tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171351942024-03-07T20:04:32.414+10:00Fieran AbhorsenThoughts, moods, moments of a dreamer...Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-85390144244048555582010-06-17T07:07:00.001+10:002010-06-17T07:08:37.679+10:00Moving OnI'm currently working on a new blog since this blog is reaching 400 posts...I figured it's time for a change.<br /><br /><a href="http://fieran.wordpress.com">Here's</a> a sneak peek.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-53302343563232018582010-06-11T20:38:00.002+10:002010-06-11T20:50:20.842+10:00WanderlustI never thought I'd love traveling so much - but I really do.<br /><br />I used to be really attached to home - my bed, my pillow, my towels, my chair, etc. - but I really enjoy traveling.<br /><br />Here's a list of where I'd like to go:<br /><br />1. Athens, Greece.<br />I read The Island by Victoria Hislop. It's a really sad story about the island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete which used to be leper colony ages ago. I'd really like to see Greece and its many islands, but not during Summer. I'm not a big fan of the sun and getting sunburnt despite coming from a sunny country.<br /><br />2. San Francisco, USA.<br />My boyfriend goes to San Francisco at least once a year for work. He avoids talking about the good stuff there because he doesn't want to make me feel sad.. but sometimes he drops subtle hints about how much fun it is to be in SF and I'd really like to see it myself. The nice thing about USA is the variety I think. There are so many options - for everything. That's one thing I wish there was more in Oslo - more choices for restaurants, shops, entertainment, etc. It will get there, I'm sure. Someday :)<br /><br />3. New York, USA.<br />I probably won't be able to shop in New York as I cannot justify splurging on branded goods. Blame it on my bargain shopper genes :) But, I'd love to walk around Manhattan and see Central Park, eat some good food, and enjoy the Big Apple. I'd like to see Autumn in New York too!<br /><br />4. Spain<br />I read a lot of blog posts on people's trips to Spain and I am green with envy :) I'd really like to go to Spain and gorge on tapas, churros, but no Sangria. I don't drink, so Sangria is wasted on me. I hear shopping in Barcelona is really fun too.<br /><br />5. Paris<br />I have never been to France. My mom and younger sister went there without me and I was quite bummed out about it...so I really want to go to Paris. Just 1 photograph with the Eiffel Tower and I will feel better I think.<br /><br />What about you? Where'd you like to go? :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-38980077875029361132010-06-11T20:18:00.003+10:002010-06-11T20:25:08.081+10:00Life Changes.....and sometimes not exactly how you'd like it to be, I guess.<br /><br />This is a work related post, sorry if it's boring :/<br /><br />I'm a bit dumbfounded how to get along with people at work.<br /><br />I used to work at a really cool software firm where people were mostly my age or just at a similar stage of life as I was - single, free, still figuring out a lot of things about life, etc. It was really easy to talk to these colleagues as I just knew what to say. We talked about movies, music, we had dinner together, made gender-based jokes :) I used to think I was fun and cool at that point - and it helps with the self esteem when people want to hang out with you. You get invites to their parties, to see their new homes, etc.<br /><br />Now I work with a lot of people who are married or in serious relationships, with kids and such so I have less to talk to them about. What makes it worse is that I don't speak Norwegian - or enough Norwegian for day to day conversations. I only know enough to order food and do online banking with.<br /><br />It really gets to me some days. Because I'm not really good friends with my former colleagues either - as we have less in common now - I don't work with them anymore and they're mostly guys who aren't really all that big in keeping in touch.<br /><br />So yeah, I'm a bit down about this... I feel like I'm starting again - except this time I have a boyfriend who still works where I used to work.<br /><br />It's amazing how a job and company can define your life - and it's even more amazing how when that is gone - you find yourself lost, confused, and trying to stay afloat.<br /><br />I'll never let a job define my life like that again...once bitten, twice shy.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-76413149068680320522010-06-09T18:22:00.002+10:002010-06-09T18:27:27.942+10:00Please Let It HappenI'm really hoping to travel this November in exchange for a laidback, lazy summer in Norway. I might go to <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Bergen">Bergen</a> - this beautiful city in Norway. I haven't been there yet despite living in Norway for awhile... it's actually pretty embarrassing :) The boyfriend's parents will be visiting in July, so they'll be going there. Me? I'm not sure as it might result in having to take unpaid vacation. My current workload is quite scary and I'm trying really hard not to get stressed otherwise my skin is going to go haywire :/ Taking days off during busy periods might not be a good idea.<br /><br />I also have to go on a business trip in September. I did try to worm out of it because it involves having to present stuff about the company's products - and I really don't think that's what I want to do but on the bright side, it is good for the CV - so might have to grin and bear it ;)<br /><br />This blog is getting dry and boring, no? I should take more photographs and write more structured posts rather than my usual brain-dumps :) I can't help it. I have so many thoughts that my mind is so noisy sometimes.