I am Thompson Boy

So another weekend of I-had-to-be in Ipoh for something. Old place but seeing it through fresh eyes. Now that's realness. Have you seen anything like that at all?

A friend remarked that she see these boxes all the time when she's with me - well it's actually itinerary planner that I drew out myself based on the number of days that I will be holidaying around. I believe it started when I was planning my first major India trip. Then I used it as an outline for New Zealand as well. Anything like 4 days/short weekend getaway thing don't need this and whoever said holiday is a breeze have seen nothing yet. Might sound like a Nazi but actually the timing is quite flexible but because it is such a short holiday without planning you might end up missing some nice spots and doing some nice stuff. Just go with the flow will only work if you are doing a RTW trip.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy? If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity? Boys with glasses. http://guyswithglasses.tumblr.com/ http://hottiesonthet.blogspot.com/2012/12/twas-night-before-christmas.html

So far, I think it's enough for now, anything more will disrupt my RTW plans for next year. Can't wait. Sept - Manila, Krabi, Yogyakarta Oct - Laos and Vietnam Nov - Penang Mar-Apr - Japan

Medallions with St. Christopher's name and image are commonly worn as pendants, especially by travelers, to show devotion and as a request for his blessing. Miniature statues are frequently displayed in automobiles. In French a widespread phrase for such medals is "Regarde St Christophe et va-t-en rassuré" ("Look at St Christopher and go on reassured"); Saint Christopher medals and holy cards in Spanish have the phrase "Si en San Cristóbal confías, de accidente no morirás" ("If you trust St. Christopher, you won't die in an accident") - Wikipedia

Thanks to then Internet, traveling has become so much easier with the help of social media and sites like Tripadvisor. Gone are the days that you only rely on Lonely Planet (a guide that is becoming more and more hated - though I still refer to it as my first point of entry, I never really do believe in 100% what it says, after all through experience I have found places that promotes themselves as listed in guidebooks to be more expensive) or a travel show. Which is why I found the latest campaign for MAS pretty - lame. It's pretty no doubt - I even knew the people who did that but while it's a frilly touchy type of proposition of we are all travelers moving from point A to point B in our lifetime bla bla bla journeys are made with the people you travel with - this revelation is nothing new. Hell, I can use that back in the 80s and its still true. Isn't there anything new that they can use? Like I said, social travel is like sooooo huge, what is MAS's role in it? How ...

“Travel is never a matter of money but of courage.   I spent a large part of my youth traveling the world as a hippie. And what money did I have then? None. I barely had enough to pay for my fare. But I still consider those to have been the best years of my youth. The great lessons I learned has been precisely those that my journeys had taught me.” -Paulo Coelho

Can't find any details on him except for his name and occupation - Nicholas Oakwell, I believe to be English. Glasses + beard + greying + bow tie + English = I die.

As I look back at the six years that I will/have been spending at this agency, it amazes me how much things has changed. Of course things cannot remain the same - nothing is constant no? But to think that this is my longest stint at one place since primary school is pretty amazing. I have not been at any one place longer than that. Maybe it's some sort of achievement but at the same time, you see people moving on and moving forward and you can't help but to think what's up is it then with me? Over the years, I have toyed with the idea of getting myself somewhere before I move on - after all there is a lot left from the good fight and I can still go on fighting. Along the way I realised that while I have achieved some stuff that I want in life, many of those things are not needed and merely served as smoke screen to cover up the  fact that I am not truly fulfilled as an individual. There is always something missing and work managed to just do so much. I switched my focus t...

So far, I have finally booked all the flights - yes its plural because I will be boarding not 2 but 6 flights altogether in 10 days. Crazy? Yes but mainly because either I have no choice or its cheaper than train. Amazing right? And I save more time too. KUL - VTE : RM184.00 VTE -  LPQ: RM206.77 (while there are cheaper alternative such as bus, I would save up to 11 hours) LP - HN - RM500 vs a bus ride that is 24 hours HN - DAD - RM130 (cheaper and shorter time than train) DAD - SGN - RM130 (cheaper and shorter time than train) SGN - KUL - RM176.31 All in all, before even departing, I have spent more than 1K on transport alone. Makes me wonder if I really did the right and cheap thing. But then again if I look at it from the point that I am visiting two countries and not just touch and go to the capital cities but rather explore the country...is it too much of a price to pay? I suppose I can and I will skim on the places to stay and such. Could I do it all under 2K?

Yay! September then, mabuhay!

Koh Phayam http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Phayam

And this is discounting the fact that I have minus off days from my upcoming Laos and Vietnam trip. There was alot that has gone through my mind but mainly how can I use them to it's best potential with minimal spending? I know, I know...some people said just take them and stay home but such a waste, no? Last year I barely managed to scrap through a week for my New Zealand holiday and even had to pay for additional one day of leave. Probably will think up something.... Time for adventure then?

I wanna be here. #newexperiences <img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/nieldan/B0C9BA07-A835-48C7-8405-939EADF4BE11-1370-000001227D0EDA87_zpsbdff2607.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /> Apparently I can't do HTML on it and to insert pictures, I MUST upload it via blogger. Boo-hoo! Anyway, here is the picture. Also trying to resize pictures and basically get everything done with just my phone. Need to try more.

I was here a few years back and now very likely I will be coming back again. Not the most exciting place to be but again, it's free so no complaints here. But I do rather go somewhere else. Very unlikely I will be going anywhere anytime soon and hence I am commiting myself to this 'holiday'. In September then.

It's done! 10 days to kick start my trial by myself backpacking trip to make way for the bigger plan.

Not the programming type but rather the island of Java. A friend went there recently and here are his pics. I know its random but I have been thinking of a grand Indonesia tour for awhile now. Probably have to do it soon, like next month or in July. For now, still up in the air.  Latest update: Travel partner pulled out, more likely to do it next year. Oh well.

Japanese has Kitsune and the chinese have Huli Jing and with Burberry, you get the foxhead clutch which I love love love. There was one available but I let it go...yes I did. I need to save monies. Oh and the duck is very cute too.

It might not be Maldives but it was certainly nice. I know the reference to Maldives is like so random - thats because I just saw someone I knew who is obviously living the life that I meant to live being there. What a nice way to rain on my small parade but thinking about it again, I should appreciate the little things I like - I mean why do we let that one or two thing make us feel bad about all the great things that we already have? I certainly did enjoyed myself very much indeed and nice topup on my tan from Lipe. In fact, I have not finished from peeling from Lipe and now this. Kuantan, twas nice seeing you for the first time.