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| Friday, 29-Dec-2006 06:07 |
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I hate to go
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terima kasih Rapek kerana memandu kereta, walaupun tanpa peta :)
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terima kasih juga kepada Jun
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dan Bash!
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'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
*thanks June for the pictures
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| Thursday, 28-Dec-2006 00:57 |
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The day my heart sank
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the farewell party
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It was pretty early in the morning. Without telling him the precise time I was going to arrive - the credit was low!, he waited for me at the platform holding a travel mug which contains a hot tea. We spent a good few hours in his study/dining room overlooking a green hill, going through my thesis and talking (or more like him giving me his words of wisdom). Fiona kindly prepared us lunch and sat down with us, talking about things I would miss when I get home. Then the time came for us to say goodbye. They drove me back into Lancaster. Seeing their orange car leaving the car park makes my heart sank.
Almost everybody whom I invited to the farewell party turned up in the evening. It was a good evening - talking and laughing with people who I bonded with over the years in Lancaster. But saying goodbye was the hardest. Once again, my heart sank.
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| Tuesday, 26-Dec-2006 19:42 |
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An evening with Kak Jo & co.
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Lancaster House Hotel was fully booked. Didn't have a clue where to go from there, we went straight into town. We dined at the Ask restaurant instead.
Thanks kak Jo & abg Razman! 
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| Friday, 22-Dec-2006 19:15 |
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There's a price to pay to look taller
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From dining and exchanging gifts at Bella Italia to shooting in the cold at Alex Park to watching a movie and a late night supper back at the flat.
that's what friends are for
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| Wednesday, 13-Dec-2006 09:35 |
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The weirdest day of my life
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I was very calm and composed. Maybe because I had no energy left after panicking and wondering all the possible 'what ifs' questions, every single minute in the past week. Having said that, I was extremely nervous.
It went very smoothly. Alhamdulillah (never underestimate the power of du'as!). The negotiation/defence session lasted for 150 minutes (1000-1130 & 1140-12.40). I didn't notice the time passing because, strangely enough, I enjoyed the discussion. Though I must admit, I was a little short of adrenaline in the second part, and was already fighting the temptation to dissapear.
I was asked to leave the room, eventually, at 12.40 for ten minutes. After walking up and down outside the room, I got bored. I went to kak Fidah's office for a little chat, and on the way back to the room, I could hear Alan was asking around for me downstairs. I rushed down and there I found kak Hanis, kak Rina and Alan. They were all eager to know how did it go. It was getting really emotional. The looks in kak Hanis' eyes made me feel so guilty. Because I kept it very quite about the day. Nobody in the department knew about it (except for the secretaries, Alan D and Simon L, of course! and kak rina who got to know from Alan- Alan didn't know that it was supposed to be my little secret).
Awais R then came down looking for me. He thought I already ran off!
Anticipating the verdict was nerve wrecking. Awais R then started to say something. It took me a few seconds to register what he actually said. And it was a good news. Phew! Matt J said I made a very good defense and Simon L thought it was amazing to see me working alongside Equator and didn't sidetrack. I don't know what to make out of these comments, but I felt good inside.
The first hug was from Alan. I think he too got emotional about the result. And there was tears in my eyes. Tears of joy. I have made him proud. The fatherly hug he gave me make me think about my parents.
I felt so many things in just one day. Nervous, calm, a little panic, fear, joy, pride, happy, disbelief.
This is the weirdest day of my life. and Simon L was right!
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| Tuesday, 14-Nov-2006 22:22 |
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London WC2
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and the London thing continues
I recommend Museum Mile if you don't want to miss anything out in your London discovery quest
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| Monday, 13-Nov-2006 11:03 |
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as Idlan puts it, "Idlan & Syitah's day of fun"
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to the Tate Modern & the British Science Museum we went
persuaded Idlan to make a short detour by walking along the Queen's gate - revisit the apartment where I used to live many years back. good old memories.
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| Sunday, 12-Nov-2006 10:14 |
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Auf wiedersehn & Danke
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Linz on one gloomy Sunday afternoon
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they are like a family to me
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The day I flew back to where I call home.
From Linz to Wels to Wien to Salzburg and back to Linz in 4 days. It's a quick get away after all. But definitely worth it.
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| Saturday, 11-Nov-2006 10:39 |
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Salzburg
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I almost abandoned my plan to Salzburg today because of the sore and tired legs from yesterday. But then I asked and reminded myself, that I always wanted to go to Salzburg to see it with my own eyes the places where the magic of Sound of Music took place. Plus, I don't know when I will get the opportunity to come again to Austria, or to Salzburg particularly.
The journey from Wels to Salzburg was shorter from Wels to Wien. This time the train headed east. After about an hour, the train arrived at Salzburg hbf. I quickly went to the Tourist information to get hold of Sound of Music tour ticket. She asked whether I'm a student, because I'm entitled to pay 5 Euro less. Despite the failure to show her my valid student ID (the one that I have with me is already expired), she took my words. I'm so going to miss being a student!!!
I first watched the Sound of Music when I was just a little girl. I don't know why, but this film is very special to me. Of all songs, I love do-re-mi song the most. It makes me smile, even to this day. I always wanted to go to Salzburg, but after watching 'How to solve a problem like Maria' program on TV, I knew I had to make it happen. So I did.
amongst the things I learned from this tour:
- the locals have no clue whatsoever about the movie, the Sound of Music. but they do know about Maria von Trapp. she's real.
- the gazebo where Liesl sang "sixteen going on seventeen" was purposely built for the film. it is now located in the park instead of next to the house
- the house we see in the film is not real. it was a studio set.
- the yellow big mansion (house) belongs to von Trapp is a private house. this yellow buildings can be seen in the scene where Maria sings "I have confidence"
- the scene where the kids and Maria paddling the canoes was shot behind another private house
- and pls dont be mistaken. Edelwiess is an American song! not the national anthem of Austria!
other trivia can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Music
what's next? I'd love to go and see the play 
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| Friday, 10-Nov-2006 23:48 |
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Wien
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6 hours was all it took me to discover Vienna on foot! - well, minus the Mozart opera, Schloss Schönbrunn & Prater's ferris wheel
 
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