Amsterdam Day 1 - Zaanse Schans

First full day in Amsterdam is very memorable. It's probably the main highlight of this trip - Zaanse Schans.

Madrid Part 3 - Awesome food and weekend

Hi all! Back from Korea and super drained from work. I don't know when will I ever finish blogging about my exchange or our pre-honeymoon (which we have FINALLY printed out our photobook). Probably by the end of this year? Horror! Work has taken a huge toil on me. All I want to do after work is to rest. No mood to read anything or to gain some new knowledge. My daily routine has to change.

Let me finish up on the weekend in Madrid! After checking off all the must-sees, it was time to just chill and relax in Madrid. 

Madrid Part 2

2nd half of my trip! :) 

Pre-conclusion

Hello!

I can't believe how long have I been away from this space. My 2013 ended with a bang with my engagement with my favourite boy together with wonderful food, beautiful sights and new experiences. Exchange plays a major part of my 2013 and my life will never be the same again. I'll do a conclusion post on my 2013 when my exchange officially ends. 8 more days to go and my last paper will mark the end of this wonderful and yet arduous journey. As for now, I just came back from Sintra and visited all the remaining amazing sights of Lisbon. I am all ready to leave this place without regrets. I can be truly confident to tell people that I have both lived and travelled Lisbon extensively to no regrets. I am glad that I have decided to explore the Western part of Europe and fell in love with all the rich culture and food (especially the Spanish culture). I'll definitely be back again since I have been looking up on Portugal again and that's so much that I have yet to see (more sights started to be discovered and it's a rising popular travel destination now) and my boy has never been to Portugal.

This will summarise my exchange journey for now:

I am not sorry. I have done and experienced things that no one will expect me to. Multiple mixed bed dorms, lugged luggages on my own without anybody's help, live in accommodations without warm water, live in accommodations without water, live in vomit smell hostels rooms, travelling and navigating on my own, getting lost, ride a camel, camp in the desert at night at negative temperature with only 2 thin blankets, being alert and keep my belongings safe, washed up in public toilets to catch overnight bus and trains, camp at the airport overnight,... The list is never-ending. The guys even said that I am not a girl anymore. Haha. Man up! Sometimes I feel that I am more man than them in terms of getting ready and packing speed;) These less than 8 days might be the last few days that we are gonna spend time together as well. PX commented that the next time he sees me, I'll be probably married and carrying kids to our lunches-.- That's his idea of engagement. Retarded. We definitely need a JB foodie when we get back. Good food deprived over here in Lisbon *waves waves*

2014 is here far too fast! I didn't really have time to reflect on 2013 and write out what I want to achieve in 2014. I shall do a really brief one now:

1. Exercise regularly! Hopefully morning runs with my favourite boy before work or after I get the hang of my internship working hours, back to school gym. I want my thigh gap back, ahem.
2. Discover my career path and find a job within 1 month of graduation. Yes yes. I would have never dreamt that I will be in this situation but sadly yes. I think I am gonna graduate without securing a job but I'll see how my internship goes!
3. Read extensively. I love reading so so so much. Now that school is going to be out... really soon! I have to indulge myself in all my books.
4. Save up. If not, how to get married, get a house and put furnitures in the house?
5. Master Spanish and finish a Spanish novel by the end of the year.
6. Master Korean and being able to converse in Korean during our grad trip (with HH)!
7. Stay cheerful. I have been blessed in so many ways, what's not to be happy about anymore? :')

Alfama

*Wave wave* I am still in Lisbon this Sunday. Why oh why? But as usual Sundays seem to be the warmest day of the week. I took a little trip down to Alfama, the oldest district of Lisbon.

Belém Sundays

I am back to Belém this Sunday... alone. Haha. It's gonna be the last Sunday with the highest temperature of 22 degrees celcius and I finished catching up on IS. So... I deserve my weekend break.  And it just suddenly hit me that I am halfway through my exchange (plus the fact that I won't be around much for the subsequent Sundays) and I might actually miss being here, even though I was so determined never to come back to Portugal ever again cos of the unhappy start and awful food selection. Lisbon has begun to show me its beauty:) I'll miss the glistening sea water and beautifully tiled buildings.

