Amsterdam : The Prinsengracht secret hideout

The first place we visited on our morning of arrival in Amsterdam was the Anne Frank House. I booked the tickets online before hand to avoid the massive line outside the House.

There is only a limited number of people allowed in the house because it was really small. Bookings for the afternoon was already sold out and also the one in the evening, so I booked tickets for the morning.

A wax sculpture of Anne Frank in Madame Taussaud Berlin

Who is Anne Frank?
Anne Frank was a Jewish-German little girl who was a victim of the Holocaust. Their family fled from Frankfurt to Amsterdam when the Nazis took over Germany after the elections. What made this girl famous was her personal diary which her father published, years after she was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland which was at that time under the Nazis.

Her diary was published with the title The Diary of a Young Girl and was translated in many other languages. In her diary she describes her life, her feelings and most of what we are curious about, how it was to be a Jew in hiding during the Nazi Rule.

She also wrote about school and how they were treated. All Jews were forced to wear a yellow patch of the Star of David on their clothing. With this, they are not allowed to mix with non-Jews, ride in public transports or have bicycles. Jewish kids are only allowed in Jewish schools.

The Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht 263 was their hiding place, also known as the Secret Annex. Only a small empty section in the building her father was working. Its main door was a bookshelf to hide the lives behind the doors. They lived with four other Jews here and had to be very careful with their daily movements to avoid being found.

Unfortunately, they were betrayed and arrested. Betrayed by whom, we will never know. They were deported to concentration camps and only her father, Otto Frank survived the camp. Anne wanted her diary to be published because she really had a passion for journalism and wanted to become a writer. Her father made it come through, sadly after she died at the age of 15, in Auschwitz.

In the Anne Frank Museum, we got to step into the house that they were hiding in. The high steep staircases, their small rooms and their covered windows to avoid the outside world from finding out. It was a real life museum. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed inside. But you can see some of them in their website here.

How we all should be grateful for today.

If I had a choice, this would be my job.

Who would'nt want travelling as a job? Of course you would if you're a travel addict like me who watches out for cheap flight promos on the net as a part time hobby. More ideal, I would choose to be an adventurer. Because I'd like to befriend Dora the explorer.

Adventure gears on. Deducting money on my account doesn't seem like a pain (the after match is) as I would earn Adventurer points in return in my book of life. I would be poor, but at least I've been there, and there and there. My saving for the whole semester wuld be spend on flights, accomodations, local cuisines, museums, tours, souvenirs, but heck the experience is what you can't put a tag on.

So where to this time? We were pulling strings towards Croatia on the east side but the west got it's turn. Lucky me. Spending days in a country where illegal means legal. There's a lot going on in the city of Amsterdam. Always compared to its underwater Italian cousin, Amsterdam is Venice with vehicals (and lots and lots of bicycles).

Detour from Amsterdam, we made an abrupt decision to visit Brussels one morning. Took the train the next hour and in two hours ; walla!, the city coated in chocolate and the famous peeing boy. There isn't much to Brussels. Just a few turns around the city, out to the Palace, nothing much. Done in 3 hours. But well, I was there.

 I'll post more on each city and its attractions soon. I've got my room to clear since I'm moving out at the end of the month and there's another adventure waiting for me this week.

This time, to the east. A spectacular city : Budapest.

How are you?

It's been quite a while since I've last posted anythig on this blog. It was that time of the year. No, not Christmas. It was the exam season. Something that I might miss one day when I start to have a job. I'm not sure what I would like to write about today whilst I had it structured in mind as I was on a train ride back.

How has everyone been doing lately? The world seems worn out and it's people too are getting problematic each day. Just hoping that everyone is well and most importantly on the positive side of life. In the midst of all the problems of the world, I wish you well that you'll all stay positive in the midst of people who remind you that they love you. Life is only for a moment. Don't ride with the wave of self-centeredness and selfishness. Being yourself is the only way people will recognize and appreciate you because you're not part of a huge population.

Have you been loving yourself? This is not being self-centered. Loving a being that God has created beautifully and wonderfully which is yourself. Unless you're feeling that you're so great you're putting others down. Love your neighbours as you love yourself. Nothing beats that. You won't burn youself on purpose because you know it will hurt you and it's painful. Do it to your neighbours? They will hurt too. Love your neighbours. No matter what religion, race or background they differ in. Equality at it's best. The Lord will show His favour upon you.

