Family

Family (Source: Google.com)

Since young, when people knew that I was born the youngest in the family, they always told me you must be spoiled a lot! And I would respond immediately and tell them that they were wrong! Because when I was that age, my parents and the rest of the siblings were busy with their own lives. When I reached teenager myself, I became the one who was busy with my own activity.

I left my country after finishing high school. I had to depend more on others since then. Then I got married not long after I graduated. So again, I had to live separately from all of them and built my own family.

But I wouldn't deny that although we grew up and lived separately, I could feel their loves even from a far. Sometimes we would visit to each other's country for a visit and holiday. There, I was really pampered!!!

They would ask me what I would love to eat, where I wanted to go, they would pay for my shopping, they would bring some gifts from their home, they would give their precious time and accompany me wherever I would love to go, etc.

Sometimes I even wondered if I had treated them equally nice whenever they came to the country where I stayed. And being the youngest, they always refused to accept my money. They would feel their responsibility as elders and gave me a treat :D

It also applied to my hubby and son. Since my dear baobei was born, I seldom bought him any clothes. Most of it was brought by my parents, siblings, and in-laws. Whenever they traveled, they would buy gift to both of them too. It's their love, thought and sincerity that touched me. They wanted to make sure that we were all happy :)

I'm blessed!!!

I have to say that I'm proud being part of this family. I'm proud with the way how our parents taught us with life's values, what were the important things to take a note between sibling's relationship, such as: sharing, helping each other, praying to each other's health, well being and happiness, supporting mentally by being an ear to listen their woes,  lighten up their burdens in mind, and many more.

We were all born with unique personality and each of us had very different characters and personalities. None of us were perfect! We sometimes fought, quarrelled too, again, due to our nature and differences. But we were back to normal very soon. We didn't hold grudges. Sometimes we even laughed at it whenever reminded of some funny fights, like pulling hair, biting hands, etc. Haha...

Now that we have all grown up, we enter into another stage of life. We become more cautious about our health. My mom and both sisters have just complained to me about their forgetfulness (fyi, I was the listener among them and they often shared their things with me). Three of them experienced the same and it made me wonder if I'd inherit the same gene as well :D

My parents often complained the way my both elder sis took their drink. E.g. they both liked to drink iced beverage, be it iced coffee, soft drink with ice, iced water, etc. Tired listening to the complain and being conscious about my own health, I decided to avoid drinking that unless once in a while when there was no choice and when I felt having it, but not regularly like them.

We are family :)

That's also why I always see how they do and decide what's right for me and keep learning from them each and everyday ^^ Hope we will keep this way though, together facing life in positive way and live with harmony :) Thank you everyone for being kind and good for me and my families! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! Wish all of you are blessed with good health and stay happy always! Take care! Muachh... :)

Gili Trawangan Island - Northwest Lombok, Indonesia

Adventure Quote :)

The sense of 'adventure' for you and I might be different. For me, adventure might be trying something new and going to new place :)

Bali, Lombok and Gili Islands map (Source: Google.com)

Lombok was just located next to Bali Island, about half an hour flight from Bali. Today it's my first time going to Gili Trawangan Island, a small island located at northwest side of Lombok Island. From Mataram town, it's an hour drive to Jl Raya Senggigi area and we took speedboat (with fast speed) and reached within 10 minutes time.

Our rented speed boat in the middle - Lombok Island

Before visiting this island, I always had an impression that Lombok Island wasn't as crowded as Bali although their beaches were more beautiful and much cleaner than Bali. Also, most tourists would prefer to visit Bali than Lombok. But after reaching Gili Trawangan Island, then I knew where most tourists flocked into in Lombok :)

Test diving - Gili Trawangan, Lombok

Blue Marine Dive Resort - Lombok, Indonesia 

Gili Trawangan Island - Lombok, Indonesia 

Trawangan Grill Restaurant - Lombok, Indonesia 

Snorkeling equipment rental - Gili Trawangan, Lombok 

See the above pictures? Those were the view along the side of the island. And it's all catered mostly for foreigners (more non-Asian). Lots of them went there for diving, snorkeling, chilling and relaxing - like sun tanning, doing yoga, reading, massaging, etc. Somehow it felt like I was in Thailand but here the language was familiar for me, only that I didn't feel like at home ^^

Cold beer in such hot afternoon!!! It's a bliss!! ^^

After strolling a long way and return I was quite tired. The sun shone so strong! For SLE person like me, I was supposed to avoid the sunlight, especially the strong afternoon sun. Therefore, I took a rest at the gazebo at Easy Café, ordered a chilled big bottle of Bintang Beer, the local Indonesian beer :)

Cheers!!!! ^^

My family members started going into the sea water with their swimwears. I slowly finished my drink then took my umbrella (awkwardly), walking out to the beach. It was damn hot!!! It was 11 am local time. I saw my sister and her children were enjoying the sea waves. My heart was itchy! I went back and changed my pant. I told my mom that I was going to join them. So, there I went!!!

