.::. Chinook's 3rd Birthday .::.

Chinook turned 3 yesterday. How time flies, I still remember holding him in my arms when he was just 3 months old. I will always remember the first day he was home. He shit everywhere, stepped on his own shit and I had shit all over me when I carried him up (since he was stepping all over me with his shitty paws).

Now, he's such a big boy. Chinook stays with Joel and his family now, since they helped to look after him while I was in Sweden. I do miss Chinook, I miss his smell in my room and how I always see him by my bedside the moment I open my eyes. He was been there for me when I'm upset, and I talk to him alot too. But I reckon he's alot happier at Joel's place since his family loves (and spoils) him. My mom's afraid of Chinook and complains about his hair all the time (among her many complaints) and my dad asks me to give him away (he probably thinks that it's a passing phrase that I'll get over). They never do understand.




The family. =) Chinook will always be an important part of us. Joel has a soft spot for Chinook, and Chinook do make things easier for our relationship. He's like the glue that cements the cracks in our relationship. Afterall, it's Joel who made me fall in love with dogs. Chinook mean so much to me, and it's like we have a connection with each other.

His family loves dogs, his dad especially, and he grew up with many dogs. His dad was still talking about getting a 'second Chinook'. It's something which I would like someday, and I'll name my 2nd dog 'Chiky' to rhyme with Chinook. I like taking photos, and 'Chiky' sounds like my shutter sound too. =p

Chinook's birthday cake. I ordered a bigger one with his name written on top from U.S. Dog Bakery. But to my astonishment, someone else collected Chinook's cake and I'm stranded without a cake. They were celebrating their opening and did not even check the recipt! It's either that someone collected the wrong cake or tried to get a free cake on purpose (so cheapskate!). They gave me 2 mini cakes like this and decided to refund my money for my order.

Bear bear was invited to Chinook's birthday party too. Bear Bear is Chinook's best friend, and they kept circling each other endlessly throughout the night. Chinook is so energetic and Bear Bear's getting old, he ended up getting so frustrated with Chinook that he barks at Chinook. But it all seem like a game to them and both of them had their tails wagging the whole night.

Chinook was so tired and lazy today. I'm sure Bear Bear was the same!

A group picture of the night. We watched Harry Potter I

It was a great night. All of us, including the dogs had a great time. =)

Happy Birthday Chinook, Happy Birthday Singapore. *love love.

.::. We ♥ Singapore .::.

We had a cooking competition to celebrate Singapore's 45th Birthday this weekend. Thanks to Jo, who's always churning out all sorts of interesting ideas (can't imagine what goes on in her mind). This time round, 4 of us were supposed to choose an ingredient, then draw lots. We were supposed to cook a dish with the ingredient we were given. We will be graded based on categories like creativity, taste, presentation and theme, which is National Day.



I was given 'Portobello mushrooms'. I marinated the mushrooms for an hour before grilling it in the oven. After that, I cut them up and wrapped them into dumplings together with cheese. I was hoping that the dumpling would be filled with mushrooms and melted cheese. I even bought a red tray and cut the cucumbers into 'star' shapes to adhere to the theme. The sauce of chilli and tar-tar sauce is Joel's contribution. Although it didn't turn out as heavenly as I imagined (the mushroom shrinked and the dumplings were quite empty inside), I won the cooking challenge. I think I won because of the presentation and theme, since none of them really worked on that part.

The dinner. Ju made steamed toufu with minced meat in Marmite sauce (the ingredient which was given by Jo). I've never tried Marmite sauce, but I like egg toufu! Jo deep-fried the eggs in flour and stir-fried it with salted egg. I was the one who came up with the ingredient 'egg' because it was so common and difficult to score on creativity and taste. I thought her dish was quite creative though I'm really not a salted-egg person.

It was a great dinner!

Chye made dessert with her given ingredient - 'black tea' (Ju chose that ingredient). It's so challenging, but she made quite a few desserts with earl grey tea, and I really liked it! My favourite is iced earl-grey tea with earl-grey jelly. It smells so nice, and I love earl-grey!

