Yea, I shd update my blog, despite it being my bedtime now. Plus, i've not mentioned much bout my previous two trips yet. heh.. shall give brief accounts then:

Bangkok is quite a shopping paradise because their markets are so extensive. The best way to describe the market is what one sees at Bugis Village, and multiply it by 10 times for the size of Pratunam Market, and 50 times for Chatuchak Market. Both are must-go market places because I realise that their goods there are set at low prices. At other places such as Khao San and Silom, you will get your throat cut a few times, and still feel somewhat cheated after you have bargained down the price. However, a warning to the ladies as the clothes found there are typical to the sizes in This Fashion, so my mother ended up not buying many clothes. And Chinatown is only good for food because though their shoes are really pretty, they are meant for wholesale.

Also beware of too-friendly Thai people - the good "Samaritans". On my first day I took out my map to look for directions, a man approached me and my mother and was very helpful in telling us where to go to see a famous temple. Only when he mentioned about making a detour to the jewellery shops, then I realised the extent of his sincerity. Still it was difficult for us to decline, and I doubt my mother was aware what he was getting us into. So we played along. The man halted a tuk-tuk and my mother was so excited that she would be having her firsthand experience in riding on one of these. My enthusiasm was quite doused by what was to happen next. And this was not the only means that we were conned to view jewellery items, even our morning river cruise was followed by a few of such visits. It seems that tour companies made agreement with these shops to bring tourists there, in return for God-knows-what.

Mt Kinabalu was more memorable and enjoyable. The only thing that shocked me was the sky rocket price they charged for the food there. RM$11.50 for fried rice, and RM$3.50 for hot milo. They knew we needed food, and we had no way out but to buy from them. Well, this is a reminder to those to be better prepared next time: go buy bread and instant 3-in-1 milo, because you can boil hot water in the kitchenette at the hostel.

The view, oh the magnificient view. I'm dazzled by it. I love it. And the wind, the coldness can be biting at times, and chill you to the bones, but you will miss it when you return back to ground zero. What more can I say about Mt K? Like what I said before, it's an experience to have once in a lifetime.

Then the town itself - Kota Kinabalu - has nothing much in it. Not much ado for shopping, unless you want to buy handicraft souvenirs (which I did not buy any. sorry maties. :P). Then nothing much to see either. Perhaps people go there after the climb to fill up their tummies again. We all had pizza hut for dinner before we took our flight back to Spore. One RM for one S$, so it is really worth it to eat pizza hut in Msia.. hehe.. Some more they said that the Treasure Island Pizza is not found in Spore menu. Really tasted good. *yumz. [stomach starts to growl, getting a little hungry.. but i guess i will sleep on it..]

Okie, i shall stop here. the freshies had a treasure hunt today n tmr they'd b having a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. i shd b gg down to support this team of guys who confidently told me that they will sure win wanz. haha.. we shall see. :)