tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184578982012-02-17T01:45:11.478+09:00Sugarnoreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-91928080798371887052008-12-22T23:44:00.008+09:002008-12-22T23:59:09.358+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115397303/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/3115397303_1a98767148.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115397303/">Recyle!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nokia going green. Recycle!</span><br /></p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116225432/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3116225432_9b5c9f95dd.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116225432/">The fluorescent toilets</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">The fluorescent toilets.</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116223794/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/3116223794_c32a16860a.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116223794/">The green carpet</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">The green carpet leading to morning keynote sessions.</span><br /></p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115407839/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/3115407839_e2a6898c9e.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115407839/">Rest and relax</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Rest and relax area.<br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana;">All photos of Nokiaworld 2008 can be found <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/simplysu/sets/72157611330203650/">here</a> at <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/simplysu/">Simplysu's photostream in flickr</a>.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-9192808079837188705?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-61765333986878003682008-12-22T23:34:00.005+09:002008-12-23T00:06:01.931+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116235718/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/3116235718_75704af985.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116235718/">The experience lounge</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">The experience lounge of Nokiaworld 2008.</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115410131/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3115410131_2a2127f303.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115410131/">Join the fun at nokiaworld</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Getting hands-on experience on the latest developments.<br /></p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116237878/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3116237878_baf3919df9.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116237878/">Three at once</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">All eyes on the N97.<br /></p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115411581/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3115411581_e5af02a82c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115411581/">Yellow</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Colourful quiz booths at the lounge.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-6176533398687800368?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-58389926054756030402008-12-22T23:27:00.002+09:002008-12-22T23:32:50.833+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115403327/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/3115403327_cba4d0ee48.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115403327/">Press Q&amp;A</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">The ocean of journalists.</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115404141/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/3115404141_0b0c1904c9.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115404141/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">With Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo (President and CEO, Nokia) and Anssi Vanjoki<br />(Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia)</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115406189/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/3115406189_0ab15ec6a1.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115406189/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Journalist at work.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-5838992605475603040?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-87668617116149026962008-12-19T16:35:00.009+09:002008-12-19T17:34:53.645+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115399619/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3115399619_d4c3e86b17.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115399619/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Ocean of journalists well-equipped with their laptops</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115400853/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/3115400853_740b93c5be.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115400853/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO of Nokia</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116227974/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3116227974_20ae64dc92.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3116227974/">Open to new possibilities</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Open to new possibilities</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115401943/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/3115401943_61667545f2.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115401943/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Demonstration of Mail on Ovi</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115402473/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3115402473_dfea95b03e.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3115402473/"></a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Ray Hammond, Europe's Leading Futurologist</p><p style="font-family: verdana;">(You can find some videos of the keynotes at Nokiaworld 2008 <a href="http://events.nokia.com/nokiaworld/home.htm">here</a>.)<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-8766861711614902696?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-21596992047640810052008-12-17T13:33:00.009+09:002008-12-19T17:04:37.649+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3113803180/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3113803180_220e04ff23.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3113803180/">food@nokiaworld</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">I don't know what these things are called but they didn't just look pretty, they were yummy too!</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3112971719/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3112971719_499937430c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3112971719/">food@nokiaworld</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Red wine served in the middle of the day? No way. It was just juice.<br /></p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3113801494/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3113801494_6446be5515.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3113801494/">food@nokiaworld</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Snowy creampuffs. There was no snow in Barcelona but it sure was cold.</p><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3112969723/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3112969723_2906059598.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3112969723/">food@nokiaworld</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Potato salad! Carbo that kept me warm.</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-2159699204764081005?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-53940135218613255982008-12-10T00:42:00.007+09:002008-12-10T01:06:11.959+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3092322665/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/3092322665_2df4c33ac1.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3092322665/">At 8 in Barcelona</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3092322533/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/3092322533_281f0244f7.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3092322533/">In red</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span><p></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3093162518/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3093162518_4e4b41f37c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3093162518/">The hotel</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.<br /></span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Photos of Hotel Arts Barcelona.<br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana;">Hotel Arts Barcelona - the hotel we were stationed at while attending Nokiaworld 2008. A really comfortable place to wind down after the event.<br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana;">On a personal note, I just couldn't resist loving the flower decorations at the hotel. They were just oh, so gorgeous!<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-5394013521861325598?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-29419121616353666392008-12-09T02:26:00.005+09:002008-12-10T01:06:11.959+09:00<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3093162414/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/3093162414_9859c4b45c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysu/3093162414/">Airport</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/simplysu/">simplysu</a>.</span></div><p style="font-family: verdana;">Barcelona's airport.<br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana;">Was there for a Nokia annual event - Nokiaworld 2008. Expect more photos to come! :)</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-2941912161635366639?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-70158764913127996162008-11-25T19:32:00.009+09:002008-12-09T02:31:29.757+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">"If you want to know your past, look into your present conditions.<br />If you want to know your future, look into your present actions."<br /><br />I've made mistakes in the past. Not just one, not just two, but many. As much as I would like to go back in time to erase them, I make sure I learn from them. Making sure I won't do the same mistakes anymore. It's always better late than never.<br /><br />As quoted above, my present is a result of my past, but it's my actions today that determine my future.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-7015876491312799616?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-60510035251917911122008-11-24T03:06:00.004+09:002008-11-24T03:11:45.439+09:00<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Always be genuine. Always be sincere.<br />Always do things with love and care in your heart.<br />People </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">feel it if you do, and people feel it if you don't.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />It always make a difference.<br /><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-6051003525191791112?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-37685240871735970702008-09-08T00:13:00.005+09:002008-09-08T00:26:08.573+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;">The first day I stepped foot into Osaka, I fell in love with the Osakan skies. And then fell even deeper during the first summer when there were blue skies with different kinds of clouds everyday!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I tried to recall how the skies looked like when I was in Malaysia but just couldn't remember anything. Then only I realised that I never really spent time watching the skies when I was back in Malaysia. Unlike when I'm in Osaka, I often look out into the skies in between studies, or when I'm riding the bus, or waiting for the bus to come, or on the bicycle. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been back in Malaysia for a week now. And today was the first time in my whole life, I sat down to watch the Malaysian skies. And it was beautiful. It was more beautiful than I expected. I couldn't help wondering whether there was someone out there who thought the same as I did, that the Malaysian skies were just beautiful today.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-3768524087173597070?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-4266871180349918842008-05-27T15:24:00.000+09:002008-05-27T15:25:46.076+09:00<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z8Wl3firJQk&hl=ja"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z8Wl3firJQk&hl=ja" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-426687118034991884?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-36053768619246075942008-01-30T11:23:00.001+09:002008-01-30T12:16:55.509+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R5_hyw76KdI/AAAAAAAAACU/y75MmZNsUoE/s1600-h/DSC_3653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R5_hyw76KdI/AAAAAAAAACU/y75MmZNsUoE/s320/DSC_3653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161091960235764178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brushing some egg and sesame seed on my leftover sweet potato paste and then of course baking it, I made myself another batch of sweets for my poor tummy that has never once been full ever since winter came. They usually make this with normal yellow/orange sweet potatoes, but I thought these purple ones look much nicer! Purplish as it may seem, not even one drop of colouring in it! :)<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-3605376861924607594?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-77037360908142053742008-01-28T20:19:00.000+09:002008-01-28T21:29:58.119+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527cg76KaI/AAAAAAAAAB8/5poirD1c1s4/s1600-h/DSC_3617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527cg76KaI/AAAAAAAAAB8/5poirD1c1s4/s320/DSC_3617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160486846588397986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527dQ76KcI/AAAAAAAAACM/sVlB_uKlT2w/s1600-h/DSC_3641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527dQ76KcI/AAAAAAAAACM/sVlB_uKlT2w/s320/DSC_3641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160486859473299906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527cw76KbI/AAAAAAAAACE/1zZxOGzYnZE/s1600-h/DSC_3618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R527cw76KbI/AAAAAAAAACE/1zZxOGzYnZE/s320/DSC_3618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160486850883365298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today's menu would be everything associated with frozen pie sheets. Presenting to you, パルミエ Palmier and 紫芋パイ sweet potato pie!<br /><br />If you know what 源氏パイ <span style="font-style: italic;">genji-pie </span>is, then you would know what Palmier is. It's just a very simple crispy delicacy where you just brush egg and sprinkle sugar on pie sheets and then tuck it into the oven. and voila, some snacks for supper! :)<br /><br />Sweet potato pie was another easy and fun baking experiment. Mixing mashed sweet potatoes with some honey, butter, sugar, milk(or cream) and rum. And then folding it in between the pie sheets. No need for recipes since u will not be able to resist testing the potato paste along the way.<br /><br />And for those who have never used frozen pie sheets before, you don't have to worry whether or not it will rise enough to be fluffy or not, coz it does. Well, at least it did for me. hehe. My next hurdle shall be kneading the dough myself. Wish me luck! :)<br /><br />Last, but not least, how could I forget dear ponpon's birthday. hehe.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY YURIKA!!!! </span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-7703736090814205374?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-780403171449383192008-01-27T21:40:00.000+09:002008-01-27T21:59:57.774+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R5x8sw76KYI/AAAAAAAAABs/J81szZK8qWY/s1600-h/DSC_3543.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R5x8sw76KYI/AAAAAAAAABs/J81szZK8qWY/s320/DSC_3543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160136381552011650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bitten by the baking bug lately, I've been going through recipes after recipes for the past few days. And couldn't resist baking ( in this case steaming would be more presice I guess hehe) something after finally buying my baking powder today. And thus resulting in these.<br /><br />黒砂糖風味の蒸しパン,<span style="font-style: italic;"> kuro sato fumi no</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">mushi-pan</span>, literally meaning black sugar steamed bread in Japanese, is actually something like our <span style="font-style: italic;">malaikou</span> in Malaysia. Thanks to the 4 tsp of baking powder, they popped up just perfect for the camera. Of course, for the tummy too. *big grin*</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-78040317144938319?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-37095031864530686182007-12-07T00:48:00.001+09:002007-12-07T01:28:28.510+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R1gaoxi_HpI/AAAAAAAAABU/eWCJYaqyI0I/s1600-h/DSC_1111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/R1gaoxi_HpI/AAAAAAAAABU/eWCJYaqyI0I/s320/DSC_1111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140888262440590994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Autumn's here again, just like every other year. This year running a little late maybe, but still, it came.<br /><br />For some people, it might be time for Nabe! and some maybe time to take out the heater! or maybe some, to take out the boots!!! But for me, it always make me miss my loved ones even more.