GARGANTUAN steps
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
monotony
Life's been pretty mundane thus far, with my laboratory work not as fascinating as I once thought it should be. Perhaps I am not taking it as seriously as I should be, but on the other hand, I feel that I'm not being taken too seriously. I shall persevere on for a while more before I decide on my next course of action. Will probably just grit my teeth and bear with things till I leave for London again, since it won't be easy to find something to keep me entertained yet having flexible working hours.Meanwhile, home's been alright. Seems like I haven't left a single day, catching up with old friends and family. Great to meet up all my church friends bar Allan (forgot about the barbeque!), Kenneth and Xing (in aussieland). Think we're too old for barbeques (at least I feel that way) and we should move on to buttered scones and tea (just joking). Perhaps pot-luck is a simple way! Perhaps I'm just being lazy.Went back to VJC to catch up with my old teachers today! Didn't really know what to say to them, and I'm quite tired of telling people why I've lost weight, and that studying is stressful and how fun Europe is. And hearing about how the syllabus has changed (for the umpteenth time) and how kids now are more spoon-fed and less motivated. I think parents have dumped their kids in a pot of complacency and given them a false sense of security and that, I personally feel, is the wrong way of bringing up a child. I wouldn't know much about how to bring up a child, but I think my parents must have done a pretty good job bringing my brother and I up.Also, caught up with Andrew, who couldn't get out of his house because he was having his house painted up. Last sighted in Hong Kong, he had spent nearly a good month and a half travelling across 7 time zones, from London to Riga to St Petersburg across Russia down to Mongolia and then to Beijing, Shang Hai and finally, Hong Kong. Would really have loved to have gone on such a trip to, but I know it's out of my league for the moment, monetary wise and also, I get pretty tired from travelling after a few days. Travelling isn't really all that fun when you're sick of moving around and spending money and eating sometimes rather unpalatable food. Even three days can seem like eternity, with hours wasted travelling on trains and airplanes, waiting for flights and delays and stuff. It really is mentally draining!Been playing floorball at Valhall with my IC friends and I'm currently in the hunt for a good stick. Planning to join the NTUC 3-on-3 Competition held at Ngee Ann City at the end of August, and I'm just short of one player! Hoping to get my old vice-captain from VJC besides myself, Hock and Jau!Other than that, I've been busy reading and watching cable TV on my computer. Just finished reading the latest Harry Potter book (since it was kindly 'lent' to me) and it wasn't too bad. I'm not a Potter fan but one must always keep up with the times. Still taking my time to read Richard Dawkin's The Selfish Gene and following that, I have A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon, The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong, From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman and Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict. So as you can see, I'm up to my neck with reading, and worst still, my speed of reading has really declined quite tremendously. I intend to finish all these by the time I'm ready to go back to London. On top of that, I intend to do some studying for Year 2 just to keep my engines greased. Still have tonnes of movies to watch too! Too many things to do and too little time!Alright, that's all for now, but I leave you a picture of my bumbling bustling busy dog, Bobbie! He's really a handful, in fact, a few handfuls! But he's really friendly~
Bobbie
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
this is home, truly
I'm finally back in Singapore after a good nine months away in Europe. Other than the heat, it sure feels good to be back for a good three month break, which isn't actually much of a break, considering what I've gotten myself into. I've already begun working in a cancer laboratory in NUS and though what I'm learning is interesting and applicable to what I'm studying in university, it can really be tedious and mentally draining. I must persevere on and come out learning something useful! Still trying to find a balance, but I am really thankful for a good mentor who is really patient with my inadequacies, though she'll be leaving the laboratory soon, so I had better get my act together, but there really is SO MUCH to learn. I hope I don't burn myself out here in Singapore.
Just for a few updates, happy birthday to my dear IC work partner Trysha Tan, who turned a grand old age of 23 yesterday. Great to be able to work with someone you can actually trust to share your workload with, being the perfectionist that I am. So, if you do read my blog, thanks Trysh and may the next year be equally prosperous on the work front.
Congrats to my dear friend Lorraine for graduating with a Merit from NUS with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (hope I got that right!) I went down for her graduation on Sunday and it was blazing hot to be taking photos in the sun.
Next on the update is congrats to my dear friend and fellow telepathic floorball left-side partner, Ben Loh and WIFE, yes I say again, WIFE, Zhijing, whom I had the pleasure of punting down the river in Oxford just a few weeks back. They have gotten married on 07.07.07 (they actually did something typically Singaporean!) and I'm really happy for you guys! May God's blessings always rests upon you two and may you all have many many many happy and blissful years ahead!
