My 2nd trip to Belgium - Aug 18th - 20th

What am doing again in Belgium, you ask?
Does Eric really need a testosterone filled companion on the weekend?
Or was it because travelling to Leuven didnt hurt my wallet much...or was it the other way round?

Well, head to bonniearthur.blinklife.com to get the heads up of my 2nd trip in 2 weeks to Belgium, trust me...after this trip i ll never think of heading there anymore, unless if i do get a position in Brussels, of which i dont mind really!

This time round, we toured Brugge, the Venice of the North...famous for being touristy because of its medieval feel, rivers and waterways running through the city, the usual waffles and fries...and get this, LACES!



The waterways running through the city, hence the nickname of "Venice of the north"












The famous City Hall, part of the huge central square called the Markt, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.











Brugge is also famous for laces...


















Ok,laces...the real thing.

My trip to Belgium 11th – 14th Aug.

I was looking forward to this trip since Eric’s first visit to Bonn. I timed this to fit the Marktrock, one of Europe’s biggest urban music festival. Stupid thing is the event only starts on the 13th, simply because it has to end on the 15th, which is a national holiday in most parts of Europe, except Bonn! Its Mary’s ascension to heaven on that day…and perhaps country’s that feel more religious makes it a public holiday. Damn Bonn!


Here is the poster for the music fest that was Marktrock, most of them we dont know



My Belgium Itinary (work - Koln - Liege - Leuven - Gent - Brussels - Leuven - Marktrock - Koln - work)

So what is famous in Belgium? Having been there during my Euro trip back in summer 04, my 6 hours in Brussels gave me a very bad impression of the capital. I hope to change this mindset with this trip. Besides fries (which apparently originated here rather than France…but still we call it French fries), waffles and really nice chocolates…what else makes Belgium…Belgium?! What do they speak…Belglish? (ok…its either Flemish or French or Dutch…depending on the region). We had a conversation during my Baltic trip about what makes Belgium tick…and sadly the outcome of it was that yes…Belgium as a country seems like a land that is neither here nor there (vague…but put in terms of economy, people wise, culture and traditions). But it definitely was something which I want to find out too…which made this trip all the more like a mission! All the more because I originally wanted to go to Belgium for my internship, having lost out a really cool position to a crappy guy (yes, I am still bitter!), ironically the same place where Eric is doing his internship now, the world’s largest brewery. So in a way I am coming full circle with this possible scenario which I missed…living a life in Leuwen, through my trip here to Belgium.

So I ve got Dee (my travelling partner lately) and introducing to Portuguese Tart’s blogosphere, Jonathan Lustgarten. This Venezuelan dude arrived recently and we hit it off instantly, from the moment we were “selecting” him if he fits the bill to replace Claudia in her room. Don’t ask me why I was involved…but yeah, maybe its cuz he has like the coolest surname since de Souza!! You could do like heaps of bed talk with a surname like this! “…allow me to show you around the garden of lust!” So cool! Anyways I’ve christened him John Lusty from the day we met! Amen…!

(Left - right); Portuguese Tart, Dee, John Lusty and the host for the weekend.





And thus our journey begins…with a transition to my sister site of course to begin with.

Baltic Sea trip

This trip was planned randomly, thanks to Jennie Chinita Lee...and with the idea of renting a car, we needed to get 2 or 3 more people. ROAD TRIP!!!! I immediately said yes to Jen at the mere mention of "we thought of renting a car"!

Thanks to my many sweet sweet road trip experiences with my MC mates, i am sure this trip would generate as much fun too! Putting 4 or 5 zany individuals in a car for a ride of over 6 hours (not sure how long if we get lost), we needed specific people with specific characteristics! Which explains the rigourous selection process (which me and Jen were a bit uncomfortable with at first) of who will we ride with.

The Zany Selection Process

So we tried with the zaniest of them all...at least in Bonn, some say Slovakia, New Zealand, Rotterdam and India too...Amit. Alas...he felt his zaniness doesnt really suit our personalities (perhaps he was afraid he needed to navigate the map, of which we probably might end up in the Balkans instead of the Baltics) so he rejected the trip.















Zany person number two- Piyush...of which Amit might beg to differ; also rejected us solely on financial reasons and him wanting to focus on his CV. He thinks he cant be zany when he isnt in the mood, which i agree.













Zany person number three...Dee...just needed a little 'motivation' to get her to agree. Great...her zaniness can count for two actually.








Zany person number four...Segala...despite initially agreeing to come, at the end decided to pull out, saying he needs to stay at home. My guess is he and Amit just wants to spend some quality time together, develop their own little "housemate" relationship which heaven knws goes beyond arranging your bed and mine, cleaning your clothes and mine etc...















