Airport

Airport? I just don't like it. Although I'm waiting at the arrival gate and seeing everyone smiling, waving, kissing, hugging instead of sending people off at departure gate still the uneasy feeling is squeezing into my body through every single skin pore. The cool air in the airport, in this place is just not right.

I haven't been to many airports as other expatriate or frequent traveller. There are only a few airports that I am familiar with. No matter how well I know the airport, for example, KLIA, it is still giving me the annoying feeling. Yes, I knew it well. I know where is the WC, McD, shop, cafe, rest... Will that make me feel better? No.

Furthermore when we talk about the flight delay, rushing for transit, confiscate item by the custom, problem with the immigration officer, sending the loved one to another place, it is a sad place. (Luckily we are holding Malaysia passport which has no problem with visa when we are entering most of the countries in the world) I remember clearly that there is once when sending Nic to Brunei/Labuan/wherever, we saw an indian lady cried so badly while waving to her guy. The tears on her face, unforgettable. It is rare to see someone so emotional at KLIA! Malaysian are more conservative and usually will hide their emotion to themselves. You only can see people with red eye but not sobbing.

You may said that it is a happy place when you are waiting at the arrival gate. If we compare the amount of sending people off and picking up people, I believe, KLIA still is an unhappy airport. Because Malaysia is not a famous tourist country or working place. People who are going out always more than coming back.

Airport, the sorrow place.

ps: start this post while waiting for my mum at PVG

Wedding

Nic and I used to discuss about the wedding that happen around us.

We don't see any couple around us are steeping into the church because of love, pure love.

Or pure love only happen in fairy tale?

Wedding to your couple is no longer a 'big' thing, a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.

Everyone got their own reason get marry. But, I have never hear anyone who said it is because of love.

Either because of pregnant, parent, getting old - age, or assigning job location (few of my teacher friend are getting marry because they don't wish to be assign to too far away from Penang)...

Can someone? Someone out there tell me that they want to walk down the aisle because of love?Because I love him? I want to spend the rest of my life with him?

Anyone?

Don't get me wrong. I know of course you love her/him too, if not you won't marry her/him. However, there are always so many reality issue that we need to bring into discussion when we talk about a marriage/wedding which make it no longer a wonderful experience. Budget for wedding, difficulty to book a hotel for wedding dinner, problem to reserve a good photographer or make up artist, accommodation and transportation for relative/friend to come down to the town...

Conclusion, no fairy tale. Wedding will never be a fun experience. =)

Girl - Emotion Controlled Creature

One of my close friend just started a relationship lately. Congratz my friend - Kitt. Glad that she manage to find a great guy.

She used to complain about the whole world to me. Everything in this world are poking her eyes and end each chatting sentence with a sigh or a angry tone. But now...thing had change.

The same issue which happen a month before and today. The exactly same incident and people but the way she describe is no longer the same anymore.

Today, when she is telling me that incident, she end each sentence with a 'haha' or smiley face.

Women....Girl....Emotion Controlled Creature. =)

Don't you think so?

Love is in the air

-on behalf of cliu-

The End of Winter

Many friends especially my colleague at China and Malaysia has been asking me to post more winter picture since the moment I came back to Norway. I am just too lazy to blog, no idea what to blog! But now, I guess I cannot delay the winter post anymore because spring is knocking the door!

A picture taken from my office parking as requested by all the colleague. The snow is higher than the car.

I love winter. Norwegian favourite question to foreigner: do you like to ski? Honestly, I like to ski, I enjoy cross country and Alpine ski, both. Although my ski experience with extremely muscle pain every inch of my body after my first cross country ski and bruise on knee + leg after my Alpine ski still I kinda like it now. Besides, I can go for some parallel turn instead of wedge turn on my last ski tour with my colleague. Hooray! Finish green slope this year, is it possible for Blue slope? Greedy me. =)

Company trip with the Norway office colleagues.

Credit to Sondre for taking the pic.

Every Norwegian go for ski during winter and I forced myself to upload all the ski picture by this week because Easter Holiday is coming on this weekend. Normally Norwegian will go for the last ski during the Easter Holiday after that they will keep their ski boot in the store. One of their practise in many Norwegian family.There is a cross country ski for children in the city centre of Sandefjord. Most of the "participant" are not really skiing to finish the track but rather let their parent to hold their hand to walk till the finish line. =) Look at Participant 68, how old is he?! 3?

And the participant cry out loud when they fall. haha

I admit that this winter had brought me some unpleasant experience - the accident and so much of trouble when I have to shovel the snow away. However, when I look at the snow flakes flying down from the sky in a quiet jungle, when I can go to the top of the ski mountain and looking down from there. I'll forgive you winter. Love you too.

Oh my Malaysia

While people are discussing about how to solve the shortage of man power like not enough teacher problem and debating about the pro and con of using robot to replace human, my beloved country Malaysia still demonstrating about whether to use English or Malay Language for our education medium langue.

Japan robot, Saya

Both of us also consider as Asia country. Their history is not too old compare to Malaysia. I know that United State or Europe countries have a history few hundred more than Malaysia so our education system, human right, citizen civilisation are not as good as them is something acceptable for me. ( Monolog: excuse! ) Malaysia is only 5 or 6 hours flight from Japan! And why we are soooo sooooo damn behind them?! ( sorry really couldn’t control myself )

I love Malaysia. However, sometimes, on certain issues, I really couldn’t show my passionate towards Malaysia. Why couldn’t you guys just make Malaysia better? Ok…one step back, I am not so greedy and requesting you to be as good as Japan. But, at least, please don’t embarrasses ourself? Couldn’t you?

It is my country, your country, OUR country. Accept it or not, it is a fact that you will never able change. Since then, why don’t at least everyone do something for it’s own good?

Sigh….

What's After SPM

There is a campaign called ‘ What’s after SPM?’. It collects the story what happen to you after your SPM from all the Malaysian. Check this out http://www.whatsafterspm.blogspot.com/

Hope to see young Malaysians are brave enough to do what they want, and to have a different and beautiful road from others. =)

ps: for whoever read my previous blog, I have remove it since it is a serious project which I feel it is not right to put add in 'my way' of comment on it.