Just for a few updates, happy birthday to my dear IC work partner Trysha Tan, who turned a grand old age of 23 yesterday. Great to be able to work with someone you can actually trust to share your workload with, being the perfectionist that I am. So, if you do read my blog, thanks Trysh and may the next year be equally prosperous on the work front.
Congrats to my dear friend Lorraine for graduating with a Merit from NUS with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (hope I got that right!) I went down for her graduation on Sunday and it was blazing hot to be taking photos in the sun.
Amanda, Fon, Lorraine the graduate, Lucas/Sheng Hui the long suffering boyfriend and Me
We then went down to Plaza Singapura for lunch and then I went to collect my car from the workshop (it was scratched by some lorry which I believed was involved in the renovation of my neighbour's house, but I have unfortunately no proof) before heading to church to meet up with my old choir! I just met some of them for the previous day, bringing me out for a buffet lunch at some hotel! I met Ben Loh and Han Yan for dinner on Sunday night because Ben was going to leave for South Africa soon and I wouldn't see him till October when school term began. We had an enjoyable night at Crystal Jade before proceeding for supper at Selegie Tau Huay!
Ben Loh and Zhijing
Mr and Mrs Loh
Mr and Mrs Loh
Meanwhile, so many people to catch up and so little time. Really disappointed that I can't find the time to go back and play for Renaissance in SJI, but I must know my limits and one of them is that I need more time to get my trumpet playing into gear. Hopefully, I'll be able to slowly meet up with more people!
Monday, July 09, 2007
au revoir
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
'liberty, equality, fraternity'
- motto of France
My parents came over to London the day after I got my results and thankfully, I had good news for them! I don't have to come back at the end of August for the resits, and I must say, I am pretty happy with how I have performed, except perhaps for just one paper. But overall, I feel that all my studying has paid off and it was more or less time for me to go home.
'liberty, equality, fraternity'
- motto of France
My parents came over to London the day after I got my results and thankfully, I had good news for them! I don't have to come back at the end of August for the resits, and I must say, I am pretty happy with how I have performed, except perhaps for just one paper. But overall, I feel that all my studying has paid off and it was more or less time for me to go home.
But first, I went for an 8-day tour of Europe (Venice, Rome and Paris) with my parents which was pretty eventful! It really wasn't easy organising the holiday, cause I am used to travelling by on a shoe-string budget, but it was going to be different with my dad around. I was much afraid of whether the lodgings I booked were adequate (pictures aren't sufficient proof)
Well, as usual, the pictures and the short write up to follow!
Days 1-2: Venice
Once again, it was back to Venice for me and the weather was really blazing! I thought it was bad, and by the time we made our way to our hotel from the bus station, I was already perspiring profusely. The lesson learnt here is not to go south of London for holidays. There was nothing much to do on the first day because my parents were quite tired.
The next day, we made our way to St Mark's Basilica and this time, we took a lift up the bell tower, also known as the Campanile. We wanted to take a ride on a gondola but the sun was just too hot to enjoy such a ride.
Dad and Mom and the Canal Grande Venice
Mom and Dad and St Mark's Basilica
Pala d'Oro
The Golden Altar in St Mark's Basilica
The Golden Altar in St Mark's Basilica
View of St Mark's Basilica and Venice from the Campanile
After about 24 hours in Venice, it was now time to make our way to Rome. I didn't throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain the previous time I was there, which is suppose to ensure your return to Rome, but here I was, back in the Eternal City in less than a year, and this time, we started off on the wrong foot.
Day 3-5: Rome
My dad was pretty cheesed off that I booked a Bed and Breadfast in Rome, and that the owner of the house could not communicate in English, much to his despair. He was trying to arrange our transport back to the airport and also where to leave the keys, but to no avail, and he got extremely fed up and angry. Thankfully, I managed to settle the problems.
The next day, more problems struck. My dad was pick-pocketed on the Metro (the Roman version of MRT or Tube) He was pushed into the train and was busy trying to grab a pole above to hold and in a blink of an eye, his wallet was parted with him. He was quick to notice his wallet was gone, but it was too late, and it was impossible to suspect anyone on the train. We spent the rest of the morning trying to find the police station and me also trying to get Fontane to find a plane back to London as soon as possible. My dad was upset enough to want to cancel our holiday to go home. Thanfully, we weren't able to find any cheap flights back and we had to carry on with our holiday.
We spent our first day in Rome checking our the Colosseum, Roman Forums, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. We then spent the next day in Vatican City where my parents actually climbed right to the top of the dome, which was a good 112m high! And there was the usual Sistine Chapel visit and a visit to Castel Sant Angelo. We got more daring this time in the Chapel, taking a picture WITH the frescoes!
