We arrived at Krabi on 27 May. Didn’t planned out any activities, and definitely had no expectation whatsoever.

The first day was spent stuffing ourselves silly at the street vendors. And countless rounds of shopping at the nearby 7-eleven. Which I have to admit, the 7-eleven in Thailand never cease to amaze me – Well what can I say, Junk food IS the love of my life! And 7-eleven in Thailand is indeed a junkfood haven!

The next day was spent wandering and shopping around Ao Nang town. It was low season and there was only a handful of tourist spotted. And lucky for us we managed to get better discounts. And surprise surprise! Most of the vendors could speak Mandarin! And some even Hokkien! That kinda caught us off guard, especially when we were discussing how much discount we wanted to get with the purchase!

Now, Krabi wouldn’t be whole if we do not make a trip to the ‘infamous’ Phi Phi island. I joined a day tour, paid about 1,100 baht which includes photo opportunity at Viking Cave, snorkeling at Lohsamah Bay, Piley Bay,relaxing at Bamboo island and Maya Beach (where the Beach was filmed) as well a lunch and shopping at Phi Phi Don.

However, the highlight I must say, is the elephant ride at along the stream and serene jungle terrain. Honestly, I am a HUGE fan of elephants! It might be the largest mammal on land but it’s so strong and yet gentle, emotional and smart. And the one that we rode, its 45 year old male elephant whom his guardian (who has been with him for 15 years) affectionately address it as Andy Lau hahaha…


It amazes me to see how a human being can communicate so well with the elephant. His guardian said he has been with him for 15 years and he knows what Andy Lau likes and dislike. Such bonding that exist between a human and an elephant touched me dearly.

Overall, a place that I have no expectation has left a very special spot in my heart. It’s definitely a place where I will revisit again.

Just to see Andy Lau

Krabi Photos Here

The journey from Probolingo to Jogja has been a nightmare! All 9 of us travelers were told that we were gonna travel to Jogja (other’s Solo and Surabaya) by VIP bus. After a one hour wait, a mini van appeared and all 9 of us who was going to 3 separate directions where shooed into the mini van.

It wasn’t until the Romanian couple got off at Surabaya’s Juanda Airport that we realized that we have all been conned in broad day light. Instead of a 7 hours drive to Jogja, the journey would then take 10 hours because we made a detour to Surabaya!

To make matters worst, the mini van broke down at Solo at about 11pm. It was the holiday season and all the hotels in Solo was fully booked. After several unsuccessful attempts reasoning with the travel agent who refuses to send another mini van for the rescue and refuses to pay for our cab fee to Jogja. I approached and bargain with a cab driver to take us to Jogja for Rp.160,000.

I didn’t think Rp.160,000 for an hours drive to Jogja was a big deal. I was sleepy and grumpy and was ready to take off with or without the other petty travelers. Pauline followed and I was glad that I had her as a companion.

I reached Jogja at 1 something in the morning. It was raining and there were no more rooms at Bedhots. Atok (also a friend who works in the guesthouse) suggested that I sleep in the living room until the morning comes because the whole of Sosrowijayan has been fully booked for the holiday season. I was tempted to but I couldn’t leave Pauline alone on the streets… So we went off and after a frantic search we finally ended up at one guesthouse at Prawirotaman at 3 in the morning, soaking wet

What an experience…

Mount Semeru puffing black smoke

There were at least close to 70 jeeps racing to the Penajakan II viewpoint. As there were too many jeeps, some had to park at the road side and we had to walk to the submit. It was a tiring 30 minutes uphill walk with fairly steep trail. Some visitors choose to be ferried by ojeks. There were times when I felt like giving up because I have not fully recover from the sickness that I had a few days ago, I couldn’t breath and my knees were shaking so badly when I finally reach the submit.

The view from the submit was breathtaking albeit the amount of tourist each fighting for a spot for the perfect sun rise shot. For a moment, I actually felt quite relieve that I don’t have my DSLR with me, without any pressure to capture the perfect sunrise shot I was then able to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

After we decent from Gunung Penanjakan, we were driven to the crater wall of Bromo where we crossed the 3km Sand Sea to the sloped of Mount Bromo by foot. Again, there were times when I felt like giving up because the dust and the smell of horse shit was too overpowering for my weak lungs…the climb up to the to the Bromo crater (253 steps) was not a breeze either. I wonder, at that point in time if I was getting old.

Horses ferrying visitors up and down the crater

The black sand sea at Mount Bromo

When I finally reach the rim of the crater, the sulfuric smell that emit from the crater nearly suffocate me. 5 minutes later, I was already on my way down and couldn’t wait to get away from Mount Bromo.

