HOME

It really reminded me of the golden old days that had passed by before I realized that they actually did fade away.... all along those days of my stay in Chiang Mai, I kept remembering one of the oldest and most cliche idioms of all time saying "Home Is Where The Heart Is".... Well I would say I was home for I had been receiving all those heartfelt loving care all the time from my uncle there. It was just so pure and simple with no pretence at all. Thank you Uncle...

Uncle's cozy little stand-alone cottage

The scenic surroundings also played a major part and helped me recall my little "Home Sweet Home" back in Taunggyi. The minute I glanced the outside world from the corner of my eyes through the windows, the doors or even when I closed my eyes and listen carefully, I could sense the serenity of the environment and fresh cool breeze wavering around the trees grown on mountainside.

Front View From the house

The resemblance was just so prominent that I kept saying I was home.

At nights I would be a couch potato over so many good DVDs just like I would be doing exactly the same thing if I were home and before I knew it, my hands and feet would become numb out of the chilling weather as if it had not been scorching hot when the sun was being all high up and mighty during the daytime. The first morning tap water would also make me fully awake through all shivers down my back the minute I touched the water and would make me feel like I'd never touch it again for the rest of my life. Even those feelings were not at all new to me as I had those things before in the past. I simply embraced the feeling of belonging to somewhere and just being all the way secure. Hmm... I really miss that.

This place really looks like "Ye Htwet Oo Road" to my house

Even the way up to its mountain top, I felt like I could almost see the valley of Nyaung Shwe from far above and if I could further picture things in my mind then Innlay would be there already for sure , the uphill road really resembled our Kalaw and Heho. But instead of the things that I had pictured myself what I saw was the panoramic view of the vastly expanding Chiang Mai with highrises here and there yet still green as I can ever imagine.

Well in this case "Home away from Home" is not just a jargon we use among hoteliers anymore. That little place residing in my heart is just the real home away from home.

Views from Mountain Top Pagoda

Let me think about it!!!

Well yeah, you might be wondering "What is it this time?" (Like again after a month as if I just woke up from my dreamland where there is no such thing called "Blogging") I actually know how this sounds but seriously up till now I have no idea of what I am going to talk about! Well let me think about it first, the title answers it all.

You know how much I admire those who are really into spending their time concentrating on writing things that people do find them interesting?? Especially this friend of mine whose blogger name or a pen name or whatever she wants it to be called is "chaos", hardly can I imgine that she can be so committed and stay put with her own blog and it has been a huge achievement seriously. And the most important thing is there is this beauty in all those bloggers (I believe) that in the end of the day no matter how hilarious or touching their blogs may be, they have the tendency to make the readers realize something or about someone or at least they get to know more about the bloggers' part of life. This is an interesting and sometimes could be a fun sharing section which saves time in a sense that it reaches out to a whole lot of friends at the same time rather than you yourself being a joker going all the way out there to meet circle of friends somewhere and share something and incurrs low cost as you can imagine and it is just so relaxing to read your closed ones' feelings that have been shared right inside your room without even having to stand up from your chair and vice versa (Hope this works for me in return).

Ohh yeah almost forget to mention this: those who want to improve their written English, this is the right place to start with though you might end up trying to search for the personal tutor later to correct your grammatical errors or anything. But it is no big deal, trying your best is what makes it matters the most.

Okay okay you might be starting to think that "Why am I suddenly in Herald's lecture class?" I was not trying to like lecture you guys, it is just that I still cannot figure out what this is all about as in this whole writings or talkings or whatever it may be. It just came up from my itchy hands right now since I have like almost always abandoned this whole thing for at least a month everytime I posted a new writing on my blog. How usual it is huh? I know I know..... I love to sit on and set things aside... Phewww.... I do not know what happened to my new year resoution... (clear throat)

Anyway I gotta sleep, I seriously need to catch up on my sleep since this whole incoming week will be like a non-stop hit to me at school. And I need my Chinese New Year getaway to Chiang Mai for one week. Wish me "Have a safe trip." "Thanx guys and peace out."

