Penang in 48 hours. First 21.

Okay, maybe it's not 48 hours. More like 36 crammed into 24.

I was in Penang last month for a friend's wedding, and this is my second solo trip to one of the places that is becoming my favourite place in Malaysia: Penang.

Many of you may know Penang for its street food, and Penangites would defend to their last breath the no.1 status of their char koay teow, cendol, ais kacang, nasi kandar, and loh bak. Most of them will balik kampung, meet up with friends, and indulge in weekends of unabashed gluttony indulgence.

But they are not too far from the truth. Food in Penang is really tasty. You just need to taste it to tell. And compare those to what you can find in KL.

Anyway, I have just about 5-6 hours to do some sightseeing in Penang, having reached the Hentian Sungai Nibong at 3pm despite catching a bus from KL at 9am! Usually it takes only about 4 hours (or 2.5 hours according to a F1 driver). The traffic was really bad as it was the starting of the school holidays.

I reached there, with no preparation and no map. I wasn't even sure where I was on the Penang Island. But the best thing about travelling in Malaysia is that Malaysians are generally helpful. Depending on where you are, it is easy to get directions. I was rather unlucky as Penangites, apparently, do not take public transport. So after a few people pointed me in several different directions, I decided to just wait at the bus stop for the bus to go to Tanjung Bungah. Fortunately, it took only half and hour to get on the no. 102 that will travel to the other side of the Island. The hotel receptionist commented that I was lucky to even get a room. I didn't regret making reservations earlier.

The 102 bus. (http://www.rapidpg.com.my/)

The Komtar building. Georgetown's most recognisable landmark.

The room. I'm a creature of comfort. :)

Copthorne. Nice cosy hotel. (http://www.copthornepenang.com/)

I reached Copthorne only an hour and a half later due to hellish traffic and had half an hour to shower and head to the other end of the coast to attend the wedding. Luckily, the friendly doorman offered to book me a taxi for RM25 to get there. It was about a 15 min drive but taxi fares are generally quite expensive in Penang, which is why locals avoid taking them. I didn't mind paying because one of the things you realise quickly is that you can learn a lot about the city when you talk to taxi drivers. And Mr Bas, the taxi driver, didn't disappoint.

-wedding + a good night's sleep + breakfast in bed (no breakfast with room) + swim (oh.my.god.)-

I love hotels with swimming pools. That's because it's the only time I get to just put on my swimsuit and head down. Driving to a swimming pool kind of kills the joy somewhat. And Copthorne's pool was one of the best I've seen so far. It's not the standard 50m pool that I love, but there's one part of it that is 2m deep. So you can practically dive in when the guards are not looking. And because it's so deep there the kids won't bother you.

Nothing wakes you up more than a light breakfast (cafe on the left) and solid laps in the pool

The hotel also has access to a small beach, which I missed because I was too distracted by the pool. But what more can you ask for? Imagine this: sunrise by the beach, warm coffee plus a cinnamon bun and a swim. Perfect morning.

A view from the bar at the poolside

The beach

And so, the first 21 hours of my stay in Penang has concluded when I checked out at around noon. Another tip for travellers in a rush: ask a Penangite to bring you around. They know the best places to eat and things to see!

That's going to be in part 2.

Glossary for my non-Malaysian readers
1. Char Koay Teow = fried rice noodles (the noodles are flat-ish, like fettucine)
2. Cendol = a dessert with jelly, red beans and sometimes corn in diluted coconut milk
3. Ais kacang = Ice shaving plus red beans, and lots of stuff. Sweet dessert.
4. Nasi kandar = Mixed rice with lots of fried stuff and curry.
5. Loh bak = Marinated minced pork rolled in soybean sheets - deep fried.

Why writers have bad blogs

I have just finished transcribing an hour-long interview and several short speeches. And while that would be left to stew in the brain for it to produce a comprehensive prose that will fill several pages in a magazine, I have come to a conclusion that I am a better writer splicing together random facts and opinions on a subject than sharing my thoughts on, say, durian mille crepes.

Now there are a few reasons why many journalists or writers for publications may not readily share their own opinions or are reluctant to share their personal opinions online. Many editors and journalists who have their own blogs in which they write about the exact things they write about for their publications. But some have limited their blogs to their professional work, making it more like their portfolio than a reflection of what goes on in their minds.

Here are, I think, a few reasons why:

1. If writing is your job, it ceases to become your hobby after a while.

2. If you are a journalist, personal opinions are always left out of copy. Also, if you are writing about the things you write about professionally, people may read your personal thoughts and judge your work differently. You always want to be as objective as possible.

3. If you are a writer, you can save those thoughts for a book or your next paid publication ;).

4. When you write during your "down" time, you know what happens.

5. That AP style obsession really hurts creativity.

6. Readers would benefit more from reading about how they could prevent cancer than why Twilight is the next best thing to happen to humanity after Coke.