<br /><br />My family, my friends. All those who I hope could be here taking a walk in the park together with me, stepping through fallen leaves and having fun making crunchy sounds out of them, or maybe just sitting under a tree, reading a book or maybe playing cards. All in all, enjoying my favourite season together.<br /><br />I wish someone could be here with me next autumn.<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-3709503186453068618?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-91411125480955358382007-07-22T13:09:00.000+09:002007-07-22T15:03:52.386+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Girlfriends are like gems in life. Gems that brighten up your day when you are feeling oh, so blue. Gems that shine and accompany you when the journey suddenly becomes dark.<br /><br />I never really knew how precious they were when I was back in high school. Of course, no doubt I always felt grateful to have such wonderful people in my life , knowing that they are always there for me, and me for them. Breakfasts on weekends, going shopping, gossips throughout the night, giving the people we secretly admired nicknames.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Back then, we were only a ring away. Now, we are a million miles away.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">All scattered around the world. One in US, one in UK, one in Malaysia, one here in Japan. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Though now, with MSN, we are just a click away. But, <span>it's different</span>. So packed up with exams (though I guess I am the only one now still schooling) and work and all other ridiculous things in life, it is so hard to catch up with each other! How I hope things stayed the way it was. Then maybe now, right this moment, we should be hanging out in bee's spa, spending quality girlfriends' time.<br /><br />Hmmm. But this is life. If not for the distance in between, I may not have come to realise how important you girls are in my life. Thank you for being in my life.<br /><br />Love you girls always. *hugssssss*<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-9141112548095535838?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-86883775867367829382007-07-15T00:32:00.000+09:002007-07-22T14:48:36.532+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/Rpjs-VZ1kgI/AAAAAAAAABM/xPN6-OyWYd0/s1600-h/DSC_3281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/Rpjs-VZ1kgI/AAAAAAAAABM/xPN6-OyWYd0/s320/DSC_3281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087076334756532738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">blusher on top of briefcase<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;">I always found Japanese girls putting on makeup on the bus or the train something unbelievable. Something that I thought I will never be able to understand. Until today. When I did the same thing myself, while rushing for an interview.<br /><br />And then I thought. Maybe it's not <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> strange afterall.<br /><br />And then I thought again. Uh Oh. Am I being Japan-ised?!<br /><br />And then I thought againnnnn. If I really am.... is it something bad?<br /><br />Hmmmmm.. Are you Japan-ised?<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-8688377586736782938?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-91143177013638661672007-07-11T21:51:00.000+09:002007-07-22T14:48:43.083+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RpTTDztHmFI/AAAAAAAAAAo/-ANjahKLpH8/s1600-h/IMG_1574.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RpTTDztHmFI/AAAAAAAAAAo/-ANjahKLpH8/s320/IMG_1574.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085921941580650578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RpTTETtHmGI/AAAAAAAAAAw/NExHfoI4WnI/s1600-h/IMG_1578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RpTTETtHmGI/AAAAAAAAAAw/NExHfoI4WnI/s320/IMG_1578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085921950170585186" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >wine &amp; cheese!!<br /><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-9114317701363866167?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-13414500014895355692007-06-16T01:39:00.000+09:002007-06-16T01:50:39.541+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Found <a href="http://dotkoyi.blogspot.com/2007/06/i-think-angel-sings-like-this.html">this</a> from a friend's blog.<br /><br />Listen, and feel.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Touched.</span><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-1341450001489535569?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-43393668775132718672007-05-25T10:18:00.000+09:002007-05-25T10:28:11.883+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"♪...Slow down everyone you're moving too fast...♪"<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Was listening to Jack Johnson's Inaudible Memories (I only play Jack's songs in the morning), when I heard this phrase. And it reminded me of an <a href="http://jayteoh.multiply.com/journal/item/243">article my brother posted</a> on his blog a few months ago. Supposed to be something from my other brother's girlfriend. The moment I read it I wanted to share it here, but I just never found the time.<br /><br />Maybe it's time I slow down a bit too.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-4339366877513271867?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-59581935589159481362007-04-15T12:37:00.000+09:002007-04-15T12:49:25.271+09:00<strong></strong><strong><blockquote>"Sometimes you win, but you really lose. Sometimes you lose, but you really win."<br /><br /></blockquote></strong><strong></strong> <p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Quoted from the movie 'White men can't jump'. If you haven't seen the movie before, check it out! One of the few movies that I watched when I was little and still remembers it. :)<br /></span></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></strong>Below, quoted from a <a href="http://jazzi.multiply.com/journal">primary schoolmate's blog</a>. Found it worth sharing.<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p>1. You backstab a friend to gain advantage ground for yourself. You win, but you reallly lose. You lose trust.</p> <p>2. You retaliate to your enemies by constantly trying to hurt/embarass/harm them. You win, but you really lose. You lose respect.</p> <p>3. You break a promise because you did think the person you promised to was worth your effort. You win spare time to yourself, but you really lose. You lose credibility.</p> <p>4. You bribe a person of authority to get a favour. You win the favour, but you really lose. You lose honour.</p> <p>5. You ignore your friends because you feel you need time to yourself. You win alone-time, but you really lose. You lose your friend's confidence in you.</p> <p> </p> <p>The list goes on and on......</p> <p>Try it. Before you make every decision, ask yourself.</p> <p><strong>"Do I really win?"</strong></p> </blockquote><p><strong></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-5958193558915948136?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-81495343479968165982007-04-13T00:21:00.000+09:002007-04-13T00:45:14.255+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jayteoh.multiply.com/journal/item/261"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Laughter is the shortest distance between 2 people</span></span></span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-8149534347996816598?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-52063255650713449222007-03-27T17:13:00.000+09:002007-03-27T17:33:34.474+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cygnus-books.co.uk/Images_books/zahir.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.cygnus-books.co.uk/Images_books/zahir.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Since I am already signed in, just thought I should share this.<br /><br />For those who are up for some reading, try this one out. <a href="http://www.santjordi-asociados.com/books.htm#zahir">The Zahir, by Paulo Coelho</a>.<br /><br />I find it a very good book. Giving a whole new perception of the idea about love. Not just man-woman love. But love as a whole. Teaching us the importance of really following the heart.<br /><br />If you have the time, by all means, read this.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-5206325565071344922?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-62514958429402296312007-03-27T16:49:00.000+09:002007-03-27T17:12:55.750+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;">I am glad I finally am sick. Giving me the more reasons to sit down and type. It has been way way way too long since I had the time to do this.<br /><br />Sorry to those who used to follow my blog. Sorry for the long break. I was lost and still am. I do not know what to write here.<br /><br />Photoblog? Foodblog? Travelblog? I really have no idea. Maybe, I should just stop writing. But I find it too difficult to just give up this blog, just like this.<br /><br />So, for the moment now, I am just going to write about whatever I like and whenever I feel like it. Please bear with me.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-6251495842940229631?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-61947241744361420082007-01-16T16:07:00.000+09:002007-01-16T16:20:08.255+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/Rax6HzMuwjI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ST1aHmSG5cw/s1600-h/IMG_1438.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/Rax6HzMuwjI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ST1aHmSG5cw/s320/IMG_1438.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020521959032537650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pan fried butter-soy sauce scallops</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> +<br />sweet chilli mayo sauce!<br />ll<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">yummy!</span></span><br /><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-6194724174436142008?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-23553044891795899372006-12-27T15:24:00.000+09:002006-12-28T00:00:48.911+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">My long overdue post no. 2 was supposed to be about something I cooked weeks ago, something that I no longer remember now and something that definitely has nothing to do with what I am going to say starting from now.<br /><br />It took me long enough to finally realise that it's not because of how little time I have nowadays that is keeping me away from blogging, but the fact that blogging isn't really at the top of my priority list. I am sure if I loved blogging enough, I wouldn't be chatting away on msn nor would I be spending hours after hours watching SATC on my 17in monitor, and not spending even a minute to sit down and type. But, it proved too, that I really haven't had any time to just sit down, rest and think for the past few weeks.<br /><br />There were definitely the 'oh, that's too bad..'s when I told people my ski/snowboard trip was cancelled and there's pretty much no more plans left in my 2 weeks winter holiday. But honestly, I was kinda relieved in a way. And it brings me to wonder, maybe it is time to slow down, take a breath, and look around? Afterall, it's the holiday season! Time for family and friends. <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Time for love!<br /><br /></span> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-2355304489179589937?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-12432704713064403362006-12-06T00:51:00.000+09:002006-12-27T15:42:31.788+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RXWVwuv0lbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/YIINQQ0xkQI/s1600-h/IMG_0163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eJvAutyeyGg/RXWVwuv0lbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/YIINQQ0xkQI/s320/IMG_0163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005071225307043250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I rarely cook fish. This was one of the exceptions since the fish was fresh and cheap and definitely yummy to steam. So I microwave-steamed it! If you've never microwave-steamed fish before, you really should try it out!<br /><br />Just use plastic wrap to wrap up the plate and slide it into the microwave. Timing differs according to the sizes of the fish. So I just used the reheating button, and it came out fine :)<br /><br />For the sauce, mix hot water with soy sauce, a little bit of sugar, some 料理酒, sliced onions and some dried cut up chilis! Oh, and not forgetting to squeeze in some lemon!! And tada!! A less than 10 minutes dish! Great for those busy days when you don't even have time to blog! :p<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-1243270471306440336?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-7013421115285434262006-11-27T23:31:00.000+09:002006-11-27T23:52:18.900+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/512209/IMG_0371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/1322/2253/320/397170/IMG_0371.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Still a month to go before Christmas, but I could hear the jingles already. In the housing area I stay in, it's pretty much like what you see in the movie The Grinch.<br /><br />Christmas illuminations is a BIG THING here. I have no idea whether it's just purely those I-don't-wanna-lose-to-you kinda neighbourhood thing or whether they are very much in the festive mood. But whatever it is, I cannot deny the fact that it surely does give the whole neighbourhood a romantic, christmas-ty feel, warming up everyone's heart in the bitterly cold season.<br /><br />Glad to be here. :)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-701342111528543426?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-79663820806591896912006-11-21T21:49:00.000+09:002006-11-21T22:25:38.176+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/694080/IMG_0365.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/1322/2253/320/757269/IMG_0365.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">It's been (what?!) almost a month now since my last entry. Yups, I have been </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >that</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> busy. Just like any other university student, it's all about rushing for deadlines, deadlines, and deadlines after deadlines. DEADLINES!!! *faint*</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">*declaration: I am not complaining here. Just the usual ramblings of a greedy piggy who wants to be successful, yet wanting things to be easy. So, yes, you can ignore me.<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, it's just another one of those not-so-up days in life. And thus, I decided to skip class, come home, and give myself some treats. Flan, custard, pudding...whatever. Who really cares for the name as long as it soothes the tired soul? Baking really does take your mind off a lot of things. *big satisfied smile*<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">*ps: mr. ed, remember we used to bake this together when we were kids? the good old days.. :)</span><br /><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-7966382080659189691?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-35661396042368573972006-10-27T14:31:00.000+09:002006-10-27T14:53:36.157+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's one of those <a href="http://www.oonyeoh.squarespace.com/e-journal/2006/10/23/rich-dad-poor-dad.html">good ones</a> at <a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/">Oon Yeoh's</a> again. Rich dad, poor dad. Familiar as it may sound, but it's not the book. Go check it out! The joke was a good one. :)<br /><br />Being a frequent reader of Oon Yeoh's (and not a very podcast person), it's quite sad to hear that he has decided to <a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/e-journal/2006/10/18/the-long-goodbye.html">leave the blogosphere</a> to concentrate on <a href="http://www.klstream.com/">KLStream</a>. But well, at least it had been quite some fun reading the previous ones. Thanks for the well written articles!! :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*just a short entry before I leave for Tokyo. Hope it's gonna be a nice weekend for everyone! TGIF!!</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-3566139604236857397?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-11091334871351351382006-10-25T22:20:00.000+09:002006-10-25T23:12:19.345+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/IMG_8326.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/IMG_8326.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I wanted to upload this windmill picture ever since I started blogging about Netherlands. But it just didn not fit into the Amsterdam nor the Rotterdam category. So here it is. Windmills of Netherlands. :P<br /><br />Netherlands used to give me images of clogs and windmills. Of course it still does now, but the smell of marijuana in the air, fluorescent bikini girls in neon lighted compartments and the modern architecture is definitely here to stay too.<br /><br />I find Netherlands a land filled of surprises. The three places that I went to, they were all just so different. One was quiet, one was funny, one was so full of life. It felt as if it was a country built up of independent little unique countries. And that gave us the more reasons to explore. I shall not elaborate more here and spoil the fun of those who plan to visit Netherlands in near future.<br /><br />One hint (advice?) though, go 'window shopping' not only at night but during daytime too!! It's quite different, not only in terms of the crowd but in terms of quality too! ;)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-1109133487135135138?