Love. Spread it around. It's what the world really needs. Not a new Apple product. Not another political deal. People run around chasing dreams and forget what they are made for. Humans are made for relationships which needs love. To a friend, to a collegue, to an immigrant. Whoever it is. Humans : plural for a single being. We live in a community. We don't live alone, cry alone, smile alone, laugh alone. Look around. You are not alone.

Because love never fails. It's up to dramas to tell you what love is. Nor Hollywood sex scenes. It's not only in songs. It's purely an act of affection we have for one another. Something treasured which is irreplacable. A feeling we have when we do not want people around us to get hurt or lay in the hospital. How we feel when we look out for another because we know that they are precious to us. Going home to an open arm and a shoulder to cry on is what we need more than an empty penthouse filled with the scent of lavender.

So love, because that's what you are created for and out of.

Malam Muda Mudi : Family Day 2011

After a sporting event, or any event in that matter, when it comes to being Malaysian, there's no saying no to great food and great company. That night, on the grounds of our Student hostel with the permit of our landlord, we hosted a BBQ together with a Gig which consists of performances from 10 bands. Owh of course, everyone wants to try their luck winning prizes during the lucky draw.

Our German Mara Director taking the pit

Food dissapeared very fast. I made two bowls of macaroni salad and it was swept by a tsunami. By the time the Gig started, we had to restock everything. That container of satay sauce was to the brim when it was first placed on the table (ping pong table).

I was in charge of the lucky draw.

And Hanis was in charge of feeding me while I cut out numbers. Lol.

Then bands started to take the stage and shine their guitars.

Ini dia Presiden MaraKumpel 2011

from Sex, Drungs and Cameltoe. T.T

Halfway we had a prize giving for those who won the tournaments. Guess what? We won 3rd place for the telematch! yeayy!! Telematch winners we given food hampers each. Yes, and that is very Malaysian. I was the one who wrapped up all the hampers a week ago.

At least I get to win too =) 

Fun in the Sun : Family Day 2011

Just awake after more than 10 hours of sleep with bruch in between and back to sleep again. It has been tiring. We hosted the Mara Kumpel Family Day this year.

An idea we got out of our heads to make way for people who don't play football. Which is also me. So instead of just having football like they always do and make me sulk and whine a lot (and alone) on side benches, I made them include a telematch this time. See, the minority also gets a say and change things.

So this year, we had our Family Day which consists of football, volleyball, basketball, a telematch, of course a summer BBQ and a Gig. Malaysian Students under the Mara Sponsorship were imported from various regions to make this event successful. And of course to lend a hand in marinating chicken.

There's no football without injury.

I still don't like the fact that football takes up 60% of the days event. We all had to wait for it to finish to start the telematch. Kinda suck. Waiting for it to finish means to wait till 5pm when it was suppose to finish at 2pm.

Then on the Volley field, we had a beach volleyball match. It was already so hot when we got there. It was suppose to be raining with thunderstorms on that particular Saturday but thank God it was sunny.

We had fun fooling around playing Volleyball. None of us actually ever played. I just wasted my time screaming on the field.

And of course we sit at the sides to watch, take photos and become commentators. By noon, all shady spots were eaten up by the sun.

Of course you can't let people play without food.

I wished I had photos of the telematch. My battery died right before the football game finished. We had a lot of fun during the telematch. The crowd was excited it was like controlling kindergarden kids during a field trip.

We has the usual telematch games with a twist. Including mengisi air dalam botol, cari sweet dalam tepung and tarik upih. Instead of a coconut tree brach, we subsituted it with shopping bags. ANd the person sitting has to bite a paperplate and make sure their ping pong ball on the plate doesn't fall. It was quite fun =)

Will update on the night a bit later.

Summer Weekends

Gosh it's been quite a while since I last posted something. I`ve been incredibly buzy and have lots of running around to do. With Gods grace I`ve achieved a lot. And got a practical placement for my next semester!! Hallelujah!! Something good to share around in this less incredible world of ours.

