I´m feeling it.

I can feel it now. The feeling of last minute wanting to see everyone and realising that i might not see what i am seeing for a few years or even for the rest of my life.

I received a call from this friend who i haven´t talked to for at least 1.5 months. He heard that i´m leaving tmr so he´s calling me to say bye and all... was kinda touched. like... i mattered to him enough for him to call me.. it´s just a simple call but.. it´s so warm.

I have just a few friends in this exchange program. I am not really ashamed that i´m not like the rest of the exchange people who knews everyone and anyone.. all i need is a few nice people who i can really talk to...

and i´m glad i found all these people.

Although i might complain about them and say how irritating they are, they made the difference for these 3 months. It´s them who made me go out when i´m lazy at home, it´s them who traveled with me, it´s them who coloured my exchange program. =)

Last dinner with them tonight!! LOOKING FORWARD!!! =D

Lunch with housemates @ La Fonda

After 3 months of being here, i have only went out with my housemates ONCE. and that's for like clubbing, which wasn't exactly THAT exciting considering i was there smelling smoke being bored seeing too many ppl kissing most of the time~

But since i'm leaving, they went with me to LUNCH!! there's this nice restaurante in Barcelona called LA FONDA which whips really good PAELLA (a.k.a fried rice? with a bit of "JUP/Sauce"?? this is like a Barcelona dish but i've nv tried it.

Until NOW.

PAELLA MIXTA. (fried rice with seafood and meat)

For me, i really liked it. mayb it's the JUP tt makes it so yums~ First time in Barce that i felt so full yet still wan to keep eating cos it's so good. then after that DAMN FULL still wan to eat dessert.

dessert was CREMA CATALAN. (so tempted to dig into the dessert until i forgot to take pics~)

this creamy pudding like cream that has melted and toasted sugar on top~ with a strawberry in the middle~ was SO SWEET. kinda too sweet for after-a-super-full-meal dessert u noe~ but i still finished it anyway. MUAHAH!!!

did i mention we had...

SANGRIA?

the Sangria wasn't that fantastic but this restaurant puts apples too! instead of only orange and lemon in red wine~ hohoho! shall try making Sangria in SG (but then again, wine is so freaking ex. -_-)

NO DINNER TONIGHT KELLY. eat too much liao.

Bang BANG!

是我想太多 你总这样说
但你却没有 真的心疼我
是我想太多 我也这样说
这是唯一能 安慰我的理由

我想我没有 错怪了什么
虽然你不说 都是错在我
太晚我才懂 爱了你太多

Pain. Really pain...

Cooking and Last Visit to H&M!!!

Jingyi and her friend OJ came over to my place to whip up some fattening lunch! it was really horribly fattie with those ready made pizza and fried potatoes... shan't elaborate futher~ kinda weird that i'm meeting up with not-so-close Sgreans and new friends when i'm leaving... i should be meeting up with those that i always talk with right?

but everyone's got their plans and sigh... guess i'll be back without a nice farewell dinner~ on that topic, i'm supposed to have one!! but in the end, another girl is going back to her "hometown" on the very same day la!!! then she org a farewell dinner before i do and reserved all my friends.

and i am so amazed i got invited as well when i haven't even seen her in person and never spoken to her before~ (you know those mass emails...) wanted to go along BUT a farewell dinner is like a farewell dinner.. like a mini bday celebration kinda feel.

how the hell do u share a birthday celebration? with someone u've nv spoken to?!?!

they keep saying "just come! she's really nice..". YA. NICE. like who cares if she is nice or not when all i know is that she chopped all my friends for the last dinner!?!?

but well as long as i'm gg back SG, i don't care! 29th April is only like 4 days away... that's like...

sleep, wakeup -> 3 days left
sleep, wakeup -> 2 days left
sleep, wakeup -> 1 day left!!!
sleep wakeup -> Departing for airport~

so fast right!!

Went to H&M to do the tax refund... realised i spent like 224.35eur on shopping in H&M alone... beginning to love that place more and more! wonder why it didn't appear so gd when i was in Shanghai... but i managed to accumulate enough for 20 eur tax refund!! that's like 40++ SGD... can buy me ard 2 good meals in SG!!! yay!!!

Looking forward!!!

i really love Barcelona.