I supposed…that if I wasn’t feeling sick and had my camera with me, I would have enjoyed Bromo. The landscape was amazing, with ‘flower men’ and their horses ferrying tourist from the Sand Sea to the slopes of Bromo.

Perhaps, I’ll pay Mount Bromo another visit in June/Jul. When the weather is more promising.

The journey from Surabaya to Probolingo by train took about 2 hours. I was lucky to purchase the one last remaining executive couch (Rp.110,000) to Probolingo.

When I reached Probolingo station, I paid the becca driver Rp.10,000 for a 7km ride to the bus station. But instead of taking me to the bus station, he brought me to a travel agent who then arranged a tour to Cemoro Lawang, trekking bromo and a trip to Jogja. All for Rp.300,000.

The 2 hour ride in the tiny minivan sandwiched by close to 20 people was unbearable. To make matters worst, I was spotted by a Malaysian Chinese man in the minivan who can’t stop blabbering about his astonishment of a single Malaysian woman traveling alone in the soil of Indonesia. What an ignorant little prick.

I don’t mean to be crude, but what irks me most about ‘tourist’ like him, is that they think they are so well traveled just because they have covered some tourist sites. How meaningful are these travels when they don’t even talk to the locals, understand their way of life, sharing their dreams and aspirations?

Cemoro Lawang

Tall pine trees

With Tugio at Cemara Indah cafe

However I did had a great time with the boys at Cemara Indah cafe. We drank Indonesian wine to keep ourselves warm and accidentally had Eddy fell head over heels with his mushy, I-miss-you smses.

Honest to God, I didn’t do anything to that poor boy. I cringed when things like this happened. Sometimes, I wonder whether my friendliness is a blessing or a curse…

Though there were 4 daily flights to Surabaya and I could easily hopped on to any of the half filled airbus, I wasn’t prepared to take another 3 hours back and forth for the camera. So being the optimistic person that I am, I went with the flow hoping that something good would come out from my carelessness.

Being the second largest city in Indonesia, Surabaya is noisy, polluted and crowded. Albeit the thorough introduction on touristy highlights given by the taxi driver from Juanda Airport to city centre, I wasn’t really in the mood to explore what Surabaya has to offer. All that really mattered to me then was to find a digital camera and a way to Mount Bromo.

After an unsuccessful walk-in attempt to book a room at Kecana Puri Hotel, I ended up at a somewhat ‘doggy’ guesthouse recommended by the taxi driver. Considering it was Christmas Day (and I doubt I would be lucky to find any rooms) and the hotel is a stone throw away from Gubeng train station and Surabaya Plaza, I thought it was probably the better (perhaps only) option that i had.

The rest of the afternoon was spend loitering at Surabaya plaza searching high and low for a digital camera, I can’t believe how expensive the digital cameras are in Indonesia. I wasn’t prepared to spend close to RM1k for a crappy digital camera with less than 10 mega pixel and so I thought perhaps I can just make do with a film camera. But to my surprise! It seems that film camera has gone extinct in this country. I’ve searched every corner and couldn’t find a camera shop with a film camera. What really got me though was the look on those salesman’s face. As though I am an ancient dinosaur who has been left behind in the world of high tech shinny metal box. I wanted to wipe the snort on their faces and tell them that I too have a DSLR that cost 5 times more than their stupid little overpriced digital cameras.

Just when I was starting to feel really sore about the trip without my camera with me, I heard a knock on my bedroom door. And there he was, the guys who works at Hotel Gubeng, holding a film camera that was once popular 20 years ago.

‘I have something for you’, he said. And handed me the film camera.

I beamed with excitement and was speechless for a while. Finally, when I managed to offer some money for the camera, he insisted that I keep the money.

For the rest of the night, I couldn’t help feeling blessed and grateful for the kindness and generosity that he has given to me without expecting anything in return.

the once popular film camera

This, is the magic of travel. Restoring faith in humanity and to marvel in generosity and kindness of people from diverse culture background.

On our way from the airport to the old quarter, we were greeted by endless honking on the roads, it was so frantic we thought that the taxi driver has gone mad. It took me a while to figure out that Vietnamese drives on the left side of the road and all that honking was to ‘shoo’ the slow coach away. It all seemed daunting and a tad bit scary. So much for culture shock!

We checked in to Hanoi Orchid Hotel which I pre-booked with Air Asia. Must say that it was a pleasant hotel. Comfy beds, 40 over TV channels, air conditioned, hot shover, and a balcony over looking the bustling streets of Hang Be. Located in the Old Quarter, this is a recommended place to stay. Not only it’s just minutes walk away from the famous Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of Sword Restored), its also a stone throw away to many souvenir shops, restaurants and coffee bars. And oh, not forgetting the friendly english speaking staffs at the hotel

Hanoi is a city of ‘indifference’. Pedestrian paid very little attention to the frantic honking of motor-vehicles. Such display of annoyances would have cause a bleeding nose back home. But in Hanoi, it has become part and parcel of extreme tolerance (at least for me) in everyday life.