Her 'official' competing dish was 'Earl-grey-misu'. She used earl grey tea to make tiramisu and it must have been alot of work since she grinded the tea leaves to mix it into the mascapone cheese to bring out the earl-grey flavour. Although I felt that the texture wasn't smooth enough (because of the grinded tea bits), I really liked the smell and I think it'll taste very good with a few more tries and some improvision!

Chye even made Lavander ice-cream!!! I found it too creamy, but it's a good try! At this rate, we'll be able to open our dessert shop in a few years' time!

I miss those baking days in Sweden, trying out diffierent recipes with Emma every week. *sigh! My kitchen is a very incondusive place for baking here, since it's so cluttered and there's no empty space anywhere! For me, mood and the heart plays a big part in cooking. Without which, nothing would taste good. Since my kitchen is so cluttered and messy, it's hard to make anything that tastes good inside it.

*sighsigh. I shall try to make time to bake something delicious soon! I really want to try the ice-cream recipe book that Joel got for me from U.S.'s Ben and Jerry's. =)

.::. Hej, Sweden! .::.



Wrote an article for Lainey about my experience in Sweden. I'll remember all those precious moments, the best year in my life.

http://www.freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/personality/911-hej-sweden

.::. Picnic-king .::.

We went to Botanical Gardens last weekend for a picnic, a pre-birthday celebration for dear Jo. We met up at Serene Center, got everything from Cold Storage and walked over.



The 4 of us. =)

My dear girls.

The idea of spending a day in the park, not doing much and chatting is indeed a good idea. If only Singapore weren't so hot and if only I ain't so afraid of the heat! I can't help but enjoy picnics here less because I'm so sweaty and I feel like I'm melting. I miss picnics in Sweden when it's sunny yet so cooling.

Chinook joined us too. He played with a toddler and had some interactions with other dogs. He's still so timid, although it's been a big improvement.

We need a bigger mat the next time!

.::. Jojo's Birthday .::.

It was Jojo's birthday last Wednesday. We met up for dinner and the usual celebration.



Jo wanted to have Ippudo ramen. Somehow, I still think that Japan's ramen is way better! I wonder if I'm biased, or it's just the mood and weather?

We then went to Arteastiq to cut the cake and hang out. It's so nice and classy, I like!

I really liked my Earl-grey and Lavander tea with champagn vanilla ice-cream. It's my kind of drink, but way too expensive!

Happy Birthday my dear. May happiness and good health be with you.

.::. Catching Up .::.

Had dinner with my ex-colleagues tonight. Jefta, our finance manager who is workin at the Sydney office now was back in town for training. It's nice to see everyone again!



Met up with Honey first. I took over her position when I was with GE Healthcare.

A small group of the finance team.

One year passed us by so quickly. It's amazing how much has changed in the past year. Most of the people I've known there has already left.

It makes me wonder, what does on look for in their jobs? I'm still not very sure yet, and I'm apprehensive about starting all over again. I'm impressed by some who have so much drive and passion in their work, how they actually want to strive for more. Perhaps it's not the job that matters, it's the people you work with that matters more.

The rat race. Am I up for it?

.::. Disney! .::.

Disneyland Paris is my second Disney experience. It wasn't as good as the first in Japan, perhaps because the crowd here consists of mostly families and young kids. It's unlike the Japan's park which is filled with young teenagers and couples. I feel so old here!

The first time I went to Disneyland, Joey happily bought me an 'autograph' book and told me that I had to ask all the characters to sign on my book. It was like relieving his childhood experience. I didn't do that as a kid, and now he's making sure that I do it - and he's sure enjoying it. He's always ready with the camera, snapping pictures when I queue with kids, sometimes squeezing with them in order to get a signature on my autograph book. Now I have 2 Disneyland autograph books filled with signatures of many different characters. The one we got in Paris even has slots for me to put pictures of me and the characters (Joey obviously took care of that).

