Day 3: Calm, Lonely, Fascination

Lithuania, Siauliai

Hill of Crosses

It suddenly occurred to me that as a child I have always had lonely dreams. I dream of endless stretches of land that are calm with no people. I fantasize myself in fields all by myself with little distraction, enjoying the still and calmness of the scene.

We had to walk for about 15 minutes before we reach the hill of crosses. That stretch of road is exactly what I have always dreamed of as a child. I was overwhelmed by simply vast emptiness. But it was nothing compared to the fascination of the sight of thousands of crosses that greeted us when we arrived. The sea of crosses is endless. It stretches all over the small hill and around it. There were crosses in every shape, size, material, design... There is just too many it was shocking.

And the atmosphere is so calm it's almost eerie. It was raining slightly and there wasn't much people around. Each cross there represents their own story and the hill is the place where their story would be told and passed on. I love the feeling, it fascinates me. It's the feeling that there actually existed a history that wants to be told...

There was no solid record of why a collection of crosses appeared in the outskirts of Siauliai. But it can be traced to people who wanted to show respect for those who fight for independence of Lithuania from the Russian Empire.

Day 2: Vilnius - grey skies

After 8 hours on the couch, we finally arrived at Vilnius. However, the sky was not very cooperative and it remained grey and rainy all day. To make things worst, we couldn't find a currency exchange, and walking on an empty stomach we found took refuge in a cozy coffee shop. Having recharged our energy, we went to the tourist information where we finally got maps of the town. This is weather really puts off the mood to join any tours and we just wandered around on our own. Though we had fun exploring the small town, I felt that I could still have dug deeper and find out more about this place.

One interesting thing about the city is that there is actually a artist-based constitute next to the old town. Inside is a complete artist hideout. However, we choose to arrive on a Sunday where most things are closed. We still found a nice woman who did metal printing on paper. Her work inspiration came from her daily life and she print mostly detail drawings of female, flowers and animals. Love her art work :)

In the hostel we met 3 French girls, Camille, Chloe and Milla. They were really nice girls and we spent the evening playing games and getting to know about each other's country cuisine. It's a pity that we didn't leave any contacts, it would be nice if I can find them again some time.

Day 1: Tallinn

I have actually been to Tallinn before, this time is just a pass by down to Vilnius. Though summer Tallinn didn't fail to attract me with its beauty. It's completely different without the snow. :)

Plastic Flashback

Clear Plastic by trittertrotter

Finally summer has come and it's time to head to the beach... in our clear plastic jelly flip flops carrying the see through clutch and acrylic shades. Yes, the season of showing off what's in our beach bag has come and everything we wear should have something see-through in it. (except of course our bathing suits)

My using of having plastic "come-see-what-I've-got-in-my" hand bags could be traced back to 5 years ago where I got a neon yellow tote.(real affordable too, from Walmart costing only $20. !!!) I happened to have a plastic lizard in my possession, inside a gift from a friend who thought to frighten me. (really cute in my opinion. loved it) To spice up the accessory a bit, I popped it inside and it happily lived there while I walk around campus surprising my friends! *evil laughs*

It's always fun to have something different, but one thing that is really not cool: wearing see through sneakers and seeing toes. hell that's disgusting. I wouldn't show off stinky feet, would you? 

XOXO

Trapped - live without my laptop

Have you ever had the feeling of wanting to create something but don't know what to make?

I have been living without a computer for nearly a month now and I am literally screaming inside. There is simply so much I need and want to do with my laptop!