Sometimes when i'm really irritated with people or sch work, i ask myself why i even come all the way to torture myself, rather than just slacking with the rest of the world in Singapore... but recently, i realised i really love this place.

although Spaniards love to party and it's not really my cup of tea, and although their so called coffe which is espresso + milk is often too strong and it makes me feel ill after drinking, although the food is not as appealing as the yummies in Singapore, although everything here is so expensive i can't really enjoy,...

i still love this place. and i just realised i love this place so much, as i walk down to get fruits from the fruiteria i always go too... and on the way down, people living in the same block would smile at you and say "hola" though i've nv spoken to them before, the staff at the fruiteria would be like "hola"ing as if they are welcoming you back~ as if they remember me~

well of cos they do, since i go there at least once a wk... was talking to one of the staff the last time i went there~ thot he would forget my name like the moment i left the shop... but when i walked it, i heard a "hola Kelly!"

it might seem silly for people reading this, but it really feels nice to be remembered. Barcelona feels so warm.. sometimes, one hello from an almost-stranger feels so much more intimate than talking to a friend.. it's just... incomparable.

i really love this place. just can't say this enough. and if my dera is here, i'm sure he'll feel the same and i'll definitely stay longer if i don't miss sg that much~ =) Hope next time if i have an overseas assignment, they'll post me to Barcelona. Let me meet this beautiful city once again.

i love Barcelona.

and i'm beginning to feel sad that i'm leaving... Oowww~

Sant Jordi day!!!

Today's Sant Jordi!!! a.k.a Valentines' Day with Latin twist, when guys give girls flowers and girl to guy, books! i got a bookmark from my housemate!! haha~ + i read this on the net...

"Love is definitely in the air, but even if you don't have a novio (boyfriend in Spanish) to smooch on a park bench there are still plenty of things to see and do."

--> YA. like doing essays and studying for exam -_-

does Sant Jordi means drowisness day too? wonder why i keep wanting to sleep~ sigh.

the ability to predict.

was having a nice chat with my housemates and their friends,.. and i learnt that one of them have the ability to use the TARO cards and predict the future... and she can sometimes have premonitions about others too~

she said it's hereditary and she had it in her since she was a little girl... and her grandmother is also kind of a "witch" and can cure people...

i have heard of such people in existance but not someone close!! it was really nice to understand this from the person itself instead of through the tv show or hearsay. but she said she didn't really like to do it... becos she has to tell the person (whos future she's reading) everything and it doesn't necessary mean good things.

there was once she was reading the future of a friend.. but she didn't see anything. no future to predict. and after some time, the friend passed away.

it's freaky how true things are, no?

they also told me that there are those people from different parts of the world, predicting seperately that there's going to be a catastrophe. in year 2012. i'm not sure if they're using the same method to predict but predicting the same thing and narrowing it down to the same particular year is really... spine chilling.

but i was thinking... even if i have the chance to predict my future, i'd rather not do it. what if it's something bad?? it'll just everything so gloomy from now till then since i'll always be thinking about the prediction! haha~

i shall just live my life. the way i like it. not knowing what's next. =)

I miss you... Nong Shim~

When i was in Singapore or Shanghai, I didn't appreciate the fact that i had you... now that i'm in Europe and you are no where to be seen, i feel so lost, so empty, so devastated. i still remember how i used to eat you with crabmeat, egg and veggies... the time i enjoyed slurping u up before i lie on my bed to have a good night's sleep...

I miss you~ please come back to my arms now...

i need you, NONG SHIM!!!

YUM YUM.

21.04.08 - Day 6 (Madrid)

This trip seemed to be way too long. Madrid is really nothing much in terms of infrastructure... perhaps more of culture i guess... people are like relaxed, shopping is cheaper, tens of nice parks around (provided the weather is nice)... but if you wan to go sightseeing and beach, Barcelona is way better.

