A friend of mine once used the analogy of a sine curve to describe feelings. And I have never found a better one. Though going by my normal tendency to dramatise things, I call it a roller-coaster.
Take today for example. I accidentally broke the 2 scented candles I'd bought for a couple of my friends. The plastic bag tore and fell right at the moment I was giving to someone. Came safe all the way from Toronto to here, but had to break at the ultimate moment. It's so depressing.
And then I wasted more than an hour in attempts to, umm, "shikaar"-karofy. Well Hindi mein yahi badal ke aata hai. Which magically panned out eventually. Yay! :D
But then I realized that information is a two-edged, very sharp sword, that needs to be used with lots of care!
Being civil when I'm pissed is so not my forte.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Scratch
I like Scratch :D At least for now. For those who dunno what it is, it is a programming application for beginners. It allows you to make use of a fun interface to implement algorithms. Since it is aimed mainly at small children, it has a cat as the protagonist, who is capable of saying "Meow". This is the first time that I am actually playing around with a software when I am supposed to, not 1 day before exam. Probably because it is simple, and only mildly challenging, at least the questions so far, I am working on it in the tutorial right now, instead of listening to the prof. Haha.
As has recently been pointed out to me, my blog can be perceived as frightening, and, I quote, "a super hyper hormonal overrush of emotions!". Interesting. I've never really thought about this. But I guess it is possibly true. Mainly because it is my place for ranting, venting, complaining, cursing, being depressed and depressing others. So I try to put the negative thoughts in my head in the blog, so I can be more sunshine-ey in real life. Also, I blog mainly when I have turmoil in my head; rarely when I'm happy. Hence, the abundance of depressed posts here. Plus, as I have discovered in the past, I am a person whose normal state is depressed. What can I say, "some people are more comfortable in hell". (It's a quote from the TV series 24). Wait, why am I justifying myself? :O I write because I like writing, since a Maths major does not give that much room for literary pursuits. I do not write to attract the attention of people or to make them feel concerned for my well being, I write more for my peace of mind.
The number of Facebook 'friends' one has is by no means a measure of how many friends they have in real life.
It really bugs me when people say 'typo' when they write down something wrongly. A TYPO is when you TYPE something wrong, not write down something on a piece of paper wrong. Dumbass!
Oh oh I have a tutor called DONG! My head kind of exploded when he told us. I cracked so many Dong jokes during tutorial yesterday. And he was encouraging us to call him when we had problems with tutorial, and also when we went to Clarke Quay. "See who I brought! I brought Dong!" :D Russell Peters should so meet this guy! Would you like some Shlong with that Dong ? :P
As has recently been pointed out to me, my blog can be perceived as frightening, and, I quote, "a super hyper hormonal overrush of emotions!". Interesting. I've never really thought about this. But I guess it is possibly true. Mainly because it is my place for ranting, venting, complaining, cursing, being depressed and depressing others. So I try to put the negative thoughts in my head in the blog, so I can be more sunshine-ey in real life. Also, I blog mainly when I have turmoil in my head; rarely when I'm happy. Hence, the abundance of depressed posts here. Plus, as I have discovered in the past, I am a person whose normal state is depressed. What can I say, "some people are more comfortable in hell". (It's a quote from the TV series 24). Wait, why am I justifying myself? :O I write because I like writing, since a Maths major does not give that much room for literary pursuits. I do not write to attract the attention of people or to make them feel concerned for my well being, I write more for my peace of mind.
The number of Facebook 'friends' one has is by no means a measure of how many friends they have in real life.
It really bugs me when people say 'typo' when they write down something wrongly. A TYPO is when you TYPE something wrong, not write down something on a piece of paper wrong. Dumbass!
Oh oh I have a tutor called DONG! My head kind of exploded when he told us. I cracked so many Dong jokes during tutorial yesterday. And he was encouraging us to call him when we had problems with tutorial, and also when we went to Clarke Quay. "See who I brought! I brought Dong!" :D Russell Peters should so meet this guy! Would you like some Shlong with that Dong ? :P
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Everly - The Girl In The Moon
The girl in the moon
Is alone with the stars
And the spaceships
The girl in the moon
Is alone and alive
With the dust and the air
Nothing grows
Everything is moving
But only goes in circles
And no one to talk to
Is reason enough to be blue
The girl in the moon
With her dreams
Has a steel melting smile
But the girl with the blues
In the moon
Hasn't smiled in a long while
We've been waiting to see
If this girl she will smile
You know we've been waiting
Here for such long while.
Is alone with the stars
And the spaceships
The girl in the moon
Is alone and alive
With the dust and the air
Nothing grows
Everything is moving
But only goes in circles
And no one to talk to
Is reason enough to be blue
The girl in the moon
With her dreams
Has a steel melting smile
But the girl with the blues
In the moon
Hasn't smiled in a long while
We've been waiting to see
If this girl she will smile
You know we've been waiting
Here for such long while.
The beginning of the end.
1st Jan 2012
Today is the First of January, the first day of the year that Nostradamus, among many others, predicted would mark the end of the human civilization as we know it. And the decline has already begun. Today, when we woke up from our hangovers from last night's wild partying, switched on our laptops to start replying to the gazillion emails and New Year wishes, we found out that the damned internet wouldn't connect. It seems to be the same story with all our friends and family, and as the News Channels inform us, it seems to be a much larger scale problem. The whole picture is not clear yet, but it seems to be a global phenomenon.
