HOW TO GET TO AND WHAT TO PREPARE : BUS TO CAMERON HIGHLANDS

The famous view of the tea plantations on Cameron Highlands. Time to see if it is all worth the trouble going up there.

I was feeling the itch to travel. I just got back from Thailand from a a week and a half of what I call an 'observatory trip of sex tourism' in Pattaya. That is another story. I had time to spare and I had not been to Pattaya before. Hence. It was interesting but it was enough for a one time experience.

So, I wanted a short trip. One which did not require too much research. Malaysia has always been a rather friendly place for me. It is just across the border and we speak the same languages and have similar cultures. I picked Cameron Highlands since I have already been to KL, Penang and Malacca. I also needed a quick cool down from the heat in Thailand. So off I went after a day of contemplation. It was 10 hours on the overnight coach.

This is a typical bus that goes to Cameron Highlands. The buses usually leave at 10.30pm from Golden Mile Tower in Singapore. But there are buses that leave in the morning too. I advise to take the night bus as you do not lose a day traveling.

Here are some tips traveling on the coach to Cameron Highlands:

• Pack enough water and snacks if you need any. It is a long journey. The driver will make several stops for toilet breaks. There will be shops to sell food too. In case you are the picky sort, best to bring your own.
• Separate your luggage. You can store your big luggage in the bus compartment outside. Or smaller bags overhead in the bus. If you don't mind your bags at your feet, you can put it on the floor. But the seats recline and the foot rest comes up too. So just take what you need.
• Wrap up. If the buses are not well known to be on time, they are famous for being super cold. And I mean colder than the highlands. The air conditioning will be blasting at you. You have to bring warm clothes. And if you like, some masking tape to cover those air vents.
• Neck support. Although the chair reclines, it is still not like a bed. You will find yourself in an awkward position if you want to sleep in a comfortable position. A neck pillow is the answer to a good night's sleep on such a long journey.
• Puke bags. The roads up and down the highlands is very trying. They are winding and they almost seem not to end. I was ok as I slept through it but my coming down the highlands made me queasy. You will need a couple of bags and napkins just in case.
• Where to stop. Always check the map before you buy your bus ticket. The buses stop at different areas in the Highlands and you can potentially save a taxi fare. Download offline maps so you know where the buses are passing by. You could negotiate a quick drop off with the driver if you are lucky.
• Weight your options. A lot of people grimace at the thought of a 10-hour journey on the bus. Yes, it is not fun. The bumpy drive also makes it difficult for one to read a book. I brought my podcasts so I was fine. The coach isn't the only way up but it is possibly the cheapest. You can also fly to Ipoh and take a transport from there. My journey there took 10 hours and my journey back took 14 hours due to traffic congestion. It was indeed a pain. If you cannot afford the time and pain, best to think twice.

My bus' last destination was Strawberry Park Resort. They made a stop at Brinchang town before heading up there. Basically stopping for the passengers to take a quick breakfast as they cannot check into the resort just yet. Also for the travel agents there to pitch their tours.

This is the stop if you want to get to Fabian and Lilian's Everything English Homestay.
Check my review of their homestay here

EVERYTHING ENGLISH HOMESTAY IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

I arrived very early in the morning with the bus from Singapore. Fabian and Lilian drove up hours before the check-in time to accommodate an early check-in. Much appreciated. Their holiday home is very cosy and makes one feel very relaxed and personable. This experience is very unlike a hostel or hotel. They made sure we were sorted with tours, maps and all the tips we needed. They also checked on us everyday.

The many couches and chilling corners at the homestay. 

Pretty with the misty skies, green balcony and warm interior of the homestay on a chilly morning.

Lilian's beautiful wedding dress, packed and ready to be brought back to their place in Ipoh.

The view from their balcony. Loads of potted plants on the balcony. The balcony next door belongs to the master bedroom. A nice chilling area for couples.

View of Brinchang Town from Sam Poh Temple which is just 5 minutes from the homestay.

TO STAY AT BRINCHANG OR TANAH RATA
A friend who frequents Cameron Highlands advised me to stay at Brinchang rather than Tanah Rata. Reason being, it is closer to all the attractions, restaurants and markets. Their home is a flight of stairs to Brinchang Town which only takes about 3 minutes to get to. You will experience local Chinese, Malay and Indian restaurants. There is a Malay food court. There is a supermarket and also several small provision shops.

