Nik


you can put anything here

Sunday, January 12, 2014 @ 7:35 PM PERMALINK

December is usually a whirlwind of activities as everyone returns from overseas. Needless to say, it is one of my favourite times of the year. Although work was particularly busy the entire month, I'm glad that we all still managed to find time for friends and family.

Here's my little re-cap of what we were up to in December! More behind the jump...













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Labels: Adventures in our backyard, christmas, family and friends, new year's eve

0 comments | Leave a comment Monday, December 16, 2013 @ 12:08 AM PERMALINK

In November I took some leave off work and went with the Bongs to Malaysia. The intended destination was Merbok, Kedah. A small town where their long-time friend (who we call Uncle Steven) has built the most amazing residence. I've had the pleasure of vacationing there 3 times and it is always the best way to recharge and get away from the city.

To get to Merbok though, we fly in via Penang. The last time we were there, we were brought around by Uncle Steven but I wasn't really paying attention. This year, I wasn't about the make the same mistake.

In 2008, Georgetown was deemed to be an UNESCO heritage site and rightfully so, Georgetown is brimming with culture and tradition and is a great juxtaposition of the old and new.

Click on the "Read More" button below to read on about what we managed to cover in our 2 afternoons there.







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Labels: ernest zacharevic, georgetown, malaysia, penang, travel

0 comments | Leave a comment Sunday, December 15, 2013 @ 11:35 AM PERMALINK

I have to say that I never expected my previous entry to get as many views as it did. It wasn't a particularly large number of views but when you know your readers are usually just a tiny group of friends and family, it seems huge in comparison.

Of course the number of views was also nothing compared to what other socio-political blogs garner and rightfully so, because it didn't deserve to.

The entry wasn't a deep and thoughtful commentary on the events. I had not spent time researching the facts or delving into the various reasons the riot occurred.  I was just sick and tired of seeing all that hate on my social media pages. I can only hope that in some small way the entry helped some people see a little clearer or motivated a small number to speak up against the hate.

Just to be fair to anyone who is returning to this blog or have found your way here because of that entry, I feel like it is only right that I disclose to you that this space usually only functions as a place for some pretty useless babbling.

Once in awhile I do mention some issues I feel strongly for but apart from that, it is just a place in cyberspace for me to write words.

For all of you that read the entry or shared it with someone else, thank you. I hope it at least made a tiny difference in influencing mindsets.

Have a great weekend folks! 0 comments | Leave a comment Monday, December 9, 2013 @ 10:37 AM PERMALINK

Let me come straight off the bat and say this. In case you didn't know, I volunteer with Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2). This volunteer work means that I mingle with migrant workers and listen to their woes. I have seen how unfair some of their situations are and the prejudices they have to put up with.

However, this does not mean I can't see clearly but I can't stop you from thinking otherwise.

When the news of the riot at Little India started to break, I was just getting home from dinner with my friends. The images that started to come in via news-sites and social media were frightening.

Blazes on the street, government vehicles turned on their sides, a crowd of unhappy and violent people..It seemed like the kind of thing that you'd never expect in Singapore.

When I went to bed, the information available was limited. Boy, was I in for a rude surprise when I woke up.

The first thing I noticed were all those racist comments appearing on my social media newsfeeds. Some people were outrightly racist demanding that the government 'send those banglas back where they came from'. Others were a little more subdued and used the chance to take a jab at the Government for 'letting in all these foreigners'.

[For the record, I'm not sure how and if the assumption that the workers were Bangladeshi is accurate. There are certainly many men working here in Singapore and they do hang around Little India on their days off.

Yet, according to media reports, people were reportedly shouting in Tamil. Bangladeshis usually speak Bengali. I don't know where the inaccurate reporting starts but I'm just repeating the quotes as I've seen them. The origin of the men involved in the violence doesn't concern me and it shouldn't concern you either.] 

