20 things

I think it's interesting cos it allows some self-reflection, and reflections aren't something to be spammed on Instagram so I'll do it here and do it slightly differently 

1. I believe in myself more than anything (not fate, not luck, not god, or whatever), but I also agree that there may be something up/out there to rely on in desperate time and to call for help for things beyond me

2. And so, I believe in karma and that if you do good, things will go your way when you're at your desperate end

3. I'm not always positive (no one ever is!) but I try very hard to be so every moment (they say it's contagious, I hope all of you who are emotionally-attached to me feels it lol)

4. Then nature had to be funny and give me a short-temper, so when I'm pissed off I lose myself and stop trying so hard. It's quite an irritating problem. 

5. I got my temperamental self (and most of my other self) from my mum, but she does a good job in containing herself, probably with experience and age 

6. Which is why I respect my mum a lot, and of course, even more so for my dad, since he manage to love my mum after all these years despite the flaws; and also because he really is a nice/good family man. 

7. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, more important to me than my parents; they are why I am who I am today and while we're not rich, they've given me all that they've got and made me "wealthy" (if you read this blog long enough, you'll know) 

8. I also can't live without friends. I love all my friends and each and every one is important to me but to different extend. I have some kind of list that reminds me who deserves my love more. And friends usually comes in cliques 

9. Solomangarephobia (but this is not the reason why I can't live without friends) 

10. Siblings are my very first friends, and this clique comes top of the list. My 14-years-older sister is like my second mum, always caring for me and making sure I'm on the right track in life. My 10-years-older brother is like my best buddy, despite our age difference, and he's always been my role model. Sometimes I wonder how amazing it is that this is possible. 

11. There's this certain person that holds a totally different place on my list: she has got my father's patience to tolerate my temper and probably matched my mum's love for me. Kinda like a younger sister, she is naive at times but innocent always. We're very different but we somehow got very comfortable with each other's presence. I have a long history, but this is something special. I know I'll have to hold on to her cos, cliche as it sounds, she's the one. 

12. In our relationship, contrary to popular belief, I'm the needy one, and she's the stronger independent one. 

13. Commitment. Everything in life requires it. Your family, your love, your social circles, your studies, your work, your hobbies, and even your passion. Everything is about how much you wanna put in. You don't have commitment issues, you just have time management issues; and I think the success of a person is determined/measured by how well he/she can devote to things/people he/she wants AND needs

14. I used to think I'm independent, having started working since a very young age; and I always pride myself to have one very important strength - confidence. But after traveling around Europe and settling down in a foreign land for exchange, I realize there's more for me to learn and grow. 

15. Then again, I'll never wanna leave Singapore for good. Bar chor mee is one reason (I can eat it for 9 meals consecutive), but mainly because I love the place I grew up in, and most importantly, the people I grew up with. 

16. I actually cry very easily. When I give an angry-speech or motivational talk to my team, I usually get choked up. So while I'm (very) sentimental, I don't like to show my emotions and usually wear a happy-face mask, like what everyone in modern society do (except my innocent girl haha) 

17. I don't wanna work for private companies because I don't want some capitalist to be reaping the most from my effort; why not spend the time and energy doing something that improves lives of the masses more directly! My ultimate aim is to work in ASEAN or UN dealing with developmental economics issues. 

18. I love planning. Planning doesn't mean inflexibility; it just tells you what you're gonna give up on when you choose an alternative. I planned my modules in NUS way before I entered (hence I can finish my Honours with 2 minors in 3.5 years, hopefully); and I've planned out when and where I wanna travel until I'm too old to move (and technology should be good enough to bring the handicapped me around by then). I also know most of these plans will end prematurely cos I'm probably not gonna (don't wanna) live till such ripe age. 

19. But then again, I'm a tech-idiot. Technology and I don't go well most of the time. And I've never played any of the major/popular PC games (only played my first Counter Strike in army; only games I played on my comp was related to Chinese history or novels); never played on gaming consoles before (except a game boy colour that I earned, with a good result in primary school, to play Pokemon with. And even that is pirated. Also, I can still remember the excitement when my mum brought me to 214's minimart to buy it and she was still complaining that it was very expensive!) 

20. YOLO. But not the swag kind. The "live like you're dying" kind. What if tomorrow's your last day? I believe I'm still on the upwards climb of my life; "today is the best I've ever been" and if my life were to end today, I'll probably die at my best and without regrets. And I wanna keep this climb going; everyday shall/will be a better day if you live like you're dying.. (Autocorrect also reminds me to love like I'm dying and yea, I guess that's right) 

--

Many of these are may turn out to be different in a matter of months and there're of course more than 20 facts that makes a person who he/she is. Do yours and you'll start to realize there're so many things that defines your existence...

