Waterlust in B-B-BARLEYYYYY

Bali, if you were wondering what BARLEYYYY meant. It's an expression of our desire for the tantalising empire of water sports and high-class fun we would indulge ourselves in. BARLEYYYY. BARLEYYY. BARLEYYYYYYY. 

I'll skip ahead of all the chaos, sleep-deprivation (overnight flight) and tedious travelling that happened in between, 'cuz travel takes up like 3/4 of your overall time. I shit you not. At least 45 minutes from place to place.... by car! 3 hours, sometimes, if you have your destinations set further. My suggestion is to rent a personal chauffeur, or if you have a license, drive.

Villa

If you're heading in with a huge group, it's best to pool your budget for a villa, although it'll probably have rats and geckos the size of cats. Not much of a night partying nature, our staycation in BARLEY, but lots of water sports and scenery to behold.

Post-dive jumpshot with the paddy fields and le buddy

2014? Ain’t got no time for that.

Okay, I've officially snapped out of my drunken stupor and am ready to type. =] First off, Happy New Year, everyone! Next.

2014. You were a roller coaster ride; I had a love-hate r/s with you; too much emotional politics that I couldn't care less, national, international or personal. But rather than doing what a lot of people have done -- writing and reminiscing about their accomplishments and rage quitting 2014 -- I'd rather talk about the future. 

2015, rather than be afflicted by chronic claustrophobia of small minds, I've decided to grab you by the ass, introduce myself and elope with you. By that, obviously, I mean escapism: travel whores -- pouncing on place after place with voracious lust, bumping into old and new friends alike, and soliciting adventures like souped-up adrenaline turbo junkies.

On the sidelines, I will (try to) graduate (with brilliant grades). I will land a full-time writing job thereafter. I will intensify workouts and get ripped. Get my girlfriend to approve of kinky you need a life if you're reading this.

My Mount Kinabalu Escapade

P.S. Sorry for the way overdue post! Been really busy with new trips and all, but here it is: The (assuming anyone reads this) long-awaited Mt. K. post!

Bidding my beloved laptop goodbye and tearing my tush from my cush, I set out to conquer one of Asia’s tallest peaks. I did my research and obtained a return ticket via Air Asia, which cost me S$260. My accommodation in Kota Kinabalu was very bare and simple, since the price of luxury would have scorched a hole in my pocket, all through to my tighty whities. It was at Asia Adventure Lodge, where it was just a few bus stops away from KK's airport and where I was to be picked up at 6 a.m. the following dawn. It’s about S$9 per night for a clusterf**k dormitory and S$25 for private quarters. 

Amazing Bourneo Tours was the mountaineering agency with which I corresponded under this site. I had some problems initially because of some financial misunderstandings. But hey, add that to the fact that I was a complete NOOB in travel negotiations, and you got yourself a very persevering and insistent client. :D The guide and climbing fee from Timpohon Gate to Low’s Peak at 4,095m (Someone had a sense of irony) was priced strategically at S$659. I thought this was pretty reasonable, in contrast to other official hotel and Mt. K. websites at the time. Prices fluctuate a lot due to Mt. K.'s commercialised value, but when you gotta do it, no time's better than now.

My Underwater Odyssey: 9-11 May, 2014

And thus, began my underwater mission to prove myself as an advanced diver. Having procured my Open Water Certificate at Dayang Island, I'd decided to take a second twist with Malaysia's Tioman Island to secure my Advanced qualification. Blue Reef Scuba was the company my friend had recommended to me, and it's at an utterly affordable rate -- about S$486 or so, I believe. Considering the market average to be about S$530, I'd say we were making a killing here. The staff are meticulous, friendly, invitingly professional and genuine. This was pretty short notice too, since I had signed up on the same week as the departure date, so I was quite impressed with their efficiency as well. 

                                 

Cruising around Tioman Island

Nature VS. Man

Nature is one of those things that make us ponder about life - the monotonous, clinical routine of city life and all the inflated, material fuss. The moment you surmount the pinnacle of a mountain or spend a consecutive duration of time without ostentatious luxuries, is when you realise the trivialities of existence. Very many people take life for granted and images for calendar embellishment.

Country stroll on a sunny day

I've hiked through enough meadows and had a wild share of my own mountaineering adventures to understand the concept of a life parallel with nature. Many important life lessons can be translated into the context of social, political, spiritual and economical dimensions.

Prelude to a tornado

Take for example an incoming disaster. This picture of a looming tornado, I feel, was well worth the sacrifice. As I was in my cabin, news reports were charging into the radio and television to stay indoors, followed by emergency protocols should the worst happen.