The second thing I noticed is that mainstream media reports are circulating that the mob was 400 people strong. This figure was not lost on the public of course. People seized onto this fact to cement their views. That one single traffic accident could result in 400 workers acting violently and disrespecting our country.

A riot mob of 400...Let's think about this. When a fight breaks out between two people, don't people quickly step in to try and stop it from escalating? I've seen some disagreements happen in Little India, people are usually quick to jump in and try to stop the situation from worsening.

Now let's magnify this number of two with a hypothetical but possibly realistic scenario that I think people need to consider.

An accident happened, a person is lying under a bus and a group who witnessed the accident starts to get antsy. Perhaps they think it's taking too long, or that no one cares because they are foreigners.. Who knows. They start acting violent and want to take matters into their own hands. Don't you reckon that bystanders would rightfully jump in and try to reason with them? Don't you think that friends who disagree will try to pull them away?

Next, imagine you were in the area when the fighting started. Have any of you been in Little India when it is crowded?I've been stuck numerous times in the human crush of Little India and even when people are peaceful and calm, it is near impossible to move quickly.

Now add that there are people fighting and becoming violent, how many people do you think were there wanted to get away but couldn't?

Rationally, do you think that all 400 people (as quoted by the police) were involved in perpetuating the violence?

Now, I know that perhaps riot numbers are reported like this. That everyone caught there is considered to be part of the mob. I don't assume to know exactly how the number was generated. My thoughts is that the count was estimated based on how many people were found to be in the vicinity.
I only focus on the number now because such a large one makes it so easy for people to assume that typecasting and stereotyping is okay. It isn't.

I implore that instead of jumping to the conclusion that 400 people were involved in this violence (which seems to be what people are doing) that you consider that while there were 400 people there, it is not such a clear cut case of 400 foreigners ( a large number by any count) forcefully disrespecting Singapore and putting our law enforcement officers at risk.

I've seen some people asking Singaporeans to be understanding and attribute the violence as sparked because of the ill-treatment many workers face from our society and law enforcement, I disagree. While this definitely creates unhappiness and it is disappointing that workers have to put up with it, it is NO excuse for the people involved to have resorted to such violence.

Violence is never warranted.

What I do ask is that Singaporeans realise that it is possible that it isn't 400 foreigners that took part in the violence.

I'm sorry for the law enforcement officers that had to be called in and whose safety was put on the line. I'm horrified at the violence that took place and I don't condone it. I hope that anyone hurt in the violence is receiving the medical attention they need and will heal quickly.

But I also worry about the workers today, workers that were not involved or even in the area who will bear the brunt of our judgmental stares. Workers who will have to put up with even more prejudice because of the actions of their fellow countrymen.

I know you are shocked and outraged Singapore but stereotyping and racism are traits of an uneducated and uncivilized society - is that what we are? 2 comments | Leave a comment Thursday, October 10, 2013 @ 10:47 AM PERMALINK

In the spirit of joining in the #throwbackthursdays fun, I've decided to start doing travel throwbacks.





Like us, many tourists use Hualien as a base point to explore Taroko National Park. Taroko National Park is beautiful.

The stark granite landscapes and crystal clear blue water were unlike anything I've seen before (perhaps partially because I spend most of my time in built up concrete urban areas) and it was a refreshing change from the usual tropical rainforests we are usually exposed to.











We stayed with Hualien Bay Minsu and I can't imagine a better place to stay. The land the minsu occupies is massive. In fact, the picture you saw at the top of this entry was taken in the backyard of the minsu.

Even the scenery surrounding the minsu is beautiful. You'll really have the sea in front of you with mountains at the back. There is even a plot of undeveloped land at the side of the property where you can spot fireflies. It is just the most perfect place to stay for city dwellers like me.

The owners Mr and Mrs Chen took spectacular care of us. They drove us to and fro the train station (even though there was a last minute hiccup and we arrived hours late),  settled the booking of our dolphin tour and Taroko tour guide, ensured that we were very well fed, drove us down to the night market, brought us to buy fireworks and even invited us to their personal BBQ to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival.