Well...then with nearly no one else in the rostrum, due to lack of zaniness and also more rejections (Sandra Mexican/Dutch and Steve Kenyan...who ironically are housemates and have had discussions about conceiving a blonde, black baby...hmmm), i bumped into one of the MBA Interns of whom i 'coordinate', a Taiwanese living in Canada and studying in Spain (mi llama Sharon y yo bonita, kannineh ho sei boh, do you understand my Spanish Taiwanese lingo,eh?).

She readily agreed to the road trip after i asked her if she was interested...and if zany could be measured by how loud she was...she is SUPERCALLIFRAGILISTICALLY ZANY!

The line up was complete...3 girls and a guy, 3 Hokkien speaking(again, the crassiest language in the speaking world) people and a 3 in 1 girl that represented the Balkans, Scandinavia and UK alltogether, 3 poor AIESEC interns and one financially stable MBA Intern (ok Jen is in between both)...

Join me in my trip update at Portuguese-tarts sister site... bonniearthur.blinklife.com.

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On another note, this Friday evening i ll be heading to Belgium to visit Eric. No selection process for this as what was supposed to be a solo trip turned out to be a trip for 3, me, Dee and Jonathan Lustgarten; him of which i would call John Lusty from now on! To welcome John Lusty into Portuguese Tart's world, here is a short intro of him. From Venezuela but speaks with an American accent, he took over Claudia's room just after she left. Even Clau is happy we got along well...not that i ll be sleeping with him though!

So Eric Yap...thanks in advance for your 'excitement' in hosting me and the gang! Aku tahu kita manyak cerita to share...tapi kita boleh cari masa untuk berbincang la k.

Reason for the Belgium trip, or Leuven to be exact; to experience one of Europe's biggest urban music festivals. Its called the Marktrock...and the annual celebration is usually held around August. Sad thing is its only beginning on Sunday till Tuesday...so not sure bout our return plans. Nevertheless i ve got my dancing shoes, looking forward to hip hop, r&b, house and pop, world and techno...!!!

In loving memory...

Only recently i begun wearing my yellow band for cancer awareness which i thought i lost it here in Bonn. As much as i am big on advocating HIV/AIDS awareness as well, on a personal level this disease have affected me emotionally many times...some going wayyy back when i was in primary school. I think the last count of family members that passed away from the dreaded 'C' was 8 or 9.




Throughout my time in Germany, i have only seen Jenny 'Chinita' Lee wearing it religiously, although hers differ from mine (my msg says "Celebrate Life", its the Malaysian Cancer Society version vs Jens original "Livestrong" one). For those not in the know, the yellow band idea was pioneered by Tour de France legend and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong as part of his Wear Yellow Live Strong educational program intended to support cancer victims and survivors and raise awareness about cancer. The whole "coloured band" craze took a wild turn when capitalist companies (read: the clown that sells burgers and fries) began selling them and targetting teens and youths with each coloured band having a moral booster phrase or something similar. It was so sickening to see that none...none goes to charity whatsoever, and silly consumers buy like heaps of them! I am sparing the company with the 'swoosh' for its black and white band to raise awareness of preventing racism in football...although selling it expensively just looses the cause big time!

Anyways it was just this Monday me and Jen were having a discussion about cancer, how it affected us and who did it effect. The following day at work...while checking my mails, there was a mail through our AIESEC Malaysia community announcing the demise of one of its member. As heart wrenching as it is to realise the reality of such news...its even worst when you actually know this person very well! She was from the LC which me and my MC team helped form.

Turns out the cause of death was OVARIAN CANCER... the girl, a charming, lovely person, a passionate AIESEC member and very bright kid...i dont think she was even 20 yet. I always remembered as someone inquisitive, always asking questions relevant to AIESEC nonetheless. Shocked...disbelief...a moment of emptiness...stunned...

My condolences to her family, friends and all members of Taylor's Business School Local Committee. Stay strong...live strong...the passing of someone dear just reemphasises the message for us to celebrate life, and to celebrate the life of Rosline Lam.

You ll be remembered Rosline...rest in peace.















Then there was another shocking news from Eric, who told me the trainee he was closed with in his company who only recently returned to his country....met with an accident and passed away. He was obviously too distraught to even talk to me about it. I can imagine...i would be devastated the same knowing the trainee friends whom i grown to be sooo close with were to encounter the same fate.

