my hair refuses to stand down. It was raised the entire time until I washed it.

To date, only a few people have seen the medal, I mean the certificate. Shall I include it in my next job application i.e. “Successfully performed death-defying stunt”

Technorati Tags: bungee jumping, bungy jump, certificate of courage, death wish, Phuket

For those not in the know, orbing is a new ball game. A big ball that swallows 2 persons inside and rolls down a hill with the two humans strapped in. Orbiting on land, if you will. The high - experiencing a stomach-churning, head-turning experience. Your head literally rolls. For RM15, it’s a rather cheap head roll. In case you are wondering, my head was pretty much intact the last time I checked.

Upon torturing myself at this late stage in my life, I was told that this is just a prelude - a piece of small experience for the big things like bungee-jumping and sky-diving. Hah,  done that years ago.  But for reasons best known to myself alone, I have vowed never to go sky-diving.

Since no pix was taken, this is the rare instance when I make use of someone else’s website - click on video to see what orbing is all about. Meanwhile, get ready for my bungee-jumping account next.

http://www.gacadventure.com

Technorati Tags: head roll, Lake Titiwangsa, orb, orbing