After the constant irritation from that certain someone last night, i totally sian diao today. and i try my ultimately best to stand away from her cos i was so sick of hearing her talking non stop about the things that she knows. and complaining about everything but her country. which is like where the bank accounts are the best?? and where being environmentally friendly is like more important than EQ education maybe???

feels like i'm a social recluse but as long as it keeps my blood from bubbling, I DON'T CARE.

so glad that this trip is ending. having more people is fun. but a group of singaporeans will be like 1000 times better~ and going to school directly from the airport with the not-exactly-light backpack is not really exciting and it's kinda... 催眠? haha~

20.04.08 - Day 5 (Madrid)

Sunday at Madrid = Flea market day. where all the antique and sell-anything sellers set up stores around La Latina Metro station for the morning... expected like lotsa old cute items on sale but was greeted by a kinda expensive basah malam. all the t-shirts and cheap jeans, plus earrings and blah blah~

Walked around and ended up buying pearly chain (1 eur each) X 3 and pashmina scarf (2 eur each) X 2. Scarves are like those things you buy and store in the wardrobe for years without using (since in SG it's so darn hot) but it's still worth buying anyway... --> WOMEN.

Left for yet another of Madrid's museum - the Reina Sofia museum? which is like where Dali paintings are and blah blah~ realised Dali's painting is actually kinda intriguing. contemporary art. thin line between nice and rubbish.

Had SUPERBLY NICE PIZZA after that... duno if it's really the pizza being freshly baked or the cheese is like stretchable or the champinon (mushrooms) are like so yummylicious or simply that i'm too freaking hungry but it really taste SO GD. the pizza was like big and i finished every single bit. i'm really turning into a fat pig. -_-

Next was like the highlight of my day. I went to a BULLFIGHT. it's like the tradition and culture of Madrid and since i'm there i decided to see it no matter what.

well it was then when i realised it's so fucking hard to explain to others how you think about this when all they give you once you start explaining is twisted retarded facial expressions saying "are you crazy??"

Seriously, it's a culture. Respect is the word. and respect others who have more interest in other things that you are not interested in. i was like so close to losing my cool and screaming "SHUT UP" in her face.

and please girl, if you don't want to participate, DON'T. stop complaining and complaining and complaining about how cruel or how inhumane this is, and swearing "I WILL NEVER SUPPORT A BULLFIGHT" and then next thing u're queuing up for the tickets.

and when you go in, if you don't like what you see, please LEAVE and stop complaining non-stop about this and that. like STOP.

and frankly speaking, if you are so darn rich and you so do-not-mind paying 100eur more for a normal airline than a "not trustworthy" and "really bad" budget airline, i have no idea why you are taking this plane with us.

i feel SO MUCH BETTER ranting here to myself... cos the other people seems to be totally okay with whatever she said. i REALLY totally cannot take it. and i totally lost my respect for a 26 years old.

but well, at least i learnt, when i am 26 myself, i will not be as materialistic as you, will not complain as much as you, will not brag as much as you.

Seriously, if rich people love bragging, i'd rather be a poor but humble my entire life.

Back to Bullfighting. i watched 3 bulls being sacrificed and i wouldn't say i totally support this but since it's a culture, i would want it to stay. remember i read on this guy's blog previously and he tried this drink with snake blood and snake heart in some country.. and he got bombarded in the end cos people are saying that it's cruel and all~

i think i understand how he feels now. and i think he would have understood me too~ glad that there's at least one person in the whole world who would not view me differently cos of what i do. =)

A humble lady is what i want to be.

19.04.08 - Day 4 (Madrid)

Rainy weather again. seems like other than weirdos in the hostel, i'm also fated to travel with rain rain and more rain. went to this nice cafe in the morning to have a good b'fast!!! had a cup of hot chocolate with some 油条-looking fried stuff called CHURROES (which ppl dip into the hot choco to eat~)

SO NICE. like yum. but it was damn oily and i felt like crap after that.

Spend the entire afternn at the PRADO museum... which is like one of the best museums in the world... which famous painting by which famous artist under which famous era i don't freaking care. i like art for art. not cos of the wadever painter.

and that's one big difference i find between me and my friends.

realised i should have stayed much longer in Le Louvre... didn't really appreciate the full collection they had..~ next time i go Paris i will!!!

Stupid weather = more indoor activity = more shopping so... that's like a must-add item in any itinerary~ didn't buy anything (cos SG is so much cheaper) and went to this chinese supermarket near the hostel and got a CUP NOODLEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

finally after 3 months of deprivation from maggie mee i can have a taste of MSG. totally unhealthy but too delicious to miss.

