now that the ns phase of my life is over...it would be time to move on to studies...post-ns...i think it would be easier for me to update my blog as and when possible...stay tuned! =)
was quite bored @ home today...so decided to clean up my sword case and maintain my sword...hehez...alot of the stuff are bought during my training trip to ROC...hahaz...
all my display stuff
the engraved sign with my sword case
my rank name engraved onto my sword
a set of ranks and epaulette from the ROC army that i bought for myself...=P
time for some long awaited updates...hahaz...v busy with camp stuff during these 2 weeks! hahaz...
had an outing with sora ppl on the 21st...had dinner at 1 little known restaurant along circular road before heading to minds cafe for some games! hahaz...for this outing...audrey, tony, chi yuan, shiqi, enqi, gerard, yonglai, shengqi, andy and i was there...tho it was quite hard to find games for 10 person...but the few that we played was quite fun! hahaz...played there until ard 11 plus before we left so that we could all catch the last bus or the last train...hahaz...
sports camp coming up...think will be super busy and i foresee a bad throat for me! hahaz...
night shot of fullerton along boat quay
props for one of the games
group photo @ minds cafe!
shall post some photos first...still more to come! =)
group photo @ jb train station
arriving at dabong
with debbie and jianing inside the dark cave
lunch on day 2! =P
a big fat leech sucking my blood
resting on route to base camp
view on the 1st morning @ base camp
with lianguo and weizhuan
trekking partner and me
candid moment during summit trek
plate on the summit! =)
my "decorated" jungle hat
shunhua, jianing and me catching the sunrise
me and shunhua
climbing up!! =P
nice morning sky!
view of the ridges beyond the clouds
at the waterfalls
geraldine, shunhua and me
site of waterfall abseilling
sha-ke, me and chek
yo, shunhua, chek and me
just back from my 5-day trip to gunung stong in kelantan...and boy am i aching and sore from the trip! hahaz...shall try to recap my trip here...bear with me...gonna be a long a wordy entry...but i promise photos! =)
day 1
met up with the rest of my group @ marsiling mrt to do some shopping @ the ntuc near the station...but most of us were late...=P...well...in the end we all managed to finish our shopping and meet up with the rest of the trek @ kranji mrt @ 1545 before taking 170 to the checkpoint...hahaz...
after clearing the customs...we all headed to city square @ near the checkpoint for dinner and stuff while waiting for our train @ 1900...went to buy a book to kill boredom during the 10-hr train ride to dabong, kelantan...so better be prepared...hahaz...after that joined back with the comm people @ secret recipe...the banana choc cake there is much cheaper than in singapore lar! each slice is abt...S$3? hahaz...add that with a bowl of oyster mee sua...that settled my dinner...hahaz...
after gathering in the middle of the shopping mall...we all proceeded to the train station to wait for our train...this may sound sua ku...but it is my first time taking the ktm train! hahaz...when it finally arrives...we boarded and went to our carriage which is the sleeping carriage...quite ok larz...chatted away with a group of the other trekkers and then went off to bed...and that concludes day 1...=)
day 2
woke up @ 0600 and had some time to wash up and change up before arriving in dabong...had a simple nasi lemak breakfast there and prep-ed our daypack for caving in the morning...soon our guides arrived and brought us to 3 local caves...called gua gelap, gua keris and gua pagar...the first was a very very dark cave which is so dark that when you stretch out your hands you cant see it...then gua keris had a large limestone structure that looked like a keris...well the caving was quite an experience...craving thru caves...finding bats and getting leach bites...hahaz...
returned back to dabong for lunch before making our way to the local semi-abandoned resort @ the foot of gunung stong...but along the way...it started to rain and it really dampened the spirits...took shelter for a while from the rain before proceeding when the rain is lighter...it was a 2 hr trek up from the resort to the base camp set up for the locals there...quite a nice place at the top of a water fall...the river there would provide us with the water needed for our bathing and cooking...hahaz...
quickly pitched our tents and went down to the river to bathe...it was cold...real cold...hahaz...imagine bathing at the top of a waterfall...quite an experience really! then started to cook dinner...had vermont curry with noodles...popcorn and seaweed chicken as well as mushroom pottage...however midway thru the cooking...the sky started to pour again...and all 3 tents pitched by everyone had very bad waterproof-ing problems...shun hua and i tried to remedy our tent...but halfway thru was called back to the shelter for a briefing by soon kiat and geraldine...so the final arrangement was that the comm rented 2 huts from the base camp people for the girls to sleep in...the rest would sleep on the outside...after that...shun hua and i returned back to our tent for rescue operation...amazingly...shun hua realised that unhooking the tent from the frame at certain pts can solve the prob...and our tent was saved! hahaz...in the end...me shun hua and zhan jiang slept in the tent...while the rest of the comm people slept @ the shelter to jaga the bags...
