GUTEN TAG BERLIN

**This was meant to be posted during Christmas 2010, but it seemed I never ended up finishing blogging about it! Since I spent so long on it, I think it's fair that I post it up now before my memory fails on me!**

Late update.. but I'm currently back home for christmass! It's beeen a while since I've been in the comforts of my abode! University has made me realise that home is definitely luxury, despite arguments over the TV remote, doing the dishes, and walking on eggshells with my sister every time she's in a room with me.. etc, I can truly say I miss home and my car (!!) (although I do prefer living the university life) xP.

Anyways, having said that... I was only home for a short while, because right after the weekend I came back, I jetted off to Berlin with my cousin! =)) Which I have to add.. was sort of an impulse trip! Planning of where to go, exchanging money was all done very last minute! However, we still managed xP

TAG 1 

Had to get up at 3.30am in order to catch our 6am flight.. knowing me, who sleeps at 3-4am nowadays, trying to get to bed at 12am was just not happening, so consequently, I only had about an hours sleep max!

Sunrise from above the clouds (^^)

Arrived in Berlin at around 9am, and walked to the S-bahn (which is a suburban train that runs on land within the city) to our Hostel. Now, if you're planning to go to Berlin, I should warn you the trains are immensely complicated. When you buy your ticket, you need to 'validate' it.. I didn't know what that meant at first, but when you get to the platform, theres this small red box which you need to insert your ticket into to confirm the use of your ticket and it basically stamps a time and place of where you got it -- as shown at the top of the ticket.

An all-day travel ticket which can be used on the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn

A random photo of inside the S-Bahn

It took around a 30-40 minute train ride and about 10 minutes walking to get to our hostel. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect in Berlin... I mean, I heard about its history, but having dropped history in year 9, I never learnt anything beyond WW1. But anyway.. the story goes.. 

Town painted in graffiti 

Outside the Hostel (swimming pool and sauna included!!)

You see a lot of these sausage makers around! xP 

BEST falafel I've EVER HAD! <3 <3 

One of manyy Christmas German Markets

View of the Alexanderplatz Tower

Pretty Cathedral

Despite being tired as HELL, we still managed to fit a museum visit in our itinerary! 

TAG 2

Second day, we decided to do some shopping by visiting all the good shopping places. We stumbled upon Potdamer Platz which had a shopping centre. However, on the way to the shopping centre for some warmth, we came across a part of the Berlin wall that still remains.

Next, we headed to Kufurstendamm which is basically the equivalent of Oxford Street. Personally.. I think Oxford Street is better xP.

Making Crepes! 

Another Christmas market

Tag 3

Walking towards Parliament! 

___________________

Shame I didn't manage to finish this!! Maybe in another post, I'll post up the remaining pictures that I have. I don't think I can possibly recall a lot after what happened on day 3 now! >_< 

Strawberries and Cream

It's been one of those lazy days where the sun would just peek through occasionally while the clouds would empower the sky. It's clear to say that the weather plays a major role in determining my emotions and motives of the day, and today, with the clouds floating heavy above me, I knew not a lot (revision) would be done. 

So I headed towards town today to return a few things I bought over the past couple of weeks because I realised how dry my bank account was running. Considering I'm going on two holidays next month, I thought it only made sense for me to return things that I'll probably never wear more than once. So as the wind picked up, it only made me feel more rational than before. xP 

However, simultaneously as the sun beams scattered, they tickled my taste-buds and this was when I opted to get a Strawberries and Cream Frap from Starbucks. It's been a while since I've had one of these so it tasted like sips of heaven before I realised just how calorific one of these things are. But its ok, since the wind and the sunbeams were literally chasing each other, it was only fair that I had one of these to make up my rationality. HAHA 

I don't know what has gotten into me these days, but I'm in such a creative mood!! If it wasn't for exams, I could literally spend ALL day taking photos, photoshopping and making more wallpapers! 

Next month is proving to be an incredibly busy month, but hopefully, I'll still have the chance to spare some time doing things that I love. Art. 

(Click to enlarge)

A panoramic view of the place that I'm living right now in Leeds.

My new found love: perfect wedges for summer <3

and now... back to more reading and revision. See you all at the end of this disastrous tunnel of exams. 

