Dance Dance Dance

Hello Travellers

Recently, I helped out in a food fair hosted by Bethany Home, home to many special children.
It was a really fun and heart warming ordeal. While I was busy selling ice cream, a little special child came up to us and started bopping to the rhythm of the music that was playing.

It was really cute but a lot of the bystanders didn't know how to react and just kinda smiled. Then I thought, how come we're not lose enough to break out into a dance every once in awhile when we feel like it? We care too much about what other people think of us.

Sometimes, they teach us best. We just have to listen to the least of us.

The Little Boy that Danced

Me and Pei Kun. A special friend I made over the years.

Yours Truly.

Inside My Circle

Hello Travellers,

Have you ever been told you were not good enough?
Or that you were not up to someone else's expectation?

Moments like these cause you to question your existence and wonder if you're really all that worth at all.
But if you were standing outside the circle, you would be able to say otherwise- that the words people say about you really don't matter.
I know this because I have been on both sides.
The inside. And the outside.

Which side are you going to believe?
Why do we contradict ourselves all the time?
How can we tell a friend that everything will be okay when if we stepped into the circle, we knew that we will never see the end of the tunnel?

Who owns the right to tell us that we are not good enough?
That we had not loved enough?
That we had not done enough?

I am in a circle.
Alone.
Is everything really worth it?
What about me?

Yours Truly.

Tuning In and Out

Hello Travellers!

So I absolutely love driving with blasting music and for some reason, I love the tuning into my favourite radio stations. Nothing could make me happier than having great music and driving. And of course, if the weather is just right, rolling down the windows at the same time!

But here's what I don't like.
Long commercial and advertisements that take up 90 percent of my radio time. It really sucks driving with maybe 5 minutes worth of good music and then have random songs about colleges around the area or the latest fast food outlets' deals.
What were they thinking?!

Besides, I don't get the point of proclaiming a non-stop top 40 chart when they add one commercial after every 2 or 3 songs. It's simply annoying.

So Hitz.fm better buck up or else!

Grrr!

Yours Truly.

Killing Mother One Day at a Time

Hello Travellers,

First of all, I'd like to restate the fact that I wasn't pregnant in my previous post's photograph! These mean monkeys.

So let's talk. About how we're killing mother. Mother Nature, of course.
Just recently, on the 22nd of April, we Earthlings celebrated Mother Nature and claimed it Earth Day.
It all started in Australia when a bunch of Aussies turned off their lights to save Mother Earth. Today, more people are getting into the flow and other activities are organised to create a better environment.

The idea of Earth Day certainly attracts a larger group of people, especially the younger generation cause it seems like a cool concept.

But what about the rest of the 364 days in your year?
What are you doing to save Mother Nature then?
Its kinda sad when we think about it.
We're destroying this beautiful planet one day at a time. Look around you. Open your eyes.

Now start thinking of ways to protect the earth! Let's go green and stay green.
Like 24-7, please?

Yours Truly!

(Men vs Women) Rules

Hello Travellers,

So I was talking to my friend Tim- amazing guy you can rely on for you single ladies out there, and we were talking about how frustrated I was with my previous relationships.
Sometimes you'll fall for the wrong person.
Sometimes you'll fall at the wrong time.
Sometimes you'll fall by the wrong circumstances.
Sometimes you'll fall for one who's not falling back.

So here's my comfort from this great friend of mine. Bear in mind, this is the unedited and uncensored version. And of course, coming from your very own male species.


Jo,
Rule no 1:   Guys are stupid
Rule no 2:  Even the guys you dont think are stupid...are stupid
Rule no 3:  Even the guys who honestly think they're not stupid and would/could never do such a thing....are indeed stupid
Rule 3 is hardest for me...cause that means I'm stupid.


Here's what he thinks about the female rules!


Rule no. 1: There are no rules
Rule no. 2: We are unpredictable.  See Rule no. 1
Rule no. 3: We tell you there are no rules but if you dont follow this one, you're toast!
Rule no. 4: These rules are nonspecific


Guess it does make sense too that women have more rules than men!
Anyways, its all for laughs. No offense!
But really...
What do you think?

Yours Truly.

Awaiting Sleep

Hello Travellers,

Sometimes we face freak out moments.
Ever felt that random tug at your heart that is just disturbing?
You can't sleep.
Can't think straight.

But then you sleep. When you wake up, everything is back to normal.
Heart rate's just fine and you don't even feel that nasty palpitation all over you.

Until that sleep comes, I'll never find peace.
So sleep it is.

















Yours Truly.

One Life

Hello Travellers,

Injustice is oftentimes blind.
It can also appear to be a non-existant even when you've looked from every angle.
Why?
I doubt the unjust people know what they're doing or the effects of what they stand for.
Really. Think about it.
Nobody's going to say, "Hey, I think I'm going to go against these people just because it is unjust!"
Of course, they may have their reasons for doing so but what I'm saying is injustice can only be seen through the eyes of the opposition.

Enough of that theory, I'm just pretty upset about how the government is handling things on this side of the world. I mean, think about it.
Inappropriately written textbooks.
Riots accusing religion without founded proof.
Talk of spilling blood in public without being properly addressed by the government or higher authorities.

Let's talk about it.
Discrimination against color and religion.
We hear it in the news everyday.
Why isn't the government protecting us?
Why aren't we protecting each other?

The world is a bitter box today.
And it hurts. It hurts to see how we slash at each other all the time.

One life. That's all we got.
Use it wisely and stop ruining others'.

Yours Truly.

My gun, your bullets.

Hello Travellers,

A recent video I watched about guns and shooting revealed that sometimes, it is not the power of the gun that matters but the bullets you use.

That really makes sense in real life, don't you think?
We're the guns. And bullets, they fly out from our mouth.
So really, the things we say everyday of our lives are what matters most because people listen.
People watch.
And that's what makes the world go round.

This makes me look back. Stop. Regret.
Too many mistakes.
Far too many.
Rewind.
Can I start over?

Hold on.
Time to reload my gun with some new bullets.

Yours Truly.

What do we do?

Hello Travellers,

Sometimes we find ourselves surrounded with emptiness.
No inspiration.
Nothing at all.

What do we do then?
What do we do?

Yours Truly.

We Forgot The Meat

Dear Travellers,

It has been ages since I last penned down a word, or rather typed, in this scenario. I was lacking inspiration. But today, a revelation struck my tiny head and I've finally resurrected.

