Travelogue: The Journey Begins
The journey started a bit bumpy as I woke up at 730am which is a bit late, (I set the alarm at 700am). With foggy mind, I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and end up frying 4 eggs with half burned bread as well. Nevertheless, it was tasty! Went out from the hostel at 820am, as soon as I’m outside, I regretted wearing the wrong shoes and no glove, oh, I’m going to suffer for vanity’s sake! My feet nearly had frost bite and my hands were red by the time I’m at Recnoi Vokzal to find a mashrut to go to Sheremetevo Airport. Something outrageous happened there. I can’t find the mashrut to airport so I asked for some direction and possible buses to the airport as well. They told me that bus no 815 goes there but to no avail, I just can’t find that f***ing bus. Then, a dyadya (uncle, in russian) came to me and offer his taxi. Upon hearing the word taxi, my high alert alarm sounds off. I asked the price first, and he asked me back, how much do I want to offer. But, beforeI could even open my mouth, he said:”Dvesti Tisich”. Then, I was like WTH, 2000rubles to go to the airport, is he crazy? Or does he thinks that I am crazy? I said, nonono, I don’t have that much, 300 rubles is all that I can offer. Yeah, 300 rubles is not even a bad price, its higher than any public transport to the airport, but he rejected my offer. Then, another taxi car come at me and offer 500 rubles for a ride to the airport, I insisted on 300 rubles, and he refuses so I said:”Back off!” and went away back to the metro station. Actually, my purpose of going to Recnoi Vokzal was to find the 80 rubles mashrut to airport but my hand went red after being exposed to the freezing cold for too long thus, I can’t stand it anymore and went back into the metro station and head to aeroexpress station. In the end, I spent 276 rubles for the trip to airport, cheaper than my 300 rubles offer to the taxi guys.
Today, it is the day for melodramatic day! The ride in the aeroexpress train is very smooth and I even remembered one of the Russian short stories about the ticket stampler in train that yells:”ticket please! ticket please!”
I know someone know this story very well. Arriving at the airport at 1108am, I am nervous because my flight embarks on 1250pm. Theres no way that I am going to miss this flight. So, after having a quick look at the departure board, I went to the check in counter at the left wing. Then, to my revelation, it was the wrong counter as the flight was operated by aeroflot andstated Zurich as its destination. Yeah, I know I am going to Zurich, but forgot that I had to transit at Helsinki first! Its not that I forgot the transit thingy, its that I forgot that it should be my first destination. LoL So, the check in lady ask me to go to the right wing, so I did. There, I waited for like 4 complete advertisement runs and suddenly, the counter that I’m queing at announces that its time for Istanbul passenger to check in and its at 1305pm. In my mind, had I missed the check in time for Helsinki? I checked for Helsinki flight at the right wing departure board, but find none. So, I went to the central board and found out that the counter is at the left wing (again!). So, this time, I went to the left wing and pray hard that I would not make a fool of myself again. At last, I managed to check in. But funny, there is a registrar (guy) who find that my passport is interesting, and took picture of it?! LoL Am I that good looking? Okay,just joking. BTW, I bumped on Farhah and the gang in the airport. Such a small world, they were going to Paris+London (typical route this winter season), I couldn’t count how many peoples went there this holiday with all my fingers. No pun intended.
But, another drama ensues. This time, it involve the immigration official, they were such a skeptical being and never been lenient with me. I know that my picture in my passport, my visa and even my current face looks very different but couldn’t you just save my time and let me pass already? Instead, the immigration official sends me to the immigration office to get some paperwork done and reconfirm that I am Nick Grayson Lin Jone How, a student from Malaysia studying in MMA, Moscow and also interrogated me for what purpose I go to Zurich. Duh, what else, vacation and sight-seeing of course, or should I say terrorist activity? I think they would be more convinced if I say the latter as my objective of traveling. Nevertheless, technology saved me, phew! Thanks to the computer database, I passed the immigration check, now I wonder what will happen when I get back from Switzerland later….