<br /><br />I hope you guys are having a good week...<br /><br />I'm so looking forward to the weekend. Going to go to the gym, and also try to cook a new dish. Haven't decided on what yet.<br /><br />P/s - Cas! My Mom sent me the cucur pisang mix as well as a huge packet of gula melaka. Thanks for the tip on the pisang mix ;)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-35125082904816411012010-06-03T17:53:00.002+10:002010-06-03T17:57:10.812+10:00Losing Friends and Going GreyThis time next week, I would have lost 4 friends - two couple friends to be exact. It sucks big time and I know they have very different reasons... but it still feels like you're being dumped. It's nothing personal whatsoever and the mind knows that, but the heart refuses to listen.<br /><br />Sigh. I'm lousy at being friends with girls. Most my friends used to be guys but since I started working in a very male dominated field, I actually yearn for female friends. It's just way more fun to discuss fashion, movies, and hair :)<br /><br />Oh well, friends come and go I guess.<br /><br />On a more sad note, I have grey hair. Found two strands in the span of two months. Time to contemplate hair dye :/Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-2879591172742719082010-06-01T18:10:00.003+10:002010-06-01T18:31:02.610+10:00It's Just Food...That's what I tell myself every time I crave Malaysian food. Having lived away from home for the past 5 years or so.. I would be lying if I said I didn't crave Malaysian food. My mother is a housewife and she cooks wonderful dishes such that friends and family usually cater from her for small functions, etc.<br /><br />The food that I cook is not even 1/10th near what she makes. Ironically I always wanted McDonald's, Ramlee burger, Black pepper fried rice, chappatis with lentil curry, etc. when I lived at home. I was not keen to eat home food. Now that I live away from home, I dream of the dishes she cooks. For example, there's this lamb parcel she used to make (little pieces of lamb cooked in a curry and then baked in small foil packets). In Oslo, supermarkets don't sell lamb. The only way to get it is to go to a butcher - something I don't really prioritize because they close at 6pm weekdays, but I probably should.<br /><br />Sigh, butter prawns, fish curry (my fish curry is not as thick as the one my mom makes), fried beehoon (only managed to make that recently, and it's edible but doesn't taste like my mom's at all), etc. I'm such a foodie. In fact, that's how I started hanging out with the boyfriend. We used to cook together because he likes Indian food (way more than me) and you can't get South Indian food here easily.<br /><br />You know, the wonderful part about living in Malaysia is that you can get food anywhere, anytime, any type ... you just take it for granted. Recently I was thinking about soup noodles - you know that Japanese type? My Mom doesn't make Japanese food, but my point is that it is so easy to get it in Malaysia right? Any Japanese restaurant would have like 5 different kinds of soups with udon noodles or soba noodles. But guess what? I haven't found any Japanese restaurant in Oslo with dishes like these.<br /><br />So, I thought 'How hard can it be? I'll make it!'<br /><br />I found a wonderful recipe <a href="http://recipes.health.com/recipes/1981650-teriyaki-chicken-and-soba-noodles">here</a>. This is what my dish looked like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpuB9ZqS4mnkncUjQLkORPHMu2dvvzOTxWjNncrwSAmxFgd3nxOH21lVPHQCDsVlhT9-pCoXhYQVZ7PgwxZNbGq1pgnqjsvRWW2XhVG1KLTZmPZeTIlPEqoL3mlvKHFdNFc_r/s1600/x2_17616da.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpuB9ZqS4mnkncUjQLkORPHMu2dvvzOTxWjNncrwSAmxFgd3nxOH21lVPHQCDsVlhT9-pCoXhYQVZ7PgwxZNbGq1pgnqjsvRWW2XhVG1KLTZmPZeTIlPEqoL3mlvKHFdNFc_r/s320/x2_17616da.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477714753232877026" /></a><br /><br />It's actually really easy to make this dish. Once you marinate the chicken and put it into the oven, the rest is really quick. I made extra chicken and refrigerated it.. then boiled new soup + noodles the next day for a second meal.<br /><br />I should probably go to the _one_ Japanese grocery shop in Oslo to stock up on Japanese cooking stuff.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-23341176663304417462010-05-31T20:44:00.003+10:002010-05-31T20:48:26.991+10:00I Want More..from Tamil movies.<br /><br />I've been watching Indian (Tamil + Hindi) movies for decades now and I have to say, Tamil movies lately are a bit disappointing. No, not all of them, there are still some good ones that I have watched - but some of them really leave you feeling a bit silly for having watched the movie.<br /><br />There's this formula that they have for some Tamil movies these days:<br /><br />1. Hero is either a cop or a one man army.<br />2. Hero comes across baddie when he least expects it and gets into baddie's bad books.<br />3. The war begins with baddie and hero trying to outdo each other.<br />4. [Insert parallel romance storyline here]<br />5. Hero wins baddie and they live happily ever after.<br /><br />Now this formula has been going on for at least 20 movies so far - and I am so tired of this. I wish people will make better movies and stop using this formula. I'm sure there are a lot of filmmakers out there with better ideas, right?