THE VICINITY OF BRINCHANG : AROUND THE HOMESTAY
One rather gourmet provision shop sells alcohol, organic products and also specialised ice cream like, black charcoal, strawberry cheesecake, teh tarik (pulled milk tea) and my favourite, salted gula melaka (salted palm sugar caramel). A small morning street market is also 8 minutes away, behind KFC. The pasar malam (night market) is about 10 minutes away. They sell clothes, trinkets, fresh produce, cameron specialties and hot food to go. The market opens on Friday and Saturday nights, but we were lucky as it opens everyday during Malaysian school holiday. Try the fried sweet potato balls, grilled mutton, ayam murtabak (chicken and egg pancake) which is not greasy and more like a tortilla. So you do get a very local experience at Brinchang, rather than a touristic and more expensive one at Tanah Rata. Honestly, why would anyone travel all the way up here to experience bars and Starbucks altogether again? You are at home here with friends!

The homestay is located in a private estate which means awesome quiet nights. I was lucky all the guests got along so well together during my stay. We were like a family. We would buy food from the market to share, chat and watch the quality DVD collection. Lilian made sure the pantry was well stocked. So we had biscuits, tea and coffee, bread and Fabian's famous fluffy scones. They also have a water filter so we didn't need to buy bottled water. They have pretty tea cups and pots, so we were indulging in the Cameron tea culture everyday.

The wifi was strong and I was able to be in touch with friends. I was also able to watch my videos on stream. Not that we were spending a lot of time indoors, most things are walkable from the homestay we were out and about a lot. Big Strawberry Farm is very near and we also walked to Smokehouse Inn for tea. All in all, I love my experience staying at Fabian and Lilian's. This is my first Airbnb experience and I am just afraid the future experiences will not be able to top this.

Fabian's famous fluffy scones. And yes, he will teach you how to make them if you are keen.

Lovely pancakes and local strawberries can be enjoyed on their balcony. 

The humble kitchen where all these magic happens.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOMESTAY
Our 3 bedroom apartment with attached bathrooms is tucked away in a lively town of Brinchang in Cameron Highlands with an annual temperature of 20 C. Just 5 minute walk away leads you to the town centre where there are excellent restaurants and shops

The space
Experience warm English hospitality in a cool environment. We have 2 dorms with 4 bunk beds in each dorm and attached bathroom. It is from RM60.00 per bed per person per night in a shared room. We also have a double room with a double bed with different rate if you wish to have more privacy.

Guest access
Cosy lounge and reading corner. No cooking is allowed but any requests can be considered.

Interaction with guests
Will be present during guest's stay most of the time.

The neighbourhood
Quiet neighbourhood and beautiful landscaped garden. Short walking distance to the 4th largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia and a beautiful Hindu Temple.

Getting around
It is centrally located in the town centre with public bus available. A perfect base to get to all the local attractions. Parking is available at the premise.

Other things to note
We love our lovely home and we have extra rooms to spare and we wish to share our cosy home with travellers and let them experience some warm English hospitality.

They have a corner with a good selection of books.

Mobile Phone: 006 0175832252 or 006 012 574 3977

Email: everythingenglishhomestay (at) outlook (dot) com

D3, North Block, Honeymoon Villa, Jalan Kuari, 39100

Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

Check out their rooms here on Airbnb: Dorms and Double bedroom

Here is how to get to their homestay from Singapore

STEPS TO BEATING JOBLESS DEPRESSION IN YOUR DAY

I quit my job months ago. I couldn't stand the company. It was full of untalented people running amok doing the job in the most inefficient way. It was weighing me down so much I had to get out. And quit I did before finding something else. Months down the road I still do not have anything remotely interesting on the plate. I have been traveling on and off, and I have been reading and writing and learning new skills. I am feeling awesome and I love how each day is slowing down and teaching me new things. My friend is unfortunately not feeling so well.

I catch up with T every now and then. T is married with a baby. The economy is slow and people like us are left jobless at the meantime. I am not worried as I have my reserves. I am sure T has his reserves too. After all, he is also in a marriage and he has his partner for income for now. T told me he has been feeling depressed because of the situation. He has let himself slide into the darkness and is unable to see the gift of time for now.

T is much older and there is only so much I can say and encourage. He is ok. But he is surprised by how positive I am with this hiatus. Our industry (advertising) is so stressful that we always work overtime and weekends when we do work. This hiatus is a blessing in disguise for me. I never had this luxury of time to do my own things, ponder, learn new things and indulge in my impromptu extended travels.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and we should see everything as a blessing even though it may seen dark. I want to share what I do everyday during this hiatus.