今日，終於忍唔住要拎悉部電腦出黎。開一開機…試下，試下佢會唔會奇蹟地好起來…？

嗯…我都係想上下網姐。

是expectation mismatch還是大學真的不如以往？

近排facebook入面，中學興緊整memes, 大學興緊"XXU Secrets"。 我學校都開了一個類同的secrets page。
當初，我以為secrets係指大學裹不為人知的秘密。好似轉堂換課室的short cuts，admin上方便的做法(eg.book場找哪個department最快)，什麼學校“中伏”位要留意，如何申請到容易嘅funding/拎到“着數”，甚至係好似wiki leaks咁公開一啲學校不公平嘅決策等等… 點知一切其實都歸於我諗多左啦。
原來"secrets"是指“匿名地表白/分享心底話/心諗/不滿/愛情故事”｛呀！係咼，點解我無諗到呢啲都係秘密黎架咼？！｝何解依家大學變得如此膚淺？認真，你的愛情故事我不感興趣，要看故事我有故事書；心底話可以留待於個人網頁分享，與我無關；不滿有民主墻隨便寫。根本無必要刻意開一個page。Admin用時間打理閒言閒語倒不如專心考finals。
至於內容，有一半都是表達對異性嘅渴望，另一半就是對學校設備和大陸同胞的發洩。言而仲有人會問“點解我地個page會少人like同reply嘅？”，原因會否正是內容無聊而不值得深究呢？
Btw，話明secrets為何隨便一個人不用like也可以看？始終都係叫"secrets"至少也得把關一下對不？…看來secrets都只不過是跟着潮流走的一個page名而已。其他大學的secrets page是否如此我不知道但他們起碼是relatable/private的，膚淺極都只有自己學生知。

自問不是一個好有深度的人，但連我都覺得有問題時大學生是否須要反醒下。

Girlish Findings

I have been meaning to get myself some flats/loafers lately and guess what? Found these shiny golden flats in SOKOS from House for only 5€. (For those who didn't know, they are kind of like the Lane Crawford/Sogo of Finland)

They come in gold and silver but since I've already got a pair of small wedgies in silver back home I chose the golden ones. And they goes with the gold details on my bag too, so proud of my find. *small pat on the back* Those Strings can actually be tighten so that the shape of the shoe stays nice and won't flop when walking. The sole is soft and they can be packed so small I just know they are made for my trips. (I have tried the H&M ones and they weren't as nice. Moreover, the price is double.)

Okay, i know a pair of flats is not worth such a long post. will stop now.

Finland: Icy Living Quarters

The legendary ice hotel in Lapland is a piece of art that is liveable.

Though it's a pity it's already spring when we visit so some rooms are closed and the tunnels are a bit melting... anyway this hotel is AMAZING. (But if you ask me, I won't be living there :P)

Thoughts: Superficial Modern Depression

*Declaration:"superficial" is not referring to any of the movies mentioned below. I am no critique, everything here are just some of my thoughts* 

After watching these two movies, I have the impression that people are generally lusting for a relationship. How is it that only another person can make us happy and not being in a relationship equals lonely and depressed? Isn't it a bit sad that the trends in movies and songs tends to relate happiness to  relationships? I wouldn't have my happiness dependent on another person, never.

Just finished watching:

1. Fallen Angles (1995), Wong Kar Wai 
2. Albert Nobbs (2011), Rodrigo García

These are all miserable films. Maybe I had a problem with choosing films, but they all have sadness seeping out from every corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they are bad or anything, films can be sad,sentimental,funny and beautiful altogether and comes out really worth watching.

Fallen Angles is a story of 5 people living in Hong Kong during the 90s. They crossed each other's life somehow and they each had their own story.

Number 1 was a killer. He kills for a living because everything is simple and well planned. He did not need to think but just finish the job. Cool and quiet, his emotions does not show through, if he even have them at all.He lives in a flat where Number 2 cleans and plans his missions for him. But everybody feels tired some times,he decided to put a stop to this life. He bid farewell to Number 2 through a song, and disappeared from her life. He didn't meet her her in person, sparing himself from the complicatacy of needing to say anything. He then met Number 5 whose loud blond hair and wild personality covers her fear of being alone. She wanted him in her life, but in the end he decided that she was just another part of his life and left. He dies in his last mission where there was no Number 2 to do the planning for him.

Number 2 is beautiful, she secretly admires number 1 until one day he decided to stop being partners with her. She held a couple of freelance jobs but everything was just not the same. She felt lonely, she always had but having the job of looking after number 1 gave her a meaning to life. She lived in the fantasy of having a relationship with him. After he have gone her loneliness grew more prominent. In the end she continues her life, starting her fantasies on another person. She is a lonely person, living in her own world and her life, alone.