Last day of Madrid trip tmr! before i fly back to Barce on Mon morning~ YAY!!! one more wk to go darling!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeee~~~

18.04.08 - Day 3 (Madrid)

Isabel and Veronika will be joining us today!!! Have no idea how it'll be like with traveling with Europeans girls and in a group in general... the habits and styles of us is so different...

Anyway we went to Palacio Real today~ where the Royal family used to stay in and every now and then they hold functions there still... was so grand inside.. every room had like a different theme and they have totally redundent rooms like "smoking room"... too much money dunno what else to spend on siaz -_-

traveling with more people is more fun but also more... MAFAN. two people having different ideas is already a pain in the ass... 4 diff views makes it pain-in-the-ass X 4 = PAIN PAIN PAIN PAIN IN IN IN IN THE THE THE THE ASS ASS ASS ASS. but it wasn't that bad after all~ it's my last trip anyway! who cares?!

the cloud were moving so quickly today!! the wind and sun was so strong... and there were dark clouds too~ totally weird weather.. in the end it was raining and there was "hurrican" kinda wind... with the sun coming out for 5 minutes sometimes... it was CRAZY.

so crazy that my face was burning the entire night (cos of the strong wind i guess~) and one thing i realised about Europeans... they change in the room with other people inside~ i mean when the same sex is around la of course~ like they can jus suddenly take off their jeans or top to change to another one~ it's so not-asian~

or maybe it's just not-me... too embarassed about my fats to reveal them to others~ muhaha!!!

17.04.08 - Day 2 (Toledo)

Day 2 is for Toledo! it's like this small city where there's supposed to be a castel and it looks like lord-of-the-rings kinda feel~ the sun was out today so i guess everything was gd! haha~

this little town is filled with jewelery shops selling those handcrafted 24 caret gold pendants and small sweet containers... like on one streets there are like 5?! and there are ALOT of streets btw~ wanted to get as souvenirs but it's too darn expensive... argh~

was traveling with Echo at first but in the end we had like different interest so we went on our own~ and i didn't have my LP guide with me on that day so i nearly got lost! (okay not nearly) Toledo - the city area is like surrounded my those high walls you know.. i was wandering and wandering and wandering and in the end, i was out of the wall and out of the map.

BUT the view was like different comparing to the ones i see in the city centre... it's... more relaxed, more isolated, more REAL. i guess getting lost is really gd for traveling~ =)

16.04.08 - Day 1 (Madrid)

My last trip of the entire Europe adventure!!! feels like i want it to end faster than ever but i kinda remember how much i wanted to go Europe in the first place... mixed feelings again~ this time there are more people! other than me and Echo, there 2 other girls, Isabel (from Switzerland) and Veronika (from Praque) joining too~ seems like this time it'll be more fun!!

reached madrid at like a totally weird timing.. 4+pm.. too early to rest, too late to do anyting else meaningful~ the madrid airport is really humongous! and it's kinda similar to the SG Changi airport.. with the metro near the airport and even the escalator layout~ haha!!!

hostel this time is like perfect location. near the centre, right beside metro station, beside a Starbucks (not like i go there anyways -_-)... and most imptly, there's free WIFI. mi favourito!!!

Went to the "Botanical Garden" in Madrid and had a nice sunny long stroll at the park... it's like big and there were kids playing around... with a sandy playground somemore~ (u noe in SG there are like no more sandy playgrounds cos they are always filled with animal shit??)

it's a spring summer day...

the weather has been SO GOOD lately... been traveling around Europe quite a bit and didn't really have the energy while i'm back in Barcelona to enjoy the fantastic sun. the sun has been shining as if it's summer but the weather is cool like spring. how great is that? it's terrific to say the least.
went out to the balcony and witnessed such a lovely sight that i must write it down somewhere... haha! it's really nice to see kids playing, laughing, running and being so active!!

it's so hot today that i can wear my demin skirt out! like the one which i wear in SINGAPORE?!?! i love the weather now siaz....

By the way... i ate finish ONE ENTIRE PACKET of cashew nuts today. i think i'm crazy... keep eating and eating and eating... still think i MIGHT return to SG thinner than when i came~ seems like tt's a fantasy or something~ sigh...

Restless.

