Fitness Farce...

The weather was basically shit yesterday. It was cold, cloudy and raining but still I went out of my place to meet L and H . WHY!? Why would I drag my lazy ass out of my nice warm cosy room into the freezing, we,t cold, darkness!? All in the name of fitness! Yes, the 3 of us were supposed to go to the fitness centre near the university for some workout. Apparently there is some 100KR for 2 weeks offer... or so it seems... BUT when we got there, we realised that after the 2 weeks you have to sign up for a year at 339KR / mth. I won't even be here till next September! I guess it was not meant to be afterall, so we wondered around town, had some beer and walked and walked in search of another fitness centre but it was not to be... oh well, at least I tried to stay in shape rite... Like I always say Round is a shape too! These were the "before" photos that we were taking... looks like we will never get a chance to take the "after" photos.

Farvel Sommer!

I think that summer is way over by now. Anyway considering how it is supposed to be Autumn from September forth, I always felt that we were living on borrowed time. I managed to snap a shot of my darlings from the Botanic Gardens. I must say that they have a beautiful rose garden there. I think I won't see them again until next year.
Sad that autumn is here because it means that summer days are over, but it also means that it is getting closer to December =) . Most people say that Autumn is beautiful because of all the fall colours. Its strange how one can perceive the colours of death and decay as something beautiful.

On a lighter note, YIHAN! where are you? I haven't seen you on MSN since forever! Can you please drop me a comment so that I know you're still alive!

Man & Machine...

Man & Machine, pointing towards infinity...
I miss driving around at night whilst listening to classical music, like NWA, Run DMC,Public Enemy...
I also miss the sound of Ally's sweet purr as I red-line her....

Reflections...

1. I realised that the amount of money I spend on alcohol each week is the same as what Shalene in Copenhagen spends on food.

2. After being away from home for slightly over 2 months, I realised how domesticated I have become. And I fear that I am not the only one undergoing this metamorphosis. This deadly virus is spreading fast. Heres the proof.

[Daryl] - Updated Blog....Tragedy once again..... says:
hey i go fry my sausages ..... brb ok

-prometheus- Technically AWOL under the Enlistment Act Cap 93 says:
ok ok
-prometheus- Technically AWOL under the Enlistment Act Cap 93 says:
i need to wash my plates and pots too

[Daryl] - Updated Blog....Tragedy once again..... says:
ok

2 guys who got lucky

First time I have ever won something at a Carnival. Tim and I have come to the conclusion that all the games in Tivoli are rigged.

Price for each try 20 KR
Price for trying twice 40KR
Price for Tivoli entrance 75KR
Satisfaction of winning a furry middle finger, PRICELESS

Oh and check out the handsome cake that my mentor baked for me.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/4db1&.src=ph&.tok=phSIFrDB62U5zWAV

Parallel Lines

What's the immaterial substance
that envelopes two,
that one perceives as hunger
and the other as food...
Parallel lines, move so fast,
toward the same point,
infinity is as near as it is far.

The morning after...

Went to Mathilde's party at the other end of town. Then headed to a club downtown where I met my best Polish friend & Holger. After a while, the club was getting too crowded so we left. The three of us headed to 7-11 bought some beers, and stumbled to the harbour to drink them. Too many shots, too many beers.
The morning after always sucks. I think someone is trying to drill a hole in my head with a round drill bit...
It's not surprising that I ran out of Panadol within the first month of being in Denmark.

Reflections...

Been thinking about 2 important things I've learnt on exchange.

1. That everything in Europe is expensive. The only thing cheap is my life.

2. That friends are what makes or breaks the exchange experience.
Friend X (Also on exchange at an undisclosed location in Europe) :
"Every weekend we meet at the same cafe, sit in the same sofas, have the same drink, talk the same talk, just like the sitcom Friends, except that we are not friends."

Bumper Birthday Blog-post

Bottles in the Corridor Again...
Last night was the last party of my week long birthday celebrations. Oh man, it feels like festival week in Spain again. I think I enjoyed myself so much last night with all the Austrians, Germans, Swede, Icelander, French.
They make up for the lack of family and buddies. They are definately not a replacement but a very good substitute!

Some cultural exchange, a video of me teaching them how to Yam Seng at birthdays/weddings
http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=27I63W3UDCLMR0SON3RZ5ERYG9

International Birthday Song. Think it was Icelandic, French, Swedish then German.
http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=27QBFZH67ZPX52ZFIB7BB679AE


Just copy and paste the links to download the files. They die within 7 days so hurry!

