Workaway: Mon Deuxième Week-end À CFA

I have been 2 weeks in CFA on a workaway assignment and it has been superb fun. I wrote a blog for them detailing every single, well not every but most, things that happened. I have recently done an art work for them, my first ever large scale art project -- a World Map Mural. Check out the video on this page -- World Map Mural Video 

You can also check in on this website to see more of my daily life in CFA. Merci. ;) 

My first World Map art mural thanks to CFA Les 13 Vents!

France - Les Parisians, La Ville

I often dream about walking on the streets of Paris, hand in hand with the love of my life, in a city so full of love that would choked you to death and then reality hits me. After being in Paris for a week, I was torn between staying or leaving. I did not want to pack the entire Paris in one week because deep down, I think I would still come back. If anything travel has taught me, is to never do anything for anybody else but yourself. 

Read my playful rendition of Paris deuxième partie here -- Les Parisians, La Ville

Hanging out with the girls, drinking wine, being as Parisians as we can be!

Just A Quick Hello!

Dropping in quickly to update y'all. I was sorting out some pictures and had to share this!! Me being extremely petrified but still got my ass in gear to do the craziest shit in China @ Huashan, Shaanxi, China. More updates soon! :) 

Scariest thing to do in Mount Hua, China

Laos Through The Eyes of a Happy-Go-Lucky Skeptic!

The idea of seeing Laos arose when Seth told me he had been having a shit time there (okay, joke! Remember? The kind that makes you laugh?) Anyway, so Seth loved it there and imagining his animated silly face while we exchanged a few emails about the wonderful Laos, I knew there and then of how to spend my holiday in mid September. 

Flights to Vientiane aren't frequent and don't come cheap either, if you have a fix travel date. Fortunate for me, I could afford to be flexible this time. I refused to grill Seth about the where's where and what's what of Laos, partly also because he knew sweet fuck all about it. "I just love to spend my weekends in Vientiane. Playing spikeball and working out", he said. As Seth was "on his way out" of his company, he has to work his hours, which meant part of the trip, I was gonna be a Lone Ranger. The only thing he ever so generously let me in about Laos were "Sabaidee" and "Khapchai" with both palms closed together positioned in front of his chest. 

Over the years, I have become more and more relaxed when it comes to traveling. I mean, what do you want to get out of from your trip? See places as suggested by Lonely Planet? Have fine meals in restaurant recommended by Tripadvisor? Meet people who are party animals like you? Or see the land at it's most naked form, see what it has to offer the minute you get off the plane and meet beautiful people along the way, whether locals or foreigners. Trust me, they have interesting stories to tell, and would equally be fascinating, being spontaneous (Backpacker is an exception. You need to differentiate between the true adventurists and the drunks..) 

I have to be frank here before I let you into my adventure in Laos. My impression of Laos, hasn't been completely flattering. When I was in middle school, dad took us to Chiang Mai for holiday. I remembered part of the tourist attraction was to visit the border a bit further from Chiang Rai. I couldn't recall the very details of it all, but the image of those hungry, skinny kids pestering the tourists for money still live vividly in my mind. Underdeveloped. Poor. Uneducated. My protective parents would have never agreed to this solo trip in a million years, but then again, I insisted it is my life and I am the one who has to live with it. The glory, the regrets, the whole shebang. My dad spent thousands upon thousands of his savings to bring us somewhere every year since I was three. Apart from the idea of having family time, I believe ultimately, he wanted his children to be open to the world. And that, is exactly what I am doing now.

"Welcome to Laos!", text from Seth reminded me I have finally made it here, all two hours and thirty minutes of wonder. Wondering what on earth all these older Malaysian men doing in Vientiane?? The flight was full. Business? Pleasure? The sinful kind? They sure weren't in Laos for the nature! I snorted at the thought of them in their jeans and belly popping out, on bikes cycling through the lust green. I headed out of the airport and went to the money changer. I was kip-less. Being handed almost four hundred thousands worth of notes, I stood at the arrival hall, baffled. Not like I haven't dealt with the idea of being a millionaire (been there done that in Indonesia), but kip notes are confusing! They have the numerical print on one side, and another side has the same but in Lao... Check out the pics and you get what I mean. 

