Updates

Don't complain I never update lah. Here it is.

Barcelona was fantastic. Nothing significantly great or exciting happened, but it is actually one of my best trips ever. I never had such a good balance of everything in any of my trips, ie, I had the sun, the sand, the sea, the shops, the money, the tourist attractions, travelers, locals, parties, food, weed.

Being a typical tropical girl, sun is taken for granted. I was like shrieking (inside lah) OMG OMG SUN SUN SUN and then open my arms, lifted my head up and embraced it. I sat at the balcony of my host’s friend for like 2 or 3 hours on a comfortable armchair and people watched while being sun-kissed.

Oh and something quite amusing and potentially educating: to note my observation that the Mediterranean Sea is absolutely calm! It is SO CALM there are hardly any waves. And there are no tides!

Viva la shopping! Apart from the indispensable Zara, there are also some quaint little designers which are either too expensive or a little too weird. Also, another of those Zara/ Mango kind of shop includes one call Bershka, where I bought a pair of skinny denim jeans for just 25 Euros and also this shop that I really like call Stradivarius (after the musican!) where I bought a striped shirt dress, an ultra short black skirt and the cutest leggings. But hey I spent what I saved on the hostel mah!

After doing some research by reading the latest fashion magazine, the 70s is here to stay for autumn/winter 2006-2007, but not as glitzy, not as loud. Some gold, some glitters, some prints, lots of opaque leggings and tights. And if you have the legs, go with a shirt dress (like long tee) and wear black opaque tights with a pair of ballerina flats.

But having said that, it feels great to feel empowered again. It’s like us going to Malaysia – everything is cheap! Even though it’s not really. I remembered when I first came, I took my S$1k to the exchange and got a miserable 300q back. I almost cried.

And I still think it’s justifiable to say that it is absolutely necessary to look good in London. It’s frigging LONDON. How can you walk around looking like crap? Londoners look great, dress well. So I have to, too! (BLEH BLEH)

I stayed in the hostel for the first 2 nights and after that I moved out to one of the Couchsurfers’ place (www.couchsurfing.com). In essence it is a website just like friendster and myspace, less dodgy, more specific. It’s for people to surf for a place to stay when they are traveling, and in exchange, offer their homes (or couches) to others.

So I went to this gathering (how lucky was I that they had a gathering on the day I arrived) and met some locals, some travelers, some people working in BCN, some there to learn Spanish. And this guy offered his home to me, and I checked out of my hostel the next day (and hence saved 96 Euros, which went to my shopping budget – yeah!).

So, I had the authentic backpackers’ experience for the first 2 days, hanging out at the common area, met people my age, went to the tourist attractions, ate the typical Spanish food. Then I had a Spanish host, which was like a homestay really. He brought me to meet his friends, went clubbing at places the locals go to, had a BBQ at the balcony. And one of the days, I basically slept in, woke up, nuah at the couch, watch TV, and did shit the entire day. Damn shiok.

And since I'm back in London, I have been entertaining this guy from Singapore who really really came on a mission to club every single night. So basically I have been out everyday, not been home at all. And yesterday, I slept from about 2am to 1pm.

Anyway, since I am still jobless now, I decided I have to make full use of my time and do all the touristy thing that I have yet to do in London. Not even really touristy things, but going to the museums and art galleries (which are free!!), wonderful markets that sells those very vintage things at very low price, and comb through those charity shops (I just bought another copy of Sophie's World for 80p today!)

So far, it's still exciting and fun, except that my slight withdrawal symptoms are making me a little void of happiness. But I'd be fine soon.

What should I do tomorrow? Heheehehe. I love London! Forever got things to do one!

I have to admit. Sometimes when I blog, certain entries I write is deliberately written for an ego trip. The way people try to subtly boast about certain things, like shaking their wrist to show off their watches.

But this post, is not an ego trip.

On the plane back from Barcelona, I was feeling slightly miserable at the thought of coming back to London, which 1. is cold, dark and gloomy now, 2. I have no job (yet) 3. I have no one significant to return to - no boy, no family.

Then once the plane taxi-ed I whipped out my phone and texted the people I now call friends. I text them, they replied and plans were made for the week.

I get home, checked my email and find out people are missing me.

Today this wonderful smart girl who was his friend who I now call MY friend, said

I love you. You're so much fun. You really deserve much better than him Hui.

It warmed my heart. I genuinely appreciated that. It wasn't even like oh yeah baby feel-good-factor 100%! And coming from someone who was on his side, who shared his side of the story, it meant a lot to me.

And then this other girl said

Yes that is so true. People tell you you are great, and you know it, but I think you're not sure. But you are, and that is why everyone at work loves you, for who you are. And I can see why you are so picky when it comes to boys now. You deserve to be picky anyway.

