Ooh la la!

I have just watched this French food show on Discovery Travel and Living and I'm inspired to write something about it. Each time some wonderful croissant was baked, a delicate fruit pastry was decorated, a rib-eye steak was seared and herbs were sprinkled all over the meat, I shivered and looked away. It was just way too beautiful for me to stare at. It almost felt illegal. Feeling the itch to research more on this, I have first sought to find interesting and pretty pictures and it seems I have indeed found some of Paris, the capital of France.

The Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tour may be the ones you'd undoubtedly recognize, and indeed, they are as amazing as they look. Maybe even ethereal in person. I would have to find that out by myself!

Pictures credited to Xiaozhuli at Flickr.

Did the pictures manage to whet your appetite? Aren't those just little masterpieces? You can never really taste real French food unless you head down to France yourself. In this case, for this journal, it's mostly about the pastries. I have always been a fan of Delifrance, a French-style cafe in Singapore. I'm not sure where else they have them but I remember my mother would buy fruit tarts home almost daily because her office was right across a Delifrance cafe. I loved the chocolate eclairs and I can taste them in my mouth! For the top ten patisseries in Paris, visit this page for more information. I for one cannot wait to personally write a review on them when I go there!

The Neues Museum and Nefertiti

The famous 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti seen at the "Neues Museum", New Museum, on the so-called Museum Island during a media preview in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. Berlin's Neues Museum will be reopened on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 and welcome back the famed bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, more than 60 years after World War II bombing left much of the building in ruins. The building will be reopened after a decade of painstaking restoration work, marking a major step forward in a marathon project to revive the German capital's neoclassical Museum Island complex. British architect David Chipperfield reconstructed the remains of the 'Neues Museum', originally built by Friedrich August Stueler between 1843 and 1855. — AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

So just hours back, Queen Nefertiti's bust has returned to the Neues Museum in Berlin, German after a remodeling of the monumental building. How did I find out about this? Let me be honest—I am honestly not a news buff. I actually flicked over to the German channel on my local cable service and watched Deutsche-Welle TV for a while where they talked about the reopening of the Neues Museum. The thing that caught me was the Queen's bust herself. I recognized it immediately and I stopped to listen! Lo and behold, the news was up to date. If I never watched that, I'd never know. What an interesting entry this will be. ;)

Pictures credited to The Associated Press.

Isn't it beautiful, just one of a kind? She's in a bulletproof box, obviously, and one that's 4-meters tall! When I realized this was in Germany, I knew it would be one of the places I definitely HAD to visit regardless. I have checked and its ticket will cost me €10 which equals to approximately SGD$20. Not too bad to see the real life bust of Nefertiti and other amazing Egyptian artifacts, no?

If the ministry overseeing reconstruction is able to square the circle and all goes according to plan, in 2009 the Neues Museum will also become part of the archaeological promenade. The archaeological promenade will be an underground passageway connecting all the buildings on the Museum Island, with the exception of the Alte Nationalgalerie. It will integrate the Neues Museum as an important part of the historical architectural context of the Museum Island. The Neues Museum's restored, expanded, and new galleries will then again offer, as they did before their destruction, a worthy framework for the collections of the Egyptian Museum and the Museum for Pre- and Early History. Finally, the building will at last represent a lasting monument in stone for its first architect, Friedrich August Stüler, who wished that "the whole building should form a center for the highest mental interests of the people, the likes of which no other capital would likely be able to exhibit." — Wikipedia

An archaeological promenade that connects almost all the museums? This has got to be a dream. I would probably die from it . . . and in a good way. I can't wait to spend at least a hundred Singapore dollars on these things! I can imagine if I was actually there, I would be leaving my hand prints at every glass panel there is. Hahaha, kidding. But really, it is amazing. I have always been fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians and I've even written a fictional story or two about it!

 

 

Pictures credited to berlin fan's Flickr.

I believe it looks just as beautiful to you as it does to me. There are a few more pictures where this came from so just click on the credited link above! Come the same time next year, I should have already taken a picture of the famous bust and immersed myself in the wonderful Ancient Egyptian culture and what more at on the Museum Island in Berlin. I'm not a huge museum fan but these are some of the kinds of things I cannot refuse. I love history. Are you huge museum fan?

