孤獨的工作

隔了一段好長的時間，我都沒有遇到這位攝影師了。

直到最近，因爲工作我們重新遇上了，他的外形和性格改變了很多，感覺像是從一位斯文彬彬的好先生變成了有點流氓的態度。身形瘦弱了，頭髮蒼蒼了，憔悴了，抽起煙來了，怎麽會這樣呢？

我説：“我見你在面子書上一直會分享你女兒的照片，身爲父親的驕傲啊~”

他是一位非常優秀的攝影師，態度很好，有責任感也很敬業，所以常年接到國際節目的邀約，時常都不在國内。爲了方便工作，他獨自在吉隆坡租了地方，和妻女分隔兩地，聚少離多。

他説：“爲了工作，我很少回家，常常出國。加上時差的關係，我那裏白天的時候，這裏已經是黑夜，根本和她們説不上話。”

“就算是一些特別的日子，過年過節，我也沒辦法回家，國際性的節目和馬來西亞的日子是不同的。我需要賺錢養家，這頭家一個月需要15k的消費。”

“我做得那麽辛苦都不知道爲了什麽？”

我也不知道你是爲了什麽？
或許他應該問問妻女們，他們比較需要你的什麽？

其實我們也不是什麽深交，衹是偶爾工作上會一起合作的夥伴。那一次，不知道爲什麽他願意向我透露那麽多他的内心事。

“你知道嗎, 我已經有差不多3年沒有和我的太太行房了。” 我的表情故做鎮定，不過内心非常詫異，他竟然願意向我説那麽多。

他繼續說：“我的太太都讓我的女兒學那些稀奇古怪的才藝，比如騎馬，武術等等，我覺得她自己都要成仙了。”

我點頭說：“嗯”。（不知如何反應）

雖然依舊有不停的國際節目邀約，可是他盡量能推就推，減少出國和坐飛機的次數，因爲現在的他變得好害怕坐飛機。曾經他覺得飛機裏面的空間壓迫得他覺得呼吸困難，幾乎很想從飛機里跳出去，即使乘搭電梯也很怕；人在國外，看到人群也覺得很不舒服。

我實在不忍見到一位很優秀的前輩突然變得如此落魄，這件事情我一直記挂在心裏面，我很想幫他，可是不知從何下手，加上又是有家室的人，也不便多插手別人的婚姻問題。從他身上，讓我不斷的思考到底影視業這一行成就了我們的同時，也讓我們失去了什麽？

影視業的生態必須讓我們生命里有所犧牲的是否值得？
話説白了，由於長時間工作的緣故，通常衹要是男人多半是同性戀，另外一半的就會有婚姻問題（當然也不是一杆打翻一艘船）。至於女人多半是瀟灑型，另外一半多數是單身。

這對我來説是場噩夢，因爲這不會是我將來年長的時候想過的生活。
孤獨終老, NO!

我們在天亮之前開始工作，當大家都在做夢的時候，我們在午夜時分拖著疲憊的身體回家，繼續下一個還沒有天亮的明天直到拍攝結束的那天。這樣的日子，我可以過多久？

不求飛黃騰達，但是我們這份工日曬雨淋不説，還要夜出夜歸，但回報的工資是和其他相等工作相較之下的低。

爲了什麽？

東京美妝戰利品

日本的美妝產品種類繁多，包羅萬象，眼花繚亂這個形容詞不爲過，在日本生活的消費樣樣高，在回國之前剩下一點點的錢買了幾樣物色已久的東西，滿足一下身爲女生的私欲！這幾樣產品使用至今感覺很不錯，有種衝動還想叫人從日本代購。

1.雪肌精洗顏石Facial Essence Soap

回馬之後曾經到雪肌精專櫃詢問，可惜馬來西亞沒有售賣。雪肌精的產品在馬來西亞售價本來就不便宜，原自日本的雪肌精在東京購買自然比較便宜，甚至常常有大減價！在東京的藥妝店門口用大聲公叫賣，顯得好像很廉價的產品。

評價：用雪肌精化妝水（明星產品）製成的洗顏石，洗顏后感覺皮膚不像一般使用的洗顏產品那麽乾澀。推薦！

1296 yen = 大約馬幣 RM40



衹要稍微輕輕抹一抹，加點水就已經很多泡沫。

 

2. Sugao Air Fit CC Cream
東京藥妝店注明是國内銷售第一的CC Cream（很多產品都是第一，都不知道到底誰是真正的第一），選擇的色系不多衹有3種。過後不久又推出了Moist Air Fit CC Cream。

評價：質感非常輕薄，容易推開。臉部感覺幾乎沒有厚重感，好像沒有塗抹任何東西一樣。

忘了多少錢，大約是RM40-50左右

 

