Tick tock tick tock tick tock...

Manchester!! Manchester!!

This is just what I need. A weekend trip to forget all my horrifying feelings in dublin and preparing to move on to the next level of life..what's more exciting than meeting my best fren in primary school?!

Mission in Manchester:

1. Makan - Done!
   
2. Gossiping - DOne!
   
3. Shopping

• Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66: £25.00 (RP: £56.00)
• Clarks Work shoes: £12.50
• Manchester Windbreaker: £10.00

Basically I've got all 3! Suddenly I felt my life is getting better until...

I did something that really humiliating. I intend not to tell here, but to keep it to myself. I hope that he's being sporting after what happen. It just that I've never did something crazy in my entire life. OK...period!

At night we have our own Q&A about commitments. Ok, I know it's scary to face something unexpected from your partner after marriage, but its for our own good right? I mean especially facing their true colours.

Here's the thing.
What if you discover at very last minute that you can't get along well? Divorce? ARE YOU CRAZY????

Now I know why 1st year of marriage is the toughest of all. I guess I can't judge the book by its cover after all.

I hope I am able to pull it out. I know I can do it. Gotta be strong & strive to excellence!

Soklan cukup emas: Bila nak kawen?
My answer: Find me a prince, then I'll announce it when..lol

p/s: I'll post up the pictures soon. stay tune...

26th Celebration~

See you on 13.08.2009!!

Since the actual 26th falls on 1st Ramadhan, so early celebration would be grand right? =)

Firenze, Italy - Day 1

Saturday 2 May 2009

I was really look forward for long weekend (Here, we have long weekend Sat-Mon as Mon is a Bank Holiday. 1 May 2009 was a working day for us).

Sadly, since 1 May was my first day of month end, I went to office to get my Day 1 to-do-list done from 10.30am - 1.30pm.

Then shoot to hair salon to get my lovely curls done (My holiday theme: Travel with Style!) I know I'm a bit over than anyone else, but as long as it makes me happy, it good enough for me. So here it is, my PLASTIC curly [because the hairdresser sprayed a lot after doing each curls] done.

Freshly done from salon. hehe ;)

Tagging the luggage to Foley St Apartment where Azam's Birthday & Amin's Farewell take place. Of course, everyone was surprised to see me [yer la, every day people see me with straight hair suddenly I'm whole new gorgeous person - I'm allowed to be vain ok! :p]. Spend there for like 1.5hours as Italia is waiting for me. Honestly, felt like staying longer there because surprisingly my whole batch was there when I'm arrived! Gonna miss you lots Amin and see you in Malaysia ;)

Bon Voyage Amin! [God I look fat here!]

Arrived the airport around 6.15pm, flight at 7.40pm. Surprisingly the airport was empty [swine flu maybe?] We (me and other 5 travellers) decided to chill at starbucks, I tried the Mocha Raspberry Blended Frappucino. Bitter at first, then it taste just nice. I miss Banana Java Chip Frapp to be honest!




Then going through the security check, the censor beeps when I went through. GO through again without shoes [and I have to wear their blue plastic foot wear], still beeps. Was it because of my rings? It's odd to me, as I never have trouble going through. The security decide to let me go anyway. Sha was laughing mad watching me in blue plastic foot wear, I remove it straight away and I keep it in my hand luggage.

Flight was punctual and ok..Take-off & Landing smooth too..very happy as we landed in ITalia! hehehe...Funny part is that we took the bus shuttle from airplane to arrival hall for <1 minute! Might as well we walk to the arrival hall.lol!

Took the bus from Pisa to Florence City..It was lashing there and a bit worry with my new hairdo ruined by the rain. After 70minutes journey, we reached at Santa Maria Train/Bus Station. With no jacket, shivering like mad while waiting for taxi to our hotel. Reached hotel around 12am [11pm Dublin Time] and preparing to snooze for tomorrow..

update...update...

where to start ey?

Saturday morning I was in bed...yess..it's weekend..DUH!lazying and enjoying my first weekend break after crazy month end and honestly, I still tired from my London trip!! (will post my London trip when I'm free...maybe this coming weekend?)