And no...it wouldnt stop there. Until recently my MC team have not really been in the loop in terms of communication...and with my latest initiative of sending mails to everyone in the team, i would expect at least some nostalgia to follow suit in terms of all of us communicating once again, what with each and everyone of us leading different and separate lives. I wouldnt have imagined a reply from Anisha to include another passing of a dear friend.

This is by far the worst one to hit me...as this woman was not only a dear friend, but a fighter and champion of the HIV/AIDS awareness cause. She pioneereed the idea of having a shelter for women and children with HIV/AIDS, or orphaned because of it...and thus Rumah WAKE (Wanita & Kesihatan...Women & Health) was born. She fought for government support financially, and through corporate support as well. That was the point of first contact for me, during my stint with AIESEC and Standard Chartered Bank's Corp Affairs Dept, when we were championing a HIV/AIDS project together. She was a very dedicated women who knows the dirty business of HIV/AIDS awareness, the politics surrounding it...and a very direct, in your face person. I got really fond of her, and we kept in touch through sms throughout the time till i left the bank and AIESEC even. Malaysia has lost a very charismatic champion of HIV/AIDS...i have lost a dear friend in her...gosh Catherine, i cant believe you re not around anymore. I wish that Rumah Wake will continue its cause and support of the victims...i wish that Catherines soul and cause will not be lost...i wish life wont be too cruel to take away people who had a reason to live...

Rest in peace Catherine...I ll never forget you.

Its just another reminder that life is short...and be it in my life here in Bonn, or Malaysia...i ll always wanna live it to the fullest.

Read my posting on the World Cup

Wanna know about the World Cup through Portuguese-tarts experience...read the first of many postings below, titled "Fusbal Fieber".

Its below the postings on my travelogy.

Have a super weekend!

Portuguese Tart's travelogy

I think some of you know that I am a travel freak, and that I specifically focused my traineeship location to be in only a few countries within Europe (believe me, I’ve got a lot of stick for that before...). Combine those two together, and this explains why now that I ve arrived here, I made a promise to myself to be a ‘travel-whore’; traveling to somewhere new each month, budget permitting of course!

Now that it has been 2 months and 2 weeks into my adventure, lets recap the major destinations I ve been to. Note: Specially to Iluvtina…if you want to continue our lovely friendship, perhaps reading this is not advisable.

First trip, June 2nd- 5th: The supposed budget friendly and unforgettably wild experience that was the trip to Berlin. Turns out I would blow my return back by missing my train and buying another freaking one way ticket home that cost me nearly 50 euros!

Second trip, July 13th-16th: The recent trip to Rotterdam proved that AI Transition parties are what it has always been…a bit on the boring side, unless you re catching up with long lost friends. Awesome in the networking part, lets not forget the mini Malaysian Reunion! Surprisingly I got a bit tanned after this trip. And big thanks to Eva for allowing me to travel on dept budget and at first class…best giler!

Now apparently I have in store my destinations for the next months (or just for August only)

Mid August, I would play guest to Eric in Leuven, Belgium. There would be some kind of a huge festival happening there and I think I might even take the chance to organize some kind of huge trainee outing, just to show that saya ada guna jugak lah, bukan cuma muka hensem saja! And as Eric is also like me, whose good looking housemates are the reflections our mirrors, I think he would appreciate a big crowd coming over as well (he hasn’t known of this plan yet as of writing…oh btw, its his birthday too. Note to self, wish Eric). And I think organizing a trainee outing is simple…just delegate!

Now here is the next big outing…happening one week after the Belgium trip. And a big big big thanks for Eva and her successor (my new Brasilian buddy, Segala), for pushing my involvement in this. You see, as these guys are coordinators to the AIESEC cause for our company, it means they have a huge role to play in AIESEC’s biggest international conference, International Congress (IC). But Eva had a scheming way to bring the non AIESEC coordinator that is me…get me to do the re-launch of the partnership (a big slot witnessed by the global plenary of over 600 people)! So spent about a day (1 hour I think) doing a precise plan, crazy ideas and voila, I have the re-launch plan. Then, they proposed the whole of their plans for IC, a chunk of it was on my planning of the re-launch…which obviously got questioned by our boss. Well, I have to hand it to Eva and Segala’s charm…they managed to convince my boss that I could be there and still come back to work as well…so to cut the long story short, Portuguese-Tart is going to Poland for IC!! Plus Malaysians don’t need a visa to get in!

I have to give it to them, especially the way they pulled a prank on me by saying I wont be making it.

After their proposal meet with boss…

Segala: I think you have to pass me all your plans and proposal…
Portuguese-tart: What plans?
Segala: Your plans for IC…
Portuguese-tart: (hmmm, this is about IC. Now, if I knew that my buddy would be going…what would I do? I’ll play a prank and say he wont be going! Lets hope this works…I ll just play along) Ohh…ok. I ll just mail the proposal to you then (in a nonchalant manner, but showing a slight 10cents @ sad face).