7th Jan 2012
It's been a week since internet all around the world has been down. Despite day and night efforts by all sorts of technicians everywhere, they are as yet unable to locate the cause behind it, let alone solve it. While speculations in the media are rife about a global terrorist threat, those who had predicted this to be the year of the apocalypse have become even more vocal, and are calling this just the beginning. Many strange and seemingly unexplainable disappearances and weather phenomenon have been noted, despite efforts by governments to suppress such information, for fear of mass panic. Fear and uncertainty have crept into the daily lives of one and all, and many of those who were earlier cynics about the end of the world explanation are now beginning to change their minds.
The gigantic impact that the absence of internet has had economically as well as socially is indeed astounding, and it is gradually becoming clearer how completely dependent the human race had become on technology.
31st Jan 2012
A month into this horrific year, and we are still trying to get accustomed to lives without internet. Some positive points have emerged nonetheless. The resourcefulness of humans, when pushed against the wall, is once again becoming apparent. The quick-fix solutions that various companies and banks have come up with indeed provides some hope in these otherwise gloomy days. Not surprisingly, most of these solutions have come from the 2 Asian emerging superpowers, India and China. If it can indeed be fathomed that someone can benefit from the current world catastrophe, it is these two nations. While countries which are too accustomed to things always following set patterns and going right, for once being used to nothing working seems to be working perfectly in India's advantage. As all eyes turned to the US to be a global leader, all that has come out of the country is panic. The downfall of America, which started with Sept 11 might indeed be cemented this year, assuming any of us make it out alive. Obama, who brought so much hope during his Presidential campaign has seemed unable to deal with something of this magnitude. In his recent press interviews, he has had a haggard look, and his assurances to the American people that they are trying their best, and to have patience and faith, seems to be falling on deaf ears. He is no longer the man with the solutions.
p.s. To all those cynical about the end of the world in 2012 stories, don't worry I am one of you too. This random "story" just came into my head while I was supposed to be studying, so I decided to pen it down. Let's hope the world, and more importantly internet, never come to an end! Cheers :)
Today is the First of January, the first day of the year that Nostradamus, among many others, predicted would mark the end of the human civilization as we know it. And the decline has already begun. Today, when we woke up from our hangovers from last night's wild partying, switched on our laptops to start replying to the gazillion emails and New Year wishes, we found out that the damned internet wouldn't connect. It seems to be the same story with all our friends and family, and as the News Channels inform us, it seems to be a much larger scale problem. The whole picture is not clear yet, but it seems to be a global phenomenon.
7th Jan 2012
It's been a week since internet all around the world has been down. Despite day and night efforts by all sorts of technicians everywhere, they are as yet unable to locate the cause behind it, let alone solve it. While speculations in the media are rife about a global terrorist threat, those who had predicted this to be the year of the apocalypse have become even more vocal, and are calling this just the beginning. Many strange and seemingly unexplainable disappearances and weather phenomenon have been noted, despite efforts by governments to suppress such information, for fear of mass panic. Fear and uncertainty have crept into the daily lives of one and all, and many of those who were earlier cynics about the end of the world explanation are now beginning to change their minds.
The gigantic impact that the absence of internet has had economically as well as socially is indeed astounding, and it is gradually becoming clearer how completely dependent the human race had become on technology.
31st Jan 2012
A month into this horrific year, and we are still trying to get accustomed to lives without internet. Some positive points have emerged nonetheless. The resourcefulness of humans, when pushed against the wall, is once again becoming apparent. The quick-fix solutions that various companies and banks have come up with indeed provides some hope in these otherwise gloomy days. Not surprisingly, most of these solutions have come from the 2 Asian emerging superpowers, India and China. If it can indeed be fathomed that someone can benefit from the current world catastrophe, it is these two nations. While countries which are too accustomed to things always following set patterns and going right, for once being used to nothing working seems to be working perfectly in India's advantage. As all eyes turned to the US to be a global leader, all that has come out of the country is panic. The downfall of America, which started with Sept 11 might indeed be cemented this year, assuming any of us make it out alive. Obama, who brought so much hope during his Presidential campaign has seemed unable to deal with something of this magnitude. In his recent press interviews, he has had a haggard look, and his assurances to the American people that they are trying their best, and to have patience and faith, seems to be falling on deaf ears. He is no longer the man with the solutions.
p.s. To all those cynical about the end of the world in 2012 stories, don't worry I am one of you too. This random "story" just came into my head while I was supposed to be studying, so I decided to pen it down. Let's hope the world, and more importantly internet, never come to an end! Cheers :)
Kaise batayein
So I think I've managed to befuddle my mind into not knowing what is acceptable and what not anymore. For example, when I'm in a bus, I'm not sure anymore if it right to drive on the left side or right side. Ok I should stop wailing about this before people start collecting rotten tomatoes to throw at me next time they see me :D
So what's new? Hmm, lemme see. Nothing. And everything. But it's a different kind of new. Since it's been old before. Blah blah. Too early morning for philosophical shit.
I'm beginning to miss human company, after 2 weeks of trying to escape from it. Why must everyone be doing IA? :|
So what's new? Hmm, lemme see. Nothing. And everything. But it's a different kind of new. Since it's been old before. Blah blah. Too early morning for philosophical shit.