Flight took off at 1250pm and I arrived at Helsinki International Airport at 1330pm. Helsinki International Airport is considered as one of the best in the world, but I didn’t get the chance to experience it as (1) I forgot to withdrew EURO bills (2) I simply don’t have the time as my next connecting flight will be at 1555pm, oh wait I do have the time, but I still can’t find the ATM machine so, no thanks!
The flight to Zurich was 2hour and 15 minutes and it is the smallest aircraft I ever board on. It had 2 seats on each side and 2 flight attendants. Nevertheless, its comfortable and the seats is better than of AirAsia which is rigid and not comfortable, for sleeping of course. They served a small evening tea which is quite bizarre for me.
\After arriving at Zurich Airport, I meet Aunt Elizabeth and we had a small meal at an asian restaurant before departing by train to Bern. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to arrive at Bern. Switzerland at a glance is a very fascinating country, now I am learning more and more about Switzerland and the peoples in Switzerland are very nice and friendly. Even the Malaysian hospitality runs a bit short from it, by that, I will never compare the it with the hospitality that I get from the place where I started my journey, ****** (Name were obscured for protection).
I reached my room at around 11 o’clock in the night. Here are some pictures of it.
And here’s the picture of the building where I am staying at.
And random pictures which I took while traveling down the road in the midnight.
Sorry for the untimely update, actually, I finished the draft for this post earlier, but due to me being over-exhausted yesterday, I only managed to type half of the draft into it while the rest was left unfinished as I felt too tired and decided to go to sleep. Well, I’ll try to update the next one soon, but I’m going to hit the sack now, so I hope I get up early enough tomorrow morning to post something before going to Emmental to visit a cheesery and look deeper into the heart of Switzerland by observing how does the doctors in Switzerland work, especially in the countryside. So long for now!
Travelogue: Arrangements before Flying
I cannot believe myself saying this but, I am overly excited for tomorrow’s flight to Switzerland. So, I’ve got to make some ends today and make sure this vacation will be enjoyable as much as possible. I am a type of last-minute guy so, do not flame me for being that and I know all the hype and rush and trouble last-minute gets you. But wth, I love all the rushing and anxiety, it made me feels alive!
Despite that I wanted today to go smoothly, my journey started a bit bumpy. Actually, I wanted to get ready before 7am so that when I arrived at the metro station, it would not be so crowded that you can barely breathe. All thanks to me, who refused to stick to the plan, slept away till 9am in the morning. Yet feeling no regret, I woke up as usual and take bath and brushed my teeth, then get ready to go out and renew my International Student Identity Card (ISIC for short). I actually had coaxed one of my friends to come along with me to the center, but we make plans yet has no power over it. He got locked inside his own house and the keys are with his friends which went out earlier. I find this hilarious, but on the dark side, I begin to think, did he purposed locked himself inside so that he would not accompany me? Damn, that is a smart trick if it was! (jot down and take note, will do this trick in the future)
So, I’m on my own going to the renewal center with only a paper written with direction and metro stations names on it. I prayed for luck and guidance for my travel today. On first seconds, it came true. I bumped on my friends who were heading to the exact same place for the exact same purpose. God, I’m glad! With this, I will never get lost. (Mind you, I have a terrible sense of direction) But then, oh crap, I suddenly remembered that I didn’t have metro pass, which means that I must buy it at the station. As usual, morning at the station is very hectic and I had to que up for 10 minutes to buy my ticket. Yeah, so I lost contact with my friends and end up going there alone again. This is the irony of hope and you lost the hope. Haha, God had helped me, but me not buying the monthly pass earlier just blew the chance I got. What a shame, but nevertheless, no problem!
