Thursday, November 29, 2007
.A day in bath.
A normal day in Bath will mean going to school early in the morning, attending the usual lecture, going for a good swim, having project mate at my friend's place, and lastly a well-deserved dinner cooked by somebody in our flat! This time, it's me and I cooked Chicken with Vegetable and Salmon! The picture doesn't really justify how delicious the salmon was but.. yeah, I love it!
The tickets for the Man U v Fulham match at Old Trafford just arrived at my door today. Wahh. How exciting. Jay, Ryan and I will be watching on the night Ryan touched down London. How shiok. Can't wait to see him man.
My exams are just next week and I haven't really touched my books yet. A little panicky but I guess I will tide through it hopefully.
A conversation with the Bathies just now over dinner make us wonder how we have taken little things for granted all the time. The comfort of having home-cooked meals, neat stacked clothes in my cupboard, and a squeaky clean room whenever I return home... are just so precious now. ermm. Makes me wonder why I always find myself so stressful in Singapore even though I don't do my own laundry, cooking and tidying up.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
.Emotions and Health States.
In this modern society, the reason why so many people get ill, or put stress on themselves, is people's inability to express their true feelings. And a lot of it stems from what they think the person that they're deadling with think, not what they really think, so they're living their lives through another person, not really how they feel.
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.a long stretch walk.
To get to school/get back from home, I have to take a 10 minute slow walk everyday to/from the bus stop. When I am alone, this 10 minutes walk always allow me some quiet time to reflect and ponder upon stuff. While listening to my precious ipod nano, sometimes, I think of my home, my family, the monkeys at macritchie moments, the library, my buddies, my friends, my faith, my ah-mi and many many random thoughts. Sometimes, I can't wait to get back to Singapore. Sometimes, I just hope to stay in UK and enjoy the weather more.
It's just less than 2 months before I have to forgo the luxury of almost stress-less life.
I know I will miss this long stretch walk when I get back.
I want a twin.
the long stretch road with Jay in the background
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
.cherish every moment.
While I am busy travelling and experiencing exchange life, some events that happened had once again struck me how fragile life actually is. Since you can't exactly stop tragedy/death from happening, why not we cherish the ones who are dear to us and are constantly concerned over our whereabouts and wellbeing?
I miss home dearly suddenly.
Those who are suffering in pain right now, God bless and stay strong.
Love,
Gavin
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Sunday, November 25, 2007
.berlin/gone fat. 211107-241107
look at my triple chin. gosh. all the eating + less exercise + no sun make me a damn unhealthy young man. Suffered a little of travel fatigue syndrome in Berlin. Was feeling exhausted and the gloomy weather didn't help lighten up the mood. Nevertheless, went for the New Berlin Tour on the first morning. Ít's definitely worth it as you get to know Berlin's history a lot better after the tour. It's really amazing how Berlin has grown when it was stilla divided city just two decades ago.
We started off at the famous Bradenburg Gate(the east-west crossing point) followed by Eisenman's Holocaust Memorial for the Jews who were murdered in Europe, the Hitler bunker, the Berlin Wall(seperated the east and west berlin), Checkpoint Charlie(with the renowed sign, You are now leaving the American sector) the Dom, the Humbotit Universaitat and ended at the Museum Island where lies the beautiful the Berliner Dom, the National Galerie and the Pergamon Museum. After the new Berlin Tour, we rushed to the Jewish Museum where it holds the collection of Jewish-German history within. Quite exhausted after that although it did enlighten me on how the Jews used to live in terror during the war. Our last stop of the day before dinner was the Pergamon Museum where we saw the Ishtar Gate from Babylon and the Pergamon Altar. Dinner was Curry Wunst & Ben & Jerry's before we head back to the hostel to sleep.
The next morning was lunching at Marche followed by visiting the Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche at Kurgurstendamm(West Berlin Zoo Area). It's saddening how a once very magnificient cathedral had most of its parts been bombed during the war. What remained right now was just the broken west tower which was left in 1943 as an anti-war memorial. Gerrie wanted shopping so we spent 3 hours aimlessly around the shopping area. Bought 1 cardigan from H&M and some delicious exclusive Ferrero Garden from the supermarket. Jay ate Curry Wunst(Sausages) AGAIN!! At night, we had our Berlin dinner treat at the 6th story gourmet area at Kadawe, a high-class shopping centre. I was damn fascinated by the wide variety of food and ended up spending about S$60 for dinner! Ate spare ribs and a very sumptuous fish meal accompanied with wine at the Asian counter. Jay ate fried duck whereas Gerrie chose the chicken. Damn delicious. The Germans really know how to enjoy life man.
