"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable."

-Clifton Fadiman-

--------------

The next day, our first stop was the Asamkirche. The Asamkirche is one of the most splendid achievements of Bavarian late Baroque architecture. Let me assure you that your jaw would definitely drop the moment you enter. The intricacy of the design is enough to set your eyes dazzling. The whole church simply rushes onto you at the moment of entrance due to the small capacity of the church, which is probably one main reason how everything seem so overwhelming that your neck would simply ache from all that craning as you try to capture every single detail of the church. Much as the design was done meticulously, I felt that the overall atmosphere of the church was dull and depressing. There was this heaviness that hung in the air, as though borne down by the considerable amount of carvings overhead. Furthermore, the colour code was mainly that of bronze and brown which sort of added to the dampened atmosphere in the air.




Next up, is the St. Peter’s church. Compared the earlier Asamkirche, St. Peter’s church exuded this air of tranquility which was greatly aided by the light coloured interior. The ceiling was beautifully and carefully adorned by colourful paintings that left me in awe. I love the individual statues that lined the pathway leading to the altar. They felt like guardian angels of sort. Oh, yes! The alter! The alter is definitely a must see. The high alter is amazing. It gives off this sense of majestic and might, which I just cannot place.



Thereafter, we climbed God-knows-How-many flights of steps up the Heiliggeistkirche, also known as the church of the holy spirit. The path up was not in the least treacherous but its narrow passages and steep flights of steps are enough to keep anyone from attempting the climb. Nonetheless, with much laughter and ‘some’ complaining, they were at the top of the church and boy, were they greeted by a magnificent sight. Not only could they see the Viktualienmarkt, they could see the bustling crowd at the Marienplatz as well! Trust me, it is VERY hilarious to see all of them stop dead all of a sudden just to see the Rathaus-Glockenspeil make its rounds. To add to the splendid view, was the Frauenkirche, also known as the cathedral of our dear lady. It was strategically placed, and no matter where one is within Munich, one should never fail to identify the two towers of the Frauenkirche. Due to local height limits, no building would ever be taller than the Frauenkirche which made it such a distinguishable landmark.




Finally, to end the day off, they decide to make their way back to the hostel via a different route, through the Hofgarten once again for the benefits of the two new visitors who just landed all the way from Singapore!




------------

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."

-Miriam Beard-

"And I'm super worried.."

”What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

-Vincent Van Gogh-

---------------

The night sky was still that of pitch darkness as she tossed and turned endlessly in bed.

“Go back to sleep,” she told herself, urging her empty brain not to wake up, fervently trying to suppress whatever it attempted to conjure. Too late. Everything came rushing, and hit like a hard wave amidst the serenity of the beach, attempting to drown her like the river rapids of the Niagara Gorge.

Annoyed, she pulled back the covers, but then changed her mind and decided to give herself one more chance.

‘Tick Tock’ went the clock. It was the only sound that reverberated throughout the room. You could not even hear the winds, and definitely not the traffic. The neighbourhood was still dead – not even the cicadas were awake. It was just, ‘Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock..’

She concentrated hard on the only item that diverted her attention away from the chaos of her brain.
‘Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock’
The rhythmic and incessant chant went on and on, but her brain refused to shut down, and soon grew louder than then chant that droned on and on. She turned – slightly irritated, but still convinced herself that she shall succumb to sleep soon.

She could feel the cool winds blowing against her feet. It was a cool night, but atlas, not a night of calm, neither was it a night of happiness.

“Stop!” she chided herself. Sleep, was what she wanted. She turned again.

Her mind was running on 100% power now, and the peacefulness of sleep started to seep away.

‘TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK’ the clock went on.

‘Sleep sleep sleep,’ she started to say to herself. She started to blank her mind, but it was a futile attempt as her thoughts merely grew louder and louder. And louder, and louder. And louder still. Soon, her chant went from ‘sleep sleep sleep’ to ‘forget forget foget’.

Frustrated, she threw back her covers and reached out to switch on the lights. One hour – that was how long she tossed about playing a game of catch with the evasive landlord of dreamland.

‘Forget it,’ she thought. Wanting to fall asleep now is akin to fighting a losing battle. She sighed and swung her feet to the sides of the bed.

It is at times like this that she really really really craved for a pensive.

---------------

It was abrupt. It came without warning. It was sudden. It was intense. It was shocking.

The winds suddenly howled, the lightning above seared, while the thunder clapped overhead. It was an acute onset of... she-knows-not-what. Frowning, she looked up and saw the ferocity with which the dark clouds gathered overhead. She was stunned and stupefied at such a sudden change of events. She slapped her book shut and decided that it was probably time to make her way back.

The leaves rustled and danced in the winds, with some rushing at her, stinging her face and arms in the process. Her hair ran amok amidst the winds as she desperately tried to walk against it. The wind was strong. Oh, trust me, it was strong. Soon, the might and power of the dark clouds were evident as the path darkened tremendously such that visibility was down to 10 metres at the very most.

She cursed the weather for its erratic mood swings. It was going to be a long walk back to the tranquillity she had earlier.