I could then see the sparkle in their eyes already, and I was pretty sure I was right!

Segala: Man…I am good! See what a good liar I am! You re coming to IC dude!
Portuguese-tart: Oh my gawd!!! (faking it…but trying hard not to show it…but also really happy too about the good news) You guys just made my weekend! Thank you soooo much!!!

Well, this is awesome nevertheless! I hope I really get to go (not sure yet till i really see my ticket!)…it ll be great fun for the team of coordinators! I ll be meeting Elias (the coordinator for Americas working in Miami) again, of which I had great fun with! So with 2 Brazilians, Sandra, me and a German girl representing the Asia Pacific (??!!), this is one ‘working trip’ which I cant wait to go! The boss is always questioning why some projects we need to involve all the coordinators in the team, especially the Bonn Team. Boss always say “I don’t want it to be seen as a dept holiday trip / dept fun thing”. She said this of my huge networking event which I organized too…despite agreeing we re working on it together. But I think this really helps in getting us connected, and especially working on big events / projects…it definitely puts in the synergy of a multi national team which definitely turns me of…professionally of course! Plus it does potray an image of a team within the same dept that can be efficient, energetic and always emphasising on results...something which Boss, you could be proud off :)

So…with regards to Intl Congress, back in 2004 I was a delegate (of which I am still thankful for my National Committee team that sacrificed 2 or 3 non participating members) in Hanover, Germany.

The Malaysia Boleh delegation

Thats about 500++ delegates

When in Germany eat what the Germans eat.


Then in 2005, I was the facilitator at the conference…with the Taj Mahal as the backdrop.

Global Village with the Taj at the background

Team Malaysia with the fruit of our labor, i wished all my team mates were there. Tears of joy...

Moment of jubilation...AIESEC in Malaysia winning the UBS Excellence Award Asia Pacific region

Sunrise at one of the 7 Wonders of the World

Touch Mahal

All is serene at the Taj.



Now…in 2006, while in my internship with AIESEC’s biggest partner in Germany (and some say globally), I get to participate as a partner of the organization, planning the re-launch of the partnership! 3 years of being in the biggest international conference of AIESEC, 3 different roles, 3 different countries…thanks a lot! My stars are pretty aligned and luck is shining on me!

Portuguese Tart's travelogy has only just begun...join me to see the world!

Fussball fieber (part 1) - first live match

The German sounding title would have anyone with an IQ to suggest it means "Football Fever", and yes this delayed post is definitely...delayed! Having to organize a huge project during your first months, especially during World Cup season, is not a good way to enjoy your World Cup. But nevertheless, for the benefit of those who are footie hardcores like me...one has to share the experience of being the lucky few that lived in a country that was hosting the World Cup...so here it is, albeit a little delayed, my series of entries for the World Cup...

"Portuguese Tarts World Cup Experience"

... a summary of the thrills, spills, emotional highs and lows, drama, friendship, and the 'fever' usually associated with the World Cup....

The Fan in me

Lets begin with me as a football fan-atic. Of the many levels of 'fan-dom', i fall under the 'play the game (some say good), history buff, statistics loving, strategy analyst, know all' footie fan. I play it weekly, i watched it nearly daily, i read bout anything and everything about it, i even cried for not being selected for a school team before...guess thats fanatic enough! You see, theres lots to know about the beautiful game...like who coined the word 'beautiful game' (Pele for those not in the know), from 4-4-2 to ultra defensive, offside to did the ball cross the line dramas...etc. And its not like the oft cited cliche (usually those who are either ignorant or 'stupid' say it) of "a game where silly men chase a white ball"! I get terribly upset when i hear that...but now more of pittance because it usually comes with ignorance (some plain outright stupid)...because this "game" has more than 22 people (refs, subs, etc) who definitely arent "silly", they dont "run" after a ball, they strategically keep possesion in order to put the ball in the oppositions goal! And the "ball" is never white nowadays!

The so called 'fever'

That apart...seeing that i was in Germany nearly a month prior to the World Cup, it was sad to say that i hardly felt the "football fever", cept for a couple of trainees whom i know were footie soulmates (kudos to Kenyan Steve, despite the fact he supports Liverpool). I knew back home promotions, marketing and nearly everything was footie oriented, but here...it somehow felt muted. Maybe its the expectation that the country may not even perform well...i dont know...i was just not feeling it! Unlike in Japan / Korea, man the whole of Asia was feeling 'it'! The random man on the street, the bookies, students...everyone!

