24 July 2005
The build up lasted for days,lasted for weeks,lasted too long.Our hero withdrew,when there was two,he could not choose one,so there was none.Worn into the vaguely announced.The spinning top made a soundlike a train across the valley,fading, oh so quiet but constant til it passed,over the ridgeinto the distanceswritten on your ticket to remind you where to stop,and when to get off. - The Build up by Kings of Convenience
I ve been at it for days,
I dont know what to do.
Its only a phone dial away.
I saved it in my drafts.
Listening to the songs she burnt
The issue is what to do
What to say
How to react.
I am nervous,
I want, yet I dont.
I didnt think it would be
So hard. Breathe.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
SMU Commencement 2005!
Well, i was excited on the day of commencement wed 20th july 2005. i am glad i came back for my folks and for graduation.
Yes - my parents were proud recipients at the graduation ceremony alright!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/beggarthyneighbour2001
/album?.dir=/e229&.src=ph&.tok=phr6lWDBisb_Wbd_
has more shots of me beaming wif joy.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Thoughts on the MRT in Singapore
It had been nearly one week since i am back. It had been great being home - short of fantastic. Somehow, i am trying to adapt. Not too hard. Just adjusting to the familiar sights that I have long taken for granted.
Every minute a handphone sounds
In this not so homogenous MRT
Happy at the @ the multi-diversity and
our people who are accepting of differences.
Looking at the landscape,
Really takes visual adaptation .
Familiar facades of green plants and HDBs
Ply the rail route.
Hardworking people in action
At every corner.
In Singapore when it rains,
Hardly does it ever dip below 25 degrees .
Ever vigilant of terro attacks,
even Europe is not on.
Every minute a handphone sounds
In this not so homogenous MRT
Happy at the @ the multi-diversity and
our people who are accepting of differences.
Looking at the landscape,
Really takes visual adaptation .
Familiar facades of green plants and HDBs
Ply the rail route.
Hardworking people in action
At every corner.
In Singapore when it rains,
Hardly does it ever dip below 25 degrees .
Ever vigilant of terro attacks,
even Europe is not on.
Goodbye Renate!
The last night in Graz, i spent with Marta (Croation student who studies musicology), where we exchanged long stories and life experiences we encountered along the way.
But really, one of the toughest thing for me is to say goodbye to Renate - who to me embodied home in Graz. walking back from hauptbahnhof yesterday back home along the route i knew all so well, and knowing that i would be walking down that route for the last time brought tears to my eyes. I looked at the bicycles parked ever so neatly and numerous, i felt completely empty becoz the frens i knew who stayed there had alles come & gone. I was sad - i like graz - but i really dont know when, if i am, ever gona return. I had bathed myself in cold water that night - forcibly dousing myself to be calm in the face of harsh reality - knowing that I am about to return to the real Home.
but home is here in europe. This is what i envisage to be the lifestyle that i would like to lead for a long time. maybe it is only to the exchange students that life is all good. this exchange to Austria marked a new opening for m, or 'a second childhood', as aptly put by Sebastian, a homosexual dancer from slovenia.
time slipped by the hands of the clock ever so quickly, leaving me bewildered in its wake! A godzillion memories, and indescribable lessons will act as company in my subsequent life journey. and i wld always bear in mind that 'work is not your life, do what you think is right, do what you want for yourself, not what others tell you to want. '
'if you have an aim, you will find your way'
I am hardened now. Letting the train ride dissipate my thoughlessness.
But really, one of the toughest thing for me is to say goodbye to Renate - who to me embodied home in Graz. walking back from hauptbahnhof yesterday back home along the route i knew all so well, and knowing that i would be walking down that route for the last time brought tears to my eyes. I looked at the bicycles parked ever so neatly and numerous, i felt completely empty becoz the frens i knew who stayed there had alles come & gone. I was sad - i like graz - but i really dont know when, if i am, ever gona return. I had bathed myself in cold water that night - forcibly dousing myself to be calm in the face of harsh reality - knowing that I am about to return to the real Home.
but home is here in europe. This is what i envisage to be the lifestyle that i would like to lead for a long time. maybe it is only to the exchange students that life is all good. this exchange to Austria marked a new opening for m, or 'a second childhood', as aptly put by Sebastian, a homosexual dancer from slovenia.
time slipped by the hands of the clock ever so quickly, leaving me bewildered in its wake! A godzillion memories, and indescribable lessons will act as company in my subsequent life journey. and i wld always bear in mind that 'work is not your life, do what you think is right, do what you want for yourself, not what others tell you to want. '
'if you have an aim, you will find your way'
I am hardened now. Letting the train ride dissipate my thoughlessness.