I feel so lazy.. as if everything doesn't interest me.. opened one of the readings book and managed to keep it open and my eyes on the words for 4 pages... before i lie on my pillow again... wanted to do the public policy final essay but couldn't even think of one word to put down~

wanted to watch CJ7 (the zhou xing ci movie) but the stupid site didn't load... so i'm just staring into the comp screen and just stoning... i feel retarded.

nothing to do here except sleep, eat, use comp, go study, do work.

no KTV, no chatting on the phone, no non-partying close friends, no boyfriend,... no NOTHING. argh... i can't wait to board the plane to SG!!!

FASTER FASTER FASTER LAAAAAAAA!!!!

Summary of few days stuck in Italy

1. I hate Italians. Not good to generalize but okay, then I hate 95% of Italians. Arrogant, selfish, irritating, ugly (both inside and outside), not tourist friendly, not efficient,… in general, they all SUCK BIG TIME

2. Rome is nothing without the old building and ruins. The people aren’t nice, the streets are dirty, trains are full of graffiti, it’s smelly everywhere,… dun believe me come Rome and experience the “ambience” yourself~

3. Watch out for “permanent residents” in hostel/ campsite. They’re weird and freaky and if they have a decent home, they wouldn’t be staying here for long periods of time in the first place. So beware.

4. These are the reasons why I don’t even bother to throw in any coins into the Trevi Fountain, cos I dun even want to come back again. Ruins are nice, buildings are nice, but the human factor just destroys all the good mood i have over here…

Glad it's ending in like less than a day's time. -_-

11.04.08 - Day 4 (Vatican City)

Woke up early in the rainy (a.k.a nice to nua in bed) morning just to queue up for the ever so popular Vatican Museum. Q-ed like 1.5 hours before we got to the security clearance point!!! -_-

This place is really like a maze. And just happened that I didn’t have a map to bring me through this huge space with hundreds and tiny hidden rooms (which apparently housed all the major works). So I got lost. Normally getting lost while traveling opens you up for a lot of hidden and nice attractions which are not usually pointed out. But this time, getting lost means “getting lost” which also means not seeing a lot of things I’m supposed to see and being led out of the museum TOO SOON.

When I was walking through the museum, it was so bluddy crowded that I’m like PUSHED ALONG with endless tour groups. I didn’t have the patience to wait for each of the tour groups to walk past me before I appreciate the paintings so I just followed the crowd.

And I followed…

And followed…

Until I suddenly realized that I’m actually reaching the exit of the museum, close to this other attraction, the Basilica St Pietro. So I was like thinking “why don’t I go see the basilica first and go back to the museum later when there are less people??” since the 2 places seems to be joined together. So I walked down a flight of stairs and walked across to the basilica.

WHO KNOWS that by walking down that bluddy flight of stairs I had actually EXITED the museum and NOT ALLOWED to go in again. Cos it’s “one-entry” and “no back tracking” which OBVIOUSLY wasn’t really mentioned anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

So in the end, I left the museum too soon. And missed a lot of paintings. -_- not that I’m so into paintings but sigh. The thought of me missing them totally is like OFF.

Though I managed to see the Egyptian art and mummies and their EXTREMELY FINE jewelries at the start…

But the sky clearing up in the afternoon was quite nice… and I’m tired so I went back to campsite (and saw that freak in the room… SIAN DIAO -_-)

10.04.08 - Day 3 (Rome)

Visited the main site of Rome yesterday so today was a slow relaxing walk up the river and seeing the other attractions near the river… weather today was even better than yesterday… think I might have gotten a tan from walking under the sun… spring is definitely here!! And summer’s following right behind!!!

Got to say, Mcdonalds and H&M are my FOES. Been eating Mcdonalds EVERY SINGLE DAY as if it’s like the only food around. It’s fattening Kelly, stop it.

09.04.08 - Day 2 (Rome)

Seems like I’m really fated to meet weirdos on all my trips. She’s yet another freak who doesn’t open her mouth to talk, doesn’t bother to move her cheek muscles to smile, doesn’t bother to wake up and prepare softer considering there are 2 other people sleeping.

But other than that.. it’s a sunny day today.

Did so much sightseeing that I shall just write down places which pop out of my mind NOW.