I'm beginning to miss human company, after 2 weeks of trying to escape from it. Why must everyone be doing IA? :|
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Q-ba Diaries 3
This is some stuff I wrote down during my 2nd week in Cuba.
Cuba is a more expensive form of India, in the sense that nothing works here either, but it just costs you a shit lot of money. Telecommunications is terrible. Making a phone call is more expensive than probably anywhere in the world.
It is a country which has nothing, except for enmity with the USA, but their money is expensive, even more than USD. The currencies that they use vary for foreigners and the local people. The salary for the local people is apparently only about 20 CUC a month, so I am really not sure how it works for them, since everything is so expensive.
It is a country full of some of the most helpful people that I have ever met in my life. Where a random person on the street will let you call using their phone card, even if they don't know English.
Not many people here speak English, but it’s not for lack of trying. They will speak the broken English that they know and do their best to understand you and explain to you.
It is also probably the only country in the world where the guys look better than girls, in general.
Their colour sense in clothes, however, is very disturbing. They believe in wearing a lot of bright colours, and usually it’s the same for both the top and bottom. So do not be surprised when you see people walking around in bright fluorescent orange or yellow. Guys here also wear a lot of all white clothes – white shirt and white jeans. From the way that people in such attires walk around, I figure that this is their version of looking their best. I beg to differ.
The rich and poor divide is so painfully obvious in the hotel. The people who live here, and the people who work here live in the same physical paradigm, but lead entirely opposite lives. For the haves, it’s a life of sitting in the garden with a view of the ocean 10 feet away. For the have nots it’s a life of drudgery, of making enough money to survive.
There is something about the vastness of the ocean which inspires you. It makes you dig deeper into yourself, think of things that would normally not even ruffle your subconscious (subconscience?). It is similar to, yet very different from, the stillness of a forest, the sheer drop of a cliff, the fury of a thunderstorm. They all make you feel small, and yet a part of the grand theme of events. Whichever perspective you choose to take - God/nature/magic/science, the sheer magnitude of such things forces you to be awed and amazed.
Cuba is a more expensive form of India, in the sense that nothing works here either, but it just costs you a shit lot of money. Telecommunications is terrible. Making a phone call is more expensive than probably anywhere in the world.
It is a country which has nothing, except for enmity with the USA, but their money is expensive, even more than USD. The currencies that they use vary for foreigners and the local people. The salary for the local people is apparently only about 20 CUC a month, so I am really not sure how it works for them, since everything is so expensive.
It is a country full of some of the most helpful people that I have ever met in my life. Where a random person on the street will let you call using their phone card, even if they don't know English.
Not many people here speak English, but it’s not for lack of trying. They will speak the broken English that they know and do their best to understand you and explain to you.
It is also probably the only country in the world where the guys look better than girls, in general.
Their colour sense in clothes, however, is very disturbing. They believe in wearing a lot of bright colours, and usually it’s the same for both the top and bottom. So do not be surprised when you see people walking around in bright fluorescent orange or yellow. Guys here also wear a lot of all white clothes – white shirt and white jeans. From the way that people in such attires walk around, I figure that this is their version of looking their best. I beg to differ.
The rich and poor divide is so painfully obvious in the hotel. The people who live here, and the people who work here live in the same physical paradigm, but lead entirely opposite lives. For the haves, it’s a life of sitting in the garden with a view of the ocean 10 feet away. For the have nots it’s a life of drudgery, of making enough money to survive.
There is something about the vastness of the ocean which inspires you. It makes you dig deeper into yourself, think of things that would normally not even ruffle your subconscious (subconscience?). It is similar to, yet very different from, the stillness of a forest, the sheer drop of a cliff, the fury of a thunderstorm. They all make you feel small, and yet a part of the grand theme of events. Whichever perspective you choose to take - God/nature/magic/science, the sheer magnitude of such things forces you to be awed and amazed.
Lives, like money, are spent. What are you buying with yours?
"If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax; I'd limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance; I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses;
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance; I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses;
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The stuff that dreams are made of...
I've been having such uneasy sleep for, well, let's say since the New Year started. First it was because I was stuck in Cuba, then when I came back it took me a while to get used to Singapore, which part is still not over. And now it's the worrying about all the future stuff. And the constant rain isn't making the mood any better or the sleep any peaceful-er. It's the familiar feeling that doomsday is coming nearer. Who knows, the world might in fact end in 2012, if not earlier.
OMG the rain is SO FUCKING DEPRESSING!
I think mornings are supposed to be the hopeful part of the day. For me it's somehow the time before I sleep when I feel most hopeful, probably because then I don't have to do the work, just plan to do it the next day. And when morning comes, and the time to execute it, then the doomed feeling follows. Somebody please do my CV and the stupid job applications! :(
Oh yay.
OMG the rain is SO FUCKING DEPRESSING!
I think mornings are supposed to be the hopeful part of the day. For me it's somehow the time before I sleep when I feel most hopeful, probably because then I don't have to do the work, just plan to do it the next day. And when morning comes, and the time to execute it, then the doomed feeling follows. Somebody please do my CV and the stupid job applications! :(
Weather for Singapore |
24°C Current: Thunderstorm Wind: W at 6 km/h Humidity: 94% Fri  Sat Sun Mon |
Oh yay.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Left behind
Why do other people always seem to be able to move on faster than me? Why am I always left behind? Do other people really have an off-switch, which I somehow seem to lack?
