CLS FOC 2011/2012 :D

CLS (Y)

Some of the GMs in the Merlion park station and I :D

Photography by Marcus

Enjoying our cups of Coffee Bean~

Hello! I just came back from the CLS FOC! As a photographer hoho. I think the camp was awesome! But I really didn't know that it will be THAT tiring haha. But I'm so going to enjoy a good night sleep tonight! I won't talk much about the details eh, cause my job as a photographer is pretty much simple - taking pictures! Haha.

Day one was alright, reached school at 8.15 and went around taking pics of the school-game activities. The night walk was awesome! Haha, had a great time taking pictures of the "ghosts" both as "ghosts" and "models". It was so funny and scary haha. The night walk was awesome, stationed at rest station 1 with Kodi, Li Min and Eric. And we all slept at 7 AM! Woke up at 10 the next day heh.

Day 2 was spent outside mostly, the amazing race. So spent the day walking from station to station, mostly with the OCs like Rusell, Howard, Jethro and Lawrence/Wai Chong. Bryan joined us too at one point. The weather was damn awesome! Should have like take pictures of the CBD area, but I'm a camp-photographer so can't really waste my battery life on the buildings eh.

Night was the night game and... SHIM NIGHT! Brings back memories heh. Good job to the shims! I think this year's campers' shims are awesome and pretty daring haha. The non-campers shims were awesome too! My "sister" Justin was another one haha. It was so funny to watch their "talents" heh.

Day 3 was the usual briefing and photo montage video. But I had a great time with the fellow GMs (or Team Titans) playing the MRT game in the morning! We started as a small group but turned out the whole GM (I think) were playing. I was Changi Airport and Esplenade. Sorry Stadium and City Hall if your legs hurt :P

I feel really sad cause somehow I have missing pictures from my DSLR! But thankfully the Pub team should have the photos still with them, so I hope I can get em back. Cause the missing photos were the "awesome" photos I took of the night walk and some other activities! But it's alright, lets just wait for the pictures :)

So lesson learnt: Back up all photos before transfering into the comp! Cause this is the 2nd time such "technical" problems occur (the other was during the FLP camp). But I don't have the luxury to carry my laptop around huh. But well I brought my lappy to camp, so I should have backed them up :( Oh well lets look positive! Don't think negatively :)

Anyway this is just what I feel about my job as a photographer so I guess it can be counted as my holiday writing?

Holiday writing topic #7 - Photographer of CLS FOC

Anyway there are times I feel sort of lonely during the camp cause I'm the only "official" photographer for the camp. The other 2 photographers are either seniors or the OCs (Gerry and Jia Sheng). So I sort of learnt that being a photographer is quite a lonely job eh? But you know what I feel? That's why being a photographer, one needs to learn to socialise.

So that's why, thankfully, I gel in with the GMs and GLs and OCs and seniors well so that I have people to talk to. Can't imagine being in a camp where I talk to no one :O And thankfully I went for last year's FOC so I know lots of familiar faces! Thank you to the everyone who have accompanied me here and there and talked to me etc. Love you all!

Oh yeah - I have the same rank as the GMs so I'm part of them too hehe.

But well another thing I learnt is that when you have a job, don't just focus too much on getting EVERYTHING right. Yes I want to take good shots, so my technique etc must be right. But we tend to forget to HAVE FUN during our job. So it's important to get the fun factor while doing your job too you know! Hehe.

Anyway I've enjoyed being the photographer of the CLS FOC. And I enjoyed the camp as well, both as a photographer and a GM and a part of the whole camp. Even though it's tiring, I think it's really awesome. It brings back my FOC memories, I made LOADS of friends and also I'm improving my event photography skills, which I sort of suck at.

Alright I wanna sleep now! So tired haha. See ya then :D

Double rainbow

Hello! Hmm I've just realised I've not been putting pictures in my posts, so sorry heh. Sometimes I like my post to be words only, I know it's very wordy (umm duh) but yeah that's the style! Sorry for my OCD-ness heh. But anyway I've got a picture to show today! :D

It's a DOUBLE RAINBOW! (Acts like the Youtube Double rainbow guy). I fell asleep in the afternoon. And when I woke up in the evening, I was shocked by the colour of the sky! It was orange and cloudy orange. Then after that I looked out of my window and... It's a double rainbow! I quickly took my camera and snap snap snap. It was gone after a while so whew.

Yesterday I meet up with Jes, Ade, MF, WQ and Neal at WCP! We ate Fish&Co and celebrated earth hour with them haha. Finally able to pass them their HK presents! We walked along WCP then and decided to sit around Coffee Bean while Ade left for home. Not long after all of us headed for home then.

Today nothing much too, but I cooked! I don't know why I have cravings for sausages, so I cooked braised sausages in tomato puree. Wait it's not puree but uhh chopped tomatoes. But it's really nice! Should have put more pepper though, can't really feel the pepperiness of the pepper that I've added :)

Anyway I'll be off to another camp tomorrow. Whew, never have I in my life go to a camp with only 3 days apart! But I'll be off to the CLS FOC :D Not as a camper but as a photographer heehee. A bit nervous though, hope my pictures will turn out good. But thanks to the CLS FLC, I think I gain some exposures on how to take which shots so yep, lil experience :D

So here goes my holiday writing topic #6 - Passion

Well I'm sure you know my passion heh, I wrote it on my sidebar. And if the name of the blog is not obvious enough heh. Yes my passion is music. I love music and I can't live without it. I'm not sure when my passion of music started, but I'm sure it started when I was in P3 I think, I remember my sis bought me a Richard Clayderman CD, and I just love his songs, and the piano.

