Back from Europe

Haha, actually, I've been back for about a week now. I've noticed that after coming back from trips, I like to behave like a hermit for a couple of days - just staying at home and whiling my time away like a retiree. :pThe trip was wonderful, we covered quite a bit of ground - Riga (Latvia), Krakow (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria) and Rome (Italy). Along the way, I saw lots of awesome sights and met a truckload of people, got to know new friends as well as old ones. And of course, we had a very rewarding experience at Peaktime :)

The avalanche of photos are available on Facebook, but I just wanted to write down a few thoughts which seem most salient to me right now.
On Riga:I can't say that this city has a lot going for it, but the people are so warm-hearted. Much thanks to Ieva and Bruno who took time out to show us the city and made us feel at home. My first time in an ex-Soviet Union country was pretty eye-opening. All the Soviet style modernist buildings, clinical and uniform, the deep-seated resentment of the government, covered up with good-natured jibes, the crazy competition (1 simulation, 2 cases in 3 days, 3 hours each!), and always always, the food. :)

Greenatics hard at work :p

Post-competition fun in Riga

On Krakow:

The most striking thing I remember about Krakow is the super-depressing visit to Auschwitz. On the day of our visit, it was cold and rainy, and we stood in the rain listening to our guide tell us about the monstrosities of the Nazis. I remember he used the phrase "sick ideology" several times, and I just felt really heavy-hearted the rest of the day. Upon my return, I read "Night" by Elie Wiesel, and it truly is a slim volume of terrifying power. Fascism may no longer prevail, but its reign during WWII is still being felt today. Hm, food for thought.

At the Auschwitz concentration camp

On Prague:

A beautiful city! I think what I loved most was the gothic architecture. The soaring spires, and high ceilings. Very majestic. And somehow, I never tire from looking at old buildings. Though I can't say the same for statues (more on that later...)

Our very passionate guide on the Prague Walking Tour. I think he has a really cool job!

On Vienna:

Woke up bright and early on Sunday morning to attend mass and hear the famed Vienna Boy's Choir! These boys are truly blessed with heavenly voices. Surprising number of Asians in the choir though!

This city makes us all feel (unjustly) musical. By the end of this leg, we were all singing in operatic voices and humming Mozart. Oh yeah, kena conned was underwhelmed by the concerts we attended. We paid a pretty penny and were promised a full Royal Vienna Orchestra, but in the end, there were like 10 people on piano and strings, an opera singer (I think she was not the best, but the most entertaining :)), and a CMI ballet dancer.

On Rome:

I think my favourite city on this trip! Sheer number of sites (Coloseum, Pantheon, Trivi Fountain, several Piazzas etc), I thought traveling alone would be terribly lonely, but I think I appreciated the solitude and independence after a while. :)



The first of many pizzas and pasta dishes

At the Roman Coloseum

I think I've got enough of Greek/Roman statues for a while

Ultimately, I love traveling, taking in exotic sights, meeting interesting people and soaking in different cultures. But being away always reminds me that home is the best. When the plane touched down at Changi, the familiar humidity blasting in my face, my family waiting at the arrival gate - that's the best. :)

This was taken by a hallmate, from his room in Sheares. The NUS campus really is quite beautiful, despite what many might think.

Yesterday, I was walking back to my room, feeling lousy and dejected after another Physics lesson where I didn't understand 90% of what the Prof was talking about. I looked up while crossing the road, and saw a light shower of pink petals cascading down from the trees. I stopped then to admire the Spring scenery, (Yes, Singapore does have seasonal change! :p) and listen to the wind whispering through the rustle of leaves. I think that was God nudging me to take a chillpill.

Trees really do give comfort to man, they have provided shelter, food and even clothing for humans for thousands of years... On the eve of Good Friday, as I look at this tree outside Sheares Hall, I remember another tree from 2000 years ago, one that stood atop a hill on Calvary.

And I remember what it means to me.

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3: 17 - 18

These last few weeks have been trying. No, there's been no major catastrophe, and for that I'm extremely thankful. But there have been a string of minor annoyances, and mostly, I have been responsible for them. When I was younger, being a scatterbrain somehow seemed more forgivable and perhaps even endearing, because I had less to be accountable for and my youth as a shield.

