Transition from 2014 to 2015

Before the clock strikes 12, before the fireworks goes off, before the new year begins, here I am. Deciding to end the year with a final post of the year on my long forgotten blog.
Sitting cozily by the heater as I type away, probably many years to come or may be even tomorrow morning, I would be regretting not queuing up under less than 5 Celcius on London Bridge to get a glimpse of the 10 minutes fireworks which ceremonially marks the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015. In a personal sense, the start off of the fireworks, marks the third new year eve/day I have spent away from the comfort of my home in a foreign land, trust me, still foreign.

Let me be nostalgic on the last day of the year and reflect on 2014.......

Starting off with my new year's resolution, to graduate! And yes, with lots of blessing from home and of course, very hard work, I am proud to declare myself as a MPharm graduate with 2:1 honors! Having embarked on a long 4-year journey, to which I have zero passion, was an unimaginable torture psychologically. Regurgitation was never my forte but, I did it and I am not shy to say that I am proud of myself.

To be fair, the whole MPharm experience did have good things to offer - the opportunity to experience life away from home and in a totally new country across the ocean. This, I admit, is a life changing experience that I truly value and appreciate and am grateful for. I learnt to trust strangers, to take chances, to have a leap of faith and to believe in myself. My limits were tested from time to time and I was amazed at what I could really do if I am determined. I made a lot of good friends and acquaintances, to whom which I created lots of fond and memorable memories with. My five senses were continuously stimulated by the wonders of Europe - the beautiful sights and temperature fluctuation during the changing of seasons, the sophisticated architecture of civil structures, the variety of tongues used across the continent, the variety in culture and way of life.

The second best thing MPharm has offered me is - to be able to perform my training, which started in end of July, to get registered in the UK. Doing what I am doing now, is a whole new challenge and the whole experience re-defined the word 'independence' in my dictionary. As the days pass, I walk step by step out of my comfort shell towards the vast misty world full of charms, promises and risks.
For the new year of 2015, I only hope for my hunt for the right path would come to an end and would then steer my direction towards it with fiery passion and enthusiasm. It won't be easy, nothing good comes easy.

Thus, the end of my last post. Please excuse me as I embrace the penultimate hour of 2014 with a hopeful heart and hopefully some sight of stray fireworks from my window.

Cheers xx

Home is where the heart is

"Find an Ang Moh boyfriend, get married and don't comeback!". Something I get a lot from any aunties, uncles or even friends back home from Malaysia.

Living abroad always seem a better option than staying home.

Having lived in UK for 2 years, honestly, I have grew very fond of the country. 

First and foremost, the weather and the four seasons. I enjoy layering up on cold days and walking down the streets as colorful leaves fall off the trees in autumn, waking up spring day to find the field filled with blooming daisies and the best of all, to hop around the snow blanket as more tiny flakes fall from the skies. The changing of seasons never fail to marvel me every time though I have been through them twice.   

First snow experience at Precinct

Not to miss out, the people I have met along the way. Though the Brits weren't known as the friendliest people, but trust me, they are incredibly polite and helpful. I could not express my gratitude enough to many strangers who had offered me kindness when I was hapless and lost. Also, the countless smiles and assurance from people around me give me the courage to strive and stay for my goal despite being far from family and friends.

Graduation day with the Group Bs!

Being an over protected kid at home, having to live in a foreign land far from home, there was many "first" times. I had to live independently and learn to do my own chores. I had to deal with more "adult" issues and make a lot difficult choices - paying bills, finding my own accommodation, learning how to take the bus and train (and where to get off!), make my living budget, etc. Other the basics of living, I had a lot of new life experiences which I am restricted to at home - travelling with friends to another country, travelling alone, skiing on synthetic brush field (?), communicating with hand signs to non-English speaking locals, and much more. Overall, living out here, I would gladly cay I grew a lot as an individual and really finding myself, especially my voice to speak for myself and voice my thoughts and opinions.

 

 First Xmas Fair in Hyde Park, London

 First soccer match - Sunderland vs Newcastle

First trip with friends to the artistic city of Barcelona, Spain - In Sagrada Familia

Looks like there isn't any excuse to the wonderful suggestion by those at home!

But.... There's always a but. 

Nothing feels like the comfort of being in the living hall watching your favorite channel with mommy and daddy arguing about having the egg in the soup or not and little Winston jamming hard on his laptop as his LoL character barge senselessly into enemy grounds. 

Family :)

Nothing beats hitting the hawker centre when mom is sick of cooking (although I would really prefer her cooking) and maybe we just fancy a late night snack really and the mamak is open 24/7.

 Dinner at Fatty Crab, Taman Megah with the cousins and the best deep fried buffalo wings in town 

My favourite Fish Paste Pan Mee from a hawker in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia is truly a food paradise!

Nothing is like the joy of hanging out with my buddies in one of the many malls around and having a not too expensive meal in hipster places or tearing my friends' ears off  with my terrible voice in karaokes.

At the then trendy place - Setia Walk with da bffs xxx

Nothing can compete to having tough time choosing amongst the worldwide selection of movies screening in the cinema and the tickets cost no more than 4 pounds with caramelized popcorn for additional 2 pounds. 

Nothing beats heading out in my own time and zig zag-ing the highway in the jam in my OWN car and parking as near as possible to my destination (I hate buses).

Nothing is like...... it's an endless list really.

Being at home, in your natural habitat, is literally second to haven.

Like what a Greek guy said to me, No place is like home. :)

Barcelona, A City Full of Unexpected Surprises

Frankly, I was really paranoid about the trip at first.

A decision made within a night, without much deep thorough thoughts, we booked the flight to Barcelona.

