My Bag's Not Packed; I'm Not Ready to Go

1. Accommodation: checked! I think I've contributed much to the IBIS franchise. By the end of my trip, I'm sure I'd have an IBIS experience. I'd be staying at IBIS throughout my trip, save for Mariazell; and that's only because there's no IBIS hotel there! IBIS hotels are not absolutely luxurious, but that's fine by me. I'd rather stay in a hotel with no frills than to pay more, really. Hostels and cabins are a big no-no to me after the Topdeck experience four years ago. Proper accommodation--one that will provide me with a kettle and hot water for bath--is absolutely vital. (By the way, I just learnt that Ibis is actually a large wading bird. Cool!)


2. Itinerary: checked! I have mapped out a route already but have yet to confirm the day/ night programmes with some tour agencies. This reminds me: I have to book the night Prague experience, ski trip in Salzburg, and mass in Vienna soon.

3. Winter clothes: long johns checked! gloves checked! parka checked! I'm missing some socks, scarf, (woolen) pullover, jeans (?), beanie (?). I heard from a friend that head-wear is actually very important in cold countries. I will have to get them soon... by next week!

Some cashmere and woolen long johns, ponchos and a vacuum bag, courtesy of momma.

My parka! Courtesy of momma too!

4. Footwear: Check! Kudos to my tiny feet, I managed to fit into some kid's sized boots from Timberland. So I ended up purchasing a pair of kids' boots, which costs $100 less than an adult's pair. It's absolutely great, since in all likelihood I won't be wearing the boots after this trip. I couldn't choose between this pair of boots


and this pair

After deliberating for half an hour (hahaha!), I decided on the former pair. I prefer its colour/ tone; and, it feels more comfortable. But I am slightly uncomfortable with the straps that run across the shoes. Strapping makes me feel as if I'm re-living the "Bata, back to primary school" days. Truth be told: I am still not sure if I should exchange for the latter pair. What do you think?

5. Backpack: Checked! I bought red and turquoise backpacks--one for me and the other for Dom. His birthday is in ten days! :) I can't decide which I prefer, so I'll leave him to choose which he prefers.

Yogi in a bag! I wanna bring this little dude with me to Europe because I know I will miss him! :(

6. Entertainment and Preparation: checked! Mom bought me an iPad for my birthday! Ooo la la! How awesome is that?! Initially, I wanted to bring a laptop to Europe so that I can record my travel experience when the day draws to a close. But I wasn't sure if bringing a laptop is a good idea since it's quite bulky and heavy. I guess this problem is solved with, voila, the iPad!

Look at the Apps I downloaded: guides to and maps of the cities that I'd be visiting! I even managed to find a Eurail timetable in the iTunes store! Now I'd have quick and easy access to the rail timings! yay!

I borrowed some architecture books to learn about the design of churches and buildings in Europe (haha, of course!), so that I'd be able to appreciate them when I'm there. Yes, there are also city guides to Budapest and Prague.

Once I finish reading these architecture books and city guides, I'll post some interesting fun facts on this travel blog. Meanwhile, I'll need to tie the loose ends of the trip, i.e. confirm some day tours and whats not.

Less than 3 weeks to go... :) *crosses fingers*

Back!

I've decided to revive my Europe blog, since I'd be travelling to Europe this December. Revisiting my old blog, whose address I'll not reveal, was like walking down nostalgia lane. I was greeted with this blog description that I wrote years ago:

A 20 year old female with a direction in life, but has a propensity to lose her way at times (metaphorically and literally speaking). Adores God, her family and her "three most important people". A passionate and zealous food lover who is obsessed with her weight. A language fanatic, Audrey is a firm critic of those who disregard the rules of the English language, i.e.: people who have a tendency to misspell and mispronounce words. She is now en route to mastering the German language.

I was indeed astounded by my sanguine disposition at twenty.

At twenty four today, I would not and would no longer dare say that I have "a direction in life", although arguably I have reached a milestone in my academic progress some two years ago and am wonderfully contented with my chosen profession. If I were to re-write my blog description, which I am hardly inclined to because of my pessimistic outlook on life, I might say something like: "Jaded and cynical, I really wonder if existence is about a relentless writhing in life's mire."

