Alanpp

Sapa ~ Cat Cat and Waterfall

2012-01-19T23:43:00.012+08:00

Sapa是这次越南旅游的第一站。对Sapa的印象，就是梯田，少数民族，还有爬山。十一月不是来Sapa看梯田的最好时候，除了天气冷，还会起雾，最重要的是，不可能会看见那满山绿油油的稻田。（上图）虽然如此，还是对这次的‘爬山’部分抱着期待。喜欢走在路上，被群山包围的感觉。

这次的旅行，其实还有另一个小目的。就是学拍照。来越南前买了新相机，想借着这次的旅行，好好学一些技巧，而且旅游同伴里好几个都是拍照高手，所以也学了不少。

来Sapa前，从朋友那里听说了会有不少的步行，上下山坡挺吃力。我想正好，就把Sapa当坐五月登Kinabalu山的前奏，来练习一下。

第一天：Cat Cat

第一天的步行算简单，从旅店开始步行，穿过几条市区道路，就开始山路的部分。原以为步行道Cat Cat村的路途，会是山坡和树林，可是短短不到1个小时便走到Cat Cat，而且都是轻轻松松的泊油路。

当地人在路边晒衣服。

一路上，除了导游带领着，还有很多的当地人，从最小的7-8岁女孩，到60几岁的阿婆，会一路跟随着。来Sapa前已被告知，当地人会尽全力兜售手工艺品，最好不要买，因为跟一个买了，就会有其他人等着要你帮他们买一些。可是，我还是买了，哈哈。看他们一脸诚恳的样子，再想到这其实也是她们为生的管道，只要价钱公道，货物质地不差，还是可以支持一下。

Cat Cat村

走过Cat Cat最后来到这个瀑布。一看见瀑布就开心啊。因为我终于可以试用一下相机的"Shuttle Priority Mode"，来学一下不同‘shuttle speed'可以拍出怎么样不同的瀑布水流。

瀑布是今天最后一个景点。原以为会又走回刚走过的泊油路回到旅店，可是在导游带领下，半路杀出去，开始走进稍微有一点难度的山坡。

像这样的山路，走了应该不超过半个小时而已，就走回Sapa市区的马路。

原来第一天这短短的山路，只是个热身。因为第二天的步行，可以说大多都是走在山路和树林里，而且难度比第一天来得高。

~待续~

Travel Portal

2011-12-16T23:28:00.007+08:00

Islands and Beaches

~ Fraser Island (Australia) - 20 June 2009
~ Whitsunday Island (Australia) - 22 June 2009
~ Phuket Island (Thailand) - 30 April 2010
~ Desaru Beach (Johor) - 15 June 2010
~ Pulau Lankayan (Sabah) - 2 October 2010
~ Pulau Perhentian (Terengganu)

Caves and Mountains

~ Gua Kandu (Perak) - 2 May 2011
~ Deer Cave (Sarawak) - 2 August 2011
~ Lang Cave (Sarawak) - 2 August 2011
~ Sapa (Vietnam)
~ Gunung Kinabalu (Sabah)

Rivers and Lakes

~ Sun Moon Lake (Taiwan) - 30 December 2010
~ Johor River (Kota Tinggi) - 19 July 2011
~ Melinau River (Sarawak) - 4 August 2011

Other Adventures

~ Bungy jump in Cairns (Australia) - 26 June 2009
~ Water Rafting (Sabah)

看了就要割耳朵

2011-12-11T00:51:00.007+08:00

12月10日晚上10点左右

今晚看见月食了！

能够看到月食，算是碰巧。9点多回家路上，偶然抬头一看，才发现今晚的月亮好像有一点怪。当时的月亮是个弯月，可是本来是黑暗的部分却呈淡红色，弯月的部分还随着时间过去而变得越来越小。我当时想，该不会是月食吧。

在上网证实的确是月食后，就索性先不回家，绕道走到附近比较没有光害的公园, 边散步，边看着一直在改变的月亮。

和日食比较起来，好像是月食比较普遍能看得到。可是今晚却是我有生以来第二次看到而已。还记得是在小时候六七岁时，在老家新村第一次看到，那时候听别人说，这是‘天狗吃月’。也不记得是从哪里听来的，看见了天狗吃月，耳朵就会被割掉。所以我从家里窗口偷瞄了一眼正在发生的月食后，就把所有的门都关上，躲在客厅，深怕真的会有什么神明鬼怪来割了我的耳朵。

而说到日食，第一次看见日食的经验还记忆犹新。那时在小学四年级的事。当时是偏日食，发生时间是中午10点-11点间，也就是上课时间。还记得，我是在上课时，借着要上厕所的借口，偷跑到课室后的草地上，自己一个人欣赏着这宇宙的奥妙。想起当时小小年纪看见那慢慢消失的太阳，是多么的惊奇啊。我在同一节课，就上了两次厕所，都是经不起那‘消失中的太阳’的诱惑。

最近一次的日食，是几年前在中国发生，也透过电视现场直播，又感受了另一次的惊奇，因为在全日食的时候，白天还真的是变成了黑夜。

很期待明年底的日食，发生地点是澳洲凯恩斯。到时候一定要到那里，亲身体验白天变黑夜的那一瞬间。

Cactus November 2011

2011-11-06T12:42:00.003+08:00

仙人掌开花

2011-08-31T15:48:00.001+08:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mulu游记：Melinau River outside Clearwater Cave

2011-08-26T00:39:00.007+08:00

Clearwater Cave是Mulu四个show cave之一，也是我最想来的一个洞穴。原因就是在那show cave海报里（下图），给我看见了Clearwater Cave里可有一个清澈见底的美丽小河，还可以在那里游泳。来到Clearwater前，我想象的景象，其实是这条河是在洞里的，可是，来了后才发现，原来是从洞里地底流出来的小河，然后再流到Melinau大河去。

乘河里没有人的时候，赶快拍个照

其实Clearwater Cave里好像没有什么，就只是沿着走道一直走，再越过一条洞里小河。洞里的河水可是很急的，是不可能让人游泳。洞里又这么暗，如果真的跳进水里，被冲到哪里去应该也不会有人发现。

还好我们也参与了Turtle Cave Adventure Tour。原来在Clearwater Cave里，还有几个分支，其中一个就把我们连到Turtle Cave去。在Turtle Cave里需要电筒，要在那完全黑暗的空间里，爬上爬下，可是难度就没有之前Racer Cave的高。Turtle Cave的重点，就是有一个部分，需要在那狭窄的隧道游泳。在洞里游泳的感觉，真的是爽啊！！！

从Turtle Cave出来后，再穿过丛林，就把我们带回之前的洞前小河。又是游泳的时候啦。不浪费时间，脱了上衣，马上跳入水中。

Mulu游记：Deer Cave ~ Bat Exodus

2011-08-13T22:00:00.011+08:00

Deer Cave是世界最大的洞穴通道。和之前的Lang Cave在同一座山。从地图上看，比较之下，Deer Cave应该是Lang Cave的至少五十倍吧

Deer Cave洞外

洞外的集合点

慢慢沿着铺好的石灰路走进Deer Cave。果然是目前看过最大的洞穴。

走进洞不久后，转头往洞口一看，就可以看见这特别的人脸形状。土族领队说这是Abraham Lincoln的脸

Deer Cave除了以‘最大洞穴通道’和‘Abraham Lincoln’著名外，它还是几百万只蝙蝠的栖息地。所以在经过这条横跨洞穴的小路时，蝙蝠大便味可真的是呛鼻的臭啊！！！然后抬头一看，远远的洞穴上原来都是蝙蝠。这就是加快脚步的时候，也不知道什么时候会被几颗蝙蝠大便扫射下来

开始走进没有阳光的深处

人行道的尽头看见另一个出口。Garden of Eden是从这里出发的。下一次重游Mulu，一定要来

喜欢从黑暗的洞穴深处看见阳光从洞口照射进来

离开Deer Cave前来一张照

Deer Cave外的蝙蝠观赏处。在这里坐了不知道有多久，坐着坐着，都睡着了。等了应该不少过一个小时后，蝙蝠终于飞出来了！！！

Mulu游记：Mulu Park Headquarter ~ Lang Cave

2011-08-12T23:01:00.012+08:00

唯一飞到Mulu的MasWing

从机场搭车来到Mulu Park Headquarter只是短短的5分钟路程

要到headquarter必经的吊桥

从吊桥看见的码头

Headquarters大门外，这也是所有活动的集合点

在Mulu的第一份午餐。价钱是预料中的‘游客’价码，但至少每一餐都算美味

午餐后，一切准备就绪，出发到Lang Cave和Deer Cave

Mulu的每一个景点，没有一个是不用走上个三四公里才可以到达的。三公里多的路也不算无聊，经过丛林，越过小河，还有小鸟和虫的叫声

Lang Cave和Deer Cave山洞外一景

LangCave洞口。Lang Cave在Mulu算是比较小的洞。高度，宽度，长度，属一般。全程不超过30分钟。有不少需要低下头，弯下腰的部分。高大的老外应该是比较辛苦吧。哈

从Lang Cave出来，同一条路，拐个弯，就可到Deer Cave了。Deer Cave是世界最大的洞穴通道。

Deer Cave ~ 待续~

Gunung Mulu National Park

2011-08-06T21:51:00.005+08:00

Gunung Mulu National Park位于砂劳越Miri, 是马来西亚的其中一个世界自然遗产UNESCO World Heritage (其他遗产还包括Kinabalu, George Town和Melaka)。 Mulu其实是个还蛮难到达的地方，如果不搭飞机的话，就得乘船十多个小时。

来到Mulu的人，好像95%都是外国人，背包客居多，偶尔也会有一家大小的日本和香港人，剩下的那5%人，就是我们两个本地人，还有在第3天遇见的一个吉隆坡人和砂

劳越人。Mulu Park里的一切，餐馆菜单，路牌，布告板都是英语，连Mulu Headquarter里的土族职员都是英语沟通，在这里的四天三夜，感觉更像在国外多一些。就像一年前的Lankayan Island, 这次来到了好像只有外国人才会来的Mulu，让我更觉得马来西亚其实真的有很多很多地方，等着让人去发现。

来到Mulu，是冲着想尝试更多山洞探险而来，所以有三天的时间都是在洞里。来到这里才发现，爬洞之外，还有很多可以做的活动。山洞探险，算是个自我挑战的一项运动。喜欢在漆黑的洞里，靠着头顶上的电筒，爬上爬下，享受着成功穿越挑战的满足感。Mulu的某些山洞，有着相当的危险性，有那种‘一失足成千古恨’的可能性。还以为自己爬过Gua Tempurung和Gua Kandu, 有了一些经验，挑战了Mulu的高难度Adventure Cave之后才知道，之前爬过的洞真的是‘sup sup sui'。

喜欢在山洞里感受着完全黑暗的感觉。当我们一队人抵达山洞深处尽头，团员们坐下休息，把电筒关上，眼前就真的是伸手不见五指。那种感觉很奇妙，突然失去方向感，然后开始慢慢觉得整个世界只剩下自己一个人，被孤立在一个点，动也不敢动。

很喜欢在从黑暗山洞里，走向洞口，远远看见那从洞外射进来的阳光。有着说不上的’爽‘啊！

Deer Cave洞口

在结束这次的旅程后，我很肯定会在近几年重游此地。想挑战三天两夜Pinnacles之行，还有更多的山洞经历。

Pinnacles (照片摘自panoramio.com)

哥打河 (Sungai Johor)

2011-07-21T00:23:00.005+08:00

这就是从我家步行只要10分钟就抵达的哥打河。其实这条河的原名叫Sungai Johor，照翻译的话，应该是‘柔佛河’才对。偏偏这条河就穿过哥打丁宜市中心，哥打人每一天都会经过，所以就变成‘哥打河’。我想应该是这个原因吧。

住在哥打这二十多年，哥打河也改变不少。之前是没有用石灰搭的河堤，也没有可以让人步行的河边路。在一两年前，因为严重水灾，政府还派人去把河底挖深。

讲到哥打河给我的印象，就是黄泥很多，不干净。很难想象，中学老师跟我说过，她小的时候是在哥打河里游泳的，因为河水很清澈。

哥打河其实也算是哥打丁宜的其中一个旅游景点，那就是乘船去看萤火虫。人就是很奇怪，有旅游景点在自己的地方，就偏偏不会想要去。我也是在因为新加坡朋友来哥打玩，我才借着这个机会，以‘旅人’的身份到哥打河来一个游车河，看萤火虫。

说到哥打丁宜的旅游景点，除了看萤火虫，应该就是Desaru海滩（还有附近的什么鸵鸟园和水果园，我都没有去过，哈哈），和哥打丁宜瀑布(Waterfall Kota Tinggi)。近几年才开张的什么度假村，也还没到过。好，就下一个目的地啦。。。

Caving at Gua Kandu

2011-05-12T10:28:00.007+08:00

继两年前的Gua Tempurung山洞探险后，这次又来到Gopeng, 挑战另一个比较鲜少人知的石灰山洞Gua Kandu。

这次的探险队，只有我们四个。回想起之前在Gua Tempurung整组人应该不下30人。觉得，人数太多，探险度就相对的减少。

山洞入口

之前的山洞照片，因相机闪光灯的关系，看上去好像很亮的感觉，其实真正的山洞里就像这张照片一样，除了电筒光线照到的一点点地方，其他的就是伸手不见五指那么暗。

我的老家- 新村

2011-04-27T00:40:00.005+08:00

今晚跟着妈妈来到天后宫，她说是什么什么日子的最后一天了，我没留意听，就这样跟着来烧香拜佛了。

庙宇前搭了舞台，原来有人在唱歌，看得人还真的很多。舞台旁整条街摆了一排档子，卖玩具，鞭炮，食物，饮料，还有两辆渌渌车。

眼前的这些情景，其实一点也不陌生，因为在小时还住在新村时是还蛮普遍的。

还记得，小时住在新村的家对面，就是一个很大的草地。每逢什么节日时，就会有像这样的舞台，还有很多卖东西的小摊。舞台表演从唱老歌，唱大戏，播大帆布电影，到布娃娃表演，什么都有。当然那时还小，哪里懂得欣赏什么大戏，坐在那里看着三两个人，化着有白有红的装，拿着长矛挥来挥去，那时心想，都不知道他们在唱什么。

事隔十多年，今天看见了同样的情境，就好像回到了小时新村的时光，感觉很熟悉，还很怀念。从我出世，就在新村长大，一直到中三才搬家到离中学比较近的Taman Sri Lalang，俗称大哥打。在新村有着十五年的回忆。搬家后就很少回去老家，祖母过世后，一年里回去的次数更是屈指可数。现在回想起来，自从我到邻国读书，到现在的工作，好像就是每年过年回去的那么一次，而且还只是拜访老亲戚而已。

也不知道，

我家对面的大草场，现在还是不是草场；

离我家步行十五分钟就可以抵达的新哥打小学，有了什么改变；

小时自己偷偷一个人骑脚踏车游荡的那些偏僻小路（小时，我自己把那些几乎没人走的小路，命名为‘秘密通道’），到底还存不存在；

还有，很多很多。。。。。。

好，就计划一个，‘重回老家回忆一日游’吧。

[后记：哥打人篇]