Now I dislike this place on a deeper level. It's not just about the weather, or the people anymore. Now it's the realization that all those issues that I wanted to escape from before exchange, they've hit me in the chest again. And now I don't have the thought of exchange and the consolation of being able to run away in the near future to look forward to. Now, no matter what, I'm stuck here, at least for the next 4 years. No escape. And I don't know how to deal with it anymore.
I need to have some faith. Faith that things are not always as bad as they seem. Faith that, no matter what, I will be able to survive, on my own, even if no one is there by my side. Faith that, in the end, everything's gonna be alright.
I miss having friends I can tell things to and they can understand what I'm talking about. I guess 7 months really is a long time.
Now I dislike this place on a deeper level. It's not just about the weather, or the people anymore. Now it's the realization that all those issues that I wanted to escape from before exchange, they've hit me in the chest again. And now I don't have the thought of exchange and the consolation of being able to run away in the near future to look forward to. Now, no matter what, I'm stuck here, at least for the next 4 years. No escape. And I don't know how to deal with it anymore.
I need to have some faith. Faith that things are not always as bad as they seem. Faith that, no matter what, I will be able to survive, on my own, even if no one is there by my side. Faith that, in the end, everything's gonna be alright.
I miss having friends I can tell things to and they can understand what I'm talking about. I guess 7 months really is a long time.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Cuba Diaries 2: The Bad Part
Read the previous post first.
Ok so I went to Havana on 28th, which was a Monday, and the first day I could actually have done that. I was not aware that I needed to have an appointment, considering their website says nothing about it. So then I had to wait till almost 1230, till everyone else was done, to finally get to the counter. Now I had thought that I would be done by 11 latest, and then we would be able to tour Havana, come back at 3, get the visa, then go back to Varadero. But when it finally got to 1230, I was kind of losing hope of having too much time of touring Havana. And then received the shock of my life when the lady informed me that I had not brought the itinerary of Varadero-Toronto, only Toronto-India. I could not believe I had been that incredibly stupid! So then I could not remember if I had the Cuba part of the itinerary in my email, so I decided it would be best to tour Havana then and come back another day to apply for visa.
I did not end up going back, because of some misunderstandings with a lady I was supposed to go with. And I tried calling to get an appointment, but the whole call was automated messages with no way to reach operator, there was nothing on website, so I wasn't sure that even if I went on 31st, I would be able to get the visa. And when I was transiting in London, I was given a transit visa on the spot, so I assumed worst case scenario, that would happen.
So happily on 1st, when I go for check in, the stupid Skyservice staff refused to let me go. The immigration were fine with me leaving, since I had a flight on the next day. But the airlines, stupid stupid airlines, wouldn't let me go. And since it was 1st Jan, every embassy was closed. The next 2 days were weekend, so they would still be closed. And I was told the earliest I could get a visa was Monday, 4th Jan. And my flights back to Singapore (Toronto-Zurich-Delhi-Bangkok-Singapore) were starting on 2nd. They were non-refundable since I had gotten the cheapest tickets. So there was nothing I could do.
So I told my sis, panicked her badly, then got to Havana from Varadero, since there would obviously be more flights from there. Now I had very little cash, needed 25 for airport tax which you HAVE to pay before taking any flight from anywhere in Cuba, and my Mastercard, as I would discover later, could not be used to withdraw money. Cuba uses only Visa, Mastercard is not there in ATMs and only banks and some expensive hotels have it. And apparently the Havana airport had no internet till you checked in. So I was at the airport with very little cash, no internet access, no balance in phone, no way to get out of country, no hope. So I spent the night at the airport, with the plan to go and withdraw money from the bank next morning and then see how it went.
As I was to discover, even banks were closed for the weekend, so the taxi driver took me to Hotel Nacional, which had their own bank, where I was told my bank was denied from withdrawing money and I should contact my bank in Singapore since they were denying the operation. They don't even convert all currencies in Cuba, only US, UK, Canada and a few others. So I had Singapore and Indian but had already used up all Canadian. At this point, I had 10 peso. And the cab driver needed 25 to drive me here and 25 more to drive me back to the airport. He barely knew any English, but definitely needed his money. At this point he suggested I sell my phone to him for 50 peso and he would drive me back to the airport. I think this has probably been one of the lowest points of my life. I could obviously not sell my only way of contacting the world, so I was at a loss. But remember, I had saved 25 peso for the airport tax. So at this point I was told that Hotel Nacional had internet, and so obviously there was no point my going back to the airport and no point saving the 25 peso if I didn't even have a flight, so I gave the 25 peso to the driver and said tata-byebye-good-riddance.
And then went into the hotel, lugging my luggage. The internet was 2.50 peso per 15 minute. Ya it's a freaking expensive country, for no good reason, since nothing there works. So I logged into gtalk, told my sis, who at this point was very freaked out having not heard from me for over 12 hours, the whole story. She called the bank, I retried withdrawing many times, did not work. Told a lady there who knew some English my story. She was one of the most helpful people I have ever met. She called a bunch of people, got me free food since I hadn't eaten since the previous day and had no cash. At this point, I asked sis to try to get my phone card, on roaming from Canada, topped up. She asked a couple of friends in Canada to do it, and God bless them, they did. So she could at least call and message me now. Then I tried asking in the hotels around if I could pay by Mastercard. Since DuBiouS Bank maintained that there was nothing wrong with the card and I should be able to withdraw. It was only later that I was told that Debit Cards cannot be used to withdraw cash from banks for some divine reason, only ATM machines.