• Wake up naturally. I don't sleep well. I dream a lot and I sometimes wake up tired. My sleeps are always disturbed when I am stressed. So, reward yourself with rest. You are in no rush.
• Replenish your body in the morning. I don't drink coffee. It is usually a small glass of water in the morning, followed by my favourite herbal infusions. Depending on my mood, it could be chamomile, rooibos or something else. Why load your body with caffeine when you don't need it?
• Work out your day. I don't have plans unless I have errands to run or when I am traveling. Take time to do what you have always wanted to do. Go do the hike in the reservoir. Go to that restaurant not during the peak lunch hour. Go to the museums without the crowd. There are days I spend indulging in my tv series and movies. Yes, I do not go ape shit active everyday.
• Cook something. I love to cook. And I love going to the supermarket's produce bin to pick out reduced vegetables for my meals. If you are not earning, why not save a dollar or two cooking for yourself?
• Learn a new skill. I am a sucker for learning new skills. I have somewhat improved my bread making skills. I have learnt how to make noodles from scratch. I am going to make rice wine next. Oh, and of course this crazy one is learning how to forage.
• Read the titles you have neglected. I am not an avid reader. I find it difficult to read. It is a very intense activity for me, I visualise everything a read so I get tired quickly. This is the time to read and visualise as there is nothing else in your mind. I have read some good titles like 'The Time Keeper', 'The Lost Horizon'...etc. Don't pick nonsense to read. Read literature good for your soul.
• Travel, be it long or short distance. A lot of people want to save money when they are not working. I think this is a wrong move. You can curb your spendings. You will be surprise that I spend less when I am traveling in cheaper countries. When else will you get to spend a month somewhere? We usually have an average of 20 days of leave. There are also a lot of free things to do in your own city. And I am sure you have not explore every corner of your city too.
• Slow down. I was always rushing around when I was working. I needed to have my mobile phone or laptop next to me. I become a robot. Everything needed to be done as fast as possible just so that I can lay down for that couple of hours to relax before I retire to my stressful sleep. It is so important to slow down and be mindful. To appreciate everything you eat, breath or do.
• Back to nature. I don't get a lot of chances to be close to nature when I was working. Being overworked, I really only want to be indoors and near my bed over the weekend. This is the chance to breath in the fresh oxygen away from the city, and learn about a new plant or two.
• Add to your knowledge. I try to make sure I learn a new fact or two everyday. This does not only make you more knowledgable, you might even find a new hobby.
• Understand sustainability. It is the best time to learn about sustainability when you do not have income. You will be surprise how much more sustainable and resourceful you can be when you put yourself in the right mindset. Rearrange your wardrobe and discover new outfits, look into the depths of your drawers and you might just find some things you have forgotten.
• Re-access your finances. This is not something you should do on a daily basis. But it is definitely something you should have done way before. I have my reserves but it doesn't mean that they are working hard enough for me. Now that I have time to think about what I want my money to do for me, it is time to head to the bank for some adjustments. Do this and I promise you will not regret it. The interest can very well earn you a free lunch each month.

FORAGING FOR EDIBLE WEEDS IN SINGAPORE : PEPPEROMIA

I have been reading up about foraging for edible weeds in Singapore and it has been most challenging. We do not have a foraging culture here and the urban landscape makes it difficult for safe edible plants to be found. I am talking about animal excretion, pesticides and trampling. I have also not found a good guidebook for tropical weeds. Not to mention, it is illegal to forage in many parks and gardens.

But, I do know about this one weed which is edible. And it grows in my parents' garden. Not a lot of it but I did manage to find a handful. This is called pepperomia. It is a delicate yet hardy weed can be used in stir fries or eaten raw in salads. Singaporeans do not use this at all in our many cuisines but I managed to find how it is being used in Vietnamese cuisine.



Vietnamese Crab Claw Herb – Rau Càng Cua
Vietnamese Names: Rau Càng Cua

Common Culinary Name: Vietnamese crab claw herb, salad pepperomia

Botanical Family and Name: Pepperomia Pellucida

Vegetative Description: Small, crawling plant with shiny, slightly heart shaped leaves. Succulent stems and leaves with long flower spikes. Leaves are slightly heart shaped, tapering to a point at the ends.

Native Habitat: Asia

Tasting Note: Very fragrant, floral, slightly spicy

Culinary Uses: Stir fried with beef and tossed in various salads.

Medicinal Uses: N.A

Propagation: Easily propagated by cuttings in water or soil with quickly spreading root runners. 

6 BACKPACK ACCESSORIES A NOVICE NEEDS

In recent years, developing countries like Vietnam and Myanmar are opening up for tourism. Budget airlines have also been on the rise for the past decade. These smaller fleets bridge the world to the lesser known paths. With that, backpacking has become the popular mode of travel. The convenience of a backpack beats a suitcase on wheels, trekking on roads unpaved.

The choice of backpack has become a science with the mountain of varieties in the market. The number of brands, materials, sizes and sizes alone are stifling. It is important to identify the purpose of your travel before picking your backpack.

How to pick your backpack
Identify the volume you need. More often than not, you need a smaller size than you expect. The rule of thumb is to fit a week to 2 weeks of clothes, a toiletry bag, extra shoes, raincoat or jacket at most. The other items will be your documents, books and, or electronics. This is the basic. And depending on the climate, a 50 or 70 litres backpack will suffice.