I tried to suppress the annoyance and helpless feelings of being a toddler, which I always feel when I land in a new country. So, at nine in the morning, you have this 5 feet 3 young little thing in a phase of trance, standing in the hall, not knowing what to do or where to go. "Taxi?", I snapped out of my trance, and looked at the person with the warm Thai-like accent. "Can you tell me where I get a bus to Vang Vieng?" The lady looked at me, quiet, and then shook her head, "No, no bus here. Go central. Bus." I asked her for the cost of a taxi to the "central" that she was referring to, "57,000kip" was her answer. Is that expensive? Well you normally pay about RM 80 from airport to town.. Is this "taxi" THE tuk-tuk as mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide?? Do they even have tuk-tuk that service the airport? I hadn't a clue! While I was doing the conversion of what was 57,000kip in real money, the lady at the counter was talking to a few men leaning close to the counter. I picked up words like Vang Vieng and nothing else. As I always say, money buy you experience. 

Clumsily handed the woman the money needed, I walked to the taxi with the driver. Ah. So. Taxi was a sedan car, decorated in a cream white tone much like my dad's car in the 80s. It took about less than 15 mins before he pulled over in front of a line of tuk-tuks. "That bus go Vang Vieng.", he said and pointed to a few guys standing by the tuk-tuks. I was, speechless. Did I get con or something? No way in hell I was getting on those tuk-tuks for 4 hours to get to Vang Vieng.

I got off the taxi anyway, and one of the guys approached me with what seemed to be a receipt book on his hand. "Vang Vieng?" I nodded with skepticism and asked him how much. He said "80,000kip." Close to the cost as suggested by Tripadvisor. Oh what the hell, I was still practically sleep-walking and perhaps it wasn't these tuk-tuks but air-conditioned bus that I was reading about. I sealed the deal, only with kips but not a spit and handshake. They showed me to a wooden bench behind the tuk-tuk and told me to wait for about 15minutes.

In between conversation about the beautiful Malaysia with those lovely Laotians, a bigger tuk-tuk stopped right in front of us. "This bring you to Vang Vieng." God, you must be kidding with me! I was discomfited. I was con. As they hustled me, I just picked up my rucksack and hopped on. There were about eight Koreans, and an Asian looking couple (which I found out later they were Laotian) on board of the tuk-tuk. The tuk-tuk drove a bit more and made another stop for one more passenger. Another Asian. We sat quietly, watching the sceneries passed us by, feeling like we have been sold! Or at least that was running through my mind. Ah well, didn't you say you want to experience the local way's of transportation? Well here you go! A second later, my inner voice was muted, as it started to drizzle! 4 hours of this? Gonna be awesome, not!

Not too sure how long it took, but the tuk-tuk slowed down and drove off the highway into a gated compound with seemingly some busses parked. Perhaps I was like my ex used to say, no good in hiding my thoughts and emotions. The Laotian lady saw my lost expression and she was kind enough to enlighten me to the fact that we weren't con, or sold, but the fare we paid included transport to THE bus station and we were going on a proper bus to Vang Vieng afterall. Oh, silly me, acting like a first time traveller... or backpacker, which, I was. Anyway, a huge air-conditioned bus! At long last! I went inside the bus station and grabbed some water and snacks, prep-ed and ready to endure the next 4hours journey.

There were all these oohh and aahh on the Tripadvisor about the scenic view on the journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng and I was really excited! But bollacks, I ended up sleeping most of the way to Vang Vieng. There goes the excitement, NOT! We arrived in Vang Vieng late afternoon and were dropped off in the middle of town, made up of several rows of shops and hostels. I headed to the hotel that I have booked online and was surprised to be greeted by a white three storey bungalow. It was a lovely little getaway run by a Singaporean who had two strokes in his life and decided to move to slow pace Laos with his Thai wife. When I checked-in, Michael told me it was the perfect weather to go tubing, I nodded and happily obliged while he tucked a dry bag in my hand and hurried me out the door.

