Farewell 2010, bring it on 2011

Year 2010 has been a crazily busy year for me. So busy, I haven't left much time for myself. I skipped a lot of family trips, and barely have chance to go exercise or facial or just a casual dinner gathering with my girls. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, in fact it was my new year resolution to focus in career and I really glad that I have a very understanding bf that support me comes rain or shine.

Well, it's been a year now, no doubt I've learnt a lot and grew a lot. I ditch my DBA role and get into performance testing team as a team lead, picking up more responsibilities and pressure comes in a package. It's not really a big BIG achievement but I'm happy with the exposure and cofidence I gained, moreover I started to find PT interesting albeit I still miss working on database.

Apparently it's been an eventful year for me in my career but definitely not my perfonal life. I was constantly working long hour and been sick many times in merely a year, I lost count, and even admitted into hospital due to dengue. So, for this coming year, a big contradict with my last year resolution, guess it's a high time to seriously start looking into striking a work-life balance. On a side note, more in my to-do list : to get a landed house, travel to 2 countries and go for a diving trip! And most importantly, to be a simpler and happier person.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

As usual...

As usual.. stressed to death trying god damn hard to rush for the dateline...

What's the fastest way to grab all the knowledge I need to make this shit works? I wish there were 48 hours in a day.

Tanjung Sepat one day trip

It's Lily's birthday! and we decided to celebrate her birthday with a short trip and good to serve as a gathering for us all. And there we go to the Tanjung Sepat.

We started our journey from Klang after our lunch at a famous Hakka Pai Kuat restaurant Chrys found online. Along the way to Tanjung Sepat, we stop by the Dragon Fruit orchard and also the famous Sepang Goldcoast a.k.a Bagan Lalang beach. It's a nice beach, but it's way tooooo hot on this day and we just quickly snap a photo then hop on the car again and continue the journey. I bet we really can chill here for hours if wasn't because of the bad timing, should come in the evening instead.

With the girls~ love ya all

The first destination we visit in Tanjung Sepat is the Hai Yew Heng Pao shop. It's all handmade with no preservative; and you can imgine how long the queue can be as this is the hottest tourist spot in Tanjung Sepat. Thanks to Eunice and Chrys with the patience to queue up and bought us the pao. I ain't expert in food hence I don't find it any more special than other pao, but I believe it can't be famous for no reason and I trust the food expert Chrys claimed it's nice, so this is a must-try in Tanjung Sepat. :D. We had the pao at the coffee shop opposite of the "factory" with the "famous ampula + sour plum juice", (everything here must start with the word "famous"). Btw, it's not easy to get this drink back in KL, so it's another "must-try" too. :D

This is the ampula they make juice out of it with sour plum.

Next, we head to the mushroom factory. So-called mushroom factory but actually it's just a place with some display of mushroom plant then with a shop inside selling all kind of products made of mushroom. :p. After some mushroom shopping, we realize there is nothing left in our to-do list until dinner time; and it's only 5-ish. But with no choice we head to the lover's bridge too, the seafood restaurant we planned to have our dinner is just next to it.

We took a bit of walk on the bridge, there are lots of people fishing there. You can see everyone is so relaxing and just chill and smile and... doing nothing... ah~ what a blissful place with simple people and simple life. I must come back for fishing one day!!

Then after a short walk due to the hot weather, we have our early dinner at the Ocen seafood restaurant. Frankly I think the food is just so so, I know other seafood restaurant in Tanjung Sepat serve better food than it, but it's always fun and happy to spend time with BFFs, we definitely had a great time. After the dinner, the sun is about to set down. Danny and I decided to take another walk on the lover's bridge while the rest of the girls decided not to coz they were too exhausted. The sunset is very beautiful~~~~ and seriously I must come back for fishing one day!!

I just want to be like this forever

stare at the mountain, telling silly jokes, or simply not doing a thing. Dolce Far Niente.

Halong Bay & Tam Coc, Vietnam

We took a day tour to Halong Bay on the next day we back from Sapa. I guess Halong Bay is the most famous tourist spot in Hanoi. Well, I can say it's just pretty overrated, but at least you get to canoe there. Haha.