Perhaps my pessimism proves a need for travel: as I explore the physical and cultural space of this Earth--oh, how we are all indeed limited by the finite--I am able to live vicariously as a hedonist, if only for a while. Surveying towns and cities allows me to gouge and devour the myriads of their colours, sounds and smell, engage my senses all at once, satiate my curiosity, and become fully human. Never mind if this is only a temporal relief from the harsh, modern human condition, and a respite from facing repeated (or repetitive) disappointment and failures.

In the last four years, my hankering for travelling has been greatly suppressed, primarily due to the reasons that my sole travelling companion had gotten herself a boyfriend, who shares an equal passion for travelling, and that my then boyfriend had little money to travel with me. I have, as a consequence, visited only a few cities, namely, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Saigon (Vietnam), and Hong Kong. Although these cities are novel in themselves--oh, I recall that they were sardine-packed with humans, and I was simultaneously thrilled by the rules of the structureless traffic system and deafened by the incessant honking of the motorcycles--I found more joy sauntering down the streets of Europe.

Now that I have ended my relationship and have thus abandoned the hope of travelling to Europe with my ex-boyfriend some day, I resolve to (re-)seek some joy and inner peace by revisiting Europe--a different part of Europe, this time. Accompanying me on half of my journey is Dominic, my JC and church friend. (I am utterly grateful for his willingness to walk the walk with me. Pray, let this trip be a seminal point in my life; that I may recuperate and dwell less on the less than beautiful past.)

So, apart from having lost someone significant and apart from graduating from two institutions, I'm still pretty much the same individual after four years. I still am "obsessed about my weight", still am a "passionate and zealous food lover" and a language perfectionist, who is "en route to mastering the German language". Of course, the irony is that, while I love words very much, I often write incoherently and with awkwardness, fragmenting sentences unknowingly and helplessly; and while I detest grammatical errors, my writing's but grammatical errors galore. Ah, the little ironies of life, eh?

So, stay with me, if you will, for more updates on my Europe trip. Say hi to me in the comments section. Follow my blog! Because...

I have already booked my flight - I will be flying to Vienna on the 4th of December 2010 at 1159 hours and returning from Budapest on the 23rd of December at 1600 hours with Lufthansa. During this travel period, I will be exploring Graz, Mariazell, (back to) Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and Budapest. I have also bought my bag-pack, some long john, and gloves, which are obviously very expensive. Perhaps next week I will be shopping for shoes with my shopping assistant, Elizabeth.

Ich kann nicht warten! :)

p.s. I will upload photos soon too!

After 10 days, the German fever is beginning to subside. Although I still smile ever so widely and proudly at my immersion and travelling days, the Singaporean reality is starting to sink in. Life is starting to take its monotonous toll, and I am once again, a victim of the stay-put, hit-me swing.

I seem to have lost the bright beam in my smiles. the euphoria has been somewhat dragged away with time's wings chariot. The routine of everyday life, the sights and sounds, and the daily events have blended in with a strong mix of dullness, slowness, and to an extent, sadness. I have consumed them all.

With almost every single day packed with activities, I dont have much time to reminisce the good ole' days. But one thing's for sure- I felt very--and i stress very--happy when I was there. Sure, I hated those field trips and walking tours, but ironically, those were the events which constituted towards my happiness.

Muenster- Nordsee, the countless scoops of ice cream, house visiting, chess playing, pumpernickel, my friends and their smoking land, frequent beer trinken, my family, swimming, bridges, canals, spaghetti, elmar, santa, seedorf, wilmergasse two... I love them so much. There was always something offered everyday. Each moment, I was presented with the possibility of learning something interesting and of course, taking viel fotos.

In Muenster, I had so many great friends by my side... yesss!! esp the smoking guys. They really, really never failed to make my day! I love their company so much! Thank God all of them will be back really soon! I used to be laughing oh so hard each second of the day. It was like a make belief happiness land kinda thing. Haha! Oh I miss everything.

The grass is always greener on the other side.
Now that I am back in Singapore, I find the weather at night extremely terrifying. Its so humid and hot. I hate it quite honestly. I wish I were back in Germany. Haha! I guess if I were to go back now, I would try riding a bicycle.

I miss topdeck and craig. haha! I miss exploring europe.