7. Experiencing things with the intention to write about it often takes the fun out of the experience.

8. My boss would likely prefer that I spend the time writing this post on more productive pursuits. Like the next story.

But, if we write about something else, like our passion, it may make a difference. There are so many things to write about but so little time!

Anyway, I came across this video and thought it would be great to share. Have always loved Japanese composers.

My random thoughts for the past 10 months

1. When it rains, it really pours. Hard. Just as you thought your life was uneventful, an avalanche visits you with everything you wished for and avoided fervently coming at you at once. And the only thought on your mind is, SHIT.

2. It's not THAT bad. Yes, life is pretty screwed up now. Yes, maggi goreng is the best food you can find within walking distance and you're constantly on coffee or diet coke or something that will elicit similar responses from your body. You are stressed, not stressed enough, loved, not loved, or dumped. But that's just going to fade with time. But mourn it too long and you'll miss the opportunity staring in your face all these while.

3. JUMP. Don't look. Don't think. Just do it.

4. The best thing about being in love is the opportunity to know yourself better so you could be a better version of you. It is not selfish. A better you is great for people around you.

5. Problems are only problems if you refuse to look at them as challenges.

6. The secret of success is having the blind faith that you would make it in the end. Doing your best is good enough.

7. Its OK to swear sometimes. Better to get the load off than let it fester.

8. I really think everyone should get a SANDBAG or learn to meditate. The aggression has to go somewhere.

9. I'm an unapologetic fighter. But I've learned to pick my battles and accept that you can't win it all.

10. If you are feeling down and out, take me out for a drink. You won't regret it! (with endorsements from many that goes along 'thank you for the therapeutic session') And no. We do not need alcohol. 

A work date

Photo by cyclonebill - found at Wikimedia Commons

Over the five years I've been a writer, I have never written any of my stories in a cafe. Or restaurant.

Maybe it's because I predominantly swing towards the extreme ends of writing. Long form features or short and succinct news. One requires tons of research and I am notorious for killing trees. The other requires only a smartphone and you can write stories standing. And as I generally do not require much external inspiration to write, I write in the office, or at home, or anywhere I can find a flat surface to sit on. I just don't believe in paying a premium for a workspace.

But yesterday I did. And it turns out to be quite pleasant. It felt weird at first because I have always wondered how people can just go to Starbucks, order expensive coffee, sit down, power up their laptops and work. I understand there's free wi-fi and people do go there to work. Alone. But when there is more than two people? What was the point?

After spending close to 5 hours at Starbucks, I finally realise the possible reasons why people do meet up to work.

1. These days our lives are getting busier than ever. Alongside work commitments, social commitments grow over time. On top of business meetings, you have your dinners with friends, farewells, birthday bashes, weddings etc etc. When you want to meet as well as work weekends, you meet and work!

2. Although writing is very much a solitary activity (which is why writers tend to live in their heads), some distraction is good. Though these days due to the Internet, we tend to distract ourselves with other people's writing. Some sort of conversation in between paragraphs can actually get the brain juices flowing.

3. Sometimes people watching can be fun. There was this young couple at the next table who can't stop checking out other people and providing commentary. And there was this French guy who was brokering a black market deal over the phone, loudly.

And so, the work is finished after about 5 hours and we head off for some entertainment to cap off the day. It was one of the toughest stories for me but I think it may take longer if I were to stare at the ceiling and wrench words out of my mind.

I may not be called a dinosaur yet, but my approach to life is pretty conventional and traditional. That's why I used to think that when people meet, phones are best tucked away. That said, there is a difference between being totally engrossed with work/the phone and being present while doing work. It's kind of like one of my other friends, who could fiddle with the phone and still catch whatever conversation that is going on around the table.

Spending quality time together with friends and family is still the best. But being able just to spend time with people we care about whilst fulfilling our other duties is sometimes good enough.

Spotted 1/52 (Week 2. 10.12)

Recovering from a cold is not fun. It is messy, the meds make you hyper drowsy, and for some reason or the other, you are very very hungry. This is bad news for me because I don't have the strength to exercise, and all I do is eat and sleep. My only consolation is that this ordeal will help me lose the few kgs that I intend to shed. Anyway, since I'm drugged and drowsy now, and determined to say one or two words, here's the second installation of spotted. My fave photos in between this post and... the last Spotted post.

Ok, this is a bit gross - it's a half eaten layered chocolate and coffee sponge cake  with fresh cream on top. When I saw the colour gradient, I had to take a picture! I don't know where this is from, but the baker is a genius! It tasted great too.

Spotted this in The Star. Nice, clean watch face with a cute dial that shows the date. I think this is my dream watch for now, if only I won the lottery yesterday.

