Copenhagen - mixed feelings

Before my trip to Copenhagen, people keep telling me how wonderful and beautiful the place is... they all loved it. I was really looking foward to seeing how great it is... but when I was there, I wasn't very impressed. Perhaps it was due to the poor weather (freezing cold) and poor itinery. Seriously, we didn't really have anything concrete planned. It was -extremely- free and easy. *sigh* I feel like I didn't really get to know the place... such a pity. I really need to do my touring homework before I get to the next destination (which happens to be London). Perhaps I'll head back to Copenhagen again in spring or summer... maybe I might fall in love with the place then. But then again, I will need loaaaaaaads of caash.

Day one

We reached Copenhagen pretty late I think so we couldn't do much. Checked into the hostel... which was pretty decent actually. Had 6 beds in the room... but it wasn't squeezy or anything. But of course we paid quite a for it (it was the cheapest though). We had a look at Christinia... a really shady place that isn't really acknowledged by Denmark. It was really dark when we went there... I couldn't really see where I was going. Apparently, the place was busted a few years ago cause it was filled with drug trafficking syndicates and what have you. You can still see people loitering around and selling drugs though. Ming and gerald actually bought some hash/weed then. Tsk tsk. It was my first time seeing such a dark side of society... it almost seemed surreal to me. Had quite an experience. Oh and the most ironic thing... they had a sign in Christiania saying 'Say no to hard drugs'. And it's strange how the name of the place begins with 'Christ'. Hmmmm.
We ended off the night by checking out the salsa club near the hostel... it was damn happening lah! The people were so pro that all we could do was stand by the side and watch Eugene do his thing. I really really really need to improve and recap my salsa dance moves. -_-

Day two

We had mcdonald's brekkie! But it's not the breakfast meals I'm talking about... they don't have those in Copenhagen. Can you believe it? Poor danish people. I can just imagine a nice, yummy looking big breakfast meal calling out to me. Ahhhh, heaven. We actually had to walk around in the rain to wait for mcdonald's to open. I think we were starving... quite pitiful actually. We stood outside looking in with pleading eyes haha. Visited the Carlsberg brewery! I didn't really learn much after the tour... I don't think any of us were really that interested in the history of Carlsberg beer lol. We were looking foward to the two bottles of free beer at the end of the tour. I think quite a few of us (especially yuxian and I) got a bit seh after drinking... we were playing seven up to finish up the drinks lol. I'm really training my alcohol tolerance =D Ohhh but it's so nice to walk in the cold after you drink some beer... you're so warm on the inside that the cold doesn't really bother you hee.

We wanted to go to the Erotica museum (obviously the guys were the ones who suggested it) but in the end we didn't. 100 danish kronas to get in... haha forget it. We're not that desperate to see sick eeky things. Luckily we met up with paul, gabby and john cause paul was the one with the great itinery. We just followed him around after that... to the round tower, gardens... around town. Then it was off to eat the chinese buffet! I think everyone was sick of paying so much for little food so we decided to just go for a buffet... it wasn't too bad. Obviously it can't be compared to the food we have in Singapore... but it was good enough. Besides, we were damn hungry. (I'm always hungry) Clubbed at Emma that night... really enjoyed it. We actually opened a bottle of Jack Daniel's... apparently, it was quite cheap. Whiskey + coke = nice =D Reminds me of once when I drank Chiva's Regal with coke at Tim's place with feng and the rest. The music was damn good! The place had table top dancers... and there was this famous Copenhagen rapper who performed as well. He was like a danish version of eminem hehe. And one other thing that I liked about the club was that it prohibited smoking. You don't end up smelling like a chimney after clubbing. They should ban smoking in Singapore clubs as well!

That night was especially fun cause it started snowing after we got out of the club. It was sooooooooo beautiful. It wasn't very cold when it snowed... in fact it got warmer. We were having snowball fights like crazy. Imagine a bunch of asian young adults doing that... we were in our own little world lol. We even built a snowman... which was extremely ugly haha. Our first snowman was a failure... it had burger remains for its eyes, nose and mouth. Its body was totally out of shape. Another danish clique near us actually laughed at our snowman heeeh.

