UK GETaway
Done with celebrations, done with extra credit class hours, done with exams… and finally done with holidays. With all the free time in between, i still manage to put up excuses, avoiding this long abandon blog of mine.
Yes, guilty as charged.. as hard as i try to put in new entries once in a while, it’ll all end up in the draft box. Those are half written entries, some with titles but without context. Some with a line or two.. and that’s it. I can’t find the same passion i had when i first started this blog not too long ago.
It felt as if someone, on some occasion took it away.
Here i sit, forcing every word out from myself… seems forceful but thats the only way i could start blogging again. I wish not to stop, urging myself to push on…
“aren, you’ve got to write something. start somewhere!! “
I didn’t do so well for my winter final papers these time around, so lets not talk about it. Celebrations for New Year and Christmas- almost the same for every year. More parties than usual, nothing more. Well, i did spend a week in London and Manchester.
I can’t tell you how much i love UK, London in particular.
I flew alone. Took a 8 hour train ride from my city to the capital city of Russia, Moscow. Then flew 4 hours to London Heathrow by BMI. The flight ain’t that bad, slept through it. Touched down at approx 730 a.m local time.
The sight of English printed sign boards, and English speaking people EVERYWHERE lifted my spirit. I was just glad to leave Russia, even for a week.
It didnt take me long to justify the love and good views i have on Londoners.
With a backpack, a camera bag and a 13 kg suitcase.. i made way for the tube station. I wasn’t really paying attention while walking-holding and looking through the tube map and walking with three separate bags is not easy, trust me.
“SMACK”.. i bumped into a Brit couple. I looked at them and guess what.. they said these exact words. ” Sorry there mate, didn’t see you coming. Have a nice day!” I was speechless. Being shouted at, taunted by the Russians were a norm to me by now. But receiving warm and friendly gestures such as that.. i was definitely suffering from what they call Cultural shock. I just nod my head and smiled back.
The other thing i never fail to realize is that EVERYONE in the tube was reading, let it be newspapers, novels, books, article. Most of them were reading.
iPhone conquered the mobile phone industry, as out of 10 Brits i see everyday-probably 7 of them were using iPhone. I’m not joking. The remaining 3 were either Blackberry or Nokia.
There were no rubbish bin’s in or around the tube station.
Smoking is prohibited in buildings, tube stations and any indoor sites. You either do it at the dedicated smoking area or out on the streets. I could go on and on about the random facts of London, but i shall not do so.. as it might bore you. Let the pictures of London do the talking…
Freshen up, went out, met Roe and spend the rest of the day with her.
I was feeling pretty hungry and i wanted something oriental.. so she brought me to this Chinese restaurant located somewhere in Nothing Hill. I had duck rice and it was YUM YUM. I had two smiles after the meal, one on my face, the other on my tummy.
Head down to the flea market right after that.
These camera’s might look old school; in fact they are at least 20 years old.. yet still functioning. Cost: 20 pounds each
Roe, a great and wonderful friend…
The colorful houses along the road.
*alright.. enough for today.. more to come tomorrow!*
Boiling Point!
When you hit the boiling point, due to excessive reading & studying..
You try doing stuff which you never did before, stuff you rarely do, or anything stupid that will eventually help blow off some steam.
TadAa~~
We tried making fart sounds using our armpits!
seconds after, notification start flooding in..
I bet every single person who actually read that status- eventually tried or at least had the thought of making armpit sounds as well, girls not excluded ok! lols..
Bittersweet? with a pinch of salt…
@Outside padfak hostel
Anyways, i would like to extend my deepest apology, for not updating this blog for sometime now. I have some really good excuse, really.
1. I had no internet connection for 10 days. It seemed like a year to me… Suffered from internet-withdrawal syndrome.
2. Having finals. 2 papers sounds little, i know. Wait till you see the amount that i need to cover, read and memorize.Plus, with my chronic procrastinating habits, i too wonder how am i going to finish studying all of those materials. Many who know me would definitely agree on this.