Rossio

Today is the first sunny day in a long time. Lisbon has been raining cats and dogs the entire week and I decided to tour Lisbon by myself today... Couldn't bear to let such a good sunny day slip away although I have plenty to catch up. Made my way to Rossio :)

Benfica VS. Olypiakos - 23 Oct 2013

Skipped class on Wednesday and went to catch the first live soccer match of my life! UEFA Champions League Benfica v Olympiakos. Soccer is practically the life of the Portuguese. The people here are divided and affected by the team that they support. In Lisbon the two main teams are Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. The beer choices of the people here are largely affected by which beer company was sponsoring their favourite team. It's really funny. Cristiano Ronaldo was bought over from Sporting Lisbon. Hehs. I felt like my exchange in Lisbon is complete now after catching the match:) Hope to catch 2 more matches, involving Sporting, before flying back to Singapore.

Glasgow to Edinburgh - 21 to 22 Aug 2013

Finally! We touched down the land where you see more seagulls than pigeons and crows in the late afternoon of the 21st. Oh, and there, the gloomy sky.

Guilt-free shopping at Freeport Lisbon

Hi guys! I was about to finish my Edinburgh post but I fell asleep last night. I literally fell asleep blogging on my bed after rushing some assignments. I have a quiz and a case to rush tonight so that I can leave for Granada tomorrow night peacefully. Might need a little more time for my travel posts. I can't believe I am travelling again before finishing the posts of my first trip :)

And so... Weiyi and I skipped school to go Freeport Lisbon outlet shopping today and I was really surprised that there were actually stuff worth buying. I can totally buy more like Onitsuka Tiger shoes, Addidas sports gear, Rockport work shoes and stuff but my shoulder was aching like hell carrying all these weight...

My top happy buys must be my second Prada box of my life and Bimba & Lola bag and ankle rain boots. Lisbon is slowly transitting into fall and it began raining yesterday (& it's gonna rain everyday). My rubber studded Addidas shoes still didn't prevent me from nearly slipping and falling walking downslope. The Bimba & Lola rain boots is really a great buy. I bought the bag because it's realllly worth it. Haha. Like REALLY. Okay so from the right, you also see Mr & Mrs Fox long sleeves and pants PJ set from Women's Secret and another PJ pants from Women's Secret to prepare for the colder nights ahead. I bought the fox cos that reminds me of Jiayi's super cute foxy throw. Then, Mango knit tee, knit pullover and capri pants. For some reason even though Mango is from Barcelona, it's still freaking ex in Spain and Portugal so... it's really a steal at the outlet. And the last row it's some loots from Pull & Bear. Tweed & Leather outerwear for me, tube studded denim peplum dress for me, denim shirt for sis, shirt for bro, shirt for Alvin. AND THAT'S IT (unless you want to count the frying tool we bought cos he is shifting over to my apartment. Yay to sharing cooking utensils). I am like still really happy, though tired, from today's shopping. Gonna have some coffee, enjoy the latest season of Criminal Minds before beginning my online quiz and a case study. Long night ahead.

Ending off with a photo of a dishevelled me and my unglam bags with the strong wind blowing. I really love the skirt I was wearing today. Zara quilted mermaid skirt. I don't know this is the how many pair I owned but I really love the cutting.

P.S.: Lovebonito and TTR loots reached my apartment safely but I really want to say that I am utterly disappointed with the latest LB loots. The dress isn't lined, the tops are really thin. I think I might just stick with what Lisbon has to offer.

Algarve School Trip!

Spent my weekend in Portimão, Faro with some fellow international students!

Here with some updates! The weather is turning cold lately but heating up today and through the weekend before dropping to the highest temp at 22 then 20 for the subsequent weeks. So... the beach weekend to Algarve tomorrow will really be the last of summer this time round. My back has been hurting so much so I skipped the beach last Sunday. I have became soooo fickle minded here. But anyway... it's the end of summers. One little happy thing today is that I bought a bikini set at Blanco for 5.06 euros after 70% discount, a pair of denim shorts for 8.06 euros after 50% discount, a small weave sling for 4.45 euros after 50% discount and a dress which was cheaper than expected. Hahahaha. All comes in handy for the trip. It's gonna be 2 days with water and I only brought one set of bikini. I don't want to re-wear it. Ewwww. So that explains the shopping.. ahem.

