Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Surprises.

On the 16th, last week, i received a call at about 6am from Haikal (Sekapur Sireh, MS pres, Wak, where's the bus-stop), telling me to wake up. All the vulgarities i knew were at the tip of my tongue, waiting to be unleashed as it was after all 6am! But before I could do that, he told me he was at the airport in Amsterdam! I was pretty shocked, and in disbelief, it took me a while to comprehend what was going on. I quickly rushed to the airport, though throughout the journey I was a bit sceptical that he was really here. But indeed, he was. I was so damn happy, you cannot imagine. I asked why he didn't tell me he was coming, he said he wanted it to be a surprise. Well, it was a pleasant surprise indeed.

After that, we went back to my place, and after some hasty planning, we managed to book a few flights and bus rides around Europe. We eventually went to Brussels, Porto and Madrid. It was pretty awesome. Pictures, when i get back. We planned the trip such that we were in Porto for the Portugal game, and in Madird for the Spain game. And i can tell you, what we experienced in Madrid after Spain won, was just amazing, In all likelihood, we won't get to experience it ever again.

Speaking of surprises, it was a bit of a surprise that Holland didn't make it through, but at the same time, it wasn't too great a surprise. Holland always promises so much, but deliver so so little. Enough said.

I still have to bring Haikal around Amsterdam, so I cannot write too much. That's all for now. Have a nice day!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Tribute to a friend.

14th June, the most important date in one of my best friends' life. Ashraf (VJ, NTU, SIA scholar, tohari-someone-get-me-a-new-job-Paijan, aku makan dua)is getting married. Yup, that's right, getting married. I really admire him; honestly, if I had the money, I would get married too now! Anyway, i really admire him because he's sure of what he wants, and is bold enough to take this step.

Flashback to the last night of 'lepak-ing' for Sekapur Sireh before I left for Amsterdam. On a night where some Sireh members fell asleep in their jeans, some couldn't stay out too late, some brought their girlfriends along and thus had to return home early, some returned early to talk to their girlfriends, Ashraf was one the 3 (apart from me) that stayed on for the whole night; and thus became known as one of the trueblue2 (notice that even though there were 3 other people, the term trueblue2 instead of trueblue3 is used, all thanks to another inside joke courtesy of, who else, Mas'uud). So yup. This entry is for my trueblue2 friend.

If you're reading this, just say a little prayer in your heart, that insya Allah his wedding, and more importantly his marriage, will go smoothly. Let's wish him all the best for the new beginning in his life.

Apart from being a trueblue2 friend, Ashraf (or more affectionately known as Asrap) is also a fellow Holland supporter. Thus it's only right that I mention Holland's victory over France in this entry as well. (Haha.) Superb. Simply magnificent. The Dutch played oh-so-beautiful football, the way it should be played. 2 3-goal-margin victories over the 2 World Cup finalists, enough said.

I know I shouldn't count my chicks before they are hatched, but being a Newcastle supporter has taught me that if you don't count them when you can, you might never be able to! So yup. Campione, campione, ole ole ole. Haha. I was watching the match in a bar near my place, and i tell you, believe me when i say the atmosphere was magnificent. Amazing. The Dutch were singing that song too at half time, and of course after the final whistle. And I'm so damn glad that I'm in Holland right now, really. This is the best time to be in Holland since 1988.

A Dutch victory over the French (an emphatic one at that) and Ashraf's wedding (nikah today actually). A great day indeed.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Unexpected visitors.

Yesterday was quite a sad day; Jerome went back home. It was really a sombre occasion; me sending him off. It was all the more sad beacuse of the simple reason that I don't know if i would ever get to see him again. You know how it goes in uni, you make many new acquaintances, but very few new friends. He has been a real friend, one of, if not the closest one I've had here. I just pray that I get to see him again in the near future.

Shortly after the depressing moment, Haikal called me. He said Sarah (Noor, student council, and for sekapur sireh, Sarah kita, is in Holland and that she was trying to contact me. I immediately called her up and she told me she was on a Euro tour with her 3 friends (Izyean, Diana and Yanti), and that she was coming to Amsterdam in a couple of hours! I was pleasantly surprised, and I went to meet them. Was really happy i got to meet them. They did ask me to bring them to the red light district, though Sarah was very reluctant to go there. Haha.

Here's a pic, as "evidence" that they actually did go there. Haha. I'm in the midst of studying for my exams, so this is just a very short entry, to tell you guys about these 2 significant incidents.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Finally, Euro has come back......

Wrestling fans (WWE, not TNA/WCW and whatever) will remember that that is The Great One's catchphrase. I've been you-tubing his videos, and I feel so damn nostalgic. Wrestling just isn't the same without The Rock. I'm sure the wrestling fans among my readers (probably only Badrul!) can emphatise with me.

