Europe Trip -- Arrived in London! :D (12/5)

*Entry dated back on 12 May*

First time taking a long journey fligh of 13 hours. Managed to watch 3 movies (I like Music & Lyrics! :D), ate 2 meals and 1 snack (didn't finish them coz I was sick and had no appetite at all), and sleep for the rest of flight. Nothing special about the journey though...except that when I woke up, I realised I was still on the plane! Hee... :PThis is London view on the plane. Thank God for the two nice British people who sat next to me coz my seat is not supposed to be the window seat, but they offered it to me! :) And the morning bird view of London at 512am is simply beautiful! :DAnd this is my big brother DARYL! :D Feel so touched that he waited for my 1hr delayed flight at the London Heathrow airport early in the morning at 512am...and even more so when I know he had made a New York Cheesecake to welcome me! :DD

So sorry brother that I can't eat most of it coz I was so sick by the time I reached London...really appreciate it lots manz...lol I really feel bad that I got to disturb him though in the midst of his exams...owe him lots for this trip... :(Met up with Junhui soon after and she brought me to Covent Garden, a place with a market, and many artists performing along the streets.

This guy is just one of the street artist...isn't he looks cool? :D Hahaha...it really looks like there is big wind blowing here wor... *bleah* The street artists are really nice and fun people around...don't we look sad? :P Hahaha...guess I must be missing Singapore lo...lolThat's me on one of the streets at Covent Garden. :)Saw this cute, decorated shop at London. Most of the shops here are really stylish and cool tho... This is the telephone booth that I called it as superman's changing room...*grinz* :p Oh well, it is probably a newly renovated one...lol This is one of the famous brand of chocolate around in London. If you wanna know why I took this picture, you may wanna know the name of the company of my soon-to-be employer... :))
Me and the street of London. Resting at Subway with Junhui before we can walk more again...lol St Paul's Cathedral The front of St Paul's Cathedral

As you can see, it is raining here. We were waiting for Junhui's Russian colleague. I was freezing there actually coz it was only about 9 degrees at that time...I tried to prepare enough clothings though but still not enough as I was sick and I expected it to be summer too...

Oh well, lesson learnt: Always check the internet before you travelled! And here we are, taking shelter in the basement of St Paul's Cathedral with our hot coffee. It feels so good to juz sit down and enjoy our hot drinks in this cold weather manz...cheers! :D

London overall is pretty, new and still great. A little disappointment is that their tube, the train that works like MRT back in Singapore is pretty old and not renovated much. Many stations actually closed on the weekends too because the tube is supposedly meant for the working people only...I wonder if they ever really welcome tourists in this way... *shrug* :S

The things here are really pretty and of high quality. Sadly, I need to watch out my budget for this trip or else I think I would probably go on a shopping spree liao...hahaha...lol Things in London are specially expensive as everything is like 3 times of Singapore. A simple food along the road like sandwich or omelete would already cost about S$9 without drinks! :(

But still, everything here is juz different in Europe and Singapore in many ways. Pictures may tell you how everything is like...but more of the experience that will leave me an impact in my life that I will probably never forget...juz glad to be here! :D

"Update you guys again soon! *wink* :)"

Post-Exam Events: Sharon's pushcart + Wala Wala Night

*Entry dated and written on 4 May.*

The local band E.I.C. who performs every Friday night at Wala Wala. :)

Taking photo with one of the band members...like their songs! :D
Yummilicious escargots! :) From left to right: Terry, Vincent, TS, Zhiwei, Vic and Joe
The only girls there, Peiying and Me! :)

Finally this day as arrived...Friday night at Wala Wala with the hall gang -- the Ingenians! (plus Terry :P) Hahaha...lol It was an outing meant to send the few of us, Joe, TS, and me off where the three of us will be in Europe and US next week onwards. Will miss you guys manz...don't forget our outings on 18th June ya? And our pact to meet every once a month then... *wink* :)

I was late to meet the rest as I was helping with Sharon's pushcart at Suntec the whole day. Feel sorry for her as I only managed to make 2 sales on the day and was late as I missed the timing while I was having breakfast with mum at Ikea. Fortunately, there are quite a number of people trying out her shoes but the sizes they wanted went out of stock. Really wanted to help her so that she need not have to close her stall for the next two weeks but I got to leave for Europe...sigh... :(

Thank God Zhiwei is having his intership at Suntec as well...hahaha...wouldn't know about this if he didn't walk past me during his lunch break...at least got someone to share a cab with me manz...lol

Oh manz...I LOVE Wala Wala!!! :DD Their food is great, their drinks are good, and their live band is FANTASTIC! :D I had the best pizza eaten so far lo...yummilicious...lol Tonight's live band is E.I.C., a local soft rock band that is pretty famous...and popular among girls according to Joe... :P (they perform every Wednesday night at Timber and every Friday night at Wala Wala)

Their performance starts from 10pm to 1am, and was divided into 3 sections. First part played most of their own original songs from their upcoming album known as "Jay & Rail" (I think I will support them manz...lol). Second part is a collection of retro songs such as "Video Camera Radio Stars" and a couple dance song (forgot the song title) that was used back at HCJC. Third part was indeed what I called "Saving the best for the last". They played songs that I loved such as Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars", Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends", and other songs that the audience had dedicated.

