Durrow Life

Our brain works in a complexed manner. A sound, a sight, a book can trigger a slew of memories. Even driving down a somewhat familiar road can result in thoughts about the "Life's What-Ifs", conversations in a last meeting, my next holiday destination etc. It's a love and hate thing when I'm in such a state. I basically can't do any work for hours.... This was how it all started.

I was listening to Power 98 and was driving home. This guy called Trent Williams from Perth, Australia was on the radio and was crooning to his fave personal songs. Pretty talented I thought.. Hmmm... he is from Perth, reminds me of the days when I was studying. The Durrow Gals and the Durrow Life.....

Our first yachting trip




The Durrow Girls

Me working on my laptop....

Our Batmobile

My College Park

Head back to work man....

Hell I have not been writing..

Hectic is an excuse...But it has been difficult for me to find time to blog. Even if I were to blog, I would be penning the mundane, the usual and I would be droning on how challenging it would be to juggle between work, friends, and family.

As it is, parts of my life have been in whirlwind. Currently working on multiple projects. Not too sure how this works out in the long run. But I'd gonna try. Makes it even harder when there are expectations stemming from all sides. Anyhow, I'm gonna look at it postively and hopefully bring some light to myself and to my existing dispiriting work environment.

Nevertheless, recent events have been encouraging...Friends from Brussels and KL visited Singapore and me trying to be a good host, brought them to Sentosa and Clarke Quay etc...

It's really heartwarming to see friends whom you have not touched base for a long time and even more amazing to know how friendships withstand the passage of time. That's what I love about life. Raw and unpredictable....

A string of nothings and then Laos

I have been staring at my laptop for the past one hour, but got nothing done. Tight deadline. But nothing done. Think I am mentally exhausted...earlier, I spent two hours in the evening surfing about trans-siberian rail journeys. It's times like these where you feel like dropping everything, pack your bags and leave.

It was the pits today. Gotta call from her. She needed money again. But I actually ignored her today. Enough is enough....How much help can you offer someone? Where are the boundaries? Should you be blamed if her kid's sick or she's out soliciting "business"? How can you help someone if the person doesn't even help herself? Had enough of the excuses. Ditto.

Hmmm....basically just random string of nothings. Anyhow, I just returned from a trip to Laos. A place where simplicity is at its best. Friendly people. Cheap and good food. You'll feel like you are transported to an era where technology is pretty much non-existent (okay..exaggerating here..). Well the good thing, time is always on your side. You don't see hoardes of people on the streets, plentiful cars on the roads..just good ole rustic nature offering its best. I love Laos.

Oh...I really tried a bug. Haha

A bus ride

Realised that I have not been updating. The past year has been somewhat fulfilling and at times, heartbreaking.

Fulfilling in a sense as I made more friends, continued my travelling adventures, accomplished and learnt much at work, and also, solidified relationships with friends and family I care about.

On the other side of the bridge, I had to bade farewell to a relationship I held closely to. We were in different stages of our lives. We had different goals and were from different cultures. I'm not sure whether it was a hasty decision when we left off at the airport but it sure was heartbreaking. I once was told that life is like a bus journey. People enter your life, similar to the passengers in the bus. Some passengers enjoy the bus ride with you and thus, they linger a little longer. Others come and go. But ultimately, many passengers alight. We are basically left with the memories and imprints of each departed passenger.

No matter what, the bus journey must continue. Friends get married and have kids. Some get promotions at work. Babies are born and people die.

As for us, it's unfortunate that we had different destinations. But I now know that your bus journey will be an amazing one, one that follows your dream and I too, will follow mine. =)

Happiness Research

Happy. Received an email today from a person from Canada who was interested in my paper.

"I read with interest your research paper involving a survey ofstudent happiness published in International Review of EconomicsEducation. I was contemplating doing something similar here some monthsago, but you have appeared to beat me to the task. Would it be possibleto obtain a copy of your survey - perhaps if I implement it here inCanada we could try some cross country comparisons. "

Kambate Grace. Hopefully all is good for the coming year!

KL's training

Had almost a week off to attend training on IT governance in KL. Good time to hang out with fellow colleagues and catch up with the Durrow gals!

Boo Boo's ROM

Boo boo held her ROM at the British club. Finally woman, you did it. =P

Come July

Come July, good news for my financial health! Will be promoted, expecting wage adjustment (hopefully...), and bonus....woohoo....Gonna celebrate with a blast! We had a company function at Velvet last friday....and look at all the gleeful/wasted faces..