If you are using it for trekking, skiing or camping, it needs external attachments for your gears. If you are moving to a new place everyday, you will need specific larger openings. It is also important to be able to adjust your straps to balance the load on your back. These are some guidelines.

1. Dry compressed bags
Separate your clothes into usage, for the beach or for the night... Roll them and pack them into the bags. They keep your clothes dry in case of a wet accident. And as it says, compress your clothes to give you more space. Pick smaller bags as they act as compartments.

2. Bungees
There will be many external attachments on your backpack. They help to hold sleeping bags, shoes, walking gears or just about anything you want. Look at how other travellers use them. There is no hard rule about it. Bungees are straps with hooks or snaps. They can be elastic or not. They are useful in securing your belongings to the external attachments.

3. Snap hooks
Snap hooks are individual hooks with springs. They help to secure your hanging items or bags to the external attachments of your backpack. You can be hands free attaching a bottle or mesh tin, or small bag.

4. Rain cover
It is important to get a rain cover if you don't already have one that comes with the backpack. It protects your backpack from dirt and water. Most backpacks are water resistant but not waterproof. It covers the front of the backpack exposing the straps.

5. Attachable strap pockets
There are usually limited pockets and you will need pockets that are accessible. These pouches that hold your digital devices attached on your chest or waist straps .

6. Foldable bag
When the backpack is full or when you need to separate fragile items, it is useful to have extra storage bags. A foldable smaller backpack is the best and more secure than totes.

These are just some of the backpack necessities to start a novice. There are more accessories that are specific. Explore the world and add to it.

HAPPINESS 021216

SO MANY GOOD SERIES TO WATCH. I LOVE MY LIFE. EASY HOMEMADE NOODLES. AND I DIDN'T JUST LEARNT IT, I MADE IT. BASIL SEEDS DRINK. SLOWING AND TAKING MY TIME. SLOWING. WRITING AGAIN AND ENJOYING EVERY BIT OF IT. CHAMOMILE TEA AND MORE INFUSIONS. REDUCING MY NONSENSE ONE AT A TIME.

THE ONE-INGREDIENT SOUP BY GORDON RAMSAY

I am a huge sucker for quick and easy healthy recipes. It not only saves time but also saves you carrying the bulk from the market, not to forget it beats junk food anytime. I was surprised when I stumbled upon this one-ingredient soup. But it cannot be dubious when it is by Gordon Ramsay. And of course you have the charming British demonstrating it in the video, it cannot be simpler than what he did. Well, it can. Ramsay made the more elaborated version of it with the drizzle of oils, and also topped it off with what was some expensive looking gourmet cheese. That in itself would be two ingredients if you ask me. If you do not consider water, salt or a quick drizzle of olive oil and a crack of pepper as ingredients, then it is really just a head of broccoli or two, depending on the volume you want to make.

I made it myself several times but excluded the more expensive cheese at the end. Not because I think it will not add to the taste but I am always trying to keep cost low and it is supposed to be a light appetiser anyhow. I visited a vegan friend once and we decided to make a quick meal. Pasta was the obvious but I suggested making broccoli soup when I saw he had some in his fridge. He went on to pull out other ingredients from his fridge, thinking we would be making a vegetable stock. He was in disbelief when I told him it only needed broccoli. So, off we went to make this simplest of soup in less than ten minutes.  It is the most amazing one-ingredient soup you can ever make and impress anybody. It is now his signature soup.

HANDMADE AND HAND CUT NOODLES

I am crazy about making things from scratch. I lived in western cities where Asian ingredients are difficult to come by, or expensive to buy. I started to learn how to cook only when I was living overseas. It was not easy being away from my comforts, so learning how to cook was a step towards being more efficient.

From then, I strive to try to make most things from scratch. It was most difficult when I was in Amsterdam. It was not as cosmopolitan as London and I was not exactly staying in the heart of action. The supermarkets were about 10 minutes walk away. But grocery shopping was definitely a chore or no-go when it was snowing or raining hail. So what does one do when it is raining hail outside and you have no staple but a big bag of flour?

I learnt how to make bread.

But now, I want to learn how to make noodles from scratch because I have never gotten to it. I kneaded some dough in front of my laptop whilst watching my series this morning. It was a simple recipe with plain flour, salt and water. The kneading was easy, the cutting was more difficult. I didn't roll out my dough, I pressed and punched it down. But it worked. I think I am getting the hang of it. After this rather successful first round of cooking my own noodles for lunch, I think i know how thick or thin the noodles should be next time.

A cheer.

THE MAGIC OF MOTORCYCLING ON A DATE

Amidst the crowded forest, you saddle and mount onto your steed. You turn around and pull your lady up. You are both ready. An instant trust amounts. She puts her faith in you, and you take it like her valiant knight, her protector. And your iron steed blows fire to gallop away from the world of the mundanes. Amidst that of the rigmaroles of urbanites and their skyscrapers.