好久没有像今晚一样，在同一个地方看见这么多熟悉的面孔。

一下车，就听见，“eh？？！！”，转头一看原来是一位多年不见的中学同学，她还以不敢相信的语气加了一句：你也来拜啊！？

走进庙的大门不久，又看见了LP的老爸站在那里看歌台

进到庙里想买香，看见了表姐

烧完香，逛小摊，也碰上了油漆老，‘明子’叔，还有JY的大妹

最让我惊奇的是，之前那些在面子书，我不认识，也没有讲过半句话，也不知道为什么会add我的一些人，也在这里被我碰上了。这些人都是面子书的活跃分子，所以面孔倒还蛮熟悉

日月潭

2011-01-28T23:44:00.008+08:00

湖边饭店-景胜楼

环绕日月潭的旅游景点之一：文武庙

从九族文化村回途缆车，日月潭一景

第三天起得早，想看日出，可是只看见月亮

选择在日月潭玩个三天两夜，是因为不想有赶场的感觉。来到这里就是要享受人生，时间不够多的话，就得在最短的时间内，参观越多的景点。

就因为有三天的时间，我们还真的是闲到可以在阳台酒吧看日出几个小时，下午累了回到酒店睡午觉，傍晚时分一个人漫步于松伯伦步道区，早晨在文武庙年梯（一共365梯级）晨运。唯一没有办法完成的一件事，就是组个脚踏车，环湖绕一圈。

起死回生 ~ 仙人掌

2011-01-28T10:45:00.007+08:00

难得的一个可以呆在家的周末，又是时候去整理一下那‘一堆’仙人掌。用‘一堆’来形容，是因为我已有半年一上没有理过它们。死的死，烂的烂，剩下的那些垂死挣扎的就被我妈全部堆在一个大花盆里。

花了半个下午的时间，把每一个仙人掌重新种在各自的盆。希望可以让它们起死回生。

这只是一部分的。还有一些已经不可能挽救了，只好丢在那个大盆里，让它们自身自灭。

想了想，我开始种仙人掌是在我中二中三的时候，十年多前的事。
喜欢仙人掌，是因为，种仙人掌是一种惊喜。

永远都不会知道它们会长成什么样。就算是同一品种，也可以长出不同模样。

我虽然喜欢仙人掌，可是对于仙人掌的知识，只算皮毛。对我来讲，仙人掌的模样，有两种。第一种，就是那种只有一颗，只会越长越大颗；第二种，就是从一颗，越生越多新的。

象这一个，原本是一颗罢了，还以为它是那种只会越变越大的种类，一年不见，竟然从头上长了三颗新的。

这两张是在我买仙人掌的花店买的。

店名‘艺玲’。位于从哥打丁宜往瀑布的路途中，离哥打成功花园入口处不会太远。花店就在路边而已。

明天飞到台湾去

2010-12-28T21:21:00.002+08:00

再过多几个小时就要出发到台湾去。刚收拾好我那肥肥大大的背包，背了一下，想试一下重量。就开始回忆起一年前的澳洲和柬埔寨、越南背包之旅。

原本以为好像没什么可以带的，可是随便收拾一下，就把背包塞满了。再检查一下背包里的东西，好像真的也没有什么。我想是我的‘收拾功夫’不到家吧。不懂得怎么去利用空间。

这次的旅行，感觉不一样。工作缘故，我一直到今天晚上收拾好背包才开始有一点点的旅行气息。想起以前读书时期，去旅行前，一位已工作的朋友说的话。读书时期，和工作之后去旅行，感觉是不一样的。当时我想，旅行就是旅行，有什么不同。现在，我明白了。就是那种忙里偷闲，旅行前还在赶工，旅行后马上就有工作等着做的感觉。

唯一不变的是，旅行就是旅行。至少我知道我到台湾后，我唯一会想到的‘工作’是：旅行

旅行生活，生活旅行

2010-10-25T23:42:00.004+08:00

2010年真是一个旅游年。今年可以算是旅行次数最多的一年。动不动两三个月就会‘出动’一次。说真的，我还真的不可以安安分分的留在新加坡连续工作太多个月。也许还真的是一直都在旅行，家里老妈还跟我讲，还要旅行？等一下老板炒鱿鱼！

3个星期前的Lankayan旅行，应该可以算是今年最后的一次出走吧。年尾的台湾跨年之旅，我就把他归类为2011年的旅行比较好，哈。

现阶段，旅行可以算是我生活的一大部分。除了工作，还有平时的一些小兴趣（比如，没有日没有夜的玩game），我一有空，就会翻起日历，开始寻找假期。至于到哪个目的地，还算其次。因为想去的地方太多，主要的问题是，时间不多。所以只要一找到可以出走的几天，再随便挑一个目的地，也不是很难。

读旅游书，也算是旅行的一种形式。就是随着作家的文字和照片，体验作家所体验的，看到作家所看到的，虽然不是亲生经历。

最近读了林悦的《我的私房地图2》，里面有一个故事，是关于一个日本女生，她在‘路上’已经十年了。到过了超过一百个国家，一边工作，一边旅行。旅行了十年，当然是什么都经历过。就有一次，她还在非洲花了20多天走过400多公里的丛里，到达下一个目的地。真的是佩服。对这位日本女生来说，旅行应该是她生活的全部吧。我之前讲的什么‘旅行是我生活的一大部分’，算的了什么，哈。

至于我，虽然会冒着被炒鱿鱼的险，我还是会继续的旅行，寻找更多的目的地，认识更多的人，听更多旅游人的故事，最重要的是，在旅行时，发掘更多的自己。

就不知道，会不会有朝一日，旅行也变成我生活的全部？

退休之旅~ Lankayan

2010-10-17T00:17:00.006+08:00

Lankayan的这次旅行算是一个惊喜。一直都不知道，原来自己的国家也有这么一个完美的小岛。

一直以来，就有一个梦想。就是以后退休了，就到一个没有什么人去的小岛定居，过着一个每天早上一起床，窗口一打开，就可以看见和听见大海，还有蓝蓝的天空的日子。

没有想到的是，我竟然在这岛上，过了这么一段短暂的’退休之旅’，哈哈。

喜欢这个岛的小。环岛散步一圈也只区区15分钟。就因为小，所以全部美好的东西都很集中。在这岛上的几天，每次经过码头就可以看见数不清的鱼群，还有一群小鲨鱼。很幸运的，我还在两个晚上目睹了几百只小海龟的出生。

岛上只有一间度假村。到这里来度假的都属外国中老年夫妇居多。应该都是退休人士吧。就因为每天看见他们，在这岛上的几天，我也有‘退休’的感觉。

个人觉得，到岛屿度假，就是要像这种没有人潮，比较清静。可以坐在满天星的夜空底下，享受人生。而不是像在那些已经很商业化的著名岛屿，太多的度假村，太多的人，还有晚上太多的音乐。

寂寞星球的寂寞老人

2010-07-25T00:58:00.012+08:00

一直以来，当我想计划一个旅行时，会被我列入名单的地方，从来都不会有自己的国家-马来西亚。抱着想往外走的心态，所以往往只会想起需要搭飞机才可到达的国家。

打从我开始会自己计划旅行开始（大学时期），就分别到了澳洲，越南，柬埔寨，泰国。爱上旅行后，也开始有个癖好。就是，想收集Lonely Planet系列的书。

也不是就为了想收集而收集。就觉得，LP系列的旅游书，都满合我的口味。第一本LP书是澳洲。在澳洲那十五天，我就是靠这本书而活的。哈。地图，哪里有吃的，哪里有宿舍，哪里有景点。虽然也不可能完全100%跟着书里的资料，作为开始筹备旅程的基础，是很足够的。

LP书里，还有一个部分，是我个人蛮喜欢的，就是地方历史。到了一个国家后，就会开始想了解更多。而读当地历史，就是晚上躺在旅店床上，睡觉前会做的事情。在这个时候，LP书又派上用场。

今年年头，LP又出了新一版的书。大部分的旅游书都得到更新。也不知道是哪里来的冲动，我买了《Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei》Lonely Planet。买下这本书理由，并不是想要计划一个马来西亚旅行。就只是想读一读LP作者们怎么写，怎么介绍自己的国家。

可能是天意，买了这本书的几个月后，因为朋友的提议，我真的在自己的国家旅行了！还是开着车，从西马最南部，新山，慢慢往北开，最后一站是西马最北的Langkawi。同样的，几乎每一天，都少不了LP书。

在这旅行后，被取了一个外号--寂寞老人。

一开始，并不明白。因为我一点也不寂寞啊，最多是一个人坐在沙滩上享受人生时，会渴望有个人可以并肩坐在一起，分享当下。

后来，想想，也对啊。

我就是那个每天读着《寂寞星球》的寂寞老人。

可是我可不可以自己纠正一下这个外号。寂寞男孩，怎么样？

读小说

2010-07-10T00:30:00.000+08:00

我个人有一个奇怪的习惯，就是久不久会到我房里的书架，开始一本一本小说拿出来看一下。所谓‘看一下’，并不是重读书里的文字，而只是纯粹把书握在手里，欣赏一下封面，想一下小说的大纲，回忆一下当时读后的感想。

也不知道是我运气好，还是我就是太爱看书，总觉得我每次看的书，肯定都是好书。而我也常常会拿着那些书向我的妹妹推荐，有多好看就讲得多好看。我妹妹每一次都会很不削的说：’真的有酱好看吗？”

每次在书架旁，一本一本地看着旧书时，总会开始回忆一些事。就好像，常常我们会因为一首歌，而想起某件事，或某个人。书也一样。

我开始看小说，是从小学5年纪开始。当时老师有一系列10本简单华语故事书，我得到了其中一本。已经忘了书名。可是，就是这第一本书后，我开始自己买书来看。我记得，4大名著的西游记，三国演义和水浒传（红楼梦除外），我也是在这个阶段看的。

上了中学后，因为俊嘉，我认识了福尔摩斯。我是在中三那一年看完福尔摩斯全集的。也在中学时期开始接触英语书，就是那些比较经典的。比如Jules Verne一系列的书。特别喜欢他的Twenty Thousand　Ｌｅａｇｕｅｓ　Ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　Ｓｅａ。图书馆的这本书，也不懂被我看了多少次。

没有记错的话，Ｈａｒｒｙ　Ｐｏｔｔｅｒ好像也是在这个时期开始红到不清不楚的。

之后，就是在中６，偶然的机会下，从瑞韵那里借来一整套Ramses小说。应该可以说我是因为这套书，而爱上了埃及。

之后看的书，好像都是因为某某朋友的介绍下，才会尝试一本，而往往看了一本后，就会开始看同一个作者的其他书。

陶醉vs麻醉

2010-07-09T22:14:00.004+08:00

不知道从什么时候开始，读小说已经不再是一种打发多余时间的兴趣。每天工作，搭地铁，搭巴士，总少不了等车的时间。在那挤得让人无法呼吸的地铁里，我还是照样看着书。

读着文字，可以被带到书里故事中的幻想世界，总好过闷在地铁人群里的压迫感。

平时在家悠哉地读小说，是一种陶醉。
在地铁里读小说，是一种麻醉。

Desaru [15 June 2010]

2010-06-23T10:28:00.004+08:00

迪沙鲁。是从小和一家人一起去过无数次的海边。长大以后，去的次数开始变少。上了中学后，好像就根本没有和家人到过了。除了在中学毕业后和朋友去的那么一次。

几个NUS朋友来到哥打丁宜（Kota Tinggi）。我就当了哥打丁宜两天一夜的导游（兼司机）。第一天的行程，就是迪沙鲁，和晚上的河边看萤火虫。

迪沙鲁整条海滩，有几个入口。我们首先来到了‘Public Beach’。
这里什么都没有。就只有沙和水,还有马来人。

买了McDonald，充当午餐。用了一块小的可怜的毛巾铺在沙滩上，开始‘野餐’

长长的沙滩，整体看来是蛮不错的。就只差在没有完善的清理。到处都可以看见一些塑料带。个人觉得，如果可以安排在更多的地方放垃圾桶，应该可以改善一下这里的环境。因为在这整条沙滩上，我只看见一个已经满得不能再满的垃圾桶。

迪沙鲁的海水，就比想象中来的清。比起上一个去的海滩（普吉岛Patong Beach）那灰灰的海水，迪沙鲁的海滩可以说是相当的美。

很生气又遗憾的是，我竟然忘了带沙滩裤来换。没有多余的裤子，所以就不能下海。最多只是让水淹过膝盖而已。

在Public Beach没多久，觉得没事做，我们就转移征地，来到Lotus Resort的沙滩。这里的沙滩就很不同。很干净。各个设备都有。终于有个像样的海滩了。

这里也有一些海上活动，好像香蕉船，Jetski，Kayak等等。

每个星期都回到KT，就是回到老家，看见熟悉的景物，屋子，马路，还有哥打河。

可是换个角度来看老家，又是不一样的感觉。

带着一群朋友，在自己熟悉的地方，以旅游的心态，虽然看到的还是一样的景物，看的感觉却很一番滋味。

其实，想要的话，在自己的家乡，也可以旅行。在这里想套一句台湾作家林鸿麟说过的一句话，
‘谁说旅行一定要出国？’

天空

2010-06-17T23:08:00.005+08:00

第一次开车到迪沙鲁，那漫长的路途，虽然是有一点累人，可是整个开车过程可以说是一点也不无聊。

因为我太久没有看见户外的蓝天，和一排一排的树！

说得好像有一点夸张。

直直的路，左右两边都是树林，油棕园居多，偶尔出现的一些小屋。好像是没什么看头的风景。可是我却还是看得很享受。

后来，我终于找到原因。。。

我开始回想了我最近的日子是怎么过的。

自从在新加坡开始工作后，我好像忘了一样东西的存在。

天空

从组屋房间望向窗外，看见的是一堵墙。那是隔壁组屋。天空看见度= 0%

从家里搭巴士到AMK Hub，除非真的是90度抬头望向天空，不然眼前出现的，不是大树就是高楼。

从AMK地铁站到Novena站，一共是5站的距离。AMK--Bishan--Bradell--Toa Payoh--Novena。从Bishan站开始，地铁就是在地下道。天空看见度= 0%

Novena地铁站一出来，就是Novena Square，我工作的地方。尽管从我音乐学校的大玻璃窗往外看，看见的还是一堵墙。那是另一座高楼。天空看见度= 0%

有时在晚餐时间离开学校，才发现外面正下着雷雨，从玻璃窗看着黑得恐怖的天空，我是一点感觉都没有。好像是，就算外面世界末日了，也和我没有关系。

在这里生活，感觉上世界变小了。

小小的租屋房间
挤满人的地铁
到哪里都是人潮

我想这也是我几乎每个星期都回马来西亚的其中一个原因。

La Campanella

2010-06-11T23:44:00.000+08:00

Time's Eye

2010-05-30T00:13:00.006+08:00

Time traveling is not a new idea, and novel/movie about the concept is quite common too.

But when time traveling involves a larger scale than just one person travels from one year to another year, a lot of changes are interestingly presented.

If the timeline of our universe is messed up, people from different times (more than just two different times) are all 'time traveled' to a single point of time, then there is a interesting interaction. Between people and people, between people and environment, between environment and environment.

What if an old guy goes back 40 years ago, and met his young self?
What if two famous historical figures like Alexander and Genghis Khan met each other? Who will win the battle?
What if a modern day people met with stone age people? What will be the cultural exchange?
What if a patch of tropical forest is time traveled to so many billion years ago that its surrounding environment is desert?

There is a famous scenario.
That is, if I time travel back to thousands years ago, and I kill Cynthya's great-great-great-to the nth-grandmother, then there won't be a person called Cynthya, and so I wont't know Cynthya, and so I won't know Cynthya's great-great-great-to the nth- grandmother, and so how can I know that I want to kill her if I don't know her in the first place.