Tonight, while scooping dinner into a bowl, I suddenly realized that this was the first out of the many meals at home with meat in it.You are probably thinking 'so what?' but I promise I'll get to my point. Mom being sick led to many sacrifices in the family. Lifestyles change. Conversations change. But most of all, our diet changes.

Ever since we found out that meat could feed and multiply cancer cells, we abstained from it and focussed more on other food items that would nourish the sick body. Anything to sustain the run. We were busy looking up new recipes and healthier options that we forgot to sustain our run. We forgot what our bodies needed. Well, I wouldn't exactly call it forgotten but it definitely wasn't in our priority list.

Love changes everything.
Love is mysterious and powerful.
It consumes us even though we cannot fully comprehend its abilities and functions.

When you love someone, you forget you. It is a beautiful picture- sacrificial love. One that causes you to lose yourself and do anything for the sake of another. We experience it all the time.
But what about you?

Just a little food for thought.

Yours Truly.

Loving for love's sake

Hello Travellers!

There seems to be no end to the talk about natural disasters today. Every corner of the planet seems to be invaded with some sort of tragedy leaving us misery.

From Earthquakes to Tsunamis.
From Tsunamis to floods.
From floods to fire.
From fire to nuclear exposure.
From nuclear exposure to volcanoes.
It never ends.

Just this morning, I heard news concerning the shores of East Malaysia. Apparently, a multitude of sea snails that resided in the sea appeared on the shorelines! Yes, animals are most sensitive to chaos and with that said, is something about to happen here?
How peculiar and frightening. Still, we wonder what is going on in the world today.

Today at about 4:30 pm, another nuclear plant in Japan exploded. This makes it the second one to go out of control leaving Japan even more vulnerable than she already is.

We can't help but wonder what's next.

So what can we do? We can't really stop a fifty feet wave from crashing our land. We can't hide from the nuclear waves that escape into our air. We can't build our city in the air, away from the threat of earthquakes.
But we can stand together. Support each other. Delete all boundaries and differences.

I never understood the concept of lines and how it separates us. Nor did I understand the definition of color that groups us differently. Inside, we are all the same. So why should we think twice in helping others? Not that we didn't. I am fully supportive and thankful for all the efforts made across the world to help Japan out of the bucket. But this would also imply that we should never think about pointing a gun to another human being as well. Or drop a grenade in a foreign land.

Quoting The Beatles, Love is all we need.
Tis true, but not practiced. When will we start loving for the sake of love?

Here's a little song I wrote based upon my thoughts on how we should live, and inspired by the tragedy that the world is facing today.
Hopefully the words strike a bell in your hearts.


When It Comes Down To This: A Tribute to Japan.

Yours Truly.

Failure? Pssssfh!

Hello Travellers,

Apparently, Bill Gates once said:
I failed in some subjects in my exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft…!


Pretty epic.
So how does that rate the importance of education versus hard work and determination?

With that said, if you fail your classes, you're not a total failure just yet.
Well, you can be if you don't work your butt off!
But you get what I mean.

The young and cute nerd, 
THE one and only Bill Gates.
Gotta love them glasses.

You're not a Failure.
Yours Truly.

Beach! I missed you.

Hello Travellers!

Today was an amazing day at the beach.
But best of all were the people who went along with me.
The purpose of it all was baptism. And it was a successful one. Of course, despite the occurrence of three jellyfish that were huge (ps: we caught them), we had a lot of fun.

Here's a photograph of the baptized.

Asians. So plenty of food to share. And plenty laughter. And plenty volume. What can I say, we are a loud.
So this beach isn't that amazing. Nevertheless it is still a beach and I've missed the sea so much. Teluk Batik is maintained pretty well and the facilities are wonderful but I wouldn't call the water amazing. There are better beaches out here in Malaysia!

Here's a snapshot.

And a photo of our palm trees.

Pretty green. Another thing that annoyed me was how irresponsible Malaysians can be. When we got there, the place was gorgeous. But when we left, I saw so many plastic bottles and random trash all over. It is really sad and embarrassing at the same time so please pick up after yourself!

Of course, I couldn't resist but take a few personal snapshots. You may already be bored out of your mind seeing these. I always have the same poses. Well, that's because my arms usually only extend to a certain length and a certain angle. You can't do much. Just so you know. Oh, and that's the national flower. No, not me. But the red hibiscus on my head!

And a little artsy one just for fun.

Here's me and my aunt. Obviously, she wasn't paying very much attention!

Photograph with the help of Ezekiel Tan

Like I said, great people! We even buried some.

Aww, how cute. These little monkeys.

Well, for those who have never been to Lumut, you have to try the cendol in Sitiawan. 

What's cendol? Its this sweet desert with coconut milk, shaved ice, sticky rice and beans in it that makes it amazing! And you can find the best cendol in Malaysia here! So refreshing...

Only the best. Served in the King's court and loved by all.

I think that sums up the best of the day. Well, I suppose my one hour nap in the afternoon did. Sleep is so beautiful. And it rained again this evening- really heavily, which made the wind super strong. Oh I love it.

Yours Truly.

Tsunami. Boom.

Hello Travellers,

I'm sure you've heard of the Tsunami strikes around the world today. What can we do?
Generally, we can't do anything but wait and watch. We do not have the capabilities to stop Mother Nature from going wild! However, we could stick together and form a wall of support.
This is when boundaries need to be broken and countries forgotten.
Colours need to fade.
We are all the same.

Obviously, I'm sitting here writing this in the comfort of my home but I'm also thinking about those in the alerted regions, I wonder what I'd do if I were in their shoes.
Would I be running inwards or would I be praying my heart out? Or would I be sitting, waiting, surrendering? At desperate moments like these, one would never know.
Would I be saying 'I love you' to the ones I feared saying to? Would I shun away the thoughts?
We can never predict our actions in distress.

Tsunamis are unpredictable in nature. What happens is they suck in all the water causing the tide to decrease drastically and then boom it hits!
Moments like these. Unexplainable. Unpredictable.

But do we act like tsunamis ourselves?
Hide it all in until the very last minute. BOOM.
Sometimes we don't know until it is too late.

Yours Truly.

What Makes Your Photograph?

Hello Travellers!

What makes a good photograph?
Artistic perspective.
Great lighting.
A message.

When we take self portraits, we only want to record our best sides. Nobody likes to keep their bad profiles. So through the invention of photography, we can hide our real selves so we could look good in the eyes of other people. Why can't we get rid of the masks?

