Homecoming

Spending the last two days in Europe in Stockholm made the entire 5 plus months come full circle. It was just how I started my journey except that it was summer and in a different hostel then. The first day was quiet - I was exhausted after all the traveling, so I only went to the supermarket to get treats for the people back home and some dinner, then I spent all day in bed. However, I found out -thanks to Bryan - that Kata was going to be in Stockholm at about 8 to catch her train to Lulea after having gone back home to Hungary for the holiday season. Well long story short, she didn't make it in time for the train and the next connection left close to midnight, so we had many hours of catching up and hugging. It was perfect and I was thrilled to get to see her again :D

The next day I met Mel and James who were coming in from Stockholm and then went over to Emmy's for ficka before bringing all the bags I had left in her place back to my hostel. Then after some shopping (crazy end of season sales were everywhere) I headed back to pack and hit the sack.

Leaving the next morning was really uneventful. Have breakfast, say goodbye to staff and board the express train to the Airport. This time leaving was not as emotional...I guess its because I felt like I had no ties to Stockholm per se. But I love Sweden, it had been awesome to me. I spent thr plane ride befriending the lady next to me - and Iranian who has been living in Sweden for 26 years - and imagining what seeing my loved ones at the airort would be like. I couldn't sleep at all on the 10 hour flight from Stockholm to Bangkok, however the 2nd leg from Bangkok to Singapore was when I was terrbily sleepy cos it wad finally nightfall in Sweden.

But of course, I could not really catch my forty-winks. But all my tiredness melted away when I saw the beaming faces of Shaun, Rett, Arman, Sharm and Ipul waving hi to me when I was picking up my bags at belt 19. Oh it was so good to see them! Many hugs and loving words were exchanged. I missed them all so much. After lunch I headed home with Ipul and Shaun. Mum was waiting at home and I was so happy to see her...We hugged so much.

I spent a long time just sorting out gifts (Mum loved all of hers thankfully) and putting books and clothes away. Then my Cuz Lin comes over with my adorable new neice and shortly after my dad walks in from work. It was so nice to be all together just talking and sharing. Then I decided to go see my grandma and aunt who were delighted to see me :) I helped to take down their Christmas tree and was off to deliver gifts to Shaun's family before the both of us headed out for a little stroll :)

I think my first day home was perfect. Though I must say, the only downside was the realisation of my immense weight gain and the fact that I have to start dieting pronto :( Europe's cheeses, chocolates and breads did me no good at all!

The nervewrecking trip back to Stockholm

God always always comes through for me, even in the most desperate of situations. Like yesterday night when I got to Copenhagen at 6pm, I found out my 9pm train to Stockholm got canceled and there is only a 4:03am one. It was freezing outside - since I was already in Scandinavia - and the train station closes at 1am. Which means Gabriel and I would be stuck out in the cold for 3 hours. Plus I had already booked a hostel in Stockholm for the night which meant loosing $23 euros in addition to loosing my toes. I wrote an email to the hostel in Stockholm explaining the situation hoping they will not bill me for the first night in case they were the compassionate kind :s

So began the mad search online at a 2euro per hour internet kiosk for a hostel at walking distance as we would have to walk back to the station at 3:45am. Everything we found was booked and overpriced. And everything that was affordable and nearby was fully booked. So I prayed. And we found another website with the same hostel listings and guess what, the cheap and 3-min-away hostel we wanted, had room! More than enough room! In just 2 mins....however that happened I do not know, but I am sincerely thankful.

We we walked over, slept for a good few hours and caught our 4:03 am train. Im now in Stockholm in my lovely hostel called city lodge. Can guess what, they are the compassionate kind. They said that even though it is their practice to do so, they didn't bill me for the first night. God is so good :)

I have two full days of rest, last min gift buying and packing then its full speed ahead to sunny skies and warm weather!

Wurst, Walls and Warzones

This could only mean Berlin! Well ok, I think it is a lot more happening in Summer. I happened to be there in Winter, on a Sunday so I can't blame Berlin for not living up to expectations. But I did get to touch the Berlin wall and buy a broken brick back :D I also went to Checkpoint Charlie which was the furthest American outpost, just along where the berlin wall was.
You can still see the sign telling you that you are leaving American territory. I was told that during the cold war, that was where the Russian and American tanks were positioned pointed as each other.

At about this point, Vishnu, Gabriel and I were freezing our butts off so we decided to go in search of a Hardrock Cafe so that Gabriel can expand his shirt collection and we could sit down for a good German pint. A tad bit uneventful for a last destination, but it was laid back and relaxed, I think we all appreciated that.

Bohemia!

After being in Berne surrounded by majestic snow capped mountains I was certain no other locale would impress me. But Prague - known as Bohemia in the old days- was magical. Oh we stopped by Munich on the way to Prague. Either there was nothing to see or we were supposed to go beyond the main town center, I don't know...but it was pretty blah.

But back to Prague! We went on a walking tour and saw the amazing astronomical clock, music halls, churches, parlimentary buildings, cubist buildings and the Jewish quarter. We also learnt a whole lot about the harrowing history of The Czech Republic. Not only were they invaded by the nazis, just one day after a triumphant uprising, the soviets invaded them. They are in fact younger than Singapore although they have so much more history than we do.

I was most affected by the section of the tour held in the Jewish quarter. We were told that the oldest surviving Jewish temple in Europe is in Prague as Hitler wanted it to become a relic or museum almost for an extinct race. Can you imagine the evil driving this man? And yet Jesus loved him and would have welcomed him to heaven if he had accepted Christ....wow! The measure of God's love is unfathomable.


But I digress...It was freezing so at the end of the 3 hour tour we were just dying for a hot cup of coffee and a warm place to thaw out before going shopping! I went completely crazy with the shopping in the Christmas market in Prague because not only had I held off shopping the entire trip, Prague was also really cheap and their goods were authentic and traditional unlike the usual stuff you get everywhere else. I spent about 85 euros on shopping and food alone!! Madness.


Prague is a MUST SEE, for me it comes right after Berne. But if you prefer history, cheap eats and shopping to the alps then you can't go wrong with Czech Republic.