<br /><br />Disclaimer: This is just my personal opinion. I'm no movie critic, but I do watch a lot of movies :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-9549224638240587672010-05-21T18:10:00.003+10:002010-05-21T18:17:38.297+10:00Chili Prawn LinguineNo, this blog is definitely not turning into a food blog - otherwise I'm going to be eating way too much :)<br /><br />I just figured I'll share what I cook more often since I keep taking recipes from other people - time to give back.<br /><br />----<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdnZ1OcH7NSP3pzD_547ZzpqOFyfcGdZDy9NpkM5ihQUy-o6dpY7ycmpMQ8LLQDkJMQQYj88VI_IOs2RY7r-b-RqndXGeZ7QycDSYd-59fQ5wNCZARZdp-lqBhyphenhyphen6hkMGIXI97/s1600/x2_1621634.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdnZ1OcH7NSP3pzD_547ZzpqOFyfcGdZDy9NpkM5ihQUy-o6dpY7ycmpMQ8LLQDkJMQQYj88VI_IOs2RY7r-b-RqndXGeZ7QycDSYd-59fQ5wNCZARZdp-lqBhyphenhyphen6hkMGIXI97/s320/x2_1621634.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473634450898898146" /></a><br /><br />This is a really quick recipe, I got it from the Internet a long time ago. Can't really remember which site now. Serves 2 very hungry people ;)<br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />Prawns, approximately 500 grams<br />About 200 grams of linguine (I usually estimate half a packet)<br />Zest of half a lemon (according to taste)<br />1 or 2 cloves garlic, chopped<br />1 tablespoon olive oil<br />2-3 red chillies sliced (according to taste)<br />Salt, pepper, and parsley (according to taste)<br />Garnish with grated Parmesan (optional)<br /><br />Method:<br /><br />Boil linguine according to instructions on the packet.<br />In a separate frying pan, heat olive oil and fry garlic.<br />When the garlic is fragrant, add in prawns.<br />As the prawns start to go opaque and curl in, stir in chili slices for a minute or two. (Prawns cook very quickly so you'll have to watch closely.)<br />Once the prawns are done, switch off the stove.<br />Stir in the lemon rind.<br />Toss with linguine.<br />Season with salt, pepper, and parsley.<br />Top with grated Parmesan.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-72705885251881438882010-05-14T07:43:00.004+10:002010-05-14T08:13:02.110+10:00A Recurring Dish in my KitchenSomedays I am in a hurry after work to eat as quickly (but healthy) as possible, rest for a good 40-60 minutes and then head out to the gym. On these days I try to cook something that has some amount of good carbs but is not too heavy.<br /><br />Recurring dishes are channa masala with wholewheat tortillas, pita bread with ham, tzatziki, cucumber slices and hummus, brown pasta with prawns, chili and lemon zest, etc.<br /><br />The most recurring dish is actually Sushi Bowl. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovj9Eo2DHurODERkYY5DkuqaP8iILrXFb03GgBBtvINI46DC7CQ_CvkvjJartb4jcfcqaZzn85Hq_skhqSkuU6TG9Qug30kMLjnDRLOObcmWlvUWIP0WN5rbXT2JLRSzEfRKz/s1600/x2_15323f2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovj9Eo2DHurODERkYY5DkuqaP8iILrXFb03GgBBtvINI46DC7CQ_CvkvjJartb4jcfcqaZzn85Hq_skhqSkuU6TG9Qug30kMLjnDRLOObcmWlvUWIP0WN5rbXT2JLRSzEfRKz/s320/x2_15323f2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470876384094659730" /></a><br /><br />Sushi bowl is effectively all sushi-like ingredients tossed in a bowl. The overall taste is similar to a sushi but you just don't have to wrap it. I've tried making sushi and not only is it time consuming, it is one of the most difficult to estimate recipes ever ;) It can be quite fun when done among friends though.<br /><br />The original recipe is from <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/sushi-bowl-recipe.html">Heidi Swanson</a>, who never fails to amaze me with her wonderful recipes. Thank you very much for the recipe Heidi :)<br /><br />I make a quick and lazy version (photo) and here's the recipe for two hungry people:<br /><br />200 grams of smoked salmon - sliced into strips<br />1 large avocado - cubed<br />1 cup of rice - cooked<br />1 bunch of scallions - chopped<br />A handful of sesame seeds<br />2-3 sheets of seaweed - sliced into strips<br /><br />For the sauce:<br />2 oranges<br />1 lemon<br />1-2 tablespoons of Japanese soya sauce<br />1-2 tablespoons of Japanese rice vinegar<br />1/2 tablespoon of sugar<br /><br />---<br /><br />Method:<br /><br />1. Cook rice your usual way. (You can use sushi rice or normal white rice. I use brown rice as I feel it does not go mushy when you pour the sauce on it.)<br /><br />2. Boil juice of 2 oranges and 1 lemon with some orange and lemon zest. When the juice starts to bubble, add in soya sauce, rice vinegar and sugar. Stir quickly and switch off the stove. (The amount of soya sauce, rice vinegar and sugar is up to you. The mixture should be a slight brownish/orangish colour.)<br /><br />3. Serve rice with a little bit of everything. Drizzle the sauce on the rice and sprinkle sesame seeds and seaweed strips.<br />---<br /><br />This dish is quite versatile in the sense that you can add a lot of other ingredients like cooked prawns, crab sticks, or fried tofu.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-60831674456400017282010-05-11T18:19:00.002+10:002010-05-11T18:25:26.385+10:00I Was Once Mistaken For a BoyToday on Facebook I came across a friend being a tad miffed that a barista in a cafe called her "Madam" instead of "Miss". I realised that it was not so bad.<br /><br />I've been mistaken for a boy so many times when I was a kid because I always had the Mushroom haircut :) It also didn't help that I was a bit of a tom boy. Okay maybe not "a bit"..it's "very much". I never liked girly stuff and definitely hated the colour pink. I never liked sleeveless T-shirts (still don't), skirts, dresses, etc.<br /><br />Actually, I haven't worn a dress since I was 10 years old or something. That's 16 years ago..wow.