So I've decided to learn the piano. I learnt the keyboard actually, when I was in P4-ish. But I quit after that and left for Singapore. When I entered PTPS, I joined the Angklung ensemble. And I fell in love with music more! That was when I was exposed to New Age genre, thanks to the songs my teacher used for our songs, Enya songs.

When I entered secondary school, I joined TSMB. I guess this is when my passion for music just went KABOOM. For the better of course. I am happy being in a band, in an ensemble, playing together with people who love music as well. I love the fact how many people playing sounds much much better than a one person playing.

That's why I joined SPSB as well. This time round it's a 100-strong band! Which is like 3 times more than TSMB. So it's more "exciting" and challenging at the same time, as I'm exposed to more different songs, and of course, of higher difficulty. But I guess that's music. The higher you go, the more different songs of different difficulty you play, and the more fun it gets heh.

And yes I do play the piano as well. I learnt till grade 3, or from grade 3. But I quit when I was in sec 2, due to SYF commitments. So since then, I've been a self-taught pianist, I pick the songs I like and play them, either via ear or scores. And I do play the clarinet and flute as well! My aim is to learn strings instruments! I really really wanna learn the cello haha.

And of course as some of you may know, I do have a passion for photography as well. I picked it up just over a year ago, and I'm loving it more and more. I've been interested in photography since sec 2, but I was using my phone heh. I bought my first DSLR, my lovely Sony A230 (my girlfriend!) last year, and that's when my interest grow stronger.

The point is, live your life with passion. Do the things you enjoy, and always do it with joy and pride (but don't get proud please). Life is just too short to have many things you love or want to do undone. As the 7 effective habits, number 7 says, sharpen the saw. Always take some time off to do the things you enjoy. Well I do play the piano almost everyday, especially when I'm stressed. And there are times where I would just take pictures of skies etc in random days.

So people, love your life, and never stop loving what you love to do. Discover more things you enjoy doing, and hone them, improve your skill on them. If you love what you do, life will love you back. So enjoy enjoy enjoy! Sometimes we're too hooked in reality that we forgot to do the things we enjoy doing.

So, have you done something you loved today? :)

Leader

Hello! Time to blog again today, even though I didn't really do much, except for spending the afternoon out with my sis and her BF. So we went to Orchard to have lunch and she was also collecting her watch, which was sent for repair. We also went to buy some stuff back cause she'll be going back tomorrow. And I'm going back next week ^^

Anyway the weather was damn awesome! I really love today's weather. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, BUT. The weather wasn't hot. It's warm and it's wonderful. After walking and freezing through Orchard Central, coming out, never felt so good haha. And I took some awesome IR pictures at home just now cause the weather was just so nice. And in the evening, saw some strands of purple clouds, so took my chance and snap them :D

To me, the sky is like life itself. It's in constant change, we never meet a sky that is exactly the same as another skyscape we've seen before somewhere. To me life is like freedom. It's so vast, so eternal, so free. Where birds fly and clouds travel to places they never seen before, and then disappear into thin air, just to be reborn again as another cloud. Life goes on. So does time flow.

Wow! I just wrote that?!

Anyway as promised, I will write more about the camp right? So here goes :)

Holiday writing topic #5 - Leadership

Personally speaking, yes I love leading. I love leading people, be it in projects, events, camps or any other events. I love holding a leadership position, was a student councillor, a class chairman, a student conductor, a prefect, a group leader of projects and more. I love being a leader. But not to an extent, where I would want to be a leader EVERYTIME. Continue reading.

So what's a leader? Is he someone who leads people (umm yes obviously). But there's more to than just leading people. How does a leader lead? By making everyone goes his way? Why does a leader want to lead? Cause he feels he is the strongest, greatest and most deserving in a team? When does a leader lead? Everytime? Who is a leader?

From the CLS FLP Camp, everyone can be a leader. It all matters on how, and whether you want to be one or not. I believe everyone has the ability to lead, I can see it in everyone during the camp. But most importantly, is how you lead, and why. As the law of nature goes, it all goes back to yourself, and not everyone else.

I wouldn't say that I am a great leader. That I'm a good leader. Loving what I do is I guess enough to make me happy. My definition of leading is to be a force, a beacon guiding a group of people that work towards the same goal. Help them to go to a direction, direct them, support them. And a leader is not a dictator. He doesn't, and he shouldn't want everything to go HIS way.

Pause = In the context of he, I mean both he and she, just that I'm lazy to constantly type he or she heh.

I'm a person that believes more in passion, than just PURE talent. For I feel without passion (or love), then you won't have the talent! So whenever I'm assigned into a leadership position, I would certainly carry it out to the best of my ability. If there are any mistake I made, then I would learn from them and improve my skills even better.

The problem with me, is that I have a very low confidence level. At times I would feel really helpless and "sucky" when it comes to leading. I have a very low self esteem. When there's a problem, I would blame it all on myself. But as a leader, I believe if something goes wrong, there is something wrong with the way I lead, right?

Well there are many kinds of leaders I've seen in my life. Some alpha-leaders who wish everything to go his way. Some quiet ones who don't really dare to unleash the him in him, or her in her. Some great ones, who are very open towards suggestions and always take the initiatives in the group.