Jokes of the Day

While I am having lunch with one whole bunch of Structural Engineers, these are some jokes I got today.

Joke A
There is one Chinese professor came to my university to give some class on integration and differentiation. After all the derivation, the lecturer look at me and said, I know...you must be thinking of the equation in 4D, but don't do so, just take the whole equation and integrate in 3D, then you will understand.

Actually when I am walking out of the lecture hall, my brain is not even thinking of the equation in 2D.

ps: for non-engineering reader, 3D means X Y and Z axis, 4 D means XYZ and time axis.

Joke B
In a bioengineering project, calculation/algebra guy will give a report of 400 pages.

Engineer will give 200 pages.

But, biology guy will only give 10 pages.

Lame? ok la...

Common Sense that Not Common

snow is melting nowadays.

If there is some foreigner who read this, they must be fill with questions mark on top of their head. What is so special about all this tips? However, for someone like me who never stay at overseas, especially go through the winter, there are so many things that I never know until I came to Norway. As the title said, common sense for them but not common for typical Malaysian.

1, what to wear?
Always wear more layer instead of thick layer. This is a reminder I got from Kitt Yin before I came to Norway for the first time. Before this, I don't really understand and keep on asking her why? ( I like to ask why a lot on everything until Nic feels that I am annoying) Now, I am fully agreed with what she said. The main reason is you are not going to be outdoor all the while, once you go indoor, it will be warm again, then you will have to take off the jacket. Even go ski or staying outdoor at -20 degree ( the maximum I have experience, so those -25 or -30 I have no idea how it feels), long john (thinnest will do) + T shirt + cardigan/sweater + jacket will do. Jacket means even the thin layer as long as wind and water proof will do.

2, get wet?
snow/water or wind proof jacket, glove, shoe are important gear during winter. Sometimes, the weather is not too cold and bearable. You will feel very cold when the snow stick on your body and it melt become ice water or when the wind blow through your cloth. So as long as you can keep the wind and snow away, you will not feel cold anymore.

I couldn't open the balcony's door because the snow accumulate for the whole winter has block the door.

3, nose bleeding?
put a plate of water under the heater. Nose bleeding is an ordinary problem for people who just reach a cold and dry winter country. It is because the inner layer of your nose is too dry. Usually, you will be fine after few days and always ensure the humidity in the room.

4, skin itchy?
it means your skin are way too dry. Sometimes the skin will be so dry until it turns grey color. If regular body moisturizer cannot solve the problem, I recommended to use some body cream. And body shampoo also change to creammy/oil type which your body still feel slippery even after how many times you rinse off.

ya...the picture quality is bad, however, people are skiing instead of walking in the pic. (if you can see,haha)

5, feel cold?
I believe this is going to sound peculiar for some people. But, it is a good lesson I learn from one Norwegian colleague. I find it is really useful. A lot of people claimed that they will gain weight during winter because the weather is cold and they have to eat more to keep warm. But, I don't see that at Norway. When you feel cold, you shouldn't stay in the house and keep eating. Instead of staying at home when it is cold outside, you should go outside and walk or sport or whatever. The best way to keep your body warm is to move your body! Either go ski, shovel the snow, ice climbing, cycle, or just to take a walk around the housing area. (okay, I saw Norwegian jogging in the snow which I feel that is too extreme) If the snow is too much till couldn't go out, then just move around in the house, mop the floor or vacuum the house. It is always work. Eat more will not make your body feel warmer la, sial meh...

6, slippery road?
must must must! must change the tyre before winter come. Or else...you will be ends up like me. remember my first snow in norway incident? You will not know when the first snow will come, so is better you change one month before winter. If your car are more advance, it should have the ESP button. I don't know what it stands for, but it should be something like when you step on the break, you still can turn your car instead of lock the tyre.

7, Car fog?
remember that the air conditional must turn to allow the air ventilation inside the car. The outside air has to flow into the car to prevent fog on the window.

car versus snow level

8, Tyre stuck in snow?
don't spin the tyre too fast. The more power you step on the pedal, the tyre will spin faster, at the same time, it will lose the grip on the snow floor. So the best solution is let the typre slowly slowly spin and get back the grip to move forward.

9, wind screen water
ohh...don't forget to change the wind screen water to those unfrozen under -16 or -30 degree chemical. If not, once winter come, the whole tank of wind screen water will be froze to ice. Then you have to be prepare you can't clean your wind screen for the whole winter, otherwise, you have to remove the whole tank and melt the water inside.

Many people ask me to post some winter and snow picture, however, I don't have much snow picture. I don't know where to take, how to take and what to take. I have try my best and hope you enjoy the picture on top for the time being. I guess, I will have more winter pictures soon.

about winter? To be continue...

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya beach

Before we went, we asked a lot of people where shall we spent most of the night. Bangkok? or Pattaya?

Friend A said Pattaya is just like Batu Feringgi, nothing is interesting, no need spend so many night.

Friend B said Pattaya is nicer because got more pub more night life.

Friend C said Bangkok? 2 days can finish liao la!

Friend D said you think leh? I had been visit Bangkok for 4 or 5 times, Bangkok definitely is the best la!Thailand is a place that had been visited by too many friends of us.

The more comments we accumulate, the more confusing we get. In the end, we decided to spend more days at Bangkok instead of Pattaya. Although a lot of people will surprise what can we do with so many days at Thailand, still we feel it is not enough. Maybe Nic and I were travel really too too slow,Bangkok...still have some places we haven't visit; Pattaya....I am not tan enough. I am still able to lie on the pool for few more days, explore more foods and etc.

Mango with Glutinous rice

If wanna talk about the quality of the beach, Pattaya is no way compare with Redang, not even Cherating. However, if you are going to Pattaya with a thinking that it is going to be a relaxing beach destination, then sorry, definitely you will be very disappointed. In the other hand, if you ignore the point that it is a beach instead just treat it as another famous tourist spot. Then you will full of surprise and enjoy it!! You wanna know what is the surprise I am talking about? =)

The world wide famous transsexual lady show… ( we went for Alcazar instead of the Tiffany)

Live sex show…male and female, male with male, male + male + female! Shemale show

Vagina show…or is it called ping pong show as well?

