Fragments from an urbanscape

Happy new year!

2012-01-07T11:35:00.000+08:00

I have totally given up on new year resolutions. It's always 1440x900. Trying to write a list every year that sounded like predictions from a phony fortune teller. This "new beginning" thing is getting irritating after awhile, imagine having 81 new beginnings when u are 81.

And i just realize i'm not that far from home. 8.5 day to drive home!
I really like how it ended so simply with number 482. Turn right into Marine Crescent. Destination will be on the right. tadaa~!~

It really make u feel like u are just living on the other side of town.

Autumn

2011-12-10T10:38:00.001+08:00

Autumn
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

我還來不及紀錄過往的陽光，轉眼腳下已經踩泛黃的落葉。
我還來不及多看一眼那片遙遠的金黃色的山丘，睜開眼，窗外的那個屋簷已經被一層白雪覆蓋著。

這是我第一個秋天，也是我第一個冬天。

我住在韓國sauna里的日子

2011-12-10T10:37:00.001+08:00

我住在韓國sauna里的日子
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Lectures

2011-12-10T09:58:00.001+08:00

Lectures
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

小小滾 doesn't seem to like lectures too. yawn~

期待

2011-10-06T04:12:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The beauty of waiting is the anticipation. Running out to the corridor to check if the mail man is outside the door. And gradually giving up thinking it will never arrive.

Where are you, Mr Postman?

我會慢慢等。。慢慢等。。慢慢等。。慢慢等。。
慢慢等。。慢慢等。。等紅燈變綠燈

慢慢等。。等到我都睡著了
耐心等只為了心動的那一刻

It's a nice change from the hectic city, people is out having a stroll, people are not rushing pass you on the escalator, everybody wait patiently for the bus and there's no glares from the queue if you're at the cashier searching for change.

But yeah, everything else is slower too.

Post box

2011-10-06T02:38:00.001+08:00

DSC_0029
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Back home, I would walk pass a postbox and never take a second look at it. I don't send letters and i don't know anyone who does. But now receiving and sending something in the post is like the happiest moment ever. Clicking the "send" button is definitely not the same.

St andrews

2011-10-06T02:13:00.001+08:00

DSC_0020
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Now i'm really away from the khmer architecture, chinese temples, random stupas, busy streets, kids playing by the river. Those sweaty days.

These days I'm enjoying the greenery around, feeling the warmth of the sun and not looking for the next air-conditioned place constantly or feeling like the entire population is walking on the same street as me.

=)

My window

2011-10-02T07:40:00.000+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It's almost a month.

I've gotten used to life here and everything is great, sitting in the kitchen feeling like I've lived here all my life. But somehow I still feel kind of unreal that I'm actually here.

A while ago, I made a quick decision to quit my job.
Next, I was carrying my backpack walking everywhere.
And suddenly I'm back home like nothing had happened.
Now here I am, having to live my next few years of my life in a continent that I've never stepped foot on before.

I feel like I'm still stuck in this period of transition, in the surreal complexity of this weird dream that I might wake up from every minute. Sometimes I wonder if the realization that I am here will only come when I leave this place. But at least I'm enjoying every bit of it. (Well, at least for now) Sometimes, I don't really know what I'm doing everyday. Most days, I'm running on auto-pilot for the first half, wondering what to eat for the rest of the day and doing nothing on the laptop all night.

噢。。真的是很充實的人生！

Sri Lanka

2011-09-09T11:11:00.001+08:00

DSC_0718
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Ceylon tea, train rides, ruins

I could be in this country just for this daunting train ride. Endless tea plantation on the mountains, sticking my head out of the window for the cool breeze, getting my head back into the train just in time before hitting a tree and hearing the local kids scream when the train go through the tunnel. There's something about trains that i really like.

On the choot choot train

2011-09-09T11:03:00.001+08:00

DSC_0805
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I like trains, they are assuring. You don't need to worry about anything and just sit (or stand in this case) and look at the passing scenery. It can't go anywhere else, it will always reach where you want to go. Eventually.