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-67282926513417674872006-10-23T22:06:00.000+09:002006-10-23T22:08:00.214+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">In Amsterdam, you find...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1556.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1556.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">kroket</span>@croquette@コロッケ<br />*which I thought was originally Japanese! (o_o)*<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1742.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1742.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">tulips!<br />*in every colour you want!*<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1588.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1588.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">sex museum<br />*not much is needed to be said here*<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1622.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1622.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">clogs!<br />*I wonder whether anyone really wears them. hmm.*<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/IMG_8276.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/IMG_8276.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">waterways<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/IMG_8253.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/IMG_8253.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">and waterways<br />*you can get lost if you try to use them as landmarks*<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/IMG_8297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/IMG_8297.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">and of course, window shopping!!<br />*of course here I mean shopping for ladies wearing fluorescent bikinis in neon lighted compartments*<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-6728292651341767487?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-21450692372833680972006-10-17T22:16:00.000+09:002006-10-18T00:57:27.429+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1465.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1465.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Streetlights</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1427.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pencil and Cubes</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/1600/DSCF1434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1322/2253/320/DSCF1434.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Funny windows<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >The pictures says it all.<br /><br />Rotterdam is a place of modern architecture. I didn't really understand why, but I understand now. Fancy staying in a slanting cube? Go to Rotterdam! :)</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >*Special thanks to <a href="http://lowbihong.blogspot.com/">my friend</a> whom I stole all these photos from. I couldn't gather any energy at all to take photos in Rotterdam due to food poisoning. *sob*<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-2145069237283368097?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1160224906968418132006-10-07T16:35:00.000+09:002006-10-08T17:59:01.456+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8164.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Look into the map, and you shall see Luxembourg tucked between France, Belgium and Germany. A small, yet beautiful country.<br /><br />It particularly caught my attention when I came to know about the fact that the whole city was listed as a world heritage site. A certain building, or a certain spot, yes. But, the whole city?!<br /><br />So, yes. Been there. Seen it. It certainly earned it to be added into the UNESCO list. The scenery of the valley from the fortress was near to perfect. And the casemates, interesting! Sometimes a little scary though. Given the fact that we were the only few visitors then, it can be a little scary venturing into the dark, unknown path.<br /><br />Too bad we couldn't make it to the countryside which I heard is really beautiful if you like nature. But well, that gives me another reason to visit Luxembourg again, doesn't it? *wink*<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-116022490696841813?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1159865364462703682006-10-03T16:12:00.000+09:002006-10-05T18:11:22.676+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7988.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7988.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Streets of Gent<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7990.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7990.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Graslei, Gent<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8022.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brugge, Venice of the North<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8080.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of Brugge's waterways<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8099.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oostende at night<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yup, I'm finally back posting again about the way overdued europe trip. (^^;) Anyway anyway...<br /><br />Instead of spending another day looking at touristy stuffs in Brussels, we decided it would be better off taking a one day trip to small towns around Brussels, going from Gent to Brugge and then to Oostende. And it was definitely worth the trip. Sceneries by the railways were superb. A much more peaceful and calm Europe that you do not see elsewhere.<br /><br />As for Gent, Brugge and Oostende, they were great! One thing for sure, there were less tourists!! Streets were not packed, and things were definitely not as commercialised as in the big cities. And it was good to be able to just wander around, looking at the daily lives of the locals, and buy BIG, CHEAP strawberries! *big grin*<br /><br />The people were VERY VERY VERY helpful and friendly. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I just left Paris where I met the rude lady who practically looks down at everyone at the bus counter. But where else can you find people who offers you help even when you never ask for it?<br /><br />Anyway, in short, the small towns were nice. <span style="font-style: italic;">The people, nicer.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115986536446270368?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1159706693889501112006-10-01T17:01:00.000+09:002006-10-05T20:32:15.013+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, I'm finally back!!! back in my own 'room-sweet-room', with my 30Mbps connection, happily stalking blogs that I've abandoned for 2 months now. And, I found <a href="http://www.oonyeoh.squarespace.com/e-journal/2006/9/8/anwars-thoughts-perhaps.html">this</a>! Pretty funny piece if you follow the Malaysian politics. I like following <a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/">Oon Yeoh</a><a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/">'s blog</a>. Interesting, yet informative. Just drop by when you have the time, and you will know what I mean. :)<br /><br />signing off now,<br />dreading that uni's starting tomorrow Sue<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115970669388950111?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1155562876013817112006-08-14T22:31:00.000+09:002006-09-14T21:58:45.806+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">As you can see from the title, I AM FRUSTRATED.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of my aims during my trip back in Malaysia this summer, was to finish blogging on Europe and Phuket before I continue on to Australia, which I don't see is possible at all with the stupid internet connection at home. I do not know whether it is just the internet connection in my house, or is it so for the whole Malaysia, but I definitely know Telekom's monopoly has something to do with it. And obviously, I AM UPSET with it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Come on, 2 months photoless blogging = B.O.R.I.N.G. *sigh*</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So people, please please please bear with my boring photoless blog till October. I promise, I will be photoblogging like mad when I am back in Osaka, with my oh-so-trustworthy internet connection.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Signing off,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">sitting, waiting, wishing for a better internet connection Sue..</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115556287601381711?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1154432023168020892006-08-01T20:31:00.000+09:002006-08-01T20:33:43.183+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8973.5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8973.5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Summer's when all bugs come out and play<br /><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115443202316802089?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1154362190846817322006-08-01T00:48:00.000+09:002006-08-01T01:24:00.360+09:00<a href="http://www.oonyeoh.squarespace.com/e-journal/2006/7/31/what-do-you-see.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Check it out!</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Never knew these optical illusion things can actually test one's ability of handling stress. No idea how true it is, but an interesting link for a break off studies or work. So now people, back to work! work work work!<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115436219084681732?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1153987637416401142006-07-27T16:44:00.000+09:002006-08-04T00:03:19.213+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I cannot live without the internet!</span><br /><br />Although it's been internet-less for less than 24 hours, it has been hell for me. No, I don't have very important emails waiting to be replied nor do I have a very popular blog where readers will go crazy when I do not blog for one day. But, it just feels strange without it. Thus, the motivation to send in an entry once I have the connection back! :p<br /><br />Anyway, it's an </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">overdue entry. Most of the bloggers would have known by now about </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://www.monsterblog.com.my/">Monsterblog</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, but for those of you who do not know yet, drop by and have a look. Afterall, it's the first of its kind in Malaysia, following Singapore's </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.stomp.com.sg/index.html">Stomp</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Brought to you by <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/">NST</a>, penned by the popular bunch of Malaysian bloggers (<a href="http://www.jeffooi.com/">Jeff Ooi</a> not inside though, I wonder why?).<br /><br />There you go, my overdued entry. Now, back to my books. Finals. *arghhhh*<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://www.stomp.com.sg/index.html"></a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115398763741640114?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1153758584285501272006-07-25T01:25:00.000+09:002006-07-27T10:46:49.540+09:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8963.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8963.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I had a little green visitor today. Unlike centipedes, this handsome thing was warmly welcomed by my camera :)<br /></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115375858428550127?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1153026051715922272006-07-16T13:14:00.000+09:002006-07-16T14:01:46.996+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Read it at <a href="http://dotkoyi.blogspot.com/">dotKoyi's</a> today that 'google' is finally declared a verb. Finally made official by Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. A perfect branding tool for Google is what we may think, but the search engine company thinks <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060706-7198.html">otherwise</a>. Fearing that the name might lose its built up value, public use of the newly-declared verb has to be followed on by a little note stating that it's trademarked.<br /><br />Linking on to a few more links, I found out about another new word. <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mouse_potato">Mouse Potato</a>, anyone?<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115302605171592227?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1152981014619110832006-07-16T01:08:00.000+09:002006-07-16T01:31:34.850+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7955.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7955.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">mussels!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7959.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7959.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Belgian fruit beer<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Belgian mussels and beer. What else can you ask for after a long day of travelling? *grin*<br /><br />Almost 70% of the trip, we survived on bread, sandwiches, <span style="font-style: italic;">panini</span>s, baked potatoes, mcDs (yes we had McDs at all the citys. hehe. jz for the sake of it.). But once in a while, we still gave ourselves little treats along the 1month journey. And reaching Belgium, we could not possibly skip the famous mussels and beer, can we? :)<br /><br />The food were nice, atmosphere cozy, waiters friendly. However take note that it can be quite an headache choosing which one to dine in when everyone tells you they give you free cocktail and beer to go along with the dinner, and that they have a built in fireplace (very tempting if it's still winter!), that they have the best mussels in town.<br /><br />My advice? choose a place with the most local-like people dining in it. The locals can't be wrong ;) oh ya! and for those not very beer-ly people like me, the fruit beers are nice! Do give it a try! :)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115298101461911083?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1152632857603515322006-07-11T22:03:00.000+09:002006-07-15T01:01:54.536+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7935.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7935.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Town Hall</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7941.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7941.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The King's house, <span style="font-style: italic;">Het Broodhuis<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7922.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7922.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grand Place<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in the world' is how Brussels' Grand Place is often described as.<br /><br />I have no idea how true it is since I still have many places yet to visit in Europe but listed as a world heritage site since 1998, Grand Place is certainly worth the visit. Although not as grand as the name suggests, its ornate baroque and gothic guild houses are rather impressive. Walking through cobbled streets of Brussels, you would stumble upon this place without knowing it. And, there! in a blink of eye, you get transported back into the olden Europe.<br /><br />One of the architectural gems of Europe, Grand Place is beautiful in the day, and fascinating when lit up in the evening. Even though I was not in time for the annual Ommegang nor the bennial flower carpet, I thanked the artist whose stall set up a perfect, artistic picture for my dear camera. <span style="font-style: italic;">dank u</span>.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115263285760351532?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1152149574566995862006-07-06T10:14:00.000+09:002006-07-06T20:37:27.130+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Found this interesting <a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/e-journal/2006/7/5/continuous-partial-attention.html">article</a> at <a href="http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/">Oon Yeoh's blog</a> - </span><em><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><blockquote><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">It is the malady of modernity. We have gone from the Iron Age to the Industrial Age to the Information Age to the Age of Interruption. </span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">All we do now is interrupt each other or ourselves with instant messages, e-mail, spam or cellphone rings. Who can think or write or innovate under such conditions? One wonders whether the Age of Interruption will lead to a decline in civilization — as ideas and attention spans shrink and we all get diagnosed with some version of Attention Deficit Disorder.</span></em></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" ><blockquote>NYT columnist Thomas Friedman goes on to talk about his Amazon tour guide's (who carried no mobile phone) ability to be completely mindful and heard every chirp, whistle, howl or crackle in the rain forest. In short, he was totally disconnected from the Web, but totally in touch with the incredible web of life around him.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, how long has it been since you just laid around, staring into the stars, doing nothing? or sat by the window, listening to the raindrops? Think about it.