Xmas away from home...

So it's my 3rd Xmas in Spain.
As I see many people rushing home for the festive season,
I can't help feelin all depressed that
yet again, I'm not celebrating Xmas with my family...

I remember, 4 yrs ago, when i was in NewYork for Xmas,
it's probably the most Xmasy city I've ever been to,
all the glitzy xmas lights, the ice-skating rink in Rockerfeller Centre
the atmosphere, cold winter & snow...
i was all excited when we got there, bt when Xmas came,
i realised the only thing that mattered, was to be with my family.
No matter where you are,
no matter how cool it might be,
nothing really compares to being ard ur family.

So once again, i am faced with the same feeling..
Next year I will definitely be with my family n frens
no matter where my travelling addiction takes me, i promise i'll be there ;)

Hanging out amidst the Xmas atmosphere!

Alberto's frens from Granada came for a visit
we spent the entire wkend partying, sightseeing n just having fun ;)
X'mas is coming,
every corner of Madrid is crowded with people
n a festive atmosphere!

My frens came n joined us
n we spent Sat aftnn drinking away in an Irish pub
awwww it was soo goood..

Squeezing thru the throngs of crowd in Plaza Mayor
where a Xmas fair was held..

Melinda, me, Alberto, Alberto 2, Alicia and Rebecca

Javier, Rebecca, Melinda

along the streets of Sol
Que Alegria! ;)

then we played with Sparklers!!!
awwwww

MERRY XMAS!

Dinner n drinks..

Amsterdam trippin' - double happiness

So it's our 2nd trip to the land of bohemia n hippiness..
double happiness this time 'round
we had a fantastic trip
visiting all our favourite coffeeshops, smokin n chillin
and attending Rahmat's wedding, n hanging out with the dutchies again!

all the colours fill the souvenir stores..

At the Dam Square..

i love the canals intertwined ard narrow streets
behind shops n btw alleys..

Had a picture with Saint Nicholas!
their original version of Santa Claus
ahh i felt a strong sense of Xmas atmosphere
with dutch folk songs n the smell of Poffertjes
in cold n wintery Holland!

Real Ice-skating out in the cold!
ahhh i was SO excited, my first time on ice ;)
Never had the chance to try it in NewYork Rockerfeller centre
since it was wayyyy overcrowded..
this time round it was sooo cool
it wasnt as difficult as i'd thot
n felt so surreal, i thot i was in some scandinavian country
skating on a frozen lake...
awwwwwwww...

Coffeeshop time
ahh me and Alberto's fav past time..
we got stoned n happy ;)

Then we met the Frankenstein!
LOL Faruk is as always, very frankensteiny...;P
we had Tibetan food n some traditional winter snack Poffertjes
it was real nice hangin out with him again
us 3 had a good laugh!

Amsterdam is 1 of the cities in the world
that looks wayy radiant n vibrant at night!

A joint at our all-time fav before hitting the bed!

RAHMAT'S WEDDING
we went to The Hague for my Dutch-Indo fren's wedding
woa it was traditionally Indonesian,
everyone was decked out in trad costumes,
Arabic greetings were seen everywhere..
i really felt as if i was in Asia!
it was quite an experience man, i adored the colours, food n
of course, being able to witness my fren's wedding
was wayy overwhelming!

The funny part was when we first arrived in the main hall
the girls and guys had to sit separately
all my frens were guys,
so that left me all alone haha

waiting for the bride n groom to arrive..

Rahmat n Ifa all decked in traditional bridal wear..

Bou, Faruk and Jimmy!
ha it was funny to see them in Holland this time round
all adult-like n decked out in suits lol

awwww....
i was so happy to be there ;)

Indonesian food was soo good
we didnt have the chance to stay for long
since we had to catch the train back to Amsterdam

Night falls, Central Station

i dig the red-light district!
it gives prostitution, raw sex, a whole new meaning lol

finally last dinner
n more smoking in coffeesshop heh

it was a really short trip
but so intensive n fulfilling
we saw alot, brought back alota memories
n the best thing was seeing my frens again!
i know it's nt gonna be the last time ;)

Segovia day-trippin'

Kinda getting sick of living in this big city,
surrounded by tall buildings, endless traffic jams n workworkwork..
So we hopped in the car, drove 1hr
to the quaint, tranquil city of SEGOVIA
with our new fav friend from Canada, Alicia

First stop: the Alcazar
aft questioning the Spanish dude (Alberto who else)
- we actually feel he's half Spanish nw
he only hangs out with us foreigners!-
we kinda concluded that Alcazar is similar to a Castle
medieval, royally constructed, smelling of Knights n cannons...

it kinda felt surreal, fairy-tale like
to be wondering in a medieval castle
lost amidst high-ceiling velvet-walled chambers...

Nxt stop: the Cathedral
almost every city in Spain has its own
symbolic Cathedral
standing in the centre of the hustle n bustle of the city..

overall view of the city..
basking under the sun..

me & Alicia jumping in joy!

ah the oh-so-famous AQUEDUCTO
built centuries ago,
this Aqueduct has been standing since the Roman Empire
surviving thru years of war n struggle...

In the countryside

we were happily rolling around amidst the autumn leaves
this felt sooo surreal..
i'm lovin' it!!!