I don't only surf the Internet...no, it's not Twilight related.

Ok, I am going to try to not start talking about the 2 times I watched Twilight in the space of 4 days, and how perfect Edward is, fearing that certain someone *ahem* my ex-roomie *ahem* will charge at me, because you see, Edward is hers. 

I'm thinking to blog about last Friday after I get the picture from Chris. But I can't get him and I realized this is the only time I can sit down and blog. Because this is THE two weeks we get in every semester. Assignments, mid term tests, assignments, mid term tests, etc etc. I feel so suffocated that throwing myself off the building seem like a good option at times and only Switchfoot makes me sane. So, what the heck.

But I was at my happy place last Friday thanks to CouchSurfing. For those who don't know CouchSurfing - well, basically it is a non-profit organisation that is built on and grow on the basis of changing the world, one couch at a time. You join the project, you offer your couch(accomodation) to traveler/offer to meet up for coffee, and then you start surfing. You know the place through the people, even before you reach the destination. The join the groups which have sub-forums and you have people answering all your travel enquiries and gives you honest suggestions for your itinerary.  

Whenever I mentioned this project to people, the reaction I get will be along the line of "is it safe?", "how do you know you are not letting some serial killer into your house?" , "what if the person you are meeting is a serial raper?" I don't know how to answer those questions because there is no way to be sure, but they do have their safety and security system and all I can say is check the project out and they have one of the best online communities I have ever come across.

Out of my CS experiences, last Friday was the day which I really taught, shared and learnt. I've walked the ruins of the A'Famosa Fort built by the Portuguese and ruined by the Dutch endless times, scrutinized the ancient headstones in the Church of Our Lady up on the hill, I've stand on the spot overlooking the ocean even before the tower and ferris wheel was built. I know the stories and histories of the country which basically started at that spot. Yet, there were still a lot of things and places which I take for granted, simply because they are at my back yard. Rediscovering all those things were fun! Being shot with questions like "what is the green thing in Cendol? Is it a plant? Animal?" was refreshing. 

But not as refreshing and fun as learning the insights of the Portuguese attack and colonization 1st hand from a native Portuguese. Like the idea of their colonization was not war, but to mix the blood(race). His words, not mine. And that the captain who conquered Melaka had his name spelt wrongly in probably ALL history texts that we have been reading in school and on brochures all this while - for Malaysians, it is Afonso de Albuquerque, without an "L". It's impossible for a Portuguese captain to have an Arab name apparently. And BOMBA which means Fire Brigade, is a Portuguese borrowed word and it means "bomb".  

The sun was burningly hot that day, and I got a tan, very much to my mum's dismay. And the transitions period between being under the hot sun and air-cond of the car, starbucks and optical shops are not easy to deal with, but I am content - by doing something as easy as that, we gave a backpacker his perfect trip in Melaka and in return we learnt so much as well. I got my sweet escapade out of my insanely busy weeks. And that is like more important than water in my life now. 

Back to studies. The mid-term this Thursday is absolutely dreaded. And the reading materials for the assignments waiting to be read are grinning at me devilishly. GAH.

Mayyie