by Dr. Randy Pausch who is one of Time 2008 most influential.
“Karma will take care of itself and the dreams would come to you.”
On a totally unrelated note, I love my 2008 Summer to do list.
Archive for June, 2008
10 things you should know if you are going to Russia
June 29, 20081) Start applying for your Visa first. Don’t purchase your air tickets nor book your accommodations. Heck, don’t even start planning for your trip before your get your Visa approved.
2) Get a Russian guide/translator. You are absolutely fucking screwed if your don’t speak Russia/have anyone with you who speak Russian. Receptionists at 3star hotels in Moscow speak English. Trying to make them understand what the air conditioning is already takes up 10minutes.
3) (For girls only) Prepare crutches if you intend to be in heels anything more than 1inch. Walking on clobbered streets in heels = pain that can only be experience and not described.
4) Only do money exchanges in banks. Because at least they are not likely to cheat you.
5) Learn how to read Cyrillic. Or else you will get completely lost in the metro (and everywhere else). Although being lost in the Metro is a damn exciting and surreal adventure on its own.
6) Russian summer are not warm at all. And 17 degrees feels more like 7.
7) Don’t expect souvenirs to be cheap. Don’t expect most things to be cheap in the first place. But they are not Icanneveraffordit expensive either.
8 ) Expect alcohol to be cheap. Vodka, vodka, vodka.
9) Muscovites are not the friendliest people on earth. Which can be quite a challenge when you are lost. But they are generally nice after getting to know them.
10) Get ready to be overwhelmed.
Gloating
June 27, 2008It’s bad but I can’t help it. I love the fact that:
- I’m busily doing nothing each day except watch TV, eat and sleep.
- my parents leave me alone even though I’m the hugest bum in the family.
- I do have work to do but I can choose not to do it.
- people simply assume that I have loads to do.
- I can laugh at all those who have sold their souls to corporations.
- my trooper rocks.
- summer 2008 is a million times better than summer 2007.
What do you want to know about Russia?
June 26, 2008Jacq is uninspired (and turning stupid. The most challenging question I asked myself today is what to eat for lunch. Hooray for REAL HOLIDAYS!)
So everyone who reads this, kindly refer to the above and help me out!!
From House M.D.
June 23, 2008Conversation between Amber and Wilson just before Amber’s death -
W: Just a little longer.
A: We are always going to want just a little longer.
W: I don’t think I can do it.
A: It’s okay.
W: It’s not okay. Why is it okay with you? Why aren’t you angry?
A: That’s not the last feeling I want to experience.
Kabul (Barcelona, Spain)
June 20, 2008I’m surrounded by people, yet utterly alone. I suppose traveling alone gets to me sometimes.
Towards the end of my trip, I want to say that I have gained some huge insight to life. I didn’t. Did I have fun? Of course. Did I have wonderful experiences? Sure. Do I still find human beings crap but am still thankful for all that I have? Hell, yeah.
Be back soon.
Barcelona: Where it is overwhelmed by tourists
June 17, 2008Missing home.
Missing SIngapore food prices.
Missing the BSM Russia people. (Although not the heaps of followups).
Now for real updates:
Met up with Shan (who already left). Walked a lot. Seen many Gaudi’s works. Running out of clean clothes. Falling sick. Partied once (and probably only once). Unimpressed by the obsession with partying. Surviving the cold (yes, Barcelona’s summer can be quite cold.) Enjoying the international mix in the hostel.
Fallen in love with Europe.
St Petersburg: Mad dash off the train
June 17, 2008Imagine 29 people waking up (late) then having to pack and dash off a train in 15mins or else none of us would have made our various connections.
One of the ten thousand reasons why BSM Russia 2008 is nothing but filled with heart-attack inducing moments which proved really funny thereafter.
