The Largest City in India: Delhi, 26 Jan to 1 Feb 07

Delhi originally was my last stop in India.

Delhi is the largest city in India. The LARGE in India is really LARGE! This is largest city I had ever been. It is also a city which is furthest from the sea area I had ever been. Since it is too big, we only can visit few places although we have one week in Delhi. Not only the city is big and huge, all places I went were BIG and HUGE!

1st destination – Red Fort

Of course it is such a HUGE fort. It was too bad because my camera was run out of battery when I arrived there. But it will always in my memory!

you can see red fort from far away

Since it was Saturday night, we were planned to go to the largest club in India, Elevator. I was able to put our name into the guess list. However, I didn’t expect to party in Delhi so I didn’t bring any clubbing cloth. But there are 50 malls around the area we lived. However, because of the transport system of Delhi is very bad. We spent 3 hours to go back home. By the time we went back, the shopping mall was closing soon.

I have ever bought a shoe in 10 minutes in my life! Unfortunately, when we got back home look at the map and look at the time. We realized that the time we arrived the pub it might be 2am and it might cost 2000 Rup. So, we end up drank at home and had a nice sleep.

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Crazy Life

25 Jan 2007 is a day I would not forget in my life. It was a crazy memory...

Before this day, I was excited to go to my Delhi trip and then back to malaysia, and back to New Zealand after Chinese New Year. However, everything had changed after 25 Jan.

That week has been the best week in my Bangalore life. I met a lot of new and nice people. But it was sad everytime I told them I am leaving soon. I found that after two month india, I started to love the life here. Especially I had so many crazy trips. Now, I know how to live in India and start enjoying it. So, I am not ready to leave this country. Anyone who had oversea experience will understand how I felt now.

At that time, Gary sent me a job description which a company is looking for an intern who can communicate chinese and working in Finance and Marketing field. Besides, it is a pretty big company in India. I just feel like I found my "husband". It is such a perfect job for me at this moment. Then, I start thinking about to stay here 6 more months.

Although everything came suddenly, I know what I want and I know what am I doing. There are many problems I have to solve if I make this decision. If I go back home directly, I do not need to face all this problems. However, I know I won't give up opportunity just because of that. So, I decide to try my best to get this job.

I had done my interview yesterday and will get reply on Monday. No matter what is the result, at least I had tried and I won't be regret.

I pround that I am doing this! I will make my life ROCK!

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Last day of my internship @ Child Right Trust

I had spent my summer in India by doing this internship. Today is my last day! It was the first time I wore Sari. It was cool but pretty hard to walk, I nearly felled down from the stairs.

My working area

I had Malaysia presentation. I found that Malaysia is really hard to present because there are too many to present! And I also found out I love Malaysia more than I though! It is such a lovely country!

Working in NGO is quite relax however sometime is really challenging. We always don’t have enough resources and time. However, what are we doing is meaningful. I am glad that I had this experience. At least, I have more knowledge about child right issues. Every time when I saw child labour I wish I can do more for them.

From this experience, I know how lucky I am.

Ø I am lucky that I born in a country which everyone has the education opportunity and does not have a big problem on gender disparity.
Ø I am lucky that I born in a family who able to provide most of things I need.
Ø I am lucky that I have so many opportunities in my life.
Ø I am lucky that I have the CHOICE!
Ø I am lucky that I know that I am very LUCKY!

Many people could not understand why I choose come to India. However, come to India always remind me that how good is my life. I am enjoyed and appreciated what I had experience here, no matter good or bad, because it is part of my life.

Thanks everyone in CRT of giving me a good time!

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Chennai, 20-21 Jan 07

After take a one week rest in Bangalore, I continue my travel journey to Chennai which is capital of Tamil Nadu. The main reason I want to visit this place is here is the “home town” of Malaysian Indian. Most of the India in Malaysia are from Tamil Nadu. Therefore, I would like to know the differences. However, Tamil Nadu is too big I only managed to visit the capital city – Chennai.

After 7 hours bus, which is one of the shortest journey I had in India, I arrived Chennai 5 o’clock in the morning. After meeting Mark and Clay, we went to the Hotel they already booked. It is quite expensive (500 rup) compare with other Hotel we had been, but it is not good.

Then, we went to one whole area which sells many electronic items in very cheap price. There are speaker, pen drive, hard drive, laptop, computer, etc. It is similar with one place in Malaysia – Low Yat Plaza. However, here is 4 size bigger and cheaper. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring enough cash!

After spending 5 hours of searching, I got
Ø One 2GB pen drive US$22
Ø One 1GB camera memory card US$16

Once again, it is fun to bargain in India!!!

