To the special friend who´s reading this..

You knew me when we were placed in the same class when we were in form 3. I don´t really remember much about that year but I knew our friendship starting growing from then on. You´re such a quiet boy, and though close friends will say that you talk a lot, I still think you´re a man of a few words. Or maybe I´m just too talkative. =P

Nevertheless, you have been an awesome friend over the years. Lots of my other friends have changed, especially since they went overseas, abandoning their Malaysian-ness for a more Americanized point of view. But you still remain my old friend, one that I can count on through thick or thin.

I can´t remember the last time we had the Subang rojak or walk around SP together but I truly cherish all the time that we spend together. The stupid education system of Australia and US has made it utterly impossible for us to be in one place at the same time. Can you believe it has been almost 2 years of not seeing each other?

Or has it been more?

And do you know what is even more interesting? Or in this case saddening? Every year.. during this time of the year, I´m always in some weird part of the world.. Last year I was in Colombia and this year I was in Peru.

Why would that be weird? You ask..

Well.. I can´t call and wish you Happy Birthday!!!!!!

I know its a little late but its the thought that counts right? I was in the jungle at the time of your birthday! =P

So.. I guess I´ll just count on you visiting my blog and reading this short message to tell you that...

I miss you lots and..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENG!!!!

p:s/ I prefer spelling your name with a ¨b¨ instead of a ¨p¨! Hehe..

Comfort zone

I know I have been talking a lot about living without electricity and stuff.. saying that I don´t mind living in the jungle and everything but truth to be told, people like you and me grow up in a different kind of environment and we wouldn´t be able to take it without the things that we grow up in.

Its not that we can´t survive, its just a little harder that´s all..

I remember the other day when I went for jungle trekking in my shorts and flip flops. Don´t ask me why I did that but basically we were suppose to go into the jungle to get some tropical fruits and along the way I got bitten by thousands of mosquitoes and got cut by weird grass and plants. I was utterly miserable at that time and I had the image of me walking around in a air-condition mall with my high heels!

Can you imagine that? That suddenly became the thing I want most at that moment.

To walk in a mall with heels!

I don´t even like walking in heels in the first place. Its been ages since I last wore one. But the intense uncomfortable environment at that moment provoked me to yearn for the thing that made me comfortable the most. Shopping in a mall was my comfort zone. Not jungle trekking in the Amazon.

I can live in the village without electricity and water for a short period of time.. but for life? Em... that´s a bit hard. Even though I don´t have a home theater seating, but the image of it gives me comfort because that´s what I´m used too.

Similarly, put a child from the village in the middle of the streets of Bukit Bintang and see how the kid react.

At least I can still live in the jungle for a short period of time. Some princesses can´t even stand being there for a second!

Small Update!

So.. I´m in Peru right now blogging. Haha.. surprising how last time we had to pay god knows how much just to have 1 hour of internet and now even hostels have free internet service.

I´m in Iquitos right now. Its kinda like Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The difference is that KK has more shopping malls and its next to the ocean while Iquitos is next to the Amazon river.

So far I have bathed in the Amazon river, swam together with piranhas, climbed a tree and jump down from it, shit and pee in the jungle and had over 110 mosquito bites just on my legs alone.. crazy..

I used to always have a diary with me when I was young. Even if I didn´t write in it every day, at least I would write in it like once every 2 or 3 months. But I totally stopped once I got to the States and its really sad. I have so much experience to record but I´m not doing anything at all to keep track of my experiences. I tried buying a journal when I first got to Peru but I couldn´t find anything that I like.. Its sad right? Havingso much experiences but not recording any of it at all.. Ah well..

I´m leaving for Cusco tomorrow night. Cusco is where Manchu Pichu is. It seems that because its situated in high altitudes, people get short of breath pretty quickly. I´m quite worried about that because I felt it a little when I was in Bogota last year.

I´m really starting to fall in love with this place. I shall post some pictures when I get back. Peru is much like Malaysia in a way because its still a developing country but at the same time, its still kinda different.

And I think because of that, its making me miss Malaysia even more. And Cody.. Boohooo..

See you guys when I get back!

Coffee

South America is a land of coffee!!! Ok.. I don´t know if that´s a good generalization to make but everybody goes crazy buying coffee here.

Does coffee only grow on tropical countries?

I know Vietnam is popular for its coffee. Is Malaysia popular for its coffee too? Or is it just its tea in Cameron highlands?

I can´t believe I´m forgetting. Haha..

I know Colombia is famous for its coffee. I bought some for my mum but I think she gave everything away in the end. She only likes Nescafe. She doesn´t like to go through all the trouble grinding the coffee beans and slowly brewing it.

My mum is weird.

Maybe I should try and open coffee franchises all around the world educating people of coffee from other parts of the world.. Hmm.. good idea?

Simple life

The main purpose of coming to Peru was to study about sustainable development. So basically, my professor brought us to a small village called San Pedro and we stayed there for the next 10 days.

I never knew I could live without electricity and clean water, not to mention bathroom for the next 10 days. But I did it. I´m a true city girl but I just succeeded in living in a ¨jungle¨! WoohoO!!!

