.::. Lomma Beach @ Spring .::.

I went to Lomma beach about 10km away from Lund last Summer, when it was still sunny and warm. Finally, it's warm enough to head to the beach again.



There were people riding along the beach!

The beach was not THAT beautiful, but beaches are still nice places. We brought lots of food and had a picnic there - wine, cheese, bread, pasta, chips, juice...I even fell asleep for awhile.

I took a bus there the last time, but this time, we cycled there. It's a solid 45 -1 hour of cycling one-way.



Luckily, landscapes are beautiful enroute. It's very 'Swedish', and it's probably my favourite thing about Sweden - beautiful untouched landscapes and blue skies.

.::. Malmo @ Spring .::.

When Spring is approaching, it's as if everyone gets out of their homes to bask under the sun.



Went to the city center last weekend, and it was really crowded. It really reminds me of my first visit to Malmo when I first arrive. It was the Malmo festival and there were also many people on the streets.

Lilla Torg, the little square lined with cafes and restaurants were filled to the brim!

There are also couples dancing at the square.

And people simply sitting around to bask in the sunshine.

It's almost funny how the people workship sun here whereas we hide in the shade or under umbrellas. But perhaps, if we didn't have sun for half the year, we would be like that too.

It's turning warm and I enjoy the sun too, just that I pile lots of sunblock on my face before going out. I still refuse to get frekles and let my skin age under the sun.

I've washed all my winter clothes and packed them into ziplock bags. I've also been rounding up my things and I can't imagine packing everything into a suitcase and go home in just 2 months time. It almost felt like I just arrived not long ago.

There's always an ending to everything, every season, every period in one's life. Very soon, I'll stop living my dream, but it'll remain as a beautiful dream fulfilled and fully enjoyed.

.::. Hunger .::.

I do feel that I'm deprived of food here. While there's dessert and the weekly dinners, it's just different. We usually have salad and a dish here. All I can say is, the variety, texture and taste of Asian food is so much more than what Europeans are used to. I miss ordering one whole table of hawker food! I miss tasting spicy, soupy, sour, salty and sweet all in one meal.



The cheesecake for Emma's birthday turned out rather well! It tastes like a REAL cheesecake, heavy and thick, just like the way I love it. I also tried making lasagne that day, it was a success too.

P.S. I dislike Japanese light cheesecake.

One of our weekly dinners. Salad and french salty cake. It was good, but well...

Continental breakfast for brunch last weekend. Oven-pancakes, scones, crepes, fruits and corn.

I realized that I dislike continental breakfast, too much flour! Moreover, I prefer salty food in the morning. It was then, that I realized that I'm alot more 'American' than 'European' although Singapore used to be a British Colony. Many of our habits and stuff seems to be more aligned with the American culture.

I love eggs for breakfast. My favourite breakfast has got to be eggs (scrambled, sunny-side-up, soft-boiled or omelette), with sausages or bacon, some baked beans with toast. I went to check, it's called 'American Breakfast'. I do like pancakes and scones, though I can't swallow too much flour for breakfast.

Then, there's the Vegetarian bee hoon, chwee kway and cheong fan, prata, egg tarts and beancurd. Perhaps, I still prefer Asian breakfast - think HK's yum cha.

I hardly eat meat here, because it's expensive. I had my first piece of steak here yesterday, because it was on sale in the supermarket. 2 pieces for 6sgd! I had it with oven-baked potatoes. *yums!!! I forgot how much I love meat, I'm a carnivore at heart really.

There are many vegetarians in Europe. The most common reason is perhaps that their family were vegetarians or that they condemn the killing of animals.

Oh well, for someone who lives to eat like me, I need my good food. Otherwise, life is not worth living.

Seriously.

I can't wait to go home and EAT. I totally feel deprived here, food-wise at least.

.::. Spring .::.

Spring is here!



Flowers have started blooming everywhere.

The weather is pretty good these days.

