Desperate Measures

Somehow or rather, i'm still in cairo due to some changes in the flight itinerary. I got till this saturday before i jet off, and what's better to do then try to score a bit more readership by humiliating myself (again!)

Attempt to humiliate my own self 02 : Admit to having very little brain cell.
I really should have paid more attention is class while i was in school. Back then I was just an average student. In fact, i was more like the gap filler between the high scorers and the drop out. I never did failed any subject or neither did i score with flying colours. I'm just average. I was more into doing my own thing than be bother with competing in the rat race to get to the top of the class. You can say i'm a bit self absorbing. And that same attitude have stuck on to me like a super glue even till now, blindfolding me from many MANY things happening around me. Perhaps my lack of interest in the eight o'clock news and my upmost dislike in reading anything that's 'news' in general, have something to do with it too. I'm just not a news person. Thus it explains why a certain mr big ben is questioning my shortage of brain cell in posting up this. I guess its true that after conquering the pyramid in egypt, chances of frolicking to the other six more wonders are pretty slim as most of them have vanish from planet earth long before i was born. However to prove him wrong, hihi, i did a bit of wikipedia and it turns out that i have actually achieved more than i bargain for.

Pyramid of Giza (Egypt), one of the 7th wonders of the ancient world

Citadel of Qaitbay (Alexandria), one of the 7th wonders of the ancient world. Its also known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Citadel of Cairo (Egypt), one of the 7th wonders of the medieval world

Catacombs of Kom el Shogafa (Alexandria), one of the 7th wonders of the medieval world

Hagia Sophia (Istanbul), one of the 7th wonders of the medieval world

Desperate Measures

Reason why my blog is getting shitty hits from day one must have something to do with the lack of content in it. The fact that i'm a boring person who live a rather boring life in a even more boring city doesn't help either. I guess i could write something provoking or at least slightly interesting for a change, but what exactly? I don't really have a passion for politics, its bores me to death. And having me writing my thoughts on it would be a disastrous experience for both me and you. Movie review, hmm, i adores highly unintelligent chick flicks and desperately boring art film, not your kind of hollywood blockbuster or oscar winning pieces. I'm afraid any review on those would lessen my readership even further. I thought of going down the emo trip and be philosophical about life but i haven't exactly live enough to actually preach about it. So the last straw, i guess, would be to humiliate myself publicly on the blog. Humiliation sells for some odd reason. The dirtier the dirt is, the better.

Attempt to humiliate my own self 01 : Being caught camwhoring in public!

This set of photos was taken awhile back went i was on shoot in shanghai. Being the unfabulous me, i don't get to be under the limelight very much, the closest i get to it is to be the framing/lighting stand-in. Its a position that is even worst than background extras. Its the lowest you can get. The pariah's of talents. Pardon my language. But its true. And once the opportunity is here to be right smack in front of the lens, i jump at it and classically become the camwhore that i subconsciously am. It is not wrong to be a camwhore, but being caught on film doing so is just tragic with a capital T!

Standby. Roll camera, and...

ACTION!!!

#01 : Do a Meg Ryan and let the pouty lips out!

#02 : Looking dreamily at the camera man and try to attract his attention.

#03 : But once he catches you, look down and pretend to be thinking hard.

#04 : Thinking hard like you're about to take a shit.

#05 : Here's my own rendition of the 'willy-being-caught-at-the-zipper' look.

#06 : It always works with boys, but don't forget to smile.

#07 : And if that doesn't work...

#08 : Try the 'i'll-shoot-you-down' look.

#09 : Or the classic act cute look! I'm an expert in it!

#10 : I can even do the 'acting-cute-innocently' look.

#11 : But nothing beats the 'peace sign at the eye' look. So lala!!

#12 : and CUT!! Huh?! But i want MORE!!

I'm coming home...

Over the course of this past months, i realized my blog has somehow metamorphosed into a travel log of some sort, documenting my many didos in cities i happen to be at. It have been a bless. But all adventures have its ending and so will mine. Expect my blog to be back to its old self again as i'm coming back home in another twenty four hours time. Ohkay, its a bit more hours than that, considering the nine hours transit in dubai and then another hour stop at some third world country for god knows what reason, but lets not bore you with the details. Twenty four hours is good enough.

Istanbul, as how i see it

Istanbul. How do i even begin to describe a city quite like istanbul? Some say it has style without being too pretentious. Other think its chic but somehow conservative in many ways. If i have it my way, i could sit here for days and still struggle with my own definition for istanbul. There's just no word true enough to explain her charm to the world. And honestly speaking, i was perhaps a bit intimidated by the whole istanbul experience myself. Being there and living the life of a turkish for a week had made me realized how little i've live my life thus far back home. There could have been so much more i could do and achieve, but yet i was blind to notice the opportunity in store for me. I guess its true that sometime a little vacation out of the norm can open our eyes and mind to things we never really realize existed.

