So what am I up to...?

Again, I've been MIA for months!

And again, as usual, my daily routine with "add-ons" activities break me into pieces, scattered all over the places and I don't even have time to pick myself up.


The only social media I'm quite active at is Instagram.

For those who might not know what is it, or those who thought is just simply a photo editing software, then you are wrong.

Instagram used to be only photo sharing apps, which is a little bored. But now they upgraded it with video shooting (available on android too :) The plus of it, you apply digital filters to your photos. Caption it. All those sharings can be done at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or any other social networking sites.


When I first started to instagram (70 weeks ago), I only did a few photo sharings visible to public with simply just food or objects photos without the "hashtag". (Because I don't know what is hashtag at that point of time)


57 weeks ago, I began to learn what with the hashtag. So basically, when you start to hashtag your photos, you will get more "likes" and more followers (unless your profile settings is visible to public)


As time goes by:
- I got a lot of unknown followers, or should I say "dead" followers?
- My photos sharing switch from mainly objects to myself and friends. More on what's going on in my daily      life.


I ended up setting my profile to private.
I do wish to share some of my photos here, too bad it didn't link with Blogger.
I do wish to add instagram to gadget bar in Blogger, but my profile must be set to Public.


And this is my recent upload in instagram.


With the fav pet in the house, Cooper.
He looks silly as always! haha :)

I don't mind readers come and follow me at my insta! my username is ic3_amethyst

In Loving memory of Lion

Today, I'm totally devastated by loss of my favourite pet, Lion.


Everything happened so sudden yesterday.
I usually go for late lunch with friends or window shopping on Saturday.
But not yesterday.
Its extremely hot humid day.
I find myself doing speed cleaning up of room like usual,
hop to shower & leave my in law's place before 12 pm, which is early.
Quick lunch myself & go straight back to Mum's place.



Family out for lunch when I reached home before 2 pm.
Then I found Cookie (Lion's mummy) keep staring at me like something its wrong.
I asked her what happened from afar, but she didn't blink & continued to stare at me.
At that moment, I sensed something is wrong, I call for Lion.
His usual response will be tail wagging and climb out from the shed,
but I got no reply from him at all.



I went to the backyard and found out he is heavily panting at the cage
(which has shed/roof covered over & fresh water provided).
Immediately, I let him out from the cage and he crawl desperately to the car porch.
Even the neighbour next door came up and told me the dog have been panting and barking for almost an hour.



I thought letting him to cool down, he will be fine.
Observed him until 3pm and he seems to start cooling down with not much panting.
When call his name, he still can respond to us.
So, I thought he will be okay & took a nap.


When I woke up at 4.30 pm, it rained heavily.
Dad told me that Lion can't move a inch.
Even he call out his name, he got no response from him.
We rushed him to the Vet.



After consultation from the Vet,
they confirmed Lion got heatstroke & need immediate fluid therapy.
The vet will keep in view for 15 hours and if everything goes well,
he can return home the next day.



This morning,
after attend Sunday mass & breakfast,
we rushed over to see him.
The clinic just opened, but vet is not around.
I checked the consultation room where he lied, he is not there.
Everyone said comforting words like maybe he is healthy again
and got transported to another room.



I actually got a sense from the other pet dogs this morning,
they are all gloomy like they have strong feeling of what's happening.



Received phone calls from the Vet around 9.30am.
He said Lion didn't managed to survive to this morning.



I hate this feeling of loss.
I even went to a Healing Mass last night, to pray & hoping
to get Lion back home healthy.
When I first heard he passed away,
the first thing which came across my mind is,
Why Life has to be like this?

Then, endless questions popping in my head.
Why I didn't know it's heatstroke?
Why I didn't sent him to vet when I first see him panting loudly?
Have the Vet try his best to rescue him?
Do Lion know I'm waiting for him to come home?
Do Lion know I much I love him & miss him?