Soon after, other friends who visited the place shared many tall tales of thieveries and syndicates roaming the city and got me really worry as the inattentive person that I am may end up having an unpleasant time on my first European adventure.

I surfed the net for more stories and got even more anxious doing so but was well-armed with really helpful safety tips from other travellers online.

Day 1

With a light travel handbag (so to avoid ill-fitting problems with the small cabin of EasyJet and getting charged for having to check-in my bag), I got on the plane and anticipated the approximate 3-hours journey from Newcastle Airport to El Prat Airport.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by solemn custom officers and unfriendly tourist information counter staff who wasn't interested in helping a bunch of lost kids to the train station. We managed to work out directions from a security personnel who guided us with signs and safely got on our bus heading for our destination. 

The sight of busy narrow streets surrounded by multi-levelled buildings and the multi-racial crowd on the bus reminded me a lot of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. 

At one of the many alleys of the City Centre.

This place is a maze!

Barcelona Lettings Office found after walking in many circles around the City Centre. 

 Our sanctuary for the next few tiring days. 

 The monument of a famous general with the lights effect to create a big shadow.

 The festively decorated alleys with lots of graffiti on the shutters

 

 The tasty alcoholic fruit punch, Sangria!

 The savoury appetizer, fried potatoes and pepper with this yummy spicy dressing

 One of the restaurant's famous roast. 

The chicken taste good but the skin was a little too salty for my liking though.

 The authentic Spanish dish, seafood Paella with meat (chicken and rabbit meat to be precise!).

Paella, for me, is like rice drench with non-spicy curry.

They said it's overrated. Well, not for me! I loved every bite of it! 

Day 2

 By the docks of Port Vell

 By the seaside overlooking a famous building, which I am not sure what it is.

 The fountain behind is right above the famous Gaudi Lizard

Entrance of Park Guell.

 Surrounded by the interesting inclining columns at the footpaths.

I took a snapshot of this cute miniature nativity scene set-up in a garden of a house near Park Guell. 

 The high-end street of Pg. de Gracia which houses big names such as Chanel, Michael Kors, and many more designer labels not just limited to clothes.

The signature flat multi-window balconies. 

 The fancy restaurant where we had a delicious 3 course meal at a reasonable price!

 A fancy appetizer with twin rolls of meat covered in creamy cheesy dressing

Salad with Mozzarella cheese

 The starter - Deep-fried Hake (which was pronounced interestingly as "egg" by the locals) coated lightly with a flavorful savory juice. 

The desert - Catalan Cream (similar to the likes of Creme Brulee)

Finally, we set foot on the much popular Sagrada Familia

Story of Christ is illustrated as little statues on the walls.

Red cross capping the tips of the structure

 Inside the cone-shaped Nativity tower and walking down its spiral stairs.

The majestic interior of the main hall of Sagrada Familia.

The tree-like pillars and the amazing geometrical ceiling 

The night view of the ever under construction church and the replica of the complete Sagrada Familia.

 

More of Gaudi's Masterpieces - Casa Milla and Casa Batllo 

Gaudi, all I can say about him is an out-of-this-world architect.

The intriguing shape and design of Sagrada Familia was inspired mainly by the works of nature as the little museum explains. But it amazed me how he would have thought of incorporating all of his inspirations to create this insanely wonderful masterpiece.

I wonder what other interesting thought he had in mind as he designs his other creative works. 

Manipulations of shapes and illusions of spaces made this master of Catalan Modernism a truly inspiring figure. 

 We ended the day in a restaurant by Port Vell which serve traditional dishes of Tapas and of course, a jug of Sangria to go with the good food.

Day 3

 Barcelona FC Stadium

Not a footie so, sorry I didn't treasure this supposedly 'historical' moment.

 A random artsy sculpture near the National Catalan Art Museum

 The National Catalan Art Museum is a jaw dropping sight with its grand building and fountains along the main entrance and a large one in the compound plus more fountains on the way. 

The entrance of the Motjuic Castle 

 Romantic footpaths of Montjuic and a stadium under construction

Trying to 'eat' the Torre de Calatrava and the scene of its surroundings

 Not sure where is this but it's on the hill top of the Montjuic area which overlooks the city astoundingly. 

 Part of the city centre as I walked back to the apartment with the help of kind strangers who guided me with a mixture of English, Spanish and loads of sign languages. 

 Beggars are quite a common sight in this city as in every metropolitan cities. 

This one in particular is sleeping peacefully as her sleeping, obese cat guards her, or is it the other way round? 

Pg. Colom 

 Our informative tour guide for our free 3 hours Orange tour. 

This tour was really an eye opener as our friendly guide bought us around the city with houses many historic structures in hidden corners which a regular tourist would never learn about.

The revolutions, colonization and war left footprints in the city which stands till today as a symbol of how the city has developed over the centuries to be the ancient cultural city it is. 

The pictures below show historical constructions which we saw as part of the tour.

 Mouth-watering pastries which are a must-trys!

 Little pooping figurines, known as Caganer, which "poops" presents for Christmas!

A piece of art by an artist to symbolize her move to Barcelona

Another piece of interesting art 

Had afternoon tea in a little tea house with pastries made by nuns from a nunnery 

 Inside the Barcelona Catedral

Random art in the square 

 Spectating an intense Flamenco performance

Day 4

 The ancient post office where we post postcards back home as souvenirs from our trip.

And so heavy-heartedly, we left for the magnificient city for the Airport.

Barcelona, it a city truly rich in history and also very artistic with the Gothic architectures with fine details.

I would say my trip is too short for me to have a whole sighting of the city.

Also, I forgot to mention about the beautiful weather with sunshine and light breeze which makes travelling a lot easier and comfortable.

And yeah, I didn't lose anything! Haha, guess being vigilant helps.