Mr. Yay's life in Hong Kong...

Hi everyone! Its been like what, DAMN LONG since I've posted anything here. But Hong Kong has been a really pleasant place and now that I've about what, a month left on my exchange, I shall do a post-mortem on my experiences thus far.

Initially when Mrs. Yay and I were going to different places, it kindda stung a little in my heart, and I really wanted to head out to Europe and like, leave Asia. I mean, I've been in this part of the world for like, so damn long?!

Now that I look back at the past 4 months, I don't think I'll trade having exchange in Hong Kong for anything else in the world. I mean, all it took was an open mindset. not all things turned out as I expected... But it was an experience worth experiencing.

There are too many pictures so, I don't think I'll post them all here, but here's a very famous spot in Hong Kong...

Victoria Harbour, taken from Tsim Sha Tsui

Well, this whole exchange journey has been nothing short of exciting. I do feel that I've changed, be it for the better or for worse (better I hope). There were targets that I managed to achieve... Things that I've tried, friends I've made along the way and most importantly, memories that I've forged and will never ever forget. =)

Gosh, lengthy and emo post but I guess it's good to reflect once in a while and I'd say I've thoroughly enjoyed myself thus far. 

Here's Mr. Yay signing off, peace out. 

mr. yay

Life in Eindhoven

Mrs Yay here writing from Eindhoven right now.

Currently here on a student exchange for the next 6 months and I miss home already... :( anyway, this post is not about being homesick but to let you into part of my everyday life here!

Eindhoven is a beautiful small city in Netherlands and I have finally more or less settled down here :)

#Accomodation
Hereby introducing you to my new apartment!

small cosy kitchen where I do most of the cooking :)

Living area for 3 persons :)

My compact and cosy room, with garden access! I actually have a whole garden to myself.

Still trying to learn how to tidy up the soil stuffs, its currently in a mess right now. oops :X

I still remember my first days in this city. First impression was that it was not as European-ish as I thought out to be. It is actually rather urbanised, with buildings and proper pavements and all. They have Primark (retail outlet) which sells low quality but super cheap clothes! The restaurants here looked more or less like pubs and bars from Singapore, so I got that going for me.

But... the prices of things were like $$$$$!

The next few weeks of meals that followed was just fries, fries fries... then bread bread bread... just cos those were the only things that seemed affordable and value for money. This messed up situation lasted all the way till second week of school when I entered the realm of self-cooking...... :D


#Food
Look at all the dishes I can whip up easily now.
      
        
     

Just look at my beginner achievements! Japanese gyozas, wanton mee, beef steak, pastas and all... I'm impressed by my transformation in just 1 month.  All thanks to the pricey outside food here compared to Singapore hawkers -.-"

Time to up my game! I tried simmering vinegar pork shoulder yesterday and it was oh-so-awesome! The fats literally melted in my mouth omgosh... Time for a career switch, LOL. #quarterlifecrisis

#Friends
Anyways, other than food, So far I only met a few European nationalities I would call them "friends" in my stay here so far. One German flatmate, 2 Turkish girls, 1 Italian, and that's about it. The rest feels so far apart. I'm not saying they are racist or anything but they just don't feel welcoming. Oh well, #lifeofanasian in an angmoh-land. :/

I have settled down with a comfortable group of friends from NUS. It consists of 5 Singaporeans, 1 Malaysians, 1 Indonesian, 2 Chinese, 1 Indian. We would go grocery shopping, do Friday dinners together, and explore Europe together! :D

Most of the time we are still doing our own stuffs but weekly gathering with this group of friends is what has kept me sane (cos' I was super homesick) for the past few weeks. Thank you people :)

 You can take them out of Singapore, but you cannot take the Singaporean out of them. 

- Ahbishek

Yay to more Friday asian dinners together ^^

#School

Technical University of Eindhoven, the school I will be situated at for the next 6 months. 

School-wise, I would think that their bachelors standard is slightly below NUS standards, but since I am doing non-core modules here, everything is so tough!!! BOOOO :( Coming from mechanical engineering background, but studying about psychology and chemical systems?!?! nuff said.

One thing I noticed about the education culture is that people don't usually stop at Bachelors, they go on for Masters Course. Stressed much. That being said, even though Masters is the norm here, but the rigour of the courses are actually equivalent to Bachelors courses in NUS. Might wanna consider doing masters here.

#Travel
Leaving my footsteps everywhere ever since I have been here. :) Planning for more adventures ahead! Here are my routes that I have gone or planning to go to :)

February = Finland (City), Iceland (Reykjavik), Germany (Berlin), Netherlands (Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Roermond)
March = Germany (Munich, Triberg), Belgium (Brussels, Ghent, Blankerberge, Brugge, Antwerp), Netherlands (Amsterdam, Den Haag)
April = London (City, Brighton), Czech Republic (Prague), Hungary (Budapest)
May = Italy (Rome)
June = ??
July = ??

Current Count: 9 countries, 21 cities :)

Posts will be up individually for the different countries/cities soon :D Stay tuned!