Life!!
Tons of patients on wheelchairs trying to get up from the seats.
Tons of patients suffered from cancer trying to fight for their life.
Even dogs too, fight till the very last breath!

But why those have a life yet wasting it away like hurting your own body & others?
like on drugs, excessively drinking & smoking, dangerous drivings.

I feel like all of us always take things for granted around us.
We might didn't notice what we have until its gone.
Life can be just so unfair from this view.
But if you take another angle from the view you are standing,
it can be different.


I just wish to share to everyone who owns a pet dog,
the first symptom of heatstroke it over-panting.

If your dog exposed to hot environment weather,
do let him off to cooling shed preferably air conditioned room.

If your dog panting loud & non stop, thick saliva & can't move around like usual. Diarrhea & vomiting.
Please sent him immediately to the Vet.
*This is what I blame myself*

I read from the internet that you can bath your dog with normal room temperature water & cool him with electric fan. But I'm not sure this can be apply in hot tropical country, because I think this will bring him to death even faster because of sudden cooling.


Here's my favourite Lion's pic when he's a pup.
He's a mixed tibetan spaniel.

15 May 2009 - 14 April 2013


May you rest in Peace, Lion.
Che che miss you so much already!!! :'(

My thoughts & sharings :)

Every time I fall, I cried myself to sleep for a night,
and get up the next day to continue my journey of life.


I cry is not because I'm weak, 
it's because I know myself that I've been strong for too long.
I used to be a cry baby before I landed New Zealand,
but since then, I'm strong enough to handle everything by myself,
strong enough not to let small things to crush my spirit,
and I guess I only cried twice this year (when my hubby left for work overseas & 2 weeks ago when I feel so down for unexplained reasons)
Sounds that I'm strong, but no tears is also not a good thing,
because from normal eyes, I got dry eyes which is sensitive to lights with piercing pain sometimes.


I know that its God who holds tomorrow. Put trust in Him, and he will show us the ways.
So never let worries about the future brings you down.
Let go the things you can't change, you will be a lot happier.
Accept the past, cherish the present and be thankful when you wake up the next day.


Many ask, how can I survive without hubby by my side all the time? especially its for the whole year & left after we just got married.
I don't have a specific answer for that. Whats in my mind is, just go on with my daily life. I don't need a man to really be there at all time. I just need a man that give me hopes, encouragements and love even though he's so far away. I already feel the love from him with his care & thoughts about me. I'm the typical Pisces (horoscope) who loves romantic stuff & surprises but I never ask for more gifts, flowers, dinners from my hubby since my travels. Being all-so-romantic isn't that good either, sometimes it will hurt when you over expecting it. So I have to balance out the typical me with him. Well, sometimes it really just fate to be with each others.


Just a saying, Love is not a big thing, but its the millions of small things that matters.


I become more independent facing everything myself and see things from different views and pursuing my own dreams. And I really Thanks God for giving me my 6 months travels that formed a new me.


I may have hurt a lot of people around me along the way,
Good & bad things happened, but I always believe, everything happens for a reason.
That's how I learn to grow to be a better person.
I ever ready to take every challenges that come into my paths.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




I think I never stop looking information about travelling. I really can't stop at all.
Inspiration posts, amazingly beautiful taken photos, travel blogs and sometime Google maps allow my minds to travel to another countries without any fee. In fact, I'm very much inspired by a Malaysian travel blogger, Nicole a.k.a Nicole Kiss ( http://nicolekiss.blogspot.com/ )




And one day, one of my best travel mates, Xue Ying tagged us 3 girls on the Facebook page, 再窮也要去旅行
about Date a girl who travels.


I find that I got most of the points.
Do have a read :)

再窮也要去旅行

Date a girl who travels. 和一個旅行女孩約會吧！

Date a girl who travels.
Date a girl who would rather save up for out of town trips or day trips than buy new shoes or clothes. She may not look like a fashion plate, but behind that tanned and freckled face from all the days out in the sun, lies a mind that can take you places and an open heart that will take you for what you are, not for what you can be.

