Memories of 2006

I thought the year 2007 would be a good start again for me to update my blog since it’s almost 7 months since I last post something here…

Friends have been asking me why I never update my blog and what’s the point of having blog but I never post it after that. There are some friends who encouraged and motivate, some asked for more write ups, some asked for pictures and some even teach me what is blogging about. Thank you my friends. I finally have the courage and the motivation to blog now *smile*

I was actually thinking how can I update all the things had happened and places I have visited for the past 7 months but I think it’s quite impossible to write about each places that I had been to or major events/things that happened. Moreover I’m quite lazy la. :P So, I’d thought a summary of my year 2006 would be quite good though…

From my first article, you should have known that I came to Belgium in April and my three quarter of my life last year was related to the journey of my traineeship here which is now a quarter to go. I’m not going to bore you with all the stories since the beginning of the year till now but I would conclude that the year 2006 is really special to me because there are too many ups and downs throughout the year… and this experience indeed what you called as really ‘Life Changing Experience’.

In friendship, I had a close friend whom I met here, the one who helped me a lot during my first few months here in Belgium till the god decided to take the faith of this good man to heaven. At work, I had a very nice manager who is my 2nd boss, the one who constantly care and gave me advices in terms of work as well as personal life till he got dismissed. Most appreciably, I found a very special someone who gave me so much impact to my life, the one whom I had the happiest and most special moment with until it was taken over by fate…

Relatively, I am glad and should be lucky that I have the opportunities to travel to many countries and had wonderful memories for each trip that I went to. In short, check out the pictures below and I guess they will give much better summary than words. *smile* For simplicity sake, I just picked one city for each country although I may have been to several cities in one country itself.

Luxembourg


My first trip out of Belgium with Ondra, Kartik, Shimoni and Rachel.

France


My most memorable and best trip ever… You can read more about it from the previous article (My Heart Melted in Belgium and Paris)

Netherlands


I was in Rotterdam for AI (AIESEC International Transition Party) where I met Tessa who was a trainee that I matched during my 1st year. Bonnie and RenBin was there too…a small reunion then. Looking forward to the bigger ones soon!! ;) On the right, I was in Amsterdam where I also met with another 2 ex-trainees, Karen and Mieke.

Germany


This is the country that I visited most. Picture was taken in Berlin. I went to Dortmund to watch World Cup when England lost to Portugal and Brazil lost to France. I didn’t go into the stadium to watch though but it was amazing enough to watch it at an open area with the big screen. I went to Bonn twice to visit Bonnie as well. *Malaysia Boleh*

Austria


I could never imagine that I will travel alone to a country but this is my ever first time I did it. This picture was taken by myself in Salzburg, the city of Sound of Music and Mozart. ‘terra kan’? :P

England


‘London Bridge’. Ersnt & Young RaBs (Risk and Business Solution) reunion. I met 2 of my ex-managers and ex-colleagues who are Darren, Azura, Zen, Mala and Wui Seng.

Switzerland


My last trip in year 2006. Picture was taken in Geneva.

Well, that’s really a short summary of my entire trips last year right?  I am looking forward to visit more countries after my traineeship here in April. Meanwhile, I am waiting for more friends coming to visit me in Belgium soon and I promise to myself that I will write more about it when the time comes… 

Looking ahead of 2007, I hope my wish and prayers will come true one day.

Also wishing everyone a blessing year and may you find true happiness in any sense of life. Happy New Year!

My Heart melted in Belgium and Paris

I would like to dedicate this to my beloved girlfriend, Wee Kin, who made my dream come true when I’m in a traineeship in Europe especially during our 2nd year Anniversary! Flying more than 13 hours all the way from Malaysia to visit me just for 5 days is something I can’t imagine or expect to happen just after 2 months of my traineeship in Belgium. We thought we are only able to see each other in 6 months time or after 1 year!

I started counting down the days of her arrival since 4 weeks ago when I know she will come to Belgium to visit me. Days were getting closer and closer and I was getting more and more nervous everyday especially on the day of her arrival when she reached Paris in the morning. I reached at Brussels Station at 6.30pm and waiting eagerly for her arrival. While waiting, I was practicing what to say to her when I see her or what should I do when I see her. Should I trick her and let her find her away for awhile before I go “rescue” her. Well, nothing happened to what was planned because I was just too happy to see her and straight away I reached to her to give her a hug when I saw her coming down from the elevator.