Trains

2011-09-09T10:08:00.001+08:00

DSC_0707
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

And of course i chose to be on the carriage for clergy.

Lipton tea!

2011-09-09T10:06:00.001+08:00

DSC_0990
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Polonnaruwa

2011-09-09T09:57:00.001+08:00

DSC_0320
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

There's something about the wheat fields too. Blue sky, coconut trees and wheat fields, it's hard to not like this place.

Thuparama dagoba

2011-09-09T09:50:00.001+08:00

DSC_0212
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Ruvanvelisaya dagoba

2011-09-09T09:07:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The deepening of the twilight is followed by nightfall. It's another curry curry night.

只要能天天看到海，就一定很幸福

2011-08-03T18:01:00.001+08:00

DSC_1280
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

我家雖然沒有
泰國歷史悠久的古鎮
寮國簡單的生活
Mekong邊laid back的感覺
四處瘋狂的派對
如畫的雪山當背景
香格里拉感覺很自由的草原
四川的高原
花蓮沿海的稻田
蘭嶼清澈的海水
還是台北那種總之就是不在家的那種感覺。

但是我家也很美！

HDBs

2011-08-03T17:20:00.001+08:00

DSC_1283
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Now that I'm back home, there's no more rivers, mountains or fields of wheat. I'm back to my concrete forest that changes colour not based on the season but the decision of the housing board.

221

2011-08-03T16:10:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

221天的旅程，一轉眼就過去了。

有點不舍，不知道是已經厭倦了新加坡繁忙的都市人的生活，還是真的習慣了這一段在外漂泊的日子。

Getting to a new place every other day.

Looking for the hostel, train station/bus station (usually involve walking long distances).

Key the new password for the WIFI into my iphone. (And check if it actually works)

Looking for the best food in town recommended by the hostel/lonely planet.

Shower back in the hostel, praying that there will be hot water. And don't get your hopes up when you see a heater in the shower that lights up when you on the water. Sometimes all the heater can do is to just light up.

NIght time are usually spend in the hostel chatting with other travelers over beer till the last person go to bed.

Going to the attraction in town the next day (feeling really tired). And somehow, it always involve walking long distances(again), climbing mountains, cycling or swimming.

Night time are always the same unless there's a party in town or something interesting.

Waking up at the sound of my alarm (or someone else's), packing my stuff in lightning speed. But somehow things in your backpack will expand on the mornings that you're rushing and doesn't fit in your backpack anymore.

Finding your way to the next destination again.

And this repeats.

Sometimes, I find it more tiring than working but of course I enjoyed every moment of it.
This trip I had swam in different part of the mekong, walked ridiculous distances, climb too many mountains, seen enough temples, cycled to the strangest places, met interesting people, searched for cordyceps on snow mountain, seen beautiful places. It's alright to be tired.

My backpack need to do some sit ups.

2011-08-03T16:05:00.002+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It's time to go home. My backpack is going to burst. Like a fat man wearing a t-shirt too small for him. Arghh 有三層肉！

Back to reality

2011-08-02T18:45:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I had a new haircut, bought a bag and some clothes to adapt to city life again.

I felt out of place in taipei walking down 忠孝東路 in my backpacker's clothes and messy hair. I'm starting to miss walking down the street barefoot, wearing the same vang veng tubing singlet everyday and stopping to wash my hand by the stream or river that is flowing through town.

阿嘉的家

2011-08-02T18:37:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

No matter what, i have to visit 阿嘉的家 since I'm in 墾丁!

My head-turning hummer

2011-08-02T18:33:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

From rickety bangla bikes, to korean drama lady bikes, and then professional giant bikes and then a head-turing hummer.

Wouldn't you take a second look at this? Just like what it's written,

Like nothing else.

2011-08-02T18:25:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

This random picture is worth a lot of effort. One day of cycling and one day of taking the bus and walking along the highway. Just to search for "一種我要的感覺". At least i found it.