At night, we went to beach, I am not sure it is Marina Beach or Elliot Beach, however it is the second widest beach in the world. Although we went at night, I still could feel how big the beach was. Of course, Indian beach always full of rubbish.

huge fish net on the beach

The next day we planned to go Bollywood Film Studio. After 2 hours journey, we finally arrive the biggest Film Studio in Chennai. Unfortunately, it was CLOSED on Sunday. We could not go in. It was really disappointed!!

Train Station in Chennai

Sweet in India is colourful!

poor kids beg in the train station

Anyway, we had to moving on. We went to a temple. I don’t know why I could not remember most of the name in Chennai may be it was just two days. When we arrived the temple, we try to go inside the temple which was not allowed non-Hindu. Of course, we didn’t success.

But we still have another crazy experience; we stand besides the train driver when we went back to Chennai city. It was not allowed for any people. It was fun!

By the time we went back to Hotel already 7pm, the management request us to pay one more day because we check out after 24 hours. Of course we were not willing to pay extra! Therefore, we spent like 1 hour to argue with them. Since they didn’t inform us we had to check out within 24 hours. And there were no information around the hotel or in the contract. So we argue so hard to make sure we did not need to pay 500 rup more.

It was such a good argument because it was a bit scary but end up I had another awesome experience.

Before I leaving, we had one of the best dinner in India – Beef Fried Rice near the street! It was only US$0.5!! I missed it a lot!

death body on the street

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Apple iPhone

IPhone.. i love it sooooo much!

It'll only release in Asian at 2008. So I can start saving money now! US500!!!!

I so want to have this phone!

iPhone combines three products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone.

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回家

还有十六天我便能再次感觉到家的温暖。

2005 开始独立的生活，转眼便两年了。

在那之前，我很少珍惜与家人在一起的日子或在家那舒服的感觉。对他们的爱总放在心里的某个角落。但现在对家与家人的想念，是一年比一年强。

从当年不知天高的厚， 一心只想往外飞得我，飞着飞着开始有点累了。幸运的是家永远会是我充电的地方， 让我能够继续接下来的旅程。

我知道还有很长的路要走，还有很多梦想要实现， 每一次新的旅程让我更加明白家人对我的重要。也因为这样，让这个想走遍全世界的我更加勇敢， 因为我知道我拥有一个最温暖的避风港。

p/s: 很想让你们知道我所有的思念。

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Allepley – Houseboat 6 & 7 Dec 07

lovely state.. Kerala...

It took 2 hours from Cochin to Allepley.

We found a hotel and got some information from the hotel. However, I learnt that never believe what the person said if you only know him for 20 minutes although you feel comfortable with this person.

When we asked about the houseboat, this guy just told us it was not worth to do the houseboat in this season because is very expensive. Later he offered us that 7000 rupees and we had to share with other two people. And we could not see the boat now because all boats had gone. We had to pay now and if we don’t like it we can get full refund. At that moment, I really believe what he said and feel like booking. Luckily, Mark made a brilliant decision.

After lunch, we went down the river bank and found out the house boat by ourselves. There were heaps of boats waiting for us. We spent three hours to look for the best option – good boat and good price. I could not remember how many boats we had seen. Finally we put ourselves into a quite good situation. We deal with 7800 rupees for a whole boat just for three of us but we had not seen the boat. And another 7000 rupees.

The next day, we were excited to see our 7800 rupees boat however we really don’t like the boat so we got back our money. On the other hand, we could meet another boat. So end up we did not have any boat.

However, there still a lot of boat on the river. Finally, we found one pretty good boat and after bargaining, we got it in 7300 rupees. The best is the boat is the cleanest among so many boats we saw before. Hurray! Good deal.

1130a.m. we start our backwater houseboat experience!

Our Captain

From Bombay until now, I almost walked certain distance everyday. On the houseboat the only thing I need to do is just lie down and relax.. The life was too good for the 22 hours on the boat.

Beautiful view…
Delicious meal…
Clean water…
No pollution …
Relaxing…
Amazing…
Fun…

Another good catch photo!

I want to swim as well :(

The best moment was watching the sunset and sunrise on the boat.

Sunset or sunrise?

Slept next to the water.

Unfortunately, there did not have many stars.. But every thing is perfect!

It was one of the best weekend in my life!

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2nd day in Cochin, 4th Jan 2007

We went to Port Cochin again.

We rent the bike with 6 rupees (RM0.6/ NZ0.2) per hour. Travel by cycling was much better and fun!

Initially we were going to a church, but suddenly they just stopped me in a water tank and told me that we were going to claim up there. What? I had no choice and just followed them. At start I would not want to claim up. Oh my god, it was not high but is scarier than bungee jump because it was so unsaved. However, I was glad that I did it because I almost could see the whole town.

we claimed up this water tank!