So as I went around asking, in one of the hotels even bigger than Nacional, called Habana Libre, while I was asking the receptionist if I could pay using Mastercard, she said "if US bank then yes", I said "how about Singapore?", and the Chinese lady next to me was like "Oh you're from Singapore too?" and I was like "OMG YES! Do you by any chance have local currency, I have Singapore one, can I change with you". And she was like, "never mind I can give you money now, then you can pay me back later, just remember that a Singaporean helped you when you needed help" And she gave me 100USD and her card and took my details. Now I could go and convert it and have some cash (80 peso)! God bless her!
I ended up staying at the hotel where I had been using internet as it accepted Mastercard and was cheaper than Habana Libra, relatively (120 a night, 145 for 1st Jan night :O ). So I now had a room, while sis was still searching for flights from Havana to Singapore directly as it made no sense to go to India anymore. She found one by the next day, transiting in Amsterdam, which most probably did not need a visa, but there was no way to confirm as it was still Sunday. So she bought it online (1220 euro, yes, gasp!) and sent me details. I would call the Dutch embassy the next da to ask about visa.
So now at least I had some cash and a flight, just needed visa. And I had 3 days to do it since the flight was for 6th evening. Since of course God wasn't done with the balancing act of the fun with the torture, the travel agency with whom we got the ticket decided that someone had been tampering with the card, so I had to send pics of passport and both sides of Mastercard to them for verification. I took pics with my dying camera, and send to them. Of course, had to black out the code at the back of the card. Oh and I had found that the hotel had wireless cards that I could put on my room so I did not have to pay cash. I ended up using 11 of them over the 4 days I spent there, freaking waste of money. Why can't they have free internet like normal places?
So when I called embassy in the morning, she told me she could confirm only at 1130, and if I could, I should go to the embassy by 1130 just in case, as getting a transit visa could take 2-3 days. I reached at 1115 as I had to get the itinerary printed and stuff, only to be told that the embassy closed at 11, by a guy who spoke no English. At this point I met someone whom I think was an angel. She was standing outside the embassy when I reached. Spoke a little bit of English. I asked her if there was a phone booth somewhere around, she pointed me to it. I realized it needed a calling card and I did not have one. As I was walking back dejected, prepared to reach the hotel and call again, I chanced upon her again. And explained in sign language that I did not have a card. She said she would let me use hers. And she keyed in the number of her card and gave the phone receiver to me. I asked her to wait so I could talk and then check how much balance I'd used and pay her, but she adamant in not letting me pay here at all, just that I would not use too much of her balance. God bless her, whoever she is! Please pay her back in some way for me! I feel bad that the call took quite long, you know how admin people can be, but the embassy female finally confirmed that I did not need a visa. I narrated the whole story of missed flights as well, so she confirmed with the Immigration Officer too.
So finally my troubles had come to an end. Except for the fact that I could barely sleep. And spent soo much money that I am in about 4500SGD debt right now. So no vacations for the next 20 years and then must get a visa for every country 3 months before I visit in the future!
Ok so I went to Havana on 28th, which was a Monday, and the first day I could actually have done that. I was not aware that I needed to have an appointment, considering their website says nothing about it. So then I had to wait till almost 1230, till everyone else was done, to finally get to the counter. Now I had thought that I would be done by 11 latest, and then we would be able to tour Havana, come back at 3, get the visa, then go back to Varadero. But when it finally got to 1230, I was kind of losing hope of having too much time of touring Havana. And then received the shock of my life when the lady informed me that I had not brought the itinerary of Varadero-Toronto, only Toronto-India. I could not believe I had been that incredibly stupid! So then I could not remember if I had the Cuba part of the itinerary in my email, so I decided it would be best to tour Havana then and come back another day to apply for visa.
I did not end up going back, because of some misunderstandings with a lady I was supposed to go with. And I tried calling to get an appointment, but the whole call was automated messages with no way to reach operator, there was nothing on website, so I wasn't sure that even if I went on 31st, I would be able to get the visa. And when I was transiting in London, I was given a transit visa on the spot, so I assumed worst case scenario, that would happen.
So happily on 1st, when I go for check in, the stupid Skyservice staff refused to let me go. The immigration were fine with me leaving, since I had a flight on the next day. But the airlines, stupid stupid airlines, wouldn't let me go. And since it was 1st Jan, every embassy was closed. The next 2 days were weekend, so they would still be closed. And I was told the earliest I could get a visa was Monday, 4th Jan. And my flights back to Singapore (Toronto-Zurich-Delhi-Bangkok-Singapore) were starting on 2nd. They were non-refundable since I had gotten the cheapest tickets. So there was nothing I could do.