Personally, even I take pride in my photographs but when it comes to the real me, I freak out.
I feel inadequate. Uncertain. Inferior.
My camera makes me look fatter which is much more appealing.
My camera also makes me look fairer which is definitely more attractive.
The way I angle my head helps with my atrocious under-bite and protruding jaw.
Pimples and zits? Editing takes care of that.

But we can't hide for long. Sooner or later, you will discover that carrying these photographs in your pocket tires you and wears you down after awhile. You can't run free. Nor will you fly.

So what's the cure for this disease?
Even I have not figured that one out just yet. All I know is that we can't live our lives in snapshots.
Where does the confidence start? We can all be confident in certain things but there surely is something that can trigger fear.

I always hear the phrase 'Imperfection is perfection' and I believe it with all my heart.
But I need time to face these imperfection and unfortunately, I think I'll have to learn to love myself before I can let love in.

So toss those photographs and start living.

Yours Truly.

Play it Again

Hello Travellers!

I think that lately I've developed this weird obsession habit. When I find a song I like, I'd play it over and over again. And I do mean over and over because I don't seem to stop for hours. It seems really odd but I could never have enough of one thing and I wonder why.

Have you ever felt that way?
When a song makes you feel so alive all of a sudden. Only the power of music.
Sometimes, nothing else seems to cut through but music.

I wish there were a repeat button that I could click on so I didn't have to restart it again and again.
I still wonder why.

Maybe its the exhilarating feeling we humans have always needed and always will need. We need something to cling on to and ride with it over and over again, even though we may never have noticed in the first place.
Whatever it may be: God, your family, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your best friend.
Whatever your prized possession may be, you need that obsession.

Cause in the end, without obsession, we die of starvation.
So play it again.

Yours Truly.

Up in Reality

Hello Travellers!

I just saw this amazing article about hot air balloons.
I've always wanted to ride on one.
If you've ever watched 'Úp', an animated movie released sometime ago, you will find this pretty epic as well.
A bunch of scientifically talented nerds got out and made it happen for real! Fancy that. A house with the colorful balloons and everything including human beings! Oh, I certainly wish I had the opportunity to be on it. Wouldn't that be the best thing ever in the world?

The whole floating house was said to last for about an hour and floated up past 10,000 feet.
Here's a little photograph of the project.

Want to read more? Here's the article!

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/upinspired-floating-house-14

Enjoy and live life flying high!

Yours Truly.

Of Tickets and Fines

Hello Travellers!

I was watching the news on TV (First time in a very long time) and they were talking about traffic fines in Malaysia. Apparently, it is that time of the year again where fines or tickets have to be settled or else. Or else, what?
According to what was on my TV screen, only about 700,000 Malaysians have paid their fines.
Of course, there are millions of people living in this country. But if we have 700,000 reckless drivers on the road, shouldn't we start worrying? Besides, every one of these drivers probably received 3 or more tickets every year.
Can we not produce better drivers?

Worse still, many of these reckless citizens are motorcyclists. Even though I've lived in Malaysia for more than 15 years, I still don't understand the traffic lingo here.

Here's a big problem with the situation. People are obviously not going to change if nothing is being done. How many people pay up all their fines and how many actually even bother? Sadly, you could get away with paying only half of the penalty by sending in a flattering letter stating that you are sorry. How does it work here? Can it ever get worse?

I doubt that Malaysians understand the purpose of a zebra crossing. Pedestrians, never trust a zebra crossing. They're just patterns on the streets for color. Once I crossed a zebra crossing after a whole deal of looking around to see if there were no cars. Unfortunately, one shot out of nowhere, charging straight towards me. Rather than slowing down or stopping to allow me time for crossing, the driver honked at me and gave me a nasty stare. How despicable!

Double line? What's that?
I also recently witnessed a truck passing a line of cars while driving on the line in the middle of two lanes because of the lack of space and that cars were coming from the other direction too. How impatient!
Not forgetting motorcyclists who ride while admiring the scenic view around them and going at inconsistent speeds.
Or the ones that weave in and out of traffic making it difficult for car drivers to focus or drive consistently.

Well, I guess here we go again. Time to pay up once again but trust me, without stricter enforcements, we are never going to go anywhere.

Yours Truly.

Angel by Jack Johnson

Hello Travellers!

So, I finally gathered up enough guts to publish my first cover video on YouTube. Even though it isn't perfect, (yes, there were a couple of major slips), I decided that people are imperfect and I'll have to accept the fact someday. So why not now?

The reason why I've never put anything officially up was because I've always felt like I wasn't good enough and I didn't want the public to judge me based on my first publicity.

Yes, this is pretty life changing for me!

So here we go. I know I talk a lot in this video. I hope you'll make it through to the actual singing!

This is 'Angel' written by Jack Johnson. And a little bit of my flare.
Do let me know what you think, though! I'd love some insight- the good, the bad or even the ugly.

p.s.: Click on this to view it on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWe6kJxIXwA



Well, I hope that was a somewhat pleasant experience!
Yours Truly.

McDonald's: An International Standard cont'd

So, here's a photograph of a 'to-go'  box from the local McDonald's.
Pretty different, isn't it?

Yours Truly.

McDonald's: An International Standard

Hello Travellers!

After two weeks, I finally decided that it was time to check out the local McDonald's. What can I say? There would be no America without it.

A few days ago, I mustered the courage to try the drive through. Remembering my previous experiences, I tried to keep the order simple. 2 Vanilla Cones. Only the best.
So here I went with an optimistic spirit. Obviously, the driveway was extremely narrow. When I got to the ordering machine, I placed my order loud and clear.
The response was: Spicy or non spicy?
Me: Huh?
Response: One McChicken, spicy or non spicy?
Me: Um, no. Two vanilla cones please.
Reponse: Oh, okay. 2 Ringgit and ten cents.

How odd.

Today, because I was about to order 3 separate meals and use a coupon, I figured that it would confuse them to use the drive through. So I decided to park and walk in. There were very few people and the parking lot was empty because Malaysians only go out after 10pm every night. And it is the very opposite with people in Kansas. Another thing that was different was the fact that the McDonald's here had a welcomer who opened the door for you. And the interior was more appealing as it served as a sit-down restaurant rather than a cheap fast food outlet.

Anyways. At the counter, I mentioned 'to go' without much thought. I was given a weird stare. And for a moment, I tried to think of the alternate words I could use. Instead, I blankly muttered 'Not eating in'. I'm sure I looked a complete idiot. Oh wells. She responded with a simple 'Take away?' and I nodded. Of course, take away. Why didn't I think of that. They didn't serve ice cream in the mornings which was a sad deal and of course, Malaysia doesn't offer the scrumptious McGriddles. They really should, I miss them already. Surprisingly, the service was great this time. I was greeted out with a warm smile. Not forgetting the existence of chili sauce that makes the world better. I also daringly tried the coffee even though I seemed to be deathly allergic to it in the U.S. It was actually really good, except for the fact that I feel a little high at the moment. I guess it was a little strong.

