India, is really a nice country, for me.
People here are really friendly and helpful. Like to swing their head from side to side, and pee anywhere they could. When I was on my way from airport to the town, I saw a man just pee under a tree besides the road, what a spectacular sight! But this habit can’t be more common in India. On some street in the town I can actually smell the smell of the urine, and people just walk like nothing different.
There’s hell lot of people here, can see them anywhere anytime. May be because of the hierarchy system in old India, I can actually know if they are rich or poor just from their costumes, some are really smart, and others can walk on the street without wearing a shoe. All kind of people, I can just say that it’s amazing.
India is very strict on its cell phone SIM card registration, it’s a bit peculiar for me. One needs to have photo, identification document and local reference just to get a SIM card. I’ve some problem when I tried to get one. I had to go to the service provider outlet to get it. I had a hard time to locate the place, I can’t actually understand what the people here saying sometimes, with all their heavily accent English. At the outlet, I faced problem again. Without the local reference (something like a local witness or guarantor), I can’t get a SIM card, but the staffs just managed to help me to get a SIM card somehow, without even need to register. I’m really grateful of that.
So this is my first day, first experience in India. What am I going to be experience in the following journey, I don’t know. But I’m quite sure that it’d be amazing.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
27.04.2010
Last night in Labuan…
I can say that I would never come back again, except for diving. I really couldn’t afford such an expensive place. Except for alcohol and tobacco, everything is expensive. Food, accommodation, transportation, everything… I can say that it’s even more expensive than Kuala Lumpur.
Actually I am a bit disappointed after 3 days here. The famous financial park, turns out to be a small and lousy mall. Not as magnificent as I first imagined. Museums, though informative, but the information not accurate some times, and the English translation isn’t so good. Not much to see, not much to do… That’s all I could comment about Labuan.
Seems local authority still have a long way to go to make it a tourist destination.
P.S.:
I really need to learn how to say “NO”. Suffer some avoidable losses sometimes just because don’t know how to say no.
I can say that I would never come back again, except for diving. I really couldn’t afford such an expensive place. Except for alcohol and tobacco, everything is expensive. Food, accommodation, transportation, everything… I can say that it’s even more expensive than Kuala Lumpur.
Actually I am a bit disappointed after 3 days here. The famous financial park, turns out to be a small and lousy mall. Not as magnificent as I first imagined. Museums, though informative, but the information not accurate some times, and the English translation isn’t so good. Not much to see, not much to do… That’s all I could comment about Labuan.
Seems local authority still have a long way to go to make it a tourist destination.
P.S.:
I really need to learn how to say “NO”. Suffer some avoidable losses sometimes just because don’t know how to say no.
25.04.2010
If you want me to choose between Brunei and Labuan, Malaysia, I’d say that I prefer Brunei. I really had some good time in Brunei for the past few days. Labuan, in general, is a relatively expensive place. I spent RM 75 for a single room during my first night, which created a new record in my travel history, the most expensive room I had ever stayed before. I’m staying at a RM 50 room, which is also considered expensive for me.
Labuan, in spite of its high cost, is the heaven for alcohol lovers. You can found really cheap, and a great variety of alcohol here, though prices may varied depend on places.
For most travelers, Labuan might be just a transit point on their way to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia or Brunei, but it does have some places worth to visit, especially for those who love WW2 history, and of course, wreck dive lovers.
Anyway, I don’t recommend people to spend many days here because of its high cost. For normal travelers, two days should be enough.
Labuan, in spite of its high cost, is the heaven for alcohol lovers. You can found really cheap, and a great variety of alcohol here, though prices may varied depend on places.
For most travelers, Labuan might be just a transit point on their way to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia or Brunei, but it does have some places worth to visit, especially for those who love WW2 history, and of course, wreck dive lovers.
Anyway, I don’t recommend people to spend many days here because of its high cost. For normal travelers, two days should be enough.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
21.04.2010
What I can say about Brunei? It’s a clean and small country. Not many people and cars on the street, with boats as one of the main transportation. People are friendly and passionate, yet not too annoying as in some other countries.
Because of uncertain bus schedule and the location of my accommodation, I decided to try my luck to hitch hiking to the city center, to the place I wish to stay. Fortunately a Chinese lady in her 30s-40s pulled over her car and fetched me to the place. What a grace! On the way there she kept telling me about Brunei. I would not say that Brunei is a good place for hitch hiking, but I would say that there is still some people wouldn’t mind to give you a lift, especially for people of same race. (I’m not a racist, but this is a fact in South East Asia I think, especially for Chinese. Agree?)
I stay in Pusat Belia (Youth Canter) now. It’s actually a place for youth to have some activities, such as swimming, gym, etc. It’s really nice. B$ 10 per night per bed, bathroom outside, is the cheapest accommodation one can get in Bandar Seri Begawan. Although it is cheap, but it’s really clean, even the toilet, one can’t actually smell the smell of pee. Though it’s dormitory style accommodation, but the management here will do their best to arrange a room for each group of travelers. I’m occupying one dormitory room myself. I would say that this place is more than just good.
Brunei has got a nickname, ‘Venice of the East’. I couldn’t more agree with that. River can be seen just outside Pusat Belia itself. As I mentioned already, boats are one of the main transport in BSB. Boats can be seen elsewhere. The boatmen will always ask traveler to take a ride. But if one rejected them, they won’t keep following. That’s one of the good things of Bruneian. Actually at the airport there’s a women promoting her travel agency to me already. But when I rejected her, she’s still nice and told me things about Brunei. The living standard of a country does affect its people, because of the high living standard of Brunei, people won’t chase you to the hell just to earn some dollars from you.
