Memory Lane

Today I passed by my primary school here again. And realised that it's been 13 years since I left it before I went over to Singapore and study. So many things have changed, but the building remains kind of the same over the years. I went over to the bakso seller opposite of the school. Same old man who's selling it, but now his son took over the business and he already went home when I was there just now.

Being at this place again reminds me a lot about the past. The good old days played in my head like a video player. The things that happened, the things that I went through while I was still a student there, all play in my head. I could still remember those days "jajan-ing" (buying snacks) outside of the school. And how ironically at the same time my teacher was telling us not to buy food from these sellers due to hygiene concerns. But we never care anyway. If it's good, we'll eat it.

There are days when I question, what if, I didn't go to Singapore to study. Will I be a happier person? Well I do know I'll have more friends here I suppose? My friends here are now either in or out of town working. I haven't met them for 2 years already (the last time we had a gathering was in 2012). And some of them thought I have forgotten how to speak Indonesian. No no no, I can speak Indon fine. I just blog and write my FB/Twitter/Instagram posts in English. Cause well, most of my friends in these social media platforms can't speak Indonesian hah.

Sometimes I miss my primary school days a lot. It's the days where I still have no idea what life is. I'm just living my life day by day. Doing things I love and try to avoid doing things I hate. Which is practically how we should all live our lives. Yet weirdly enough, we are not doing it when we grow up

We can't wait to grow up when we're kids. But long to return to these days we miss a lot when we grow up. Oh the irony we are living in.

Year 2 in a glance

Helllooo alright I know this is quite late but...

My exams are over! Goodbye year 2!!

Um and sorry for anti-climax but damn I still got some work to do which I really hope to finish by tomorrow. I'm meeting up with my group to finish it! :O And sigh I already have a plan, actually about tomorrow but well c'est la vie. things happen at the wrong time, as usual, and so gotta change my plan. But no worries, I mean I'd rather finish this once and for all! Right?

Anyway yep my exams are over. Whew... The past three weeks were really scary but on Friday, everything seems to pass like a breeze. Woosh and everything was gone. All the rants and the worries and the stress. Everything seems like they never happened at all. But of course, they did happen. Just that it felt really weird that everything has ended haha.

And anyway this is my 700th post in my blog! Woohoo! Finally reaching the 700ths and more to come! So in order to celebrate this awesome 700th post, I'm going to blog about my year 2! In a glance~

---------------------------------------------Year 2 in a glance--------------------------------------------

So 2011 was the year I entered year 2. I was posted to Biomedical Research for my option together with Kai, Candy, Syazwani and Rebekah from my previous class (1B02!) and Vithya of course, who's like a member of DBS 1.5. The 6 of us are really great friends in my class. After all I'm the only guy from The B stage that goes into this option. And the 5 of them were my good friends from my year one. How can we not be close right!

Anyway we all got into a new class of 2A05 and our buddy class was the cardiac people. My class were a mix of course and I don't really know all of them except for some peeps from the 1B01 stage and my friends. And Ashley and Joanne and Jesslyn. We were quite of a strangers together and of course, having to spend a year with your friends, is no wonder that we naturally clique with our friends right?

 Taken during one of our Gem Bio prac. It was saline. Yucks!

So the first semester was alright. I would say the toughest semester in my poly life so far. Things happening at the wrong timing, tough modules, crazy schedules but at the end of the day, I pulled it off. My GPA dropped of course. But thanks to my year one my cumulative was maintained. If it were not to be cause of my year 1 I think my results would really plummet down. 

The awesome Biochem prac where Ashley and I had to collect 24h urine...

Then it was semester 2 and well this time round we are being taught in the new way of CBL - Case Based Learning. It was really... I feel an awesome way of learning. In a way it's kinda better from the traditional go-to-lecture-hall-and-learn way cause we're being directly involved in the learning process itself. Plus I like the feeling of being "small doctors" where we diagnose "patients" from their symptoms.

Even though at times... I feel a bit lost at our learning process. But all's good. Thankfully I kept a journal of the cases that we have been given. So I can refer back when I need them. But apparently, I've lost track from case 5 onwards or so :/ And oh yep we're also given our own classroom - the exchange! Really awesome to have our own class don't you think so? Where we have our seminars as well :)

 

 Our first seminar on kidney diseases! (Rebekah went off first :O)

6 seminars to be done by year 3, 4 completed! (Y). So yup semester 2 was I think better than semester 1. I really love my timetable, the new learning systems etc. I guess the most irritating part of this learning process is when you can't get what you want! Like when you're supposed to research about something but the net just doesn't have it. But with the help of your peers, you'll get it eventually.