Marketing Campaigns

So i got myself engrossed in World Cup related ads (mostly nike and adidas) to get me in the swing of things! Now this football business...industry experts dont really know how to put a figure of how big this industry is...anything related to football...cuz its simply HUGE! The obvious example can be seen through sport, electronic, automobiles...nearly all industry brands competing with one another...each having their own 'stars' endorsing their product.

The ones which most footie fans look forward too are ones which Nike and adidas produced commercials. With a stable of who's who in the football world endorsing either brands, its a footie fans dream having to direct an ad involving all the stars. So far, till i left, we re only bombarded by the nike ad campaigns (usually the innovator of creative football /sports commercials), led by my all time idol...Eric Cantona, promoting Joga Bonito (play beautiful, or something like that), and having the Worlds Number 1 player at the moment, Ronaldinho in most of its ads. It brought the whole football commercial campaign one level higher...it sort of created a movement...that football is all about playing beautifully! And damn...there goes adidas...lets see what they ve got in store for us.

And boy was i not dissapointed! It brought back the old school way of how we, as kids use to divide our teams. With their theme of +10 (it means YOU and your team of +10), the ad had 2 Spanish speaking kids doing a "one, two jus" (Malaysian version of scissors, paper, stone) to choose their players. "Zidane", and on comes the French talisman, "Gerrard", on comes the inspirational Englishman, "Robben", "Viera", "Beckham","Raul"...etc. The classic moment was when one of the kids mum, Jose...screamed "Jose...get back home", he took the ball and the game had to stop...with the rest of the footballers flabbergasted! The first time i saw that...i was completely bowled away...! Now...for both companies...i give them 2 thumbs up for superb, creative and innovative marketing campaigns!

First football game...LIVE!

I like the idea of having small towns hosting the participating teams in the World Cup. It has been like this ever since, and it just make great economical sense, bringing in tourism to the smaller cities that are not hosting any games. Bonn had the priviledge of being the host city to the Japanese team, it was no wonder the town was abuzz with everything Japanese; sushis restaurants more promoted, blue and white flags of the "Samurai Blue" and most significantly, turning a museum into a huge Japanese media center! It was this place which i visited with a HK trainee couple, Sean and Sam, that i realised there was a friendly between Germany and Japan! As the price was merely 25euros (and since AIESEC pay half of German 'cultural' related events), our chinese genes simply said this was a must watch, must see, must experience CHEAP match!! We bought our tickets right away...and got pretty excited about it!

The museum that was transformed to a Japanese Media center



Portuguese Tart trying his Japanese look


The game was in Leverkusen, bout an hour from Bonn, and i am sure it was a welcome home of sorts for Germany's top player, Michael Ballack as he used to play there! Now, this is important...i have never, ever, ever a fan of Germany simply because they play boring, organised football! So obviously i was going to this match, hoping for an upset! The trainees were always surprised by my "No way am i supporting Germany" attitude, despite me earning a living here. But hey...football is football...

Germany vs Japan


Crazy Ultraman fans! In LeverkusenStadium

At the beginning of the game

Venue, Leverkusen Stadium, home stadium of Bayer Leverkusen


Atmosphere was fantastic, German fans and Japanese fans screaming the lungs out, the view of the stadium from my seat, the green grass...man if you re a footie fan, this sort of environment gets the hair at the back of your neck stand! The euphoria was fantastic!

As i got the tickets in the Japan media center, i naturally was in the Japan side of the stadium! Not a bad view either...plus soaking in the atmosphere from the Japs perspective...simply awesome! (notice i didnt mention anything on Jap chicks...cuz plainly put it...there was NONE!)

And they got near hysterical when Japan scored the first goal!! I was livid...seeing the host suffer a defeat...definitely a great moment! On the hour mark...2-0, confirmed HYSTERIA!!! What a feeling!!

But in the end...lack of height and stamina proved their downfall, as Germany scraped back 2 late late goals through set pieces! Man...no matter how Japan outplayed the host...they were still a little "short" of height!

Game was not that fantastic, although it does have its fair share of spills and thrills! Germans were more cautious whilst the Japs were typical kamikaze in their game plan...although finishing was very questionable!
Like all live games, the only thing lacking were live commentary...but the atmosphere and the euphoria definitely made up for it.

Half time show (yawnnn)

Japan scores the 2nd goal...!!

Ballack vs Nakata




Nippon!!

Germany fans!




Final results... 2- 2. Lucky Germans!

But all in all, it was a great start heading towards the World Cup! There will be heaps more excitement to come!