Dublin (Ireland)

Im too tired to blog about this trip. But this trip is really fun with the accompany of London people, Leeds people and Dublin people. It is no doubt an adventure and challenge to us because we actually climbed the muddy+ rocky+ poky mountain on the 1st day and braved through the super strong wind to the Lighthouse on the 2nd day.

We also experienced two extreme weather where the first day is bright and sunny and the second day is terrible- rain and strong wind and the temperature dropped to 4deg. On the first day, i complained bringing the heavy knitted jacket and on the second day, i complained about not bringing enough long sleeves, winter jacket, jeans and gloves!

Anyway, the Abraham hostel we stayed its horrible. Review down to zero! Long story which i do not wish to elaborate. But still, we have the luxury of a big group to protect ourselves.We did not go for Halloween btw because we were simply too tired to do so.

Guinness storehouse which is near the city (about 30mins walk) is a must to visit when you are in Dublin so we went and bought the student ticket. The ticket comes with a complimentary drink which can be claimed on the top floor at the bar. While I secretly koped the glass and put in my bag, other people actually openly hold the glass and walked out. wow. But the glass is really nice. Its a Guinness glass that i consumed Guinness with it!

Also, since Dublin (Ireland) is near to uk, there is sea and many natural sights! I have not seen the sea for very long so we spent the whole day trying to explore Bray and climbed the mountain. The view up there is really nice and beautiful. It is an accomplishment to reach the top since you have to explore the way up yourselves. There is no concrete path paved for people. Coming down is tougher since we have to go through the spikey plants that cut our hands, legs, butt and face. Nicole and i had quite a few cuts. The running from tree to tree down the steep slope is another obstacle because once missed, you might end up rolling down the slope. And back to the muddy slope, Cheryl actually slipped and fall on her butt and there goes her shirt and shoes.

The next challenge is to walk against the strong wind to reach the lighthouse. People were staring at us girls since we were wearing leggings, stockings and shorts while they were in their winter jackets, beanie and gloves. This time round, Christine fell backwards because of the wind pushing. I almost gave up too as I kept landing on my butt. My pictures are horrible and i gave up taking pictures a few times since im too cold to hold the camera and the wind simply blew my camera ‘away’ from my hand. But eventually, we managed to reach and I walked back ‘tearing’ with salt around my eyes.

When we reached the mountain top! The accomplishment!

Yeah! I did a successful one!

Hiding behind the wall from the wind. Too cold to move on.

This is how windy it is. I cant even take a proper picture!

My Guinness!

The 8 of us who meet up. (Leeds people + London people + Dublin people)

The yummy chocolates going back home to my family! As usual i dint buy more cos i always bring limited cash with me when i travel.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=338262&id=517605626&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=338381&id=517605626&ref=mf

Singsoc Halloween Party

Chilli White is where we went for the party. Even though we went around 10plus and came back at around 2plus, we are freaking tired. Yesh because of the crazy dancing, banging, pushing and finally, walking back to our room. Can you imagine walking up slope back when you are already so tired?

Anyway, the theme for Singsoc is super mario and ah hem! How come i dont see them dressed up as one? Luckily we decided not to spend so much money and make do with what we have. We simply removed them because other societies are dressed up so much more prettier. We then started drawing our faces! I see mummy, ghost, doctors, nurses, police, devils, angels, witch, and some gothic costumes. Theres also girls who came here solely to club as seen from their clubing dresses. I assumed that they are the undergraduates here and they really went ahead to buy the costumes and heels. I dont even bother bringing my heels to a cold weather country here. But this club is booked by the asian society for the night so i see a lot of asian faces. This is the first time im seeing so many YANDAOS and CHIOBUS in a club LARH.OMG.

Now, the most important matter. DJ SUCKS! HELLO, IF YOU HAPPEN TO READ THIS, PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR SKILLS REALLY CANNOT MAKE IT! Trying to run through the playlist you have and put some beats into it? I can also do it! Please please do not play the whole song, its damn freaking annoying and please please do not play slow music consecutively for 3-4 songs. We are in a club hello? Are you just playing your favourite music? And because you played the whole freaking song, its very obvious that you are repeating songs!

Well, enough of that. We will have another party ourselves in Dublin then. Heard that it is a halloween place so we shall see. Dont disappoint me!

:p

I have the habit of reading my blog post over and over again even after i had posted them up. With regard to the previous post that im pissed off with, i actually find it quite silly. I felt that im picking on stuffs and things to rant and whine on. But my emotions overwhelmed me when im not in a good mood. Reading posts blogged few years back makes me think that im more matured now even though im still petty and pick on really minor issues. Somehow, my thinking and opinions of certain matters changes over the years. Is that one of the reasons why human beings are always trying to seek for the better? Some people who are merely a few years older than me can even comment that im still young and i will realise it only when im out in the society to work. People are saying 21 is still a young age for me as I have no experience in many issues. But yet, i felt that my life is so filled with past that many does not have.