The tubing office was not far from my hotel. According to Michael, tubing used to be available in every hotel by the riverside of Vang Vieng but the government has taken a stern measure when more and more accidents of tourists being killed during tubing in Vang Vieng hit the newspaper. I paid for my tube and hopped on the truck with a group of German travellers. When we got dropped off upstream, the Germans hit the first bar they could find and I was happy to wave them goodbye. It felt really tranquil floating on the river and let the current took me for an adventure. When I reached a turn, there was a simple bamboo hut built on a hill where I saw a few figures waving at me, signalling me to stop for a drink. I did and met two lovely people from down under. We met up that night for dinner and had a somewhat flabbergasting discussion about what is Thai food and what is Laotian food. I have tried the Laotian's rendition of papaya salad with sticky rice, but truthfully, Som Tam is still best left with the Thais.

I think it was going to rain.. 

George was it? The one who looked like terrorist if he hadn't spoken with his aussie accent! 

I spent the rest of the journey in Vang Vieng kayaking on the lovely Nam Song, exploring unique water caves and cycling through the beauteous villages. The blue lagoon pitstop was especially worth mentioning. The water was not turquoise blue as expected as it rained the day before. Still a captivating sight, don't get me wrong. But what intrigued me more than anything else was the group of Korean men and two young Laotian ladies. They were fooling around, drinking beer, summersaulting from the tree branch, turning the pool into a blithe playground. Sounded alright. Yes. Problem was, they did not speak the same language. The Laotian ladies definitely did not apply for a job with "Korean speaking" as a mandatory requirement. However, the language barrier did not stop them from enjoying each other's company. I thought it was riveting for me, the pure natural laughters.



People watching was such as big part of my journey. The fact that Vang Vieng is such a small town, you end up seeing the same faces every where you venture. The same group of Koreans that travelled from Vientiane to Vang Vieng with me, joined me for some kayaking fun.

The Travelling Rat!

Guys,

I am in Australia now and going to so many places that I even forgot what I had for breakfast this morning! 

I am not finding excuses to not update my blog, simply saying that a quicker way to track down my movement is to follow me on Instagram! Find me, add me @ Jagsnumpty!

Can't get anymore Australian than this - Kangaroo steak with Bundaberg Ginger Beer!

Ta!! 

Jagsy 

Malaysian Rivers & Me

"OH MY FUCKING GOD! THAT LOOKED AWESOME! SIGN ME UP PLEASE!!" I remember about a year ago, a friend showed me his white water rafting pictures and I practically latched myself onto him, begging him to take me there. My swearing did not start then, but my romantic shenanigans with the rivers in Malaysia began.

My first experience was with Selangor River. It is a class 4.5 river about an hour away from Kuala Lumpur. The water in the river come from the Selangor dam and water level is highly dependent on the weather. Truth be told, I am still trying to work out the logic behind what happens if it is raining season, what happens if not a single drop of water escape from the sky and what happens if they release the water from the dam or not. Ah well, I have figured a while ago that none of these really matter to me, because when you are on a raft, down them rapids, whether the water level is excellent or so-so, you will scream. Scream like women giving birth, laugh like a mad cow, or be like me, a complete twat on a raft, goofty but adorable, at least that's what I always thought (with a gigantic smile much like that on the Joker's face..). 

Me started screaming, my friend wearing the white behind me on the left row

I was being clever and lifted myself while we went down a rapid, my friend was stupid.

I sat my ass on his feet and completely squashed him! Shabam!! 

Over the course of a year, I have returned to Selangor rivers, endless time. Bringing bunch after bunch of expats to experience and enjoy the fun that I so adore. The first question I get asked has always been, "How many times now that you have been to this river?". I always smile and tell them, "More than I can remember, but I never forget the thrill." There are many outfits (this is strictly an american term, so a friend of mine insisting on using, even though I have been trying to implant the word - COMPANY - into his head, failed miserably) that operates on Selangor River. One that I highly recommend is Pierose. If you have been to any of white water rafting trips led by Pierose, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Pie gives funny safety intro while he was suppose to be serious. They have guides who are mainly Orang Asli (Native Malays) and they are usually very good. Occasionally you will also find mischievous ones. The ones who wanted so badly to flip your raft.

The first batch of Expats I took to white water rafting at Selangor River

Someone fell out of the raft, Selangor river

This raft failed to go through the rapid, Selangor river

We were already in the water, might as well take a picture!