王子麵

2011-08-02T18:18:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

王子麵沒有王子。
（包裝上的，可能是便衣的王子吧。）

魚香茄子沒有魚。

雞絲麵沒有雞絲。

臺南菜粽

2011-08-02T18:14:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

菜粽里也沒有菜。

這到底是什麼世界啊！

But anyway the dumpling is really good even when there's only peanuts in it. It taste really yummy with a hint of some kind of veggie smell and the sauce on top with peanut powder.

I can't help but to complain again about the dumpling i had during 端午節. I was somewhere in the tibetan part of Szechuan when I bought a dumpling to celebrate 端午節 with a group of farangs. I wanted to have a dumpling even when i can't remember why did Qu yuan killed himself.

The very first bite, I have to bite off the tip of the dumpling. It doesn't matter what filling does it have, maybe a mushroom, chestnut, azuki beans, lumps of fat, meat or other fancy stuff. It's more of the anticipation than really finding what's inside.

One bite, two bite, three bites.
.........
Finally i saw the filling, it has 3 green beans sitting right in the middle of the dumpling. Tell me about disappointment.

蝦米？

2011-08-02T17:54:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The taiwanese are really cute people, it shows in their conversation, daily life and all of their products.

But this is so true!

After awhile..

2011-08-01T17:17:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

After awhile, I don't like to answer some questions. I just had a really fun day with the locals at a place and they will ask if I will be coming back. It's strange that within a day or two, they are almost like the close friends you have back home. And if I stay for a week or so, I know almost everybody in the village and I start to feel like a part of them. Goodbyes are so hard, everybody come and wave goodbye and tell you that you must come back one day. I really want to spend more time with them, keep in contact and of course see them again in the future.

But sometimes, deep down I know that maybe I might never come back to this place again in the future, or even if I do, it will be very long time later. From the "Sure!" and "Of course!", gradually I started answering with "I"ll love to!" and most of the time the people never probe further.

There is always a silence that follows. Then they will continue cheerfully about where can we go when I come back again.

I think they too know that the tourist don't always come back after awhile, and they might never have a chance to leave the place in their entire life.

Goodbyes are the hardest when you know you might never meet again.

Too many mountains

2011-08-01T15:30:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Sometimes it's nice to stand at the view point and just take a picture instead of climbing the mountain.

Mary had a little lamb

2011-08-01T15:05:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

(or maybe a little yak)

Looking for a reason

2011-08-01T02:39:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It's good to be alive.

How many more roads do I have to follow?
How many more mountains do I have to climb?

Over here, the sun never seem to set and I never seem to get to where I'm going...

加油，因為之後的路還很長。

我是好人！

2011-08-01T02:26:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

日照金山！！

這就是傳說中的日照金山！！只有好人看得到，看到會落淚的日照金山！

Suddenly, the torturing long journey on the minivan is all worth it. Everything for this.

At this moment when it's there right in front of you, it looks so natural. Like a normal phenomenon that happens every single day. People really take things for granted so easily.

But apparently, it doesn't happen all the time. On my last day, I wanted to catch the sunrise again but to my dismay, there wasn't even a mountain in sight. No wonder people flock here and stay for days waiting for a glimpse of the magical sunrise.

Is this the Shangri la?

2011-07-31T01:37:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

How can a place be this beautiful?

Somehow everywhere else seems more beautiful than home. Not just the grass are greener, the sky is bluer and the clouds are whiter.

Where flowers bloom and river meet..

2011-07-31T00:54:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It's hard to leave. Everyone seem to stay longer than they planned. Maybe I was getting tired of moving everyday too but I'm getting a little too comfortable.

Baguette for breakfast, 3 fruit shakes a day, a dip in the pool in the hot afternoon or a herbal sauna in the evening, a movie at night, beer laos & fussball at utopia after that and of course a nice bed to sleep till noon. Why would anyone want to go anywhere else?

To Burma..

2011-07-30T23:07:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I sat down, I waited. And once i'm not ready they snap my picture. I think they want to capture my 最真實的一面. But it's true, they will probably find me walking around in Burma like this than pinning up my fringe.

10usd or 500baht? What do you think?
And despite the rumors, they do give change (if you ask nicely)

This is where I escape the big earthquake. Well, Bagan next time.