The ride took me at least 30 minutes as I started the train journey at approximately 1030am and arrived at 1108am, okay, its should be more but who cares anyway! After I arrived that the last station, I gambled which exit I should choose and I choose the nearest exit, hoping that the center will be there. Once more, I found the center from the exit and I’m thinking to myself, how lucky am I today. However, the irony happens, because the lady that was supposed to help us register haven’t arrived yet, and she will be there at 1pm. This really puts a blow on my head because now I have 2 hours free time out in the coldness of Moscow city. I decided to call my friend to crash at his place, but only to be reminded that he is locked in his house. (Yeah, I’m that forgetful) So, since my stomach is yelling loudly, I decided to head to Manezh Plaza to grab a lunch. No, its more like a brunch for me.
I had the usual Kartoshka with Krababoie Myasa and Salat Zakusocnie (Baked potato with crab meat and brothed salat salad). Very fulfilling and cost me 141 rubles. Too bad, I did not take the picture of it, my gut brain took over my cerebrum at that moment. After the brunch, I looked at my watch and I still has 1hour and 30minutes left, so I decided to do some last-minute shopping to add in my shirt collection.Last minute plan means that I doesn’t have the money so, I need to withdraw some cash from the ATM machine. By the way, has any of you guys realized that the ATM machine in Manezh are all missing? I went to all the usual spots but nay!, none of them was to be found. I remembered there was a machine near the Mc Donald’s restaurant so I went there to try my luck. But shame on it, my card was rejected for a reason even I don’t know. So, I’m at wit’s end and suddenly, I remembered there was a machine in the metro station, so I rushed to it. How glad I am that the plaza was connected directly to the station, saved my time and energy! And thank God, it works this time. I’ve successfully withdrawn 3000 rubles. Next, I head to New Yorkers.
So, here’s the shirt and I bought a sweater.
Smog Collection - Blue Shirt (Slim Fit) 449rub (actual price 499)
Smog Collection - Gray sweater 1799rub (actual price 1999)
So, after finishing at New Yorkers, I went to ZARA to scavenge some shoes. Earlier, I spotted a nice green shoes with my friend but the thought of the tip of the shoe turns me off. Now looking back at it, it still does so I canceled my intention to buy it. So finally, I’m heading back to the renewal center at 1pm. When I arrived at the location, I had to wait in que because there are other peoples who were there earlier. I was LoL, and amazed that they waited for the lady (the registrar is a young woman by the way, not a lady yet). One thing that I dreaded here is filling the renewal application form, I haven’t been practicing with my Russian for a while and phew! I still managed to fill them. But I stumped on the address section. Me having a bad memory, I can’t remember where do I live, (no pun intended, its just the written address where I live in RUSSIA) So, I left it blank hoping that she would not notice but a minute later, she handed me the form back and ask me to fill in my address. At that time, I was like oh my God, what am I going to write. So, I racked my brain and managed to locate pieces of information and wrote it down. Haha, I even accidentally written the letter T to M in Russian. Confusing? I’m confusing myself and the lady. Nevertheless, she managed to read my awful handwriting and finish my card in like 5 minutes? That was fast and the renewal cost me 300 rubles. There are a lot of benefit using ISIC. If you want to know more, please go to the link above or if you can’t locate it, go here.
So, with the renewal, my plan for the day had been achieved and I head back home. Home sweet home.
Video Sharing Time!
Yeah, I’m a guy and not gay, but I watch her and love all of Michelle’s vids. Her voice and tutorials has therapeutic effect on me. If you like her, please subscribe her :p
I prefer indoor activity than outdoor, but once I’m out there, I make sure I enjoy myself to the fullest!
Travelogue: A Nick of a Time
I know that I owe ChawTimes a timely update and I’ve never updated it since, well……It was since 8th January, and now its 24th January. A total of 16 days, 22 hours and 24 minutes from the last update. Bi-daily, I owe it 8 posts >.<
No,no..I’m not escaping from the responsibility here, and I will surely make up for it. Before we go to the contents, lets review a little bit of what the past recent weeks had happen to me. This will be a brief update, do not expect me to pour everything that happens here….Its too many, damn too much to write them here! LoL (Actually, I don’t know what I supposed to write, anyway, here goes =.=)
(Okay, just ignore the paragraph below altogether)
From my last post, I had my Histology and Anatomy test on 15th and 21st January respectively. How did I do it? Well, this is not a place for me to announce my results, to boast about it, to laugh at other peoples, to humiliate myself, to degrade myself, bla-bla-bla….