Tada! This is my favourite thing to cook. Egg noodles! I miss yati's egg noodles. Haha. So... when I saw egg noodles in the supermarket, I put it in the basket straightaway! This is the most successful try so far (Monday). Egg noodles in chicken stock with cod and lettuce! Yummy. This apartment has no bowls so I have to eat soupy stuff from the pot.

Had lunch in the school cafeteria before class after queueing and printing stuff in the printing shop for almost an hour. There is only one printing shop in school and it takes forever... The quiche looks nice in picture but it's mediocre. All for 4.60 euros which is quite cheap actually. Better than stuffing myself with bread.

Went to Colombo during my 6 hours break between lessons yesterday. This is what happens when you don't read Portuguese here. Hahahaha. I didn't know that the salmon comes with bread and I chose rice as a side -.-

Tea break at a cafe in Colombo. I sat indoors and a pigeon is in the shop. I wonder why.

My second try for bolognese fusilli today. I finally get the portion of fusilli right but I accidentally poured too much herbs. It's still much better than my first try 2 days ago. Haha.

I have no shows to watch now so... it's back to trying to watch Suits.


P.S. It's 2 more days to countdown 3 months to the day I see the boyfriend again:)

The Eramus Weekend Itinerary

And this is the itinerary for the school trip we signed up for, coming this Friday, I literally laughed out loud when I saw this itinerary. OMG. That's all? Haha. One activity each day?! We are so not going to sign up for anymore of these outings. I feel so hungry looking at the schedule as there seems to be no meal times stated. Hahahahaha.

Gonna take some time to blog about the remaining trips cos project deadlines are lining up already:/

Krakow Day 1 - 18 Aug

Reached Krakow and make our way to Orange hostel to drop our luggage and wash up before making our way to the Salt Mine!

Prague Day 2 - 17 Aug 2013

We started the second day in Prague with a good breakfast at Cafe Jen as recommended by our host!

Castle of São Jorge

Back from a long tiring day of slopes and uploaded the photos while painting my nails. We are heading to the beach tomorrow! Can't wait!:D

Met Po and Weiyi to tour the city today since it is the first weekend we are here and obviously we don't have lessons!:D We must act tourists even though we have to live here for 4 to 5 months...

My first Friday in Lisboa!

Hola!


This is the first time I allow myself to wake up without an alarm clock since 12 Aug? Filed the insurance claim, did laundry (handwash) and just catching up on Iris as there are no tutorials for the first week :D && of course I am still realllllly tired. Weiyi and Po Xian have been asking me for nights out but I am all like no... Haha. I know I should totally have nights out and just go socialise with people but it's tiring to talk to people who don't really understand English well and stuff. I think I need another week to recover. Looking forward to going to the beach during weekends! && I am working on Prague post right now.

Settling down in Lisbon

Hi guys! 

I am still blogging about my 2nd day in Budapest and so busy with going to school and still trying to settle down that I haven't filed my insurance claim for the lost luggage issue. Just had a really early self-cooked dinner. Let me show you a quarter of my room:

Finally settled down

Duffy and Mousey is finally resting on my bed after their lil Madagascar adventure.

As you would have guessed, I got my luggage back! :D Madrid has been nothing short of amazing. I really love my first ever trip alone (ahems. *Strikes off something from my life's to-do-list*). I really wish to visit other parts of Spain before it starts to turn cold. But for now, I would really love to just soak myself in Lisbon's culture and go to school. I really need a break from 4 weeks of travelling. Since 12pm I have been going out to buy groceries, prepared lunch, did laundry, and more laundry and unpacking. The uploading speed is not too bad. Will be doing my Budapest post really soon! && in a while, it'll be time to cook again...

Hello from Lisboa

Ola!

I have finally settled down in Lisbon after 19 days of travelling. Happy and not so happy times. I will blog about it when I have my Mac charger back. I am very blessed with all the great experiences which kind of prepared me for the upcoming 5 months of exchange. I can walk slopes without feeling tired now. I can walk an hour without feeling anything. Hmms. I spent the whole of yesterday (Lisbon time) waiting for flight and for transit. Just when I thought I could finally let down my load especially with the help of my landlord, Vueling lost my baggage. I am covered by travel insurance but all my essentials, toiletries, my Mac charger and most importantly, Mousey is inside)': I am leaving for Madrid tomorrow. I really hope Vueling can find my baggage. To be honest, I don't feel like flying anymore, even my family ask me to forgo the trip. I want my baggage back. Sighs.