<br /><br />Time to disconnect maybe? ;)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115214957456699586?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1152107230012163532006-07-05T22:23:00.000+09:002006-07-16T17:53:23.043+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8831.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kanpai</span>ーー<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Izakayas or in kanji, 居酒屋 are Japan's own unique bar. Found all around Japan, very popular place for after work drinking. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">No music nor dim lights, there's only rounds after rounds of <span style="font-style: italic;">Kanpai</span>s.<br /><br />In Japan, unless you are allergic to alcohol, there's really no reason that you cannot drink. Drinking starts right after university for everyone. Club orientations, class parties, welcome parties, graduation parties, year-end parties, beginning of a new year parties. Everything resolves to Izakayas.<br /><br />Not to say that I don't like Izakayas, coz I really really like them. With really yummy food and my favourite <span style="font-style: italic;">umeshu</span>s, how can I not like Izakayas? *grin* Besides, it's fun to see people get drunk and do stupid things too. haha. :p<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115210723001216353?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1151725875447140232006-07-01T12:41:00.000+09:002006-07-07T15:17:52.553+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">It's official! I'm going to Australia this summer!<br /><br />Just made my payment for the airticket yesterday. 1 more month to go, and I shall be back in Malaysia. Thinking of all the food, ooooooohhhhh.... can't wait! Patience girl, just another dreadful month of finals, and you shall be gone! *evil laugh*<br /><br />2 weeks Malaysia, 2 weeks Australia, another 1 month in Malaysia. it's gonna be one long, relaxing, homely (and hot?) holiday*happy sigh*<br /><br />Tips on not to be missed spots in Brisbane and Sydney, anyone?<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115172587544714023?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1151725288442136912006-07-01T11:34:00.000+09:002006-07-01T12:52:18.580+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8887.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8887.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I guess this must be quite a popular recipe in the western countries, normally prepared for Christmas dinner. Not quite sure how it would turn out to be, but looking at the <a href="http://cookie.allrecipes.com/az/ChocolateRumBalls.asp">simple recipe</a>, I just gave it a try. :)<br /><br />As the name suggests, it is really very rum-my. Should turn out to be a favourite for rum people (like my housemate, yurika.. hehe) , but not very much for me. Gonna try it with Baileys or Kahlua next time. Should be quite a hit for Baileys or Kahlua lovers like me. Coz trust me, 1/2 cup of liquer does bring out the taste in it. ;)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115172528844213691?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1151575116330035052006-06-29T17:41:00.000+09:002006-07-07T13:24:08.843+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">My 2nd and final post about Paris. This shows how much (little?) I liked Paris. :p</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It had always been a dream, visiting Paris. The well-knowned-to-be romantic city. Photos, movies, magazines, novels. Romantic stuff happened only in Paris. Even the air is filled with romance. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Or at least that was how I've been brainwashed since young.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Visiting it has only proved that it was all only a myth. Yes, a myth.<br /><br />No doubt, the architectures were beautiful. The art galleries had been amusing in all ways. Met Da Vincci's Monalisa too. Smaller than expected. And I guess the staffs were so sick of people asking where Monalisa was, arrows showing the way to her was ALL AROUND the Louvre. haha. The pastries were fantastic. Of course, never forgetting to promote my daily servings of toasted (grilled? waffled?) <span style="font-style: italic;">panini</span>s, too. *yummy!* hehe.<br /><br />oh. Moulin Rouge and the sex shops were fun too (if you don't compare it to Amsterdam, of course). BUT.... (There's always a but)<br /><br />It might have stayed a beautiful fairy tale for most of the tourists who were there on tour. Staying in lavish 5 star hotels, chauffeured around, dining at the high end resarurants, they would never find out the ugly facts of Paris. Never knowing how muddy the road was when walking to Chateau de Versaille. Or how dirty the neighbourhood was at Mont Matre. Or how strange-smellng the undergrounds were. Or how unfriendly and rude the ticketing lady was at the bus stations. Oh and how scary the 'hand tying' people were at Sacre Coeur, too. I assume they know more languages than anyone else in the world, changing from Japanese to Korean to Chinese when seeing aseans like us.<br /><br />And so, there goes my 'romantic' Paris. Down into the drain. BUT, of course, if you haven't been there before, by all means, GO! Just have your eye sticked to all the beautiful and tasty stuff, and Paris can still be beautiful afterall. In a way, romantic too. Maybe. :)<br /><br />For me? I still want to go there again. To seek out the romantic bits of Paris.<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115157511633003505?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1151225804150596972006-06-25T16:40:00.000+09:002006-06-25T17:56:44.233+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7859.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7859.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eiffel tower, of course<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7898.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7898.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sacre Coeur<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7853.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7853.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Behind the cross, Notre Dame<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7848.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7848.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Candles and stained glass in Notre Dame<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7812.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7812.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">at the very main river, where all the tourist spots gather<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7736.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7736.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chateau de Versailles' garden<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7791.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7791.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arc de Triomphe<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7769.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7769.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Pyramid, at night<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7759.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7759.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Les Invalides, from Louvre</span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115122580415059697?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1151221236913647632006-06-25T16:30:00.000+09:002006-06-25T16:40:36.926+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Birthday to CY!!! :) *HUGS*<br /><br />Hope you are spending the best day of the year today dear! (why on earth did alms go back so early?! (0 0)) Anyway, sending you all the sunshine and love you need :) Know you still have to bake your buns and breads today, but don't work too hard ya! It's suppose to be your day! :)<br /><br />love, sue<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115122123691364763?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1150809083310400052006-06-20T21:54:00.000+09:002006-06-25T04:59:18.023+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8821.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8821.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">in the oven u go</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8825.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8825.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">baking..baking..baking<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8827.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ready!</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was on sick leave today. Thanks to the extra time, I made lasagne! Unbelievably, I've only ate lasagne twice since I was born. Once in Pizza hut, once in Netherlands. But, I really really lurrrvvee the dish. With cheese and cheese and cheese.. it's a cheese lover's dish!<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://foodaholic.wordpress.com/2006/05/27/superrr-duperrr-lassagne/">A Self-Proclaimed Foodaholic's recipe</a>, it was quite a success for a beginner like me! (even though I forgot about the top layer of pasta :p) Burnt my finger a little while excitingly tasting the white sauce, but it was certainly worth the while! :D<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115080908331040005?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1150205283415415842006-06-13T22:06:00.000+09:002006-06-20T18:59:03.886+09:00<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been almost 3 months now since my trip to Europe. And I've just copied the 'Paris' folder from the dvd into my comp to reorganise the pictures! I suddenly realised that, <span style="font-style: italic;">time does fly, doesn't it?</span><br /><br />It took me 1 second to decide going to Europe, 1 minute to persuade my friend, 1 hour to book the ticket, 1 day to finish with the ticketing procedure, 1 week to plan it, 1 month to travel. Wonder whether it's going to take me 1 year to finish blogging on it? *grin*<br /><br />Hope not.<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-115020528341541584?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1149127135795652572006-06-01T10:06:00.000+09:002006-06-06T09:47:15.790+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">I miss Bird!!<br /><br />It's been almost 3 months now since my stay at Flat 9, Holborn, London. But no doubt, memories are still fresh in mind.<br /><br />Still remember <a href="http://sue83.blogspot.com/2006/05/backpacking-london-borough-market.html">borough market</a>, which I still recommend the most in London!! foooooodd! Loved the scones, chorizzos, apple juice...... Which by the way, someone just told me I'm too indulged in food yesterday... (_ _ ;)<br /><br />And the museums and galleries, it feels so typically London. But I can't deny it is nice, as long as you have the time to spend a day strolling though halls after halls. And also, unless you are in a clear state of mind. Or else, it's going to be just another boring day at the museum. I was mentally exhausted after finishing only half of the National museum. Will finish the next half when I'm there again. :)<br /><br />One of my little discoveries during my journey - the cool education systems adapted in Europe. All the museums and art galleries I visited, I always bumped up with kids from school trips. Some of them had papers to do sketches of things that attracted them, some ran around finding answers to their quiz books. So different from the education system most asian kids grew up in, with only boring fact-based history textbooks, and exams after exams, I grew up hating history!<br /><br />Another thing about London is of course the places listed in Monopoly, places that you haven't been to before but have heard of it hundreds of times. :) Trafalgar squares is one of them. Take note of the 4 very handsome lions. Be a kid, and climb climb climb! Everyone climbs up there just for a photo shot with it<br />:)<br /><br />oooohhh.. and theaters! musicals! I was in luck to be able to catch up with the classical phantom of the opera. It was -- FASCINATING! I'm so in love with theathers.<br /><br />All in all, London can be a great place to visit, if you have the time to go to the musem one day, the gallery another, and the theathers another. And if you can't live without Chinese food, go to London. Never visit Japan. *grin*<br /><br /><br />*special thanks to flat 9 roomies for letting me be parasite for a week. Really great getting to know u guys. Caryn and No. 1, the crazy ones, and yet sooo sweet.. :) And bird, just like before. Just like before. *hugzzz*<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114912713579565257?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1149123753334747092006-06-01T09:34:00.000+09:002006-06-01T10:02:33.446+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7522.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7522.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">blue blue skies<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7538.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7538.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">30 St Mary Axe @ informally, The Erotic Gherkin<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7521.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7521.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some monument somewhere :p<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7591.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">North entrance of Westminster Abbey</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7609.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">demonstrations in front of the parliament houses<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7581.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7581.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tower Bridge<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7495.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7495.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">St. Paul's Cathedral<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7628.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">National gallery at Trafalgar Square<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7628.jpg"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114912375333474709?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1148054963978363172006-05-20T00:21:00.000+09:002006-05-24T02:23:17.493+09:00<div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7372.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7372.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">hmm.. where to go?<br /></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7395.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7395.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Marble Arch<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7389.jpg" border="0" />another angle<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7387.jpg" border="0" />Behind the Marble Arch, in Hyde Park<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7410.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;">At the park leading up to Buckingham Palace<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9882.jpg" border="0" />Posing away</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7432.jpg" border="0" />Guards at work</span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7440.jpg" border="0" />At the allegorical fountain of Victoria Memorial</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7443.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">London Eye<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7470.jpg" border="0" />Big Ben and the houses of parliament,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">at the other end of Westminster Bridge<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7470.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114805496397836317?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1147853805045359562006-05-17T15:48:00.000+09:002006-05-19T01:59:30.373+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7321.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7321.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">veg</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9668.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9668.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">cheese!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7330.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">brownies!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7331.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7331.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">french loaves!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7334.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7334.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">dried fruits and nuts<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9683.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9683.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">this place has got very yummy scones<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7335.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7335.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">chorizo man at work<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7325.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7325.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">chorizos at high temperature<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9677.