Cycling At Langkawi

Cycling at Langkawi is probably not your first thought when you think of Langkawi. Langkawi is well known for its beaches, diving, playing golf and maybe for exotic dinners but its not known for cycling.

No doubt, bicycling at Langkawi is a challenge. For many people the heat, in the shadow, 32°C to 36°C is too much. For me, pranaya, sas, carissa, noble and jim, it's fine. Joseph and yuli preferred riding a motor bike. Locals and foreigners alike will think we were crazy. However, a bicycle can bring you to some awesome places.

I remember bicycling this road for the first time and thought: "is this now the "beautiful" Langkawi?" You may think the same but the best is yet to come. Our bicycle brakes were not that good, and twice my bicycle’s chain came out (fixing that chain when the heat was directly on top of me made me think that I should quit).

Let me surprise you by letting you know that we cycled around 50 kms, this was one amazing kunji stuff we did hahahaha.

Langkawi has a kind of circle road around the island. I say, "a kind of" because it is not really a circle road. The north west area is not accessible and in the north east corner the hills are still mostly jungle.

It's a nice ride to Seven Wells, with some serious but short hills. Just before the Oriental Village you will have a nice view from above over the Harbor.

Going around on bicycle is however very rewarding (like a pain in the ass haha but it got ok the next day after a really nice full body massage, yeah! Sas got over excited as he entered the spa LOL). And yes, cycling at Langkawi will release some additional sweat due to the tropical heat, you will see more then sitting in a taxi or even on a motorbike.

If you decide to go cycling at Langkawi, bring enough water. Especially if you are not used to cycle. But it is worth the effort and the waterfalls will refresh you.

Assume that because you can see other cars – cars can’t see you,
Having no Lights (not even street lights),

Cycling at night I feel like there are so many accidents waiting to happen.

Guess what! We Kunji fellows came back cycling from Seven Wells to pantai cenang at night.

There were many other fun part of our trip which I am really gonna miss like playing football on the beach, diving into the sea, go karting, breakfast at Breakfast Bar, dinner at Tomato and drinking a lot at Chillout Bar at night.

An epic journey of the bottle

2 years ago, when I was a high school student, I put a letter in a bottle, sealed it up, and dropped it in the Bay of Bengal, off the Sundarban coast. It was kind of an experiment. In the letter, I appealed to whomever came across the bottle to contact me and let me know where in the world it showed up. Amazingly, someone did.

About 27 or 28 months after the bottle was dropped, I heard from someone (a marine science teacher) in Manakara, Madagascar. The letter had made its way across the Indian Ocean and washed up on the shores of the Manakara, found by a 17-year-old and his Dad while out for a stroll. I never expected the message to be found.

Unspoken Words...

There were times when days just went by,
Lonely winds swept the earth dry,
Raging sun beamed with all its fury,
was walking alone tired and weary.
And then, you walked into my life,
I wondered why would you be so nice,
must be a dream that won't last long,
Never thought that I could be wrong.

My eyes got raining,
and even the dry dreams got wet (in tears),

my sleep cries in the corners of eyelids,

Tears fall and heart gets hurt.

To hear your voice,
To feel your touch,
I never would have thought,
I’d miss you this much.

Every sec, every moment, how I bear,

Every sec, every moment, i keep saying myself,

I've forgotten you,

Then why did your memories

make me cry.

I stole a piece of heaven,
And must now pay the cost.

The world seems so void,
And I am terribly annoyed,
That no matter what I say,

No matter what I do,
No matter what the time,
I still think of you.

I lie, unnoticed and uncared,

someone stupid or someone caring,

someone intelligent or someone in sorrow,

my life is just a game of “spin the wheel”

where it stops and when it stops, i have no control of

i only hope the wheel goes on spinning along nicely.

You finally look me in my face
I notice you can’t look me in my eye.
I want you to tell me everything will be fine.

I want to know everything will be go back to the way it was.
I want to know that you love me and won’t leave me,

but the look of your face says different.

The look on your face says it’s all over.