I'm guessing 10 hours of netball will be too much as well

So probably nothing to do with your passion.

--

Grades don't say ANYTHING about your maturity. I don't wanna be 80 years old. In fact, grades reflect NOTHING about you at all. Don't even try to associate yourself with your grades cos that's what people worth nothing else would do. 

--

You've always been down because of Archi stuff and I've always been by your side; maybe it's harder this time round and maybe that's why you feel the distance. I can't pick up my chopsticks to glue things for you or walk you back from studio. But you'll survive I'm sure, just like how you survived the climb back in Zermatt; and I'm still by your side like I always am, just not physically for the time being. 

--

I don't know what caused your insecurity, and I was really angry when you asked me about my previous post that wasn't even talking about you. You doubted me. But worse, you doubted yourself. 

And yes, I blame it on your negativity. I hate negativity.

If there's one thing I can stay away from, that's it. Don't go away from me...

--

But don't read too much into it, I still love you. HAHA

Rumour has it

It's sad whenever you hear news that friends who have been attached and stable for pretty darn long (long enough to get married kind of long) suddenly just broke up; sometimes the person is one that is really close to you and you feel the kind of ache they are feeling.

It doesn't matter who pulled the trigger; or for the matter, it doesn't even matter whose fault was it anyway... No matter the story, how cruel is it to have someone that once meant everything to you suddenly becoming a stranger; a distance......

Stavanger 20/9/14-22/9/14

STAVANGER! Reached this place after a 5 hours bus ride; made some new HK friends and walked to our hostel together. Went through the main road, into some dark residential district, and finally down a grass field; I'm not even sure where the faith in our navigation skills came from but indeed, we reached our destination - a hospital. And yep, our hostel is within the hospital compound (and later would we know that there're lots of mothers with newborns living there, probably some maternity incentives of the country). The room was kinda like a double bed hotel room with 2 other add-one to make it a "four-bed room"; and flat screen TV as promised, albeit the size wasn't specified and it came in a "bite size package" 

In any case, the room was really awesome! Until... We found unexplained blood stains on where the three guys were sleeping... Think about it: some ulu hospital; blood stain. And we haven't solve this mystery even now as we leave this city. Bed bugs? Maybe; but no bodies were found. Bleeding wounds on our legs? No scars on any of us. Mosquitoes? No bites. Eerie huh. 

Putting that behind us, Preikestolen!!! Hike up was somewhat nostalgic which kinda explained why most of the time I prefer to trek alone ahead of the pack, away from all the socialization and just quietly reminisce the time we've had. Hike wasn't easy especially for the girls as expected, but the scenery on the pulpit rock was definitely worth the climb. Sitting on the edge of the world felt pretty surreal. Apparently 1-4 people die from the attraction every year and mostly because of suicidal acts; but yep, we weren't one of them. Also had the chance to find some secluded corner with a nice view of the fjord; this view became the nicest one I've ever peed with:

Super windy and cold so after all the photo taking and chilling (literally) we decided to start our hike down earlier (but mostly because the main pack took almost 3 hours to come up when it's expected to be a 2 hours trek, due to the fact that they stopped for photo taking every other 15mins). So down we go. And nope, we didn't catch the bus lol. Sat down our this hostel and the staff came out to give us hotdog sausages and we went kids-saw-Santa kind of surprised (please understand that hotdog buns here cost around S$10 on the lower range). 

Took the ferry back wanting to have a nice proper dinner but realize it was a European Sunday (aka everything is closed) so we desperately went into teir convenient store (not 7-eleven, but their competitor) and bless us, they sell noodles and carbonara! 200g of microwaved, steaming hot chicken noodle with garlic chilli that was super spicy, plus 500ml of chocolate milk; and a second portion of 100g of carbonara, plus another 500ml of strawberry milk - best meal I've every had in Norway so far (and all these total up to less than what it would have cost for a McDonald's meal). Went back for an early night and decided to postpone our leftover itinerary to the next day cos everyone was exhausted. 

