1-day trip in JB...

31st May 2008 marks our 2nd "1-day trip" in JB. And I must say, it was very successful and filled with loads of fun! Fun wasn't the end of it all... we were "stuffed" with lots of food as well, GOOD FOOD!

We were crazy enough to arrange our meet up time at 7.30am in the morning. The rule was whoever was late, they would give a treat! And as I EXPECTED, Kelvin and Jiarong were the latecomers! Although I thought I might run the possibility of being late as well. I actually ran from my house to the MRT station to avoid being late.

We ended up reaching JB rather early and began the first thing on our itinery which was breakfast! "Bak-kut-teh breakfast". We actually had rice and dishes for BREAKFAST. I doubt we had other choices because dear Wanping (our so-called-malaysian friend) only knew very very LIMITED places to bring us around. After breakfast was rest time and Wanping's place, followed by bowling which ended up with shopping. The bowling alley was too crowded and we decided to forgo the idea. A nice time shopping at Jusco where I bought a top :) I am quite satisfied with it :) Soon, we headed for our next meal... Fish-head curry! It was good stuff man! I'm not a fan of fish but I really liked it and the other dishes that came along :)

Our activities continued with go-karting, foot reflexology, dinner and chill-out :) Below are the pics!


The HUNKS with their karting helmets... All ready!


No. 50 Aloysius Tan Han Tian, 6th position out of...... 6th! My 2nd time karting at JB and I am so proud of myself! Wahaha... I really am... I think I tried my best today and did much better :) I came in 2nd! Of course, Wanping defended her championship title. But the point is, I beat Kelvin! Ha... Beat it! The last time I went for the karting, I was really really really slow and both Wanping and Kelvin were lapping my for uncountable number of times. It was a much more fun experience this time round! I am looking forward to the next session... :) :)


At "Classic Foot Reflexology". The girls washing their SMELLY feet before getting... BRUISED? It was the girls' 1st time at foot reflexology... Not that I am any better because it was my 2nd time. At the end of the day, Jiarong said her whole leg is filled with "blue-blacks". So much for blood circulation, it seems more like blood clotting. I had 1 spot of blue-black as well. But I think it did feel good after the reflexology.


Kelvin and I enjoying EVERY MOMENT of it. We "LOVED" it... TOTALLY! More like we were great pretenders! Wahahha... We simply endured the pain. And at some points, the pain is not just at the feet but you would feel it at other parts of your body. I feel so MAN now...


Dinner, dinner, dinner!!! The highlight of the meal! Butter Crayfish... Let me re-phrase it... HUMONGOUS butter crayfish and it was everyone's favourite :) try it for yourself!


Me and my butter crayfish...


Many dishes at an affordable price. That is what is good about eating in Malaysia. You simply eat and eat and eat but not worry about the price :) A very affordable meal and a meal worth it!


The aftermath...


After dinner we headed down to "Danga Bay" to chill-out and walk around. It was my first time there. The place is rather nice. They have a fun-fair over there and different places to chill-out. And it is located beside the sea :) A little similar to Singapore's Esplanade. (A pic of the fun-fair)... we all felt its been a long time since we've been to a fun-fair.


Random pic at the merry-go-round...


Group pic!


We attempted some of the games of which we failed to win anything substantial. I think we won... 2 pencils? (Kelvin looks like a professional shooter in the pic though)


From one look... It was sure that Jiarong would never shoot well... Haiz... Wahaha!


I thought it was interesting how such games are so simple and yet they still bring entertainment to people :) In this fast-paced and high-technological world, I feel that the simplicities in life should be revisited, embraced and cherished :)


a "what-the" expression...


you have to admit that these 2 people are cool...


I think this is the photo-of-the-day. Photographer: Caleb Tay
Name of the Work: 偶然的邂逅
Wahahha! Great photo and great title...


A totally failed picture... We were supposed to be "dreamy" and cool...


A foodstall @ Danga Bay, I like the concept. The pic is too bright though... Too high an ISO


JC-pals...


Final pic of the day :)

Its been a long and tiring day, but, great fun! :) Jasmine! You've got to join us the next time round... We might be planning a Desaru trip. It would be so fun if all are around! Till then, tata!

-LeB-

i guess the answer is obvious... out of my dilemma

Previously I had the thought of finding a part-time job. Since it is the school holidays now and that is what most of my friends from Uni are doing. I also thought it would be fun and an experience to do something different. Up till now, I haven't really gone out to the "world" to "work". Although I have done some short assignments and some service jobs at wedding banquets. Well, maybe that counts! It is also not really the finances that I was looking for, more for the so-called-experience, and maybe... to feel "normal", to be like everybody else.

