Yups, I'm back. After the craziest 3 and a half weeks of my life.
Reading my post from a month ago, I can still sense the excitement and thrill I felt before I left. One month later, I'm sitting here trying to grasp and put into words the whole experience, now that I've been, seen and done. It almost feels surreal thinking about it.
People have been asking me all week how my trip was and I haven't yet found a single word or phrase to describe Europe; it was amazing and crazy and unbelievable and exciting and tiring and beautiful all at once.
My first memories of Sweden: The pine trees out the window of the plane and the crisp and cold spring air that hit me when I stepped out from the airport. Seeing the hospital where I was born was as special as I thought it would be. Walking into the neighbourhood where I grew up and having flashbacks of myself playing in the park, scraping my knee falling down on the tar road, and remembering peeping out of our old apartment window, was both scary and amazing. I think I somehow felt connected, a strange sense of belonging to a country I hadn't been to in 17 years.
Visiting 11 cities in 15 days was incredible.
I saw the inside of so many trains that I lost count- we missed a train, were early for several, made it with a minute or two to spare for some, caught one only because it was delayed by 10 minutes, took night trains with compartments all to ourselves, with families, with people from as far as Nigeria, and a train that crossed the sea on board a ferry. We took the TGV, had train delays, even snuck into a first class cabin before being 'politely' kicked out.
And the hostels. Between our 'pseudo' hotel room in Paris and the 10 bed dorm in Vienna, between the smoky and relaxed neon-lit lobby of the hostel in Amsterdam and the basement hangout in Budapest, I think we probably saw it all. And we owe a lot to our friends who lent us their couches and sofa beds to crash on.
The journeys between cities and countries were an experience on their own; the long stretches of green and yellow fields, wind turbines in the distance, cows and sheep (!!) grazing and lazing in the grass, and the little red farm houses nested cosily in the sprawling countryside. The graffiti at train and bus stations all over Europe and the homeless in little pockets and corners of the cities. Friendly faces and not such friendly ones; a melting pot of different people and cultures. We met so many old friends and made quite a few new ones.
Memoirs of the trip: Ripley's Believe it or Not in Copenhagen, Madame Tussaud's and the coffee shops in Amsterdam, the Louvre in Paris, the bouchons in Lyon, the Alps and lakes in Switzerland, the architecture in Vienna, the Sound of Music manor in Salzburg, the castles and palaces in Budapest, the beer, dumplings, the city and vineyards of Prague, the train station in Berlin, the sunny walkways and coastlines of Malmo, and the historical feel and expanse of Stockholm. My personal favourites: Prague, Lausanne (Vevey), Stockholm and Amsterdam.
There's so much more to it, but this post can only be so long... Pictures to follow soon, I promise :)
Europe on a clothes line
Yups, I officially leave for Sweden tomorrow night. I'm barely packed or mentally prepared, and yet here I am, blogging away.. *sigh* I don't understand me sometimes.
I am tonnes excited though. I'm finally going to 'live the dream' I've had for years and years, and hopefully visit the hospital where I was born in Sweden (admittedly, a recently conjured dream), among other things such as getting high on magic brownies in Amsterdam and visiting the Louvre in Paris (sorry- I cannot resist raving about this!). I just wish there didn't have to be a swine flu scare around Europe at the exact time I choose to visit. Murphy definitely was right about them laws.
Much thanks to Raaaam dear for lending me his backpack. Though it's large enough for me to crawl in, and will probably look like its walking on its own when its full and being carried around by yours truly, it's going to be invaluable. I sure hope it doesn't get stolen (and I hope Raaaam never reads this :$). Also thanks to everyone who's hung in there with me while I was planning the trip- and put up with my rants about having a Sri Lankan passport. You guys know who you are :)
Anyways, I shall not be blogging for the next couple of weeks (because yes, I'll actually have better things to do for a change) but be sure to expect torrents of posts once I'm back, all reflecting the chronic depression and grief that will take hold of me on the flight home :(
Au revoir then mes amis, a bientot!