Angel number 3 was the son of a cook, he is a highly optimistic person but he couldn't talk. He spends his nights "taking care" of other people's shops, threatening his "customers" to pay for his "services". His nightly outings bring a humoristic twist to the movie. It also led him to meet the heartbroken Number 4 whom he falls in love with. He then changed, taking a job and earning money properly. However number 4 have never had feelings for him and left him without a sound, as well as his father who passed away. Losing the person who have taken care of him all his life, he returned to his old ways, where he found the most comfort in.

Number 4 was a person who took a hard blow after her boyfriend broke up with her. (Was the "boyfriend" real was even a question) She spent a lot of time with Number 3, looking for revenge on the person who stole her "boyfriend". She dissipated her anger by doing crazy things with Number 3, such as beating up a mannequin. She was the only character who is able to turn her life around and move on. When 3 met her again some time after, she have grown into a lady with a job as an air stewardess and a stable relationship.

Number 5 appears in number 1's life with a loud golden hairdo, she desperately wants him to remember her but he is just another part of her life and so is she. They soon moved on to something else. It also didn't matter if they remembers each other or not.She couldn't seem to grasp the concept of being able to survive and live happily on her own. She needed the mental support of having another half there or simply another person in her life, hence desperately making herself memorable in order to make that person stay. She is exactly the opposite of Number 2, whom is content with the thoughts she imagined by herself.



This story just makes me think after watching, letting everything sink in. The people of HK is actually quite like the characters. They make do with the things they are presented with, either optimistically or without feelings or pessimistically. They just accepts, be it a relationship or work. Those who tried to make a difference or stand out is just perceived as a mad man and something to laugh at, soon to be forgotten. This movie is a very honest perception of life.
It is very ironic that these people all found faults in their lives and yet didn't do anything to change it. The person who did make a change ends up dying. Is it that we should all follow the path that the world have chosen for us, if not we die? Common world, I don't believe it.

Oh, and I quite like The Geenster's review on this movie. Do read his in-depth comments about the movie if you like what you read in my superficial one :P

Comments on Albert Nobbs to be posted later.

Taste of Deer

"If you've never tried reindeer meat, you've never been to Finland."  That's why we put a fabulous full-stop to our second day in Lapland with a reindeer feast in a traditional stone hut.

The hut is decorated with deer hide and candles

In the middle, there is a stone fireplace where all the food was roasted, there were cranberries, especially made reindeer sausage on a secret recipe, salted reindeer meat, roast reindeer meat, smoked salmon...  The food was fabulous. Reindeer meat is denser than beef and pork, (a bit sausage/ham like) and it has a kind of flavour not unlike lamb. We agreed on calling it\a mix between beef and lamb.

The mash potatoes are delicious! The secret is to mix in A LOT of butter :P

For dessert we were presented with home-made crepes with cream and blueberry jam. I couldn't resist it even though my stomach is overloading with all the reindeer I have had. It's just too tasty. We were presented with a guest book when we ask for the check, there's some funny comments by past guests. (The waitress turned out to have been to Beijing before and she told us about the wonderful time she had there.) 

Thoughts: Power of Man

Bollywood films have a reputation for being really worth watching and I randomly selected one which seems very interesting to me.

Just finished watching:

A Wednesday (2008), Neeraj Pandey

This is a story told from an old retired police officer. He recalls a case which have shaken the whole police station and the government.
Let me first ask you a question.

How powerful do you think our government.the police force is?
Not very? Somewhat? None of your business?

Let's rephrase it a little...

How powerful do you think a person needs to be to challenge the government/ the police force?
You might be thinking about terrorists, organised crime blah blah blah... but this movie points out that you actually don't need a lot to achieve *something*, so long as there is a reason that is strong enough to make you do so. India is not the safest place in the world, everybody know that and this film is about a man who wanted to make a change. He wanted to live in peace, not having to worry about his loved ones nor his friends. He felt the need to show that although the people didn't voice out often, they have feelings, and a voice too.

