Chilling in Genting..

Wrote this at Starbucks, Genting.. Went online for the first time in 3 days.. longest I have been without Internet since I got back to Malaysia..

Spent 2 days and 2 nights at the First World Hotel.. My parents booked the package through a travel agent.. took a coach up to Genting which was about 4 hours.. yet spent 2.5 hours more just to check-in... :x Unbelievable!!! It was a shock awakening.. after spending time in Japan, my expectation of customer services has risen.. and so far, no where else can match the service level that the Japanese provides..



Things in Genting are freaking expensive and the service are bloodly lousy.. the employees all looked as if someone owed them money.. The 3-star hotel, First World Hotel, doesn't even have Internet connection in the rooms!!! It doesn't even provide shampoo nor shower foam.. just two miserable looking soaps.. Well, not everyone who stays in the hotel is here for the casino only.. but it seemed that the management of the hotel thinks otherwise. Anyway, I can say for sure that I won't be staying in this hotel any time soon in the near future.. I would rather spend a bit more and get real good services.. I won't pay 1st class price to be treated like a 3rd class customer.. Can't wait for the two Integrated-Resorts in Singapore to give Genting a run for their money..

But all in all, had a good time with my sister.. we played arcade games (Time Crisis II, car racing, motor racing, basketball etc), went bowling and of course, went to the casino.. spent a lot of money too.. we didn't even do any shopping, except getting a nice silver bracelet for her and a nice leather waist band for myself... Had wanted to go karaoke, but I was having my "routine" "burst-pipe" problem.. so we decided to postpone it to next week, when we go KL.. :) My parents had a good time too.. they spent most of their time in the casino, enjoying the thrills of the slot machines.. :)

Europe 2009: Day 00

Itinerary: Flight from Tokyo -> Seoul -> Milan -> Rome
Flight hours: 20 hours+ (including transit time)
Food: On-flight meals (3x) and pizza
Transportation: Air plane, train and car
Activities: Chill-out at Piazza Trilussa with couch surfers in Rome after arriving in Rome..
Slept: Around 4am+ at our Rome host's kitchen on an inflatable double bed

Boarding Air Korea in Narita

Rome Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport

Train Station at Rome Airport

Views along the way to Piazza Trilussa

At home...

Got back home from the Airport around 10pm last night.. Tired.. with my cough and sore throat, I sounded worst than I actually feel.. but it is nice to have people to fuss over me for a while.. :P especially with a doctor in the house, I am in safe hands.. :)

Although I hate to admit it, I am already missing my housemates and my friends in Tokyo.. Many thoughts went through my mind while on the trip back home.. some I didn't want to entertain, yet... vaguely felt the sadness of leaving a place, even though I barely lived there for 2.5 years.. maybe it will hit me big time when I make my "final" departure.. I don't know..

Anyway, for these few weeks, I am just gonna chill and relax at home.. although the Internet connection is slower (than in Tokyo), but I think I will still be online most of the time.. of course, I would try to write about my Europe trip and post some photos too... Shall try.. :P

你飛吧

主唱 : 張芸京
词曲 : 趙之璧

藍色的天空多少次你凝視著
有可能我忌妒 是它有你坦率投入
動人的表情說每次冒險心得
你在我不知道的時後
張開翅膀發光著

你天真 你驕傲 你逃離卻不肯認真追求自由
我逞強 我害怕 少了你的世界寂寞顛簸

就讓你飛 飛過現在兩個人膠著
風有多大 雲有多美 才是你的一切
給你的祝福 我不掉淚
說好天堂各自尋找
請不要回頭望 遠遠關心就好 你飛吧

-------------------------------------------
My translation:
Many times you have been gazing upon the blue sky
Maybe I am jealous that you gaze upon it with such frankness
You were so enthusiastic every time you talked about your adventures
Without me knowing
You have spread your wings and soar

Your innocence, pride and elusiveness, and your reluctance to pursue freedom earnestly
My trying-to-be-strong and my fear that the world would be upside-down without you

Gonna let you fly, transcending the current stalemate of togetherness
No matter how strong the wind is or how beautiful the clouds are, you belonged there
With my blessings, I won't shed a tear
We have made a pact to find our own paradise
Please do not look back, it is enough to show our concern from afar..
Fly away, my dear..

(Hope that I did a good job conveying the underlying emotions and nuances of this song..)

===========================================
All the best, my dear friend...

Balik Kampung

Will be going back to Malaysia tomorrow.. for just 2+ weeks.. then I will be back in Tokyo to pack and whatever, before moving back home for good...

It has been a crazy 6 months so far.. visited so many places.. met so many people.. experienced so many adventures and emotions.. owed so many blog entries.. :p although I don't really look forward to moving back, I don't wanna stay in Tokyo either.. so I guessed I chose the lesser of two evils..

Did some farewells with some friends.. still have a couple more to go when I get back to Tokyo end Aug.. but one thing is for sure, the place I am staying will not be the same again, as both my housemates would not be around during that last month (end Aug to end Sept) that I am here in Tokyo.. :( :(

During that period, I shall go tour around Japan, especially Hokkaido, Hiroshima and Okinawa which I have yet been to.. then I will say "Sayonara" to Japan and thanks for the memories, for good, maybe..