Surprise?!

I have heard a lot a lot of story about it. I guess I knew since I was real young. Penang is near to Thailand, so there are a lot of auntie uncle who always travel there. Those shows has been there for 10 or 20 years, so I knew it really long time ago. But, "know the existing" and "watching with your own eye" is really two different thing.

Pretty ya?

Talk about transsexual, Nic is always very proud of himself because he can so called "look through" whether is a she or he either from the apple, attitude or gesture. After the Alcazar show, about the transsexual at Thailand, the only conclusion that Mr Nic have to say is…no need waste the effort to distinguish whether is a she or he. As long as they are pretty, it is fine. Those shemale…they are just too perfect! In every single way. The body, the face, the gesture, and some of them don't even have Adam's apple!

Male and female having sex in front of you? Something like watching porn movie lo. Male + male + female? Okay la… But, male + male with karma sutra position and like gymnasitc? Argh!! It just…just freak me out. Eewww… (clarify, I am ok with gay but not seeing them in their own private action,ok?) Zhi Ying said she went for the live sex show at Amsterdam. I saw those banner but I didn’t go in. From the way she describe, it is not much surprise. I went in to the Go go bar at Amsterdam, lady with bikini dancing on the bar pool (something like Patpong bar, which is so common for Thai). And I also know there is a bar at Amsterdam where every waitress and waiter are totally naked. Still, I would like to say Amsterdam is nowhere compare to Pattaya. Hahaha…If you have a chance to travel Amsterdam, save the money for those show and spend on trying new weed since you can watch all those show at Pattaya with much lower price and more entertaining.

Vagina show…ya…heard of it…many many times. But, when you are there, with your own eye, even Mr Cool – Nic's jaw is just....drop. Put live bird, fish, tortoise, shaving blade into the vagina, blowing off candle, shooting banana with it…er…enough action talk I guess.

Is it fun? Isn’t it fun? We are not talking about the quality of the sand, how beautiful is the sunset or sunrise, no beach talk. But just listening to all I have mention on the above, I believe it already worth for a trip there.

However, all the show I said are prohibitted to take picture. They are very strict on this, ok? So I couldn't attach any of those "interesting" part for the trip. Nevertheless, here are some candid photograph during the stay. Enjoy!

ps: I am trying to have some slide show with those picture. But it seems like this code is not too good and I am lazy to do anything on it right now. I will get a better code for the next photo post.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok city night view

Nic said that I am going to have a long post. Since he already make the promise, it seems that I have no other choice. Before this, I am enjoying my holiday at Malaysia. During that period of time, I am really too busy to meet every single of my friend until I totally ignore this blog.

But now, I believe is time for me to record down my trip to Bangkok.

Traffic jam at 10pm?

I have heard a lot of people said how busy Bangkok is but until today I have never been to a city which is really more busy and dense than Kuala Lumpur. I know that New York, Tokyo, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai will definately more crowded than KL since I never been to those places so Bangkok is consider the first city I feel the busyness.

The amout of car, people, building...wow...eye opening. The traffic jam which is so bad until 24 hours jam, the jam for the whole highway which might be 10km long. I believe due to the traffic jam, it trains all the tuk-tuk driver's amazing skill a 90 degree turn, from third lane cut into first lane in split second. The taxi driver that can follow the car in front all the way without even letting a motor bike over take him.

Tuk tuk driver that peeking through the mirror, laughing at us because we were so scare with his driving skill.

ei ei...don't keep on talking bad about Bangkok. Many friends of mine who like to visit Bangkok definately they have their own reason. Food is always one of the factor that whether I like a place or not. Like I don't mind to go Italy for few more times because its cheap and nice wine. And Bangkok will definately a place that I will go back again if I have the chance because of the food.

The food is not only cheap but the variety and quality of it really really add a lot of credit to the whole trip. No matter the food in the restaurant or snack at the road side also always surprise me. Needless to say, the world wide famous tom yam, the green curry, the pork satay that Jason mention in his blog, the mango sticky rice, the fried kueh teow, the kueh teow teng, even the wan tan mee! Oh my god, it is enough for the list now.

Almost forget to mention about my carelssness about the trip. Whenever I travel at Europe, I will always check the weather forecast before I go. Before I go Thailand, I am very excited for a holiday with hot sun, windy and beach. When I am packing my luggage, I brought all my short pants, mini skirt, strapless T shirt. But I am so so so wrong!! I thought Thailand is South East Asia country. I thought all Asia country will be as hot as Malaysia. Silly me! When I reach Bangkok it was during the winter time. Bangkok with winter? Bangkok with 14 degree celcius? Much colder than Genting Highlands? Haih...really really shame by sillyness. =p Lesson learned, no matter where you guys are going in future...must! must check the weather forecast before travel.

As all the tourist did, we did visit all the tourist spots and shopping centres.

Enough story telling in the beginning, let me write the rest of this trip in an Engineer way. haha...

Siam paragon, centre world - cheap levis and bra for ladies. Besides, it is a good place to see a lot of pretty secondary school girl with sexy uniform hanging around the shopping mall.

Pratuchat - a must visit place if you guys plan to buy souvenier or any T shirt. One very important tip, must buy at least 3 pieces or above. The price will be total totally different if you buy more than 3 pieces.

Patpong - it looks exactly like Petaling Street except along the street there are full of pubs where got young ladies who wear bikini and dancing on the stage.

The only good auntie at Floating Market

Floating Market - full of bad bad hawker who sell super duper expensive stuff to tourist except for an old auntie who is selling cake. The worst part is all the souvenier they sell I can guarantee you can find the same stuff at Bangkok city with much cheaper price. They are bad not only because they sell expensive stuff, they will not give you back your changes if you give them big notes. They will either ask you to give them the rest of the changes as tips, or they will push something else to you as in return. BAD!

Grand Palace - hmmm....it is really grand as the name said. But, like Vatican Musuem, please estimate you need to spend one whole afternoon there. And please be prepare that it is going to be very very hot and tired after the visit.

Temple of Dawn

Dawn Temple - Although the Grand Palace has a very nice temple which bling bling from every single angle, still Dawn Temple is a not bad place to visit if you have the time. Some how, it has its own uniqueness. The detail of the craving and the steep steps are something different from the other temple.

Some of my friends said that I never put any picture of Nic and I together at Facebook. Let me attach a picture of us took at Grand Palace here. The temple grand, gold and shine or not?

Wishing List

From Kitt Yin and Taka blog, I saw a list of stuff they wish. A so called Wishing List. Looking at their wishing list, it makes me wonder....what will be the item on my wishing list. My wishing list changes from time to time. As I grow up, the price of those items on my wishing list is getting more and more expensive as well.

I am someone who feel grateful with what I am owning. No matter poor as student, or earning little money as an engineer, I am always feel satisfy with what I am having. And I am always telling myself to appreciate what I have now. Even though I am satisfy with what I have, everyone still have a wish list, and I have mine too. Am I contradicting myself? =)

Today, an item that want to be rank on my wishing list, it has to be at least 4 digits. Want to be on top of my wishing list? er....maybe...RM xxx xxx?

When I am 10 years old, a pencil box which cost RM 15 sounds so expensive for me.
When I am 15 years old, a school bag which cost RM 150 sounds 'wow' to me as well.
When I am 18 years old, a top which cost RM200 sounds so far from me.
When I am 25 years old on 2009, it has to be a RM xx xxx only can make me 'wow'.
What will happen when I am 30 years old? RM x xxx xxx?

It is like an exponential graph which climbing a steep slope that even myself begin to question against myself. Am I going to lost myself in this materialistic world? I couldn't control it since my brain and eye are the boss. Their are the one who're looking at more and more super branded stuff.

I had a conversation with Jessica Tan about it that day. She feels nothing wrong with that. Human are tend to climb up. By putting our target to more expensive thing, we will work harder, earn more and aim higher. It signifies that we are growing up and moving forward. I agreed with her. Deep inside my heart, I feel nothing wrong as well. (anything wrong meh?! chew)

On the other side, I start to worry that am I getting more and more materialistic? Am I becoming someone who only buy the most high technology hand phone, dine in those restaurant rated 4 star in magazine, study on all the fashion magazine and website which is the latest hand bag from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Hermes, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta? Am I? Am I?

Aiming for more expensive thing...

good? bad?

However, I am still the one who wear a cloth from aunties boutique, like to buy earring from little stall, shop for shoe from night market (pasar malam)! Me is still me. Yes, I admit that I am getting more and more greedy. I am not so easy to satisfy anymore. Nonetheless, my eye still widely open, I am not yet blind by money. Never.

The end of 2008 - The start of 2009

Reading michaelooi.net in the morning as usual in my office.

He has the habit of writing a summary when it comes to year end. A post that summarise what had happen in the past and resolution for the coming year. I was thinking shall i write a summary of what i have done for the past 1 year?

Looking at his summary, I feel that at my stages of life, it is really too many unknowns. For people like him, everything seems to be so in order. He can make a list of what he plan to do; he can sum a list of what he had done too.

But for me...I can't have any resolution for the coming year since I am not sure how long I will be working at Norway. How long I will be in this company? How long I will start to buy my first house? How long for me to get into marriage?

I can't be like him...resolution is luxurious for me.

How to summarise what I have done for the past one year as well? What I have done? A new job? Travel a few countries? What does it has to do with adding value to my life?

Don't want to talk about my life, I only can summarise what I have write here for the past one year and what I want to write in the coming year. I has been writing in this blog for about one year.

The first time when Nicholas introduce me into this blog, he mentioned that I will have some Chinese post. Until today, I never write anything in Chinese. Throughout the year, I wrote down many article in Chinese, but never post it because I doubt how many people in this blog can understand. I feels that 90% reader from this blog are Nic's friend who don't read Chinese. Since majority of the reader don't understand Chinese, so I never have the motivation to blog in Chinese. Another reason I said that I might write in Chinese because of my poor English.

The more I write the more I am frustrating by the limitation of vocabulary and adjective. Especially adjective, it is still very troublesome for me whenever I want to describe what I see and how I feel. It is a good sign that I am aware of the it. But, I feel frust because I couldn't break through the barrier. I has been reading English book for some years, writing here for the past one year. I don't see any big improvement in my English.

At the same time, I can foreseen my Chinese is walking away from me. Honestly, I am always feel sad when my Chinese is deteriorate. One of my wish in the next year is I want to keep my Chinese level. I do not dare to say I want to improve it, at least, I want to maintain. Besides, I hope that I can learn more on the Chinese culture in year 2009. Something that I has been wanted for so long. Keep finger cross I will have the determination for it.

I talked to many people about the deteriorate of my Chinese. None of them feel it is a problem and they don't understand why I am so bother by it. All of them agreed that English is much more important today. I shall pay more effort to concern about my English rather than maintain my Chinese. More over, my Chinese foundation is consider very good. I admit that my definition of so called 'good in one language' is very strict. Be able to speak, write, read is not my definition of command the language. It has to be include to know well about the culture, literature and history too.

I has travel some place in the last year and I blog most of them. The reason I blog is to share some travel information on my personal feel instead of those typical information we can get from the net. Second reason is I want to recorded down some memory as well. From Nic and my notice, reader doesn't seems to be interest on my travel post. Reader are more interest on post regarding personal feeling. So, I might cut down those blog in the year 2009. Besides, I am a bit tired of travelling too. One conclusion I can make for my year 2008, I am not someone who like to travel. Travel is not be my hobby.

I do notice a lot of blog will normally post about their sad moment or story. Rarely will have anyone who write something happy. Because sadness is an emotion that will spread faster than happiness. However, I don't like to write some serious and heavy feeling post. Me is still me. In the coming year, I will still post happy moment instead of sad moment. haha...

