Monday through Wednesday...

Early monday morning, we had to go to the airport to pick up the main SG contingent that arrived that day. Some of you have heard my many stories about my experiences in this trip but i'm going to leave it all out in my blog...hahaha...coz really the good stuff is the one worth remembering and really archiving into my blog...

If you wanna hear the stories, I'm always open for a mocha/ ice cream treat...hahaha...
Group pic after they settled their stuff in the exhibition hall. This was close to 12 plus 1pm...Had some problems with the pavilion as usual, but nothing major that was a problem except that they ran out of RUBBISH BINS?!...and couldnt' give us even though we are entitled to it. and they charged us 3.50euro PER SQM for waste removal...duh!?!?

We brought them to Romer where they can jalan and go get thier own lunches.

Ge and i were happy to just get away and hit the shopping street..hahaha...Since we missed it all on Sunday with everything closed mah! but first stop-- German food! Past few days dinner was chinese and boss's extravagant treat for western...so it was time to find a good local meal. (took a pic of the outside so that can remember the place..hahaha)

Quite a mouthful to pronounce eh?...hehehe...the lemon lime drink was sho good!! It had a kick to it once you swallowed! we had two glasses..haha...

I went for the Pork knuckle, and it was served exactly as above..hahaha...ge had her bratwursts...but really it was worth it...don't recall exactly how much but i think it was about 30 odd euros ...=D

The interior was warm, cozy and had all the funny odds and ends..hahaha....credit to ge for finding the place...actually, the rest of the trip God blessed us with good food at good prices! And it was pretty much ge who had the eye for it...hiak hiak...

Surprisingly, the mood to shop wasn't there...i guess lethargy set in...but the only buy was worth it! ge got this 'michellin' man kinda hoodie, that looks real good on her...=) for 19 euro only! =)

We soon headed back and sat outside starbucks while waiting for the tram..hahaha...it was so relaxing and peaceful just things go by (vs in Singapore) I just didn't wanna move when the tram came! hahaha...the checkered bag in her left hand was her shopping spoils...and what drink did we have ah...hmm...yes...caramel macchiatos! Coz it was the first time i was introduced to the 'art' of swiping the caramel on top first! LOL!

This is my boss...he looks super xian coz i kept laughing as i took this pic and he was just so 'game' to let me take it..hehehehe...

We had chinese dinner with the group at Jade Restaurant near the hotel, and thier seats were coloured this yellow and black pattern...ahhhaha...and my boss so happened to wear the exact same coloured shirt lor..hahaha... if he sinks down abit, it looks as though there's just his head lor!Due to the poor exhibition turnout, by 4pm on wednesday afew of us decided to go see the Natural History museum which was a 15min walk from our exhibition hall...dino bones! cools!

Typing this, I'm suddenly reminded of ge 'pushing' me out into the path of an oncoming tram as we wallked there!!!...=S coz she gave me the ''it's ok to cross'' look...hahahaha...*narrows eyes*...what did i do wrong mun!?

Dino: "I'm anorexic 2/3 of the time...but i see no side effects.."

Above pic looks like space ships...but can you believe it, they are single cell organisms?! (fossil of course)

It seemed the group had yet to try their taste for good german food....so...dinner was...you guessed it..hee..but we went to somewhere nearer the hotel and got slightly lost walking there...It's on Baseler Street near the river.. Eck means 'corner'.

Food pics again!top is Pork chop (I think) and mushrooms --- i only remember attacking those mushrooms from ge's plate and mine was a good ol' steak with heavenly onions...*slurp*

Headed back late...but saw an NKOTB poster stating their tour in Jan 09!!!...=(...sniffs...haiz...memories of being a Blockhead came back and we all sang sappy early 90s ballads enroute back to the hotel...*buries face*...I sang tommy page can...goodness!?

Quest for the golden rooster

After lunch i wanted to go back to st bartholomew to have a 'better' look...and we walked the area abit more...

The U-bahn (underground) stop at Romer...but the tram ride is more scenic as we saw this huge Euro monument below and we stopped by on the way back to the hotel for pics...

