He never fails to make me smile

Dance practice ended at 9.45pm today and I managed to share a cab down with Aileen to Tian's place, rushing to make it in time for ANTM but only when I got off the cab did I remember that ANTM is not on tonight! Because it's the second telecast of the Emmy Awards! Alamak! And there's nothing to watch since Grey's did not win any awards (WHY?!!!). But I managed to see Meredith and Derek who were the first 2 award presenters for the night. They looked so so good!! Especially Meredith!! Ok quite pathatic because I don't know her real name but her blue dress or rather gown was gorgeous and she looked good! I'm so in love with Grey's haha, and when I have the time I shall watch it all over again. Where's Season 3?!!!

Anyway the whole point of my 40 mins over at Tian's place was mainly because Tian wanted to make a sandwich for me! So sweet right!! I don't even make sandwiches or cook or bake for him, quite sad I know. So right, he was very excited about this bread (think McDonalds sausage mcmuffin bread) , cheese and garlic spread that he bought while he was out with his family at Paragon and was very excited about making me a sandwich. So he sat me down comfortably in front of the huge TV while he kept himself occupied in the kitchen toasting the bread, melting the cheese and getting the ham. I'm so pampered!! The sandwich was delicious of course, (it's THE McDonalds bread with the grainy thing on top ok haha) but we couldn't taste the cheese so Tian said he'll preparing it again. My boyfriend is so cute, suddenly I see him so enthusiastic and passionate about something, and that something is making a tasty sandwich for me!

You know, I want to say so many things to you right now..

Superwoman

Just a short little post to say that I'm still alive and kicking. Haven't been blogging because I'm dying for more time to study and sleep. The past few weeks up till 10 Sept had been and will be really crazy and tiring because of school, dance and tuition, and frankly I don't even feel like a student anymore because I'm doing so many other things instead of studying 24/7. But I've to admit that the previous uni year had been quite boring because I was so mugger, now that there's a lot of dance in my life, I somehow feel rather relaxed and happy in school at the pace I'm going (although I'm supposed to be damnnn stressed because I have a lot of work to be done!!). Oh well, tomorrow's going to be a crazy day with just ONE hour break. Yea 8am-10am lecture, break, then 2 labs from 11am all the way to 6pm, non-stop. And immediately after that, I have to rush down to AS7 for dance practice from 6pm to 9.30pm. My life's so exciting haha, somehow I love it like that now. But sometimes I do feel like I'm suffocating too, like this afternoon. It's a Sunday, and Sundays are my studying days! But tuition lessons took up half the day, by the time I reached home it was past 2pm, and in 2 hours' time I'd have to leave for dance practice in school till 8.30pm. So basically I did not get to study at all. Came home and took a nap instead. Very lazy and ill-disciplined I know, but somehow I was feeling really tired this afternoon. Tuition lessons are draining.

I think I need to prioritise, but right now, everything that I'm doing seems equally important to me. In the end what did I compromise on? Studying time, and time with my dearest guy.

Time for a shower then read up on labs. Haiz why am I disliked by people in school I don't understand. I'm how loner in Engin and hardly speak to anyone except Jordan and the Bioengin girls. I even sit alone during some lectures because I don't know anyone and don't bother to socialise a single bit. And immediately after lectures, I'll disappear to the library or rush off for dance practice. So being a loner that I am, I'm in such a sad state in Engin yet I still gross other people out. I give up! =p

I miss you a lot, you know?

I loveee Biology!

Today was a perfectly good start to the new semester, which started off with me waking up on time at 6.30am (my sister only had to call me once and my handphone alarm only had to ring once - meaning I did not snooze it haha) and reaching school 15 mins before 8am. I took such a long time packing my bag before that, tweezed some stray hairs off my eyebrows and even had time for a quick breakfast before leaving - all these and I still got to school on time. 6.30am may be a little too early but people like me need it. Or else I'll have the luxury of waking up at 7am.