 3. Lu Lu Lun Everyday Mask

每日面膜在東京是很夯的產品，各種牌子、價錢、功效，全部都想將它們帶回家！

評價：感覺效果的差異不大，不過可以每天都做面膜還是令人非常開心的事情。

1500 yen = 大約RM45 （42枚）



包裝非常簡易，就好像打開紙巾盒抽出一張面膜就行了。

  

4. Suisai Beauty Clear Powder 酵素洗顏粉

在韓國的時候，看到不少牌子已經推出酵素洗顏粉這類的產品已久（深沉潔净毛孔和角質），不過這款在日本的藥妝店内也是大推特推，又有優惠，就買來試試看。一個星期使用一次，將酵素洗顏粉加在洗顏產品搓成泡沫，普通洗臉的動作就可以了。

評價：看不出有什麽很明顯的區別。

700 yen = 大約 RM21



一個包裝里有15個

東京的藥妝店是令人女人開心的天堂！

 

 

 

Yamamoto Dental Clinic (Tokyo)

If you happen to have a toothache problem during your travel or short stay in Tokyo, I would love to recommend you to Yamamoto Dental Clinic（山本歯科医院）located in front of Higashi-Nagasaki Station （東長崎駅）

During my 2 months stayed in Tokyo, I was living in Shiinamachi （椎名町）with my boyfriend. We often ride our bicycle around to explore, eat, exercise or buy staffs..... and that's how I found Yamamoto Dental Clinic nearby our place! I'm a typical gaijin （外人）who can't speak Japanese at all, an English speaking doctor will be necessary for me but the cost would be definitely extra more. The reason I would like to try and visit Yamamoto Dental Clinic was because their signboard is in English, surprisingly the dentist can actually speak a little bit of English which enough for us to understand each other with the assistance of slide show and dental guide book in few language in order to understand the problem facing by the patient.

The dentist and staffs were very friendly and polite (of course, they're Japanese!!!) espcially the male dentist. He pointing out the question of his concern in the guide book and I answered him back by pointing the option in A, B or C....... So cool !!! He suggested me to do a 360 Paranomic x-ray to identify my problem then give me consultation about the process of treatment by playing me a slideshow and explained in much patient. The treatment requires 2 appointment to be complete because I've two deep cavity which give me so much pain. I make an appointment with the receptionist and surprisingly the consultation (including x-ray) is all free! Comparing seeing dentist back in Malaysia, every single thing charge from consultation, full mouth check, x-ray and of course the treatment.....

The first treatment took me nearly 2 hours to remove the the tooth cavity and mould for the filling for 2nd treatment. My dental treatment cost for two deep cavity (filling) is total 10,000 yen (which is around RM300+) and I don't have to pay anything only when the treatment is completely done.

Unfortunately, I've to go back to Malaysia in last minute before my second appointment. So, I visited to the clinic to request any possibility for earlier treatment but the appointment is all full. My in-charge dentist thinks is okay for me to do the filling back in Malaysia and they refused to accept of my payment for the first half treatment because they think they haven't got their job done. OMG! I'm so so so so impressed by their professional and attitude.
The male dentist shaked my hand and two other staffs bow to me when I'm about to leave (though I'm not paying). The dentist let me to introduce friends or when I need any treatment if I happen to be back in Tokyo, please come and see him again. I've to write about this dental clinic on my blog because their services is Excellent, Professional, Reasonal Price and SOOOOOO Friendly, can't be better anymore.

Yamamoto Dental Clinic (next to a drug store)
03-5926-7555

How to get there
Take Seibu Ikebukuro Line （西武池袋線） and get off at Higashi-Nagasaki Station （東長崎駅）））））））)Higashi-Nagasaki Station (東長崎駅Higashi-Nagasaki Station (東長崎駅and）)）)),

釜山記

一眼瞬閒，就這樣結束了135天的流浪記。當初帶著忐忑不安的期待飛去韓國；如今帶著依依不捨的憂傷從日本回來。

遺憾的是那來不及的秋天，難過的是我們無疾而終的離別。

入住釜山民宿的第2天，我記得又是下着雨的清晨。我坐在地板上望着窗外苦惱着無處可去，這時一位睡眼惺忪，頭髮鬆散手握牙刷的男子從 Male Dormitory 走出來，看著我說：“你是從馬來西亞來的？” 我錯愕了幾秒后，然後回答 “是啊”。

釜山較著名的觀光景點都在戶外，我能夠逗留在釜山的時間有限，卻偏偏又遇上連續下雨天，實在百般無奈。惺忪男沒有規劃的行程，就算有在這雨天也無處可去。民宿老闆 Kim 建議我們不如結伴去釜山博物館，至少我們認為會比水族館有趣。就在 Kim 熱心幫我們搜索相關資料的時候，我們發現當天是博物館的休假日。結果，Kim 熱心地幫我們在網絡上訂購水族館的門票（較便宜）往海云台出發。