And so when I told some of my friends my intention, some said that it was good, they understood where I was coming from. Some others felt it was unnecessary. Besides, it is not like I do not have things to do... In fact, I do have quite a lot of things I would like to do! And that is on top of my usual keyboard classes and 1 tuition student :) Thank God for being occupied. Ha! My buddy from sec sch said I must be crazy to want to work, as if it is fun... Wendy said it is ok to be "different", besides, not everyone's life is the same... Minhui said, "You're too busy la!" And finally, I asked my brother... ... the outcome was a scolding session! He scolded me and said I'm crazy, that I wasn't focused enough and if I wasn't focus, at the end of the day, I would end up no where... Well, it seems all the replies are pointing to an obvious answer. Somehow, I didn't really seem to want to work also, it seemed that I was trying to be something that maybe I'm not... Trying too hard huh? How contradictary!

End of the day, I shall stick to my exploration with music :) :)

-LeB-

after the exams...

It has been 3 days after my exams. Feeling much more relaxed and I am no longer in a rush for time. I can even take naps in the afternoon. :) My usual teaching schedule continues, had a photo-shoot with the "star program" students, catch up with friends, a little exercise and piano practice. I am glad that I still have many things to do after the exams. :) Also, I found out on the schools that offers cello lessons. I am kinda in a dilemma now to choose between 2 schools. Weighing the pros and cons. Planning to get a cello by this week and get started in June! So excited!!!

我要生命跟充实。。。

(are the chinese characters correct??)

-LeB-

it is coming to an end...

wow! the 23rd of May is finally coming... the long-awaited day for me. it is the last day of my exams, which kinda probably means dooms-day BUT at the same time, it means freedom! this period of exams has been really long and i feel "bounded"; as a school mate of mine described... the end of exams is like coming out of jail. how true... 18hrs more to freedom!

many things that i would like to do, probably too many to list them down. but for one... i want to sign up for my CELLO lessons! i have been thinking and talking about it MONTHS ago, finally now that the burden of exams is "almost gone", i can start dreaming about it. how cool it would be to learn a new instrument! but at the same time, i would not want to neglect my piano :)

the end of exams would also probably mean a cut on my expenditure. simply because i no longer have to force myself to "camp outside", sometimes moving from cafes to cafes in other to find a place to study. speaking of which, i might have plans to look for a part-time job, maybe to work at a cafe or restaurant... and i should practice some financial planning... i am BROKE!

i finally got my camera back. i felt handicapped without it for 2 months. hope it doesn't spoil again... below is a pic of my "bras basah macdonalds"... i do like it there in the morning when there's not many people around and i can hog to tables to myself, enjoy my macdonalds breakfast, listening to music and basking under the sun as it shines through the window...



-LeB-

陳奕迅 Eason 第三十屆十大中文金曲 2 - Crying in the Party

Great version of the song man! Love the arrangement, love his singing... Jazz-pop! Eason is great man... good tone, great expression. Music is still my delight in time of stress!!!

a heavy heart... a heart of compassion and love

its devastating hearing all the negative news from the sichuan earthquake and cyclone in myanmar. i wish i could help in a way or another, yet, there seems nothing that i can do. i guess i could say a prayer for the people affected by the disaster. its a reminder for all of us, especially in singapore on how blessed, fortunate we are. it seems many a times we take things for granted and even ask for more. we've become indifferent, ignorant, self-centered. i would like to have a greater compassion, to love, to cherish everything that i have and to love the people around me. the world needs love. show that you care and show an act of love today. "don't save it all for christmas day"

-LeB-

PS Cafe...

I finally visited PS Cafe last night after hearing all the good reviews about the place. The 8 of us went there to celebrate Simon's and Markolele's birthday. Hope they liked the place. I would say the place has a very nice decor and design, however, the acoustics aren't too good. I suppose because the ceiling is way up high, the sound is all contained in the glass house which makes the place rather noisy. The food was good but the price is a little steep. I would like to go there again, this time, in the morning... I think the place would look beautiful on a sunny morning :)

Waiting for exams to be over... Its this week! Yes... this friday... 23rd May... Quick come...

-LeB-

23rd May, Principles of Banking and Finance

Oh yeah... Its 1 paper left till the end of exams :) a 10 day break or rather, mugging period till the last paper. Anyway, its a load off considering that 5 papers have passed. I am not confident of my papers... however, its all over, nothing can be done now. I would just have to concentrate on the last paper. Discipline!

I can smell the holidays coming and I am looking forward to it. However, I hope I would not waste the time away... that I would not slack and be unproductive. Things are starting to fill-up my life again... For now, other than exams, I would have to learn a song accompaniment by friday, start familiarising myself with really OLD "jiang hu"-flavoured songs for friday's choir practice, I hope I can start exercising and to practice on my piano for thursday's lesson... :)

I've been studying at Bras Basah's macdonalds in the mornings and I kinda like the feeling. It also feels like I'm really MAXIMISING my time. However, studying out is EXPENSIVE... sighz... money woes...

I'm with a lighter mood now... It feels like life is reforming again...

-LeB-

NO GENIUS!!!

Friday is here. Initially I thought with 3 papers down, I would feel more relieved. But I am feeling otherwise. I feel worried, BURDENED and worried. I am beginning to think what if I fail all my modules or if I have to repeat year1 again. Sighz... I certainly hope things would go well.