Your simple smile and eyes so bright,
couldn't resist you with all my might,
slowly but surely our friendship grew,
you taught me things I never knew.

I achieved things, I thought I never can,
your criticism made me a better man,
your soft words gave the healing touch,
whenever life seemed to be just too much.

Struggling and fighting I went on,
knowing its you I could depend on,
And then Suddenly like magic you were gone,
I was left all alone, all my dreams shattered and torn,
vows and promises all forgone.

I asked myself, where did I go wrong,
Things were supposed to be that way I guess,
It was I who started all the mess,
may you find happiness and joy, god bless,
For I would keep walking alone,
cherishing the sweet moments bygone... 

Oh, how I wish

I was not formed!

My memories go for a walk down the lane. Scrolling past my memory nostalgia sweeps me off the feet. School life and College life,the fun, the differences, the lessons learnt always has sparked off a debate as to which of them is the most influential.

My school life was fun.No REAL pressure to perform,no projects to do. The only place where you do nothing and be happy. Except for the occasional quarterly,half-yearly and annual exams, exams sound greek and latin to me! School was the place which taught me the value of friendship and to love friends.

But college life is the real catalyst to an unending world of fun,mis-understandings,sharing and true friends stick together,they gel together. College life and hostel fun teaches you a world of good characters,to help,to adjust and to get to know many people truely. So School life is good.But College life is Better.

I went for a Photo Shoot in nearby Damai LRT Station and Hostel. I need some experience in shooting Portraits seriously... I have been shooting Landscape picture the most. Since I'm in KL, I take this opportunity to meet up with my friends and go for a photo shoot. I was very enthusiastic in photography. We are suppose to meet up at 12pm at Hostel but ended up meeting everyone at 1pm. Next thing I know It's burning heat! OMFG! But luckily in between the shoot the sun got covered by clouds. Halfway shooting, I saw some kids dancing because of the music played in my friend’s car. Me and my friends also showed up some moves, It was fun. 

Below are the result of the shooting, Enjoy!!!

Photographers: Ashvin Gururaj & Pranaya Thapa

Make-up Artist & Costume Designer: Sashtri Vivekanandan

Models: G, Rassana Rasheva, Lowell C Galicia , Somu Gurung & Akmaral Tulekova

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window... it's a typical late September night; kinda gray with a few leaves still holding onto to their branches and rain

I'm thinking...this is going to be a crazy week...

I am wearing...my pajamas still. Migraines have a way of doing that...

I am remembering...Thanksgivings of years gone by

I am going...to the 7Eleven store in a little while, hopefully to find FOOD…I need to fill my stomach.

I am reading... nothing in particular at the moment, but I have some things coming up...maybe err…?

I am hoping... I don't forget to eat later this week...coz exams are coming up

On my mind...Oh, wow...my mind is almost like a briar patch of thoughts anymore...all scattered yet tangled together.

From the learning rooms...still working on my studies. Hopefully things should go smoother.

Noticing that...where do I start? Should I really get on a soapbox today? Okay, here's a simple one...apparently my migraine is not completely gone...

Pondering these words...<<>

In my room...things are looking very, um, un-seasonal?lol I need to fix that!

One of my favorite things~Thanksgiving :) The family, the food, the time to just slow down and be with folks you love. Priceless

As I grew up, my father always wanted me to be a good student (that really didn't get into my tiny brain). When I went to college. I just believed in myself, my own power and struggling for my own pleasure and comfort.

In September, 2009, I came to Malaysia from India. I felt very lonely and weak. Almost everything was unfamiliar to me. I had to learn almost everything concerning daily living--shopping, transportation, cooking, etc.

As I boarded the flight that fateful day from India, I thought of how this would work out. I wondered how all of my high school friends were doing. They were still having fun, sipping the last drips of fun from summer’s cup. I longed for the times we spent together just this past summer, climbing mountains and going to old forts at night to drink. I sat there thinking about what was about to happen next.