And's that's me with a bottle on my head (cold weather does things to your brain i tell you...)....

anyway, getting around frankfurt was interesting as you can get off and on, trams and trains without having to scan your ticket! there are no barriers! All you need to do is to show your ticket/pass when you are asked to (which we never were in our few days there) ...interesting huh!...of course, there will be those who try to take advantage of this...but i think its a cool system and shows a society that has 'advanced'...so we got off and on stops to take pics...and simply make a back track when we got lost...

A nicer pic of the Hauptbahnhof station...it's only 4.30pm when we got there..and it is a though its 6 plus pm with the sunset...the really nice photos that ge took....

Platform where the tracks bring you to the longer distances...(we took our paris train here eventually!)

That rounded off saturday and sunday was a semi work day for us. We walked to the exhibition hall to familiarise ourselves should the need arise.... and i took a drawing pic of our Singapore Pavilion!

AIRTEC was the aerospace exhibition we took part in...=)

Then being a sunday and everything was closed including Zeil Street (which is like orchard road-- just imagine orchard road on christmas day and you'll know what i mean)..it was very boring for us...so we tried exploring bit more of romer on our own...and saw this really cute korean cartoon...

And these really cute gulls lined up on a pole on the bridge...hahaha...it's as though they are in discussion...the next pic will show you how cute this really looks in prespective!

more views of the river...we did lotsa walking that day...you can see st bartholomews church on the right side (the brown tower)

And to keep ourselves entertained, we were determined to find the bridge with a golden rooster on it (as said by the guide the prev day)....took us ..hmm...a VERY LONG walk and 3 bridges, but we found it!!

the story goes: long ago, this chief engineer was late in completing the bridge and would have his life should it not be completed. so he made a deal with satan to finish it in time...satan said he's want the life of the first living thing that crossed the bridge...so the engineer agreed and the deal was sealed. So come the opening day, the engineer released a rooster to cross the bridge...so of course, satan had to take the life of the rooster (like it or not!) ....so here was the tribute to the rooster for it's sacrifice!!!!!!!

Further proof that Engineers are smart...tho i do not condone making deals with satan!!

Watching 'Mars Attacks' on TV while posting this...

It's such a brainlessly funny show but the script is creative coz it jsut shows how impossibly shallow we can really be..hiak hiak...the aliens are so lovable though...haha...

Anyway, back to Frankfurt! -- still on the tour on saturday...here's one of the significant bridges we were on...though as usual, you can't recall why its significant..hahaha... Walked through and airconditioned market...Die Kleinmarkthalle...so crowded and colourful! It had all the meats, pastas, frutis and veges...

Mondo blocks of cheese jsut sold on a table display outside the market!

Ok..I've forgetten the name of this tower..it's Eishen--- Turm or somthing lah (latest update:
eschenheimer turm -- provider by ge...how she remember the spelling...I can only say it's God's gift to her!!!!)...but it's where you can catch Movies with english audio...and we watched 007: Quantum of Solace the next day for 7 euro a ticket!

the more historical frankfurt area is surrounded by a 'green crown' you'll see it on a map..really it's a circular arc of a long park, which was nice to walk, with the cool breeze and the autumn leaves...

Goethestrape...the street with the branded goods shops...and we found IE Singapore office right next to the gucci !!!

Finally, we finished the tour at about 1pm. (started at 10am)...this weather doens't really make us hungry, so we had sandwiches and kopi at a streetside cafe.

Frankfurt...whatever i can show for now lah...=)

I didn't bring my really old camera, and no point bringing two too yeah?? So bulk of the pics were taken by ge on her camera!!

Thanks ge! =D

Getting to Frankfurt: We left late Thursday night on the 7th Nov...Moi was late getting to the airport, reached an hour before my 2am scheduled flight. =( long story...but i got there...anyway, even though our seats were confimred beforehand, we got seperated coz the lady beside me in the plane asked for an aisle seat.

She was the animated sort of person, lotsa hand gestures, saliva flying...you'll get what i mean when I tell you she's a speech and drama teacher...once you let them talk, there's no stopping man...not that her topics weren't interesting but it's an 8 hour flight, and she went on for 6...after the first hour, i knew what i was in for and quickly asked where she was heading after the transit -- London...I silently thanked God coz if i was stuck with her for another flight i'd lock myself in the toilet voluntarily!