Final floating down the river, enjoying the cool water on Selangor River

Much though Selangor River is very popular among rafters in Malaysia, but this river has "moods". From October to perhaps March if you sign up rafting on this river, there is a high chance that you will be switched over to raft at Slim River instead, which is close by and equally fun but short. So here comes the fact, the ones that I know. With the natural formation of the Selangor River (what a heaps of bullocks!), it will be extremely dangerous to raft there when the water level is low (this is probably true). Anyway, just take the advise of those experienced guys. Slim river is approximately 6km with rapids from Grade 1 - Grade 3. Nonetheless, this river is not to be underestimated. With a high level of water, there are quite a few rapids that would seriously tear your heart out. Unfortunately none of the actions were captured on camera. 

Scaling down the adrenaline, I took a group of crazy folks to raft at Kampar river combining it with some abseiling fun. Kampar river has only rapids rating of 1 - 3. Unlike Slim River, Kampar river require less skills, and more comical throwing-each-and-everyone-out-of-the-raft actions. For me, it was a splendid day spent with good friends and laughed our silly faces off. There is also a popular spot where some somersault stunt can be performed, all at your own risk. So, to make the trip fun and worthwhile, these are some examples of what they might make you do.

Group of friends white water rafting at Kampar River, Malaysia

White water rafting at Kampar river, being dragged off the raft into the water

Jumping off a tree branch on Kampar river

Abseiling after white water rafting on Kampar river

Next stop, we take a look at the river over in East Malaysia. A famous spot which normally would be included in any of the Mount Kinabalu climb itinerary is rafting at Padas River. This river has a rapid class of 1 - 3 but this is no ordinary river for the likes of the ones in West Malaysia. You cannot simply jump in, or throw someone out of the raft just for fun. Unless the person is a good swimmer, otherwise you might as well get ready to attend his funeral. My friend loves this river. He takes all his visitors to KK out here to spend the day. The train journey to the place is well worth it though, if you ask me. Perhaps minus the local-mother-slapping-young-kids-to-shut-them-up scenarios. He especially loves the body rafting part a.k.a jumping in and go with the current. I went on a few parts with him, one of which  I misunderstood the guide and almost got myself killed. Lucky me, the guide was a fucking splendid swimmer. My advise is, get three nods from the guide before you jump in. 

Check out the rapid on Padas River, Malaysia

With all three popular rivers in west Malaysia and Padas river out of the way, I was scratching my head for a bit about what else I can do to keep my inner desire of adrenaline pumping! I spoke to a couple of people and they all suggested white water kayaking. I have seen a group done it while we were rafting, and OMG, one of the guys was so "Tarzan" like, in a good way! A bit of a shame I did not have a camera with me, or I would wow you with it. Anyway!! Back to the topic. So, there I was googling "crazy adventure Malaysia", I came across a website that is introducing riverboarding to Malaysia! Dang!!!

Riverboarding at Kampar River, learning how to paddle

Riverboarding downstream action at Kampar river

Oh my, that was me riverboarding down Kampar river!

Danny steading himself on the board!

The riverboarding crew at Kampar river

Riverboarding is called sledging in New Zealand or hydrospeed in Europe. What we Malaysian called it is, get-on-the-board-and-prepare-to-pose-for-the-camera! Heh!! Anyway, let me put it in layman term. What you will be given is a very tight wetsuit, one that will surely makes you look ridiculous, a helmet and a special-made board. The guide will then teach you proper kicking techniques and the rest is up to you. You will rest on top of the board that will only support your upper body, while you lower body will be dangling in the water. The trick, from what I have learnt, is to stay balance and smile. If you care too much about your kicks, you are gonna loose the balance and flip, which then increase the chance of your body making out with them rocks and come home like a bruised little puppy. Rafting on Kampar river was easy peasy, but riverboarding is a completely different story. Some pics that we have over that riverboarding trip at Kampar River. 

From a year ago with the OH MY FUCKING GOD remark to now, if you ask me, I am still gonna give you the OH MY FUCKING GOD face when it comes to fun at the rivers. Be it white water rafting, kayaking or riverboarding, I have had great experience and great joy soaking in the water and making a tit of myself. You haven't tried it yet? Well, get out of your shell and get on with it. You will not regret it. 