Those memories are filled with laughter. Disneyland is indeed a happy place. I fell in love with Donald duck there, because he's the most 'sensitive' charcter! He noticed that all the kids were squeezing ahead, and being so 'old', I obviously didn't dare to push ahead too. I was simply at a loss (and abit embarassed to be among the kids), and he noticed!! He tapped me, and gestured for me to wait. He then signed for me and took a picture with me!

It sounds somewhat dumb, but it's always good to have some 'child' in you!




I didn't manage to take pictures with Winnie the Pooh in Japan, and I finally succeeded this time round!

We took pictures with Mickey without needing to queue! We found the place where the photo-session was going to take place and happened to be the 2nd in line.

I didn't take a picture with Minnie the last time too. She noticed my 'Mickey/Minnie hands keychain hug on my bag!!


Disney, where dreams come true.

I very much preferred Japan's disney, for the crowd, the atmosphere and the abundance of cute sovenirs like the popcorn tubs! There was also no fireworks display, perhaps because the sky is still not dark when the park closes at 10pm.Disneyland is not over-rated.

Disneyland is...magical.

.::. Missing Sweden .::.

I really miss those days there, especially when old friends drop me a message. Those carefree days, my favourite beach near my place.

I've got an invitation to Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Greece! And I really would like to visit Emma again, Julia and Alex too.

I miss you girls!

.::. Amazing India Dubai .::.

I want to visit Dubai someday! Although I still think that man-made beauty could never be as beautiful as nature's beauty, one can't deny that those sky-scrappers which they are building are impressive.



Burj Khalifa also known us Burj Dubai or Dubai Tower, world's tallest building. Former tallest building, Taipei 101 is 508m tall and this is 828m tall, with 162 storeys!!!

Hyatt hotel, the most inclined building in the world. It's inclining 4 times more than Pisa, and Joey says I 'might' want to go there to take some pictures.

The Trump International Hotel & Tower.

Dubai towers Dubai. Very strange buildings! Joey says that it looks inspired by Gaudi, and I do not like Gaudi's work apart from the colourful tiles.

Looks like we must pay Dubai a visit someday, to take a picture of their amazing skyline. It's too incredible. They have too much money and nowhere to spend. Apart from these weird buildings, they build things like man-made island resembling the palm tree and the world map which can be viewed from the Moon (according to them). Then there's the underwater hotel that is built in Germany and assembled there. I wonder how much resources are they splurging on these needless luxuries! I feel somewhat sad for the environment (obviously being influenced by Europeans' somewhat), but I'm not going to pretend that I'm not impressed by humans' power.

Joey thinks that I'll be able to get very interesting magnets to add to my collection there.

The question is - WHEN should I visit Dubai?

They are building better and taller and more amazing buildings all the time!

.::. Souvenirs .::.

I'm a sucker for sovenirs when I travel, especially small and pretty stuff, things like magnets. Check out my pretty magnet board and Disney Paris puzzle!



*loves!

.::. Pray .::.

Officially, I'm a free-thinker and sometimes I tell people that I'm an atheist. But I believe in God, I believe that 'God' exists. I do pray often and seek solace in it although I am not religious.

I have visited so many churches the past 10 months and I have tried to have a better understanding of religion, namely Christianity. It is amazing how many are true believers, and the paintings of 'Jesus' and his sacrifice have been magnificent. I'm curious about how so many people could believe, without any doubt, in everything their religion says.



The first service I attended in Europe was in London's Westminister Abbey, with the boyfriend. It's where Princess Diana wedded and where all the royal events take place. I like the peaceful calm in churches, because it's always so beautiful inside and everyone is quiet and respectful. I tried to concentrate on the service, but I found it very difficult to 'surrender myself to god' and actually believe that I'm a slave to god and I'm supposed to serve him. I simply couldn't connect with these, nor could I draw strength from this. In short, I like the calm exterior but couldn't find peace within myself. I couldn't help but question 'seriously?!'

I can sense that the boyfriend is happy that I'm attending service with him (although he himself haven't attended service for god-knows-how-long). I really tried. When I visited Norte Dame in Paris, I told him that I'll pray to god humbly and hope that he answers my prayer. If he really does, I will try to learn about him. But then, nope, my prayer was not answered!