I was literally cornered as I took the window side of the seat. And she went on and on about literature and books..how she hates mid summer nights dream...the signlish language, and probably intorduced me to a whole list of authors that i never heard of even though I said i'm a science student. (constantly...coz she'll ask, have you read any of ___ books?..No?...OH YOU MUST READ ____)....and no matter what i did to HINT i wanted to stop...ie. put on earphones, take magazine and flip...to was to no avail!

Half they time i tried to peer over to ge's seat hoping she'd be awake and i'd be saved! (apparently she was...but she was so still, i thot she was asleep...=S)

She knew Pastor and his wife (same youth grp last time apparently) and had some views, OK lah, nothing new i haven't heard eh?...but i'm always happy to talk about pastor. Anyway, she still believes in God and attends church...

She also talked about her past abusive family etc..that she said she doens't tell many and was sorry that I had to hear it...she started talking about forgiveness, and tearing etc. =S so I did what I could encouraged her with God's word and promises and reminded her that her life is never a waste and she has to live it to the fullest -- it is never too late to realise it and start. And to just let it be the past...(FYI this is 4.30am SG time...thank god i'm a night owl)

Ironicially, at one point she 'fessed that she's the kind of person that is actually very quiet with strangers, but dunno why with me so open and chatty. *faints*....i said it was ok, that i'm a quiet person toos, but truth be told i seem to encounter this quite often --BIG HINT...still didn't catch it...haiz...for a drama and english expert, she doens't get it eh?..hahaha...

We took Qatar which I would recommend for affordable economy flights with the comfort you need. =) the In flight entertainment was gootch! We had to do a stopover in Doha after the first 8 hour flight leg. And because it was a long flight they gave otu these real cute stickers you're suppose to put on your chair to let the flight attendant know what to do if they found you asleep during meal service...

ge and me had a good laugh over what the flight attendant would do if we pasted the two stickers above! I just think the smiley face is so cute!

So at Doha, in the 3 hour transit (that later became 4), we spotted and A&W! Man...super crave for a root beer float (above)...now in singapore if you EVER complain about high prices, this root bear float cost me S$8 ok!

Boarding the next 8 hour flight, our passport got checked like 4 times prior and ge was asked to cough out her identification card which is like !?!?! and the lady at the gate insisted that we have to carry an IC in singapore right?!....duh...doesn't the passport superseed the IC?!

ge gave her a !?!? look that could've hauled us into security!..HAHAHA...kidding lah...but still it was a =S request...

Took us some time to figure it out, and alot of hauling of luggage up and down the train...but we reached our hotel that is super conveniently located beside the main train station - Haupbahnhof...it was about late afternoon on a Friday.
Once we checked in... i had to do some work to make sure everything was ok for early Monday morning when the rest of the SG grp arrived. (coz the germans dont' work on weekends)

we swiped the gummi bears given free in the hotel before deciding to explore the area. Winter time over there so it was dark by ard 5pm. For a start, we went to go see where the infamous red-light district (that was supposedly really near the train station was..and we heard stories about it...)

It was near lah...but on a parallel street behind..(pic below you can't see it, but its near here..hahaha)

Dinner was shared coz the qty was so much, we had the Oriental Teller: Kebab meat with rice and veges (yums!)...ate at the Haupbahnhof (where you can find almost everything) ...cost us 7 euros (SGD 14)Next day we took really worthwhile halfday tour on foot with a guide that was an ex american airforce soldier and had travelled the world extensively for 20 years and had settled in frankfurt for the last 6 (to settle down). He spoke many languages as he had stints in japan and SE Asia.

he thought we were students! hahaha...anyway, it cost us 10 euros each.

As commented in an older post, there's really nothing in Frankfurt and the tour covered it in that half day! So the nicest place to go really was about 3 tramstops from our hotel, known as Romerberg or Romer (Ru-mer)

So above you can see the main square of the restored 'old town' as all this was flattened due to the 2nd world war...

This metal cobblestone is a project by someone who goes around europe placing them as markings where jews formerly lived and were taken from thier homes in the war. (it's still going on) Some people welcome them, some don't.