Somehow, a change in environment always changes how i think and view things. In Leeds living alone, im doing so many things that I have always felt lazy to do. Everyday routine is the same and im getting bored here. I always complain about how much i do not like my own home country because its always so busy and the weather is so hot and humid. There are no places for me to go because it is so small and etc. Here, im complaining too and im starting to appreciate Singapore more. Different people may view it differently from me but this is just so ironic!

Lifestyle here is super slow paced thus i do not have to rush for everything. My everyday routine basically revolves going for one hour lesson (almost everyday early in the morning) and back in my room till the next day. And i can leave my room around 10-15mins before lesson starts since everyone actually arrive ON TIME (not earlier than that). I cant seem to travel and skip lessons because Leeds is so small that there is nothing to explore. The only time we went out to travel is over the weekends. But the traveling time is so long! It will make me feel worse when my motion sickness kicks in. Thus, you see how bored am i here during weekdays? So, i study. im actually doing more studying and readings than in NUS. Gosh. im on exchange, i should play! Thats what people always say but here, we dont find any NTU or SMU exchange students so its always the 3 of us! Im always facebook-ing and watching movies from my funshion program back in my room though with once a week dance practice.

Laundry is another troublesome matter i hate. The laundry room is so damn bloody far away at Block H (unlike the washing machine back at home which is merely a few steps to kitchen) and i have to go up and down the stairs at least 5 times to check and restart dryers. So we incorporated cooking dinner with laundry to save time. But again, we have to constantly take turns to go down to check on the laundry and our dinner has to be consumed quickly to avoid people from taking out our clothes and dumping it aside since there are limited machines. That will then be wasting of money washing the clothes as they will be dirtied again!

Cooking requires ingredients and i dredged going to the supermarket which is about 15 minutes walk (about the same distance from my house to jurong point). But the toughest thing is walking back up slope with the heavy groceries! We are also experimenting our own cooked food. By the time we are back home, i supposed we will have a lot of our own recipes! We think of our recipes, buy and throw everything in. Its either boiling, frying or baking them. We are very proud of ourselves because we are REAL NOOB who DOESNT know how to cook! Im actually quite glad that we are able to whip up dishes from our IMAGINATION. Why? Consider the scenario of cooking curry:

• “Boil the potatoes and chicken first. I want the potatoes to be soft so i must boil it longer.” (at the expense that water is already included in the accommodation fee, so we are basically boiling everything)
• “Throw in the curry and add the milk. No milk how?”
• “My mother says can add fresh milk!”

Then trying to whip up some dishes from scratch:

• “Cooked what first?”
• “Garlic and chili, minced meat since it is frozen then vegetables? Mushrooms last since it takes damn fast to be cooked.”
• After adding everything, “why isnt the mushroom shrinking? I think must add water because i THINK i saw my maid adding water every time she cooked vegetables.” (this ‘think’ is actually recalled from the dont know how many years back when my maid was cooking in the kitchen.)
• “Sure a not?”
• “Just add!”
• Well, im right. Mushroom and vegetables shrunk and the dish is cooked after adding some soya sauce.

Cooking baked chicken:

• “How to marinate the chicken and what to put?”
• “You know how to barbeque? Just do the same to the chicken!”

Cooking Macaroni:

• “Why the chicken stock made the soup taste like magee mee?” The soup from the boiling of chicken (which will be shred after chicken is cooked) taste sweeter and nicer.
• So for second try, soup for boiling chicken is used as macaroni soup with one or two cubes of chicken stock added.
• “How to shred chicken then?”
• “Use your fork and knife or hands and start tearing!”

Frying fries:

• “How to make my fries taste like french fries with limited time?” (even though we know we have to soak the potatoes with salt and sugar the previous night into the fridge but ingredients for dinner are always prepared on the spot.)
• “Boil the potatoes, slice, cut then fry!”
• “Sure?”
• “Maybe. It works sometimes.”

There are many other scenarios where we bought the food and started experimenting and its so damn funny everytime we tried something new. But we have to squeeze our brain juice everytime we are at the market to think of what we can cook. I wonder how housewifes manage to cook different dishes everyday! We still do resort to eating only pasta, sides and salads sometimes when we ran out of ideas. So far, our imagination gave us Aglio Oglio, Beef bolognese pasta, carbona mushroom pasta, tortellini, wraps like popiah, macaroni, curry chicken, baked chicken, omelette, egg mayo,  banana and choc crepes, turkey/bacon ham with cheese sandwich, baked potatoes, Mojito and many more. And know what? I am still surviving with the same old ingredients we can find from the supermarket. Aww… im missing chinese food.

pissed!