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">beef burger in the process</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, who said London is dull and boring? This place was one of the coolest place throughout my whole Backpaking Europe! trip. (especially for food lovers, please take note!)</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I was just starting to go through my London trip photos again to post it on here, and suddenly realised that only photos from Borough's Market was enough to make a single entry. Won't be typing much here though, since pictures speak louder than words, I think. :)<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />*pointer: Never miss the fresh hot apple juice, especially when it's one of the bitterly cold winter days. It can really warm your heart up!<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114785380504535956?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1147323026280385472006-05-11T13:28:00.000+09:002006-05-17T15:47:46.216+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">I want to go to Bhutan and Seychelles!<br /><br />I know it has not even been 2 months since the Europe trip, and that I haven't even really settled down, photo-sorting wise and emotionally wise. But, I want to go to Bhutan and Seychelles!<br /><br />The fact that Bhutan relies on GNH (<span style="font-style: italic;">Gross National Happiness</span>), instead of the usual GNP to measure the country's progress amuses me. And that it is tobacco-less! haha. I think the whole world should really take Bhutan as an example. Yes, in terms of GNP, Bhutan can be rated as a poor country. But from a totally different point of view, beggars and homeless are non-existent. Japan IS rich, but take a walk in any of the parks, you can still see homeless camping here and there.<br /><br />Of course, this is not the only reason bringing me to a country where only it's own airline monopolises all the flights into the country the and allows no individual travellers. For those who love architecture, all buildings in Bhutan is conform to Bhutanese traditional design. And for those who travels to experience, and thus understanding cultural differences, Bhutan is often described as the last surviving refuge preserving it's traditional Himalayan Bhuddist culture.<br /><br />As for Seychelles, it can't compare to Bhutan in government policy nor architecture nor the culture. However, for people who loves the beach, who loves snorkelling or diving, who just loves being under water, Seychelles should be listed in one of the must-go lists.<br /><br />The idea of going didn't really hit me, until when I came upon a small article about Aldabra in Seychelles yesterday in the Time magazine. And after google-ing it, the idea has planted it's roots in me. Taken from the Lonely Planet page:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Aldabra is the original habitat of the giant land tortoise.There are about 200,000 of the tortoises on the atoll, as well as thousands of seabirds, including the white-throated rail, the sole remaining species of flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. The only people who live on Aldabra are scientists, and they're only here three months of the year.</blockquote><p style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Aldabra is like paradise. The extent of how much I really want to go? I dreamt of the tortoises last night. I was swimming with them. :)</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />*Just thought I should put this down here as a record, to make sure I do get to Bhutan one day. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >and</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Seychelles, probably this year or next. *fingers crossed*<fingers></fingers></span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114732302628038547?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1146549024995894702006-05-02T14:40:00.000+09:002006-05-22T00:33:30.196+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">I love working on holidays to <a href="http://www.jackjohnsonmusic.com/">Jack's</a> music.<br /><br />Feels like I'm in Hawaii, under a tree, feeling the see breeze, and hearing the ryhthm of the waves.<br /><br />Reminds me of London. Bird, No. 1 &amp; Caryn. Flat 9. Oh. And not forgetting, Jack the Onion. :)<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114654902499589470?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1146137978770806462006-04-27T19:29:00.000+09:002006-04-27T21:14:21.186+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">In one word, Edinburgh was beautiful.<br /><br />And if in two, breathtakingly beautiful.<br /><br />I must say that I was blessed, that the weather had been perfectly well for the few days I spent strolling through streets of the old and new town of Edinburgh. Everybody knew Edinburgh was famous for its very unstable weather due to its geographical location. Sunny this second, and raining the next. Fortunately when I was there, it had been clear blue skies, with little chunks of clouds scattered out.<br /><br />Best of all, it was snowing on my last day there. Many would have dreaded the snow, making it wet and muddy all around. But for me, <span style="font-style: italic;">it was just perfect</span>. Edinburgh was already beautiful just the way it was. But, the snow made it beautiful even more.<br /><br />As many would know, Edinburgh has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1995. And my trip there reassured me that Edinburgh earned it. What I really loved about Edinburgh was not the castle, nor the national museum. But it was the feeling of walking through the streets of the old town. It just felt <span style="font-style: italic;">so comfortable</span> strolling around. Perhaps it was the weather. Perhaps it was the people. Or perhaps it was just Edinburgh. But one thing for sure, it was cozy, <span style="font-style: italic;">at heart</span>.<br /><br />And because it was so compact, I didn't really had to decide where to visit today and where the next. Instead, I just left the dorm after consuming as many pieces of toast as I could, and explored the city. The viewpoints up at Calton Hill and Salisbury Crags was superb. The daily consumption of baked potatoes was tasty, even though the shopkeepers English accent was indigestible. The Childhood Museum was fun. And the haggis was an adventure.<br /><br />In short, I loved it. And no doubt, I will be back. :)<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114613797877080646?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1146066372328816242006-04-27T00:24:00.000+09:002006-05-19T02:00:43.690+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9058.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first meal in Edinburgh, baked potatoes!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9566.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9566.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">And my last too. hehe :)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9219.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9219.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The thing that kept me to my budget<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7285.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Haggis<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7286.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">steak &amp; ale pie ?<br /></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114606637232881624?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1145949025825868522006-04-25T15:50:00.000+09:002006-04-27T00:10:24.966+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7107.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Candles in St. Giles</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7102.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Stained glasses in St. Giles</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9356.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9356.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A view out the canon window, Edinburgh Castle<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7264.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">canon, looking out into Edinburgh below<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7304.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Across my favourite baked potato store, stands two lil birdie<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9533.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Writer's museum, in snow<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7279.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7279.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Old town's street scene, at dusk<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7277.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7277.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">St. Giles at dusk</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7240.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Maple leaves stuck in between<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7238.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7238.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">morning sun sneaking up behind Salisbury Crags<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">with an unkown building upfront</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7247.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Palace of Holyrood House<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9309.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9309.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Holyrood Park<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7251.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A view from Salisbury Crags<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7248.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7248.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Unfinished National Monument, taken from Salisbury Crags<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7249.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Edinburgh Castle, taken from Salisbury Crags<br /><br /></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114594902582586852?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1145947382449876362006-04-25T14:20:00.000+09:002006-04-25T16:15:19.550+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7131.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7131.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A view of New Town, taken under a bridge in Old Town<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/STD_7150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/STD_7150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arthur's Seat, taken from Calton Hill</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9126.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Unfinished National Monument<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7138.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Unfinished National Monument<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7180.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Street scene of New Town<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9522.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9522.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sir Walter Scott's Monument in snow</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9529.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Town all white</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9628.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Flowers in bitter winter, with Eidinburgh Castle far behind</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Princes Street (Edinburgh's main shopping street) at sunset<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF9592.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF9592.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Princes Street Garden at sunset<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7204.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Town at night, with Sir Walter Scott's Monument to the right<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114594738244987636?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1145432766221440642006-04-19T16:09:00.000+09:002006-04-19T16:47:39.183+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8768.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">the <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> wantan<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">yong zhi gam lou (mango pomelo dessert in coconut milk)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_7003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_7003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">gui ling gao (black jelly made from tortoise shell)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8960.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8960.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">very milky milk tart</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6856.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6856.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">egg tarts, hot from the oven<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8827.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">sesame drink (oishii!!)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8838.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8838.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">curry fishballs!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6963.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6963.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">beef belly noodles<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6844.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6844.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">almond cookies<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8512.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8512.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">flower jelly (桂花糕)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8769.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8769.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">stir-fry beef noodle<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8519.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">fried fish<br /><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114543276622144064?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1145372771828207162006-04-18T16:19:00.000+09:002006-04-19T00:38:43.316+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8926.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8926.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hong Kong at night<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6741.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6741.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chung Wan<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8457.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8457.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mong Kok</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8932.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8932.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hong Kong from an older angle<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8946.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8946.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">typical wantan noodle shop<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hong Kong was my first stop. And it was exactly what I expected. Buildings, shopping, food, nightlife, and busy people. And I fitted in, <span style="font-style: italic;">just like that</span>. But, fitting in was one issue, and loving it was another.<br /><br />Needless to say, I loved shopping there, more than in Japan. Japan's fashion satisfies a lot of people around the world, but in many ways, not for me. And having shops closed as early as 8?!<br /><br />FOOD, was of course another thing I loved. Afterall I have to admit that was one of the main reason I stopped by Hong Kong this time. Having it as a consolation prize to my poor tummy for not being able to eat any <span style="font-style: italic;">bak kut teh </span>or<span style="font-style: italic;"> roti canai </span>for 7 months now. :p<br /><br />However, the pace of life was something that I don't think I can ever compromise to. Even elevators in the city area moves twice faster than the normal ones! Even though I knew most of the places, loved the food, spoke their language, but I still somehow felt out of place and just somehow felt that it lacked humanity among people.<br /><br />But of course, just the food itself (not even mentioning shopping yet!) shall bring me back visiting Hong Kong again and again! :)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114537277182820716?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1144654172245192962006-04-10T15:28:00.000+09:002006-04-10T16:35:47.590+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8449.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8449.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">sakuras, with the famous Tower of the Sun at the back<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8504.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8504.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">on the branches<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8505.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8505.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">満開, <span style="font-style: italic;">mankai<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8510.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8510.