With your iron steed, you can turn the asphalt into a magic carpet that twists and winds. Travelling on the path that neither you nor your lady had ever laid eyes upon. The lake is now a mystical watering hole where your iron steed would stop, and you will deep your toes into. The horizon is nearer than before, and you speed towards it to hold the golden setting yolk in your hands.

The changing wind touches your lips and cheeks, and carries on to caress her hair. Her hair flowing in the changing colours, with the iron steed speeding through the light. She smells her valiant knight carried in the wind, as you feel her trust even not seeing her. A bond builds.

We often lose sight of the simplest joy. The feeling of being closer together. The feeling of trusting someone like riding on a motorcycle together. It is not just about trusting the rider. The rider needs to trust the pillion rider too. It takes synergy for two people to be on a motorcycle together. It is almost primal, being on a machine, as supposed to being in a machine like a car. You are almost 'naked', unprotected, and exposing yourselves to the elements. The beauty of the wind on your faces and your hair. The closeness of experiencing sights with your naked eyes, lights bouncing with the winds.

And with that touch of magic, you are free, free to explore. There are no paths less beaten, no alleys too small, no stops too abrupt. You just go with the flow, no plans, no maps. You stop at the edges to admire the horizon. You pull up at the side to pick the sweetest of berries. You turn in to discover an abandoned lighthouse, only to receive the most amazing view from above.

All these to experience with that someone who could be. And how about letting the imagination run wild with pure instinct, on a romantic motorcycle date?. The only thing that matters, is the person you are with on the trusty iron steed.

10 ROSE PETALS USES IN THE KITCHEN

1. Rose Petal Tea
You will need to use organic roses in the kitchen for consumption. Non-organic roses have chemical fertiliser in them and pesticide on them and are unsafe. You can make rose tea the same way you make infusion with fresh mint. A few petals in a tea cup, fresh boiled water and keep the petals in for a few minutes and enjoy. You can leave the petals in.

2. Rose Petal Sauce
This is a Mexican recipe as featured in the movie 'Like Water for Chocolate'. A quail dish made with rose petal sauce shared between the star crossed lovers. Puree the rose petals and cactus and whisk in honey, salt and pepper.

3. Rose Petal Vinegar
You can have rose infused vinegar in mere minutes for your dinner party. Simmer white wine vinegar and rose petals in a stainless steel saucepan. Stir and let the vinegar cool once perfumed. You can leave the petals in for aesthetics.

4. Rose Petal Salad
Toss the pretty petals with your spring or summer salad. It adds colour and fragrance to the season of full bloom. Rose goes well with chicken, peaches and peas. It adds a perfume to the bitter rocket leaves.

5. Rose Petal Jam
Treat the petals you would like any fruits for making jam with. Combine the petals with some citrus juice and sugar and set aside. It could be lemon, lime or orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until the consistency is of desired. It depends how strong you like the rose perfume to be, you will have to experiment the ratio.

6. Rose Petal Sweet Milk
This is like the spiced milk that we all know well. The Indians drink rose flavoured syrup with milk. But this is as delicious if you have fresh petals around. Simmer the petals in the milk and add sugar or condensed milk to taste.

7. Candied Rose Petals
Dip the rose petals in egg white and then in icing sugar. Place the petals one by one on a silicon sheet or baking paper and let dry. Once dry, they are a bit brittle. Use them on top of cakes, fruits or poached fruits for decorations.

8. Rose Petal Extract
Put as many petals as you can in a glass jar, and fill it up with vodka. Place the jar in a dark place and wait until the petals lose their colour. You will get rose extract for baking, cooking or even cocktails. You can speed up the process by placing the sealed jar in a dishwasher run.

9. Rose Petal Ice Cubes
Spruce up iced teas or cocktails by freezing petals in ice cubes. They make the drinks super pretty. The trick is to make the ice with boiled water. You will get clear ice cubes instead of cloudy ones.

10. Fruits with Rose Perfume
Soak cut fruits in chilled rose petal tea, or if you want, add rose petal extract for more perfume. Leave the fruits to chill while tossing them every now and then make sure they are all infusing. Drain and serve. This makes a delightful surprise.

HAPPINESS 301116

BINGE WATCHING SERIES MAKES ME HAPPY. GOOD ACTING, GOOD EDITING, GOOD STORY TELLING. IT IS THAT EASY BUT SO MANY PEOPLE GET IT WRONG. TRAVEL BUG. I AM A LONE WOLF, AN OUTSIDER AND I AM NOT ALONE. HOME COOKING AND ALL SORTS OF FIBERS. CHAMOMILE TEA ALL DAY LONG FOR RELAXATION. HAPPY COMPOSTING.