So, there you go. The ups and downs of a non American McDonald's. It's always interesting to check one out while travelling places. It definitely is enlightening.

Yours Truly.

Reckless?

Dear Travellers

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with those who are reckless with yours.

Is this even possible? 

Yours Truly.

A Little Ramble

Hello Travellers!

Due to the lack of sleep, I have been very hazy as to what I should talk about but I decided something more upbeat rather than my usual banter of sadness.

Let's talk about what's good in life so far.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous with the exception of the moment as it is starting to heat up really fast, giving me headaches. This morning and afternoon was lovely though- not too hot, and very breezy.

I had quality time with my family and it felt really good. We had some great laughters but of course, we miss Jonathan in every way.

Also, food is nothing but fantastic on this side of the planet. I have no complains whatsoever. You will understand fully what it means to love food when you've been here. I'm not fibbing!

Last happy: I completed a video of myself. Yes, it was only a minute long, and it took all day. But it was worth it. Hopefully, I will get better at doing things faster and maybe be less of a perfectionist. I'll post it up when I feel the aura of confidence in my skin, I promise.

I think that's about all that I can ramble about at the moment.
Much love from me to you.
Then spread that love around!

Yours Truly.

The Search for Faithfulness

Hello Travellers!

I know that many of you may be tired of all these relationship rambling from me. Trust me, I'd love to ramble about other things as well but what can I say? Love makes the world go around! Big sigh. Some of us hoped that wasn't the case.

In search of my Prince Charming, I have been travelling roads leading to nothing but dead ends. Someday I will discover the path to mortal love infinity. However, along the way, I've picked up some really bad habits and philosophies that need to be stripped off so I could run free.
Everyone has these. You should consider stripping them off as well.

Here are some of the misconceptions we pick up along the way.
(I'm sorry if it is extremely female oriented)

1. Men are all the same
2. Faithfulness is impossible to achieve (Cheating is normal)
3. We are replays of our parents' mistakes and story
4. Women are subject to men
5. Only women hurt and feel fragility
6. Marriages end in affairs
7. Love is a checklist. If you don't meet the expectations or standards, you're out of the game.

Those are only the very few I struggled with over the years. The thing about these misconceptions is that it hurts inside, chains you up but it is absolutely difficult to free yourself from.Of course, it is easy to say 'Today, I'm letting go' but sometimes it feels impossible. At times, I do wonder if faithfulness exists. The media and the people around us sometimes proves faithfulness a myth and that makes it difficult for the wounded to recover. I do believe that someday I will find its hiding place and take shelter but when, I do not know.

What does it mean to be faithful?
To be steadfast in affection and allegiance.

Coming back to all these bad philosophies, they suffocate. On a long term basis, we will find ourselves being bitter in very many ways. Nobody wants to be bitter. Nobody likes being miserable.
Even I have experienced moments where I felt like I was being strangled by these misconceptions and that I would never love again. Then, stepping into a new arena, I wonder if this time things would be different. But they won't because if you never learn to let go, you will not love in freedom. And that is a bad thing altogether.

We all live in the shadows of the people around us and before us. But we don't have to.
We could step out and decide what we want for ourselves because in the end, this is your life and nobody else's. Do you want to be happy? Who doesn't?

Yours Truly.

Everyone and their Girlfriend(s)

Hello Travellers!

Today I was scouting for the most eligible bachelor.
Yes, I just said it.
No, I am not that desperate but it does go through the mind once in awhile.

The funny thing is that I suddenly came to realise that most of my friends are already in relationships. And that freaked me out. I guess it's just the thought of age catching up. The more time passes, the fewer the chances?
Great theory but it wouldn't work out with my whole soul mate idea that I've worked up in my mind since I was a little girl.

At the strike of loneliness, one ventures around seeking the tiniest possibility of romance.
Yet, we know that wisdom proves otherwise. Single-hood needs to be appreciated way more.
Nevertheless, I can't help but watch everyone and their girlfriend.

As I was passing my kitchen counter, I couldn't help but notice a leftover dish sitting out. I went over to pick it up and a whole colony of ants appeared and spread like wildfire. Of course, I cleaned up the mess. But after thinking about it, I thought that the dish could resemble some of us- the newbies in single-hood. The ants would not have come around to devour the sweetness of it all unless we were left out for awhile. Obviously, the ants symbolize new possibilities.

What better way would there be for me to lay it all out? It is so difficult to stay away from being emotionally attached because the heart is constantly seeking adventure. But it is so important to remember that the more you keep the more you get.

Yours Truly.

Speak

Hello Travellers!

What does it mean to speak? How high up do we hold the words that come out of our lips?
Sadly, many people speak hastily without much thought. The aftermath can be difficult to clean up.
Yes, words are the most powerful things on Earth. It can build up, tear apart, make love, spark impressions, strike hurt and even inspire. Yet, many fail to use it to its best potential.

As powerful as words can be, we suffer through the consequences of its abuse anyway.
Even though words can uplift, it can also bring a person down within a blink of an eye. Yes, I am speaking of those moments when you have been called fat, skinny, over voluptuous or the lack of it. Sometimes, it can even be about your personality. You may have been called a bitch, tramp, slut, big head, stupid or even arrogant.

Was that all necessary?
I've personally experienced both the good and the ugly and till today, I am still learning to overcome the hurt from the latter.

I think many a times, we speak unnecessarily. Comments are let out for no other reason besides to hurt. This is sad. Words are gifts to be shared, something to make life more beautiful.
The slightest words can mean the world to someone else even though it doesn't seem much to you. At the same time, a sly comment could stab a heart and wound it forever.

So I choose to speak in wisdom. I choose to use words in all its beauty and I hope that it shows through my music and my choice of words. I want to inspire and never once let down. I hope you do the same as well.

Yours Truly.

Some' for Laughs

Hello Travellers! 

I was sent a forwarded email that made my day. I hope it makes yours as well. Laughter is the best medicine.

Here we go!

An elderly lady decided to give herself a big treat for her significant birthday by staying overnight in one of London's most expensive hotels. 

When she checked out next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for £250.00.

She exploded and demanded to know why the charge was so high. "It's a nice hotel but the rooms certainly aren't worth £250.00 for just an overnight stop without even breakfast." 