There's no lousy leaders. Everyone has their own way to lead, and their own ways to improve their skills. It's also the way they perceive themselves. Sometimes they would dwell in their shells and not be opened, quiet and reserved, and tell themselves I'm not a great leader.

But as I said, ultimately - everyone has the ability to lead.

But thanks to the CLS FLP camp, I've learnt so much things about this subject of leadership. It's not just about leading people. It's more to it, than just a simple word. More than a simple task of getting a job done. More than a position that you feel good and powerful when you take it. Leadership, is an ability that everyone has. It's all up to us to whether we want to grab them.

So what kind of a leader am I? Am I a good leader? I can't judge it myself. I'll let time, and other people judge it and have their own opinions about it. But all I can say is this. I'm a leader that believes in equality. I want everyone to have an opportunity to lead, to have an opportunity to express their own say. I may seem like a weak person, someone who doesn't strike the iron while it's hot. Oh well.

But people, trust me. If you've got the chance to lead. TAKE IT

CLS FLP Camp! :D

Hello! Long time no blog cause I have just returned from the CLS FLP camp! It was an awesomely great camp! It's somehow different from other camps I've been to. It's a camp which I feel that I really put my thoughts into action, and what I've learnt into action. I was in constant thoughts in the camp, of the things that our instructor, Tony, have taught us.

I will just tell you all briefly about the camp's programme.

Day one was alright, it's the first day so it's all about introduction, familiarisation with my awesome editorial mates (which we are already bonded, but welcomed Edmund!). We also learnt some of the first few habits, and some leadership skills. At night, we did the 4-people tug of war. I was leading the group then, and well even though we lost.... I THINK MY GROUP DID AN AWESOME JOB! And I've said this but, I have no regrets even though we lost. Yes I'm disappointed that I failed to lead my group to win, but seeing my group supporting each other, motivating one another. That's enough. That's the true meaning of teamwork! :)

Day 2 began and we had the expedition. So we walked to the Singapore Flyer which was our first stop. It was quite a long walk but we had fun! Singing, cheering, motivating and supporting one another. From flyer, we walked back to Kallang Macdonald. BAREFOOTED. I repeat: Barefooted. Cause Shima's leg was in pain due to a blister, so she decided to walk without her shoes. And so? As a team, all of us walked barefooted too! For like 3 KM at least :D

Tell you what, I think this is the most memorable moment of the camp. I really love my group and the experience of walking barefooted is just so awesome. And what's even best? Walking barefooted with your friends! :D It's really an experience, it's really awesome.

Day 3, the main highlight was the high elements. So we decided to go and try some of the elements. I did both the intermediate and high elements. It's so fun! Haha. At first I was scared but I overcome it! I look forward and be focused at the pole on the other end. And I did the intermediate challenge with Brandon and we got the best timing of 1 minute 8 seconds! Great job to the two of us! With the given fact that it was Brandon's first element! Great job man! :D

But who I'm most proud of are two people. Shima - she jumped on the vertical pole challenge. She jumped off a freaking pole which was like I don't know how tall to grab this pole. I don't even have the guts to do that!!! I'm so proud of you Shima! You really overcome your fear there! The next person is Atiqah - She told me that she has fear of heights, so she decided to go on the intermediate challenge. But she went up the the high elements first! You've overcome you fears too! Awesome job to the both of you alright! :D

We had the gala night on the 3rd day as well. It was so hectic cause Geradine, Syafiq and I had to make this video montage in 1 hour!!! But well well we did it! Even though there were some flaws, Miss Joanne said it was a great job done! :D And we also did our performance which was the skit + dance and I had a great night then! We went to "club" on the camp site, minus the alcoholic drinks and we were like dancing our night away! :D

Day 4 was really, really, really, really emotional. Never in my life have I been so emotional in such a short period (the last time was during my grandma's funeral). We were sharing stories, and everyone's stories are so touching. I was telling my story and I was feeling normal. I was feeling okay and in the middle of the story, I just cried. I don't know why but I guess my emotions are really boiling up inside...

Then we were asked to give these little gems to give appreciations to the people we choose to. Well I gave it to all of my team mates hehe. And I gave to some people from other groups too. While I was giving to Shima I just cried! I don't know why, maybe cause I looked at her and she was crying and so we both got emotional and I just cried. Aww man, I have seriously never been so emotional before! :O

But ultimately, I've learnt a lot from this camp. I've learnt what I can do, what I should do, what I should not do, what's my ability, and to learn what's the best in me. I've seen people's weaknesses, and how they grow from them and learn their mistake. I've seen people whose leadership skills are great and their ability to lead. I've forged a new bond of friendship, and shared the fun we had together in those 4 days.

I really have learnt a lot from the camp. Honestly speaking I was in constant thoughts during the camp. I was just thinking of the things that Tony had taught us, the activities we did together, and the things that happened in the camp. I've shared my thoughts with my fellow team, and my fellow campers. I've voiced out my opinion, I've given out all my abilities to lead the group to the best I can, and most importantly, I had fun.

FLP Camp must really be one of the best camps (or the best :P) I've ever been. It's different from other camps in a way that our thoughts and actions merge together and we get to learn things from the activities themselves. We're put to test and it's not only just purely the things we learned. But the things we went through in the course of the camp.