Money, the root of all evil . . . and happiness

You know how hard saving up for a trip can be, right? Most of the time, I'm bothered by it. I don't earn much, honestly, even though I work 8.5 hours a day and at least two Saturdays a month lasting four hours long each day. I don't know how many hours I work because I don't bother counting and being disappointed but I am sure it is very little.

My best friend who is saving to go on this trip with me has been successfully saving despite having to return money she borrowed from people. If I'm not wrong, she has been up to a few thousand US dollars as of now, maybe 3 maybe 4. As for me? I wouldn't even say. I've been working at this current childcare center for at least 7 months and I should have at least 3.5 thousand if I have been saving successfully as I planned half a year before. I shall officially reprimand myself. Where has all my money gone?

I have gotten a camera earlier in the year which I would need for the trip. I got it early. I am happy with it so that if I do get it lost there, it wouldn't be so painful for me because it would be considered "old" by the time I bring it around Europe. What else have I gotten? An iPhone for 238 dollars with a 56-dollar plan a month that I pay for myself entirely. That isn't half bad seeing how it retails for 1600 dollars normally. Let me tell you—I am entirely self-provided. I pay for my transport, my social activity, my phone bill, my shopping and my dream trip. I really wish I earned more but yet I have not been looking for a job elsewhere.

My goal is to—by the new year—find a better paying job that pays at least a thousand and a half. My current job gives me great lunch daily, is quite laid-back and is a 30-minute walking distance away which gives me my daily exercise. So far in 7 months I lost 7 kilograms which I am extremely proud of. My job is rather interesting. I don't type, I don't answer calls, I don't do much but teach the alphabet, sing nursery rhymes, feed, bathe and lull these kids. It's basically being paid to be a surrogate mother to 22 monkeys. (This job also tests my patience.) I do love children so finding a children-related job was the cherry on top for me but considering my expensive dream, I realize I need to do more and earn more. Much more. If this goes on into 2010, I might just only earn enough to fly to Stockholm and stay a night or two, the end.

I do not want to disappoint my best friend. We planned for three months around Europe. What is there to consider?

1. backpacking gear—$200—backpack, money bag, bottle, day pack
2. clothing—$300—winter clothing, fast-drying clothing, leggings, shoes
3. plane ticket—$1200—an open jaw flight to Europe (because I plan to fly to America after)
4. rail ticket—$1200—a three-month pass from Eurail
   
5. accommodation—$3000—in at least eight countries and fifteen cities lasting 3 to 10 days each
   
6. food—$2500—again, for three months at least (not counting the UK)
7. attractions—$1000—museums, gardens, castles, theme parks, festivals, clubs and concerts
8. extras—$500—toiletries, new clothing, transport, etc
   

Remember, everything is in Singapore dollars which is two times that of the Euro. The total I would need to save up is $10,000. I need to save $10,000!

Now, I have about 10% of that. Go me. In ten months I have to make $9,000. I have Christmas, my birthday, my year-end bonus and Chinese New Year to go. That would probably fetch me no more than $2000 in total. I would have to earn another $6,000. I would probably leave Singapore in August because it would be cheaper for me to go off-peak and for my best friend Ashlee to go because there would be summer deals for her since she comes from New Jersey.

I have thought of plus-size modeling because I am not size 0 or 2, not even 4 or 6. Despite this thought, I have not started looking. I could give tuition to little kids but I'm afraid no one would trust me enough to teach their kids or that I'm not educationally supported. All I have is an O Level certificate. I get my diploma only end of June, maybe July (and that's why I have to go only in August). I have thought of something in the events company but that means a flexible working schedule. Most of the time, I might miss classes.

The most important thing about getting another job is because I am so comfortable now with the distance and working hours and the fact that I have to come up with no money at all for lunch! The lunch by the lunch lady is just great. I save on transport because dad drives me to work every morning which takes only 3 minutes. I walk back. And I save on food and socializing after work. I probably save about $10 a day. That is great plus I get to lose some weight. I'm very pleased but I earn close to peanuts. I understand childcare is not the way to wealth but I love children and the work is pretty simple aside from the fact that I have to handle 22 lives daily. I got used to it.

