Step into the daylight and let it go.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

#4.22 All You Had To Do Was Stay

"The two things in my life right now that unquestionably needed to stay would be time and snow. "



Despite being hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed, I did not get my White Christmas this year (again) but it did snow heavily on the day after Christmas and I was more than happy to settle with White After Christmas, if there was even such a thing. 

Although the snow started after dark, it did not deter us from getting our butts out into the streets to enjoy this special moment. No matter what people said, snowing would always be beautiful in my eyes. And honestly I didn't think I could ever get enough of it anytime soon. =)

Looking outside the windows of my room.
Heart-shaped snow!!

Other than the snow and a few Smurfy gatherings, the whole study month had been pretty dull (and tiring) but I did have steamboat as my last meal of 2014 to satisfy my cravings. Also, I really loved all the Christmas presents and cards that I got from my smurfies! To sum it up, 2014 had been a pretty great and awesome year with lots of love, good memories and incredibly fun moments. Hopefully, Mr. 2015 would treat me as good as Mr. 2014 did!

Arigatou gozaimasu~

We might have started 2015 with stressful exams but I would prefer to remember that we kick-started the year with our first travel destination of this year - Poland! 

Well, it was a very sudden last-minute decision when Jessie unexpectedly posted in our Facebook group to ask if anyone would like to travel with cheap Ryan Air tickets after exams, and most of us said yes! A big thanks to her for planning this amazing getaway that was absolutely needed after being cooped up at home for way too long.

On the first day in Warsaw, we visited Museum Palac w Wilanowie after checking into our hostel. The light show with music and all the impressive light decorations totally made my day. For our first dinner in Poland, we tried out Zapiecek, a restaurant that served signature dishes with local taste, including the much-talked-about dumplings! Again, being way too excited, we ended up ordering too much food!

The deformed heart shape that I sent to my family as the trip started.
The mesmerising light show.
The beautiful horses!!
All types of dumplings ordered.
Three different types of beer that were
incredibly superb that they got two smurfies semi-drunk.
The delicious pork knuckle.

We spent the next day in Warsaw and the rest of the trip in Krakow before our final semester started. The prices of everything in Poland were the cheapest among all of the countries in Europe that I had ever been to, and they were approximately the same compared to those in Malaysia. Needless to say, all of us were thrilled as we could finally spoil ourselves like some 暴发户! =P

Our tour organiser for the entire five days!
Pinky horse!!
Beautifully painted.
With some street decorations. 
The hauntingly beautiful statue.
Colourful small town.
Happy day.
The view from the cable car.
Up in the snowy mountain.
Hot drinks and freezing temperature.
Snow everywhere!

For the five-day trip, the salt mine in Krakow was my top attraction among all places. Some of us, including myself, even used our tongues to "taste" the salty rocky walls. It might sound a little unhygienic but I reckoned that I would be more regretful if I didn't try it. Before the start of the Miner's Route tour, we were told to change into our uniforms completed with our very own helmets and mining lamps.

The whole tour lasted for about three hours and we were in total darkness except from the lights shining from our head lamps. At one point, we were instructed to turn the lights off so that we could appreciate the total calmness in the dark, which was pretty new and cool even to me considering that I was usually afraid of the dark. 

During the tour, we had the opportunity to try out some light and fun activities and the best part of it was that we earned ourselves a certificate each at the end of the tour by jumping over some kind of flag or banner or whatever!

The walls of the cave that tasted salty!
The salt mine tour before Miner's Route.
Lovely chapel inside the salt mine. 
Beginning our tiny adventure!
The cracked woods that we failed to notice.
"Professionals" we were.
Our very own product after "mining"
Walking the streets of the city at night and bought my music box!

Before we left the beautiful country, we visited the famous Auschwitz concentration camp. The sight of thousands of shoes, hair, kitchen utensils and luggage left by the prisoners before they were put into the gas chamber made me feel sick to my stomach and I almost vomited. I was not sure if it was a coincidence but the weather was never good whenever we visited a concentration camp. It rained heavily the last time and this time, it was a gloomy snowing day. 

Auschwitz.
The sad historical site.
Heavy snow on the last day.

After enjoying ourselves and de-stressing for five days, we flew back to reality, where we would start our final year project. Mr. Time and Mrs. Snow, would you just stay as long as you wished because I honestly wouldn't mind at all. =(



Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding