I is for...

ingenuity, irrationality, irrelevance...

and most significantly (for now at least) I N S O M N I A.

so i have taken to early (its was 3am for goodness sake) youku-ing and reminiscing about the days in europe. It was really a trip like no other :) I am all drenched in nostalgia now thinking about it. Ahh so fun!

Happy Birthday

Every August feels festive because of National Day.

I remember last year in the embassy in Beijing, yl went to highs and lows with me to get the goodie bag changed to a pink one. For that I am forever thankful :) Fond memories for keep. Loved the camaraderie that unites us all and ... the food -- yums.

Today, national day was a simple affair, at home with momma and the teevee. HAHA we were so guai we really stood up at 20:10 and recited the pledge! I wanted to concentrate on reciting the pledge but ma kept talking to me. roll eyes.

It feels good to be home :)

YAHHHHHOOOOO :)

We don't need no reason to order yummy indian food for lunch in the lab :) but if push comes to shove, then in no specific order whatsoever, we were celebrating : the love of good food, laurie's eminent departure (its a sad thing really), my graduation (finally) and perhaps the arrival of tutti (2months earlier that is).. and this is not an exhaustive list.



(butter) naan, tandoori mushrooms, chicken curry and mutton, briyani, chipotle fries and lotsa horror stories about pets (if you count lizards as pets), boys and their mischeives, laughter, and bursting seams...

the crew :)

the crew : in red :) best gift ever bbb! good job :)

and i bid this post farewell with an ugly picture of myself.

its been five arduous years of (psuedo) mugging and many struggles. BUT we survived!

Now, I am really looking forward to the next phase of my life :) :) :)

of kites and laughter

"If you are a hundred years old, how come you are still so beautiful?"

Got me LOL-ing.

That certainly does take the cake :)

a good place

Thank you universe, for bringing me to where I am now. I have learnt so much in the past two years, trying to reconcile with my existence and trying to be less unhappy.

Fact is, its really easy. All it takes is a different angle.

Nothing the good ol' chinese idioms havent taught us.

Peace and contentment :) Metta.

Smiles aplenty

As I look back upon the two years that has passed us by, I cannot say that I am not proud.

I have always thought that, as a cohort, we seemed to have the odds stacked against us. From the skeptism which we faced in year one, to the obstacles that we had to climb over in the days leading to Beijing, all was not easy.

But with pure grit, and for me, sheer dominance by the mother figure, we made it.

Beijing was not all a bed of roses. Cultural shocks aside, we had to deal with the mundanities of life, like powertrips and spoilt heaters, you name it, we probably have dealt with it.

Suffice to say, it was a rollercoaster ride that provided us with the highway ticket into adulthood. I say, the fastest way to shake that little baby out to make way for a fine adult is to throw them into foreign land and let them be. Just. Like. That. Never for once underestimate the capacity of the human mind and its natural leaning towards survival.

And survive, we did. With great pride and a graduation certificate to boot. Woots!

To the graduating class of NTU DD programme 2010, we rock!

Paris. After thought.

My first road trip ever (half hr's drive to JB doesnt count) and I loved it! Truth be told, it wasnt at all smooth sailing. Look, the maze that is the parisian roads meant that we had a hard time trying to locate the apartment, the radiator dried up, the gear box emitted foul rubbery smell and our companion cum appointed driver was a kc spider army man. BUT paris more than made up for all these little nitty gritties that threatened to rob us of our joy. Mont martre was fantabulous and I would love to go there again. It only goes to show that judgement is bad cos prior to the tour, I judged montmartre (they told me it was on a hill and I was dreading the climb). And we even had to trudge pass the dodgy moulin rouge district. But it was all well worth the energy! Now Montmartre tops the list of my must visit places in paris, eiffel tower being a close second. Theres only that much you can do atop the tower right? Its like breath-taking view ok. Period. But I suppose it will be romantic location for the couples? Recommended for night visit, the grandeur doesnt quite surface itself in the day.

Pictures coming up soon!

Gonna pack for the second road trip!!!