.::. Christmas .::.

Christmas came and went. It simply whirled past, with me battling jet-lag and struggling hard to stay awake.



Reunited with the boy and the dog.

There was lunch and dinner at his place on Christmas day. I was cutting up ham before lunch, stuffing myself with food before realizing that I was falling asleep on the sofa. Then I went to his room for a nap till dinner, only to find myself falling asleep again on his sofa - for 2 hours straight when everyone was so noisy. =_="

Then there was the Christmas stuff, tree, presents, ham, turkey, lamb, log cakes and whats-not.

Then there was Glenn's birthday. This is the 5th time I'm celebrating his nephew's birthday. 5 years, 5th Christmas together.

Has it really been that long?

.::. Great Food .::.

Met up with Ju, Chye and JS to have dinner at Newton Circus. I love the Heng's Carrot cake and A1's BBQ stingray and lala. It's heavenly!



Most of the food we ordered. These goes really well with a cup of sugar cane juice with lemon. =)

The girls wanted to have durians and JS drove us to Geylang for durians. This is not the usual stall I usually have my durian fix though...

*yums!

The girls.

I'm enjoying the good food, and I still have a list of food which I want to eat before I go back to Sweden! Super deprived from good food there, especially spicy food.

I'm totally jet-lagged. I sleep at totally weird timings and my body feels really weird.

How can I sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling so darn pissed and angry that my house is so darn messy?! Arghz!

I swear I'm going to throw half the stuff out in the middle of the night. I'm so sick of this mess. It's almost impossible to do anything when they want to keep all the old furniture, then bring in more furniture and can't bear to throw away any old stuff because it 'might be useful'.


The biggest realization - it's really difficult to live with others. That very reason is more than enough to put me off marriage.

Although there are many lonely moments in the past few months, I realized that I feel more calm and at peace with myself. No anger. It's like I've put all my stress and problems in life on hold and went out to explore the world. Carefree.

Free.

.::. imustbegood .::.

I came back home and realized that my room has practically become a storeroom. Then I realized that practically every single drawer of my stuff has been repacked and what I wanted to find is no longer where it used to be anymore and I've no freaking idea where it is now. I curse when I try to freaking find it again, only to realize that another of my drawer has also been repacked. Everytime I can't find my stuff, the anger rises within me and consumes me all over again.

I hate it when people goes through my stuff. I hate it. Period.

It pisses me so bad when I can't find my things and all I feel like doing is curse and scream the house down. It takes so much self-restraint, so freaking much self-restraint to shut up and take deep breaths to contain my anger.

imustbegoodimustbegoodimustbegood.

I'm so going to spend the next few weeks putting my stuff back to where I like it to be and pray that it won't be repacked when I leave again.

Living alone all my life seems like a very good choice.

.::. Farewell @ Lund .::.

It was my last night in Lund. We met up for dinner since all of us will be leaving for home or traveling.



I whipped up an Asian dinner.

From left: Me, Elaine, Hsiao Feng, Emma, Tobias and Anny.

A group picture, without Jessica since she has already left for holidays!

My last night in Lund, going to take the train.

Be back in January!

.::. In Umeå .::.



From left: Eden, Claire, Anny, Rita and Me.

It was quite a relaxing trip and we spent alot of time chatting and cooking. We had dumplings and stir-fried pork for dinner, it was great! Rita made the dumplings from scratch sometime back and freezed it. I want to learn how to make the dumpling skin! It's one of the nicest handmade ones I've tasted.

This is our 'room' for 2 nights. Rita was really nice to host us and bring us around for 2 days.

There was so much snow and that I really felt like diving into the snow and scamble in it. Hahas. We made snow angels in the snow though!

There was alot of snow.

Did I mention that I love snow?

.::. Catching up .::.

Met up with the girls the very day I arrived in Singapore.



J4. *loves.



Welcoming a new member..J4+4 =)

The engaged couple.

The boyfriend. He barely slept since he finished work at 2am and went to the airport to pick me up at 7am; before going back to school to work till the evening, then picking me up for dinner.

I slept the whole afternoon away but could still barely wake up.

Satisfied my craving for Suan La Tang La Mian and Xiao long Baos at Imperial Treasure. *yums!

It feels so good to catch up with my closest friends and see that everyone is happy and blissful. Loves my Christmas present too! Ju got me a 2010 organizer and Jo got me a very nice book while Chye got me a pair of earrings. =)

*happy.

.::. First Snow in Malmo .::.

We went out in the snow at midight. To our amazement, the snow was still there when we woke up the next morning. There was even some sun! Obviously, we grabbed our cameras and went out for some shooting.



Really loves the scenery!

It's probably the snow, but it makes me look really young. Hahs.

Jumping shots!

A whole row of Christmas trees!

