I'm back from the month-long graduation trip!

It was such a happening month and we did such a variety of things that is atypical of any 'normal' months that I ever had.

20-pointers that I can immediately list off my mind.

1. I've taken on all kinds of transport -- trains / planes / boats / bicycles.

2. I've slept in all kinds of hostels -- with bedbugs / with rats / with graffiti / squeaky clean / homely.

3. I've been in different parts of history -- prehistoric / Roman history / a millenium ago / centuries ago / WW2

4. I've drunk many different varieties of beer -- Czech / Austrian / German / Dutch

5. I've tasted a variety of cuisines -- Italian / Austrian / Czech / Bavarian / German / Chinese / Indonesian / Vietnamese / English / French / Dutch

6. I've completed my best marathon ever in record time, and in an unimaginably cold climate.

7. I did 2 days of cycling, on the best cycling paths I've ever experienced.

8. I trekked and seen some of the best landscapes, including the Alps and a castle in the mountains.

9. I've been to many cathedrals / churches / basilicas / chapels, and awed by the different styles of architecture.

10. I've walked hundreds of kilometres in a month. I've had painful ankles and had recovered.

11. I've developed an infection as a lump in my ear-lobe, had visited a doctor, and had recovered.

12. I've experienced highs and lows in emotions -- from senses of achievement, to being plain happy in Disneyland, to being heavy at a Concentration camp and a Jewish memorial.

13. I've written alot -- a month's worth of diary, using up almost all 3 pens that I brought with me.

14. I watched a musical at London's West End, and an opera at Vienna's State Opera. Both were world-class.

15. I can't remember the number of museums I've been to.

16. I've proven that keeping to a S$5000 budget for a month-long Europe trip is MORE than enough. Yes, all inclusive.

17. I've had my taste of solo travelling in London. It was great. Solo travelling will come in a future trip, I know.

18. I followed happenings in Singapore, including the Hougang by-election, through rallies and news. And it also included the unfortunate passing of a senior who had taught me windsurfing.

19. I survived on an average of 5 hours of sleep every night. Ok, plus the daily coffee fix(es).

20. I got used to the weather changes. From bitter coldness in the first 2 weeks, to warmth in the last 2 weeks. And oh, the late sunsets at 10pm.

Anyway, if you're asking if I'm still making videos out of trips (as in all the trips in the past 3 years), it's a 'No'. The reasons are simple: No time; Not enough camera memory; It doesn't give me a kick anymore.

But in an attempt to record this epic graduation trip in a meaningful way, I've long decided to explore another alternative. Yes, if you're reading this blog, you're one of the first to know--via a photobook. I wrote daily diaries in the trip, and I'm going to publish them as a photobook as a memorabilia. It's going to take EVEN MORE time than making a video, and I'm going to set deadlines for myself. It's going to be a big project that I'm going to take on, simultaneously with job-hunting.