St Peter's at Vatican is the most beautiful church I have ever visited! After visiting St Peter's, all other church pales in comparison. The whole chuch was so grand and opulent, even more so than castles! I like marble, and all the sculptures inside were really stunning. I attended another service with the boyfriend here, and it lasted for about 90 minutes! I really couldn't connect to the verses, but I was really in awe of the stunning altar which was brightly lit. I even went to share 'bread' at the end, because I wanted to be fed by the cardinals in red.

It was such a stunning church, yet I couldn't feel connected in any way spiritually. Perhaps I'm too strong and independent, I can't 'submit' to god or anyone else. I just couldn't. God is someone whom I pray to when I'm in doubt or need help, but I can't submit fully and pretend that I'm not capable of dictating my own life.

I really loved Vatican, and I'm impressed by how people could submit to god without any doubt. The paintings and sculptures to workship god are really beautiful and amazing.

But at the end of the day, I simply can't, not with my heart nor my brain.

An interviewer asked me, why am I a free-thinker, because not many would admit that on their CV. I told him I found it hard to fully believe in any one religion because of all the conflicts and bloodshed religion has caused throughout history. Afterall, I'm a history student, a sociology student. Sociologists believe that people created religion. I do not believe that any god would condone bloodshed for religion, and it must be humans who caused these in the name of religion. Moreover, the bible was written by humans! Humans who are not perfect and have their own motivations! I couldn't understand why are there so many different branches of christianity and even conflicts between them when all of them follow the bible. Nobody could answer my questions nor really convince me.

At the end of the day, I still came back and went to the temple I always frequent. I felt so uneasy for weeks, because I've yet to pray there. I dislike the incense smoke and smell, and it's usually very warm and noisy. It's very unlike the quiet and calm interior of churches. Ironically, my heart found peace and calm despite the noisy surroundings. I prayed, and had faith that things will turn out fine. I simply felt like I've done what I'm supposed to do, and all should do is continue trying, wait, and have faith.

Eat, pray, love.

.::. Across the ocean, across the sea .::.



We took a stroll today, to East Coast Park.

It's actually quite a nice place really.

We brought Chinook along, and he's really alot braver now! But then, he's still timid by nature and refused to go into the water. He's also really afraid of bicycles.



It has been a quiet and calm evening, something which I needed.

Eversince I have been back, I really feel the stress. It's not like anyone is actually giving me stress, but it's just the whole environment in which I am in and the questions people ask. Jobs, money and marriage are constant topics, no matter who I talk to. As much as we may resent the way things are, we seem to be constantly reinforcing reality and subconsciously, stress.

I missed home so much while I was in Sweden. I missed the food and efficiency especially, but I was almost stress-free there. I never had trouble sleeping nor feel stressed. I simply felt so light and we don't seem to chat about stressful matters either. Europeans have such a laid-back perspective to life that it rubs off you. They don't seem to worry about much at all, not much about money nor job nor savings nor marriage nor society's/family's expectations of them. They simply seem so...free.

When I'm stressed, I need to go jogging or take a stroll. Otherwise I'll simply hide under my blankets, curl up and sleep it away.When a couple is jobless and job-hunting, there are times that it's hard to be upbeat and the frustration becomes contagious.

I think it's quarter-life crisis, 6 months early. I feel myself being swept by society's currents - do the 'right' thing, get a job, , save up, get married, have kids, earn more money to support your kids. While there's nothing wrong with that, there's this resistance within me which questions why I should follow the flow. What do I really want to do with my life?

I dread going back to the days, dragging myself to work, hating every moment of it, hoping that time passes me by so that I can get paid and clock enough time for my resume before I can quit. Everyweek passes me by, because I'm always looking forward to Fridays and the weekends are over before I know it.

In short, I was hoping that my life would be able to be over quickly. It's really a horrifying thought, living my life and hoping that days could pass me by ASAP, without really enjoying and cherishing everyday.