The last day of Berlin before we head back to Bath was visiting the Reichstaggebadue(Parliament Building) where we took some amazing photos. We wanted to wake up at 7 but ended up waking up at 9(with a bad hair-day) instead! I prepared some breakfast (save $) before we head for the Parliament House. The concept was just amazing as the glass panels that allow people to see in represents transparency and openess in parliamentary democracy. We queued for approximately an hour to get in but fortunately, in the midst of queueing, there was a entertaining puppet show that cheered the whole frustrated and impatient crowd up.
After the parliament visit, we went to the Bradenburg Gate again for a final photo and along the way to the Berlin War near Checkpoint Charlie, we chanced upon a Christmas funfair and decided to check it out! Nothing much but J and G settled lunch there. Went to a sovenior shop and took their green man, red man magnets. We finally left Berlin taking the 1403 train to the airport, with Jay and Gerrie eating their last sausage in Germany.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
.Hungary-Budapest.
4.5 days at Budapest, anticipating snow that never come. Maybe a little, but accompanied with rain. Erm, nvm, good things come late huh.
This is our supposedly last Bathie trip together, and I did enjoy myself despite the really bad gloomy weather, Mich zombie-fied on the last 2 days, Sue forever munching and complaining, Gerrie talking about how she needed to diet WHILE eating her sugary dessert and chocolates, and Jay being irritating as ever. haha. Sue was telling me on the taxi back home how we are like one family. Sometimes we irritate the hell out of one another, but at the end of the day, we still laugh everything off.
This trip was more than just sightseeing. Met an American, a Hungarian and a Brazilian. Lucas, the Brazilian, who seem to know many many Singaporeans, travelled with us for 2 days before he headed for Poland to see snow. (Damn it!) A nice guy who took great care of the girls. haha. Quite interesting finding out more about Brazil through him and surprisingly, could click with him pretty well. The American and the Hungarian lived just next to our hostel. Thank to them, we wouldn't be able to find our way to our ulu hostel man! Met them for dinner on Saturday night at their really cosy house and talked about some politics, the economy and ideas & views sharing session on Hungary, America and Singapore. It's quite fortunate of us to live in a rather democratic society where the government actually take great care of the citizens.
More of Budapest. Had a S$25 haircut there and ate really well. Visited Buda on the second day, when we went to the Castle Hill and took some nice views of their famous Danube River. As the weather was freezing, we couldn't travel long and were constantly looking for cafes to keep ourselves warm. It was so bad that at one point of time, I was unable to feel my hands and feet at all! Was at the central market and bought oranges that tasted really heavenly.
Service at Budapest is really bad and the locals don't seem to like Chinese a lot due to some reasons or so. On our third day, we walked around Pest towards Heroes Square where we saw the monument constructed to honour the 100th anniversary(1896) of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin. Saw many nice surrounding buildings as well. Ate at this restaurant for lunch where I tried the Goulash Soup. It tasted alright, but definitely not fantastic.
The highlight of the day was definitely the caving! We explored a cave that took us 2.5 hours. Some hilarious moments like Jay's fart stinking the whole cave, Jay and I successfully squeezing through a hole that seemed impossible to squeeze through, and Mich throwing stones at my butt. (wth!) The world was really small as we met 2 girls from Copenhagen, Pooi fun and her friend who happen to know Lucas as well.
After caving, we were so tired that we went back to our hostel immediately our really sumptuous dinner at Sze Raj Turkish Restaurant. In the hostel, held a farewell for Lucas as we drank some Sangria with him. The rest, except Mich and I, conked out after a while while we continued talking about Singapore and Brazil with Lucas till 3+am. It's quite amazing how he has been travelling alone for 4 months and this got me a little excited how travelling alone would be like.
Day 4 was just indoors. Mich and I took 3 hours to find a salon to cut our hair. (Too short!) After which, we headed to the market for lunch (the bread was awesome) and went to a thermal bath near our hostel which we truly regret when we saw Szechenyi Furdo on the last day. The feeling was great nevertheless and we just slept our evening away before we met Michael and his Hungarian gf, Imola, for dinner and drinks after which. Went into this club which was really nice, but forgot the name.
Finally on our last day, we saw an Opera at the Opera House which was kinda boring because the subtitles was in Hungarian. Mich and Sue happily fell asleep in the theatre, while Gerrie was smiling her way throughout the whole opera(amazing). After which, we had lunch at this chinese takeaway(bad service again!) before proceeding to Szechenyi thermal bath. I recalled how we cursed and swore when we saw how nice the premise was. We didn't have the time so we gave this a miss. What a pity! Next, we visited the Terror Haza, the once HQ of the dreaded AVH, the secret police, where we had our history lessons on Budapest. As I was really tired, I couldn't absorb much but it was depressing how those captives got tortured during the war period. We summed up our day with the dinner we had on Day 2 before heading back to hostel to get our backpacks.
