The beginning of my solo misadventures...

View from Horizon Hotel 12th Floor.

It was about 11 p.m. when I decided that I was hungry during my first night in Kota Kinabalu. I thought it would be fitting to order room service. After being on hold three different times, for approximately 15 minutes, and one call back from the front desk staff, I discovered that 24 hour room service didn't exist, or at least in Horizon Hotel standards 24 hour room service means you can call the front desk 24 hours a day, but food is only served until 11 p.m. Drat, I had missed it. So, I thought there has to be some place close to the hotel that I could grab something to drink...maybe a 7-11 perhaps, which I was told earlier was close to the hotel. I headed downstairs determined to be brave. As I went outside the hotel there I stood, in a trance. I stared up the street. I stared down the street. I couldn't see a supposed 7-11 as the front desk staff had earlier relayed to me. Sigh. Back inside the hotel I go to burden the staff, again. This time a kind doorman says, "Come with me Ma'am I will show you." Uhm...show me? I walk again out the front doors of the hotel and this kind doorman says, "The 7-11 is just down the street Ma'am," as he points down the street from the hotel. I say, "down the street, how far down the street?" As there was no bright red, white and green sign that I was so familiar with. He went on to give me directions, "Ma'am just walk down this street, see that hotel (which was about a couple blocks away) it is just past that hotel on the other side." I reply, "on the OTHER side of the hotel?" "Yes, Ma'am, just on the other side." Uhm...I wasn't that brave. So, I decided that my thirst and hunger wasn't that bad and retreated back to my cozy room. I did not want to walk down a street which appeared to be lacking sidewalks past a hotel around the corner, which knowing my luck would be some dark alley, only to find the 7-11 closed. Ok, well we know the 7-11 probably wouldn't be closed but I wasn't willing to risk it.

Onto day 2 and the misadventures started early, well at least it wasn't till after breakfast. I awoke to blue sky with a bit of cloud, phew. It had been raining almost every day prior to my arrival so I thought I better take advantage of the sun and headed downstairs for my 'free' breakfast. I should not stay at hotels that have 'free' buffet breakfast unless I want to gain another 10 lbs. But, this was my vacation and damnit I was going to eat and be merry. There I sat eating my breakfast in my own little world and I look up to see what was on the television screen. Skating. An ice skating competition that was being held in Quebec of all places. I suddenly felt at home, even though I have never been to Quebec. I have been to the Toronto airport and Ottawa if that counts for anything.

After breakfast I decided that it would be appropriate for me to walk the few blocks to the shopping centre. A very kind staff member directed me out of the hotel and gave me the best instructions on how to get to the two different shopping centres. He also told me about the Filipino market which was also just a few blocks from the hotel. I went to two different shopping centres and wandered around checking out the bargains. I found one store that was selling flip-flops which I desperately needed since I brought two pairs with me to Malaysia and both have succumb to their demise. The sign said 15 RM, which is about 5 CDN, with any purchase, or 29 RM without a purchase. When I got to the till, the clerk said "these are 15 RM with any purchase." I handed him the 2.50 RM bracelet I found next to the till. He just smiled at me and rang through my purchase. I didn't think I needed to tell him I was cheap, or am for that matter, I think he figured it out all on his own.

I try to pride myself in the fact that I may be a big scaredy cat I try my best to be safe. So when I am in the elevator and there are others with me, I wait till everyone is off to push my floor number. Well...this did not work in my favour on this particular day. As I stood in the elevator with two other visitors and a cleaning staff I waited till everyone got off to press my floor. A creepy hotel cleaning staff however didn't press a floor number. I was forced to reveal my floor number unless I want to ride the elevator with him all day.

After everyone got off the lift he said: "Where you from?"
me: "Canada"
him: "You here alone?"
me: "Uhm...NO...I am just waiting for someone to arrive."

Maybe I was just paranoid. Yeah, that's it. I talked to my Momma after all my misadventures and told her about the elevator incident. She told me, "Shelley, I am sure he was just trying to be nice." I think she was just trying to make me feel better. At any rate, I am positive she is right and I am just being a wee, ok maybe a lot, bit paranoid.

