Recently in Traveling Diary Category

I had almost a full week alone before Cat arrived from a business/pleasure trip in Australia. I tried very hard to relax and I think I might have actually succeeded a bit (a first!?). My general daily routine went along the lines of: get up at 6; run; walk to the beach; coffee on the beach; study and/or read; swim; beachcomb at low tide; read more; another coffee; study more; swim again; feel sunned-out; walk home; drive to internet café for emails; eat street food; drive home sleepily; read in bed; fall into a deep sleep at 10. Quite a healthy little routine, I'd say...which was slightly but not fully changed upon Cats' arrival... Mere trivial things such as an addition of about 6 or 7 beers and 4 or 5 hours of work each day were added - what was deducted from the previous schedule I couldn't tell you, but it somehow worked out.

Our first day and night together after a long year apart of course involved beach time, hugs, tears, laughs, beers, and we had to go to none other than the fateful spot we'd met years earlier...and watch a famous unbeatable Uluwatu sunset.

After a few days of catching up with Cat, I'd run into Brad, a Calgarian who was headed up to Lovina (Northern Bali) with a local for some Hindu sacrifices and prayer. I am pretty sure it is a universal law to have to accept invitations such as this. So of course not wanting to break important laws, I conceded. Bradly and I spent the next 30 hours or so learning all about Hinduism and balancing that with doing some ridiculously touristy things (do not go on the dolphin tour!). During this short period we also managed to (in chronological order): see a sun set; see a MOON set; become groupies in a band; watch the sun rise; have a dolphin do a triple-sow-cow two feet away; get invited to a cock fight; get drunk; and get sunburned beyond belief...then just to punctuate the time that this all took place in, at this point in the chronological list, our friend came back from Temple, and picked us up...it was 11 am.

Moon set

Sun rise

Him: you want see cock fight?
Me: Whoa, dude,  it's not even 10am!
Him: cock fight!?!?
Me: Well at least let me get a picture of this.



Upon return I had a bit of work to do. Monday we went to our tailor and made a big order for all the stores in Australia. And we had a lot of meetings about our first year in business and plans for next year.

But of course no matter how much we worked during the day, it was essential to end it with a Bintang and a sunset on the beach. After a few Bintang one night at the beach by our house, I got a little artsy with these three boys who were playing in the waves as the sun set.
 



After a week or so of work, Cat and I were ready for a break. So Cat decided to take me on an 8-hour-3rd-world-boat-ride to the land of Muslims and Malaria: Lombok.



I will underexaggerate my dislike for this place by showing some great pictures and holding back the few near death, near mugging, full on chase, stuck cars, and true vandalism stories. But I will say I felt unsafe the entire time, and unfortunately have a new view on Muslims in general that I never wanted but I hope will one day soon be changed.

The Sunday market

Of course I would never miss an opportunity to embarrass myself at the expense of making you laugh, so I will, red faced, tell you briefly that we did a photo shoot in the back alleys of Kuta for the new Winter 2011 line. And since we could neither find on short notice nor afford a real model, Cat and I made do.
She is a natural... I, on the other hand, am a natural nerd!

I don't like to ever even think of the negative; let alone focus on it...so I will merely gloss over some minute details leading up to now and fill you in on a few quick things, as well as entertain you with my OCD and that which manifests from it when I am stressed -lists; before wandering off into a heavenly abyss for the next 3 weeks....but with the luck I've had over the last week, maybe never coming back.

First, to start off....

List #1: Things I didn't expect about Kuala Lumpur
1. The massively large Muslim population (which is visibly apparent via the head scarves and in some cases full Burka's)
2. The massively large Chinese population (which is aurally apparent by not only their loudness but also they language that they chose to yell at eachother and into their cellphone's in; as well as visually apparent as most signage is in Malaysian and Chinese - not English)
3. They drive on the wrong side of the road
4. KL is a country, not a city (not literally but i spent an hour on a bus then an hour in the subway just to get to the downtown core)
5. The Indian influence (seen in the food the clothing, the architecture, and the people's faces)

Now onto the goods....
The last three days have been hellish to put it mildly. I lost my favorite and only Roots sweatshirt. Lived in an airport for 3 days and 2 nights unvoluntarily. Found myself yelling at another human beiing and then of course feeling horrible for it (I remember thinking while doing so that I was mad as I have been in years....since my last encounter with Steven, of all things, over 2 summers ago). Missed a flight (which was not my fault, hence me yelling at someone). Bought a new flight. Arrived into Bali and like a pro had my 25USD ready, busted through immigration and out to...oh what? Yeah, they lost my bags.