(Start reading here, because the previous paragraph was spontaneous)
To my great surprise and enjoyment, my internet condition had improved greatly during the study weeks. Sounds like a bad sign doesn’t it? Haha…Nevertheless, the speed went up to a whole new level and it pretty much topped my excitement! Usually, it just got over 1xxkb per-secs (Don’t boast about how fast you internet were, I know), and went damn ass slow during the evening and got worse as the sun sets. I virtually can’t surf the net at night. But that was before, for now, I’m glad the speed is good. I also find that the russian like celebrating new years! Well, yeah who don’t? But, they kinda take it to a whole new level, by cutting off every telecommunication that was viable for 24 hours prior to New Year and reconnect exactly at New Year! Gosh, they wouldn’t want to know how many trouble I get for that >.<
Second thing, Blog Ring. This had been in my mind for a while. I’ve been wanting to make a Blog Ring (or the native language-BlogLinking-), but frankly speaking, I haven’t found one that really suits my mind. My criteria for Blog Ring is not high, I just expect it more professional, using one type of language altogether (no mixing please) and provide a theme (at least a general theme, but more specific theme would be awesome). I’m not being an ass here, but I just had to have some expectation or else, this blog would be nothing.
Third, memories are bound to be remembered. Okay, that was not a statement, it is a fact and don’t you play word game with me, I’m good at it. The other day (when I went to the toilet), I heard my housemate, Jasper watching a Taiwanese drama, which is one of my favorite and oh-you-must-watch-it drama! Its titled Fated to Love U (You, vanity sake). The lead casts, Chen Chiao En and Ethan Ruan has great chemistry and it just moved the heart for you to keep on watching till the end. By far, its one of my best and loved drama. (I’m not sure if this is an idol drama but, with Chen Chiao En in it, I would say no)
Ratings
Plot: 7/10 (Nice to watch, but a bit unrealistic)
Character Strength: 9/10 (Awesome)
Sentimental: 9/10 (Awesome)
Appeal Factor: 8.5/10 (I’m giving the extra 1/2 points because of the good timing and cheesiness that it had)
Overall: 8.5 (Over Great but not that awesome because, although it had a good start, the last few episodes doesn’t appeal much for me)
The ironic thing is that my other housemate, Jackie, was also watching another of my favorite drama, entitled The Greatness of a Hero. This is a period drama casting Kent Cheng as Chancellor Dik Yan Kit in the period of New Zhou Dynasty. His portrayal of the character made me stuck with his persona for a while, he is really a great actor and I love all of his acting starting from him acting as Fei Mao (Its a cantonese series during the 2003 drama airing in TV2, but I’ve forgotten the title)
Ratings:
Plot: 9/10 (Although this is a typical Good versus Evil and good always wins in the end, the drama packed and arrange the events carefully and there’s never a dull moments)
Character Strength: 9/10 (Strong casts with strong persona, one word “Excellent!”)
Appeal Factor: I like Kent Cheng very much and he’s kinda the appeal factor I’m staying, by staying I mean finishing it in a marathon fashion. The other character that I like was the villainous King Wei portrayed by Wayne Lai. He is such a talented actor and I personally loved all his actings and much to my surprise, he and Stephen Ma had acted together for a number of series already. This, I’m going to dig in deeper into the TVB drama histories.
Sentimental: 9.5/10 (Over the top awesomeness, actually, I planned to give it 10/10 but since this series made me cried, I’m going to shove off the last 1/5 points ^_^ , this is not a bad gesture!)
Overall: 9.5/10
Another drama is the newly released during the end of 2009 TVB drama, Beyond the Realm of Conscience. This really is my type of crack and it is very good! It had strong casts, starring Charmaine Sheh, Kevin Cheng, Tavia Yeung and Moses Chan. All of them are renowned Hong Kong stars and had won TVB awards for their actings. I’m not going to put up a lecture about how good it is here, you just have to watch it yourself to judge it.
