Chapter 22-08: Cherish.Life

before i start this entry, i would like to have your one moment of silent to remember a dear friend to me, Rajan who passed away this morning in an accident.

I was excited that we've finally managed to churn out the report and the powerpoint slides for the L'Oreal Brandstorm Challenge at 3am just now and planned to sleep my final night in Jonkoping peacefully while enjoying the cold breeze that came in my window now and then.

last thing i expected was a call from okkar at 5.36am in the morning. i was half awake until i heard "Rajan passed away". i jumped out of bed trying to grab hold of myself to check if it is a dream or is it real.

yes, my friend rajan had passed away this morning singapore time.

suddenly, memories i shared with him flooded my mind. the time we drink together and bitch about things, the time he and jooboy went to my house and the last time i met him face-to-face is before i head to sweden, he was there to send me off.

he will be missed not only by his family as he is a wonderful person that brought joy amongst his friends. although he passed away, his memory will live on in our heart.

life is fragile and sometime life is a bitch. i just can't be more accurate to describe this feeling. it is a bitch such that you will never know what to expect the next moment and when you least expected, it hits you.

so, just cherish life and every pleasant and unpleasant moment it might give to you.



this photo was taken the last time we met. we were talking on msn the other day about getting a drink as usual when i get back. but now...

hope you can see this brother. rest in peace as we will someday meet again in that place far away. be sure to have a beer in your hand then.

*Cheers*

Chapter 22-07: Guardian Angels

they are all around us. sometime we did not even noticed their existence.

friends or family, there are always someone caring for us no matter what.

i still remember when i broke up with my first girlfriend. my dad, who does not really know how to express concern (i hope he is not reading this, or else my pocket money will suffer...) passed me a book - Who Moved My Cheese, to tell me that life is like a maze and also changed my way of viewing things after that. that was his way of concern.

my friends as well, they are people who i share my happiness with. and when i am down, they will always be there for me. looking over me at all times.

will be heading back to sg soon. reality. long time no see. need to face it face to face now and there's no escape.

wish me luck with the L'Oreal Brandstorm competition too.

till then, adios.

Chapter 22-06: X'mas of 2009

just got to madrid with yisin who just depleted her last drop of redbull(finally...). it is my first time spending x'mas in a western country.

met up with Oliver and Yao Yao last night and had a great great time. the Jager was awesome before heading to that expensive club in barcelona. music and the crowd was great.

love Spain so far. weather is good and nice. not too cold or too warm. just need to wear one more layer compared to back home.

last night we also talked about our exchange. Yao Yao can't see to believe that i did not even make out/kiss another gal during this whole exchange. yeap. not even one.

well. all i can say is i have loads of fun this 4.5 months. i really just want to make a lot of friends and spend time together with them and be happy. and i did. all the new friendship that was formed and old friendship strengthened. get to know each other better, i really like this kind of life a lot.

some might think that i missed out on the chance of the lifetime to be young and try out everything. but i think most importantly is not to regret. after my first relationship, i realized that one can't decide who they will be with forever. however, one will have to be with him or herself for life. that's why i think that it is important not to do something you will never forgive yourself of.

so ya, that is why. glad to have the chance to spend this year's x'mas with party and gathering and catching up with friends.

3 more nights till i go back to pack my room in jonkoping that looks like it was being swarm over by a tornado. lol. in other words, yisin has to bear with my lameness for 3 more days. (i think she caught the lameness virus from me already...)

time to shower and rest up! hope the weather is good tomorrow!

good night people abd merry x'mas once more!

xoxo

Chapter 22-05: Looking back to grow up

who says one can't grow up by looking back and his or her pass?

a few days ago, i looked at my previous blog entries on msn spaces (http://fernyit5317.spaces.live.com) and realized that i was freaking immature 2 years ago. really wanna smack myself in the face and ask myself what was i thinking and why did i do those things.

revisiting my history, i also learn a lot about myself. the way i think and why do i think about things in such a way.

Kris is right. every time i fall, i will stand up stronger and better than before. changes need to be made in order to prevent falling all over again and to be a better man.

traveling alone can be good as well. make some friends on the way and also have the time to think about life, no matter present, past or the future.

today, while i was on the train from Amsterdam to Paris. there was a Dutch kid and his father sitting beside me for the whole duration of the train ride. the kid was making a lot of noise, to be frank, i was annoyed. but the father did not do anything. if it was in a more Asian context, the boy will have been punished or stopped by his parents and asked to be more considerate.

well, i guess that is the different culture background. i think it is rather cool. after a while, the kid started to talk to me and we chatted a little. he is very friendly. on the other hand, kids that were limited will not take initiative to talk to strangers and also be that friendly.

viewing things differently. that is what i think about it.

time to get some food into my tummy. till next time. adios!