Funny after typing the above sentence, I recall the protests and complaints HK people make (especially Jul 1 *0*) and thought maybe the people isn't really that timid after all... But then that's India and this is Hong Kong so culture is different, things might be different.

Come to think of it, people living in the peace and prosperity of Asia's financial center, complaining?? Hm, a bit far-fetched isn't it?
Complaining about not having a bigger house when some people can't even afford four walls, about not having a high salary when some are living off 7 dollars a day...

Finding faults leads to improvements, but sometimes we have to be thankful for what we already have.
Like the Chinese saying, 知足，常樂 (be content) 

Films: Dark Humor v. Pretty Fantasy

Yep, I am too bored out here with nothing to do. The sulky grey sky isn't encouraging me to go out and staying indoors *without* my computer means movie marathon on a borrowed iPad. Thanks to my great country's invention, PPS, I enjoy the convenience on online streaming. (not that I am particularly proud of it, just saying)

So far,I have seen

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Guy Ritchie and
Penelope (2006), Mark Palansky

 

(I can conclude that I am rather attracted to silhouette movie posters...) Both serves well as a light-weight comedy in their own unique way,no mind-blowing concepts, no pondering endlessly on life's meanings etc.

LSTSB had a black humoristic touch to it not unlike Trainspotting (1996) by Danny Boyle. They had the same style too, grey musty English scenes, narrations from the main character, drug deelers, gang of friends and a problem. hm... English movie trends in the 90s? It could be credited that the plot is clever although you can sort of figure out that everything would fit well at the end, wouldn't fail to entertain. 

Penelope has a more cheerful spark in its making. I guess the millennium has given English movies a more fanta-magic-listic turn, producting films that likes to include curses, witches, nurseries, and a tipple-topple family. (see Nanny McPhee, 2005) The message in this film is clear - love yourself as you are, be yourself and not what others wants you to be.

Oh yea, and don't always listen to your mother, she might be wrong.

Levi Ski Resort

The Lapland trip is all about staying in Levi, the Ski Resort.

I had some doubts before going to Lapland, but I decided that it's worth it after all. Not only is the place nice with an amazing ski slope, but the rooms are fabulous too. Each room had their own sauna and the buffet breakfast was just amazing. We all tried skiing and snowboarding, I had one previous experience on wick boarding so I guess that helps, but it didn't stop me from tumbling down the slope. I managed to entertain all my friends, and add another crazy thing to my crazy list. :)

Fun: Mad Hatter's tea party

Happy Friday!!! It's not always that I attend parties here, but last Friday's party is really great. I am not talking about the music and people, they're pretty much the same everytime (the students' living quarters are small, everybody knows everybody) It's really the little things which made a difference.

The theme was Alice in Winderland. Hearing that, people are thinking about dressing up already. When all the bunny rabbits, Alices, queens and poker people came up to the door they are instantly greeted with the order to "paint the white roses red!" and presented with "eat me" cookies.
Our host have gone into all the trouble to print and cut out roses, tags, teapots and all the other Alice related things to decorate their apartment. And there's even masks and poker bow-ties for people who didn't dress up to mingle into the wonder-crowd.

The great thing about this is that nobody gets left out. Even the drinks are decorated with party themed straws! And they had some games on the table to entertain whoever's got enough of talking, dancing and taking pictures. 

It was a wonderful party full of surprises. Double likes for my dear friends who organized this!! MUAH*

Cultural: Songkran Festival

Happy Thai New Year!!

The past Saturday (13 Apr) was the Thai new year and my friends invited me to their celebration party. I never knew that there was so many Thai people in Mikkeli.
Their traditional costumes are just gorgeous.

The Miss Songkran Election

Winners, congratulations!

We saw some traditional Thai dances which were all about slow and elegance.

 

There was even some kids who danced Gangnam style and they're just too cute!

And a little girl all dressed up for the event. 

We had some Thai food and dessert which was yummy and a great change to the finish food we have in the school cafeteria.