1. Colosseo.

It’s massive, old, ruined and nice. It came into my sight, out of nowhere and I wasn’t quite prepared for this big surprise… (had to like prepare myself before I set eyes on this attraction you know~ haha!!) it’s expensive to go in…11 eur and the staff are rude and unhelpful (in terms of Italians, I shall elaborate later) but inside is kinda nice! It’s like back to ancient times and all~ cool.

2. Palentine

This place is full of ruins. Nice weather, enough sunshine, good stroll, good mood.

3. Fontana di Trevi

the ever so popular fountain which attracts so many tourist. It’s really big.. but feels kinda congested with too many tourists… Echo threw 2 coins in! first coin to ensure a return in Rome and the second for a wish. I din even bother to throw in any coin. Reasons which I shall elaborate. LATER.

4. Cheisa del Gesu

This is either a church or a cathedral (difference of which I still duno…) but the inside is SO NICE. Actually the main thing is the mirror which reflects the ceiling paintings so that you can see without looking like an idiot staring 90 degrees against horizontal, and the ceiling painting itself, which looks 3 dimensional when it’s actually 2D painting on top of one another… doesn’t sound amazing now that you are reading this but when u see it… u’ll definitely go “WOW”~

08.04.08 - Day 1 (Rome)

Rainy a.k.a everything-not-as-nice day. But it’s like 10 degrees higher than the rainy days in Venice so this is sub-sub-water LA… Checked in our camp site first.. and it was like freaking far. Around 10 metro stops and a bus ride away from the city centre… and the room is TINY. 3 person room somemore… mayb that explains the 15eur cheap price… the 3rd person in our room is definitely a “permanent resident” in this campsite… she even had a KETTLE and many other things which you would otherwise definitely not bring to vacation.

Hope she’s not a freaking weirdo again.

Came back at night to the campsite with soaking wet shoes and socks… Eww!!

i feel the SG sun.

Slept the entire morning away. But when i woke up, the sun was SO GOOD. can totally imagine how the sun feels like back home~ but weather here is still better... sunny yet not hot. so easy to get sunburnt.

Realised that i'm totally not used to the European or USA style of working. Maybe it's just the exchange students. Maybe it's just becos they are traveling as much as i do and have no time to spare.

How they do projects:
(1) Split the work
(2) Compile different parts
(3) Send to the prof
(4) Present in class

Wait. See something missing? How about "DISCUSSION"??

I am so amazed how that important step can be totally (and i mean 100% totally) missed out for PROJECTS. I think i need to check Wikipedia again for the definition of that...

seriously i feel like just flunking this subject and taking it back in NTU. not like i learn A LOT from this class. Or maybe i just hate studying. hate it REAL BAD. =(

05.04.08 - Day 5 (Ams)

Woke up early to go to Keukenhof. the main point of this Netherlands trip is to see TULIPS BLOOMING. grand finale i planned. and grand finale it was.

Started out raining and all.. abit sian diao since parks are nice when the sun is there... but the flowers still cheered me up! the place is like EXPENSIVE la. but worth every single cent. (not one cent more though~) the flowers were SO BEAUTIFUL.

BLOOMS. COLOURS. BEAUTIFUL.

if there's one place i can bring my dad to, this will be the one and only choice. he likes planting and likes taking pictures of them.. so where else?!?!

The sun came up after a while and i had such a nice peaceful stroll in the humongous park... together with swans and duckies in the lakes... PERFECT.

In the afternoon, i went to see the WINDMILLS!! Netherlands is supposedly the place for windmills and cheese and clogs but i din see anyone in Amsterdam... took a train to somewhere outside Ams... a place called Windmill Village...

Weather was glommy but windmills are still as nice. got the country side, back a few centuries kinda feeling... out of the cosmopolitan, back to nature. having this kinda refreshments once in a while is really quite inspirational. =)

While i was at the Windmill Village, i checked out one of the cheese shops.. and had such a yummy time trying out all the different cheese!! cow, goat, herbs, garlic, onion, chilli, coriender, blah blah blah... i try EVERYTHING!!! then in the end left the shop being 16.80eur short.

-_-

Perfect day. YAY!!!!!!!!!!

A Simple Act

Sometimes i wonder.. how much does a message mean to another person? If the message from you to me is free, and you have the time to do it, and you purposely chose not to message me, what do you think I will think??

Why do i keep feeling what i think is correct?