Plot: 9/10 (Very intriguing start and gets nasty as it goes to the end, by nasty, I mean nastily great!)
Character Strength: 9/10 (Role of the villain in this drama is really emphasized and much more pronounced than of the kind and good character. This made me realize what a good actress Tavia was!)
Appeal Factor: 9/10 (The fact that Charmaine Sheh in it made me start to watch, but I also like the chemistry between her and Kevin)
Sentimental: 7/10 (Not very sentimental and kind of bland, this drama has all the rush and suspense but lack the melancholy that I sought in every great drama that I like)
Overall: 8.5/10 (You have to watch this!)
Video Sharing, I found this video lurking inside my subscription box, so I decided to take it out to share!
Travelogue: A Nick of a Time
Now, lets get serious. As the examination weeks sets off and the weeks of winter holiday surfaces, everyone are busy with their winter plans and packing to get out from this hellish winter in Moscow and go to somewhere cold? Yeah, they are going to Europe for winter holiday. I, for once am no different, in fact, I’m going to Switzerland this winter for 1 weeks vacation in the land of nostalgic chocolate, ancient cheese, glittering watches and multi-culture. I’ll be going there on this 26th January on 12:15pm from Moscow to Helsinki and then from Helsinki to Zurich. This is just a short introduction to the next travelogues post that I will write for updates here. I’m bringing my trusty iPod Touch along so, with it, I am able to jot some little update on ChawTimes. For the full updates and stories, they have to wait till I get back and get my pictures done! As for now, I’m going there alone, as a backpacker to experience the joy and fun to do backpacking travel and set my sight for Zurich and Bern which I will visit for my stay in Switzerland. The vacation last for 1 week from 26th till 2nd February, so the fastest full update should be up on 3rd or 4th of February (if I’m lazy). So, wish me a safe journey and I look forward to hear what you do for the winter holiday! Till next time!
I prefer solitude and quiet but I’ve never said that I dislike company, in fact, I love them.
New Year , New Vision ‘10
As 2009 has ended and the new 2010 started to take its course, I think I should set my things back on track and plan for the future =_=
Brief Revision ‘09
Content yet unproductive
Among the year which I had gone through, 2009 had been the most uneventful of my life. Set aside prickly people’s behaviour, surreal accomplishment in the virtual world and being able to watch 3 of the best drama in 2009, I find nothing else interest me much. I feel much disappointed with myself for past year and hope that 2010 will grant a better future for myself and family.
Caught in junction
Studying medicine is by no means an easy feat, it require much attention, intelect and most importantly > passion, which I find lack in myself. Passion for medic had eluded me since I started this course. I hate the hours long commute which took half of my day just to stand in buses, trains and other means of transport, just to get to classes! I also hate the non-evolutionary examination procedure which lacks sportsmanship spirit between students and most of all, favoritism! I believe and do not deny that, I am one of the victim of this favoritism practised by the educationer in Russia here.
Daydreaming with no effort
I believe I wasted half of 2009 with daydreaming and make half-way plans that would never be realised. Among of them are the plan to upgrade this blog to 5-star all-round blog. I’ve always nagged myself to write something, but I’m just too lazy to jot down any ideas that came through me at that particular time and me, being a forgetful bastard, who couldn’t even remember what I did in the morning eg, brush my teeth when I went to sleep at night.
Two thousand Tens, Time for a Change!
- 2 final examination, Histology and Anatomy, which I disliked will be knocking on my door this month, so lets hope for the best!
- Right after the final exams, our winter break of 2 weeks will officially starts! I’ve planned on visiting Jorg and Elizabeth in Switzerland for 1 week.
- As for the remaining week, I will spent the days getting on things that I enjoyed the most, culinary and HTML coding and playing my fav MMORPG games. updated
- The plans goes on……..