A Memorial Service Speech to my Entertainment!!!

Sigh.... that was the day, the most shocking moment in my entire one year's stay here in KL, that my one and only entertainment of all time just left this world for good (peace be with you)!!!

Now that he has gone, I have to hold a memorial service for him for being a good friend of mine as well as my most precious PA without failure ever since he came into my pocession this time around (Xmas) last year.

I always loved to call him Dell Hardy (HardDisk made from Dell) since he was a former American citizen before he had a big fight with my sister and as a punishment he was sent over to the new master which was me all the way from America after a one full month of shipride.

Since he had learnt his lessons, he was being good to me in fact he was a pretty cautious buddy to me who would entertain me with all the games and music of all sorts and not to forget, he made me stay connected (that was the most important part of all). Then once again, he made me do my assignments last minutes or even far too late at nights!!!

Sometimes we just have to accept the fact that good things always come together with bad stuff, he started having this bad flu three nights ago. I just thought it was a normal viral infection so I just simply prescribed (as I'm Dr Quack) him with antivirus-biotics which made him worse, he became very slow and occasionally he could not do his job well and in the middle of somewhere doing something, he would freeze and rest... he even had frequent comas so that I even had to shut him down to start from scratch... He tried really really hard as well to obey me until he coughed out making the screeching sounds and that time you can imagine my heart was not at all at ease and I did not even know a single thing on what I should do with him.

So as an encouragement, I just gave him a pat (may be too harsh for him though) and only then he coughed out his one last pain with a sharp screech. There and then he remained silent and by the look of him, I already knew that I would not be able to wake him up again. At least, he managed to take away all my past year assignments, my activities photos, music, videos (you name it) every bits of things that I kept with him. So even after his settlements with his own things and life in paradise, he would remember me, the good old pal, I guess since he has taken all the memories away...

Now that I have to train all over to the new born Dell Hardy Jr. (shall I call that way???), I might as well adopt another external Dell N. Hardy (N. stands for new) as well??? I'll leave it up to you all to think for me... and don't forget to get back to me... thanks!!!

My Com Com In View

Penang: Inspired by buddy Soya

Wow! I really cannot believe in myself that I can ever abandon my blog for so long and it has been remaining half dead ever since after i wrote yummylicious or a quick-peek reflect back on my good old times. Sorry for that buddy Soya.... (my one and only reader I guess... for now)....

well yeah, even way before I arrived here which was past two years... my "English conversation class" teacher, "sir", asked me to go visit Penang and my first thought about Penang was totally "plain blank" and I instantly replied him: "sir, is that in Thailand???"

Anyway it has got a beach so it does not matter whether it is in Thailand or Malaysia, right?? We just got to have fun!!!

Well that was my first perception regarding Penang!!! I know you would say "That's so Herald."... what to do man, seriously....

Okay, cut crap.... and here it comes Penang!!!!

It’s just simply the best of the best place with all the beach, mountain, modern life yet still remain the traces of rich Chinese culture…

This picture was taken on the way to Penang... It was just simply spectacular!!!

I still remember the first early morning that we all gathered in Sunway foyer and all looked starving and half asleep until the bus arrived at last after one hours’ wait. It was worth waiting for though, our bus was like an Aerobus…

We were not just tired of playing silly games like all groups on trip would have done it along the way until no energy was left before our second stop for lunch which we already sensed an aura of Penang the minute we saw “Laksa – One bowl 2.20”…. I was like “YES” and not to forget, the Cendol was nice as well.

By the time we passed through the Penang Bridge, it was raining and we all were disappointed: “There goes our first day in Penang, sigh…… “. The rain eventually subsided and after we were settled with our rooms in Sri Sayang, it was brightly shining, just good enough to go to the beach and enjoy the rides…..

We were waiting for our Banana Boat Guy to come, but to our disappointment it came but an hour later... Too bad, tatar Mr. Banana Boat Guy!!! Then off we went without playing that.