The clerk told her that £250.00 is the 'standard rate' so she insisted on speaking to the Manager.

The Manager appeared and forewarned by the desk clerk announced:
 "The hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre which are available for use." 

'But I didn't use them," she said. 

''Well, they are here, and you could have," explained the Manager.

He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which the hotel is famous. "We have the best entertainers from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen performing here," the Manager said.

"But I didn't go to any of those shows," she said. 

"Well, we have them, and you could have," the Manager replied.

No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, "But I didn't use it!"

The Manager was unmoved, so she decided to pay, wrote a cheque and gave it to the Manager. 

The Manager was surprised when he looked at the cheque.
"But madam, this cheque is only made out for £50.00."
''That's correct. I charged you £200.00 for sleeping with me," she replied.

"But I didn't!" exclaims the very surprised Manager.

"Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have." 

Don't mess with Senior Citizens. 

Yours Truly.

Turn the Blinkers On!

Hello Travellers!

So I was driving around today and I got really irritated by uneducated and obnoxious drivers that rape the streets in Malaysia daily. Here, blinkers also known as turn signals do not exist. I guess you might as well say that they don't manufacture that in cars here.
My point is, nobody turns their blinkers on when they're about to turn or pass someone.

Because I'm a deep thinker when I drive, I came up with a parabola almost immediately.
We are all like cars driving around on the narrow streets of life. Some of us drive closer together while some drive sparingly. Those of us that do drive in a cluster are fully dependent upon the cars in front and the cars at the back when it comes to arriving safely.

Because of this dependency, using our blinkers is a necessity. Without turning on our blinkers, the car behind us will not know what we are up to. Similarly, we depend on the car in front of us for clear directions.
So how can we take this in relation to reality?
The truth is, we all depend on each other when it comes to making it through life. It gets really frustrating when a friend or someone you love makes a turn unexpectedly. Then, you never see them again.

What's the lesson of the story? (I need to learn to apply it as well!)
Turn on your blinkers.
Then, blast the speakers, roll down the windows and enjoy the ride!

Yours Truly.

A String of Words from a Troubled Heart

When Troubled Hearts Meet to Talk

How could I look you in the eye?

How could I whisper all is fine?

How could I smile a big curved line?

-and mean it all from the inside

You see me now on the outside

And make yourself a nest to bide

That builds up all around me still

The one I look to and confide

There I am, strong with will

I am invincible and so still 

I am sensible and yet I'm free

I am everything they may not be

Outside us the world is grey 

Colorless like the air we breathe

The one that keeps us day by day,

Of which we lost to keep sanity

Inside, my fragile world is formed

A sanctuary within the storm

With wings woven so bright and tight 

But never ever can take flight

Inside, time ticks and slower still

When seeing you, I know I feel

When seeing you, I know I can't

Defeat the strongest man that stands

That man, my chosen enemy, 

A name I picked up to hide 'me':

The me that cannot stand just yet

The me that cannot find good sense

Within the mask, within the veil

Beyond the pictures and the tales

Go past beyond the naked heart

That unfolded quickly in the dark

So how could I look you in the eye

And tell you everything is fine

And smile and laugh like I always do

And mean it right and mean it true

When I can't read what's in your mind

When I can't seem to draw the line

When all I want, it can't be bought

When troubled hearts meet to talk 

Yours Truly.

The Map

Hello Travellers

Have you ever been on an airplane and experienced a bumpy ride? You know, when the seatbelt signs turn on and you were told to return to your seat. Those bumpy turbulences are never fun no matter how short they last because not only is it disruptive to whatever you were doing may it be a movie or a meal, it also signals danger.

Nobody likes being in danger.

That includes me. Currently, I feel like I am on a roller coaster or in a little boat rocking on the waves of the sea.
Nothing is certain and nothing lasts forever.

True, I live for excitement and life itself is an adventure to travel through.
But sometimes we need a rope to hold on to so we can make it through the trail safely without any casualties.
I need some form of rope to hold on to and I'm not speaking of family, friend or God. Just a black and white map that could sketch me through. Wouldn't that be just lovely?

Yours Truly

Picture Perfect Growing Old

Hello Travellers!

Time can be beautiful because it gives us space to breathe, learn and relive our most valued moments.
Time is also necessary for healing and growth.
At the same time, time takes away and disappoints.

I'm speaking of old age. It's funny how life goes and goes and we don't realise how fast the world spins around until a certain revelation point and then we run again. It is also a little funny that in my heart, my dad and my mom are always going to be 45. In my mind, they will never grow old. They remain the same- the way they were years ago when everything was picture perfect.

Everything is still picture perfect. The only difference is the angle of my view. And of course, other factors come to play. You don't realise how fast time flies until prevalent things start to occur. Like my dad not being able to do the things he used to do so easily or when he keeps forgetting the simplest things. Old age catches like wildfire in a forest and it is very scary to experience as well as to witness. It does make me sad because we can't ever contain the people we love in a bottle and keep them there. People change. And they grow old as time passes. That does freak me out because in just a few blinks, we would already be there, with our greying hair and blurry eyesight.

What I'm trying to convey is that life is precious. Health is wealth. Technically, health is way more important than wealth in any circumstance. I am sure that my mom would want me to pass these words of wisdom to you on behalf of her. She is currently fighting cancer and even though her will to win the battle is very strong, she always reminds me of how we should always be wise in our ways of life before time catches up with us. Her courage baffles me. Still, it reminds me of how old age catches up with us in the end.

As depressing as it sounds, it can be refreshing to think that we have nothing to worry about. Yes, it is true that once in awhile we will experience freak-out moments when time-outs and breathing space is needed. Nevertheless, we can smile knowing that everyday is a gift and a blessing that we ought to use wisely. If we can learn to appreciate every hour and every minute of the day as a miracle, we can learn to live life to its fullest.

As for my dad and my mom and my beloved aunts who may be reading this at some point, you will always be young in my heart. Nothing compares to the moments we've lived together and the laughter that blossomed between us all. Time cannot take that away from us!

My picture perfect family. The photographs may not be the best of quality! I hope to capture new ones soon! 

Yours Truly.

Lat

Hello Travellers!

Here's a little something to enlighten your mood for the day.
I was actually thinking creative ways to voice out opinions. I love writing music and lyrics that can cause people to think but I also enjoy reading comics. One of the leading inspirational and influential comic artist would be Lat. His comic series are highly enjoyable and powerful. One of his books I enjoy reading would be the classic 'Kampung Boy'.