Go go go!

2011-07-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

After awhile, everything seems possible. It doesn't matter what terrain, what kind of bike or even how bad is the weather.

If you want to get to a place enough, just keep cycling and you will reach there. Eventually.

I started out with 20km, then 40km, and sometimes ended up with 80km. Maybe i can buy a bike and ride all they way home. But of course it will be better with a real bike, those pretty bikes from mtvs and korean movies doesn't really work well when there's a slope in front (even the slightest one).

This is the day that I should have worn some flowery dress and a straw hat and act like I'm in some fancy korean drama. And maybe some flowers that I picked, my frappuccino in my basket and snapping pictures with a holga. At least I might feel better on the 13km of highway back to Chiang Rai.

Mae Salong, Thailand

2011-07-26T18:18:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Nope, this is not China. Obviously this place have strong chinese influences. I didn't know the KMT were in Thailand.

After awhile I felt like traveling is really good exercise. There will always be a temple or a vantage point that you MUST see. And of course it's on a mountain(or a "hill"). Monks must be really fit in the past.

No matter where you go, a flight of stairs awaits...

不到山頂非好漢？
我到了山頂在流汗! x_x|||

Sukhothai! (Sounds like some kind of spicy thai sukiyaki)

2011-03-11T16:19:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Now I understand something, it is so true that 頭沒那麼大就別戴那麼大頂帽子 (especially if you are riding a bicycle).

Everybody like fried spring rolls!

2011-01-04T23:44:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

世界上最遙遠的距離不是生與死，而是menu上美食當前卻無法品嚐. Sore throat, cough and flu. The irritating trio.

"Fresh or fried spring rolls?"

I really want some spring rolls. So I settled for some fresh ones. Obviously it's the fried ones that are good. Like some guy said any thing deep fried taste good, frogs, insects, any kind of animal. And even if they deep fried the sole of your shoe, he bet it will still taste good.

It's strange. What I miss most is some decent Tom yam soup. And since eating leafy spring rolls are not getting me any better I had a bowl of Tom yam soup for dinner. Maybe a different strategy of 以毒攻毒 or is it really 自我安慰. I just want some Tom yam soup. 愛到飛蛾撲火是種墮落.

蘿蔔？菠蘿？

2010-12-07T22:27:00.002+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Sometimes my chinese sucks. Shouldn't speed read when you're not too good at it.

Savory pies are just so much nicer. Like the tuna and corn pie in Thailand.

蘿蔔派？

At the sight of the word 蘿 I assume it's carrot pie and rush in to buy. I only realize when i got back to the hotel. Even the words 我就喜歡 seems to come with a mocking laugh. It's really just pineapple from some pineapple tart but in a pie.

乾清宮

2010-12-07T22:02:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

So it's really Qian qing gong. No wonder the group of chinese tourists who's standing too near to me turn and look at me when i happily announce that we are at "gan" qing gong. 明明就是葡萄乾的乾。

I was reading a chinese guidebook that i bought at the ticketing counter. I could have bought the english version, but you will never know which is the Palace of Heavenly Purity. 乾乾乾乾乾

古琴

2010-11-03T04:11:00.001+08:00

IMG_0844
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

From 6 strings to 4 strings to 21 strings. Abit too much. Its like playing 3 guitars or 5 ukuleles at one go.

Although I started learning because one day I would paint my 古琴 black with neon pink phoenix and maybe appear on Jay Chou concert. Hahaa I would have continued if I knew I had this much time. Now all i can play is what 花菲花.

因為古琴能彈奏出高山和大海的聲音。

BKK again

2010-11-03T03:58:00.001+08:00

P1000112
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

From quite sometime back, little to say, everybody love Bangkok.

2010-11-03T01:50:00.004+08:00

Before going on a trip like this, without a compagnon de voyage, reading Eat, Pray, Love seems appropriate. I look forward to read about traveling to a foreign land, learning their language and eating their food or finding romance in an exotic island. But mediation or chanting in India is definitely out of my league. I nearly gave up reading when she say she's going to extend her stay at the Ashram. You can't see your reflection in running water, only in still water. Yeah right just see it in the mirror then.