You'd probably be reading this. I can't say I'm sorry for writing this, and even if I did, you'd say don't be sorry. It's about time we come to terms with it. I didn't deserve those last few months. You knew what you did. I knew what you did. Don't say you were trying to protect me. It's too convenient. And adds to the romantic dramatic effect.

I don't hate you. I'd always love you. Like you'd always love me. For just who you are. Still.

Something great still came out of it all. You as a catalyst for my departure. I still think I did the right thing by leaving. For someone who has never taken the plane alone, stepped right out of my comfort zone, travelled all the way here not knowing what things are going to like (and still don't know), I think I did pretty okay. I've now flown alone from to San Francisco and back, to Munich, from Frankfurt to Rome, Rome to London, London to Barcelona and back. I can live alone, eat alone, take the bus/ train/ plane alone, and I am honestly okay with it all. One year ago if one tells me this is what I will be doing next year, I'd probably just laugh it off.

But now, I'm making huge plans for my own life for myself. I will go to Canada, to USA, back to Singapore, and then back to London next summer.

Journey to self discovery? It begins.

¡Hola!

From Barcelona, Cataluña.

I´m having loads of fun here.

But, when my phone rings,

I realised something-

You are still in control.

I start to panic and forget what I was supposed to do and just go to the phone booth thingy to make the call,

after much rationalising with myself to not use my mobile to ring back.

Donch like it.

Gold

Thank you for coming home
I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here
I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
You just another play for today
Oh but I'm proud of you
But I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall
Gold, always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible
Always believe in
'Cause you're gold
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible
Always believe in
After the rush has gone
I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the pace
Knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you
He's in love with you
My love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
Gold, always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible
Always believe in
'Cause you're gold
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible
Always believe in (...sax solo...)
My love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
Gold, always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible
Always believe in
'Cause you're gold
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible
Always believe in
You are gold

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just did a massive spring clean of my room, by effy's standard.

I vacuumed the floor. And i put everything where it should be.

I moved my air mattress elsewhere so that I can put my



Against the wall and do my Yoga poses.

All thanks to the lovely Ping, who got me not just that, but a Tiffany & Co cufflink & TAM TAM! And it's all specially delivered from Singapore!

Which is why I say, who needs Diamonds if they have Ping as their best friend?

Supposed to be sleeping but I figured, since I am jobless, might as well stay up right?

Sunday TV is actually pretty decent. I watched Dirty Dancing, some make me a supermodel reality tv, S.W.A.T (Colin Farrell - yum), and then CSI.

Now that I am a thief stealing network from the neighbours, I don't really sleep early anymore. There is always something to do someone to talk to on MSN. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that for the past 4 months I did not discover the free wireless.

Anyway, I efficiently planned out my trip and striked out a few to-dos today. Managed to buy a pair of boots which is flat, therefore easy walking. Not good quality leather ones I already own, it's a pair which I think I'd throw out after next year.

But for 10 pounds, it's nothing lah.

The only reason why I want to sleep early is because I want to go buy this bag from one of the charity shop for 3 pounds. I actually had NO MONEY with me and I was at the shop when they were closing and they refused to wait for me to run across the road to draw money. So I must try to chiong there in the morning in hope that no one bought it yet. It's a nice white River Island bag that is falling apart. But it looks damn vintage and I want a white bag like that to carry to Barcelona. It matches the clothes I'm bringing there.

How bimbotic. That's Hui.

Yeah!

I finally can do this!



It is quite a feat. I had to huff and puff and train my arms and shoulders up.

Known as the Scorpion, or otherwise, Vrschikasana

Anyway, Barcelona here I come!

Had one of my many first - drunk grocery shopping.

Okay I wasn't exactly drunk. I felt a little tipsy after 4 Smirnoff Ice. Which I shouldn't have had. But I had to meet this friend of mine to borrow an obi (I'm going as a Geisha on Friday's end of season party!) from his mum (a cute half Jap half Irish). And where else can we meet but a pub?

So after 4 drinks, I looked at the time and realised it was only 9.40pm, that I could quickly run into Tesco (which closes at 10) since I don't have any food at home (Which actually isn't true - I just ran out of meat, but why would I need meat in the middle of the night?)

So anyway I walked in and walked out in 10 minutes. But in the end, my purchases were

1. Swedish meatballs (Why the hell did I buy swedish meatballs)
2. A pint of milk
3. Minced pork
4. Beansprouts

What was I thinking about???

And then I got home, cooked a tipsy meal of Soup with spinach, cabbage, beansprout and mincemeat in Knorr Seafood soup packet with an egg; slurped it down and fell asleep 10 minutes after, with my TV, light and makeup on.

effy, you never learn.