Anyway there was only one lecture today, Physiology from 8am to 10am. All the bio talk about the heart and SA node and AV node was music to the ears. Seriously. No joke ok. The medicine, dentistry and pharmacy people will not appreciate physiology as much as I do, but for once, I start school with biology, a subject I have not been exposed to for one whole year (ok la..I give Bio tuition to a Sec 4 girl so I guess I was always exposed to it =p) and I have been so deprived. For once in University, I do not have to hear any form of maths or physics. It was so shiok I tell you, I was busy copying every single thing the lecturer said. And yes, an introduction slide said it is a very difficult subject, but I tell you, I am so determined to get an A for this module. A- also can haha. I can bug Baorong about everything, because my girlfriend is one of the top for Physio and is even representing NUS Medicine in some Physio quiz in Malaysia! How pro is that! With all the resources I have, I really have no good excuse not to do well for this module. Now it all depends on whether I'm the "Physio kind", because the lecturer said the skills needed for this module is very different from the other medical subjects, and also I have to read my textbook everyday. Ok, having said all this, I better live up to my expectations and be extra hardworking! I'm going to be a mugger!

Shucks, 4 lectures tomorrow. Tuesday is a crazy day because I have lectures for all my modules except Physio. And I'm going to hear maths and physics AGAIN. Signals suck ok. I really cannot be an engineer. The path which I'm heading now is so very wrong. What the hell am I doing.

Hard Candy

WTH?! Halfway through the show I was already complaining to Tian saying that I was not enjoying the show at all and basically after the show I just went "what the hell" all over. I was totally lost and unfortunately very disturbed. Thought it would be a profound and intriging show, a change for once, after all the blockbusters like Superman and Pirates and nice shows like Click. But no way, or perhaps way too profound for me. Hard Candy is some psychotic show about some crazy psycho teenager. Tian and I have no idea what the show was about and I immediately messaged Michelle and as she is a normal person like me, she's clueless too! What a total waste of money, and I was expecting a good show ok. Maybe it's me who can't appreciate sick shows, but that girl in the show is just crazy, she has some serious issues or problems with her head and I just cannot figure out what. And I thought Sandra Oh was going to save the day but hello? Why didn't she charge into the house and wrestle with that psycho girl? And what was she doing in that long hair neatly combed back and white beaded necklace?!! it was so wrong..she still looks best with that curly messy hair as an intern in SGH.

So conclusion, don't watch Hard Candy when you're feeling tired, or else you'll end up with a headache and suffer like I am right now. And if anyone figues out what the movie is about, do enlighten me!

Drained

I'm so tired. Really very very tired.

My mum's PMSing now, setting some rules for the house, saying the door will be locked at 12 midnight and whoever comes home after midnight can jolly well sleep at the void deck. Haiz that's mainly targetting at my problem-dad and maybe me, and sigh, it's definitely not good for me. But I'm so tired and I cannot really be bothered with it right now. I'm reaching home before midnight these few days anyway because I'm so tired after dance practice.

There's practice every single day this week. At least I have Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays off for the past few weeks but not this week. Everyone's getting kanchong. I have practice even on National Day and Saturday and Sunday, I haven't told Tian about Sat and Sun's practice but he's going to complain. Sigh. I don't really have a choice dear. So sorry. Because of dance, we can't even go out properly though it's the holidays. And yes, the holidays are ending. Oh dear.

This week on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, there will be fireworks display at Marina Bay by different countries. I thought I could watch it with Tian on Saturday night but I cannot anymore. I can't make it on all the other nights too.

My only consolation is that I'm finally doing something that I enjoy very much. I've been wanting to dance for so many years and now I finally got a chance to learn, thanks to Blast. Because I'm not zai like my dance idols in Blast, I cannot afford to miss practices. And I do want to practise very hard so that I can put up a good show for Tian and my dear friends who are going down for the concert.

I've been having Subway for dinner almost everyday. Tian's mum asked me one night how come I kept eating sandwiches from Subway. Even this guy working at Subway recognises me and asked me how come I was earlier today. Had dance practice from 5pm to 10pm in school so I had to have an early dinner. Or else I would usually visit Subway when the 6pm-8pm practises end. And just the other day, he told me I don't need to show him my matric card because he had seen it before. Today, the girl at the cashier recognised me from last night when she was the one preparing my sandwich. She told me today that I need not show her my matric card haha. Subway should have a loyalty card for me to get more discounts. =p

This is basically my life now - aka not much of a life. Supposed to get started on studies because my Signals lecturer sent us a super long email telling us to read the textbook first like a storybook, but I can't get past 5 pages every night. My interest level is like zero.