In the middle of the square is a memorial marker where books were burned once...

The only original half-timber house that survived the war...the rest in the square are restored.

Went past a Jewish museum that had a very long wall in memory of the german jews that were taken from their homes...their ashes are not here of course, but it is in memory of them. There are records of which camp they were sent to ...thier birth date...but when they died there is no record...

ge spotted this on above that had actually an entire family listed...

Above is St Bartholomew's church. Only the tower was left standing after the war...so everything else inside was restored..we were reminded in the tour, that bartholomew was skinned alive for his faith...*hair stand*....

The Toadie/Jeano update...

... in response to my last post -- I didnt' forget to drive, BUT i forgot the feel in terms of acceleration and ability of my Blooie..i can still park! *smug smile*....it was nice driving and jiving in my Blooie again!

So where are the photos...haiz...can i confess that i'm really just too tired to put them up these days, you also notice i'm alot quieter on the blog front. I'd rather stone surfing/ on msn chatting with my friends. Perhaps blogging makes me reflect on my present situation so much, i'd rather not face it since bulk of the time it's about work...LOL

But i will attempt to share what i can today k...it's quite abit to catch up..=)

Paris was really good...thank god for Angela's recommendation to go there instead of London. Even better was probably coz everything was so consolidated (key sights are within walking distance) and we chose not to rush much, god was just good to protect and make sure His two girls got to enjoy themselves. Happy too that we got to see some of the places Angela has never gone to before, or even for the same place, we explored something different. =) Makes the trip worthwhile! =D

But there's the louvre joke...which is so amusing i can't help but laugh each time i think about it. I shall save it for another time, except to say I didn't get a chance to go in...hahaha...still, i'm not sad about it such things happen when you travel lah, and really the rest of paris will never leave you feeling short changed. =)

Hopefully you'll get more when - if ever - the pics come up...ahhaha..

Considering I was literally with Angela for two weeks, I couldn't not ask for a better travel companion...*hiak hiak*...coolest lahz...first time i really travelled with one more person other than my mum anyway (and resort trips don't count!) =)

My boss kinda spoiled the last day for me abit. We had an afternoon flight, so morning was free and easy, which was nice just strolling the streets and taking time for brunch...until he sent me two smses back to back to remind me what was waitng for me when i got home...eeeks...haiz...took me a good 20mins to shove it out of my brain but i was successful..hah!

We reached home on Thursday afternoon (20th nov) and angela's parents were really nice to give me a ride home. Her granny even gave me a welcome home hug...haha..so sweet.

Anyways, Friday was back to work...yikes! no choice lah..there are mountains and events to face. First, I knew safety pin (my bday turtle) was sick when i reached frankfurt, and when i came to the office, I knew he was dead (baterial infection of sorts...vet couldn't do much)...sigh...he was a good turtle and loved by us. Anyway, Angela went with me to bury him near our office...put a small rock to remember where he is..=)

I did an insane thing and went for Asia Conference on friday...because i was so tired, jet lag included i think...after all the queueing, and performances, the moment pastor started preaching i went to zzzzzzzzzzzz...my cgl was nice not to pinch me awake! haha...serious lah..its major cannot fight...it's the kind you close your eyes one milli second and you're out!

Weekend was a bit nutty for me, i was sleepign on and off + doing work, but could still keep to regular time. Only to say on sunday i was panicking! Coz i had to deliver part of Aero101 early the next day and all i had were the slides...there's no fixed 'to say' for each slide.

Good to say i know myself well, though i only started my research at 8pm, i decided to sleep from 11pm to 2am and 'pia' all the way for the rest (the class is at 9.30am). i rather do that, coz i know if i try to sleep early, no point one - coz it will be a bad sleep.

Aero101 worked out fine. =) Although for the second segment I really wasn't well. Angela said it was stress coz she feels the same way...it was like a heart burn in the upper stomach! I never felt this way before and didnt recognise it...it made me real weak and i was struggling to even stand up.

Can't be that this is more stressful than my FYP presentation right?! even my FYP presentation was just regular butterflies...this one was a huge fiery one lor!

Thank god i got better after lunch. It was quite scary...at one point, my hands were even cold, weak and tingling!