That's it. After this, I will spent more time with family and friends. So, should be less post from now on.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Norwegian have some Christmas traditions and I want to share with everyone here. First, it is the Jule Calendar or Christmas Calendar. A calendar which has 24 days on it. It is a count down calendar to Christmas from 1 of December until 25 December. Every day, the small kid at home will open a box which means one day nearer to Chirstmas. They also will receive one small present everytime they open the day. It means 25 presents for one Christmas!!! Sounds cool,right!! 25 Christmas presents leh.

However, my Norwegian teacher told me that those present usually are small presents for kids. For example some eraser, pencil, ruler or most common is chocolate. Some major chocolate manufacturer will have the Christmas calendar which contain 24 different types of chocolate. Everyday, the kid can open and take one chocolate from the calendar until Christmas.

This is a Christmas Calendar from Kinder Chocolate. But, this calendar doesn't belong to any kids. Somehow, many process engineers in our company bought the calendar too. =)

As you all can see, the calendar already has 5 empty spaces which means 5 days gone and it is getting nearer to Christmas! However, instead of taking one chocolate per day, those engineer sometimes took 2 chocolates a day! I took the picture on 2 or 3 of December. They are not following the rules!

This is a photo taken from my office's reception which is a simple candle stand. Some are really nice.

Another tradition is the 4 candle for 4 Sunday on December. On the first Sunday of December, the family will light one candle after breakfast. They will only light one candle each Sunday. The second Sunday, they will light the 2nd candle. And it goes until the 4th Sunday which is the end of Christmas month. So those candles are different height with one is shorter than the other one.

When they are lighting the candle, they will read a tradition poem together. The meaning of the poem is something like the first candle will bring happiness and the last candle will bring peace to everyone who shine under the candle light. I couldn't remember the meaning of second and third candles. I have the poem but it is in the car and I am lazy to take it since it is cold outside. =P

Besides, Norwegian eat pork, pork sausage, some red cabbage and fish during Christmas dinner. Usually they will not eat beef on the festival. And, they also have their own version of Santa Claus - Fjøsnisse. They believe in a small version of Santa Claus who will take care of their animal. He is the secret keeper in the barn. So most of the family will leave one bowl of porridge with a spoon for him on Christmas Eve night. If he eat the porridge and the bowl is empty on the next morning, it means those sheep, goat and cow in the barn will be save for the following year. If not, it might have some sickness to the animals. I don't have the picture of the little Santa Claus. But, it looks exactly same like Santa Claus except it is much smaller in size. All kids are looking forward for white Christmas, they will not be happy if the snow is too little during the Christmas. As I heard from all the Norwegian, the snow at Norway is getting less year by year due to the global warming.

Wish the snow will always cover this peaceful land - Norway on each Christmas. And wish everyone to have a great Christmas.

Amsterdam, The Netherland

holland = windmill

I went Amsterdam 2 weeks ago. This is a trip which different with all the trip that I went before because the main purpose of the trip is not going for sight seeing but for the night life at Amsterdam. =)

1. drugs
no doubt, Amsterdam is famous for that. A country which smoke weed is legal. Along the street, you can see coffee shop everywhere. Every street at least will have 2 or 3 coffee shops. Obs…forget to explain, the meaning of coffee shop does not mean you can drink coffee there. Instead it means you can smoke weed there. The product of weed is not only in cigarette, it also came in lollipop ( I wanna buy to bring back to MY so much!! But worry later get caught =P ), cake ( so called space cake), chewing gum, candy. Besides, there have one type of mushroom which called magic mushroom. It is really-to-eat. A mushroom that can make you hallucinate after consume.

Did I try? Er…yes, of course. =) But, I admit that I am scare, only smoke a few puff of tobacco + little little weed, the cheapest indeed.

How do I feel?…er….feel like the world is spinning lo. =)

As I heard, different people will have different reaction and feeling after drugs. Those drugs will strengthen your personality which either be positive or negative. Fyi, my travel mate keep on smiling for the whole night after the cheapest tobacco + weed.

2. red light district

cannot take picture of the girls, so...''fancy'' chocolate as a replacement?

er hem….sophie and I were expecting that there will be naked women standing in front of the glass door. We were disappointed. They are not totally naked, however, in their very very sexy bikini. Read from a lot of websites, it is forbidden to take picture of those prostitute. Of course, it is rude by the way. So, no picture here.

The first time we reached the red light district in the morning guess what we saw? Super duper fat and ugly auntie who wear bikini and sat there waiting for the customer. Eaukkks….i was thinking…what the?!! This type of quality?? Cannot be!

After that, I get to know that renting the glass window is something like renting a shop. If you rent at night, the rental is expensive. It is much cheaper during the day time. So if your business is not so good, of course you will rent in the morning. So who will rent the window in the morning?

I went there at night again. And now..it looks more a like…better quality now, haha…Those girls will knock on their window when there are single guys walk pass. A way to promote themself. They will not invite youngsters who walk in a group since they know those youngsters are there to 'see' but 'buy'. Some of them will talk in their phone, do manicure in their own space. Even you stand in front and look at them, they will totally ignore yous existence and treat you as transparent. (maybe because I am gal, not potential customer)

The glass room is really a cute space. And I have to say, really convenient…it is a small room which occupy with a bed, a basin, and a chair. There is a huge glass window with curtain and door. Once the customer enter the room, pull up the curtain....shh....

We over heard the negotiation between the client and the prostitute. It is about €50 from a quite pretty girl. What type of service does that €50 included, then I am not sure. We suspect €50 is just for one time. No kiss, no squeeze. =P

Most of the pretty girls will not stand at the main street window. The main red light district street are not so many prostitute shops. If you walk to the small small alley that split from the main red light district road, you can see even more! Those alley are as small as only 1 person can pass at once. I saw one asian prostitute lo! Not bad not bad.

3. club

once 11pm, not only have to queue to enter, but also need to go through metal detector before enter.

We went a famous club named "Escape" at 930pm. Usually I will go clubbing from 10pm to 12am at Kuala Lumpur or Penang. We were early that night and I was expecting to sit in the club for some drinks while waiting for the club to fill up. That is how we used to be at Malaysia, I think. Surprisingly, when we reached the club, it is written Business Hour 2300 – 0500. what?! Not yet open? We waited till 11pm then only able to enter the club. Before enter, we had to go through metal detector! This is the first time I saw a metal detector for a night club.