To cheer my darling, I cooked chicken rice for 2nd attempt (kurang berjaya coz no lemongrass, but it's still superb!) Around 10 people I think who finished up my chicken rice (well done..well done..no more throwing into the bin!)

Then while waiting for muvi, we ended up browsing the tix for May Bank Holiday...got it for EUR90.00 (incl bloody Ryanair's hidden charges)..I think it's cheap for last minute trip..very honour to tell you that we are going to:

Pisa, Italy


Florence, Italy

But the main purpose of going there is :

The Mall Outlet, Florence, Italy

So, Im counting down in less than a month (hrmm, should I diet??) hopefully sempat to take nice pics at scenic places there (aihhh...sempat ke to go there cik adlina oiii!)..well actually it's more of SAVE MORE MONEY FOR SHOPPING!!...AGAIN!!!! (after shopping like mad in London!)

After booking the tix, we watched:I find it good, but I would suggest to watch during the day as the film is quite heavy. I would love to be like Ray (Clive Owen) & Claire (Julia Roberts) ...would it be nice to have that kinda life? I mean I love romantic getaways ;)

On Sunday, did the chores and catching up with darling2 ku in msia plak..hehehe...later, my best friend asking me to be her maid of honour (pengapit)...very overwhelming here! Honestly I have no idea how's a pengapit duties like in msia...so I just keeping myself cool for a while and find out what's is like to be her..Already found out who's the best man...not bad looking...ne tau ada jodoh dgn dia..(on cloud 9 jap..hehee) <- I'm just kidding okay? =p

Browsing facebook after weeks of b-z-ness at work, I've seen too many food temptations...and so I made sambal belacan (dah tempting lama dah ni!), had it with fried chicken & tauhu kering+sayur soup..very the yummers..then me watch:Sgt sedih I tell you! Apart from that, there are so many lessons can be learn from there. Right now, I proudly to admit that I'M GETTING OLDER ALREADY AND I'M STILL GOING NO WHERE!! So I guess to marriage Q will always playing in my head...ok lina..cool jap..I know someone aka prince charming will save me anytime soon (berangan mode) <-tak abis2..it's my nature =p

So maybe for a start...STUDY CONSISTENTLY...exam is just few weeks away! *blergh* :/

ok..sleep2..another crazy week to start...thank god this coming weekend it's gonna be a LooOoOngggg weeeeekend!!!!!!!!!!!! =)

Happy New Year 2009!!

On New Year Eve, I was ...

• texting my darlings wishing "HNY 2009"
• waiting for the anonymous to go to dublin white sensation at smithfield loft..I got TURNED DOWN!! =.= <-the person promise to make it up to me on New Year.hrmmm..we'll see
• at home..sleeping..watching movies..cooking..watching trl finale

Verdict: I have no regrets on my spending my NYE at home..life is so relaxing nowadays..I can only enjoy doing this for the next 3 days..with open hearted leaving 2008 and wait eagerly for 2009.

3...2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

On New Year Day...

• woke up..watch movie..had brunch..
• waited for someone..got TURNED DOWN AGAIN!! =.=
• went to hien's house for dinner. God I love her seafood paella!
• watch movie at home..AGAIN! what's wrong with me? :p
  

Verdict: I need a warm bath to ease the tiring body..tomorrow morning perhaps? Apart from that..this is how I like to spend my day. Chill! :)

New Year Resolutions? I would like to propose a BIG CHANGE for this year.

I don't want to make resolutions, but I can make wish lists and set for it right? Like for Jan, I am absolutely looking forward for...

1. New Job - will be starting on 5 Jan 2009 at Glasnevin Dublin 11
2. Travelling! - First stop...
   

Madrid, Spain 17 Jan 09 - 18 Jan 09

3. Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS - Will be comparing between getting in Dublin and in KL as the sale is still on! :)

So..a toast for a change on brand new year! ^_^

All blue skies..

in Dun Laoghaire(pronounced as Dun Leary-where i work now). It take 20 minutes to get there from city centre.