Isn't the spiral-shaped stirrer absolutely cute? Makes the drink even sweeter than it actually is. If you are on a diet, stay away from this drink. It is really, really sweet. Spotted at The Garden, Mid Valley.

This... is one of the most pretty pictures I've taken with the iPhone. I think. But it's because this is a very beautiful place. Spotted at Straits Quay, Penang. Just behind this row of shops on the left is a marina that has a breathtaking view.

Smoked salmon sandwich at Blue Fish and Reef (I hope I got the name right). Wonderful salmon, not crazy about the bread. But if you take this outdoors, the sea breeze will make up for it! Spotted at Straits Quay, Penang.

Lovebirds spotted at a friend's wedding. So romantic!

Now, this is really an act of eating your heart out. This fish paste at 100C steamboat restaurant off Jalan Kuchai Lama is  quite the delicacy there. 

Mmm... cheesecake. Need I say more?

Scott Garden at Old Klang Road at night. The lighting gives the place a calm and serene outlook, even with loud music piping into several pubs close by.

So there you have it. Spotted #2. :) Will be back with more...

The virtue of setting goals

Goals are, corny, at best. I mean, who wants to be reminded of the days when we wrote in our report card our goals for the coming term? Get an A for history, pass the Math exam.

Over the years I've learnt the virtue of simply just saying - I want to do this next year and this is what I am going to do to make it a reality. It makes you accountable, it gives you focus.

At first I never really meant it. I only set goals I knew I would achieve. Get X number of As in major exams, finish a project or yearbook. Finish X amount of books in a year.

But recently with changes in my personal and professional life I inadvertently started to mope and focus on the teeny weeny details that did not help me enjoy the journey as much as I thought I would. Until someone told me to write down my goals and keep it in my drawer so I do not lose sight of what I wanted in life.

I have no drawer at home so here's my list of to-dos before Dec 31, 2013:
1. Run a 10km marathon in under 1 hour
2. Exercise and meditate every day
3. Monthly day/weekend trips to all states in Peninsula Malaysia
4. Contribute an article to an international publication

In essence goal-setting shifts the mind to focus on the future and ensure that we could live in the present, because we would know that whatever we do now is a step towards our goal.

We'll see if I can cross most of these things on the list off next year. Fingers crossed!

9 craziest things I did so far

Courtesy of SkyJump (Auckland). Boy thinking about it still gives me the adrenaline high.

I consider my life rather average and nondescript. No roller coasters, no shocking developments. But I'm sometimes impulsively foolish and there's no end to the number of crazy friends I have in my life. In no particular order, here's the list. Will try to blog about them soon.

1. Jumped off a 192m building
2. Spent RM3 a day on food for 3 days
3. Took three weeks off to reflect on life at an isolated meditation centre
4. Built a man-made wetland
5. Buried my first lab rat
6. Went without sleep for 72 hours on a can of Livita
7. Swallowed my first escargot
8. Searched for worm eggs in monkey poop
9. Wore a saree with a petticoat a size smaller (and nearly died of oxygen deprivation)

Off to meet some people I haven't met for a very, very long time! I'm sure I could add to this list.

The perfect getaway: Pulau Perhentian

It's been a few months since I left the sandy beaches of Pulau Perhentian, but the sea breeze and glorious sunshine is still something that I remember whenever I longed for a break.

It started when a friend and I initiated a plan to go for an annual trip together every year just to escape the stresses of the city. Bangkok seemed to be a good option, but we couldn't plan in advance so flights were way beyond what we were willing to pay for. After all, why get out of a city just to get stressed out in another city?

So we opted for somewhere easier on the nerves and closer to home - Perhentian.

It was early May and the Island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is just starting to warm up after the last monsoon season ended. Prices were more affordable and we decided on a five day four nights snorkelling package at the Bubu Long Beach Resort.

The Bubu Resort view of the sea

Initially we thought five days is a little long, but whatever doubts we had about not doing anything except have fun and chilling out for close to a week was dumped once we arrived at the resort. The package allows for four days of snorkelling and a sunset walk. But if you think snorkelling for four days is boring, think again. It is very enjoyable, particularly when both of us love the sun and the sea.

Perhentian used to be rather inaccessible before it is gradually developed into a tourist destination. With popular destinations like Pulau Redang and Tioman surrounding it, it is easy to overlook this idyllic island and its raw beauty.

But now that it is gaining more attention, it is rather easy to get there. All you need to do is get to the Kuala Besut jetty from Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu and take a boat ride across to the islands. From Kuala Lumpur, both flights to KB/KT takes about an hour and the boat ride takes about 45 minutes.

I assure you, unless you're sea sick (which could be overcome with some meds) once you get on the boat, you would feel the city life fade from your mind.

It was a long wait, but this view made up for it

When we arrived, a cold drink was ready for us as our rooms were prepared.

Sipping a drink under a wooden and straw shack has got to be the greatest way to start your vacation.