Here are some snippets from the book itself:

Politically, Lat stands out as very influential and his drawings best depict current issues. Here's one that sums up our 1 Malaysia motto, in a slightly humorous way.

I researched some of his works online today and found out that the Istana Budaya will be showing a musical based upon his great works! How fun! This will be held from the 16th of March to the 3rd of April. Be sure not to miss it because I will not!

This is super exciting and I'm so proud to be a Malaysian. 

Yours Truly.

Soul mate vs. ?

Hello Travellers!

My conversations with my friends lead to many revelations and even new train of thoughts.
A few days ago I had a conversation about relationships (what's new) and I started wondering if soul mates really do exist. It is sad because I have been holding on to the belief that he was the one for me but then it crashed altogether. So here I am walking down the path of single-hood. Hey, I am not complaining! I still love myself as much as I did before AND I am enjoying my life. It is just a question that we ask ourselves sometimes and that question may never be answered. Who knows?

This was bugging me the whole time. Am I doing it right?
Finding my soul mate is a lot harder than it seems. The thing is, you will never know until the day vows are exchanged and rings worn. Maybe I am taking this too seriously. On the other hand, nothing can be more serious than love itself.

And then I thought, it may not be that much of a crime to love from within the heart and fully but not predict the ending like I always want to. You know how it is. We, girls, always over-think matters because we are so afraid of giving our hearts away before we find our Prince Charming. I can't say that men are the same or otherwise because I have never been one. So, would it be possible to love and not expect anything in return? After all, love is just as simple as giving. Maybe I should learn to be happy and love freely. Just to enjoy life as it comes and the people that come along on the way instead of desiring that one man that will sweep me away to eternity.

No, I am not turning into a hippie.
And no, I don't mean love freely, physically.
Just love out of the heart.
Weren't we born to love anyway?

Yes, I did entitle this post as Soul mate vs. ?
Think about it. Maybe love isn't as complicated as we make it to seem. '?' can be anybody that comes along the way and if we keep expecting a fairy tale, we will never truly love the ones that pass our way.

So, dear soul mate,
whoever you are,
if you are reading this,
I hope that somehow, in the best of time, we will meet and know that it is meant to be even without much thinking because I am tired of loving out of expectation and being so fragile in all my fears.
But if I change my mind like I always do, I'll write you another note.

Live to Love
Yours Truly.

Judgement Falls

Hello Travellers!

Today is Sunday. Yes, Church day for me.
Sitting in church listening, I wondered about the same question many people often wonder about. Do we ever bring Christianity outdoors or is it just something we confine within the four walls on Sunday mornings?

As generic of a question as it may sound like, I really wonder. I'm not talking about fanaticalness about this religion but just the core of doing what is written. We all know what's written in the Book of Life. If it is truly the Book of Life, how come we don't practice what we preach?

Let's just break it down to the basics. Lesson 101. Love, in my opinion is a big deal in Christianity. If it wasn't for love, we wouldn't be here talking about this. If it wasn't for Jesus dying out of love, there wouldn't be something to talk about. But what is love?
Love isn't accentuating the wrongs of others but helping them in silence. How can a person preach love and then condemn the lost ones? No, there shouldn't ever be a restatement of how bad this person was or how sinful that person is.

Yet, after rethinking all of the above, don't we make judgments everyday? It is through these judgments that we learn how to live life better. For example, if you betray a friend and lose her, you'd learn never to do that again. Or when in love you get tricked or are treated unwell. You will form a judgment that trust is something earned and shouldn't be given away so easily. Those are all judgments too. So, how do you distinguish one from the other? It is close to being impossible.

Still, we have to strive to love from the heart and not merely the lips. There are so many dying people out there. So many wounded and broken. And more that are emotionally hurt. What are we doing to them? We are only casting them away to the vultures. Isn't that selfish?

Take time to take love to its maximum. Silently. Nobody needs to know the deed or your opinion about the situation. Love is action.
So take time to take church outdoors all week. Maybe somebody will feel the love and with that, you have changed the world.

Yours Truly.

I Miss You

Hello Travellers!

It is Sunday already and thus marks the first week of my coming home. I figured that by this time, I would be permitted to write about the things I miss from the United States of America.

No, its not that bad of a country.
Yes, I liked it.
No, they don't ride wagons in Kansas.

Here are the top ten things I miss right off the top of my head. I'm sure that the list will add on in time.

1. The crazy amount of good cheese in every meal (How much is too much?)

2. Burger Station and all its grease

3. Friends with deadly sense of sarcasm that fits mine

4. Free movies and people who love criticizing movies, like me.

5. Pandora.com and unbanned music

6. Walmart in all its glory

7. Wide roads and slow consistent drivers

8. My crazy awesome friends. They come in different colours.

9. Playing the piano at Biederman's every weekend. This does include the backache and sleepiness that comes from sitting at the piano for 2 hours straight.

10. Sonic drinks and Braum's limeade. America's great way of wasting the extra pennies in your pocket.

More to come, I am certain.

Yours Truly.

Inspired by Words

Hello Travellers!

I was listening to Natasha Beddingfield on my mp3 player and was baffled by the brilliance of her word choice. She is such an inspiring song writer and an amazing singer. Just listening to the words of her songs make me grin and chuckle to myself, which is probably creepy in some ways to the people around me that are watching. What can I say? That woman is a gift from above.

I feel so complete just listening to her songs because she puts so much into her art and it shows. The words she uses are powerful and brilliant, just like I've mentioned already. In my opinion, words are the soul of music and being a bad lyricist, I really struggle to make myself better in that sense. It is really difficult to portray a feeling or a philosophy in words that would cause others to feel the same.

The one thing that makes Natasha a killer song writer is her ability to manipulate words, making them words of wisdom and positivity. She has so much philosophy in her songs which makes them heavy and deep. You could view some of her lyrics in songs like 'Size Matters' or her latest song 'Strip Me'. Catchy words to catch the public but turning them inside out makes them really stick out. This just inspires me to write more songs that can bring positive changes to the world around me. If there was anything that I wanted accomplished in this life, I would want to change the world.

Coming back to Natasha, she is an amazing vocalist altogether. If you have not had a chance to listen to her, I'd encourage you to purchase her songs on Itunes or even check her out on Youtube. She is very inspiring and uplifting in so many ways. The world needs more people like her.

Yours Truly.

Some Teacher Talk

Hello Travellers!

This evening I had the opportunity of having dinner with a bunch of teachers. There were 6 of us and we were dining in at Secret Recipe. Obviously, at some point, we began discussing the education system in Malaysia.