At Amsterdam, most of the street are dead, pretty dead from 8pm – 11pm even red light district also the same. After11pm, only can start seeing people flow into the street. The city is dead from 8-9am as well, it wake up on 10 or 11am. It is a city which is so focus on the night life until everyone there seems to be sleep late and start late.

4. beer + absinthe

heineken logo

World famous beer, Heineken brewery is located at Amsterdam city. Heineken Experience is a famous things-to-do there. What does it means by Heineken Experience? It means you can experience how Heineken brew their famous beer step by step. You are not only allow to visit their brewery, you are entitle to taste the beer there as well.

I thought Heineken experience is closed under construction when I visited Amsterdam. I read the news from Heineken official website. But a guy who is selling bus ticket told me that although it is under construction still it open for visitor. Yeah! yeah!

Since I visited during construction time, it is €5 cheaper! Basically the whole construction is 90% complete only left the main entrance path which is still under construction. So, I didn’t lose anything even visit during their renovation. The valuable part about the Heineken Experience is not able to visit how Heineken brew their beer, but is the staff will teach you how to taste beer! According to the staff, tasting beer is like tasting wine. Should smell, look at the color, then only taste! Wow….only beer…

absinthe

Absinthe is a type of herb liquor which can contain super duper high alcohol level which can go up until 70 or 85% of alcohol. Basically it is something like drink alcohol from chemistry lab la. (i heard russia's vodka can go up to 95% alcohol level, that one is really drinking alcohol from lab) Amsterdam banned all the businessmen sell absinthe few years back. The funny part is…it is illegal to sell, but legal to drink, own or buy…har? So? Doesn't make sense, right? The owner of a liquor shop told me that it is just some business trick between wine and absinthe maker. The wine maker are jealous of the hot selling absinthe at amsterdam so they go to the Parliament and making noise want to ban absinthe. So, the parliament set the rule to ban people from selling absinthe from then on.

Enough travel Europe post for time being. I wish that the next travel blog that I am going to post is a travel experience to Asia country. After so many posts about Europe, I feel that I shall write more about Malaysia instead of Europe. When I go back to Malaysia this time, I will blog more on KL, Penang, Taiping and etc. I plan to write down more on Malaysia local food. So that when I am homesick next time, at least I can read it from the blog. Can't wait to be home lo!!

Distant vs Love

Some of my friends just broke up with their partner recently. The major culprit of them walking on their own path is because they are not physically together. So called long distant relationship.

Is it physically together is that important in a relationship? Does physically together is a guarantee that the relationship will not have prob? Is it both of them dating with each other everyday means they are deeply in love?

So many husband and wife are sleeping on the same bed every night for more than 10 or 20 years, some of them living under the same roof for half of their life, still, divorce, affairs, argument...

Ain't them physically attach enough?

The soul is not there, the love is not there means it is not there.

I know...when you are weak, you wish that your loved one can be there by your side to share your sorrow. When you are happy, you wish that he or she is the first one who know the great news.

However, even he/she can't share the joy with you, the pain or sorrow with you at the first moment, is that reason valid enough to leave the one you love the most?

He or she is your love. Someone you choose that you are willing to spend the rest of your life with. I always believe it is not easy for two strangers to fall in love together, to walk the same path together. He/she is someone that you are willing to tell him/her that you love her. It is easy to break up but it is never easy to get back together once there is a scar in the relationship.

Although we are too young to talk about death, but every couple, no matter how sweet they are now, nobody can be physically together forever. One day, one of them will leave the world first. Then the partner will be living in this world...alone.

Can God of Death wash away our love even he/she left us forever? Can time faded our missing to him/her?

Even death cannot separate two lover apart

ps: this is a sculpture from Gustav Vigeland at Vigelandsparken, Oslo. One of my favourite.

Vatican City, Vatican

Whoever go to Rome, I believe that they will pay a visit to Vatican City as well.

Once I reach the hostel, the receptionist already warn us that if we are going to Vatican City, he recommended us to get up early and reach there by 730am. 730am?!! Means I have to wake up 7am in the morning to get ready? No way...i am not going to wake up that early especially going for a trip.

At the second day, I reached Vatican City about 8am in the morning....ends up....the queue to enter vatican museum is surrounding the 1/4 of the country's perimeter! sial...I was thinking, haih...this time don't know have to wait until when only can enter vatican. Luckily, the queue is moving quite fast, so it doesn't matter. Frankly speaking, it is really scary when I first saw the queue.

long long queue...

We directly went into Vatican Museum, I recommended whoever go to Vatican Museum, it is better to bring along a friend who has strong knowledge about Christianity and bible. Most of the paintings are related to the history of Christianity. Without the knowledge, basically, you will be totally blur from the moment you enter the museum until you walk out from there.

If you are travel with 2 or 3 friends, it is better to have a tour guide along. I didn’t hire a tour guide instead I rented the audio system. It cost RM50 and I didn’t even listen to half of the content but trust me, it is worth. Without it, I am like an idiot walking inside a big building. I don’t like that feeling. It makes me feel I waste my money to enter the museum.

Majority of the tour guides will speak in front of the team, then every tour member will wear one wireless earphone. So whoever left behind also can listen to what the tour guide says. Most of the corridors in the museum are narrow, it is impossible to get a place for the tour group to gather in a round and start explaining. It will block other visitor to proceed. You can hear multi national language of tour guide over there. When you choose the tour, you are not only can choose for English tour guide, but even can choose Italian, France, Britain or US accent of English!

i saw mummy!! at vatican museum

One of the most famous fresco in the Vatican Museum is God creates Adam, the first man by Michelangelo at Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo draw the 9 scenes from Book of Genesis, Old Testament on the ceiling! For me, by reading the bible especially the Genesis already make me super duper confuse. I am someone who like to imagine the picture in my brain when I am reading something. Like even when I am studying, I will try to remember the ''picture'' or ''image'' of the equation instead of memorise it. Genesis is always a chapter which is too abstract for me. Divide Land and water?? har??light and darkness?? Nevertheless, Michelangelo manage to transform it from the word to a graphic. The most amazing things is when I look at the painting, it gives me the feeling of...yes...this is what bible said...this is how it looks like...

