goodbye dad

I'm glad we spent your last days together. Even though it's not literally your last, but I was glad we spoke on the phone yesterday. I'm glad I still had the chance to go with you on those trips to Manado and Singapore.

I wish that China trip didn't have to be cancelled.

I wish I could have been there today... this morning...

And I wish I could see you smile one last time.

back from the july trip

As usual, a late entry blog post from me.

I'm now back from my July trip. Click on the links below for photos.

Manado was great. Should've went snorkeling or diving but didn't have the time (or license). Bunaken is so awesome under that surface. Other than that, food was great. Tried having banana fritters with chilli, unusual but nice nevertheless. Seafood was great, I still remember the texture of that coconut crab meat in my mouth. Didn't remember who ordered it ('cos it was supposedly near extinction) because I thought they brought those two out just for show. My highlight: the suckling pig. The skin was so very crispy. Don't say yuck before you try it.

Tana Toraja was cool too. It was cloudy when we were there, so it was just a tad disappointing for my photography purposes. Had a taste of the local culture, mostly the traditional tongkonan house and the burial grounds (and walls).

Jakarta... well it's still Jakarta. I just found out that if you don't want to get caught in traffic, it is now possible to pay for police escort for around one million rupiahs. You'd get two policemen escorting your vehicle on the front and the back on their motorcycles and sirens. Cool huh? Didn't do that much in Jakarta except for eating (food is still the best here) and catching up with old friends (which is also long overdue now). Still didn't get to catch up with some other ones, I'm so sorry as I can't go out as easily as I used to as my Indonesian driver's license is now expired and the only car in the house is used by mom. Will upload all the the polaroids of people I took in Jakarta soon-ish.

I also went to this place just outside of Jakarta, in a small town called Cisarua, called Curug 7. It's a bit like a national park where you get to see a butterfly conservation area and a waterfall. It's quite a long walk and along the way we met two couples doing their pre-wedding photo sessions.

Singapore has got a new mall now on Orchard Rd called Ion Orchard. Went there twice just for quick looks. I thought it wasn't that special but I saw a clothing shop I've never seen before called Callate la Boca. Was going to buy a tee but none of the sizes fit. Bought a small pin instead. The fried prawn noodle in Wisma Atria's Food Republic really amazed me. Will go back for that again.

Can't wait 'till November. Bangkok I'm coming!!!