Buffet breakfast, packing of bags, continued wondering of the blood stain mystery, and finally we checked out. While walking towards the city centre, a sudden crazy itch attacked my legs and I tried so hard to tell myself mind-over-body to no avail, thank goodness Jiahan brought some antibiotic cream (after realizing he brought an empty body of medicated oil) and it worked wonders. Walked the old town of Gamle Stavanger and it wasn't exactly old but felt more abandoned instead. Øvre Holmegate, as suggested by TripAdvisor, was disappointing but not after we "accidentally" chanced upon this other pretty above-average street of Øvre Strandgate (no prize for guessing what accident caused us to walk into this similar sounding street) where we snapped some photos and the odd-numbered row of white houses stopped at number 67 after I tried so hard to find #69. 

Learnt out lessons and walked to queue up for the bus to get good seats; and good seats we indeed have. Now let's just hope the better seats will make this 5 hours journey back more bearable. 

Bergen 19/9/14-20/9/14; 22/9/14

BERGEN! Took Norwegian Air and was anticipating the wireless network that everyone was talking about. Pretty impressive but it wasn't exactly very reliable. Reached Bergen late at night and found our accommodation relatively quickly after we alighted from the airport bus transfer. 

Didn't go up with the rest to check in cos we've booked a four-pax room when there's five of us. They came down and off we went to walk the night amongst the city light. Everywhere was filled with people; drunk ones, that is. Everything was closed by the time we set off, except for one particular commerce - no prize for guessing right - bars. Alcohol breath runs through the night streets but upside was that the whole town was bustling even after midnight. 

Climbed up towards some church that was on a hill and took countless of photos with this mysterious red church that we have yet known its name. Just when we thought the city lights look pretty impressive from this hill we were stepping on, we spotted a higher vantage point at the opposite side of town. Hiked up the hill (which was really just Tarmac road) and the scenery on the way up was super impressive. Finally we reached a point where everything was covered by the trees (and when Huihan complained that her legs were about to cramp) and trekked down towards the city centre. It was early, so we decided to wander around. Found the UNESCO heritage site, Bryggen, where Yimei and Jiahan would continue to engage in a photoshoot session for the next half and hour, while the rest of us walked about the nicely preserved cultural site. All the postcard image of the front facing shophouses really does injustice to the wonders behind those walls. Creeped into the backyards via a rustic dark wooden alley and reached another world, "welcome, to the ancient times" 

Sleep was good even though Josh and I shared a mattress on the floor; and the view of our room was pretty nice too! Next morning was disappointing cos it rained and the drizzle stayed throughout the day. Breakfast (bread) and packed up; left out luggages at the hostel and off we went to "explore" the city. Took some nice photos across the river of Bryggen, and walked almost everywhere in the city centre trying to look for the tourist information centre which was rated #10 attraction in Bergen on TripAdviser; it's address was apparently changed though, so we didn't manage to find it. Others had macs burger (bread) while I had my Maple Pecan bread brought from Stockholm. The only reasonably priced meal here is their Happy Meal, and it cost freaking S$8 (normal meals are upwards of S$20... Now I understand why friends from Norway says going to Stockholm is like Singaporeans going Malaysia). 

Rain meant the fish market was not open; and we also decided against braving the rain up at Mount Fløyen. So we basically spent the day "exploring" Bergen but failing to find/do anything on our itinerary. Great. 

On the bus towards Stavanger now and the bus had just "alighted from" the ferry that took us across one of the fjords. We had fika on the ferry (bread, but awesome one, cos it is wurst with bacon wrapped around it and in a bun! Though it costs a steep 43NOK) and probably gonna start our dinner (bread) on the bus soon! 

(2)

Came back Bergen on 22/9 and didn't have much time but still, managed this:

What's Norway without Norwegian salmon!!!

It's hazy back home; it's foggy down here

At least I can open my window and place my hot coffee out to cool it down abit with the <10degree morning temperature 

Officially my favourite tattoo for now

Not that I'm gonna get it but it's really pretty apt. 

First weekend in Stockholm actually

Ok la I think this angle is nice also (after some cropping) so my artistic instincts and your photography skills still not that bad.. Hahaha

It was a small little island and there really wasn't much to do on it. Kinda like what happens in my room except I don't have to be cooped up alone. And the sun shining into my room isn't exactly conducive for afternoon naps. 

Well, not complaining since, wait for it, winter is coming... (HIMYM+GoT references and next thing you know, I'll be going around telling people they've failed the city.. @kangkang I can only imagine you as the only one knowing what I've said in this paragraph). Kinda exposed myself for being guilty of staying in my room too much but Oliver Queen is to be blamed. 

Well, first weekend here is more of lying on the bed than doing anything productive; but who cares, won't be here for the next two weekends anyway. Heh

And Internet is down, dammit. 