Day three

Most of us were tooo tired to wake up to tour some more. I kinda regret not waking up early to join paul and the rest. I didn't get to see the castles and mermaid! *frown* Next time I'm just going to force myself to wake up... sleeping less won't kill ^_^ I think we slacked most of the day away... by the time we finished linner... it was already 3pm. Only managed to catch Christiania in the day... which is significantly different when compared to at night. It's so much less dodgy! Feels a lot safer too... (though we saw cops patrolling the area). We actually hung out at a pub cause the guys wanted to watch soccer... we ended up playing table hockey (I'm sooo bad at it) and spent quite a bit of money on it lol. (unbelievable) We even played pool at the Australian bar after that! I managed to practise my pool skills... they don't suck as bad now yay! =D But I still have no idea how to arrange the pool balls... hahaha. I will never get it right. Had late dinner with Ming's swedish friend... and that was about it! Really conked out that night... four girls actually squeezed on two beds but I was too tired to care.

Yup! That's all I can remember for the trip! Too tired to type anything moooooreeeeeee. I still need to copy notes for econs. Back to reality once again *yawn*

Pictures taken at the International Exchange Students party!

From the left: me, ming, eugene, gerald chew, paul, gerald ang and yuxian

The two girls on the left: Yixin and Elaine

Candid shot!

Being pensive

I think I'm getting used to living alone without my family. It's just very quiet in your room... and you have a lot of time to think about things. There's noone to tell you what you should do, noone to nag at you. Usually I don't feel that lonely since there's always msn and housemates in the corridor to talk to.

Suddenly, it just dawned on me that perhaps... I'm living the same life that I used to in Singapore. Back at home, I'm always in my room... my door is always closed. I rarely get out of my room... unless it's lunch or dinner time. My family members are pretty aloof actually. Mum's always watching her korean drama serials in her room... bro uses the computer most of the time. My granny sleeps in her room or watches the television in the living room area. Not a lot of communication in the house. -_- I think I mostly speak to my mum when I go out with her... either to the market or to places where she has to run some errands. We talk a lot in the car... but other than that, I don't think so. I miss those times when my dad was around... and we'll have funny conversations at the table. Laughing over dinner... eating fruits together. What happened to all that? I really don't know. There's also my sister... I miss staying with her under the same roof. I recall those times when we would laugh insanely over the most stupid things... and all those serious sharing conversations whilst lying on our bed. Life was so full of... life. heh.

I guess that is why I'm not feeling extremely homesick... or perhaps it's too early to say. *shrug* Anyway, I'll be going to copenhagen today! *beginning to feel excited* I won't be back still Sunday... I hope I'll have a blasting time over there. I heard it's a beautiful place... and I can't wait to see it for myself. Gonna miss talking to my friends back at home though... not going to be on msn for four days. *hugs* love you guys...

Welcome to Spoletorp - My land of solace

My room! Looks comfy eh.

Yes! I have my own microwave, fridge, basin and toilet =D

My very very messy desk... will clean up soon lah.

My window... where I look to daydream.

The view from window... without snow.

Transformed with snow

Random photo on my bed *beams*

Snowing in Lund

I had to wake up super early for class this morning! Didn't want to get lost... I was feeling really gloomy when I left my room but when I went downstairs, I was exhilarated! It was actually snowing! I left the building and started walking in the snow... I was -really- happy inside but I couldn't jump around in joy since I was alone. I was just silently celebrating. My first time seeing snow. It was truly beautiful. Although I had to go to class by myself, I didn't mind. I could admire everything around me without having to say a word to anyone. Lund covered in snow is totally different. I felt like I was somewhere else when I looked around... the trees were all covered in snow, the streets were pure white. I walked with snowflakes falling on my eyelashes... it just reminded me of the sound of music 'my favourite things'. I love that feeling... the snow was really dry so I didn't get wet or anything. It did get a lil troublesome though... when the snow got heavier. It's hard to open your eyes when you have snow flying right into your face. You gotta close your mouth too lol.

My first class was okay... I made friends with this canadian girl called Lisa. Sat beside her for class... we didn't really get to talk much since our lecture was in a seminar room and it's really small. The lecture content was quite boring. I had a hard time trying to listen to what the prof was saying. (she's from bangladesh) I really need to read up... assignment due 13th feb! gotta finish it by 7th since I'll be flying off to london. Lesson went by quite quickly... and I had the rest of the day free! I didn't do any work... haha. whee whee.