At this point, I had to admit to myself I was in a very low slump. And I really had to admit I couldn't feel worse. I hate to admit these things to myself. It is like I let life win the battle. It doesn't help I'd bee a bit low since spending my bday all alone AND THEN finding out Cat wouldn't be back to Bali until the 16th and I'd be alone for ANOTHER week. So I was sulking a bit. My only solace was, yes, it really couldn't get much worse.
So...... after filling out the appropriate paper work, and praying to the Hindu God of Luggage, I got out to the sunshine and got an amazing hug from Kadek (sometimes that's all ya really need) and we went home, got a bit settled, got me a phone card (# 0858-5751-8105), then I bee-lined it to PAdang PAdang (my old stomping grounds, watch for me on this webcam). I parked 1km away to give myself a walk. And was still a bit stressed from the whole ordeal. But I dropped my shoes off with the Kopi lady and after the typical pleasantries and one unexpected one (she asked me where I bought my besar while poking my boob, which made me laugh (my first spontaneous laugh all day)) I walked to the water in my dress (no clothes, remember) and when my foot made contact with the water it was like everything just left my body. Everything was right again. Everything in life is good. I almost cried! And then I swam around for an hour or so. Went out to the break to chat with the surfers; walked along the beach to find any sort of science geek stuff possible; and then bought some sunscreen (yep, a few hours late).


(sorry for the quality of these pics, btw....along with my life's necessities for a month was my camera in the bags. So I took this pic with my computer's camera...but I think you get the jist...I am smiling again!)

List #2: Things I'd Forgotten About Bali (you may want to go back and read the Bali post of me experiencing Bali for the first time in order to understand the quick references)
-stray dogs (aside: one must stay particularly alert whilst driving a mo-ped in a 3rd world country)
-Absolute Petrol
-"English" where you go? what doing?
-Kopi and the price of it and Bintang (there is a God)
-the most wonderful people in the world and their absolutely heart melting smiles
-The staring (undressing) with the eyes (or rather, that I might actually be an attractive woman and not the zoo animal I am made to feel in China)
- How slowly things change (or rather, how quickly China is changing)



List #3: Some Surprises
- I get freckles (and apparently burn in 5 minutes, proof in pic above)
- I found myself thinking on the road to Cat's "i'm home".

A note about point #2; list #3....What a strange thing to say to yourself..... but I guess I have to think a bit more about what I meant by that; and moreover what it might mean for my intentions in the future. For now, as I mentioned to an American I met at my hostel in Xian last weekend when she asked me where I call home: home is where my computer is.

It's hard to believe that my last post had a pic of me in a tank top. Ah the good old days way back in October. Alas, the weather has quickly changed, and in some sick twist of fate, it is already December. It is COLD here and doesn't get light until 7am! But I'll tell ya, the Northern Chinese people and the frozen cities within which they live sure know how to roll with the cold. In fact, I feel much more of a kinship with these "DongBeiRen" 东北人 in a lot of ways because of this...this what? this ability to survive inhospitable environments, I guess. Also, I think people who come from very cold climates have an innate desire to care for and look out for others' needs, as well as plan ahead - more so than people from climates that don't necessarily require planning for no fresh food for months or needing to brave -20C to go get water.



Over the last bit, to no surprise, I've made a few new drinking buddies and been to a few new cities. Nothing earth shattering but distracting-in-a-good-way nonetheless; and therefore, reportable. Maybe it is just me and my perception, but it seems like in Northern climates, people become much more dependent on two very wonderful things: friends and booze. Northern China is no exception, and the locals as well as foreigners have taken a liking to calling me 加拿大酒鬼 which could be loosely translated as "that crazy Canadian girl who can really drink!" What can I say? I like friends; I like drinking; and it just so happens that I really, really like drinking with friends. A few more memorable events over the last months are as follows:


Over a month ago I went to HohHot (Inner Mongolia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohhot to work and had the pleasure of staying with Jason (from waaaaay back -see sept/oct 2007 blogs) and meet his wonderful woman and a few other friends. In true Canadian (or maybe it is just Jason and I) fashion, we bought a bottle of local spirits (60% alc.) put our jackets on, and took a motorbike ride up into the famous Mongolian Hills for a freeeezing cold and extremely beautiful high altitude adventure.
 

Yes, I very likely stepped on the same ground as Genghis Khan; but more importantly, I ate sweet cheese candy and drank salty milk tea from his family's store. Having said that, don't they say that something like over 40% of the world is a descendant from him? And therefore you all likely also drink tea and eat cheese from his family's store...so maybe my drinking his family's tea or eating his family's cheese is not a big deal. But all the same I felt it worth reporting.



I have been to ChangChun (Jilin province) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changchun three times in the last month - both for work and because The Baller is back in town. When I've been there recently I tend to work on improving my translating, interpreting, stretching, taping, massaging and  listening skills among others. Always learning and improving -the purpose of life, right? Now whether the material that is being learned is useful or needed is up to the perception of those involved. I tend to argue that all learning is useful. And I digress.