This trip has been a very blessed one. We met wonderful people who brought us around and Sue was telling me how everything that happens doesn't come by accident (its first time that sue sounded logical) I am just glad that the company kinda make the whole trip better as Budapest, apart from the thermal bath and Danube River, is quite boring.
Will be heading for Berlin this Wednesday. Quite tired of all these travelling already. Berlin better be good. :) Meanwhile, I shall go do some work :P
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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
.Paris, long long delayed. (24 October - 28 October 2007 )
This post should have been done a lot earlier, but travelling too much, it's ironic how I miss out blogging my number 1 favourite city, Paris!
Great hosting from Songjie and Varnia(Can't thank them enough!), magnificent buildings around, the well known LV(I am not that interested though), great art and history, quality food and great company. Seeing Eiffel Tower is like a dream come true. haha. Love the macarons from Laduree, mussels from Leon, the vibrant cities, the lightings at night, Jardin du Luxembourg garden, and the River Seine. Too bad the weather was gloomy for all days or else I am sure it would have been so much better.
It was a great holiday where we covered almost everything, but yet not feel really exhausted.
Pictures speak a thousand words :) // The ferris wheel, the eiffel, the macarons, the sumptuous dinner we had in Ordeon, the mussels, outside the moulin rouge, the unforgettable garden which is so relaxing, and the number 1 tourist attraction in Paris, Notre Dame. The interior was really nice but I didn't take much pictures.
The Musee Du Louvre, in day and night. Constructed as a fortress by Philippe Auguste in the early 13th century and rebuilt in the mid 16th century. Still one of France's finest museums. Overdose of artwork, paintwork and artefacts by Raphael, Titian and many others. Love the place though it is impossible to cover much in one night...
P/S: Friday night after 6pm is free for students!
Da Vinci's mischievous Mona Lisa. I wonder why people say it's hard to get near her when we managed to do it quite easily. No big deal but snapped some shots nevertheless!
Was walking towards Champs Elysee, when we chanced upon Princess Diana's memorial. It was at the underground tunnel where her car crashed. Lots of flowers surrounding the memorial. This year marks her 10th death anniversary. A pity that a young beautiful lady like her died so young.
Arc de Triomphe, standing in the centre of Places Charles de Gaulle, smack in the middle of one of the largest roundabouts in the world. It was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to comemorate his victories before he started losing battles and then entire wars, and wasn't completed until 1836. Also, a body of an unknown soldier from WWI has lain beneath the arch as shown below. There would be a memorial flame rekindled each evening around 6:30pm.
Met up with Songjie, and we went up the hill of MontMarte, where the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur sits on. Also Montmartre is apparent the place that attracted numerous artists including Picasso! View was very beautiful, where all the lights of Paris come on.
View from the top of MontMartre
Our very fantastic dinner once again, at Ordeon. There were dancing too! It was only then I knew smashing plates are a way for the French to mark a good performance and happy occassion.
Mussles from Leon! Yummyyyyy. Took a series of me eating the last mussels, but the slides couldn't seem to work.
On the metro back to the city centre
Eiffel at night. Beautiful, but I wasn't very amazed by the sparkles like how Mich did though. haha. Some historical facts: Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle World Fair. Nearly torn down in 1909 but fortunately not! Imagine how much money the Eiffel earns from tourist every year for Paris.
At a bridge with Notre Dame, the French Gothic masterpiece and the focus of Catholic Paris for seven centuries. Begun in 1163 and largely completed by middle of 14th century, in the background.
The Grand Palais of Paris. There was a long queue if you want to get in the building! Apparently, some exibition going on but we realise the crowd was rather ... old, so we gave it a miss.
Hotel Des Invalides // Built in the 1670s by Louis XIV to provide housing for 4000 disabled war veterans. Quite interesting walking through the World War era and to when France finally attained peace.
The Tomb of Napoleon. Guess how many people laid in the tomb.
Last day @ Versailles// Thanks to the crowd, we nearly missed our flight. However, the trip there was worth it as we get to see another glorious landscaped garden (I prefer Luxembourg though). This is France grandest chateau and was the kingdoms political capital and royal court for more than a century from 1682 to 1789 when Revolutionary mobs massacred the palace guard and dragged King Louis and Marie Antoinette to Paris where they eventually got their heads chopped! Gosh, the place is really huge with cute cone trees! The interior was just very usual palace-cy.
Some of my favourite pictures before I sign off. Thank god we didn't miss our flight and not affected by the strike which they had on our departure date! *phew*
//Outside the Royal Palais, near Champ ELYSEES.
Jardin du Luxembourg. Goodness heavenly place to chill and relax. Love at first sight!
and lastly, the Eiffel Tower again. Goodbye Paris.
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Met up with Songjie, and we went up the hill of MontMarte, where the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur sits on. Also Montmartre is apparent the place that attracted numerous artists including Picasso! View was very beautiful, where all the lights of Paris come on.