Lets hope for a better year with 2010 and how I wish I can reprimand those prickly nosy people who like to mind other people’s business. Shuu! Go mind your own business okay?! Nosy people!
P/s: This post was not made to offend any living or dead person, lest you feel offended, I don’t feel like apologizing at all as you had the right to not to read on and get your face off my post, but you still read on knowing that it hurts your feeling, pride or heart or whatever you call it is.
Inuyasha: The Final Act – Episode 1
The newest and final season of Inuyasha has finally arrived! This will be the direct continuation form where the anime series had left previously. Inuyasha was written by Rumiko Takahashi and is one of her major and successful work.
Recap:
The scene start off with Miroku and Shippo, Miroku wanted Shippo to transform into him and imitate his action to fool Sango so that he can go about in the village. However, Sango came and quickly teaches him a lesson for attempting to cheat on her. Out of shock and fear, Shippo de-transform and assume his usual form because he is afraid of Sango’s punishment which fortunately, she didn’t do it on him, yet.
On the other hand, in the present world, Kagome is having a tough time doing her repeat exam. Just about when she wanted to write something on her paper, Inuyasha came and her concerntration snaps. She blame Inuyasha for being impatient and punish him by chanting the talisman charm. However, her teacher came and told her that all her answer were wrong and it would be hard for her to get into her school of choice if such result should repeat. Devastated, she had Inuyasha carry her back home. Lovey-Dovey couple?
Back home, after bidding goodbye with her family, Kagome and Inuyasha set off back to the medieval times. However, they were greeted by Hakudoshi and Saimyosho and the Sacred Jewel shards that Kagome keeping were stolen. Next scene shown was Kohaku chasing after the wolf demon who run on rampage in a village. It turns out that the demon was possessed by a smaller demon and it took a great deal for Kohaku to destroy it. In the end, Kagura came up and with a flash, she destroyed the demon. Her intention bode no good for Kohaku as she was there because she wanted to get Kohaku’s jewel shard. Overjoyed being told by Kagura about Naraku’s heart whereabout, Kohaku wanted to kill the infant by himself for revenge and pleaded Kagura to take hime there.
Kagura refuses and insisted Kohaku to surrender his shard and promise will give him a quick death. However, the good side of Kagura wins over her and she let go off Kohaku which make her betray Hakudoshi. Hakudoshi appear at the site and threathen to kill Kohaku and get the shard himself. Kagura helped Kohaku escape and created aversion so that Kohaku have enough time to flee. However, her attack backfired and she was at the brink of destruction when Inuyasha saved her by using his wind scar technique. Goryoumaru arrived at the site and apparently he is Moryomaru which after absorbed the shards from Hakudoshi, became even more powerful. Later, he chased after Kohaku and Hakudoshi is left to deal with Inuyasha’s party. Naraku, which had learned the betrayal of both Hakudoshi and Kagura had ordered Saimyosho not to protect Hakudoshi. This result in Miroku able to suck him into his air tunnel. Hakudoshi can only be killed by such method as slashing him would produce no effect as he has no real body and regeneration ability.
Moryomaru on the other hand, had succesfully captured Kohaku and was about to retrieve the shard when Sango came to the rescue. Sango learned about Kohaku’s healed memory when he called her sister. Moryomaru had to retreat when Inuyasha party came and he is outnumbered. Everybody is happy with Kohaku presence but the same is not for Kohaku. He feels that he is only bring grief and suffering for his sister and refuse to stay with them. However, Kagome manage to persuade him to stay with them for the moment. ~.~
Comment:
I like the part where Hakudoshi can’t do anything when Sainyosho abandoned him. Although he cannot die, he is powerless when not being protected by Naraku. It is irony when he said that no one can kill him but a simple instruction such as ordering the Saimyosho to abandon Hakudoshi bring about his demise. Still, I still think that Hakudoshi’s regenerative ability is very impressive and if he were able to control Saimyosho by himself, surely he would be invincible. But, Naraku will not want that to happen right? haha
Episode Rating: 8.3/10