One of the most memorable firsts that I’ve had happened on October 4, 2009. It was the first day of my new life, the life that I was going to spend buried in books, cramming to meet deadlines and running to class, late as ever.

I was already at Kuala Lumpur then, and I decided to just ride it out. I anxiously fixed myself up, thinking of what they’d say to students who are late on their first day in college. When my sleep broke, I got up and out as quickly as I could, almost jumping out of my room door and running to college. Then I checked the time on my cellular phone – I was already fifteen minutes late. I stared at it in horror.

I was so foolish then, not minding the time as I slowly made my way to college, never even looking at the time. I envied the other new students. They who made it on time, the students who made a good impression on their first day. I, on the other hand, had a not-so-pleasant ordeal.

Even if so, I’m glad I got to college alone. It was remarkable for me to go to college this far from home.  When I entered my college, I looked around with a mixed feeling of perplexity and joy. Though small campus but the building with many creativity made a deep impression on my mind. I was puzzled as I was not habituated to the ‘college-ways’ of things. The students in batches were moving up and down the corridors to their classes. The professors were coming smilingly and exchanging greetings with the students in a friendly manner.

I reached the classroom and took my seat in the last row. In front of me there was a big whiteboard on the wall. Near it there were descent chair and a table for the teachers. After a few minutes a teacher entered into the class. To my good luck the teacher is an interesting fellow. He passed a few funny remarks. He also made some interesting and harmless jokes. 

Finding friends was hard. I met students in my classes; however, after the classes were over they all had different schedules than me. As a result, I had no time to become friends with them. 

At that moment, I began my adventurous journey in this new school.

Today was the day with full of clouds, dark outside, as the day advances the rain continues, the dark intensifies , I was feeling the fresh wet touch of the rainy air... what feelings more will absorb my mind? I certainly start to feel for someone. Loneliness started to make my heart heavy as the rain goes...

Rain , may be the most appropriate time for me to shed some tears of sorrows and get relieved a bit without making known anyone else. Whenever I feel the cool breeze of pre-rain period, my heart and soul leaps with an unknown sadness and also pleasure. Who knows, why my mind has this undenying same feeling...


I don't know why...but everytime it rains I like to go outside and watch the rain...I think on the past, the future, I even think about the present. And everytime I do, I wish to look away from the world to somewhere I can be free and be me, a hopeful and bright future...


I try not to look at it. But I can't help it. Rain helps me feel better somehow, even though it makes me sad...


But what little can I do? Just as rain falls life moves on. I can't fight it, I can't pause it. I have to move on. Even if I don't want to...

That's why Rain makes me sad. Because I don't want to move on...I fear the loneliness of loosing people I care about...I fear being alone...

Rain makes me remember the loneliness and pains of long ago...but in my heart... somewhere...I dream about the time when the rain ends... and I feel the warmth of light and sun on my face...

So then the rain can stop me from being sad...

A [not too intelligent] lady walks into Watson and asks the saleswoman for some bottom deodorant. The saleswoman, a little bemused, explains to the woman that they don’t sell anything called bottom deodorant, and never have. Unfazed, the lady assures him that she has been buying the stuff from this store on a regular basis, and would like some more. “I’m sorry,” says the saleswoman, “we don’t have any.”

“But I always get it here,” says the lady.

“Do you have the container it comes in?”

“Yes!” says the lady, I got it”

She hands it to the saleswoman, who looks at it and says to her, “This is just a normal stick of underarm deodorant.”

The annoyed women snatches the container back and reads out loud from the container: “To apply, remove cap and push up bottom.”

I was like "WTF". I wonder what all different kind of names she has for the other products which she uses.

WHY AM I LIKE THIS...

When the exam paper was placed on my desk, I wished if I could grab it and run out screaming "Andre, Andre, I''ve got the secret documents!!"

If it is a math exam, I feel like answering answers in essay form. If it is an essay questions, I wish to answer with numbers and symbols. (Just creative. By using the integral symbol.)

…Thinking if entire exam was multiple choice and true/false. If it is a multiple choice exam, I would spell out interesting things (BABE etc.).