Alright I've written a lot, I'll write more in the days to come, I've more things to talk about hehe. Watch my blog! :)

If you want to make the world better place, take a look at yourself and make the change - Man In The Mirror

Faith and Science piano cover :D

Hello... Not in the mood of blogging today but anyway, wanna show you all a new cover I made! It's Science & Faith by the Script! Thanks to Annabel for introducing me to the song! Cause I just fell in love with it the first time I heard it! The lyrics are really like (Y)

I made a few mistake but... I still hope you guys will enjoy! Comments are welcomed hehe. Oh, and I played it in a slightly faster tempo as well :P

Oh and PS: I played this by ear hehe, so it's not a 100% similar. But enjoy aye!

You won't find faith or hope down the telescope, you won't find heart and soul in the stars. You can break anything down to chemicals, BUT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN A LOVE LIKE OURS.

3 days, 4 days coming

The feeling is like...

Photography by Yours Truly

Looking at the blue sky. That feeling.

Whew! Alright been wanting to blog but I've been feeling really tired the past three days, cause I've been busy with the prep camps! Yup, 3 days of fun I guess, and inspirations. I'll start with my day 1 hehe. Anyway day 1 was more of an ice breaker-game day. And loads of informations about our camp. The games are fun! Get to know with more people as well, likey likey.

After the activities I went back to TSMB again to help out in some game. Went back with Cheryl, Chong Tuck, Syafiqah, Nissa, Syarifah and Jessica. After band we headed to WCP to eat! Had great fun with them laughing and joking around haha, cause we were talking about so many stuff. Headed for home after that and that's all for day 1!

Day 2 wasn't that much of happening. Just more information about the camp itself, we had briefing about the campsite by our facilitator, and the activities we're going to do. Honestly speaking, I'm a bit intimidated by the 4 hour trek thing? But nevertheless, nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing! Jia you to the editorial team! :D :D

Day 3 (today) was the inspirational bit. We had a talk about the 7 effective habits of a highly effective teen. Well knowing that the talk will be from 8.30 - 5.15 was a bit "sian" to hear. But hey! Those 9 hours is fun and enriching! I was prepared to go to sleep but well I didn't! And there were so many things I took home from that talk, a lot of things :)

I hope I can put what I learnt today into real-life situations beautifully! :)

Okay! Holiday writing topic #4 - My Moods.

Hmm talking about moods huh. Well what are moods? I put it as a certain kind of feeling that we feel in certain times. Happy mood, sad mood, bad mood, lazy mood, uninspired mood, feel like doing nothing mood, feel like eating out mood and more. Well moods are somehow like a mystery. Well for me. I guess my mood changes with time, sometimes, abruptly.

Please don't call me a woman, as much as I hated this characteristic of mine, my mood changes rather drastically sometimes. Well oh well, c'est la vie I suppose. But thankfully, another side of me is that if I turn bad mood, it takes at most one day for me to get over it. And I can even change it within hours! So it's great isn't it :)

And another thing about moods. Hmm not sure about you guys, but have you ever felt this feeling where there's just something nice that you feel warmly inside yourself. A great feeling, sometimes nice and weird feeling. And this appears for no apparent reason, just, pop! And there you go. It's quite amazing actually, how we this happened. But oh well, it's... Weirdly nice heh.

I've been feeling these kinds of feeling these days. They are just this wonderful feeling, I don't know how to describe this. But I'm not referring to like having O*****. The feeling is felt in your heart and not physical feeling. More of mental feeling! I know some people would think it as an O***** but nope nope heh.

Alright I guess, what was I talking about -.- but well that's my topic #4! Keep reading my blog, I think I'm determined to write a topic whenever I write here hehe. Alrighty see ya! Holiday topic #4, done! :)

PS: Hmm, I met 2 more alpha males today huh :/

Time travel

Nahh I didn't do time travel or whatsoever heh, but well today was an awesome day! And a tiring one too (a bit). But good! I hope I'm tired enough to sleep heh, weird reason but well :P Anyway did lots of things today! Which I shall talk later on.

Today was the first time I woke up early since like my HK trip... I was supposed to wake up at 8.45 but well I woke up at 9.30~ The good thing about being an alumni, you don't have to wake up accordingly to the band hoho. So I reached Tanglin at about 1030, and joined the band for rehearsal. And yay I played Memories of Friendship with them! (SYF 2011 set piece). It's really good and fun to play with!

It's so Satoshi Yagisawa hehe, who is my one of my favourite composers! :)

Stayed in school till about 5, watching them doing their camp activities and games. I really had a good time laughing while they're playing the hand twister thing! It's really funny (sorry for being mean) to watch the teams struggling to untangle their hands hahaha, really funny but well good job peeps! Especially to Stephany's group hahaha.

Anyway to TSMB, really good job today! I am really pleased with your performance. Well I'm afraid I can;t guarantee that a silver is in your grasp now. But if you work hard and harder and harder and even harder for the remaining days and practices, I believe a silver is in your reach! Have faith, and remember BE CONFIDENT. I can sense you're lacking in that... Hehe

Anyway after band I headed to Clementi to meet Neal, Wei Lun, Kelvin, Zhi Rong, Federick and Sherman! We met for dinner at Sumo, which was our usual place to eat last time after school. After dinner we went to West Coast bowl to play a game of bowling! It's really fun hehe. And lastly headed to the Clementi mall to hand around at Ya Kun.

And we reminisced about the past! Had a good laugh, talked about things we used to do last time in school, and more... That's why today's post is entitled time travel. We talked about our past, that we seem to travel back in time. Like as if we're reliving the moments that were once experienced by us. Through words. Well, reminiscing is one of the best escape mechanisms from reality. Wait... Reminiscing of the GOOD TIMES :)

So here's my holiday topic #3 - Sentimental me.