Snorkeling area at Gili Trawangan - Lombok, Indonesia 

Despite hot sun, the sea water became a good reliever. I slowly walked and joined them. There were many corals under the water. That's why we had to walk very slowly. Soon, I played with the waves with them!!! ^^ It felt damn great ya! It'd really been a while since the last time I swam inside the sea. I almost forgot the taste of it until I licked my lips :P

I wasn't really good at swimming so we kept ourselves in safe depth. Many people were using their snorkeling equipment and goggle to see underneath the water at certain depth. We slowly walked into the deeper area. The water was getting cold the deeper we went. Borrowing my niece's goggle, I too looked underneath the water and saw the corals and the fishes swimming around the corals.

More waves :)

OMG!!! It was my first time experiencing that lah! I was so happy as usually I could only imagine that or watch it on TV! ^^ Also, we were very lucky as there was tide. Usually people had to swim much further if they wanted to see that. I couldn't stop being grateful looking that nature life under the water :)

We were actually wanting to stay longer but my father had already called me as he was worrying about my health as it was mid afternoon :)

My happy and content face after swimming ^^

So, that was my adventure for today! And I was very happy la! Thank you SB for giving us this chance to see underwater world naturally in this place! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I was loving it! :)

Get married - Baru ke Bali

T-shirt from Bali

"Get married - then go to Bali. One day if you have found your soul mate that is ready to get married, tell him/her that one day both of you will have honeymoon in Bali"

You may or may not hear about it. Bali is also known as the island of Gods. It's a very popular travel destination both locally and internationally. Its beauty may bring you feeling like in heaven! That's why the above words created for - that this place is really well-known too as the honeymoon place.

So that was how my deary and I visited this heavenly like place, just both of us, right after we both got married. We stayed at the five star hotel located at Nusa Dua area, the southern part of Bali island, among the rest of other competing five-star hotel on the area.

Colorful Vespa Scooter - Source: Google.com

We chose to rent the cute colorful scooter above instead of the usual convertible jeep or car as it's faster travel using this. So this evening we put on our red helmets and he rode it to Kuta Beach - a very popular beach destination to surf and swim - but for us was to catch sunset.

He rode the scooter safely despite trying to squeeze between the cars in the narrow Bali road. I held his waist firmly while sitting behind him and sometimes our helmets would knock against each other. Although the sun was not yet coming down, the blown wind was cooling one, that we believed it was blown all the way from Australia, that experiencing winter season these days.

Pantai Kuta - Bali

My hair blew scatterly from the gap of my helmet but who cared? I just kept hugging and enjoyed the evening breeze. When reaching, he parked the scooter among the rest of the motorcycles, which mostly branded 'Honda' or 'Yamaha'. We locked our helmets safely before we hand-in-hands walked through the sandy road - with big stone signage written firmly - Pantai Kuta ('pantai' means beach).

"Say, (means dear in Indonesian - short form of 'sayang') let's buy the grilled corns ok? And coconut too. The sunset is almost coming." told him while walking towards the grilled corn seller.

Grilled corn or jagung bakar (Source: Google.com)

The melted butter smelled deliciously as we walked closer. It was freshly grilled.

"How much, Mbak? (Usually call lady in polite way)" asked my deary.

"Ten thousand, Sir! Want how many? Two ya?" replied her.

"Iya Mbak, two please," my deary took one piece of twenty thousand rupiah note from his Billabong wallet and passed it to me, "Nah, you wait here and collect, OK? I'm going to the stall there to pick a nice and young coconut." 

He then walked to the coconut shop and chose one big green layer skin coconut from the basket that had just been carried down from the small truck just beside the road. It's a very good business selling fresh coconuts over there. He asked the seller to chop the skin, opened it nicely on the top, put the red and blue straws, plus the plastic spoon, and he came towards me. I'd collected the corns as well, so we both walked towards the sandy beach facing the sea, and sat there on the sand.