And finally, here is a picture of us in helmets cause.. Helmets always make you look funnier when they aren't being put to practical use.

Actually, the helmets are practical considering that the area is known for rockfall, so don't be too cool for a helmet if you are there okay?



Happy Thursday everyone. Just one more day til the weekend.. Hang in there!

Labels: dolphin watching, Hualien, Taiwan, Taroko National Park, travel, travel throwback

0 comments | Leave a comment Sunday, September 29, 2013 @ 1:17 PM PERMALINK

I promised I would be back with something other than shopping and I'm here to deliver.

I had hoped to make a trip down to Ayutthaya this time round but there just seemed to be so much to do and not enough days. So instead, we settled for a little temple exploring in what is known as Old Bangkok.

A couple of years ago, in order to experience Bangkok beyond shopping at Pratunam, Jasmine and I stayed a night in a lovely flashpackers hostel called Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel. Niras is walking distance from many locations tourists set out to see and is also quite near to the infamous Khao San Road. 

It was very refreshing to be out on the street and to see that stalls weren't set up to sell clothes or souvenirs. Instead, most of the shops in the area seemed to be involved in the making and sale of religious paraphernalia. When you peered into shops, you would see people tirelessly gold-leafing statues or crafting temple bells.

Staying in this area was a refreshing experience and is something I would encourage people on return trips to Bangkok to do. 

There are many temples and historical monuments in the Old City. Many tourists hit them all up in a day but I've had the privilege to visit a no more than a couple each time. I find that this allows me to soak up the history and beauty of each temple a little more.

On this trip, we had decided to visit Wat Saket and Loha Praset (which is located on the grounds of Wat Ratchadaran)

It is easy enough to get a taxi from the Pratunam area to any of the temples but we decided to take the Khlong Saen Saep water taxi. The water taxi only runs a West and East line so it is really easy to navigate. To get to Wat Saket, you'll be looking to get off at Panfa Leelard.







Boat hands also double up as ticket masters. Once everyone is seated and often while the boat is in motion, the boat hand reaches in from the outside of the boat to collect money and issue tickets. All this is done whilst perching precariously on the side of the moving water taxi with only a rope for support.



Houses line both sides of the river and traveling by water ferry really opens your eyes up to the different ways Bangkokians live.





Once you get off at Panfa Leelard, you'll be able to see Wat Saket standing grandly against the skyline.
Just follow the signs and you'll be able to find the temple easily. It is an easy 5-10 minute walk.





There are supposed to be about 300 steps to the top and it is a bit of a climb up to the golden chedi but the view you are rewarded with is pretty spectacular. The walk up is also very serene and there are also little things like statues in grottos and temples bells to see along the way up.











Wat Saket is an important part of Thai history and been around since the 1300s. The golden chedi that everyone associates with Wat Saket actually houses buddha relics and this makes the chedi a significant place of reverence for many buddhists. Wat Saket also functions as a monastery and is home to several high ranking Buddhist monks.





All that foliage is just vines and vines of morning glory plants. I've never seen so many at one time. Thin metal wire frames are also laid down to encourage them to continue growing.



Temple buildings are still maintained by hand and workers in charge of the arduous task of sticking on mirrored pieces that have been broken or have fallen off. I always find it incredibly amazing to think of how much effort goes into these buildings of worship.



After our trip to Wat Saket, our next stop was Loha Prasat in Wat Ratchanadda. Wat Ratchanadda is just a short walk from Wat Saket.



The striking Loha Prasat is known for its fully metal roof that features 37 spires, each spire represents one of the 37 virtues to enlightenment.  To date, only three buildings have been built in this manner and Loha Prasat is the only one still standing.

With its stark grey and red colouring, Loha Prasat cuts what some may describe as a stern and imposing figure as compared to other Buddhist buildings that relish the use of warm greens, blues and gold colours.

