Taking the Slow Coach

I was in a taxi when I passed by Bangkok’s railway station and I decided I wanna experience the train ride in Thailand. That Saturday, I bought myself a ticket. For 15 bht, I hop on the train on the Bangkok - Sungai Golok route, a 2 hour ride, and a whole new experience.
I only found a seat after walking through 4 coaches. I was surprised how crowded the train was. Free seating, non air conditioned with small fans attached to the ceiling (like those you see in taxis many years ago). Immediately, I noticed the travelers were darker skin Thai; or of other nationalities, I’m not sure. But a lot of them looked like Malaysians, some bertudung, and spoke heavily accented Malay. I guess that’s because the train goes all the way to Sungai Golok, the southern tip of Thailand bordering Malaysia.

I felt uncomfortable and out of place, like I was walking alone in a complex full of rempit Malays. Before long, the scenery took my attention away. You get to see how the landscape changes as you travel away from the city. From sights of construction, you start to see farms and water canals.

The bunch of Malay boys seated behind me started talking to me. One from Bukit Gombak asked, “Ada awek kat sini?” I didn’t feel like I was in Thailand at all. In fact, I felt like it was Raya and I was on the train to balik kampung (not like I take the train to balik kampung before).

Refreshment facility? Peddlers would hop on the train to sell drinks from a plastic bucket, or packed rice with basil pork; the only thing that reminds me it is still Thailand. When the train stops at a station (quite so frequently), one could buy roasted eggs and peanuts from the street peddler, right out of the train window. As I was enjoying the roasted eggs, I could smell weed smoke, which did not bother me.

When I arrived at my station, only did I realise there isn’t a way to get to Don Wai. So I hired a motorcycle for 300 bht, and rode for another 45 minutes on the highway going 100kmph without a helmet. That was the distance between Bangkok and Don Wai, if I hadn’t taken the train. But who cares, this is the fun you miss if you use google maps or a GPS.

I would like to see more of Thailand by train, hopefully to somewhere further; and this time I will get one of those bunker beds.

Iphone 4, and learning to live with the least commitment

I finally purchased it online. Why without a plan? Here's the story:

I bought my car when I was in KL thinking I would drive it for years, and I moved in 6 months.
I bought my house and took a year to furnish it completely and only stayed for about another year.
I bought my iphone plan from Maxis, lost my phone in 3 months and relocated 2 months later (and still paying for the plan).

I have no idea where I will be tomorrow. So hell with Starhub that is taking forever to replenish stock, I do not need your subsidy. Why do I even consider the contract in the first place? I am a free soul with no commitment, cheers to the world of freedom!

Behind All The Convenience In Singapore

One of the things Singaporeans are very proud of especially when they are talking to a Malaysian is how their public transportation is so convenient and well planned that none needs a car to get around.

Well, this is my 2 cents worth on this.

Behind all this convenience is a BIG inconvenience. Everyone in Singapore shape and live their lives around what the public transportation provides. Yes, you do not need a car to live your everyday life in Singapore. But what if I don't just wanna live an everyday life? I would like to have supper at 3am, I would like to join a night run, I would like to buy furniture from Ikea and transport them home myself, I would like my car boot to keep my baby stroller, I would like to ring my friend up for brunch and pick her up in 10 mins and get lost trying to find places to eat.

The MRT operation hours managed to standardize how Singaporeans live their lives. There aren't many restaurants open at 3am because no one is out after the MRT operation hours. Once, I was in a taxi in the middle of the night and the taxi driver told me that Singapore is a city that never sleeps because the traffic is still heavy at midnight. I almost choke on that statement. First of all, traffic is never heavy in Singapore. Secondly, uncle cabbie has certainly never seen a city that truly never sleeps at night.

My colleague once told me she joined a night run but they had problems getting home after the run because there weren't any public transportation still available. See how it's difficult to be different in Singapore? My first comment was "That's so inconvenient!" which of course the Singaporean disagreed.

