9 more hours

Just ONE more day, or 9 hours till I leave my house for Wuhan. I'll definitely miss Singapore. I keep telling myself, I'm taking a plane, I'm taking a plane! However, I have no feelings at all! Seems like planes are not the one of the main points of interest in this trip. Packing of my luggage is almost done and my luggage is definitely HUGE! Like what I did for my Chiangmai trip, I'll be posting a final farewell post before I takeoff.

Flight Details

Singapore - Guangzhou - Wuhan (China Southern Airlines)

SIN-CAN
CZ352
Depart: 0800
Arrive: 1150
Airbus A321

CAN-WUH
CZ3344
Depart: 1730
Arrive: 1855
Boeing 737-800

FYI, CZ352 is a flight from Singapore-Guangzhou-Shenyang, but we're only taking the Singapore-Guangzhou flight.

Tango - Whiskey - Oscar

As the time approaches, it makes me feel like I'm doing an ILS approach on a Boeing 747. My altitude is 200 feet and I am going to touch the ground soon. Once I touch the ground, I'll be in Wuhan. Two modules, two flights to reach there, CZ352, runway 02C and 02L in Singapore, runway 02L and 02R in Guangzhou, 2 other roommates...

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Lin and nat came over today, the last time I'll be seeing them become Wuhan-ing. Cooked some dishes and ate some stuffs my mum brought home in lieu of the Lunar 7th Month. Had a major headache just now, but feeling much better now!

Three Days

The number is getting smaller and smaller and now it is 3. Three people to a room, flight numbers starting with three, three times the week of the duration of Chiangmai, three phone calls to make upon arrival in China, three airports to arrive. One last thing, three goals. Pass modules, enjoy, lose weight.

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Stayed at home for the whole day to play The Sims 2. Went down for lunch and dinner at Pioneer Mall. Soon it'll not be the same. :(

The Four Seasons

The number is four. Four seasons in a year, four flights to and from Wuhan, four places to stay in, four people from Chiangmai trip, four people a group, four hours of flight from Singapore to Guangzhou, a flight with four numbers, four main landing gears, runway number four in Wuhan... I can't think of anymore.

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It was a long day today! Went to Sim Lim Square with KC and CK to get my laptop lock and HDD cover. Thereafter we went to Funan to have our lunch, Erwin and Simin joined us. Got our silicone cover for iPod Touch at Challenger and went to Peninsula Plaza to have a look at the shirts.

Went to school for our final Wuhan briefing. Got our e tickets for the flight today but mine has something wrong with the name, there's an extra Daniel! I wonder who added it in. =.= Got assigned our bunkmates but we can actually change when we get there. They went to my father's shop to get some stuffs for the trip, a fun experience, lol.

Now, looking forward to the Wuhan trip and day of emo-ing. :(

Hi 5!

The number of fingers on a hand - 5. Almost 5.5 hours of total flight time, my 5th time stepping into an airplane this year, 5 friends from a different course, CZ352, 5.30am meeting time, 5 groups of students, 5 mentors, 5 sweat (direct translation of Wuhan). The list just goes on and on.

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WSS exam today was a breeze! I'm quite confident in getting B+ in this module and at least 80-90 on today's paper, didn't expect it to be so easy!

After the exam went to visit jie for the last time before I go Wuhan. 干妈 cooked my favourite chicken again! It's very very nice! Thanks 干妈! Played games on jie's game console. It's like those $20+ console which you connect to your TV and play games. It's stated that there are 76000 games in it, well most of it repeating. Some old school games like Super Mario, Bomber Man, Elevator, Duck Hunt has brought back those childhood memories!

While waiting for a cab at the kerb back home, there's this ugly, old, skinny, freaking bitch snatch a cab from me. Now I'm regretting that I'm too kind not to argue with her. Get a life old bitch! You don't have many years left anyway...

