Friday, March 31, 2006
Bugger...
This morning, I had two flat tires - both on the left side of the car. Odd, yes, but upon closer inspection, the tires seem to have been punctured by some sharp instrument. I may not be the only one experiencing this ...And I live in a nice residential area too!
Piddly-poo.
Piddly-poo.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
In my mind, I'm already there...
I come home every day and nod off while reading the lonely planet guide. One more week till Randy comes to visit, and we'll be off to Greece!
But the true excitement is in visiting this amazing island
Can't wait!
But the true excitement is in visiting this amazing island
Can't wait!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Wise Men
I can't help but listen to James Blunt, because "Wise Men" is on the radio 24/7 now. However, I am one of those people who have selective hearing and can't pick up the right lyrics, and I've made up my own version. I kind of like my own interpretation of it (although it's not clear what he's singing about anyway).
She said to me, "Go steady on me.
Won't you tell me what the Wise Men said?
When they came down from Heaven,
Smoked nine 'til seven,
All the shit that they could find,
But they couldn't escape from you,
Couldn't be free of you,
And now they know there's no way out,
And they're really sorry now for what they've done,
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun."
Those three Wise Men,
They've got a semi-Oddyssey.
Got to ask yourself the question,
Where are you now?
Whenever I hear this song, I have an image of 3 bedouin youths just smoking away underneath acacia trees, having a laugh, and getting ready for their semi-Oddyssey. They're foolishly optimistic and naive about what's to come. But they're also the 'wise men' because they know that they are free-loving, curious, and don't know the world. The sort of wisdom that Socrates praised - being wise by admitting that you don't know everything.
Of course, I had to look up the real lyrics, but I find more inspiration in the way I first heard it.
She said to me, "Go steady on me.
Won't you tell me what the Wise Men said?
When they came down from Heaven,
Smoked nine 'til seven,
All the shit that they could find,
But they couldn't escape from you,
Couldn't be free of you,
And now they know there's no way out,
And they're really sorry now for what they've done,
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun."
Those three Wise Men,
They've got a semi-Oddyssey.
Got to ask yourself the question,
Where are you now?
Whenever I hear this song, I have an image of 3 bedouin youths just smoking away underneath acacia trees, having a laugh, and getting ready for their semi-Oddyssey. They're foolishly optimistic and naive about what's to come. But they're also the 'wise men' because they know that they are free-loving, curious, and don't know the world. The sort of wisdom that Socrates praised - being wise by admitting that you don't know everything.
Of course, I had to look up the real lyrics, but I find more inspiration in the way I first heard it.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
What it's like to live in England
So, it's been a good 2.5 months since I moved to England. I'm starting to get used to the quirky phrases and left-side driving.
In the beginning, I used to ponder how sheeps could survive the dreadful rainy weather. Being the naive city girl that I am, I thought their wooly coats weighed a ton against adverse weather. However, I was corrected by my colleague who said that sheep have naturally oily coats, and with one shake, they can get rid of 80% of the percipitation. That's why sailors have greasy, wool sweaters. Being the simpleton that I am, I was amazed by such trivia.
English phrases are still a bit foreign to me. I submitted a proposal to my boss, to which he replied, "well, I want you to crack on with it." Excuse me? Do what? Now I know that it means "go for it with enthusiasm."
What I also didn't understand was the phrase "Are you all right?" It's used as a greeting similar to "How are you?" in the US. But being asked if I'm all right every time I see someone makes me feel as if I have a huge zit on my nose or something.
I love the way store clerks and the lady at the deli always says, "Is that all, my love?" It's so endearing.
Speaking to several people here, it's amazing how the English and Australians have a tendency to just pick up and go... to a completely foreign country. My colleague lives with a 40+ year-old lady who decided to work in France and then Spain, because she wanted to learn French and Spanish. My flatmate had a house and a long-term girlfriend, but woke up one day and got a ticket to Thailand (and he didn't even know where Thailand was on the map at the time) and became a DJ at Ko Samui area for Full Moon parties. Obviously he came back, and he's now my landlord/flatmate. And I was just sipping wine with Holly the other day, the Australian girl from Perth, who can't be contained in the corner of the world. Without any guarantees for work, she moved out to London and is now working as a temp. I'm sure she'll find her niche in no time. Their ability to uproot and explore the world is purely inspiring and calls for a novel to be written by each.