3. Christmas week was one of my busiest week in the sem.. it has been so for the past 4 years in medical school. Students rushing to finish their class hours, personal research, individual projects and what not. Believe me when i tell you I spend 6 long hours in the hospital on Christmas day. And another 4 hours on boxing day whilst other people all around the world are busy celebrating and opening presents.
I had no holiday during christmas, classes are as usual, yet i manage to make the best out of it.
4. New Year- simply it’s the time of the year where to celebrate and party whole week-long. An excuse for me to get away from my 22 inch monitor and my ever faithful broken chair- attending parties, where you can eat all you can-till you can’t walk, drink till you fall.
5.Periods before that, i was simply being lazy!
6. Wait.. i was too involved in sports, joining the winter games held at my University. Believe it or not, i played Volleyball.. when i dont even watch nor know anything about the game.
Football, obviously for the right reasons.. i love football. And to top that.. my team won gold medal, first place beating off 9 other teams. Scoring 22 goals in 6 games, and conceding just 2 goals, (both in finals).
Basketball, silver medal for the 3rd consecutive year. And volleyball.. don’t get me started on that. Imagine 6 players with an average height of 5 feet 11, we all manage to win 0 games, losing all. A bunch of retards really.. the same team which joined the games last year and won not a single game. Our male ego went down like a sinking titanic, probably faster. Disappointed, unsatisfied we all joined the winter games yet another time to prove our worthiness – that we could PROBABLY win AT LEAST 1 game… yet for another year we were sent crashing home by junior teams.
Right before the game, we bravely walked across the court with our heads held high- exchanging wishes with the opposition team. a normal volleyball game would last about 45 minutes to an hour. We lasted only 15-20 minutes on the court. Losing swiftly… yet another disappointed year for volleyball. lols. Just to let you know, our team consist of players who represent the University in various sports (4 basketball, 1 football, 1 handball) but 0 players from volleyball.
So we are going to be like the Brits, whom when they lose will give all sorts of reasons. Example: When England lost in the world cup 2006, they gave all sorts of reasons, blaming everyone, everything, even the sky and earth but none stating the fact that they played superbly BAD, even when they had a squad filled with potential and talent.
WE are going to do exactly the same thing. I am going to give all the reasons in the world. And here are some of them.. ridiculous really, just nod your head in acceptance ok.
1. We all don’t know the game of volleyball. (this is a valid reason)
2. The ball was NOT round.. or should i say.. it had a distorted figure. making it hard to receive the ball.( Making it up)
3. All time favourites- THE REFEREE was bias.
4. .Cheerleaders were distracting us.
5. The court was poorly lighted.
The list could go on and on.. but i shall stop here.
Okies, my super long 5 minute break from studies is over.. procrastination stops right NOW! hopefully..
@on the way to evropa
Goodbye 2009.. Bring it On 2010
13 days old, yet never to late to say Happy New Year…
So here it goes, Happy New Year everyone!!
Before i end this post, wanted to share this song with you. It’s been playing in my play list for the millionth time, and yet i can’t seem to get enough of it. Soothing, nostalgia, i find myself singing along or humming the song.
In a state of serenity, with old memories coming back altogether.. giving me the chills in the spine. I miss home, i miss my friends, and i miss summer.
Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reachin for the phone cause I can’t fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever crossed your mind
For me it happens all the time
It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn’t call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
Another shot of whiskey can’t stop looking at the door
Wishing you’d come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn’t call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
Guess I’d rather hurt than feel nothin at all
It’s a quarter after one I’m all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn’t call but I’m a little drunk and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now
Ooo, baby, I need you now
A quite quite month… for my blog
people, i’ve been really busy. hardly could find time to actually sit down, what more to blog an entry or two.
the winter break is coming, that’s when i’m going to update you all on the latest news, pictures and what not…
Shame on you!
As much as i want to shout, so hard that my lungs actually burst out
As much as i want to vent my anger on something, i can’t.
How unconsidered one can be? How rude can one be?? and how useless can one be?
Where do you actually learn to be a jackass. from school, from home, or did you buy the book “jackass in the making for Dummies”.
Im standing here, clapping my hands- standing ovation.. giving you a five star rating for your excellent performance.. as you succeeded in becoming the biggest jackass of the year.