Yuxian left for germany today... so I'll be without her for the next couple of days! Everything seems fine atm... maybe cause the smu people accompanied me after she left. They stayed for dinner... julie and tomoki joined us =) There was quite a bit of gossip at the table... and it was really quite funny. Some of the guys were actually bitching haha. Guy bitching isn't niceee heh. I'm really glad I had some company... especially since all my friends in singapore won't come online at night in lund. Nevermind, I shall be independent! I came to lund to learn how to be independent anyway... it'll be good practice =D *go go go*

*does pom pom dance* go go you black black bao ;)

Morning thoughts

Paul, Eugune and I had lunch with the hong kong exchange students yesterday. Yuxian felt really sick when were we on our way there so she didn't go in the end... poor thing. I just went along with the two guys anyway since it's always better to know more people now, especially in the first few weeks of exchange. The hong kong students seemed like cordial people... they would really make the effort to talk to us, making sure that we wouldn't feel left out. (we were seriously outnumbered)

I got to know this girl called Joanne... she has the really cute and trendy look. The type with a happy smile on her face all the time. She was telling me that she has a bf and stuff... and it kinda got me thinking -_- haaaaaaaaiiiiii. Anyway, I'm glad that I went for lunch cause I got to know shirley... another hong kong girl who wants to take development economics as well (yay!). She hasn't gotten the course yet but I'm really hoping she does! Don't really want to go to class alone the first lesson... which is on monday mind you. *sidetracks* AHHHHHHHHHH. Sian. School's really starting! I think we're going to meet up and go for class together... and not get lost. The department better not be huge. I don't want to look like a poor asian soul scurrying here and there looking for her classroom.

Gabrielle joined us for lunch as well... oh anyway I loved the place that we ate at! The pizza was really cheap and good apparently. I didn't have it though... damn. I shared some chicken slices whatever with chips with gabby and it was yummmmmmy. Cheap cheap too! Going to eat there when I feel too lazy to cook haha... great that it's near to the train station =D Gabby came over to my place to use the net... and we talked quite a bit. Was asking her about her family... and I found out that she's supporting herself financially throughout her university education. That includes the exchange! She was telling me that she refuses to use her parents' credit card cause then they won't ask her to pay them back. She's really independent lah... when I spoke to her, I felt really bad. I'm still sponging off my parents... and they're paying so much for everything. I really need to pay them back one day... and this better not slip my mind. I looove my parents! (not just cause they pay for my bills lol) I should cherish them more...

We had a welcome party at night... it was fantastic! Drank vodka redbull and a bit of beer here and there to get high. I need to stop stealing peoples' drinks lol. The alcohol was quite diluted lah... seriously. -_- But anyway I guess it's a good thing... I don't want to end up on the floor. I did end up looking like a lobster though... as usual. The music was better than the first party's... there was finally hip hop and r&b! It was really fun for me cause they played latin music as well... so I could dance a bit of salsa and I was taught merengue. =D I really want to learn intermediate salsa! Sooo niceeee. Sth bugged me during the clubbing though... I actually felt bad that we were being so cold to dominique. Can tell that yuxian's damn scared of him... but she makes it really obvious. He seems rather lonely... I was thinking that maybe we should give him another chance. We were kinda harsh on him... pretty bitchy lol. Hopefully he was just drunk that night lah. Anyway we took photos... jumped on the spot many many times (it's hard to do that in singapore) and observed random couples making out around us. It was uhhh interesting lol.

I realized that I try to siam when ang mohs look like they're trying to dance closer towards our group. I get uncomfortable... I mean saying hi to them and talking to them is one thing, but once they let loose... I try to avoid it lah. Looks like I'm conservative! Which is a really good thing! Hahah. *halo*

P.S. I know my blog's very naggy and boring =p

A little indolence

Today was relaxing. No rush, no fuss. I woke up pretty late... didn't really have a good rest because my mummy called me at 4am to ask 'can you hear me? can you hear me?' lol, my mum is hilarious.
Anyway the whole day was slack slack slack. I only did some laundry (yup I managed to figure out how to do it yay!), chatted on skype with my sister and dad. Ahhh I miss them sooooooo. Anyway the rest of the day was kind of dedicated to shopping in town. I know! Shopping again! I need to stop myself from entering any shops. But I didn't spent a lot lah *trying to comfort self* Bought jeans cause I only brought two pairs over... bought a trendy looking cap as well. I better use it... or else I'm going to be pissed at myself. It's actually a guy's cap haha.

I'm starting to miss homeeeeeeeeee. Last night was really awful... it was really cold at night and I really wished there was someone around to give me a hug. Winters can really get to you. Was lying in bed when I started to think about my family, my friends... my special someone. *wistful sigh* Can't believe it's happening so fast. I must be strong! *flex* I must attempt not to be less susceptible to such missing-people attacks. It's nice to to be alone at times... cause you don't really have to care as much, but I still very much like to be surrounded by the people I love and adooore.

School's starting next week... I'm not sure if I'm going to be busier or slacker heh. With lessons beginning, I guess we won't be going out as much so I might have more time to stay in my room... blog, clean up and ponder about things. What new things will I learn in the new future?