在前往海云台方向的地鐵上，我問惺忪男我們素未謀面，他怎麽知道我是從馬來西亞來的？原來他是從另一位同住在民宿的加拿大住客 C.T 哪裏得知關於我的存在。話説，在我入住 Kim's House 的第一夜，在C.T 的盛情邀約下在 Kim 推薦附近的餐館一起共用過晚餐。

從地鐵站步行尋找水族館的路上，下雨天加上靠近海邊的強風將我們的雨傘吹得東歪西倒，我們的身體又濕又冷，雙腳感覺到鞋子裏的潮濕和噁心。爲什麽我們非得只能去釜山水族館啊！！！

無論如何，水族館比我們想象得有趣很多，其實還不賴。
眼看時間還早，依然還是下著雨又冷，我們在附近購物中心裏的一間咖啡屋落腳歇歇，喝杯熱飲取暖。惺忪男掏出了I-Phone 5 手機和我分享他在臺灣一個月旅行的照片，特別是關於吃的，他的眼神是閃爍着，語調就會稍稍提高。“你看，這個影片裏的隊伍是多麽的長就為了買這個吃的。” 我們研究着釜山的觀光地圖、我們交換了LINE 的賬號、我們各自悄悄地把腳從濕漉漉的鞋子裏伸出來透透氣，慢慢得等待外面的雨停，慢慢地喝完我們的飲料。

返回民宿的路上，經過超商的我們買了檸檬和蜜糖回去泡着喝，免得身體着涼和生病。洗過熱水澡，我們舒服地背靠在民宿客廳的泰式三角枕，看著聼不懂的韓文節目，在依然下着雨的晚上喝着熱乎乎的Hot Honey Lemon。
暖了胃，暖了心。

有些旅人喜歡旅程有人相伴；有些旅人喜歡獨處的時光，入住在同一間民宿，機緣巧合之下在釜山水族館共同一日游，我想也不過稀鬆平常，大家萍水相逢並不會太放在心上。未免我打擾了惺忪男或許想一個人獨處的時光，我徑自將杯子拿到廚房清洗后，就上樓回房躲在溫暖的被窩裏，期望明天醒來的時候，是美好的晴天。


Kim's House (Busan)

Kim and me ^^

6 Female Dormitory

Highly recommend to stay at Kim's House if you happen to visit Busan and looking for an accommodation which is quiet (located inside resident area) but short walking distance away from the crowded area and subway station. It is Cheap, Clean, Cozy feel like at home and Friendly Mr Kim!
Nearest Subway Station Near: Daeyeon Station Exit 5

987-62 Daeyeon 1Dong Namgu Busan Korea
Busan, South Korea 608-811

Phone	+82 10-5510-4422
Email	curtdo0312@gmail.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimsHouseInBusan/info


Busan Aquarium (Korea's Largest Ocean Themed Park)

You can get cheaper entrance ticket in only 15,000 KRW (normal price 24,000KRW) online purchase in their Korean website. Yes, only when you can read Korean or ask a Korean to help you.

Haeundae Station (Busan Subway Line 2, Exit 5) Walk 600m towards Haeundae Beach

266, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 
부산광역시 해운대구 해운대해변로 266 (중동)
Website https://www.busanaquarium.com/

Journey of Jeju Island——my korean manager

On the first day of my arrival at hostel, manager looks restless when he found out I can barely understand what he said in korean. I'm feared too, I can't imagine what kind of life I'm gonna go through for the coming days here.

 

Because of my limits in korean, I need to be train from morning till night 8 days in a row before I can start working with payment. Furthermore, our 2 other colleagues will need to go back M'sia for certain period, by then will be only me and my manager running the hostel for ONE MONTH before their return...... OMG!  

 

When we only have each other...

During that 1 months working closely with my manager (we can rely on no one else), I tried my best to communicate with him with limited korean, google translate, dictionary, pictures even video especially when come to explain the problem faced by our guests staying here. Working as a receptionist here at the hostel....

During morning shift (7:30am to 2:30pm) I need to:
1. Prepare simple breakfast for our guest
2. Reply (many) mails
3. Answer phones (Manager answered the phone most of the time because I couldn't speak!)
4. Running upstair to ask our elderly cleaner aunty what she wants for lunch today
    (before we can order)
5. Provide tourist information
6. Taxi tour translation
7. Handling all kind of guest's issues that you can and can't think about it!
8. Do room control and guest list




Bread, Coffee and Tea!

Our Pantry

 

During afternoon shift (2:30pm to 10pm) I need to:
1. Do room check after cleaning
2. Make sure everything is organized in kitchen
3. Reply (many) mails
4. Check in for guests
5. Going to buy breads, jam and etc for next day breakfast at nearby e-mart supermarket at 5:10pm every evening
6. Brain storming what to eat for dinner
7. Handling all kind of guest's issues that you can and can't think about it!   
8. Provide tourist information for their next day plan
9. Do room control and guest list
10. Waiting for check in guest (forever waiting till midnight sometimes)
11. Never end social and drinking session with guests at the pantry nearly everynight!!!