Despite having lots in my mind, I do spend weekends in the kitchen baking. There were carrot cupcakes, the best I've made, swiss rolls, quiche, blueberry cupcakes and the latest first hand creation was of a chocolate pie. I've added a new family member to my baking pans. The two piece pie pan. =)

I've got to run an extra mile again. Having brunch with hot marshmellow top chocolate with sardine sandwiches and blueberry to keep me sane. Have a great week everyone!

Personal Memory Box

This is the third year I've spent my birhtday away from home. Like very far away without close girlfriends or any family member for that matter. I grew up having birthday parties every year with my cousins and my mum would make her special roasted chicken wings for us. My mum always made sure that her daughters bithdays were something special that they could remember every year. We would choose places to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner as we got older, or go to the movies as a family with cousins. During my high school years, there was never a year without a surprise party for me. I knew I was special. My girlfriends always made sure of that.

As I had to leave home, counting this year as the third, I start to think that birthdays aren't that great. Maybe I've somehow changed my mindset into a guys mind where a birthday is nothing but just another day. For girl it's different. Girls want everthing to be fun and happening and of course special. But for guys, they don't even bother most of the time. I was starting to turn into that.

I am the elder sibling with one younger sister. That's all to my family tree. I've always wanted a brother, or brothers in another context. God gave me people whom I'll cherish in my heart till I grow old and tell my grandchildren about. Brothers different in so many ways, but one thing for sure is that I know they love me.

Thankfully, I have not turned into a birthday Grinch. =)



Thank you.

Bali : Garuda Wisnu Kencana

The Garuda Wisnu Kencana also known as GWK (Ga-Wey-Ka in Indonesian pronounciation) is a huge sculpture built an Balinese Sculpturer named Nyoman Nuarta. When it is completed, it's suppose to stand as high as the New Yorker Lady Liberty at the height of 150 meters and a width of 64 meters.

A miniature of the real statue if it were to be finished.

Unfortunately, the project has its problems and now, parts of the statue is to be found around the area of GWK which is like a huge garden especially built for this statue when it is ready. There is the Lord Wisnu himself, the head of the Garuda and the hands of Wisnu, all in different areas of the land.

The statue, supposedly made out of 4000 tons of copper and brass shows the Lord Wisnu riding on his mystical bird, the Garuda. The Lord Wisnu is believed to be the essence of all beings, holding the the past, present and future, is also the Lord of the Universe which give wealth and life to the universe.

The Lord Wisnu now sits on the highest hill of Ungasan which overlooks Kuta, Benoa and Sanur

Below the plaza of the Wisnu God is the plaza Garuda, where the head of the Garuda is placed.

Garuda is Lord Wisnus faithful companion. The Garuda is also Indonesias national symbol. The fist ever story of the Garuda was told in the book Mahabrata. According to tale, Garuda broke out of his egg as a raging inferno. I think it's something like the pheonix in Harry Potter. He was a powerful bird, huge in size that he could cover the sun Frightened, the gods pleadded for his mercy upon them. It was then the Garuda minimized himself.

Garuda is also the faithful friend of the Lord Wisnu. In other words. Garuda is the Vahana of the Lord. Vahana in Hindu mythology context which also means vehicle.

steps up to Plaza Garuda

The 240 Cultural park also has venues for large scale events. There is a Lotus Pond with water elements and statues of tortoises, the Amphiteather which holds a Kecak Dance performance every evening and also an exibition hall. In this exibition halls are Barongs and Balinese costumes. There is also a station for henna and temporary tattoo and hair braiding.

The exibits of Balinese tradition which includes the Barongs.

A barong is believed to be the protector of spirits and is generally the image of a demonic lion. The image of the barong varies according to regions of the Balinese Island. The Barong is suppose to restore the balance of the Universe and fight against its arch enermy, Rangda.

Daily, a Balinese parade is held in the grounds of GWK at 5pm. We were in time to watch this parade. Mainly it shows the culture of the the people of Bali. In the parade, there are the young Balinese ladies, the village master, the shrine and the King and Queen (looks like it). Then there's the Barong that'll protect the people from spirits.

The parade goes around the area with sounds of beating gongs.

We left right after the parade to catch the sunset in Uluwatu. Will update soon enough! (hopefully)