Don’t know why, the dusk of Brunei is really amazing. With the magnificent colour, it really touched me down into the heart. I spent my evening opposite Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. I would say that it is one of the most beautiful scene I had never seen. It’s like God’s artwork hanging on the sky, decorating and enhance the beauty of human creation.
Still have many many stories, just lazy and tired to write it all. Every place has its own charm, even the tiniest commonest place.
Because of uncertain bus schedule and the location of my accommodation, I decided to try my luck to hitch hiking to the city center, to the place I wish to stay. Fortunately a Chinese lady in her 30s-40s pulled over her car and fetched me to the place. What a grace! On the way there she kept telling me about Brunei. I would not say that Brunei is a good place for hitch hiking, but I would say that there is still some people wouldn’t mind to give you a lift, especially for people of same race. (I’m not a racist, but this is a fact in South East Asia I think, especially for Chinese. Agree?)
I stay in Pusat Belia (Youth Canter) now. It’s actually a place for youth to have some activities, such as swimming, gym, etc. It’s really nice. B$ 10 per night per bed, bathroom outside, is the cheapest accommodation one can get in Bandar Seri Begawan. Although it is cheap, but it’s really clean, even the toilet, one can’t actually smell the smell of pee. Though it’s dormitory style accommodation, but the management here will do their best to arrange a room for each group of travelers. I’m occupying one dormitory room myself. I would say that this place is more than just good.
Brunei has got a nickname, ‘Venice of the East’. I couldn’t more agree with that. River can be seen just outside Pusat Belia itself. As I mentioned already, boats are one of the main transport in BSB. Boats can be seen elsewhere. The boatmen will always ask traveler to take a ride. But if one rejected them, they won’t keep following. That’s one of the good things of Bruneian. Actually at the airport there’s a women promoting her travel agency to me already. But when I rejected her, she’s still nice and told me things about Brunei. The living standard of a country does affect its people, because of the high living standard of Brunei, people won’t chase you to the hell just to earn some dollars from you.
Don’t know why, the dusk of Brunei is really amazing. With the magnificent colour, it really touched me down into the heart. I spent my evening opposite Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. I would say that it is one of the most beautiful scene I had never seen. It’s like God’s artwork hanging on the sky, decorating and enhance the beauty of human creation.
Still have many many stories, just lazy and tired to write it all. Every place has its own charm, even the tiniest commonest place.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
About to Begin
About to begin yet another trip, and this would be the longest ever trip I've ever done.
Long term travel isn't too popular among Asian. Asian always think that travel is all about spending money. One of the most notorious among them is my father. Haha... Really feel a bit annoying when he muttering besides me.
May be for most of the people, travel means go to a place, take some photos, spend hell lots of moneys, return to home and say that:"See, I've been there." What is the meaning of travel if people just do like that? For me travel is about experience, is to see something I haven't seen before, to try something I haven't try before, to see people live, to feel, to appreciate this world. Luxury isn't too important to me. Just want to see as much as I can before God calls me back.
This time going to leave for 4 months. I will travel in Brunei, East Malaysia, and along the eastern part of India. During the trip will volunteering in India for a month (Thank you for those who support my financial needs), and doing my Dive Master course in Sabah. Sounds fun? I can imagine that this will be yet another great trip for me already.
Long term travel isn't too popular among Asian. Asian always think that travel is all about spending money. One of the most notorious among them is my father. Haha... Really feel a bit annoying when he muttering besides me.
May be for most of the people, travel means go to a place, take some photos, spend hell lots of moneys, return to home and say that:"See, I've been there." What is the meaning of travel if people just do like that? For me travel is about experience, is to see something I haven't seen before, to try something I haven't try before, to see people live, to feel, to appreciate this world. Luxury isn't too important to me. Just want to see as much as I can before God calls me back.
This time going to leave for 4 months. I will travel in Brunei, East Malaysia, and along the eastern part of India. During the trip will volunteering in India for a month (Thank you for those who support my financial needs), and doing my Dive Master course in Sabah. Sounds fun? I can imagine that this will be yet another great trip for me already.
Foreword
Actually this blog started like half year ago. But after i created it, i felt a bit regret. I was thinking why I waste my time in writing this shit?
A friend of mine asked me couples of days ago:"Why don't you write blog and tell us your experience?" I think and think, "Why not?" If people do appreciate it, why not?
I present this blog to who love, appreciate, and interest in this BIG BIG WORLD.
THE WORLD'S BIG ENOUGH THAT WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY TO DISCOVER IT ALL, YET IS SMALL ENOUGH FOR US TO GET TO ANY CORNER WITHIN IT. WHAT'S THE MEANING OF LIFE IF WE JUST STAY IN A TINY LITTLE PLACE WITHOUT REALIZE THAT HOW BIG THE WORLD IS?
A friend of mine asked me couples of days ago:"Why don't you write blog and tell us your experience?" I think and think, "Why not?" If people do appreciate it, why not?
I present this blog to who love, appreciate, and interest in this BIG BIG WORLD.
THE WORLD'S BIG ENOUGH THAT WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY TO DISCOVER IT ALL, YET IS SMALL ENOUGH FOR US TO GET TO ANY CORNER WITHIN IT. WHAT'S THE MEANING OF LIFE IF WE JUST STAY IN A TINY LITTLE PLACE WITHOUT REALIZE THAT HOW BIG THE WORLD IS?
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