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">waiting to bloom<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_8520.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_8520.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>sakura trees lining the pathway<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Before I start off this entry about hanami, allow me to say 'yes, I'm finally back. :)'<br /><br />It has been almost 2 months now since my last entry. And no, of course I'm not giving up this blog. I've been wanting to say (or rather, type?) out a loud ただいま！<span style="font-style: italic;">tadaima</span>! ever since I stepped my foot back into my own sweet room here in Osaka 3 weeks ago. But, I've been just too busy. And I still am! It's just that I finally made up my mind that if I want to post an entry, it's going to be now or never! So, here goes...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The blooming of sakuras is a pretty much awaited event in Japan. Perhaps because it signifies the arriving of Spring after a long, cold winter. Or, perhaps because it's just a culture of their own.<br /><br />For me, it's the former. And of course, because it's just simply beautiful. And the fact that the full bloom is just merely a few days out of the 365 days a year, only makes one wants to appreciate it more. I don't know why, but just the thought of lying under the sakura trees and setting the mind free feels really nice.<br /><br />So, if you have the chance, and would like to take your mind off all those workloads clogging up your mind, do take a stroll in the park where sakura trees are blooming. The stress relieving effects can be quite amazing! ;)<br /></span><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114465417224519296?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1140279961072952282006-02-18T19:36:00.000+09:002006-03-12T00:44:10.776+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">The previous post reminded me of a book I read a few years ago. <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/morrie/">Tuesdays with Morrie</a>, a very interesting and meaningful book.<br /><br />I remembered it mentioned something from the Buddhist philosophy that one should not cling to things, as everything that exists is impermanent. Thus, one should learn to detach. And lately, I have been able to associate this to quite a lot of occasions.<br /><br />To take life for an example from the previous post. Sometimes, detaching yourself from life lets you break away from the routine and breathe and take a better look at life. And on the other angle of life, or death, being able to detach from life and remember that life is impermanent, one shall always appreciate life and prevent dying upset. Quoting from the book itself, '<span style="font-style: italic;">When you learn how to die, you learn how to live</span>.'<br /><br />And to take relationships for an example. being able to detach from one another, brings less jealousy and more respect, resulting in a more healthy relationship. And in matters of money or possessions or physical comforts, being able to detach results in less greed and more love in the society.<br /><br />The conclusion?<br /><br />I just suddenly understood the Buddhist philosophy where everything that exists is impermanent. And that, <span style="font-style: italic;">when you are able to detach yourself from things in life, you have also successfully detached yourself from all the negative values in life.</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114027996107295228?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1140258400843398422006-02-18T18:52:00.000+09:002006-02-18T19:28:36.063+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Dying of fun.<br /><br />That was my personal message of the day on my msn nick. Had it put on last night (or should I say this morning) when I came back from another session of <span style="font-style: italic;">free-time-karaoke</span>.<br /><br />My finals for the semester ended last Friday bringing along a series of long awaited plans. It had been outings and outings day after day and night after night. That's why I finally pronounced myself 'Dying of fun' last night and decided that today shall be a day of rest and relax.<br /><br />Ah. How nice it is to be at home sometimes. Turning on your favourite music. Lying around doing nothing. Leaving behind everything.<br /><br />And, <span style="font-style: italic;">feeling life</span>.<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-114025840084339842?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1138847035811053742006-02-02T10:49:00.000+09:002006-02-14T03:56:23.556+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6356.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6356.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6346.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6346.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6376.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6376.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6367.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6367.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6351.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6351.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Finally went to 靖国神社, <span style="font-style: italic;">yasukuni jinja</span> last month.<br /><br />It was a so-called study trip after the National Foreign Students' Network's Meeting in Tokyo. So, of course I went! I have been seeing it on TV ever since the anti-japan demonstrations in China and who would give up the chance to go see the real thing?<br /><br />So those are the few pictures I took while I was there. Too bad I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the 遊就館、<span style="font-style: italic;">yushukan</span> - War Memorial Museum. My mum would have been very much interested with the photos of it.<br /><br />Anyway, I wouldn't say much about it since it's such a controversial topic. But one suggestion though. No matter whether you are against it or supporting it, by all means, visit it at least once before you make your stand. Afterall, you can't trust the media all the time. :)<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113884703581105374?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1138514555334220692006-01-29T12:15:00.000+09:002006-01-30T01:39:14.713+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6445.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6444.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6444.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Red.<br /><br />It has always been the official colour of Chinese New Year, or what they call here in Japan '春節祭'.<br /><br />I never thought that it would feel so festively CNY here too since it's not celebrated by the people here. There was once when the Chinese, Koreans and Japs celebrated new year on the same day, but not anymore. Following the changing of the calendar, the big day for the Japs has been changed to the universal new year - 1st January, since the Meiji Restoration.<br /><br />Anyway, of course it wasn't a big thing here. The photos above was taken at the Chinatown near my place. But I guess it had been the same for Chinatowns all around the world. I remember my friend once commented that Chinese, instead of fitting themselves into the culture of foreign countries, they always build their own community, bringing in their own culture, and thus bringing the existence of Chinatowns all around the world.<br /><br />I wonder whether its really becoz Chinese don't take in other ppl's culture or it's just merely becoz Chinese are natural business-minded people? Me as a Chinese myself, although Malaysian Chinese and not Chinese Chinese, I think I can still adapt very well to other people's culture, and of course at the same time, respecting the difference. Isn't it good sometimes to hold on to your own culture but in the mean time learn about others and respecting them? I always thought the respect part is very important, not only for cultures but for religions too.<br /><br />Anyway anyway, before I drift off, hehe, it's a tradition for Chinese to sit together as a family and have what we call 'reunion dinner' together on new year's eve. So last night it was quite fun to be able to have some chinese food with the other Malaysians here in Osaka. Of course I guess everyone would have enjoyed it better if they were with their family back home, but well, when you are overseas, the only thing you can depend on are friends. And, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">they </span>become your family</span>.<br /><br />Happy Chinese New Year. :)<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113851455533422069?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1138204693279729872006-01-26T00:05:00.000+09:002006-01-27T13:41:45.573+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/pp042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/pp042.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Poprad<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This photo was taken in a train in Poprad, Slovakia a few years ago, probably by my brother when my parents was there visiting him.<br /><br />Due to some reasons, I wasn't able to go back then. But, glad to say, I shall be visiting Europe this coming spring vacation with 2 of my travelling friends. :) Yup! I finally paid the ticket, and there's no turning back. Hopefully I shall be able to get decent hostels and cheap train tickets ready before I leave Japan.<br /><br />Seriously, I've never thought that I would be travelling to Europe so early in my uni years. It was just another regular day, me chatting with my friend on msn, discussing about our spring vacations when we suddenly joked about going to</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">europe, and then surprisingly found this cheap ticket on the internet. And so here I am now, with my receipt from my payment this afternoon, with such mixed feelings.<br /><br />Travelling to Europe has always been somewhat a dream to me since young, mainly because I had always been watching english movies with my dad since then. Therefore, of course, I'm really looking forward to the trip. But, I can't deny there is also a pinch of 'worry' and a pinch of 'anxiety' in there. I even had the idea of giving up the trip and go next year instead. But, instead of doing it later, why not do it now?</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Who knows what will happen next year or the year after next, or the year after next after next?<br /><br />I know it's going to be a really long month, spent on only travelling. And, it would have seemed better if I wasn't on such a tight budget. But, well, what to do? I'm just another poor student with no money and lots of time to spare. hehe :) At the moment, I hope for nothing more than things not being stolen and passport not lost. Those are the only 2 worst things I can think of now.<br /><br />Anyway, what the heck. I know I am going to survive the month, and take loads of pictures, and have loads of fun. And, so shall I. :)<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113820469327972987?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1137428543453907792006-01-17T00:44:00.000+09:002006-01-23T01:56:36.570+09:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">久しぶりですね、本当に。 </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">(</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >hisashiburi desu ne, hontou ni</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">- it's really been a long time since) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been more than 10days since my last entry, and I really miss blogging. Today's one shall be another pictureless blog of mine, since choosing pictures can sometimes really take up a lot of time. Besides, today's entry shall be one where I sit down, calm down, and have a little space of my own to do a little bit of thinking.<br /><br />I remember I once read in my brother's blog that blogging can be a somewhat good way to take hold of one's life. And, I really do agree. :) Most of the days you just go on and on with life that you don't spend some time thinking. Think about what? There's really a lot. For example, are you really living your life like how you want it to be?<br /><br />For me, sad to say, but bye bye to my winter dream and hello to real uni life.<br /><br />Not only do I have a lot to catch up with for studies, I was just appointed to some new posts in some foreign students associations here. And adding to that, I was called in to see whether I was interested in a part time job at a international school. And of course, I was! The place is just 5 minutes from my apartment, and they have really cute kids in there, most of them speaking very fluent English. BUT, my uni is not giving me the pass to work! sigh. They think we should concentrate more on studies since we have enough money from the scholarship. *blek* Now, I'm just hoping that the international school might give in and let me work without the pass. Oh. And my Europe trip, which is currently still under planning. I really hope it could work out so I wouldn't delay it year after year, but honestly, I'm still a little worried about the issue whether I AM really prepared or not?<fingers><br /><br />Hmm.<br /><br />Looking back now, life's really been moving too fast lately. Too fast that I just went with the flow. But anyway, I'm glad that most things are in correct places now. From now on, it would be just studies. (oh, and my europe trip :p) Wish me luck!<br /></fingers></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113742854345390779?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1136388772346652882006-01-04T23:09:00.000+09:002006-01-17T21:03:37.393+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6212.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">sukiyaki<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote>It's all because of you, I'm feeling sad and blue<br />You went away, now my life is just a rainy day<br />And I love you so, how much you'll never know<br />You've gone away and left me lonely...</blockquote><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you are into english oldies, you'd probably know that it's the lyrics from the song 'sukiyaki', a song (like all other oldies that I like) that has been naturally 'programmed' into me since young. Like some people, I've never really knew what sukiyaki was till when I came here. And seriously, looking at the lyrics now, I really cannot figure out why the song is even named sukiyaki, except that the melody came from the actual Japanese song named sukiyaki スキヤキ. :p</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, afraid of me feeling lonely spending New Year's away from home, my dear host family from Inami invited me to visit them during the 2nd day of New Year. And again, we had a very satisfying 4 hours of <span style="font-style: italic;">sukiyaki</span>.</span> :)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sukiyaki</span> is one of my favourites here. I don't really think it's the taste that makes it so great. But instead, it's the feeling when eating it.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> It's practically divided into 2 versions, <span style="font-style: italic;">kanto </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">kansai</span>. I've never tried the <span style="font-style: italic;">kanto</span> one before, but the <span style="font-style: italic;">kansai</span> one is something like a drier version of <span style="font-style: italic;">steamboat</span>. And when I say drier, I really mean drier. There's not much soup in it since we don't add any water at all when cooking. The 'soup' that you find in it is only from the veges and the <span style="font-style: italic;">sake</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">shouyu</span>. The reason I said it was similiar to steamboat was because you sit around the table together, throw things in after stir-frying the beef a little together with some <span style="font-style: italic;">shouyu</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">sake </span>and sugar, and then together everyone waits for it to boil. Like steamboat, you not only get to eat, but you get to talk and joke and enjoy <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>bond. And the good thing is, there's not much preparation needed. You just wash and cut, and <span style="font-style: italic;">dang dang dang</span>, you've got one nice pot of <span style="font-style: italic;">sukiyaki</span>!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Simple <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> yummy :)<br /><br />Do give it a try if you can get your hands on some nice, tender beef! ;)<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113638877234665288?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1136107346222372962006-01-01T17:35:00.000+09:002006-01-03T03:59:34.063+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7951.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7951.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >the road leading to the shrine<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7943.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7943.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >takoyaki (octopus balls) stall<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF8011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF8011.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >yaki ika (pan fried squid) stall<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7977.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7977.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >the shrine at midnight<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7960.