和一個旅行女孩約會吧。這個女孩，寧願把錢存下來當作旅行基金，也不會花在無謂的新衣服。她看起來可能不是個時尚辣妹，但在那張久經日曬的小麥色臉龐後，藏著一顆能帶你去任何地方，並且能欣賞你最真實個性的一顆心。


Date a girl who travels.
You’ll recognize her by the backpack she always carries. She won’t be carrying a dainty handbag; where will she put her travel journal, her pens, and the LED flashlight that’s always attached to her bag’s zipper? In a small purse, how can she bring the small coil of travel string, the wet tissues, the box of cracker, and the bottle of water she’s always ready with, just in case something happens and she can’t go home yet? Yes, a girl who travels knows that anytime, anything can happen and she just has to be prepared with it. Nothing takes her by surprise; she takes everything with equanimity, knowing that such things are always a part of life. She’s reliable and dependable, traits that she’s learned while on the road.

和一個旅行女孩約會吧。你可以一眼就從那永不離身的背包認出她。並非一個無法裝載旅行日誌、筆、手電筒的精緻小提包，一個小包包怎麼能裝下旅行繩、溼毛巾、乾糧、和一瓶緊急備用的水呢？沒錯，一個旅行女孩知道隨時都有可能發生無法預料的事，所以她會永遠保持在準備好的狀態。沒有什麼事能嚇到她，她永遠可以泰然處之從容面對，知道這就是人生。她是值得信賴依靠的，這是她從旅途中學到的事。


You’ll also recognize a girl who travels by the fact that she’s always amazed at the world around her, no matter if she’s in her home town or in a place that’s totally new. She sees beauty all around her, not just the ones featured in travel guides or shown in postcards. A girl who travels has developed a deeper appreciation for life. She won’t judge you, or pressure you to do things you don’t want to do. She knows too much about the importance of identity and self-efficacy, and she will appreciate all the more if you won’t pretend to be who you’re not.

你也可以從旅行女孩那不管是在家鄉或是一個陌生城鎮，卻總能對她周遭事物充滿興趣的特質認出她。她可以發覺各式美麗事物，而不只是旅行指南或明信片上的熱門景點。一個旅行女孩會對生命由衷的欣賞，她不會武斷地評論你，也不會逼你做不情願的事。她清楚的知道自我肯定及認同的重要，如果你不矯揉造作，她對你加倍青睞。你可以對一個旅行女孩說謊，犯錯也沒有關係，你可以做最真實的自己。別擔心，她在旅途中碰過更糟的事，而且對變化莫測的人性也有深刻的認識。


Date a girl who travels, because when you’re with her, you’ll realize that even though she’s napped at a temple in Angkor Wat, went boating down the Mekong Delta, ran by the streets of Saigon, or went skinny-dipping in the caves in the Philippines , she still retains that humility that is the mark of a real traveler. She knows she’s been to a lot of places, but she’s humbled by the fact that the world is still a big place and she’s only seen a small part of it. Seeing this in her can make you feel all right with yourself too; there’s no need for you to do more, to be more. What you are is enough.

和一個旅行女孩約會吧。和她在一起你會發現，無論她在吳哥窟小憩，在湄公河划船，在西貢的街上奔跑，或是在菲律賓的洞穴裸泳，她都謹記著「謙遜」才是旅人最重要的特質。她知道她去過很多地方，但她很謙虛地了解這世界很大，自己走過的地方只是一小部份。這項特質讓你也覺得很自在，你不需要虛假誇大，只需要做你自己。


When you meet a girl who travels, ask her where she’s been and what she’s going to do next. She will appreciate your interest, and if you’re lucky, she may even invite you to join her. When she does, do. Nothing bonds people better than traveling. On your trips, you will both see each other’s best and worst characteristics, and you can then decide whether she’s worth fighting for.

