I'm getting married?

I'm currently in my village attending a cousin's wedding. It is a Malay tradition that all close-family members must come down and help out. I obliged. :)

This was during the girl's side of kenduri. Yeah, can't let go of my hp. :P

I was assigned to cook the beef.  There I was standing there stirring the gulai kawah and came this Auntie- I-don't-know-who trying to converse with me. To be honest, this is the first time ever I was asked about marriage. Literally in front of my face!

No, this is not the lungs of a smoker. It is the cow's lungs, part of the gulai kawah. 

The scenario:

Auntie- I-don't-know-who : So, what are you doing now? Working already?

Me: Yes Auntie. (While stirring the gulai kawah)

Auntie- I-don't-know-who  : ohh..good2. What do you do? where is that?

Me: I am a writer for a travel magazine in Old Klang Road, KL.

Auntie- I-don't-know-who : wahh...very young. Good for you.

Auntie- I-don't-know-who : So, when are you getting married? Any candidate yet? 

Me: erk...nooo.. am still young , I want to travel and yada2 ( I was basically rambling)

there were other women cutting cucumber and whatnot there too.

Woman 1: ohh no candidate yet. How about your daughter? (she was asking this to Auntie- I-don't-know-who)

Woman 2: Aha, ya.. your daughter has no one yet right? 

Auntie-I-don't-know-who: Grinning and grinning and smiling. 

Woman 3: hahh kak, Sofea is suitable right? 

Me : Auntie, I need to check on my gulai kawah.  

That was probably the funniest conversation I've ever encountered. Women please, I still play with toys. Do you think am ready to get married?

It's funny when you are older people start asking about you getting married and all. Hello, why would I want to get married? I still have lots of traveling to do and marriage is just gonna a big NO NO.

Not that I'm saying marriage is bad, it's matter of preference I guess. Well, get married all you want but for me, naaa no thanks. :P

So, have you encountered any of these silly situations? 

Till then, keep on traveling peeps! :D

Singapore Travel Tips and Expenses!

So, Singapore backpacking stories is over.Fuhh...finally after so long. Haha.. you guys can check out all the posts at the sidebar. Ramai yang tanya how much I spent while I was in Singapore. Here are the break down of the expenses:

KTMB Train lower berth (Return): RM 92 (RM 46/per way)

Singapore Tourist Pass: SGD 16 (SGD 8/per day) + SGD 10( refundable deposit)

The Inn-Crowd Hostel: SGD 20 + SGD 6 (time extension)

National Museum of Singapore ticket: SGD 5 (Student price)

Singapore Science Centre and Snow City : SGD 16

ABC Bargain Centre shopping: SGD 17

Food and Drinks: SGD 19.70

Souvenirs and Postcards: SGD 4

Miscellaneous spending: SGD 9.80

Currency exchange the time I was there: RM 2.41 = SGD 1

Total spending: RM 92 + SGD 113.5 (RM 273.50) = RM 365.50 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Singapore Travel Tips.

1. Do take the Singapore Tourist Pass if you are thinking of getting around easily with their MRT and buses. It cuts traveling time around the island plus everywhere is reachable by their public transport. It cost SGD 8 per day and you'll have to pay a deposit of SGD 10, it will be returned to you once you give back the card. 

Source

2) If you are thinking of getting back home from Singapore, do buy your return ticket from Malaysia as all the tickets bought in Singapore will be in SGD. For example, return ticket from Woodlands Train Station to KL Sentral Kuala Lumpur is RM 46 but if you purchase it in Singapore, it'll be SGD 46 (that's a freaking RM110.90!). Same goes with the bus. ;)

3) There are a lot of cheap and comfortable hostel around Singapore, especially in Little India, Clark Quay, Chinatown and etc. Price starts from SGD 20 to SGD 40, anything more than that is steep! Do pick hostel near to MRT, have good reviews on HostelBookers or HostelWorld, and to save more money, the one that provides breakfast. I had a pleasant stay at The Inn-Crowd, Little India. 

4) If you are a student, do use your student card as they offer great discount for students! I paid half price for the attractions. So, remember bring your student card when traveling! 

5) Souvenirs are cheap in Chinatown, you can get postcard for SGD 0. 50, fridge magnet for SGD 2. It was expensive in Bugis Street, so be a wise buyer! ;)

6) If you intend to go up the 57th Floor of Marina Bay Sands, keep your SGD 20, just go up to the Sky Bar and pretend like you are buying drinks and snap away photos! I did that, and voila, wonderful time up there! :D

7) Halal food in Singapore? No worries, there's plenty of vegetarian restaurant in Singapore, so you'l survive! Food can range from SGD 3 and above. I heard that most of major fast foods outlet are halal in Singapore. I missed it! dang!

So, go travel to Singapore! It's a beautiful country! I'm sure if I can do it solo, you can do it too! 

My failure bought me a ticket around the world!

Shadow of life.

Aku officially college dropout, kena buang sebab failed 1 paper. Instead sending me down the drain, sobbing and howling in despair; it got me around the world. Yeah, a ticket to see the world! Alhamdullilah...am glad that I actually failed because there's a rainbow after the heavy rain. 

Maybe tak ramai yang tak tahu that I fleed the country just before and after the news that I was officially sacked. Some people might say, bazir duit! But I see it as investment to my life, life is too short to worry! I used all my savings I had, every single dime I had was put out for my 1 month of fantastic journey! 

Koh Phi Phi, Island of Emerald water.

Banyak benda that I learned traveling and seeing the world. Things that you'll never get in class. Things that are not in the book. They never teach you life skill, all they do is teach you knowledge. 

Memang hidup ni susah, tu aku pon takkan tipu. 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. Itu yang aku tahu after coming back!

So, kawan2!

The world is waiting for you.

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. 

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. 

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. 

20 hours train ride without aircond, halal food. Priceless!

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...

Harris-san and Taka-san!

Believe me, you'll find something greater in life. The magic that unfolds in front of you as you set yourself free. The world has a lot more to offer than job security, education, money or anything. Go out and see the world, let it capture you in its beauty. You'll be surprised...


p/s: Maybe ada benda yang aku repeat balik dalam post ni, but seriously worth mentioning again and again..