<br /><br />But I digress. My point is that I started to realize that maybe I should bother to look like a girl when I was 19 and in a small restaurant near my college, a waiter told me "Intha Thambi" and handed me my food.<br /><br />That means "Here, little boy (or younger brother)". I kind of freaked out because I was 19 and I definitely looked like a girl. Let's just say my sisters and I will never need silicone enhancements ;)<br /><br />A few people in the restaurant were smirking and chuckling in my direction. I was a little mortified.<br /><br />That's when I decided - it is time to grow my hair. I never looked back since then .. though my hair is a lot shorter now than it used to be when I was a poor student in Australia who could not afford a hair cut - but that's for another day.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-59292556962339360452010-05-08T17:22:00.002+10:002010-05-08T17:39:01.606+10:00Saturday Breakfast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fSv4U03WDy4myOzfDuZw_9Sj8gl-M9glmZVBq16eiGtNfpN-xjjtWHHOrJDB4g2LVwxizs0a3Bmyhjk1DChG4-njmmU2xryr4pZn3qpE8iFPGCjs-I4D5_jkWB5d7D_ohDFu/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fSv4U03WDy4myOzfDuZw_9Sj8gl-M9glmZVBq16eiGtNfpN-xjjtWHHOrJDB4g2LVwxizs0a3Bmyhjk1DChG4-njmmU2xryr4pZn3qpE8iFPGCjs-I4D5_jkWB5d7D_ohDFu/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468800401806121282" /></a><br />On Saturdays and Sundays, I sometimes crave warm breakfast - pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast, oatmeal porridge, etc.<br /><br />Yesterday I saw this recipe <a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/Recipe-Banana-Almond-Oatmeal-Pancakes-8300113">Banana Almond Oatmeal Pancakes</a> and decided to make it today.<br /><br />It's quite a nice breakfast. I added the yoghurt and strawberries on top as I already had some in the fridge.<br /><br />Have a nice weekend, everyone :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-37284841798266682022010-05-05T18:01:00.003+10:002010-05-05T18:03:11.627+10:00Never Refuse an Expectant Mom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBY3UZ-ol4AP8y6qjWfcC8cSZwORgIRhUf_KdcXVl_JpLZZRX8KfOxW1fIiGkFeJvjV1FomZyItXImjUUMR8nyzKiXpXgRau9XYDyqJ1_zxEZnsS1QuPEP5GzF-zsrJGEPDxg/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBY3UZ-ol4AP8y6qjWfcC8cSZwORgIRhUf_KdcXVl_JpLZZRX8KfOxW1fIiGkFeJvjV1FomZyItXImjUUMR8nyzKiXpXgRau9XYDyqJ1_zxEZnsS1QuPEP5GzF-zsrJGEPDxg/s320/DSC_0064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467693414727024466" /></a><br />I bumped into a really cool person via blog hopping recently. Her name is Cas and she's demanded to see a photograph of my mediocre sago pudding I made last weekend.<br /><br />I'm told never to refuse an expectant mom, so here you go Cas ;)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-47316413862288038582010-05-03T06:38:00.003+10:002010-05-03T06:42:59.435+10:00What a week it has beenIt's been a tough week. There's been just so much to do that I had to bail out of cooking dinner for my Portuguese friends and attending a farewell dinner for my British friend.<br /><br />I feel bad about it..but then again I always feel bad for everything :)<br /><br />Work has picked up a lot with some events coming closer and requirements arising. I have so much of work to do - but it isn't really writing, a lot of it is mucking around with Illustrator and InDesign, attempting to make something useful.<br /><br />I've started researching on language courses. If everything falls into place, I'll be taking another Norsk course this Summer. I hope it goes well. Time to grit my teeth and get to it I guess.<br /><br />I'd rather go on a vacation ;) Hahaha, ironically the price of the course is equivalent to a trip to Greece...or Dublin...or Barcelona. Decisions, decisions :/<br /><br />I made sago pudding on Friday night. It was yummy. It could have tasted better had I had some patience and let the sago chill longer in the fridge. But patience was never my middle name :) Impatience is.<br /><br />Well, I hope this week goes better than last week...Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-62850595996598532732010-04-23T05:42:00.002+10:002010-04-23T05:44:26.088+10:00The DamageThe eagle has landed...more like the boyfriend but here's the damage:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6x2q2njzxyRH0o80XEO7UDJOeslR98CUEkoNEij8HqjamsuhtmzuQmhyphenhyphen2xdUg2P-xkL-Bbo6dGFb_goLYJAiNDi8G8R0PrE6lhgHF7mFoJZla4gQ60o_2J36It3ZpyWl_imK/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6x2q2njzxyRH0o80XEO7UDJOeslR98CUEkoNEij8HqjamsuhtmzuQmhyphenhyphen2xdUg2P-xkL-Bbo6dGFb_goLYJAiNDi8G8R0PrE6lhgHF7mFoJZla4gQ60o_2J36It3ZpyWl_imK/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463049813068193922" /></a><br /><br />Feeling a wee bit guilty now. Probably shouldn't have sent two e-mails with lists.<br /><br />Oh well :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-38228376048363340332010-04-19T17:34:00.007+10:002010-04-19T17:48:17.084+10:00There's No Use Crying Over Spilt Milk...but it is a little difficult trying to reconcile your expectations with reality.<br /><br />I was supposed to have one of the most awesome weekends ever - in the end it turned into my bumming on the couch trying not to think about how much fun I could have had.<br /><br />Well it wasn't as bad as I thought it was, but you kind of get this really strange feeling because you don't want to be upset (as there are people out there who have it worse than you... I mean seriously, people living near the volcano have to be evacuated, that is definitely worse than canceled travel plans...) but you just feel off. Like something is wrong and there is no way you can fix it because it is not even in your control.