You call yourself a friend, you think so highly of yourself- not knowing how many flaws you have. If you were to graduate, the first ever degree you would receive probably, most definitely be Bachelor of Narcissism. Wait, probably you’ll receive the tittle Master Of Narcissism, for no other could have beaten you in that category!
Others might just sit aside, and take it all in, so am I. But today you hit the boiling point.
Somethings can never change, some people will remain the same. My perception will never change, not till you prove other wise.
For heaven’s sake, it’s Christmas week! I don’t want to go through the days being annoyed by your constant level of stupidity, you talk he talk but can you walk the walk, you incompetent ass!
Seriously!!!
CRAZY WINTER!!!!
Kursk- today’s weather report -17. Yesterday -25, and the previous day it was -28. Yes, it’s a rough life. I Remember what it was like back home in Malaysia, 30 degrees celsius? 28, 29 if you are lucky.
Crazy CRAZY weather, with subzero temperature and strong winds blowing outside, one must be pretty much insane and brave to step foot outside.
Temperature drop drastically, from -7 to -28 celsius in just 2 days. Walking on the streets was hard, constantly gasping for air, and may i remind you, walking on snow takes up lot of energy. It’s not easy, as each step you take will sink deep into the snow bed. Shoes, socks and your jeans will then get wet.
What happens when you stand outside in that crazy cold weather:
1) You shiver. Constantly shaking as if you were having seizures or fits. Yes, it does help to generate heat, but at this subzero temperature, you actually have to shake pretty hard to generate sufficient heat! So people, come on, shake yourself, or shake your friend.. what ever you do to keep your self warm. And i quote my friend, ” we group huddle and start making synchronized shivers”..lols
2) SMOKE and SMOKE and SMOKE! Aside from white snow, all you can see laying on the road would be cigarette butts.
3) Your mucous layer of your nostrils actually freeze, seconds after you step foot outside.
4) Walk on the streets more than 15 minutes, and you can see ice forming on your eyelashes. YES it actually happened- to me and other students here.
5) And when your eyes tear, those tears actually turn into ice.
6) Walking out into the cold, from warmth of your house/ bus/ or car, will cause your spectacle lens to fog up. Stay any longer outside, and the fog eventually turns into ice. SERIOUSLY!
7) Toes go numb and your fingers feel as if some dog was chewing on it..chewing with force ok. Hurts like hell, even when you are wearing gloves.
8) It’s hard to talk when it’s that cold, you end up mumbling all the time. You’ll sound as if you’re talking under water.. argGH..
Normal- ” shit, where’s the bus?” Extreme cold weather- ” ShiiIiiiaTTt, whearr’s de busss?
9) You end up cursing even more! “Fuck it’s cold”, Fuck i can’t feel my legs, “Fuck this weather”, Fuck i cant breathe”, Fuck FUCK …
10) You drink even more, prolly go to class even when you are tipsy.
11) We start throwing snowballs at each other??Try running away from your friends when you are wrapped up like a big fat Michelin dude.
12) The sight of untouched snow on the ground is just so tempting, it kinda evokes the destructive nature in us. We tend to walk over them, making stupid footsteps and snow angels! Tall, short, fat, thin snow angels- depending on who made them.. lols
13) What do we do when we see frozen patches of ice? We run and slide, with our hands held together praying at the same time that we don’t slip and break our neck or land on our ass.
14) Ears,nose and cheeks turn red. You start laughing at your friend, only to realize you too have red ears,nose and cheeks.
14) Don’t ever leave your hostel right after your bath.. especially when your hair is still damp or wet. Once i went out, and my whole head froze. It took ONLY approx 3 minute, and i was already running back to my hostel.
This is it! -28.. can you take it?
Christmas countdown #7
Christmas another fortnight away..
Presents & gifts start filling the empty spaces under our christmas tree.
I can’t wait to open ‘em. It’s as if i’m reliving my childhood memories- big boxes wrapped with colourful christmas wrappers, candy canes, cookies and hot choco.
This is it, the best time of the year!
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