SAY.baby: JUNE 2011 Calendar

(1600x900)

Here's an early post for my June Calendar. 

I figured since I have some spare time (amidst exam period) I thought I'd use this opportunity to update my calendar list since I'm going to be hella busy after next week. 

This month's calendar features the Japanese magazine Scawaii, June edition. I've been so hooked with Lookbook lately because I wanted to find inspiration for my new spring/summer wardrobe. Luckily, when I was browsing some of the monthly Japanese magazines, I noticed that Scawaii did a full feature on Lookbook and as I had a quick look through, I thought some of the content was really nice, so then proceeded to make calendar out of it! =))

The reason why I included the Eiffel Tower is because... I'm going to Paris in Junee! I guess you can think its a way of commemorating the SM Town Concert! (So it doesn't seem so personal to me! haha)

_______

Diverting away from the monthly calendars, here is a simple SAY.baby# edition 1.0 wallpaper that I decided to make. xP 

Let me know your thoughts on it!! =))

Boyce Avenue

This has got to one of the most amazing live gigs that I’ve been to (minus the fat betch who shoved in front of us and the sweaty teenagers). Boyce Avenue – these guys are so inspiring, they were absolutely incredible.

Before actually going to their gig in Leeds, I only heard a few of their covers on their Youtube channel and that was pretty much it. From those, I just came to the conclusion that they were a talented band. But after attending their gig tonight, my word, I was absolutely BLOWN away, they sounded even MORE amazing live than on the web.

They played a mixture of both original songs and covers, and the song that made an impact on my emotions was their original, ‘Briane’. This song is actually dedicated to one of their closet’s friends whose wife committed suicide and the lyrics convey what the wife would have said to him after she died.

I didn’t think the song would strike a chord in me, but it did. I don’t know why, but when Alejandro sang..

And though I've gone away

I still see what you're going through

It kills me everyday

To know I killed what meant most to you

So when you pass my grave

Leave a rose for what might have been

And know that it's ok

To shed you fears and find love again

I teared up.

Songs rarely make me tear up, unless they’re from a sad movie/drama. But a song that I’ve heard once – that says a lot. I listened to it again when I got home… and it made me cry again, but harder.

Just want to give a massive shout-out to Boyce Avenue for such an amazing night. It was definitely a much needed night after a stressful period that I’ve been going through. =))

If you guys have never heard of them, you should definitely check them out on here: 
 http://www.youtube.com/user/boyceavenue

Just a few photos with my new Olympus XZ-1 camera =)) 

Alejandro

Daniel

Fabian

With my girls. =)) 

My video montage of them! Check it out! 

revision. procrastination

So I'm currently stealing some of my revision time to write a quick update on my life, baha. 

Oh dear.. and I thought first year was supposed to be 'easy'... clearly not for me. 5 exams and a report to accomplish this term. Somebadyy kill me noww. 

Lectures have finished.. and I get one week to revise before exams hit mehh. Sad thing is.. I don't even finish till 3rd June >_<;; -- which is the last date of ALL exams. Practically everyone I know finish earlier than me...  

Oh wells, this is life. I've done it before, and I can do it again! YES

and I have things to look forward to after exams! oh yeaa. ;) 

9th June - 14th June = PARIS for SM Town Concert with my friend! 

[Dates unconfirmed] = HONG KONG! 

[Unknown] = and **maybe** SOUTH KOREA with another friend! -- but this has only been in the talks.. 

On another note... my Sigma brush set arrived! It didn't take long for it for it be shipped from the USA, so I'm mega happy about it! I'll probably dedicate another post on it when I have time... 

Also, my compact camera died.... I'm thinking of changing to an SLR so I can enhance my picture taking! haha But oh dear... to much money is being spent these days. =S 

and just going to write in Japanese so I can practice... see, this isn't procrastination afterall! ;) 

---------

皆さん！こんにちは〜！

今日は勉強をしました。。とても眠いです！明日は私も勉強をします！笑　悲しいです。

でも、日本語が好きです、優しいと面白いですから。^^ 

夏の休みに友達とパリスにいきます！とても楽しい！ほんとにSM　TOWNのコンサートにいきますね！すばらし！ww

今、午前十二時半、シャワーをします！

じゃね！お休み！

ゾーイ