Once in the building though, you'll realise that stark colours and amazing workmanship aside, this building is a sanctuary for mental reflection and peace.






When you first enter, there is an exhibition that introduces you to the history and construction of the building.







There is a narrow spiral staircase that you can use to explore the upper levels. On the upper levels, you'll find statues of Buddha housed in little chambers. Walls of the levels are also lined with panels
explaining different styles of meditation and various Buddhist teachings.









Tourists seem to prefer to visit temples with many grand mirrored and gold-leafed structures, this leaves Wat Ratchanadda without a large crowd and allows it to maintain a very peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. While I was walking around the halls of Loha Prasat, it was so easy to forget about the hectic environment I am constantly exposed to.

Apart from Loha Prasat, there is also an amulet market located on the grounds of Wat Ratchanadda. We didn't get to explore it this time but if any one else has, do let me know how it is. It sounds like it would be a great experience.







We are bushed after all that walking and the weather was threatening to take a turn for the worst so we shelved our initial plans to visit Chinatown, hopped back on the water taxi and returned to the Siam area. More about that in my next and final post about Bangkok.


Notes for travelers: 

Navigating the Khlong Saen Saep Boat Service

- If you happen to be staying in the same area as we were, from the front of Palladium Mall, locate this marker and walk against the flow of traffic. Pratunum Pier is a short walk from there.



- When it comes to catching the water taxi, you only need to ensure you are on the right side. As mentioned earlier, the service only goes in two directions so all you'll have to do is ask if the boat is going towards Panfa Leelard.

- Tickets are only issued once you are seated so remember which stop you are getting off and let the boat hand know. The boat hand will then collect the money from you and issue you a paper ticket.

Ticket in the picture below is for our trip from Panfa Leelard to Sapan Hua Chang so you'd be better off ignoring the price. I think it cost us about 12 baht to go from Pratunam to Panfa Leelard.

In any case, getting a taxi would cost you at least 10 times more so you'd definitely save money taking the water ferry. Savings aside, I personally think the water ferry is a great way to travel. It is quick and the seats aren't uncomfortable. Also, you get a taste of how many of the locals get around Bangkok.



- You should also note that the river is not the cleanest around and that the blue construction tarp you may have sighted in some of the photos is used to help passengers avoid getting splashed by khlong water when the boat is moving.

The tarp is operated by a pulley system so passengers in at least 3 rows have to pull it up together in order for it to work well.

- Please bear in mind that the water ferry is also used by locals as a mode of transport so while you may be tempted to keep the tarp down to snap photos, do pay attention to the people around you.

- Panfa Leelard is the end of the line so you don't have to worry about missing the stop. In any case, each water taxi stop has a sign with the name of the stop on it so you'll be able to find out quite easily if you should be getting off.

- The trip from Pratunam to Panfa Leelard took about 15-20 minutes, not including the waiting time for the water taxis to arrive. I'm not sure what the frequency of the boats are like but it never felt like we had to wait for very long.

- If you want to get to the Siam area by water ferry, get off at Sapan Hua Chang

Visiting Wat Saket and Wat Ratchanadda

Wat Saket: There is a ticketing booth at the base of the steps up to the chedi and you'll have to buy an entrance ticket for either 20 or 30 baht. There is another donation box at the front of the chedi but it is up to you to give as you see fit

- Wat Ratchanadda: There is no one manning a ticketing booth at Wat Ratchanadda but there is a contribution box when you enter Loha Prasat for the conservation of the temple buildings.

There is more to both Wat Saket and Wat Ratchanadda then what we saw. Both temple complexes are home to buildings of historical and cultural significance. As mentioned earlier, Wat Ratchanadda also hosts an amulet market on its grounds. We didn't get to explore all these places but please do if you are there and you have the time to spare. 

Labels: bangkok, loha prasat, temple visiting, Thailand, travel, wat saket

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