Common scene in Bangkok

One of the things that I noticed about Thailand is the amount of electrical wires everywhere. Hanging overhead, some buzzing with that electrical sound and some low hanging ones. One needs to watch out when crossing a pedestrian bridge or your head might get caught in the web of cables! 

And the people repairing these cables are probably endangering themselves to do so, balancing their ladders on the poles and sometimes on a bunch of cables themselves. Hope they have insurance. 

It just made me feel more grateful for the small things we take for granted in KL. You don't see this scene very often anymore. 

Review of 2012

Another year has come n gone (and a little bit more). What have I done last year? Not much really...

Achievements in 2012:

Travelled to 6 countries, including 3 new ones!

Includes Dhaka Bangladesh, Kupang Indonesia, Bali Indonesia, Seoul South Korea, Mauritius, Khon Kaen Thailand, Science City Philippines, Melbourne and Sydney Australia, Dubai UAE - places includes both for work and for leisure

Work wise

Work has stabilised a little. At least workload has decreased to something reasonable and is more focused on just one program instead of the multiple ones I was handling back then. I'm now taking it slow and steady.

Exercise

It's been a while since I really got off my butt. And this year seems to be it. I've joined the hotel gym to use the swimming pool (ok, a bit). I've joined the yoga class at work which is kinda nice, ok I still don't really like yoga but appreciate that it got me off my butt. I've also started some badminton and manage to do a 5k run (ok, I walked - but still!!). It all counts, right?

Started a Masters course

One thing has been bugging me a bit (and some of you out there too) to do more to upgrade myself. Well, opportunity came when I learnt that an online course on animal welfare was available and within my affordability. So, here I am! It's a 3 year course, part time - or so it says.

Finally gotten a smartphone 

Yeah, there are many of you that are amazed I took this long to hop onto the smartphone bandwagon. But here you have it - I got an iPhone around mid last year. And then went all out and got an iPad too! I'm typing this on it right now!

Yeah, so that's my life summed up for last year. Nothing too exciting though. I know it's almost halfway through this year, but lets see what else it brings me. One plan is to actually blog more!!! You out there reading this, do take time to leave a comment or two so I know you're reading this and I might feel more motivated to blog more. 

A little photo

Sorry for the long hiatus in updating this blog. Here's a photo for you to enjoy, taken at the SPCA shelter.

iPhone blogging

Yay! I can blog on my new iPhone thanks to blogger's own free app. Here's a photo to celebrate.

Flowers bought from the flower market at Pak Khlong Talat (opens at night) in Bangkok. This bunch costs 50 Baht ($1.50 USD).

Borobudur, Indonesia

Since my long post have been stuck in my other laptop (weirdly, the program was unable to 'connect to internet') and I'm on the road for the whole week, I though of giving you guys just a little preview of Borobudur, Indonesia which I've visited last year.

Dining like the blind

Ever wonder what it feels like to eat like the blind? Fumbling around with your fork and guessing what is on your plate. That's exactly what we did when we joined this new restaurant in Bangkok - Dine in the Dark.

Mmm... yumm... the fancy desert!

The experience was something really unique. It was interesting that without sight, we can "taste" food differently - what I thought was pork, turned out to be duck. Shows how reliant on sight we are, even for tasting. Maybe somehow we have learnt to use all our senses together, sort of integrated together - like you cant taste things if you have a cold.

But overall, the food was really yummy! And it looked even yummier once we were out and could see what we were served. It was also kinda weird that some of us thought the amount was not enough, though looking at the portions at exit, it was the usual amount that one would have for dinner.

Karynn also posted her view of the dinner on her blog.

Oh, they still have their offer on - 1 free bottle of wine for every 4 guests. Go like their FB page.

30,000 monks in Bangkok

A day in March is the Makha Bucha Day. But this year is a special year, marking the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment day. So, there were a series of alms giving ceremonies around Bangkok. On March 24th, I went to witness the one in Chinatown where there were estimated about 30,000 monks gathered to receive alms from Buddhists. Had to wake up early as it starts at 6.30 am, but it was worth it. Here are some pictures.

Most disgusting display

Been to the Auckland Museum during my trip to New Zealand last year. Its a pretty good museum with lots of displays from natural history to Maori culture and a war memorial (huh, NZ in war? Not quite, but they sent their people to join the British, duh).

And in that museum, I've come across the most disgusting display I've ever seen! Its around the natural history galleries, in the section called "Weird and Wonderful". There is a tank.... well, let the picture speak for itself.

Those kitty eyes!

Just step into any animal shelter and you're bound to come across lots of homeless cats. And there will be those that will give you that 'Puss-in-boots' eyes! *you've been warned*

Do visit your local shelter, and when you can, open up your home and your heart to a pair of those eyes.

For those around KL, you can visit the SPCA Selangor (www.spca.org.my)

What I think I do - Part 2

Here is one that represents the work I do - animal charities.

What I think I do?

There has been a wave of "What I think I do" posts on Facebook lately. There's been a nice one for doctors, which kinda can be applied to vets a bit. But not quite, so I created one!

Here you go, enjoy!

2011 in review

What? Its 2012 already? ... what have I achieved in 2011?