To share our moments together, the pictures below are just the famous places in Belgium and Paris…

Belgium


Left: First picture taken in Belgium at Brussel Midi Station waiting for the train to go back to Leuven. At that moment, I still can’t believe that she was with me in Belgium…sometimes I asked myself, am I dreaming or this is REAL?
Right: Our first candle light dinner that I cooked for her. Actually, it was my first ever cooking a proper meal for someone. Luckily, we managed to finish all the dishes. So, it wasn’t bad after all since her post-comment after the trip was “Nice, good food, the cheapest meal throughout the whole trip and I don’t have to do anything..”




Left: Although most of the visitors will be disappointed and it was my 3rd time there, I told her that we must visit the most famous place in Brussels, the Mannican Pis, as an evidence that she was indeed in Belgium *grin*
Middle: Met a Singaporean couple to take a picture of us at the Grand Palace – Grote Market, where the city hall is located.
Left: After buying chocolates from Leonidas, one of the most home-made chocolates in Belgium, I brought her to the Park in Brussels where we were just chilling out and checking out the Belgians who were lying everywhere on the ground.

Paris



One of the 7 Wonders of the World, the Eiffel Tower! As you can see from the picture, we experienced the day, evening, and night view of the tower. Although we didn’t manage to go to the most top of the tower, the evening and night view from the 2nd stage was still amazing.




Top Left: After walking for about an hour along the Avenue de Champs-Elysees and had lunch at a restaurant that charge 6 Euro for Coke and 4 Euro for mineral water, we finally reached one of the most famous the place in Paris called Arc de Triomphe.
This Arch is for the memorial to the fallen soldiers from World War I & II.
Top Right: Notre Dame – the most amazing building for her. We into the church and bought each other a different gold coin as a token of souvenir since this coin is only available at this church in Paris.
Bottom: Musee de’ Louvre – she find the museum is the most impressive place for her. This is place where Da Vinci Code, the movie was shot. We saw the real art of Mona Lisa! The picture was taken by Liv, who is from the Phillipines. She had helped us a lot during our trip too. Thanks Liv.

Dear, thank you soooo much for this wonderful trip together. This is definitely my happiest and most meaningful moment during my traineeship and I truly appreciate your visit here.

Looking forward to seeing you back home and also our next destination of holiday…

~ Love you dear…Miss ya ~

Latest news of my LIFE in Belgium

Dear friends, sorry for the long absent of me in updating my BLOG since I arrived here in April and I must say thank you to those of you who is still interested in my life here…

I know I have lots to catch up with my stories like my company, Leuven, events, etc….. but at this moment, let me just share with you my latest “san sin yit lat” news (in Cantonese – which means FRESH)

1 day trip to Brugge (one of the most beautiful city in Belgium) with fellow Malaysian Dinosaur AIESECers!! For those who know them, both of them were EB (executive board) in year 2001/2002….*drum roll please* they are Jennifer (LC UPM) and Chuang Yik (LC USM)!! A lill update or introduction about these people…Jennifer was a trainee 3 years ago in Belgium and now she is working in Brussels as a permanent employee while Chuang Yik was here to visit Jennifer for 3 days after his conference in Denmark. So, I thought it will be great to meet this guy since the last time I met him was 4 years ago in my first NLDS in UPM.



Chuang Yik, Jennifer and I at Jen’s House. Picture taken before I headed home to Leuven.



The view of Brugge City from the top of the tower. It is the most famous tower in Brugge and every Belgian will recommend me to visit Brugge if I am staying in Belgium. So, I climbed more than 300 small staircases up the tower but it is really worth it and it is indeed a very beautiful view of the whole city. The right picture shown is just one part of the city. *grin*



Due to the time constraint and the queue was kinda long, we didn’t take the boat ride and horse ride as well but I managed to take a picture of it though. :P I think the rides will be a good overview of the whole city cuz its one of those MUST DO things here. Therefore, I am planning to go back there again. Hopefully, with Wee Kin next time. *smile*

Man with a few words

So I'll let the pictures tell you bits of stories... (for now)

Walking on Brussels soil...

I've finally touched down in Brussels this morning (9am Belgium time, which is 3pm Malaysian time). It's cold here - but nice... (I have more excuse to hug the pretty girls here! *wink*)

Will update more soon...

Missing everyone back at home especially My Dear and my family.

Loads of hugs for everyone!