2015 - North India!

I had never been to the same country twice, but of course with the exception of diving because I can never get enough of the underwater marvels.

and what makes me went to India TWICE? You heard me, TWICE to India. Before you think that I am missing all the place I went to during my first trip, tettttt nope.

This trip tickles my fancy; mountaineous regions. Oh the love. 
Not to mention the roadtrips on dangerous roads in the world. Oh the rush, grrrr.

We started off with Delhi of course, boarded to Srinagar. At the airport while I was running, chasing someone who confidently took my backpack without even checking if it's hers *wince*, blood started streaming down from my nose.

Fun aye?
Srinagar is just at 1,600m altitude. Wait till I reach Leh *grin*

Stayed at boathouse of course, went boating around Dal Lake and old town of Srinagar, stopped at White Mosque and bought stuffs and food. At night some pashmina & jewellery seller came to promote their stuffs, just that too bad that we are a bunch of traveler who hold on to our little budget :)

Just a day in Srinagar and the next day is roadtrip to Leh. 
Different entry, little pinky promise.

..and there is Istanbul

I will try not to discriminate the place just because it is dense with soooooo many people. My family and I add to that statistic by the way. I knew it was crowded long before I went there but it was a family trip and parents had never been anywhere outside of Malaysia except for holy cities and Bandung.

Even the Bhosphorus cruise was packed to the brim. Proofs.

We only did Istanbul, enjoying what the city has to offer. We went to Spice Bazaar twice because we love the place better than Grand Bazaar. We went to historical places, ehem, only Hagia Sofia because I am not historical-something-buff. I prefer the small walk around the coastal side, watching day goes by with cay-tea and balik ekmek (nahh nothing fancy just fish sandwich).

The sound of prayer with breathtaking view of camii (masjid) is still the most beautiful but it is nothing foreign in the boleh-land Malaysia. No culture shock there.

Hammam is err, seriously banned from my list for life. 
Food is ok, but aint nothing beat S.E.A food; mix rice whatnot heh. 
Shopping is fun, even fun-ner if I have extra cash.

Ah also, from my observation, most of Turkish are either too beautiful or too handsome. Gee. Bite nails.

Anyway, I did enjoy my nothing-to-rush quality time with my family (oh with my sister's family too).

every travel I took, is a ♥ story

I would like to be honest upfront, do not trek those famous circuits if you are NOT physically fit. But of course i'm obviously not and I survived it anyway. 

Oh well, nothing near death experience just toenail falling off and hating steps for life 

-_-"

After that major love towards trekking last couple of years and I have leaves to clear off my chart, I toy around Air Asia's website because I dont have any plan. I check their destination list and Nepal sounds like a place that would tick my fancy. and BAM! Nepal!

Kathmandu itself just like any other touristy place, oh well, very touristy but I love love Thamel. Although its cramp with tourists alike, including me, it's just love walking around the shops looking at kashmir textiles and going crazy about those trekking gears. I wish I have more cash back then.

I trekked the famous circuit, Annapurna but I didn't make it to the base camp only up to Poon Hill. I booked flight ticket impulsively I did not make any research so I don't have enough time to reach the camp.

I wish I can write a lengthy entry that could make you buy return flight tickets like BAM! but I am at a laundry waiting for the dryer to stop (in less than 14min) so I'll cut this short.

It is magically breathtaking.

The view of snow capped mountain, there is something about it that just awe me.
The set of lodging at our stops. That bloody cold shower in the evening after almost 8hours of trekking - urgh those steps made me bawl like a kid lost her candy. The companions of strangers at the restaurant lodgings where we exchanged tales and stories hehe.

ok I don't have words. Too much of a beautiful love story :)

great places with great fooooood

my most favorite stall in Jmaa El Fena or The Square in Marrakech. With as low as 5dirham, I get to eat a small bowl of hot escargot herbal soup, to warm myself during winter. Food gastronomic adventure deserves a diff entry, next time okay?

5Dirham = 1.79RM :)

Marrakech Souq needs some loving

i guess there is no excuse for abandoning this space for making money process. anyway, i am not making money, more like stagnant money i am getting monthly due to my diligence in carrying out assigned tasks.
fancy, but the keyword here is, work.

it has been a year, or almost, since i came back from Morocco. My heartbeat still races to wilderness whenever I heard, read anything Morocco. My eyes still lit of anything Morocco insight. My desire to learn French is dimming, haha, but I get excited trying to read French from the websites.

ohkay.

dont get distracted pls.

you know how people warned you'll get lost in Marrakech souq due to its maze-like alley if you let your guard down and lose yourself in the enchanting stuffs inside there?
i got that alot but I am like walking GPS, i remember directions by heart #bragginright
no way right?

BUT.

yes way right. it was after dinner that i need to find my shower mitt (oh yeah baby it is sooo gooood) so i went up to the other direction of souq, hoping i'll find a really good bargain mitt (duh i got it for 10dirham i think and it is like 15dirham around more famous site).

as i walk home i tried to follow other route (adventurous like that), and as i walk up further, going in unfamiliar alleyways with the crowd and suddenly less crowd and lessen. laugh. giggle. only locals around doing the own thang, while staring at me who looked like a pale kitten with asian features.
now i heard whistles.
i went in to other small alley. bad choice. and i walked in further, i get panicky.

aaaa keje gile.

ok relax.

Omar called asking my whereabout because i was late for our dinner.
cries.

ok relax. chill.

i saw a guy manning his big trolley, obviously just finished his work/business for the night. a man with a kopiah.
a decent pious looking man is as good as any good Samaritan right?
he could be the one who can save the lost asian pale kitten.
 
miaww.

ok i am rushing home now.

long story short, he helped. and i am glad i made the decision instead of tryinna figure out using the only gps i have, myself.

by the way, it was a happy, good lost.
i found people karaoking in their small space at home, small tailor shop with beautiful beaded Djellabas and and ok all the memories are in my hardcopy travelogue :)

happy! :)

somewhere so awesome

i think i am going to change my blog, yet again.
ha!

i am just being fickle minded. i have the last travel blog laid to rest because i think the blog was not even travel related. i wasn't making any sense and this one blog who gets abandoned when i am headless chicken, is not friend-friendly. if this one gets thru to my friends', i feel like kicking my legs for letting them read all in here.
(cringe now)

ok this is awkward. when i haven't written anything for the longest of time, i'll get nervous because i dont know what to say. huh.

happy thought: penang next month :)

i fall hard

it took me just winter clothes to feel all sort of emotions gushing in.


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do you always get this? 
you have sooo much to say but you end up not saying anything at all?

i am at that phase now. but you have to trust me. i sniffed-sniffed infront of my laptop because i was missing the whole travel thang by just looking at them winter clothes display.

i hope, just as much as my will desires, and still being able to believe that by exploring new world makes my life, i will still be doing whatever rocks my world.

you do that too, ok?