Today, a new flatmate moved in to our house - a Hungarian engineer. I made lunch and he offered me beer. An English DJ, a Japanese-American corporate associate, and a Hungarian engineer - sounds like a sit-com in a making.
In the beginning, I used to ponder how sheeps could survive the dreadful rainy weather. Being the naive city girl that I am, I thought their wooly coats weighed a ton against adverse weather. However, I was corrected by my colleague who said that sheep have naturally oily coats, and with one shake, they can get rid of 80% of the percipitation. That's why sailors have greasy, wool sweaters. Being the simpleton that I am, I was amazed by such trivia.
English phrases are still a bit foreign to me. I submitted a proposal to my boss, to which he replied, "well, I want you to crack on with it." Excuse me? Do what? Now I know that it means "go for it with enthusiasm."
What I also didn't understand was the phrase "Are you all right?" It's used as a greeting similar to "How are you?" in the US. But being asked if I'm all right every time I see someone makes me feel as if I have a huge zit on my nose or something.
I love the way store clerks and the lady at the deli always says, "Is that all, my love?" It's so endearing.
Speaking to several people here, it's amazing how the English and Australians have a tendency to just pick up and go... to a completely foreign country. My colleague lives with a 40+ year-old lady who decided to work in France and then Spain, because she wanted to learn French and Spanish. My flatmate had a house and a long-term girlfriend, but woke up one day and got a ticket to Thailand (and he didn't even know where Thailand was on the map at the time) and became a DJ at Ko Samui area for Full Moon parties. Obviously he came back, and he's now my landlord/flatmate. And I was just sipping wine with Holly the other day, the Australian girl from Perth, who can't be contained in the corner of the world. Without any guarantees for work, she moved out to London and is now working as a temp. I'm sure she'll find her niche in no time. Their ability to uproot and explore the world is purely inspiring and calls for a novel to be written by each.
Today, a new flatmate moved in to our house - a Hungarian engineer. I made lunch and he offered me beer. An English DJ, a Japanese-American corporate associate, and a Hungarian engineer - sounds like a sit-com in a making.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Back to the Porter House...
"Naaz, you better have something organized so that I can come see you in London!"
So that was that, and I was on a train to London. To go see the Indian Princess who just spent 11 months of her life in Colombia. Her accent was more thickly Indian than I remembered (no latin accent girl?).
Helen, Holly, Krishna, Naaz and I - the HK + Singapore connection is alive and kickin'. Krishna tells me, to my horror, that I speak like Devrim. Not in a million years, sweetheart.
Naaz looking cool and nonchalant.
Having a couple of drinks at the Porter House in Covent Garden - funny, I was at the Porter House in Dublin only a couple days ago.
On a whim, we text Clement: "Helen, Holly, and I are coming to visit you late April or early May. Brace yourself for 3 girls knocking at your door!" So, Naaz is going to HK to see Paris. And we are going to Paris to see Clement. Let the adventures begin...
So that was that, and I was on a train to London. To go see the Indian Princess who just spent 11 months of her life in Colombia. Her accent was more thickly Indian than I remembered (no latin accent girl?).
Helen, Holly, Krishna, Naaz and I - the HK + Singapore connection is alive and kickin'. Krishna tells me, to my horror, that I speak like Devrim. Not in a million years, sweetheart.
Naaz looking cool and nonchalant.
Having a couple of drinks at the Porter House in Covent Garden - funny, I was at the Porter House in Dublin only a couple days ago.
On a whim, we text Clement: "Helen, Holly, and I are coming to visit you late April or early May. Brace yourself for 3 girls knocking at your door!" So, Naaz is going to HK to see Paris. And we are going to Paris to see Clement. Let the adventures begin...
Monday, March 20, 2006
St. Patty's - I had some good craic!