These are a bunch of my "Cam Whore" gang in Kek Lok Si Temple, which overlooks the whole George Town if I am not mistaken.

Walking up and down the Ferringhi night market was great. Not only could we get cheap DVDs, one for Rm 4.00 returnable if anything is wrong, and this is what we should call them Ferringhi Louis Vuitton bags, wallets and you name it, they have it….. the best part was this:

Hahahaha yeah man come to think of it condom = protection… well it makes sense, it comes from smart Penang Hokkien-speaking business people with good command of English...

For the last day Penang, I’ll just copy and paste the Penang article that me and soya wrote featured in our 5th Floor Newsletter!! So yeah enjoy….

This was the quality morning for all of us somehow as some spent their nice time snuggling in beds the whole morning while some went a stretch to the beach for one last time before we left for Batu Ferringhi Beach for their favorite parasailing or photo taking sessions among the rocks. Off we went to Butterworth around 10.00 am in the morning and we had so much fun testing out our DVDs we bought the previous night until we got to Ms. Dhina’s house since we had the pre-invitation from her for the Raya open house in the Kampung (village) which turned out to be the total experience for all of us. Her house was situated in ten-minute walking distance from the highway and though we were asked to hop in to the neighbor’s van that Ms. Dhina requested especially for us, we still insisted on walking till we reached the house. It was a two-storied house by the paddy field and for those who decided to sleep until late the following morning, it was heaven for them for the food were exceptionally delicious and all of us really got to know the warm and hospitable neighbors and family who helped out in all the mise-en-place just to cater the thirty of us. We were not just tired enough of savoring the Kampong dishes and not to mention a short visit over the paddy field soon after lunch just to fulfill our habitual daily routine which we practiced back in Penang that was taking pictures no matter where we were and what situation we were in. Same goes to the long way back to our bus from the Kampung, we just had as much fun as when we first walked in to the village. From there we reached Ipoh in the evening then despite the occasional short breaks and traffic jam, we reached back home which was KL around 8.30 pm and of course we all felt time flew really fast compared to the bond and nostalgic memories we got from the trip and we wished it could have been any longer if there were the next time like this. All of us promised the next trip to be organized and we just simply cannot wait for it.

Yummy-licious yet Authentic....... (Getting Back to my own roots)

Far away amidst of luscious high ground greenery and a glassy "Innlay" lake in a small town back in Burma, a rich culture wrapped in varieties of traditional delicacies await visitors of all walks of lives.

This small pavilion resides in the middle of "Fish Pond", as we all love to call it, surrounded by stretches of green paddy fields in the horizon has more things to offer than what we may have expected for before the actual first visit. Then what are those some of the extra special things that it can ever offer us??

An exceptionally tasty grilled local stream fish with the vegetable stuffing inside is just one of the wonders we can experience. The picture on the left shows it all!!!

(All the buddies looked tired on that day, but it was the last time we actually went there in one whole group before I left for here, so we had great fun eating and being together.)

Not to forget the mouth-watering sour and spicy raw fish salad tossed with fragrant Ku Cai (Chives) to our own traditional Shan delight. It was the best choice for us to ever order Fish Head Tom Yam soup so as to go well with those fried, broiled, grilled (you name it) fish dishes.

Despite the fact that we were all like having to squat down around the table together for a bite to eat those hearty fish dishes, we were at our full convenience since we got to savor great dishes with loved ones while some more enjoying the smell of fresh breeze just passed from the green fields across and if ever anyone of you manage to visit "my Home", I promise you a lunch out in our cozy little "Fish Pond" pavilion in the center of serene nature.

(One of our most favorite hang-outs, the "Fish Pond" pavilion.....)

Tagged by Soya!!!