From where I wait for DART

DART Train

All blue skies =)

So where to this year?

Prague?Barca?Milan?Frankfurt?Edinburgh?Armsterdam?

Whatever it is, I'm gonna work hard to do more OTs to get away soon this year :D

First location this year: Malaysia mari.. for 3.5 weeks! :D

iKeA BeLfAsT & the oUtLeT, NeWrY

Weekend is finally here! Not only just another weekend, it's the day I've been waiting for.Finally to Ikea! Due to my unstable gila-ness behaviour, I decided to cut my fringes.It'll grow nicely by the time Im home for holidays..hopefully! (keeping finger crossed!). Sume orang geleng kepala looking at my new fringes. Let me set the new trend!LOL!

Anyway,we started our journey at 9.30am. Sha was suppose to drive but Fali thought he could drive..as he 'test-power' his knee..yeay,can drive already! So sha is his co-driver.Where as me elin n bee laid back. I plak kecoh2 amik gbr the new me.

Tada!

Along the journey,as usual bergossip about our friends, relationships, marriages,shopping at ikea! We brought the catalogue along!HAHA! As sha lead the way we thought we're almost there. Dengan semangat sha asked fali 'Masuk next to Sainsbury's'. With no signs of ikea, Fali felt sthing is not right. So he turned around and stopped at McDonalds to ask for directions. Still a long way to go!Then I plak adding the drama 'g ikut west la'. Where the signage have obviously shown 'west to dublin'..haha


Full of curiosity,we didnt see any sign of ikea untill bee read it loudly. "How to find IKEA Belfast from Dublin"

• Follow the signposts to the M1 (sign posted Belfast).
• At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N1 (sign posted Belfast).
• At the border with Northern Ireland, proceed onto the A1 and then
continue onto the M1 to Belfast.
• Approaching Belfast, proceed onto the Westlink and follow the signs for
the M3 (Bangor, City Aiport).
• Continue onto the M3, Sydenham Bypass and then A2 (Belfast to Bangor
Road). Passing the George Best Belfast City Airport, bear left and
continue through the traffic lights and take the next exit on the left for the
Holywood Exchange.

Fali still not confident, so we decided to stop at City Centre and asked for help. Sha & I asked the cabbie. As he explained with his strong Northern Irish accent, we try to have a go.

Screaming excitedly as we finally saw IKEA! We arrived there around 12 something. Everyone have already planned what to buy there. Let's start shopping!

Muka muka tak sabar nak shopping!

This is my 'living room'

This is my 'library room'

After 2.5hours of 'dreaming' & shopping..

These are what I get from IKEA

Fali showing off his beer. Pe nak jadi melayu sekarang!!kidding..hehe that's mine. It's a non-alcoholic pear cider. It tastes like 7-11 tuiti fruiti slurpee. Hrmm..I wonder whether the pear cider is available in Malaysia..hrmmm...

Our lunch for the day.We cooked nasi goreng with egg & chicken nugget.Yummy!

This bridge reminds me of Putrajaya's bridge. But I think putra is much nicer :)

After shopping at ikea, we decided to go shopping( not me, the others! :p) at the Outlet,Newry. FYI I didn't shop like I told you before.I don't find it nice there. I prefer to chill at starbucks after hours of shopping.Had Java Chips frappucino. Sejuk2 kat luar,gatal nk minum sejuk2 :p

Starbucks The Outlet, Newry.

From the Outlet, we decided to have dinner at Shangri-La. the only halal chinese malaysian restaurant we've ever know in Smithfield, Dublin 7.

Buttered king prawns & Salmon Assam Pedas

Beef Kung Po & Chicken with ginger and scallions

Beef Thai Green Curry

Goreng Pisang.Complimentary from the restaurants as we're Malaysian customers :D

What a tiring day! Tired but worth it. At least, to keep away from all the stresses Im going through lately

Sunday: Picnic at Glendalough,Co.Wicklow

Stockholm Draft Plan

I have been working out this plan for nearly a week due to my bz-ness at work & tireness when I reached home.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN DRAFT PLAN

Transportations provided at Airport Vasteras
Directions & Transportations
Taxi - Taxis are available at the airport terminal. Negotiate the fare before embarking on the journey.