My Momma, I Love Her

我不觉得歌颂母亲要限于五月的某个星期日。一年有三百六十五天，多的是时间让妈妈知道你心里最真实的感受，多得足够让你把任何再坚固的围墙击破。当然，别只有你喇叭响不停，妈妈那儿却万籁无声。一日一赞美，不但能让妈妈笑开怀更能促进你与妈妈的关系。我知道人与人之间相处容易同住难，就算是再血浓于水也难免有因性格不同而产生口角的事件。值得欣慰是俗语说得对，家人没有隔夜仇，床头吵就床尾和。我和妈妈就是这么一路的走，啊不，她老佛爷用走的；我小桂子啊，可是一路滚过来的。哈！我又有故事要说啰，你要不搬个凳子拉大队来听听啊？

话说妈妈怀我的时候，她才芳龄23岁。想想我那个年纪还整天嚷着不要长大，妈妈她在乃花样年华之时就背上如此重大的责任而且还怀得可辛苦呢！肚子滚得像三粒西瓜大，比怀三胞胎的孕妇还要艰辛。她常笑笑地和我诉苦，说我那一身黝黑的皮肤可是我自找的。在怀孕初期，妈妈就常听旁人说喝鲜奶或豆奶类饮品可以让婴儿肤色亮白。强忍着对奶类饮品的抗拒，眼睛闭一闭，两只手指捏着鼻子，她尝试把一杯巧克力牛奶灌下。她说没有预期的奶腥味，还蛮好喝的。可香浓的巧克力牛奶在妈妈的肚子里还没待暖被我吸收，妈妈就把它给呕个精光！“都是你啦，超活泼，一个飞腿就把我的好意给踢出去！”。妈呀！哪能把这种事赖在我头上呢，真是欲加之罪，何患无辞！我说，一定是我超聪明的小脑袋瓜在胎里已经嗅出那一回事儿了，才毫不犹豫地舞动我的腿把漂褐剂挡在门外！要不，我今天可要和奥巴马看齐呗！

好啦，怀胎九月以为终于把我这烫手山芋摆脱了，可一波未平，一波又起。生了，再来就是养育囖！对！养育这恼事可得谨慎。不怕一万，只怕万一！如有一丁点儿的差池，优良学生就变成了逃学生了！可不是我老王卖瓜，自卖自夸！我从小就乖巧伶俐，从来没让妈妈操心。妈妈早上上班前把我喂饱后就提给婶婶照顾。下班回来，妈妈会惯例地让我进餐刷洗接而把我往房里送。灯一熄，我就呼噜呼噜地睡得不省人事。周日假期，爸爸妈妈都很疼我，必定抽空来个家庭日。我想唯一让妈妈觉得美中不足的因该是我长得象秃头鹰吧。。。不是说我的样子哦，是指我到两岁毛发依然寥寥无几，完全不像个女的。妈妈说要不是在我出生的时候亲自验证，她很有可能逛男婴装部门呢！过分！

三年后，我们迎接弟弟的到来。弟弟很可爱！他的小脸蛋红扑扑的让人很想一口咬下去！可能是弟弟转移了他们的注意力，妈妈开始不让我啃奶嘴，还常常替弟弟拍照撇下我不理。。不是我诬良为盗，也不是我空口说白话，我可是有相片为证喔！一张妈妈以弟弟为中心点，而我很不幸的被摄到躲在床上抽抽嗒嗒地，好不可怜哦！我还记得妈妈不惜编了一个故事说我的奶嘴被老鼠给叼走了的弥天大谎想敷衍我。哼，算了，不给我奶嘴，我用偷的！啊不！是借的才对。弟弟那充满奶香味的奶嘴就是本姑娘的冤大头！可能是很恶心的画面，可我那时可机灵呢！乘妈妈不留意的时候，我不慌不忙地把奶嘴从弟弟嘴里拔出往我嘴里送；在妈妈转过头之际先发制人，物归原主，然后对妈妈发出天真无邪的笑容。我一直以为过程是天衣无缝的，后来才知道原来妈妈从头到尾都了。问她，她就说“你嘴里那阵臭奶味很难忽略。”。妈啊！有漏出马脚了！其实妈妈不给我啃奶嘴的主要原因不外是不想看着我凸牙，在已不像女生的身体上多加个缺点。妈妈的用心良苦却被我写得那么不堪，真是狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心啊我！