Room Check

Make sure everything is ready in the room 

Social time, after 10!

I'm really exhausted during that one month when only two of us doing EVERYTHING without break or off in between from morning till night. I've to admit my manager is really a Superman because he is the bell boy, technician, room cleaner, driver, front desk manager and also comedian! Frequently, when he get too tired but couldn't rest, he tends to become extra hyper and starts to demonstrate me all kind of sport action which looks SO SILLY YET HILLARIOUS that I couldn't stop laughing. I guess that's how the way we survived through those hard time together, and that also the moment we built trust and get to know each other better. In fact, he wasn't really that scary tho!



my first polaroid with guests from Hong Kong

my first photo with manager and petit guest from China :)

            

Journey of Jeju Island— 重新认识马来西亚人的价值

在外头"鬼混"了3个月, 在身体状况和财力(国外医疗)不允许的状况之下, 匆匆买了飞机票打道回府。原订半年的流浪之旅, 无奈提前结束。
 

离家在韩国济州岛的一家民宿打工, 在柜台帮客人check in, 提供当地的旅游资讯和 One Stop Guest Problem Solving Center..... 在济州岛, 中国游客几乎占了岛上人口的50%, 接下来就是新马, 台湾, 香港 和欧洲游客。马来西亚人掌握多种语言的能力在这小小的民宿里时常得到游走在国际虚线旅人们的赞叹和神化!
 

我们说中文的能力足以应付中国(大量),台湾和马来西亚的游客; 马来文可以应付我们的马来同胞和印尼的游客; 粤语可以应付香港的游客, 英文就应付新加坡和欧洲国家的游客, 自然还有本人有限的韩文来应付大量的韩国游客! 不少游客对大马人能够说中文这回事充满了疑惑, 在耐心地向对方解释 (大略介绍马来西亚)后, 游客们给我们贯上了"语言机器"的美誉。

Family from Taiwan

Selina from China

Simon from France

因为这次的(打工)旅游经验, 让我有机会重新认识自己身为马来西亚人民自身的价值。我们一直或许一辈子生活在舒适的井底里, 殊不知我们自己已经麻木的呱呱声在世界的耳朵里听来竟是天籁。关于我们在这片土地上活着的身份, 至少确实存在着我们可以依具的认知标签。我想, 世界上只有大马华人才会生成这样, 对唄?

 

我一直都以身为马来西亚人为荣, 这次在外头转了个圈, 让我更加珍惜这份blessed gift which speaks our identity. 


          

流浪記前章

What is your goal to achieve?
——我要去流浪！

12 Dec 2013, I got my ticket to the new chapter of life --To Korea!
My ideal plan was to spend 3 months time in Korea then depart to NZ for next working holiday, unfortunately I can't get myself a seat this year, hopefully 2015. Why Korea? No other special reason, simply whenever allow me to get away from where I am now  (sick with concrete jungle), ANYWHERE I DO!

After long waited for about 4 months, I'm ready to fly TOMORROW!!!
Of course there is preparation works for these 3 months (maybe longer) journey away from home....

1. Get myself a Backpack
:: As the time I'm leaving is also my birthday month, my uni old schoolmates share partial of the total amount as my birthday gift. Thank You, Guys!

Buy here if you're interested (only available purchase online):
http://www.decathlon.my/sports/hiking-camping-climbing/women/hiking-backpack-and-poles/hiking-backpacks/1556/bp-forclaz-50-ultralight-2012.html


Forclaz Ultralight 50 QUECHUA

 

Farewell & B'thday Gathering 2014


 

2. Switch to Prepaid (Digi)
:: I was using postpaid line for telco services but I found out it only allow temporary suspension for max 2 months. You need to call to telco customer service line to active back (charges RM10) and suspend again for the next 2 months. Ok, this definitely sound stupid for someone overseas for more than 2 months. So, I visited to telco service center and change a new sim card (switch prepaid with same number) where you only need to subcribe super long life plan (1 year validity period) in RM30.

3. Find a Car Park
:: 在吉隆坡，寸土是黃金。The average rental for a car park lot in KL range between Rm130-RM180 monthly (yes, Is EXPENSIVE to own a car here). How much I need to save for a parking fees during the time I'm not in the country, NO NO NO. It absolutly doesn't worth the money to pay, luckily I've a friend who do not have a car but car park! With little amount RM60 paid (one off) for a parking access car, I can park my car at villa here as long as I want, anytime I want. Thousand thanks to my lovely friend, Kenneth!

YEEHA!



Quiet & Cozy Home
 

More Coming!