As I slowly transit into adulthood proper, this trait seems to take on a more insidious dimension. Of course I am aware of how my carelessness can result in some very dire consequences, and I always think I have learned my lesson. But after a period of vigilance, I somehow find myself losing some small trinket, or making some other silly mistake.

I lost something this week, and it's funny how even though it's pretty trivial and inconsequential in the larger scheme of things, it can trigger so many emotions. I'm reminded about the time where one of my New Year Resolutions was to be more careful with my possessions. And after sharing my resolutions with my small group, I went for lunch and promptly lost my wallet at the shopping centre. Thanks to God and one extremely honest Singaporean lady, I was able to recover it, but I really detested myelf my forgetfulness then. I know these are but just worldly possessions, and I should not unduly beat myself up myself over them. But I'm just unhappy about what that says about me as a person. I can't even hold on to something so small and simple, how can I be responsible for larger things?

I've decided to blog about this as a concrete reminder to myself. I'm sure I'm going to lose more stuff along the way - to all the keys, cards, wallets, cell phones mp3 players etc that I am going to lose in the future, this is an advance apology for not taking good care of you. I promise to try and keep a lookout for your presence and attach you to myself (did I mention how much I love lanyards). To all the bigger things in my life, I promise to treat you with more care and attention than I accord to the trinkets in my handbag.

The funny thing about siblings

You know how it is when you're well-meaning, and it kinda gets thrown back in your face. Throughout most of our childhood, she has always been the more endearing one, and I will be the first to admit that it's true most of the time. But sometimes, (I guess we all do have our off days), she can turn really prickly, and it's always a nasty surprise for the person at the other end of the phone.

I guess it teaches me not to call her before an assignment is due the next day. ;p

In other happier news, I'm so excited about CNY!! (My other favourite festive season is Christmas..:)) Some people dread meeting relatives they only see a few times a year - perhaps they hate having to answer painfully awkward questions and/or defending their lifestyle choices. But I'm actually looking forward to meeting my relatives. Sure, dysfunction runs throughout the entire Ooi/Khoo clan, but "normal" would be too boring right? And anyway, anyone who has ever watched a soap will know that it's the "normal" families that are the ones with all the crazy secrets.

As I grow older, I actually begin to enjoy all the inane conversations that take place. Ah chek and gugu will talk about politics and conditions of the Singapore property market. Liu gu will tell us all about his latest business venture and announce the accomplishments of his kids. K jie jie will be busy tending to her bundle of joy, who will inevitably be fighting over the Wii with Ian. (These 2 kids are so adorable! They are 1 year apart, but an entire generation separates them.:)) Mum and Ah yi will discuss the latest K-drama they're addicted to. Sometimes Liu Chek will play the CNY DVD given out by the temple he goes to (yeah, very hi-tech right!), and just for laughs, we'll watch it and have a good chuckle about the "fengshui master's" predictions about the coming new year. There's always an abundance of good food, and since we're mostly legal, great drinks as well. ;p

Some may dismiss all this as the plebeian, mundane on goings of a typical Singaporean family, but I suspect these people also think "warm and fuzzy" is a cliche that doesn't happen in real life.

A lovely Saturday morning! Had a strange time reading Eziekel, then wrapped up my Private Equity paper, indulged in a bit of Youtubing (makes me want to attend a concert soon), loaded Grey's Anatomy, opened up my SS essay so I will do it later, and looking forward to the dinner gathering tonight. Whee. :)

Someone reminded me that I was a piece of bread slowly growing mouldy. At the time, I laughed it off, but it's been 2 days, and I woke up this morning with that comment in my head.

I was recently thinking about what genre of movies I prefer...and scrolling down my memory, I realized that I have a soft spot for mafia movies. I just like the dodgy shadiness of the hues, the monochromatic colours, the senseless bravado, the strict code of honour the da ge enforces. The flowery shirts, the tuxedos, the mink coats and the wifebeaters. The order. The chaos. The awesome shootout. The gray lines that are walked like tightropes by everyone.