I love exchange. But I wish some special people were here to make it perfect. But life is never perfect rite....

Birthday in Aarhus

The birthday dinner party that I threw in my tiny little room.
Managed to squeeze a long dinner table and about 12 people in it. I think its some World Record for most people having dinner in a small room category or something. But it was cosy and fun!
I love these people. They make me feel so at home here in Aarhus. And check out the lovely presents!!!!!!
Dinner was Ba Kut Teh, Stir fried veges, Black pepper mushrooms and some Spain inspired Tapas! Of course wine was flowing, literally, and beer too and there was Gluhwine. I think it was worth slaving the afternoon away for them.
I had a "birthday cake" with 23 candles... then we had dinner, then some Austrians whipped a batch of Gluhwine. Its suppose to keep you warm during the winter so to prove it, we brought the pot downstairs into the cold dark night to drink it. I think we must have looked really silly, a group of people standing in a dark, cold field surrounding a pot of wine and drinking it gingerly. hahaha Well that didnt last long and we all headed back up when we finished the wine and when it started to get really cold....


Photos from the party!!!

Birthday in Kobenhavn

Tim and I looking cool next to Mr Magic Mushroom @ Christiania.

Photos from my weekend celebrations in Kobenhavn. Must check it out. Tim looks so cool in the pictures hahaha

More pictures here

Orchard Road

Some friends are coming over for dinner tomorrow and they have been asking me for pictures of Singapore. Sounds deceptively simple but it has proven to be harder than cooking the actual dinner itself. The thing is, that I never really took photos of HDB estates, the CBD, NUS etc etc. My photos of Singapore consists mostly of snapshots of friends, symbolic photos, macros etc etc. Therefore I searched the local photo galleries and photo forums for pictures of Singapore. Unfortuantely most of the pictures were of orchard road, the merlion, the zoo, the birdpark and Sentosa. Not a very accurate reflection of Singapore.
But looking at pictures of Orchard road did bring back memories. Both the good and the not so good. But this photo definately falls into the first category. Its funny how you never reflect about such things when you're in Singapore. Anyway this photo still ranks as my favourite lomo photo up to this very day.

Leftovers, Hangovers.

What's left of the delicious and handsome birthday cake my mentor baked for me.
It was a fantastic dinner. Fabulous dinner, Good wine, Handsome cake and Great company.

Study Study Study....

The cover of the monthly law magazine from Aarhus Universitet.
I guess the method of studying law is the same all over the world, regardless of civil or common law tradition.
The closer your head is to the books, the better you absorb.
This post is dedicated to meditation guru Derick Ting.

Postcard from Copenhagen

Look at this tacky postcard I found in Copenhagen!
Thanks for celebrating my birthday for me and with me guys!

Untitled

All at once you look across the room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl...

Memories.

I am really reluctant to post an entry without a photo. It seems like I have really deviated from my original intention of a photo blog. I keep using words to supplement my photos which shouldn't be the case. Unfortunately I have not and doubt I ever will be able to capture emotions, feelings in an image. It is ironic how the best images that I have are those in my head. Oh well... A picture paints a 1000 words but I'm not going to write a 1000 words now.

As my birthday draws closer I feel more and more homesick. Yet at the same time I feel more and more at home here too. I have friends here, who are so ready to celebrate my birthday for me and who even remembered that its my birthday this weekend even though I only mentioned it in passing a long time back. I know I sound like a confused bimbotic airhead who can't decide how I actually feel ( or which pair of shoes I prefer) but I think we must concede that Man is complex enough to encompass a plethora of feelings, thoughts and emotions at any single time.

It also dawned upon me that this would be my first birthday away from home. Which made me wonder why I feel this way... What are birthdays? Birthdays, to me, are memories. Memories of the years passing you by. Memories of family steamboats, memories of getting drunk with your best friends, memories of things that your friends did to you on your special day(that should remain unspoken for eternity), memories of quiet dinners and good conversation, memories of heart to heart talks, memories of your first legal night at Zouk, memories of waking up on your birthday feeling loved because the first words you hear are "happy birthday darling", so many memories.

Are habits the result of memories? Or the attempt to preserve memories? I miss home because I miss doing all these things which I would do if I were back home. I miss the habit of celebrating my birthday in Singapore.

I suppose it is time to make new memories. I suppose it is time to start new habits.

Don't get me wrong, its not that I am having a shit ass time here in Denmark. On the contrary things are good here, very good. Its just that after watching the video from home (thanks matt! thanks guys!) the familiarity of the setting, the faces, the voices, the sounds just drove home the fact that the 2 key elements of my birthday celebrations are not here with me, loved ones & buddies.