Suddenly I had a great revelation of thought. (That usually happens and it leads to me writing a blog post) All of a sudden, I thought about how messed up our education system had become. The purpose of its existence, being a means of bringing up a better nourished and prepared generation, is forgotten.

Teachers are pushed to spoon-feed their students only the answers needed to pass the tests given out at the end of every year. Come to think of it, textbooks and revision books are even written to prepare the students with the right sentences to fill in the blanks. Why?
Why not educated the students for life?

It is a sad case that many teachers feel that their sole responsibility is to produce students that can pass the big examinations with flying colours. Here in Malaysia, the SPM and the STPM are why students drive themselves into madness. But why? Yes, I can see how these examinations are important in educating a generation but there is more to life than that. Besides, we can tell that our education system has many flaws and loopholes when we see youngsters failing to apply what they learn in school in real life itself.
So, shouldn't we try changing tactics?

I believe that the education system should be geared towards educating students for what is out there in the world and not the questions that are going to come out on a piece of paper in October. On the other hand, it is great that we have a great foundation in specific fields of study and also expanded our memory power throughout high school. (Because most of high school comprises of memorizing sentences and spitting them out in the SPM) I only wish that the teachers and students were more focussed on the long term goal rather than a silly test. I also think that Malaysians should quit revolving their lives around huge examinations such as the SPM and the STPM because there is more to life than memorizing textbooks and earning money.

Open your eyes. Expand your horizon.

Yours Truly.

Pain Comes Home Sometimes

Hello Travellers.

I was going to write about depression and how it is possible to battle it till its death but I think that my time has not come just yet.
Pain comes and it goes but I think that the most important aspect of situations like these would be how you face it. As for me, I try my best to be positive about everything. After all, fairy tales do end with good overcoming evil. However, at times, it seems impossible to stay focus on the track as I run towards the finish line.

I cannot say that I do not understand why people say things to bring you down. Nor can I say that I do not understand why defenses rise in fights. I understand fully because I was there. I was once an offender too, out of emotion and negativity. But are all these heartaches worth us all?

Silence can be a virtue while speaking kills us all. Perhaps it was my wrong to want that silence but I do not think that I was wrong to want peace. Hurt? We both do but somehow, we will recover. At least I hope I will move out of the darkness and walk into the light.
The last thing I need is to be spoken to out of spite and hurt.
Face it, we all need time.

But even after time, there is a possibility that I can never look you in the eye.
And maybe, that is alright after all.
Life isn't that bad without you when I've finally figured out that I'm in the only one driving my car.

Yours Truly.

What do we live for?

Hello Travellers!

Today, while I was riding in the back of a car, I wondered about the existence of mankind. My existence.
It was a random thought. I wondered if the people around me in their cars knew what they were living for.

What do we live for?

The average human life span is very short and if compared to the age of our planet Earth, we are teeny weeny specks that simply exist. Why do we do the things we do?

Take politics for example. What is the purpose of bickering with each other to win the most votes?
Wealth and power is great. But why is it necessary for contentment?

Take war for example. Who invented this distasteful idea? We were all born equally, anyway, with nothing on our skins to mark one against each other. Colour? The world would be dull without colour. Why can we not live in peace within the few years we are given to live by?

Take time for example. Measuring time is great but if we hadn't had 24 hours a day to fill up with useless activity, perhaps we could appreciate life better. Look around you. People exist. Nature exist. The world with its multi colour coat exists. Love exists. Yet, we tire ourselves worrying about money, success and our image in the sight of others.

Where is the kindness we are born with?
Where is the love tattooed in our skins when we came?
Where is the peace that once ruled the Earth?
We hear about peace and the lack thereof every day. But why doesn't anyone do anything about it?
Stop the fighting, stop the war, stop the bloodshed and the doors that open to nothingness.
Do we not see how meaningless life is when all we do is try to find ways to destroy our planet and all that is in it?

'... They may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. I hope some day they will join us and the world will be as one' ~John Lennon~

Yours Truly.

Let's Talk Love

Hello Travellers!

Let's talk love today.
What is love?
Don't we all question its existence or the lack thereof once in awhile?

Well, love itself is a big spectra. Let's bring it down to that kind of love we see on television or movies. The one everyone sings about and brings up every February. The kind of love you feel with that one person that makes your heart beats a thousand times faster and causes you to smile in your sleep. Yes, the mushy kind.

The truth is, I cannot define it.
I may be able to break it apart in words but I still can't put it all together.
I may be able to give you my current philosophies about love and this powerful

As much as it is impossible to do, love is an act of giving, not receiving. Sometimes we get so caught in getting our emotions across that we forget the other person is standing there taking all our arrows. It is understandable. When we hurt, we want people to care for us, to listen to us and to comfort us. However, it doesn't always work that way.

Take for instance, my relationship that had to end. (I can only speak out of what I have experienced) We were fighting for so long that it hurt until I couldn't hurt anymore. There was no where else to go even though I wanted a happy ending. Who doesn't?
So I listened. And even though it hurt to hear the words, I was suffocating him somehow. So I let him go. And surprisingly, I said it with a smile. No, not like an evil smile. But you know what I mean. For the first time, I was merely thinking of his sake and none of mine whatsoever. Not what I wanted or how I feel. Or how I wanted him to see me. I just let them all go and thought that if I was killing him inside, then it would be time for me to leave and time for a new chapter for him.
I had a strange feeling that overtook me and I thought to myself: So, this is how it feels like to love until you let go.

I'm not saying that this is how every relationship should end. No. This is just my philosophy about love at the moment. Love can mean letting go someone you love very much. My philosophy changes everyday though but we learn from our mistakes anyway.

Yes, I do wonder at times if things will go back to how they used to be. But I think that once you move on, you move on. I wonder if time will heal the hurt like they all say.
The truth is only I can find out in time.

So what is love?
Love is giving away your needs for someone who needs more.

Yours Truly.

Green Leap of Faith

Hello Travellers!

This evening, I would like to salute my fellow Malaysians for respecting Mother Earth and actually taking steps towards becoming a more Eco-friendly community. We were always taught in school to be kind to nature and preserve as much as we could but never had I seen such a big leap of faith implemented in the public.

I was speaking of the 'No Plastic Bag Day' on Saturdays in shopping places. After a little bit of searching, I found that it had all begun with the state of Selangor making Saturday a 'No Plastic Day' at the beginning of this year 2011. That is so cool I think I nearly screamed. Finally, we are making progress instead of just preaching out loud. Obviously, its level of coolness spread out loud and clear infecting other states quickly. Tonight I saw the poster in a local supermarket in my hometown.