So I told my sis, panicked her badly, then got to Havana from Varadero, since there would obviously be more flights from there. Now I had very little cash, needed 25 for airport tax which you HAVE to pay before taking any flight from anywhere in Cuba, and my Mastercard, as I would discover later, could not be used to withdraw money. Cuba uses only Visa, Mastercard is not there in ATMs and only banks and some expensive hotels have it. And apparently the Havana airport had no internet till you checked in. So I was at the airport with very little cash, no internet access, no balance in phone, no way to get out of country, no hope. So I spent the night at the airport, with the plan to go and withdraw money from the bank next morning and then see how it went.
As I was to discover, even banks were closed for the weekend, so the taxi driver took me to Hotel Nacional, which had their own bank, where I was told my bank was denied from withdrawing money and I should contact my bank in Singapore since they were denying the operation. They don't even convert all currencies in Cuba, only US, UK, Canada and a few others. So I had Singapore and Indian but had already used up all Canadian. At this point, I had 10 peso. And the cab driver needed 25 to drive me here and 25 more to drive me back to the airport. He barely knew any English, but definitely needed his money. At this point he suggested I sell my phone to him for 50 peso and he would drive me back to the airport. I think this has probably been one of the lowest points of my life. I could obviously not sell my only way of contacting the world, so I was at a loss. But remember, I had saved 25 peso for the airport tax. So at this point I was told that Hotel Nacional had internet, and so obviously there was no point my going back to the airport and no point saving the 25 peso if I didn't even have a flight, so I gave the 25 peso to the driver and said tata-byebye-good-riddance.
And then went into the hotel, lugging my luggage. The internet was 2.50 peso per 15 minute. Ya it's a freaking expensive country, for no good reason, since nothing there works. So I logged into gtalk, told my sis, who at this point was very freaked out having not heard from me for over 12 hours, the whole story. She called the bank, I retried withdrawing many times, did not work. Told a lady there who knew some English my story. She was one of the most helpful people I have ever met. She called a bunch of people, got me free food since I hadn't eaten since the previous day and had no cash. At this point, I asked sis to try to get my phone card, on roaming from Canada, topped up. She asked a couple of friends in Canada to do it, and God bless them, they did. So she could at least call and message me now. Then I tried asking in the hotels around if I could pay by Mastercard. Since DuBiouS Bank maintained that there was nothing wrong with the card and I should be able to withdraw. It was only later that I was told that Debit Cards cannot be used to withdraw cash from banks for some divine reason, only ATM machines.
So as I went around asking, in one of the hotels even bigger than Nacional, called Habana Libre, while I was asking the receptionist if I could pay using Mastercard, she said "if US bank then yes", I said "how about Singapore?", and the Chinese lady next to me was like "Oh you're from Singapore too?" and I was like "OMG YES! Do you by any chance have local currency, I have Singapore one, can I change with you". And she was like, "never mind I can give you money now, then you can pay me back later, just remember that a Singaporean helped you when you needed help" And she gave me 100USD and her card and took my details. Now I could go and convert it and have some cash (80 peso)! God bless her!
I ended up staying at the hotel where I had been using internet as it accepted Mastercard and was cheaper than Habana Libra, relatively (120 a night, 145 for 1st Jan night :O ). So I now had a room, while sis was still searching for flights from Havana to Singapore directly as it made no sense to go to India anymore. She found one by the next day, transiting in Amsterdam, which most probably did not need a visa, but there was no way to confirm as it was still Sunday. So she bought it online (1220 euro, yes, gasp!) and sent me details. I would call the Dutch embassy the next da to ask about visa.
So now at least I had some cash and a flight, just needed visa. And I had 3 days to do it since the flight was for 6th evening. Since of course God wasn't done with the balancing act of the fun with the torture, the travel agency with whom we got the ticket decided that someone had been tampering with the card, so I had to send pics of passport and both sides of Mastercard to them for verification. I took pics with my dying camera, and send to them. Of course, had to black out the code at the back of the card. Oh and I had found that the hotel had wireless cards that I could put on my room so I did not have to pay cash. I ended up using 11 of them over the 4 days I spent there, freaking waste of money. Why can't they have free internet like normal places?
So when I called embassy in the morning, she told me she could confirm only at 1130, and if I could, I should go to the embassy by 1130 just in case, as getting a transit visa could take 2-3 days. I reached at 1115 as I had to get the itinerary printed and stuff, only to be told that the embassy closed at 11, by a guy who spoke no English. At this point I met someone whom I think was an angel. She was standing outside the embassy when I reached. Spoke a little bit of English. I asked her if there was a phone booth somewhere around, she pointed me to it. I realized it needed a calling card and I did not have one. As I was walking back dejected, prepared to reach the hotel and call again, I chanced upon her again. And explained in sign language that I did not have a card. She said she would let me use hers. And she keyed in the number of her card and gave the phone receiver to me. I asked her to wait so I could talk and then check how much balance I'd used and pay her, but she adamant in not letting me pay here at all, just that I would not use too much of her balance. God bless her, whoever she is! Please pay her back in some way for me! I feel bad that the call took quite long, you know how admin people can be, but the embassy female finally confirmed that I did not need a visa. I narrated the whole story of missed flights as well, so she confirmed with the Immigration Officer too.
So finally my troubles had come to an end. Except for the fact that I could barely sleep. And spent soo much money that I am in about 4500SGD debt right now. So no vacations for the next 20 years and then must get a visa for every country 3 months before I visit in the future!
