I am back!

Hello to one and all. It's me and I am back after a long hiatus.

The last time I blogged was in January. At that time I had exams, and was hyped up to go for my annual Eurotrip vacation. And that explains why I forgot all about my blog.

A lot of things has happened since then...so for me to keep track of important things happened after I stopped blogging, I shall list important events here, so as to remind myself of what I should update in the coming posts:

1. Surreal Spain 2010

The theme of my Eurotrip this year was Surreal Spain 2010. I visited Barcelona, Reus, Tarragona, Zaragoza, and Bilbao. Oh yes and a very important event happened here - I WAS ROBBED! But I considered myself lucky. I only lost my visa (along with some euros, my iPod, my Spanish booklet, my trusty organizer, my Francesco Donni bag (which was in one of my earlier posts under Confessions of a Shopaholic). Luckily my wallet and passport are in my trench coat inner pocket. So my holiday wasn't that bad anyway. I enjoyed 15 days of superb holidaying in Spain. And now the problem is that I can't go back to Russia without a visa, I need to get one done ASAP. The Russian and Malaysian consulates can't help me here it seems, so I decided to FLY HOME! But before that...I made a pit stop. Instead taking my paid flight from Barcelona - Riga - Moscow,  I took a different route instead...

2. Irresistable Italy 2010

To Milan and Rome! The best flight offer I got to fly home requires me to board the plane in the land of ancient Gods and Godesses, where they fought lions in the Colloseum and where one of the most romantic languages in the world are spoken everywhere. And now its one of the leading fashion hubs in Europe. A bonus trip is that I got to visit the Vatican City - and had a priviledge to be in the Pope's audience. Ah, romance is in the air EVERYWHERE. Stayed for a romantic 7 days here - before flying off to another destination before reaching home...

3. Exotic Egypt 2010

OOH. It was only a one-day transit affair with Egypt. I was nearly worn out from all the travelling and shopping I've done. And I really didn't feel like going out of the airport. From Rome, I flew to Luxor - and from there to Cairo. On the way, I saw with my own 2 eyes the majestic beauty of the Giza pyramids. What an amazing sight to behold even from an aerial view! And I even met a new friend from Hungary who is also flying to Malaysia to meet her boyfriend, aww - that's sweet! From Cairo the next day, straight to Kuala Lumpur!

4. Home Sweet Home!

Yes. Home sweet home. Was never so relieved to see my parents faces ever in my life after that scary incident in Barcelona. Need a great big time-out!

5. Couchsurfers at my home!

Peter from Switzerland, and Leo from Lahad Datu came to stay with us and we had great fun bringing them all around! We went to cultural places and had a wonderful gastronomic experience here and there!

6. Kursk Games 2010

The intervarsity games are back - and this time it's in Kursk. I am faced with a daunting task of being Events Manager - and my work scope focuses mainly on the stage and hall preparations as well as the performances for the Opening Ceremony, Grand Gala, and Closing Ceremony. I have never organized anything on this large scale, and I have only participated in these kinds of events only as a performer before. But I try to be optimistic and will try my best to deliver high-quality performances of our colourful culture to fellows Malaysians and also to the international crowd! Watch me as swing into action - follow the pics!

My 23rd Birthday: 29th November 2009

Happy 23rd Birthday Max!

My Birthday is my happiest day of the year - IMHO.

Well basically it's because the spotlight is on ME only.

My your telephone will get flooded by congratulatory SMSes.

Not forgetting my Facebook wall too - will be scribbled by a lot of well wishers.

My friends will try their best to surprise me with a party of some sort.

Or if that doesn't work out, they will just treat me on a birthday dinner.

And the most exciting part is when the gift is brought out - I just don't know what is it!

Thank you everyone for making my 23rd Birthday a memorable one.

I will cherish these memories as long as I can remember.

Love you all!

These are people whom I hold close and dear to my heart.

Thanks for the lovely gifts! You guys knew what I liked the most - chocolates and perfumes!