So my first day of solo misadventures were tolerable and entertaining, even if it did result in me staying in my room for most of the night once the sunset. However, I did manage to venture out to the Christmas market again, but this time was able to actually watch the concert. The one thing that amazes me about Malaysia is its diversity. During the live concert they had not one but three different emcee's speaking English, Malay and Chinese. Not sure how much more diverse you can get.

Oh, and it was my intention to lay by the pool in the afternoon, maybe get a little sun. But it rained. Thank goodness it was after I was done my big shopping excursion. Besides I probably would have just turned into a lobster anyway. Sun and a pool...pfft.

The pool I wanted to lay by but then the rain came.

View from the 6th Floor pool.

Feels a lot like Christmas...

I arrived in Kota Kinabalu and was greeted by Ruben, who drove Ridley and I around last time we made the trek to the city in Sabah. We chatted about the weather and the upcoming busy tourist season in KK as he drove me to Horizon Hotel. It was reassuring to know someone who is familiar with the city and can tell me where...and well where not to go. As we drove by one particular street Ruben clearly pointed out that it wouldn't be an area that I would want to travel down, alone, at night. After that, I knew I was in good hands. 

We pulled up to the hotel and was greeted by the door staff who helped me with my luggage. As I checked into the hotel I noticed the decor which reminded me of a home. A big horse lamp. Yes, that's right, a life size horse with a lamp shade on top of it's head. Now I wish I took a picture. 

I made my way to my room and of course was having some second thoughts about coming to a place I had only been once, alone. Sounds silly since Ridley had just dropped me off only two hours ago but already I was feeling a wee bit lonely for home. However, once I got settled in a bit I received a text message from Ruben. He wanted to let me know there was a Christmas market right outside my hotel! So brushing off the loneliness I grabbed my purse, camera and off I went to the market. As I walked up the street to see people everywhere and what looked to be like a Christmas concert that had just ended. Rats. But then I looked to my left and all I could see was a large nativity scene with blowing snow. Yes, that's right. Snow. I couldn't help but smile and stand underneath the falling snowflakes with all the other giggling kids. I felt like it was meant for me. Have you ever experienced that? Where you end up somewhere and you aren't sure why but one small thing happens and you realize that you are exactly where you are meant to be at that exact moment in time. That is how I felt. I wasn't in the Christmas spirit this year because I missed the snow. Well, the snow and a lot more, but I couldn't get into the spirit without seeing some snow. Today I got my wish.

Click here to watch: Snow in KK

The nativity scene with falling snow.

And of course what Christmas market would it be without durian, the
king of fruits.

My return to KK...

Three days and my solo adventure begins. Three days and I will arrive at Kota Kinabalu (KK) for my own mini vacation.

The view from our poolside seats at Sutera Harbour last visit.

In January, Ridley and I visited this tropical location for a few days and stayed at the Sutera Harbour. It was a beautiful hotel that faced the South China Sea. We loved the few days we were there and had a lot of misadventures. First when we arrived I had arranged a surprise for Ridley thanks to the help from his sister Bel. He thought we were staying at a hotel in the middle of town, when in actuality I had booked us a room at the Sutera Harbour months before and informed our driver of our location. Ridley had no idea about the surprise and as we got into our prebooked cab he took over and started to tell the driver where our hotel was. The driver, even though he knew it was a surprise, became confused and said. "I thought you were staying at Sutera Harbour?" Which Ridley replied. "No, no we are staying at (whichever hotel I told him I had booked)." The driver persisted, Ridley became a bit irritated and finally I stepped in and said, "NO! We are staying at Sutera Harbour, surprise!" So, after a few laughs and an explanation on how I was trying to surprise him we were on our way to our hotel.

Me in Kota Kinabalu last January expressing my surprise after finding
a post card featuring our hotel.