Why can't you just show some concern?

I was so excited to go back early. Cos i did it for you.

Why do i now feel like an idiot being happy about it alone?

04.04.08 - Day 4 (Rotterdam + Den Haag + Ams)

With schedules packed like this, i got no chance to really enjoy the hostel bed and have enough sleep. ARGH!! and b'fast was nice!! (i realised the Europeans really LOVE nutella and other similar hazelnut spreads.. they seem to have it everywhere.. even in hostel b'fast)

followed a route on a free map in the hostel and ended up spending around 2-3 hours on the streets of Rotterdam.. it's a relaxing and peaceful place with canals and trees...

and have u seen a small duckling waddling in the water? i saw 4 of them waddling together and it jus brightened up my day. SO CUTE!!! Went up to the Euromast which is like 150+ metres high.. legs were trembling from the height once i got the view from the top~ it's SCARY!!! (although it's one of the not to tall structures around~ -_-) foggy view though~ =(

then i went Den Haag.. and started with Madurodam, this place with 1:25 scale models of major sights of Nederlands.. miniatures are like my softspot so this place is a MUST-SEE although it's freaking ex. sigh. got so tired after admiring all the miniatures that i decided not to walk around Den Haag central to see the government building and blah blahs so Den Haag = Madurodam only for me.. haha!!

Sidept: the people in Netherlands are, i would say majority like 51%, NOT TOURIST FRIENDLY. like this tamade tram driver who damn attitude me when i ask him question. GTH la!

Trained back to Ams straight away and started looking for hostel... Shagged and broke and glad i'm going back Barcelona tmr!! and to SG soon!!!

** As i was typing this, the piano is playing in the library... so nice~ feels like i'm in some posh restaurant filled with books and computers and the piano playing... haha~ maybe sg's library should have piano too... but then again, the kids would jam the piano as if it's a drum. -_-

03.04.08 - Day 3 (Antwerp + Rotterdam)

Enjoyed a nice b'fast the the hostel. settled for a double room cos there's no more vacancies for others but it's a damn nice place. nice bed nice toilet nice b'fast. yum!!!!

took a train to Antwerp early in the morning.. was told one day wasn't enough to see Antwerp.. when i have only half a day there... so i got there ASAP. in the end i realised that there's nothing there.. main shopping street is like called the MEIR and there are 3 H&M on that street alone!!!

Temptation Island!!!!!

Had too much time after seeing the major sights and was tired enough to not wan to walk to other places so in the end i ended up on the MEIR.

and i have a new definition for "Hell" --> Walking into H&M's 50% off section. Bound to come out with a bag or two and with a considerable amount of euro off my wallet. (although not all the purchases are for myself!!!) i didn't even dare to walk into Bershka after that...

Took the bus to Rotterdam in the afternn... was a 3 hour ride with 45 minutes break. like does the break have to be THAT long??? -_- when i reached it's already getting dark and cold~ Nua-ed in the hostel for the rest of the night~

i'm drained.

02.04.08 - Day 2 (Brussels)

Once again it's raining in Ams... -_-lll but luckily i'm leaving that city... took the bus to Brussels which lasted like around 5 hours. so freaking tired and was sleeping like a pig on the bus... but still not enough sleep. i need like 24 hours straight for one month to get rid of the eye rings. (and bags)

it's the first time i went traveling without settling where to sleep at night~ and with my heavy bag (cos of the laptop) and tiredness + scared of the dark alone, i was frantically looking for a hostel once i reached Brussels.

At the first hostel i went, i met this girl, Korean again, named Kim. the first line she spoke to me was:"Are you Korean??" kinda flattered you know... haha!! Korean thinking that i'm Korean looking... hiek hiek~

(Back to the topic) She is traveling alone too!! after talking for a while, we decided to travel in Brussels for the day together!! So cool to have a new found traveling partner, though i duno her well, it'll be fun~ =)

Brussels was a cute place. and it was even cuter with her!! Mayb it's a Korean and Japanese thing but they get excited and animated over the slightest thing... Walked around and took pictures with all the comic drawings we came across... Glad i had a partner for the day~

Went into this particular shop and in the end came out with a free gift. totally FREE. ahaha!! thanks to the nice vendor who doesn't seem to want to make profit... hiek! oh ya and i nearly got robbed! was happily walking with camera strapped around my hand and me holding the camera pouch kinda loose.. i deserved being robbed but the stupid robbing was like grabbing it so softly so he didn't get the camera.