4 WAYS HERBAL TEAS CAN DETOX YOU

I am a frequent traveller and I go to developing cities and towns to immerse into their cultures. With that, I try to take a lot of street food to understand their culture and also to mingle with the locals. Although one can assume street food is more or less safe to eat considering everyone else is doing it, there are also a lot of things that a traveller might not be able to stomach. It could be the herbs and spices used, or it could simply be the way it is prepared. 

I normally go through a period of detox when I return to my home city. Being a frugal traveller, it also does not mean that you can go for the regular salads or your choice of meals all the time. You just have to live with what is affordable and along your route of travel. Hence, you might not be having very balanced meals for days on end. Many one-person meals do not have enough vegetables to be considered balanced in our countries. Hence you can imagine your body like a vessel that needs to be drained of it's toxins after your travel or holiday. So, the money question: Does herbal tea actually work? I shall review my experience with it.

• It contains natural ingredients: Be it Ginger, Chamomile, Myrrh, Marsh Mallow, Ppeppermint Leaves, Rooibos, Persimmon Leaves, Holy Thistles. 'Natural' is the key word. Most detox teas contain artificial ingredients. Imagine adding more manmade substances into your already toxic body.
• My favourite 2 ingredients Ginger and Chamomile are it. These are scientifically proven to work in the human body. Ginger increases our blood flow and also aids in digestion. Chamomile calms you and also makes your skin glow. Imagine your body working hard to get rid of the toxins, yet you do not feel the stress it is working hard to fight the battle for you.
• You might be asking how a tea bag or some leaves or flowers can help to detox or lose weight. Here is why a lot of people do not see the result. Your vessel is already full of toxins. You should not, and I repeat, should not load it with more toxins. Many people think that detox products are miracle products where they can continue their lifestyle of vices, and they would be miraculously cleansed. No, it does not work like that. Even when you are trying to clean stains off your clothes, you do not add more stains to it when cleaning do you? So, always watch what you eat and drink while using herbal tea to make sure you get the maximum results. Cut down on artificial products and junk food, soft drinks, alcohol... you get the drift.
• My top tip on using herbal tea is to sip it on an empty stomach. This is made of natural ingredients that are mild on your stomach. But they are also have active oils and minerals which will work better when absorbed quickly and immediately.

Enjoy the taste and rejuvenate yourself the way I did!

HAPPINESS 141116

SLEEPY, LAZY, RAINY DAYS. SO RELAXING. THERE IS ALWAYS A SILVER LINING TO THE CLOUDY DAYS. RICK AND MORTY. SO FUNNY. TRAVEL COMING UP IN TWO DAYS, HOORAY. SLOWING DOWN, BREATHING, MINDFULNESS. UNDERSTANDING WASTES AND SUSTAINABILITY. HAVING BACKED UP YEARS OF DATA AND ORGANISED THEM. PIMPED MY BED AND HAVE BEEN HAVING AWESOME NIGHTS OF SLEEP. WELL, SOME WEIRD DREAMS THOUGH.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL BUFF HEADWEAR

There are more upcoming travels and I thought I should rethink the clothes I put into the backpack. I am not getting big expensive items. In fact, I am relooking and rethinking the wardrobe and looking at clothes that can be minimised, or rather multi-purposed. While on the road, I need clothes that are multifunctional as well as hardy. Some fabrics crease and pull easily so they are really not good for backpacking, rough handling. Most of my scarves are long and bulky, all for winter climates. The few I have for the warmer climates are flimsy and they pull easily, meaning they fray easily. So I have one of these buff headwear coming my way. Made of microfibers, it can keep me warm in the tropical nights or the cooler climates. It is compact and the slight elastic also help to make it versatile. I hope it arrives in time for the next travel.

 

MY WEEKEND GUIDE TO MY MINIMISING JOURNEY

I woke up this morning. I woke up naturally without an alarm. I have nothing in the world to rush me. I have little commitments this weekend. I opened my eyes but the soft bedding pulled me back in. I snoozed another hour or so and jumped out of bed, full of energy. There is no inertia here. I slept late and I slept well. I am fully rested. The habit of waking up and pulling that mobile phone towards me hasn't changed yet. I want to know the time. But at the same time, there are messages from last night, from another country, another time zone.

I checked my emails. 2 emails this morning as supposed to the usual 20s. My minimising is working. I have been unsubscribing to the nonsense for the past few days and the declutter is happening now. I feel so free not to be bombarded by the various emails asking me to buy stuff. As much as I am trying to be minimalistic and sustainable, those emails are most enticing. They make me feel like I needed those things, that looking at those happy people in there make me feel like I am missing out on some things. But no, I should know better that those are tricks. I am ok. Many people want to be me. Just as I want to be them. But I know that being bombarded is not a good thing. Those emails, those ads are working on my subconscious. I don't need that. I need my energy for better things.

