Inspired

I feel blessed to have the Englischer Garten in my backyard. And today i went for a jog, watched a herd of sheep graze, fed a goat freshly plucked leaves from a tall branch, and silently let the waterfall wash my morning sickness away.

My ode to nature and the world...

When I roam freely in the forest,
I follow not the path of roadsigns,
but the whispers of a waterfall.
I stop not where the road ends
but where my heart feels at peace.

When I pause before a herd of sheep,
I admire not the pristine white pedigree
but the black sheep of the herd.
I worship not the shepherd;
Yet I love the sheep.

When I listen to the silent Earth,
I hear the universe roaring.
I join the multitude of voices
crying in both joy and sorrow.

And among people, I watch.
Till the happy day when one asks,
"Let us share about the world we know."

An Exhange Student Who Studies. (somewhat)

Technische Universität München, one of the finest institutions of technology and engineering in the world.

Sometimes I wonder, how much time do i actually spend studying here on exchange? Probably just five, six hours of classes per week, maybe throw in an hour or two for the sporadic tutorial...

Yet, how much exponentially more do i feel that i learn and experience much more than the typical lessons back in SG! Here, the independent style of teaching has been a huge challenge to me from the start, from catching up on presupposed knowledge that i do not have, to the take-it-beyond-the-classroom approach that leaves external readings and exercises up to the learner. Lectures and tutorials give you completely different sets of teachings and stimulation. And i guess you could say the level is pretty high, if a double deans lister feels like an idiot in every class :)

I am lucky, of course, to take some of the most interesting modules available in computer science now. Admittedly, there are also professors here who have found the cure for insomnia, course materials impossible to arouse any form of interest. My solution is to go for classes very, very discriminatingly :p

Anyhow, the modules i go for are pure fun and amazement, and i'm constantly thinking of ideas to incorporate them in my research project this coming year back in SG :) There's Machine Learning, that enables the evolution of computers based on data fed in. It is perhaps the most important discipline for things like Google, Facebook. Or Algorithmic Game Theory, a cutting-edge field where computing truly is empowered to solve complex human, real world problems. As well as Social Networking: User Modeling and Personalization, again a highly fascinating and useful area of knowledge that I'll be phasing into my research algorithm.

I once asked my mentor back in NTU...Why is computer science so boring? To which he replied, you just haven't gotten to the fun part yet. And it is fun. At the higher levels, i can see Math, Economics, Psychology, and perhaps any other field and discipline, being melded together to form useful tools, machines, by the forge of Computing.

Now that's what i call Technology.

Perhaps now, my friends back in SG are experiencing the same euphoria and excitement with these higher level subjects. If not, then i should point out this serious gap in teaching and curriculum standards to the school. It is a sin to let students graduate in Computer Science, or any other course for that matter, without the same sense of curiosity and excitement for the unknown that propelled them to enter this vast, unexplored world in the first place.

UKulele in UK 3: Encounters with the Hairy Coo

Twenty-seventh May, 2001.

I stumbled out of the overnight bus, frazzled and bewildered, a tad tired from the long ride. Time to begin grabbing bus and train brochures, then to decide what to do here in Scotland. I had originally planned to go to the Isle of Skye, a far-off island off the northwest coast via one of the greatest railway journeys of the world. Still, I decided to wait till i first met my host here in Edinburgh to make further plans.

Walking out of the station, i stood awed by the sight of the city. Scotland proudly presented its crown jewel, Edinburgh, Athens of the North, to all who entered its wild lands. The architecture and layout, the way the streets ran up to the Royal Mile was, to me, the most beautiful and refined of my travels thus far. I walked up the streets full of Gothic, neo-classical feel; later I found out i was in the New Town, a rich, intricately planned district still built centuries ago. I reached the railway station, and in the distance, Edinburgh Castle loomed majestic atop a sheer cliff, reigning over the picturesque Princes Street Gardens.

What a city. What a city, really. I made a call to my host Andy to arrange a meetup time, then headed off into the Royal Mile. (An old man who curiously served in the British Army and was in Singapore before WW2 showed me the way. He promised to come visit Singapore again and witness its modern transformation.)

If there were ever an equivalent of les Champs-Élysées in the UK, this would be it. A fine, cobbled avenue, ageless yet modern, running down churches, restaurants, souvenir shops up to the Edinburgh Castle. Dozens of little streets, or closes, ran by its side, waiting for the adventurous to venture and explore. Each told a different story, as derived from its name; Fisherman's Close, for example, used to lead to a seafood market.

I hitched onto a free walking tour, and it took up through delightful tales as we wandered through the Mile. From the Eleventh step, to the national food and drink, right down to the reason the Nor Loch was drained to form the Princes Street Gardens (and why a hundred female corpses were found decaying inside!), we relished the deep, interesting history of the city.

I met up with Andy, and putting Edinburgh aside for the moment, we took off on a train headed for North Berwick,which used to be Andy's hometown. I finally fulfilled my dream of visiting a small seaside town :) We explored much of the place, trying out local foods and checking out the sights. Wish i had gotten onto Bass Rock, where seabird colonies lay breeding at this time of the year. I did climb up to a volcanic rock ridge though, where i spotted puffins nesting among crashing waves! But i couldn't get too close to them, since it would disrupt their breeding environment, so i left after a glimpse.

Along the way, Andy and i had a great time sharing cultural information, from politics to economics to lifestyles. I am still amazed that he is just 18, the same age as my younger brothers! Now if only they were as mature and knowledgeable...