I knew I was never the spiritual kind but I didn't know it's this bad. The closest i went was maybe reiki which I didn't continue anyway. Maybe like what the book says I am one of those whose eyes are caked shut with the dust of deception and will never see the truth, no matter who tries to help them. I can never get past the 1st chapter of a book titled Unlocking the mysteries of Birth & Death.

I'll leave the love part of the book when I get on the road.

Eat pray love.

人生偶爾會走上一條末路
像是沒有指標的地圖
別讓他們說你該自足
只有你知道什麼是你的幸福

人生中有很多事沒有值不值得，只有想不想要。

=D

Angkor what what what???

2010-09-30T05:22:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

From a thousand years ago, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The very famous Angkor wat. The iconic 3 maize on the building. Build by a succession of kings, the whole place is very much Hindu. Might be very much better if I had read some Cambodia history beforehand if not they are pretty much just ruins and some cravings. I had watch Tomb raider but too lazy to read about history.

The main sites have undergo restoration but the rest are pretty much in shambles. There are wooden poles here and there for support and sometimes I feel that I could be buried in rubble anytime.

Definitely worth a visit but once is enough. After visiting the main sites, the rest looks almost alike, long flight of stairs and nothing up there. Siem Reap is like just like Thailand with lots and lots of tourist. Khmer cuisine is almost the same as thai as well. Even their nightmarket sells all the stuff that you can get in thai. I like Amok, some kinda khmer curry dish. Food choices in abundance and beer for 1usd. It's a great place to spend some time.

DSC_0051

2010-09-30T04:24:00.004+08:00

DSC_0051
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Apsara dance which is the Khmer traditional dance. Maybe music and dances in the entire region share some similarity. Thai, Burmese, Javanese and Khmer all seems quite alike but with slight variations. Twisting their hands to the music, wearing sharp pointy crowns and dances with a vivid storyline involving a bird or a beast.

DSC_0148

2010-09-30T04:24:00.001+08:00

DSC_0148
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Angkor wat. Waking up at 4am to get there to watch this "on-every-single-postcard" sunrise over the Angkor wat. Just to see hundreds of people in the dark armed with their dslr and tripods aiming at the same direction.

Can one really tell the difference between a sunrise and a sunset? Just watch the sunset la.

DSC_0348

2010-09-30T03:57:00.001+08:00

DSC_0348
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Hahaa 這些是狗嘴嗎？

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2010-09-30T03:43:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Ta Prohm. Where Angelina Jolie was there to search for I-can't-remember-what and fight off some guardian statue. They are doing some restoration work because the whole place look like it might collapse anytime. The trees growing out of the ruins makes the place look "untouched" but it seems like it's destroying the structure as well.

If there isn't woodcutters or many other tourists around, you might feel like you have just stumbled upon some lost temple in the middle of the jungle. This place feels peaceful. In contrast, the faces at the Bayon temple makes the whole place eerie.

DSC_0316

2010-09-30T02:29:00.001+08:00

DSC_0316
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The very famous Bayon temple. I don't know why but he look really creepy. 又加上綿綿的細雨，更加感覺眼前一片淒涼。

DSC_0419

2010-09-30T02:09:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

There are lots of carvings. Some with a sense of humor.

DSC_0541

2010-09-30T01:57:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

And the more beautiful ones.

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2010-09-29T17:35:00.001+08:00

DSC_0430
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Do the ancient cambodians have small feet and long legs or what? I find myself spending 1/4 of my holiday climbing up flights of stairs that look exactly alike. And another 1/4 of the time climbing down.

DSC_0498

2010-09-29T17:00:00.002+08:00

DSC_0498
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

So is this a sunrise or a sunset?