All these issues are interestingly discussed and expanded in this novel called Time's Eye. Book 1 of the Time Odyssey trilogy.

Phuket trip Day 1

2010-05-17T11:48:00.005+08:00

Phuket Trip 【29 April ~ 4 May 2010】

来普吉岛前，没有做任何的计划，也不对这次的旅行抱任何的期待。心想，除了沙滩和潜水，应该没有什么别的好做了。5天的旅程后证明我的想法是错误的。在普吉岛可以做的事很多，在最后一个晚上还差一点就决定把旅行延长多一天。

抵达普吉岛后，我们到了一家旅社，想了解一些潜水配套。很快的，我们就决定了我们这几天的行程。

Day 1：就在Patong一带走走，当然还要到Patong Beach去做日光浴。晚上就是购物时间

Day 2：跟Shannon和Angela 一起到Rachai Yai潜水

Day 3：觉得一天的潜水不够，第3天我自己再去潜水，这次的目的地是Koh Dok Mai，King Cruiser，和Shark Point。

Day 4：参加了探险一日游

Day 5：租了一辆Tuk Tuk到普吉岛各个景点

从旅店一出来的那一整条街都是商店。原本想尽快找吃的我们，就这样沿着这条街，一间一间店地逛。逛都逛饱了，根本就忘了一整天还没有吃任何东西。

普吉岛天气很热。买了一件‘红牛’背心，我就回到房间，换上沙滩裤和背心。这次一定要把午餐解决，然后到沙滩去，再逛下去就没完没了，我想如果真的要每一间店都停下来看一下的话，逛到晚上应该不是问题吧。

Patong Beach是个蛮一般的沙滩。
因为一些海上活动（比如香蕉船，Jetski，降落伞）的原因，
海水的颜色是灰灰的

整个沙滩都可以看见一排排供旅客做日光浴的椅子。
我们以200Bht租了3张

日光浴时间，再加上一大杯冰可乐
爽！

一位泰国年轻人帮我们拍下的，他应该很有经验，一张搞定

晚上时，我们沿着步行街，一路逛，走到了Bangkla Road。那整排都是夜店和酒吧的街道上，到处都是游客。由于我们第二天要去潜水，晚上需要多休息，所以都只是一路走，并没有进去的打算。倒是看了一场 Thai Girl Show （很多人都把它念成Tiger Show）。有到过泰国的人，应该都不会对这只让成年人进场的show感到陌生吧。

Phuket trip Day 2

2010-05-17T11:48:00.003+08:00

今天到Rachai Yai潜水。个人觉得Rachai Yai潜水蛮一般。第三天的潜水可就不得了了。所以，比较之下，Rachai Yai就显得逊色一些。

因为潜水耳朵气压变化，还有耳朵进水的原因（再加上耳屎，hehe），每次我潜水后，耳朵一定会塞着。变成半耳聋状态。所以在回程途中，最喜欢坐在甲板上，望着海，什么也不用想。

刚潜完水，总是觉得很累，很想睡。所以，总是可以看见倒头就睡的人

Shannon和Angela第一次潜水，应该是个难忘的经验吧

三双美腿

三双美腿的主人

到了晚上时间，就是开始野的时候。决定到一些夜店‘坐一坐’。

在这家Seduction Club也不知呆了多久，离开这里是几点我也不太记得，可能是几个‘shot’之后的效果吧。一直提醒自己今晚不能醉，要不然明天就不用去潜水了！

Phuket trip Day 3

2010-05-17T11:48:00.001+08:00

今天自己一个人继续潜水，目的地是Koh Dok Mai，King Cruiser和Shark Point。
这次的潜水是个难忘的一天。

第一次潜了深不见底的Wall Dive。

第一次潜了沉船。潜在狭窄的空间，很暗，看不见什么‘美景’，是很不同的体验，又害怕，又刺激。

在King Cruiser看见的鱼，是多到连海水都看不见。就是那一大群小鱼，游在一起，形成龙卷风的形状。

第一次看见那么多的粉红水母，人头般大小，还被两只叮了我的左臂，害我痛了整整一天。要怎么形容水母的多呢。就是，我有尝试把我眼前所看见的数一数，已经是10只以上，还没有算那些在我上面，下面，和后面我看不到的。

在这船上也认识了不少人。潜完水后，大家都很兴奋地分享潜水经验。蛮多人都被水母扎到的。其中一个香港来的女生，还被叮了双手双脚。我被叮的左臂都麻痹了一天，不知道她四肢都被叮是什么滋味，真不敢想象。

也认识了已在泰国定居的一个马来西亚人。觉得还蛮聊得来的，还约好了下次再到普吉岛来潜水。他常常和几个朋友到海上潜水个几天，就是那种3到4天都在海上过夜的，每天早上起来，吃了早餐后就开始潜水。单单听他说，都觉得很过瘾。有机会肯定会尝试。

今天是星期六，我们到了普吉岛市中心的夜市。

可以看的东西很多，可是我就是没有看见我想买的。我倒是一直吃个不停
她们两个女人不停的买，我就不停的吃

Phuket trip Day 4

2010-05-17T11:47:00.000+08:00

第四天我们拿了一个探险一日游。跟着一辆载满游客的大巴，到了离普吉岛市中心偏远的郊区，开始一系列的活动。

到了Island Safari后的第一个表演


接下来还有猴子表演

第一次尝试Fish Spa，被鱼咬的时候，感觉好像几千只手在脚下搔痒

之后，我们就一人一辆ATV，开始在丛林里狂飙

ATV整组人不少，所以有时候会有需要停下来等人的时候

自助式午餐后，来到Island Safari Rafting Camp，玩了Water Rafting和Flying Fox

和我们同船的向导

这天的一日游还算不错。做了一些预料之外的活动。就好像Fish Spa和ATV。因为这些东西是我从来没有想过要尝试的。也在这天又过了一次Water Rafting的瘾（上一次Water Rafting是在半年前的怡保（Ipoh）。

又到了同一个夜市。和昨天一样，也是一直在买吃的。
也买了几件超便宜的T-Shirt

买够了，Shannon和Angela就开始做她们的Manicure。是夜市里一个小摊位。而我也累了，不想再走。当她们在积极地杀价买东西时，我是自己到处乱走的，逛闷了，还跟几个在看店的小孩玩。虽然是鸡同鸭讲，比手画脚，还是可以大概知道大家想表达什么。

当我一人坐在路旁，看着她们在弄指甲时，后面来了一个当地年轻男子，开始对我讲了一些泰语。其实夜市里的人，大多都不会讲英语的。所以我只对他微笑，表示我听不懂。后来，他还是叽里咕噜讲了几句。

也因为在这里闲着没事做，就开始和这群泰国女生里唯一会讲英语的Tik聊了起来。聊开了之后，我就随口问了Tik，刚刚那个男子对我说了些什么。原来他是叫我不要坐在那里，因为妨碍了他们搬东西。可是怎么叫，我就是不动。哈。Tik说他们都以为我是泰国人。之后想了想，还觉得蛮好笑的，还好那个男子没有当下走过来给我一个拳头。

每当我走进一家店时，老板们都是很自然的开始和我讲泰语。应该是在推销着他们店里的东西吧。一开始时，我会对他们摇头，表示我听不懂。之后我就连摇头都懒得做。有些时候，是还可以猜一下他们讲的话。一个老板就讲了两句：叽里咕噜叽里咕噜M，叽里咕噜叽里咕噜L。他应该是想告诉我，哪一边的衣服是M和L吧。

几天下来逛的夜市，都是这样。有时想了想，难道他们真的以为我是泰国人？

也许下次到泰国前，应该学一些泰语，到了那里就变成当地人，买东西可能会比较便宜，哈。

做完指甲后已经午夜，Tik就骑着摩托车载我们回旅店。三更半夜，和当地人一起骑摩托车，好爽呀！让我想起了一年前在越南胡志明市的繁忙街道上骑摩托车。

我爱上了在异国骑摩托车的感觉

Phuket Trip Day 5

2010-05-17T00:34:00.008+08:00

在第一天认识了一位Tuk Tuk司机-Som。机缘巧合，我们在路边凳子吃着面汤时，随便和Som聊了一下，之后就拿了名片，说好了在第五天会联络他，让他载我们到处走。

我们的第一站是在普吉岛南部的一个射击场。我买了10颗手枪子弹，在工作人员的一些解释后，就连续开了十枪。我的手枪准确度是84%。之前在中学时，也曾经开过手枪，可是是空子弹的。今天总算是尝试过了。没有在这里多逗留的原因，大家发完子弹后，就马上离开，到下一个目的地去。

骑马是我从来没有想要做的一件事。Shannon想尝试，那我当然也想借这机会骑一下。古装武侠片看多了，总少不了那种骑马和打斗的场面。今天就让我来感受一下坐在马背上在大草原奔驰的快感吧。

我们一人一匹马，慢慢的走进丛林里。马慢慢地走，还时不时停下来吃路边草。没有大草原，没有蓝蓝的天空，也没有奔驰的刺激感。

我跟马应该是没有缘，我的马有一点不合作，一直走得很慢，总是落在后头。可能是我超重了。之后在抵达终点前，马开始跑了起来，有一点那种随时会摔下来的感觉。奔驰的快感是没有，因为屁股很痛。

大佛像算是普吉岛的一个地标。坐落于一座山的最高处，从普吉岛各个地方都可以看到。

我们来到时，佛像正在进行装修，可是人也不少。

从大佛像还可以看到普吉岛的全景

坐着Tuk Tuk离开大佛像后，Som在山路的一个小空地停下，让我们拍照。

下山后，我们到一家购物中心里的餐馆吃火锅。餐馆里差不多满座，只有我们不是本地人。我们很像饿鬼一样，叫了满桌都是食物。他们应该会以为我们这些人是不是没有吃过火锅。

告别了Som之后，我们走到了另一个夜市。里面卖的东西和前几天去过的夜市差不多。自己走了两三圈，感觉上都把所有的东西看完，也没有买到什么。

这天晚上，到了一家酒吧，叫Kor Dor Mor。和几天前去过的Seduction Club不一样，Seduction Club里都是外国人，白人居多，而Kor Dor Mor里只有泰国人，除了我们三个人之外。Kor Dor Mor里的LiveBand，英语和泰语歌都唱。意外的是，那些泰语歌都出奇的好听，虽然都听不懂。

之前提到差一点想把旅程延长一天的事，就是发生在这天晚上的。我们带着醉意回到酒店后，就开始讨论，还借了酒店大厅的电脑，查询一下延迟班机的额外费用，因为需付多一笔钱，所以最后还是打消这个念头。

5天里的行程，都非常的享受。普吉岛是个很不错的地方。以后也会重游此地，继续潜水。

Starcraft 2

2010-05-06T10:45:00.002+08:00

Starcraft 2 finally have a release date, which is end of July. The release of this game means: I'm gonna have to get a new computer soon, because how can my 6 year old laptop supports all these new games?!

Actually wanted to get a new computer since long time ago, but due to budget problem, I was telling myself that I will only get one after one of these games come out:

Starcraft 2
Diablos 3
Final Fantasy XIV

and now the times had come.

But then recently I also hand itchy, feel like to get an iPhone, ha.

Time to save more~

澳洲之旅 2009 目录

2010-04-23T11:01:00.004+08:00

澳洲之旅2009
澳洲之旅 Day 0 ~ 我的第一次
澳洲之旅 Day 1 ~ 冲浪天堂
澳洲之旅 Day 2 + 3 ~ 玩不完的主题乐园
澳洲之旅 Day 4 ~ 布里斯本
澳洲之旅 Day 5 ~ 被袋鼠包围的兴奋
澳洲之旅 Day 6 （上） ~ 从Brisbane到Hervey Bay
澳洲之旅 Day 6 （下） ~ 无人沙滩的美
澳洲之旅 Day 7 ~ 没有尽头的海滩
澳洲之旅 Day 8 ~ 看见了银河
澳洲之旅 Day 9 ~ 少了阳光普照的Whitehaven
澳洲之旅 Day 10 ~ Selamat Datang ke Townsville
澳洲之旅 Day 11 ~ 又是旅行的第1天
澳洲之旅 Day 12 ~ 大堡礁，我来了
澳洲之旅 Day 13 ~ 跳楼原来是这样的
澳洲之旅 Day 14 ~ 今天我不是旅客
澳洲之旅 Day 15 ~ 回家了

澳洲之旅 Day 15 ~ 回家了

2010-04-23T10:28:00.004+08:00

这15天旅程的最后一个早上，是在这游乐园度过的。刚来到这里时一个小孩都没有。慢慢地，一个，两个，三个，一直到整只鱼都挤满了小孩。

在这里遇到了一位从菲律宾嫁到这里来的一位年轻婆婆。看我一个人在游乐场逛，就开始和我打个招呼，问了我是哪里来，来澳洲旅行还是留学。之后，也不知道是怎样，聊啊聊，我就干脆和他们一家大小坐在一起，还跟他们可爱的孙子孙女玩。

菲律宾婆婆分享了她对Cairns的一些想法，还有为什么会来到这里的理由。也开始和我聊起潜水的一些事情。最后还提醒我一定要到菲律宾去潜水，因为那里有更多的鱼。

和他们告别后，菲律宾婆婆走远了，还转过头来说了一句：Enjoy your trip, ok?