Cuba Diaries 1: The Good Part
Ok so this blog post is being written right now because I am tired of individually answering how Cuba was.
I'd planned to spend 1 week in Varadero, Cuba, which is a narrow stretch on land with water on both sides. So it's awesome beaches everywhere. The colour of the water varies from light greenish blue to light blue to navy blue, and many combinations in between. It depends on exact location along the beach and time of day as well I think. Check out the pictures on Facebook, I uploaded lots of them. The weather was mostly calm, except for a couple of days in between where it got very stormy and windy and they chased you out of the water if you went in, which we of course did.
Varadero is mostly a tourist spot, with few locals. It is known mainly for its beaches, though they have a few other attractions like natural caves, Dolphin Show, Jet Skiing, scuba diving, adventure tours, etc. People tend to return to this place many times, understandably, as it offers a unique peace and quiet. Through the all-inclusive packages, you do nothing but get on a small plane for a 4 hour flight. Then there is a bus which takes you from airport to the resort you're staying in, where they place a tag around your hand to show you're on an all-inclusive tour, which you can't remove unless you break it off.
The local markets are very interesting. They are full of wood and leather and sea-shell goods. And of course you can bargain here. The most interesting bargaining I heard was a British girl telling the shopkeeper it was her birthday and then laughing when we asked if it actually ever worked. Apparently their taxi driver told them to try it.
And I love Spanish music. We used to have live music during buffet dinners. And even in the room, we could hear music coming from across the canal. Apparently, some carnival was going on.
Then the Dolphin show was awesome, with the dolphins being able to literally walk backwards on their tail, while completely out of water. And the trainer being carried on their backs and then standing on the mouth of one. Then on to jet skiing, which was really awesome. I just chose to sit and let seb do the driving, since he was obviously better at it. And I would definitely have collided into something had I driven :D
So effectively, the beach part of the holiday was fun. But then I made the stupid mistake of not getting a Transit Visa for Canada. Ok so it seems really really idiotic, but at the time, it did not seem that bad. Which shall be explained in the next post.
I'd planned to spend 1 week in Varadero, Cuba, which is a narrow stretch on land with water on both sides. So it's awesome beaches everywhere. The colour of the water varies from light greenish blue to light blue to navy blue, and many combinations in between. It depends on exact location along the beach and time of day as well I think. Check out the pictures on Facebook, I uploaded lots of them. The weather was mostly calm, except for a couple of days in between where it got very stormy and windy and they chased you out of the water if you went in, which we of course did.
Varadero is mostly a tourist spot, with few locals. It is known mainly for its beaches, though they have a few other attractions like natural caves, Dolphin Show, Jet Skiing, scuba diving, adventure tours, etc. People tend to return to this place many times, understandably, as it offers a unique peace and quiet. Through the all-inclusive packages, you do nothing but get on a small plane for a 4 hour flight. Then there is a bus which takes you from airport to the resort you're staying in, where they place a tag around your hand to show you're on an all-inclusive tour, which you can't remove unless you break it off.
The local markets are very interesting. They are full of wood and leather and sea-shell goods. And of course you can bargain here. The most interesting bargaining I heard was a British girl telling the shopkeeper it was her birthday and then laughing when we asked if it actually ever worked. Apparently their taxi driver told them to try it.
And I love Spanish music. We used to have live music during buffet dinners. And even in the room, we could hear music coming from across the canal. Apparently, some carnival was going on.
Then the Dolphin show was awesome, with the dolphins being able to literally walk backwards on their tail, while completely out of water. And the trainer being carried on their backs and then standing on the mouth of one. Then on to jet skiing, which was really awesome. I just chose to sit and let seb do the driving, since he was obviously better at it. And I would definitely have collided into something had I driven :D
So effectively, the beach part of the holiday was fun. But then I made the stupid mistake of not getting a Transit Visa for Canada. Ok so it seems really really idiotic, but at the time, it did not seem that bad. Which shall be explained in the next post.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Toronto Withdrawal Symptoms
Right now I'm in the smug phase, where everything in Singapore is stupid and meaningless and worthless. I feel like miss high-and-mighty when I look around at the minions around. It won't be long, however, before NUS brings me down a peg or two. You see that is something Singapore specialises in, bringing you down to your knees and making you feel dumb. But I shall enjoy feeling greater while it lasts :)
And I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms from Toronto. Like:
-- Saying 'take-away' instead of 'to-go'
-- Trying to walk to the right when passing people
-- Almost getting killed under cars because you expect them to go the other way
-- Finding the Singapore weather unbearably hot and humid
-- Missing snow. Rain is stupid.
-- Being amused when people talk about how cold India winters are
-- Finding it strange to leave room without a jacket
-- Not needing to check the weather before leaving room to ensure you dress warm enough
-- Still checking Toronto weather everyday because I have the weather network page bookmarked, even though I will probably never go back to the city ever again. And feeling happy when I see snow expected
-- Refusing to remove the links I have saved for York. It doesn't feel right to become all NUS-ised again :(
-- Finding this place incredibly cheap
-- Missing small size classes, with non-Chink profs
-- Missing actually being friends with my classmates, because there were only 10 of them, not 10,000
-- Telling people exchange was awesome, and that I HATE being back
-- Finding the conversations here strange and unfamiliar
-- Finding the exchange students here not good looking enough, because "I've seen better, much better"
-- Too many chinks everywhere you go
-- Still trying to recall where what is on campus
-- Not being able to remember the name of many, many people till someone says it out loud
-- Actually saying 'Hola!' and 'Gracias' - habit of 2 weeks in Cuba
And I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms from Toronto. Like:
-- Saying 'take-away' instead of 'to-go'
-- Trying to walk to the right when passing people
-- Almost getting killed under cars because you expect them to go the other way
-- Finding the Singapore weather unbearably hot and humid
-- Missing snow. Rain is stupid.