Thai dessert

Fried chicken with onions

Fried noodles

 

Last but not least, everybody had fun!! :)

Life: The simple happiness of the pool, old ladies and swimming

Being an exchange student includes seeking for things to do during the endless free times ( especially when you only need a passing grade and your courses are ten times easier than those at home).  Anyway, we went to the swimming pool and decided to have some fun.

Like all other facilities in Finland, the pool comes with a sauna, a nude sauna. Also, there are many elderly people chilling there... Guess it's their place of  entertainment where they get to exercises, catch up with friends and ditch the icy feeling of winter wonderland behind. 

To meet the needs of the elderly, the pool gives free water aerobics sessions. Being at the pool at the time, my friends and I decided to join in the fun. Although the instructor lady speaks in Finnish and we can hardly understand, the exercises are easy enough to follow. Initially we were just bored and looking for stuff to do, but we were actually sort of entertaining the ladies around us, being the only young people participating in their exercise session and having a foreign face. One or two of them actually came up to me during those pair up movements. (don't get me wrong, I'm actually very happy to be partners with them, just that never thought they would really want to and come over)  They must think that we are these funny strange asian girls with nothing better to do than joining in old folk's activities. 

Anyway I feel really good, maybe it's the adrenaline kicking in after exerciseing or maybe I made those old people happy or kind of both. Does not matter, as long as everybody's happy (cheeeeeeeeezyy ~v~) 

Just thought I'd share this piece of simple happiness, what's the thing that made you happy about?

Thoughts: Things I wish someone have told the 19 year old me

Asians have been brought up with the overwhelming idea of being successful in life, me included, but how can we define "successs"? It have always dawned on me that there are so many things to live for, so many things that are worthwhile to do and so many things that can be done.

From a very small age, I have been brainwashed to strive for the best; get good grades, be all-rounded, get amazing achievements, go to a top university, study in a professioinal field, get a well-paid job... Even when my parents are not forcing this thought into me, being in the society that has this common belief is enough to brainwash any student crazy. But when you stop to think about it, What am I gaining from meeting all these "goals" and fitting myself into what society thinks is good for me? Perhaps a monthly salary that allows me to buy whatever I want? People looking up to me with respect? 

What is life when we couldn't even live it? There is so many things in the world that is worth seeing, feeling and experiencing. Why get trapped in the loney world of studies or work when there is so many things to be explored? Life is too short, it's time to start doing things we like rather than blindly chasing what others think is good for us.

If you are studying or doing something that you love, my deepest congratulations. If you are stuck or lost, I would recommend you to take a gap year, drop whatever you are doing and travel. By traveling I don't mean booking a tour and living in hotels. Go alone, find a hostel or do couch surfing, get away from the life you're living now and see the world. Talk to other people, get to know different cultures, be inspired. From there find out what you really like and what you really want. This goes to the many DSE students who are currently taking the world's most difficult exam too. Strive with all you have, if in the end you can't get what you want, don't settle for any less. Honestly, why care about how others think? 

Take the road less travelled. 

Mämmi: Finish easter delicacy

While we are all enjoying the last of our Easter holidays, I would like to take the chance to introduce a Finish festive delicacy. The popular easter food - Mämmi.

What exactly is the story behind this exotic food? I don't know for sure but it certainly has a symbolic meaning that has to do with preserving... Mämmi is said to be able to be put for some days without spoiling.

According to our beloved Wikipedia, this dessert is made up of water, rye flour, and powdered malted rye, seasoned with dark molasses, salt, and dried powdered Seville orange zest. It is normally eaten cold with cream or milk with sugar, and that's how we ate it. These ingredients yielded a texture that is dough-y and sweet with a taste of... rye and molasses. Being a unique Nordic exotic foodstuff, it has a completely unique flavor and (I'm sorry) I can't relate it to anything. It is not the most exciting food in the world but it sure has a special taste.

This dish is one of the rare cultural findings that is quite unlike the sauna or salmiakki which is already widely spreaded by globalization and can be found everywhere. Mämmi is only found in the Nordic and during Easter, mmm... Interesting.