Edinburgh remains one of my favourite cities, not least because it is just so easy to lose yourself in its winding alleys and dingy shops, where you always expect a lovely surprise, perhaps a rustic book shop or a hidden foodie heaven. Its old city quarter is so small I have probably ventured through it at least eight, nine times, each being a different, riveting experience. Edinburgh, on foot. A must.

I shall always remember, too, a most memorable trip through the Highlands of Scotlands, foraging through spiny forests, luminous Lochs or lakes, and medieval castles, all on a bus modelled like a cow. Introducing... the Hairy Coo, the most amazing FREE tour ever. Comes with highly knowledgeable, humorous and friendly guide. Lunch at a wee bit town with fantastic local food. What's the catch? Nah, there's no catch. Where did your faith in mankind go? (p.s. Remember, don't follow the herd!)

My cousin-in-law Chen recommends Edinburgh at New Year's Eve, where the fireworks blast majestically over the Castle. Andy and Jack propose August till September, when the world-renowned Edinburgh International Festival takes place, and the Royal Mile is transformed into a bustling street of arts and performances.

Well, just take it from me. Edinburgh is good January till March. Also July to September. Maybe October to Dec. Let's not forget April to June too.

Heck, come any time of the year. You will still fall head over hairy coo in love with it :)

UKulele in UK too: family bliss

Lichfield, a short, fun detour to enjoy quality family time with cousin Eileen, her husband Chen and my lovely nephew and niece Kieran and Caitlin :)

I still remember fondly the fun times i've had with my cousins during our childhood days. Playing real life-scale checkers with Janice, Diane etc, sleeping to softly playing classical music with Joshua, being showered in a rickety tin hut by Sis Ah Girl, and playing hide-and-seek in a black room with glow-in-the-dark stars with Jason, Ben and my brothers...

But i remember nothing with cousin Eileen. Non, nada, nein. Well, she is many, many years older than me!

I'm glad then, that we made new memories in UK, as we shared the tremendous ordeal of the day: babysitting little rascals Kieran and Caitlin :) I'm still pretty sure they were more well-behaved than i ever was though. Anyway, i hope they will remember these times when...

-the tent fell down on us.
-they got thrown high into the air when i jumped onto the trampolin.
-i trickled water from a watering can on them in the local pool.
-they watched (and i listened to) the 247th viewing of Toy Story.
-we learned the trades and lifestyles of 18th and 19th century English industry at Shugborough. (they probably only remembered the goats and cows)

Thanks to Eileen, Chen and their bundles of joy, i felt completely refreshed and at home, the first time since i left Singapore in Feb/March. Nothing comes closer than family, and i fully enjoyed every moment of their hospitality :) Also fulfilled my dream of going to a small English town with brick houses and countryside greenery!

Anyway. If you ever visit Lichfield, the must-sees are: the Lichfield Cathedral, Shugborough Working Estate, and two of the most adorable kids in the world.

UKulele in UK: I'm Londoning!

Wow... i'm finally back from ten days in UK! Still can't believe it, every moment still seems so fresh in my mind, from watching a musical about cross-dressers to babysitting my adorable nephew and niece down to being gored by a hairy Coo :p

I cannot begin to describe how much i have enjoyed traipsing across England and Scotland, all without a single plan in mind! I have been incredibly lucky and spoiled along the way, meeting great new friends and hosts, and having loads of new and fun experiences :)

It all began at Memmingen airport near Munich, when i had hours to spare before the flight. And what better way to while the time away than meeting new friends... so i turned around, introduced myself to Heidi and Archie, and had a fun time chatting away till we split in London! There, i orientated myself around, caught shuttles here and there to get to my host, Dan's place! He works till night as a bartender, so his housemate Dean settled me in. We shopped and cooked dinner, and i chatted with his other housemates, like Emre from Turkey and Mario from Columbia. Exchange of cultures!

The next day, i harried down for the free walking tour, and met the brother-sister-and-her-bf group, Dan, DL and LX from SG. I connected easily to them, and in the end spent the next two days attached to their itinerary :p Anyhow, the tour was a quick, interesting whirlwind adventure through the city, loads of stories on London's history and culture. Everywhere you turn, there is a monument, an artefact of culture. Still, it does get a little kitschy somehow, seemingly touristy at times.

Personally i loved the nation's commitment to the arts scene: keeping the best museums in London free is a fantastic idea, and we made the best of it by immersing ourselves for hours in myriad museums of art and history. I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in the Tate museum of modern art, especially the beautiful yet sobering exhibition, "Burke + Norfolk: Photographs From The War In Afghanistan", and emerged with some new perspectives towards truth and beauty. "Beauty is a useful tool," Norfolk surmised, as he masterfully crafted beautiful lorelei photos to entice the masses into the ugly truth within, like moths to a flame... Only then are we baptised by the blazing truth, of war, death and destruction.

Night after day, a memorable musical to wow. Personally, musicals felt way too arty-farty for my taste, and I thought i'd be getting over my head by going down for the new award-winning musical, "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert".

Yet it completely blew my mind.

Within the ludicrous premise of a group of crossdresser friends searching for a place they can call home, a ton of magic happened and vivid characters came to life and danced and sang to their hearts' joy. Ours, too, leapt countless times in thrill and amazement, sorrow and sympathy, love and heartfelt gladness towards the end. It was not a production; it was a dream, a lovely dream that we all woke up from feeling refreshed and alive, saying to each other, 'That was great, wasn't it?'

And it truly was.

Two days later, after going through various tourist hotspots, Harrods, Primark, Camden market, a model agency, and a goddamn missed train!%#$*... I left London for Lichfield town near Birmingham, bringing with me solid memories of London and the new friends and experiences i've made.