Sweden: Stockholm

" If I had to call one European city home, it might be Stockholm. One-third water, one-third parks, one-third city, on the sea, surrounded by woods, bubbling with energy and history, Sweden's stunning capital is green, clean and underrated." - Rick Stein

June 24-28: The last leg of our vacation. I will be presenting a research paper at the real estate conference organized by the European Real Estate Society.

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Stockholm is built on an archipelago of islands connected by bridges. Its location midway along the Baltic Sea made it a natural port, vital to the economy and security of the Swedish peninsula. Today, with 1.8 million people, Stockholm is Sweden's largest city, as well as its cultural, educational, and media center.

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For the visitors, Stockholm offers both old and new. Crawl through Europe's best-preserved old warship and relax on a scenic harbor boat tour. Browse the cobbles and antique shops of the lantern-lit Old Town. Take a trip in time at Skansen, Europe's first and best open-air folk museum. Marvel at Stockholm's glittering City Hall, slick shopping mall, and art museums.

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Overall, we find Stockholm an expensive tourist destination. It seems like everyone is out to earn a profit from tourists. Some examples being: shopkeepers charging extra for stamps (above the face value of the stamp, for service charge?), public toilet entrance fee (approx S$1-2), tap water with a thin slice of lemon in it (S$2) & short subway ride ($5-$8 per trip). At one place (Katarina elevator), we were amuse to find a charge of S$2 to ride the lift (not more than 8 levels). Below are photos we took during our trip.

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Source: Risk Stein's Scandinavia

Germany: Frankfurt

June 23-24: Our fourth and final stop in Germany. A thriving industrial metropolis, Frankfurt is Germany's 5th largest city.

If all roads used to lead to Rome, today they seem to converge on Frankfurt, making it the hub of a great network of European traffic routes. Most international flights land at Frankfurt's huge airport, and its massive 19th-century railway station is the busiet in Europe. Frankfurt is a heavily industrial city, with more than 2,450 factories operating around the Furt (ford) of the Main River. As the home of the Bundersbank, Germany's central bank, Frankfurt is also the country's financial center.

We are staying at Hotel am Dom, which is located directly next to Frankfurt's largest chuch within the boundaries of the historic old own. Room with breakfast is Euro 90 a night. We have arranged to meet Anna and Christoph, a student and her boyfriend, who stays in Frankfurt.

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We will be spending a night here. Tomorrow, we take our connecting flight to Stockhom, Sweden.

source: Frommer's Germany 2009

Germany: Nuremberg

June 22-23: Our third stop in Germany is Nurnberg, or Nuremberg in English. It is 170 km north of Munich. Situated on the river of Pergnitz, Nuremberg is not only a paradise for lovers of its famous gingerbread and sausages, it is also the symbol of Germany's history.

photo: the red sandstone buildings and mostly Gothic architecture were really charming, and the city walls surrounding the old town still remain.

History: The earliest records of the town, the second largest in Bavaria, date drom 1050 when it was a trading settlement. From 1219, Nuremberg was an important centre of craft and commerce. Its most rapid development took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, when many prominent artists, craftsmen and intellectuals worked here, making Nuremberg one of the cultural centres of Europe.

For centuries, Nuremberg was the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the preferred residence of German kings, who kept their crown jewels here. However, most people today still connect Nuremberg with the Nazis. Below are a slideshow of the pictures we took in Nuremberg.

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Accommodation: We stayed at Probst-Garni Hotel. According to the Lonely Planet travel guidebook, it is a pleasant, family-run outfit in the old centre. It is also near the train station, which is convenient as we are only staying one night in Nuremberg. The hotel, however, has no website for internet booking or communication by e-mail. A German friend helped to book the room by phone. The cost is Euro 70 per night. Note however that in Europe, most of the red light districts are located in close proximity of the train station.

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Nazi era: Nuremberg held great significance during the Nazi Germany era. Because of the city's position in the centre of Germany, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge and fanatical Nazi Party conventions – the Nuremberg rallies. The rallies were held annually from 1927 to 1938 in Nuremberg. After Hitler's rise to power in 1933 the Nuremberg rallies became huge state propaganda events, a center of Nazi ideals. At the 1935 rally, Hitler specifically ordered the Reichstag to convene at Nuremberg to pass the infamous anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws which revoked German citizenship for all Jews.

source: Eyewitness Travel Germany; wikipedia; Lonely Planet, Germany

Germany: Munich

June 20-22: Our second stop in Germany. Munich, the capital city of Bavaria is sometimes called "Germany's secret capital". It is located on the River Isar, north of the Bavarian Alps. With its vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, fine buildings, museums and shops, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Munich, with 1.36 million inhabitants, is the 3rd largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. The German pronunciation for Munich is "Munchen", which is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. The reason for naming the city in such a manner is to honour the fact that monks of the Benedictine order founded the city. This is also the reason for the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms.

Munchen, which is situated within sight of the Alps, is a handsome city, happily combining metropolitan facilities and sophisticated lifestyle with a small-town, homey atmosphere, symbolized to perfection by its smoky beer halls and cheerful beer gardens. Visitors come here in huge numbers for the gargantuan Oktoberfest.