Face of a dice - 6

The image of Wuhan keeps playing in my mind. In 6 days I'll be leaving for a place faraway, a totally new world to me. Living in a foreign land ain't easy. Adapting to the culture, the sights and sounds, the people, the environment and even the traffic will be a tough thing. Moreover, we have to learn how to be independent there. No more parents to nag at us everyday, no more gaming for the whole day. It's time to be down-to-earth and make a mark out of ourselves.

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Went to school early to study for OPC. I'm quite sure I studied enough, but the terrible thing is what I studied came out but what I did not study came out too, even on the same question. Ah well, I hope I still get my B.

1 more week

Just one more week to the set off to a place 3,417 kilometres away. I wonder when I look up into the skies, will my friends and family in Singapore and China be looking up in the same piece of sky? Will we share the same sunrise and sunset? Miles apart, hearts beat as one.

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Lin and nat came over again. Every time they come it's a havoc as we are simply 3 playful monkeys. Studied for OPC today and played another game of hidden objects which I forgot the name. Lin is really playful especially "kajiao-ing" me as he can do all sorts of funny stuffs. If they come often maybe I can even lose weight by playing with them, lol.

8 more days

It's time to start the countdown as it's only 8 more days to Wuhan!

First event of the day: Nian Yue has set off for his hometown trip which means I'll be completely alone in my house till the day I set off for Wuhan. Bahh, no one for me to disturb anymore, lol.

Lin and nat came over to study. Study is just a good word to use as we stumbled into the gaming disease again. Went out in the early afternoon for high tea buffet at Nihon Mura (yes, once again) and came back home. However, we started to get addicted to this game named as Department 42 - The Mystery of the Nine. Played all the way till 10.30pm so didn't study at all. Lol.

Emptiness

I really have nothing to write about these few days. Whole day was basically spent at home slacking, still trying to find a mood to study for OPC and WSS. Counting down 9 days to Wuhan but I have no feeling at all now. Well, what's happening to me?

Currently watching Seconds from Disaster: Kaprun Train Fire. This train has been operating in Austria for 100 years with a perfect safety record before getting engulfed in flames because of a minor failure which lead to a catastrophic disaster that left the train closed for good. This tells us that safety is the utmost importance in whatever we do, even if it lasts only for a while. The train ride only lasts for 9 minutes and no one has expected it will take away 155 lives in that duration.

Just before this I watched Seconds from Disaster: El Al Flight 1862. Another catastrophic mechanical error in a Boeing 747-200 that led to the deaths of 43 people (4 in the plane, 39 on ground). Those who died were really innocent. The 39 people on ground killed was actually in the comfort of their own home when the plane crashed at a 90 degree bank angle into the apartment. We should not be thinking that we are definitely safe in our own homes as disaster may strike at any time.

Life is short, we should make use of all the time we have to do what we want and not die in regret. Go for your dreams, work hard and get the feeling of satisfaction.

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Now an excerpt from my September 8, 2008 post about going to Chiangmai as I surmise it will be my mood on 31st August 2009. (Edited)

Checking on my laptop countdown it'll be 9 days to the departure of China Southern Airlines Flight 352. As the days pass by and the clock ticks, I'm experiencing mixed feelings in my heart. Everything about Singapore will be missed in Wuhan like the food, my home, my bed, my parents, environment and my friends. I expect myself to come back with lots of memories and will be emoing for a period of time with my current and new friends. It will be my first time studying overseas and leaving home for so long.

God bless us to have a good journey.

求神拜佛

Slept late last night and woke up like a zombie this morning to drag myself to school for the final exam for Facilities Planning and Design. I guess this module should be able to get a B. If all goes well, that is.. My targets for my modules this semester...

Services Marketing - B+
Facilities Planning and Design - B
Operations Planning and Control Systems - B
Warehousing and Storage Systems - B+
Metrology and Calibration - B
Television Beyond Entertainment - B+
Green Vision - B+

If all goes well, my GPA for this semester will be 3.25. I'll break my 2 pointer record. Lol.