Jamie, are you home yet? Give me an SMS k..you're being missed by the very tired me. And I desperately need your help on a lot of things, really hope you can spare some time to help me. Not only do I have to dance, I have to spend money on costumes, and I'm supposed to think of what to do to my hair. Helpppp..

See, even Jamie is coming back. It all means one month has passed, and our 3 whole months of holidays will officially be over this weekend. It was indeed very enjoyable and well-spent while it lasted, no regrets except for the part where I ought to have earned more money from temp jobs, and there were moments when I missed studying and can't wait for the new semester to start, but right now, I'm screaming "I want more holidays!".

I'm trying to convince myself that this holiday I have spent enough time with Tian but I don't really feel that way. Some nights I really feel like hugging him and not let him go when he sends me home. And then the other voice in my head reminded me that I haven't even met up with 3G this holiday.

I should just go to sleep, now.

Eurotrip 2006 (24/05/06 - 09/06/06)

Day 5 - Paris, France

A beautiful day, and a day we spent so much on food. This morning, we had to check out of Garden Hotel and make our way to Liberty Hotel, Paris. We did not book our accommodation early on HostelWorld.com hence cheaper hostels were all unavailable and we had to settle for the next cheapest deal we can get, budget hotels. We could not get Liberty Hotel for the first night in Paris therefore we had to book a room at Garden Hotel and then transfer to Liberty Hotel for the next 3 nights.

Garden Hotel is located in a small street along a main street called Avenue Parmentier. I was quite reluctant to leave this place because I love the neighbourhood, especially in the morning when parents with their cute little kids or huge furry dogs would come to the bakery to buy their daily bread. Oh yes it's the dogs. There were many people walking their dogs in the morning, and the dogs came in different sizes and colour! On our first day there, Tian and I saw this old man walking a really Huge dog, very big and fluffy I tell you, and I think I was too stunned by the dog such that I forgot to take out my camera to get a shot of it. Because of the tranquility of this neighbourhood, I was sad to change hotel and had high hopes of Liberty Hotel. After grabbing a quiche for breakfast at our favourite bakery, we set off for Jacques Bonsergent Metro station.

Liberty Hotel is a short walk from two Metro stations, Jacques Bonsergent and Gare De Lest. It might be a less residential place, because there were fewer adults walking their dogs. However, there were many amenities such as a grocery stop which made it convenient for us to buy mineral water and fruits etc. There is also a police station located right next to our hotel which gave us some assurance. Eventually, when we saw our rooms, we knew we had made the right choice.

With a prettier room, television (too), wireless Internet (too) and breakfast provided for the same price of 27.50 euros/night, Liberty Hotel was a more decent hotel. Tian and I gladly left our backpacks in our room and began our sightseeing for the day. First stop, Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre Basilique.

Oh I love this place very much. The streets are lined with cafes and restaurants on both sides, with people just chilling out at the cafes watching tourists go past - very French. It was so hard for us to choose a restaurant for lunch because there were so many restaurants serving the same type of food (think the usual pasta and pizza) and prices were similar too. We couldn't judge a restaurant by the number of patrons because most of the restaurants had about the same number of diners. We couldn't be too picky or else we would not have time for sightseeing hence we settled for this restaurant, Pizzeria Bella Italia.


We had a ham and cheese pizza (of course the name of the menu is something more sophisticated) and a Carbonara. It was our first decent and expensive meal after 5 days, and we were so excited. Tian complained, as I was busy snapping pictures of the food and refused to let him eat first.

See, I even had rose wine and Tian had orange juice, which cost more than my wine. And of course before the main courses came, we feasted on the bread, drenching it in olive oil. I love bread, with butter or olive oil.