Samstag 9/7 bis Sonntag 10/7 @ Stadt Rottenmann
Reached Stadt Rottenmann. Happy to see Angie & Flo after a week of solitude. I have mixed feelings whenever I see Angie - a part of me feels sad and uncertain about how things will work out for her and Flo.
Anyway days were great for us up till today - Sonntag. Walks in the woods, up to the Burg (Fortress), the cow farm, eating Raspberries, wild strawberries and other types of berries that grow in the wild.
SOmehow it wasnt so hard to say goodbye when i left - i know i wld see them again! Somehow.
Anyway days were great for us up till today - Sonntag. Walks in the woods, up to the Burg (Fortress), the cow farm, eating Raspberries, wild strawberries and other types of berries that grow in the wild.
SOmehow it wasnt so hard to say goodbye when i left - i know i wld see them again! Somehow.
Freitag 8/7 @ Albert's Haus
It's so beautiful beautiful beautiful, magical, mystical irresistable, cosmical and most of all woohoooo .... ....
This guy, wow - Karl - amazing. 15 years of mountaineering experience and is 26 yrs old. Quite quite interesting - but realli crazy over climbin. The highest he went was 550 m - madness. Anyway i bought 380 euros worth of trekking equipment.
I am so happy! Tibet here I come. Am now at Haus Alphen owned by Albert at Obsmarktstrasse 21. Nice B&B - am at rooftop, nice sink and amenities - @ 17 Euros, i tink life is good. Place is perfect. I like.
Tomorrow I will go and meet Angie and Flo at Stadt Rottenmann by noon and leave his place on Sunday.
This guy, wow - Karl - amazing. 15 years of mountaineering experience and is 26 yrs old. Quite quite interesting - but realli crazy over climbin. The highest he went was 550 m - madness. Anyway i bought 380 euros worth of trekking equipment.
I am so happy! Tibet here I come. Am now at Haus Alphen owned by Albert at Obsmarktstrasse 21. Nice B&B - am at rooftop, nice sink and amenities - @ 17 Euros, i tink life is good. Place is perfect. I like.
Tomorrow I will go and meet Angie and Flo at Stadt Rottenmann by noon and leave his place on Sunday.
How I spent my week in salzburg mountains
Monday (4/7/05)
- slept at the Haitzmanns' storeoom met Frustuck @ 8 Euros/night
- biked up to Hirschbichl
- dinner at Lofehyers
Tuesday (5/7/05)
- made my way up to Hintersee
- got lodging at Alphenhof Pension Gasthof
- slept in the whole day as it wuz raining
Wednesday (6/7/05)
- roamed around Hintersee
- Maria alm biking
- Saalfelden shopping
Thursday (7/7/05)
- Haitzmanns lent me a bike
- Started biking from 11am in the morn
- Covered Martin Bei Lofer, Vorderkasseklam, Lofer
- got drenched cycling home
- slept at the Haitzmanns' storeoom met Frustuck @ 8 Euros/night
- biked up to Hirschbichl
- dinner at Lofehyers
Tuesday (5/7/05)
- made my way up to Hintersee
- got lodging at Alphenhof Pension Gasthof
- slept in the whole day as it wuz raining
Wednesday (6/7/05)
- roamed around Hintersee
- Maria alm biking
- Saalfelden shopping
Thursday (7/7/05)
- Haitzmanns lent me a bike
- Started biking from 11am in the morn
- Covered Martin Bei Lofer, Vorderkasseklam, Lofer
- got drenched cycling home
Alphenhof Pension Gasthof
Alphenhof Pension Gasthof is a pretty place. I slept in the room for mountain bikers and trekkers. It was nice, but i woke up at 5am! Couldnt sleep.
Anyways got ready at 730 am, took a walk around the lake. Then met Chef (German for supervisor or person in charge), who had a young son. I had chatted wif him the night before, and learnt that he had stopped over Singapore enroute to New Zealand (for mountaineering and trekking).
That day after breakfast, I walked about the whole of Hintersee, into Zauberwelt, Wisthaus, up to the Ramsau area - where there were tons of Ferien Wohnung (Holiday homes), met a rich fella energetically hiking his way up. Actaully there are tons of energetic and not so energetic people here at Saalach Valley. And here at Lahngut (the cowshit storeroom in Weissback where I put up), there is a Czech family living here.
After the walk, i took Wanderbus down to Weissback, then a Bus 260 down to to Saalfelden Postamt. I rented a bike - then went from there to Maria Alm and back - beautiful meadows that would make me sob, horses, cows grazing the fields. There was also a golf course. On my way back, I did quite a plenty shopping - my Freesoul jacket, Sisley pants and pink doggie top. Am still thinkin whether to get the St Oliver's bag and the bikini for mama or sister.