很想当下告诉她：我真的很enjoy这次的旅程，而且马上就要离开这个地方了

回家了
15天的旅程就这里告一个段落
在澳洲的每一天都是难忘的
虽然不是每一件事都是完美，可是好坏都是一种体验。
没有太多的不舍得

因为这一个旅程的结束，就代表着下一个的旅程即将到来

澳洲之旅 Day 14 ~ 今天我不是旅客

2010-04-23T09:38:00.006+08:00

来到Cairns，潜了水，跳了Bungy Jump，那今天就是把Cairns好好逛的一天。

已经在Cairns4天了。早上‘自动’起来后，到宿舍院子里走了几圈，背包客们遇见了就点头微笑，说早安（宿舍里来来去去就那几个面孔）。之后，回到房间‘打扮’了一下，就出门。

哪里有吃的，哪里有便宜的，大概都懂了。

买了早餐，坐在海边凳子，ipod里播着音乐，一边吃，一边和路人打招呼（这里人人都是这么的友善，开口闭口不是brother，就是mate）。

看到的是熟悉的海，同样的海边行人道，永远都是蓝蓝的天空。

有一点那种就是住在这里的感觉。

今天，我不是旅客。

天天都是这样的好天气

走累了，上衣一脱，就跳进这泳池游个两圈

也租了自行车，看了更远更多的东西

退潮后露出水面的小河

没有仔细的逛市集，因为卖的都是画

傍晚时分，没事干，就坐在这里看几位小弟拉小提琴

没有任何计划的一天
没有景点
没有时间上的束缚
看见自行车店，就租一台来骑
看见泳池，就跳进去游泳
看见草地，就躺下来做日光浴
还有什么比这天更好的呢

澳洲之旅 Day 13 ~ 跳楼原来是这样的

2010-04-22T23:58:00.004+08:00

这就是在Cairns的bungy jump十多层高的跳台
有多高？看下一张照片

地点在Cairns郊外。这是跳台的入口

蛮有意思的路牌

抵达之后，我就马上爬上跳台，想赶快跳下去。因为拖得越久，就越是紧张。
坐在那里让工作人员帮我准备一切时，是痛苦的。绳子绑了一圈又一圈，然后还有几条带穿在腰上。就是这样罢了。这么简单？到底安不安全啊。。。
站在跳台准备跳之前，我往下瞄了一眼。很后悔！那高度实在是太恐怖。跳楼原来是这样的？
都已经站在那里了，应该是没有说‘不跳’的机会，所以，我随着工作人员的倒数：
5
4
3
2
我跳！！！

在半空中飞了多久，一点概念也没有，当我已经不再随着绳子往上又往下弹来弹去后，第一感觉是： eh，我还活着！！！

一跳跃的那一刹那和往下掉的前几秒，是整个过程最刺激的部分。那种感觉，和坐过山车往下冲的刺激感不一样。是一种全新的感受。

之后又反复的弹上弹下了两三轮。

整个过程发生的很快，我都没有闭上眼睛，因为我想看一下掉下去的时候，可以看见什么。
根本就什么也没看到。一切的景物在眼前飞过，基本上和闭着眼睛好像没有什么分别。

Andrew和智辉的跳跃英姿

往后跳应该是另一种体验，下次吧！

之后我们也玩了这个叫Minjin Swing的游戏。像钟摆一样，飞来飞去。
我们是从最低点慢慢被拉上去，之后，有一条小绳子的机关，我一拉，我们就往下冲。
那刺激感，可不输给bungy jump

澳洲之旅 Day 12 ~ 大堡礁，我来了！

2010-04-22T10:25:00.004+08:00

潜水配套很多，一日游，两日，三日，甚至是一个星期的都有。盘缠有限，所以选了出海一天，在两个不同的珊瑚礁潜水。在宿舍老板介绍下，搭了Silversonic游艇出海。我们的目的地是在Cairns偏远的珊瑚礁，所以一早搭了巴士到Port Douglas，从那里的码头出发。

Silversonic游艇

游艇里空间大，很舒服。
在马来西亚岛屿潜水时所搭的都是比较基本的小船。
这次的豪华享受，也是另一种体验
爽！！！

潜水之后，我都会来到这里，晒太阳

潜水器材都和我之前用过的有一点不同，比较先进

大堡礁的美，我不懂要怎么用言语来形容。

我潜水过的地方不多，就只有Pulau Tioman, Pulau Aur和Pulau Redang而已。我想说的是，大堡礁是我潜水过，最好的。

总之，我就是在海里，潜得不想浮上水面就是了。

会潜水的朋友们，一定要到大堡礁来潜水啊！！！

澳洲之旅 Day 11 ~ 又是旅行的第1天

2010-04-22T08:42:00.007+08:00

旅行的最后一站，
也是呆最多天的一个地方，
而且住了5天后我还决定以后会重游的小镇，
Cairns。

Cairns的主要街道就在海边。游客很多，可是是不会看到任何人在沙滩上。因为这里的沙滩是这样的。

我们抵达Cairns时遇到了退潮，好一大片海底都露出水外。我想，这海滩应该是不会有人游泳的。海边倒有一个泳池，和一大片草地。终于看见满地都是人躺着做日光浴。‘suagu’的我第一眼看见的时候，还真的是‘哇’了一声。

沿着靠海街道走，一路上都是餐馆，宿舍，精品店。在一个路口望了后面街道一眼，发现还有更多店。可以看的东西很多。11天下来，背包是越来越重的。第一件事当然是找宿舍，哪里还有力气慢慢地逛。（最后决定住在离那个旅客重区(泳池和大草地)偏远的Caravella Backpackers）

感觉上Cairns的日本人和韩国人很多。到处到可以看到店前放着日文、韩文的布告板。有些餐馆的菜单还附上日文。

我们在一家亚洲人开的小吃店，我点了Laksa。很好奇这里的Laksa是怎样的味道。结果，我吃了有史以来最甜的Laksa！可是我还是把整碗吃完，饿了什么都是美味的。

之前策划旅行时，决定在Cairns呆5天，至于这5天里干些什么，就没有仔细的计划，只知道一件事：

我要去大堡礁潜水！！！

午餐后，我们就开始讨论一下这5天的行程。计划旅行是件兴奋的事。感觉上是在计划着下一个不同的旅行。又是旅行的第1天！

今天第1天- 就在Cairns里逛，是时候买手信了，之前在各个旅游地买了一点，可是不够

第2天 - 当然是潜水啦。在去了Whitesunday Islands后，他们决定不在Cairns做浮潜。一开始的打算是，我自己上游艇，和其他人一起潜水。然后他们这天想干什么，我可就管不了这么多了。后来他们还是决定一起上船。

第3天 - Bungy Jump。宿舍有优惠，拿了Bungy jump配套后，就给了我们一天免费住宿。

第4天 - 没有计划。好好在Cairns过生活吧！

第5天 - 随便闲逛，等到下午回国的班机。

澳洲之旅 Day 10 ~ Selamat Datang ke Townsville

2010-04-21T22:47:00.009+08:00

一开始没对Townsville抱任何期待。其实现在想了想当初来到这里的目的，是什么我也不太记得了。Townsville有一个沙滩，从Townsville码头搭船可以到Magnetic Island。可是Magnetic Island不在我的行程中，主要是时间的关系。从上一站Airlie Beach到Cairns是蛮长的一段路，Townsville就在这段路的中间点，所以就在这一站下了车，过一个晚上，隔天再出发。

来到Townsville，打点好宿舍一切，再解决了午餐，已经是下午的事了。

这里的宿舍不多，走了蛮久后，来到了Reef Lodge Hostel。可是，没有可以让我们三个人住在一起的‘多人房’，只剩下两个人的房间。两人房间当然是比较贵，老板说可以让我们以多人房价钱住进两人房，可是其中一人就得分开。那个得自己住一间房间的人就是我。其实是我自己自愿的，因为这样我可能会有机会和另一个陌生人同房，认识更多的背包客。

可是还是有一点的小顾虑，因为在Airlie Beach宿舍时就跟了一个不说话，晚上会打鼾的怪老头同房。（虽然我自己也是偶尔会打鼾 XD)

我的房间坐落于宿舍最偏的一个角落，我来到房间时，里面没人。当时我想，难道要我一个人在这有点阴森的暗房间过夜？没在房里待久，打点好一切后，就出门。

在这宿舍认识了从中国来的玲玲。是单独背包旅行的。原来她已在Townsville住了一个星期，还打算再待多一两天。住了一个星期了还不想离开，而我们只来这里区区一天！我就开始跟她打听一下Townsville有什么好去处。怎知，她的答案是：没什么啊，因为这里的人很好。

很欣赏她。也很想像她一样，到各个城市或小镇住个三五天，融入当地人.这样才可以更理解一个地方，和当地人的生活习惯。好，下次就来一次这样的旅行，不要每天好像赶场似地。

Townsville的无人沙滩和远处的Magnetic Island

因为玲玲的介绍，来到了Townsville的一个网吧。这网吧的大门很特别，整个墙贴满了世界各国的国旗，还有不同语言的‘欢迎光临’。站在店门前望了一下，光头老板就走出来，第一句话是： ‘你从哪里来？’ 在得知我是马来西亚人之后，就把我带到店门的一侧，指着马来西亚国旗。原来马来西亚国旗也有。老板还指着国旗下的那句‘Selamat Datang’，一直不停点头，不停微笑，做出正在讲‘Selamat Datang’的感觉。老板人很随和，上网一小时半，只收了我一小时的费用。在我离开网吧前，脸上永远挂着笑容的他说了一句：‘Make sure you come again， ok？’

晚上回到房间，发现有另一个背包客。太好了。原本以为那晚是要独自在那一点人气都没有的房间过夜，没想到竟然来了一个美女！

是个美国女生，独自来到澳洲旅行。Aria看见从外面放到房间的我，她的第一句话是:"oh, hi, I'm your new roommate"。和Aria交谈下，知道了原来她也是和我一样，是因为“沙滩，大海，潜水”而来到澳洲的。发现了相同兴趣，就开始聊开了。话题当然是围绕在潜水，分享了各自的潜水经验，还有打算要到澳洲哪里潜水。我的计划是到Cairns潜水，而Aria是刚从Cairns南下来到这里的，打算到Townsville的SS Yongala（沉船）潜水。其实SS Yongala也是之前策划旅行时有考虑过的其中一个潜水点。如果我是一个人的话，应该会改变计划，和Aria一起到SS Yongala去。

澳洲之旅 Day 9 ~ 少了阳光普照的Whitehaven

2010-04-20T22:52:00.009+08:00

又是出海的一天。目的地是Whitsunday Islands群岛中的Whitehaven Beach。主要活动就是浮潜。是很期待的一天，可是那兴奋度却因那还是灰茫茫的天空而减少。虽然少了阳光普照，还好那天并没有下雨。

乘坐这艘快艇出海是很不错的体验。
船夫会时不时来个90度急转弯，让我们感受被抛出去的感觉

窜过一小段丛林小路后，来到了岛的高处悬崖，看到的Whitehaven Beach

海很美，如果天空没有乌云，应该会更美吧

从远处看了沙滩后，我们就来到这里享用午餐。午餐是事先准备好，放在船上的一些冷食物。而享用午餐的地点，就是在沙滩上。铺了个大毛巾，就开始狼吞虎咽，还吃了两大盘。

Whitehaven Beach的沙是细的无法形容的

午餐后，大家都泡在水里。Whitesunday Islands位于Fraser Island以北十多个小时，气候没那么的寒冷，海水也比较适合久待。游完泳，就在沙滩做日光浴，过了写意的一个下午。

没有选择在Whitesunday Islands潜水，只是做了两次的浮潜。这里的鱼都和当地人一样的友善，常在你脚下转来转去。还有一只超大的Humphead Parrotfish。这次的浮潜，应该可以算是3天后在Cairns潜水的热身吧。

澳洲之旅 Day 8 ~ 看见了银河

2010-04-20T21:32:00.002+08:00

Fraser Island一日游的那天晚上，是在长途巴士上解决的。从Hervey Bay到Airlie Beach的路程是13个小时左右。所以就选择搭晚上的巴士，省回宿舍费。

简单的一趟巴士，却成为这趟旅程中难忘的其中一件事。

当巴士开在完全黑暗的偏僻小路时，我看见了满天星的夜空。从来都没有看过那么多星星。有人说，澳洲是个看星星和银河的好地方。那天晚上，就被我看到了。

在中午时分来到Airlie Beach，外面正下着小雨。整个天空都灰灰的。

又是物色宿舍的时候。也没什么好选的。只要地点好，价钱公道，就可以了。所以我们就住进了最靠近巴士站和沙滩，可是一点特色都没有的宿舍。

Airlie Beach也是一个转换站，想到WhitSunday Islands的游客都从这里出发。Airlie Beach到处都可以看见买精品，沙滩裤和泳装的店。快餐店，餐馆，和酒吧，走了两三条街，都可以看到。

来到海边，天空尽然下着雨，是有点扫兴。所以大多时间都呆在房间。倒是智辉还是兴致勃勃的走了一个下午。

澳洲之旅 Day 7 ~ 没有尽头的海滩

2010-04-20T14:46:00.016+08:00

出海了！

原本还带着一点睡意来到码头的我，在渡轮出发后不久，就马上清醒过来。每次出海时都很兴奋。还在码头不远处看见几只海豚在跳水。

今天，我们来到了世界最大的沙岛-Fraser Island。

一起参加一日游的人有20几个人。大多的人都是中年夫妇，只有我们三个年轻的背包客。

Fraser Island是个特别的岛。单单在这岛上，几乎什么气候的森林都可以看到。Subtropical rainforest, temperate forest, woodlands, 甚至是沙漠，在这岛上都有。我们的第一站，就是Wanggoolba Creek。是个原始森林。跟着向导Mr Kangaroo走了一圈，听他讲着有关森林的故事，大多都和保护森林和环保有关。感觉上好像是在上NUS的Ecology Field Trip。

我们的巴士开出了丛林，来到了名为75 Miles Beach，一个好像没有尽头，一望无际的沙滩。巴士在这海滩一路行驶时，我的视线都没有离开过这个卷着大浪的海滩。

沙滩都是平平的，没有那种被人踩到到处都是的脚印，还反射着阳光。

从左看到右，都是海，没用尽头。

拍了蛮多的沙滩照，可是都拍不出当时亲身在那里所看到的震撼

大约15分钟后，来到了Eli Creek，还有其他一些景点。

Eli Creek的小河。又是可以洗脚的时候啦

从Eli Creek望向大海

搁浅了的船。不能走进船里，只能在周围拍照

搭上这架小型飞机是预料之外的事。从飞机上看到不一样的Fraser Island。

（左）这么近距离的从高空望向大海，还是第一次
（右）外形像蝴蝶的湖


（左）来到了迷你沙漠
（右）从高空看见的那艘船

飞得这么高，75Miles Beach还是一望无际

自助式午餐后，我们来到最后一站，也是今天一日游的压轴。McKenzie Lake。Lake McKenzie是个湖，可是给我的感觉更像海，因为这个湖也有‘沙滩’。Fraser Island本身就是一个沙岛，所以这里的湖边和湖底都是沙。感觉有一点特别。看起来像沙滩，可是一点浪都没有。

湖水还是很冰冷，就像Surfers Paradise和Hervey Bay的海滩一样。之前在那两个海滩都因海水太冷而没有下水而感到遗憾。

这么美的湖，这么清澈的水，如果我还不跳进水里，哪怕只是游个1分钟，岂不是太对不起自己！

还没下水就已经开始兴奋。智辉和Andrew根本就没有打算要下水，知道了怎么怂恿他们一起下水都没有用后，就找了在这一日游认识的德国留学生Ralph，怎么知道他也只是想来个日光浴罢了。同一车的一个外国老太太看见我脱了上衣，准备要下水，也喊了一句：oooh, you are brave!

