ManMeng's Lifepad

Hey 2009! Bye 2008!

It’s supposed to be the first post of the year, however, due to the previous one, this is the second for this year! Anyway, happy new year that all is well, good is good and bad is bad (What the hell I’m trying to say). 2008 certainly does sounds an auspicious year for Chinese, the word eight(8) symbolizes luck in their native language, however reality differs so much from the fantasy world.

There is so much, and too much to be recalled of the indicents that is happened throughout this year, not only to ourselves, but also to people around us, around the world, terrorism, toxified milk, earthquake…and more. For me, 2008 has been tripled of what a rollercoaster ride can give me, or maybe even more. I guess learnt from experience on how difference people is at different places, especially country and culture. While most of my life were spent back then in my home country, this year somehow is different where I’ll have to embrace myself with a lot more of new thing, new people, new colleague, new housemates and so on. I can of course first say it’s a blessing to have such a chance to travel to this place for work, but on the other hand, everyone also understand this comes with a price, of letting go things back to what we are used to in our lives.Foods, friends, cars, entertainments…

Though I’m not yet really prepared for this brand new year, I’ll keep on stand strong and wait for upcoming challenges. Though at this point of time, there’s a usual saying back in Malaysia, that the first 5 year of a designer is almost like learning to swim, either after that period, we’ll get drown, or give up or we swim further down deep into the beautiful and mysterious sea. Good luck and all the best to you. Cherish the people around you. I mean it. And as people gets busier, we neglect all the small little things that builds up to something that we can never imagine, bond between friend that breaks, trust between family members that’s gets worse. If you see me at the street, do say hi! I’ll shout HOI!

And not to forget, my portfolio has been refreshed with new works throughout this year, though there’s still some more work I would like to put in, yet to collect enough material at this point.

Great.

My ever infamous finger clicked on save template and delete on my keyboard. The sidebar on the theme screwed, so I had to resolve in using this at the moment. Gah.

Art Launched!

ManMeng ART
Enjoy browsing through the section with some of the art and design works done over the past year. Will update more frequently now. At least to keep people informed that I still do…DESIGN and ART! And I’m always happy for any type of collaboration that you can propose. Drop me a bomb at siaukia [at] gmail [dot] com. Cheers!

Bon Odori Visit Report

Malaysia 31st Bon Odori Celebration
If you’re looking for a whole full ledge report on what is Malaysia’s Bon Odori Festival is like. I’ve wrote a report about it on Design Enterprise. Have fun reading!

[Part 2] Langkawi

The next morning. Day 1

There’s such a cold strong sea breeze blew into my face the moment I woke up from yesterday exhausting ride. Just right outside my room, less than a minute walk, there’s a beach right in front of me. And did I mention the owner of the chalet/hotel is suprisingly friendly? Laila is her name, which is a German married to a local here.

And what about the food? I just briefly took some nasi kandar at some nearby stall. And suprisingly, with such a good weather, everything is just nice, the price is right, and there’s no rain.

And right after the breakfast, I’m all set towards the first activity and to head towards the mountain.

Oh yeah. The yatcht club owned by our previous Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir. Never had a chance to try the food at the restaurant owned by him.

Hell yea, being a Malaysian will get you a discount for the cable car ride up.

It’s fking cold I tell you.

And then there’s the hanging bridge up on the hill.

From the top of the island.

Where I’ll have to walk few minutes down the hill to reach the hanging bridge. Which I was quite lucky to be able to go there because they would normally close down if there’s heavy wind or bad weather.

Doh. Would anyone climb?

Beautiful spot to live. or…

Note the massive difference of picture took with the phone vs. Fuji F11.

Hornbill! Spotted in the wild.

Just right after the ride, which you can go on forever and stay there, but which I prefer to spend the time on another place, and just right below the hill, the entrance, it’s the Oriental village where you’ll able to do various things to feeding rabbit to riding elephants. Literally.

Despite going through a long hours of journey inside the Oriental Village, I headed directly towards the Seven Wells which located towards the hill, where you will need to climb literally, hiking in general. And upon arriving, it’s really spooky that I can’t seem to see much tourist around except monkeys and locals. Well, the road is pretty narrow and took almost half of my life climbing just right less than 1 K.M. of the hill, but of course, before deciding to go back, I’ve stopped halfway on the beautiful waterfall. Lucky me that I didn’t go way up, probably due to my determination and also, my sis told me that there’s ain’t anything worthy visit up there. Probably.

So right after the first two visit, it’s about afternoon for a short quick lunch which suprisingly the world most expensive breakfast I’ve ever had in my entire life! Cool? Red bean + 1 sausage + 1 egg = RM12.

What about the air pump? Remember I’d mentioned about the Fuel consumption and not to fill the car with fuels upon returning it? There’s another conspiracy which I’ve found that why the hell does the car took up so much oil for a very short duration, in conclusion that I realized the car’s air been put off which would serve the main reason why it eats up so much fuel for a short journey, and indeed, after pumping sufficient air back into the tyres, everything went…good.

Next destination, the burnt paddy. wtf.

The car I drove.

Next, up hill towards Mt.Raya.

Virtually, there’s nothing much you can see here except cold airs. Even I felt paying money towards up the cable car is worthy the time. Damn. Well, at least I’ve  felt it’s good to reach 2 mountains in 1 day. Could you? Oh, yes, this one has a toll that you need to pay. Damn.

I was there.

And oh, while driving, of course there’s not much of people around except I occasionally see westerners with their bikes. It’s a pretty crazy experience considering there’s landslides effect everywhere around the hill. So that made me quickly left the place. phew.

What’s next…

To be continued…