-- Being amused when people talk about how cold India winters are
-- Finding it strange to leave room without a jacket
-- Not needing to check the weather before leaving room to ensure you dress warm enough
-- Still checking Toronto weather everyday because I have the weather network page bookmarked, even though I will probably never go back to the city ever again. And feeling happy when I see snow expected
-- Refusing to remove the links I have saved for York. It doesn't feel right to become all NUS-ised again :(
-- Finding this place incredibly cheap
-- Missing small size classes, with non-Chink profs
-- Missing actually being friends with my classmates, because there were only 10 of them, not 10,000
-- Telling people exchange was awesome, and that I HATE being back
-- Finding the conversations here strange and unfamiliar
-- Finding the exchange students here not good looking enough, because "I've seen better, much better"
-- Too many chinks everywhere you go
-- Still trying to recall where what is on campus
-- Not being able to remember the name of many, many people till someone says it out loud
-- Actually saying 'Hola!' and 'Gracias' - habit of 2 weeks in Cuba
Monday, January 11, 2010
STUPID
This world is full of stupid people, stupid events, stupid websites, stupid courses, stupid professors. Stupid stupid stupid!
Like all other dumb people, I totally did not expect reverse cultural shock. At least in Toronto I gave myself time to get used to the place. When I go to India also I allow for some adaptation time. But somehow I expected to be able to handle Singapore from Day 1.
My first lecture back here has felt like right out of hell. Mind numbingly boring NUS profs. I haven't even met up with all my friends yet, haven't been able to get a peaceful night of sleep for more than 10 days.
I don't have a place to stay, which I think is one of the main reasons I feel like a ship without anchor. All my stuff is strewn around the world, some in sis' room, some at friend's guardians place, and some in Toronto. I hate this. I don't even remember what stuff I have. I'm sure I'm gonna end up buying doubles of things, and then regret later, since I'm more than 4500 dollars in debt right now. Oh yay.
I miss Toronto so much, mainly because right now that is my definition of normal. And Singapore feels stupid. I don't even know what to wear. Leaving the room without a jacket feels strange, and the heat and humidity has hit me like a cannon ball. Even the idea of having to handle cash at every place instead of the YorkU card and tokens feels strange. Though I think my accent has had a speedy return to normal.
I really need some generous supplies of patience right now, and a lot of time spent on campus, so that it can become normal again. And now I must re-try to listen to the stupid prof.
Like all other dumb people, I totally did not expect reverse cultural shock. At least in Toronto I gave myself time to get used to the place. When I go to India also I allow for some adaptation time. But somehow I expected to be able to handle Singapore from Day 1.
My first lecture back here has felt like right out of hell. Mind numbingly boring NUS profs. I haven't even met up with all my friends yet, haven't been able to get a peaceful night of sleep for more than 10 days.
I don't have a place to stay, which I think is one of the main reasons I feel like a ship without anchor. All my stuff is strewn around the world, some in sis' room, some at friend's guardians place, and some in Toronto. I hate this. I don't even remember what stuff I have. I'm sure I'm gonna end up buying doubles of things, and then regret later, since I'm more than 4500 dollars in debt right now. Oh yay.
I miss Toronto so much, mainly because right now that is my definition of normal. And Singapore feels stupid. I don't even know what to wear. Leaving the room without a jacket feels strange, and the heat and humidity has hit me like a cannon ball. Even the idea of having to handle cash at every place instead of the YorkU card and tokens feels strange. Though I think my accent has had a speedy return to normal.
I really need some generous supplies of patience right now, and a lot of time spent on campus, so that it can become normal again. And now I must re-try to listen to the stupid prof.
I'm in the wrong university, oh yay.
It has struck me today, 20 minutes into my first lecture of the semester, after 2 years at this university, that NUS is not the place for me. Mainly because I've seen better. This place has the most number of mind-numbing profs in the whole world. And they make classes big size so you get lost in the crowd and can never recover from it. And freaking 2 hour lectures. Lots of them. I don't mean to be racist, but I hate chink profs.
Where is the off switch?
I wish there was a way to switch my brain off at times. So I would be able to stop thinking and go to sleep. Always happens when I'm stressed and have lots of things to do, but can't do them just yet, need to wait for the next day or something. Seems to happen especially when I shift countries/homes, etc. So annoying. And such a waste of time.
And I really need to learn to let go.
Every good thing must come to an end. And must be followed by a bunch of sucky days. It's called the balance of life. I don't like.
In every life a little rain must fall
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Why is it that sometimes when you get what you want, you wish you had asked for something completely different?
And I really need to learn to let go.
Every good thing must come to an end. And must be followed by a bunch of sucky days. It's called the balance of life. I don't like.
In every life a little rain must fall
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Why is it that sometimes when you get what you want, you wish you had asked for something completely different?
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