:: Tossed Salad and Scramble Eggs ::

:: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 ::

Dear Gang,

Bad News - My dear mother wants the house quiet on the 26th, coupled with the fact that shes not very happy we broke her lamp last year. Me and Tat are currently having trouble finding a place, so will need suggestions and fast. Understand that the bulk of you are being mothers to the new recruits (;) enjoy!), so understand you're busy.

3 things:
Thara comings back 25th
Nad won't be joining us because shes in NZ
Reuben, you're invited, msg me if you're coming
Khai, are you bringing your missus? Let me know, need to book no. of seats

msg me ASAP, thanks
Keep festive
Steph

PS: will write about Korea soon, busy w/ essays and wrapping presents

:: Stuffy 12/21/2004 07:54:00 AM [+] ::
...

Austria
Walzer, Wo die Citronen Bluben -Johann Strauss
Brosch!

Currently staying overnight at Heathrow Airport awaiting my flight back to Singapore

This trip was far different from the other two (Berlin, Edinburgh). It was a twelve man strong group made up of Singaporeans, Malaysians and a Portuguese (whom I learnt a little Portuguese from – Obregado!). I got to know some a little better, become acquainted with some and of course, for some part of it, forge new friendships.

Saltzburg and the Sound of Music...

The Christmas Market was magical. It was one of those things that I dreamed off as a kid, when I use to think that Christmas was all about wooden toys, tea-light lit mini glass houses, magnificently decorated Christmas trees, choirs singing carols and of course, warm Gluhwein (hot wine, Austrian style). There were horse carriages trotting around and a dressed up Santa claus with a carriage of his own. I was pretty much glowing when I saw the open air ice skating ring in the middle of the town square, it was somewhat surreal and beautiful, I wish I had my pair of skates with me. If there is one thing I would remember, it would have been the band playing. The town square had four tall towers, and on each tower there was a quartet of wind instrument players set upon it. It was orchestrated in the way that each of the quartet set on the high tower played across each other, both in harmony with each other and in responds to each other, so much so that it enveloped the entire town square with music. Then me and Jan went into the old church to listen to a choir of children singing some traditional Austrian carols. Left for the hostel at about 10am and had to climb up a steep dim-lit hill which was terribly exhausting. As expected, the rest of the group had reached back to the hostel at 6pm. My restless soul would never allow such an early retirement. It is a violation of the traveler’s code.

The Sound of Music tour was fairly interesting. We sang songs from the soundtrack and Rach did a nice imitation of Maria with ‘The hills are alive’. Of course, Radar tried to capture a shot of her on his camera unsuccessfully because he wasn’t subtle enough. After dinner, me and Jan joined the guys who went back to the hostel by train (while the rest of the girls went back by cab because they didn’t want to climb the hill). We had a close shave with the train conductor because we didn’t buy the ticket. He was four seats away before the train reached our stop. Radar and Jan were quite cool about it and Sofian smiled at the conductor and walked on. Me and Gonza stood up and walked quickly to the side – we win an award for ‘most kancheong’. Later, Gonza ran across the tracks to find the train details for the next morning when we had to leave for Vienna. That set Radar running across the track and posing for a picture, which led to me and Jan running across the tracks to pose for a picture and then the rest of the guys running across the tracks to pose for a picture.

Killed time by playing bridge on the train to Vienna...

Later in the day, after picking up the herd, we went to the Maria Theresein Platz. I was much smarter since I realize that I was possibly going to have to bring everyone around. So I planned the route with Jan – First to the Sucession Museum, then to the Maria Theresein Platz to visit the Museums and then the Christmas market at Rathus, then perhaps back to the Inner Stadt for shopping (I reckon, they would quite like the idea of shopping). I don’t mind leading the way, but I never liked the idea of bringing people to places that they may not like going to. I didn’t know them well enough to know what they liked anyway, hence I didn’t see the point in me being appointed tourguide.

After the Christmas market, me, Jan and Warren broke off from the rest of the group to go to Fasangarten and the Schloss Schonbrunn. In all of Vienna, in all of Austria, this was the most beautiful and romantic place I’ve ever seen. It was a sweet surprise and it certainly was what Vienna was described to be in books. The three of us walked around the garden, though it was quite a pity that it wasn’t spring, so the maze wasn’t at its peak and blossom. Then me and Jan raced up the hill while Warren helped us take some pictures. Something funny happened – I was helping Jan and Warren take a picture while they sat on the parapet, not knowing that behind them was a posh restaurant and people were staring at them while they climbed onto it. I was quite happy to be traveling with Jan and Warren. For that moment, I was contented to have good company and a good conversation, carelessly glossing over things about family, perceptions, future careers and five day weeks. Today, I found a new friend. It is true to say that the ambience couldn’t have been better than with the good company I had.