我上幼稚园时非常喜欢留长发。长发让我摆脱秃头的编号！长发飞扬的时候让我眄视指使！在幼稚园两年里我是校舞队的成员。老师负责编舞，订购舞衣；我们小小个子就负责牢牢地把舞步记住；而妈妈们就一手包办负责把我们打扮得漂漂亮亮地上台。五岁的时候在表演当天，我绑着马尾，让妈妈画上她超爱的烟熏眼红唇妆。六岁的时候，天妒亮发。它把跳蚤埋伏在我的秀发上，可让我哭笑不得！妈妈当时毅然决然地一手握着我垂死挣扎的头颅，另一手拿着剃刀，刷一声，我稀里哗啦地和散落一地的头发道别！所以，六岁表演当天，我顶着超短溜海娃娃头，带着同样的烟熏眼红唇妆踏上舞台！幸好，这些种种都没有打击我爱读成性的习惯，依然拿了满分第一名和差一分就满分的第二名回家。骄傲呗！

升上小学后，妈妈下定决心把车牌考一考，方便载送我们上下学。她大可以让我们搭校车，象别人家的妈妈。可是妈妈爱子成痴的性格让我们免了成为天天早起的鸟儿。当然，虫还是天天有得吃！妈妈的管教很严。天天负责接送我们，她连哼也没哼一声，反倒埋天怨地是我们这两个兔怠子！由于工作的性质，妈妈每天都忙得不可开交。有时候会延迟半至一个小时才能来接我们。可是就算再忙，饭香味永远在我们踏进车内就阵阵地传来。那是妈妈对我们的关爱。小学六年的生涯让我印象深刻的就是充当我发型师的妈妈。一着被蛇咬，三年怕井绳。仗着我以前的案底，妈妈说跳蚤会认头。别于水痘的病例，跳蚤会频频的光临被它们住过的头颅。。。结果啊，她不让我再留长发。我永远是男孩头。有一次她没有空档带我去理发，必不得已之下，她准备了一个大碗和剪刀。说到这里，我看不用我多费唇舌，你也可以轻而易举地联想接下来的情节囖！是啦！她让我蒙羞的顶着丑不啦叽的椰子头上学耶！悲惨！

中学这时段是我们与妈妈讨价还价的时候。我们姐弟俩从来没有像别人家小孩般，有机会和同学们出游，校后戏耍，同学生日会等等。活了十二个年头，我们可以说是一对不食烟火的怪胎。不甘落于人后，我力争上游，与妈妈来个单挑。我记得有一次，心仪我的对象在上课的时候和邻桌的朋友低声细语。内容是想邀请我到那朋友的生日会，看看我除了校服，运动服以外的模样。我听了非常意外。意外的不是有人情投于我，而是看过我微服出巡的同学，真是区区之众。长达四年的战争终于在我意志力超强下反败为胜，争取到可以参加同学的生日会。当然，我错过了这段露水情缘。可惜啊。。。

大学可以说是我的自由松绑的纪念日。因为上学的路程遥远，所以妈妈把代步工具让给我。在这里偷偷告诉你，我在赛选学校的时候有深思熟虑过哦。。哈哈！有车万事能！可这水龙头打开后，一直以来的压抑一拥而入。我尝遍了十七年里所未能尝试的事情。很多很多我后来才明白为什么妈妈执意不让我们尝试的事情。她不想让我们受伤害，她不想我们后悔，她不想让我们的人生占有污点。现在回想，我确实偶然会深感懊恼。后悔为什么不听老人言。可是已成定局的局势，虽很无奈，也只能听天由命。我很幸运的是，在我最低落的时候，妈妈永远及时给与我关怀的拥抱；在我站在山崖边，她会一把把我拉住；在我汤烧火热的时候，妈妈会不眠不休的照料我。

现在的妈妈没有以前的执著，少了严母的味道，多了朋友的感觉。可能是大家都体会到人生无常这个道理吧。我们都很珍惜当前。现在的我天天会和妈妈讪牙闲嗑，妈妈也会和我们撒娇撒痴。日子过得很好，总算是苦尽甘来。长篇大论说完了，是该你转头对妈妈说声“我爱你”的时候了！明天记得和妈妈吃顿晚餐！

That once-upon-a-time where I was not so outdoorsy and always asking for mom.