Hey I can read the second part of the picture!

'Cos even when you're crying you're beautiful.

But don't cry too much later really dry contact lens will drop out.

--

We can learn together! In fact, you have been teaching me so much, you just don't know about it. I don't even know where to start; maybe from the fact that you were the one that led us to every single accommodation that we've reached safely no matter what time of the day/night it was. And trust me, no one will ever believe this, but truth is, you did it. When we hit the canal cruise, I lost it. But you remained calm and told us to go slow; I mean, that is the very basic that I've learnt from my boating course and I didn't even thought of it! And Zermatt, 'nuff said. And you taking your first solo flight, even before me!

Maybe you've spent too much time trying to figure other people out that you haven't realize how amazing you are. It's not even all these that matter. The simple fact that you have survived the trip with someone like me says a hell lot about who you are. Wiser? It's hard to be wiser when you already are.

I've experienced so much throughout this trip and I've learnt even more; and you were the teacher for the most part of them all. I believe you've grown much much stronger through this whole "ordeal" as well, you just haven't had the time to reflect. Sit down on your desk, take a pen out along with some paper; write down all the strength you've exhibited during this trip and tell me, ...

... tell me again that everything has beauty, and that you can see it in yourself.

(and do this soon before your work piles up! I'm serious)

And yes, improving your geography counts as well (I realize many people are worse than you anyway)

--

Getting all socially awkward and don't even know how to say no to a stranger asking for your number is really just who you are. Maybe you'll cease being "Qingying" when you start giving stern face and saying "NO" (though you've done that to me couple of times but I guess I'm the only exception? Hahaha). Yea, we all gotta learn to fit into social norms and having an "innate need to satisfy everyone around" is really just an innate human behavior; you're just very good at following this evolutionary trait of homo sapiens (and you carrying this type of genes probably means it's good enough to survive this cruel world; your ancestors were probably as lucky as you to have met someone like me to ensure your/their survival though). So maybe you should stop harping over it and think you're all weird and quirky. You're just ... too human.

--

It's called homesickness, babe, and it's kinda like the second phase of the whole SEP thingy after the honeymoon period (you didn't pay attention to the briefing slides right). But this is great! At least you feel (something) about yourself now -- and not thinking about how others feel.

And I hope being your boyfriend also means I'm a part-time friend right? Cos you feel grateful to have your friends and if I'm not part of the "friends-you're-grateful-for" I'll be jelly. I also don't judge you hor, Ms Blur.

--

And like you, I never knew I could miss someone so badly...

Seeing "things"

Was talking to Bird then Brandon and I realize there's one thing I've really learnt from traveling around the past few weeks, which is also the first time I've truly step out of my house to explore:

If you're traveling the world to see the scenery, the landscape, the architecture, or any particular physical attraction, you're better off looking at them over your computer 'cos Google does so good a job that their images are often much better than what you see on-the-ground. Seeing "things" is overrated.

Traveling is about living the moment; the life; experience what the locals experience; hear their language, watch their behaviours; and at the same time, it's a mirror: look at your own actions and listen to who you are when you are out of your comfort zone. Feel uncomfortable, then find comfort in the uneasiness. Live in your own fairy tale moment; dive into your own fantasy, but at the end of the day, get back to reality. You don't need to find your (old) self back, or rather, you won't. You'll become someone else (cliche, yes, but it really does happen, or at least I hope it does). And when you finally return to the comfort of your nest once again, many a time people seek out their old self and fairy tales once again become just memories, just like what happens to the fairy tales we read when we were young.

But that shouldn't be the case: fairy tales you've lived through are meant to be different.

This is why we don't watch them through Google.

--

Everyone with a rational (or irrational) amount of wanderlust will tell you all these same old story, but no one ever talks about how they come about. And nope, it's not easy. You don't just change when you go on a trip and return. It didn't even happen to me when I went Vietnam for my OCIP/YEP, it was just another trip. I wasn't exactly disappointed but it felt just like yet another overseas trip; so much that I had trouble writing a post-trip reflection after that and the fire alarm was almost triggered with the amount of smoke I put into that essay (but yea, the kids were "lovely"; and I learnt to paint a mural wall, kinda).

But few weeks after that I went China with my family, and surprisingly, something changed. This time round, I made an (unconscious) effort to notice what's going on around the people there instead of around me (probably cos I was sick most of the time and had had enough of myself haha). And yep, I realized.