In any case this entry is supposed to be about the Euro. Portugal and Germany kicked off with wins, with the latter being more impressive. There are 2 theories on the Germans: 1) The Gary Lineker theory- "The World Cup (euro) is a long tournament, with many controversial refereeing decisions, missed penalties, injuries.........In the end. the Germans win. 2) The cockroach theory. The Germans are like the cockroach,whenever you have invented a pesticide strong enough to wipe them out, they come back immuned to the pesticide. The Germans always go in tournaments silently, without any fuss, and then they do their business. Which is why it will not be wise to bet against them. As for the Portugese, they do have the best player in the world, though I think he will not perform in this tournament. But, they still have the best coach in the world (after Kevin Keegan of course), which is why they cannot be counted out as well.

Well tonight, it's Holland V Italy. I'm a supporter of the Dutch national team, even before I came here, and my fellow supporters will remember that Holland V Italy is a match that is responsible for our most heartbreaking moment in football.

Flashback to Euro 2000. Holland V Italy in the semis. Holland got 2 penalties in the match, missed both. They hit the woodwork twice. They attacked Italy from start to finish.Italy hardly got out of their own box. But the match ended up 0-0 (even after extra time, "Golden Goal" as it was then), so it came to the penalty shootout. Well the Dutch are as good at penalty shootouts as the opposition parties in Singapore are good at winning elections. So we lost again. Truly, just ask any fan of the Dutch side. Unfortunately for us, that is the match that we will all remember most, for a long long time.

Group of death, who will make it? My guess is as good as yours, though i'm thinking France and Holland, though Romania shouldn't be brushed aside as well. Whatever it is, I cannot wait.

As for the other contender, Spain, they look good. I know people say this before every tournament, despite the fact that they NEVER do well in major tournaments, "oh, this might be their time," but hey, they do have a point this time (as always!). Nevertheless I cannot imagine Spain would win the tournament, despite Torres' form.

Considering that my predictions have turned out to, err, for a lack of a better word, suck, i shall refrain from making any this time. Let's just enjoy the carnival atmosphere, and some wonderful football.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Recent Pictures.

Just thought i should share some of the pics i have in my phone. The pics from my trip are mostly on my sis' facebook, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=524146692. Here are some of the rest.

My hot Italian lecturer and tutor.


The Grand Mosque in Paris. It's become sort of a tourist attraction too.






And, pics that you can get, i assure you, only in Amsterdam. :p



Sunday, June 1, 2008

Back from the dead.

First and foremost, sorry for the long absence. I have so much to blog about, i do not know where to begin.

Well let's just start with how i felt throughout the time my family was here. It was truly wonderful. I loved every moment of it, and i tried to spend as much time with them as possible; rushing to their hotel right after classes and going back to my dorm as late as possible. When they left the on Friday. i felt a void inside myself. Almost like the time when i just got here, though not nearly as difficult as that period. Thankfully, i have so much studying to do that i have litle time to feel depressed etc; my exmas begin this coming Friday and my project deadline is 30th June, though i intend to finish everything by the 27th-for the simple reason that i won't have a room anymore after that!

About our trip: we went to Paris by bus, we stopped at Brussels (Belgium) on our way. Brussels looked like Amsterdam, only a bit older and uglier. Haha. Paris was fun, very fun. Our days were so packed coz there was so much to do; we went to basically all the tourist attractions in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, and, my personal favourite, Disneyland. Haha. I know it sounds stupid, i thought i wouldn't like it too, but it turned out great. I think Disneyland brings out the kid in everyone.

Back in Amsterdam, again, we visited practically all tourist attractions here, except one: the Red-Light District (they call it RDA btw, Red Light District Area). My mum didn't want to go there, probably because my younger bro was around. Probably; i don't know the reason for her refusal. And my family did meet up woth some of my friends; some were unavailable while 1, for reasons only known to himself, refused to meet up with my family, which i find quite ridiculous. Oh well. My family was invited for "tea" and "juice" by some of my friends, i think they enjoyed Raluca's (the Romanian gal) company the most: she didn't have school on one of the days but came down just to meet my family.

We made so many more new friends, from all over. This Greek gal we met, some French Muslims we exchaged contacts with, and the people at our hotel (which was Muslim owned and thet speak Arabic, so my brother was especially close to them). I intend to go to their hotel (they have a restaurant at the ground floor) and just 'lepak' there at least once a week.

I can't possible sum up some of the best days of my life in this short entry, just hope you guys have the main idea, of what's been going on in my life. Take care.