Medan the same after 18yrs

Heard alot about Medan Lake toba. Some said it is the biggest lake in South East Asia and once was the most popular tourist attraction in the region in the 80s and 90s.

Step into Medan for my 1st time recently 04Jun for a business trip - Very different from Jakarta. More organized, less traffic, less dust and many chinese. Hey, not bad huh!.

Surprisingly, the chinese speak fluent Penang Hokkien!!. I thought I am in Penang. I am Hokkien but my slang are from the south. The Medanese Chinese mix their language with Indonesia+English+Hokkien = Medanese version language. What a good mixture for me who are half cooked Hokkien. I just "tembak" with my own version.... hey, not bad... they understand.

After my business trip, i extended 1 nite to explore what I always heard "Medan Lake Toba" is. Is it that attractive, what is so beautiful about it? Why the place is totally "subside in our tourism list? Why no one think of honeymooning in Medan anymore?

Truth has been revealed. !! Medan has not being developed and improved for 18yrs. We visited Brastagi, Sipiso piso a mountainous area similar to our own Cameron Highland. Cooling temperature with lots of hotels and villas. No fancy restaurant or "happening" at night. Not even a bar or a band in the hotel. It feel like "back to the history". I was told the hotel room was refurbished with new furniture and new painting... but I feel those wooden furniture is almost outdated.

Danau Toba is just merely a large lake with about 800km diametre that the local said the Samosir Island in the middle of the lake is as big as Singapore. The scenery overlooking the lake is not attractive anymore due to changes of the climate and polution (forest burning). The photo taken is just one color.


Is sad that the internal and external factor has dampen the whole tourism industry in this area. plus no new improvement on once was a popular tourist attraction now stranded without even known to some of the young generation traveller in the 20s.


Being in the travel line, we have to constantly made changes to attract tourist.
How can China become so successful in their tourism industry eventhough the places of visit remain unchanged every years. How Australia a country with no natural wonders or speciality but can attract thousands of visitors? I pray that the Indonesia government will not loose this natural wonders created by God. I am sure the Medanese is still very proud of their "MEDAN LAKE TOBA"

A SHOCKING NEWS HEARD FROM MEDAN

Business trip to medan wouldn't be so shocking to me when i received sms that petrol in Malaysia rise to RM2.70. 0.78SENS increased!!

Nothing can be done as I cant go back to que up for petrol. Just hv to sit and sigh here.

What will happen, I ask myself. The industry I am in - TRAVEL. Will definately the 1st feel the IMPACT. I am worried about my job now. Whether retrenchement, pay cut will come to me

This is definately CRAZY. Dont know what the government is doing? We here are suffering, but the MAN tell us that we are paying 0.30sens lower than others. What a stupid statement!!

40 Tips for Better Life - 2008 and beyond if our LORD haven't come

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day & meditate on God's WORD

3. Buy a DVD and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation on God's WORD and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree..

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often.

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for God for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Please forward this to everyone you care about.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but Joys come through your door!

My 10D Everest Region Trek preparation

02June 08
Counting down my days to an adventure trip. A memoir of a lifetime. I am preparing for my 10D Everest Region Trek on 25Sept 08.

It was actually one of my dream to be the 1st Malaysian (Lady) to conquer Mt Everest. Is easy to say but indeed tough to fulfil. Is a life threatening experience. But dont you think life is short if we dont try something challenge our life?

I hv very little information and visual reference of the trek I choose. I am not sure whether I am ready and physically prepared. But I am sure this would be a chapter in my life that I can share to lots of people. Its not a holiday or a trip. Is a MEMORABLE LIFE EXPERIENCE.