Then in term 3 we had a group mix-up and I was grouped with Sam, Huiwen and Kai Xuan. I wasn't really that close to Sam (since she's from another stage in year 1) but at the end of the term, all of us cliqued pretty well! I like the synergy of my team :) Even though heh, we tend to do things at the 11th hour but somehow somewhat, we all pull through eventually! Yaayy. The Immuno project was definitely something really memorable about! :D

 Sam's cute characters for our Immuno project!

And yeah I guess those are the "academic" side of my year 2. Pretty much challenging but at the same time, enriching. It's a new way of learning after all right so it's pretty awesome. Really learn a lot in this year, especially about the medical field. Since we're all learning the foundation of the biomedical field, it's really awesome learning all these "deeper" side of the field! Like haematology, pathology, med micro and more. I would say med micro is my favourite haha. Cause I love bacteria and doing those identifications were really nice! :) 

  

The class (majority) @ the Exchange! Taken with my film (Y)

Moving on, let's talk about the "aesthetic" side of year 2. Let's start with band! So well yup I had our IBM29 in year 2 and it was held in SPCC. We also had our Ganbatte concert :D IBM29 was awesome! Even though oh gosh I was really struggling with studies cause it happened like 10 days before my exams. Then we also went to Korea for an exchange trip! :) One trip I'll never forget, great fun and great experience with the band :D First time to Korea and performing overseas as well!

 

El Camino Real in IBM29 - The song I once thought I can never play, played.

 

Performing at Insyeodon street in Korea! Woohoo! First overseas public performance :D

And moving on - my I would say, the highlight of my year 2! I guess you know it, yep it's my Inner Mongolia OCIP trip! Seriously the best 2 weeks of my life. My awesome GT team, the 2 weeks spent were really so memorable and sweet. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime and I've learnt so much not only about the environment but also about life itself. And yes I will definitely miss the Duolun and Inner Mongolia itself so so much. I will definitely return there one day. Definitely!

 The shot we took on the last day of digging - The sunset of the

(sad I'm not inside this scene! Heh, but glad to take this shot :D)

 My awesome GT team! Under the blue sky of Inner Mongolia

Aww man will definitely miss scenes like this. The colours of the autumn!

And in December, the (so far) highest achievement in my life... Yes! Climbing Mount Kinabalu with my awesome LEAP KK Intermediate December team! Climbing a mountain wasn't in my agenda (of my age). But it was the decision and the thought of proving myself wrong that made me go for this trip! Definitely something I'll never forget about. Seriously people, climb a mountain. You'll never know what lessons it can teach you. And to my awesome team mates - thank you so much for the help you've given to all of us (Y)

 

At Low's Peak! One of the best feelings in my life ever!

Via Ferrata baby~ Woo woo woo!

And many more, of course. Which I think I will just let the next few photos do the talking :)

 Helping out at POL-ITE canoe sprint event at Macritchie

 Welcome YP and Weiqi to the 4E109 @ SP family! :D

 Winning (consolation prize) my first ever "large scale" photography competition

 Taking part in my first ever Poly50 with my GT!

 Covering MDXXXV with Jasmine

 

Year 2 has been one epic journey. A tough one I must say but at the same time, an awesome one. It's the year I suffered the most in terms of "stress" and at the same time it's the year I learnt the most. Be it both academically and aesthetically. And also about life itself. I've always reminded myself that in life, result isn't everything. Studies would always come first to me. But I will never forget to add spice into my life.

I guess people might think "Wow you really have the time to do all those huh" and well I would answer them, without all these events that happened throughout my year 2, I will not be who I am today :)

One more year left to my poly education. It's now or never. I have to life this year to the fullest before it comes to an end. I've been accomplishing my goals throughout my 2 years. Now is the time to do EVERYTHING I've been wanting to complete. One academic year. Here we go.

But ultimately, a journey never truly ends.

Photo

Well as you can see from my previous post, I've been shortlisted (or my photo I mean) for the IFDPC (International Friendship Day Photography Competition) finals! So basically I submitted my photos, let people vote, top 30 photos will pass through the voting round and will be shortlisted for the judges to judge on and choose. And.... The verdict says....

