Random Shopping Trips and such.

Shoot shoot bang bang. The assassin strikes. 

I love random spontaneous trips (my backlog doesnt)!

On monday, Rae, my roomie and I went down to oxford street after deciding that we were sick of work and that it is essential to get some xmas shopping done there and then. 

And so here we are along Oxford street, London's famous shopping street. Lightings are up but nothing as fantastic as that of Singapore I bet. 

Dj reckons that those lights on the (leaf-less) trees looks like cobwebs.

BLOOMingdales! With out primark and M&S food bags hehe.

(And cobweb lightings in the background!)

With my roomie outside M&S. 

The 3 of us were basically taking loads of random shots of this (in diff permutations) in the middle of no where and attracting odd stares :x

Check out the specks of xmas lighting in the background. 

I have a HALO! Hehehe. 

And so i concluded the shopping trip with some random food stuff for friends and family and clothes for my brother (Yes, half my luggage is clothes for him.) I only wish I have more luggage space. 

Sad thing was that i caught a cold after that (either or, dj passed the bug to me). Which really is annoying cos I find it quite impossible to go to bed with a blocked nose and breathing to my mouth when the air is so dry already :x 

Ok I cant wait to be back. I need some sun! But at least, Im going to end my last few days in London nicely since Im meeting Yush tonight and also HUIEN HUNNYBUNS IS GOING TO BE IN LONDON TMR ((: 

5 days to Singapore!

Yes! Beedle the Bard is here (: 

I love it loads. I like the way the way JK Rowling's so poignant and the way the tales are fairy-tale like and yet not snow-white-goosebumps-inducing. She creates fun protagonists (unlike disney's snow white or sleeping beauty) who have a personality and are more real than typical fairy tales! 

But all in all, arent we all glad that she is back? (: 

I know its absolutely ridiculous, but i do get terribly homesick just prior to going back (yes i know it is less than 1 week and time will pass quickly) :x This has been going one for about 2 weeks, and I am lagging behind for about 1month of work, and I have no idea how Im going to fit in holidays and meet-ups and mugging for the test when term reopens.  Either way, I just hope I would be more productive at home.  

Sometimes, i wonder if western medicine is really all that amazing and if Chinese meds are really not trustworthy. Firstly, (at least here in lovely UK) GPs are closed on Sundays. (Dj: "星期天没人生病啊?) Secondly, Im ashamed to say that now I believe chinese cough mixtures and teas and pills work so much better than anti-tussives and cough mixtures and whatever-nots which the angmohs have come up. After going on like she is about to die and coughing so hard she threw up, dj miraculously stopped coughing after downing some cheena dubious thing which my mum packed into my 药箱. I can so see my mum gloating and going 西医治标不治本. 

Either way, Im going lug a whole load of these chinese meds and panadol cold and flu mixture (my roomie swears by it and she is now currently a big fan of "Singaporean Medicine"- basically random chinese stuff and over the counter meds which we have all the time back home). Maybe boxes of these cough teas and whatnots would make good bday presents hur? ((: 

And sometimes, I do wish I have more friends in London who would be able to randomly have sunday dimsum like brunches with me. 

Anndddddd, Huien is coming to London this thursday, sad thing is, Im flying first thing friday morning and I have lects till late on thursday evening. Meaning that I wont have more than a couple of hours with hunnybuns :(

But still, 

I cant wait to be back. ((: 

Dream Interpretations

Murder: 

"If you killed a stranger, you may well have been trying to assault a facet of your own personality that is particularly troubling, self-destructive, or shameful to you. By killing the stranger, you are showing your desire to excommunicate this bad aspect from your life. This can be valuable."

Gun: 
"The gun in your dream could represent several different things, so please pay attention to the details and to the mood of the dream. The gun could symbolize the male sex organ, aggression, harshness, and fear. This dream may have sexual connotations, or your unconscious mind may be telling you not to harbor your negative feelings but express them more freely before they become explosive. On the more positive side of things, the gun could simply represent your need to protect yourself either emotionally or physically or both. If the gun in the dream is used to hurt or kill you or someone else, please consider your current difficulties, hostile feelings or serious arguments, which you may have within yourself or with others." 

I hate fear :(((((( I hate its lingering feeling. 

And maybe 'cos Im a medic, I hate death too. Or is that why i became one? 

-

And randomly, JK Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard is out! (: 

A too-early festive mood.

Christmas Stollen!

My current latest craze, though I have only tried the one at M&S. 

I have been terribly distracted these few days, coming back feeling restless and trying to get work done, but not quite knowing where to start because there is just too much to do. And i think i have been trying to complete a little here and there, but ending up wasting all my time when i dont get anything done through and through. 

Either that, or Im just totally in a holiday mood and just waiting to go home, and watching House/ Heroes all the time. Either way, its not good. But im glad its only 2 more weeks before its back home. And its getting too ridiculously cold in London, and I'm missing my tan. 

