Christmas Carols

*Shocked*

It was 11.30am when i woke up. Seldom slept till this late in Finland.

Skyped with my family today. Couldn't talk very loudly because my room mate is still sleeping. Everyone just came into the window and disappear again. So sad that i have no web cam.
Heard my dad's explanation on sea and boat. wow... that was really something i haven't been hearing for a long time.

And my mother chose to watch her korean drama over me.

Received the invitation card from Liisa to go to her Christmas carols concert in the Lappee Church.

Christmas trees all around Lappeenranta. No wonder it is the Christmas country.

It was raining quite heavily actually. But i was too well wrapped to feel anything.
What has happened to my snow?!

Met Young Shin and Ji Young there!

They are with their host family.

It is really a pity that i don't understand the language. They sang really beautifully. I have never heard it in real life. This is my first time. Quite amazing to hear the different kind of voices portraying such a wonderful music.

Only in the middle of the concert, Liisa found us. Guess it is quite easy to find 2 asian girls among the hundreds Finns.

But it was so difficult for us to find her after the concert. Took us quite so time to see her. No, actually she was the one to find us. Invited us to her house!! Ladies Night! Martti went to Riihimaki.

Baked the pancake while we watched her concert video.

Our dinner!

Pancake with apple sauce.

Really delicious. or am i too hungry?This apple sauce smell so good and taste so good!

This is the Christmas pastries for the Finns.
Tastes really good too. But the black sauce a bit unique. Never tried it before. Not that it is not nice. It is just that i am new to it.

Berries!
Asked her for the recipe to make berry juice.
And we ended up eating the berries. Frozen berries.

Felt quite bad that we drank most of the juice. But drinking milk is really better when we are eating those pastries.

Always felt so full and sleepy after going to her house.


Didn't have any luck after the visit to her house.
I was looking into my cupboard for supper. And my head hit against the cupboard when i am about to stand up. Saw million stars and now i'm having a headache. Hope it doesn't swell. No money to waste an egg on this.

*Ding*
Normally it should be the irritating buzzing sound which means they presses it outside the apartment building.
But *ding* means the person rang it directly on our door. Didn't bother much as i thought it would be someone i know. But on second thought, it was almost 12mn. Who would be ringing our door bell!

Then i heard FR talking to a guy. I couldn't hear the conversation clearly. Then i heard FR calling me. When i went out, I was shocked! A guy who looked so pale and drunk. Telling us that he doesn't have shoes and have no place to sleep for the night. Was asking if we can let him stay for a night. Of course not! So glad that he turned away.

*Ding ding*
Door bell rang twice!
FR and I immediately hide in my room. Too afraid. hahahaha...
Now our only worry is that Edita is not home yet and she did not bring her mobile phone.

Hope that guy is not sleeping at the corridor.

Drinking Buddy

Happy Birthday, my drinking buddy!!
Many thanks for being there whenever i need.

Have fun at your party!

Thursday craze

Went to school alone at 7.30am!
The sky is still pitch dark and it is raining.
Not drizzling. Quite heavy actually. Got to use my umbrella.

And when i walked home, the sun haven't even rise!
Without the sun, my mood seemed to be down.

Met up with Liisa and Martti after maths lesson.
Liisa drove her car to fetch us from school!
Never had this experience.
Felt so good.

The kitchen is back!

Am i too hungry?
Ate double share for everything.

Received finnish training from Liisa. Intensive training! Taught us finnish words for the furniture. Forgot most already. But it is quite funny.


No idea why i kept getting headache after my trip to Paris.
Sigh...

CSR seminar

Had CSR seminar just now.
Free kahvi and pulla.

But we had to divide into groups and role play.
We got the metric group. ISO, EMAS, GRI etc...
My brain is not awake yet. Totally can't catch anything.

I'm only awake when they chatted about the organic food.
Forgot what is the question.
But the teacher was like talking about only 2.5% of the food is given to the farmer. And Johannes said it is the same for music company. Totally agree!

And organic food can be twice more expensive than the normal food. Why?
Why companies can't put words into action?
If they are really concern about the environment, they should encourage the consumers by reducing the price of organic food rather than raising the price.

Yes, it is all a matter of choice.
But for poor students like us, of course we would get the cheapest. Why would we go against money?

So is company all about talks? They don't really mean it. They just want profits afterall. I think the answer is yes. This is business, not charity.


Chatted with Arnanti just now!

Confirmed!

My Brighton trip is confirmed!
A 4 days trip at her place!
Woohoo!!!
Really can't wait to go.
The London that i looked forward to most.


My ah ma can skype leh!
Felt so heartwarming to hear her laughter after such a long time.


阮是阿嬤的囝仔

Was wondering why Nee chan always cannot hear my voice when i skype with her. But the truth is, she did not adjust her skype settings.

Post Paris symptom

Woke up at 11am to wash my clothes and 3 sets of bedsheets.
*yawn*

It is super heavy.
And i spent almost 1 and 1/2 hours smelling the washing powder smell.

I missed the weather in Paris.

Paris Day 1

17/11
Finland-Paris

Here we go!

Set off from Lappeenranta.
I have no idea how did i managed to wake up and catch the first train at 6.20am.

The train ride lasted more than 2 hours. And it is not comfortable at all!

We had to take bus 615 to Vantaa Airport. Lasted 40 mins.
All these rides caused serious gastric for mw at the airport. I thought i'm going to faint from the pain any moment. sigh...

Took KLM to transit at Amsterdam.
Nice plane, nice breakfast.
Cured my gastric.

Lamb!!!
Quite alright actually. Not as bad as i thought it will be.

We were sitting next to the wing, which is at the emergency exit. The seats are very spacious. Since it is the emergency exit, the stewardess explained some stuff to us.