Chapter 22-04: Amsterdam - more than drugs, sex and alcohol

when people mention about amsterdam, for sure that the first thing will be the red light district, the window gals, coffee shops and also the cheap alcohol there.

it is eye opening when i get to see the gals up close. it is so different compare to watching them on tv and listening to what friends my friends said.

however, the government plans to close the red light district down or at least move them out of the city center by 2015. a lot of the windows have been purchased and are used as windows to display art pieces by students. therefore, a lot of tourists, especially guys must seize the chance to see them before they 'extinct'=P

the coffee shops sell coffees and also some other things. however, you cant get any alcohol from inside. there's a total of 400 licenses issued. and there will not be reissued if the coffee shop breaks the rules that was agreed upon. in other words, the number of coffee shops will decrease every year.

apart from this, amsterdam is very very very beautiful. it is also known as Venice of the North. it has a lot of water running through the city. the water that passed through the city is fresh water, so in other words, the city does not give out a salt smell like Venice does.

the special buildings surrounding the canals tell you a lot about amsterdam's history. every building have a hook on top of their building and this is for them to load their goods up into the house after purchasing it from the merchants.

the museums are located a little outside of the city, but it is still walkable. too bad i only visited the masterpiece museum. there's a lot of info about the dutch history inside there.

and last night's party was awesome! everyone got wasted and it is also nice to know more people. although i had a hard time waking up this morning with a hangover and a sprain in the neck, it was still a great time in amsterdam.

heading to paris on the train. more awaits.

xoxo

Chapter 22-03: "you will not see me in the morning..."

Last night was Tash's Birthday. Happy 20th Birthday Tash! not a teenager anymore!

i have to admit last night's party was crazy. i was quite spontaneous as well. not sure what got into me, i just went into the room and took out the bottle of Jager which i planned to bring home to singapore.

And... it was gone in 20 minutes or so. well done everyone. I am not sure what i did that i need to take 6 shots of it =P

was really surprise when Tim, Brooke, Kym and Damon came when i was smashed. i seriously thought that i will never see you guys again. the hugs and blessings we exchange will last us a lifetime or until we meet again.

"you will not see me in the morning..."

i know it was a sad goodbye. i can see that even the Stick - Enrique is being emotional about it by playing "goodbye my lover" over and over again and sitting there stoning away.

i regretted leaving on the morning bus the second day. but it is too late. but at least we had a cool farewell.

when i just set foot in Sweden, i was afraid that hostel life will be dull and not as exciting compared to singapore. but who knows i ended up with all the party animals =P guess they categorize and put us in the place we should belong. haha.

not sure who will be reading this. but i would like to say something to the wonderful people on Delta1 that spice up this exchange!

"I really love you guys! I seriously hope that we do not have to part so soon. i never expect it to hit me so hard as well. guess we bonded with each other quite well without even noticing it. i will not forget those crazy parties, crazy drinks and the everyday life we had for the pass 4 months. life can never be the same."

Keep in touch people! those who have not added me on msn (fernyit5317@hotmail.com) or skype (fernyit), please add me k?

take care and see you around in the future. it is not a goodbye!

xoxo

Chapter 22-02: Farewell?

the day is coming nearer and nearer.

the day when we need to say goodbye to Sweden, to exchange life and to all the gorgeous people we met during this period of time.

although it is true that we can better stay in touch with the technology today, the feeling of leaving each other and not sure when we will see each other face to face and do fun things together will just come to mind.

during this short period of 4.5 months, there's been a lot of changes for me. i feel that i view things very differently, trying to see things from a different perspective or from how my friends from different country see them.

i guess, this help me to grow up, even if it is a bit.

i am glad that my life have this chapter that allows me to be overseas with different people from all around the would. never would i forgot the great, legendary and epic time we had.

it is always the same feeling when you are leaving. no matter if it is for a while or forever. when you pack your bags, surely there's a part of you will pray that you have more time and don't need to leave so soon.

"afraid that when we meet again things will be different."

this was my thought when i left singapore for sweden four months ago. some of the things have changed. hopefully it is for the better. hopefully it will be better when i set foot on the ground back home.

guess life will never be the same again.

Chapter 22-01: losing my snow-virginity

just hop off the 23 hours train ride from Kiruna to Jonkping. and it is tiring. nonetheless, the trip is still AWESOME!

after living on the equator for more than 22 years, it is my first time experiencing this kinda feeling. looking at pure white snow covering the surroundings of the town and nature sites just make me feel very calm and overwhelmed. i was so excited that i do not even feel the cold at all until i can't feel my fingers and toes.

the wilderness tour in the beginning was just eye-opening. not only we get to stay at a kick ass old style wooden house that was covered with real furs, but we also get a good taste of reindeer meat. yes, reindeer, the one santa used to pull his sleds with. if you do not get your presents this year, i think we are partly to be blamed.

dog-sledding and snow mobile were heaps of fun for me but not skiing. since young i have a very bad sense of balance, that explains why i need 1 hour to get up on my feet while other people just stand up easily.

the icehotel is magnificent as well. the artist rooms inside are fun concepts and the delicate ice sculptures decorate the room to give each room a different personality.

the 20 hours train ride wasn't that bad. at least we get to spend time together and also draw the distance closer since the cabin is so small. those were good times that i will remember!



i will miss you guys. Andrew, Tim, Timo, Mike, Damon, Steph, Kym, Brooke, Jacky! i lost my snow-virginity with you guys and it couldn't get better than this!