Being away for a year and being around so many different people, I have learnt that there are different ways to live life and that it is possible to enjoy living. Yet being back, coming back to this pressure-cooker environment, what I am most afraid of is that I'll flow with the society's current yet again.

I'm afraid that when I become a mother, I'm going to put my child through the same thing. I'm afraid that I'll become one of those mothers who enrol my child to endless enrichment lessons and put so much focus and stress on his results. But I jolly-well know that it's essential for this society, and preparing him for it is probably what I should do. I used to be an advocate of this, but now I question if it's even the right environment to bring up my child in.

Parents teach their child many things, yet they don't teach them how to be happy and how to be contented. We are trained to be never satisfied, always ask for more.Having too much time to reflect might not be a good thing. Perhaps in no time, I'll become that detached accountant again, staring at my computer screen 12 hours a day and coming home dead-tired, without any excess energy to think.

It's scary, how life passes you by. How to actually cherish everyday and do something meaningful everyday?

20 years down the road, will I be proud of what I have achieved or done?

.::. The last day .::.

It was my last day in Sweden. Obviously, we're supposed to experience something Swedish before we say goodbye to Sweden.



I brought the boyfriend to IKEA for lunch. It was my first time there too, this was newly opened about 6 months back and I have only been to the old IKEA. If I'm not wrong, this is the biggest IKEA in Sweden. But then, IKEA looks the same everywhere and even serve similar food, so it's not that special. The meatballs looks darker in Sweden though!

At Malmo's main square.

I brought the boyfriend to my favourite beach too. The weather was so beautiful and there were so many people on the beach. I really miss that kind of weather and blue skies.

We met up with Aom too, who will be leaving Sweden the next day too.

I really enjoyed the past year in Sweden. It has been a long journey, from the first day I arrived, till I got used to things and established friendships with the many different people there. Sadly, every journey has to end. All of us are back to where we came from with only memories to remind us that these were real.

.::. Interviews .::.

5 interviews later, I'm dreading more interviews and would just like to have a job. *sigh. What happened to the drive to find a 'perfect job'?

I dislike interviews, not because I am nervous or because I am afraid of the questions they ask. I dislike interviews because I have to look presentable, have good composture, look smart and interested yet not too desperate and answer the same questions again and again! Then there's the traveling part to different offices all over Singapore, sometimes at not-so-convenient locations too.

Apart from these interviews, I spent alot of time looking through those advertisements and sending out many applications practically everyday (days when I'm not watching soccer).

I must have faith. The piggy bank is empty and I need a job soon.

Job-hunting is stressful, not like having a job is not stressful. *sigh. All the stress is weighing down on me, it's suffocating!

.::. Favourites .::.

3 weeks ain't short, but it's definitely not long either. It has been a great month in Europe and there were so much laughter and memories. It was really a dream-come-true.

There's too much to share, and I'll probably not be able to. Just some bits and pieces of the trip.




Norway.

It's definitely one of my favourite countries, for its stunning and breath-taking natural beauty. I'm glad to bring the boyfriend there again this time round. But it's seriously the most expensive country ever.

Paris.

It's simply, Paris, the most romantic city in the world. I don't think it's over-rated and it still has so much to offer. It was at this moment when we pointed at the Singapore flag and took the picture together that it really hit me how far we've came together. I still remember visiting Chinese Garden's Mooncake Festival, which had lots of lanterns of World's wonders a few years back. Yet now, we are visiting the real thing!



Florence.

Both of us were tired. It was late, and we were carrying a backpack, having walked 20 minutes to look for our hostel. It was 10pm, and the sun was setting. I was in awe of the beautiful sunset and we ended up forgetting all about our fatigue and took pictures along the bridge. That's how traveling with your beloved should be.

Pisa.

For some reason, we were very excited about visiting Pisa although everyone says that it's 'just' a leaning building. We didn't even make it into the church or anything around it. We simply too many pictures there, laughing our heads off. Imagine a row of 5 people, doing the same action (i.e. trying to push the tower down), and 5 more photographers directing them. We ourselves sent quite abit of time trying to take different pictures there. It was really fun. =)

One month passed by way too quickly.