<br /><br />I was supposed to go to Stockholm, but on Thursday morning a very "nice person" told me that there is not going to be any flights out of Oslo. I was kind of annoyed that first thing in the morning, somebody is raining on my parade, but "nice person" probably wanted to be helpful. True enough, the Oslo airspace started shutting down, canceling strings of flights and I was getting very anxious (my flight was on Friday).<br /><br />A quick text to my travel companions resulted in the collective decision to wait until Friday and see if anything happens.<br /><br />Friday morning we decided to cancel our hostel reservations. This was supposed to be my first trip where I stayed in a hostel to learn to not live in luxury. I mean I love hotels, to me it's part of the fun of traveling, but sometimes it would be good for the soul to see something different - good for the pocket too as hostels are like half the price!<br /><br />Today is Monday and I am yet to call the airlines to find out how we can obtain the refunds for our tickets. I spent Saturday bumming around as well as hanging out with the nice couple whom I was supposed to travel with. We did a bit of walking around shops and had nice coffee/tea. I also learned how to knit, but I think I'm lousy at it.<br /><br />Sunday, I stayed at home in pyjamas, reading, watching two movies back to back - Paiyaa and Pink Panther 2 - and cooking simple yet scrumptious Veggie Nachos as well as Pasta with Bacon and Red Pesto. It was a nice Sunday. I forced myself to skip the gym from Friday to Sunday as I figured I should rest and cheer myself up.<br /><br />The other disappointing part is that the boyfriend is traveling. He was supposed to come to Stockholm and meet us there (myself + nice couple friends). He's still in San Francisco, hoping to get a flight out middle of this week. I hope that happens. He is normally the eternal optimist, but he does seem a little bothered as he's been away for more than a week now - the original plan was 6 days.<br /><br />It's nobody's fault, so you can't really get angry either.<br /><br />Oh well, this too shall pass. Things will get better and one of these days I'll go to Stockholm and write "I WAZ ERE" a la high school on some sand and then I'll feel better :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-12605474528765357032010-04-08T20:43:00.004+10:002010-04-14T21:20:36.116+10:00Ah Venice :)Venice was beautiful. Here's a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kavindra_d/sets/72157623671997317/">link</a> to the photographs I took.<br /><br />I shall write more about it soon :)<br /><br />#Update<br />Well, I'd better write my memories now, before they disappear in the daily grind.<br /><br />So we went to Venice from March 31st till April 4th. It was beautiful. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in Dorsoduro, so you kind of got the feeling that you were far away from the noisy touristy area, that is San Marco, Canareggio, San Polo, etc.<br /><br />I have to say, the most frequently used word in Venice is "Marco". You hear it and you see it EVERYWHERE.<br /><br />We went to the Doge's Palace which was very nice. It's amazing how luxurious and classy it looks on the outside, but on the inside it is actually split in two. You have the modest, practical looking floors where the middle class used to work. And then you have the opulent parts where the Nobels are. We did the <a href="http://www.tours-italy.com/venice-about-secret_doges_itinerary.htm">Secret Itineraries</a>tour and our tour guide was so enthusiastic, she verbally transported us to the 16th century. It was so much fun :) The tour of Cassanova's cell and her recounting of his "great escape" kind of makes me want to watch the movie "Cassanova". Not sure how good that movie is though.<br /><br />The buildings in Venice are old. I get really spooked by old buildings - I don't know why. They have character and charm, definitely, but for some reason I keep thinking of ghosts and how they probably haunt these buildings. Overactive imagination, huh.<br /><br />Now, although these buildings are old, I am in awe of how well they have been built - most of them are still standing after 6 or 7 centuries! Can't say that about buildings nowadays, can you?<br /><br />When San Marco is empty, there's a certain sense of calm and tranquility about it. Since we were there on a Wednesday, it was quite relaxed and not very busy. Of course there were still tourists, but you could walk in the streets without bumping into anybody. The boyfriend and I strolled through the streets, me drooling at leather bags that I did not buy because they weren't exactly cheap, and I just didn't feel like spending money. I don't know why, the whole time I was there, I was quite thrifty - so unlike me :) We had the best gelato ever, at 1.50 Euro a scoop. Sometimes we paid a bit more, like 2 Euros.<br /><br />(I don't mean to sound like a spoiled brat, but I always compare my expenses with Norwegian prices when I travel. See Norwegian prices are not bad, because you can earn enough to survive in Norway and you get used to how much Ringgit the things cost. But when you travel, you feel like everything is a lot cheaper..)<br /><br />Apart from the main sistieres, we also went to Murano, Burano, and Torcello. These are three very cute islands in Veneto. We didn't spend much time in Murano apart from visiting a glass factory, but in Burano and Torcello we managed to take a quick walk around the island and get a feel for it. If I do get to go to Venice again (fat hopes, but hey, a girl can dream :)), I want to check out Lido island.