If you think who I am, as a person you know, as a person you meet everyday in school, talk in FB or MSN, talk in phone, SMS. You just know me as me. But here I am, revealing one of my "soft" spot of my heart. I am very sentimental haha. I treasure my past, and I'm willing to carry it to my future. You might be shocked to see this, but here's a list of what I do, that normally other guys won't do.

I started keeping my movie tickets from last year. I started keeping my boarding passes from my travel, even though it's just a trip back home. I keep any cards you gave to me. I keep anything you gave me, cards, gifts etc (unless food cause I'll eat it :P). I keep coins from my overseas travel, in fact I still have my Swedish and Norwegian coins, and HK coins as well.

Most shocking? I keep my sec 4 school diary. I cut my PE shirt's "Tanglin Secondary" logo and keep it. I keep my O Level exam papers. I keep my O Level entry pass. I keep the prom's invitation. I keep birthday cards my friends gave to me when I was in sec school. I keep the scores of my first band concert (IBM 28) [which I photocopied btw]. And many many more things.

Shocked? Well I do :)

I treasure my past, and I want to carry it to my future. I want to use it as a form of escape in the future to reminisce of the good times I had. But of course, I shall forget my bitter past behind. What's important is the sweet fruit, not the bitter seed huh. And you might find me crazy, non-sensical, out of my mind and many more.

You can say as much as you want, but this is me :) This is who am I and this is what I'm going to be. This is what I'm going to have in my future. So yep, live with it I guess! Heh. And my plan? I'm going to keep this box in the future, and put all these things nicely, and mark them down. And will keep it safe and sound somewhere in my room or my house (in the future) and it's for me, my partner, and my children to enjoy.

But ultimately. It's for me, that I can truly, expressively, enjoy.

Run, finally

Another of my edit hehe

Photography by Yours Truly

Taken in SP!

Yes, I'm finally able to run! Not finally able.. I finally RAN haha, today. I went with Vic and Jesher! Thanks Vic for taking your time to run with us, even though you went to run with your friend before joining us, and you even ran a 4.8km distance before us! Strong guy haha. Anyway I ran a total distance of 5.6km! Broke my own record :D But my timing sucks... But who cares! I think the fact that I've completed the distance is more important than my timing. Seriously :)

Anyway I'm not a runner or whatsoever, I just run :)

Today, nothing much either, just a usual Sunday. But oh gosh, my waking up time is like getting horrible! But well I couldn't sleep last night, slept at 3! So yeah... That's why I woke up late today. Guess what time? 1 PM! Believe it or not. But thankfully it's the holiday, so no one really cares eh. Lunched at HV as usual, and went to shop for dinner. Which we cooked some friend fritters. Yum~

Then met Jesher in the halfway point of the track. Waited for Vic to come and we ran together! We ran a total of... 3km! But I ran to the halfway point that's 600m, and while Jesh and Vic went off, I ran another 2km on my own. So total 5.6 :D Yay I feel so happy cause the longest distance I ran was like 5.2 I think... So yup! I wanna run 10k next time, and join a marathon :D

I wanna show the world a fat blob like me can run marathons too! :)

Okay shall start my holiday topic #2 - Don't run for the sake of overtaking others. Run for the sake of overtaking yourself.

I know you might have seen this phrase in my blog, a month ago or something like that. Yup, that's what I have in mind whenever I run, or swim or whatever. Many times when we run, we would feel timid or small when someone ran faster than us, overtaking us. We would try our best to run faster than them, to overtake them.

But what's really the point of overtaking them in that moment?

All we get is a sense of satisfaction that lasts for... A minute or so? A sense of "yeah I'm faster than him/her". But does overtaking others mean you're a better runner than them? Nope, I don't think so. In fact you'll be put to shame (like me last time) if the person manages to take over you again in a matter of seconds.

So I have that phrase in mind. Instead of overtaking others, why don't you overtake yourself? Why don't you push yourself to a limit you've never reached before and be the faster runner in YOU. After learning about this, I never try to overtake people again haha, I just run on my own pace, and with that end of the track in my mind as a target. And I kept telling myself, I'm going to complete this run, I'm going to finish it.

So yeah, running is a great form of exercise I guess. Not only you burn fats, you're doing a cardio exercise, and... You get to think great thoughts from yourselves heh. I love walking too. Try to walk, and talk to yourself. You'll be amazed by the billions of things that may pop out from your mind. Some, that make you say "Wow I'm surprised I just create that line!"

So go out now! And exercise and walk and run and swim haha. It's like killing three birds in one stone! But don't over exert yourself please, exercising too much isn't good for you either. Too much of a good thing is bad...

Alright I guess that's all for today! Holiday topic #2 done :)

Somewhere

So who are the significantly insignificant peopple in your lives?

Photography by Yours Truly

They are under the same sky as you, think again :)

Hello, how do you like my new background! Hehe. Anyway I've decided to change my background, cause I'm sort of bored with my old one, the wooden one. Plus I've changed my heading as well. I made the heading myself :D Wish I can use my own picture for the background but seems like my picture us too big to be used, not sure how can I resize my picture so that it can be used.