Long Distance Relationship

Hello once again! Mrs Yay here~


We're separated into different worlds now. Mr Yay's left for Hong Kong and he is going to be there from Jan to May, while I will be going to Eindhoven Netherlands from Feb to July! You can expect overseas posts coming up on this blog very soon ;)

Having mixed feelings about this. Happy on one hand cos we get to learn to be independent and experience overseas exchange and all, but sad cos I am missing him so much! :(

Anyway, this post is going to be about how we plan to maintain this Long-Distance Relationship. (I know 7 months is not very long lah.. but still.. ) Here goes!

#1 Lay out the rules - text everyday!
I am not going to care about time difference or whatsoever. Set a mutual agreement between you two for a compulsory good morning and good night text everyday! Tell each other how your day went, and share what kind of food you eat that day, etc... It is very easy to sound disinterested over text messages, so be careful! Be diligent to add in those emojis and exclamation marks! :)

#2 Facetime / Skype / Oovoo / other webcam facilities.
For us, we have a rule of Facetiming at least once every 2 weeks. But for the past 2 weeks we have facetimed about a few times now, hehe! Doesn't hurt to see each other's faces more than required right? :D

Unglam Mr Yay basking in Hong Kong's sun rays while I am still stuck in Singapore :(

#3 Tell each other random events that happened during the day... 
... as if you are leading the same life as before you were separated. & relate to something you both experienced before.

Like for example: "someone just farted on the train" & "can't beat your smelly fart the other time" hahahahaha!

#4 Create a game of tasks to do everyday
(so you are forced to think of each other everyday)
I think I'm a genius for creating this game. I actually wanted to give him a love quote everyday, but I realised its so difficult for someone like me who is not good with words and expression. So instead of love quotes, I set daily tasks for him to pick out in random order! *refer to the pic below*

If you zoom in, you can actually find things like... List 5 things you wanna say to me right now... Record yourself singing in the duck voice... and silly tasks like barking in the middle of the night... HAHA! I think it is important that you take part in each other's life even when you are apart, so even if it means doing silly stuffs, just do it. :) I included some fitness tasks like jumping jack and squats to help us keep fit too, haha.

Oh and please include this very important one, REST DAY!! Important! Cos you wouldn't want to lose stamina and eventually grow sick of the game. So you can include random "rest days" to just simply... rest. :)

Supply & Demand

It was one of those impromptu dinner dates with a little something special, the NDP 2014 fireworks display!!

SUPPLY & DEMAND

#01-13, Esplanade, Singapore

T: 6336 0588

www.cre8group.com.sg

Opening Hours
Mon – Thu: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 3am
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: supplydemandsin 

www.facebook.com/supplydemandsin

Email nzy@cre8group.com.sg for reservations and other enquiries.

Airforce, Above All

SO DAMN TRUE

For Him and for Her

Career in being a Cider Girl. (analogous to the Tiger aunties at coffee shops)  

Smoked Salmon

Fries that look more like wedges to me

artistic shot by le one and only...

Lychee Mojito

some badly taking shots of the fireworks to end off our amazing night!

That's enough for tonight, too full, food coma.

see ya!

-mr Yay

Last Stretch of Year 2, Sem 2

Hello readers!

So sorry for neglecting this blog!

Gosh, Mr Yay and I have been way too busy munching and studying away!

#lifeofanengineer

It is currently the exam period and our last paper ends next monday. Can't wait!!

This post is dedicated to all my fellow engineering students who are staying up late night just to be barely surviving in school, as we compete with the cray cray foreign scholars for grades!

LAI, COME AND PRAY TO THE BELL CURVE GOD. 

& MAY BELL CURVE BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOUR!

Check this funny animation here: PRAY TO THE BELL CURVE GOD 

I think its so funny how the joss sticks come out and really do the baibai thingy like how we chinese do it in the temples. LOL. Whoever created this must be desperate. (At the same time procrastinating, and definitely not doing what he is supposed to do, which is to STUDY!)

I went to google it and found someone who was that desperate to make a "Praying Altar" to offer incense to him. So funny haha!

Alright, off to studying for my last paper! JIAYOU EVERYBADEH!

Signing off, 

Mrs Yay

Breko Cafe & Sandwich Bar + Break from School

Well after what seemed like eternity, Mrs. Yay and I finally went out on a date!

It wasn't very romantic to be honest but we both ended doing what we both love best. EATING.

Breko Cafe & Sandwich Bar

38 Lorong Mambong

Singapore 277694

www.breko.com

Mrs. Yay searching frantically for something to go into her tummy

"Can I have everything on the menu, PLEASE?"

Paying our respects to Alcohol...

I'm not an alcholic

After her 1st sip, she was blow away by just how good this cider tasted.

"You sure the food here's good?"

Seeing doubles after the alcohol took its toll

Godzilla Burger, Beef and Chicken and Bacon all in one!

Just look at all them meat!!

Feeling hungry already!!

Honey Roasted Ribs, OH EM GEE

The meat on this one was really so soft and tender and OH EM GEE

Right, back to promoting the Brothers Toffee Apple Premium Cider. Now, why it was so nice was because of the added vanilla flavoring in it. Ladies out there, if you do not like beer, I implore you guys to get your hands on this one. AWESOME

Mrs. Yay high on booze.

Alcohol-withdrawal syndrome kicking in...

Ice cream dessert at Island creamery. 

-Mr. Yay