Sascha was in town!

A friend I knew in the ISC Conference - Switzerland back in 2002 dropped by Singapore for a few days visit! It's only times like these that you realise how fast you have aged and how successful a person will be. Pictures shown were taken at the Night Safari ( I think I can regurgitate lines of the presenter in the Night Safari show..heh..it's like my 4th time there this year) and MOS (that's his friend, Donald).

Prost!!!

These are some of the colleagues that keep me sane everyday. =p Our department conducted teambuilding activities in Sentosa last Friday. I, unfortunately, due to my colour blindedness, was voted to lead a team in building a raft....nevertheless, was fun.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

Axel and B.B showed me around for that day, bringing me to two castles: Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof. I have been to plentiful castles, mansions, and palaces in my past travels, but this castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) had to be the most fairytale and beautiful one. It was basically used as a model for Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland. This castle was constructed by King Ludwig and he imagined his castle as a giant stage that would allow him to re-create the world of Germanic mythology immortalised in the operas of Richard Wagner, whom he worshipped at that time. In the background are breath-taking mixture views of a dramatic waterfall, mountaintop mist etc....

I vote this to be one of the new seven wonders of the world....

Meet the Kneidings

Salzburg

This Austrian old town , famously known for its birthplace of Mozart and the scenary that accompanied "Sound of Music" is charming, picturesque and elegant. The city is dotted with side cafes selling aromatic coffees, tasty cakes and tons of tourist shops with overlapping displays of Mozart Memorabilia. One can't help but notice the Festung Hohensalzburg, a fortress seated in Salzburg's high point. Getting to the fortress means taking a ride aboard the Festungsbahn, Austria's oldest funicular railway. Spectacular views on-top.....

Nested outside the old town is a town that embodied outmoded flavours captured in the 70s..preferred the altstadt.

Chinesischer Turn

Bavaria's brews are best sampled in the old beer halls and gardens. One can't miss Chinesischer Turn...During weekends, this place livens up with traditional entertainment by the "world's drunkest oompah band", music soothing when one is half drunk. Much said, I love the relaxed atmosphere...one can't ask more with good food, beer, weather and relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Bachelor's Night

Saw this guy in the train and he was with a bunch of guy friends celebrating his bachelor night's out. Haha...he was made to dress ridulously, sell a basket full of "junk" and roses and also coerced to ask gals to plant kisses on his T-shirt. Interesting...

Pinakothek Der Moderne

Germany's Biggest Museum of Modern Art is the Pinakothek Der Moderne. Above you'll see the print of Warhol.

Schloss Nymphenberg

Dachau

The instant association with the mention "Dachau" is with the Nazi Concentration camp. The Dachau Concentration camp was the first Nazi's first, built in March 1933 to house political prisoners. It killed at least 45,000 inmates and exhibit consists of photographs and models of the camp, its officers, and prisoners, and of horrifying scientific experiments. There is also a gas chamber, disguised as a shower room but never used.

The Ghost is Me.

One day as I was on my way to one of the corners of the courtyard, prepared even to dig out worms if I couldn't find any grass, I passed by a window. I was suddenly startled...An old shriveled up lady stared out at me from her deep set eyes- a bony phantom..I hastily looked around me to see who this figure was, this head on a stalk that sent more fear through me than anything I had ever seen in my life. "that's me", I realised. "This ghost is me..."

Prisonner account in Dachau

Munich's Altstadt (Old Town)

Munich's major sites are clustered around the Altstalt with a series of landmark buildings. When you visit Munich, you'll definitely visit Marienplatz, a popular meeting place for artists and musicians. The photos above show a bird's eye view of the Altstadt, taken at the top of St Peterskirche, a church of St Peter ( a 92 m tall tower).

Bavarian Cuisine

Bavarian food is hearty, meat-driven and vegetable-lacking. Days of consumption may lead to constipation (kidding). If there's something I really like, it has to be the wide variety of German bread and bier. Forget about Gardenia white bread and Tiger...Germany breeds wholesome tasty bread and Bavaria is among one of the most productive beer regions in the world. Beer also takes centre stage at numerous festivals, the most notable one, of course the Munich Oktoberfest.

Well, for breakfasts, it's also another hearty affair, consisting of different types of cheese (kase), bread (brot), cold cuts, jam and eggs (ei).