[ <3 Thank you <3 ]

Day 6: Storming Moscow

OH NO.

The dreaded day came.

MY LAST DAY OF MY TRIP.

Okay - there is no use whining. Better make the most of the limited time that we had.

Poor thing. Saw him on the streets begging for money. Curse those humans who forced these poor animals to attend to their  unnecessary needs.

Woke up. Packed everything although it was nearly impossible. One-hour journey to Domodedovo International Airport. Had lunch there. Bid farewell to uncle and aunty. Went back to Moscow City centre by the aero-express. Checked the time of our train back to Kursk. 

7 p.m. 

What is the time now?

5.30 p.m.

DRATZ. I have at most 1 hour to shop!

Darn it.

Let's start!

SHOPPING A SUCCESS!!!

Uber-cool tie with shades of blue and hints of silver from Mexx. Valued at 5430 roubles.

Black cardigan-jacket from Zara Homme. Valued at 3990 roubles.

Black cardigan with purple borders from Bershka. Valued at 1290 roubles.

Okay - these 3 are enough! What is the time now? 

6.30 p.m.!

Okay - good bye Moscow! Till we meet again soon! I've got a train to catch!

Oh and we met some really friendly and cool Russian youngsters on board, and we became instant friends!

Nice to meet you, Anton Yakovlev & Anyuta Yeliseeva!

Day 5: Storming Moscow

Okay, now we've reached Moscow! First things first, let's head to our apartment!

Aww - this is the owner's cat.

WOW - and we have a piano at home too! Coolness~~

Okay - basically this is our last day of quality holiday. Tomorrow is going to be super-packing day for uncle and aunty (going back to Malaysia) and for us (going back to Kursk - sigh~~)

Where to: The Red Square, Kremlin, and the Arbat Street.

Kremlin at the Red Square

Supposedly you make wishes on this spot as you throw a coin over your shoulder.

The Red Square

Who wants to take pictures with Lenin?

This place just attracted my attention.

Arbat Street!

Statue of Russia's most famous poet Alexander Pushkin, and his wife.

Spring Shopping Complex

Mu-Mu Cafe.

Okay - I think this is enough for our holiday...

WAIT!!!

I HAVEN'T SHOPPED ANYTHING YET!!!!

sigh.

I guess I have to do it tomorrow then.

But will I succeed in the rush?

*crossing fingers*

Day 4: Storming St. Petersburg

Okay - it was our 4th day in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. Hurry hurry up - we have got to cover more parts of the city!

Today's destination is the Spas-Na-Krov, which is the The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood (Cool name huh?)

Anyway this church was supposedly built here on the site of where Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded and died on the spot - after an allegedly 7th attempt on his life. So to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ - this church was built here. (IDK about you, but I think this description is quite odd - don't ask me I just took the info from the St. Petersburg guide!)

View in daylight and under the moon.

In front of the gates.

Griboedov canal.

Me and best buddy Vin on the bridge of the canal. 

Uncle was nearly frozen to death (well he wasn't too accustomed to the mild weather yet :P) so he wanted to buy a scarf on the spot! Try this on for size, uncle!

We didn't enter the church because I WAS ADAMANT about it. I don't want to enter another historical hoo-haa and i have to pay for it when I know I'm not going to be impressed again. So off we go to the Palace Square and Alexander Column nearby, and the General Staff Building was in the vicinity.

Palace Square with Alexander Column

The General Staff Building

As we made our way back to our lodgings - I took the view around the famous Prospekt Nevskij (The main street in St. Petersburg) 

I had to take this. A Roman Catholic church! Me being an RC - I had an urge to do so :P

Okay - officially we have covered most of the main attractions of St. Petersburg - and we have to get back to our lodgings and pack for our next destination: MOSCOW!!!

So we got on a VERY VERY comfortable train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Now this is what you call a pleasant journey!

Good night!

I guess I couldn't sleep yet - my stomach was growling. 

Hungry~~~~ Train cafe, here I come!