And so, I woke up and continued to backup my files on the computer. I erased files, hard disks, backed things up, overwrote things. It is never ending almost. It will end soon. I believe I have organised the folders and I just have to backup the files into different hard disks. I just need to let the computer run. I just have to do this. This will free me of the clutter in the work and leisure arena. My portfolio and my memories.

I went to the kitchen to prepare my lunch. I bought those eggplants and red peppers from the bargain bin at the supermarket a couple of days ago. I sauteed all of them and ended up with a big box of it for the next few meals. I took some and tossed them with noodles for my lunch. I continued to backup my files. I still have my music to backup. I have digitalised all my compact discs years ago. However with the few hard disks I have, and the confusing backing up system, all the files are not consolidated. I got music from myself and friends. There are so many duplicates and I do not need duplicates in my life.

I feel that I function better when I have a to-do for the day when I am on this minimising process. It is easy to sit in front of the clutter and be lost in it. Of course there is inertia and procrastination. There is always the, it is ok, there is tomorrow. So here is my list to help me today.

THE 2-MINUTE RULE
We all procrastinate. It is ok. That is life. Some things are more difficult to get started. But this is it, I read somewhere about this 2-minute rule. Some things are difficult because you know that once you start them, you would be there for hours to come. Other things are easier, they take minutes. Be if putting the laundry away, ironing that shirt, wiping that table. So the 2-minute rule is, if it takes just 2 minutes to do, just get off the butt and do it. That is one thing done.

THE SYSTEMS AND BACKUP
Once upon a time the hard disks are small. I am saying they are small because I used to deal with huge files at work and hence I need a lot of storage. It came to a point when one disk wasn't enough and I had to split the storage. I split the storage and then I still had to duplicate a backup just in case. I now have a huge disk of 2TB. This is my main storage now. The little ones are the duplicate backups. It is just so much easier to do it this way. But with years of storage, no wonder it is taking me days to sort the files out. Always have a system to store things, and if you can, one main disk for everything.

THE TRAVEL PACKING
I am into backpacking these days. And that means limited space, light packing. I am trying to identify light and thin clothes that will maximise my packing. I am also sorting out a pile of old clothes to bring to this upcoming trip. I am not going to look fashionable but who cares really. I will not come back with those old clothes. I will leave them in a bag at the accommodation and the cleaners can either take them or throw them out.

THE HALF BOTTLES
We are all guilty of having lotions, oils and creams that are half used and forgotten. Time to bring them out and finish them, or bring them along to your next travels. Finish them and toss them.

THE HALF BOOKS
The books you are procrastinating to finish. This is considered clutter too. I am making a point not to keep books. I am trying not to buy books anymore, as long as I can help it. A lot of novels come in pdfs or as ebooks now. I agree that it is missing the tactility when you read from an electronic device but it is greener. Besides, in this part of the world where humidity is high, books brown so easily and they start to look shitty after a few months. Finish that book and pass it on. Or as I plan to do, bring it with me to my travels, finish it and leave it for the next traveller.

THE MINIMALIST MEAL
I just cooked a big batch of veg. But I also used the condiments in the kitchen. All of us are always craving for specific tastes and hence we have way too many condiments and spices in the kitchen. I finished 2 bottles with a pinch left in each. Declutter, use and toss. Yes, it happens in the kitchen too. I didn't buy anything else, just used the dried noodles in pantry. 

HAPPINESS 111116

TRAVELS AGAIN TICK TOCK. THIS IS THE EYES TO LIFE. PONDEROUS, MORE AND MORE. IT ISN'T BAD TO PONDER. REUNITING WITH AN OLD FRIEND AND SHE IS SWEET. TAKING THINGS SLOW, A STEP OR EVEN TWO STEPS AT A TIME. IT IS OK. MINIMISING IN PROGRESS. UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KEEPING SHIT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT AND FOOD WASTE ONE DAY AND ONE STEP AT A TIME.

MY MINIMISING MOVE : UNSUBSCRIBE

Ever since I decided to minimise my life I have been thinking of ways to do it. As a lot of people said, it is not a sprint, it is a marathon. One cannot except minimalism to happen over night. Sure it cannot. I am conscious of how things are still in piles in my life and it needs time to be sorted. I am bringing old clothes to my upcoming travel and I am not bringing them back.

Just as minimising my wardrobe takes effort, minimising my life takes even more. I am slowly getting rid of spam people in my life. People who give me bad energy, people who are just nuisance and do not add to me feeling good, people who bring me down, people who talk nonsense, people who do not respect me and especially my time.