Forget what was highlighted on lonely planet or any guide book for that matter, here's a quick lowdown on what i felt is a definite must-do when visiting istanbul, the gay gateway to europe!

a. Spend a day at Topkapi Palace, strolling through its many courtyard and marble-covered archway, where it was once a sordid playground for sultans of the ottoman empire.

b. Be a freak of nature (just like me) and have a go at Hagia Sophia, one of the seven wonders of the medieval world. It sure is an architecture wonderland!

c. Go for antique hunting along the winding lane of Cukurcuma Caddesi where gems are kept hidden for centuries, waiting to be discover.

d. Ohkay, maybe you don't have to do this but it would be fun to catch a porn flick at the back alley behind the infamous Taksim Square and see some local action at its best :P

e. Window shopping on a tram along Taksim Square.

f. Have a menu-less seafood meal at Arnavutkoy Caddesi, and let the chef surprise you!

And if you're wondering what happen to my trip to the turkish bath, well, i didn't made it pass the reception counter. The image of having a beasty man with hairy pot belly triple the size of my head, scrubbing my back is just too traumatizing. Ohh puhlease, get off me!! Eeww!!

While i'm here...

Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria

Ohkay, so i was a tad lazy in updating my blog on the trip to istanbul, the gay gateway to europe. Forgive me if you may. I'll post it up soon enough, but right now i'm folding and refolding, squeezing and shoving my day bag nicely to fit ALL the clothes for my even smaller trip to alexandria. Being the second-largest city in egypt, alexandria offers endless sun, sea, and surf for lonely souls like myself. I so need a holiday away from my holiday!

Au revoir!

Packing Guide to Istanbul

Packing for a trip to istanbul should never be anything less than what is expected on a trip to the likes of manhattan or paris. NEVER pack light to istanbul. Never! It would be suicidal otherwise. My advise would be to think of the trip as a runway holiday, where everything and everything have to be planned, coordinated and fitted before it goes into the luggage. If you're on a week trip like i am, pack at least nine tops and four trousers with add ons like vest, jacket, sweater, scarves and lots of accessories to compliment the outfit. And bring along at least two pair of shoes that matches with anything that you have. I know this might sound like you're over packing because it really is, but its better to do so than under pack. The golden rule is 'thoughtful casual', where you dress casually but with effort and thoughts put into the whole assemble. A plain T with jeans would be an utter embarrassment to yourself. Instead, put on a vest and scarf on top of that and voila! you'll in for a good time, sister girl! And if you're asking, why bother just for a holiday? Well darling, this is not just any holiday, its istanbul we're talking about here. And istanbul is tres stylish. Being here is like being in a runway show, where everyone dresses super chic. Even chihuahuas have better wardrobe here! Can you imagine dressing worst than a dog, tragic, tragic...

H E L L O | Istanbul!

This just came in from the nineteen floor of the plaza hotel, istanbul. Room nineteen eleven to be exact. With a view that overlooks the bosphorus strait, which stretch against the length of the horizon, its not hard to be smitten by the allure of istanbul. Peeking harder at the far end of the horizon, you could actually make out the tiny blocks of buildings that edge the strait where the asian part of turkey lies. From where i stand now, istanbul is surely and dearly one of the most beautiful city in the world.

And i heard that if you are gay, don't die before you see istanbul coz' its supposed to be like the gayest city in the world or something! I can't wait to see how gay it can gets. Wish me luck girlfriend...

Reinspired

I started writing on my stories again. I developed it a few years back but had put it aside when the passion for writing died. Not sure what drove me this time around, but its a nice feeling to be inspired and be able to do what i like doing most. I guess as i grew older, i am drawn more towards writing and expressing my inner demons rather than acting on it. I might not be very good at writing but i like to think that i am. It sort of gives me some hope and that tiny sparkle of security, to let me face another day with the thought that i'm not that useless after all. Its the feeling of having a purpose, rather than speeding through life and end up empty by the end of the day.

I have long realized that i'm not a very ambitious person. I'm not very competitive and definitely not as driven as most of my friends are. In fact, i'm easily content to be honest. I prefer storybook ending of living happily ever after, rather than searching for new adventures one after another. I know it's kinda mundane, but maybe being mundane is good. At least i'm getting the comfort i need to sleep better at night, knowing that if i keep doing what i'm doing now, i'll have enough to pay the rent and go on holiday trips with my parents. I stop dreaming big awhile back. I couldn't be bothered. And if i were to be truly honest with myself, i hate my job. I hate the long hours, hate being fake all the time, hate the crap i have to put up with, in fact i hate the whole atmosphere of it, but this is what i do best. I know following one's dream is important and the whole you only live once bullshit but its hard to take that one step out of the comfort zone and actually do what the heart desire? Is it that bad to be content so easily?

the end of WINTER

Isn't it unearthly that after dreading the entire winter scene in egypt for almost a month and a half, i'm actually missing it as spring approaches. Sure enough i still hate the thought of waking up to a freezing room, the cracked lips and having to wear socks to bed, but i'm secretly liking the whole winter dress up, everything from the monotones right up to the layerings. Its so much dressier, a lot more fun and simply clever dressing with thoughts put into it.

Actually, i'm not sure what in hell am i babbling about here, but just bare with me. I'll be back to my old self soon. Hopefully...

While i'm here...

I'll be extending my stay at egypt after all. Just a tad longer than was planned previously. Nothing too long. And while i'm here whoring my soul on a job, i'll be jetting off to istanbul as well for a six day trip with the girls. Expect gazillions of pictures soon! xoxo