Weekend

Spent the weekend in Frankfurt- shopping, lazying around, people watching.

The street (Zeil, the busiest shopping street in Germany) was packed with people as there are great sales all around. Half of Zara and H&M are on 50% deduction, can you believe it!

There was also a traditional market in the centre of Zeil street. Here I spotted old and young folks drinking- in the middle of the day. (it was 12PM!) Drinking is just another habit of theirs, like drinking coffee. So envious of them! ;)

I made new german friends and they invited me to join them for drink. :P

Don't you like their life? Hmm... :)

It is 21st!

Yup, it is 21st! It's a pay day cum a roster day! I can't wait to check whether my leave is approved- am excited to plan for the holiday!

I'm back in Korea yesterday. Kylie waited for me at the arrival gate, and we had dinner together at snack bar with the Chinese crew who flew SYD with me.

Then I bumped into Eric at the bus stop. We decided to chill out at the crew lounge for a short while after I checked in.

He passed me a box of (famous?) Taiwanese pineapple cake. And then he made me green tea latte. Gosh, he is GOOOD at it!

Eric is a charming, young captain from Taiwan. Hmm, a gentleman who always brings and recommends the best of food from all over the world. But sorry girls, he--- is---- taken! ;)

See the masterpiece he made for me. Thanks Eric!

Today, I bought a book from the airport. An Eng-Kr/ Kr-Eng dictionary.
 

I'm starting to think that I should learn to speak proper Korean. Or I feel like a half-filled tank all the time. I'm also thinking to get a good Korean drama series to watch and learn. But I have watched Meteor Garden so Boys over Flowers is not in my consideration... Hmm, still thinking. :)

Sydney

Boring day in Sydney.

Slept till 1PM today till someone knocked on my door again. I was cursing all the way. Why do I always get this in this hotel?

I woke up, had some expensive tim-tam biscuits that I bought yesterday, and spent some time surfing.

Later in the evening, I had thai food again, at the same restaurant I go everytime I come to Sydney.

Here's what I ate. Pad thai with lots of beansprouts in it, but I'm an easy eater so no complaints. :P

Oh and, I've got a new cut on my right thumb during the flight. Oouch.

Surprise!

Arrived in Sydney at 6.30AM today. Checked into Rydges at 8-ish, checked some mails and went to bed.

Just when I was rolling on the bed, wondering why am I not sleeping again, I heard someone knocking on my door.

I did not respond.

Then I heard the knocking again. This time, more loudly, and it sounded desperate.

I did not respond. But I could hear people trying to force open the door.

"OK I will get the door. But who the hell can it be?" I thought to myself.

AND! I saw two guys from the Concierge carrying a bouquet of rose, saying, "This is for you."

I rubbed my eyes. And then I read my name on it. It is indeed, for me.

Awwww... a gift from someone who's thousands miles away. Sweet!

Thank you for the thought. :)

Never take things for granted

I have learned.

To appreciate things I have today.

To be grateful for the free coffee, lunches and dinners.

To take care of people around me- even for the people who are not thoughtful enough.

To love my parents ever more... I feel happy when they are happy.

To live happily, even when I'm all alone.

I wish to say "Thank You", friends, for every little things that you have done to brighten my days.

This, from my heart.

Collecting Memories- A letter from a dear friend

Another meaningful post.


A very meaningful letter which motivates me every time when I read it, and till now, it makes me regret for not being brave enough to pursue what I wanted.

Friend, I miss you. :)

[Translated from Chinese]

Wendy,

Em, am supposed to say this to you last Friday when we went out together, especially when you mentioned that you were stressed and tension. But it drags untill the tea just now, when I heard that you have shifted to the course you always wanted! Being a close friend to you, if the only function is to be a shopping companion, releaosing tension, it isn’t enough, right! Therefore, you are not just a shopping companion to me. And that’s why, whenever I hear about how depressed you are, besides my heart aching, the most words of concern to you, I’m not sure, how much effect they act on you. Furthermore, being more fortunate than you makes me feel uneasy to speak to you. I hope I had extra cash to help you pay your tuition fees, but it seems that I still owe you some money; I wish I had more courage to back you up to walk the way you love, but I don’t, I lost the courage when I heard those words from your mom.

