A Charmed Life: Life's a Play!

Where, of all the places you have never been, do you want to go to most?

ahh, where indeed? an old friend from Denmark emailed me several days ago, just to say hello and asked about how life has been going these days, months, and years that quickly passed by. his life-update about living in his country suddenly reminded me of the memory of those far, far away lands that got my interest as a child. i got acquainted with these countries through a small table picture calendar of different countries around the world. the places that most intrigued me are the countryside photos of the Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Denmark. with my friend's email, I just realized that the feeling of interest is still there. these countries seemed sooo distant that, to me, they're mysterious, exotic and exciting. i'd like to go there.



Where do you most want to go back to?

ohhh, where indeed? I usually don't want to go back to places I've already been! but yes, to be honest, there are a few places i want to go back to, not much for sightseeing but to visit friends who are living in those places. i guess this means that it is the warmth, hospitality and friendliness of people that which brings you back to places.

i'd like to go back to Batanes (but in summer time!)

tokyo, tokyo, tokyo! - fast paced and busy but not chaotic; highly modern yet can be very traditional; crowded, yet can be an oasis of calm - a metropolis of paradox! I still have my favorite hang-outs there, and yes, a bunch of quirky, funny friends. (someday, again, will be back!)






and, yes, I want to go back to China. China is such a huge country to explore, a world/empire/kingdom? in its own right. very diverse, very colorful, amazing nature and culture.




Favourite City?

i've seen only a few cities since i'm not a city person. as a passionate anthropologist would do, i'd prefer exploring the countrysides, the mountains and caves, the ruins, and tinkering with whatever remaining artifacts that may still exist.

but ok, of the few cities i really spent time in, i'd choose the idiosyncrasies of tokyo, and the soft charm and aliveness of Khao San rd in Bangkok.




Least favourite city?

awww! shall i say manila? i'm never fond of the place but i guess, if i live in a less dense, less polluted location, or in other words, in an upscale neighborhood, i'd tolerate this city and maybe even come to love it. i had such a brief experience for a week or so, staying at the Intercontinental hotel, a 2 minute sweat-less walk to the big malls, shopping, dining, watching movie and getting spa massage (ahh, shall i think that i had a privileged life back then? haha...). but those were occasional perks and not everyday occurrences (at least for me), so it doesn't really change my hard-wired biased opinion about the city.



















Do you speak other languages?

Japanese, and bits of Bahasa - just enough to get by, but perhaps i've forgotten it by now really.




How do you get by without being fluent?

that, i'd say, is a miracle.




Best airport?

what? oh, backpack traveling does not require airports does it? specially when you only explored Southeast Asia which is a string of connected countries where you can easily reach through buses, trains, boats, and even on foot!

but ok, to satisfy the question, my best bet would be the Narita International Airport.



Worst airport?

i'm not being bitchy here but NAIA I honestly gives me the creeps. specially that part across the exit where the people are waiting behind a metal fence as if they're, uhh... words to describe just eludes me at the moment.




Best travel tips?

pack light, don't bring along your wardrobe.

learn a few useful phrases of the country you are visiting. english is maybe the declared international language but the Chinese don't give a damn.




Biggest travel mistake?

hmmm... i could enumerate a few but i tell you, all the mistakes i would point out here were all based in one thing - "fear." stay in the safe side but do not be paranoid. examples: fear that someone out there is there to harm /cheat you; fear that you're going to run out of money and so you go really dirt cheap compromising the fun and comfort of the trip. so what's the use of traveling if no fun? huh?




Best coffee outside your city? Best coffee in your city?

a) - iced coffee conveniently sold anywhere in Bangkok is so far the best thirst quencher and energy (caffeine) booster. specially with Bangkok's perpetually hot days and nights.

b) - in my city, i love Mr. Donut's creamy coffee.





Best meal while on travel? Best meal in your city?


a) - countless i'd say. but as i am not so fond of foodies, i don't really keep tab of where and what I ate and consider to be the best. there are sumptuous meals everywhere, especially after a day's adventure and a warm shower and a meal is there ready for you. that, makes the meal "best" for me.





b) - what I considered the "best" meals in my city were served by a couple of international cuisines that has long disappeared: a genuine Thai restaurant and an original Indian restaurant. is this city unable to support and maintain such culinary variations? i've been wondering about that for years now.






Most breathtaking view from your travel? Most breathtaking view in your city?

a) - too many to mention, really, too many. that is because when i travel i purposely choose to go and see the "most" breathtaking views :-).

nonetheless, according to its difficulty based on accessibility, novelty, and world rank, i'd say that the most and fiercest breathtaking views are the towering, rocky, icy mountains, and very deep and frothy gorges of Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan China.


the limestone mountains and glassy waters of Coron and El Nido Palawan are also breathtaking!





the colorful fishes and corals in the deeps of Palawan and Aceh are breathtaking.







the Balinese dancers are mesmerizing, thus, also breathtaking!








the blooming cherry blossoms gracefully draping the peaceful Kyoto and Nara temples and shrines are equally breathtaking!





i could go on and on but then we have to stop somewhere...
the world is certainly full of breathtaking views!!!


b) - in my city, there's sometimes a breathtaking view of the sunset right from my window. i luv it!

Kuala Lumpur - means "muddy confluence" as two rivers carrying soil/mud meet here.

The muddy place is now a very neat city of canals.

- Oldest mosque in KL built in 1907. Designed after Moorish Indian mosques.
It stands exactly between where the two rivers meet.

The Merdeka Square symbolized British sovereignty as it was a cricket ground for the colonial administrators and fronted the Royal Selangor Club - Malaya's most exclusive whites-only club.

But on the midnight of August 31, 1957, at this very same spot, the Malayan people declared their independence. The British Flag was then lowered and the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time, in a flag pole considered one of the highest in the world.

Artemis in Merdeka Square
Behind, sandwiched between two tall modern buildings is another Moorish architecture called the Sultan Abdul Samad building

Old architectures right across Merdeka Square.
It gives me the feelings of being "back in time," like what I used to see in picture magazines when I was little.

notice Malaysian flag painted on taxi.

I walked past this building numerous times and I never knew what it was, not until now that I read the info from wiki. I took many photos of it just because it looked beautiful.

Built in 1894-1897 to house several important government departments during the British administration. The architect, A.C. Norman, spent time in Africa and saw Muslim mosques in India which led him to use Moorish architecture in the building's design.

finally, we walk five minutes to go for dinner @
China Town!

travel time: Mar-May 2007


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