More Than Just [Lausanne]- Day 1

Dear pipsqueaks,

Having just woken up from my much-needed 1.5hr nap - yes, anything that's not overnight is a nap in my book - I'm starting to function properly again. The whole day has been a blur so far. The last thing I remember was having dim sum with JQ at KLIA, and then landing in Amsterdam. Autopilot took over after that. Now, I'm comfortably sitting at my work desk in my hotel room for the next couple of days clearing out emails. How scary that we can function without much thought...

Not sure how long it'll take before I break one of these fist-pumping-in-the-air declaration that I won't be flying any time soon. Honestly just sick of flying, or at least the long hauls. No matter how many times I get up to stretch, the back and bum pain just returns. It didn't help that I had a pair of super adorable baby twins in my cabin from KL to Amsterdam. To be fair, they weren't as horrible as I was about to make them, but as always, when one cried, the other one followed. But they are very social babies! One even waved at me while I walked over to stretch by the emergency exit. Babies - they can get away with anything just because they're cute. How dangerous!

Amsterdam to Geneva was a doable 1hour-ish flight, and feeling the sunlight beaming into the cabin really helped with my sanity. Possibly, I function just as Superman does - solar-powered! Upon arrival,  I hopped on the next train to Lausanne to be greeted by a friend. It's always nice to be received, especially being semi-clustered for the last don't-know how many hours. A cup of hot coco - funny how the milk does taste slightly different here after he had mentioned it. It's possibly a bit sweet on it's own before I stirred in the coco powder. Yes, that's how they drink hot chocolate here apparently. Nonetheless, it was just what I needed. Following that, we popped by a falafel/kebab joint for a quick lunch, and boy was this place delicious! It reminds me of that Donair shop up at SFU where le sister and I used to drop by after class or exams. Time really slipped by, and soon we were on our way to the hotel to drop me off so he could make another round to the airport. Just to say, I haven't been hungry since I landed in Lausanne, all thanks to my friend :)

(Nice and fluffy hot coco to warm up my frozen fingers!)

Soulmate[s]

He once asked me, "Do you believe in soulmates?"

I remember thinking long and hard before I came to an answer myself. Here's what I said...

So Far into 2013

Dear pipsqueaks,

It's been a long while since my last update, but I assure you, I'm ALIVE! The days have been filled with catching up at work and with friends since my return from CNY in Taiwan. Honestly feels like time has been doing laps around me. All of a sudden, we're coming to March! No sooner had I unpacked my luggage, I will be packing for Lausanne...

Those who sourly congratulate me for work traveling, you don't know half the story. From contemplating what to pack, to actually packing, to lacking sleep due to over-thinking, to waking up early for final packing, to rushing breakfast, to hopping on a 1hr taxi to the airport hoping there's no traffic, to successfully checking in my luggage without over-weighing, to trying to catch some zZz on the flight, to landing and finding my luggage on the belt, to organizing transportation to the hotel, and finally checking into my room without any glitch. Then, the REAL work begins.

Singing Our Way to [Genting]

Dear pipsqueaks,

Blessed by a wave of holidays during the first couple of months in the Malaysian calendar, trips were just too tempting to turn down. I haven't had the chance to recap our trip to Langkawi at the end of January, but certainly that'll come after this recap on Genting Highlands.

Genting Highlands- I had heard so much about it previously, but never pulled through on the plans and such within the last 1.5 years here in Malaysia to make it happen. Then by chance, a best friend of mine- who shall now forthwith be referred to as JQ- had suggested that we head up on "KL Day" Friday. Two possibilities: one, complete madness with traffic that we will be in total regret for attempting to go up on a KL Public Holiday; two, absolute freedom while ascending into the nice and breezy weather. Actually, it was over Tuesday lunch that a coworker had shared her nightmare experience up at Genting where they only moved about a few km in 1.5hrs or something. That would be just horrendous.

But what do you know? Jessy does get quite lucky when she travels- it's too late to jinx myself as the story of ant army invasion had already taken place (will be covered in the Langkawi post)- no traffic whatsoever. On top of that, the weather couldn't have been more agreeable. A solid 18.5 degrees with a slight breeze, we couldn't have asked for better.