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7960.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >litting the candles<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7966.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7966.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >getting blessings from the incense sticks' smoke<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7971.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7971.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >mikuji<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >yup. those are practically what you will see during new year in Japan, if you happen to visit a popular shrine.<br /><br />It was an eye opener for me, as you don't usually see so many people out on the streets at 12am in Japan, and in all places, <span style="font-style: italic;">a shrine</span>. There were the old ones and the young ones, the funky ones and the family type ones, and some with pets! And I would never have expected it to be like any other festivals in Japan with stalls selling sweets and snacks and overpriced food.<br /><br />It was quite fun doing what the Japanese was doing. (or at least what I think they were doing too :p) We threw our 5 yens, made a little prayer, and then moved on to the incense sticks area to put the smoke onto our faces for a year of blessing, and then did our <span style="font-style: italic;">mikuji</span>s.<br /><br />My mikuji wasn't a bad one, nor was it a very good one. It says to stay in low profile, always be patient, always consult those on top, avoid competing with others, and good things would naturally happen to me. Would it really? well, I hope so! :p</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It had been yet another tiring night, reaching home at 5 in the morning. Nevertheless, interesting! :) I vowed that it would have been my first and my last time visiting a shrine during new year. But, now, I guess not. :p<br /><br />Conclusion from the past week:<br />Overall, it had been a great week! It had been a week full of first-times. My first christmas-dinner-kind-of-dinner, my first ski trip, my first time to a shrine in New Year. It had been mentally fulfilling, though physically half-dead. :p<br /><br /><br />Once again, Happy New Year! May the year ahead be filled with many surprises and of course, happiness! :)<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style=""></span></span><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113610734622237296?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1136104199680273322006-01-01T13:54:00.000+09:002006-01-01T17:35:08.443+09:00<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">First of all, Happy New Year!! :)</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />it's only been a week since I wrote an entry, but <span style="font-style: italic;">a l</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ot</span> has happened. And, I've been dying to update my blog. Finally, now I have the time to sit down, think back, and write.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Christmas Dinner</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7831.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">chefs of the day<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5985.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5985.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">bh dancing with the chic<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7781.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7781.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">yp's pumpkin soup - one of the hits of the day<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6020.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">roasted chicken<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_6053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_6053.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and the stuffing inside<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It had been a great night (and day too!). We started roasting and baking and cooking since afternoon. Having fun trying out new recipes, gossiping, <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> playing with the chicken. hehe. It was my first try on preparing a roast chicken, and thus my first time stuffing one. Thank god, it turned out not t</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">oo bad, though a little black on the upside. But, what the heck, everyone seemed to like it enough. :p<br /><br />I had never really had a christmas-dinner-kind-of-dinner before, with pies and soups and salads and desserts. This was my first time. And I think all the food turned out great! (compliments to the chefs ;) )</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />We had a fine deal of mini champagne poppings where everyone had their own mini bottle of champagne, and then started off with crackers with cheese and salami, followed by mixed vege, coleslaw, steak, baked potatoes, hamburg steaks, roast chicken. And then the portugese fish pie and my modified shephard's pie, and finally desserts! Thanks to XM's cheese cake and yule log cake. yum yum!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Of course</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, it was not a night of only food. :p It had been warm and comfortable., having everyone together, laughing and talking away. And most of all, it was the together-ness. It felt like home away from home.<br /></span><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Ski and Snowboard Trip<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/PC290473.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/PC290473.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >part of the gang, with the pinky brothers to the left hehe :p<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />Fun. That would be the word to describe the trip.<br /><br />It was fun, more than painful, I would say. Although like most first-timers, I fell a lot, but the snow was soft, and falling wasn't really such a bad thing afterall. It felt great sometimes, to fall freely into the thick, soft snow. I named it 'bathing in snow'. And, honestly, how many times in one's life can you bath with snow if you weren't staying up on the mountains? hehe :p<br /><br />Sounding stupid, but I would still like to give an applause to myself. :p for 'conquering' the intermediate slopes. hehe. It had been scary. really. But the satisfaction after reaching the foot of the hill, oh, it really <span style="font-style: italic;">feels</span> good! much thanks to bh, koyi and keat for the encouragement. :)<br /><br />Besides the ski part, it had been nice to meet up again with my gaidai friends, and have a little pillow fight before dozing off. :) It has been almost a year since we parted to continue on in different unversities. And I really missed all those late night talking and cooking and crazy-ing we did together during our gaidai year.<br /><br />Oh. I really hope we could make this a yearly plan, so that we can meet and yet have fun. and of course so that I can learn how to make good turnings when going downhill with skis next year. :)<br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></div> </div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113610419968027332?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1135524687284977522005-12-25T23:05:00.000+09:002006-01-01T05:12:00.190+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5744.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5744.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">white morning<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5929.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5929.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">branches in the sky<br />felt like the one i took in autumn, except with snow.. :p</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5889.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5889.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">such stunning red in pure white snow</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5887.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5887.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">last maple leave of autumn, still struggling on..<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5888.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5888.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">one struggling on to stay on the branch, while this one waiting to blossom :)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5939.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5939.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">kids playing in the street<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5828.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5828.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">......<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5837.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5837.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">paddy fields covered with snow<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5811.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5811.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">very christmas<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5822.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5822.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">holiday for everyone<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5809.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">pine tree covered with snow<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5789.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5789.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">pattern<br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5795.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5795.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">simple things in life<br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5716.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5716.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">footsteps<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5763.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5763.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">clear blue sky. couldn't resist taking it when lying on the soft, white snow.. :)<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />it had been a great morning! clear blue sky, pure white snow, people sleeping in, quiet morning... hmmm... thinking of it now can still put a smile on me.. hehe.. anyway, guess my pictures says it all! enjoy! :)<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">*sorry it took me so long to update pictures of that beautiful white morning. was out taking pictures too much I caught a cold. :(</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113552468728497752?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1135184407470180072005-12-22T01:42:00.000+09:002005-12-22T02:04:07.070+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7592.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7592.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">yup yup yup! it's snowing!!!! :)<br /><br />still can't believe that I'm still THIS excited even though it's not my first time seeing or touching snow anymore. hehe. Was out there taking pictures and having fun right after seeing that it's snowing so heavily even though it's 1 in the morning. hehe. crazy, ain't I? A good proof that I'm still pretty much in love with the 4 seasons although I sometimes still hate the coldness that send shivers into my bones. :p<br /><br />anyway, it actually rarely snows in Osaka. Last year, I only experienced it for a few times. In fact, only once, we had the chance to build a snowman with it. And it didn't even last for a whole day! :( BUT, this year,　it's colder! so hopefully it will last long enough to call tomorrow an off day for everyone. or maybe even long enough to make my christmas a white christmas! *fingers crossed* hehe :)<br /><br />well, enough for tonight. Must jump into bed earlier so that I can wake up early enough to go out and take nice shots of pure, untouched snow.<br /><br />Hope that it shall be a beautiful, white morning for everyone in Osaka tomorrow! :)<br /><br />good night!<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113518440747018007?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1134834704646296702005-12-17T22:41:00.000+09:002005-12-18T00:53:06.256+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/DSCF7373.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/DSCF7373.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">chocolate mud cake<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />This was for my housemates' surprise birthday party.<br /><br />It's been quite some time since I really baked. I used to bake more when I was in high school, mostly because back then I was fully equipped with mum's baking tools. After entering the local uni, it was quite impossible since even cooking was forbidden in the dormitory. (yup, that is what local unis are like. hehe :p ) Anyway, after coming to Japan, oven was provided in the dormitory, but still I lacked of mixing bowls, measuring cups... etc.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Until recently, I started to buy stuffs again. Baking tins, measuring spoons.. and I think the collection is still increasing. hehe :p<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have always liked baking. Guess I got it from my mum. Although honestly, I hate measuring and cleaning up after that. But, mixing everything, following steps, watching it grow in the oven, and finally savouring it, and seeing others enjoying the taste too, it is just pure joy. And I think all those who love baking out there would definitely agree with me too. ;)<br /><br />I don't really remember when I started to bake, although I remember playing with my mum's dough all the time when she used to bake every weekend when I was little. And also remembering the time I made creme caramel (custard pudding/ flan) with my brother. hehe. Those were the times.<br /><br />Anyway, I think I'm gonna start baking more since it wasn't cheap to get all those baking tools! hehe :p Hopefully I get to discover more yummy recipes! just like the chocolate mud cake up there which I discovered when trying to prepare a cake for my friend's birthday years ago. Wish me luck! :)<br /></span><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113483470464629670?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1134310457802536962005-12-11T22:45:00.000+09:002006-01-02T00:49:31.350+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been almost a week since I last updated my blog even though my mid term exams are already over. And I thought I would be writing more after the exams. hmm. what's wrong with me? I have no idea.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />A little shy to admit the fact that I was a little addicted to hong kong dramas. :p it may seem a very stupid thing to many people I guess, but I have been missing it quite a lot since coming to Japan. Somehow or rather it is still something that had always been quite connected to my life before coming here. Although most of the Hong Kong dramas always had very predictive plots, but I have always liked those with very complicated ones. Just like the one I'm watching at the moment. (just in case you might be interested, it's called 酒店风云 ;) )<just><br /><br />But, of course I didn't spend 24/7 in front of the computer. I was also at the annual general meeting of Malaysian Students Association of Japan yesterday. Of course meetings are always a not-fun kinda thing, but it was nice winning something from the bingo game at the end even though it certainly wasn't something I could make use of. And it was also fun to sing your lungs off at the karaoke session that followed on after the meeting. :)<br /><br />Anyway, I have never really talked much about my daily activities like this in my previous posts, have I? And my first pictureless blog! Hope it's not making anyone bored. Although, one thing's for sure. I AM BORED. hehe :p<br /><br />missing my high school friends at the moment. missing the f5 days. cy, bird, bee... sigh. How great it would be to be at the mamak now chatting and gossiping with you all. Hopefully you guys are all doing fine and missing me too.<br /></just></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113431045780253696?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1133885478247900122005-12-07T00:25:00.000+09:002005-12-12T00:56:44.963+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5285.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5316.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5316.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">just some random pictures of flowers that I always like taking pictures of.<br /><br />I always had this special liking towards very simple flowers. Flowers that have big obvious petals, and always a yellowish-orange center and not tiny tiny nor complicated flowers with lots of details. Unlike most girls, I don't fancy roses that much either. Roses are way too proud, and I can't feel the closeness at all.<br /><br />Simple flowers just feel more carefree, more me. I guess. :)<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113388547824790012?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1133621719371748312005-12-03T23:17:00.000+09:002005-12-18T20:41:24.900+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5286.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5286.