可能在那个时候，在Lake Mckenzie‘冬泳’是疯狂的。不管了，跳进水里再说吧。不试一下，哪里会知道到底有多冷。

远远的那一个小人头就是我。包括我在内，湖里游泳的人应该不超过5个

这应该是有史以来，游过最冷的泳。谁说冬天游泳是疯狂的，
根本就是一个‘爽’字（兴奋时讲的话会比较粗俗）

搭渡轮回到Hervey Bay的路程，正好是日落。又是拍照的时候啦。

Fraser Island有着看不完的美景。

（美景1）搭了回程渡轮，碰上了日落时间

（美景2）渡轮出发后，瞄向Fraser Island最后一眼

（美景3）渡轮开向日落中


（美景4）躲到云后的太阳

（美景5）喝着可乐的我

澳洲之旅 Day 6 （下） ~ 无人沙滩的美

2010-04-19T08:54:00.009+08:00

一早搭了好几个小时的巴士从布里斯本抵达Hervey Bay时已经是下午了。来到这里第一件要做的事就是找宿舍。在边走边查阅Lonely Planet有关宿舍的资料时，我们来到了一个专为旅客安排Fraser Island旅游的旅行社。里面也有蛮多背包客。

来到Hervey Bay的唯一目的，就是要从这里的码头塔渡轮到Fraser Island。所以Hervey Bay只是一个转换站。定了Fraser Island一日游后，我们也在同一家旅行社帮助下联络到我们的宿舍。就凭着‘Friendly Hostel’这个宿舍招牌，我就决定选了这一家。连看都还没有看过。不管了，反正就只是住一晚罢了。

Hervey Bay是一个小镇。如果不是Fraser Island，应该不会有游客到这里来。可是这里倒有一个蛮不错的沙滩。沿着沙滩的那条街道上可以找到一些精品店和小餐馆。我们的宿舍和沙滩，只隔了一条街。这里的路都很宽，屋子一排一排的。可是在路上一辆车都没有。行人更是寥寥无几。基本上这就是Hervey Bay 给我的感觉。

这么好环境的小镇，最适合到这里来享受人生，静静地养生一下。几天下来的活动，是累的。第2和3天的主题公园，是喊破喉咙和心跳加速的两天。第4天和第5天也分别在布里斯本和动物园走了一整天。所以今天来到这里休息一个半天，就最好不过了。

几乎无人的沙滩

没有煞风景的大船，只有蓝蓝的天和一望无际的大海

海水非常冷。可是还是忍不住走进海里，当然只是让水淹过膝盖而已。在Hervey Bay除了这个沙滩，就没有别的什么可以做，所以我们在这里呆了不少时间，没有想要离开的感觉。也开始拍了很多无厘头的照片。

（左）帮智辉拍了不少这样的照片
（右）想拍出从海上‘优雅’地奔跑回岸的照片，好像是失败了。应该是‘模特儿’的关系 XD

这是一位当地大叔帮我们拍的。他没说什么，
就比着拍照的手势，要帮我们拍，拍完了他就就走了

从码头看见了彩虹

这就是Friendly Hostel的阳台。就因为这一个阳台，我认定了这家宿舍是我这15天里所住过的宿舍中最好的。晚上智辉和Andrew都已经上床休息后，我就一个人呆在这个阳台，听iPod，写笔记。凉爽的天气，还有满天都是星星，我还差一点就决定那一晚在这里打地铺，来过一个以‘数星星’入眠的晚上。

澳洲之旅 Day 6 （上） ~ 从Brisbane到Hervey Bay

2010-04-18T23:39:00.005+08:00

从Brisbane搭巴士到我们的下一站Hervey Bay，是好几个小时的路程。途中巴士在半路的小镇逗留了差不多一小时。找了一家湖边的便利店，买了一些我个人觉超贵的小吃，就在湖边桌子过了一个悠哉的一个小时。

在湖边发生了一点小笑话。就是这两个年轻人，买了午餐走到湖边凳子坐了下来。他们开始吃不久后，那些原本在湖里的鹅就开始游上岸，嘴巴张大大地朝他们方向冲过去。吓得他们马上跑开。我们在旁边不远处，目睹了整个情形。我们三个，连同几个正在享有下午茶的外国女士看了就笑个不停。其实，那个画面是有一点恐怖的。被一群鹅这样包围，如果坐在那里的是我，应该是笑不出来吧。

澳洲之旅 Day 5 ~ 被袋鼠包围的兴奋

2010-04-17T22:58:00.011+08:00

之前在计划旅行时，就读到有关澳洲动物园的一些资料。旅游书里还推荐了这是个‘来到昆士兰（Queensland）必去的地方’。开始时是有一点犹豫不决。心想，就不过是一个动物园罢了。Lonely Planet书里还说了这么一句话：那里的袋鼠是到处乱跑的。我就凭这一点，就在短短15天澳洲旅行里的第5天，拜访了Steve Irwin的Australia Zoo。

动物园被分成几个区。其中就包括鳄鱼区，东南亚区，沼泽区，还有袋鼠天堂（Roo Heaven)。值得一提的是，这里大多动物都住在非常大的空间里。这里的鳄鱼都是一只独霸整个笼子的。整个动物园给人的感觉比较像是个自然野生森林。很不错。

看了一场鳄鱼表演。感觉有一点长。因为那些鳄鱼明星都是慢条斯理的。在训鳄师的指挥下，慢慢的游出来。基本上，如果没有肉的引诱，鳄鱼们都是躺在草地上动也不动。我还蛮期待看到凶猛的鳄鱼冲向训鳄师，想把人给吃掉的那种画面。在电视上不是常看见吗。就是鳄鱼张开嘴，往Steve Irwin方向冲过去，然后Irwin就在差点被咬的一刹那，往后跳开的那个画面。

看完show后，就来到袋鼠天堂。书上说的都是真的。整个大草原，都是袋鼠。在这里待了不少时间，到处都可以看见在喂袋鼠的人。自己也到处走，一看到袋鼠就喂（袋鼠食是从自动贩卖机买的）。基本上袋鼠都不让我们去碰的，只有在吃着你手里的食物时，才有机会摸一摸它们的身体。

袋鼠妈妈和只伸出双脚的小袋鼠

十只树熊，九只都在睡觉

（左）小鸟也是满地都是地到处跑
（右）走在路上，还可以看到野生的蛇


正在做日光浴的Wombat。还有人在溜Wombat。

【后语】没有决定错误，把一整天的时间花在这里是非常的值得。也证实了旅游书的那句话。Australia Zoo的确是‘来到昆士兰必去的地方’。这里的一些动物，在澳洲/纽西兰以外是看不到的。有机会到昆士兰的话，不妨来到这里，感受一下被袋鼠包围的兴奋。

澳洲之旅 Day 4 ~ 布里斯本

2010-04-16T23:24:00.010+08:00

告别了黄金海岸，来到30分钟车程外的布里斯本（Brisbane）。今天是没有任何计划的一天。所以就在市区中心闲逛了整个下午。

布里斯本可以看的东西不少。过了大桥后，就是卖着各式各样小吃的市集。买了一些MacadamiaNut （到澳洲必买的其中一样东西）。

布里斯本市中心的步行街

偶尔会看到的街头表演

高楼大厦衬托着教堂。蛮喜欢的一个画面

可以逛的街道几乎都逛了。连植物园和University of Queensland也不放过。最后，我们就在另一座只供自行车和行人通过的桥上，找了凳子坐下休息。

从桥上看见的夕阳天空

这就是我们在布里斯本时过了两个晚上的民宿。地点是在离市中心偏远的Highgate Hill。远是远了一点，可是就是胜在环境的清静。因为我本来就是不喜欢城市里的吵闹。原本只是定了一个晚上罢了，可是就看在Highgate Hill 的好环境，屋主Nathan又提供了超级双人大床给我的份上，我马上就跟Nathan说了我们想要住多一晚。

澳洲之旅 Day 2 + Day3 ~ 玩不完的主题乐园

2010-04-16T10:00:00.006+08:00

选择在黄金海岸多逗留的两天，就是为了主题公园。在黄金海岸有玩不完的主题乐园。有Warner Bros Movie World, Dreamworld, Wild'n'Wet Water World, Whitewater World。对水上乐园不是很感兴趣，所以第二天和第三天就分别到了Warner Bros Movie World和Dreamworld。

Warner Bros Movie World里最显眼的就是这个Superman主题的过山车-Escape。过山车的起点就是那U字型的右边。开始时，以火箭般加速把我们从最低的起点带到U的顶端。前后应该没有3秒吧。然后再以90度垂直的往下冲。有机会到这里的话，一定要尝试一下。

一天的时间是足够玩完所有的过山车的。可是，想看完一天里所有的show就不太可能。一个接着一个看的话，就没有时间玩其他东西了。当中比较值得一提的是，飞车表演。故事是说一个男子被几个开着跑车的抢匪追杀。非常精彩。车，45度倾斜还能继续的开，其中一辆车还断成两截，最后还有惊人的一幕，就是那辆红车从一栋高楼飞到另一个高楼去，整栋楼还爆炸，那爆炸的威力，坐在观众席的我们都可以感受得到。

（其他推荐：Batman和ScoodyDoo主题过山车）

第三天的Dreamworld也不错。Dreamworld的地标就是这个还没玩，看了就已经吓死人的塔。这个灰色铁塔是又两个不同的游戏组成：Giant Drop和Tower of Terror。只玩了Tower of Terror。跟Movie World的Escape有点相似。也是火箭般速度把我们送上铁塔，之后再以倒退的方式垂直掉下来。刺激指数10/10！！

（其他推荐：Wipeout和AVP vs Me）

澳洲之旅 Day 1 ~ 冲浪天堂

2010-04-15T22:31:00.010+08:00

从布里斯本（Brisbane）机场搭了约30分钟的地铁和巴士后，我们抵达了我们的第一站- 黄金海岸(Gold Coast). 一下了车就被数不清的高楼和公寓包围了，到底沙滩在哪里啊？

解决了旅社的一切后（很幸运的，我们的l旅社就在我们巴士站对面），我们就往Surfers Paradise沙滩的方向走过去。在沙滩的人不比我想象来的多。我还以为会看见一堆躺在沙滩上做日光浴的人。因为是冬天，海水太冷，所以我因没有跳进水里而感到一点的遗憾。可是，在海上玩冲浪的人还不少。

一望无际的黄金般沙滩。看起来阳光普照，可是在那里被冷风吹可不是开玩笑的

来错了季节，人少了，可是我反而觉得这样更好，更清静

时间关系，没有机会尝试玩冲浪。决定了，下次一定会再来到这里。当然是在夏天的时候

就这样沿着海岸，边走边停边拍照，一个下午就没了。

晚餐后回到房间，发现了房里多了一个大背包，可是包的主人不在。闲着没事做，智辉和Andrew不想出门，我就走到旅社的公用空间（不确定common area的华语是什么，ha），想认识一下其他的旅人。Common area的人不多。坐在沙发看电视的是一个外国男子，厨房里煮菜的有几个外国女子。坐在阳台还有几组人。在那里还没晃完一圈，从阳台玻璃镜传来了‘kok kok kok’三声。一个黄皮肤年轻男子挥着要我过去的手势。

就这样，认识了我澳洲旅行的第一批朋友。4个日本人。那一年半在NUS学的日语，终于派上用场了。我的日语是烂的。而他们的英语也不太灵光。两个男子还算沟通的来，另外两个日本女生就是一句也说不上了。50%日语，50%英语，虽然沟通的有点困难，可是我们还是一聊就聊到12点，ha。聊天之余，还喝了一点的酒（酒当然是他们请的）。

喝到开始有点醉意后，大家就各自回去。回到房间后，终于碰上了那个包的主人了。是个韩国人，叫Lee。没聊上什么，因为太累，倒头就睡得不省人事。

澳洲之旅 Day 0 ~ 我的第一次

2010-04-15T00:29:00.004+08:00

09年的澳洲之旅，已不算是第一次的自助旅行。真正的第一次是在同年的柬埔寨/越南之旅，可是所有的旅行策划到住宿的安排，都由艳芳一手包办。这次的澳洲旅行，正好相反。旅行的一切（99%）都是自己安排的。所以应该可以算是我个人的第一次自助旅行吧。

一起到澳洲的是智辉和Andrew。正因为要顾及另外两个人，所以在策划旅行时是有一定的压力。智辉唯一给的意见就是“长途巴士一定要弄清楚，宿舍也要先定好”，而Andrew更干脆了。没有任何意见，都任我安排。（可是到最后，我连一趟长途巴士都没有预定，宿舍，我也只定了前两天，之后的日子，都是当天才边走边找的）