Today was nothing much, I lunched with my sister at this pizza restaurant called.. Oh crap I forgot. I think it's Pepperoni Pizzaria or something like that. We didn't try the pizza cause we doubt we can finish them just by the two of us, so we tried the pasta and this mushroom appetizer! It's some fried portobello mushroom. It's really yummy. We tried the Creme Brulee too, and it's... Heavenly!

Decided to cut my hair after that! Hmm please don't hold grudges on me, I know you might say like your hair is freaking short! Or this is poly! You could have let your hair grow longer! As weird as it may sound, I prefer my hair to be short and neat and tidy. In fact, when my fringe touches my eyebrow, I know I'm going to cut my hair soon heh.

Decided to cook dinner to kill time as well. Cook the Japanese braised pork, it failed the last time I cooked it but not this time! :P I think it's better now, I had braised carrot together with it as well, and... It's so yummy! The saltiness from the soy sauce compliments the sweetness of the carrot, and it's cooked perfectly so yumm.

Anyway since I didn't talk much... I'll talk about something eh, to make my blog more lively during the holiday I suppose.

You know the hairdresser that I always go to has been my hairdresser since I was... P5? Yup, I think P5. Cause P5 was when I moved to my new house, and then I was looking for a "new" hairdresser then. So I came across this hairdresser and I like how she cut my hair. In sec one, I changed my hairstyle (I was once botak if you all don't know) and I liked how my hair turned out then. That's when I started going to her everytime.

And without realising, yes I've been going to her for a haircut. In sec 2, I remember, after going to Science centre for a trip, I went to cut my hair there. In sec 4, I do too remember going to her for a haircut, bringing my chemistry textbook along to study while waiting. Last year, I went to her again to have a haircut after HfH (as there was this patch of un-shaved hair).

Yes, I have been going to her since those times. Which means... 6 years on going. Sometimes it's amazing huh. Your hairdresser (provided that you never change), becomes a part of your life. And without realising she is someone whom I've been going to for a haircut in the past 6 years. And yet... It feels like I've just met her.

Whenever I got to a haircut she would talk with me, asking how my sis is (she used to be her client too, back when she's still a student here). Or she would ask how's poly life... And the occasional questions like which course are you studying. And today she even remembered that I went for HfH last year haha.

Well well life is funny I suppose. These little people, these little people which may seem insignificant in our lives, actually ARE parts of our lives in one way or another. My hairdresser is just one example. There are many more to list. But I know the list would be too long to be mentioned here.

Alright I guess that's all for today! Topic #1 of my holiday stories - Significantly insignificant people! Done :)

Born this way!

I miss HK a little :/

Lomography by Yours Truly

Causeway Bay! :)

No I'm not a Gaga fan, but... I just love her songs! Haha, not all though, but most. But now I'm falling in love with her newest Born This Way! I think the song is uplifting and sort of pumping. And the lyric is just (Y). Really love it! Very meaningful and wonderful. I love singing to this song now haha, especially that part about our skin colour. So true.

And please... Don't think I love her songs because I'm "hypnotised" by her song cause she's an iluminati or whatever. I love her songs because I love her songs, and I agree that her songs rock. She's just being creative, and I think some people are just thinking too far about her seriously.

Anyway... The last few days I was feeling sort of blue... And... I don't know, like suffering from post-holiday trip syndrome. Moodless to do this, thoughtless to think of that, restless, and just "unhappy" about things. I don't know. It feels the same like the one I had after my Sweden trip. Let alone holiday trips, I would feel the same after returning to Singapore from my hometown too. Or even, after chalets -.-

But guess what? Today I feel like swimming, so I went to swim! And... I felt soooo goooood after that. Like as if.. I feel good! Haha. I guess this proves that exercising improves your serotonin level, so it makes you really happy uh. So people, exercise more! Hehe. The feeling is just good, really happy and sort of refreshing. Plus I have not exercised for a long long time so yeah :P

Anyway the days weren't really nothing much. I'm hoping and looking forward to doing lots of things during this holiday. But I've decided not to go back now, as in I'll go back later on after my camps. I think it's sort of "troublesome" to go back now and return on Tuesday... So it's a bit yeah. I would as well return on April, after my camp eh.

But not going back comes with the package of not doing anything at home hah. Nevermind! I'll fill my days with lots of things first, while waiting for my camp to happen on next week. Prep-camp that is. I'm not sure why but I feel that this holiday feels a lot... I don't know. Lots-of-things-going-on-at-different-times-holiday. I guess this is how a poly holiday feels like uh?

Like usually in secondary school I would just return on the first day of my holiday, but I guess poly is different. I've been chosen for this camp so yup, I think it'll be a great opportunity! :) So yep, and plus later on I'll be the CLS camp photographer, can't wait for it as well, I wanna use this opportunity as a platform to improve my skills :)

And... Mdm Mah sent us an email about this OCIP to... MONGOLIA!!! Oh damn I wanna go there you know. But the problem is it's in 2 weeks duration, plus one week after that I'm having exams. So I'm not too sure if I should go... But it's Mongolia for goodness sake! It's Mongolia! Plus it's in some desert... Awesome awesome right :D

Anyway yeah... I guess that's all for today. Looking forward greatly to Tuesday! Hehe. And plus I'm going back to TSMB I guess next week, I wanna see them and see what I can get to help them for SYF. Sadly I can't make it for their SYF day. Maybe two years later I can! Hehe. Alright alright, see you!