Today's 2 papers of stats was really bad. Really really bad. I wasn't prepared, I know. And so, I've finally come to realise that I am no genius. People who are genius do not struggle trying to PASS their exams, they SCORE. Here I am worrying if I would scrap through my papers. "Great!" But well, nothing can be done now except to work hard for my remaining papers, keep my fingers crossed and pray for a miracle.

Would I feel relieved after the 23rd? I do hope so... Life goes on...

-LeB-

too blessed...

Tomorrow's papers are Stats 1 and 2. Congrats to me that I have never and not touched the last 4 chapters of stats 2. I wonder how will I survive. Great! Somehow, I hope... I will... I know I have not done enough for the module.

My Dad just came in telling me to use the car to drive to expo for my examination tomorrow. I did that today. And after looking at the carpark fees, I decided not to drive there. Yet, my dad insists that I drive so that I can concentrate on doing well in my exams. The carpark fees are about $2 per hr. And today's expenditure on the carpark is $7 plus. Tomorrow, having 2 papers from 10am to 4.30pm... so you can imagine how much I would have to pay. I thank my dad for being so nice. BUT... it makes me feel even worse... because I know that I will not do well. Here I am already struggling to pass and he being so nice to me makes me feel even more guilty. He says that we've already paid thousands for the exam... so what's $15 on parking fees.

No time to regret... Just do my best... :( I feel blessed yet guilty...

-LeB-

the process... thats what matters...

I just read Mr Ching's blog and I seem to share the same sentiments as him. Ching-Neh-Neh... Your post was quite inspiring too :) Just that even though you feel that you're not that smart afterall; for myself, I still think I'm quite an intelligent person... Despite always struggling with my studies! Wahahah... I am always and forever trying to delude myself!

My studies have never been placed first above everything else. More so these days when I seem to look to other avenues and want to do something unrelated to my course of study in the future. Besides that, I feel that there's so much more in life than probably good grades and such. To me, educational qualifications are just a stepping stone to the working world. And from there, its really about the person. Still, education is important :) (Kel... sounding like you?)

I'm FINALLY BEGINNING to understand macro economics. Only when its 2 more days to my exam. And just for people's info, in SIM-UOL, our grades are 100% based on the exam. May God bless me... I feel happy understanding the concepts and somehow, I feel a sense of accomplishment studying. I'm beginning to enjoy the process. Its making me feel... useful? That at least I am not wasting my time by SLACKING! Back when I was in army, I wished and looked forward to studying again. And now when I'm back in school, I procrastinate... Humans are like that at times huh? But today, I did enjoy studying to a certain extent :) I thank God that I still have this opportunity to study :) Although I know that most probably I would do really badly for the coming exams, I am glad that I am still studying, still struggling, still trying... Its the process and I'm appreciating it. I'm also reminded that when people enter the valley, they would appreciate the mountains more... When the exams are over, I know I will be more relax and will cherish my time more :)

Exams... It will be over in no time... I can feel it ending...

Holidays! Here I come!!!

-LeB-

Only 3 more tomorrow...

The day is nearing... Time is running out... 3 more days to my first paper... The stress is getting to me... My first paper is Economics and I do not have high hopes. I just hope for a pass... Just a PASS... Although I'm majoring in Economics and Finance... What an irony. Everything will go by soon. I'm looking forward to the HOLIDAYS! Haha... God bless ME~!

-LeB-

my friday in a nutshell...

1. I went to Orchard in the morning to collect my camera that I had send for repair. To my dismay, it wasn't ready! Only my friend's cam was ready. Looks like I would have to make another trip down :( I haven't walked the streets of Orchard in a rather long time. Maybe one of these days, I should do so...

2. Had my own piano lesson in the afternoon and my teacher commented that I have improved! And, I feel an improvement in my own playing as well :) It feels really good... Keep practicing! I have somehow practiced more than my usual days it seems... Probably due to exam stress and boredom. My teacher was also sharing with me her progress on learning the Cello. I'm looking forward to my Cello lessons and embarking on a new instrument as well... The exams will come and go by real soon. I'm sure! Then I can begin on it... I read Diya's blog about how we often want to do other stuff when we're doing a certain thing. How true it is... I've learnt that there must be a balance in life! I'm striving for it...

3. Went to school to study with Cindy and friends. I managed to revise a little of Statistics 1. Really insufficient to prepare myself for the exams! I need to buck up. My attention span is too short! I arrived the latest and left the earlist... "Great!"

4. Gathering with evofus! I had a blast of a time. It was just a simple dinner and drinks @ Harry's but I felt good :) Thanks evofus for the time. evofus... my JC clique with partners... I cherish my friends a lot and I feel good spending quality time together. Being around them makes me feel comfortable. A good time of updating, laughter, chatting and the enjoying each other's company. Congrats to Aloy who ORD-ed! I am totally elated for you! Really... Its the moment every guy looks forward to... And we've planned a 1-day JB trip at the end of the month... GREAT!

Its time to sleep and a brand new day tomorrow :)

-LeB-

L.O.V.E

Love prevails... Love exceeds everything... Love never fails...

-LeB-