I cannot explain how excited I was about the whole ordeal. Truthfully, I was getting tired of the recycling campaigns and the 'Save Mother Earth' sch-pill because sometimes it felt hopeless. It baffles me to watch half the country turn into fanatics about going green while the other spends everyday collecting more plastic in their homes. It almost feels like the only way we could stop this whole dilemma is by shutting down all non Eco-friendly factories or producers.

Nevertheless, I fully support my country's stand in making a difference and I hope that soon, we will have 'No Plastic Bag Day' everyday. That may be an extreme statement but I really am an extremist in every way.

Below is a poster that I borrowed from the internet concerning the effort.

Oh, look! It even says Saturdays AND Thursdays.
It is happening, people. So be prepared!

Yours truly.

Bringing Up My Kids

Hello Travellers!

My conversation with my mother this morning led me to think about how people in different cultures bring their children up.

The ironic fact is that as much as Asian parents are strict and killer about their children's whereabouts and academic life, they are also the ones who spoil them most. I know that it seems too ridiculous of a theory but allow me to explain myself.

Here is the typical Asian concept of life. We work hard ever since we mutter our first words and generally, our whole world is built up around success, or rather, achieving it in the long run. Once we achieve a somewhat stable level of success, we build a family to expand the family tree and work hard (again) to pay for our children's education so that they can continue the cycle of life. Now, do not get me wrong. I love my culture thoroughly and would not give it up at any cost. However, it is always good to see things from all perspectives and stand on your own two feet.

Many traditional thinking Malaysians have a lot against the Western culture. They assume too much and make harsh judgments without evidence. Nevertheless, I think that the Westerners have a pretty good system set up and we should at least check it out. Once again, checking it out does not mean that you are bound to it. Every person has the freedom to live their life according to their own standards.

Based upon a few conversations I had while I was in the USA, I have come to realise that many of my American friends take full responsibility over their education and finances. In other words, every semester's tuition fee is coming out of their very own pockets. No mom or dad is going to give them monthly allowances because everything is worked for on their own. They buy their own cars and pay their own bills. Of course, you'd have to take into consideration that not every American child is this way. But a lot of them are.

In my opinion, working hard to support your children is such a sacrificial act of love. In fact, I graduated out of college with my family's help and I love them with all my soul. Nevertheless, I see a point in doing otherwise as well. I love how a child is trained to be responsible over his own life at such a tender age. I believe that to teach you have to first let go.

Besides, I think that it is very sad to see how many kids throw away their chances when they are given some, here. Even with the help of their parents financially, they play around and are never too serious to begin with. Then the truth spits out and they're failing their classes. That is just sad. So why not let them work for their own success and let them own the pride?

So, to cut it all short, I think that it is wise to have both cultures in our lives. Especially when it comes to this area.Sometimes I do wonder how I would bring up my kids in the future. But that is not for me to decide right now!

Let me know what you think. Give me some insights. I hate to be talking to myself all the time so give me a shout!

Yours Truly.

Rain

Hello Travellers!

The day is beautiful here in the heart of Malaysia. When it rains, it pours. The cool breeze, light on the skin, is definitely exhilarating after a day or two of heavy humidity.

Even though the morning rain lasted for only an hour or so, it was good enough to wash away the stickiness. 

No I did not take a shower in the rain, even though I would have loved to.

This reminds me a lot about human life in so many ways. Sometimes we get so caught up with the drama evolving around us that we become sticky and sweaty. That's all it takes to make us irritated with the people around us and forget what it means to love. Call me a love bug but I believe that the world revolves around love itself. My point is, the rain will pour and everything will be alright in time. However, we should never take for granted the situations that drag us around. 

Every heat wave is a blessing in disguise.  

While you wait for the rain, enjoy the sun. Savour the heat and put on some shorts and a tank top while at it! Alright, I took that a little far but you get what I mean.

Have a little sunshine in your life :)

Yours Truly.

  

10 Re-Culture Shocks

Hello Travellers!

Malaysia was not as hot as I expected it to be. I guess being home in February rather than May does make a lot of difference.
Well, let's not make this a weather blog.

Here are some of the culture shocks or rather re-culture shocks that swept me off my feet when I came home:

1. Men stare at me
As much as I would like to say that this was because I am utterly attractive, I cannot because they were actually looking at my clothes. Hmm. Yes.

2. Busses are like cans of sardines and sardines push
With the overwhelming population in this country, it is easy to fill up our public transportations with human beings. However, this does not call for rude public behaviour. People in the city need to learn how to relax and breathe slowly. Life is too good to be wasted on stress and hasty manners.

3. Asians love their cellphones
When I arrived at Changi Airport in Singapore, I was shocked to realise that I may very well be the only person in the room without a cellphone in my hand. Not a very surprising fact but a definite re-shocker.

4. Everything is tiny. Even the roads.
I felt like I was at the edge of my seat the entire journey home. Two roads here definitely qualify as one in America. I began to doubt my early driving experiences...

5. Currency Conversion Shock
Still getting used to the big equals small equals big. Tough to explain.

6. The old line up while the young take the shortcut anytime
At the customs in Kuala Lumpur, I noticed a very long line of adults at the 'Malaysian Passports Only' counters and only one person was using the automated machines that were conveniently installed by the government to save time. Obviously, I took the road less travelled and it took me only 20 seconds to get done with everything. People need to learn to trust machines a little bit more.

7. The steering wheel is in the wrong side of the car
And I used to think that too when I was in America.

8. Afternoon telenovelas and soap operas are more than just entertainment
Who killed who today? Ah, they finally fell in love.

9. People walk
Despite the heat and the humidity, we love walking and that is part and parcel of this beautiful country. Unlike America, we do not have ample land with no residents besides cows. This does make everything much closer together and more compact so that everything we ever need is within walking distance. We ourselves need very little space.

10. Fresh produce exists?
The morning market, booming with so much vibe and energy as well fresh vegetables, meat and fruits was definitely a refresher. I had to sit and think about whether I really did have instant pizza and canned spinach three weeks ago. However, I was self-entertained when I could amuse my family about all the bizarre food inventions and technology in America. Oh you know, your usual cake in the box, cookie dough, canned broccolis, microwavable dumplings and many more.

I think 10 is a good place to start re-cultivating.
It is really astonishing that a small planet like Earth could have so many differences at opposite ends.
The question is, are we really that different inside?

I hope to answer that in the days to come.
Stay safe!

Yours truly.