We walked to the Schloss Schonbrunn Christmas Market and saw a ballroom function going on. I told Jan and Warren that it would have been lovely if we saw them ballroom dance and that our fairy godmother would grant us some formal wear to be part of the grandeur. As of now, we were country bumpkins.

At about six-ish, we joined the rest for dinner and then head back to the hotel and played several round of cards over vodka. Had four shots, called Radar a bastard and then apologized for misconduct. Rach and Ade were half woozy, so me and Jan had to make sure they got back to our room.

I said my farewells to everyone in a half-asleep state. At 4 am, everyone left for Prague and I had two full days to myself. Went to the Neue Burg Museum which housed Ephesus artifacts, Musical instruments and Austrian armory. Decided on watching he Scholoss Schonbrunn orchestra in the evening, so as to kill time, I went back to the Christmas market at Scholoss Schonbrunn and had Gluhwein and cake. The Mozart and Strauss pieces were played with perfection in a ballroom hall with singing and dancing. My last day was spent at the Zentralfriedhof Cemetery (group 32A) where all the famous musicians (Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss) are now buried. It was a waste that I didn’t get to go to the undertakers museum since they open at the odd hour of 12 to 3pm. But there wasn’t much to do around Wein since I’ve covered a lot of what I wanted to see. So after some shopping (which wasn’t very much), I went to the airport.

:: Stuffy 12/11/2004 10:34:00 AM [+] ::
...

Berlin Thereafter...

I had four solid weeks after Berlin, and what did I do? Three quarters of it was spent studying for math test and doing multiple essays. A sixth of it was spent learning Tango and Jive with Hub, another sixth of it was spent meeting up with old friends from orientation. And the past three days, I spent attending some entreprenuer workshop. I feel like I haven't even began to start on things yet and tomorrow I'm going off to Austria and then back home. Too fast.

On a few random things...

On Settling down
I only realised that I began to settle down three weeks back when I had a long and leisurely conversation with Jean over dinner at EAT cafe after we hung out at the art centre. Just thought it reminded me of one of those eating escapades back home. One is a misnomer, as anyone would know. Since I came here, I forgotten what it was like to sit down over coffee and conversation and merely lounge around. But this I did the past week with Helen (French nationale) and my Honkie-PRC gang over lunch and conversation.

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On Christmas
The Christmas mood just kicked in. Singsoc Christmas party, hall Christmas party and cards. Ladies and gentlemen, I finally got to watch Handel's Messiah by the London Orchestra after two Christmases of not being able to watch it in Singapore - Contentment personified. To my luck, I found a new artcentre concert enthusiast - Leo. French, but doesn't really sound french (I have been dying to ask him why exactly he doesn't have a french accent). And Rach thinks he looks like CK model come Star Wars action figure. Whatever that means, I unable to see why.

Followed Hub, Weiliang and Jun Hui to the Coventry St Mary's Church to see carol singers. It is perhaps the prettiest sight I ever saw of Coventry. Had a good dinner and coversation before heading back. Double contentment personified.

Of course, Candy Canes, bought them for everyone I got to know this past three months. Triple contentment personified. Did you know that finding Candy Canes is the hardest mission to do in the UK? A two hour drive up to Stratford on Avon just to get those.
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The most romantic sight ever (in campus)
Last night while I was cycling around campus, the grass started frosting which made the whole field white. It was surreal. When I cycled through the open spaced field which had a path going through it, all I could see was the half moon literally shining over the white field. And then I stopped in the middle of the field and star gazed in the harsh 2 degrees celsius cold. Where was I? This beautiful and romantic dreamland is just outside the Math and Stats buidling. But I was in the middle of the field at one o'clock and I had to field to myself. I felt as if I was in the middle of nowhere. Of course, I thought I was about to get frostbite when I got back.

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On last day of term
Was talking to Jan today, our last day on campus, about term ending. Terribly fast, but quite worth it considering we maximised whatever time we had - that is not to say at the expense of what our fundamental focus should be and what we are essentially here for. I haven't done alot, but I have, in the truest sense of the word, learnt alot.

Just asking question like 'You going home for Christmas?' and hearing friends sing Christmas carols around campus does make me think of home and Christmas back home. Of course, I'm still feeling sore that Janice and Jieqi (Mr IT - when Janice asked a friend from Brussels if he could travel with her, the Belgian's responds was, 'sure, bring it along!'. So hes now Janice's new found dog) going to Brussels without me. Did I tell you how miserable I was when Jan and the airforce boys (the Imperial quad) went to Wales for coasteering and I passed up the chance because I was trying to be a responsible student and complete all my essays and portfolios? I'm coming back with avengence when I go gliding in Easter.
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:: Stuffy 12/03/2004 10:45:00 AM [+] ::
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