Growing up emotionally/mentally is kinda different from growing up physically: the latter requires little effort (well, just eat and wait for puberty to hit, no?) whereas the former takes a little more self-exploration to realize. And while my height's probably gonna maintain at 179cm (urgh, just one more centimeter!), I still have a few thousands more cities to explore it's practically limitless.

My honour and glory

These few piecese of paper and the accolades attached along with them is not what makes me so happy every time I think bout them; it's who they matter to.

The look on my dad's face when he proudly announced to his friends and siblings that I'm top 50 in NUS (not accurate since it's only supposed to be top 50 in FASS) is something I can never forget. 

But what I cannot forget even more, is that one particular night during my secondary school days. Perhaps some of you may have already heard of this story more than once but it doesn't matter; I've told it hundreds and thousands of time, but every single time it brings me close to tears. Procrastinator as I was (am), I left my work till the last minute, well, not literally the last minute, but it was a late late night minute. 4am in the morning, I succumbed to the pressure and the annoying silence; the silence that I heard as the midnight oil drips away towards the breaking of dawn and the impending doom. I hated it. I've had enough. I started banging my table, throwing my notes everywhere, kicking my cupboard, and brought myself to tears. 

I just wanted to vent my frustration; I just wanted to break the silence I hate; I just... wanted someone to tell me I can make it through the night. He did. 

"你慢慢做，不要忙葬，我坐在这里陪你"

It doesn't matter that he doesn't understand a single word on my assignment, it doesn't matter that there's nothing he could have done to help me academically. It matters that he didn't say a single word about me waking him up at 4am in the morning and all he cares about is that I have someone to walk through the journey with...

--

I won't be where I am today without my parents, and I am where I am today not only because of them, but also for them - my honour and glory

姐姐，几有feel一下

Shooting MV in Stockholm...

Still haven't decide what song to film but could have found a better female lead...

... that at least shows her face at the camera...

Really looks like some 幕后花絮 lol

99SEK

I've been trying pretty hard to hunt for an iPhone 5 cable for the past few days cos the two I brought over were faulty and the cheapest I've found was an exorbitant 149SEK ($30 for a cable when I can easily find a $5 one in Singapore!) 

So you can imagine my delight when I found a shop that sells it for 99SEK today. 

And nope, that's not the end of the story (duh). Turns out the attendant put the wrong price tag on shelve and it was, indeed, supposed to be the daylight-robbery price of 149SEK. I kept my credit card and told him it's alright; walked out of the shop suavely as if I've just failed to negotiate a bargain in Chatuchak. Of course, I weren't expecting him to run after me to tell me "okok, you can have it for 99SEK" like how it always works in Thailand's famous weekend market, except... He did. After I went into the train station, he chased up to the gantry and went back after he failed to catch my attention. But luckily Yimei saw, and I went back to the shop acting as blur as I could, "yes, you were looking for me?" 

And yep, "you can have it for 99SEK"

Asians boleh! 

--

PS: still, it's freaking S$20 -.-

我好想你

The scene of you leaving; you grabbing my hands when we walked towards the airport bus transfer; the two of us crying; and our last hug together. They just go on repeat mode every other day. And today, I went back to Gamla Stan, and I saw your ghost again. 

But every time these scenes start to play somewhat automatically, I'll picture the day we reunite again back in Singapore. And with each day passing, our rendezvous at home draws nearer. And now, our distance is only 4 months apart...

Instagram this shit

Technology finally caught up with the tech-idiot. I really don't know why but yup, I'm on Instagram now HAHAHA. #welcomemepeople

Happy mid autumn festival!

We are all looking at the same moon. 

But if you people back at home are looking at the same moon now... You probably have insomnia or some assignment deadlines coming up. 

Hi Siri, please help me type this

After so long... I've finally used Siri on my phone for the first time. Probably cos I've just watched the launch of iPhone 6/6 Plus. Cool shit

Cos when you're falling sick, you don't have much of a choice

and I'm probably gonna lose some weight here, hopefully 

Finnhamn 6/9/14

FINNHAMN! But first, we went to Vaxholm to wait for the ferry (and we went by bus, which was free with our student pass... but well, like you say, ferry was nicer). And I didn't dare to walk too near where we set foot on before we left for continental Europe; that was kind of where the journey really started, and I see the ghost of you every single time I visit a place you've been to with me (and that includes my room! Dammit). But soon the ferry came and we left, and it will take me another 10 hours or so before I come back here (and I'll definitely go back there again), so let's move on...