This is specially for my MATHS TEACHER. I feel like making paper airplanes out of the exam paper. Aim them at the his left nostril.

Just to motivate me during my exams, I want cheerleaders.

Bring a pillow. Fall asleep until the last 15 minutes. Wake up, say "oh geez, better get cracking" and do some gibberish work. Turn it in a few minutes early. I always try to find a new and interesting way to refuse to answer every question. For example: "I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it conflicts with my religious beliefs." I am GENIUS.

I would love to do my entire exam in another language. If I don''t know one, I’ll make one up! For math exams, I could try using Roman numerals.

How about a water pistol, for sure it is gonna make my exam hour fun.

Though I have my MATHS test coming up in next 9 hours, wondering what should I do then.....




Yo so who is with me!!

I was just talking to a friend online...and we started sharing childhood experiences...getting spanked and scolded, and for what reasons...and I remembered the funniest story...thought I'd share it with all of you here...I expect you folks to do the same...share something funny from your childhood

I was in grade 3...my mom used to help us out with the homework most of the time...one day however, she was extremely bz...and she asked my dad to help us out (me and my sis)...everything was fine, till I started on my english homework...my english was weak...and my dad started losing his patience as I kept making mistakes...for one of the exercises, I had to use the given words in a sentence...and one of the words was "tide"...my dad was pretty angry by that time, and he warned me that I better get this one right...I thought for a min, and then very confidently, replied "We use tide to wash our clothes!"  got a big SMACK  and I didn't understand why, cuz that was perfectly good sentence for a kid who's in grade 3...so I got up and went to my mom, crying, told her what happened, and she started laughing too when she heard the sentence  of course she ended up explaining what was wrong with it, and helped me with the rest of the homework...

ok, now your turn :) 

One particular night a couple of years ago...

“Sure, no problem!” 

I had just agreed to look after my neighbour’s 3-year-old son for a few hours while they went out for a meal with my parents. 

BIG MISTAKE! 

“So what will we do first?” Asif said with a cheeky grin. “Whatever you like boy!” I said, holding a (fake) smile on my face. He toddled off to find something to do.

After reading my book for about ten minutes I was curious that I hadn’t heard a sound from the little monkey. Where could he be? I thought. I walked into the kitchen. “NOOOOOO!!!!!!” I screamed! “This apple juice is disgusting!” Asif yelled. “THAT’S WINE ASIF!!” “Oh.” He said casually walking towards me. “OWW!” he yelled. He had just walked into the table and banged his head. “Oh my gosh your dizzy! Lie down and have a little sleep!” He fell onto the couch.



“Hello sunshine!” Asif opened his eyes. “How are you feeling?” I asked. “Mmm…. Better!” “Good. Now, why don’t you relax and colour?” He followed me into my room and sat down where I had set my felt tips and a few pieces of paper. “Enjoy!” I said closing the door behind me. Finally! That would give me a little piece and quiet for a while! 

Fifteen minutes on I wandered down to my bedroom to see if Asif wanted to go for a walk. “Asif…. what have you…DONE?” “Your wall is like a giant piece of paper. Far more bigger than the paper you gave me!” “Asif you… you… drew all over my walls!” I shouted. “More colourful now aren’t they!” he replied. I screamed. Asif just ran off….

When I had cooled off I went to the living room to apologize to Asif for shouting. “Asif… I’m …” he wasn’t there… “I’ve scared him off!” I looked all over the house but he wasn’t there. I ran outside. 

There he is! A sigh of relief spread across my chest. He was talking to my neighbour Maria – my secret crush! I ran over to them. “Asif you scared the life out of me! Oh hi Maria, thanks for finding him!” 

“Actually he found me!” “I just wanted to talk to your girlfriend!” smirked Asif. “WHAT?!” I shouted.
“It says so in this book. “Arfa hearts Maria …” right here!”

“Asif that’s my diary!”
“Oh.”
“Well since you heart me so much maybe we should go to the cinema tomorrow. 3 o’clock, Bye.” Maria said. “OK. Bye.” I replied. 