When it's sunny, you could see people on the grass everywhere.

=)

.::. My Pride .::.

Me thinks that this year's car looks better than the last. He spent so many nights working without sleep, putting in so much effort into this little car. I can't believe it's the end of the road already.

We were watching a movie in 'The Cathay', the new cinema which has just recently opened. He was telling me about this team which designs and builds cars to race in U.S.. The workload is crazy, but you get to compete in U.S. on a school-sponsored trip. He warned me about the crazy nights, but it sounded so cool and too good to be true. I was envisioning myself, tagging along to the U.S. even before he even applied for the team, and he was laughing at me. We used the free internet terminals at Cathay to send in the application. There was one section which asked for additional comments to include and I told him to write 'My girlfriend is very supportive of me.'. He actually did write that and sent it out, making it to the team.

I nearly regretted encouraging him when he spent so many nights working at school and weekends, so drained that he barely stayed awake around me and was always late for our dates. There are days when I got really upset, and all he can offer is that he was tired and he couldn't help it. Well, I like men who take their work seriously. I'm proud of him.

Happy 64th month anniversary my dear.

45 more days before I get to see you in Europe!

.::. The Valkyries .::.

"Anyone can see that. But we're always looking at the things that are closest to us. Looking down and inward. So our power diminishes, and using your term, our soul shrinks."

"When we are young, we don't take anything too seriously. But slowly, this set of daily rituals becomes solidified, and takes us over. Once things have begun to go along pretty much as we imagined they would, we don't dare risk altering the ritual. We like to complain, but we are reassured by the fact that each day is more or less like every other. At least there is no unexpected danger."

"That way, we are able to avoid any inner or outer growth, except for the kinds that are provided within the ritual: so many children, such and such a kind of promotion, this and that kind of financial success. When the ritual becomes consolidated, the person becomes a slave."

"Well, meet your obligations. But obligations never prevented anyone from following their dreams. Remeber that you are a manifestation of the absolute, and do only those things in your lives that are worth the effort. Only those who do that will understand the great transformations that are yet to be seen."

This has got to be my favourite book by Paulo Coelho thus far. Its descriptions are rather apt, and triggers one's reflection. I've been reading quite abit these days, going back to those days when I curl in bed with a good read.

It's as if...my soul has grown. It has definitely been growing the past many months.

.::. Bruges .::.

The Venice of the North.



It was one of the places which I really wanted to visit.

Beautiful canals.

The historic city, a World Heritage Site of UNESCO was pretty.

.::. Shit Happens .::.

I was still using my laptop to take down notes during the meeting with the professors for our thesis yesterday morning. The next thing I know, the laptop doesn't work when I tried to on it at night. *sigh!

It's ridiculous. It's so new, everything works fine, just that the screen shows nothing. It is like god is playing a joke on me, now that I've 8 weeks left here and have to work hard on my thesis.

One thing I learnt here is to take things in my stride and not let things get to me, especially things I could not change. All I could do is make the best out of it and look forward. There are times when all I feel like doing is to hide under my blanket and cry, but I refuse to waste my precious time like that.

The laptop still works well when connected to a monitor. I managed to borrow one old monitor from Tobias, and he helped me carry the big-fat-heavy monitor to the train station, after which I had to carry it myself down the train and to change another bus home. My goodness, it was so heavy, I nearly died! The monitor works well, though it 'turns off' after some time, and I've to unplug the electric supply and reconnect it all the time. But well, at least it works! I hope it lasts me through the next 8 weeks.

It's impossible to repair the laptop here since it cost 60euros just for checking, and might cost a bomb if I've to replace something. It should be free back home since it's under warranty. Moreover, I'm well aware of the efficiency here - I'll die without a computer for the next 4 weeks!

So yea, shit happens but I'm thankful that it ain't that bad. It could have been worse.

I'm indebted to many people who have helped me in one way or another the past months. I'm thankful.