Lucky me.

Then at night.. we went to this popular tourist area for dinner.. according to my respectful Lonely Planet, it said "dine elsewhere", but that place seems innocent and decent and yummy enough for me to abandon my LP for a while to try...

and i regretted. BIG TIME.

Mussels and fries are like the specialties in Brussels.. and lobsters too.. but obviously the latter is too expensive for me to even think about... so in the end we chose this restaurant that has 10eur for 3 course meal~ sounds like a deal right....

the food was not bad.. not fantastic but decent and worth the price.. with a glass of (diluted) champagne and nice appetiser... and we met this 2 people from HongKong studying in the UK... and the second line they spoke to me was:"Are you from Singapore?"

i was like... "HOW YOU KNOW?!?!?!" he told me it's my accent... the Singlish accent. sigh. how to perfect my England like that?!?!

so far it's all good... except the end. the freaking bad services all along was damn irritating but we heck care them.. BUT when it came to the bill, mine and Kim's were 20 eur together... so she used her 100eur bill and got back 75 eur... with the waiter saying "service charge.. thank you very much ah thank you~" when he took the remaining 5 eur.

like WAD THE F**K is that?!? is that even legal?! it's so freaking wrong la! self declared service charge?!? and he took away the receipt even... scared we go police isit? that guy is a total FREAK.

he totally pissed me off!! and before that he was mumbling some wadever shit language he was talking and was being damn sick old man. go to hell GRANDPA.

Walked to the Grand Place and was told the lights of the building would change once an hour.. all 4 of us stood there like idiots until 11.10pm and nothing happened. kena cheated only~ -_-

Summary of the day: Perfecto except for the freak at the dinner. and seriously, he should GTH.

*sidetracking*

it's APRIL!!! 28 days more and counting down~ YAY!!!!

01.04.08 - Day 1 (Amsterdam)

Slept at the airport today~ cold, noisy, unsafe, uncomfortable. but cheap alternative. BO BIAN.

Arrived at Amsterdam airport at like 9am~ heard from the pilot announcing that the weather forecasts are like 6 degrees. then i mentally counted the number of jackets i brought~ totally not enough. =/

but it wasn't that bad.. it's only cold when the wind blows and so far, the wind jus blows once every few minutes~not that bad at all... (self consoling time... -_-|||)

Went to check in at hostel and realised that it's smack right in the middle of the red light district. like GREAT. front row seat to live action at night... wahahha~!!! wonder why i booked that hostel in the first place... dotz.

took like 30 minutes walking back and forth the red light district and still couldn't find that pathetic hostel which was on one of the tiny side streets~ was looking into one of the windows of the buildings and thot i was looking at some moving mannequin used to attract men horny so early in the morning (like 10+am?!)... was looking at the mannequin shake her leg when she SUDDENLY WAVE TO ME!!!!

SHE ISN'T A MANNEQUIN!!!! she's a freaking real life prost waving at me. i was like....... shocked and found it damn farnie and then was damn embarrassed~ why was i looking at her in the first place!! hope no one saw tt look on my face~

then i also saw this SUPER FAT prost with SUPER BIG BOOBS (just like 2 macdonalds-sized-balloon waterbag supported by that too-small-for-her spag strap.) like WHO wants to have sex or get BJs from these kinda prost????

Have some standard can anot!!!

Amsterdam is nothing much really... no windmill, no tulips, no "clock clock"shoes... cos it's all outside Amsterdam. Joined the free walking tour in the rain once again!!! just like in Paris. But this time i was more used to the cold~ but i left the tour halfway~ too shagged from last night staying over at airport...

and i learnt that Netherland is like closing down on the prost... reasons which i can't remember but... prostitution is like so Amsterdam. no prost = no horny guys looking in Ams for prost = less $ for Netherland. so... WHY?!?!

Leaving for Brussels and maybe Antwerp early in the morning tomorrow!!! hopefully it'll be nicer~ =D

(As i was typing this, there's yet another guy mumbling to himself... --> WHY AM I ALWAYS FATED TO MEET WEIRD GUYS?!?!)