Where's the dragon boat? *disappointed

To canoe through the cave into the lagoon

I am pretty sure this is the place they film Avatar. :p

All of us. ^^

On the 2nd day, we went to Tam Coc. We chose the biking trip there, guess it's a bad decision though because the cycling is nothing special except it gives you chance to burn more calories. Anyway, we cycled for about an hour to reach the "jetty" where we will then hop on the boat for the boat trip; or rather sampan trip. As you were rowed down the river, you will see a lot of wonderful limestone mountains. And due to the boat/sampan is all rowed by man without motor, you can really feels the serene surrounding and real fresh air throughout the 2 hours trip. (Yes, 2 hours on the river!!!). I like Tam Coc much more than the ever famous Halong Bay. :)

Let's go cycling

Row down the Tam Coc's river :)

serene

Alright, that's all for my Vietnam's 7 days travelogue. Quite a cincai ending though, coz the "umph" is not that strong after a week back from my holiday, btw, I am still with my post-holiday syndrom now, a bit of jet lag perhaps... lol.. Wanna plan for my next holiday dy. ^^

Hanoi, Vietnam

Throughout the 7 days of our Vietnam trip, we spent about 3 days in Hanoi. Honestly I don't like Hanoi. The traffic is crazy, the air is so polluted, and I felt very tensed up due to the noise everywhere. However, I seriously fall in love with their coffee; the dark roasted coffee dripping slowly from the metal filter into the cup containing condensed milk then pour in ice are just a perfect combination. I had my cuppa almost everyday in Hanoi!! :) .Needless to mention the ever famous beef noodle, love it to the max.

The beef noodle and the Vietnam traditional iced coffee

Waiting patiently for the coffee dripping

Hanoi street

The crazy traffic

Coincidently, it's the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi when we were there. The streets were blocked for the nightly celebration and it was soooooooooooo crowded with people. OMG! I almost stop breathing. Nevertheless, it's fun to see so many peoples celebrating on the street together and good to experience their local culture by walking and exploring the streets. You can see they are greatly influenced by France culture where you can spot lots of French restaurant and also some French speaking tour guides; and that's how I'm able to bought my best thing in Hanoi - the painting of le petite prince! :D:D:D:D...

Super happy!!!!!

Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa is in the southwest of Vietnam and close to the China border. We board a night train for 8 hours from Hanoi to Lao Chai on the first day we touched down Vietnam; followed by another 3 hours "thrilling" ride up to the Sapa mountain with a mini bus. Yes, it's very tiring; but trust me, the wonderful scenary worth all the hassle we've been through.

The train we board on

It's quite a decent train. Clean, and air-conditioned

On the first day we were in Sapa, we went to the famous weekend market - Bac Ha. It's a very special experience where you can see many people from the hill tribes wearing their colourful traditional costume trading almost everything in the market - handicraft, clothes, food and even snake!

for sale.

The next day, we started our trekking trip in the morning. It was a 2 days adventure. The first day was a holy 15 km trekking into the village; spend the night at the traditional homestay, then continue the trekking the next morning till afternoon. The view along the trail is breathtaking, there are the picturesque paddy terrace in sight, and the beautiful waterfall too.

second from left - our tour guide, Lan

Finally the village is in sight after 8 hours of trekking.

We spent a night at the rural village for a homestay. I like the homestay very much, the house owner made us a delicious dinner which undeniable the best meal we had in Vietnam, and the surrounding are so serene where you just don't feel tired anymore despite the 8 hours trekking.

The ever wonderful homestay

Serene kempung feel

The house owner made us delicious dinner with the old-schooled chimney

then we had dinner together. With beer. :D

then, nighty night~ :)

After a good night sleep in the nice chilling weather. We started our trekking again. The tour guide made us lunch at a hut along the trail; after the lunch, we continue our journey to the bus station to take us back to our hotel. Then we had shower and dinner then another bumpy road journey back to the Lao Cai train station and head back to Hanoi. :D

Bye bye Sapa~