Manic

It has been manic. That is all I can say. Many things have taken place as of late and many things I have to juggle as well. I am not too sure where to begin - but I am enjoying life as it is for now. I have been meeting some very interesting people lately as well - that has added a bit of colour to my life really. I would call that I have a routine interesting life now, rather than the life in a suitcase (not much traveling these days, phewww).

+ Rozita, you asked for sunset in Dun Laoghaire the other day - and this is especially for you OK.

My long stay in Dublin since May is not all fine and dandy - I was so gobsmacked when Itamar told me that he is leaving. That was a shock to me. He told me and Paul 2 weeks back when we had dinner at Cafe Bar Deli, on George's St. It was a shocking news to me. I told a few friends, that I have felt the loss really - I excused myself early that night for I wanted to take some time to digest the news. To the uninitiated, I am keeping a very small circle of friends in Dublin, and I must admit - Itamar is one of the closest few. I confide in him almost about anything and vice versa. He is heading to Canada, if all goes well with his plan. It will be change for me, but I will try to bear with it.

+ Casino Marino - Casino is located at Marino, just off the Malahide Road and only 3 miles north of the centre of Dublin. It was designed by Sir William Chambers as a pleasure house for James Caulfield, 1st Earl of Charlemont. It is one of the finest 18th century neo-classical buildings in Europe. The Casino, meaning "small house", surprisingly contains a total of 16 finely decorated rooms. I went to check it out with Itamar, Lucas and his brother who was here to visit

On a more not-too-sad news, I am off to London for this upcoming long bank holiday weekend (02-04 Aug). The main reason (1) Rozai (my close mad friend is in London working for a week on the Malaysia Fest, I will take loads of pics) (2) to spend time with Stephen and Shani (from Cape Town), (3) to meet with Steven and possibly Ganesh (my Perdana days). I am not sure that all the plans will work out. I wanted to watch Phantom Musical with Rozai, but she said she can't leave the other colleague behind as she is not well-versed with the prices of the articles and stuff. I have already told Rozai that whatever over-the-top price Batik that they can't sell, she must hand them over to me for FREE. She's agreed.

Next week (08-11 Aug), Luke and Zul from Brussels would be coming to Dublin and stay with me for a few days over the weekend. I am so excited. I am not sure where to bring them, but I am all excited the idea of Luke coming over and, to be able to meet Zul (uh how common is that name, hehe). I am all panicking now, as the place that I live in now is really tiny, but I am sure they do not mind.

+My friend, Mark showed me this OLD original wall of Dublin - those days when Dublin was this enclosed city and this is the remains of the early Dublin city. Well you can only see the cathedral here. I will take Luke and Zul to this place when they are here next week...

The weekend after that (18 Aug-early Sept), Faris will come over to Dublin, to celebrate "the end" of his PhD life in Newcastle. So, that would be great as well. He would spend 3 weeks over here. That will take us into Ramadhan really and right after that I will head home (yeah, back to Malaysia at the end of Sept). I will spend 5 weeks in Malaysia and I am already planning for a small get-away (perhaps to a touristy spot in South East Asia - Vietnam may be?). I am not sure about this, but I am planning. I hope it will work out. By the way, Matthias and Vibeke are planning to be in Malaysia in Oct 2008 as well... After I am back from holiday, that is already Nov and, 2008 is fast waving goodbye to all of us.