That aside, dj came down to London on Wed, and we watched The Woman in Black, which was really really good. Its a horror play based on a novel of the same title by Susan Hill about a ghost that haunts this small english town. Its so amazing it that there were so little props and only 2 main actors, and yet it keeps you on your toes all the time. It was full of surprises and suspense, it gives you the creeps (and its not merely cheap thrill) right up till days after the show. Its awesome really! Plus, it was said that the theatre is haunted too :x But if you are into horror, or just into theatre and good drama, then you so have to catch it. (And this is only if you are in London of course.) hehe. 

And somehow, dj has this effect on me that makes me spend alot when she is in town. So we basically chilled, and had chinese/msian and did random xmas shopping for people. Loads of fun but bad for pockets. 

Randomly, I like the soyabean milk with youtiao at Chinatown, it actually reminds me of home. Its totally my fave type of breakfast. I have recently been eating out alot, ever since I cant remember what (though possibly terrible hall food) got me craving for chinese food. 

- 

"Noble."- Foreman. 

"Moronic, thats a synonym."- House. 

<3

Iceland for Sale!

I thought it was meant to be a joke, but apparently not completely. 

Here's a random piece of news from http://chinayouren.com/eng/2008/10/chinese-bid-for-iceland/

The Chinese internet community is enthusiastically building up resources  to buy crisis stricken Iceland at a bargain. The webste Douban has taken seriously the ebay auction for the Island, and offers the first 10,000 chinese to join the investment group privileged access to houses on the seaside and to government positions. As a +, the possibility to run the island as a communist regime.

The auction, which apparently originated in the UK ebay site, has been followed by a few countries in the world, and now China sees its opportunity to invest the excess of foreign currency. Perhaps it is telling of the state of household savings in China that the autor at Douban considers 100,000 yuan to be at the reach of any chinese.

At an estimated 4o Billion euros, the author of the announcement calculates that 1,000,000 users joining the goup should be enough to buy out the country if each of them contributes 100,000 yuan (yes, somehow the calculation has also got some chinese characteristics in it).

In any case, the Icelanders can breathe for the time being. The group has only obtained the support of 4,300 users at the time of writing, and new additions seem to be stagnating these last days.

It is good to see in any case that chinese take this with sense of humour, and one can only hope that the WoAiZhongguo internet community’s response will be as civilized the day someone publishes these kind of jokes about China.

- 

Seriously? I wonder what some of these people are thinking sometimes. I dont know to laugh or cry at their patriotism (?!?).

I doubt it would actually happen, considering there is already a big hoohah when the European countries found out that Iceland is turning to (communist) Russia for help. 

If i had the chance, I really would love to go there some day. Its so gorgeous and apparently one of the safest country around (not sure if so with the current economic turmoil). 

According to a travel site: "If you ever find yourself in a moment of awkward silence just talk about the weather, Icelanders love to talk about the weather (much like the British and Scandinavians). " 

How true, i talk to my coursemates and hallmates about the weather everyday. I never knew so much conversational topics could sprout from it. 

-

Ok back to anat, which Im so sick of. We have literally finished head and neck in 10days. Is that insanity or madness? :x 

SOMEONE SAVE ME PLEASE!

My Harry Potter knowledge is put to shame.

Coolest gang on Earth- The Losers!

By the resident artist. (From the look of it, you prbly would be able to tell who did it since there is only one normal face.) 

Omg, why do i have friends like this -_-" 

Its like more than a year since the whole gang of us have had a full attendance outing. And its probably going to be almost impossible nxt year since yn's going Japan and Prisc is hopefully coming to London. 

-

And randomly, Heroes season III is getting better. Even though the episodes are not very consistently nice. But i like the fact that the old characters are having big roles, cos i really do like those people in season I alot better! 

That aside, I still am dying for anat :x And sometimes I get so annoyed with trying to keep up with reading that I just give up trying. 

Just like how the other day, I just picked up my bag and when down to Oxford Street after posting Ernie's stuff and stumbled upon Sugababes concert outside John Lewis and the pretty xmas lightings along Regent Street! 

PS. Does anyone know of any nicer place than Stonehenge for a day trip? 

My favourite class ever.

Omg, i miss everyone so much!

Liane posted this up just after I complained to Poop and David that Im missing home loads. Now i really cant wait to be back in Singapore for xmas (China to be more precise, since im flying the day after I touch down in Singapore).

And im dying under the workload of trying to finish Head and Neck anat in 2 weeks :x Absolutely disgusting really!