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">cili padi ? </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Took this picture on my way back from uni. liked how it went in a bunch in very sharp red and green colour.<br /><br />Anyway, was really surprised to find this here in Japan in a normal Japanese 's garden. Afterall, the food here has never reached the level of how I defined 'spicy' even if it's written superduper spicy on the menu. :p and if this is what I think it is, it's supposed to be a very spicy kind of chili. The colour and the shape really matches to <span style="font-style: italic;">cili padi</span>, but the way how it's in a bunch, it doesn't really look like what I find in mum's garden back home. hmm.<br /><br />But seeing it reminds me so much of Malaysian food, which I really miss at the moment. No doubt, I like Japanese food too. But, it's different from Malaysian food. Very different, I would say. In the healthy sense, Japanese food takes the lead, of course! And, I love sushis, sashimis, tofus, and all. On the other hand, Malaysian food satisfies the toungue to every senses. Roti Canai, rojak, bak kut teh, cendol, dim sum, mee goreng, hokkien mee....... etc. ooooh! just everything! Having 3 main races in the country does help a lot in increasing the variety of food. Some originating from their respective homelands a very long time ago and then 'malaysian-ised' and some created uniquely from the blend of the 3 main races.<br /><br />Food, is definitely one thing I miss about Malaysia. And, one thing I would always recommend to foreigners. :)<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Fact:</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>Cili Padi</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> obviously comes from the 'chili' family. known to be tinier than the usual chili but much more spicier! It's one of the widely used ingredients in Malaysian cooking, and I believe many other southeast asian cooking too.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113362171937174831?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1133282890349005162005-11-30T00:42:00.000+09:002005-11-30T23:21:35.653+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5519.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">stunning<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5520.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5520.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">stars in the day<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5527.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5527.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">just love the colour<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5541.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">mix and match<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5538.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5538.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">such perfect yellow<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5543.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5543.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">steps<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5548.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5548.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">everywhere</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It can be beautiful everywhere, if you know where to look. ;)<br /><br />To most of people in uni, it would have been just another day of life. who cares if the trees by the library was a little redder or yellow-er than before? or whether the leaves dances while it falls to the ground with the autumn breeze?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">but to me, it was just <span style="font-style: italic;">oh, so irresistable! </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />This IS the nature of human, don't you think so? not knowing how to appreciate things when you know you have them. That when things come so naturally, you expect it to continue coming. And thus, tend to forget that it may not be so. hmm.<br /><br />Anyway, before I pull myself into philosophies of life, it's not that I'm saying that the Japanese doesn't appreciate the season. But, I just think that most of them have already forgotten the moment of joy when they first experienced autumn. or the first moment they saw a red leave instead of a green one. as it happened such a long time ago.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />But for me, it was different. My first time seeing red maple leaves was just a year ago. Not only was I not a baby, but I was experiencing it as someone who had always wanted to see and feel the real thing. And as someone matured enough to appreciate and to remember the beauty of nature.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />For once, I felt that I was blessed to be born a Malaysian.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />*special thanks to my housemate who reminded me to bring my camera ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113328289034900516?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1132590475428692692005-11-22T00:26:00.000+09:002005-11-22T01:30:11.133+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5295.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">orange to red<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5373.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">in the stream</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5290.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5290.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">oh, so red<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5312.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5312.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">contrast<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5425.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5425.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">underneath<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5435.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5435.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">in the sky</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5371.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">splash of colours<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5280.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5280.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">steps to uni<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5370.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">banpaku park<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5391.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5391.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">by the lake<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5343.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5343.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">into the blues<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm in love.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In love with the colours of autumn. not only everyone's favourite red, but the splash of orange, yellow, red, and green, all in one. and when combined with the blueness of the clear autumn sky, it cannot be anymore perfect.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have to confess that I have never really appreciated the wonders of nature while back at home. But since arriving here, nature has never stopped giving me little surprises along my little journey in Japan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has never really occured to me before that little things in life does make a difference, until now.</span><br /></div> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113259047542869269?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1132302363341868842005-11-18T17:07:00.000+09:002005-11-18T17:29:49.823+09:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5224.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5224.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kyoto's International Conference Hall's Park</span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><br />I was there last weekend to participate in Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy Workshop. Just brought my camera along although I guessed it wouldn't be useful since I would be spending the whole day at the workshop. But surprisingly, I found a really nice park at the side of the building during the intermission. :) with japanese carps and swans in the lake, yellow/orange leaves surrounding it, and the autumn breeze running through your sleeves, you just feel sooo comfortable.<br /><br />and the workshop, it turned out not bad too. better than I thought what it would have been! :)<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113230236334186884?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1132211998602788352005-11-17T15:30:00.000+09:002005-11-18T08:26:05.960+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5230.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">one of the things I've been indulging in since coming to japan - desserts. hehe. never really had the mentality of 'main dish, then dessert' kinda thing before I came to japan. mostly in Malaysia, it would have been dinner then fruits.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But here, mostly after meals, I would always opt for something sweet and nice, especially when I feel like spending.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Blame it to the Japanese culture! :p Unlike Malaysia, you always find a dessert menu here in the restaurants here, and they don't just serve you any frozen sundae kept in the freezer for ages, but really nice, fresh ones like the one above. Adding on to it, all-you-can-eat-dessert shops aren't hard to find too! How could anyone resist such temptation, right? ;)<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113221199860278835?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1132149667404316712005-11-16T22:36:00.000+09:002005-11-16T23:01:07.416+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4978.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4978.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>one of my latest creation. nothing exotic, just plain mashed potato. but, one of my favourites though. I've always liked it with sauce, just like the one you get in kentucky fried chicken in Malaysia. So, I tried making the sauce this time with the base of mushroom soup, adding in some soy sauce, lots of pepper and some diced carrots, potatoes and mushrooms. and it ended up pretty yummy! although it wasn't exactly the same as the one from kfc, but who cares! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113214966740431671?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1131982944277932182005-11-15T00:35:00.000+09:002005-11-15T00:45:20.636+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4933.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4933.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, I know. She's not any hot chick, but just another <span style="font-style: italic;">obachan</span> (old lady) dressed up in some japanese traditional costume. But her smile was what captured me. I had always liked taking pictures of smiles. Not any other 'say cheese' or '<span style="font-style: italic;">hai! ikimasu yo!</span>' smiles. But pictures of people giggling or smiling shyly or laughing their hearts out. I think it's the most beautiful part of human. Like this <span style="font-style: italic;">obachan</span> here, her smile makes me feel so warm at heart! maybe it's just me, but I hope it does the same for you too! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113198294427793218?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1131610484636949792005-11-10T16:42:00.000+09:002005-11-11T00:41:04.833+09:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4295.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >mum's bougainvillea<br />or much popular knowned as <span style="font-style: italic;">bunga kertas</span> in malay because of it's paper-like petals.</span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4304.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">aunty lim's baby </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >pandan*</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> flavoured coconuts</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4304.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4304.jpg"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">mum's </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >fu gui hua</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (if translated literally, the prosperity flower)</span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4305.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4305.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">mum's berry, with a tiny visitor</span><br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><font><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">paid a little visit to mum's garden when I was back last summer. It's been quite long since I last ventured into her territory. Still remember how I used to play in the garden when I was in primary school, but never really stepped in anymore after that. IRC, ICQ, emails, shopping, partying. Those were the days of my high school life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mum always kept her garden well and pretty as long as she had time. But me, I guess I never got the gardening skills from her. :p But glad that I'm a little into photographs now. So that me, her daughter shall frame up all her glories with my dear little digital camera. Not a bad combination, heh? mum and daughter, gardener and photographer. Both amatuers. hehe :)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><font><font><font><font> <span style="font-size:100%;"> </span> </span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*(Daun) Pandan ⇒　pandanus leaves, often used in south east asian cooking to add a distinct aroma to food</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4304.jpg"></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113161048463694979?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1131453316531968032005-11-08T21:14:00.000+09:002005-11-10T11:19:32.090+09:00<span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></span></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5020.0.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5015.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5015.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > the rose on the way to uni<br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_5020.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_5020.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>wild plant growing out the fence<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I've always liked taking pictures of flowers, I dunno why. Perhaps because the flowers here are really nice. Perhaps it's because I have gotten myself a digital camera since I came to Japan. Perhaps it's because they have spring and autumn here, which makes flowers and even weeds look prettier. I really have no idea. But, it always reminds me of how nature can take u by surprise all the time. :)<br /><br />*do expect many more pictures of plants coming up after this. hehe</span><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113145331653196803?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457898.post-1131265096857835572005-11-06T16:21:00.000+09:002005-11-10T11:19:04.653+09:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4998.0.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4998.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It has been like every other school festivals in Japan. Stalls with japanese food, games, stage performances, dressed up characters, all in for one motive - to promote their club/societies, and to earn a little for their club/society's fund.</span><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4999.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4999.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >guys in schoolgirl uniforms</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span></span></span></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4996.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4996.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >girls in tiger costumes</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span></span></span></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/1600/IMG_4988.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/794/1807/320/IMG_4988.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >half naked guys</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Have been seeing and hearing it since I entered uni this April that for the first 2 years of uni, you will see the japs dedicating their whole life into club/societies, or much rather circles as they call it. It's really not unusual to see them sacrificing their lunchbreaks to practice a capella or juggling, or to see them staying back almost everyday after class, blasting musics to practice streetdance. And hanging out with the people from that 'circle' itself. Their life revolves only around that 'circle', and only that 'circle' itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, guys in girls uniforms, girls in tiger costumes or half naked guys in autumn is how u define 'normal' here, I guess. It may be a culture shock for foreigners who are new in Japan, but if you look from another point of view, it might be quite fun. Afterall, what other times can u be crazy besides your uni days? ;)</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18457898-113126509685783557?l=sue83.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sugarnoreply@blogger.com1