Now I can finally write about the highlight of our Thai trip. This is the reason why we were in Ayutthaya: a friend’s wedding. I’m not sure if this wedding is representative of all Thai wedding, but I’ve been told … Continue reading
There’s more than a month gap between this post and my last post. Long story short, my computer crashed and I had to replace it. Between getting a new Macbook Air 11″ and cleaning up my old Pro 13″, I … Continue reading
We were walking back to our hotel when we found this night market. Already had dinner somewhere else but decided to munch on some local delights. Come with an empty stomach. I ended up with a food coma
1. Prostitutes speaking in fluent Japanese, wearing revealing kimonos in a dodgy KTV named “Pegasus”. The area surrounding Grand Hotel Ayutthaya is dubbed “Little Tokyo”. We stayed there for a night and my friend’s bathroom has chunks of long hair … Continue reading
1. Chang beer served by a very manly ladyboy. 2. Overly sweet cold Milo, with a lot of added condensed milk. 3. Expensive Indian food for breakfast. 4. Bonita Cafe, a nice place owned by a married couple from Japan and Thailand. … Continue reading
Warung Bamboe was our farmer friend’s recommendation. Without him, we wouldn’t even know the restaurant exists. How to get to Warung Bamboe from Batu is a bit tricky. Batu has no cabs, but they have a system of color-coded angkot, … Continue reading
Batu, also dubbed Little Switzerland, is home to some of the most amazing people in Indonesia. Throughout our stay, we met a few farmers, one famous local painter, and one hypnosis specialist. Farmers in Indonesia are amazing on their own because … Continue reading
I don’t know how anyone could stand living in Jakarta. The city is a shithole. Unless you’re made out of money and don’t give a shit about the majority of the population. You have big shopping malls ladened with Gucci, Prada … Continue reading
Not including being the hit man for a corruptor’s son, or the cashier of Hilton Jakarta who got shot by the owner’s brother who was high on crack. Of course the douche bag got away with it. It’s Jakarta we’re talking … Continue reading
There’s this little strip of area behind Blok M known as “Little Tokyo”. Word has it that they are the after-work hangout place for Japanese businessmen, and sports some dodgy nightclubs/KTV/brothel and pretty good authentic Japanese restaurant. Do correct me … Continue reading
My trip to Yunnan has been cut short due to the departure of my grandfather. Looking through my travel pictures, I think it is quite ironic how the last trip I had with him was to Fu Qing to celebrate the Tomb Festival (aka Day of The Dead). Coincidentally that was also the first (and only) time I have ever been to my ancestor’s village (3rd generation Chinese in Indonesia, mixed blood from my Mum’s side) and my grandpa’s passing triggered the memory of the tiny little village in Fu Jian, and I am left to wonder whether I will ever have the chance to set foot there again. Probably not.
This post is a tribute to him. The trip rocked and I loved every single minute of it. Thank you for showing me where I came from.
Fu Qing farmers.
This little piggy went to the market. And never came back.
Village houses.
And since we have established that I am lame, we might as well end this with a poem.
One Art. Elizabeth Bishop.
The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn't hard to master. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster. I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three loved houses went. The art of losing isn't hard to master. I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster. ---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident the art of losing's not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.