Thanks Marcus for inviting me on this trip, which also coincidentally included Song En, along with Jane, and the rest are just the NOC people: half of the previous and all of the current batch. Super impromptu cos Marcus just told me the night before at around 8pm after my dinner at Lidingo and I, as usual, agreed. Woke up early to catch the morning bus that fetched us to the Vaxholm ferry terminal (thus the above paragraph). Saw Arianto on the bus and I was pleasantly surprised (he actually hasn't change much), and also the other Singaporeans (who are all staying in Bergshamra with Yimei; two of them same block somemore... This explains the Singaporean that Yimei heard). This new batch of NOC people are so different from the ones I've met in Lappis through Marcus but they are pretty fun people too! 

Reached Linnhamn after a 2 hour ferry ride and checked into their little chalet house before we head out to kayak/boating. And this is where I'd say made me have no regrets on coming to this trip. We freaking row the boat in the water and just harboured at a raised slab of rocks in the middle of nowhere and started to just sunbathe and nua. Some of the crazier ones even wore underwear (with holes somemore Mr Chua) and bikinis and swam to another smaller slab of rocks through the wade of seaweeds tangling their feet as the swim. Cool story. Song En and I decided to not swim and rowed the boat out to explore instead, but we were stopped by the Swedes who "own" the island and chased us off their private property. Then as a group we went a little bit further and harboured on another isolated island with spiky leafs and grass to have our "lunch" before we headed back to catch the train back to the mainland. Only 5 of us left while the rest stayed but I'm guessing there isn't much left to do there anymore anyway. 

Rowing a boat into the waters and just stone on a rock in the middle of nowhere - this shit is good enough to make the trip worth it. And of course, the new people I've met.  

And I'm thinking photos won't be up so soon so...

Just veg and curry paste

I did it again! Yimei says this feels like what her grandma cooks and wants to learn how to cook it from me... Though I give the usual I-knew-it-was-gonna-be-good face, but it really meant something to me... To be able to make others enjoy things I've made. 

On another note, it's amazing how we made a new friend cos of a spoilt lift... And she was freaking stuck in it for 2.5hours. Horrible lift. 

The more you travel, the more you lose sight of yourself

http://markmanson.net/5-life-lessons-5-years-traveling-world/

Because uncertainty breeds skepticism, it breeds openness, and it breeds non-judgment. 

Hostel cook food

I've taken photos of what we had on the cruise but that cost so much, I'd rather post cheap stuff made with heart! 

Birthday dinner for new friend, by yours truly

And lonely lunch looking just as what I always have back home

Tomyum!!!

There's always room for desert

And even more room for ice cream (and I must say this box of wonder tastes better than the one I had in Italy, that's how impressive this is... Sounds like time to get fat. Or maybe not. Cos the fridge is in the kitchen, that's on the other end of my corridor. So I'll probably burn some calories while walking to and fro. Lol) 

Last but not least... The nicest food I've ever cooked on this trip. Looks so simple yet so nice! Guess family's influence on healthy food is doing us all some good over here. 

(Not like those in Taiwan *ahem* eating good food untill need go hospital. See la! Better take care of yourself and start eating healthier food! Haha. Though healthier probably means more expensive over there, as opposed to the situation here) 

Helsinki 30/8/14-1/9/14

HELSINKI. I've already done a brief introduction in a previous post so here's gonna be just the main itinerary.

Boarded a cruise for the first time in my (adult?) life and was genuinely impressed by the sun deck, which you would have know that I've spent quite an amount of time on it. First night's dinner was pre-cooked and we had it at, surprise surprise, the sun deck, with some beer of course. Getting the Jim Beam for the night was definitely a good decision: seeing the usually quiet Sho got dead drunk and high, and also had a chance to talk shit with Song En while counting shooting stars. Maybe it wasn't that good a decision for Xiangyu when I left her with two drunk guy in the cabin haha. 

Breakfast was awesome with bacon!! Then off we go to Helsinki. Took a ferry to the UNESCO heritage site, Suomenlinna and was greeted with a beautiful castle/fort. Walked the area before we ferried back to get lunch (reindeer meat!). Then we went to this ulu part of the city to find Sho's Moomin (I don't even know what it is) mugs to add to his family collection. After a visit to a really beautiful church and a lame statue, we headed back for our ship cos that's really about it for Helsinki... 

Dinner was really awesome, though it was also the most expensive one I've ever paid for; but it's quite worth it, on Swedish-standards. Back to counting stars on an insomnia night after splurging in the tax-free shop and we're back in Stockholm. 

More trips are coming!

And so I heard the famous Lappis scream

And it was... Okay. Great. Haha