I'm quite impressed at their English actually.

Amsterdam Airport

Next, taking AirFrance to Paris, CDG Airport.
No idea what snack is this. Tasted weird.
but we don't care. don't waste food.

I drank the Tomato juice! They gave me salt. So i assumed that i am supposed to add salt in the juice. Well, it taste quite good. wahaha...

Ticketing machine.

Where are our bags?!

Our bags seemed to like Amsterdam so much that they stayed there without us. So we got this toiletries kit from AirFrance.

We were quite glad actually. Since we do not have to carry the heavy bags.

The metro in Paris is actually quite easy. Just follow the colours and numbers.
but it stinks. really stink.
so if you want to find the metro, just follow the ''scent''
Most of the time we are traveling underground and the ventilation is no good at all..
Kept smelling the same scent.

The big shopping mall. Nice right? with all the lighting.

Had mac for dinner. we are too tired and hungry. couldn't walk further to search for better shops.
Their window display!

Opéra de Paris Garnier

Paris Day 2

18/11
Louvre Museum - Pont Neuf - Notre-Dame Cathedral - Musée d'Orsay - TourEiffel - Arc de Triomphe - Champs-Elysées

Woke up early because we have so many place to go!!!

No time to waste.

Wanted to buy those bus tour but we went there too early. it is not open yet.
So we began to wander around.
Somehow we started our walking journey and save the bus tour money.

Louvre Museum

I kept thinking that this is the big green rubbish bin i always see in Singapore. It is actually those roadside stall.

Pont Neuf
Which means New Bridge in French.
It is the first bridge that has no houses built on it and first bridge to have pavement.
Notre-Dame CathedralReally love the weather in Paris.
Can truly enjoy the autumn unlike in Finland.

I love this cathedral. Full of coloured-glass window.
Saw this?
The real Paris. Full of pigeons.

Streets of Paris.
According to FR, this area is more of a students street.

We were starving!This is really huge!
and i ordered it with hot spice. -_-
It is hot but in a weird way. couldn't continue eating eat though i don't want to waste food.

Musée d'Orsay
It is a museum that was originally a grand railway station in the 1900.
The cakes really really looks delicious.
It is so crowded inside!

When i googled it, i realised that Gosselin is the Grand Prix winner of the city's best baguette in the Paris award. *shocked*
and it only have a life span of 6 hours!We kept wandering till we came to this place.

Must be some government place because all i saw are the expensive cars and expensive restaurants.Wonder what is all this doing in the middle of the road. Protesting?


After million years of walking, we finally reached the Eiffel Tower. My legs are almost breaking.woohoo!! tickets to go up!
Wanted to get tickets to the 3rd level but it is not available.Have to take a lift up.Very very cold!Whenever i looked up, my legs went wobbly. It is so scary!!!
There is an entrance to go to the 3rd level but we are too scared. But it is nice huh..Conclusion: similar to Tokyo Tower but somehow the feeling is different. it is more majestic.

Water can even seep through the gaps!

Found this while looking for the metro.
Once again, my legs almost gave way.

My dear friends, travel while you are young.

After the Eiffel Tower, we began to worry about the camera batteries! Luggages haven't arrive and i couldn't charge the batteries. ):
Luckily i have another one but it doesn't seem to be able to last that long.

Arc de Triomphe!We took this while standing in the middle of the road. The best view to take Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées.

Champs-Elysées is a high end shopping district that stretches from Arc de Triomphe to the Place the la Concorde.Nicest and cleanest underground passage in Paris.

The spiral up the Arc de Triomphe.
234 steps.

They had some event that night. Lots of soldiers in uniform. But we didn't want to waste the batteries. So no pictures of them.

Champs-Elysées

Now i know why is Paris known as the city of lights.No time to spare. Off to next stop!

Walked along Champs-Elysées. It is like Orchard Road. But a Orchard Road filled that has installed air-con.Got attracted by this bread shop.
Bought our dinner here.
Just after i took the first few bites, a french guy came up and chatted with us.
French is a foreign language to me so i left the communication to FR.
Really can't understand but they seem to be chatting happily.

Bon Appetit!
FR told me the guy was asking if we are students. are we on holiday? are we alone or there are other friends.

Somehow the communication got a little weird. He pointed to his ring finger then point to FR. Asking if we are married?

But he is really nice. Warmed our hearts with "Bon Appetit".

Christmas market but it is not opened yet!


On our way to Lourve Museum!Back to Pont Neuf to take picture
FR battery dead.
And mine almost.

Ok. Finally reached our final destination. Wednesday night is cheaper and it is open till night time.Mona Lisa.
Totally agree with cws. Why is this picture famous?

Even the ceiling is so beautiful.

wow!Wanted to see this statue but it is closed for renovation. ):
On purpose huh...choose the cheapest ticket day to renovate this area.

There are lots of artist sitting in front of the statue or painting and started to draw. I can imagine my brother sitting there and starting to draw. How i wish i had the time to sit there and enjoy the arts too... This art museum is the best museum i have ever been too. Totally amazed!
Every section is full of surprises and full of amaze...
It is really worth the money!


Only regret is that batteries dead. Couldn't take more pictures. who can i blame but myself.. why did i put the 3rd battery in my luggage!! and why did AirFrance failed to deliver to our accommodation earlier!! sigh...

Had lots of complaints when we return to our accommodation. I think we are too tired. Legs are breaking, batteries not charged and we haven't bath! sigh...

We are really terrible that night.. Or rather it is me. After i bath and wash up, i refused to get out of my bed. Luckily i have placed everything near my bed so that i do not need to step out. It is really tiring to even move my butt.