Bus - Lokal Bus No 941 travels to and from Vasteras city and also does the transfer from the airport to the railway station, 300 metres away. Flygbussarna-Airport buses travel to and from Stockholm City Terminal to connect with Ryanair flights. Journey time is about 75 minutes. Bus No.501 does transfers to and from Arlanda airport to Vasteras city. Enquire at the information desk for timetables and fares.Rail - The train station is not far from the airport and the local bus No.941 will take you to the station. Trains to Stockholm leave every hour and the journey takes an hour by train.Road - Taxis and buses operate from the airport to Vasteras and beyond.


The E18 motorway is the route to Vasteras (Hasslo) city centre, Stockholm and other nearby cities.



Transportation FaresVästerås (VST): Location: 86 km/54 miles WNW of Stockholm, 6 km/4 miles ESE of Vasteras. By Bus: Flygbussarna-Airport buses to Stockholm Cityterminalen SEK 130 (199 return)/75 mins. There is a departure from the airport every day at 1010, and at 2215 every day except Saturday. Buses depart the cityterminalen, at Klarabergsviadukten 72 in Stockholm city centre every day at 0720, and at 1930 every day except Saturday. Rental Cars: AVIS, EUROPCAR, Hertz & MABI. Weblinks: □argus Car Hire. Updated Apr05 www. [back].[top]


NB: Last bus(Flygbussarna) to city ->2205/10.05pm

p/s: sempat ke nak naik bus ni?


Transportation to Hotel

By Train

From Stockholm Central Station
Take the subway towards Alvik, Åkeshov or Hässelby strand. Get off at Alvik and walk the 150 metres across the square to the Scandic Alvik hotel.

Must go places!(Menurut org2 yg penah pegi punye review)

The Wasa Museum

HOURS 2007 June 1 to August 31: 8.30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Getting there?WALK From the Central Station. Approximate time: 30 minutes.From the Karlaplan station. Approximate time: 10 minutes.BUSSBuses 47 and 69 leave from the Central Station. Bus 44 from Karlaplan. Visit www.sl.se for more information.

THE DJURGÅRDEN FERRY
The ferry leaves from Slussen all year round and also from Nybroplan during the summer. For more information visit www.waxholmsbolaget.seTRAMWAY Take the tram line that is a rolling museum to Djurgården. The tram leaves from Norrmalmstorg. For traffic information visit www.ss.seCAR PARKThere is a car park near the Museum, but it is often full. Parking spots may be found on the other side of the bridge or in the parking garages at Slussen or Karlaplan. VISITING ADDRESSGalärvarvsvägen 14


Skansen Open Air Museum

Opening hours : 10am-10pmAdmission Fee: SEK 90 (pakai Stockholm card ->FREE)

Getting there?
There are many ways to get to Skansen. It´s situated on the island of Djurgården in the middle of Stockholm. From the Central station there´s bus 47 that takes you to Skansen. Bus 44 runs the route Tekniska högskolan - Karlaplan - Skansen. One way to reach Skansen is to enjoy a ride on one of the heritage trams (route 7) from Norrmalmstorg or Nybroplan. Tram runs all weekends from March to mid December and daily in summer.A ferry line goes regularly from Slussen/Söder/Gamla stan all year round, and in the summertime there is an additional ferry line fromNybroplan and one from Hammarby Sjöstad, Södermalm and Saltsjökvarn to Djurgården that operates daily between august 5 - october 8.Going by car is not recommended since it´s difficult to find parking space on Djurgården and traffic is quite heavy in the rush-hour.But Skansen is not very far from the center of Stockholm and it´s equally possible to walk which gives you a very nice tour on foot on the waterfront

Gamla Stan (The Old Town)