The people that lived in the village were not native people or anything. They don´t wear coconut shells or paint their faces or anything. Its just that the government didn´t provide good infratructure to the village and they have been stuck without basic stuff while everyone around them live comfortably. The kids there are adorable. They´re innocent and pure compared to the city kids who only know how to trick you into buying their stuff. They run around barefoot and jump into the river whenever they like. Though their houses aren´t exactly the Brat Pitt´s mansion but they´re satisfied with their life. Can you imagine living without electricity and a bathroom all your life? If you needed to shit, go dig a whole in the jungle behind your home. If you need water, go start putting buckets outside and wait for the rain water. No such thing as home insurance here.

Do you think you can live this way?

Souvenir shopping

Ok.. so all my blog entries will kinda be related to Peru. Hope you guys wont get bored! =)

I hate doing souvenir shopping for people. I know there´s an unwriten understanding that you need to buy souvenir for people back home when you go for holidays and stuff but it is such a pain in the b*tt! First of all, I have no idea what to buy for anyone. And second.. and most important, I rather use my money to buy stuff for MYSELF! Why should I have to buy for other people? What if they never travel anywhere and I don´t get any souvenirs in return?

Ok.. I sound like a super selfish bitch! Sorry.. can´t help it..

I have been buying lots of hand-made bracelets from this place. And I know I wont really take it for myself because I don´t need 20 same design bracelets. But you know sometimes you need special present for special friends? Urgh.. that´s the headache part! I´m not even going to try getting anything for my family. So dad, if you´re reading this, you´re not going to get anything from Peru.

Its your money right? I´m sure you wont want me to waste your money!

Maybe I should just get 10 Votive candle holders and pretend that they are from Peru. Hmm...

Getting lost in the jungle

So, I have been living in the jungle for the past 2 weeks already. Did you know that you can use GPS to find your way around the jungle? My professor brought 2 GPS from US to use it in the jungle when he goes and catch fish.

He´s a marine biologist for your information.

And I´m in Peru to study about sustainable development!

I totally had no idea that you can use that. Ok.. maybe I kinda knew that people use navigation system to find their way around seas and stuff. But it totally didn´t occur to me that you can use it while going jungle trekking and stuff. Cool right?

Now nobody can get lost anymore!

Typical Girls

Girls are girls.. no matter where you are or what kind of girls you may perceive them to be. I have been staying in a small village for the past 10 days without electricity and clean water and the girls here are still complaining about being fat!!!

Oh god.. you would have think that they will get a little bit of perspective knowing that some people in this world are living with the bare necessaties! But no... they still have time and space to think about their looks.

I´m just happy that I have food and nice Amazonian river water to bathe in. Dieting? To hell with it! Who cares anyway? Besides.. I´m already sweating like crazy over here. You never know when to appreciate fans until you don´t have them at all! Let alone air-cond! Maybe I should give them a little of the cheap diet pills that everyone seem to be talking about. Then they can stop complaining and start enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Like getting bitten by mosquitos!

Off I go!

I'm off to the Amazon forest to make friends with the insects of the world.


Wish me luck!!!


Urgh... I am dreading to do this. The only thing I'm looking forward is this...




I'll be back on the 24th. Till then.. See ya!!!

Stupid Memory Card

Memory cards nowadays can be so confusing. What is the difference between SD cards and SDHC cards? I just brought a new camera for my trip to Peru and I needed a bigger storage memory card but I realized that my laptop doesn't read SDHC cards.

Is SDHC better quality or something? Or does it mean that it has bigger capacity? I thought that there would be 4GB SD card but all I found was 4GB SDHC cards.

WHY?

I don't understand. What is the difference? Anyone know?

Rashes

I recently developed a serious dose of rashes. I have no idea what happen but around a month or two ago, I developed little red dots all over my arms, abdomen, back and legs. Its horrible! All I do is scratch, scratch and scratch. And the worst part is that I have no idea what is wrong with me.

I finally went and see the doctor the other day and the doctor couldn't even tell me what was wrong with me. She actually had to call another doctor to identify together with her. Though in the end, they still weren't sure what was the problem. All she could do was give me antibiotics and some cream. I was kinda worried that the medical fees would be very expensive, it being US and all. But because I had insurance, it was free!!! Weird right? Until now.. I still don't know how this insurance thing in US work. You get an insurance quote, get the right insurance, pay every month and everything is covered?

Weird.. But me like! =)

Nursing

I used to think that the nursing program was for people that could not get into medical programs. No offense nurses but that was what I thought initially. But living in US especially has shown me that nurses actually play a big role in the medical field. They need to study a lot before being a certified registered nurse.

I have a friend from high school that is doing just that. She just completed her nursing program and is now an official registered nurse. Its amazing when you hear what they do and study in their programs. Nurses are actually really humble people. They do all the dirty behind the scenes work and are never acknowledge. It takes a lot to be a nurse. That is definitely!

St.Xavier's Masters in Nursing program is one of the top places that get a good degree in nursing. It is a MS nursing. Students will get a Clinical Nurse Leader Masters Degree. All you need is a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university to be required fo admission. They have online courses which can be combined with one weekend of applied campus experience. Graduates of their online Master's degrees are prepared to meet various demands of the industry and the diverse and changing needs of employers.

I always think its good to further your studies if you have the chance. I hope I get to go into graduate school too!

Lexington Personal Injury Lawyer

Lexington personal injury lawyer