Chapter 22: ...

it's been a while since i last blogged.

regretted not doing constant entry for the whole exchange. a lot has happened during this exchange, that is all i can say. gain some and lose some.

well. i've changed the blog for a new start. looking at life as a book and one year as a chapter of life. i was tempted to delete this current blog and start a new one. but soon enough i realized that it is all part of my life and who i am. so i decided to stick with it.

coming for exchange really changed a lot of my views. learning from people of different culture background that holds different views and values in life also helps me see things very differently.

with this entry, i would like to draw a new line for this blog. hope everyone tunes in and feel free to drop comments.

Branded or not?

being here for 1 week plus. i've been looking around and found out a few things.

other than the scenery that is available on my facebook photos, i've also been thinking about the china market.

there are of coz a lot of products made in china. you can see a lot of different 'branded' things here. you can even get a pair of converse for 45 yuan. which is around 10 bucks. looks the same anyway. only the person who wear it for few hours will know the different.

here, if you wear the real goods, in other people eyes they might be fake too. for example i am wearing a real converse, but people will think it's fake because of my identity. a student. compared to a professional wearing a fake good, people will think that it's real.

i think things in china is more about is it practical compare to is it real? who cares around here?

these 2 weeks had been fruitful and also see a lot.

Suzhou was fun. it was very very well planned and cant be compare to singapore or malaysia.

i was amazed everyday by new things i see and new people i meet.

i love exploring!

Touch Down Shanghai

today is the day a lot of people had been waiting for. woke up early and dragged my heavy luggage to the car and set off to Changi.

today i will begin my adventure in shanghai. i was very happy that jess, jason, fish, wan ting and my parents came to see me off at the airport. it really mean a lot to me.

i seem very happy and calm because i know that i will take care of myself and will not let you guys back there worry about me. so dun worry la! and i was very touch with the card every wrote. and jason, thank you hor...=.=

good to see that jess is still the same jumping here and there like a restless puppy. yea... jumping...=.= <-- that was on my parents' face when they saw her. haha.

jess, take care ya. must wake up on time for your appointments. and dun be so blur already! enjoy your bsm and summer back in indo! dun miss me too much ya!

wan ting came directly from jb together with me and it was a very ironic feeling. because me and wan ting are trying to wake jess and jason up to send me away=.=''' damn bad right?

wan ting, my little sister/brother (quite confused sometime), do take care. i will still be here listening to you whenever you need ya. sms me! =D

jason, see you on msn la. you older than me. sure know how to take care de right? oh ya, come to shanghai now if want. weather damn good. same like genting=.=

fish, thanks for coming. was quite shocked and touched. take care bro. and congrats for graduating from SMU. i will see you when i get back la.

the flight today was soso la. it was over before we know it. was sleeping, playing psp and eating all the way. of course also opened the card you all gave me la~

took some pictures today. i will post up on facebook soon.

shanghai is very different from what we think actually. there are a lot of nice people here. i've talked to a lot of people and ask around to buy some essential items. had sushi for dinner... which is not planned that way. but it was late already, so no way to find other food already.

well, got to go shower and sleep. tomorrow need to report to work at 8.30am! haha.

good nite people!

the room that had seen it all...

It's been a long time since i've been through the nightmare of packing and moving. the last i remember was the beginning of year 2 in SMU that i moved from Bishan back to the hostel and i've been in the hostel for 2 years already.

the things here are increasing at a steady rate each month or so. which explains the intensive packing process that i am going through.

i feel heartache when i pack. the thought of leaving this room and might never ever set foot back to his small space where i can say is a home for me.

this room, had seen it all.

it was here that i first become RS and make a lot of true friends
it was here that i had my first relationship break up
it was here that i live my life to a high and party all night with my post family
it was here that i grew up and become me - who i am today
it was here that i found happiness outside the textbooks and school life

it was all here... and now it's going to end/pause...

i am not trying to be emo or what. just that sometime these thoughts just come.

i shall sleep soon and pack later.

good night room. thanks for hosting me for 2 full years.

FiRsT eNtRy

well, are they all say: when you are going to travel for long, there are few things you will need.

1) camera... check
2) passport... check (i know of some individuals who need not bring their passports =P... guess who?)
3) Money... sorta check
.
.
.
.
and the list goes on and on...

one of the must have when you go for this long and far traveling will be to have a blog. i used to have 2... and well... both ended up deserted... one deleted actually...

now that i am almost flying off (22 april) and i am now sorta free... i decided to start this blog that i've decided to keep for my life. unless blogger decided to turn itself off one day...

"GOOD NEWS EVERYONE" as Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth from futurama would had said.

I've got my exchange to SWEDEN! how AWESOME is that? "VERYYYYY"

that's right, seems like i will be travelling from 22 april till end of the year! hooray!

finally, i get the chance to see the world before i graduate.

the adventure will begin in 6 days from now...

be prepare world! here i come! =D