Once we arrived at the hotel, Ridley and I went to the front counter to check in. Since he was in charge of booking flights and I was in charge of booking hotels I began to speak with the frontdesk staff and get the keys to our room. I had booked the hotel on-line from Canada and was given a confirmation number, which I apparently forgot to print out. However, I thought to myself, I've never been asked for a confirmation number I am sure it will be ok. So, I went to the counter, gave the staff my name and asked for a room. She asked for the confirmation number. Uhm. Great. I told her, "I'm sorry I don't have it." She then proceeded to tell me she couldn't give me a room until I gave her the confirmation number. So, I told her, I don't have the confirmation number , so either we can get a room or we leave and we find another hotel. At which point Ridley looked a bit shocked and I was proud of myself for standing my ground. I explained that I wasn't sure what she wanted me to do, if I didn't have the confirmation number, I didn't have the conformation number, there wasn't anything I could do. As this was all unfolding, Ridley was patiently standing beside me, letting me handle it on my own, which I was thankful. In the end, she gave us a room, even upgraded us free of charge and our min-vacation began. Sigh. After all of that we began to enjoy our few days in KK.

We had even more misadventures during our time in KK, including me having such a bad sunburn we went to the mall, straight to the pharmacy to get some aloe gel and right outside the store we stood applying the cooling lotion to my lobster skin. By the end of this particular day I was beat, my skin was burnt and I was done for the day. It was maybe 6 p.m. and I was ready for bed. And of course it was our last night so we had planned a nice dinner out at a seafood restaurant.  Ridley being understanding, took me to a seafood market to get take-out instead. Thank-goodness. So, as we stood staring at the tanks of fresh, live seafood, Ridley began to speak with the restaurant staff, picking out what we wanted. I had no idea what was going on. All I knew is we were getting food and going back to the hotel so I could eat and go to bed. Some exciting travel partner I had cracked up to be. As we waited for our food we stared at the unique types of seafood making every attempt to figure out what they all were, the largest tiger prawn I have ever seen in my life jumped, okay maybe flopped, out of the tank and landed inches, okay maybe a foot but it felt like inches, from my feet. I screamed. I ran and grabbed Ridley by the arm. People stared. Sigh. Now, not only were people staring at me because I was some lobster faced white girl, I was the lobster faced white girl who screamed in the middle of the outdoor restaurant because some measly shrimp flopped on the floor. But we laughed. We laughed a lot after the shrimp was safely put back into it's tank. I will remember that story forever.

So in three days I will head back to KK where we had some of our best misadventures. 

Wish. Me. Luck.

The infamous shrimp.

The reenactment of my reaction to the big shrimp flop.

Life is short...

Life is short. Too short.

I have lost friends too young. I have friends who have lost parents too young. I have friends who have young children who are sick and every day they find the strength to carry on. I have dear friends who are sick and struggling with their health but continue to live their life to the fullest possible.

I pray for them everyday.

I am grateful to all of them for they are the ones who inspire me. They inspire me to embrace every day.

I sometimes feel guilty. I feel guilty when I am sitting here pondering where I should go next when the only thing that is stopping me from getting on a plane and heading out to some unknown territory is, myself. We all have our vices and mine is taking a trip that is longer than two days, alone. Yes. Alone. Here I sit, talking about people who have lost loved ones, or those who are struggling every day and my vice is I am a big scaredy cat. You may wonder, what do you mean you don't like to travel alone, isn't that what you set out to do, is to travel? Yes, I did. But I didn't have a concrete plan. I was planning to plan when I arrived in Malaysia to begin this one year adventure. And, two months later there is still no 'plan'.

Then I saw this quote:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

At first this year off was intended to be a year with the one I love. But, as this adventure has started to unfold I have realized that this year is also about growing, learning and discovering. Ok, I promise not to turn this blog into an Eat, Love, Pray diary but, I just need to be real, be vulnerable and be me.

We all have thoughts that swirl around in our heads...well think of a tornado. Yup, that would be what goes around in my head sometimes. A tornado of thoughts that have no rhyme or reason, they don't flow together, I just go from one idea to the next. Someone once said to me, "Shelley, you need to focus." Yes. Yes, I do. So, that is what I am going to try to do. Focus.

And, all that being said, I am coming up with a plan. I know of a few places I would like to discover, however it is more of a matter of how and when. So, next week I am conquering one fear and will travel alone, yes, alone, to a place called Kota Kinabalu for a few days, where I will plan.

Well, I plan to plan so lets see if I can focus and come up with the list of must-have adventures for the remainder of my year while I cherish each day.

Arrivederci Rome...

Arrivederci Rome and all your history and food.