----------------

I just wish,
and fervently pray,
that history is
not
NOT
not
repeating.

---------------

”My mind would definitely be put to better use, if it were focused on studies instead of nonsensical and rambling thoughts like this.. “

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."

-Mother Teresa-

---------------

Thanks for the awesome week!!
Thanks for all the encouragements, and bearing with my nonsensical sian-ness. =)

The week was candy-coated, spiced up with amazing surprises!!
It was just simply, fan-ta-bu-lous!!
LOVES!


----------------

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

-Nathaniel Hawthorne-

"Because i can't sleep til you're next to me"

--------------

WHY IS LEARNING A FEW SLIDES TAKING SO LONG!!
GOSH.

KILL
ME.

And I'm hungry, and vexed, and hungry, and vexed, and HUNGRY, and VEXED.

ANNOYED.

>=[

And, I just realise that I've forgotten to bring back a VERY IMPORTANT item.
SUX!

--------------

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

-Martin Luther Jr. King-

I have amblyopia. It's the first time I heard of this word, by the way.

"If not detected and treated early enough, amblyopia can lead to a permanent loss of vision with associated loss of stereopsis (three-dimensional perception)."

Oh WOW. T.T

I have been living in a 2-D world.

Five Regrets of the Dying By Bronnie Ware Platinum Quality Author

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventuallyacceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friendsuntil their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice.
It is YOUR life.
Choose consciously,
choose wisely,
choose honestly.
Choose happiness.

"The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere"

-Vanilla Twilight-

-------------

On our first official together, we ended up at Fish 'n Co. Bugis!!! It being a Friday and all, we had to settle for seats outside, but it does not really matter when you're with awesome company!!!

Our meal was FILLLED with lemon butter sauce. Everything was literally dipped in lemon butter sauce; the prawns; the fries; the calamari; the fish; the mussels; and even the rice!!! But it was oh, so yummmy-licious!!!!!!

We ate to our heart's content before making our way back home.
A sweet and simple meal, and with pictures too!!!

It was the first time I attempted the seafood platter for two, and I definitely regret not trying it earlier!!! IT IS SCRUMPTIOUS!




^.^

---------------

"I'll watch the night turn light-blue
But it's not the same without you
Because it takes two to whisper quietly"

-Vanilla Twilight-

"All people want is someone to listen."

-Hugh Elliot-

--------------

Have you been invited to something just because you are friends of his/her friend, and not because you are you?

--------------

Nothing gold can stay
Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

-Robert Frost-

--------------

"Hermitdification mode switched on."

I ish very sleeeeepy.
I want sleeeeeeep
I ish craving for good 'ole peanut butter waffles!!
I ish grouchy.... 'coz
I WANT SLEEEEEEEEEEEEP..

"Totured by a silly thing known as CAP,
that constantly lingers by my mind.
It's frustrating and drives me nearly insane,
to know that i'm competing against time."

---------------

In a world where a simple piece of paper rule,
where no longer does anyone stay true,
how do we tell who rightfully has the capability and talent?
how do we tell who rightfully deserves our trust, and our love?

Beauty and looks may be secondary,
but it has an inherent trait of making the world go round.
Slim, slender, tall and elegant,
to these values we females are bound.

In this endless struggle to excel,
what am I to do, pray tell.

---------------

JIAYOU GIRL!!
Stop moping around!

Study hard,
Work hard,
Mug hard!!!

I believe in you.
Always have,
and always will.

---------------

"Talking to yourself is surely the first sign of insanity.."

As the sun sets,
Hall lost its shine.
What used to be,
never will be.

Everything's changed.
Nothing remains the same.

-A floater that never belonged-

"I woke up in the morning feeling kinda blue,
then i started planning what I had to do.
After all that is done, after all that is planned,
the emptiness persists and you wonder where everything went."

Jimmy please say you'll wait for me
I'll grow up someday you'll see
Saving all my kisses just for you
Signed with love forever true.

Joni was the girl who lived next door
I've known her I guess ten years or more.
Joni wrote me a note one day.
And this is what she had to say.

Jimmy please say you'll wait for me
I'll grow up someday you'll see
Saving all my kisses just for you
Signed with love forever true.

Slowly I read her note once more
Then I went over to the house next door
Her tear-drops fell like rain that day
When I told Joni what I had to say.

Joni, Joni please don't cry
You'll forget me by and by
You're just fifteen and I'm twenty two,
and Joni I just can’t wait for you.

Soon I left our little home town,
Got me a job and tried to settle down
But these words kept haunting my memory,
the words that Joni said to me.

Jimmy please say you'll wait for me
I'll grow up some day you'll see
Saving all my kisses just for you
Signed with love forever true.

I packed my clothes and I caught a plane
and I had to see Joni. I had to explain,
how my heart was filled with her memory
and ask my Joni if she'd marry me

I ran all the way to the house next door
but things weren't like they were before
My tear-drops fell like rain that day
When I heard what Joni had to say.

Jimmy, Jimmy please don't cry
You'll forget me by and by.
It's been five years since you've been gone
Jimmy, I - married - your best friend John."

Talent, oh talent
where forth art thou, talent?