BINTAN, INDONESIA. This weekend trip could also be renamed as "one big party of exchange students." It consisted of Americans teaching Europeans that beer pong and flip cup make up the majority of our college memories, eating delicious club sandwiches, exploring "Little Rock" island, swimming at the resort nearby, kayaking and losing my flip flops in the ocean, feeling the wind on the motor bike with David (and dying of laughter), listening to Mary Rose's adventurous lifestyle of "trying everything once", doing model shoots with Susana, getting crabs from the asian fisherman in the sea, appreciating the beauty found in the simplest of things, and dancing the night away to DJ daniel's ipod playlist. It truly was a weekend to remember, not really because of Bintan itself, but because of the people there. It established many friendships, and seeing the poverty and poor conditions of the island made me so grateful for NTU. Walking into our room, Christina, Susana and I couldn't believe its conditions (especially that bathroom!) But I soon came to realize that beggars can't be choosers, and really just enjoy the experience of it all. I will never forget the "exploring" that was done during those crazy 2 night parties, and the bonding that was done while playing games, eating, swimming, kayaking, and such. Sleeping 3 in the bed was absolutely hysterical, and I will never forget our "dark eye-makeup" sessions and getting ready in about 3.5 seconds in order to escape the room ASAP. I absolutely love Susana, perhaps the sweetest, most genuine girl who truly has a love for life. I am so lucky to have met such wonderful people.
All in all, I wouldn't want to return to Bintan. But it was truly a weekend of fun, and Lord knows I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.
The following week was full of late night partying and dancing. I don't think I got more than 5 hours of sleep any of the nights. I don't think I have ever danced so much before in my life. It is funny that when you put the nerdy girl in the party school, she studies and never goes out. When you put the nerdy girl in the nerdy school, she never studies and just goes out! I guess it is all part of being on exchange. That and the peer pressure from Daniel. Freaking Daniel.
The following week also consisted of going to the Chinese Heritage Center on campus with David, and then celebrating Australia Night in Little India (strange, I know).
David and I planned to take on Singapore that following Wednesday since neither of us had class. What we did:
-Chinatown
-Clarke Quay @ day - gotta love that turkish ice cream!!!! so delicious
-Orchard Road (gotta love them 3 for $10 stores)
-City Hall - ?
-Marina Bay - picture with the merlions? Fail.
-River Boat cruise back to Clarke Quay
-Japanese dinner with no seafood @ Clarke Quay - that Japanese waitress still makes me mad
-City Hall to meet with the guys and turn down their invite to supper club
-Back home to climb to the top of the ADM building. Where we saw the Mexicans.
All in all, a tiring, yet totally memorable day full of adventure! It's beginning to become a trend...
PENANG, MALAYSIA. The following weekend we left for Penang on Friday morning about 4:30 am. It was definitely a last minute kind of trip (also beginning to become a trend) but so much fun nonetheless! We literally tried to plan out what we wanted to do in Penang at 11 pm the night before we left. I decided to just call Poa Poa and she said not to worry. Taking the early morning taxi ride to the airport was pretty dull, I just remember that that was the last I ever saw of CJ, my previous Chinese local roommate. I really liked CJ. Such a nice girl. Anyways, we got to the airport to discover that Tommy had brought his swiss army knife. lol WTF Tommy? So he had to check in a bag and pay SG$60. Which we never forgot, because he reminded us about it every 5 minutes. If there are three things that Tommy never stops talking about, it is his $60 payment, his $10 bargain for 2 flip flops, and Jenny.
Anyways, there we were: 3 boys (David, Tommy, Chris) and 3 girls (Me, Jenny, Melody). There I was with all Asian Canadians. That also has become a very popular trend (hanging out with Asian Canadians). It was so strange arriving in Penang without Mom. Everything there felt exactly the same. The airport, the bathrooms, the smells, all the same. Except I was with friends! David somehow managed to find the blueberry waffle, while I got us our cab to Ah Zhou's house. Upon arrival at her house, it honestly felt surreal. To be back at the house that I remember so well growing up! It was all the same. Ah Zhou looked good, healthy, but definitely a bit older. We hugged, and she "met" my friends, and I introduced Poa Poa to my friends. They couldn't believe how young she was! Thank god I have these genes...
Poa Poa took us on the bus (first bus ride ever in Penang) to eat some delicious local food. We just happened to arrive for Thaipusam weekend, where there were so many Indians in the streets and everywhere getting ready to celebrate. They were burning coconuts and dancing and playing music..
