A lonely feeling

It is about a time when you're feeling lonely. 
Sometimes you feel that you don't belong to anything. 
You're in there, stand with your own ground, cannot digest the facts surrounding you. 
You want to speak about the right thing, but you cannot because people think you are too fussy. 
You want to express your worry about the wrong thing, but people think you are exaggerating. 
No one understands you. 
After a while, you start feeling... lonely.

Lake Monger, Perth

For a loner, it's okay for me to feel lonely for a long time.

I used to have my own sanctuaries. 

Stack of books, studio ghibli movies, botanical garden full of flowers, grassland and their miniscule lives, are my favorite things to escape. 

I could do or stay there as long as I want until I forget that I was lonely.

Pekanbaru,

Jacaranda

This purple flower tree will be blooming on October-November each year in Perth. 

You are not sure when it comes. Just one day when you wake up, then you could see all purple flowers bloom. It is such a nice view, like this one from our apartment window. 

For me, Jacaranda is just a reminder that Spring time is over. 

Summer will come soon after the purple flowers starts falling to the ground. 

When the weather is getting warmer, green leaves cover the trees. 

I could remember very well about my feelings towards that stage. 

Coz, I have to get myself sit in the office during those hot summer days. While others could have their holiday, I'd still got to working hard on my thesis ....

 

Pekanbaru,

A special old chair

On my last visit to gran's house, I've found this chair. 

Sit under an arch pergola, I recognized its shape. 

The chair was taken from her previous house. 

Its frame is light metal. Its backrest was created by winding plastic around the frame. 

The seat was made from the same winding plastic, too.  

But now it changed by a piece of wood.

 

 

The chair was kind of special for me. 

I used to like the feeling when I lay my back on that chair. 

The winding plastic created such a support that is comfortable for one's back. 

And the seat, of course. 

You gonna feel like you were sinking into something when you seat in there. 

Not sure if the winding plastic could hold your weight. 

That's another thing that made someone's heart pounding.

What a special old chair. 

Pekanbaru,

A beautiful rural house

We were quite lost near Lake Hawea, South Island, nz, at that time. 

After a while, I saw this two storey house. 

I stunned. 

The house looks small, but in my opinion, is beautiful. 

The wall is dark green and contrast to white window's frame. 

The house facade consists of a short precast concrete wall.

Big windows allow more light and fresh air from the lake. 

Take a look at a silver column beside the house. 

It is a modern chimney, looks simple and practical.

 

I like the porch. 

The white flower bushes act as a natural palisade to the front yard. 

It creates a room to put a set of turquoise chair. 

It is a great place to meet visitors or just to sit and relax to enjoy the view of Lake Hawea.

Pekanbaru,

Street Hawker

In one early Sunday morning in Shanghai, 

me and hubby were on our way to People's Place downtown. 

He decided to take a bus from Tongji University to go there, so we had to walk to the nearest bus stop. 

When we passed the road, the lady smiled at me. 

She offered us to buy mie goreng or anything else. 

I just smiled back at her and waved my hand. 

We didn't want to buy her mie/kwetiau. 

She understood.

I interested in their carts. In Shanghai, they use an open wide cart. 

It is practical to outspread the items/merchandise on the cart. 

They can provide more items and choice for the customers. 

Also, the lady could reach the whole ingredients when she cooks the mie goreng. And the this hawker could show variety of fruits straight from his cart. It looks appealing.

Pekanbaru,

Reading

Reading is my favorite activity while waiting. I like non-fiction, such as motivational, psychology and finance books. I just can enjoy the fiction books when I am at home. That's my exquisite indulgence.

Reading books while waiting in public is getting rare here. People prefer to work on their gadget or doing BBM. They can't stand any minutes to read books in public. In contrast, Western people read a book without time and place limitation. As avid readers, they usually have a stack of books in their bags.

Strangely, I read a lot when I am in public, especially in waiting areas or public transportation. I couldn't get the same spirit when I read the non-fiction books alone at home. It always end up with a blur vision and a loud snoring, without having a chance to finish even a chapter!  While in public, I could finish a chapter or a book without hesitation. I guess, the crowd and the surrounding environment are helping me to awake and stay still to finish the books. 

So I know now, if I want to read a difficult standard method for testing, I have to go outside, sit in public and enjoy it!

Although e-book readers are handy, I still prefer reading a printed book. There is a different sensation when I hold the book, read the lines, turn the pages or even smell the new book's scent, rather than read the words only from a screen. 

Happy reading,

Pekanbaru

Sticky Fried Rice Ball

On our way to My Tho, Mekong Delta river, from Ho Chi Minh City, the bus has stopped at a nice big restaurant. 

Other delegates took the chance to had their breakfast or bought some snacks. 

Me and hubby just went around to take pictures of garden landscape. 

Suddenly, my eyes caught this brown air filled ball in one corner. 

I was so curious. What's that?

Glutinous rice ball

Fortunately, there was a demonstration of preparing this huge ball. 

So I could stay there for a while to record the whole cooking process.  

It was quite suspense. I was so worry the ball explode unexpectedly. 

You could see the making of it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDl5bh_rb3E

FYI, the biggest sticky rice ball was made for a world record in 2009 with a diameter of 60cm and height 45cm. 

The ball can be served with roasted chicken or fried fish. 

Of course, you need to beat it up down and cut it up to eat the ball. 

Pekanbaru,

Food Container

Food is compulsory in every journey. 

However, a trip to Antartic must have a different story. 

Foodies are difficult to find every time we want them in the land of ice.

No local groceries stores or market to supply our needs. 

Antartic International Centre, Christchurch, nz

This typical food container was brought by early travelers to Antartic. 

Most of the food were canned, dried and preserved. 

Fresh vegies or fruits were rarely last longer than weeks. 
All necessary things must not missed, even the toilet roll papers! 

I guess they packed the container for weekly usage. 

It wass practical and well thought, to ensure that they had adequate supply during their stay in the freezing continent.

Happy trip to Antartic~

Pekanbaru,