At least i know that my blood is boiling!

How can people be so inconsiderate and rude?!

The least you can do is please ASK!

I would have agreed to allow you to have it if you even bother asking!

This is not the first time drinking and taking my things already can?

If you want to do it secretly, dont let me find out or sense it!

The most you can do is DONT FINISH my food and DONT OPEN if i haven open them!

How would you feel when the food you bought to keep for the week is obviously opened and consumed by others?!

How would you feel when you know that your milk is gone when you wanted them for your cereals?

How would you feel when you are thirsty and realised that theres only a few drops left?

Should I even start putting all my food and drinks in my room?

I have already resorted to buying cereal bars instead.

Should I even stop buying drinkable stuff into the fridge?

Are you a Manchester United fan?

Old Trafford Stadium is really a WOW though we did not catch a match. Apparently since this is a museum and stadium tour, visitors cannot enter when there is a match going on. The tour is actually great and the ticket is very worth it! We had free badge, free postcards, free lanyard and free certificate! We also visited the players’ changing room, the players’ lounge and had a feel of how is it like to walk out to the soccer field (because they lined us up and played the recorded announcement). The stadium is obviously bigger and nicer than Leeds. Practically it is all RED. The ultraviolet light shining on the grass patches apparently serves a purpose for the grass but i cant remember what is it.

Anyway, we toured the whole stadium from the audience seats to the managers area to the technical area and to the disabled section. The merchandise that they sold also comes in many different types. They even prepared Man-U Christmas merchandise! Can you imagine how much they earn from all these?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=333153&id=517605626&ref=mf

This day trip to Manchester is actually organized by the Singaporean Society and we paid a membership for that. They brought us to the Trafford Centre thereafter. Im quite disappointed because this is another shopping mall (looks somehow like Birmingham) which we dont really feel like buying ever since we see the cheap bargains at Cheshire Oaks. We always thought that they would bring us to the Chinatown in Manchester which is the city area where we can stock up our chinese food and eat dim sum buffet! Nevertheless, I still spent some money buying clothes from Topshop because it is having crazy sale! OMG. I bought a hotpink top for just 3.60pounds (around SGD$9)! Thats crazy because students have additional 10% off on top of the sale! Singapore dont do such thing. And I was damn lucky this time because I always have difficulty finding my sizes during sales. I was considering another black top but Im glad (though kinda regret) that I put it back.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=333181&id=517605626&ref=mf

And we agreed to go for the Halloween party cum clubbing session next Wednesday. We had the tickets already but we have no costume. Graveyard Creatures is the theme. It is so elaborate like what Ian said! What can we be? I have no intention to buy any weird costumes. Maybe I will turn up in normal looking human. hehs.

Picture koped from GGG during Blast Anniversary. Cute bunnies! So lovely right? Got prepare my set a not? haha. Okie. I know the answer.

Totally. random.

It sooooo totally. random.

1. I went for street dance again. Its the same routine as last week but with additional 2 more eights. And i paid 3pounds for every class! Why didnt he teach more?! But at least im happier dancing because of the being ’selected’ to dance. Yeah~ Through glad, I know my standard is still… doomz- cannot make it. I need to improve! Jiayous!

2. I just got to know from Cheryl that the time will be moved back by an hour on 25oct, this sunday, as shown on STA calendar. Meaning I will have 8hours time difference instead of 7hours. Sad. Harder to communicate back home.

3. I actually finished watching the jap show and now im starting on another jap detective show- BOSS. They talked too quickly and subtitle is in non-simplified chinese. I have to pause and pause and pause to read them. Hopefully Funshion is streaming so they wont fine me for ‘downloading’ movies.

4. Exchange rate is going up like crazy! I still have 2 more instalments to pay for my accommodation!

5. December trip to Spain Barcelona has been booked! Planning on Spain (barcelona, lisbon, madrid) then to Germany for christmas (heard they have great christmas season there) then to (maybe Paris if kor is coming. Confirm with me quick!) then to London for new year! Then back to Leeds to study for 2 weeks for exams.

6. Im staying here for exams! Exams in Leeds. OMG. 5 exams. hopefully they end early. Dont gimme a first day and last day paper. PRAY FOR ME!

7. The mole that i removed twice on my face actually grew back again! Am i really fated that I cant avoid certain things? That mole is a bad mole. The other one also grew back! arghs! Also bad mole!

