Photo Friday: Summer's almost over

The Frenchie said this week that the north wind blows, cold wind. And that wind signals the end of summer. Those long summer days that I've experienced in places of the Mediterranean imprinted deeply in my mind.

While riding on Le Grand Roue, we could see some of my favorite sights. Can you believe that this is just walking distance from his apartment at the very end of Marseille?

Mountains and seas, I'll never tire of such a lovely view. =)

Photo taken on Nikon 80 with 35 mm lomography color film.

Photo Friday: My white horse at Mt Bromo

For 100,000 rupiah one way the horse was quite a luxury for the locals. 
It was my very first time on a horse and the experience was amazing, riding the horse (comes with the guide to lead the way) through the ash sand plains, to Bromo.

Photo taken by Seth Weisel.

Photo Friday: Travel Often

Photo from : http://shop.holstee.com/pages/about


Was at a work client's place last month and I saw this poster in their meeting room, while waiting.

Somehow, I felt that some of the words jumped out at me. It did help that they were in a bigger font. It's really meaningful if you take your time to read the words slowly to kill time.

I was so sure that I had found the love of my life last year.
But it's 2013, and things have changed, like the passing wind. I read the words: 'If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.' I have started going on journeys, and I hope that somewhere along the timeline, in fact, I don't hope, I just know, that this phrase will ring true.

Voila, I will 'travel often'. As much as it takes with the limited time and money I have; and not too much that I feel disenchanted - that does happen, at times. I have met a nice, incredibly sweet, strong, cuddly person.
It's 2013, after all. Let's see what happens...=)

Sleeping all the way to Tioman

Snorkeling close to Monkey Bay.

This is how I went from Singapore to Tioman on a budget, with 7 others and it may contain useful information for rich travelers who want to become frugal travelers. Yes! Like me!

The last weekend I had slept in so many places I could not remember all of them...
No, nothing of the sort where I wake in different stranger's apartments - though maybe that's a story for another day...  I had decided a day before, to go on a weekend trip to Tioman. Having the Singaporean mentality of needing a timetable, always getting some telephone number (in case of emergency) and finding out the location of ATMs/moneychanger on the island, and bringing spare singapore dollars just-in-case, and of course, prior to the trip, must-read up on several blogs, lonely planet, tripadvisor, I would say that I was really spontaneous because I did not do any of the above. And also, I only decided to go on the day before the trip!

Okay, I admit I read what was published on tripadvisor.com. =) Hee hee.

So having really dark circles now since the last couple of weeks watching Euro Cup 2012, having went to Helipad for the first time ever (whole of Europe is there on that Thursday night, I feel unique, yay), went to Night Safari, Gardens by the Bay for the first time, a secret shisha place known as Magic Carpet, and did I forget to mention... last weekend early morning bus to Melaka... I really needed some restorative sleep for my liver and kidney function...

So on one hand I would be happier to stay home and sleep through the weekend, wouldn't I?





On another hand... I have not been to Tioman before... (and imagine my surprise when the group of people, 6 of them who I have not met previously, turned out to be super sweet people! Le French!)

And sleeping on the beach on a hammock (I assume there is a hammock) hearing the waves swish by is something I have not done in a long time. I also have not worn my swimsuit for a long time... =D

It was possible to sleep all the way there and back and not be too embarassed because my eyes were closed anyway, though I did notice some who could not sleep noticing me sleeping unglamourously... Heehee! I slept well on a row of blue chairs at the jetty, in the ferry, on a thin mattress where I could feel all the curves of my backside on the floor (but the floor was a good one, no complain there), in a hammock by the beach (yessss!), while sitting on the beach, in the taxi/private car driven by enterprising uncle, sleeping while pretending to be awake after lunch... I think I have accomplished the impossible. If everyone thought I was so chill... so zen... I am actually sleep deprived!!!

And now I have also mastered sleeping in the office with my eyes wide open. ZZZ.

Tioman was awesomeeeeeee!


Snapshots:

Malang Rock - The boat guide told me this was named 'Unlucky' Rock - Malang means unlucky/down on one's luck in Melayu, however no one knows the real reason for such an inauspicious name. Perhaps you will be unlucky if you hit your head on this huge rock. It does look imposing.


Random french girl who was solo globetrotter for 9 months. Salut.


We stayed in the budget traveler area of Kampung Air Batang known as ABC on the ferry stop.





My hammock, everyone should have a weekend lying in a hammock!