I am tonnes excited though. I'm finally going to 'live the dream' I've had for years and years, and hopefully visit the hospital where I was born in Sweden (admittedly, a recently conjured dream), among other things such as getting high on magic brownies in Amsterdam and visiting the Louvre in Paris (sorry- I cannot resist raving about this!). I just wish there didn't have to be a swine flu scare around Europe at the exact time I choose to visit. Murphy definitely was right about them laws.
Much thanks to Raaaam dear for lending me his backpack. Though it's large enough for me to crawl in, and will probably look like its walking on its own when its full and being carried around by yours truly, it's going to be invaluable. I sure hope it doesn't get stolen (and I hope Raaaam never reads this :$). Also thanks to everyone who's hung in there with me while I was planning the trip- and put up with my rants about having a Sri Lankan passport. You guys know who you are :)
Anyways, I shall not be blogging for the next couple of weeks (because yes, I'll actually have better things to do for a change) but be sure to expect torrents of posts once I'm back, all reflecting the chronic depression and grief that will take hold of me on the flight home :(
Au revoir then mes amis, a bientot!
A love story..
..transpired when I saw this online. I've been playing it on loop ever since :)
Lassie- thanks so much for sharing this babe! :D
Lassie- thanks so much for sharing this babe! :D
Approximately 365 days ago...
I was a sleep deprived final-year student slaving away at lab.
I was broke, hadn't found a job yet, was struggling to finish my thesis, and worrying about cells and exams.
So much has happened since.
It's been one heck of a year. I've come a long way, and survived. Lots of things changed in ways I couldn't have imagined. But most of it worked out for the best.
I wonder what life will be like in a year from now...
I was broke, hadn't found a job yet, was struggling to finish my thesis, and worrying about cells and exams.
So much has happened since.
It's been one heck of a year. I've come a long way, and survived. Lots of things changed in ways I couldn't have imagined. But most of it worked out for the best.
I wonder what life will be like in a year from now...
Sometimes, all you need is a little luck, and a cinnamon bun.
I'm feeling a bit over the moon right now.Holland Village is going to be home for a little longer. Malaysia: Truly Asia was an unbelievable experience. The wonders of Europe are just around the corner. I have amazing friends. And a very insane but wonderful family.
Yes, I'm counting my blessings and being grateful for the little things in life.
It has been brought to my attention...
.. that some people (only a very few on this planet I hope) are not aware of Murphy and his laws, which I find unacceptable and almost horrendous. So being the altruistic and jobless soul that I am, I took it upon myself to compile a nice little list that should be memorized immediately and ultimately be passed down to your grandchildren (if you're lucky to live that long. Otherwise children/pets would do).
Keep in mind that there are several more out there- what's listed below is only a scratch on the surface. If curiosity still doesn't get the better of you, go get yourself checked by a psychiatrist, then browse through the rest of the laws to cheer up.
If anything can go wrong, it will.
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
Nothing is as easy as it looks.
Everything takes longer than you think.
Every solution breeds new problems.
The chance of the bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.
A falling object will always land where it can do the most damage.
The other line always moves faster.
When a broken appliance is demonstrated for the repairman, it will work perfectly.
Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral or fattening.
Your best golf shots always occur when playing alone. The worst golf shots always occur when playing with someone you are trying to impress.
Traffic is inversely proportional to how late you are, or are going to be.
Murphy's Law of Research
Enough research will tend to support whatever theory.
Murphy's Love Laws:
All the good ones are taken.
If the person isn't taken, there's a reason.
Brains x Beauty x Availability = Constant.
Every kind action has a not-so-kind reaction.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Sow your wild oats on Saturday night.
Then on Sunday pray for crop failure.
If the effort that went in research on the female bosom had gone into our space program, we would now be running hot-dog stands on the moon.
Never argue with a women when she's tired. Or rested.
The man shalt not win the argument he started.
The man shalt not win the argument he didn't start.
If a man won an argument, it was just in his head.
Love makes believers of us all.