I won the merit prize under the activity category! :D


I feel really happy after hearing my name from the announcer! Well actually I have no intention of winning. I just submitted my photos in hope for people to vote and who knows what the outcome is. Having my photo displayed there is enough to make me happy! Now that I took the merit prize as well, I feel doubly happy haha. It's pretty awesome. It's my first "large scale" photography competition so getting a merit prize is awesome enough I guess! :)

Anyway congratulations to Jasmine as well! Cause she won merit prize under activity too! :D Her shot is really awesome too! Not forgetting, to all winners and contestants of the photography competition as well! In one way or another, we all have contributed to the event and we all should be proud of it yes! :)

Well I've always told myself. Expect nothing, just do your best. In one way or another, something greater will be returned to you. Even though this "something" comes from within you. To me, like joy. After I've heard the result that I won the merit prize, I feel happy. And in the bus, after pondering about more things, I feel even happier. In a way... Like I'm given better and bigger prizes from the competition - Joy, memories, stories.

Let me show you the photo which I submitted, which is also the Editor's favourite.

-Sunset Joy-

For we cherish our hard work and friendship, through the planting of 1133 fir trees in Inner Mongolia, China. With the sunset, joining in the celebration.

This photo was taken by me after we finished digging our holes for the trees. I can remember still, the sky was kinda cloudy and I was thinking "Oh man no nice sunset to celebrate our end of diggings". Then at the end of the day, the sky just turned yellow and quite clear. Everyone decided to get up to the railway track (yup that's a railway track by the way) and I decided to help them snap a shot. And here it is.

You know, when I saw this photo being displayed under the "Editor's choice" panel, I just felt this unexplainable sense of joy and pride. Well not only because my photo has been chosen, but I'm even prouder with the fact that I was there to take this photo, and also to actually know the story and memories behind this photo. A photo is not a photo when there's no story behind it. Well that's what I believe.

I came up with this today:

"It's not the prize, it's not the fame. Not the pride and not the competition that matter. What truly matters is the story and memories behind that the photo holds"

When I saw this photo just now, a wave of memories just rushed through in my head. It was as if the whole scene, in Duolun, just appeared in front of my eyes. Even tough in front of me is this black board with tiny photos on them. I guess this is how much this photo means to me. In a sense, I love this photo because it captures, it freezes, it stops the moment, that moment, we had after we finished digging.

It replays the memories I have about the trip. It restarts the feeling I was feeling during that particular moment of time. It just takes me to a place where I was once at, without moving a single step.

This is the reason why I love photography.

Photographs are boats which I used to sail the sea of memories that time forbids me to travel back. I'm pretty grateful that I have the love and passion for photography. Thankful enough to own a camera to capture these moments which are never retrievable back. It lets me travel back through time, without physically moving. But mentally walking.

Photos in one way or another evoke feelings on me. To me, my definition of a great photograph is something that evokes emotions. Be it sadness, happiness, anger or etc. It touches your heart, not only your eyes and your mind. Well it can keep you thinking, But not all photographs have the ability to touch your heart. 

Here's another photo which was displayed.

-Game of yo-yo in Duolun-

It’s a cold autumn evening. And some kids are playing yo-yo at Duolun in Inner Mongolia, China. Life’s simplest pleasure which is seemingly lost in today’s world. Sometimes I envy these kids, who are able to enjoy such simplest and at the same time, joyous pleasure

This was also taken in Duolun, while I was walking around. If I'm not wrong it was the 2nd day of digging when we went back earlier due to bad weather (which somehow somewhat it was fine and clear in Duolun -.-). These kids were just playing their games of yo-yo and I decided to take a picture of them. They look so happy and blissful. It's just a yo-yo, while kids here, nowadays, indulge themselves in iPhones, iPods, PSP and this and that. 

To me this photograph teaches me something - to not take life for granted. I seriously feel envious of these kids. They are able to enjoy such simple pleasures, while I'm here, looking for those simple pleasures. So I guess, we ought to take some good breaks in life. It's not about being the best, having the best, going for the best. Somehow at the end of the day, simplicity brings us back to where we're supposed to be.

Ah, what a long post huh. Anyway I just want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has voted for my photo, and to SPP for holding this competition. To all the organisers of the IFD and to all students involved in it. To my awesome GT members for being my models in the first photo, and also for giving me those wonderful memories we all spent in Duolun for that lovely 10 days.

To my dearest girlfriend, A230, for being there with my eyes to capture those moments (muacks). To those kids from Duolun who were playing their yo-yos haha! To Green Desert project by Asian Journeys and SP, for allowing me to step into Inner Mongolia. Without this, I will never be able to take these two shots.

Most ultimately, to Duolun itself. That beautiful town where I shot both of my photos at. Thank you for the wonderful memories you have given me, which I always keep in my heart. For letting me take these two scenes, which teach me lots of new things. 

Thank you.