Mini Escapism : Penang

We arrived at the bus stop at 3 am, somehow I miscalculated the time and we were there too early. I brought my little comforter out from my bag pack and slept at one of the chair. AF was awake the whole time I was sleeping. There were people like us sleeping on all the benches. It was outdoor, lighted, guarded and fairly safe. I am not a night owl, so I didn't pretend like I can stay awake. I was on and off the whole time.

By 6 am, I woke up, lights at the train and ferry stations were turned on and we found a decent public toilet near the area. A walk to the train station took several minutes, we needed to change our money *to some old coins to pay for the ticket that costed around RM1.40, if I'm not mistaken. We took the first ferry ride to Penang. Everything were dark except for the little building's light near the harbour, there wasn't much of fishy sea smell and grand landscape to enjoy.

When we arrived at Georgetown, it was too early for any shops to open. We wanted to find a mamak for our early morning breakfast, but got lost walking on the road because of the misleading tips given by the local. Phew. By the time we finally found one, it was almost 7.30 am. 

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We headed to the place we were staying by using the map we bought before our trip. It wasn't hard to read and remember certain roads after several walks around the area. My old iPhone isn't capable of handling too much 3Gs, so I hardly use it.

We found a nice looking old building that turned into a new Mc' Donald. I ordered Mocha from the Mc' Cafe and read the map once more, that's when I learned that the old building was used to be Birch's old building. We can hardly feel excited because of the exhaustion of sleeping less than 5 hours the night before and walked for more than 3km with our heavy bag to our destination.

The map wasn't used as much as intended, we hardly explored new paths because Penang was just too hot. Honestly we spent most time eating and watching movies in the mall :p I hope we'll be back for more exploration and new adventure. Even this write-up feels like soulless writing that lack of story. But it marked our first official escapism together and this counts ❤

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It's been ages since his last videos, here's the latest one :

ESCAPISM #5 from Farikarim on Vimeo.

Mini Escapism : Melaka 3

Things I love in Melaka : Jonker Walk area

I was lost in this area, originally I planned to walk through the Jonker Street but decided to walk farther. It was a really hot day, I was squinting my eyes, trying to walk pass cars in the small lane. I arrived at rows of old shops, marked with the year it was built on the top of the building. Small temples, countless hostels and guest houses, bars too early to be opened, little personal factories, and little bookstore that sold old comics and second hand books. 

Precious roads, a walk that gave my face two-tone colours, to really signify the hot afternoon walk.

So, I didn't even went pass Jonker Street that day. 

I was lost in between, and found my way out.

:)

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Things I love in Melaka : Holy Places

Enchanting colours, beautiful cravings, and positive energy.

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Beijing : Modern Architecture

On the fifth day in Beijing, we finally visited their famous modern buildings , the National Stadium & the National Aquatic Center. 

It was cold, windy and a bit snowy. We walked for 150 meters from where the bus parked, before stopping to take some photos in front of those buildings.  

I asked my brother :

What do you think of the designs? Do you like it? 

I don't know. I don't feel anything. 

Well, I don't like it. I loved their old buildings very much. But the new ones are pretty ugly. If this is what modern architecture is, well, I don't like it.  

I'd probably love all old buildings, so I managed to come out with so many excuses to dislike modern buildings.

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Little Facts :

The National Stadium, also known as The Bird's Nest by the local people was designed by Herzog & de Meuron from Switzerland. It looked more like a huge cocoon, ribboned.

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The National Aquatics Center ( " Water Cube " ) looked like a lot of soap bubbles from afar. It was designed by PTW, Australia & CCDI, China. I didn't really like the design too.

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The China Central Television Headquarters ( CCTV ) designed to look like a 'continuous loop'. It was freakishly huge and odd.

Picture taken from Boston.com

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Around the area , snowy morning :

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New friends :

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Pictures were taken by using :

Lumix LX3

Nikon dSLR D40

I hate watermarks, so please be informed that

all pictures are mine.

Thank you.

Beijing : Niujie Mosque

We had a chance to visit the oldest Mosque in Beijing, China. "Niujie" means Cow Street. It was built in the 996 AD, during the Liao Dynasty, it was later reconstructed and enlarged during the Qing Dynasty. It is located in Xuanwu District, the biggest town inhabited by Chinese Muslim. The mosques is really big, it has the capacity of few thousands worshippers. 

When I walked through the main gate, I was mesmerized by the strong Chinese architecture and cultures, mixed with a little bit Islamic calligraphies. The cold weather didn't really stop me that one time, I felt the urge to walk around the area to see how different it is than mosques in Malaysia.

It was almost empty and silent. My nervousness of walking alone disappeared when I saw my brother snapping photos not so far from me. We walked around, taking photos as a reminder. I saw little dragons on the rooftops, beautiful colours, a nice maze to be lost in.

This has been a nice reminder, 

that we are not alone in this world. 

There are people from all part of the world, believe in what you believed in. 

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Pictures were taken by using :

Lumix LX3

Nikon dSLR D40

I hate watermarks, so please be informed that

all pictures are mine.

Thank you.