We are staying at Hotel Jedermann (http://www.hotel-jedermann.de/), recommended in the Lonely Planet book, which wrote, "this renovated hotel with English-speaking staff is excellent value, with small but quite comfortable rooms." Eyewitness Travel's Top 10 Munich added that the budget hotel is one of the most popular hotels in Germany. Most of the 55 rooms overlook a bright courtyard. Owned and operated by the Jenke family for 40 years, their dedication shows in the level of service enjoyed by their guests. A double-room inclusive of breakfast-buffet costs Euro 85 per night. There is also free wireless internet access in the room.

source: wikipedia; National Geographic Traveler (Germany).

Germany: Regensburg

June 17 - 20: We are visiting Regensburg, one of Europe's best preserved medieval towns, where I will be presenting a research paper at a real estate symposium hosted by the University of Regensburg. Despite being a Unesco World Heritage site, Regensburg remains somewhat obscure to many foreign visitors. The architecture of Regensburg testifies to its long history and past grandeur, which reached its peak by the beginning of the Gothic era.

Location: South-east of Germany (1.5 hours from Munich airport) . Regensburg is a city of churches; it was once the focal point from which Christianity spread throughout Germany and even into central Europe.

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Be taken back in time as you walk the cobblestone streets of Regensburg – Bavaria's medieval jewel, and a place so precious it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's architecture dates as far back as 179AD. Churches, abbeys, bridges, and houses contructed in the 11th to 13th centuries are ubiquitous in this ancient city. Highlights include the ancient Roman Fort Regina and the Old Town Hall from which Charlemagne ruled the Holy Roman Empire. The Old Town lies on another one of Europe's historic treasures, the beautiful Danube River. Spanning three countries, it made Regensburg one of the gateways to the West from Eastern Europe.

photo: picturesque Steinere Brucke leading to the old town of Regensburg

History: The area of Regensburg was once a Celtic settlement and later a campsite of the Roman legions. In the early 6th century, Regensburg was the seat of the Agilolfa ruling family. In AD 739, a monk named Bonifaced established a bishopric here. The town was the center from which Christianity spread over southern Germany. From AD843, Regensburg was the seat of the Eastern Frankish ruler, Ludwig the German. From 1245 it was a free town of the Holy Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages remained South Germany's fastest growing commercial and cultural centre.

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The first and foremost capital of Bavaria, Regensburg was the residence of dukes, kings and bishops. One of it's most well-known residents more recently is Oskar Schindler, whose achievements were commemorated in the Speilberg's epic Schindler's List.

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sources: Frommer's Germany 2009; Eyewitness Travel Germany; Lonely Planet Germany

Recipe: Apple Pie

It has been a while since I last shared a recipe on this blog. Last weekend, we invited a few church friends to our home for dinner. I cooked prawn noodles whilst my wife decided to bake a traditional apple pie for dessert. Visit for the prawn mee recipe:

http://happyvalley-prof.blogspot.com/2008/04/prawn-noodle-hae-mee.html)

Here is the recipe (serves 8) she followed from a cookbook:

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Ingredients: 2 lb (900 g) tart eating apples (Granny Smith) - peeled, cored & sliced, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp vanilla essence, 115 g caster sugar, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 45 g butter, 1 egg yolk.
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For the pastry: 225 g plain flour, 1 tsp salt, 170g vegetable fat, 4-5 tbsp iced water, 1 tbsp quick-cooking tapioca.

1. Preheat a 450*F/230*C oven.

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2. For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the fat until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

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3. Sprinkle in the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with your fingers or with a fork until the pastry forms a ball.

4. Divide the pastry into half and shape each half into a ball. One a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the balls to a circle about 12 in (30 cm) diameter.

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5. Use it to line a 9 in (23 cm) pie tin, easing the dough in and being careful not to stretch it. Trim off the excess pastry and use the trimmings for decorating. Sprinkle the tapioca over the bottom of the pie shell.
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6. Roll out the remaining pastry to 1/8 in (3mm) thickness. With a sharp knife, cut out 8 large leaf-shapes. Cut the trimmings into small leaf shapes. Score the leaves with the back of the knife to mark veins.

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7. In a bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon. Fill the pastry case with the apple mixture and dot with the butter or margarine.

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8. Arrange the large pastry leaves in a decorative pattern on top. Decorate the edge with small leaves.

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9. Mix together the egg yolk and cream abd brush over the leaves to glaze them.

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10. Bake for 10 mins, then reduce the heat to 350*F/180*C and continue baking until the pastry is golden brown, 35-40 mins.

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Let the pie cool in the tin, set on a wire rack.

Serve with ice cream.

Water of Life

"Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." - Revelation 22:17

Half-time: One my annual routine is to take a day off (on my birthday), go somewhere quiet, rest & relax, enjoy nature, and spend time alone to reflect on life - whether I have lived mine wisely. Like in a football match, half time is for the players who have been running relentless to take a short rest. Half time provides a respite for us to evaluate our performance in the first half and regroup for the second half. An opportunity to take fresh instructions from the manager and coach.