It's Christmas Eve today and I've been sleeping so much. Totally jet-lagged. Hopefully the boyfriend finishes his work soon to bring me out for dinner, else I'll be stucked at home on Christmas Eve...

.::. Home .::.

I'm home!

It feels so good, except that I feel like I'm in an oven and I feel so darn hot despite a cold shower. Even the aircon feels warmer than our indoors with heater. The sun is shining so brightly outside.

My room is like twice as messy since I last seen it. Goodness, it drives me crazy.

I'm totally jet-lagged. Couldn't sleep o the plane at all. I watched 4 movies!

Shall go get some shuteye before meeting the girls and their other half tonight. Christmas exchange! *weeeee

.::. Saying Goodbye .::.

It has been a good 3 days 2 nights in Umea. It's a really peaceful and beautiful little town with spectacular scenery. We've to thank Rita for hosting us, and also Eden and Claire. =)

I was rather worried that our train back to Lund would be delayed or canceled due to the heavy snow. Thank god, it was only delayed for 30 minutes and we got back on time. Even managed to have a 'farewell' dinner before all of us leave for home or holidays.



My first (ugly) snowman! It was so cold that the snow was too dry to 'stick'. It's like trying to make a snowman with sand.

On the bridge.



Beautiful winter.

Frozen lake.

In a few hours time, I'll be on the plane back home. =)

I can't believe it has been more than four months since I left Singapore.

It is probably the most adventurous four months in my life and I've experienced so many different things.

It's amazing that I've gotten so used to life here. I used to complain about the cold even when it was like 15 degrees. It felt so unbearably cold when the temperature dipped below 10 degrees. Yet now, I'm comfortable with subzero temperatures and could survive with just jeans and a good jacket.

There's snow everywhere now. There's a ridiculous amount of snow! They say that it has been like 8 years since there's so much snow in this part of Sweden. I love snow, but I've experienced how such weather could cause lots of delays and disturbances to everyday life. The snow on the roads are all melting into a brownish heap, looking like mud. Roads are all wet and slippery. There's an ugly side to snow too.

There's so much I felt, so much I'm feeling. There have been so many moments which made me feel really touched and contented.

It's time to say goodbye to Sweden for now. I'll be back for more. Despite the many obstacles and not-so-pleasant stuff I've experienced, I still find myself loving it here. I'll miss it here.

I'm looking forward to catching up with the girls. It's been four months and dear Ju found a really nice guy while dear Chye is engaged! I'm so happy for them, and so excited to catch up with gossip.

It's the longest time I'm away from the boy and the first time we are so far apart on our anniversary. It's been such a long journey, and I'm really thankful to have him behind me all the time.

I'm going back home, where the heart is.

.::. Nydala .::.

We walked for 30 minutes to Lake Nydala nearby, this very beautiful lake.



Enroute, with Eden and Anny. I look like a giant beside them, especially Eden!

This is the lake, but it's all frozen (it was minus 24 degrees) and we were walking on it.

A group picture after making a not-so-nice snowman.



The scenery was really beautiful!

.::. Umeå .::.

Umeå is in the Northern part of Sweden, a 15 hour train ride away from Malmo.

We were really unlucky. The train which we reserved seats was delayed for more than an hour. We had to change our tickets and ended up taking a train to Sundervale before changing a bus to Umeå. It was freezing when we reached Sundervale at 4am and had to wait for an hour before we got up the connecting bus. It was minus 24 degrees that night, ridiculously cold.



The sun rises at about 9am here. When I opened my eyes, beautiful skies greeted me.

There is always beautiful scenery enroute on bus rides, but it's so difficult to capture them on a moving bus.

The weather was really great yesterday, though it's a freezing minus 24 degrees.

This was when we almost reached town. The whole river was frozen.

How cold is minus 24 degrees? Very very cold.

My feet was so cold, numb and painful that I had no choice but to buy a pair of warm snow boots here. I'm really warm and cozy after getting that pair of boots though. Minus 24 degrees is bearable!

Then again, snow is beautiful. Really beautiful.

.::. I love Snow! .::.

I spent the whole day working on my damned take-home exam. This has got to be the most 'disgusting' exam ever! The questions were so open, e.g. What do you think is the future of management consulting? Then there's the no upper word limit and it is encouraged that we look for other sources or articles outside the course materials. *sigh. I shall leave that rant for another day.



It was snowing outside while I worked on my home exam. You've no idea how much I longed to go out for a stroll. The snow totally melted once it hit the ground though it snowed throughout the afternoon.

Then, at almost midnight, my roommate suddenly exclaimed how 'white' it was outside. I was in shock! There was totally no snow when I went to the supermarket in the evening - I had a headache after working on the essay for the whole day and sneaked out to get a coke. Somehow, a coke perks me up when I'm tired. It's as if the gas fills me up if you get what I mean.

