One Year in The Netherlands

I was on Whatsapp with my mother today after I wished her Happy Birthday.
I'm glad they had a special dinner together to celebrate this special day.
She reminded me about my first year anniversary in The Netherlands later on.
To tell you the truth, I have really forgotten about it.
Indeed, the same day last year. I was saying goodbye to my family in KLIA.
After hugs and kisses, I walked alone towards the departure hall with my luggage and phone.
I texted and talk to some friends and left with their warm wishes.
To be honest, I did felt scared when I finally realized that I'm going to be on my own.
No one will be there to guide me in a foreign country which is 10103.57km away.
But after being here for a year, Netherlands isn't that strange to me anymore.
I have been through all four seasons and I think I like summer the best.
Cooler days are coming ahead but I'll be prepared for it.
All and all, I have adopted a new lifestyle that is good enough for me.
I do miss home and they do me miss.

Anyway, my mum asked me if I will celebrate the day.
Since she reminded me, I've decided to make something delicious for myself.

Stuffed Paprika

Memory of Childhood

This is my second animated short film made for a school assignment.

The entire video is a compositing of different 2D images and green screen footage. 

I spent almost the whole week on this. 

Putting extra effort in searching for tutorials and applying the effects to layers of images.

The end results looks more promising.

Before Summer Ends

Purchased our day ticket, packed our camera, board the train and head west.
Our destination this time was Utrecth and Amsterdam.
We decided to travel together before the holiday comes to an end.

This was my third time in Utrecth, but the big city never seemed to turn me off.
There are still so many things to discover.
We took an alternative route from the train station, through the shopping complex and into the city center.
Our first stop was the open market which is always available during Saturdays.
We got ourselves some freshly made stroopwafel and headed towards the busy streets.

As usual, we walk and stop at times to take pictures of the things that catches our eyes.
Danika was doing street photography of stickers and graffiti while I tried capturing what I call "urban designs".

We walk pass big streets, through small lanes and also along the canal.
We did not take the boat ride on the canal since we have quite a tight schedule.
So we kept walking straight on the longest road that led us to the Miffy Museum in the end.
Danika was delighted as it was the place she longed to visit.
Of course, we spent sometime in the museum admiring the work of Dick Bruna.

It was almost time for us to head back to the train station and continue our journey to Amsterdam.
On the way, we came across some hobby stores that were simply fascinating.
Obviously, we just couldn't stop ourselves from entering.
The first one was a beads and accessories store.
They sell all the things that you need for making your own accessories, from beads, charms, chains to ribbons.
The concept was that, the store itself has a workshop where you can sit down and start on your project.
Don't worry if you're a non-artistic person, simply look around the shop and you'll find some inspiration from the wide range of ready made accessories.

The second shop that caught me was a small button shop.
It is almost like the button shops we have in Malaysia though.
Old and small but carries a wide range of sewing notions.

Unfortunately, I did not find my way back to the textile market this time but I'm glad to have discover these shops.

My Bohemian Pouch

I should have continue writing for the pass week but I was too occupied with sewing.
I had a lot of idea coming into my mind recently, but not enough time to spend.

I always wanted to make a bag for myself but I end up buying a new one all the time.
Up till today, I haven't got the chance to finish a bag.
I only manage to make a small pouch for myself.
But I'm really satisfied with it.

It's made with recycled material that I got from a jump suit that my sister bought hmm...maybe five years ago.
It has been lying in our closet for 'yes that long' years because the size was too big.
And last year, my sister sent it to me with the thought that I'll be able to wear it here.
No no, so it continued to lay in my closet until this summer.

Now part of it looks like this

Of course with the help of my skillful hands, my best assistant the sewing machine and also some embellishment.

The floral ribbon is a lucky piece from the scrap bag that I bought during my visit to the weaving factory in Germany.

Heat Wave

Today was by far the hottest day I've experienced since I'm here.
The temperature went up to 34°C.
I had two cups of ice cream to help me lower my body temperature.
But it was just temporary, I'm all sweaty and sticky.


I know I've been living in a warm country for 20 years.
But we always had the luxury of air conditioning.
That's what I'm craving for now.
Or I shouldn't pamper myself, so maybe a table fan will do.


My dear laptop couldn't bare the heat too, it was overheating.
The base was so hot that it would allow me to make fried egg.
And so I took the courage to open part of the base to clean the fan.
Sweep, sweep with brush and wipe it a little with a slightly damp cloth.
It's now running perfectly fine.

In Enschede

Once back in Enschede, I got a message from Danika and Gumin.
They were going to cook Korean food again.
I was too exhausted to cycle there at first but my tummy was growling.
So I unpacked my suitcase and set out to the north.

They were busy preparing  our dinner -- dakgalbi and gimbap when I arrive.
Suzi was also there as she's also back from vacation.
We talked while cooking until everything was ready.
It took us more then an hour to finish the gimbap.

