Life is full of experiences. Share them.

I will share my daily dysfunctions with you.

And you can do the same.
Just comment, and I will reply.
Ask a question and I will do my best to answer.
No one can listen if you don't speak.

"Sometimes the best thing to do is just to say exactly what’s in your heart."

- J.D, Scrubs.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The east and west of Malaysia

I was planning to describe my cultural ventures every single day on this blog, but obviously with the lack of internet and motivation, this didn't happen. However, things don't always go as planned, such as this trip to Malaysia for instance.

I thought that the trip to Malaysia would solely be for the visit to a refugee camp my mother stayed in when she was younger, however it turned out to be much more than a spiritual trip.
Malaysia brought to my attention so mant important things that I would have never realised before; things about religion, about culture and most important of all, about the fragile nature of life.
Malaysia is predominately a Muslim nation where approximately three quarters of the population follow Islam.
This means that during the day, they should pray 5 times and during the month of Ramadan, they must fast during the day and eat only duing the late hours of night. They should also abstain from sex during those 30 days.
It is also frowned upon to kiss or hug in public and to point your index finger at anything.
Although Malaysia is a open state where different religions may be practiced, it should not interfere with the main religion of the nation. There are many states within Malaysia that are extremely conservative when it comes to Islam; one of these states being Terrenganu. Apart from the beautifully diverse and western city of Kuala Lumpur, I spent most of my time in Terrenganu as this was the first stop in my mum's efforts to retrace her past as a refugee fleeing from the communist rule in Vietnam in 1975.

There are many misinterpretations of the Muslim religion, mainly from the media. We are told of the constant terror attacks in Muslim nations, and the dreadful attack on the twin towers in the USA solidified the stance that Muslims were no friend to the States. However, we forget that as with all religions, there are extremists, and there are just people who want to follow what they believe in peacefully. The extremists only account for a small percentage of that religion and this is the case with Islam.
As I distinctively remember, the Crusades were a devout Roman Catholic group who wished to restore what they believed to be the "best" religion to Jerusalem from the Muslims, who had also occupied that area at the time. They did this by also killing many innocent people, just to get their message across.
The terrorists attacks by Muslim groups are of the same intention; they want to get their message across by raising fear and violence but they do not realise that fear and violence only strengthens hatred and vengeance.
It's a cycle of inhumanity that will eventually lead to the destruction of love and acceptance.
It's a strange feeling when you meet a woman who is completely covered from head to toe by a black cloth; her piercing eyes don't tell you anything at all. They don't seem fearful, content or inquisitive; it's that sort of mysteriousness of the Islamic religion that makes one believe that the extremists on the television are the same as the gentle people roaming the streets of Terrenganu.
I am completely honest when I say that I have not met one inhospitable Muslim in Malaysia. As long as you respect their culture and religion, they will treat you as you want to be treated, if not more.

Speaking of hospitality and slowly digressing into another topic, Malaysian cuisine is something that I can't get my head around. As Malaysia's inhabitants are a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian, their food is completely varied. One day, you will be in a hotel being served a Malaysian satay with Peanut sauce and the next you are in a town full of Chinese restaurants with Fried Quail with Pepper and Garlic or standing next to a curry stall where a nice helping of rice is always available. I am very intrigued by Malaysian food but it is a shame that I couldn't fully experience the whole culture the trip to Malaysia was centred on an island called "Pulau Bidong"

Pulau Bidong was an island that was utilised by the Malaysian government as a refugee camp for thousands of Vietnamese people during the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The end of the war between the communist North with the the American supported South saw the emergence of what we now call "boat people" converge on a small island near the coast of Terengannu Malaysia. At the risk of dying out at sea, or staying back in their homeland fearing for their safety, thousands of educated vietnamese people and children escaped their homeland to seek freedom and safety in other nations. One of these people was my mother; a medical undegraduate student at the time, she left her mother, father and five brothers and sisters behind to seek a better future so that she may one day return to Vietnam to support her family. She escaped with my father, who was a young navigator in the navy with an ironic seasickness. Both people did not know if they could ever return back to their families, but they risked their entire life and future so that they could create a better future for their family. My mother's story was extremely touching to me:
Her decision to leave her village was not easy at all; she was the oldest in her family of 6 children. Whilst she was at the port preparing to flee, her entire family came from the village to plead and beg for her not to go. Her mother called her a bad child and her brothers and sisters held on to her leg so that she may not leave.
It was because of her decision on the fateful day that my whole family, including my grandma are safe in Australia today.