Sadly, they didn't played the song I dedicated for us. But glad to say there are actually quite a number of graduates in the room, and familiar faces around too. One of the group of girls, whom believed to be from NUS as they called themselves "The 5th Floor Girls" in their dedication for songs to all graduates here. There was a roar among us when the band read their dedications as well as their wishes to us all. Hahaha...no doubt NTU seemed to occupy a larger capacity there as indicated by our loud cheers...lol Maybe I should have requested for the song "I'll Be Watching You" too...so nice! :))

How I wish this night will never end manz...hahaha...lol Thank God for this great bonding among us and hope it will be sustained in the same way as we enter the workforce soon...

"Thank God for knowing you guys... *hugz* :D"

Still stuck @ lovely Warsaw :)

Got to spend another day at Warsaw coz luggage is delayed to tomorrow noon. Juz cancelled one of our hostel bookings meant for Krakow. Somehow, it doesn't make me feel more to go Krakow already...probably except to see the Death Railway there. Let's juz pray that nothing crop up again tomorrow... *crossfinger* :X

Well, everything is in my luggage so I can't update with photos here with my cardreader in my backpack. Will talk about my trip when I get to upload photos. Somehow, I came to like East Europe more than the West Europe like London for the nice scenery as well as the lower expenditures here. The Metro (equivalent to our MRT) is new, spacious and less crowded...way better than the tube in London! Juz enjoy one great Polish dinner around, check out the Old Town and finally ate lots of real cheap Gelato! :D Imagine SGD2.50 for 4 scoops of great quality gelato and a fruit topping?! How can you get that anywhere in the world!!! Joanne, I don't need B&J liao la...hahaha... :P

Thanks Bavis dear for calling me up juz now...hope you enjoy your Taiwan trip! :) And thanks Vic for volunteering to pick me up at the airport when I return...hahaha...will see you all on the 18th June rem? *wink* :D

As for plans tomorrow? Good news is that we no longer need to rush around and I will get to visit Huiling's school tomorrow! :D Maybe we will go for a stroll at the park outside her house, slack around and get to cook food at her place and I will make my herbal soup...Yeah! :P Hahaha...finally a day of rest at Warsaw before I start off with my long backpacking journey... :)) Feel so sorry that I seem to be bullying my big brother to travel with me manz...hee...lol

"A still very happy Christine, without her luggage at Warsaw, praying hard that she can set off for Krakow or Prague without much problems anymore... *grinz* :P"

Things Do Happen In Holiday

Supposedly I should be talking about how happy I am here in Europe, visiting many places up to now...BUT let me complain over something first that I haven't been so down and worried for some time...

Today I went to Poland, Warsaw with Huiling. She was teaching me on the plane a few Polish words and I was happily learning them (even the Polish guys sitting next to me help to correct me lo...oh man so embarrassing!). Everything goes well for me till we wait for our luggages at the conveyor belt that was meant for our small budget airline, the Centralwing Airline. Luggages started to fall from the bell and people picking them up. One by one they were gone the moment the bags fell off...until the conveyor belt stopped moving and the door to the luggages stopped...and our luggages are still nowhere to be seen!

So we decided to walk around to ask for "Lost Luggage" claim and after much checkings to be done, they finally traced out that our luggages were delivered wrongly to the wrong flight...and they are in Germany now! :( This is seriously not something I look forward to after we arrived here at around midnight in somewhere I am here for the first time?? Only thank God that we still managed to settle everything before the last bus left the airport. So in summary, all that we can do now is wait till tomorrow at 1030PM when the officer in charge is in his office, call him up and check if our luggages have arrived yet. Oh well, some first impression for my first time here in Poland! *pout* :S

Actually look on the bright side, I can finally experienced and understand how it feels to have your luggage delayed (and pray hard that it is not classified as "Lost"). This is also the first time I am getting on an European budget airline manz...hahaha...what can I say about it now?! *shrug* :o

Initially, I don't really seem to worry about it that much till my friend was like complaining that most of her clothes is in her bag there. And I started to think about mine...mine is like EVERYTHING is there in that backpack! How stupid am I to put everything in that bag manz...I should have left something behind in my friend's place in London. Coz after which I will be on a 18-days tour around Europe now and hence I simply dumped everything in my bag...haiz...let's pray that this bag will appear to me by tomorrow, and hopefully before I left for Krakow... *crossfinger* :X

Sorry guys that I have to complain on the first entry I ever wrote in Europe coz this matter kinda bothers me somehow now and I just hope to get my bag back immediately... *sobz* :'( Feel so tired and exhausted right now...will update you guys with photos if only I have the chance. Europe is just different and it is really an eye-opener for me here...and being a homely person -- I missed Singapore food! :S Geez...this is juz one thing I realise how unindependent I am manz...gosh sounds like a big kid speaking! :P

