the spanish experience - zaragoza - the arrival
Monday, 7 September 2009
we met at the singapore changi airport 9:30pm for our 11pm flight. aisle seat, yay! ver sat beside a not bad looking guy, but who dont seem very keen to smile...
after 12 hours and 25 mins we transit at frankfurt for a hot cuppa chocolate
and we spotted beer in mccafe?
we travelled through a very very long travelator to our gate and up into the air again to barcelona.
they served sandwiches on the 2 hours flight which come in interesting packaging. every package introduces a different kind of food and where it originates.
estimated arrival at barcelona was about 10am and the sky was clear. i dont usually do this but i stick my camera on the aircraft window and started snapping away. not knowing what i was snapping only to learnt later that some of the views will be caught (on the opposite) on a church tower during the last days. if you look closely at the 1st 2 shots, you can spot the sagrada familia, europe's most unconventional church. construction started 1882 and is still now rising.
we finally arrived at the barcelona aeropuerto and searched our way to the train station via an overhead bridge.
human traffic would really be rendered much smoother if the boarding passengers would allow the alighting ones to get off 1st and not blocking the way.
whilst waiting for our train to zaragoza, we had our lunch at a cafeteria. we discovered the 'cheesecake' below, which unknowing to us at that time, would become 1 of our favoured food during our trip. except, this was not chessecake, its 'tortilla', spanish omelette of potato bound with egg.
after one and a half hour of journey, we arrived in zaragoza! spain's 5th largest city. it was also quoted that zaragoza is one of the cities with some of the most striking mudejar monuments.
this seems to be the shortest ride comparatively to other between cities travel, maybe due to the fact that this is an express train.
after some searching, we finally managed to identify where and which bus to take to the city centre, where our hotel is located. i wonder where the cable cars are heading...
our bus stop places us in front of this buidling. the 1st sight i took in, although it may not be significant.
as we search our way to the city centre, we passed this coin operated public toilet. i wonder if this works like those in paris where the door will automatically spring open if you are in there for more than 3mins...
it is said that zaragoza takes its name from the roman settlement of cesaraugusta, and besides being spain's 5th largest city, it is the capital of aragon.
below in the middle of the roundabout, is a monument to the martyrs, inaugurated 23 oct 1904. designed by ricardo magdalena and bronze casted by agustin querol. this monument represents the idea of immortalising the memory of the numerous christians who were martyred in the square and those who died defending their ideal during the war of independence.
as we walk along
still searching
we spotted our 1st chinese restaurant. along our journey, i realised that all chinese restaurant are labeled chino restaurante.
we finally found our hotel sauce!
although this city was largely rebuilt being badly damaged during the war of independence, the old centre still managed to retain some interesting buildings. which brings us to the next part of our exploration... Labels: life's journey, some happening
departures
Monday, 6 April 2009
i have never weeped so hard in a movie before. donno if it is partly because i am relating back to my recent bereavement. but this story is truely heart warming and relatable to how asians view this trade. i felt torn for daigo when his wife, miko, made him choose between her and this job which he became to find meaning to it.
the ceremony is beautiful and very much different from what we practiced here. will get the dvd.
"its a story about a cellist (daigo)who loses his job and must move back to his hometown. once back there he reconnects with his past, and comes to terms with his life, love and dreams. desperate to find a job, he answers an ad listed under departures, which turns out to be misspelled. it was supposed to say "the departed". the job pertains to dressing, washing, and putting on of makeup for the deceased before the funeral. it is a job that most people look down upon. at first daigo, also does not like his job but little by little he comes to a new understanding of it. the process of prepping the corpse is being previewed within the context of the story, and it is an incredible ceremony to witness."
Labels: reflections, some happening
Popo I Love You
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Sat Mar 21, 2009, the day my popo left this earthly world to be home with the Lord, after battling the development of cancer cells into her once healthy, strong and lively body.
For a moment after her passing, I was saddened not to be able to be there to say good-bye at her last moments. However, my chance was created when my uncle ask if I am able to give an Eulogy for popo. So although I was not able to say what I want to her ears before she went home, I am able get it out of my chest to say what I want and I know she is able to hear it from Heaven.
Eulogy for Popo
I am the eldest granddaughter. When I was asked to give this Eulogy, my feelings were halved. Half of me, I felt really privileged to be given a chance to express my love and what a great woman my grandmother was. Another half of me was afraid that my choice of words are inadequate to really express the woman my grandmother really was, the fullness of life she led, the circle of influence she had, the kindness and love she has extended, the numerous lives she has touched and impacted.
I address my grandmother as “popo”. But she has been more than a grandmother to me. I have been in her care and under her nurture since I was a baby.
She was my mentor. She taught me to be a lady, how to sit and cross my legs. She taught me how to tell time, through an old alarm clock. She made sure I did my homework before I play. I remembered there was at time whilst I did my homework in a room with the door closed so I wont get distracted, and I got lazy and started walking around, thinking she wouldn’t know what I was doing. I have not even finished that thought before I heard her voice from outside telling me not to walk around and finish my homework! For that moment I was amazed how my popo can see through doors! It was only later then I realized she saw my shadows from the gap of the door.
She was my storyteller and life inspirer. She loved to tell us stories, of her life before and after marriage, and the hardships she experienced when they 1st came to Singapore and when we were poor as a family. Through all these and more, I see her as a woman of great strength and positiveness. Hardly anything will ever bring her down or crush her spirit.
She was my provider. I remembered it was always the aroma of coffee and tea that woke my up in the morning was I was living with her. She is the 1st to wake up, whilst everybody is still asleep, to make sure once everyone is up, to have a good breakfast before they went off for work, and for me, to school. She will then make sure the house is clean, laundry is done, and enough food is cooked for dinner for all of us when we came home. At night, she is the last to sleep.