The next day, more problems struck. My dad was pick-pocketed on the Metro (the Roman version of MRT or Tube) He was pushed into the train and was busy trying to grab a pole above to hold and in a blink of an eye, his wallet was parted with him. He was quick to notice his wallet was gone, but it was too late, and it was impossible to suspect anyone on the train. We spent the rest of the morning trying to find the police station and me also trying to get Fontane to find a plane back to London as soon as possible. My dad was upset enough to want to cancel our holiday to go home. Thanfully, we weren't able to find any cheap flights back and we had to carry on with our holiday.
We spent our first day in Rome checking our the Colosseum, Roman Forums, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. We then spent the next day in Vatican City where my parents actually climbed right to the top of the dome, which was a good 112m high! And there was the usual Sistine Chapel visit and a visit to Castel Sant Angelo. We got more daring this time in the Chapel, taking a picture WITH the frescoes!
Dad, Mom and Me at one of the New 7 Wonders of the World
The Colosseum
The Colosseum
Dad, Mom and Me on the dome of St Peter's Basilica
Me and St Peter's Basilica
Dad, Mom and Me in the Sistine Chapel
Me and the Terme de Caracalla (Baths of Caracalla)
The Tomb of St Paul (behind the grill)
We spent our last day in Rome checking out two new sights I have never been. One of them was the Baths of Caracalla which was in ancient time, some shopping centre (really huge single level one with swimming pools) and also to Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Wall, which was where St Paul was buried. Today was also the Feast Day of St Peter and Paul, which is a holiday in Rome, and a Day of Obligation in Europe, but we didn't attend mass.
Day 6-8: Paris
I spent my last three days in Paris, and my dad had an enjoyable time eating KFC, his favourite fast-food. I must say, I did have a lot of fast-food whilst I was in Paris, from KFC for lunch, and then Macs for Breakfast, and then KFC for dinner again, in between being filled with chinese food. Didn't try any of the local cuisine in Paris! But then again, there aren't really any local cuisine in Paris (I might be wrong there, so please do correct me).
We did the usual touristy things, going to Notre Dame (and also for Saturday evening mass there). Unforunately, I didn't get to go to the top to get a closer look at the gargoyles which kept dear friend Quasimodo company because the queue was extremely long.
I went to the Louvre the following morning and it was really HUGE! they have three wings, and two of them were 700m long!!!! Utter craziness, so I just brought my parents to see the Mona Lisa (which I didn't dare take a picture of) and also to have a glimpse of Napolean's Apartments! In the afternoon, we went to see Napolean's Tomb which was really humongous!!The third morning was spent at the Eiffel Tower, taking the lift right to the top of the tower! The views were fantastic, but it won't be on my vote for the next wonder of the world. (the results which by the way have been announced). We then took a river cruise down the River Seine which is apparently a Unesco World Heritage site and it was quite a nice way to end our tour. We went down Champ Elysee (which is the Orchard Road of Paris).
We did the usual touristy things, going to Notre Dame (and also for Saturday evening mass there). Unforunately, I didn't get to go to the top to get a closer look at the gargoyles which kept dear friend Quasimodo company because the queue was extremely long.
I went to the Louvre the following morning and it was really HUGE! they have three wings, and two of them were 700m long!!!! Utter craziness, so I just brought my parents to see the Mona Lisa (which I didn't dare take a picture of) and also to have a glimpse of Napolean's Apartments! In the afternoon, we went to see Napolean's Tomb which was really humongous!!The third morning was spent at the Eiffel Tower, taking the lift right to the top of the tower! The views were fantastic, but it won't be on my vote for the next wonder of the world. (the results which by the way have been announced). We then took a river cruise down the River Seine which is apparently a Unesco World Heritage site and it was quite a nice way to end our tour. We went down Champ Elysee (which is the Orchard Road of Paris).
Dad and KFC
Dad and Mom and The Notre Dame Cathedral
The Two Pyramids in the Louvre
Me and the Louvre
Dad and Mom and Napolean's Tomb
Dad, Mom and Me and the Eiffel Tower
The Tour Eiffel
Notre Dame Cathedral seen from the River Seine
Thus concluded my Europe tour with my parents, which they must probably have enjoyed because we ended touring everyday by around 2-3pm, and they could then go back to the hotel to rest, rather than visiting all the funny shops (like we did in China, visiting jade factories, enamel factories etc which took up a lot of time) It has been a good holiday (on my parents account) and it is now time to enjoy a good break in Singapore!
Labels: Church, Colosseum, Eiffel Tower, Europe, Family, France, Italy, Museum, Paris, Rome, Seven Wonders of the World, Travel, Venice