*tadah! Upon looking out of the kitchen window, I was roaring to head out! There was so much snow and it was beautiful.

The snow was like 5cm? Ther was really quite abit of snow, totally unexpected since everyone here tells me that it's quite impossible to have snow-covered ground in this part of Sweden.



It was still snowing quite heavily when we came in. Our neighbourhood is instantly transformed, I almost can't believe my eyes. I wonder if the ground will still be covered in snow when I wake up tomorrow morning.

I'm still extremely excited when I see snow. Ridiculously so, seriously. I just can't help grining and feeling really happy. Swedish people must think that I'm crazy.

I'm happy. Very happy.

I'm going up north with Anny to visit her Taiwanese friend up north tomorrow. It's a 15-hour train ride and there should be more snow over there! We might be able to see the northern lights or go skiiing too. I'm excited!

And after the short trip, I'll be heading home! I've packed my luggage, filled with my books and notes for the past 4 months. I'm looking forward to home! I miss sunny singapore. I miss the boy, the dog, the girls and my home.

Then again, there is this tiny part of me which can't bear to leave. It must be the snow, it's too beautiful.

Honestly, I'm contented. Awfully so. There's nothing more I can ask for.

I can almost say I can die with no regrets. Almost.

.::. Snow .::.

Amazingly, it was still snowing when classes ended at 5pm.



It was quite heavy!

I'm totally excited, though snow makes the floor really slippery!

Very Christmasy once it snows.

And we had dinner at the Thai restaurant again. Brought one of our classmate, a Swedish guy who was borned in Canada to try Thai food. Hahs. Hot and spicy Thai food on a snowing night is really great!

Gonna rest early tonight and continue on our home exam tomorrow. By tomorrow night, I'll have finished all my exams. *yayyyyy!!!

Till then...

.::. Last Lesson .::.

Today was the last lesson of the term. We had a 5-hour seminar in this beautiful building. It's the presentation and discussion/comments for our group CSR report.



I used to walk past this building, thinking that it was beautiful. It was still sort of sunny abeilt with grey skies in the noon.

Halfway through the seminar, it started snowing outside! It snowed quite heavily throughout the afternoon and it's the first time I've seen such heavy snow!



Only I was crazy enough to grab my coat and head out into the snow during the break, basking in the moment. Well, it's the novelty of new experiences. Perhaps after a few more times, I'll simply shrug when I see snow. Hahs.

It really snowed quite abit.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! *loves.

.::. Climate Change Rally .::.

We went to the Bright Green Expo today and headed to town for the 'peaceful' demonstration.

It's the first time I 'took part' in such a demonstration for the obvious reason that demonstrations of such scale is impossible in Singapore, and it's illegal anyway.



There was alot of energy in the air, it was electrifying really. There were so many people with banners, in costumes, waving flags and props. There were even parents bringing their kids along in bicycles.

People climbed up the bus stops, roads were closed and it was almost like a big carnival. I was basking in the atmosphere and feeling rather excited being in the middle of all the action.

That was until the 'explosion'. We took pictures of this 'cool' group in black which were just slightly infront of us. Then after awhile, we heard a loud noise. I thought it was gunshots. And when it sounded again and again, we got rather shocked as people started moving away from that group. Amidst the chaos, I actually witnessed some of these people in black throwing black metal-like eggs towards the police along a small street.

Before I had the time to panick, Anny was already pulling Jessica and Henry was asking me to hold onto his bag tight. We managed to get out really fast, unscathed, apart from the shock. Police started closing in really quickly and blocked the road for awhile before letting the people continue. We looked on by the bridge and saw many police cars started unloading armed special forces into the crowd. The rest of the demonstrators behind seem oblivious to what just happened and they continued.

We stood by the bridge for abit to look on, and there was an obscene number of people. But we were in shock and really didn't feel very safe and fled the scene after awhile.

When we were away from the demonstrators, along the shopping street, it was a totally different atmosphere. Police were in sight EVERYWHERE but people were happily shopping.

*sigh. What an experience. I'm still reeling in shock somewhat. We were so close, and it's my very first time witnessing such a thing. I reckon the most important thing is that I'm safe at home, away from the chaos.

We came back and checked the news, something like 700 people were arrested and there don't seem to be any mention of those 'bombs' from the 'people in black' though. There were people throwing stones and smashing shops, resulting in mass arrests.

It was quite a cool experience, but it just makes me aware that nothing is really what it seems. At the end of the day, what is the point of such demonstrations? Does it really bring awareness and influences policy makers? Or does it result in a loss of lives, waste of resources and destruction?

I really don't quite get it.

People ask me why did I go? I guess it was difficult for me not to go when all the 'action' in this world is focused at somewhere so near at this point of time. I didn't expect it to be violent nor dangerous and I thought that it would be a great experience. But of course, safety always comes first. I'm safe and sound, just alittle wiser. =)