PS: I'll be writing stories here... I guess :P

HK Day 3

Day 3! Nothing much on Day 4 so I'll stop here :)

Good morning HK! Cold morning, and that's my breakfast :D

Floating Mickey @Disneyland entrance, and some random castle

Flight of Fantasy parade! Stitch and Tinkerbell there

Causeway Bay! Upper class shopping of HK haha. But I bought my Howl's moving Castle OST CD at the HMV there for HK$150 (SGD 20 plus), where it costs 60 bucks at HMV Singapore! :D I can't be happier can I?

Bought some roadside-snack, yummy octopus ball and some skewered octopus. Took the MTR back to Disneyland resort after that.

The Disneyland train. Isn't it cute! :)

That's all for my HK trip hehehe. For more photos go to my FB! :D

HK Day 2

Day 2!

Golden Bauhinia Square (Reunion of HK to China) and Fishing village in HK. Imagine living in those boats, throughout your life :O

Repulse bay, and Yum Cha lunch!

Yummy yummy roast pork, they're HEAVENLY hahaha

Lui Len Gai (Ladies' market) and another shopping district near that. Shopping time! :D

Madamme Tausaud (??). The wax museum thingy. Louis Koo and Lady Gaga! Awesome aren't they :D

On the way back to hotel. This tunnel is underwater! :O

Photos from HK :D

Okay as promised, I'll post the pictures I took from HK here! :)

Boarding passes, and view from my seat :D

Welcome to HK! :D

My first impression of HK matches - Hustle Bustle

First night dinner, at some Taiwanese restaurant heh

Nathan road - Shopping heaven! That's the light trails I shot :D

Crossing crossing. And that's Monalisa made with TOASTS!!

Day 2 coming up....

Hong Kong!

Hello! I just got back from my Hong Kong trip just now at 9 or so... Wanted to blog, but was too busy FB-ing, uploading photos, unpacking my stuff etc. So I'm going to blog about it now while waiting for my pictures to be uploaded in FB hehe.

Anyway I'll talk about the trip in day-per-day basis okay!

Day 1:

Reached HK at about 3.30 PM, met our tour representative and we headed for out Hotel. It's Kimberley hotel, nice and comfy and location is right in the middle of one of HK's shopping district! So it was rather convenient for us to shop around, also known as, the Tsim Tsa Shui area! Shopped + dinnered at Tsim Tsa Shui from about 5 to 10.30 I think. Bought an FCUK shirt and yeah that's about all for day 1, rather short day.

Day 2:

We had a half-day tour on this day. Visitted key landmarks in HK like the golden Bauhinia square, fishing village, repulse bay, HK jewellery factory and some traditional Chinese medicine shop thing. Not a huge fan of the jewel thing, you know, me and jewels are not really a good match. After the tour we went for a Yum Cha lunch haha. We're sort of shocked with the fact we got to wash our utensils beforehand -,-"

Then went to the Ladies' Market (Nu Ren Jie) for more shopping! Shopped for souvenirs there, and got myself uhh some shirt, bought a magnet as well, for myself. It's a really long stretch of road with so many people selling/buying different things. Then went to some other district near that area, and we shopped a while more before cabbing to Victoria's peak.

At the peak (Shan Ding) went to Madamme Tausaud (spelling?). It's the wax museum thing! The replicas REALLY look a like. It's sort of scary and amazing at the same time. Then went for the peak, sadly it's foggy so... The view isn't that awesome. But anyway it's great. Went to dinner after that, at a HK cafe! Not bad I guess, a bit bland though :P I guess they sort of suite it to the tourists' liking? Not sure. then cabbed back to the hotel.

Day 3:

Transferred to Disneyland hotel. The hotel was alright, we gotta upgrade to a better room for 100 HK dollars. After checking in we went to the Disneyland of course! Hmm I have to agree with what lots of people say. Firstly, I think it's more suitable for young kids/family/couples/young children. For teens like us, it's only good for sightseeing and photo taking. The rest is just... Okay... But it's rather awesome though!

After Disneyland we didn't want to rot from 4 to 8. So we decided to go to Causeway Bay. It's sort of the upper shopping area of HK. It's yeah... All the branded goods are there :P But I went to HK's HMV! Guess what I bought Howl's Moving Castle OST CD for HK$150 (S$ 20 plus)! In HMV here, it costs $60! I'm so luckyyyy hahaha.

Wanted to go to Noon Bay Gun, some photo spot thingy but we decided to head back to our hotel... MTR (HK's MRT) style. On the way we ate this octopus ball which is so damn awesome! Took MTR from Causeway Bay -- Central -- Hong Kong (it's a station) -- Sunny Bay -- Disneyland resort. And damn we missed the firework, it ended when we reach our room :O

Day 4:

Last day in HK (yesterday) did nothing much, walked around the resort in the afternoon while waiting for the taxi to come (for about 2 hours). Took photos etc. We checked in REALLY early haha, like 3 hours before flight. So well we just spent the afternoon in the airport. Eating, walking around etc. Then we boarded the plane back to Singapore :(

Well my trip to HK in overall was awesome. Being my first time there, I think it's a real eye opener. To me HK is like a land of contradiction. In a way it's a modern, urban, fast-paced city. But yet there's this touch of non-urban part of the city. As my tour guide says, it's a country with 2 systems.

But I promise myself that I will return back to HK. This time round minus the tours. I wanna explore the city on my own. I came up with a line: When travelling, I want to do what the locals do, eat what the locals eat, bask the culture as much as I can, and had fun. I've seen the touristy side of HK. So next time I want to experience more of the local stuff. I think it's really great to do what a local did in the day or something like that.

