as i prepare for leaving…

i just realised that i’m leaving on next monday night!! 2am. *horrors* i had always assumed that i was leaving on tuesday/wed.

now that the time of 1 day has vanished in the imaginary calendar in my mind, i must quickly again calculate how to best use the rest of my days left here in singapore.

visit to the bookstore? books to get: black swan, a history of god, the white man’s burden.

visit to takashima to get use up my voucher from company: pair of jeans, loafers.

visit to bank to deposit: money from CNY, internship cheque.

to the apple store: buy football manager game.

then comes the emotional shite. spending more time with parents. will my mom cry? will hui cry? will jul cry? will richard cry?  who will send me off in the middle of the night? what awaits me over there? will istanbul be all that the websites make it out to be? or will it be something else? can it rise to the expectations, or should i lower mine? hrm….

Sights around Barcelona

Barcelona & UPF

This past week has been really a killer. Its parties non-stop, one after the another. If its not partying or hanging out with exchange students, we Singaporeans would be cooking or shopping, walking around exploring or trying to find cool opportunities.
So anyway, school has started. There seems to be alot of work, but none of us seem to be doing anything but hanging out and all. Well i guess the start is always the most intensive. The end will be different for me, because almost the other students will only be leaving in late June, one tri-semester more than me.
Saw alot of things, met alot of people, learnt so much about all the different cultures.

Are you ready?

Ciao bella/bello! My first post on this blog site. Initally I was waiting to blog after I leave for Milan but given its a bit quiet here, let me leave some musings.

Yesterday Hui and myself when to the Airport (yes, again) to send off Lynnette and Mike. The feeling of being at the Airport brings feelings of dread to leave myself. D Day is drawing nearer and I don’t think I am mentally prepared to leave the people here. I think I need to start clearing my room to be empty for 6 months so that I can register that I won’t be here for much longer. Hmmm.

On another note, I am currently taking an Italian crash course (30hrs) by the Italian professor from SMU but it is through the Italian institute. She is extremely funny and have been recommending places to visit in Florence and Milan. This place called Old Fashion Cafe in Milan is well known amongst exchange students for having excellent food and drinks at low low prices! I think I need to bring more glamourous clothes to fit into the high standards that Milanese women have!

Vive Barcelona!

Hola! So this is my 4th day here, life is good! The weather is awesome, and i just got my apartment today. A charming place with a balcony overlooking the Sagrada Familia. Currently living in the other Singaporeans’ place on their couch, and moving soon! My stuff is all over the place, so posting photos for now is not a very good idea.

Very soon!

if they don’t start posting,

i’m so going to dominate this blog…

Have been doing some intensive researching about transportation in and around Europe and Istanbul. Budget airlines, trains, buses. Seems like bunking over at Hui’s after the term ends at KOC is definitely a good idea. Graz is ideally situated in the middle of Europe.

After conversations with Candice who’s there now, she advises to take trains/buses to places east of Graz, meaning, Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Krakow, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria.

For places west and south of Graz, budget airlines are the way to go. Meaning London, Paris, Barcelona, Italy.

Resource for trains: The Man in Seat 61, OBB Austrian Railways

Resource for buses: Eurolines

Resource for budget airlines: Whichbudget.com, Skyscanner

Also, because of the financial crisis, currency exchange rates are fluctuating wildly all over the place! For example, see the following “collapse” of the British pound.

Previously, Singaporeans were used to the idea of GBP=X3. Now no more! It’s X2! Almost like the Euro!! I think its a great opportunity if the trend persists to snap up some ryanair/easyjet flights.

The following graph shows the Euro weakening in Oct-Nov but now somewhat stabilized. The GBP and Euro almost have the same values now.

Perhaps I should do some early currency exchange cause I’m DEFINITELY going to Liverpool to visit my beloved Reds. Hohohoho…

I think term time will be reserved for places near Istanbul, meaning Sofia, Athens, Amman, Damascus, Tehran.

Eggciting!

first post.

just realised that the budget airline flights from Istanbul to other places in Europe is quite pathetic. Woe is me! Think bus travel will be the way to go over the next few months when I’m there. Cheaper. Save money.

also learnt that if you’re travelling with a partner, wotif.com actually has quite a few good deals! For a few extra euros, you can actually stay at a decent hotel instead of a hostel. hrmphs… just that the partner part is slightly dodgy. fancy having me for a travel partner. I think it might be politics all day long. Wahahaha…