Hmmm.... the burnt charcoal made some part of the corn blackish in color but it was shiny through the fragrant melted butter. We sat freely and started munching our corns. It was sweet and salty, also crunchy at the same time. I looked at my watch, it's 5.45 pm now. About half an hour time towards the sunset.

He took the corn bites that was stuck on my right cheek with his finger then looked deep into my eyes, "You look beautiful dear," told him while smiling. "Thank you dear!" replied me, smiling back to him too :)

More tourists came to the beach, mostly Australian couple, newly wed local Indonesians, and recently, Chinese usually with their family members.

I sipped the red straw while he sipped the blue straw. The juice was sweet and refreshing! Hhmmmm.... slurp slurp sound was heard when we had almost finished drinking it. It was too young to get the meat so we just left it there.

Sunset at Kuta Beach - Bali

The surrounding sky had slowly turned reddish as the sun had become bigger and roundish like the orange color part of the salted egg ^^

"Oh dear, God's creation was simply amazing!!!" awed me in gratitude. My eyes were stuck with the sun. He sat closer next to mine and his left hand was lengthen to reach my arm. I could feel his gently after-shave soap smell from his chin and macho smell perfume too from his shirt. "OMG!!! It felt like heaven!!!" I said it inside my heart.

The sun was slowly disappeared into the cloud and sea. The red salty egg had finally gone. "Dear," called him. I turned my head towards his and he kissed my forehead softly, "I love you dear! Forever and ever!" whispered him. I kissed his left cheek fast and playfully, "I love you very much too dear! Forever and ever!" Then he held my left arm tighter and I fell under his safe and secure hug!!! Faintly we heard the song from afar...

What's the greatest chapter in your book? 
Are there pages where it hurts to look? 
What's the one regret you can't work through? 
You got it baby, mine would be you
Yeah you got it baby, mine would be you.

Mine would be you
Taillights fading
Daylight breaking
Standing there like a fool
When I should've been running
Yellin' out something
To make you wanna hold on to
The best love ever
Girl, can you tell me
The one thing you'd rather die than lose?
Cause mine would be you
Mine would be you, you...

Bhutan Trip Day 21 - 13 July 2015 Phuentsholing - Meeting up with bloggers plus eat, eat and eat :D

Finally meeting Tshering Chekii and Karma Wangzom in Phuentsholing, Bhutan :)

Finally I met up with Tshering Chekii in person :) We knew each other from blogging and exchanged books all the way from Phuentsholing and Singapore through her friend who went Singapore for training. She brought her school mate, Karma Wangzom, with her that morning to the hotel where I stayed. At first we would like to find momo for lunch. However, after trying to find at few different food stalls, we gave up and decided to have chow mian at Indian stall instead :D

Morning coffee break with Chekii and Wangzom :)

After that we went around the town and visited book store. There, I bought the "Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill" written by Richard Matthieu. My friend, Sithar, recommended me this book. Then we sat at Kizom Cafe for a cup of coffee and chit chat.

Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

We crossed the road and walked to Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang. We walked one round turning the wheel prayers. While doing that, suddenly I remembered that I forgot to bring my book from the Kizom Cafe. We walked back in rush but luckily they kept the book with them and returned it back to me. From that onward, Wangzom started calling me 'Miss Happiness' :D Both of them went back to college to prepare their things and so we had to bid farewell. Nice meeting you both, my sweet two ladies :) At least, the 'next time' that I always told you before, had been realized :)

Pizza lunch at Kizom Cafe with Sithar

I went back to hotel and took a rest. In a while Sithar fetched me as we were meeting for lunch. He chose to eat pizza at Kizom Cafe. Hahaha.. It's been my second time visiting this place in a day. But their Bhutanese Pizza - pizza with bacon, local green chili, and mozzarella cheese was really tasting good. We both enjoyed it! We closed our meal with Tiramisu dessert. Fyi, they also sold many varieties of western desserts, quite good standard in Bhutan. '

Regional Revenue and Customs Office - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

After lunch, Sithar dropped me at the above place - Regional Revenue and Customs Office. This place was located not far from the Bhutan gate. I went there to meet another blogger - Kuenzang Thinley - who worked there for some time. We had tea at his office, then cup of coffee at the office's cafeteria. While we were inside his office, many people came and went asking for his 'precious' signatures on various documents. Hehehe... He kept telling me how busy he was at his office in his everyday's life. However, he enjoyed it up to now :D At 5 pm I walked back to the hotel, again to take some rest.