My mother and father were on Pulau Bidong for 8 months during which my mother stayed in the forest whilst my father helped the first fleet of refugees on the island build shelters, temples and churches so that the island could feel like a home away from home. A further 40,000 people lived on that island after my mother and father left.















The boat trip back to Pulau Bidong was eeirly silent but so very peaceful. The months of November and December were meant to be filled with rain but today, the sky reflected the deep blue sea.
I was so glad to be on that island; to experience the landscape that was my mum and dad's home for 8 months.
I will post some pictures of the island and my other ventures in Malaysia.
Happy reading.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

PHOTOS!

After a trip to the mountains in Sri Lanka to a meditation centre and a dash down again to avoid the thunder stricken storms, I am now in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where the internet is fast and best of all; free!
These are just some photos I took whilst in Sri lanka.
After the storm
Who needs taxis when you can have Tuk Tuks?

INCEPTION!

Fisheye lens


I asked him for a photo straight after he finished hunting down Robin Williams

Mount Lavinia Hotel 1900
The mansion turned hotel was used as a meeting place by British lord and a Sri Lankan belly dancer.




Preferred method of transport. Rolls Royce


The left wing and the new right wing of the hotel




More photos from Sri Lanka to come!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mount Lavinia

After nearly ten hours in the air, an extra four hours waiting at Malaysia airport and one hour in a van with a very carsick woman, I have arrived at Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka. The hotel is situated on a very pristine beach, although the sand is a little darkened because of the storms last night. Nevertheless, I have a great view from my room which means, a chance to take some photos! As soon as the photos are uploaded, you will be able to see them.
The hotel was established over 100 years ago; it was here during the 1900's and even survived the two world wars. The building has an old wing and a new wing, although both buildings possess some very intriguing architectural features. The hotel workers wear unique attire also; just think about that villain from the movie Jumanji and you will know what I am talking about.
The Sri Lankan's here are so hospitable, not just because it is their job to make us feel comfortable but I feel that they are genuinely interested in other cultures and just wish to share their experiences with you. Mind you, their english is more than satisfactory. I am not surprised, considering that Sri Lanka's history had been influenced by the colonisation of the British.
The country is also westernized; I was surprised to see a McDonald's and a Pizza Hut on my way to the hotel. Although tempted to try out a Sri Lankan Big Mac, I opted for curry, hoppers and other Sri Lankan cuisines instead. Wow; the food is spicy as hell...
I don't know if it's the mass amount of curry powder that they put in their food, or the bags of peppers that they cook with but the curry here has a very strong kick to it; almost like a kick in the lower region, which eventually spirals up to your stomach and burns your throat with a blow torch. After finishing this post, and washing out my mouth, I will take some pictures of the cuisines here and put it in my next post...

Apart from experiencing Sri Lankan culture, I am also here with my mother to attend a conference; the Open International Integrated Medicines University Medicina Alternativa 48th World Conference (It’s a long name but trust me when I say that the conference was not as long as the name). I attended the opening ceremony with my mother, who is on the board of chancellors in the university. So as she sat on stage, and I sat in the rows of men with suits and very long beards (I was underdressed), I listened to what this conference was all about.
This was a conference for the integration of worldwide medicines; western and eastern medicines are talked about in hopes that we can heal the body totally. Basically, this conference aims at exposing the science of complementary medicine such as acupuncture, homeopathy and laser therapy. It's a little new age-y but I am interested in how this conference progresses, considering that this event has been held for 48 years now.

So now, I am off to the second day of the conference and will be back soon with more posts and pictures.
P.S
Sri Lanka is not as hot as I thought it would be...

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

KILA

Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

It's good to be back here. Nothing has changed over here, however, I guess the trees in the jungle in the middle of the airport have grown taller ( yes, KLIA has it's own jungle dome).
In one more hour, I will be off to Sri Lanka but for now, I guess it's just floating around in one of the movie lounges here.

Below are some pics that I managed to take of the airport.








































Remberance day
11:11
11th November
2010
Lest we forget.

Send me on my way.

Day on of my journey towards Sri Lanka. 12:08 am 
I am sitting in an airline lounge, on a sunken silky lounge that has probably been sat on by thousands of cologne fueled businessmen. It's 12 o'clock in the morning and I am not the tiniest bit tired. It's disheartening to think that thousands of businessmen a day sit where I am at the moment, longing for their loving family or their comfortable bed. Instead, they have a fuzz covered chair and probably a wine glass in one hand, and their blackberry in another.