day 3
woke up @ 0645 in hope of catching the sunrise...but think a little too late...cos the sky already quite bright liaoz...hahaz...then it was very very misty...but the view from the top of the water fall was still amazing...hahaz...brushed our teeth and went to make breakfast...which was french toast! hahaz...
prep-ed our daypacks for a while before we were off for our summit trek...it would be a 4+ hrs trek up and a 4 hrs trek down...we carried our lunch on the go...which for me was 2 milo energy bars...hahaz...carried 2 litres of water...the trek up was quite a challenge...with long stretches of never-ending ascends and climbing on slippery slopes and rock surfaces...hahaz...but got shun hua and geraldine who were trekking with me and we crapped and did some random dj-ing...quite fun...
there were also long stretches of climb on all fours...super shag man...but all in hope for the push to the summit cos the previous stong trip did not manage to make it up to the summit...we were hoping for a nice view up at the summit...hahaz...but when we finally reached the summit...the view was well...duh...surrounded by vegetation...the summit was characterized by a big....stone...hahaz...and there we were...1420 m above sea level...on the summit of gunung stong! hahaz...not quite wad i expected...but was quite glad to reach the summit larz...hahaz...after resting and relaxing for a while...it was time to descend before the sky turns dark...hahaz...
the trek down was marred by heavy rain! arghz...rain rain rain...luckily it died down before we reach base camp but it was more than enough to get us all drenched...but wait for us was dinner! hahaz...had a quite refreshing shower before proceeding to cook our dinner! =P has rosti with sausage and cream cheese...luncheon meat omelette...chocolate fondue! yippie...the rosti was...heavenly! hahaz...very nice! the choc fondue as well...rox! hahaz...then after dinner the guides had an impromptu jamming session with us with his guitar
after everything we all retreated to our tents...where this time we (me + shunhua + debbie + jianing + wei xin + wan wei + pei wen + aileen) squeezed into the tent...quite a squeeze with not much space for moving...hahaz...
day 4
woke up @ 0600 this time to catch the sunrise...still as misty...but the sky was a little bit clearer and the morning sky was much nicer...and the sun was still playing hide and seek behind the clouds...arghz....
after a pancake breakfast...we prep-ed for the more relaxing part of the trek...waterfall trek! hahaz...started from base camp and climbed up...to a very nice spot where the waterfalls from the summits of gunung stong and gunung ayam meet...very very nice...much better than berkelah...hahaz...all of us just enjoyed the moment there...jumping into the water...getting hydrotherapy from the waterfall...damn shiok! hahaz...then it was time to move on back down to another waterfall...this one provided a much better hydrotherapy...and there is this princess hole where a can just "disappear" into the water...very fun! hahaz...
after lunch...we got ready for out waterfall abseilling...it was quite an experience...with the rushing water pushing against ur feet on the slippery surface...but nevertheless...it was fun fun fun! however the fun was cut short when aileen slipped and hit her chin against the rock surface...there was a deep cut on the her chin...moreover weixin also dislocated her ankle...so the activity was stopped...anyway the rain clouds were fast approaching...by the time we reached back to base camp...it was pouring and we were un-pitching our tents in the heavy thunder storm...arghz...hahaz...but it was quite "fun" in a way too...haha...
after waitin for the rain to be lighter...we left base camp at 1700 for the resort...it was quite a trek down as the ground is really really wet after 3 days of heavy rain...and we have casuaties with us...but in the end we managed to all reach the resort before the dark...=)...took a quick shower @ the resort before heading back to dabong for dinner and our train ride home...
day 5
took the train past the checkpoint straight to tanjong pagar as we were returning back to school to clean up the equipment...hahaz...washed all the muddy and smelly stuff in school and waited for the sun to dry them before keeping them...had a quick subway lunch with the comm people before finally heading home for some reunion with my bed! hahaz...and that marks the end of a memorable trip! =)
hmm...still sorting out photos with the other people...shall post them up soon! =P
back from an entire day of oac outings! hahaz...super enjoyable! =)
the day started with my briefing for the stong trip...then after collecting the tent...rushed back home to throw down the tent....packed a little and headed to meet the rest @ harbourfront...when i reached...only tze was there...the rest were late...hahaz...then we waited for ben and pei geok to come before going to giant to shop first...met up with jing song and sophia before heading to js's van to drive into sentosa...hahaz...