DSC_0170

2010-09-28T17:07:00.002+08:00

DSC_0170
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Also from a thousand years ago. Phuket. Somewhere common and every other person been there before. Just felt that it's very much overrated or I had too high expectations for Thai beaches. Sandy shores and clear blue water and that's about it. As usual, the whole place is full of angmos, lobster red from both alcohol and sun. It's just nice but not excatly my favorite. But anyway you'll still get all the good food as long as you're in Thailand.

DSC_0156

2010-09-28T16:24:00.001+08:00

DSC_0156
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It's really just a beach.

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2010-09-28T16:17:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The picture that everybody must take when they are there.

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2010-09-28T16:13:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

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2010-09-28T16:04:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Simple but very nice. A-roy ka! Mama brand instant noodle stir fry.

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2010-09-28T15:39:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Everybody loves sotongs! From seaman to tourists.

Playing with fire.

2010-09-28T15:33:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Fire dancers skipping.

2010-09-28T15:26:00.001+08:00

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Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

More snacks?

Run run run!

2009-12-06T01:13:00.001+08:00

My bib
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

People always say 讀萬卷書不如行萬里路, so I'm literally going to put down my books and run 萬里的路! 加油！

Monster toast

2009-10-18T23:56:00.001+08:00

Monster toast
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

There's no need to buy those hello kitty toaster so that you can get hello kitty prints on your toast. =D

What was i thinking back then?

2009-10-11T19:00:00.001+08:00

Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Now i feel old. This was like 8 years ago. Packing my room when i found my portfolio for my O'levels art.

Fashion design.
It's all about drawing stick thin ugly women wearing impossible dresses.

The one on the left was the rejected one. I just felt that it had dead fishes on it.

Anyway, I manage to keep a copy of the actual because i didn't have time or the skill to draw a scale up version for the portfolio. So i cheated and brought it to the printing shop to print a zoom out version. Hehe i wonder how many art student really drew a bigger version of it. And thinking back, how did i manage to draw all these. The sepak takraw prints at the bottom with the fishes look super kelong/kampong style.

I don't think i can draw this again. Hahaa what a waste, i should have taken a pic of the actual piece but i guess i was in too much of a rush to remember. And that face up there was really horrible, you'll be forced to look at the dress instead.

亡命之徒

2009-09-22T00:33:00.012+08:00

陶吉吉上百萬大歌星唱了這首亡命之徒.

Desperado by the Eagles.

Didn't know they even translate the name of the song.

Listening to the Emi fujita's cover of the song now.

Just love her voice. Soothing.

And it reminds me of my poly project days.

Everyday seems like a good day when you are listening to her.

最近看了這部電影, 保持愛你. Another honkie movie that lingers on lovey-dovey stuff.

在戲中Justin對Stephy說：

音樂不只是用耳朵聽，是用心去感受。

電影往往說得簡單。

活在沒有音樂的世界，我會很痛苦吧。

It's like forever staying in the quiet reading room in the library.

I guess it isn't easy to live a life where sound cease to exist.

Most of the time music get stuck in my head pretty fast.

情要說出口先知那是溫柔
只因彼此愛未夠
一擁抱顫抖比愛字還濃厚
無言無語才無憂 -Justin

Come together!

2009-07-20T23:56:00.001+08:00

F1000010, originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates.

It's gonna be national day again. But i'm always not one of the randomly selected portion of the population who won tickets. It's as impossible as lottery. Hmpf can someone bring me along?

Xi'an, China

2009-07-12T23:59:00.001+08:00

DSC_0024
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Going to Xi'an and loyang is like taking a live history lesson. Every place that you go to has some historical value and a story behind. Used to known as 長安, ancient capital of many dynasties in Chinese history. That explain all the stuff that they found underground. And there ain't selling A grade bags, the people there have more scholarly pursuits. Quite an interesting place.

DSC_0528

2009-07-12T23:44:00.001+08:00

DSC_0528
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

They have tuktuks too! Just not as fanciful as the thais ones. And this modified tuktuk.

DSC_0120

2009-07-12T23:42:00.001+08:00

DSC_0120
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

This is a place that really have LOTS and LOTS of stuff dug up from the ground. The terracotta army, chariots, tableware, figurines, people that accompany him in his death and every other thing that he uses. I wonder what was the Qin emperor thinking.