In one more hour, I will be on a plane heading to Malaysia, before landing in Sri Lanka 15 hours later. Whilst I sit here and nibble on a stale piece of bread with what looks like tuna and mayo in it, I can't help but to think how amazing technology is. This globalisation has made it possible for anyone with sufficient funds to travel from Australia to Asia in less than half a day.
I personally enjoy airlplane food; it's that plasticky taste to it that reminds me that I am more than 1000 metres in the air.

The movie Up in the Air comes to mind, starring Geroge Clooney. It wasn't heavily advertsised in the cinemas but it is a great, unique movie with genuine laughs. 1,000,000 frequent flyer miles. I'm not even close.

Watch the Up in the Air Trailer

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Nostalgia

Nostalgia: A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days. (dictionary.com)

In other terms, severe homesickness. Nostalgia is that bittersweet feeling where there is no longer a distinction between happiness and sadness; just an extreme desire to be able to return to a moment in your life when everything was perfect.
This was the feeling that I had when I first stepped into my old house after moving out from it and relocating interstate with my family. This was pit-stop number one in my journey towards Sri Lanka.
I looked around and saw the blossoming roses in the yard and the weeds intruding my back yard. I saw that things were being born, and others were dying.
Life had continued as usual without my presence in this home, and that was a feeling of pure bitterness.
Even the smell of the house struck my mind and produced some fond memories of going home from school after a long summer’s day; the smell of pine and maturing flowers tickling my nose, and ending up in the hallway of my house. The distinct smell of Asian cooking would waft into my face as I entered the door. Just like back then, I inhaled and a breath of fresh air filled my lungs, but in one moment, it almost suffocated me as well. I realised that my memories had grabbed hold of my reality and injected all these wistful desires and feelings into my mind. It was like an indie movie reeling in my mind. I witnessed all my happy memories with my family, especially on those hot and stuffy summer days and whilst that was happening, some Indie pop music was playing in the background.
But then reality struck me as I remembered what actually went on in this household. More shouts and screams were exchanged than laughs, tears were shed often and smiles would be seen only on an occasional basis.
My memories had tricked me into thinking that everything was perfect back then. It had sucked in the smells, sounds and everyday objects that I held so dearly back then and super glued it to my fondness memories of the house. For once in my life, the memories that I wanted to remember came before the ones that I would rather forget.
This leads me to tell you that you shouldn’t rely solely on your memories to be happy, because sometimes, memories are just an illusion. They are an illusion of time. Time seems to distort your view of the past. Somehow, as you mature, you may look on the past and perceive yourself as a immature brat but just as so, you can look on your past and think that it was truly exceptional, when truly, you have no good memories to recall at all.
People say that you should never trust history books as they were written by people. People tend to forget the minor details, but in the end, those details are what make up the whole story.
I hope that nostalgic feeling will be transformed into a feeling of bliss and acceptance of my past in the future.
And as I lay on my old bed tonight in this lonely house, I will remember this remember this fact:

Look back on the
past if you must, but remember that you can create more memories in the present, for the future.


Monday, November 8, 2010

Sweating in Sri Lanka.



During these past few months, I have had the once in a lifetime chance to travel around the world. After my spectacular breakdown at home with school and life in general, I had the chance to take a break from school and just travel. Every teenager's dream right?
Yes, it is probably everyone's dream to be able to travel at one point in their life. However, not with their mum...

Awful movie, awesome moustache.
See, my mum is a spiritual guru, much like that character from Mike Myer's movie "the love guru", but not with the awesome moustache ( where is the fun in that?). Every year, she gathers a group of one hundered or so people and just travels to places to meditate, pray and spread happiness. If you thought that the hippies from the 60's have all turned into souless businessmen in suits, you are wrong. They are getting stronger and their spiritual group is truly legit.


So with my mum and her 100 strong group, we travelled to Europe and meditated until we laughed out of hysteria. After that, we sung, meditated, laughed and meditated.
Suits are awesome though...
No wonder why Buddha looks so happy all the time. It's meditation I tell you!

That was a few months ago but now, we are heading to Sri Lanka . It will be my first time in this country and I really don't know what to expect. Nonetheless, I will keep this blog going through out my trip to keep you 0 followers updated. It's like I am typing to myself really...
So as I sweat, meditate and eat some great curry in Sri Lanka, I will be posting my gastronomical experiences to enlighten you  about their way of life. Any dysfunctions that come along, I will be sure to note it...