-
David was just telling me about how its cheaper for him to fly SIA back to HK, but it has to stopover in Singapore first. So i was thinking of using that route and now I feel so cheated 'cos it was ridiculously expensive at 730pds.
I searched a couple of airlines and found, to my delight, that Qatar are having tickets for 482quid only! So i might just be back home again for easter! Awesomeness ((:
Seems like my plan to stay in London and travel is coming to naught hehhh.

We all love being Singaporeans.

From the Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/10/asia/AS-Singapore-Gong-Li.php

SINGAPORE: Chinese actress Gong Li has become a citizen of Singapore, the government-controlled Straits Times reported Monday.

Gong, 43, was sworn in with 149 other new Singapore citizens, holding her fist to her chest as she recited the country's pledge, the newspaper said.

Gong, who starred in 2005's 'Memoirs of a Geisha' and in 'Miami Vice' a year later, had been scheduled to be sworn in as a Singapore citizen in August, but failed to attend the ceremony.

China does not recognize dual nationalities. (So does Singapore mahh.) 

Gong, who was born in China's Liaoning province, married Singapore businessman Ooi Hoe Seong in 1996.

- 

(From Telegraph and China Daily.) 

This has very unfortunately spark off debates: 

"All traitors will be nailed to history's mast of shame. We should resolutely reject any futher contact with such people," on person said in a chat forum on the popular portal Sohu.com.

But i found this quite amusing: 

"Why doesn't anyone ask why people want to emigrate? We see one Chinese person after another take US citizenship," one person said on Sohu. "Why don't we see Americans taking Chinese citizenship?" 

And this makes it very clear why it rocks to be a Singaporean (: 

In August, Gong's close friend and hairstylist David Gan told the Singapore newspaper The Straits Times: "She travels a lot and it's convenient to hold a Singapore passport. A lot of stars like to stay here (Singapore) too. There's no paparazzi. When I walk down Orchard Road with Gong, nobody notices." Singapore citizens enjoy visa-free access to 122 countries and territories.

I love my pretty red passport with esplanade prints <33333 

I miss Tapas!

Photos from DJ's collection are finally up. Decided that i shall post them up before going on to Day 2 of mine. 

What is Sagrada Familia without 流星花园? So thats Sancai and Daomingsi enjoying their honeymoon (: hehee. 

Absolutely breathtaking no? 

In Park Guell. I wish i would be able to walk down these aisles. 

Light's overexposed, but this mini garden was pretty! 

Obligatory touristy shot of Park Guell. 

More of Sagrada Familia. 

(Pardon the messiness of the sequence. I dont quite know how to move my pictures around with blogger.) 

I love turtles! <33 

Within one of the Chapels in Museu d'Història de la Ciutat. Prettiness! 

Outside the museum. Would love to sit here the whole day, read and drink coffee. 

Outside Santa Catarina Market. Love the roofs, if only esplanade was as colourful. 

La Rambla. We were on the shopping street, but didnt buy anything but a Barcelona magnet haha! 

Within Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. One of the most famous in Barcelona. 

Paid 2.50 euros to get up to see the view of Barcelona. It was gorgeous! 

Our dinner on the 1st night we touched down. IT WAS KICKASS YUMMY. 

I miss spanish food now :x 

We cant get anymore touristy than going around in Bus-Turistic, the hop on hop off bus for tourists. It comes complete with audio commentary of the city. 

- 

Anyway, I really am dying in here for this module. I find it insane that they are doing the skull in 1h followed by 2h dissection, same for the eye and now the ear. 

I dont know if its withdrawal symptoms, but i keep feeling sleepy all the time (I fell asleep during embryology and i think i drooled :x Thankfully, there was no one else around cos like 40% ponned it hehehe.) 

Randomly, my coursemate was telling me that her housemate got battered by some street punksters in Stanhope Street, which is only a couple of streets away from my place, cos he claimed he didnt have 20p to spare them. After which, those jokers just left without even getting money from him. Its scary how these things which we read in the papers can actually happen to us :x And this only makes me miss singapore more. 

Randomly 2, I was chatting to May about travelling which got me to go look up the world map to see what other places are there in the world which I would like to visit. And i realised that europe and UK is really not much bigger (or possibly smaller) than Australia. And that Canada is actually bigger than USA? 

And it amazes me how small UK is relative to the world, but how powerful it is, compared to many other coutries. Now, I am impressed. 

But of course, Singapore is still DA BEST (: 

Barcelona II- Park Guell

Park Guell- definitely my favourite place in Barcelona. Im only hoping that I can hold my wedding there. It's so so so gorgeous, i bet its every girl's dream to wed/ hold a bday bash here. 

Like Sagrada Familia, its designed by Gaudi as well. Actually most of the attractions in Barcelona are by him.

The rare few shots with the 3 of us, but(sadly) with a randomer on the 4th step. (No she is not our friend.) 

Hansel and Gretel inspired Gate Houses. Lovely (and yummy)!