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-82866500637564577592010-03-29T05:59:00.003+10:002010-03-29T06:14:13.225+10:00I'm a Magazine Addict<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_NFRr-gqfhT6U9kpmJKq6-F87nDjS-5_2SIcPsyKMi2pHp7lpCmQCtbtcyVMfSMmrBKHfsOWb3dH4cchgtrogfEj4p2pXecuBfe87_KbODBnxGoyUXXQqlq3L6o5r4JNzyEI/s1600/DSC_0886.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_NFRr-gqfhT6U9kpmJKq6-F87nDjS-5_2SIcPsyKMi2pHp7lpCmQCtbtcyVMfSMmrBKHfsOWb3dH4cchgtrogfEj4p2pXecuBfe87_KbODBnxGoyUXXQqlq3L6o5r4JNzyEI/s320/DSC_0886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453780464820738290" /></a><br />I love magazines. I don't know why but the idea of sitting in a cafe sipping coffee/tea while reading a magazine is just divine in my mind. I don't do it often, but as you can see, I did get the magazines this time... but just didn't get around to sitting in a cafe and devouring them.<div><br /></div><div>Sigh, this is this month's pile of not-completely-read magazines. I hope to catch up.</div><div><br /></div><div>So many things to do, so little time. I spent most of my weekend catching up on laundry, playing around with my Nikon 35mm lens (love it!), cooking, and watching heaps of Fringe episodes. The colours are beautiful with the lens. Now I just need to re-read parts of this book on the Nikon D40 and I will be a little bit more aware of what my camera can/cannot do. Photography is a lot of fun but I really wish I spent more time on it sometimes. I'm not good with the technical aspect, I'm more of the "fiddle around, take 5 shots and pick the best later" type of photographer. I'm a hobbyist after all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Started packing for Venice. I'm a bit worried because I've been thinking about sweaters, singlets, jeans, tights, coats, scarves for the past 6 months. After my KL trip last October, I have been dressing up purely in winter clothing that warmer weather is a little 'too good to be true' in my head - hence I'm worried I'm not going to pack proper stuff for the trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh well, there's always the possibility of buying something there, wearing it and looking 100% tourist. Argh.</div><div><br /></div><div>I apologize if my blog posts are less and less structured these days. They reflect my mind ;) I'm kind of "everywhere" sometimes..not sure why.</div>Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-23404989189661877102010-03-23T23:18:00.003+10:002010-03-23T23:28:16.157+10:003rd Anniversary :)Today marks the 3rd anniversary of my living in Oslo :) I am quite happy - but life has its ways of showing me that there is always more to achieve.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I'd really like to learn Norwegian.</span><br /><br />There. I have said it. Learning this language has been pretty tough for me because I am a technical writer. I spend a good 8 hours a day reading and writing and trying to convince engineers to read my work and provide me with some feedback. It's a job that is definitely a lot easier than Medicine, Law, Firefighting, and so on. But it has its challenges - like how it gets difficult to read normal novels because you always start analyzing sentences. What's also tough for me is to learn Norwegian. The Norwegian language is actually quite cute. If I learned it, I could be so much more comfortable living in Scandinavia.<br /><br />But two things stop me from learning it:<br /><br />1. The cost - the courses are not cheap. They are approximately 2000+ Ringgit each course and you need a good 5 courses to be able to sit for the govt test. I could skip the test, of course, and just focus on reading, writing, and being able to converse.<br /><br />2. Irrational fear - I am afraid that if I learn another language, I will lose command on one existing language. I am a firm believer in balance. I'm afraid I will lose my command of Malay (or what little there is left after not using it for the past 5 years). Even worse, I could lose my command of Tamil. God forbid, I hope that never happens. Already my Tamil is so rough and choppy. I can barely understand pure Tamil anymore (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aayirathil_Oruvan">Aayirathil Oruvan</a> proved that :()<br /><br />I am really hoping that I will just throw #2 and save up (for #1) and just... get it done. Take at least 1 course this year and start speaking Norwegian.<br /><br />Actually I did take the introductory course in 2007 and it was not useless at all. Instead, it is what helps me understand my tax papers, banking, and of course all the shop signs ;) I can order food and stuff in Norsk, but its not enough to converse. I usually know the gist of other people's conversation but I blink blankly when they try to speak to me in Norsk.<br /><br />See I never thought that I would turn out to be so stubborn about learning a new language. In some ways I am disappointed in myself for not putting in enough effort to learn Norsk. I always thought that I wanted to learn a new language - I really did believe that - until I realised how difficult it was (in 2007) to go to work and read + write technical papers, then go for classes after work and attempt to concentrate for a good 2 hours. Gosh, it was not easy.<br /><br />I shall find a way to fix that this year.<br /><br />I have to...Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-334009992595027422010-03-16T19:18:00.003+10:002010-03-16T19:20:19.894+10:00SuccessSo I actually manage to wake up early enough this morning to fit in a 30 minute cardio workout in the gym. Phew.<br /><br />I'm kind of glad, because I still managed to get to work at 9.25am... but we'll see how active I actually am today.<br /><br />14 days to Venice..time to book the tour to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doge%27s_Palace">Doge's palace</a>!Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-62063429712425564072010-03-10T00:15:00.003+10:002010-03-10T00:19:40.273+10:00Little Miss GreedyGreed. I really feel greedy. I seem to want everything I see, everything around me.<br /><br />Before even setting foot in Venice, I have already booked my next vacation - Stockholm. I've been living in Oslo for almost 3 years now and have not yet been to Stockholm which is only 1 hour by flight.<br /><br />My friend P and her husband are leaving Oslo soon, so I suggested we go somewhere before they leave. We narrowed down the options to Stockholm. Leaving on April 17th, back on April 19th.<br /><br />Strangely my horoscope for this year did mention that I will travel a lot. I usually scoff at horoscopes, but this time, just this once - it may be true.<br /><br />I should probably start taking more photographs - or at least uploading them - but then I will lose my anonymity (or what's left of it). Tough call :)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-11415628149783125802010-03-03T19:42:00.002+10:002010-03-03T20:09:13.160+10:00Striking the right balanceEverytime I travel, I come home in vacation mode - buy anything I like, eat anything I want, waste as much time possible. Then it takes a good two weeks to get back into the swing of things - gym, eating healthy again, and practicing some self-control.<br /><br />Contrary to the popular belief (among my friends): I am not a shopaholic :) I'm more of a bargain shopper who almost never buys anything on full price. Of course this involves a lot of window shopping (painful!). However, post Malaysia, my goal for this month is 0 shopping till March 31st (that's when I leave for Venice ;)... though I don't think there's much to buy in Venice. Now if I was going to Milan, then it's a whole different story!<br /><br />But, I digress. My point is that I am a tad upset that I have not gotten back into my routine. I'm actually dreaming (because a lot of people + articles I read keep saying the same thing) of going to the gym every morning for 4-5 times a week before work. This will actually be a great routine for Spring + Summer. I'm not sure if I can do it - but I should probably try. I have tried to wake up at 6 am but I never get around to getting into my gym clothes and leaving the apartment. I always make some silly excuse and not do what I should do. <a href="http://bellyfatblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-to-lose-your-belly-fat-fast-and.html">It seems</a> if you exercise in the morning before breakfast, you can tap into your fat stores (in this case, my belly :().<br /><br />So, let's see if I actually manage to get out of bed Friday morning and hit the gym before going to work.<br /><br />*Fingers crossed*Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-37847582019464512962010-02-27T15:04:00.002+10:002010-02-27T15:36:32.950+10:00A quick trip to KLLast year, when I was in KL, my sisters and I were thinking of giving my parents a ticket to India for my Dad's 60th birthday. However, my Dad is not much of a traveler - he would rather sit on the couch and read the newspapers :) Though his new found best friend is actually his grand daughter - my cute little niece - and I think he'd rather play with her than go anywhere else. She has my Dad wrapped around her little finger so much so that sometimes when we are chatting on MSN he will say something like "The small one wants to go outside, chat with you later". That really steamrolled my ego ;)<br /><br />Since the India trip was off, I figured I'd go back to KL for a week and spend some time with Dad.<br /><br />Gosh, traveling for about 20 hours on the way there and 23 hours on the way back in just 8 days really takes its toll on your body. I was pretty jet lagged back there and I could tell that I was not completely _there_. It was this strange feeling where your tummy doesn't know if it should be hungry or not, and you really feel very off because of the change in weather (it was a snowy -9 C when I left Oslo last Wednesday) and surrounding. I did something really strange on my Oslo-Frankfurt flight - I left the novel I was reading on the seat and totally forgot about it. That is so unlike me... I've been traveling via flight since the age of 19 and I have never left anything on the flight :(<br /> <br />Also, I didn't really feel like shopping. Now that makes me worry because I am always up for shopping especially in KL because everything is half the price, compared to Oslo.<br /><br />I did shop a little bit - a few pairs of shoes, 2 cardigans, a jacket for Spring, some makeup, etc. I also got a winter coat and Elizabeth Arden's Mediterranean perfume from Mom as a gift and some nice jewelry from my sisters.<br /><br />We threw Dad a small birthday high-tea at a nice, simple hotel. It seemed like he had a good time :)<br /><br />Overall the trip was definitely worth it. Now I just have to get back to saving money mode...and try to save to go back to KL again, maybe end of this year. Though I am not 100% sure if it will be possible as I am working in a new job now and my number of paid days off is rather small. But, there's always room for surprises. Who knows? I might just be able to visit KL again this year.Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-51180903432374694992010-02-06T20:49:00.002+10:002010-02-06T21:27:10.196+10:00I Bully My FriendsIt's kind of true. Whenever I have friends traveling, etc, I sometimes bully them and ask them to buy me stuff.