H2O = Life. This year, I decided to spend the day visiting the three reservoirs in central Singapore, namely the Lower Pierce Reservoir, the Upper Pierce Reservoir, and Upper Seletar Reservoir. Being a small city-state with limited land area, water remains a vital resource for Singapore. Of the three reservoirs I visited that day, I liked Upper Pierce Reservoir because it is the most remote - hence, it is more serene with fewer people. Also, the view is paranomic, as one could also look back (or down) to see the Lower Pierce Reservoir. Here is a slide show of the photos I took that day.

Have you ever been really thirsty? How long do you think a person can live without drinking water? Not very long. You can live a long time without food, but not without water. In the book of Isaiah (55:1), there is an open invitation to all who are thirsty, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat”.

For me, taking advantage of the half time is a critical aspect of time management. Christians place great importance on setting and spending time with God everyday. Quiet time set aside not only for resting, but also to reflect on how we are (or have been) doing. An opportunte time to hear the coach & receive fresh instructions for the game as well as encouragement from him.

"He gives power to the weak, and tho those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:29&31

Live Wisely

"It takes a great man, and one who has risen far above human weakness, not to allow any of his time to be filched from him." - Seneca (Roman philosopher)

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How much time do we have? The brevity of life is a theme throughout the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiates. Because life is short, don't neglect what is truly important. It is ironic that people who spend so much time securing their lives on earth spend so little or no thought about where they will spend eternity.

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Our life on earth is short: How long can we live? Seventy, or eighty, if we are strong(Psalms 90:10). That is the average - for some, it may be longer, for others shorter. No matter how long we live, life is still short. .James 4:14 reads, "Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

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Our days are numbered! Just like canned food sitting on the shelf of a supermarket, we too have an expiry date. The only difference is the cans' expiry date are clearly indicated, whilst we can never be sure when is ours. Psalms 89:47 reads, "... remember, how short my time is ... what man can live and not see death." The statistic is sure - 100%! Death is certain for all; everyone is in; no one is exempted.

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Just the other day, I came across an interesting article in the Straits Times. What caught my attention was its catchy title "Live Wisely". The opening paragraph (below) was captivating enough to entice me to read on...

"Last week, I celebrated by 45th birthday. I found myself reflecting, not for the first time, on just how quickly life flashes by. My teenage years are still fresh in my mind, yet they have now receded 30 years into the past. Statistically speaking, my death is closer than my birth."

photo: Upper Seletar Reservoir, S'pore (May 09)

Having celebrated my birthday recently, I could identify with the author. Later this year, my university mates are planning a reunion gathering - time has indeed caught up with us when we realized that we have known each other for 25 years!

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Back to the article... The writer, Gary Hayden, shared some thoughts from an essay, "On The Shortness of Life", by Seneca, who was a Roman politician and philosopher who lived from 4 BC to 65 AD. In his essay, he hammers home a simple yet profound truth: that life is plenty long enough provided we use it wisely. The trouble, of course, is that very few of us do use it wisely. We treat time, our precious commodity, as though it were of little value. Much of his essay is taken up describing the many ways in which men and women fritter away their time. Three examples were mentioned.

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1) One of the biggest time-wasters is the pursuit of riches. We all must work to earn money to live, of course. We have little choice in that. But many people become, in Seneca's words, "possessed by greed that is insatiable". The acquisition of wealth comes to dominate their lives.... Greed drives them on and on.

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2) Our leisure activities can be just as unrewarding. "Would you say that man is at leisure," wrote Seneca, "who arranges with [OBSESSIVE] care his Corinthians bronzes... and spends the greater part of each day upon bits of rusty copper?"... What started out as a pleasure became a burden and a self-imposed one at that.

3) Another only-too-common way of squandering time is to sacrifice it to the whims of others. "Men do not suffer anyone to seize their estates," wrote Seneca, "yet they allow others to trespass upon their time". These words strike a very deep chord in me. I can look back on many occasions when I have wasted precious hours, days, and weeks on activities that hold no value for me. Why? Simply because someone else roped me into them. "All those who summon you to themselves turn you away from your own self," wrote Seneca. This is not to say that we should never offer our time to others. But we should do so only when we feel that the time is well spent.

The bible has a lot to say and to teach us about living wisely:

• "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom" - Psalms 90:12.
  

• "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life... Each man's life is but breath." - Psalms 39:4-5.

Don't be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live. If there is something important we want to do, we must not put it off for a better day. Ask yourself, "If I had only six months to live, what would I do?" Tell someone you love him or her? Deal with an undiscplined area in your life? Tell someone about Jesus? Because life is short, don't neglect what is truly important.

Realising that life is short helps us use the little time we have more wisely and for eternal good. Take time to nurture your days by asking, "What do I want to see happen in my life before I die? What small step could I take towards that purpose today?"

Source: Gary Hayden "Live Wisely", The Straits Times, June 4, 2009; LAB