Chinese poem

2009-07-12T23:33:00.001+08:00

DSC_0185
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

This is one of the very 1st chinese poem I've learn when i was small. Trying to make me finish all the food in my bowl. If kids don't care bout the rice, kids wun be bothered by a poem either. Haha

Cameras

2009-07-12T23:24:00.002+08:00

DSC_0249
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I need a compact camera!!

On average, I bring at least 2 cameras on a trip. (3, if you consider my iphone camera as a camera) Its getting heavy. Extra lens, filters, or underwater camera etc etc. Its like never going back, you can bring more but nothing less ;D

Shaolin!

2009-07-12T23:22:00.001+08:00

DSC_0790
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Who cares bout the great wall. One hasn't been to china if they've never visited shaolin! All the monks wear sports shoes here. =D So I'm left with 华山, 峨嵋山, 武当山 and whichever place that are mention in the chinese swordplay novels.

Mount song

2009-07-12T23:08:00.001+08:00

DSC_0809
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Kids, foreigners and locals travel all the way there to learn the 72 arts of shaolin. All are rather aggressive, if they have something like 易筋经 i don't mind learning. Its super cool to learn some kinda martial arts in shaolin!! If they are going to whack my head with a metal rod after i've gather my qi then i rather learn pilates back home. Hahaa maybe need some kinda martial arts background or experience.

DSC_0801

2009-07-12T22:38:00.001+08:00

DSC_0801
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The guide say many many years ago the shaolin monks were practicing the diamond finger (一指金剛法) when they left all these marks on the tree trunk.

Shaolin monks

2009-07-12T22:35:00.001+08:00

DSC_0815
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Ouch~ why would anyone want to learn this??

Rose mirror cake

2009-07-12T18:15:00.003+08:00

DSC_0857
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

China is a completely porkified nation, pork dumplings, pork noodle soup, and even lays potato chips has a finger licking braise pork flavor. The muslim quarters is the only place that goes porkless. They eat more of mutton. Not that it's any better for me. Maybe we are just not used to their flavors. Its either too salty, oily and in really big portions. And maybe its really near sichuan that the only chili they have is the ma la chilli. Numbing and tingly. Even their mac have a ma la burger. I miss my sambal.

This is their famous rose mirror cake, its rice cake with some jam and nuts on top. Not exactly very nice either.

The Longmen Grottoes

2009-07-12T17:31:00.003+08:00

DSC_0839
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The weather was so hot at this time of the year that even going to the museum seems like a really good idea.

Old popsicle.

2009-07-12T16:05:00.003+08:00

DSC_0831
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

You simply need a popsicle at a time like this. Old popsicle. I had 3 in the entire trip but i still couldn't tell what flavor was it. It taste like some chinese new year candy that i couldn't remember.

DSC_0852

2009-07-12T14:38:00.004+08:00

DSC_0852
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

深夜

2009-06-02T01:51:00.000+08:00

黑眼圈越來越深，
但就是喜歡黑夜。
享受著黑夜的寧靜
與淒涼的浪漫，
我根本就不期待黎明的曙光。

聽著身後輕鬆的Bossa nova音樂，

似乎能夠在深夜里感受到陽光的溫暖。

什麼都不想做。

什麼都不想去想。

總是覺得世界是如此的遼闊，

而我是如此渺小卑微。

如果有一天我從世界的某個角落突然消失，

地球還是會繼續旋轉，風還是會繼續的吹。

不曉得是害怕無聊

還是習慣性的把我每一個星期的schedule排得滿滿的。

就算少打一份工還是一樣。

開始累了。

嗨！

反正到人生的盡頭都是一場空，不如盡量的享受每一天！

Glutinous riceballs

2009-05-05T00:53:00.002+08:00

DSC_0068
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I don't like glutinous riceballs. I won't buy them again no matter how cute or colorful they are. They are just lumps of colored flour. Hmpf

How bored can i get?