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Normally those movie which transform from book to picture, most of the reader will hate the movie. Because when we read the book, we always have our own perception and expectation of the character in the book. We always assume how the character suppose to be in our brain. When it comes to movie, the picture is display in front of us, without the space of imagination, the real life is always not as nice as we thought. Ends up, book is always better than movie like Harry potter, Da Vincci Code.....

The last judgment on the altar.

But Michelangelo managed to draw the imagine from the bible and show it in such a beautiful way to us until I have to agree with it. His painting convince me to believe that what he draw is what the bible says. That is how God create heaven and earth, create the first man.

It is illegal to take picture inside Sistine Chapel. The most famous phase that we can hear from the guard in the chapel is....''silence please...no picture....'' All the pictures inside Sistine chapel are taken by my friend under risk of being caught. =P

One of the corridor in the Vatican Museum.

Every corner or ceiling or column of the museum are full of painting and decoration.

For whoever plans to visit the museum, it is recommended to estimate you have to spend minimum 3 hours there. Only the museum, not included the basilica, ok? Even you are not a big fan of the Christianity history or art, assuming every single display item, you take 30seconds to look at it also need about 2 – 3 hours to finish the museum. If you are someone who are really interested to find out more for some items, then you will ends up like me….5 hours…I am still consider fast because I try not to spend too long since I knew that I have to visit some other places on that day. Besides, I also try not to waste too much time on taking pictures ( still I took about few hundred pictures inside there). Can you imagine how big is the museum? I heard that Louve Paris is even much bigger than Vatican museum.

Err….actually I also spent some time to buy rosary as well. Vatican museum is really a good place to shop for rosary. Over here, you can get various design of rosary. Buying rosary here is not simply because it is from the holy see, it is also because many design that I never see at Malaysia. Yes, the price maybe a bit higher. I fall in love with a rosary necklace that cost few thousand ringgit. =P But those rosary are really a piece of jewellery, rosary with gold plated that can wear as necklace, rosary with silver plated, rosary with black pearl, with crystal, rosary as bracelet…However, if once you walk out from the Vatican wall, those rosary is selling at much lower price. But, I over heard one tour guide said, although it is just a wall difference, but buying from inside is consider buy from the holy see, once u buy over the wall, it is consider you buy from Italy not Vatican anymore.

I spent about 5 hours inside Vatican museum. Initially, I plan to attend sunday mass and visit the museum museum on the same day. But, it closed on Sunday. So, I have to go to Vatican again on Sunday morning and visit the museum on the other day. After the first visit to Vatican city, this time, although the general announcement start at 10am, still I reach there at 8am. (never ever 2 hours earlier to reach church, hahaha) I thought I am early but I am absolutely wrong again.

queue + queue + queue

Again!! super duper long queue. It is really a tiring mass. 2 hours queue just to enter Piazza St Pietro, usual 30 mins to Holy communion become another 2 hours to it. 15 min first reading become 1 hour only first reading....seriously.....very very tired after the mass.

sunday mass, many people leh?

At Malaysia, we will have dual lingual mass. But at Vatican City, there will have multi lingual mass...Italian, Spanish, Hindi, English....whenever the announcement is using Italy language, all Italian will stand up and hooray~~!!Hindi, all indian will be waving India national flag....and HOooray~~~!!Spanish, all the Spanish youngster will stand on top of the chair, yeah !! yeah~~!!English....cool...calm....too little Christian who speak english there. It looks like a concert more than an Sunday Mass. Luckily, when praying or some serious session, everyone still keep quiet.

never ever visit vatican city on sunday if you are not going for the mass

When the mass finish, finally I have the time to visit Saint Peter Basilica or so called San Pietro in Italy language. It is famous because of the tomb of Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles. It is huge, as huge as you can fit the Statue of Liberty in the dome where the main altar sits with room to spare!

human is tiny in the house of God

I am really astonish by the basilica. After visiting the Saint Peter Basilica, I believe there is no other church in the world could gave me such impact anymore. The size, the altar, the chapel, the carving, the nave, the fresco, the ceiling...every single corner of the Saint Peter Basic ilia is an individual piece of art.

I had visited the Cathedral at London. Yes, it is large and nice as well. But compare to Saint Peter Basilica, it is nothing. Those cathedral doesn't give an impact, such feeling. For Saint Peter Basilica, once you step in, your mouth will just drop...and...wah....My travel mate said that it doesn't look like a praying place at all because it is really too huge. A praying place that can fit 60,000 disciples?!

It is really a must visit for everyone who visit Rome and Vatican City. Finally, end my post with a picture of adorable Swiss Guard. =)

First snow at Norway

This morning when I woke up and open the door to go to office as usual. This is what enter my eye...

snow....I was late to office for the past 2 days, reached office around 9am. Since I wanna reach office early, so I purposely woke up early. Due to the stupid snow, I am going to reach office late again because I have to start the car, let the engine warm up and clear off all the snow on the wind screen. Gggggrrrr.....stupid snow.....

It is the first snow in my life. Still....not excited...I am cursing it like hell....@#%$^@$^%^ (make me late again)
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Let's go!! Go office lo!!
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People always said driving on road which cover with snow is very slippery, but I feel ok all the way from my house to the office with summer tyre. (ya, i haven't change to winter tyre yet...)

Suddenly, when I took the last corner right in front of my office, the car just lose control, the steering is not listening to me!!!

Arrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh~~~~!!!

Accident happen. My car fly over the rock. =(

(can you see other cars in front of it? that is my office parking space)

Because it happen right in front of the office, so everyone who go to office will see my car is 'hanging' there. Today, everyone got a good laugh at me. I am the winner of this winter and very famous in the office today since everyone know that is my car.

In the afternoon, I got the news that norway highway got a few acccidents with more than 10 cars bang together. Along the way home just now, there are some cars which lost control as well. It is early snow for Norway and many drivers haven't change to winter tyre yet.