DIY: Bokeh Photography

Video: Bokeh & Art (Samsung NX Lens)

I know it's a bit late for valentines day promotions but this video is so clever!! My friend got the idea to make a Bokeh video for her boyfriend's birthday. Grabbing on this idea, we spend a whole funfilled evening figuring out how to do it

Surprisingly, even a non-professional camera to achieve this effect!!
(Although making a video or some really nice shots a decent one is strongly recommended)

My iPhone camera worked, although the filter has to be cut into minute size which other than the heart shape nothing else could be cut, the aperture isn't large enough and the picture quality isn't really that great.



What I did was as follows:

§The Easy Part§
1. Measure the size of the camera lens, and cut out a round piece of paper that fits. For iPhone, the camera is so small I just took a random piece of scrap paper, it honestly didn't matter at all.

2. In the middle of the paper, cut out a shape of choice using a cutter *on a cutting mat*. The heart shape never fails, cute and easy to cut (especially when dealing with a minute camera).

3. Tape around the sides (not directly onto the glass!!), stick the piece of paper onto the camera so that it covers the lens with the cut-out shape in the middle.

§The Technical Part§
1. On our 'unprofessional' camera, (without manual settings) it's already in the auto mode. What to do now is to zoom in until all the sides of paper seen have disappeared. *If there isn't any paper border of the cut-out shape, most probably the filter is too large and it won't get the effect, if so go cut out a smaller one*

2. Look for a light source that is far away. This took some experimenting, I tried the street lights and the blinking light of the laptop, both worked.

3. Find an object (or a person) to be the subject of your photograph, focus on it. The background blurs automatically, transforming the lights into the shape!

Voilà!! 

Note:
¤ It is easier when the light source is far away and the subject is nearer to the camera. That way there's a bigger contrast for the camera to work on.
¤ It is necessary for the camera to have a large aperture, if not there will be difficulties in getting rid of the paper edges seen in the picture.

It's really surprising when this worked on my iPhone. My friend had a Cannon 18-55mm lens but her aperture was still not large enough so there was constantly a dark border in her pictures whereas the phone worked fine (despite the bad resolution) but we both had fun. This is definately staying in my list of 'Things to do on a Saturday Night'!!

Outfit: Rock it Effortlessly

It's all over my mind lately: school, classes, assignments, exams... The endless list of work is seriously stressing my body and mind. (and dealing with all this without my laptop... urgh!) To escape from this reality for a bit, I turn to mixing and matching on Polyvore and came out with this set.

My style have always been the kind that rocks and roll and is plain to everybody from my everyday wear. Most of my clothing is black as it is the easiest to work with and basically goes with every colour. Black and white never fails and adding in a shimmering of gold just clicks and brings out the whole monotone outfit. 

All my friends knows that I'm a big fan of skeletons and the skeleton leggings are just perfect for spring. Pair them with a lose-fit T-shirt and BAM! ready to go. Easy.

To style up a bit, throw in a statement necklace and a couple of studded bangles. Put on a pair of mid top sneakers or wedgies, grab a clutch.(or a satchel for a day in campus) Viola~ 

Time to rock and roll!! 

Spring special: Cottage Trip

So spring is finally here!! I can totally feel it and see it here in Mikkeli as the snow is finally melting. I don't need to pile on mountains of clothing to feel warm and my ears are not threatening to drop off after my 10 min bike ride to school.

To embrace this glorious season of the year, the whole exchange students group decided to go on a cottage trip, experiencing a night in a traditional Finnish cottage.
Translation: to party the whole night without sleeping.

Or so I thought it was. It turned out that there is more to this trip than getting drunk and sleeping uncomfortably.

Traditional Finnish cottages comes with a SAUNA and what's more, it is built next to the lake. What we did was,

1. get steamed in the sauna. 2. jump into the lake.

IT WAS A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

I can't even describe this. There was nobody for miles, the sky was clear and there were stars twinkling above our heads.We get our steaming hot bodies out from the sauna, jump into the icy frozen lake and absorb all these awesomeness.

Once again,if only I have taken some pictures...but sometimes it's all about living the moment

XOXO