My failure bought me a ticket around the world Version 2!

For the last couple day, I realized that a few friends have like a post/note that I wrote about a month after I got kicked out from University. The post was in a mixed of English and Malay. I just realized that it has been over 2.5 years now since it happened. It has been amazing. So I decided to write a little update, how it has changed me and the way I see life.

This is my story.

Volunteering at Minamisoma Temporary housing for Tsunami victims. 

Ever since the eventful 16 February 2012, I have gone from down below, on my knees to appreciating life on the sky high. This journey has taught me so much about appreciating life, living my dreams, making infectious smiles and  most importantly learning the ways in making a difference in someone's life.  

Life is hard, there is no doubt about that but always remember that life is not a destination, it's a journey that we go through every single we breath in and out everyday.  

Taking a break from demolishing a house to play gun with April and Katie, two of my fav person on earth. <3 td="">

Taking a bath after a long day at work, this is us trying to avoid bucket shower at home. 

It's a journey, not a race that we signed up. We all have the ups and downs in our life, it's alright to cry, it's alright to be sad but when you are done with that phase of your life- go out there and start kicking life on it's face. Give your life it's revival, give it the shock to revive it to life and go forward and never stop. I know saying it is easier than doing it but hey, I am a living proof. If this 120KG, short, degree-less kid can do it, am sure ALL of you out there can too. 

The day that this Malaysian girl had to leave Bohol, I had to put a big smile despite being so heartbroken. 

Helping this lady to salvage the remaining of her house, we did it. She has the room standing now so she can rebuild the walls again. Happyness!

Use what you have and give it all to the world.  Wake up every morning with that big bright smile of yours, open that door and make it infectious to other people. I learned that happiness is not how much money we have or how big our houses are or how branded our cars- happiness is the ability to make your heart, mind and soul smile. 

Happiness also is all about making a difference in someone's life- that I have experienced greatly.

The People I would trade my life for, the people who made me feel at home and accept me for who I am- My family at All Hands Volunteer Project Bohol

With these amazing people who risked their life with the radiation to help victims of the tsunami and radiation back on their feet. It was pleasure getting the chance to work with Save Minamison Project Japan!

"We all have heart to love and hands to serve" - Mother Theresa.  

or the same saying in Japanese I learned while volunteering in Minamisoma Tsunami Evacuation Zone:

Dekiru Hito ga
Dekiru Toki ni
Dekiru Koto wo suru

God and the universe has given me so much in life. God has given me the opportunity to see 11 countries - Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Macau. I have also been given the privilege to live in The Philippines for 7 months and now am living in Japan for 3 months. It has been real and amazing. I'm blessed

The abundance in blessing humbles me.

Demolishing what used to be someone's house in hoping that they could rebuild it one day.

One of the most memorable experience, IOM material distributions!

That is why I've decided as long as my body, my soul, my life can take it, I will go around the world and volunteer. Nothing makes me happier than someone else's happiness. 

So everytime you have shitty day, a bad week or a horrible year and feel like giving up- always look back and ask yourself "I have been strong all along, why stop now?" 

We all live once, lets make it count.

Live in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

twas the excitement,
I shall be back to Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 

Out of all places that I have been so far, Yogyakarta remains the most memorable one;

The first scam, missing the train, the run to the train station, the old lady,the trishaw ride the stranger turned friend and most importantly my sister was with me all the way. 

This is lesehan or Angkrigan where you can eat for RM 1.60 ( 50 cent)

Yogyakarta, Indonesia offers more than just Borobudur and Prambanan Temple. The kind-hearted friendly people, the scrumptious Angkrigan and Lesehan (street stalls) food, the TransJogja and the amazing view of Mt Merapi made it a special city on its own on the vast lands of Indonesia. My memories carved a sign that says " I MUST COME BACK".

my favourite "7-11" in Indonesia, the Alfa Mart!

And so I planned for a comeback, initially thinking of Bali all thanks to Elizabeth Gilbert and her Eat, Pray, Love novel. But as I sat down and talked to my Indonesian friends and reliving the memories I had while I was in Yogyakarta, it sounds like a better plan.

So yeah, am moving to Yogyakarta, Indonesia for 2 months. Well, I want to write my book and publish it first in Indonesia but you know me, I will definitely backpack in Java! So many great things to discover in Indonesia and I am already excited! 

Now I have to think about my KITAS Visa or Social Visa in order to stay more than 30 days in Indonesia. Well, Malaysian only gets 30 days VOA for free. Plus these  visas require an invite letter from a person living in Indonesia who has a KTP (sort of identification card). It is a little bit hassle but I got friends who are willing to help. So fuhhh, glad about that! :D

Malaysians will get this, hence why I should learn Indo fast! hahhaa

In term of housing, I found that it is cheap to rent a KOST ( shared housing area) which will cost me around RM 400 (USD 150) to RM 600 (USD 200) for a sort-of studio house. Equipped with all the necessities such as internet, TV with cable and laundry.

Well,  we'll see how it goes. Till then, keep on traveling peeps! :D

A year it has been, unbelievable!

On 16nd February 2012, a year ago, I lost everything; my degree, my scholarship. my money, and my dignity. I had to face obstacles upon obstacles. Then come the change, indeed my failure was just a door/reason to all the great things happening to me. 

A year later, up till today: 

1) I have an amazing job; my blog and Gaya Travel Magazine. 

Yeah, that is me, all thanks to the amazing graphic designer at Gaya Travel Magazine. A vector of me! LOL

2) I have been travelling for a year now and still is travelling. 