Dinner with Palden and Sithar at Mid Point Hotel - Phuentsholing, Bhutan :)

At 7 pm Sithar picked Palden and I at the hotel's lobby and we went for dinner at Mid Point Restaurant on top of the hill with swimming pool nearby the area. I had my usual favorite Druk 11000, Sithar had his Foster, and Palden had Pepsi :) We ate Indian food again. Nice dinner and chit chatted. We went back to our own place and I had an early rest. Thank you for the dinner la Palden!! And thank you everyone for your time and effort in meeting me la! I enjoyed meeting all of you there, all the way coming from Singapore :)

Bhutan Trip Day 20 - 12 July 2015 Phuentsholing - RIGSS, Kharbandi Goemba, CST, Milarepa Tower, RIGSS Coronation Hostel, NPPF Colony :)

Indian food lunch with Sithar, Palden, and Lachee - 12 Jul 15 :)

Morning time we spent time nearby the area and we had lunch together - Indian food :)

RIGSS - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

After lunch, Sithar, who worked at the RIGSS (The Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies), gave me a tour around the area.

"Envisioned by His Majesty the King, this place is built to provide a forum to train both incumbent and potential leaders in all major areas of nation building. RIGSS provides high quality education and discourse on governance, public policy, and leadership, aided by result-oriented reserach to influence and shape real-life public policy decisions." - Source: RIGSS website. 

You can check the link of the website above for more info. According to Sithar, many good speakers, trainers, Professors, leaders, civil servants, etc. from both local and overseas were invited to give the teaching. A very well-equipped class was provided to facilitate the teaching. There was even a Royal Suite inside for the King to stay.

Kharbandi Goemba - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

It was raining heavily in the afternoon. A while later, once it stopped, we continued our visit. This time, to the Kharbandi Goemba, built in 1967 by the Royal Grandmother, Ashi Phuntsho Choedron. It was a beautiful temple with many stupas outside. From there you could see the view of Phuentsholing town and the plain of West Bengal lying side by side. Inside, we prayed to Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

CST (College of Science and Technology) - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

We continued our journey to CST (College of Science and Technology), the only institute in Bhutan offering undergraduate degree programs in engineering. Currently it offered Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Information Technology. It was located not far from the above place. It was where some of our Bhutanese bloggers studying. However, it was holiday when I went there so not many students were seen. But I was glad finally being there as I now knew how the school looked like :)

A nine-storey tower dedicated to Milarepa - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

We also visited the under construction buildings above - a nine-storey tower dedicated to Milarepa, the Tibetan medieval poet-yogi, famous for his journey from revenge motivated witchcraft to enlightenment (1052-1135). The building was called Sangye Migyur Ling Lhakhang. 

RIGSS Coronation Hostel - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

We visited the RIGSS Coronation Hostel located separated from the RIGSS building. It's to accommodate those scholarship candidates that selected for the Senior Executive Leadership Program (SELP) and Military Leaders Strategic Studies Seminar (MLS) program.

Phuentsholing - Jaigon border (Bhutan Gate)

We had plenty of time before heading to Tandin's house for dinner. Therefore, Sithar brought me around the Phuentsholing town to take a look. There, we stopped to take photos of Gol (round) building, the landmark building of Phuentsholing town, together with the artificial elephant statue located across the road. Amrith Sir ever wrote the post about his visual recollection of Phuentsholing town when he visited in his very young age, so I thought of taking the photo as to let him know that statue was still there standing strong :)

From top of Phuentsholing town :)

Sithar also brought me to upper side of the town where there were some factories like Pepsi and Bhutan Milk and Agro. From there we could see the beautiful view of the Phuentsholing town from above.

NPPF Colony Mani Dungkhor - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

After that we went to NPPF Colony. I finally saw the Mani Dungkhor (big wheel prayer) that was initiated by Acho Tshering in real!!! He mentioned it to me when it was built. Lots of donation money required to build that. Finally it was inaugurated in January 2014 with a blessing and prayer done by H.H. Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche.