Back in Beijing, enough time has passed where I really feel like some acquaintances are becoming real friends. Seb (my desk-mate and morning sanity, pictured below) and Jasmine  (my sounding board and evening sanity, pictured above)  are turning out to be very special characters in my story here. Having said that Seb is leaving (congrats on the new job though, dude!) and my favorite teacher just left, so class is looking pretty glum come next week.

Lastly, I read a great book by Paul Coelho this weekend called Brida. Can I just ask you to take a moment right now and manifest me for two things: 1. My soul mate 2. Acceptance to do my PHD. It'll only take a brief moment of your time, thanks.

恩， 想起来了， 我最近写了一首故事应为这个月我们的学校组建一个写信比赛。 下面是我的诗歌。意思是一我看我们多有很多问题， 我们都吃有点儿苦。 在中国我看到了很多穷人也每天能看副人。 在外国我还看到了很多教育人也很多经验专家。 他们都想爱， 都怕， 多饿，渴，寂寞。。。 不是所有的穷人都要钱。 不是所有的富人都能休息。

一千痛一千悰； 一千罹一千禧

映

    我叫小费， 明天十八岁。我高高的个子，白白的皮肤，大大的眼睛。我的头发漆黑漆黑的，很长。每天我上十个小时课。我的老师不喜欢我, 尽管我学得很努力，但是他们都批评我很多。在学校我不能笑。我讨厌学校。
    今天我不能吃东西，无论如何要减肥，好女生都苗条。可能明天我会吃点儿。
我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间，如果我有空，我应该学习。并且爸爸说过，运动会让我肌肉发达。男生不喜欢女生肌肉发达。
    我想做保姆，但是不可能。 我的爸爸说我应该做大夫。我不想让他失望。
    我没有朋友，没有时间。爸爸说我有很多朋友，但是他们都只是同学。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能他说的对。
    我不想要孩子。但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子会带给我痛苦，没有自由。我没有办法。
    听说我是从安徽来的，那里我有一个姐妹。但是爸爸说我们之间的区别怎么这么大。他说我们和她不可能见面。可是我想去安徽，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们必有相似，这一定是个奇迹。

    我叫小费，明天十八岁。我个子不太高， 皮肤有点儿黑， 眼睛也有些呆。 我的头发很短，正灰色的。我的老师说我不能说："正灰色"，但是他同意，我的头发里有很多灰，他听得懂我的意思，然后他告诉我，我很聪明。 我每个星期上十个小时课。在学校我跟朋友常常笑得很多。我爱学习。
    今天我不能吃饭，在县里最近生了小儿子， 我们都把自己的米饭给他。可能明天我能有饭吃。
    我爱运动却不能，而且也没有时间， 如果我有空，我应该帮妈妈工作。 并且妈妈说今年他要给我买鞋。买了鞋我就能多运动！
    我想做保姆，但是不可能。我的妈妈说我应该马上结婚。 我不想让她失望。
我没有朋友，没有时间。妈妈说朋友没有用，帮她工作有用。我的老公以后是最好的朋友。可能她说的对。
    我不要孩子，但是我知道我得像传统的中国女生，生儿子让我有用。社会告诉了我，我不可能改变。我害怕，孩子带给我痛苦，没有自由。 我没有办法。
    听说我是关东来的，在那儿我有一个姐妹。但是妈妈说我们怎么怎么不一样。她说我们和她不可能见面。 可是我想去关东，见我的姐妹一面， 这是我唯一的生日愿望。我们有区别，但这一定是个奇迹。

梅如
十号，十二月，二零零九年

As to be expected but never prepared enough for, so many things have happened in China in my first three days back; it is hard to imagine I was so recently living in the lap of luxury (in so many ways - you'd have to move to china all alone to truly understand). If I even begin with the story of what I refer to as The Visa Debauchery, I'll hardly even get to the part where I slept in a beauty parlor 'massage ' room (oh look, a police officer just passed me with one of the ladies of the night for a quick doughnut break) on the third night (which is as I write this) before I reach my 500 word count maximum; my attention threshold and likely that of most of the people who read this.
In fact, I think I'll keep these stories of The VD to myself for now - the last three days and likely the next few as well have been too much to even put into words - believe me, I looked in the thesaurus.
At least right now the light in the massage room is a comfortable dimness and the rhythmic squeaking sound in the room to my left is so near that of a heartbeat or clock - oh hey, the clock on the wall in here doesn't work - that I am of course focusing on all the wonderful things around me to be grateful for and thinking it is quite hilarious and in this moment finding a perfect opportunity to reflect on (more like gain comfort from) the last three weeks in the UK.