就这样，我们三个人，一人一个大背包，在13 June2009抵达了Brisbane 机场。

【小插曲】说到背包，其实蛮好笑的。我们都觉得智辉的包太大了。他竟然带了十来件衣服，外加好几件长裤和外套。我笑他说：“你这次到澳洲是想要去服装秀是吗！？” 我是预算到那里洗衣的，所以我只带了区区4件T-shirt，1件长裤，和1件风衣。（所以我在这15天里拍的照，来来去去就是那几件衣服，haha）

~~~待续~~~

澳洲之旅2009

2010-04-14T00:31:00.003+08:00

心血来潮，翻了去年2009到澳洲背包旅行的照片。15天旅行的照片，90%的照片都是智辉拍的。对拍照没有什么研究，又懒惰的我，只拍了两三天，接下来的几天，我就连相机都不带在身上了。看着一天一天的照片，感觉好像在‘重游’澳洲，还是记忆犹新。

突然想起，在澳洲的这十几天，我都有做笔记，把每天的点滴记录下来。有空的话，应该会在这里好好的分享一下。

Lake McKenzie (Fraser Island)

个人很喜欢的其中一张照片。喜欢湖水的清澈和她的蓝。还记得，拍了这张照片后，我就马上脱了上衣，跳进冰冷的水里。因为是冬天，所以在水里游泳的人，一只手就可以算完了。湖底很深，离岸游了不远，就已深不见底。和另一个外国年轻人游到了浅蓝和深蓝的交界处后，就不敢再向前游了。

普吉岛：旅游计划 = 没有计划

2010-04-10T23:56:00.005+08:00

2个星期前买了往返普吉岛的机票之后，就好像把4月底去普吉岛的事都忘得一干二净了。一开始是想要详细地计划一下在普吉岛的这6天想做些什么，可是就是没有踏出开始计划的第一步。后来索性决定，就来一次 ‘没有计划’ 的旅行吧。

我是这样想的：反正我这次去普吉岛的主要原因就是潜水。至于还有什么其他活动，我不是很在乎。到了再看。

4月的这次旅行，是意料之外的。原本的计划其实是6月到Pulau Perhentian潜水的。但就看在这次普吉岛的部分旅行费用是不需要出自自己口袋的份上，我就取消了6月到Pulau Perhentian的计划，选了普吉岛。不好意思啦，惠娟 XD。

2010年的旅行计划，在一个月前就已经大概的铺排好了。4月的普吉岛的潜水旅后，还有7月的南马之旅和12月的台湾背包旅行。是个非常期待的旅游年。我的想法是：每年一定要有一个较长的旅行（2个星期~），再加上一两个较短时间的小旅行。要我一年356天都呆在这个岛国，我相信我应该会短命几年，哈哈。

Miracle - music from FFXIII

2010-03-16T11:58:00.004+08:00

自从上星期6买了FinalFantasy13（FF13)，我就过着一天没有FF我会死的日子。差不多每天晚上都玩到不想睡。每天在学院遇见同事都会被问一句：你怎么看起来好像还没有睡醒？

是知道像我这样的玩法，是很不好。可是我就是经不起FF的诱惑 XD 可是，比起我的一些FF朋友们可以特地请假来玩FF,我算是比较像话了，哈哈。

FF的另一个魅力，当然就是它的音乐。虽然FF13音乐的作曲人已经不是Nobuo Uematsu了，我在玩FF13前也没有抱太大的期望，可能是因为这个原因，所以就觉得FF13的配乐是比想象中来的好。已玩到chapter11，目前所听到的音乐，都很不错。

这里想介绍其中一首很不错的开场曲。

Cactus

2010-01-27T23:03:00.011+08:00

又为我的迷你仙人掌园（应该还没有多到可以用仙人掌‘园‘来形容）添增了3个新仙人掌。星期二的整个下午，一直到晚上十点多，就花在仙人掌这里。

就是这三个小小的仙人掌。

用了将近半个小时的时间才选中的，原本是想选多一个。我当时是想，反正买三个，那随和而且人又好的老板娘会以10块钱卖给我，买4个，她也常常都卖我10块钱。现实的我当然是尽可能凑足4个才买，可是选了很久，就是没有看中喜欢的。天注定啦。。。

所以我就决定，今天就不买4个，让老板娘赚多一点。谁知道，当我要去付钱时，她说那3个仙人掌就送给我好了。虽然有一点不好意思，可是当然还是接受了。可能是‘好心又好报’吧，哈哈。不过，我那时还想，早知道，我就拿4个了。 XD

之后还花了不少时间拍了很多的照片。可是，就觉得好像越拍就越丑。所以真正可以放上来见人的好像也没有几张。再多看了这几张放在这里的照片，就开始觉得这些照片好像也不怎么见得了人。 >_<
还蛮喜欢这一张。主角就是前面这一小支黄毛仙人掌。买的时候，它的高度只有照片里的一半。距离买到现在，应该有一年了。就是喜欢买那些越小越好的仙人掌。觉得种仙人掌就是要看着它的变化。买那一些已经被老板栽植的又美有大的放在家里，好像没有什么意思。

这3个可以是算是在我所拥有的仙人掌里比较‘重量级’的了。还记得，中间的那一棵，买的时候，它的大小就跟上一张黄毛小仙人掌差不多。

这是一棵很备受争议的仙人掌。很多亲戚邻居朋友看了都说：‘给它吓到一下’。就因为它长得太像蛇了。买的时候，它的长度还不到现在的10分之1。没办法。下个星期回家就要把它‘分尸’了。要不然，过年时，每个人来到我家都被它‘吓到一下’，好像不太好。 XD

所谓‘分尸’，就是要把它切成几个段，放干一两个星期，再一段一盆的种回去。我想，就这一条，至少可以在变成5棵，放在5个不同的盆里。然后，这5盆新的仙人掌，一两年后又长这么高后，又再‘分尸’。 5棵变成25棵。 25棵变成125棵。 hm....想起来，如果以后想转行搞仙人掌, 好像还蛮好赚. 哈.

我要去旅行

2010-01-13T21:33:00.002+08:00

Just helped parents to book the flight tickets to Macau. I already feel the urge of going for a trip.

Time to plan a trip 'seriously'~

Whenever I feel like to plan a trip, it is always just a thought which I soon forgetting:-

~A diving trip in Pulau Perhentian
~Taman Negara jungle trekking
~Kota Kinabalu hiking
~New Zealand backpacking
~Australia backpacking
~Japan backpacking (not gonna happen in short time I think)

Of course I think the diving trip in Perhentian is more probable if I aim to make a trip in 2010 XD. Time to plan, time to plan~~~

A Night without Electricity

2010-01-13T21:04:00.005+08:00

It has been some times since the last blackout in Malaysia home. It was quite common last time when I was still young, but now, we rarely have a blackout already.

It was around 11pm+ and I was bathing when the light went out suddenly ha. It was pitch black.

Anyway, other than the many inconvenient caused by the lack of electricity, I realize I was rather enjoying the short moment of the blackout. There is one thing that I would definitely do when there is no electricity AT NIGHT. Blackout night = star gazing night~

When there is total zero light pollution in the town, it's when all the stars in the sky become more visible. Stars that are easily visible under normal night become brighter, and uncountable invisible stars (because of the town light), start to get visible.

It is January. Orion constellation appears just right above. With Sirius shining very brightly quite nearby. It looks like this ---> (picture below)

But of course, in Kota Tinggi, I never see the Orion as bright as it is shown in this picture. But everyone is able to recognize this constellation easily. They are very obvious in the sky.

Remind me of the moment in Australia, when I saw the faint tail of milky way. I was taking the midnight bus along the road which has no street light. That was the best sky I have ever seen. I stared at the sky for don't know how long XD. The sky looks something like this.

New year

2010-01-13T20:50:00.002+08:00

Chinese New Year is coming soon, just one month away. Never realize it until today when neighbor gave us a box of pineapple tart, and I asked her why XD. Kind of looking forward to it, looking forward for the 'rather' long holiday, looking forward for the days that I can "don't" come back to Singapore for awhile.

Feeling the need to slack at home for couple of days. With just 2 days per week at home, I have a lot of 'home stuff' pending to do. Lots of stuff that I always plan to do at home, but always ended up wasting time doing some 'unexpected' stuff (eg, playing game or read novel whole day, old habit hard to change XD).

I realize I forever cleaning my bed room. My rate of messy-ing the room seems abit faster than the rate of cleaning it. And of course the many cactus that needs to be tended soon. One cactus transplant has already dead when I checked it yesterday. Not to mention the piano room and the TV room that I always want to tidy up, but never get to really do it ha.

Scarlatti Sonata in B minor K27

2009-12-19T21:44:00.000+08:00

Sherlock Holmes

2009-12-09T21:04:00.002+08:00

Finally, I bought the books that I have been always wanted to buy, The Complete Sherlock Holmes. 4 novels + 56 short stories, in 2 volumes. It was a long long time since I started reading Holmes................

Back in secondary school Form 1 I think. Started to read this novel because of CK. That time I was just borrowing from school library, and I don't know what I'm reading too, here read abit, there read abit. But I remember one of the 4 long novels, The Hound of the Baskerville. I think it's the best. I read that particular novel for so many times that I couldn't remember already.

And then, I went to buy The Complete Sherlock Holmes, in chinese version. Ya. That time, I couldn't read english well enough to understand a novel ha. And I spent more than one year to finish reading all the 4 novels and 56 short stories. On and off, on and off, that's why took forever to finish them.

And so it was during my STPM and NUS period when I started to read novels again, in English version, and since then I wanted to buy Sherlock Holmes to read again, but in the original english version. Translated version always got some problems. The characters name is so hard to remember.

So last week, when I went to Vivo City to watch New Moon, I found several edition of Sherlock Holmes in the book shop there, but they are all so expensive. SGD70+. Very tempted to buy though, but I didn't. Luckily I didn't. Yesterday I went to Malaysia City Square popular, and I found it. Cost less than RM50 for two volumes, and it's hard cover, and the cover is even better than the SG version which costs 70 dollars.

I think most people know who is Sherlock Holmes. Anyway, he is a fictional character created by the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and published in UK magazine back in 1880+ until 1910+ if I'm not wrong. It's about detective stories.

There is a Holmes movie coming soon this month, and the actor who acts Holmes is the Iron Man, ha. From the trailer, this version of Holmes movie looks more like those funny funny movie. So, don't know how original is this movie to the original novels. Anyway, it's the movie that I will not miss this year. Looking forward~

Scarlatti Sonata in D Major K491

2009-11-25T21:28:00.000+08:00

Liszt's Un sospiro

2009-11-18T19:53:00.004+08:00

Dearly Beloved ~Kingdom Hearts

2009-10-27T13:10:00.002+08:00

Just finished another great game - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, on NDS. It is an interquel game in which the story takes place between Kingdom Hearts 1 and Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2). In short, Kingdom Hearts is a RPG that let us control the protagonist Sora and we will visit many Disney worlds. This is not a game for kids although Disney worlds and characters are involved. The story is deep and interesting. Among the worlds that we get to visit are Wonderland (Alice in the wonderland), Peter Pan's world, Beast Castle (Beauty and the Beast) etc etc etc.

The main theme of Kingdom Hearts is Dearly Beloved, a very sweet song that can be heard in the game menu as well as within the game various cutscenes. This is the piano arrangement of Dearly Beloved.

The opening of this version of Dearly Beloved reminds me alot of the Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto. If you watch Nodame Cantabile, in a episode, Chiaki performed a piano concerto, and there is a scene showing Nodame wearing the bear costume and walk into the concert hall while Chiaki was performing that piano concerto. Ya. That's the song.

The similar part of these two song can be heard in 0.10 sec - 0.45 sec of the song.

Eternal Sonata

2009-10-11T23:24:00.007+08:00

Recently start to play a PS3 RPG called Eternal Sonata, a game related with the famous piano composer Chopin. In fact, Chopin is the very reason that makes me buy this game. Anyway, I decided not to talk about the gameplay itself, despite the fact that Eternal Sonata, as a RPG, is actually a very great game to play. The music in the game is what this post is about.

This game is basically divided into several chapters, and each chapter has the theme that is related to one of the piano piece of Chopin. What makes the game interesting is that, it tells the story behind each of the piano piece, as in when the piece was composed, under what circumstances etc etc.

So far I'm in chapter 4, and each chapter has it's own title, for example:

Chapter 1: Raindrop
Chapter 2: Revolution
Chapter 3: Fantaisie Impromptu
Chapter 4: Grande valses brillante

This game has certainly motivate me to play those songs again although I have the piano scores of those song with me for all these time. The first song that I'm currently playing is the chapter 1 song, Raindrop. It is actually the Prelude in D(flat) major, which is named Raindrop prelude. The raindrop prelude story is related back to Chopin's illness tuberculosis and a raining period.

Chapter 2 song, Revolution, is actually the famous Revolutionary Etude, Opus 10, Number 12. Well, I'm still not sure if I wanna learn this song XD.

Chapter 3 Fantaise Impromptu. I think everyone must hear this masterpiece before. You might not know the title, but I'm quite the tune is not unfamiliar to most people.

Chapter 4 Grande valses brillante, is a waltz. I remember this is the first Chopin's waltz that I started to learn last time, among his other waltz. Time to learn back this piece soon~

This is it. Fantaisie Impromptu, performed by Li Yundi.

The other day, I saw my boss play this piece, Fantaisie Impromptu in the show room. Speechless. It is so so so.................. GREAT.

oh, by the way, just 'sunbian' introduce another great piece, performed by Li Yundi. It's La Campanella, composed by Liszt.

Piano teacher. PS3. Sick

2009-09-23T09:26:00.003+08:00

For no reason, I have been trying to post something in my blog for couple of time already since last week, but I never get to complete and post it at the end. Have the heart to start writing something, but no heart to finish the post. Sometimes to post something really need to have the right feeling >_<

Anyway, time to do some update. First of all, I finally ended my 享清福 days and started working last Monday. I'm a piano teacher now, ha. Actually becoming piano teacher is what I plan to do, but only for part time. Original plan was to get a full time Monday to Friday job in Singapore, then teach piano part time during weekends in Malaysia. So, it has been a week since I start teaching. I think it might be too early to comment, but I enjoy the teaching very much. Really happy about the fact that now I can everyday play piano, listen to piano, teach piano, discuss piano, etc etc etc, everything piano XD.

~~~

Another great thing also just happened, and it happened alot sooner than I have expected. It is - I just bought a PS3!!! lol. PS3 slim version is just coming out, so bought it together with friends. Thanks alot la Wenfu, for bringing all 3 heavy PS3 to Woodlands XD. And also Cynthya, for bringing my PS3 all the way to Ang Mo Kio to me. The problem is, I cannot play it now because I don't have TV in my sg room, ha. Very bad, having a PS3 but cannot play it ~.~

~~~

I wanted to talk about ice skating in my previous posts, but they never get posted anyway ha. Anyway, just want to say there is this ice skating place in Kallang Leisure Park, the last ice skating place that exist in Singapore, after the one in Jurong East has closing down. Nothing spectacular about the place, but well, as long as there is a place to skate. Anyway, I had a weird sick after we went to skate. It was Thursday when we skate, and I fell sick on Friday morning, until the next Thursday. It's weird because I was feeling just fine in daytime, but at night, I become terrribly sick till cannot wake up. And for many days, all I could do is just sleep all the time. And what makes it worse is that, I start working when I was still in the very sick condition, and I couldn't bring myself to apply leave on my first day working >_<

Yet another post that sounds like I'm trying to promote some games

2009-09-09T10:38:00.003+08:00

Have been neglecting this blog for some times now, especially since I started playing the new released FF games and Professor Layton puzzle games like no day no night. After all, without realizing it myself, I was completely addicted to the games again, just when I started to think, maybe I reach the time when I start to lose interest in them. Apparently, I'm wrong about myself.

Anyway, I have finished both these games. Dissidia FF last week, and Professor Layton just yesterday. Both are definitely my top favourite games now, especially Dissidia. It's a fighting game (in 3D environment, not the traditional style like Street Fighter) that gathers 22 characters from Final Fantasy 1 until 12. So it's 10 heroes and 10 villians from each FF, and two extra unlockable characters from FF11 and FF12. To be able to fight the FF characters with any combination as we wish, I believe it is the 'dream comes true' for all FF fans. Squall (FF8) vs Cloud (FF7), or vs Sephiroth (FF7) are interesting. This game is very classic, although the review and rating by the website and magazine varies. I need to charge my PSP at least 2 times daily, sometimes 3 times, and I don't even want to think about how many hours I spent in this lol. Anyway, recently I have nothing but 'times'.

And next is the Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, a sequel to the famous DS game Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Lotsa classic puzzles to solved but they are presented in innovative way. Great animated cutscenes, great soundtrack, more than 150 puzzles to solve. It's a game good enough to justify why you should get a DS now, if you haven't had it.

More games (and good one) are coming up. The silly me used to worry about no good games to play. But the video game industry has never fail to deliver good new games or sequel games from time to time. Kingdom hearts for DS, Mario and Luigi 2 (or 3, forget already) are coming soon before end of September. Guess these two games can last me at least one month, and Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed Bloodline are coming up in November. Hopefully by the time, I have already own a PS3 la~

One night in Singapore

2009-09-03T19:48:00.000+08:00

I have already forgotten how boring it could be to stay in Singapore sometimes

Dinosaur

2009-08-07T15:56:00.002+08:00

Fried Salmon with '点鸡肉' sauce

2009-07-25T19:42:00.003+08:00

Fried salmon

Sauce consists of only 3 ingredients: onion, garlic, ginger

Salmon with the sauce

'Home alone' for two days since Thursday. Decided to make a simple dinner myself. Just a piece of salmon, added with the sauce.

Pomegranate

2009-07-21T22:31:00.003+08:00

More Michael Crichton!!!

2009-07-21T12:58:00.003+08:00

终于决定尝试用中文来写一次。不知道从什么时候开始，就觉得好像不会写了。利用部落格来练习一下也不错啦。。。

还记得在不久前，刚写了一则有关Michael Crichton (是啊，不是那个会唱会跳的Michael) 的死讯。是去年的事了。今天早上随便在买书网站逛了一下，竟然发现了两本Crichton的新书。年低开始推出的 , 还有明年2010年还没有被命名的一本。

到了Crichton官方网站查了一下，原来是他的助手在他去世后，在整理文件时发现的。

很期待~

Shadows of the Empire (X-Files and Harper's Island)

2009-07-17T23:01:00.005+08:00

Yet another Star Wars novel. Story happens in between that of Episode V and Episode VI. Suddenly feel like to rewatch all star wars movies again XD. 又开始发star-wars疯了。

Bought the Collection of Episode 4,5,6 last year. Quite expensive, but very worth it. Gonna get the Episode 1,2,3 collection soon if got chance (that chance will only happen if I'm in Singapore i think, hope it won't be very far away XD).

Also like to buy a few others DVD included the remaining X-Files season (season 7,8 and 9) that I have yet to watched, and another old drama series called The Lone Gunmen (I doubt I can find this one anyway).

I started to watch X-Files from the very beginning Season 1 Episode 1 since last year I think, and I'm half way through season 6 now. Just wanna say this is a really good show that worth to watch it at least once for everyone. Got a series of books sold in bookstore, title is what "1001 movies you must watch before you die". I think if got another book called "1001 dramas you must watch before you die", I think I will vote X-Files number 1 XD.

The main plot of X-Files is rather heavy and dark, revolving around colonization of alien on Earth. But this show is I think one of the funniest show I have watched. It's not comedy, those kind of show purposely make the audience laugh. But the content of X-files, their dialogues, somewhat funny enough to make you laugh. And many of the episodes, have profound meaning behind the stories one. That's why I like it i think.

9 seasons and 2 movies of X-Files so far. and I heard 3rd movie might be coming soon. I hope it's true.