OK, that's enuff on the updates...got more lah...but i have to end here. I'm only awake coz i napped earlier...but gotta be out early to go Am Cham for a meeting at a crazy time of 7.30am...means gotta wake at 6.30am! ARGH!

Sitting on the throne...

.... in our Paris hotel...

... it oddly struck me that I own a car...the wonder of it felt so strange...

then I wondered if I'll remember how to drive when I get back...

=S

funny and ridiculous as it sounds...these were sincere thoughts!

Being here...

The exhibition has not been too good...in fact...'good' can't even be used in this situation! Very little traffic, and all exhibitors were so bored, we ended up talking to each other, swapping gifts or just trying hard to entertain each other.

Same for my pavilion guys...to keep ourselves entertained, we eat, talk and grab anyone that happens to walk by and promote the entire pavilion -- as it should be since we're there to help out each other.

The group dynamics here is interesting. The usual clustering takes place, and of course, the rowdy and quiet bunches. The on-time ones and the 'i'm here to follow' types...For a group of 10 that's pretty amazing...hahaha...

I found myself hitting an all time low today. Lately i find myself disliking my reactions to certain things... and hating myself while i'm doing it...but really, it's so hard to control. The introspective side of my comes up and tries to analyse it. But it really could all be boiled down to tiredness and the fact that i came with the wrong impression of my group.

ie. they are not thinking adults...they are all kids and really..we're the tour leader. It seems that everything prepared beforehand is of no use here as no one seems to refer to the program guide i'd sent to them earlier. So lesson for the day is really..i need all things at my fingertips...AND -- treat them like kids...

Sigh...

On the first day , one of the companies asked me if i could sign one of their staff up for the site visit coz it needed security clearance. So i said I'd try...I did and it was approved...today i found out that they aren't going anymore. =( and have plans to do a day trip out...Sigh...oh well...you just gotta live and let live...and be totally unfazed...I so hope i can practice this..LOL

Hmm...the way i behave, is seriously not the natural me...=S gotta stabilise this soon...and only God can help me here. I even snap at my boss k...

Snapped at ge for the first time today...but thank god we made up quite fast...am just plain thankful for her and my boss here...

Am super tired now...its like 2am here...and my eyes are closing..lol..and i'm chatting with my intern on msn coz its 9am in SG!!!

Into Your hands I commit again God..be with us...watchover our rest and be with us in the day...

A note from Frankfurt...

After a 20 hour travel time that includes the transit, I've been in Frankfurt since 2pm on Friday (Frankfurt Time)...

Been a pretty relaxing few days i have to say. There is seriously nothing to do here...LOL...but it was kinda as expected lah based on my mini reasearch of this area.

Anyway, having found out that i can have internet access from the room, i was quite tempted to do live blogs and load up pics. But I guess i've just been making myself stay far away from the laptop as possible, and trying to just enjoy my weekend before the work week starts.

Things are good...lotsa walking and sharing.. and remembering God's goodness in my life. =) lotsa figuring out of the local transport system toos...but i'm proud to say, Angela and moi and not completely lost in translation...more like NO translation..hahaha...just figuring out how to get around is quite fun, coz over here, you can always turn back lah...just waste more time lor..=)

It's 6 plus AM monday singapore time, but 11pm plus sunday FKT time...yep, it's 7 hours behind Singapore.

I gotta be up at 5am FKT time later, to go get the Singapore group at the airport. So came online to try to double confirm the mobile number of the bus driver that i need to contact tomorrow morning....guess what..i can't find the mail...did i ever get it?..dunno man...

But i've decided to myself to just leaving it by faith lah..and not to be afraid. He's really been with us on this trip and I know he still is!

Gotta sleep soon, Angela is already. but that's coz i took a nap earlier lah...oh..and we went to watch the new James Bond movie here neh...notch bad hah...lol...

Boss joined us in FKT today..got a good dinner...but i guess i allowed him to stress me...just not used to it for a while already i guess...kinda spoiled my trip down to the movies... But did pick myself up after that... -- I think...hahaha...

See..i'm laughing at my last para...i'm kidding myself man...

