Adieu 2007 & Aloha 2008

Check out my Slide Show - Beijing 2006 !

Been surfing and fiddling around - and this is what i have come up with - there are more to come. Pls try to bear with the music - i know it sucks and SO not apt :)

Venturing into New Stuff

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

In Loving Memory of Grandma

As September 15th, 2007 looms near, I can’t help but reminisce those days when Amah [meaning ‘grandma’ in hokkien dialect’] was still with us. She had always been a figure in my life, in all my 28 years. Now, she is only a memory. Don’t quite like the ‘life-is –only-temporal’ concept, but guess that is reality. If only we could turn back time…

“The ‘Hollaback Girl” ringing tone on my cell phone, awoke me the morning of 15th September 2006 – just about a year ago. It took awhile before I registered that it is my cell phone going off and not some background music of my dreams. Reached out and grabbed my Sony Ericson from under my pillow, with a quick side glance to my old faithful Swatch - “What??!! 0700hrs??!! Who on earth is calling me at this hour??” My alarm was not set to go off till 0800 (wouldn’t have set such a tune for alarm anywayJ )! Groggily I answered and it was my dad! “Good morning”, he said, in the ‘bubbliest’ tone of voice he could muster and continued with all other pleasantries! They say, it’s the lull before the storm. He certainly did not call to wish me a good morning, he’s a late riser himself – then very slowly he broke the news – “Ah Mah is very ill, and may not live to see the next day. We are taking her home as they (the hospital) cannot do anything much for her” My heart was shattered right at that moment, the feeling of emptiness -felt so, so lost! Ju Mei, my sister, awoke just about the same time as I did, but I reckon she knew what was going on, on the other line.

Phone was pressed against Ah Mah’s fairly large ears, and both Ju Mei and I called out to her. She was unconscious then – but it’s a known fact that, the hearing is the last sense to go! It was a heart rendering moment to hear ourselves saying take care, God bless and love you very much, Amah. It was! After hanging up, there was just that eerie silence, both of us just so lost, not knowing what is coming, going, what to do, where to go and etc. I have never felt so lost. We were in Ekanterinburg – far, far away from ‘civilisation’. Our Moscow bound train was not till the next day and it was going to take 24 hours to chug our way into the city of Moscow! With Amah’s condition, we weren’t going to make it. We have never felt so far from home!

Still in our pjs, we made our way down to our fellow traveling companions, Stew and Do’s room. We just needed someone to talk to, someone to offer advice. After much deliberation, we thought it’s best to play by ear since we really can’t do much about it. Subsequent phone calls from dad were more encouraging ones, telling us how the hospital is going to keep Amah under further observation. Honestly, I then thought Amah was going to live through it and recover – and selfishly I thought, yeah we are going on to St Petersburg!

We went about the usual that day, visiting various places – went to a quaint but muddy town – mixed and mingled with the locals – had vodka, J - oh the warm and fuzzy feeling! Later in the day, we piled into the van and headed back into the city. Some of us were dozing, and then ‘beep’ ‘beep’ a message came through. It was from Hui Mei, my cousin – “Amah passed away peacefully”. Can’t describe in details my feelings – I felt numb. Then dad rang and confirmed. Oh! the brevity of life!

When we arrived back at the guest house we went straight to our room. We appreciated the shoulders lent. Finally decided to fly out of Ekanterinburg –roubles which were meant for shopping, Jumei’s combined, all went into 2 pieces of paper a.k.a air tickets! Doreen and Simon took charge and we practically ‘ran’ through the whole city – Ju Mei and I did the “catching up” job. We were looking for a travel agency – that was about 7pm. After much ado, we finally got our tickets. Russians are neither friendly nor adaptable souls! The series and/or chain of events leading up to our going home couldn’t have been more perfect! That night we had a sing-song, a somber evening. The Siberian 7 (namely, myself, Jumei, Doreen and Stew Sexton, Jesselyn Chua, Megan Gibson & Simon Dawson) had a group photo taken (*see photo – 30/7/2007 below) marking the end of the Ch’ng sisters’ trip. The next day we were on our way back to see Amah – in a box ”

“Life is fleeting fast,
Time bears us away,
Millions more this way have passed,
But none are here to stay”

Random Jottings on Randoms Days during the Epic Journey 2006

This is what procrastination does to me- posting jottings after a lapse of almost a year ! But then again... Better Late than Never :)

0931hr (Mongolian Time) Saturday 9th September 2006

On board the Mongolian Train

Greetings from somewhere, Mongolia! It’s been a week since we left Penang to embark on this journey and today I must sit myself down and procrastinate no more. The past week has been awesome – we have done and experienced quite a bit be it from social, culture, weather or spiritual aspect. Right now we are at one of the many stops – we are on train #363 – we have stopped here since 5am I was told – but good thing we are able to get down and stretch our feet and enjoy the freedom of nature calls J We anticipated being awaken during the night for the custom processes and having a sleepless night but looks like things have changed now. I am looking more and more like one of the pandas on display at the Beijing markets along the Great Wall street – so u can work it out for yourself whether I have had good nights sleep.