~~~~

There is another show that I must mention, the one that I recently just finished watching. Harper's Island. This show reminds me alot of 金田一. It's about the serial murder happens on the island. This is a very violent show I think. The scene is disgusting is one thing, but I think the more disgusting part of this show is its plot. Have quite 'some' plots in this show, which I think is 儿童不宜. How can the killer be still calm and smile when he kills, how can her husband cheats on her, with her mother.
Almost everyone in the show, got a pretty good character development. Everyone has their story, and has given enough attention I think. Like Lost. Guess that's why I like it ha.
This show is short, 13 episodes in total. Heard there is Harper's Island 2. Wonder how the story can be continued. I thought it was a pretty well done ending in Episode 13.

Cactus family

2009-07-15T17:57:00.005+08:00

4 more new cactus were added into the cactus family.

MJJ

2009-07-06T20:22:00.003+08:00

This afternoon, I was just happen to have a 30 minute waiting time (for the swimming pool to open at 2pm), and was just happen to walk pass the Season cake cafe, then decided to go in, and then just happen to listen to several good songs played in the cafe. A series of Michael Jackson song combined together into one long one. I remember I heard Billie Jeans, Thriller, Beat It and quite a few more. A pretty nice arrangement.

So it has been more than 1 week. That day, I was in Cairns, on the car to the Bungy Jump tower. Didn't really pay attention to the radio, until I heard the 'magical word' - Michael Jackson. Few seconds later then I realize it was actually his death news.

Blank~
~
~
~
~

and so the radio started to play Thriller. The 2nd MJJ song in my ipod playlist, right after Billie Jeans. Also my favourite MV of his. It's classic. And so I told them: see, we gonna listen to this song for many many times in very near future, want it or not.

And so we reach the bungy site, and right after we step into the premise, we heard Thriller again.
And at night, we walked around shop in Cairns, and it was Thriller again.

It happens everytime when a singer pass away. Everyone seems to listen to his songs again. Even my brother who never listen to MJJ songs, just asked me yesterday do I have any of his CD or video that I can borrow him (well, I have all of them XD). We can always hear about MJJ news on the newspaper once in awhile, but I don't remember any of them being a good one. Anyway, I don't really care about those news, since I like his songs, regardless of his personal life. I have never stop listening to his music for all these time. Well, the only albums (with lyric one) that appear in my ipod are MJJ album and Faye Wong's XD.

I'm glad that he gets the attention like we can notice now for the past week. I don't know about those whatever news like heritage issue, his debt issue bla bla, but I'm just happy that his songs get such attention now ha. Well, it's about time for MJJ to get such attention, a good one.

For me, his death doesn't change anything.
He never die, and never will.
~
~
~
(well, at least as along as I still have his songs in my ipod XD)

Protection for gangs, clubs and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It's a turf war on a global scale
I'd rather hear from both sites of the tales
See, it's not about races
Just places. Faces
Where your blood comes from is where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not going to spend my life being a color

~a part of lyric from my favourite song Black or White, whose theme is to promote racial unity. As sang by MJJ in the last line of every verse, If you are thinking about my baby, it doesn't matter if you are black or white~

By the way, I just watch the Black or White MV again, and realize something. If you are familiar with this MV, you will remember the last part of the MV, there are many people from different races, changing from one face to one face. And the second lady appears in that series of face changing, is Tyra Banks XD.

Hell Island (Reilly) and Eldest (Paolini)

2009-07-05T00:20:00.006+08:00

Hell Island. A short novel by Matthew Reilly. I have read all his novels except for this one, Hell Island. Never thought of able to get a hold on this book because this short novel was only released in Books campaign in Australia, and never get to be published to sell in book store. So I have given up searching for Hell Island for a long time.

But I found it~
In a small book store in Darwin airport, in the transit area. We flew from Cairns to Darwin, and after few hours waiting, flew to Singapore. I was just doing some quick look through the bookshelf, and I notice they have a lot novels of Reilly in store. Make sense. Reilly is Australian author. And then I saw Hell Island. I immediately took the book and bought it XD. Didn't even open the book or read the synopsis of the story. Was 101% it's a good one.

It is not a long novel. Around 100 pages. Short enough that both Andrew and I manage to finish the book before we reached Singapore.

It is a surprisingly good short story. Pretty straightforward plot. Action pack. Trademark of his novel. Action, action and non stop action. The main protagonist is the same guy called Shane Schofield who also appears in 3 other books Ice Station, Area 7 and Scarecrow. It's about their mission to investigate Hell Island where they later discovered some secret research and test done in the island by the government. Some of the old ideas (which appear in his other novels) were reused here. For example, the research of super soldier. And the subjects used in the super soldier research is not human, but something else. Their aim are to create a group of soldiers who are stronger, more resistant, intelligent, and most importantly, they will obey the leader no matter what. Means they did something to the subjects and are able to control them.

Also, of all Reilly books, Hell Island is the only book that remind me of Michael Crichton. Some ideas mentioned in Hell Island were also mentioned in Michael Crichton's novel Congo. Congo is a great book mentioned about animals' right. Crichton's book, compared to Reilly's, have less action (but still very good), and with more in depth storyline (not to say Reilly's don't have storyline, some of his novels have very good plot too, like Temple and Seven Ancient Wonders series).

Ok, I think I almost sounds like I'm trying to promote their novels.

Eldest, the sequel of Eragon. Just finished this novel tonight. A pretty lengthy and details novel, but not to the extent where the reader will find it boring. On the contrary, I think it's the minor details which are interesting. Enjoy very much on the parts where history of various races are introduced. Human, Elves, Dwarfs, Dragons, and the bad guy counterparts Razac, Urgal etc etc. It's also until today then I realize an amazing thing. Christopher Paolini was 21 years old when he wrote Eldest. And he started writing Eragon when he was 15. Simply amazing.

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~

2009-06-02T15:17:00.008+08:00

Sepia is a tone used in photography which makes the photos resembling the effect of aging in old photographs. Took quite a number of photos in sepia mode. Click to enlarge.

More to come in Alanpp blospot: (click to enter)

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day2~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the people~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the homestay~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~final words~

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day2~

2009-06-01T10:36:00.004+08:00

This is the continued post from the previous one Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~

Day2

~Angkor Wat~ (Angkor = cit, Wat = temple, thus Angkor Wat = Temple that is a city)

~Bayon~
This is one of the trademark in Siem Reap which can be found abundant in Bayon temple located at the center of the Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom is a fortified city with numerous structures within it, including Bayon.

~(to be verified)~ XD
This is another temple within the Angkor Thom area.

~Takeo~
Pronounced as Ta-Kay-Yo. Climbing up and down the steep temple was exciting. This photo was taken by Jimmy, and I guess I'm in the photo (the top one). Too small, till I can't even recognize myself XD

~Ta Prohm~
Another must go place in Siem Reap, which is famous with the giant tree around the temples with its root penetrating from the rooftop all the way to the ground. Always wonder how the tree actually start growing there in the first place. Tomb Raider movie has one scene shot here, where Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) fought a live lion statue. (also appear in the movie are Angkor Wat and also Angkor Thom).

More to come in Alanpp blospot: (click to enter)

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day2~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the people~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the homestay~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~final words~

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~

2009-05-31T18:42:00.011+08:00

At first I thought I will be showing all the 'selected' photos of the temples in Siem Reap here, but after I finally went to select them, I realize it's too ambitious to put all of them here XD Alot of nice one, including photos from Jimmy and Yinfong's camera. I shall post a few here, and for the rest, please visit my facebook account XD lol

Day1

~Pre Rup~ (pronounced as Prey Rub, if I'm not wrong)
It's a place where cremation took place, as suggested by scholar. This place is one of the popular place to see the sunset although we never get to see sunset because of the cloudy sky.

~Banteay Srei~ (also mean Citadel of the Women)
This is very far from the classic route of the temple visiting (like Angkor Wat, Bayon etc etc). Tuktuk car journey took about 30 minutes (or more) to reach. What's so special about this place is the sculpture. As for the sculpture and carving, I would say I might not be 'artistic' enough to actually enjoy and appreciate them. Nice or not, please check my FB and you can see it yourself.

~Eastern Mebon~
This is the only temple that we didn't actually go in.

~Ta Som~
This is a corner of the Buddhist temple Ta Som, with a local child posed for the shoot.

~Preah Neak Poan~
This is quite a nice place where the center temple (as shown above) is surrounded by another 4 square pools (each pool signified with different statue of animals). I was not able to capture Preah Neak Poan in photos to justify how nice it is. Anyway, this is one of my favourite for Day1 temples.

~Preah Khan~ (means Sacred Sword, nice name)
The biggest temples that we had visited for Day1 (biggest of all should be Angkor Wat). It started to rain awhile after we arrived. This is also the place we started our 'sepia madness'. Check Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~ for more photos. (coming soon)

End of Day1

More to come in Alanpp blospot: (click to enter)

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day2~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the people~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the homestay~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~final words~

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~final words~

2009-05-29T15:50:00.010+08:00

First of all, I want to say, this trip is not what I have expected it to be, and definitely one of the best trip I have had.

2 days in Siem Reap (Cambodia) and 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) were short (too short!) but great and memorable. This is my first backpacking trip, and I think I prefer this more than traveling with tour group with travel guide. Temples in Siem Reap are great to visit, shopping in HCM City are fun to do, but I realize it's the people that make a great trip (people you traveling with, and people you met during the trip)

Without a travel guide, we actually get to know more about the place we traveled to. Although it's only temples (alot, alot, and ALOT!) we visited in Siem Reap, and we had Rithy to bring us around in his Tuktuk car, it's another kind of satisfaction when I realize I slowly recognize the different roads and streets, and how to go to several temples.

[Siem Reap] is a small town with lotsa temples including the famous Angkor Wat. Things that are worth mentioned include:
- although the are sand and dirt everywhere on the roads, I realize that their road condition actually better than that in KT XD, and it was not rare to see workers cleaning the sand/dirt by the road
- they fill the petrol inside normal mineral water bottle, and sell them by the road
- they even have a concert hall, nice one from the look from outside
- and there are certainly temples everywhere (most of ruins)

The thing that I think I enjoy doing most would be get to know and interact with the locals (which I didn't get to experience in previous trips). I shall dedicate another post for that topic I guess.

If Siem Reap is best described with 'temple', then [Ho Chi Minh City] would be associated with 'motorbikes'. Riding in HCM City is certainly one of the 'different' experience I have had. Riding with Cong in his motorbikes across the roundabout full with motorbikes coming from every direction was exciting. The 2 days in HCM City was more of like homestay in Cong's house. Something that was not what I have expected.

In short, this trip has definitely changed my impression about Cambodia and Vietnam. Really want to thank Yinfong who suggested this trip and also for her effort to make this trip happened.

~Journey started on 24 May 2009, and ended on 28 May 2009~

More to come in Alanpp blospot:

Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day1~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the temples Day2~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the people~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the sepia~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~the homestay~
Cambodia and Vietnam trip ~final words~

Finally it's here~~~

2009-05-21T22:09:00.003+08:00

Distant World is tomorrow!!!! Finally. It was 2 months ago when I bought the ticket, phew.. Waited for so long, and IT IS TOMORROW~

recently watched quite some movies. X men Origin, Star Trek, Angels and Demons, and Night at the Museum 2.

[X-men Origin] is about the story of Logan, the wolwerine, on how he become to what he is, in X-men 1, 2 and 3. Well, Wolwerine, not exactly my favourite character in the series. Don't really like characters with ability associated with 'pure violence'. I think it's nice, if you have been following the previous movies.

[Star Trek] is what I think one of the best of this year, so far. Alot of new concepts are introduced. The tele warp thing is interesting. Time traveling story is always one of my favourite. Remind me alot of star wars, but I still prefer star wars more ha.

[Angels and Demons] is not what I'm looking forward the most, but maybe because of that, turn out that this movie is really good for me. Always good to watch the novel in live version, although I have already forgotten most of the story. Read the book in sec school period. Hmm, so long ago XD

[Night at the Museum2] is quite a decent one, although I'm sure it wont please many audiences. Lotsa talking in the movie, which I find it quite interesting. History, history, and more history. Alot coming back faces from the previous movie, but most of them are 'kay lay fay' in NatM2.

Finally, Terminator movie is going to show too, end of this month. First thing to do right away after coming back from Cambodia next week.

Life in Vana'diel

2009-05-15T00:23:00.004+08:00

One thing that I always like to do when I'm playing FFXI is to take the screenshots of interesting stuffs. Here are some:

Getting "Paladin Testimonial" for Koe

Me in Ru'Aun Garden

One of my favourite place: desert

Phew~

Climbing mountain, took us like 1hour? but at the end we didn't make it to the top, made a wrong turn, and we reached the deadend XD

Birthdays and Manpuku

2009-05-14T11:01:00.007+08:00

Went to Singapore again for the first time after I finished school, for birthday celebration for both Sili and I. Went to Manpuku restaurant in Tampines 1. (eh,, is it "1" or other number? I don't remember)

Got the queue number, and it was 87. But it wasn't a long wait. I think less than 10 minutes before our number was called.

Our seats were beside this row of trees. Nice~ Got Japan feel abit XD

A glance at the food we ordered. Not alot though.

and then came the birthday cake brought by Serene and Alvin. We 4 people finished the whole cake, lihai?

After that, we shopped around, took some more photos. Walked for whole evening till my leg almost break XD.

Nice getaway from my home and FFXI, but I got sick the following day. Guess I lacked of rest and water ha.

NUS study ~ completed within 1 week

2009-04-24T12:35:00.002+08:00

It has been sometimes since I last created a new post here, and actually I did not really visit my own blog anymore recently. Last Friday I have submitted the thesis report. One year of effort and torturing lol. Still remember the few weeks before the thesis submission date, I have been keep telling myself after I submitted the thesis, I wanna update my blog, change blogskin, write a journal about my whole NUS life etc etc... but after I submitted thesis, all I have been doing everyday until now is: 1. Play game (FFXI) like no day no night, and 2. Spend little times everyday to do revision for exam. Two papers only for this semester, and the exams will be next Monday and Wednesday. I'm not looking forward to next Wednesday for the last paper, since I'm only in the state of 'as if already finished exam' now.

It has been 1 week at home already, at Malaysia home. Other than playing FFXI like no tomorrow, there isn't other thing that I really think of doing other than 'forcing' myself to study, and play piano when nobody at home. Hm.., time to sort out my messy mind, and plan abit what I'm gonna do next.

1. Cambodia and Vietnam trip in late May
2. Australia trip in mid June
3. Part time piano teacher in Malaysia
4. Continue my piano diploma
5. US dramas which I have not had time to watch
6..........................

There are alot of things that I wanna do (or wanna buy), which I think I should leave aside first. For exampe getting a PS3, taking up more diving courses, taking up another instrument lesson (most probably the chinese flute, don't know what's it called XD), getting a telescope (always a must-buy-thing in my wishlist). All of these 'extra' things have to wait until I get a proper job, a stable income first. Searching for job......... hmm... I have nothing to say about it now lol. Wait till I come back from Oz trip first~

Nobuo Uematsu coming to Singapore~ :D

2009-03-27T11:07:00.002+08:00

Yup. He will be attending the Distant World concert in Singapore.
There will be two concerts in May, and the third concert is added because the tickets for the 2 concerts were sold out. And now, (according to the Square Enix news), the third concert tickets were also sold out too. Wow, so many Final Fantasy music fans in Singapore...... XD

Never thought Uematsu will come to the concert in Singapore. Now have a chance to finally see this legendary music composer~!