Translation: Love obscures common sense.
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics:
Things get worse under pressure.
The Murphy Philosophy
Smile . . . tomorrow will be worse.
Keep in mind that there are several more out there- what's listed below is only a scratch on the surface. If curiosity still doesn't get the better of you, go get yourself checked by a psychiatrist, then browse through the rest of the laws to cheer up.
If anything can go wrong, it will.
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
Nothing is as easy as it looks.
Everything takes longer than you think.
Every solution breeds new problems.
The chance of the bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.
A falling object will always land where it can do the most damage.
The other line always moves faster.
When a broken appliance is demonstrated for the repairman, it will work perfectly.
Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral or fattening.
Your best golf shots always occur when playing alone. The worst golf shots always occur when playing with someone you are trying to impress.
Traffic is inversely proportional to how late you are, or are going to be.
Murphy's Law of Research
Enough research will tend to support whatever theory.
Murphy's Love Laws:
All the good ones are taken.
If the person isn't taken, there's a reason.
Brains x Beauty x Availability = Constant.
Every kind action has a not-so-kind reaction.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Sow your wild oats on Saturday night.
Then on Sunday pray for crop failure.
If the effort that went in research on the female bosom had gone into our space program, we would now be running hot-dog stands on the moon.
Never argue with a women when she's tired. Or rested.
The man shalt not win the argument he started.
The man shalt not win the argument he didn't start.
If a man won an argument, it was just in his head.
Love makes believers of us all.
Translation: Love obscures common sense.
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics:
Things get worse under pressure.
The Murphy Philosophy
Smile . . . tomorrow will be worse.
Bringing the laughter back from the '80s
If you haven't heard of the British comedy series Fawlty Towers,
1) Where the hell have you been??!
2) You've seriously been missing out
3) People from Barcelona will still seem normal to you
4) I might just disown you as a friend/acquaintance/creepy stalker person who randomly reads my blog
Now, to further enlighten you on only the best British comedy ever made, other than Black Books maybe, here's my favourite episode of the lot: Basil the Rat :D
Warning: The following material has serious addictive qualities. That said, it has also brought me endless hours of joy and laughter and tears (due to the laughter).
Other episodes in the series: A touch of class, The builders, The wedding party, The hotel inspectors, Gourmet night, The germans (highly recommended), Communication problems, The psychiatrist (even more highly recommended), Waldorf salad, The kipper and the corpse, and The anniversary.
1) Where the hell have you been??!
2) You've seriously been missing out
3) People from Barcelona will still seem normal to you
4) I might just disown you as a friend/acquaintance/creepy stalker person who randomly reads my blog
Now, to further enlighten you on only the best British comedy ever made, other than Black Books maybe, here's my favourite episode of the lot: Basil the Rat :D
Warning: The following material has serious addictive qualities. That said, it has also brought me endless hours of joy and laughter and tears (due to the laughter).
Other episodes in the series: A touch of class, The builders, The wedding party, The hotel inspectors, Gourmet night, The germans (highly recommended), Communication problems, The psychiatrist (even more highly recommended), Waldorf salad, The kipper and the corpse, and The anniversary.
Music moodswing?
I've never been much of a fan of Coldplay. Or of John Mayer. I think its because they've always sounded melancholy and haunting and it used to get me down and depressed for some reason :p
Anyways, presenting my most played songs for the week *drumroll...*: Yellow and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (hangs head in defeat)..
The weirdest part- I don't feel the least bit sad listening to them; instead, I've been merrily singing along and even did a bit of a ballet routine to Yellow (it was a bit too slow for my hip hop moves :p)
I think I may be slowly losing my mind.. *sigh*
Anyways, presenting my most played songs for the week *drumroll...*: Yellow and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (hangs head in defeat)..
The weirdest part- I don't feel the least bit sad listening to them; instead, I've been merrily singing along and even did a bit of a ballet routine to Yellow (it was a bit too slow for my hip hop moves :p)
I think I may be slowly losing my mind.. *sigh*
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