“You are the best Asif!” I exclaimed. “I know.” He replied. The rest of the time Asif and I spent together I let him do whatever he wanted. After all he got me a date… I was sad to see him leave… maybe I should baby-sit him more often! (NOT!)

Ello My name is Mohd Arfa. I'll be telling you about my history, myself, and so fourth. Let's start at the beginning shall we.


Well let me think. That was a long time ago. I believe I was born somewhere. When I was like 4 or 5, i started pre-school, i didn't if i could socialize with other kids. Low and behold I could.


Then well life goes on and here I am today. I look like... ummm… well... I'm not 6 feet tall, black eyes. My hair is natural, but really black; it's kinda short. Sometimes I'll have my glasses on. I dress kind of different. 


Personally I know I'm a pretty shy person, but once you get to know me, I'm pretty funny, nice, and so on. I play squash. I've been playing since the sixth grade. I'm not all that good, but I don't suck either. I don't play video games. 


I recently sent a long and detailed email to an old friend. I was drunk at the time of the writing. The Subject line and theme of the note, which I went on to attempt to substantiate, was “I am pretty sure that I am God.” If you notice, I qualified the statement with ‘pretty sure,’ leaving myself an out. In the email I said that all prayers could be sent to me and that, if I heard them, I would most assuredly answer them. Again, I had an easy out. Maybe I just hadn’t heard that particular prayer.


At any rate, I learned a few things about myself that night.
1. I have tendencies towards egomania
2. I should not send emails when I drink (or better yet, should not drink)
3. I am, most probably, not God


What started my thought process that night was that, and I do believe this, there is a spark of divinity in all of us. We are all spiritual creatures, placed in physical shells, the random packages that we call bodies.


There is a prayer that I pray every single day. It’s short and sweet. It Goes “Dear God…” I feel you should start payers with ‘Dear God’, just seems appropriate. “Dear God” goes the prayer, “Please forgive me of my sins,”  you know that sin is BIG, so you must get that one out of the way first, in case you die before the end of the prayer. It goes on, “Please protect my health” this is to prevent death in the hours immediately following the prayer. Then it concludes “Please establish your will in my life.” This covers Gods will, another doozey for most religions. We are always quite concerned with the things that we want, but we should also be concerned with the greater good of all. 


...I was once caught in the women's restroom by accident. I had an emergent bowel condition and rushed into what I thought to be the correct, gender specific, facility. I had just sat down for the job, when two children entered the restroom. I should add that kids do not go into the bathroom to actually use the bathroom. They go in to play, to run the water, to press the hand dryer button repeatedly, and to make plans. They treat the stall as a boardroom or clubhouse, where extensive child related plans are laid out. 
As I listened to these children's antics, I noticed something strange about the voices. They were awfully high pitched. Why would little girls be in the men's room, I wondered. 
I was still focused on the task at hand when I cleared my throat. As I did, the children stopped talking. Then I heard whispering. That's when I became concerned. What if I was in the wrong place? Were there urinals? Had I distinctly seen urinals? I was starting to sweat. This could be bad. This could be very bad. It was winter and I had my coat hanging over the latch on the door. It covered the crack between the door so no one could see in. I moved the coat slightly. Peeking out I noticed two very effeminate boys. They were boys right?  When I finished, I really had no choice. I had to leave the stall. I stepped out, unafraid. I walked to the sink to wash my hands. 
"What are you doing in here," they asked in unison. Holy shit, these aregirls, I thought.
I felt queasy. What was I supposed to say, that I'm dumb? That I can't read signs on bathroom doors? That I'm from another country where unisex restrooms are the norm? My mind raced for a moment.
"I'm supposed to be here. I'm with public works, sanitation, the toilet bureau. They pay me to test these facilities." I said this in a very official tone.
"They pay you to poop?" one girl asked.
"Yes," I said, gravely serious, "everywhere I can."


By the way, I like paper. I don’t like killing trees and I do recycle... so yo to blogging =)