I am also falling into this lifestyle-standardisation trap. When I am in Singapore, where I hangout, where I eat, the hours I eat, are all planned around the MRT operating lines and hours. When I first got here, I was so frustrated I couldn't get supper at 2am without needing to get a cab, and of course to find a nearby restaurant that's still open. I am slowly making peace with the fact that I should live like a robot like the rest of the Singaporeans, communiting to work like hordes of factory workers.

I like to be spontaneous and not be governed by how this perfectly planned city operates. I do agree that the public transportation here is very reliable, but that comes with a great disadvantage for a rebel like me.

The Many Ways to Get Around Bangkok

In KL, we drive

In Singapore we take the MRT, bus or walk.

In Bangkok, the options are so wide and cheap it's unbelievable. Though I have to say not all are tourist-friendly.

First of all, taxi is darn cheap here. They are less likely to con you like how KL taxi drivers do. A ride to Grand Palace from my hotel that's about 20-30 minutes costs less than 100 bht. Which is why I don't bother taking the SkyTrain (BTS) sometimes. Where else can you ride a taxi for this price?

Tuk tuk is my all time favourite. Tourists are so afraid of taking tuk tuk here in fear of being kidnapped or conned, or being sent to some tourist trap to buy gems. The fear is so exaggegarated I can't make any sense out of it. Though they sometimes cost more or equally the same with taxi, but I love the wild ride and how they freely make illegal u-turns and go against the traffic flow to cut the trip short. I have never been conned by any tuk tuk drivers. All you need to do is to negotiate the fare, and just say no if you sense that they are over charging you. There is absolutely no need to fear them as if they were mafias. Besides, tuk tuk is one of the signatures of this beautiful city. How can you miss the experience of a roller coaster ride?

For short trips, you can hire motorbikes. The riders usually wear a pink vest and their station have stools and yellow umbrellas. It is usually to get you to short destinations, like a short 10 minute walk. They charge 10bht but beware if your distance is meant for a taxi ride, the charge will be very expensive. So only use them for short rides.

The cheapest mode of transportation is the unmarked white vans. It cost me 10 bht to get from Pratunam to MBK. I really wonder how they make any money at all. It is quite impossible for tourist to take this since you won't be able to recognise the van and you don't speak the language, but it is really the cheapest option I have seen so far.

From taxi, to van, to tuk tuk, and motorbike. Why do I love this city again?

How I Begin

6 months since I left home,
35 flights,
6 countries.

I never thought I would leave my country. I was very attached to everything I had back at home. The condo, the car, Sunday brunch with my crazy friends, the fun of furnishing my home, and my favourite Ramly burger that's only 5 mins drive away at 3am. Though I always fail to find the substance in my lifestyle , but the everyday things were more than enough to keep me in love with my country.

When I was offered a transfer to the neighbouring country, it was the most difficult decision I had to make. I couldn't bring myself to leave all the comfort I put together for myself over the years and to detach from all the familiarity. I finally took up the offer and ever since, my life and my view about it have taken an entirely different route.

It's now full of possibilities. I do not know where I will be tomorrow, next week or next year. There is no routine, and there is no familiarity. I have uprooted myself so much that I no longer feel attached to anything. I am willing to be posted to any country for any duration. I no longer need a base or any form of security that is permanently there. My hotel room is what I call home. I am his most mobile resource and that is not easy to come across, my boss once said.

Many think that I am having the ideal life for any 25 year old. Jet setting to different countries, travelling for work and having a hell of a time. It is amazing how circumstances change us. It changes your view about life, it changes your take on life. Occasionally I still have trouble recognising what is the substance behind this new lifestyle. If anything, the lack of substance is worse than before since there isn't any 'anchor' anymore. But right now, it's all about exploring the new possibilities and and I have removed the invisible boundary I previously had.

I still don't know where the finishing line is and how I would like it to look like. It's all about making the most out of what's today and making little milestones to keep me going.