And Bubu has got this absolutely refreshing welcoming drink that is a special blend of honey dew with a tinge of orange.

Now, I didn't have many pictures of this trip because I have resolutely left my camera behind, just so that I could enjoy the view and experience as it is and not worry about looking for a good angle. However, I still had my phone with me, so this are some of the sights from the corridor outside our room.

Simply beautiful

Some resort workers preparing the evening meal.

And we were lucky to be able to wake up to this...

Every snorkelling experience was different, and we had the good fortune to snorkel with great guides. In the course of four sessions, we've seen three turtles, a couple of green humphead parrotfish, sharks, and stingrays. One guide could not stop himself from jumping off the roof of the boat into the water every single outing and another was just so straight-laced and shy we were decidedly amused.

My friend was thrilled to find different underwater creatures every day, but I just enjoyed swimming in the sea. There's just something very liberating about being in a large body of water.

Soon we got into a routine of waking up for breakfast, changing into our snorkelling gear and walking across the beach for lunch (the tuna fried rice is absolutely delicious!) and going swimming again before dinner. I was quite burnt after three days but that's rather normal for me, no matter how much sunscreen I use.

On the way back, our driver was kind to stop by a Buddhist temple in Bachok where a huge standing Buddha statue stood. Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to visit the hot springs that is just beside the temple.

The thing about Perhentian is you could plan your trip to suit your budget without much trouble. A RM200/day budget could get you some pretty comfortable stays and packages.

But to thoroughly enjoy a beach holiday here, leave your camera behind. It is definitely more enjoyable to take in the view with your five senses than through your viewfinder. You won't regret it. I didn't.

Thinking of the beach again...

PS: Since I think this post is the most read so far, here's how you would find Bubu http://www.buburesort.com.my/. Highly recommended for travellers who don't mind spending a little bit more for the comfort of having everything planned for you from the moment you arrive. 

Spotted 1/52 (week 2, 09.12)

I love beautiful designs.

So since I am too sleepy right now to wax lyrical about Pulau Perhentian (cliched, I know), an idea came about. Why don't I share some of the beautiful designs I've seen around town? I am very bad with dates so I won't attempt to time-stamp any of these. (All the photos I share here are my own unless specified.)

Portobello mushroom burger, Bens KLCC.
After having this at three different places, this arrangement appears to be the way Klang Valley restaurants serve the burger.

Durian pancake, Sweetchat Berjaya Times Square
Aren't they lovely? :) They taste great too! (RP: About RM8 inclusive of tax)

Stone vegetarian (more vegan) bibimbap, Kimchiharu Jaya One
A very scrumptious meal. Small eaters may find it difficult to finish it. I like the way the black bowl and serving plates contrast against the light brown table. The metal cutleries add a nice modern touch.

Vegetable set in some Vietnamese place.
Vege wrapped in vege. The carrots, cucumber and another leafy vegetable (I don't remember what was it) are wrapped in a piece of nice boiled green cabbage leaf (I think). Eat this with a light chilli sauce: yummy!

Peeptoe heels..
Spotted this in black too. The heels are designed to slant outward so that it offsets the way our feet usually turn inward when we wear these darlings. Very comfortable, but not for long. (Oh well.)

Artsy notebook covers
I just love the batik motifs on the little black book and the cursive letters on the grey one! Very classy and yet functional. Great for work - pleasing but not too distracting.

Interior decoration at Delicious, Mid Valley.
The view from the side (above), and the view from below (bottom). The yellow light gives the place a very soft and warm atmosphere to the place. A good place to relax with friends.

So, there you go. :) The first installation of Spotted. Would love suggestions on where to go for great decor and unique designs.

Ciao!
Wen

Back to stress-free writing

You can relax at the bus stop here
Photo courtesy of geograph.org.uk, downloaded from Wikimedia Commons

I'm back. Well, for many of you I am finally here.

Truth is, I have tried, many many times, to keep a blog that I would keep alive for more than a year. Write about something. Life, work (which due to many reasons I could not share explicit details), interests.

But it never happened. Somehow, somewhere along the lines of a birthday, a 31st December, or a new state of mind, I would delete whatever I have written for the past year or so and start afresh.

Anyhow, this post (specifically, item 11 - which inspires the name of this blog) reminded me that sometimes it pays to remember good times in an environment where there is so much negativity. If you think kopitiam stories about crime, corruption, and general nastiness are bad, try to imagine yourself in the shoes of people whose job is getting the story first-hand.

So, have mercy on people in the media. If you think what you get these days is crap, spare some kind thoughts for the crap filter.

To good memories. :) 

Wen

PS: I was told that I sound tired in this post. Maybe I was. But I'm feeling rejuvenated again and will be back to my chirpier self when I write about the holiday that was absolutely my best so far --> Pulau Perhentian.