Doreen just came by to tell us we are leaving in an hour’s time – and between Irkutsk and Moscow we are going through 5 time zones. When this train starts again on its journey it will be 20minutes into No Man’s Land. Generally speaking, the Mongolian train is a whole lot better than the Chinese one. Perhaps because it does not have to go through the Gobi Desert. The Chinese one was so dusty that i thought by the time I alight the train I would have quarter of the Gobi Desert sand in my throat/lungs.


2327hr Sunday 10th September 2006

Home-stay at Golboroishe somewhere, 200km out of Irkutsk

I should be asleep by now but I am not. I should be updating you about every second of my life but I am too tired to do so. I am way behind time and I am just giving you updates currently. We just got back from our bonfire down the beach – was rather tired and even more so when we had to wait for the wood to burn out – in the end we put it out forcefully. I am not in top shape honestly, I have lost my voice, my throat is tight and the worst thing my medication supplies i.e. lollies for this throat is running low! I have to get myself up to top notch cause if I don’t I will be rather miserable on board the Russian train to Ekanterinburg and that is a 48 hour train ride. If I don’t have such a sore throat (it is not that sore but then talking aggravates it) then I will have a miserable trip. Everyone is falling sick, including my little sister.

Tonight JuMei and I have our little corner – she is sitting right at the foot of my bed, as usual, applying her daily sustenance for her pretty little face. She is all wrapped up for I don’t know what reason cause I am feeling as hot as. Just a little update about today instead of trying to think of what I did the past one week.

We chugged into Irkutsk about 8 this a.m. and then alighted the train. Simon kindly offered to carry my backpack while I just pulled his luggage alongside me, and even that I found it hard to handle. Gosh, where has all my stamina gone, or is it truly that I don’t have any? Megan and Doreen are two strong and energetic ones. They lug around their backpacks and many other stuff and yet able to help with Stew. Truly amazing they are.

Ok after alighting we walked about 500m to our van. Two vans awaited out arrival, we piled into 2 different vans, myself, Doreen, Stew and Jumei in one, and the rest in the other together with this one British girl, Nancy. We drove about 100m before the vans stopped again at the pretext that they were going to wait for another monkey business client. Little did they know that this other client has already boarded their van; Nancy. Talk about inefficiency. Anyway we drove a fair bit of way to the airport – and got our US dollars exchanged into roubles. US1 to 27 Roubles. We got US1 to 26 roubles on board the train. We each came up with US20 for common fund. Yet to change any for own personal shopping which is a MUST when we get into town on Tuesday morning before we leave for Ekanterinburg. Amazing how time flies and some days I don’t even remember the dates and days and what not. I am not even bothered to check my cause list as I do not want to think about office.

After the exchange, piled into the van again and then started on our 2 hour journey into this quaint town about 200km from Irkutsk. The population is about 700. used to be about 2000. I sort of dozed off along the way – never did think that we would make it to this town the way our driver was maneuvering. Japanese car, but driving on the wrong side of the road. We did stop halfway to wait up for the others during which time Doreen, Ju Mei and I got down to stretch our legs a bit. The drive down is certainly very, very scenic. Beautiful colors of autumn on the landscape. Beautiful blue sky, crystal clear blue waters – can’t really say very green rolling hills as some parts are really dry. Land is aplenty in this part of town. All of us didn’t really know what to expect from this ‘homestay’ program. We thought we all were going to be separated until both vans drove right into the driveway of this quaint and cozy little cottage and our bags were unloaded onto the patio of this home. This huge bouncy blond woman came out to greet us speaking Russian. Wasn’t difficult to figure out what she was telling our guide – two in one room, three in one room and two in the other. Perfecto! We all get to stay in the same home. At a side glance I saw the dining area all set up with FOOD – it was actually our breakfast and it was then about half past 11.


After figuring out who stays where and that, Meg and Jess in one, Do, Stew & Simon in the other and ju and I in the other, we unpacked or rather I just emptied my backpack onto the floor. It’s good to have that SPACE, after about 48hours or more on board train $363. That space to just spill everything out and move my body around ‘freely’ without the fear of knocking over something on the small narrow table. It was then breakfast time. Big breakfast we had. We had this cereal thingy like rice with honey. Bread and butter, biscuits and coffee. Speaking of which I had 3 cups today – I do hope it won’t keep me up. I have been drinking all day and it is not really convenient with the toilet about 100m away from the house. No doubt this is by far the BEST outhouse toilet I have been to, still I have to walk that far. Better not talk or think about my internal water tank. After the scrumptious breakfast err.. not really, I enjoyed dinner more – we had mince meat dumplings and it was real yum! I am trying to enjoy all food while my taste buds are still in order. After breakfast what did we do? Oh yes we had a little rest and then we went out for a walk round the village – and indeed a big walk. Guess we are making up for all the walks we never had while on board the train. Mind you, today we had TWO big walks and tomorrow there is yet another BIGGER walk –3 hours round the lake Baikal but thankfully they have such things called small boat hence both my lazy legs shall have the needful rests as I understand once we reach Ekanterinburg we will be having a 18km Ural hike! Now I having second thoughts. I am sure Doreen wouldn’t mind the walk as I wouldn’t mind a horse ride. Hmm… we see how things go really.

