It is just under a week now before I relocate to Hamburg to work. The journey on getting the necessary paper was long enough and I am glad that it is now over. I am actually looking forward on moving there as it will be a good change. It will be my first time living for an extended period of time in a non english speaking country and the arrangement is for me to be there for a year.

I am glad that there is a handful of fellow Malaysians already based there and also Song Yia. It will help me a lot in getting used to the culture. Germany is famous for their beer and also sausages which I love. It is also the season for their Christmas markets which I am looking forward to.

Back in Southampton, I have started cancelling all my utility bills and all prepared for my onwards journey. You never know how much stuff you have got until you start packing. I am also glued in front of the computer as I will not be having my internet connection when I am there. Depending on how things turn out, I might sign up for a proper broadband connection as I heard the wireless network within the apartment is quite poor.

Over the weekend I had lunch with a high school friend that I never knew was here. I heard about it a month ago and bumped into him by coincidence in a local Malaysian restaurant. It was nice to catch up and talk about old school friends and life back in Penang. We concur on missing the mamak stalls the most as it is the most convenient way to get a wide variety of food.

That’s all my random musings for the time being.

Cheers.

It is barely a week since Obama created waves and beat the odds to become the first black American President. Well, this has trigger celebrations from all over the world from Africa to Ireland. As a tribute to him, I am making a compilation of the greatest viral videos in the honour of President Barrack Obama.

Obama Girl created quite a hype and in return made herself popular.

I past Moneygall in Ireland during my week getaway there when the guide announce Barrack’s roots to Ireland. Here is a parody with regards to his origins.

Yes We Can – A nice tune made from his speeches. I believe it was produced by Will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas. This is the ultimate celebrity endorsement.

Hardy Drew and The Nancy Boys, an Irish band even made a record “Theres no one as Irish as Barack Obama”. It is quite a catchy tune to celebrate.

Well done to Barrack Obama and he is living proof that one can indeed provoke change. Yes We Can!

In a couple of hours I will be in the car with my colleague on a 3 hour ride back to Brussels where I will be spending my weekend at before heading back to lovely Southampton.

In Amsterdam, I was fortunate to be staying around the Red Light District where I take my evening strolls after dinner. I guess the call girls are either really busy with good business or decided not to parade themselves during weekdays. The weather was a bit chilly as well but comfortable for walking if you are well dressed.

However, it is still an experience to be walking pass coffee shops and smelling people smoking grass openly.

Well, it won’t be long till I head the road and we will be stopping for a bite along the highway at McDonalds probably.

That’s a quick update. Till then… tata..

Here I find myself in a hotel room in Brussels typing away. I was here when I was very young thanks to my parents but could hardly recall anything. The first thing I will do when I return to Malaysia is to look through piles and piles of photos to locate one that could hopefully refresh my mind.

The day started pretty odd as the first taxi I took refused to use his meter and insisted I paid 20 Euros for the journey. I was almost willing to pay him for the journey just to avoid the inconvenience of being left off the road and having to find a taxi by myself. Fortunately, he dropped me off on another taxi stand. Somewhat of an ethical taxi driver, I am puzzled. Maybe his meter was not working or he was a dodgy cab but I will give him the benefit of doubt.

I finally got into a taxi which could not locate the office I was heading to despite giving him the address. There was no GPS navigation system in his taxi and he relied on the A-Z map book. Flipping through countless pages with the meter running conveniently. I called my colleague which spoke to the driver and yet he still wasn’t sure where to go to. Eventually, I got where I needed to be. What a first day, I should try taking the metro the next few days and see.

The day in the office progressed slow and it is fairly a quite office. I had some shrimp dish for lunch and found out interesting facts on Belgium. I will be heading to Amsterdam tomorrow on the colleagues car to visit the office there. This will be my fifth time in Amsterdam. The first was when I was very little, secondly was a trip with my sister, the third trip was courtesy of my ex Boss where I ventured further out and another brief trip when I was visiting Rhineland in Germany.

Also, did I mentioned I forgot my jumper! So I had to buy one off H&M today. I have already spotted it a while back and finally found an excuse for it. The weather was actually tolerable but I should prepare for the worse. The hotel that I am staying was a stone throw away from Neuve Street which is somewhat the main shopping stretch.

That’s all for now as I have to catch up with some proposals that just came in. It is due for review tomorrow so I better start reading up. This is purely by choice.

Till my next post load of pictures. Take care!

Cheers,