Unfortunately however, when I said arrivederci to Rome I also had to say good bye to my Momma. And, yes, I shed a few tears. It was hard saying good bye to her after spending over two weeks filled with misadventures. When we would venture out on our own we had a tendency to get lost, hey only a few times though...I am just being honest, and one time we may or may not had a map. But, a simple phone call to my Mom's Rome-born husband and with a few simple directions we were back on the correct path making our way to the museums and shops.

It was just over two weeks filled with sightseeing, shopping and eating. I was able to visit all parts of Rome, we also visited a beach resort called Ostia, spent a few days in Florence and a day trip to Orvieto. Each place was unique and filled with history.

Morning cappuccino.  

Sunset in Ostia.

Church in Orvieto.

A view of Orvieto, an amazing quaint town just outside of Rome.

I will actually miss the cobble stone streets, the way pedestrians cross the small narrow street with no rhyme or reason but somehow drivers just know when there is someone walking across their path, cappuccino and pastry for breakfast, pizza for a mid-day snack, pasta for lunch...uhm did I mention I have a love for food... 

Most of all, I will miss spending days scouring for bargains with my Mom. We spent hours looking for outfits, purses, boots but we spent even more time staring at statues and exploring all the museums and sights of Rome and area. We have so many memories including of course someone asking if we were sisters or friends, which has happened on more than one occasion. All I can say is I hope I am blessed with her genes. 

Mom and I enjoying a meal out in Florence.

Calling all chocolate lovers...

While in Rome, I stayed in Trastevere. It is a district in Rome that is actually said to be one of the old neighbourhoods in Rome. But, if you ask me everywhere in Rome is an old neighbourhood. Trestevere is a place that they say travellers fall in love with. From it's cobblestone streets to the hanging laundry inbetween the buildings, Trastevere is rich in pubs, restaurants and clubs as well as many small stores. This week however it has been populated with chocolate. Yes. Chocolate. And every kind of chocolate you can imagine.

The Chocolate Festival in Trastevere, although not huge did pack a pretty big punch if you ask me. Rows and rows of chocolate, dark, light, white, with nuts with no nuts, in the shape of shoes, cameras, tools and yes even teeth.

And so of course we did have to sample a few of the delectable goodies.

No, this isn't a garage or workshop, it's all chocolate!

Chocolate truffles!

Trying out the chocolate!

Life in Rome, continued...

I have four days left. It hit me today that I have been here since November 19 and time has flown by. Seriously. Flown. By.

Aside from eating a lot of pasta, and I mean a lot perhaps almost everyday, to cappuccinos and pizza I have done a lot of touring throughout Rome but also Florence. We recently spent a few days in the capital of Tuscany checking out the sites and it was just as amazing as Rome. But, this time we were able to take in the international Christmas market where it appeared that Germany and Austria are now on top of my travel list. I forgot about all the food including pastries and European sausage that are abundantly available. And well, lets be honest sauerkraut is something no one should live without.

Within Florence we walked along the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge which has always been host to shops and merchants. At one time merchants were butchers and green grocers until the late 1700's when shops were ordered closed to make way for gold and silversmiths. Even today the bridge is lined with gold and silversmiths.

After the trek along the Ponte Vecchio bridge, my Momma and I made our way to the Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower). The view at the top of the Bell Tower is amazing, or so I have been told. For six Euros you can climb the 414 steps to the top. Well, anyone who knows me well, knows that I am terrified of heights. I. Mean. Terrified. For example, I went to Paris when I was 17-years-old and of course we went to the Eiffel Tower. It is a once in a life time experience to go to the top, but oh no I clung to the side of the railings, only half way up. Yes, that's right, I only made it half way up the Eiffel Tower. So, fast forward 15 years and well, I hate to admit it but once again my fear of heights took over. We made it to the second last pit stop to the top and I couldn't look out the window. So, my Mom being ever so kind captured me standing in the middle of the Bell Tower for memories. At least she caught me smiling.

Me hanging on for dear life inside the Bell Tower.

View near the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

The famous Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Anyone want some salami, a market in Florence.

A view of the dome next
to the Bell Tower.

A view from the second last viewpoint in the Bell Tower.