The Royal Palace
With 608 rooms, the Stockholm Royal Palace is the biggest palace in the world still used by a head of state - King Carl XVI Gustav. The palace houses several of the greatest and most interesting sights in Stockholm - the Royal Apartments, the Hall of State, the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry, the Treasury, the Tre Kronor Palace Museum, the Armoury and the Museum of Antiquities of Gustav III. The Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12.00 and on Sundays and public holidays at 13.00.
The palace has been built on top of the foundations of a previous medieval castle - Tre Kronor (Three Crowns), dating back to the mid 13th century - which was ravaged by fire in 1697. The remnants of the old castle can be seen in the Tre Kronor Palace Museum. The construction of the new palace lasted for 57 years, from 1697 to 1754 and was the largest single construction project in Europe during this time. The Royal Apartments are magnificent, ranging in style from baroque to rococo to Gustavian neo-classisism, like the Pillar Hall shown here, and on to the eclectic styles of the 19th century.
Free admission with the Stockholm à la Carte card to the Royal Palace, The Hall of State, The Royal Apartments, The Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry and The Royal Palace Tre Kronor Museum!
Address: Slottsbacken
+46(0)8 402 61 30
2, 3, 43, 55, 59, 76
(subway):Gamla stan
(open)1.2-6.1, 1.2-14.5, 15.9-31.121 2 3 4 5 6 7 12-15
15.5-31.5, 1.9-14.9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10-16
1.6-31.8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10-17
(open)2007: 1.1, 9.1-31.1, 6.4, 1.5, 24.12-25.12, 31.122007: 1.1, 7.1-31.1, 21.3, 1.5

The Cathedral
This church is first mentioned in writing in 1279 and became a Lutheran Protestant church in 1527 and is today the cathedral of Stockholm. The interior holds many unique artefacts; the most famous is the statue of S:t George and the Dragon made in wood by Bernt Notke in 1489. Interior panorama
Admission charged during summertime.
General information
Address: Trångsund 1, Gamla stanPhone: 723 30 16Bus: 2, 3, 43, 53, 55, 59, 76Subway: Gamla stanHomepage: www.sthdomkyrko.com


Boat Tour
Drottningholm Palace

Hard Rock CaféSveavagen 75SE-113 50 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours:
Restaurant:Mon - Fri 11:30AM - 12:00AMSat & Sun 12:00PM - 12:00AMRock Shop:Mon - Sun from 11:30Am - 12:00AM

Directions: The Hard Rock Cafe Stockholm is conveniently located only two subway stops from downtown.


Swedish language
The four major Scandinavian languages - Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic are closely related. They are all Germanic languages, just like English, but have slowly drifted apart during the last 1000 years. Before that, the Vikings spoke a language believed to resemble Icelandic, which - along with German - came to influence English prior to the Normand conquest in 1066. Quite a few words are similar, particularly those describing old concepts such as "hus" = "house", "väg" = "way", "träd"="tree", "sköld"="shield", "båt"="boat" etc.
The languages have played an important role in creating and preserving national identity. Finnish, on the other hand, is not a Germanic language, and is completely different from the others. While a Swede, a Norwegian and a Dane often understand each other fairly well in a conversation and decipher written Icelandic, none of them would understand a Finn. In cases like that, English is likely to be used. (It should be kept in mind, though, that a fairly large minority of people in Finland have Swedish as their native tongue and many people in the country understand both Finnish and Swedish).
Sweden has been a homogenous country for a long time in terms of language. It was heavily influenced by German (merchants) during the 13th through 17th centuries, by French in the 18th century (when the aristocracy spoke French with each other as a sign of good breeding) and by English from the 20th and on.
The Swedish word for travel agent, "resebyrå" can serve as an example. It is composed of the German word for journey, "Reise", and the French word for office, "bureau", with a simplified spelling. By contrast, remote and culturally isolated Iceland has ingeniously created its entirely own word, "Ferdaskriftstofa" by combining the old Norse word for trip "ferd" ("färd" in Swedish), with the old Germanic word for a writing "Schrift", ("skrift" in Swedish), and finally the old Norse word for a small house "stofa" ("stuga in Swedish"), to describe the place where writings for the journey are made.