My ideal wedding location (: 

A very interesting instrument that sounded abit trance like. He just pats on the bowl and it creates music. Awesomeness, how come we dont see such talented people back in Singapore? 

Even the gift shop for Park Guell was pretty. 

Dj and Me (: 

Most of my pictures for Park Guell is actually in dj's cam 'cos I (sadly) forgot to charge my cam, so these are the few decent ones which i have :( Shall post them up when dj loads them onto facebook. 

- 

Meanwhile, my slacking away for the whole of reading week is starting to take its toll now 'cos Im quite lost for head and neck anat :x 

Help help! 

Barcelona I

And ... I have just returned from one of the best holidays I had in my life (: 

Right after intermodule test (the anat spot which is screwed up), I left for Barcelona with Dj and met Ernie at Stansted. 

After Barcelona, we came back to London, did touristy stuff  and went sightseeing (which i havent done in London since the last ti I came for my med interviews 2 years back). Now, I think im in deep trouble 'cos i havent done any reading for the coming 2 weeks, which I know would be hell considering they are going to finish the entire book of head and neck in 14 days (incl weekends) :x 

Plus, I have a feeling that Miche really wont be too happy if i dont start contributing to dissection soon.

But meanwhile, I shall let pictures do the talking. Disclaimer though, Barcelona is so much more vibrant and beautiful than my camera can capture. Plus most of my pictures are on dj's cam 'cos she was reallyy trigger happy during the trip (: 

Cam- whoring on the airport transfer to stansted. 

My tickets from stansted to barcelona was 13quid for return! 

Buskers along La Rambla. I think they are nicer than those we find in Covent Garden (:

(But less friendly, since afterall most of us cheapos only want to take pictures but dont want to drop coins into their pots.)

Along the streets to finding our Bus- Turistic. A hop-on- hop- off bus which brought us to most of the major sights of the city. 

Yeaps, we were really touristy ;) 

Spanish cured meat sandwich, a snack which everyone has got to try if they are in Spain. 

Im not a fan of meat, but i have to admit it is quite good :) 

On the bus in front of the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi. 

It is a Catholic church under construction from 1882 and continues till today, and is apparently fully funded privately and by the public. (He refuses to accept governmental funding.) 

Its a really majestic sight (http://www.gaudidesigner.com/data/article/16.jpg) and also the film site of Meteor Garden 2. Its almost surreal to be there. 

The spiral steps within the Cathedral inspired by seashells. Gaudi drew most of his inspirations from the Nature. 

I am ashamed to be her friend. 

A Jesus sculpture done in Cubism form. Not by Gaudi though. But i still love it. 

Barcelona city from one of the little windows. 

The exterior of the cathedral. 

-

Will continue posting up pictures of Park Guell (definitely my favourite place in Barcelona) and the various other sights we had gone to, soon. 

Meanwhile, i have to attempt to get some reading done instead of rubbish like this. 

Hermy celebrates Halloween.

I know people probably have more exciting photos than me. But give me credit for bothering to: 1. go for a party, 

2. Especially so when its about 2days before a test which I was ill- prepared for. 

Plus, my costume cost a grand total of 2quid. So its not bad right ((: 

Crookshanks, Hermione and Harry Potter (check out his top!) 

Dracula Rae, Cat Miche, Any Winehouse, Peish the Witch, Bonnie the Witch-Mask Holder

Bonnie, now half a witch, Rae the Dracula with bimbotic pink heels, Livia the policewoman (she's a waitress at my hall, how cool is it for a staff to join in hall parties!), Peish and Miche the Cat- Leopard 

With Stefan and Ksenja as Jack Sparrow and his gf. (And yes, they are a couple.) 

The group of us who got our costumes together. Check out Yingying's skull stockings (: 

Yeps, and that concluded my halloween, which because of the fact that i have no basis for comparison makes it the best as yet (: If only i didnt have a test to prepare for, maybe I would have been alot more adventurous. 

-

And im off to Barcelona tmr with Ernie and dj ((: 

Pray for me that the weather that would be awesome! I cant believe the holiday is finally here!

October Snow!

The Heavens saw how bored i was, Snow was sent to London! 

It was my first time seeing snow fall down from the skies, and it was gorgeous and totally awesome (even though there was rain too). And i know i sound like a sua ku. 

That's Rae blooming and me withering. Its so cold, Brrrrrr. 

Rae, Me and Bonny, my lovely roommate from HK.

Me, Rae and Miche attempting a jumpshot at the road outside my hall in the snow. 

Snow in our hair. Lovely (: 

Rae bloomed again. I think cos Im around <3333 

Its Halloween this Friday, and Im gonna dress up as a witch for my hall party. Exciting stuff, quite looking forward to it really! 

Alright, its time to hit my books again, I seem to be abit too relaxed and having too much fun considering that my test is next Monday. I'm so distracted help!