<br /><br />This is actually due to the fact that the variety here isn't too good. Then again, it's not fair to expect too much from a country with approximately 5 million people. I like living here, but I wish I had more variety sometimes. Also the prices here are quite expensive because of people's buying power. For example, 20 USD is 120 NOK. 120 NOK is kind of like how much you'd pay for a meal at McDonald's :)<br /><br />But, in the USA, 20 USD will actually give you a huge bottle of Philosophy Chocolate Fudge Cake shower gel (and 4 USD change).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P227808/P227808_hero.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P227808/P227808_hero.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> Ahh, Philosophy - another brand that is not available here.<br /><br />So, whenever some of my friends travel, I kind of make small requests like KitKat chocolate (was not available in Oslo until six months ago), Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter (it's so much cheaper in London/Germany/USA duty free) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P122654/P122654_hero.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P122654/P122654_hero.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> etc. At this point, I should probably say that Clinique's body butter keeps my skin alive in the harsh Norwegian winters. It really really helps to prevent dry skin. The sad part about winter is that it really does a number on your body if you are not used to it. It takes awhile to get used to it as well. Then just when you think you are a bit more comfortable, walking in the cold swathed in a thick scarf and winter boots, not to mention beyond recognition in your huge jacket - the temperature drops even more and you are back to feeling cold and stiff again. But, I digress.<br /><br />Yesterday, S came back from the USA with a big bag from Sephora for me :) I asked him to get:<br /><br />1. Philosophy Chocolate Fudge Cake shower gel<br />2. Philosophy Birthday Vanilla Cake shower gel<br />3. Rosebud's Three Lavish Layers of Lip Balm (a tin containing all three flavours - the original rosebud, minted rose lip balm and strawberry lipbalm)<br />4. Sephora by O.P.I. Nail polish (O.P.I is another brand you can't get here, and it was just 50 NOKs a colour, so I had to ask for them). Which colours you ask? <a href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/sku/1111210/1111210_sw.jpg">Nonfat Soy Half Caff</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/sku/1111285/1111285_sw.jpg">Call Your Mother</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/sku/1111590/1111590_sw.jpg">What's a Tire Jack?</a>, and <a href="http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/sku/1177559/1177559_sw.jpg">Ocean Love Potion</a><br /><br />So that was the haul. I've never been a person who actually painted my fingernails often let alone used any hand cream, etc... but lately I feel like doing that. I feel like being a bit more particular and putting in a bit more effort into taking care of my hands because as a Technical Writer people tend to see your hands often and it would be nice to have properly trimmed fingernails and soft, smooth hands - I'm getting vain :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Skin Care Update</span><br /><br />So it's been about 8 days since I started using Clinique's skin care range. I have skin Type 2 it seems. Honestly I am not 100% sure if it is working because I am still getting pimples, but they seem to be healing a bit better and overall my skin looks slightly smoother, less oily (but with dry spots on my nose - this could be winter related) but definitely not irritated. I've been asked to try it out for 4 weeks. If it does not work, your skin will get red and itchy. So far, no redness or itchiness - fingers crossed - so I'll keep using it to see what happens. I haven't bought any full sized bottles actually, just the small starter pack. Let's see what happens in my quest for better skin.<br /><br />* Pictures borrowed from SephoraFieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-86286515850764869312010-02-03T19:29:00.003+10:002010-02-03T19:32:39.962+10:00FocusI'm feeling all over the place today - yet I'm getting things done. It's a very weird mood/feeling. I've got the latest Bollywood music blasting on my earphones and I'm feeling quite optimistic and happy. At the same time, I can't seem to focus on finishing up my project for work. I'm standing in front of my screen at work, admiring my image manipulation skills instead of moving on to finish the other parts of the document.<br /><br />I guess, sometimes, we do have to stop and smell the roses...even if it's just a small drawing.<br /><br />(I know, since when was _I_ that optimistic? Must have something to do with a friend bringing a bag of goodies from Sephora on his way back from Boston this Friday.)Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17135194.post-61258406118685115962010-02-01T19:47:00.002+10:002010-02-01T19:51:20.672+10:00Turning old in Style<a href="http://fieran.blogspot.com/2009/04/ushering-25-in-style.html">Last year</a>, I came up with this idea of traveling for my birthday. I figured it would be a fun thing to do to help ease the "pain" of growing older.<br /><br />For this year...it was a tough decision. I suddenly have this itch to travel more and had to choose between Reykjyavik, Paris, Barcelona, Venice, Dublin, Scotland and Stockholm.<br /><br />Venice won and I just booked my flight tickets yesterday. Looking forward to it... only 57 days to go :)<br /><br />P/s - I'd love to revamp my blog a little but I'm not sure how much effort + time it will require...Fieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01634999806266598719noreply@blogger.com2