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.