Ok...gotta go pray...been doing so before i zonk lately...but tonite i know i just need more than just the regular prayer to get me by...

Faith and grace...and tons of courage and belief...

nite nites...

It's been over a year...

since I last flew in a plane...and that one was a short one to Krabi...which by the way, if you didn't know, there are no longer cheap flights on TigerAir to Krabi anymore.

Tried doing some plan packing today...but not successful ...too early lah...I think I function better (in terms of packing) closer to the day before...ie. no time to think so much and get paranoid and just pack and go by faith!

Tomorrow must go change to more Euros...no harm having a bit more..the most just keep lor...=)

Today was our caas dialogue event. The usual stresses of an event. But thank god it's over and thanks to ge and boss who pulled off the last minute stunts, and the grance of God that everything worked out. =)

Okie..time to go zzz...oh...on F1, Alonso came in 2nd from 6th in brazil... that rounds off F1 for this season...=) fantastic lahz...too bad about the ferraris tho...and poor massa cried..that's real passion i tell you...real passion. But i think he'll mature for next year.he seems to lose it abit after a few screw ups and jeopardises his position further when he races.

Let's see if i have time to keep you posted on my preps for europe...I just realsied tonite I have about 2-3 days in Frankfurt before the show...which will leave us pretty free...need to go see if there's anything we can do there..other than gawking at the red light district...*kidding*

Saturday...

I amazed myself by being on my feet for over 6 hours today - no breaks! Surprisingly, my feet didn't complain as much as I thought it would!...am proud of them ..=) *gives feet a good pat*

It was a semi fruitful trip...but overall, I'm not complaining, at least i got out of the house and burned some calories..hahaha...

A cab almost...and I mean ALMOST got into an accident with me Blooie on my way home. As I stopped at the traffic light immediately after the incident..and that culprit of a cab ran the red light...I was stunned at my reaction and replayed the incident and of course thanked god for his protection -- AND...that god made me notice something not right and react!

You see, I'm on the middle lane of the road (just outside plaza sing) and there are no cars in my lane for a long long way. On the left lane ahead of me, say about 3 car lengths down is a blue cab behind a white car. Coming up is a green light and I'm just cruising along.

I'm holding my car music player remote in my left hand...and the wheel with my right hand...enjoying the cruising speed. Now, all drivers will tell you seriously that you cannot jsut be tranfixed with your own lane...so yes...i noticed the cab and white car on the left...

But i sensed something was amiss when i caught up with them (note - green light...why they so slow...) ...just when I was SIDE BY SIDE with the cab, and he suddenly SWERVED right! -- straight towards my car! Inches away from hitting my left wheel area!

I tell you it was an angel ( and I think reflexes honed by computer games..LOL)...coz how i reacted was based on the fact i noticed the cab's front light beams CHANGED ANGLE from it's reflection behind the white car...and that made me look at the cab directly at it's intent!

and the crazy split second of realising the intent, that made my right hand pull the steering wheel right, check my right mirror and horn the insane taxi uncle...and catch a look at the cab driver who wasn't even looking in front or on his right...but was looking LEFT...at the white car he was passing and muttering something...BEST...

Thank god there was no one on the right lane...sigh... tell u lah...angel at work..=)

The cab ran the amber to red light and so...I couldn't catch up with him to give him a piece of my mind...hahaha...this cab has a passenger somemore and he drive so dangerously!

must be the white car slowed at the light and not sure whether to go striaght or turn and the impatient cab driver decides to do what alot of cars do...but it's really dangerous if you do not check carefully...i.e. not slow down/ signal....and just change lane to 'over take' for the short distance...

I've seen many near misses ...and of course the traumatised affected driver who E-brakes!

I tell you if I didnt' react...he would've really hit my left front door lor...=S *waves fist*

Oh well...part and parcel of driving in Singapore..hahaha...and i remember my aussie fren saying that she'd die if she had to drive here...LOL...

Ok..time to go to bed...gg to be a long and early sunday...it's pledging weekend..plus gotta go back office after that..=( raaarr...praying for miracles that i can finish everythg man...

*holds head*...man...now i'm thinking abt monday's event...NOoooo....OK ..bo chapping..*passing mad thoughts to god*...

byes!