當你認識一個旅行女孩，問問她去過哪裡、下一個旅行地點是哪裡，她會很欣賞你的用心。夠幸運的話，說不定她還會約你結伴同行。如果她開口，就跟她一起去吧。沒有一件事能比旅行更能拉近人與人之間的關係，在旅程中，你們會發現彼此的優點和缺點，你也可以因此決定她是不是個值得的對象。


It’s easy enough to date a girl who travels. She won’t want expensive gifts; you can buy her (or both of you) cheap tickets to Thailand for the weekend, and she’ll be more than happy to take you to the longest wooden bridge in the country. You don’t even have to go overseas; you can take her out on day trips, caving or hiking, or treat her to a full body massage.
You can also buy her the little things that she keeps forgetting to buy for herself; that carabiner that will attach her backpack to her seat so that she will feel easier about sleeping on her bus trip, or a backpack cover, a small alarm clock, a money belt, or maybe another sarong that will replace the one she lost in China.

和一個旅行女孩約會很簡單。她不渴求昂貴的禮物，你可以買張飛往泰國渡週末的廉價機票給她或是來一趟雙人之旅，她會帶你去看世界上最長的木橋；你們甚至不用出國，你可以帶她去個洞穴探險或爬山的一日小旅行，或是讓她享受一套全身按摩。你也可以送她一些她總是忘記買的小東西。那條能綁住她的背包和座椅的鍊條，讓她能在巴士旅途中睡個好覺；一個背包套、小鬧鐘、可以藏錢的腰帶、或是一條新沙龍來代替她在中國遺失那條。



She won’t mind if you get lost on your way to a date. She knows that oftentimes, the journey is more important than the destination. She will help you see the lighter side of things. She’ll walk along with you, not behind you, pointing out the interesting bits of things you’ll see on the way. Before long, you’ll realize that yes, the journey has been more memorable than the destination that you’ve planned to take her to.

一個旅行女孩不介意你約會時迷路，她知道多數時候旅行的過程比結果更重要。她會讓看到事情的光明面，走在你身旁而不是你後方，為你指出一路上將看到的趣事。不用多久你就會真的了解，和她一起尋找的過程其實比你要帶她去的目的地更讓你記憶深刻。


Is a girl who travels worth it? Yes, she is. So when you find her, keep her. Don’t lose her with your insecurities and doubts. Because when she says she loves you, she really does. After all, she’s seen so many things, met so many people, and if she had chosen you, better grab that opportunity and thank the gods that you were lucky enough she’s chosen you and not that bloke she met while watching the sun rise in Angkor Wat, or while whitewater rafting in the Padas Gorge in Sabah. If she says she loves you, she must have seen something in you, something that can always call her back from her travels, something that can anchor her to the world in the way that she wants to after weeks and months of being on the road.

一個旅行女孩值得你追求嗎？是的，她值得。所以當你碰上她時，請好好珍惜她。不要因為你的不安全感或懷疑而放手，因為當她說她愛你，那絕對千真萬確。畢竟她看過那麼多各式事物，認識了那麼多不同的人；如果她選擇了你，請好好把握這個機會，並感謝老天她選擇的是你，而不是那個她在吳哥窟並肩看夕陽的男孩，或她在沙巴巴達士泛舟的同伴。如果她說她愛你，表示她一定有發現你的某些特別之處；一些能讓她回憶起過去旅行的小細節，一個能讓她在四處漂蕩好幾個月後可以停泊的港灣。


Date a girl who travels. Make her feel safe, warm, and secure. Make her believe that no matter where she goes, and however long she’s gone, you’ll always be there for her, the one that she can call home.

和一個旅行女孩約會吧。給她安心和溫暖，讓她相信無論她去到哪裡，或是離開了多久，你都會在那個她能當作「家」的地方等待她。


Find a girl who travels. Date her, love her, and marry her, and your world will never be the same again.

找一個旅行女孩，和她約會，真愛她，讓她成為你的妻子。你的世界，將會因此而不同。


《《中文版譯自 Reddy Ting Ho。原文載自　Date A Girl Who Travels.》》