With the exception of Sami and Finnish speaking minorities in the north, Swedish was used everywhere. It is still the predominant language by far but the situation today is somewhat more complex. Because of immigration in the second half of the 20th century, many foreign languages are now represented and they are frequently used within the immigrant groups respectively. This is particularly true, of course, for those immigrants who have arrived in recent years. In addition, immigrant children also have the opportunity to learn their native language at their Swedish school. Despite the manifolds of languages, Swedish keeps its position as unchallenged official and common language.
One of the minority languages, Sami, is spoken by Sweden's oldest ethnic minority, the Sami. The area, historically related to this group of people, can be found in northern Sweden, as well as in northern Finland and Norway. Today, however, many of them have moved to southern Sweden and Stockholm is sometimes said to be "the largest Sami settlement in Sweden". The native tongue of the Sami is not related to Swedish. However, the Sami people have become bilingual in the process of adaption.
English is taught as a compulsory secondary language in Swedish schools. Since Sweden has become a stronghold of American popular culture, English is also learned to a large extent through TV, music, and films, which are always shown with subtitles and never dubbed.
Tourists from Britain or the US may be surprised at the number of Anglicisms in use today. Sometimes this urge to 'sound English' even becomes a bit ridiculous. A foreigner who wants to buy a Sony Walkman, for instance, should ask for a freestyle.
As English is taught in Swedish schools from the fourth grade, almost all Swedes speak and understand English. Moreover, many Swedes will also know German and some will know French and, a few, Italian and Spanish.



Some phrases in Swedish

Hej: Hello.
Tack: Thank you.
Visa mig på kartan var jag är: Please show me on the map where I am!
Nästa dag: Next day.
Nästa vecka: Next Week.
På återseende: Good-bye!
Tack så mycket: Thank you very much!
Tala långsamt: Speak slowly, please!
Talar ni engelska: Do you speak English? <--will definitely use this frequent Ursäkta mig! Ingen orsak: I'm sorry! It's quite all right! Det har jag ingen aning om: I have no idea! Var finns det en toalett?: Where's the toilet? Var kan jag finna en taxi?: Where can I get a taxi? Var kan jag ringa?: Where can I make a phone call?

Var kan jag ställa bilen?: Where can I park the car?
Var ligger turistbyrån?: Where's the tourist office?
Var ligger närmaste sjukhus?: Where's the nearest hospital?
Var kan jag finna ett apotek?: Where is there a pharmacy / chemist's?
Jag ber om ursäkt: I'm sorry
Jag förstår inte: I don't understand.
Kan ni hjälpa mig?: Could you help me, please?
Det är bra: That's good.
God dag!: Good day!
God kväll!: Good evening!
God morgon!: Good morning!
God natt!: Good night!
Hur mycket är klockan?: What time is it?
Hur mår ni?: How are you?
Har ni något ledigt rum?: Have you got any vacancies?
Vad sägs om en kopp kaffe, hemma hos mig...: How about a cup of coffee at my place ...
En flaska...: a bottle of....
En kopp...: a cup of....
Ett glas...: a glass of....
Får jag be om... :Could I have..., please?
Får jag prova...: May I try... on, please?
Hur långt är det till...: How far is it to...?
Jag är...: I am...
Mitt namn är...: My name is....
Talar ni...: Do you speak...?
Var ligger...: Where is...?
Idag: Today
Imorgon: Tomorrow
Igår: Yesterday
Vad kostar det?: How much is it?
Höger: Right
Vänster: Left
Rakt fram: Straight on
Jag vet inte: I don't know
Rökning förbjuden: No smoking
Flygplan: Aeroplane
Tåg: Train
Buss: Bus/coach

The Stockholm Card- Benefits
Free Admissions to Museums
Free ferry to Djurgården
Free Boat Sightseeing
Free sightseeing - see Stockholm from the water!