As soon as we're done, we laid some plastic bags on the floor and had a little picnic in the kitchen.
We were all starving so the food disappeared from our plates quickly.

Later on we gathered in the room to watch some videos.
We also had the almond cookies that I brought from Germany as dessert.
Uncle Manfred's spritzgebäck is the best.
They love it as much as I do.

The sun set and that indicates the end of the day.
We went home with a satisfied stomach and a smile on our faces.

Going home...

Good time slips away fairly quickly.

My last day in Germany was no different than the others.

The weather was still perfect and I enjoyed the time I spent with my relatives.

In the morning, we set out to Leverkusen after breakfast.

Uncle Manfred said that I have to take a look at the Japanese garden since the flowers are still blooming during this time of the year.

I'm really satisfied after taking a walk through the garden.

It was so peaceful and calm to the mind.

I also got quite a lot of good pictures of the garden.

We went into town later to have some ice since it was quite hot outside.

I had spaghetti ice with chocolate.

Chocolate is my all time favorite and they taste good with almost everything.

Before the day ends, I met up with my cousins again and we had some food together.

They hug me as they say goodbye.

Packing the two bottles of homemade jam into my suitcase.

It is a gift from my aunt and uncle before I leave for Enschede.

I've always had a great time in Germany.

Learning...

I feel like a little girl again whenever I'm in a foreign land.

I keep my eyes open at all times to look at the things around me.
I had my camera around my neck and switched on so that I wouldn't miss any special events.
I capture the things that inspire me so that it becomes a part of my memory.
I pay attention to the information and stories that had been told.
I learnt from asking questions more often.

I'll grow to be a better person.

Back to nature

Took a walk by the Rhine river in the afternoon.

The sun was bright and warm.

The river breeze was refreshing.

The water was slapping on the pebbles under our feet.

Geese and ducks were running around, waiting to be fed.

Ferries arrived and departed at the small port.

Cars, trucks and people came and went.

It's nice to take a rest from the busy city and go back to have a good look at the surrounding nature.

Ben Ben

"Yein..Yein..Yein"
"Ja ja, Ben."

My cute second cousin little Ben.

He was with us this morning and we did some baking together.
He's such a chatterbox, wouldn't stop informing you what he was doing and telling you to do the same.
He's smart and obedient for a child at his age.
He's my German language teacher.

Hearts and kisses to you Ben
Cheers~

Müngstener Talbrücke

After admiring all the timber houses in Linz.

I had the chance to visit the Müngsten Bridge.

It is supposed to be the tallest railway bridge in Germany with a height of 107m.

The bridge was built between 1894 and 1897 by Anton von Rieppel.

The steel structure is hold together with a total of 950,000 rivets.

Urban tale tells that the last rivet fastened in the bridge was made of pure gold.

But until today, the golden rivet has yet to be found.

Starlight Express

Applause and cheers from the audience lasted for about 20 minutes towards the end of the show.
My hands were red but I just had to continue clapping them.
The crowd stood up and started dancing with the music, I was about the join the crowd and move my lazy buttock.

The performance was so good that I couldn't take my eyes off the stage. I would give it a 100%.
I also got to know why my uncle can easily watch the musical for 3 times now.

I really admire the enthusiasm of all the performers.
They sang, dance and skated skillfully on the stage.
As if they were enjoying themselves while busy entertaining the audience.

Every performers also had their own unique costume that were finely made to suit their character.
They are exactly like live locomotives.
Each and every part was finely crafted with different materials that I don't recognize.
But everything was pleasant and so lovely.
I guess I love their helmets the most. I wish I could have one of them as a souvenir.

Watching the musical in German wasn't as bad as I thought.
Though I couldn't understand a single word from the songs, I still got the message straight away from the performance itself.
The musics and orchestra was beautifully arranged to tell the story.
And my head is now occupied with the songs.

Lastly, I told myself that I should learn some German and watch the musical again in the future.

Fall in love

My visit to Germany this summer began in Linz.

It is somewhere near Remagen.

This town is located on the right bank of river Rhein.

My parents were there in 2009 and was fascinated by the beautiful scenery and buildings.

I am here this time and I have the same feeling about it.

I'm simply in love with the half timbered buildings.

That was how it started

Time passed in a blink of an eye. 

My first year of studies had ended about a month ago. 

Final exams and assignments all checked.

  

  ''The last theory exam was on a Friday."

I've got the credits that I needed to continue the second year.

  ''I'll continue to work hard.''

I've left my previous room and moved into a new room on the other side of the city center.

I've settled down in my new room and got to know my new housemates.

  ''They are all really nice.''

I've experienced the duty of a janitor in a Chinese restaurant. And I noticed...

  ''That is really not my thing.''

So I'm going to find some alternatives.

  '' Maybe I should make use of my talents.''