I believe if she is still around and this has been another event, she will be the one busiest, working to make sure everyone is being attended to and is comfortable.
I remembered when I moved back to live with my parents, she teared. She didn’t tell me personally but it was only after I heard that she treats me like her youngest daughter, I realized how much she loved me. And I know her love extends beyond me.
I thank God that she came to know the Lord 18 years ago, and her zeal for life has been even more amazing! She has been to more mission trips than I have! Her love does not stop within the family, but to the unchurched! Before she leaves for a mission trip, she will share with us where she is going and who she will be reaching out to, and you can see the excitement in her eyes. When she is back she will tell us of her adventures and you can see the passion in her eyes as she tells us of the next planned mission trip they may have.
I remembered there was once before she knew the Lord, I was a kid at the dining table giving thanks for the food. She jokingly told me the food was bought and cooked by her so I should say thank you to her instead of God.
But after she came to know the Lord, she gave thanks more than anybody else. She mentioned she was thankful to have a wonderful family, wonderful sons, wonderful grandchildren. I would like to say in contraversion, that I am the one who is truely blessed, to have a grandmother like her.
I personally believed she has been a great wife, mother and without a doubt the best popo I can ever asked for. She was the pillar and gel of this family.
I know she will be badly missed by all who have been touched by her life. Her friends, grandchildren, children and husband.
She seldom like to take photos, but I know we will always remember her smile, especially the sparkle in her eyes.
I thank God that she has left her bodily suffering and is now in heavenly paradise, without pain, tears or fears.
I just really want to take this opportunity to say out loud, "Popo, I love you..."
Your Strength Inspires
Your Positiveness Motivates
Your Values Instils
I Am, because You Are
Popo, I love you
Dear Popo, I will miss you. I know you are happily in Jesus Christ arms now. Love you. Le Jing
Dear Popo, I love you :) I know you're enjoying yourself with Abba Daddy now :D :D We'll meet again another day! With love, Le Ying
Dear Popo, I will miss you. Loving you always. Sophia
Dear Poh Poh, we will miss you dearly. Love Samuel
Dearest Poh Poh, may your soul rest in peace with our Father.
Dear Poh Poh, I know you're up in heave now, and till we meet again one day, I will keep you in my heart. Your grandson, Caleb
Dear Popo, You'll always be in our hearts. I love you. Jin Long
Dear Popo, I love you and will miss you dearly. Thank you very much. :D Jin Jyue
Dear Mother, I love you so much. Benjamin Wong
Labels: behind close doors, flashback, life's journey, reflections
the one when she is being saboed
Monday, 14 April 2008
kyreen's chat comment remind me to start blogging! hee. yes i was being saboed into a karaoke competition where i dont even need to fill in my own form and pay for the registration fee. my friends did all that for me. i dont even know what i am in for! but it was really an experience, at least i can say to myself i have done that!
i was nervous freak though! but i was impressed with my very calm mask! i thought i looked and sounded nervous, but people actually commented i looked like i was enjoying myself! i was flattered that some even 'betted' that i would go into the next round. i guess the best comment personally to me, was from a seasoned singer hinself who so strongly believed i will surfaced the next round, 'you are a great entertainer'... initially i digested the comment... then i thought to myself, i think i would rather receive this than just 'you are a great singer'. cos i figured with so many competitions going on, although some can really sing really well, but if they dont entertained the audience, then i guess the x factor is missing in being a celebrity. you are probably a talent, but not a star... hmm...
Labels: learning curve, life's journey, some happening, watering hole
journey down memory lane...
Friday, 1 February 2008
cny, means spring cleaning, means we pack, means there are stuff which we will dig out, sorted to throw or keep... there are stuff which we pack, then there are stuff which are very interesting to pack. i bought 2 new tall cabinets, which allows me more space for categorizing - one for all dvds and cds, and the other for stuff which will bring me down memory lane, like photos, cards and letters.
packed all my photos, next comes cards and letters, which is kept in this drawer which i havent sorted out for the past 5 years. i know it will be interesting, but i didnt realise it will be THAT interesting. the photos already make me reminisce, the letters, does more than that.
as i sorted deeper into the drawer, i relived my life. cards from appreciated friends, lovely parents, and the best were those from my past 'lovers' (you know what i meant). sometimes we forget who we are and what we want to do. and as we read all those goals we penned when we were young, we were reminded of our zest and enthusiasm for life! we slowly allow the positive energy to seep out of us unknowingly as we grow and face obstacles in life, so all these encouraging words really bring that booster back!
its truely an interesting trip, i weeped i smiled i laughed
Labels: behind close doors, flashback, life's journey
is availability all in a relationship?
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
as i sat down to evaluate how much of mine and other's friendships and relationships were formed, i cant help to wonder, is availability the key? no doubt psychologically we are first attracted to those similar or attractive to us, but much of the development lies to having time to discover more of each other. moving forward, you forge to a closer relationship, or realise there is not much futher to move on.
so in our rat race, are we inevitably only given the opportunity to develop relationships based on the compatability of time? so although there is someone who will forge a much better ralationship with you, because of time differences, this relationship will never come to existence?
Labels: behind close doors, reflections
sanity...
Thursday, 24 January 2008
if silence is golden... then to me now, sanity is diamond...
on the topic of gold - got news that gold's value is increasing. traded in some gold jewellery that i dont wear anymore. kept those with sentimental value though. mostly my childhood days and most or all gold pretties are from my popo.
whilst we are on this thread, usd is on a journey to devaluation. did a really quick plot and its on her all time low for the last 5 years and in these 3 months... not that i wanna think negatively on the us economy, but just for selfish benefits, usd devaluation is good in preparation for my nyc trip heh.
Labels: behind close doors, life's journey, reflections