Anyway, I wanna keep this blog a happy blog, filled with beautiful memories, childish rantings and bittersweet after-meal thoughts.

Therefore, I am gonna close this blog as of tonight. Okay.. maybe not close-close. But I will stop blogging so regularly as of now, unless it is to do with travel related stuff.
My trip has come to an end. this blog will similarly, come to a close.
Thanks one and all for reading about stuff pertaining to my stay in Muenster, and listening to my rants about how I put on weight.

Actually, I did put on weight. Its just that I put on weight AFTER i returned cause I have been binging quite a bit.

Das ist alles.
Ich liebe Deutschland. Und...
These 42 days, I maintain, will remain a large part of me. They are, afterall, the happiest of days of my life thus far.
For those who have contributed to make it so meaningful for me, thank you.
I dont think Ill be able to credit each and everyone here.. But itll be in my memory.

So auf wiedersehen!
I may update from time to time. But till then, tschues!

if i have lots of money,
i'll forgo a car.
i want to travel. i wish i were still travelling. i dont like it here in Singapore.
i want to walk around, travel and see the world. i am going to start saving again so i'll be able to travel next year.
i want to go on exchange. maybe for a year in UK. but blame it on my cap, its in a pathetic state and i cant seem to find a remedy to the hopeless situation.
next semester is my final attempt to pull up my cap... if not my dream of going on exchange will be gone.

i realised why im pathetically bored all the time. staying at one place bores the shit out of me. i am bored, truly. bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.

After a week...

Life couldnt have been better for me ever since I touched down! I realised I havent really put on much weight after eating 28++ scoops of ice cream, three big pieces of cafe insel cake and lotsa lotsa german food! In fact, I dont think I put on any weight at all!! Imagine eating all the yummy chocolates and ice cream without any opportunity cost! Thats like UUUNNGGLLLAUBLICH!

RIght now, I am listening to some Deutsch football song. "Its coming home, Its coming home, its coming, footballs coming home". Haha! What sweet nostalgia! Am missing the world cup period so much! But oh well. I am slowly readjusting myself to the Singapore Momentum even though a large part of me is still left in Muenster and the western part of Europe.

I can really say with conviction that the 42 days have been the best-est period of my entire 20 years of life!

But home's good as well.
I love everyone here and I get to do the things which mean the most to me.
Going for weekday mass, playing for mass, being together with people who TRULY care for me.
"This is home. Truly. Where I know I must be" (:

God's really Great.

You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You

I will sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
Im carried in everlasting arms
Youll never let me go
Through it all

The lost luggage will be delivered to my doorstep between 10-1030a.m. tomorrow. They are en route to Singapore.

Today, I told You how much the luggage matter. I would be devastated if I were to be deprived of the pictorial and physical memories. The souvenirs and my photos are the most precious to me; the clothes and toiletries come secondary.

Being the almighty You, you have never left my prayers unanswered.

You kept me under eagles' wings during the past 42 days, shielding and assisting me physically, emotionally, spiritually. You sent guardian angels from above to guide me as I walked on the different pathways; you sent lovely friends to make my immersion programme a memorable one; you put the ever cherished heartlanders in my life to make me feel welcome in Singapore. And how can I ever forget my one and only travelling partner? Thank You for her, cause many things wouldn't have been possible and so fun without her.

You delight me in so many ways. I feel loved by You, my friends and family. I just want to thank You for giving me all these people and for answering my prayers so faithfully. I don't deserve all these good things, but in Your abundant mercy, you still love and provide for me.

Thank You, Jesus.
-My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God-

I am feeling so full. I cant sleep. It is 930pm in Muenster and I wonder what my family is doing right now. The dad should be talking to the mother in the garden or on the couch. Since it is Saturday, Esther's boyfriend should be staying over as well. Arghh. I am still thinking about that place even though it has been 11 hours since I touched down.

Singapore's great, but its not the utopia land. I love everyone here, but I love my life there better. No offense to anyone.. But its just a preference kinda thing lah. Thankfully I didnt feel like that when I was in Paris. Being home sick really sucks.

Hopefully it'll be a better day tomorrow as Im slowly adjusting myself to the Singapore Momentum of doing stuff.

I want my luggage damn badly.