Weather was very bad in Hong Kong yesterday due to the typhoon. Fortunately, I was still able to get back to Singapore despite the long delay and the possibility of the flight being cancelled. I really pity those passengers who were stranded at the airport, trying their best to get out of Hong Kong to their destinations as soon as possible. Never experience a typhoon in my life before, it was my first time yesterday to feel the effect of a typhoon. The wind was so strong that you could see the wing flaps of the aircraft swaying up and down and that you could even feel that the aircraft was swaying despite parking on the ground. Besides the very heavy downpour, visibility was also very low. I wonder how people staying in Hong Kong deal with the typhoon. Probably, most people will just stay indoors. Pity those people who have to brave the wind and rain in order to get to work or run their errands. Initially, I was planning to visit Hong Kong for a short shopping spree trip after I get back from London next week but I guess I shall just stay in Singapore. Neither would I want to shop in such conditions nor would I want to get stranded at the airport. Feel really fortunate to be living in Singapore where we are spared from such natural calamity.

Sometimes I feel that if you were to talk on the phone in a bus or on the MRT, it would be better to take note of the volume of your voice and the content u were discussing about. This is what I call consideration and privacy. While on the bus today, I was trying to take a power nap when this lady seated a couple of rows behind me started yakking loudly on her hp. Well, I am perfectly alright if I could not take a nap. The thing that kept me entertained was the content she was discussing. No doubt my eyes were glued to the mobile TV in front of me but as her voice was kinda loud, I had no choice but to eavesdrop...or rather to listen. So she was discussing about her work, her boyfriend ( oh ya, she's an old auntie ) and etc etc. The best part was she was telling the other party her PIN number she used at work. I nearly laughed at her conversation but I managed to control...Phew. Anyway, I guess the few of us who were seated near her all knew part of her private life. On another occasion, this young teenage girl boarded the bus with her mother ( I assumed ) and were seated in front of me. The girl started complaining and whining non-stop. She was complaining about her grandmother and why the relatives would like to 'push' the poor old lady to stay with her family. From her facial expressions, tone of voice and hand gestures, I could see that she was very unhappy to stay with her grandmother. I guess she was only a secondary school student and yet she was starting to feel this way. I pitied the grandmother really. Haiz... That's the reasons why I seldom talk when I am taking the public transport or if I have to, I would speak softly and keep my conversation short and sweet. So if I never pick up your call, most probably I am on public transport :D

Got back from Frankfurt just a few days ago and I must admit that this trip was fruitful, fun and enjoyable. Must really thank Ju Leen for 'dragging' me along to sightsee outside Frankfurt. Initially, I was kinda reluctant to go for the sightseeing trip for I was a little lethargic. Fortunately, the trip turned out to be very fun and I can be very sure that I would regret if I did not join them.

This entry is gonna be very long for I have uploaded many photos of my Rhein Valley trip...so now I shall let the photos do the talking...

Frankfurt & Rudesheim (Rhein) - 12-16 April

Managed to catch a few hours of sleep after I touched down in Frankfurt in the morning before meeting Leon, Ju Leen and Jaslyn for lunch.

The popular Crispy Duck Rice @ Hong Kong Bistro. This dish is one of the 'must-have' whenever I visit Frankfurt. F.Y.I, the sunny side up egg was not part of the dish for I ordered it separately. The strips of duck meat was really tender, crispy and fragrant. Coupled with the stir fried mixed vegetables a.k.a. 'Choy Suey', the dish is perfect. I am missing it right now :(

Leon, Ju Leen & myself. Glad to see Leon in Frankfurt though we meet up quite often in Singapore. The feeling was different when you see somebody you know in a foreign land. Anyway, both Leon & Ju Leen will be heading to New York while I will be heading back to Singapore. How envious. Nevertheless, the time we spent together in Frankfurt was a memorable and fun one.

Pit Stop : Delicious and Yummy Pastries!!!!

It started to rain heavily while we were walking back to our hotel. As we were not arm with any unbrellas or rain coats, we decided to take shelter at the cafe where we bought our yoghurt ( the yoghurt was very nice especially if mixed with the complimentary museli ) till the rain stop or subside. Suddenly, this young little kid approached Jaslyn and started talking to her in German. As we do not know what she was saying, we tried to ask her in English. However, to no avail, she continued yakking in German. As she was very adorable, we decided to take some photos with her. When she saw our cameras out of our pockets, her first reaction was to pose and not just one pose but many poses.....

To round up the evening, we had our dinner @ Champions Bar

Had our 'Eat-all-you-can' Ribs and the popular Buffalo wings :P plus our usual dosage of gossips....hahahahahaha.

The Rhein Valley Trip

Next morning, we woke up very early to embark on our sightseeing trip. Took a tram to the main train station where we took the train to Rudesheim. Initially, we wanted to go to Baden Baden but as the train tickets were very expensive, we decided to go to the Rhein Valley instead. For the 5 of us, we bought a group ticket which cost only 30 Euros...meaning each of us need only to fork out 6 Euros compared to 80 Euros each if you were to go Baden Baden by the direct train.