At Phokoubun, on the way to Luang Prabang in Laos PDR!

Yeah, homeless and able in LAOS! haha

With great people at Redbull Flugtag Singapore last year!

Crazy Malaysian Tourism Hunt that lasted 6 days!

3) I was interviewed on National TV,

Interviewed on Hello on Two about Cheap traveling!

Thanks to my sister, Nurin for getting me a brand new outfit and being with me on that day!

4) Featured in a Travel Magazine. 

5) I have people who care and love me for who I am

1 year is all it takes. My failure is a gift that I truly cherish now. How's that for a college dropout? ;)

Never gonna look down on salesman anymore...

Source

The probability of the need of living, by any chance, opportunity is never wasted. Be it at 5 am in the morning while working your 3rd shift of the day, you keep pushing. By any chance luck is by your side, you sell and make living. 

The world is shifting forward on the slate of the uneven, unbalance life. The constant push by the "real-living-making salesperson", it not by how he persuades you but the stories he/she shares. 

The time plays crucial identity, the key to the real sincerity of making a living to continue life. 

We often tend to ignore, get easily irritated by these salesperson who tries to sell you stuff, some stuffs are even not worth buying. 

But if you allow your senses to open up a lil bit, you will see the whole picture, the story behinds every salespersons. The needs to live makes every opportunity a pot of gold. In the valley of competitive survival, man will do anything possibly to ensure he/she lives another hour another day. 

We might get upset by their constant pressure, annoyance and disturbance but if we pause the moment for a few seconds and look beyond it; It makes a whole lot of difference.

p/s: Everyone has a story, to be told and shared. Listen to them, for you'll be amazed how little you know....

Don't give up, you are loved. (Updated)

Pernah tak setiap semester kau fail paper, takpun kau terpaksa berpisah dengan keluarga kerana salah faham, ataupun ada sahaja benda yang jadi that makes you feel that nak give up?  Benda tu semua normal, aku pun ada masa rasa nak lari tinggalkan Malaysia, nak tinggalkan semua problems but I'm not a quitter and you should be one too. 

Memang hidup ni susah, tu aku pon takkan tipu. Buat adik2 yang masih di sekolah, percayalah zaman sekolah tu zaman yang terbaik. Setakat brake up makwe/pakwe tu takda benda lah. Life as an adult either ruins you or brings success to you. 

Ada masa yang kau akan jatuh teruk, rasa nak bangun tu takkan akan mampu, but believe me, kau sebenarnya dilahirkan mampu untuk tempuhi apapun dugaan Tuhan berikan. 

Jadi, jangan putus asa. bak kata Josh Gorban "Don't give up, It's just the weight of the world" .  Semua benda ni bagi aku adalah ujian untuk uji kau, sama ada kau mampu bertahan atau tidak. 

Kau dan aku dah sememangnya fated to be tested. Memang kekadang tu teramat lah berat, air mata tu berbaldi2 mengalir, cokelat cadbury habis sepuluh papan kau telan. Aku pernah berada kat tempat kau dan akan sentiasa ada. Percayalah, siapa tahu, Tuhan dah sediakan kau kebahagian in future. 

Setiap kali kau nak give up, rasa suicidal, rasa nak mati, rasa nak lari atau nak buat benda bodoh sebab kau dah tak tahan, STOP, tell yourself "Aku kuat, aku kuat, aku kuat!" , bagitau diri kau yang Tuhan takkan biarkan kau keseorangan.

If He brings you into it, He will certainly bring you through it. Have faith in God, have faith in yourself, have faith in Life. 

Kalau kau rasa betul2 tak mampu, kau mintak tolong kat kaunselor ke or siapa2 yang kau rasa mampu bantu kau. Tapi kalau kau memang takda sapa2 dah, meh email aku, r.haries.er [at]gmail[dot]com . Aku tolong mana aku mampu okay? 

Apapun jangan putus asa, percayalah yang kau dilahirkan kuat! Akhir kata aku nak quote Robert Schuller; 

p/s: Aku officially college dropout, kena buang sebab failed 1 paper. Tapi aku tahu this is not the end of my journey. Hidup aku jauh lagi. Doesn't mean ko takda degree, you are screwed. Silap tu... Believe me, you'll find something greater in life. So, kalau aku yang porak peranda hidup ni still boleh positive, I'm sure korang pon mampu kan? Gamateh ne! :D

Takkan Forever Alone.

Kau single? Tak pernah couple wahmal sekali pon? Chill lah, aku pon. Siapa tak rasa sunyi, jealous tgk budak2 rumah kau couple , dating pagi petang siang malam.  Lagi pedih bila tengok cousin2 ko kahwin seh , oh sebak! Tapi yakin lah yang kau tak mungkin forever alone.

Nak kata aku ni jenis nak kena ada orang sentiasa di sisi, tak lah jugak. But aku tahu ada jer minah2 ataupun abg2 muka genster tapi dalam hati taman klcc yang macam manapun kena ada teman disisi. Some people just need the other half to live their life, sort of their life support machine. C'mon people, selama ni ko hidup jer takda the other half. You gotta be strong girls and tough guys! 

Percayalah, kalau kau sekarang single, putus cinta dah sebagainya, your the other half is waiting. You know what, I always believe that the right person that God has decided for you, is somehow, somewhere outside there waiting for you. Bila the time is right and kau dah bersedia, Tuhan akan bawakkan kau pada dia atau vice versa. Percayalah....

p/s: Ni semua gara2 Cik ciskek twisties sedap ni lah ...  ngerti ngak dong?