Whatever it is, I am determined to earn at least $7000 by August 2010 by hook or by crook. In ten months. $700 a month. I would have close to no social life but I will save it all for Europe. I can do it. I will hound after job agencies and MTV and Disney and The Straits Times for a job related to my Mass Communications diploma that I would get by that time. After that when I get to Europe, I'll start writing about my trips. Hopefully I earn some readership and get GoogleAds and Nuffnang working for me. At least I earn something along the way instead of just traveling. In the end after, I would write a travelogue and send it for publishing. When I go to America, I would start finishing my novel, one of many I have in mind. How does my plan sound to you? Will I be able to make it to Europe at all in 2010?

I have wanderlust!

It's a fine night, almost thirty minutes to 4th October 2009, and I'm barely started with wŏn'dər-lŭst'. I'm sure it's complicated to write but let's just all call it 'wanderlust', shall we not? Basically, wŏn'dər-lŭst' is the dictionary guide to pronouncing the word 'wanderlust'. The first time I actually became interested in this word was when I was listening to a song by the German band Tokio Hotel called Hilf Mir Fliegen. It contains a line that was emotionally sung by lead singer Bill Kaulitz, "Ich hab Fernweh, Ich will züruck." Translated, it means, "I have wanderlust, I want to go back." There and then, right in front of my laptop screen, I realized I have wanderlust and indeed, I want to go back. Back to where, you may ask? Back to where I believe I was from, and was meant to be, yet have landed somehow in the tropics of Singapore. Just kidding. I'm a happy Singaporean but my strong desire to venture further beyond my region has been begging me desperately to reach for the skies, push my limits and save every penny I come across since the summer of 2008 so that I can make it to what I assume would be my biggest adventure yet. Since then, since I've heard that line and truly understood 'wanderlust', I knew I was infected by that wicked virus, that unrelenting desperation to book a one-way ticket to somewhere in the romantic Bavarian Alps, the freshwater in Oslo, the breathtaking coasts of Athens, the hustling and bustling streets of Barcelona, the picturesque cafes in Paris or rolling ridges of Dublin . . . as long as it was in the Europe. If I could just take a whiff of that continent right now in exchange for my waist-long hair, I would. I have even been considering to chop it off for a while now after keeping it for two years. I promised myself before I visit Europe next summer, my hair would be short and straight. As of today, it is slightly curled at the bottom and it is more than a hassle to maintain. I will also dye it back to black, maybe a dark brown. When I am in Europe, I will be what I was born as, a true blue Singaporean with dark hair and a cheesy accent that puts any other kind of bad English to shame. All that, I will achieve in about ten months by summer, maybe less. It depends on how soon I finish my graduation project for the Mass Communications diploma I am now doing at MDIS Singapore.

Let me tell you a bit about myself. My name is Ezabel Dominique Siek and I am currently 18 years of age, turning 19 on January the 2nd. I have an unending lust for travel but unfortunately due to certain circumstances, I am denied this luxurious privilege since I reached my teenage years. For a long time, I have been piqued greatly by European culture, history, food, and people. I have watched countless movies and music videos in my life and have witnessed enough to briefly show me what Europe could really be like. My favorite that I can remember now as I write would be the Dan Brown series that was made into a movie, obviously titled 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels & Demons'. It showed me how my predominantly favorite country France (and Italy, of course) can be full of mystery and history and adventure. However, my ultimate inspirational movie, the one that inspired me to take a chance years later, was titled 'The Spanish Apartment'. It is a movie whose characters have their life's stories intertwined, and all of them revolve around this main French exchange student who resided in Spain. A few quirky characters lived in one shared apartment and basically, it's every young adult's dream to live with so many kinds of people at once in an entirely foreign country with everyone speaking something other than English. Its sequel was titled 'Russian Dolls' and I loved it a lot, but not as much as the first which brought me the first experience of Europe I ever had. If I am right, I was no more than 14 at that time. My mother and I decided to rent the VCD at the local video store and there, the long-hidden wanderlust in me had been aggravated.

If you're somehow not excited yet, maybe try watching this trailer. Watch the movie as well. You'll love it. Don't ask me why I was watching an R-rated movie at 14 years. It was good, though.