For those of you who don't know, I'll first give you a quick run down: I flew into London from Halifax early August; spent a few days getting the ZZZ's and respite I'd be longing for in Marlow and around Windsor Castle area; a quick jaunt to London; double date with 'mum and dad'; drinking with the boyz from rugby; 900 year old church; history lessons; spent an unforgettable weekend in Cornwall with Frase; 7 or so 900 year old churches and 2 stunning sunsets - Tag team on to Neil who drove me over 1000 miles in order to explore every major surf break in Cornwall: st Ives, Land's end, Penzance, Holleywell bay, etc. Western England, and Wales for a week - TO NO AVAIL; skim boarded instead; hiked and watched sunset along Llangenntih / Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula; spent a day or so around Reading and Winchester; met the fam. - Tag teamed back into the arms of Fraser just West of London; family dinner; packed all our useful earthly possessions and hit the road for a road trip up to Scotland (another +1000 mile journey); slight detour in Londond first (VD issue - visa debauchery - what did you think it stood for!~); explored the Western pieces of Scotland; Glasgow; Loch Lomond; Isle of Mull; popped into Edinburgh (900 year old church!) before heading back to the home base for a last breath of Westernness, rest, relaxation, and gratitude; busted to London at the end of August to catch the last possible plane that would let me into China with a practically expired residency permit and a pretty well expired Canadian passport. Whew!

As with much of the traveling I have done over the last few years, I find myself looking back at my most recent adventure and really noting that it is ALWAYS the people and not the place that makes it memorable (thank you for 'being'!). I have also mentioned in a recent post that sometimes things are too special to put into words, take pictures of, write notes about, or tell anyone else about. For me, anyways, I fear there is no way to explain it properly or that if explained it to you I might lose some of the memory in my breath, or even change it in my mind as I think of it again. So I'm holding a lot back on this one. But I'll share some good pics nonetheless. (though in some weird coincidence, the battery of my camera died both within the first 5 minutes in London and again in Scotland).

As I said, it all started in little ol' Marlow. A beautiful place along the Thames. More than a few drinks and walks along this river were had. Probably of no coincidence, yes, this and a few other churches in town are 900 years old.
From Marlow, a quick and painless few hours of driving (which to people in the UK is like a week long drive to us Canadians) had us out of the hustle bustle and into Cornwall; what I imagine all of England must have been like 100 years ago.
Going, going, gone.

The next three pics are in the top 5 of my whole trip. Frase and I went on a full-day walk along the coast here, and then celebrated our sunburns with just a bit of the local beer.



Coincidentally, we also had a beer across the way here in Padstow (I could live there). Fireworks, a brass band, and can can dancers turned it from a perfect moment to absolutely perfect. While on the topic, how could I forget telling y'all about the beer in England~  Well, it's good... real good... I wanna be friends with it.
Tribute, ah, Tribute (also I loved Pimm's but then found out it is a Posh English drink and if I am going to go all out Scottish I've got to pretend not to like it so don't tell anyone - damn that undeniable expensive taste of mine).

After the tag off at the end of the weekend in Cornwall, where Fraser left running for his life and Neil looked at me only slightly frightened, Neil and I set off to St Ives and Land's End (i could also live here) where we slept in farmer's fields in a self-erecting tent (why didn't I think of that!) for the week of adventure.

 
Neil and I tried our best to find something resembling a swell and waves. Neil's imagination must be better than mine (oh to be young again!), and he got out a few times.
And we did manage to both get out in this. Yep, desperation can do a lot to a girl's standards.

After a few more days of disappointing surf yet gorgeous beaches and good times, we went to The Eden Project. I can't say enough about the importance of places like this. Google it if you're interested. Me 'n Skippy had a good time.

I think we also made the best of the lack of swell when we bought skim boards.
neilskimmin.MPG
Neil was a natural, but you know what they say: those who can't do, teach. Story of my life.

We finally thought maybe it'd be better if we try our luck in another country (the 4th country Neil and I have been to together) and sadly, in this country we also failed to find surfable waves. However, we did find another great sunset along the Gower, during which I was sure to show Neil how older, more refined women like their wine.
In a bottle.

You may be surprised to find out that Wales is not all sheep and cliffs (though there are plenty of both); there's also the odd castle. And a lot of cold wind.

All in all, Neil, I guess we should've been there yesterday; or the week before; or maybe the month before. 

This is surfing in the UK - In August!~!
#$%^. Put a jacket on!

After some time with Neil's family, and just enough time for Fraser to forget the pains of being with me 24-7 ( don't women say that about giving birth~), I was allowed back to Marlow for a family gathering then we started our journey to The Mother Land. Wow, Scotland.
It is tough not to go into detail about the history of this place. I am going to assume it is all quite familiar to you. And by now you know there are a zillion or so 900 year old churches. Hadrian's wall was a pretty exciting little find on route. For more info check out: http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/hadrian/index.html 

Scotland is by far the most all-encompassing place I've ever been to. It's culture and history coupled with the people, food and natural scenery by far rival any place I've been in my life. It's got it all. And I want more!