parked at the beach carpark and walked to palawan beach...altho the sky was overcast...the beaches were still quite crowded! arghz...managed to find a nice spot before settling down...played frisbee and dunked pei geok, tze and sophia into the water! -evil laughter- hahaz...chatted and gossiped under the tree...then after the first game of cards...it started to rain...diaoz...then we went ahead with plan b...we bathed and headed to tze house to kill time before meeting up with the rest! =P
drove back to vivo to meet up with the rest...and the rest included likoon, constance, wanling, weishan, huihui, sanmei and jingwen! hahaz...13 of us turned up...not bad! =)...while tze waited...js ben and i went to queue up first @ hk kim gary! the queue was very long larz! hahaz...then the timing was just right...they arrived just as it was our turn to enter...hahaz...=)...i order a cheese baked curry with pork chop...hahaz...super nice lar! shall visit this place more often! hahaz...after dinner huihui and weishan had to leave first cos they had something on...but for the rest of us...it was time for part 3 of the outing! hehez...
took bus to henderson road there...then climbed all the way up to the top of the henderson waves bridge! the view there was very nice! then the seats had these curves backings that we can all just lie there and look up into the night sky! it was very laid-back and relaxing up there! very nice! we all just sat around chatted...gossiped and just enjoyed each other's company! now that hui hui, ming juan and sophia graduated le...we realise that time really flies! hahaz...think we should all go visit them during their convocation/commencement...machiam really like having a member of the family graduating! hehez...
hehez...it is really nice to have a group of frens that you can always easily fit in...enjoy the company...and talk about lots of things...it is like we have really all known each other for very long liaoz! achelli 6 yrs to be exact...hahaz...i feel very lucky to have this group of frens...=)...then was talking to wanling abt the possibility of organising a 10th anniversary gathering when time comes...and maybe a 10th anniversary instructor t-shirt to go along with it? hahaz...
with ben and jingsong
in the waters!
大家排排坐！！
29th!
just had a first meeting among the nippon-do house! hahaz...for those who are blur...it is my sports camp house...early meeting to set the momentum going and also becos miq our house ic will be super busy in the next few weeks...so this week is the week...
the meeting was set @ 3pm @ maui wowi @ suntec...hahaz...what a time...the release of results for our exams was also 3pm...hahaz...super stressed in the lead up to the big reveal larz...hahaz...well...in the end...those who were there were miq, stefanie, jiayi, vanessa, sherlyn, andee and me...hahaz...not bad larz...more than 50% and including all the OGLs...=P...
discussed some details for the camp but majority alot of crapping and bitching amongst us...realised that most of us are not SC '07 alumni...hahaz...majority of the guys are alumni tho...hahaz...
after all the discussion...had dinner @ suntec with miq, stef and sherlyn...had more crapping...hahaz...well first impression...the councillors seems to be a fun bunch! looking forward to the camp! =)
just finished my two assignments as belaying slaves for innotrek...and gosh was i totally beat!
the first assignment was on saturday afternoon and the whole of sunday...and the camp was for bedok green secondary @ sarimbun camp!!! so ulu!!! arghz...borrowed the car from my dad and drove there for the 2 days...hahaz...was belaying the kids for the rock wall for the whole 1.5 days...and the weather was quite unpredictable...sometimes cloudy...sometimes sunny...sometimes rain! hahaz...
the second assignment was @ the moe adventure centre for balestier hill secondary...this time not so ulu la...so not that bad...hahaz...
all in all the work quite tiring...4 days of belaying...my finger joints were hurting by the end of the fourth day lor! arghz...then my right half was also aching at the end of everyday...then the innotrek polo t-shirt is really a sweat magnet lorz...not perspiration frenly onez...arghz...
but at least i did some work...got some income...hahaz...=P
hahaz...my first update during the hols...lets see what i have done so far in the hols
lost odyssey
completed the game finally! hahaz...started playing before the exams...took a break from it during exam period...then devoted all my time to completing the game over the past week! hahaz...
work
no work so far...but through shunhua, got an adhoc lobang as belaying slave for 4 days...starting this coming saturday till tuesday...working for this company called innotek...well...at least i wun be rotting so much...and the money earned can be use to fund the items below! =P...
sandals
went down to F.I.T. to get my sandals...cos my previous pair of teva ones died on me midway thru berkelah...if u all can remember...bought a pair of sandugo all-terrain adventure sandals....quite cheap too...@ 48 bucks...and the comfort and support so far not bad...well the real test is during my upcoming stong trip...hahaz...decided not to buy teva again cos i did some homework and read up some reviews at local forums...seems that the spider rubber layer not well attached to the midsole layer...theus very easy to come off...so decided to try a new brand...sandugo...a filipino brand...then heard that it is quite value for money...outside of brands like chacos and source, whose adventure sandals are good...but will burn a hole in ur pocket...hahaz...