We savoured our food as we watched 'buskers' trying to make a living. They are individual men carrying musical instruments (a violin etc.) and they would go up to the outdoor tables of restaurants and cafes and ask the people if they want him to play for a token of money. Most of the time they would be rejected, and then they would continue down the street to try their luck with tourists.

I persuaded Tian to have a tiramisu for dessert! I'm so spoilt haha. Tian can't stand my sweet tooth.

After lunch, we strolled to the Funiculaire de Montmartre. We had trouble finding the basilica and with directions from the locals, we were told to walk to the Funiculaire. Initially, I was wondering for so long what a funicular was before I realised it was a train, more like a lift that moved diagonally instead of vertically upwards, which served to transport people up a hill. We didn't have to buy tickets because our Paris Visite Pass covered for it so up we went! I have no idea why I didn't take photos of the Funiculaire. =p


I have to confess that I went to Europe without knowing the difference between a basilica, cathedral and church. Anyway don't you think this basilica made of white stone is majestic?


To add to the grand factor, it is located on a hill top, overlooking the city, providing yet another panoramic view of Paris. There were so many tourists relaxing on the steps to the basilica, enjoying the view and the cool weather. And there were buskers too!

This was a group of boys' choir, I can't remember where they're from. But they sang very well and got many cheers and applauses from the crowd. Spot the cute guys!


We went on a tour inside the basilica, which was crowded with visitors and locals who were making solemn prayers. I sat down for a very long time inside the basilica to say a little prayer to the Mighty one high up, for our friend to rest in peace, and for her family and friends to have the strength and courage to find inner peace and get past this difficult time of grief.

The walls were badly vandalised, as were the walls of Metro stations all over Paris. The extent of vandalism in Paris was an eye-opener - Imagine the underground rail tracks, the walls of the tunnel in which the train travelled, every single wall of the tunnel was vandalised, "decorated" with huge colourful words which I obviously could not read. Good thing the trains were only minimally "decorated" by the budding artists of Paris.

We love conquering domes! It's tiring, it cost 5 euros each, but since we're all the way in France, why miss the domes! It's good workout anyway haha, and the view is beautiful anywhere.


We continued out stroll towards Montmartre square, where we were greeted by many portrait artists who set up their easels in the place. Sadly, a portrait of myself would cost 50 euros, making that S$100 so I was a very sad girl that day. I would love a portrait of myself so badly, done originally by the French artists at Montmartre, how cool is that! My darling boyfriend just did not think much of it. =p I lingered around the square for a long time, watching these talented artists sketch out faces with such quick strokes of the hand, as if it was such an easy task.



Many paintings for sale. It's a very nice, artsy place.

Another busker or musician, I don't know what her instrument is called, the thing which you feed paper with holes and music is produced as she turned the handle.

From Montmartre, we headed for Moulin Rouge. All I know is that it is located near Montmartre, and from the directions we get from the locals, it was supposed to be 'around the corner' or 'just straight up'. It turned out to be such a long walk, Tian and I really thought we were getting it wrong.


You know you're in Moulin Rouge when you start seeing the sex shops haha. Anyway there's really nothing much about Moulin Rouge in the day, the next time I'm in France, I'm going back there at night. I'm sure it's not that dangerous. I want to see the sleeziness of this famous place!


Making use of the very short afternoon left, we visited Notre-Dame, just in time to visit the cathedral, not in time to climb up the towers. We re-visited Notre-Dame on Day 7, and I'm so glad we didn't miss it.


Don't you think the towers of Notre-Dame are beautiful? I like the great rose window, and also the delicate, soaring columns, and all that ornaments which I can't describe in words, it's so gorgeous. And the square in front of the cathedral was crowded with tourists, and we saw the pigeons! Yeap a trademark of Europe maybe, everyone was crazy over feeding the pigeons and taking pictures of the birds standing on their hands.

This old man was happily feeding the pigeons until they surrounded him and even flew up on his body till he had to shoo them away.

Notre-Dame has got to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals – ok I bet I say that for every cathedral I visit but seriously, Notre-Dame is gorgeous. There was a mass going on but surprisingly, visitors were still allowed to tour the cathedral along the sides, and photography was allowed.