Part 1:
On the Outside

Name : Tin Soe Hlaing/ Ting Yau/ Herald
Date of Birth : 18th December 1984!
Current Status : Single
Eye Colour : dark brown
Hair Colour : A slight tint of browness
Righty or Lefty : Righty...
Zodiac Sign : Sagittaraus

Part 2:
On the Inside

Your Heritage : Shan Chinese
Your Fear : Uncertainties in Life
Your Weakness :
Your Perfect Pizza : I'm one kind, I'm not a pizza person

Part 3:
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Your thoughts first waking up : I'll snooze back for another 15 minutes... lolz
Your bedtime : My bioclock has totally gone haywired
Your most missed memory : Laughter from you guyz...

Part 4:

Your PickPepsi or Coke : Coke
McDees or Burger King : I'd rather choose KFC !!!
Single or Group Dates : Both...
Adidas or Nike : All Star Converse
Lipton Tea or Nestea : Lipton Tea
Chocolate or Vanilla : Vanilla
Cappucino or Coffee : Cappucino

Part 5:
Do You

Smoke : Once in my life back 4 years i guess just to test things out...
Curse : Not that I know of

Part 6:
In the Past Month

Drank alcohol : nope... mission failed
Gone to the mall : ermmmm if i take Pyramid as a mall then yes, just came back from it...
Been on stage : Duh...
Eaten sushi : Yep, it was my dinner tonight
Dyed your hair : That will be next month's story

Part 7:
Have You Ever?

Played a stripping game : Nope and no plan in the future either
Changed who you were to fit in : Nope...

Part 8:

Age you're hoping to be married : 30 yearz old or above

Part 9:
In A Girl

Best Eye colour : Brown or Blue or Green : Brown
Hair colour : Matching color to her skin tone
Short or long hair : Moderately long

Part 10:
What Were You Doing?

1 minute ago : Fighting with soya whether or not to fill this bloody thing out
1 month ago : ooopsss that would be wednesday on the 10th Sept.... hmmm damn stressed with Front Office on that day
1year ago : that particular day, we got F&B last practical with Ms Merry some more with our new uniform... and on that same day Shaun was having food poison. I just got StreamyX connection in Mentari and I was pretty excited about Jair's Dell arrival to me as well.... wow man, I really remembered.... :P

Part 11: Finish The Sentence

I love : My parents, family, sister, brother, best friend, closest friends and myself
I feel : Young at heart
I hate : myself sometimes for acting on impulse... but i do not really mind so long my family and my best buddy can understand....
I miss : :Laughter from you guyz..... (Home)
I need : money, to be healthily fat, to study, to have a clearer vision of my future

Part 12: Tag 5 People.
1) Sophia
2) the rest 4 for whoever who happens to read this and like this then just get tagged...

My first English Conversation Class... in Air Con City @ Cherry Land

During my pre-uinversity time, I got an opportunity to build up my proficiency in English back home which is my beloved cherry land or air con city. So this is all about the class that I joined. The teacher himself (we call him "sir") was brought up in England but he came back to Burma, gratuated there as during those days back, the word "Burma" was quite a name to worth describing properly in the map of the world. And what I have to stress upon is that he is a unique person with different fusion values. He managed to teach us the good western values well mixed with the good ones of our own. His students got to know the different customs and the outcome was that instead of viewing the world stereotypically from an already framed mind, we could view the world as it actually was.

However, please do not think that the class that I was just mentioning above was a grand and glamorous one. It was just a mere car garage without a car inside but instead it was filled with an old dining table with benches side by side and an old table clock on top and beside the table was an old box full of books. No boards, no library and no nothing. But at least an old map of the world was hung on the wall so it did not look so plain though. Despite the incredible conditions of our tiny little (supposed-to-be a garage) classroom, what we got from there was awesome and invaluable. I hope I can share this with those who have been in that small classroom of big hopes and dreams....