Therefore, when I heard that you have finally chosen what you wanted, I am very pleased for you! Really. Though you did not do any elaboration. Please go on, despite what happens, how much hurdle the road in front has, go on, because you will reach the destination at last. I am a passer by, so I know, despite the distance and circumstances, I reach there now! Same for you too! Though there’s many bitters and unwillingness, still, must make yourself a happy person. Being happy is the biggest assignment in life! Try to enjoy the scenery along the journey, you will definitely find some beautiful flowers among the wild grasses. Always let your emotion be in the best condition, so you will not be sorry to yourself. Yes. Talking on the paper is always easy, how to use it in daily life, it will go to how well you apply it. Buck up! Being through the pain, you will find that you actually gain, because the things which happen during the journey, people you meet, will all be your experience that you would bring forward to your future.

No matter how unhappy you are, try to enjoy the suffers, as they are helping you to strengthen your flexibility in life.No matter what happens, remember those friends, family, and dreams that are supporting behind the scene of your life. Continue walking! The show must go on!

Kai Ling

23.7.03

This letter is from a very close friend of me, who wrote to me after hearing that I have shifted to the course I like. It becomes real significant, because I have lied to her at that time. I didn't. I decided not to switch course, when I recalled how sad my parents were to hear from me about this. They were worried about my tuition fees, though they never told, I knew it.

If I ever have the chance again in my life, I won't miss it.

The Omitted Memories

Found this in my old blog entries today. Thought it is something nice to read. :)
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The Omitted Memories
Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005

I love Barbie to death, because they talk to me. When I'm sad, I look at them and their eyes seem to be comforting me. From there onwards, I can't describe how obsessed I'm with Barbie. My colleague joked that she would buy a Barbie doll for me after her job confirmation. Funny, now everyone in the office knows I love Barbie.

I guess the love arises from my yet-to-grown-up-heart, which has always been longing for a sweet childhood but it's never fulfilled. I lived in a village, where people learned swimming in the drain, where we stole rambutan from the jungles, and we used to suffer alot especially due to extra pressure my grandpa put on my family. Dad was a poor worker but he did buy lots of toys for me... from ten-pin bowlings, yo-yo, to wooden piano, and etc. I remember we were not rich but dad and mom doted on me alot, despite how grandpa treated us.

At that time, when mom wanted to go to town, she would have no choice but to "keep" me in a wooden swing for hours. When I became older, she would put me in the “basket” of her bicycle and we went to town together... normally, just for a hair-cut. We reached the town at 12PM and after the hair-cut and some grocery purchase, it was evening already and she would ask uncle Eng, our neighbour who sold vege in town, to send me back in his motorbike. While Mom, she would cycle back, and reach home at 6 or 7PM. In the village, we did not have power supply, so after 7PM my grandpa and uncle would start the electric generator and we would have some dim light for 2 hours before getting onto bed.

There's certainly much tears than joys everytime when I recall the old memories...

Then, we moved to a better place, which I think, is the greatest decision my dad has made in life. Eventhough we were still poor, we live happily with less pressure, except for money. Dad has always been a tough man, he supported us with little income, and when knew that I like piano, he decided to send me for piano lesson. Later in my life, he bought a piano, which was really unexpected! All these, at that time, did not seem to mean anything to me. Now thinking back, he must have saved like hell in order to get me a piano!

And so, the story comes to the point that, I don't have a Barbie doll. In fact, I have not had a doll in my life at all. I dream of them, of course, but till today, till I fall in love so much with Barbie, I know, something in our life, is just for us to keep a distance, view from far, admire, but we would never get it. Or perhaps, if we have got the thing, it might be broken after sometime, or it might not seem as precious after a while.

I regret for not having a good childhood, but I respect and love my dad and mom for raising me up with their overly-burdened hands and shoulders. Now that I am working and staying away from home, I know it is not easy to make a living, and sometimes I do cry for the fear of having insufficient money- when the sense of insecurity hits me. What I want to achieve, in this present life, is, to support my family, and gradually, make their life a better life.