Frankfurt Main Train Station ( Hauptbahnhof )

Grabbing some gourmet sandwiches for brekkie before boarding the train.

This is our train to Rudesheim. The journey took about 1 hour and via a few stops before reaching our destination. Got to say that the train was efficient, fast and quite comfortable for an hour's trip.

After 1 hour, we finally arrive...

Exploring the little quaint town before taking the cable car up the hill...

Boosenburg Castle and residence of Carl Jung, an influential thinker and the founder of analytical psychology.

Ju Leen & I along the quaint little alley lined with souvenir shops, cafes and small hotels.

Please mail me to Singapore :S

Found this in one of the souvenir shops :

A good innovation eh....

Hightlights of the Tour :

For 10 Euros each, you get to ascend the hill via the cable car, walk around the hill before catching the chairlift to the foot where you will take a ferry back to the starting point.

Ride up on Cable Car ...

No Doubt the experience was fun and 'enjoyable', it was torturous as well !!! As we were only partially protected, the wind was so strong that we were nearly froze to death...hahaha. Tell you, it was soooooo cold that we were all shivering and you could hear our teeth 'gegegling'.

The very beautiful scenary while we were on our way up to the hill.

On top of the hill....

Better to study the map first before you embark on your walking journey. Or else, you will find yourself lost in the forest.

Tempel

Juleen helping the sweet couple to take a photo with the breathtaking scenary in the background.

How nice is it if I were to stay in that house. Nice Scenery eh. Again, if I were to stay there for long...I think I will be bored to death and be 'cut off' from the outside World. Hmmmm....

Michelle and I in front of Adlerwarte

The View of the Rhein Valley from Top :

The Statue ( Sorry I forgot its name )

And Now, the walk through the forest begin....

Poor gals, they seem tired and worn out even before completing half of the journey.

The Long and quiet route that will take us to the Chairlift station.

As it had been gloomy for the whole morning coupled with showers earlier on, the moment the first ray of sunlight hit us, we were overjoyed .... I love the colours of this shot :P

Along the way, I spotted ....

A homeless snail (without its house) ??? A Slug ???? A Leech ??? A slimey creature ??? It was crawling or rather sliding very slowly across the pathway...poor thing...I nearly stepped on it ! Anyway, it looked like a dead branch or part of a dead leaf if you never look at it closely.

At a small park with deers roaming about in the enclosed area ...

For just 1 Euro, you can buy this and with this in your hand...

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All the deers will be attracted to you....a good way if you want to take close-up pic of the deers

Our Star of the Day : Abercrombie !!!

One last view of the beautiful scenary before we descend the hill...

Bidding Goodbye....Though I wasn't sure if I will be back again, what I am very sure is that the scenary was really beautiful and breathtaking and that I never regret spending my day here with a bunch of fun and very nice people.

The Descent : Chairlift Xcitement :D

Get Ready...1...2...3....SIT...Safety Bar Down...Off you GO!!!

Oh ya, the Chairlift doesn't wait for people as it moves continuously, so you gotta be fast or you may get injured or miss it.

Enjoying the ride myself :D ...

That's how 'high' we were hanging in the air :P

1st part of the journey...Trees, Trees & more Trees...

2nd part of the journey....Steep Down slope as we moved towards civilisation :D

Finally, we see houses before we reached the station

The mini town : Assmannshausen

Food for thought : Can you see what's unique or rather wrong or rather peculiar with this house ?

Managed to guess it correctly ? If not, look at it closely and compare the 2 faces of the house......

Managed to see it ????? I shall not reveal here at the moment till you people tell me the answer eh :D....For those smarties who can spot it, don't you think is creative and really unique ? Hahaha....

I simply love the town.

How often you get a chance to get this shot in the middle of a railway track ?

Pit Stop - our late lunch

The People who joined the tour : Myself, Juleeen, Michelle, Kristy & Darren.

For those who thought this was a gigantic chicken drumstick....you are soooooooo wrong. This is one of the German Specialty : Pork Knuckle served with also a german specialty...Potatoes with bacon and onion. This dish is really out of this World....DELICIOUS !!!!! Can really compete with our 'De Kar' (Pig trotters)...hahahaha.

Also another common dish you will find in Germany....The Schneitzer (Sorry I forgot how the spelling is like but is something like this)....simply put...Pork Cutlet. Very Nice as well....crispy and tender.

Finally, the last part of our trip....

A 20 minutes ferry ride back alone the Rhein River back to Rudesheim

Along the way, we passed by the Burgruine Ehrenlels.

Finally, that marked the end of our whole day Rhein Valley Tour. Spent lots of time thinking of what to write, uploading the photos and rearranging the photos...hahaha. Anyway, I did not eat my pasta this time round...Must have it on my next Frankfurt trip.

Now it is examination time for my uni mates....Study Hard guys and we shall meet up after that :D

Going to Jakarta tomorrow and shall try the much talkabout Nasi Goreng...Just can't wait...Drools :P

Better be nice or I will be damn disappointed :D

OK, allow me to wish both

DAVID & JUNYUAN

A HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY

Hope the 2 of you will fulfilled all your wishes and most importantly, be happy and cheeful always. Friends 4ever :D