2009-04-02T00:35:00.001+08:00

Photo 10
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

So i'm sick and stuck at home for the entire week. Down with some kinda mysterious illness. And why is baking becoming the most popular activity around?

But NO i didn't want to bake a cake or something i rather sleep.

I'm bored.

Shanties from the seven seas~

2009-03-03T00:16:00.003+08:00

I don't dream. Or at least i don't remember them at all. I don't know if it's the dreamcatcher that's hanging on my window or what. But last night i must had dreamt of taking a boat to somewhere on a choppy sea and i got seasick. I woke up feeling queasy.

I'm feeling nausea and had a vertigo migraine all day. =(

Let the Air on G string play on..

2009-02-28T12:19:00.000+08:00

I'm tired.

So it wasn't just the Internet or the computers that's making me stay up late.

yawn~

However long the night, the dawn will break.

2009-01-27T05:09:00.001+08:00

DSC_0005
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

2009-01-27T01:54:00.000+08:00

DSC_0008
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Arghh. I dread listening to all the chinese new year songs during this period of time. Its the same every year, and it doesn't help when the bus driver on my transport decided that they sound better than the usual happy birthday song on 97.2fm.

2009-01-27T01:46:00.000+08:00

DSC_0017
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Enjoying my cuppa while doing nothing on this Chinese new year.

A year in pictures.

2009-01-12T02:52:00.001+08:00

DSC03063
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Some random photo from yesteryear. Someone asked me where's my new year resolution for the year. Every year end when i make my annual personal review i'll be disappointed as i realize i've forgotten bout the customary new year resolution that i've made during the start of the year. In order to spare myself from that this year end, i've decided to forgo the entire process of making new year resolutions. There's no point wishing for this and that. Anyway, according to murphy's law, if anything can go wrong, it will.

What a hat!

2009-01-12T01:54:00.001+08:00

IMG_0086
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The most decent chick

2009-01-12T01:53:00.001+08:00

IMG_0103
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

This is 趴趴.

Who can resist a rootbeer float?

2009-01-12T01:43:00.001+08:00

DSC03238
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

EVERYBODY loves A&W.

Batam, Indonesia

2009-01-12T01:39:00.001+08:00

DSC03217
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

Nobody believe i've never been there before.

Nope it's not Chinese new year

2009-01-12T01:36:00.001+08:00

P1010147
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

It national day! I've been there working for the past 3 years and i'm still feeling lethargic every morning before my coffee. Someone told me i will get so used to working life that i will wake up early even on weekends. Apparently it doesn't apply for everybody. Just last week, I woke up close to 7 in the evening without alarm clock.

7th month

2009-01-12T01:28:00.001+08:00

DSC00046
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

I drew this on the whiteboard of microlab in celebration of the 7th month ghost festival and nearly got other people into trouble. Tsk tsk. But what's wrong with it? Isn't it cute?

2009-01-12T01:21:00.002+08:00

DSC03286
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

The sky look different everyday. Busy urbanites should slow down and take note of the finer details of life.

Salang, Pulau Tioman

2009-01-12T01:07:00.001+08:00

F1000001, originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates.

My yearly Pilgrimage. It may not have the most beautiful beach but it's near enough, the people are nice, its cheap and i just like it.

Smokehouse, Cameron highlands

2009-01-12T00:59:00.001+08:00

DSC_0631, originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates.

A friend of mine said that this is a perfect place for people to retire in. Cool weather, close to home, grow some flowers in your yard, read a book in the ye olde English style architecture and furnishing. Hmmm its beautiful no doubt but its wet and eerie at night. I still prefer a seaside setting. Watching the waves and feeling the sea breeze on my face while reading my book lying on the warm sand. I guess that explains my pilgrimage.

BOH tea plantation in Cameron highlands

2009-01-12T00:44:00.001+08:00

DSC_0811
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

我該怎麼自拍

2009-01-12T00:42:00.001+08:00

DSC_0636
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

This is frustrating.

我該怎麼自拍 1

2009-01-12T00:39:00.001+08:00

DSC_0453
Originally uploaded by Abducted by pirates

My new baby but there's a problem.