It was too good to travel with these two “mad dog and mad cat”.

Then we went to church, museum and super short palace. I feel nothing inside but it was not very good for tall Australian. Besides, even I could not know that we could bargain on the enter fee of museum. “Could it be cheaper if we just have a quick look?” But actually it was not a quick look.

One of the highlight was our super seafood lunch.

First, we bargain so hard to get the cheapest price and we get:

20 pcs tiger prawn,
2 big squid,
1 big snapper.
There were all fresh!

It only costs 350 rupees
Cooking fee 80 rupees
own made salad
40 rupees for 4 big potato chips

Made our own salad!

A luxury lunch had been created!! It was very delicious and full!

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Around 3 pm we went back to hotel. Since we need to find the “thump up” (Indian coke company which was bought by Coca-cola Company =.=’’’) to get the Doom2 ring tone, Clay and me just went out and found it.

However, Coca-cola Company seem like did not do a good marketing in Cochin, we could not find any Coca-cola after walking few street. May be after 45 minutes, we asked the shopkeeper “is it possible to get coke around here” of course his answer was NO! But we got our coke at the shop opposite it!!!
So, we had to found the way to go back. We were a bit lost but we still know the direction. So we made a deal – find the way without any asking!! This was not a good deal because we end up with very lost.

Base on experience, it is always something great will happen when we get lost. Non-stop eating all the way!! Indian sweet, coconut drink, fresh banana chips… then we went to the local market. And the best was we found a cinema the ticket only 50 rupees. So we decided to have another Bollywood experience tonight.

May be after two hours, we though it should be the time to enquire the way home! But we should not! Because we nearly there…

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At night we went to the movie – Kebal Express. It was different with other Bollywood movie. It was more like Documentary and it was quite nice. We watched in the local cinema. There were heaps of mosquito insides luckily I had my mosquito repellent. And because of this mosquito repellent we started another crazy experience.

There was an Indian guy sat next to Clay. For unknown reason, Clay offered the mosquito repellent to him and started chatting with him. After break time, he bought us each person popcorn, Indian snack, and water. Each of us had the complete combo. We guessed that this guy must be very rich. At the end, we found out that he actually is the staff of the cinema so all the food is free. That was so cool!

After the movie, he invited to the café. And the crazy moment was started. The staffs were cleaning. They played the Doom2 soundtrack in the max volume. Could you imagine that you dance in a café like dancing in a club!

Before we left, we asked for Doom2 poster unfortunately, they could not find it. However, each of us got a book of luxury Doom2 ticket. It was so good to have that moment.

Another crazy night! I love this trip so much!!

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Extended trip to Kerala

My holiday was originally ended at Goa. However, the option to go to Kerala was too attractive. Therefore, I decided to ask for one more week holiday from CRT and I got it.

It was too late to get train ticket from Goa to Kerala, so I had to go back Bangalore then went to Kerala.

3 hours local bus from North Goa to South Goa
6 hours car from Goa to Karnataka
8.5 hours train back to Bangalore
10 hours bus from Bangalore to Kerala

I spent two days, went through three states.

Finally I had arrived Cochin. Unbelievable I made it. It was crazy.

I was not very tired because I had built up a wonderful skill after this India trip – sleep under any situation! Before this, I only can sleep under certain environment – quite, comfortable, no movement, without any light then only I can fall asleep. But now I can sleep anywhere. Besides, I was told that I become a deep sleeper. Amazing!

On the other hand, I was excited to have one more week holiday and travel again.

I met Mark and Clay in Hotel Sapphire again. I was glad that I didn’t have any big problem to meet them again because of the stupid-India-mobile-phone-system. It was a nice, clean and cheap hotel and itonly cost 270 rupees per person for two night. (Highly recommended!)

Cochin is a really nice state. It was clean, people are friendly, food is cheap and nice. The thing I love the most is a “plastic free” area. I could not believe India has such a nice city! When we ask for a plastic bag from a shop called “quality shop”, the boss replied, “No! The police will give you a 200 fine!!”

Once again it shows that every place in India is different, everyday, everywhere you could find something new, different and interesting. This is India!

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We went to Fort Cochin by ferry. It was hardly believe that it only cost us 2.5 rupees. As usual we would get lost to find some local food. This was the funniest part to travel with them. After that, went to an oldest Church in this area. I was not a big fan of visiting Church so I could not remember the name.

The best banana in the world!

In the evening, we sat next to the sea side, watching the “Chinese Fishing Net” show, and having our own “Mango juice + sprite”. Enjoy the sunset and relaxing atmosphere.

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