When we first stepped into the cathedral, there was this music that sounded surrounded the whole cathedral. Perhaps to signify the beginning of a mass or something, we don't know. All the tourists followed the sound waves to find the source of the beautiful melody. And we saw the majestic organs of Notre-Dame.



The South Rose Window

Statue of St. Joan of Arc inside Notre-Dame.

The impressive interior of Notre-Dame, with the slender, graceful columns.



The actual size of a chandelier, it was way taller than me.

Candles, some tourists bought them as sourveniors.

(discoverfrance.net) The west front contains 28 statues representing the monarchs of Judea and Israel. The three portals depict, from left to right, the Last Judgment; the Madonna and Child; St. Anne, the Virgin's mother; and Mary's youth until the birth of Jesus.


The full glory of Gothic

(Fast forward to Day 7, we revisited Notre-Dame to climb the towers.) I remembered on this day, there was a long queue to the towers of Notre-Dame, and the thing is they regulate the number of people going up perhaps to avoid congestion on the narrow walkway.

Fantastic birds, hybrid animals and mythical monsters perched on the towers of Notre-Dame. It was quite fun pointing out the different creatures on the towers.


Tian's imitating the stryga - transliteration of the Greek word meaning bird of night, vampire or hag. In oriental legend a nocturnal and evil spirit.

The gargoyles creeping over the surface of the walls

I do not know if we were supposed to find Quasimodo, I thought I read somewhere on the tower that there we can see the statue of Quasimodo hanging down from one of the towers but Tian and I did not manage to find it. I don't think it exists.

I ought to read Victor Hugo's novel one day, maybe I'll appreciate Notre-Dame even more.

Inside the belfry.

I don't know if this is the cathedral's largest bell.

We continued climbing up to the top of the south tower, and we were welcomed by a breathtaking view over the Seine and its bridges, which gave Notre-Dame the rare charm of being a cathedral at the water's edge.




Dinner time! It was a headache deciding on a restaurant for dinner. Latin Quarter is food haven. You'll find a restaurant or café on every street and corner, and each restaurant just gets better and better, or more expensive. =p And by evening, it was getting rather chilly. We settled for this brasserie because we saw that the food portion was huge and the price was reasonable.

The food was so so good. I think we were rather deprived of steak. And fries and salad! We chose the outdoor seats because almost every Parisian in the cafe was smoking and the pollution was unbearable (café was quite crowded). But soon it got too cold for me, I really need a warm and chic winter coat.


A double decker train which Tian thought was cool.

It was only about 7.30pm to 8pm and we thought we had time to visit the Eiffel Tower but traveled all the way there to find that we missed the last lift up to the top level of the Tower by just a few minutes. That means we had to come back for the Tower on another night, blah..

(discoverfrance.net) Built to celebrate the science and engineering achievements of its age, soaring 300m / 984 ft. (320.75m / 1,052 ft. including antenna) and weighing 7000 tons, the structure consists of two visibly distinct parts: a base composed of a platform resting on four separate supports (called pylons or bents) and,

above this, a slender tower created as the bents taper upward, rising above a second platform to merge in a unified column.



An immense structure of exposed latticework supports made of iron.

While the night was still young, we took the opportunity to pose with the Eiffel Tower.





Parc du Champ-de-Mars was a beautiful place to relax on the grass and gaze at the Tower. There were even tourists picnicking on the grass with food and wine!

At the end of Champ-de-Mars there was a huge wall with the word “peace” inscribed in 32 languages. My memory card did not allow me to take a picture of the transparent glass/plastic wall. In front of the wall was the 18th century Ecole Militaire, a military academy.

Parc du Champ-de-Mars was once a parade ground for French troops, now, it is a vast green esplanade beneath the Tower.

It was a long walk to the Metro station and we were so glad to return to our cosy hotel room. Touring can be a tiring affair. It was an interesting night too because from our hotel room, we saw the police bringing a criminal to the police station which was located just next to the hotel. Tian and I are kpo people haha. Good night, Paris!