Bilbao....

The Guggenheim Bilbao art museum... But there's more to Bilbao than just the Guggenheim.
We arrived in Bilbao on the first day of Aste Nagusia, festival week. The whole town was just a rowdy party venue. We were fortunate/unfortunate enough to get a room in a guesthouse opposite one of the stage areas. Fortunate because we had a bird's eye view. Unfortunate because the party starts from 4pm and lasts till 8am = no sleep.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/3cb2&.src=ph&.tok=ph9VboDBXgt13oCX

Here's more about the Guggenheim. The building alone is a work of art. I love the concept of how the galleries are broken up, so that it is not one continuous gallery after another (like Louisiana). Everything revolves around the Atrium which is the heart of the building, pumping visitors from one gallery to another but making sure that everyone returns back to the "heart". I thought there was some Gaudi influence in the interior structure but I guess thats just too much Barcelona... or maybe not... :D
Unfortunately they do not allow photography inside the building. What a shame.

http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/ingles/home.htm

View of living room, study room and closet...

View of the kitchen, laundry area (the space within a basket is an area), entrance to toilet.

View of the study, living room and bed room....

Electric Smile

Look at that big smiley face! I got more presents from home today! Thanks for the video guys! I miss you guys so much... Thanks Matt for all the hardwork, I see an Eric Khoo in the making =P
And to those who've sent me lovely birthday cards... thanks!

Oranges

Its funny how something so common can make you miss home, or the conveniences of home.

J: I'm having an orange for desert now...
WJ: Oh I didn't know you were crazy about oranges, weren't you eating an orange the last time?
J: Yup, its cheaper to buy 7 of the same fruit rather than 7 different fruits or a mix of fruits.
WJ: I don't remember you eating oranges that often back home
J: Oh I do, its just that back home, I don't peel em. My maid juices oranges for me every morning...
J: Yup, I would have my espresso fresh from the machine and freshly squeezed orange juice every morning....
J: OH MAN!!!! (Breaks down, Half laughing half crying)
J: Why the F**K did I come for exchange!!!! Give up my comfy life back home for this...
WJ: SWEET COMFORTING WORDS

Sighs... do note that this entry comes after a super long day, 6 hours of continuous classes and one F**KED UP class where they assume you know every dammn European Regulation/Directive, CISG, Brussels convention etc! SHIT man the only brussels thingy i know are Brussel Sprouts.

A piece of home...

1st birthday present from home! Got a parcel with books and stuff from Mom & Dad today!
A signed copy from my most admired diplomat.
I think WJ would agree when I say that intelligent people have bad handwriting, hor... hahaha
Keep em coming people!!!! PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS!!!! hohoho

Pamplona

Here's me, sitting with a glass of champagne in the Cafe Iruna made famous by Earnest Hemingway in The Sun also Rises. So cool and sophisticated rite...
Well actually I tried ordering fried mushrooms and coffee and ended up with Champagne and coffee.
Reason being: Champinon (mushroom) was misheard as champagne.
Not so cool now rite... hahaha I need spanish classes hahaha
But it was good champagne anyway.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/1f1e&.src=ph&.tok=phTtXnDB6reCd.Hn

San Sebastian

Photos from San Sebastian. The capital of Basque Country.
Beautiful town! The first day's weather was bad. We arrived at 8am and it was raining. We walked around town with our backpacks in the bloody rain looking for a bloody hostel or guesthouse. Our timing couldn't have been better. We arrived in the midst of Semane Grande or the Big Week festival. All the hostels and budget places were full. So it was either the park, or a 4 star hotel.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/7614&.src=ph&.tok=phnD7mDB.jIxy5R3

Hello Darling!

Beam me down Scottie!!

Happy Birthday Lukasz!

I think the parties get wilder and wilder. My best Polish friend's birthday.
Photos from his dorm's common room to the club downtown. Not many photos from the club. Too sloshed by then.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/4932&.src=ph&.tok=phNpVmDBlAKiLgzN

And some photos from dinner with the Germans/Austrians.

Doing laundry...getting done by laundry.

Useful link for all exchange students. And for some folks back home (like Tay MeiShuang).

http://www.textileaffairs.com/lguide.htm

Mail...

Look what the mailman brought today!

New addition

Latest addition to my eclectic collection of furniture and fixtures. Just like home.

