Grays Farm

Before the day's activities, Lali made some amazing chicken rice with fried chicken. Yes, two chicken dishes with lots of vegetables and flavorful rice. Just amazing.

That's some really nice farm off Rances Lane, I'm sure. The family brought me there to pick berries and veg but unfortunately it was closed on Sunday. So Lali talked to the old lady manning the place and managed to get permission for us to roam the farm! On normal days, people were allowed to pluck berries and veg on our own just for the fun of it and we can pay to bring them home! Such a great activity, isn't it? Anyway, we roamed further out and found the prized berries! There were so many strawberries in season and we just plucked away (even though we probably betrayed the old woman's trust). They were the best. So juicy and sweet. Not sour. Not hard. Just perfect! I loved the reddest kind. The raspberries were also amazing and very sour and you can NOT imagine its freshness. The blackberries were not yet ripe though. It was a great experience. I was pretty tired out walking the whole field! And at the end, Shauna decided to nick an unripe corn from the corn field. Pretty awesome! It was a pretty awesome experience.

About half past 11 at night, Shauna and I headed to a pub called The Queen. The Black Horse was closed at 11 so we stayed at The Queen till 12:30 or so. I had to give my passport to prove my age. I was bummed I did not bring my identity card. :( A pint of beer cost me £3 or so. We talked a bit about life and the future. Shauna's really fun! So I drank at an English pub AND visited an English farm. SWEET! x

ONE MONTH!~

So it's August 11 2010. In exactly one month, I will embark on what will probably be my biggest trip ever. I just came back from Batam, Indonesia and I was disappointed that I could not find a vest there for the winter. Then, I decided that I will buy a vest when I go over to Europe. I've rerouted my itinerary once more and I'm sure it's going to be final. I'm bound to move around not following the plan but at least I'll have a guide. I know that somehow I left out Rome in between. I may need to cut down my stay somewhere else, probably.

So I will be spending three special occasions in Europe:
1. Christmas 2010
2. New Year 2011
3. my 20th birthday (2 January)

I'm kind of clueless about what I'm going to do on these dates but most likely I'll stay with my French friend Julie if she's going to be in town. She lives in Nice and I hosted her via couchsurfing at my place in May. Most likely, we're going to explore Paris together. I've set aside 7 days in Paris and I hope that will be enough!

The only thing I need left for my trip are spare batteries for my digital camera, and jeans. I have corduroy pants so maybe I don't need jeans. I could just buy them there anyway. I was thinking of bringing one main thick jacket, two inner not-so-thick jackets and one hoodie. And six tops, or as many as I can fit. I love to pack more than I can. I always have space. And I am most likely bring my dad's little notebook. I think they call that a notepad, right? Anyway I'll have that with me so I can write and upload my pictures into thumb drives. I'll also bring a journal.

...God, I am so excited. >.<

Me, Myself and I

25 days since my last update. And within these few weeks, I've received news that Pooja will be unable to go with me. She can only go for a guided tour with the likes of Contiki or Topdeck. I really don't know what to say, but I think I'll know what to do. Once again, don't rely on anybody else to make your dreams come true. You don't know how much it hurts to be disappointed again and again, over the same things. I'll take my own flight, find my own way around the train station, wake up alone in a rugged hostel, struggle to order a chocolate eclair in the middle of Prague and then sit down it the corner of the cafe as I people watch and wonder how I go there in the first place. Is anyone with me? No. Did anyone help me get where I am? No(t really). The only people I'd have to thank is my parents for sponsoring my ticket to and from London. 

Never, ever rely on anyone. You don't have to. If they say no, you'll do it anyway if it's what you really want. Because no one can and will stop you. This is your dream. You decide if you want to make it a reality. No one else.

Like I said, it was my original plan to go alone. Going with someone else is just a little bonus, whose offer I can reject anytime. If it comes, it comes. If someone can go with me, it's okay. But if I'm going alone, I am going alone. It's not that scary. I'm a big girl. I know what to do. So what if I'm going alone? I'm going to Europe. :)

Ceský KrumLOVE!

Flickr is good for a number of reasons. I wrote a lot of stories as a hobby about a year back and went there for ideas and models. They have countless excellent photographers that leave me awestruck. My favorite would be unedited pictures of natural scenery and/or buildings and monuments. It feels more natural that way. :)

By typing 'Cesky Krumlov' into the search box, I get so many amazing pictures. It's like I can actually experience Cesky Krumlov without even being there. (It is actually Ceský Krumlov but I'll save myself some effort by relieving the acute Y!)

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That's the beautiful Czech Republic in a snowy December. Isn't it just like what you'd imagine out of a storybook?

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This is another gorgeous view from what I think might just be from the top of an old bell tower . . . or a helicopter. :) Don't hesitate on viewing the photographer's page I've linked these to!

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Having some coffee alongside the River Vltava? This is what you get. Colorful houses more than pleasing to the eye.

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Here is an example of 'dressing like the locals' . . . or at least dressing like what people who go to Cesky Krumlov! The main article is Tourist? Where?! which you can find by clicking the link. Let me go a few more pages down and see if I can find a better picture.

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This photograph shows a group of people hanging around this place whose name I do not know. Someone enlighten me? :)

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Now take a look at this picture of children, teenagers, and young adults! Here's what the photographer said: "Take a close look at what the children are wearing to see what is "stylish" in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic in October 2006." It may be in 2006 but at least you know what's normal there. Just like most seasonal countries, no? Just ditch that nasty tourist cap that says Czech It Out home!

Now you know how to take advantage of a very good website. How well do you blend in in a foreign country? Write it in the comments below!