After a looooong bus ride (they shut down streets for Thaipusam) we finally got back and eventually made it to our hotel: Heritage 1926. It definitely looked like it was built in 1926. It really wasn't very nice, but it wasn't bad either. The bathroom was pretty gross, and I slept on the extra mattress bed. We were SO tired. Exhausted. We ended up walking to a nearby outdoor food court and got some DELICIOUS food. I got some great noodles there. The streets of Penang were so old and dirty. And of course the drivers are just nuts. David and I went to get some chocolate dessert cake at a nearby little place. It was so good. Then we ended up going out to the Oriental, a creepy bar place, where everyone played pool on a huge pool table (I made some great shots) but the smoky rooms were really making me cough! When we got back David and I played some intense games of Speed and Crazy 8's. I won, of course.
The next day Aunty Jenny picked us up. Note: Aunty Jenny was the main reason this trip was such a success. She took us to the Sleeping Buddha Temple, the old mansion, Fort Cornwallis (no comment), delicious local food place (got a mango shake thing and the peanut butter butter bread!!!) and then to get massages (hilarious!) and then to Gurney Plaza to do some shopping. I ended up getting the help of some local girls to help me pick out a dress for the club that night. After we were dropped off on the streets for Thaipusam. I took some pictures with the Indians all dressed up beautifully for the event! The girls looked so cute, especially the little girls. We ate more great food at a local place (I got some spicy vegetarian noodles) and then the event started. I have never seen so many Indians in my life. "Where are they going? Where are they all coming from?" lol. It was incredible. Temples set up on the side of the roads. HUUUGE pots of food. Loud music. People walking with needles in the face, back and bodies. They looked tranced, dazed. It was so crowded and festive. I will never forget it as long as I live! The culture was overwhelming.
Afterwards we got back (after temporarily losing Chris - not good) and got ready to go out. Jenny straightened my hair and I wore my little black dress and we all went out to S club. I couldn't believe I had been there before for Jaime's Hens Night! The music was NOT good, but I got a good non-alcoholic beverage while Melody got an iced tea (which was more expensive) lol. We eventually ended up having a good time, dancing away as always. We didn't get home til about 3 or 4 am (Aunty Jenny picked us up). Did I mention Aunty Jenny is amazing?
The next day we went to the Spice Garden (fail), "butterfly farm" wink wink, Tropical Fruit Garden (fruit buffet!!! fruit drink!!! absolutely delicious), then to the beach to go jetskiing, parasailing, and horsebackriding. David and I were bullies on the ocean while we jetskiied, hitting Melody and Chris and splashing Tommy and Jenny. So funny. I ended up driving it for a little bit. But we went to the beach by Golden Sands resort which I remembered we stayed at before!! So many memories...
We took showers real quick then met back at the beach to have a nice dinner with Auntie Lai Sum, Xia Hue, Uncle Ben, Ah Zhou, Poa Poa, her maid (lol), and my friends and I. The chinese food was delectable, honestly. I couldn't believe how much I really enjoyed the food. Especially those vegetables!!
We went to the night market in Penang, and that is where I bought my Free Spirit bracelet. It was so nice hanging out with Uncle Ben too. And Aunty Jenny really felt like my Aunty. She even took us right after dinner to eat Poh Piah and orange juice, but we were still so full! But David of course ate mine.
That night we hung out by the pool, while Chris went to bed early (fake yawn LOL) Later we all played the funnest game of cards. The slapping game, where I kept slapping the table and didn't know that an Ace equals 2 lol. We played with Ringgit and I ended up losing a few Ringgit, but it as definitely worth it!
We got up so early the next morning. I had to wake up the girls 20 minutes before we were supposed to leave. I left my bathing suit in the bathroom so Aunty Jenny's brother had to take us all the way back to the hotel to get it. And we didn't really get to enjoy the breakfast, but we definitely made it on time for our flight! Which was in about 2 hours. Tommy and I couldn't find everyone for the longest time. And the Penang airport actually added on and made some renovations! When we got in to the airport there I see Poa Poa....sitting with Chris!! So surprised!! Both their flights were so delayed. Chris ended up getting back home after us, when his flight was supposed to leave way earlier! Also, David and I tried Dain's for the first time, which was definitely a candy to remember..
All in all, Penang was a huge success. Aunty Jenny. Poa Poa. Definitely lifesavers. It was so nice to go back to a place that was slightly familiar, but with different people and a whole new mindset. One crazy weekend...