trekking daypack
hahaz...have been wanting to get a proper daypack for the treks...cos when we move off from base camp...it is always carrying a daypack...but i dun have a proper daypack...plus my out SAF water bag also need to change...so might as well invest in a proper one...can use for other purposes like cycling trips...etc...so went down to beach road to find onez...after some comparisions of brands...size...etc...chose the camelbak m.u.l.e. hydration pack...should be able to fit my needs quite well...hahaz...
haix...over the course of 2 weeks...2 tragedies has struck Asia...the first being Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmmar...the second being the 7.8 earthquake that hit China...on one hand it is a relieving thought that we are living in Singapore where the chances of such occurances is quite low...but when one sees the reports and articles of the aftermath...you cant help but feel sad and feel for the victims...
it is quite preposterous that amidst the suffering of its people, the Myammar junta can still mix politics into relief efforts...plain bastards...
then on the Sichuan side...just knowing that alot of casualties are young children just sends a chill down the spine...the young is always the most innocent of all...not knowing what happens and such...
lets hope the situation will get better soon for everyone there...
finally got some time to update after the long exam period! arghz...really very drained...the exam was so long! 6 papers to handle this sem...dun really think i wanna try this again if i have the choice...really very tiring! well...but at least i think i balanced my stuff quite okay this semester...hoping for the best! else next sem i will have to pia to undo any damages to my cap done during this semester?
anyway...my last paper was today...GEM2900...but i celebrated the "end" of exams on tuesday after the CM1502 paper (which was crap)...hahaz...went to holland village with sora people and ate at nydc...where i think we were the noisiest bunch there...hahaz...but really had lots of laughs with them...very fun to just relax and crap with them larz! hahaz...coincidentally...all ten of us ordered baked pasta/rice there...so all our orders came together...hahaz...and then there was this episode that when we asked james what colour elmo was...he said green! hahahaz...that is oscar larz...then everyone was laughing at the mix-up! after dinner was round 2....went to swensen's for some ice-cream...then in the end...there were 5 orders for sticky chewy chocolate! hahaz...then shiqi was sulking the entire time cos her mango madness was not as nice and chiyuan din share his sticky chewy chocolate with her! tsk tsk...chiyuan...how can...hahaz...
anyway on some updates for my hols...will be involved for sports camp and chess camp...but heard some not so encouraging news...chess camp all 5 days will be staying over in KR! arghz...so sianz...even tho got go DXO...but should have a some chalet stay mahz! then sports camp heard that they took out ubin and fright night...hmmm...can say that a little disappointed laz...
as for rovers stuff...going for trek to gunung stong in june! joined soon kiat's trek...pulling shunhua along with me...then found out that debbie, jianing and jiawei will be there with geraldine...hahaz...the 4 noisiest person during my previous berkelah trip is back to haunt us again! hahaz...joking lar...think will be quite fun! =P...but sad thing is that my diving trip was cancelled...cos poor response...arghz...gotta wait again...sighz...
time to start prep-ing for ahm le...signed up for it...then got the saucony passion run in june...so gotta sit down to plan a training regime soon...hahaz...dun wanna end up as a statistics on newspaper the next day! =P...
but now that my may is suddenly so free...think i might consider go find a job...anyone got lobang? hahaz...
had a wonderful outing with my fellow 29th oac-ians yesterday @ east coast! hahaz...picked up geokz and tze before driving to east coast to pick up ben and then finally arriving at the east coast lagoon food centre...found a neat spot and waited for the rest to come! =P...
all in all...there was tze, geokz, ben, koonz, zhemin, wanling, jingsong and me! hahaz...not bad lar the turnout...hahaz...ordered lots of food! pooled $70 and bought all the food...there was hokkien mee...carrot cake, chicken wings, fried oyster, sambal stingray, cockles, satay, and off course sugar cane juice! hahaz...just sat there and ate...chatted...joked...suan-ed...just damn fun larz!=P
after a filling dinner...there was round 2! we all drove down to liang seah street for desserts! settle for 记得吃...ordered my 龟苓膏...hahaz...then noticed this yellow suzuki swift that was covered and filled with pikachu and pichu! hahaz...could not resist but to snap a picture of it! =)
after the long struggle...finally completed the stupid IT1005 term assignment...just left some dressing up to do...still got time lar...hahaz...
nus open house this weekend...achelli i am quite relieved now that i was not picked to be the open house helper...gave me the time to do so catching up on work and revision...moreover the weather was bad...like it is raining cats and dogs now...i am sure the human crowd @ SRC would be quite crazy...hahaz...
finished up quite a bit of stuff...taking a short break before returning to my tuts and books...hahaz...
today just as i was leaving my block to go SAFRA to swim...2 fire engines arrived...appparently there was a unit on fire @ my block there...but it din seem that bad...so happening in my small estate! =P
shall post some random photos here...hehez...