Salang Village:

Went to the other side of Tioman for lunch and spotted some Singaporean families, but most of the bodies on the beach were young Europeans on Summer vacation. Here is Salang Village and if you wish, you can easily snorkel from this shore to the left to some interesting spots.








This is my favorite place in the whole trip: Coral Island!!!







Coral Island - this is really a respite, an escape from city life, almost like a slice of paradise to me there were perfect laping waves, the cute brown rocks at the sides (looking almost 'strategically' placed like our fake rocks on Sentosa beach), sandy white beach. A little further in, there was a forest of dense foilage and a couple of large monitor lizards looking for little live creatures to devour. While the rest were enthusiastically snorkelling, I was enthusiastically taking a nap, floating with lifejacket on.

Budget for the frugal. (written by Kai Betrand Elvin on couchsurfing Singapore):

* To cross the border, that's a regular Singapore bus with ez-link,
* 30 ringgits for the bus to mersing, back and forth,
* 80 ringgits for the ferry, back and forth,
* 5 to 40 ringgits per night, depending on your choice, (We landed at Air Batang "ABC" from the ferry)
* 4 to 15 ringgits per meal, depending on your choice,
* Add around 70-90 ringgits for the snorkeling trip.

We took a taxi (actually a normal car driven by enterprising uncle who will agree to a fee), from Larkin to Mersing it was 160 ringgit total and from Mersing to the Woodlands CIQ it was 250 ringgit.

To note, we were exasperated by the uncompromising infrastructure of the small fishing village of Mersing, Once we disembarked from the ferry, we had to walk a distance to the bus terminal, almost impossible to find if you are a first time solo traveller. Then there weren't any seats on the bus for Sunday evening and there were few options for a group of 5. (4 can fit a taxi, 7 people for minibus.) Was told there would be a bus at 8:30pm but that meant two waiting hours of possibly finding it full, plus all the ticket counters were closed and only reopened at 8pm. Thanks to a local lady tour agent who helped us secure a private car to the Woodlands checkpoint we did make it back speedily, but it would be frustrating for those in a smaller group or with limited knowledge of local languages.

I would highly recommend everyone who goes to Tioman island to hop on a chartered boat even if you cannot swim or snorkel, it is amazing just being on the small islands around the area.

 

Photos are taken with an analog camera Superheadz (also known as Vivitar Ultra wide & slim). Film used: Agfa Precisa CT100. Processed by Shalom Colorlab.

photo friday: travel memories, Hong Kong

Camera: Superheadz (an analogue camera), also known as Vivitar Ultra Wide&Slim
Film: Lomography Color Xpro 35mm, cross-processed
Location: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Bowrington


A market in Hong Kong that resembled a 1960s movie; red plastic discs over naked light bulbs hanging from each grocer's ceiling. Red shop awnings to match. Looking for a sign to describe the road I was in, I walked up and down the vegetable shops until I spotted it: Bowrington.

This quaint little market still had many shoppers despite the unrelenting torrential rain that plagued the weekend I was on vacation in Hong Kong. I stood at this corner, drenched, pointing my little toy camera this way and that trying to capture the best angle. Intrigued, perhaps, by the Singaporean girl unafraid of getting wet, the meat seller stepped out, and looked on curiously.

photo friday: my favorite shoes

Camera: Superheadz (an analogue camera)
Film: 35mm Fujifilm T64 Tungsten
Location: Singapore, Everton Park

A brand of shoes, Jaime Mascaro, in a shade of perfect, the color of light, almost white sand; with a tinge of beige. Rope ribbons on the front, subtle snakeskin print on the soft leather surface throughout, they come in half-sizes. 36 1/2. My size. Made in Spain.

This pair has accompanied me on many journeys, walking into different jobs, into some people's habitations. I always feel strangely naked when I take them off at the end of the day, because the amazing material has shaped to the contours of my feet and they feel so bare, so unprotected. I feel, always happy, choosing to wear this pair, on the days I bring it out walking. My shoes for unhappy days are the black stretchy ones with golden blingbling skull shaped pins on the top, instead of ribbons.

I did not buy it for the brand, not having even heard of it before, but once my feet were inserted, they were frighteningly comfortable, with the cutest baby pink soles. It has been more than a year. Already showing signs of  the desire of wanting to retire into obscurity, one of the rope ribbons has a frayed edge.

Having washed them once in Persol, a german-brand washing liquid softener meant for woollens and delicates, they looked almost as good as new, just new enough, to last me for a year longer.