Going to Vanadiel again

2009-03-21T23:54:00.005+08:00

Just decided that I will reactivate my Final Fantasy XI account again. Start playing this in my STPM year, wow, that's so many year back then. Have been deactivate and reactivate my account for don't know how many times. I last deactivate it I think 2 years ago, in 2007. Not really wanna quit the game, but I lost the password that time, and I lazy to retrieve it (need to make a call to Square Enix service centre in US >_<), and that's when and why I quit the game. Most of FF friends have left the game already.

A few friends have recently just joined back the game. And now suddenly feel like to play again. Really miss those days in Vanadiel. Mining for ores for hours, spending hours just to look for partners to fight monsters, solo monster as Beastmaster (my favourite job)................

FFXI was a really good experience for me, it's not just a game, more like another virtual life (I know people gonna say I'm addicted to the online game ha. Ya, I think I was). Truth is, I really spent (or waste XD) alot time in FFXI. Alot. Really alot. Ha. I still remember alot thing.

-Was doing the Bastok dragon mission, but I have not had Chocobo license yet, then Kwan and Ceres have to bring me walking from one continent to another.
-Speaking of chocobo, I remembers I got my chocobo license during school exam period. Getting the license required 5 hours waiting (have to feed the chocobo every hour). So I fed it, then I did revision for exam while waiting, then fed again the next hour. Ha.
-I was leveling my Bard in Valkum (level 11-20) and doing mining work in Zehrun Mine during STPM exam period.
-Was so frustrated that I couldn't play FFXI when I went NUS (the hostel network somehow block it)
-Woke up 6am in the morning to hunt Joyeuse with Kwan and Ceres
-Did my first BCNM as Bard with several people from New Mexico, and one of them fell asleep half way through the BCNM, because I think it was around 4-5pm my time, but midnight their time ha
-Uncountable missions and quests with Linkshell people especially the non stop levelling session with Peter (Dark Knight), Kwan (Ninja), Ceres (Red Mage). Me as (Bard)

Now I already can't wait anymore till I log in again. But first thing, gonna finish my thesis. Going to submit it 2 weeks laters, and 2 weeks later, just 2 more weeks until I will be freed~!

Coming Soon

2009-03-19T23:57:00.005+08:00

Just watched this Thai horror movie called Coming Soon. The movie name is quite confusing at first. I first saw the trailer on the bus going back to Kota Tinggi, then for the whole trailer, I didn't notice the title of the movie, just a small 'Coming soon' at the corner. Then I was thinking: what kind of trailer is this, never show us the movie title but only letting us know it's coming soon. A friend of mine is even more funny. She told me the other day she and her friend saw this movie poster at the cinema, then,

A: Got Thai horror movie, but don't know what movie.
B: Yalo, and it's coming soon le.
A: Next time can come watch.

~.~ It's not until few days then I told her actually the movie is called Coming Soon. Ha.

Onto the movie itself
I think this movie is really good. Got a pretty good plot. Coming Soon is about a few people were haunted by a ghost in a movie called Revengeful Spirit after they watched that movie. The ghost in the movie has a very scary look, especially the red bloody eyes. As always, I think a horror movie is good if the story is strong, not jus because the there is a lot scary scenes or those bloody violence scene like those in hollywood horror movies. I watched most of the horror movies by this director, and I think the scariest one is Ghostgame and Shuttle, then followed by Coming Soon. A friend told me Ghostgame is not that scary, but she watched it at home, DVD. Brother told me Shuttle is not scary, because he watched the US version >_<
Horror movies,, must watch in cinema and must watch original Thai version~!

There are several trivial things in Coming Soon which I find it rather interesting. In Coming Soon, there are 2 scenes in the cinema, and people were watching horror movie, and the movie was 4bia (another movie by this director). Speaking of 4bia, I think although 4bia is not the scariest among his work, I think I like 4bia the most, story-wise. 4 stories, except for the 2nd story with violence as main theme, the other 3 stories were very good.

People said those who watched horror movies are those who spend money to buy torture for themselves. But for me, I think I 'yue kan yue qi jing'.

Here are Thai horror movies which I have watched, and I think are worth mentioned and recommended:
1. Shuttle
2. Ghostgame
3. 4bia
4. Coming soon
5. Alone
6. Body 19

Black or White (American Idol 8)

2009-03-17T15:23:00.003+08:00

Somebody just sang Michael Jackson's Black or White in last week American Idol 8. Best performance of that night I think. His sound is even more gay than Michael Jackson~
Anyway, really good. Enjoy.

And of course, the original Black or White by Michael Jackson. One of his best MV~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d99bcQaH6ts

Haruo Takino

2009-03-13T22:18:00.003+08:00

Arts by Haruo Takino.

Dinosaurs

Noah's Ark

Artificial life

2009-03-11T18:31:00.002+08:00

A: Artificial life, it could be here among us, evolving.

B: Electron chasing each other in the circuit? That isn't life.

A: Yeah, but what are we but impulses, electrical and chemical, through a bag of meat and bones?

X-Files S05E11 Kill Switch

Interesting clip on TV mobile

2009-03-06T15:13:00.007+08:00

The other day I was on bus 165 from school to AMK, I was randomly shuffling the FFXI songs in ipod. Then it played Tarutaru Female theme.
Strange thing happened. The song ended, but I was still hearing it, the same melody.
I started to feel paranoid abit, and looked around.
Ahha, the song was from the short animation clip on TV mobile.
What a coincidence~
I think it was a clip by JC or Poly students.
It was about a hamster in the wild and its life.
I paid no attention to the plot, it's the music which get my attention.
After the Tarutaru theme, several other Final Fantasy songs were used too.
Gold Saucer (FF7)
Cinco de Chocobo (FF7)
Chocobo racing theme (FF11)
I think the animation ended with the Blue Rhapsody if I'm not wrong.
Nice.

The Tarutaru Female theme

Tarutaru Female {ffXI} - Kumi Tanioka

Echoes of War

2009-03-04T00:08:00.001+08:00

The Hyperion Overture - The Hyperion Overture

Cloud Smiles

2009-02-28T09:33:00.000+08:00

Dugesia japonica

2009-02-26T23:42:00.003+08:00

Time flies,,, April is coming sooner than I imagine. Last year I was looking forward for April, because it's the time I will be free from the fyp hell. But now I'm no longer looking forward that much. Need more time to allow me to finish the thesis 'slowly' XD Totally not in the mood to do it.

This morning met a coursemate in the bus. Just barely know her last time through Jimmy, and last sem (before my lab moved from S1 to S3), I used to meet her a few times every week in the lift ha. Her lab is at level5, and mine was level6. Find it quite funny because when we saw each other in the bus, both of us just sigh big, and laughed bitterly together, speechless. I believe we sigh and laugh at the same thing- our thesis. We didn't talk about our fyp at first. I tried not to talk about it because looks like everytime we meet, that's the only topic we talk about. I think she thought the same way too. And so we chat about some random stuff like plan after graduate etc etc...

and finally we almost reached NUS, she finally said: Hmm, I scare I can't finish my project. Well, I didn't know how to response to her, as I think I'm almost in the same situation XD. and so we started to talk about the fyp, most of the thing we talk about (if not all) were complaints ha. Anyway, since when do I not complain about my fyp XD

Dugesia japonica is the planarian species I'm working on for my project. It's a kind a worm which can regenerate into 2 complete new worms when you cut it half. Interesting right? But it's no longer that interesting after you need to see it and do 'thing' to it almost everyday for one year. ha.

Worm phobia~~~
now sometimes I thought I am seeing the worm when I look at the cut ginger. 姜丝

Breaking Dawn

2009-02-24T11:21:00.004+08:00

(There are spoilers if you haven't read the previous books)

The last in the Twilight series, and I would say it's also the best among the 4 books. This book is broken into 3 parts, 1st part is quite draggy I think. It's about Bella and Edward's wedding, and her pregnancy. Part 2 is rather interesting as the story is told with Jacob's point of view. This part is mainly about the conflict between the Cullen (the vampire family) and Quilette (the werewolf family).

Part 3 is why I think this book is the best. Finally the Volturi (the strongest vampire family in Italy) came to kill Cullen family for some reasons which I'm not going to say here. This part reminds me alot of Heroes, in which some vampires possess unique superpower. I think their powers are quite unbalance. On Volturi side, there is one vampire who can silence all your senses, sight, feel, smell, taste, while another vampire can make you burn. As always, there isn't much 'physical' action here as in the other 3 books, mainly because their battle were fought in mind. Eg, one Volturi vampire tried to create illusion of pain on Cullens, but being blocked by Bella whose power is shielding the effect.

One thing I'm quite looking forward to is to see how Bella looks like after she turned into vampire. She is supposed to obtain the 'vampiric' + 'angelic' + 'extremely good looking' face. Also, the Jacob werewolf part should be quite interesting to see in movie.

Michael Crichton

2009-02-23T13:09:00.002+08:00

Have been reading Crichton books since many years ago, and he has become my number 1 favourite author since then. I have read most of his books (except for Great Train Robbery and Airframe which I couldn't finish XD) and particularly excited to know he got a new novel coming soon in 2009. The other day I was trying to check from web to see if there is any new update for his new book, and to my horror, I found out the news about his death in November 2008. Hmm now then I only know.

Jedi Twilight

2009-02-10T16:03:00.003+08:00

Coruscant Nights series is one of the newer novels in star wars expanded universe, featuring the story just after Episode III. The first book in the series- Jedi Twilight's plot focuses on one jedi who survived the mass jedi killing under Emperor Palpatine's order (after Episode III) and his mission to finish his late master's wish.

First half of the novel is quite confusing, mainly because of the too many characters being introduced in every chapter each with own story (around 7 or 8 characters, somehow with almost equally important role in the plot). The story become clearer and more interesting after those characters gather, for reasons I find quite amusing.

The robot intelligence is very interesting in Jedi twilight. The droid I-5YQ is programmed in a way that it can self program in the future, and I thought I-5YQ in this novel is a bit too humanized. Anyway, still an interesting part of the novel.

A very interesting weapon is introduced in this novel (at least I only know it first time through this novel). It's the lightsaber in whip version. I thought it would be very powerful and 'wild', but what depicted in this novel is, the lighwhip is rather crumsy to use compared to conventional lightsaber.

My very first star wars expanded universe novel. I'm glad I didn't choose the wrong novel to start.

Star Wars Trilogy

2009-02-04T19:11:00.006+08:00

Finally bought it!!! One of my wishlist items. Wanted to buy this and also the Prequel trilogy (Epi 1, 2, 3) long time ago, but never really try to find it. The other days, just happen to walk around city link aimlessly, just happen to walk into HMV, and just happen to see this DVD under the promotion section. Next item ~ the Prequel trilogy XD

Distant World concert ~coming to Singapore

2009-01-21T12:21:00.004+08:00

Finally it's coming. The first Final Fantasy concert in Singapore. Video game music concert is rare here. So far only have chance to attend 2 such concerts, the first one at Victoria CH which features only 2 violinists, 1 pianist, 1 drum, 1 guitarist from Eminence group, and both anime and game musics were performed (only 1 FF music was performed). Nevertheless, the concert was great. Yasunori Mitsuda's music was the main focus in that concert.

The second concert which I went last year (or 2 years ago XD) was Play concert at Esplanade, and video game music like war of warcraft, mario, zelda, FF and others were performed. Dancing Mad (FFVI) and One Winged Angel (FFVII) were performed.

FF Distant World concert will be held in 22 and 23 May 2009 at Esplanade. Program included will be: (not in performance order)

FINAL FANTASY series: Main Theme, Swing de Chocobo

FINAL FANTASY I-III: Medley

FINAL FANTASY IV: Theme of Love

FINAL FANTASY V: Dear Friends

FINAL FANTASY VI: Opera "Maria and Draco"

FINAL FANTASY VII: One-Winged Angel, Opening - Bombing Mission, Aerith's Theme

FINAL FANTASY VIII: Liberi Fatali, Fisherman's Horizon, Love Grows, Don't be Afraid

FINAL FANTASY IX: Vamo' alla Flamenco

FINAL FANTASY X: To Zanarkand

FINAL FANTASY XI: Memoro de la Stono - Distant Worlds

Your Favourite Enemies

2009-01-07T11:06:00.004+08:00

THE MESSENGER - Your Favorite Enemies

~cant's believe I started to love this genre~

Dream

2008-12-31T22:30:00.002+08:00

A dream is an answer to a question we haven't learned how to ask

[Paper Hearts X-Files S04E10]

Lost ~Expose

2008-12-30T00:03:00.003+08:00

Have been watching a lot episodes of Lost season 3 these few days, and finally finished the whole season 3 today. While most of the episodes are real good, one particular episode "Expose" is among those which left me more impression.

At the beginning of this episode, they found Nikki and Paulo died but without no knowing the reason. There were no animal bite, no gunshot wound, no nothing, and both of them died with their eyes opened wide. Then throughout the episode, slowly revealed is how they 'die'. Well, actually they were not dead, but everyone else in the camp thought they were. They were just paralyzed by spider venom. Nikki used spider to paralyzed Paulo so that she could steal back the diamond, but accidentally, Nikki herself got paralyzed by spider too. So they appear stoned, heart beats slow down and appeared dead. Paralysis persisted for 8 hours. But everyone else did not know that, and they were preparing for their funerals and burying them. >_<

So Nikki and Paulo were well aware of what was going on. They knew people thought they were dead, people were actually burying them alive. How does it feel like when you are laying down beside a fresh digged grave, waiting to be buried? Creepy

Even till end of the episode, I still hope that they will suddenly open their eye right before the others covered the sand on the body. Climax of the episode huh....... but I was wrong. They really did get buried alive -_- and end of the story~

Dissidia

2008-12-27T10:34:00.002+08:00

A PSP game which reunites characters from all final fantasy games from FFI till FFXII. Can't wait until mid 2009 when it will be released.

Cecil (FF4), Squall (8), Frion (2), Zidane (9), Warrior of Light (1), I don't know him (5), Tidus (10), Cloud (7), Tina (6), and Onion Knight (3)

Heroes group

Villain group

Moblin Menagerie- Movalpolos

2008-12-23T17:59:00.004+08:00

Moblin Menagerie - Movalpolos - Naoshi Mizuta & Kasumi Oga

(Pictures by Selece ~http://www.kachosen.com/FFXI/transworld.htm)

Eragon

2008-12-22T22:14:00.003+08:00

This is my first try on novel of fantasy genre. It is suprisingly good. Watched the movie first when it was released in 2006, and it's not until recently then I bought this book from Acmamall online shop (because of the good promotion XD).

Movie vs Novel, I think the novel is better (as always). More details in the novel, but some parts are left out in the movie, and a few new stuff were added in too. The fight between the blue dragon Saphira and the bad guy Durza's dark magic dragon is new. Unless I accidentally miss that part in the book, this fight is added purposely for the movie, which I think is very nice, because I think the original version, the fight between Durza and Eragon (without the dragons) is kinda boring and short.

Parts that are left out in movie include:
- the werecats part
- the part when Arya was unconscious during the desert journey

Something got me confused all the time when I read the novel is, the difference between Razac and Urgul. I think one of them (or both) is a kind of orc species, and another is human kind. Hmm.... time to watch the movie again~

In short, this is a very well written novel, but expect lengthy details about the history of the Alagaesia (the world in this novel) and the history of dragon rider, which cover a pretty large portion in the book. Action parts were pretty decent though. Anyway, it's the history part that interests me more.