I failed to do real-time blogging because I was too busy pouring Guinness down my system or seeing as much as I could in 3 days. It was a terrific weekend with a good mix of people. I say two thumbs up for nomadfest Dublin :)
Ceili Mor - probably one of the biggest highlights this weekend for me - seeing hundreds of people dancing to the Irish tunes in the street of Dublin
Approximately 38 Aiesec-related people showed up at this event. Great turn out, I'd say.
More photos and comments on this trip are available here. I landed in London at 9 this morning, tired as a rag, but smiling ear to ear.
Signing off.
Ceili Mor - probably one of the biggest highlights this weekend for me - seeing hundreds of people dancing to the Irish tunes in the street of Dublin
Approximately 38 Aiesec-related people showed up at this event. Great turn out, I'd say.
More photos and comments on this trip are available here. I landed in London at 9 this morning, tired as a rag, but smiling ear to ear.
Signing off.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Not quite West, Not quite East
I stepped into Graz on Wednesday afternoon and rushed back out on Friday. But in the brief time that I was there, I saw a glimpse of the charming snowy mountains, gluttened my stomach with Austrian cuisine, and strolled in the maze-like cobblestone paths of city centre that conjures Diagon Alley from Harry Potter novels.
Mel being the ever-accommodating host, gave me a lovely tour of Graz. From the glass elevator ride to the top of Scholssberg Castle to sneaking into the opera house and sipping aperol spritzer at an elegant cafe, we strolled through the streets of Graz with ease and melted into the night.
Caption reads:
"You have OIL in your sh*t country?"
"No, no - ah, yes, yes KERNOIL from the Styrian country behind the Semmering."
"Wath, KERNOIL behind the Semmering? You have 48 hours to bring all all OIL to me, or WAR, WAR, WAR - understand me?"
(KERNOIL from the Styrian Country it's better than OIL from Saddam.)
*Kernoil is pumpkin oil
Indonesian Gulasch? - who'd thought?
The funny thing is, we always take pictures together that never really tells you where we are. We could have taken this picture anywhere.
Hit by a small spell and missing the loveliness of Graz, I am back in England.
Mel being the ever-accommodating host, gave me a lovely tour of Graz. From the glass elevator ride to the top of Scholssberg Castle to sneaking into the opera house and sipping aperol spritzer at an elegant cafe, we strolled through the streets of Graz with ease and melted into the night.
Caption reads:
"You have OIL in your sh*t country?"
"No, no - ah, yes, yes KERNOIL from the Styrian country behind the Semmering."
"Wath, KERNOIL behind the Semmering? You have 48 hours to bring all all OIL to me, or WAR, WAR, WAR - understand me?"
(KERNOIL from the Styrian Country it's better than OIL from Saddam.)
*Kernoil is pumpkin oil
Indonesian Gulasch? - who'd thought?
The funny thing is, we always take pictures together that never really tells you where we are. We could have taken this picture anywhere.
Hit by a small spell and missing the loveliness of Graz, I am back in England.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Jen was kind enough to take my clueless bum out to the sophistafunk place that is called London. It was a nice and relaxed day (although chilled us to the bone!) and we surprisingly did a lot, although we only started mid-day.
Westiminster - got to see the Big Ben and hear the 'Bong!' It's a really beautiful building, and makes you contemplate running for politics for the sake of getting to hang out there. haha.
It was a gorgeous day.
We walked along the River Thames to see what interesting things we could find. Lo' and behold, there were a dozen street performers (those still, mimes who only move when you give them coins).
This guy was all right. But I felt jipped when I gave another guy a pound, and all he did was sneeze a little and then go back to being still. What a rip off!
Ah - and then there are the chalk arts - pretty amazing stuff!
Graffiti art rules the little corner of the Queen Elizabeth Music Hall. Teenage skaters are also whizzing by in this area (although I have to say, they weren't all that good).
Jen and I reach our destination: the Tate Museum of Modern Art. A classy way to enjoy the river view - from the 6th floor of the museum's members cafe.
There was something about the sky that day that made the scene so picturesque.
St. Paul's Cathedral is right across the Thames from where we were sitting
And I got to see the Gherkin too. Such an interesting looking architecture in the middle of bland and blocky buildings.