Every winter, there will be someone who lost control at the junction in front of my office. Last year, the car fly and bang to another 3 cars which stop at my office car park. I am consider lucky because the rock stop my car from being 'fly' and bang to other cars.

In a nutshell, don't curse snow. She is small gas...kecik hati...shh.....
karma...

Rome, Italy

I went to Rome for 4 days trip few weeks back. As usual, the post is always few weeks after my travel. Rome is a city that full of history and basilica. I am amazed by the glorious achievement of the Roman Empire. Becaues of this trip, I start to realise that how poor is my history foundation. Ya ya ya, it is poor even before I go there. But, I never aware of how serious it is!When I am doing research for the trip, I am so confuse with all the emperor, painter, artist, war, pope....bla bla bla... ! How I wish to have more time to improve myself on it, seriously.

Colosseum

First of all, of course I am going to talk about Colosseum. Colosseum souvenir is everywhere at Italy. It came across my eye whever I am there. Besides, Hollywood did plenty of movies about Colosseum as well. It is not something new for me, not at all. I believe almost most of the people in the world knows about it. When I were walking towards Colosseum, by the time it goes into my eyea my blood flush, my heart pumps. I am totally overwhelm by the structure. Titling my head up and looking at it, speechless....(haih....my English...my poor vocab....)

Colosseum---it may not as tall as Twin Tower, or the going-to-be-the-tallest-building at Dubai (lazy to search what that building called), still....his impact to the everyone who had seen him is something that modern building cannot make it. No wonder it is one of the 7 wonders of the world for so many years.Modern world keep on building skyscraper, trying to compete who has the tallest building in the world. Your country may claim to have the tallest building in the world, but within few years from now, another building will be taller than yours by that few inch or meter difference. So, what's the point of building the tallest?

Fountain di Trevi

Fountain di Trevi is one of the reason I am fancy about Rome. Please don't laugh at my silliness. I know it sounds shallow if I want to visit Rome for this. But, I am being honest here. Fountain di Trevi is always one of the place that I want to go. And...I make it!=) According to the legend, throw one coin with your right hand through your left shoulder, and make a wish, you will have second visit to Rome. Throw 2nd coin again, you will meet a guy and fall in love with him at Rome. Throw the 3rd coin, you will marry a Rome guy!!

I thought I am always positive with human attitude and always forgive what others had done to me. Seriously, this is something I will not forget. Talk about fountain di trevi, I have to mention a souvenir shop that right opposite of the fountain. As you all know, Nic's mother like to collect fridge magnet, I am planning to buy some souvenir back. When I entered the shop, I read the sign about DO NOT TOUCH on top of the fridge magnet rack. However, I saw some magnet that I never seen in that shop that other stalls don't have, so I took it up and choosing for other magnet. At the mean time, the shop lady walk towards me and I asked: how much is this? Instead of answering my question, she said: did you see the sign of DO NOT TOUCH? I said: ya...but I want to buy it, if I don't touch, how am I going to buy it? Maybe she didn't hear me clearly by my poor english or her poor english (most Italian don't speak English at all) but she replied with her finger point point at the sign of DO NOT TOUCH. And then, I was a bit angry, and I said, if I am not going to touch it means I am not going to buy. ( i guess i raise my voice a little bit, and some other people look at us) The boss of the shop walk to us and said, it is fine if you don't want to buy, thank you for your visit. @#@#$%^&* I should have just take the fridge magnet and throw a 10 euro on the floor! So angry!! Ggggrrrr....

a cup of cappuccino that take less than 1 min to serve. faster than kopitiam uncle's kopi.

It is a new habit that I have after start working at Norway or shall refer back to Bali trip. I will try the local coffee wherever I go. I love Bali local coffee - the sweetness even without any sugar added, love Barcelona coffee too with the thick texture, so so with Norway sour coffee. Nevertheless at Rome, I saw another culture of drinking coffee. Rather than blog about how the coffee taste, I have to talk about how Italian drink the coffee. Italian like to just stand beside the bar, and wait for their coffee instead of sitting down to drink. They will STAND until finish the coffee! It is new for me. I suspect that the main reason they do so is because once you sit down, the restaurant will have the right to require for service charge since you are sit in dine. The service charge sometime is not the usual 10%, but it might goes up to 20 or 30%. So, most of the lower class coffee shop, you can see everyone just stand there and drink.

Rose window. I don't know why but I always love it.

The church. Almost every street at Rome will have a church or basilica. Some of it may look small from the outside but never judge a book by its cover. Surprisingly, everyone of it got its own unique and beauty. Deeply fall in love with the church's painting on ceiling and rose windows.

There are so many things for me to write about this trip, too many stories to share. I haven't share about the the pasta I ate, the Rome Termini that full of Be Aware of Pick Pocket sign, the tidy road condition that has accident every day, gelato - the tasty Rome ice cream...The wine is cheap! I am not a good wine taster. I only know how to differentiate dry or not. Over there with 3 to 5 Euro wine, no matter white or red, it just taste so good! It is smooth....go into my throat, the aroma...really love this part about Italy.

Anyway, the length of this post is enough by now, I believe that I shall stop. I don't like a post which is super duper long, so I am not going to write a super duper long post as well. Unless...someone are interested to know more about Rome story, then I shall consider to write more about it in future post. =P

most of the city roads are narrow. parking at rome is challenging from the view of a Penangite. keke... can you park as near as this? i can't.

In conclusion, I would said this is just an okay trip for me. Yes, I am overwhelming by all the church and historical building. At the same time, I am really disappointed with the Italian attitude as well.

santa maria basilica's altar

What make a country attractive is not only by the history or culture, building, beach or natural scenery, the people plays a role as well. Building, scenery are dead, human are alive! Maybe most of the travel advertisement or brochure, rarely the editor will take the people as a selling point. But, undeniable, the people is always something that will make you remember back the trip. The auntie who show you the way when you lost, the guy who bring you to bus station, the lady who help you with the ticket machines...These are the thing that warm a traveller heart, these are the thing that will left behind in someone's heart.

ps: i will blog about Vatican City and Pisa at different post during the weekend. Hopefully....