Anyways got ready at 730 am, took a walk around the lake. Then met Chef (German for supervisor or person in charge), who had a young son. I had chatted wif him the night before, and learnt that he had stopped over Singapore enroute to New Zealand (for mountaineering and trekking).
That day after breakfast, I walked about the whole of Hintersee, into Zauberwelt, Wisthaus, up to the Ramsau area - where there were tons of Ferien Wohnung (Holiday homes), met a rich fella energetically hiking his way up. Actaully there are tons of energetic and not so energetic people here at Saalach Valley. And here at Lahngut (the cowshit storeroom in Weissback where I put up), there is a Czech family living here.
After the walk, i took Wanderbus down to Weissback, then a Bus 260 down to to Saalfelden Postamt. I rented a bike - then went from there to Maria Alm and back - beautiful meadows that would make me sob, horses, cows grazing the fields. There was also a golf course. On my way back, I did quite a plenty shopping - my Freesoul jacket, Sisley pants and pink doggie top. Am still thinkin whether to get the St Oliver's bag and the bikini for mama or sister.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Weissbach bei Lofer
4 39 am - 5 July 2005 - Montag
Zeit trickles slowly.
The patterns of the raindrops
Outside the storeroom.
For 8euros a night mit Frustuck,
The Haitzmann had very
Hospitably taken me guest.
My sole companion is a housefly,
it had been buzzing around
since 8pm gestern.
Munching on my Easter eggs from Poland,
I find such moments rare.
Had this been the refuge I
was searching for?
In the spirit of wandern,
Had i discovered the wonders
of her people.
Stranded one afternoon
on the 4th of July,
It soon hit me that
No room were frei.
Elizabeth who was so generous
also watered the seed of
Hitchhiking me me.
So lay i now scribbling away
in the warm room she offered.
Trudging my way through Sisenbergklamm
I soon arrived at Hintertal!
Paradise of meadows and rolling mountains,
some snow-capped,
i stood at an elevation of 800m at least.
Pampering myself to a feast of
fried pork and paprika sauce
mit Holonderblume drink,
I was in bliss.
It was 4km back to weissback
and a storm was approaching.
the bosses of gasthof pension lohfeyer were
too kind.
Lent me der farrah for frei and
gave me life home.
I am astounded speechless.
I have now renewed faith in the
milk of human kindness.
the neighouring chuch chimes in dawn,
as birds start to chirp and
the 400-inhabitant town starts to awaken.
I put my 3-in-1 Milo away
trudging to bed as an
untrodden day unfolds.
Zeit trickles slowly.
The patterns of the raindrops
Outside the storeroom.
For 8euros a night mit Frustuck,
The Haitzmann had very
Hospitably taken me guest.
My sole companion is a housefly,
it had been buzzing around
since 8pm gestern.
Munching on my Easter eggs from Poland,
I find such moments rare.
Had this been the refuge I
was searching for?
In the spirit of wandern,
Had i discovered the wonders
of her people.
Stranded one afternoon
on the 4th of July,
It soon hit me that
No room were frei.
Elizabeth who was so generous
also watered the seed of
Hitchhiking me me.
So lay i now scribbling away
in the warm room she offered.
Trudging my way through Sisenbergklamm
I soon arrived at Hintertal!
Paradise of meadows and rolling mountains,
some snow-capped,
i stood at an elevation of 800m at least.
Pampering myself to a feast of
fried pork and paprika sauce
mit Holonderblume drink,
I was in bliss.
It was 4km back to weissback
and a storm was approaching.
the bosses of gasthof pension lohfeyer were
too kind.
Lent me der farrah for frei and
gave me life home.
I am astounded speechless.
I have now renewed faith in the
milk of human kindness.
the neighouring chuch chimes in dawn,
as birds start to chirp and
the 400-inhabitant town starts to awaken.
I put my 3-in-1 Milo away
trudging to bed as an
untrodden day unfolds.
Saying Goodbye
30 June 2005Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. Hard when you never know when u r gona see the person again. I ve been constantly reflecting the past month. But i ve never yearned to go home. I ve grown to love Graz for the place it is, and the Global Business Program people who made me feel like we are part of one big family.
And now it is nearly time to go our separate ways, and yeah, sometimes it is near tear-jerking, but like Memo said, ''Live for the moment enjoy moment'.
As usual, I am still pretty much in crontrol, but of course insude i feel sad because all this while, i have been hanging out with these guyz at parties nearly every freaking weekend! They picked me up when I was down - and whipped me into shape. I remember there was a time when every one was down, and also another when all was dead drunk. Those crazy times we shared.
It is the memories that last. Goodbye. For now.