Alrighty it is almost midnight, I can feel that nature call isn’t far away but I can’t go – not at this time of the night unless my dear sister accompanies me which I doubt it as she is all nicely tugged under the blanket. I shall make this do now. I am not even halfway through the day, that is how slow I am. Gosh wonder when I can ever catch up with these updates. Morrow will be an early morning as we will be having our reads. Will do now.




-midnight-

2241hr (local time) Thursday 14th September 2006

Yekaterinburg

Aloha! I am sitting on the flooboards of this guesthouse, some geographic guests house, rather run down and which can house just 7 of us. Breakfast has to be 2 sessions as each session could take in only 4. The bed is creaking, mine that is. Ju mei is in the shower, squatting down with some warm water dripping as for no reason there is no cold water. I am not complaining – so far this is a fine city. A city, that is. It’s just different from Irkutsk. I am sitting right here instead of lying on my bed is because I need to get this laptop charged. Haven’t really updated you as I didn’t have battery life during our 48 hour train journey. We got off the train about 1610hr and was transferred right to this home, had half hour, managed to shower. I think I should finish my Irkutsk update instead of starting new updates, u reckon? The rest has got to Beijing and some has gone as far as Mongolia. Now let me scroll up and then continue from where I left from.

Ok right after the Irkutsk scrumptious breakfast, we had this cereal pudding thingy, we had half hour rest and then started our journey through the village. Ivan (pronounced, Er- Van) took us down to the lake, had my feet dipped in there, apparently if you have a swim in the lake Baikal you earn at least 5 years of life J hence I have at least earned a year. Then we took a walk to see the old church and then we went right up to the meadow. Stew went up with us too – he is fitter than any of us, or me at least. By that time I was almost dying, mainly because I was worried about getting tanned, or rather dark. No way I am going home to Malaysia looking tanned, I don’t need that. This holiday was suppose to be all chilly and cold. Irkutsk cold? Not at all – the sun was blazing down on us and I had to have my jacket over my head to block the sun rays. If you think that it is colder as we journey up to Siberia, you are wrong. The temperature at Irkutsk was at least 27 degrees that afternoon. After that walk we all returned back home. Had lunch about 2.30pm – we had borsch soup, and main course was potato (heaps of it) and pieces of chicken, by which time I was already full. Then we had a short rest. We left home again at about 4.30pm. Both Megan and Simon followed Ivan for a walk up to the hills, whereas the rest of us took a stroll down to the bridge. The others later met us down there and then we returned home. All of us then took turns to have our ‘sauna’ otherwise known to the locals as Banya. It is this outhouse nicely set up with 2 separate rooms, each with different temperatures – one weas 85 degrees and the other 65. As we enter it would be the changing room, then we enter into the first stage would be the shower area and then the sauna area. Both Ju mei and I went in together for the first day for 15minutes and then we had a good shower. Appreciated the hot shower indeed. I wasn’t top notch that day as I was having the flu and had a bit of sore throat. That night we had a good dinner too, we had dumplings and it was yum! Had it so quick. That night we went down the lake and had a bon fire. We were all too tired and we were playing silly games. Right now I am tired so I am too lazy to explain what we played. Anyway we then put out the fire and then went back to sleep.

The next morning we awoke to another big breakfast. Err.. my entry is getting boring and I am getting sleepy. I don’t mind sleeping and typing, think I will let jumei delete some photos and then I will do some picture rearrangements. See ya!

The Epic Journey September 2006 {Trans Siberian Railway from Beijing to Moscow}

It's been a while since I did this, hasn't it? In fact, it's been a YEAR since I last "posted". I anticipate that it may take me a while to compile this whole thing after so long.

Been wanting to post stuff about the WORLD'S LONGEST RAILWAY JOURNEY - the Trans Siberian journey. Beijing - Moscow via Mongolia : This is arguably the most interesting Trans-Siberian route to take, I was told. The 7,621 km (4,735 mile) journey cuts across 2 continents taking 6 days, non-stop. It starts from Beijing, cuts across Mongolia and the Gobi desert, entering into Siberia.

It is indeed an incredible journey traversing three great nations and a quarter of the globe. From the grace of imperial Beijing to the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg, the seven (7) of us, 4 from the kiwiland, journeyed through the vast grassy steppes of Mongolia, the seemingly impenetrable taiga forests of Siberia and the rolling Ural Mountains. It was a once in a life time trip! Any journey that travels through five (5) time zones and traverses a quarter of the globe is bound to be a remarkable experience.

Having completed this epic journey, I thought it is only right that I should look back at the places I have seen and think back of those eye-opening weeks, and reminisce those weeks of fun and hilarity.

On the last note, I would like to say that this journey is an adventure and one of the very few left on our planet that can be completed by absolutely anyone.

Check out the Siberian 7!

CHeers!