Again..

As sinful as it is, im munching on my second tub of Ben & Jerry and my spoon actually broke on me! Luckily I koped other spoons elsewhere before.

Cheryl got herself other flavours though. Aww.

And finally, after so long, we had curry chicken! yum yum! we didnt had rice though so its just plainly eating curry chicken for dinner. I am actually very proud of myself for being able to whip up this dish from the knowledge of mummy telling me to boil potatoes and cooked chicken first. yippee!

Yaps and I am still on this Japanese detective sort of serial- “女仆刑警”. Its nice but I hate it when they actually include scary and ghostly scenes into the show. I thought this is a police film?

Sinful Icecream

I cant believe that I am actually consuming a big tub of Ben & Jerry now! But it is damn worth the price! 1.90pounds (ard SGD$4.50) for a 500ml tub. I need to save it for some other times!

Coventry and Birmingham

I am finally back from my shopping trip! I spend up to SGD400 solely for this trip and my shopping. I tried to control despite looking at tons and tons of pretty clothes. Not bad can? I did not bring enough cash to this shopping trip and ended up signing my card for the clothes. =( But I only bought 4 Ralph Lauren tops, 2 Fred Perry tops, 1 Fred Perry shoe and LaSENZA! Theres so many other outlets and I found my Lacoste bag but wrong color! I strongly believe that the salesgirl does not want to find for me. *fumes!* I have been searching for that bag design from Europe to London to shops all around UK already!

This picture shows how early we woke up to catch the morning coach to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.

Anyway, Fred Perry shoes are damn cheap! I wanted to buy one for korkor but I dont know his size! Wasted! Even tops are running out of S sizes. But I bought a shoe and a top to pamper myself. Yipee!

Ralph Lauren isnt that cheap but I bought 2 V-neck tops and 1 shirt. The black shirt is pretty and the collar and sleeves can roll up to hot pink color! I considered it for freaking long because I do not know what occasion to wear but nevertheless, I still bought it since I dont want to go back regretting not buying. Now im already regretting not buying more! I bought a pink polo for korkor too! Hope he can wear.

I got some loots from LaSENZA too. Guessed which bra I bought? I wanted both but one of them does not have my size. Grr.. Now i regret not buying more again because LaSENZA elsewhere are really not cheap. This LaSENZA has more sexy stuffs! Regret regret regret. Btw, I bought Eva’s pressie from here!

I saw pretty Nike jacket and boots! OMG but I did not get it because I strongly believe I can find cheaper stuffs from Singapore Nike sales. I could not find any GAP tshirt too! I walked in happily and walked out disappointed! Maybe because it is winter season, there are no tshirts! Cadbury chocolates too! haix.

Anyway, we bumped in at Ian’s friend’s place at University of Warwick. Ming let us have his room for 2 nights. So nice right? Me and Cheryl then squeezed ourselves into one bed with the comforter since the heater is not working. He has a nice clock but all other clocks including this in his room, does not work.

The university looks very similar to NTU without the yellow or red leaves. The pathway and some of the buildings definitely resembles NTU. It felt so home, especially when there are about 150 Singapore students in this uni. I was very surprised to see lots of asian faces! There are so many malaysians and singaporeans! We had a drink on the night we arrived. The bars are as usual located in campus itself unlike NUS where we can only find alcoholic drinks from Munchy Monkey.

Dinner for the following night was quick and simple. We got 2 pizzas and 2 chicken to share among 5.

We explored Coventry and Birmingham on Sunday since we are here. Coventry is small like Leeds, nothing much to walk about while Birmingham is a shopping city. It is a ‘Jurong Point’ look alike! We also found an interesting place to visit in Birmingham so we will be back! Its the Cadbury World!

Now we are back, I had to worry about tomorrow’s packed day! =.=.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=330724&id=517605626 (University of Warwick)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=330732&id=517605626 (Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=330744&id=517605626 (Coventry)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=330748&id=517605626 (Birmingham)

This weekdays

Nothing much interesting this week.

Leaves are turning yellow and some red. Really pretty.

Had street dancing lesson on Tuesday. Muscles aching.

Gave up on the opportunity to dance flash mob in Manchester on TV. omg.

No motivation to do things. Ben Mark sucks.

Started on her detective movies online again. Japanese series this time round.

Ate out everyday this week. Gonna die from the amount of oil consumed soon.

Still in pain from what I did. Regretted.

Still waiting for approval from nus side so that I can go back.

Going Warwick tomorrow.

Want people to stop searching ‘collen siah’ or ‘collen nus pfm’ in search engine. If you want to know me, add me and chat with me. I’ll update you with info.