Restaurant Cubana - great mood and excellent food. I regret not taking my camera to the bathroom, because they had great adverts and communist slogan posters on the wall.
Creole chicken, fried plantains, and fried bean rice - mmm...
Change of scenary - we're at Tabernacle in Olde Street for some house & club music fun. We were pumping away to the music until closing.
Great weekend with great company. And we topped it off with a roast lunch the next day. Yum yum. My purse is hurting a little, but I guess that's a norm in London. I'm tucked back in Northants again with "White Mhugals" on my nightstand (I bought it half-price at an outdoor used-book stand - there's something about being around Londoners that makes you want to read a whole lot more). Ah... can't wait till my next adventure.
Westiminster - got to see the Big Ben and hear the 'Bong!' It's a really beautiful building, and makes you contemplate running for politics for the sake of getting to hang out there. haha.
It was a gorgeous day.
We walked along the River Thames to see what interesting things we could find. Lo' and behold, there were a dozen street performers (those still, mimes who only move when you give them coins).
This guy was all right. But I felt jipped when I gave another guy a pound, and all he did was sneeze a little and then go back to being still. What a rip off!
Ah - and then there are the chalk arts - pretty amazing stuff!
Graffiti art rules the little corner of the Queen Elizabeth Music Hall. Teenage skaters are also whizzing by in this area (although I have to say, they weren't all that good).
Jen and I reach our destination: the Tate Museum of Modern Art. A classy way to enjoy the river view - from the 6th floor of the museum's members cafe.
There was something about the sky that day that made the scene so picturesque.
St. Paul's Cathedral is right across the Thames from where we were sitting
And I got to see the Gherkin too. Such an interesting looking architecture in the middle of bland and blocky buildings.
Restaurant Cubana - great mood and excellent food. I regret not taking my camera to the bathroom, because they had great adverts and communist slogan posters on the wall.
Creole chicken, fried plantains, and fried bean rice - mmm...
Change of scenary - we're at Tabernacle in Olde Street for some house & club music fun. We were pumping away to the music until closing.
Great weekend with great company. And we topped it off with a roast lunch the next day. Yum yum. My purse is hurting a little, but I guess that's a norm in London. I'm tucked back in Northants again with "White Mhugals" on my nightstand (I bought it half-price at an outdoor used-book stand - there's something about being around Londoners that makes you want to read a whole lot more). Ah... can't wait till my next adventure.
Magnetized from one metropole to another
It's amazing, but not surprising, that 6 ex-Hong Kong trainees somehow ended up at a house party in London this weekend. Saurav, Heather, Holly, Jen, Yo-yo, and I were just a few who happened to pass through that magical place called Hong Kong. I'm an hour and a half away from all these guys now. Fantastic.
Everyone looks fab - Yolanda, Heather, and Jen - let Switzerland, Canada, and England represent!
HAKS and me - some good 'ol down under friendship
Soddy looking way too happy. Great host - our glasses were never more than a 1/3 empty.
Holly moves in mysterious ways. Love this girl and her endless energy.
A true HK-er never say die. ... or she can never stop "peace"-ing for the camera. It's a natural reflex, really.
In my opinion, the party had very much an Indian flavor to it (a.k.a. Soddy's MBA buddies), laced with old Aiesec memories (it's been a while since I've heard/danced to 'Cotton Eye Joe'). Oh - and well done for running the place dry. We literally cleared out all the beverages and snacks in the entire place. I feel that this will be the first of many visits out to London...
Everyone looks fab - Yolanda, Heather, and Jen - let Switzerland, Canada, and England represent!
HAKS and me - some good 'ol down under friendship
Soddy looking way too happy. Great host - our glasses were never more than a 1/3 empty.
Holly moves in mysterious ways. Love this girl and her endless energy.
A true HK-er never say die. ... or she can never stop "peace"-ing for the camera. It's a natural reflex, really.
In my opinion, the party had very much an Indian flavor to it (a.k.a. Soddy's MBA buddies), laced with old Aiesec memories (it's been a while since I've heard/danced to 'Cotton Eye Joe'). Oh - and well done for running the place dry. We literally cleared out all the beverages and snacks in the entire place. I feel that this will be the first of many visits out to London...