Window Shopping

Taking a break from shopping. Shopping in Denmark is so dangerous. You see 101 cute and interesting stuff or gadgets that you want to buy for your room. BUT everything here is so expensive. I miss shopping in Spain. My backpack was a mere 7 kg when I left for Spain but when I came back it was 18kg. Oh man... I bought so many pairs of G-stars and so many Zara shirts. Bloody hell. I think you'll have to pay don't know how many million Kronnors for nice clothes here. But the gadgets and the household stuff here are fantastic. Fantastically pricey too. My first acquisition was a Danish designed french press... at last, proper coffee.

Sunday Golf

Yesterday, I played the most fun and relaxed golf game of my life.
Apart from Steffan(the guy in the black collared T) and I, none of them were dressed for golf. We laughed and joked more than we actually golfed. Yup we were basically just horsing around on the course. And we only had one set of golf clubs to share amongst 6 of us! Yes, the lovely Sonja was taking the photo for us "boys". One of them went through the whole course without any shoes! (The first guy from the right) I'm gonna look for a cheap set of golf clubs here and start golfing! Before winter comes! hohoho.
After golf we all headed back to their Dorm, yup the German and Swede's Dorm, for a BBQ dinner. I wish my dorm was next to theirs! What a way to kick start the school week.

Aarhus Festival

The festival seemed very tame compared to the Big Week Celebrations in Bilbao and San Sebastian. The music was really a big mix. The band in the first picture were really funny. They were dressed like old school rockers, the lead singer was wearing Zebra stripped trunks ONLY. And his other back up singer was waving a huge viking sword, while the guitarist had a viking helmet on. What a mix! Their music wasn't fantastic but full marks for entertainment and comedic value. The other band was all music and was not that bad.

Hola! Barcelona!

First night in Barcelona, got ripped off at this stoopid pricey cafe along Las Ramblas. We were hungry, tired and grumpy after knocking on 3 different doors before getting a room for the night.
Barcelona, its a different city day and night. Unfortunately it is just too crime ridden. In the day, after 11am, its a beautiful sunny city with lotsa cool Gaudi buildings, vibrant art scene and fantastic museums. The downside is that it is swarming with tourist. Its impossible to get a clear photo without another tourist in it.
At night, 11pm to 11am its a crazy place, drug dealers, dodgy characters, police sirens wailing etc etc. Barcelona's charming alleys and small streets become dangerous at night. I know I make it sound like Pre-Batman Gotham City but I don't think it is that far off anyhow.
Pickpockets. Bloody pain in the arse. On the 2nd day, we were at the metro station at about 9.30am, yes before the safe hours, waiting for our train. Two guys sat down on the bench next to me. When the train arrived we all got up and walked to the nearest train door. One of them walked in front of me and when i just stepped onto the train, he dropped his lighter at my fee. He pretended to grapple at my feet for his lighter but ended up holding my feet down. Meanwhile his sneaky accomplice was fishing my wallet out of my front pocket. Yes Front! not BACK! Once he had my wallet, the one at my feet let go and both of them ran off with my wallet. I knew that there was something amiss when he started grappling my feet instead of picking up the lighter proper and so I stupidly chased after the duo. Caught up with them on the desserted platform, snatched my wallet from one of them and ran off back into the train. I heard the guy say something in Spanish but I just couldn't be bothered. Probably the equivalent of our NBCBKNN! Stupid thing to do cos I only had a hundred bucks in my wallet and they could have stabbed me or assaulted me. The only bummer would be that my Spanish trip would be ended prematurely. Oh well anyway its over now. But poor Wenyi, the guy with the big feet here, had to hear me whine and kao bei about the whole incident for a long long time. But hey! He just stood there and did nothing throughout the whole incident!!!!! and he didn't get me coffee cups from Finland! hohohoho! WENDY! tsktsk... So I guess it all evens out now eh, even stevens...
Anyway here are the Barcelona pictures, still sorting out the rest and loading them up.

Copy & Paste please
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/traffickjem/album?.dir=/6299&.src=ph&.tok=ph6l_jDBgSO5ve.s

Tiger Ol!

Look what I found at the supermarked today! Woohoo, a sight for sore eyes. A refreshing change from Tuborg. Reminds me of the good ole days at chomps with Tiger and Stingray, sotongs, choot choot, etc and HOKKIEN MEE!

Watching the World...

"I am fond of observing the dramas of life without becoming an actor in the scene"
- W. Irving.

Sunshine

載著你 彷彿載著陽光
不管到哪裡都是晴天
蝴蝶自在飛
花也佈滿天
一朵一朵因你而香

Summer time, today's supposed to be the warmest day of Summer. But its not for me...
I miss driving around... Now you know why...