1. Time off from work

Its been my fourth year at work in Bangkok, and also one of the most exhausting time. So I decided that I needed a break to get refreshed and took a 6 month sabbatical from work. It has been good times - mostly spent it with family and friends back home, some travelling, and mostly relaxing. It definitely has been the break I needed to get rid of the exhaustion. But had it refreshed my motivation for work? Remains to be seen...

2. Travelled to 8 different countries

Although with the sabbatical from work, there was still a lot of travel during work (and some during break). This year it includes 3 new countries too - Italy, Ghana and New Zealand!

Places I have been in 2011:

• Kanchanaburi, Thailand
• Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Rome and Turin, Italy (part work, part holiday)
• Accra, Ghana (only work though)
• Cebu, Philippines
• Taipei and Green Island, Taiwan (holiday)
• Singapore (meet friends)
• All over New Zealand (major holiday!)
• Jakarta and Borobudur, Indonesia

And I've learnt that I might be too old now for true backpacking. Better just stick to budget hotels.

3. Loss interest in hobbies

Well, not an achievement, but a significant change in the year. I think I've lost my motivation for photography or blogging. New equipment, software, joining new groups, etc, just didn't do it for me. But that said, no matter how depressed one gets, there's always someone worse off. Don't worry, I'm still me :)

4. Bungee jumping! 

Oh, did this while in New Zealand. It was really terrifying at first, but of course I had to do it! And I plunged into the water below too. This should really be on everyone's bucket list. Would I do it again? You bet! If only it wasn't so expensive to go jump off a bridge. 

Lets hope for a brighter 2012! Perhaps a more drastic change? Hmm...

Heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier

One of the fantastic experience in New Zealand is Heli-hiking up on the glacier. Franz Josef glacier is located on the West Coast of South Island in New Zealand. It is situated within the rainforest climate of New Zealand, which means it gets quite a lot of rain over the years. But these rain actually help make the glaciers.

The glaciers itself is beautiful and much more expansive and huge than any photos can show. It is constantly moving, which is why you can hear cracks, falling ice and even small waterfalls from the melted ice.

A Heli-hike involves taking a helicopter up the the top of the glacier and then a guide brings you to climb around the glaciers, exploring the nooks and crannies of formed ice caves.

Even though sitting in a helicopter and looking down, it the glacier still looks small until you see another helicopter flying around, then you'll get an idea of how massive it really is.

I'm not sure if you're allowed on the glaciers on your own, but having a guide is really the only safe (and sane) choice. With experience, they know which areas are safe to step on without having any ice fall on you, or falling into the crevice of melted ice. Trust me, its worth it.

A guide will also explain the different landscapes around the glaciers and show you things you'd never expect. Like a small stream of melted ice.

Or the best thing on the glaciers, going through an ice cave! The pressure from the formation of the glacier produces this nice blue tinge (which turns white after exposure to the sun). So, finding a blue ice cave that you can slide through is amazing!

If you ever go that way, I'd definitely recommend a hike over the glacier (either Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, both should be equally good, but also depends on your luck with the weather!). The helicopter ride is a bonus, where you get to experience the massiveness of the glaciers and take in the entire glacier.

Pretty cool forest

Some forests in New Zealand are pine forests. These pine trees are not native to the country, but was brought in by early European settlers to replant the area so it would 'look better'. Some of these pines grew so well that it became pests and a danger to the native plants and wildlife.

Anyway, regardless, it is still pretty cool to walk through a pine forests, especially when the lower areas are covered with some kind of fluffy algae (or moss) and made the atmosphere look somewhat greenish.

Peace Pole in New Zealand

Remember sometime back when I posted about "Peace Poles"? Well, this time I've unexpectedly come across yet another Peace Pole.

This Peace Pole is situated in front of the YHA in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. It is definitely an amazing place for a Peace Pole, very scenic with the mountain range in the background and definitely a very peaceful place to be!

Where else will I find my next Peace Pole?

Mountains in the morning

I am loving Kaikoura, New Zealand so far. Imagine waking up in the morning and finding this view outside your room each day!

Seals!

There's so much wildlife in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Walking around the coast, you'll bump into a colony of fur seals. And they smell too.

Whales!

Finally the weather is nice enough on Kaikoura, New Zealand to go on a whale watching tour. The sea was still rough, but it was so worth it to see these majestic giant creatures (even if you only see the top of their head, and tail)

Rotorua

Rotorua is a town in New Zealand's north Island that is famous for its thermal grounds. There are lots of hot springs here and lots of places with thermal activities. A walk around the park, and you can see lots of steam (stinky though), some boiling water, lots of gas escaping and sometimes even what looks like boiling mud. There is a small place where the temperature is right for soaking tired legs.

For more information, visit their website:http://www.rotoruanz.com/

Lady Knox Geyser

There is a geyser called Lady Knox that goes off at about 10.15am daily near to Rotorua, New Zealand.

This attraction is part of the "thermal wonderland" of Wai-O-Tapu. It normally costs NZD 32 for the admission. However, since the geyser is outside the rest of the park, you can watch it for FREE if you know where to find it (just ask around, its about 2km away).

This geyser would normally erupt once every few days, but a staff from the park help set it off by adding some detergent into it (eco-friendly detergent, apparently).

It doesn't erupt immediately after adding detergent. It still took about 10 minutes before water shoots out and mixes with the cold air to have lots of steam surrounding it. But it was pretty cool anyway. The other place you can see geysers is in the US.