After we have gotten our City Tour and Halong Bay tour with Vietnam Open Tours at the hotel , it was time to unveil the hidden jewel of the Old Quarter.

It was hard to walk around the Old Quarter without a map. That’s because the Old Quarter itself is like a gigantic market made up of 36 streets (or more) – which were named after their selling product.

From silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, silver products, jewelry, bags, DVDs, shoes to women’s accessories (and many more!), the Old Quarter is definitely a shopper’s paradise

More photos on my Flickr channel:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenchanlyemay/sets/72157624345958579/

Anyway, there were a few trips that gave me a heavy heart when I board the plane home, but there are also several few that had wished I hadn’t came in the first place. This trip is one of them.

I touched down at Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 10pm last Wed. Checked into Rambutri House at Rambutri Road. I figure it was after dark and too dangerous to be roaming around Khaosan Road for a room, so I had it pre-booked earlier on the internet. Although a bit pricey from the usual RM30 room I am willing to fork out for accommodation. (this one cost RM90 for double bed) But hey, it’s a great hotel with private bathroom, air con, clean and nice smelling bed sheets, soft pillows and most important of all, it has Star Movie channel! :p

The flight to Chiang Mai the next morning was alright, slight air turbulence that made my heart skipped a beat. Was extremely cloudy that morning…and I hate flying in cloudy weather. I figured that if the plane crash and if I was gonna die, I need to have a clear view of my surrounding. I don’t want to be ‘trapped’ within the clouds with no way ‘out’… so much for my imagination hah!

Anyway, thank God I survive the air turbulence and reached Chiang Mai in one piece.

There is a certain vibe that you get from a foreign place, it’s either love at first sight for hate at first sight. I don’t know what to make out of Chiang Mai.

Lonely Planet said it’s less manic like Bangkok and people are generally nicer. Although I can’t say much about my guest house owner (Sarah the English lady) nor the waitress in Ratana’s Kitchen, I did however befriended a lady (Paa) who sells sweet corn and a couple who sells Roti by the road side near Sarah’s Guest House.

Paa actually reminded me a lot about the man I befriended at Vientiane (who owns a baguettes shop). Both were kind hearted people, whom I ‘stalked’ every night because I needed company away from the 4 walls in my room that was driving me insane. Truth to be told, I think I was the only tourist at Sarah’s Guest House! And its impossible to talk to the locals at guest house because they couldn’t understand what I was saying.

I was bored to death in Chiang Mai. The temples doesn’t excite me, I didn’t take much photographs, not to mention that the one day tour to see the hill tribe people was a complete ripped off. Yes, we did see the hill tribe people but it’s so ‘unreal’. It’s more like a little village made for tourist.

‘Long-necked’ Padaung Tribe

One thing that is worth the visit though…its the night market! Chiang Mai is like a shoppers paradise! Everything is so darn cheap. Perhaps 2-3 times cheaper than Bangkok! From hill tribe jewelry, clothing, scarfs, bags, books to home deco etc.

Click here for more pictures

For more photos on Jogja, click here

‘Home’ is still the best place to be, to be in the presence of mom and dad. I still long for the day where I can do freelance and just lepak at home with my parents. Maybe, I should invest in a cafe or something in Batu Pahat, which doesn’t seem like a hard thing to do…”hmm”…

It is said that the relationship with our parents is always a work in progress. And we are all trying to make up to each other as we grow. How true is that?!

My parents and I came a long way… and I am grateful that they have always been supportive of what I wanted to do in life. (except for taking up photography full time, but heck I am sure they will get it something haha). Especially mom, I can see that she has finally loosen up a bit and let me be the kinda person I aspire to be; and well as accepting me for who I am. It puzzles me at times, to see such a headstrong person who always wants things her way, to finally … let go.

She too, has finally grown wiser…

After the Mall, did some really last minute shopping for souvenirs and at the end didn’t distribute it to our colleagues

I think … we should all stop buying souvenirs for each other for courtesy sake. Unless it’s something specific that’s been asked for :p

Anyway, was glad to leave Jogja. I mean…it was fun…until ‘He’ started giving me all these I-like-you vibe which really pisses me off. When we bid goodbye, he had the nerve to slip me a love letter!

It’s a mean thing to do to laugh at his expense I know. As crude as I am sometime, I do know that people’s feeling are not be toyed. But I just can’t help feeling mad at him. It’s like he betrayed our friendship.

That sucks!