Things in HK are cheap as well. I wouldn't say the quality is better, or worst than the stuff here. But well it's almost similar as the one in Singapore. In fact I see lots of similarities of HK and Singapore. The buses look the same, the car plates look the same, taxis, buildings and MRT! But I find HK mansions are taller that Singapore ones.

Travelling to HK is a real eye opener to me. It makes me, it tells me, that travelling is a great thing. And now that I travelled WITH my camera (AKA girlfriend), I felt really... "Happy" and great cause I got to snap pictures from the places I've never been. And bring them back to be kept for my memories. I wish I could do the same for my trip to Sweden but oh well.

But I guess one of the best parts of my trip this time is to talk with locals (especially taxi drivers). Like how I talked with this driver from Shan Ding back to the hotel. And with another one from Disneyland to Causway Bay. They're really friendly, and what I'm proud of most? I spoke with them in CHINESE! Haha, isn't it cool. It's really great to talk with locals, you get to know their perspective of the country, and you got to make friends as well :)

I guess life's just too short to be spent within your comfort zone. Within your house, within your country. Get out, go out and see the world with your own eyes, and you'll find life's so much better and more worth to be lived for. So yes, I'm sort of encouraged more to go and travel to other places as much as I can!

Okay still uploading my pictures now. So many pictures! But well yeah, I'll just wait. Okay sorry for the long posts! I'll post up the pictures tomorrow here okay hehe. See ya see ya

It's over...

First of all.... Oh YESSS my exams are finally over! And so is my year one DBS odyssey! :D I was feeling so happy after the lecturer says time's up... I know it's weird but it's just that I somehow feel this weight on my shoulder just... Fly away freely. I feel free! I feel happy, I feel relieved, knowing that I wouldn't have to spend the next few days like studying something. In fact, next few weeks! Yay or what.

Anyway after the paper, went to eat lunch with some of the DBS 1.5 peeps. Most of them left already so yeah, but we stayed cause we have the FOP briefing, which I decided to drop out cause I realised it's one week before school starts. So went to watch the Simpsons instead with Hari! Haha, and then we headed for Jurong point for a movie.

I Am Number 4 is awesome! Nice plot but... Very abrupt and weird ending I guess? I seriously can't wait for I Am Number 5 or something like that. They better have it. Headed to Niv's house for the BBQ, but... I left my EZ link card on the Cinema counter! So me and Lizzie had to go back there to take it. Thanks a lot Liz for accompanying me there! :D

BBQ-ed from then on till about 9 or so. We decided to cook everything and then eat it together. So some of us took turns to cook. The guys cooked in the beginning, then followed by the girls. The food is so yummy! I love Nivedha's mum prawns! It's so tangy and nice. Syazwan's mum chicken wings are also nice. Yum yum. But anyway then we played some games, sing, talk, and of course reminiscing about our Year one days.

It's funny huh, it's like that's all for my year one? Wow. Time flies really fast. But I've never realised how fun, and tiring poly life can be. I've proven it myself. Poly does not equate to slacking. Yes it's less tough than JC. But it doesn't mean we slack 24/7. Look, I'm already washed out by my 4 exams even though they're spread out in 2 weeks. So, here I am a poly student, telling you poly isn't EASY either :)

But my year one has been wonderful. Thanks to my lovely class, DBS 1.5. Today's BBQ just made me realise how much I'll miss this fabulous class(es) when we all go to year 2. We're all separating into our own ways (except those going research ^^). But still, there will be no more DBS 1.5 2010-2011. It's all in our memories now. There's no way we can relive each moment to an EXACT feeling, exact moment.

We can still meet up, but this DBS 1.5 experience will only go to our hearts. Time will carry them, but it will not relive them in reality.

That's the reason why I'm sad.

But year one had been wonderful. Those days, the flag days, the lunch we had at Koufu (at the beginnings), going to FOP, going to this and that, all the outings we had after every exams, they are all good memories which I will always treasure. And joining band - a decision I never regret. Even though I fear that I might not cope with my studies, I will try my best to balance everything so that I can still attend both next year and on 3rd year.

Year one, to sum it all, is like a box of sweets. Box of sweets which contain sweets you love, and sweets you hate. Pick them up, if you get the ones you love, you eat it with joy. If you get sweets you hate, pick them up, and still eat it. Even though you don't know whether you're going to pick up a sweet you hate, you will still take it, because it's a challenge. And when you face a challenge, you pick them up and face them, and overcome them.

I have mixed feelings about going to Year 2. Firstly I'm excited about research. I want to go there, and I want to get the feel of how is a research life going to be. Secondly I'm afraid. It's another level and I'm sure it's gonna be tougher. Lastly, I'll be in a new class. Of course, I'll miss my DBS 1.5 but well, life gotta move on.

Year one has been wonderful thanks to some people around me. Even though yes I did feel bitterness of it, and sometimes a tinge of pain that wrenches my heart, I guess I've learnt, and I've grown from them.

To all my friends, I wish you all the best for your year 2 and 3 endeavour. I'll definitely miss you. To my classmates, good luck as well, and I'll miss those days we had together. But please remember to keep in touch aye!

Alright I need to bathe now, my body stinks of smoke from the BBQ haha. I'll be meeting Sharon and gang tomorrow :D So yep. And getting my new lens as well hohoho. Alright see ya!

Whew what a long post uh

PS: Happy 5-6-7 post haha