A message for my family

dear ah nai, pa, ma and family...

this is my very first time using internet from school. i kind of submitted it last thursday but as there were three days of orientation and a weekend, i only get to use it now.....

today is my very first day at school i mean after those long orientation days and yes i'm kind of getting familiar with my own school just now because it's practically a combination of two universities in the same building which is why it gets so large and even now i'm lost at some parts of the school..... the part of area that i'm now living and studying is selangor state ( i wonder if i spell it right ) but doe ye might know that place.... it's 30 minutes drive from kuala lumpur itself and my hostel is about 30 minutes walk from school. but don't worry we have free shuttle buses to and fro 8 times a day...... so it's very convenient..... and the cafeteria on the ground floor is a combination of 5 j donuts and 2 cafe aromas back in yangon..... and the food here is so great that i sometimes am hesitate which one to eat. 5 ringits and i'm full. only now that i understand what an actual university student's life is all about.

well the first evening i set foot on the airport ground, i was a little excited because i had to wait for someone from school to get me before i passed the immigration counter but luckily after 30 minutes wait, someone named mr. hashim picked me up and everything was okay with me...... the girl that went along with me got luckier that day, even before we got to the shuttle train, she got someone from kuching already there waiting for her...... so that was her story..... for me i got to sunway at about 7.30 pm and to my surprise my very first evening abroad kind of got dark only at about 8.00 pm. aunty jenny took me to her house and introduced me with her family and they all were very warm to me... and we kind of ate out that night... she and her son ko chris and her daughter-in-law ma ei took me to a big food court where most of the students spend their night eating dinner. it was awesome.... everything, the people, the food.... it was AsiaCafe

for the next few days before i went to my hostel, aunty jenny just took me to every place and mall worth going. last monday was my very first night in the hostel and some funny things happened.... cos i was mistakenly assigned to the level where there were no boys living but girls for that entire floor and a vietnamese girl got allocated into my actual room. so as they couldn't swamp us back for that day, i had to go to another room on the 5th floor and slept for one night. there i met with one friend from indonesia and we still hang around each other.....and now, about my actual room, i'm currently staying with 2 malaysian chinese, 1 korean and 1 sri lankan... all together 5 of us....... and yes as mentioned there are three rooms and of course a kitchen and 2 bathrooms with toilets attached.... it's just that they don't provide any cooking facilities like ovens, pots, pans and gas stove...... but we have all the cupboards and a fridge. and our living room is a nice one.... some sofas and a good table and chairs to dine... my room is on the 16th level of the apartment and there are altogether 4 blocks which means block a, b, c and d and all four are 17-storied buildings and a swimming pool, a basketball court and a small playground for kids are wrapped around by those buildings........ all of my roommates are okay... they are cool and the sri lankan named 'nalinda' is taking tourism, that 16-year-old korean 'sang jun' computer science, two malaysians 'alan' and 'lac', multimedia and networking.and okay, i'm going to talk about the nearest mall from both of our hostel and school. ( actually it is kind of in the middle of the two places ), sunway pyramid.... the shopping mall is a very big one with lots of shops and restaurants and what is more there is even an ice-skating ground for people to skate at the basement and a mega theater with small cinemas ( i believe there are at least 8 of them ) inside. and beside the pyramid is the lagoon theme park and it's one of the biggest themeparks in malaysia and it even contains a fake beach inside with all that white sands and even fake waves.... those waves are so big that people even surf around..... it's so incredible.... i can just see that park from our school window..... it's that near.

for now, i'm just eating out....... cos i don't want to buy the utensils for cooking.... and besides outside food stores are also very hygienic and reasonable..... even if you don't want to drink some juice, you get so full with 3.5 ringits worth dinner or lunch.

last friday, i went to a big mosque opposite the sunway pyramid and here the juma only starts at about 2.00. i don't know why..... but anyway, it's very convenient for me to just walk there and it's just 15 minutes walk from my hostel.

okay, you all might be getting bored by my long mail. so i think i'll stop here. but at least you can feel a little bit about the insight of where i'm living. okay, it's nearly 3.30, i have to go back to my hostel with the 3.45 shuttle bus. so i'll write to you again soon.

bye for now.

tons of love,
tee

ps. pa the current exchange rate is a us dollar for 3.63 ringits.....