Take care everyone...I really miss you all back home... *hugz*

"Oh no my friend juz fell and slept across her bed...don't feel like waking her up though...think I should sleep on the floor for the night... :X"

CHC Family Day + Sun Concert! :D

My church family, my sisters-in-Christ! :))

I love this picture coz we are surrounded by BALLOONS! :D

Hahaha...it kinda brought me back to my childhood days when I still played with balloons...except that I would like to have them burst...hee hee... *violent girl* :PMy brothers-in-Christ: Dennis and Weng! :)Before the start of the concert...see how happening and crowded it was at Expo Hall 8? Hahaha...I like such atmosphere coz I juz feel so alive here...lol *grinz*Weng & Me! *When can we play pool and watch Spiderman 3? :D*Thank God coz we manage to get a row of seats right in the Charlie terrace area, the middle portion in which we face the stage directly. The screen even displayed a timer in which it start to countdown to when the concert begins...And of course, the highlight of today's concert is on Sun!

It is really cool to enjoy a live concert performance by Sun... :)

Can you feel the superstar ambience? Hahaha...lol

The lighting effect was fabulous! :D Well, I think this picture still can't justify the atmosphere back there at Expo Hall 8 on Labour Day...hahaha...lolAnd there are performances by our O School, the dance school...so ZAI! :DDI LOVE to watch people dance! The hip hop and street dance are just so cool manz...hahaha...sadly to say the hip hop lessons that I wanna take with Yingz have been postponed to infinite period le...*pout* :SAs the concert coming to an end, Rev Kong invite his mother on stage as she had her birthday today...80 years old! :D

Well, when someone reaching 80th years old, it has to be a big celebration because you have to thank God for coming this far in life, and to thank him for all that he has given you by then, and to treasure the years that are remaining on earth with the people you loved...God bless Kong's mother! :D The concert ended with balloons streaming down from the ceiliing everywhere in the hall...

It ended beautifully, with all the smiling, happy faces around. Yet, the night is still young and fellowship has just begun. I really enjoy this year's Labour Day lots. It's special, it is new, and it certainly feel very warmth to me...I love you my Lord... *smile*

It is mainly Sun performing through the whole concert, singing the songs in both her latest and previous albums. She even sang an old worship song that she sang the first time when she just became a christian. The lyrics are beautiful and I was moved too in my heart.

She also shared with us her work, her worries and her views on reports about her, clarifying how she wished that her stories in the past will help to give strength to those who have similar experiences in their lives like herself, instead of what the media 'window dressing' it into someone trying to draw the public's attention.

I feel good watching her perform, even though I am not a big fan of hers, but as a sister-in-Christ together in this church family, I want to give her my support now and in the future. :)

“不完美，也是一种美。~ 何耀珊”

Happy food...from now on and forever... :P

Celebration dinner with mummy @ Ichiban Boshi Esplanade

Similar to Sakae, they also offer all plates (except the big red ones) at only S$1.90++ per plate. Since the last time I came here, which was like 2 years ago, their varieties of sushi increase so much so that I have a hard time choosing what I want to eat! :P Hahaha...no kidding manz...they all look so delicious lo...haha... *drool* :P Pork with mushroom soup...makes me feel good to have a bowl of hot soup after eating all these cold sushi... :)
Vegetable sushi...looks good isn't it? *cool* :D
I know someone like Joanne sure won't like this...hahaha...am I right? :P
And of course...my all time favourite SALMON SASHIMI!!! :DD
A Japanese dinner, for me, will not be complete without this. Hahaha...actually this is an interest that I inherited from my mummy...

So can you imagine two salmon sashimi lovers, mother and daughter, happily munching the precious 7 slices of salmon sashimi in such a cool Japanese restaurant??! Hahaha...doesn't sound very cool hor...*bleah* :P
Lunch with mummy on Labour Day @ Han's Century Square
Don't know why but I always find my mum looks like some cartoon or comic character in real life...hahaha...yah she can be quite cute at times la...a much bigger kid than me! *bleah* :P
I actually hesitated to post this picture coz I realise it makes me look so chubby! :S Hahaha...but then, I must remind myself to watch my diet as well...hahaha...oh wells... :P
I still Han's as they offer cheap set meals (main course, soup of the day, coffee/tea or orange juice, fruits) at a nice restaurant setting with waiters serving you your food.

Last time you still have to go out to look at the menu on their signboard to order food. Now, there is even a menu provided on each dinning table for you to sit down and discuss before ordering...how enjoyable manz...lol

Doesn't this chicken chop, with mushroom sauce, tempt you a little? *wink* :D

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
~Pavarotti

Thank God for the end of my exam so I can enjoy this break of mine before I start my work again.

Thank God for a wonderful mummy who will never fail to keep her dear daughter accompanied.

Thank God for all the happy food in this world so that we will always find a time to enjoy eating.

Thank God for everything. :)