Dinner at mathang's house :D

Finally we had our dinner at Tandin's house. Thank you for your invitation la Acho and Mathang :) We started it with potato chips as changpa plus drink of our preference hehehe... I had Raven vodka with Sprite but then decided to change to Druk 11000 as it was too sweet for me :) Then we continued with delicious dinner prepared by both of them. I really enjoyed the dinner la!! Thank you so much Sithar, Palden, Acho Tshering and Tandin for your time and effort and your kind hospitality for my visit there in Phuentsholing. I felt like I had browsed almost the whole town just in a day hehehe... Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!! :)

Bhutan Trip Day 19 - 11 July 2015 Bajo - Thimphu - Phuentsholing :)

With Kipchu and his mom :)

Me and Kipchu's mom :)

We woke up at 5.30 am, had our breakfast and tea, then packed my bag. We took photos together before leaving the house.

One last look at Kipchu's home sweet home :) - Uma Village, Bhutan

With his youngest brother :)

At 6.50 am we went out from home to the motor-able road up there. His youngest brother followed and helped us carrying my bag. I had to remove my slippers again when climbing up the muddy path, plus a stick on my hand, as it was still slippery and easy to fall :D

In a while we reached the road safely. We proceed to the nearest water tap at villager's house to wash our feet and wore our slippers back. Kipchu arranged another car to go down up to his cousin brother's house. From there, the cousin brother sent us all the way to Bajo town, to the taxi station. I forgot to take photo with him. He was such a nice guy, willing to help both of us without expecting any return. May Buddha bless him and his families with good health and lots of happiness!

Thank you la Kipchu! :)

I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Kipchu and his families too for hosting me at their house for two nights and offered the best they could to make my stay comfortable and memorable. I would like to thank Kipchu personally for his time and effort put to fetch and send me back to Bajo safely. May Buddha bless you and your families too! :)

Positive Quote :)

It was a great opportunity for us to exchange views about each other's life - life that he went through and life that I went through. We learn from each other's experience and look forward for a better future. Nothing is certain but as long we put our heart and willingness on it, work hard towards it, persevere and focus one thing at one time, and most importantly, be positive about it, I think we all can overcome our life journey. No one says it will be easy, but it will be worth it! :)

So, we bid farewell there at the bus station. It's time for me to leave and continued to my other destination. I took the taxi back to Thimphu. Luzee and Lolo fetched me from Simthoka and sent me to Rekha's house. I had to repack my bag before leaving to Phuentsholing. They then dropped me at Jojo's as to meet Acho Tshering who had also kindly sent me along from Thimphu all the way to Phuentsholing.

It was my first time visiting Phuentsholing. I'd been wanting to visit this place as before that, I always heard from others that they went to this place to shop or to transit before continued their journey to India. It was a border town with Jaigaon, India, located at southern Bhutan.

Phuentsholing - Thimphu highway, Bhutan

Phuentsholing - Thimphu highway, Bhutan

The Phuentsholing - Thimphu highway road was good and wide but up to certain point. We were blessed with good weather - blue sky and hot sun. But once we reached Chhukha, it started raining and foggy. Acho said, the weather there was always like this almost every day. When entering Gedu, the road was even more dangerous as there were few land slides area that we had to pass through. Acho always opened his window to check if there was any stones falling down when passing those critical zones. He had bad experience before by getting stuck in the road block for days.

Rainbow after the rain - Phuentsholing, Bhutan :)

Sunset at Phuentsholing, Bhutan

It took us about 5 hours to finally reach Phuentsholing. We saw and passed by the tower of Milarepa from afar, CST (College of Science and Technology) school and hostel, Kharbandi Goemba, RIGGS (Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies) on our way to Hotel Lhaki, where I would stay for 3 nights. We met up with Sithar in the hotel lobby before moving to NPPF (National Pension and Provident Fund) Colony to meet Tandin, my Acho's wife (Sorry, correction - it's wife-to-be) :D

Lhaki Hotel - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Lhaki Hotel - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Hard Rock Cafe - Phuentsholing, Bhutan :D

After picking up Lachee from the hotel, we went for dinner together at Asian Kitchen and Bar, a new restaurant in town that sold various Asian food. We had non-Bhutan food there, finally! :D

Our dinner at Asian Kitchen and Bar - Phuentsholing, Bhutan

While waiting, suddenly someone came over. It happened to be someone I know, someone familiar. Hehehe... Fancy meeting Kuenzang Thinley or known initially as PSN with his two daughters there!!! I met him first time during my first blogger's meeting in Thimphu in Sep 23, 2013. He was coincidentally going there to get Indian currency. Nice meeting you Kuenzang and thank you Sithar and Acho for the delicious dinner plus Druk 11000 :D Once dinner was over, we went back to our places to rest :)