Minimising is maximising your time. So apart from quitting Facebook and consolidating my contacts to one or two social apps, I am also unsubscribing to a lot of mailing lists. Lists like Etsy and Ebay because I am not buying more things. Lists like restaurants, resorts and hotels. Lists like shit other mailing lists put you onto. Not only they are not adding value to my life, they are sucking the time of me. Every second I open those mails and take a glance, every second I dedicate to deleting them adds up to minutes and then hours...etc. I think of compounding seconds.

So, even if my minimising project is going slowly, it is going slowly but surely. I still get a lot of emails that are of no importance. I still open all of them. But this time, I give them more seconds or minutes of my life, to unsubscribe in exchange for more time in the future.

MY MINIMALIST DINNER : THE LEFTOVERS FRIED RICE

I have rice leftover from today's lunch. It was so much rice with the ingredients that it was a good half a portion left. I decided not to waste it and kept it for dinner. A simple stir fried rice would suffice. 

There is a supermarket near us with a bargain bin which I frequent. The produce is fine. Perhaps a blemish here or there, or leftovers from a big batch. They are discounted, a quick sale and I normally prefer to purchase them over the produce at the fresh aisle. 

I scored eggplants, red peppers today. Stir fried with it with leftover lettuce, garlic, onion, eggs, light soy sauce, sesame oil and topped with spring onions. Who said leftovers cannot be nutritious and delish.

MY MINIMALIST DINNER : SAVOURY OATS

Talk about minimising what I already have in the kitchen, here is a simple dinner today. With no reason to go to the supermarket since there are already ingredients in the kitchen, I cobbled up this savoury oats.

INGREDIENTS ALREADY IN THE DRY PANTRY

• Dried shrimps
• Dried scallops
• Garlic
• Ginger powder
• Instant oats
• Kelp powder
• Sesame oil
• Light soy sauce
• Pepper

INGREDIENTS IN THE FRIDGE

• Spring onions
• Egg

Less than 40 minutes later of rehydrating and simmering the dried seafood, the stock is ready for you to add the instant oats. Easy, tasty, minimal, simple.

MINIMISING MY LIFE

I have been feeling bad. Bad in a sense my life seems to be stagnant. Bad in a sense that I am somehow made to chase something I do not want. I watched the documentary 'Minimalism'. The concept isn't new. It has been broadcast for years now and I first came across it when I was watching the tiny house movement. It is charming. It is freedom, it is a life without burden and baggages.

I wake up everyday in this room of mine from 2 decades ago. The family didn't fix the room, it is full of things I call junk. The mother is a hoarder and she has no concept of how things should be proper, that furnitures should be built-in and there should be book shelves and enough storage for everything. I don't have enough storage. I have boxes of nonsense. Nonsense because I am staying in the tropics and yet I have boxes of winter clothes. It doesn't make sense to get rid of them. They are expensive and I still go to climate countries every now and then.

So what now?

I look at the wardrobe and I feel sick. So many clothes from years ago. I still fit into them but maybe they are not my style anymore? Do I throw them away? Do I give them away? You kind of get into a fix because the stuff are still good and you think that there will still be use for them one day. But the days pass, and the months and then the years. And I find so many pieces that I have not worn for years. And they are accumulating.

I am getting so sick of the junk I see around and I think my unhappiness is largely because of this baggage. The little bit of things that I keep thinking will have use for one day. When is that one day coming? I don't know but I know I have to put my mind down to ridding stuff. And as hard as it may be, I need to have a new concept of sustainability and that is not hoarding.

IF YOU HAVE NOT WORN IT FOR 3 YEARS, IT NEEDS TO GO.
Ok, there are things I have not worn for years but I will still want to keep them because how often do you wear a formal dress? So formal clothes and winter jackets aside, tee shirts and stuff are coming out, going to the traveling pile.

THE TRAVELING PILE OF CLOTHES
I am putting a pile of clothes I will use for my next travel, that I will not launder and just leave behind in those developing countries so that someone else can launder it and find a second life for it. It might just relieve your bags of space and weight for more... clothes and souvenirs? Well, that is a very nice thought but no more nonsense. Food products I can allow, but no more clothes and accessories. I do not need more piling.

THE BOOKS THAT ARE SITTING THERE
I am not an avid reader. I have old books sitting around which I thought I might just read one day but it has been years. I am so selective in what I read that really if I want to read something, I would finish it in no time. So, I am making it a point to bring a book or two with me every time I travel. There is no point selling it to bookstores because even they do not want the old books. And be it purposely leaving the books at the airport or the hostels or hotels, someone else will find good use for them.

FOOD PRODUCTS
I am crazy about cooking and exotic food products. I also like to buy food products when I go traveling. So you can imagine I became a bit of a hoarder with that. In these days of my sabbatical, I am using as much of those stock as possible so that I save money on food. Of course, my diet still needs to be balanced and fresh ingredients still needs to be bought.

As much as there needs to be more done, these new rules will help to get me started.