Hubby's friend once ventured "I wonder if you and your family sing like the Von Trapps during your everyday dealings in Vienna."  Well, not really. :) We love to sing that's given...hubby and I are after all from the land of golden karaoke voices. Teehee. :D

Kidding aside, above is a photo I took of my daughter's class during their outdoor learning. We visited the palaces, gardens, museums, statues and streets mentioned in their history book. Learning history with a real feel...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is on the list, so we went to see his statue, it's situated at the Burggarten, behind the Hofburg Palace (the President's residence). It does pay that my daughter learns piano, when the teacher asked what the red flowers were shaped into (below photo), she readily answered; G Schlüssel (G clef).

Wandering around the shopping district is synonymous to watching street performances. Whether a green, white or gold statue or a man playing his guitar flute, a blind person singing, we always take some time to listen.

This was a 5-man group we chanced upon on our way home. I forgot what they played for us (I think I recorded it on video), but the crowd gave a big applause for their performance.

When in Vienna, train stations can be identified by the blue U sign. I've always been confident about Vienna's transportation system, convenient, clean (save for a few with drunkards around) and with information centers all ready to help (for tourists). 

If ever you find yourself in the city, try to go around hopping from one train line to another...that's how I'm able to memorize every single train station here. hihi.

We went on a short vacation to a  nearby city and we came back around 6:30 yesterday. Took this drive by shot by the Vienna's Big Wheel at the Praterstern. I should have posted this on my other blog but since the Riesenrad can be seen here I chose to post it here as one of Vienna's most known symbol.

The news of the demise of Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and former CEO, has brought the world in turmoil. It’s gotten everyone talking. In contrast, his death, which was due to pancreatic cancer, got me thinking, “If stem cell research has been perfected, without loopholes whatsoever, will a cure for all types of cancer have been discovered?” Cancer is greatly affected by abnormal cell division and differentiation. I am not an expert, but what if the application of CFC assay in measuring the frequency and proliferative ability of hematopoietic cells in preparing the stem cells for differentiation was improved and enhanced further? Will new therapies for diseases like cancer be developed? Oh, if only we were in a position to comprehend that complex research.

As I was taking my kids to school, I looked back to the days when I was a student. I remembered cramming during examination week and staying up late at night to work on school projects. I had to rely on my own. I was too embarrassed to ask help from my parents. Suddenly, I imagined my eldest kid, slightly older than she is now, asking for my help on her school project. I tried to tell her that she should work on it by herself, but when I saw what she was supposed to research, I was stunned! She was supposed to write an essay about mesenchymal stem cells. These are cells reaped from bone marrow and was touted as the key to organ regeneration. But instead, scientists found out that these are innately potent antidotes for a growing list of ailments. Before my brain bled, I pinched myself and was brought back to reality. Then I heaved a sigh of relief.