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Went to Pariss International Buffet @ Marina Square to have lunch with Cao Yuan. It's been a long time since I went. The main reason for going there is because of the raw oysters! They are very fresh and succulent. Ate about 16 oysters in total, that should be able to have my initial investment back. LOL

Look at how fresh it is!


Chawanmushi




More shots of fresh oysters. It's making me hungry now!



After finishing my last 2 oysters..

读书

Lin and nat came over again to study. Played a little as usual but we managed to study. After studying went to have dinner at Nihon Mura.

My drawing when I was 3 years old! I won a Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival (Arts & Craft) 1995!

UP!

Slept at 5.30am and woke up at 10.30am to go to Jurong Point to meet Chin Kuang, Elvis and Zhong Rong to watch UP!. Got the tickets for the 11.50am show. Well, the show is quite nice. The old man, little boy, colourful bird and the little dog is darn cute!

Chin Kuang and Zhong Rong came over to slack after having lunch at Long John Silver. Slacked around and they went off around evening.

玩疯了

Lin and nat came over today. Cooked sambal fried rice and soup. Played around for a very long time after nat suggested "raping" him. Lol. Totally tired out after playing. Settled down, had a rest and went to Nihon Mura for dinner.

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As days go by, the day of setting off to Wuhan is getting nearer and nearer. I'm not sure why I do not have any feelings yet, or is it I'm not that used to leaving my house for 1.5 months? Well, all shall reveal when I get there, I will definitely miss home but this will be a memorable experience for my entire poly life...

My first times in this trip..
- First time travelling so far away from home
- First time staying in a hostel
- First time staying with friends
- First time leaving my home for so long
- First time taking a China airline (China Southern Airlines)
- First time taking a domestic flight
- First time taking a flight with a 4 digit flight number (CZ3344 and CZ3345)
- First time flying to an airport I flew to before (except Changi lah!!)
- First time flying to the same country (and same airport even!) in 6 months
- First time taking a Boeing 737-800
- First time taking an Airbus A321
- First time transiting flights
- First time learning how to be really independent
- First time studying overseas
- First time going overseas with LOTS of friends
- First time getting to know people of the trip better before setting off
- First time using Wordpress to blog
- First time having a blog to be accessed for academic reasons

飞行员

Flew around the world again.

Amsterdam - Hong Kong - Sydney (Boeing 747-400)
Amsterdam - Los Angeles (Boeing 777-200ER)
Taipei - Hong Kong (Airbus A330-300)

Briefing

Our second last Wuhan briefing today. Had the briefing at LT22 before proceeding to Block 5 for MDE meeting. Got briefed on more things such as our blogs, VPN and FlexSim installation. Took some group photos too!

I sorta look funny in the photos =.=

Created 2 blogs for Wuhan. Not sure what we are going to use, most probably Wordpress.

Wordpress blog: Click here
Blogspot blog: Click here

New Room

Went to school for WSS lab practice and lab test. Should be ok for the test I guess? After lunch went to study for MnC and had the test. This time's test was a 100 times easier than the last test. Took only 10 minutes to complete it. LOL

I have my completely new room now! Painting, furniture all done! Some pictures..


Cupboard with 1 door missing as the door was too big. Fixing in progress


Raw products


My best effort at shooting a full view


My plane models have a new home!

Final Touches

At 8.30am my doorbell rang. It was the painter yesterday coming to do some final touches on my kitchen and toilet ceilings and my door. The first thing he did after entering the house was to barge into my room to have a look at the paint and I was only half awake at that time. That startled me for a bit.

Went out of the house to go to school for our SMKT presentation. On the way, I stumbled upon 2 incidents which made me think twice about us Singaporeans. The first case was an Indian lady sitting beside me with her baby. The baby was constantly kicking me with his shoes as his mother was playing with him. Despite showing some expressions of unhappiness, nothing was done so I kept quiet about it for the whole of the trip.

The second matter was this Malay sibling (elder sister and younger brother) who were on the escalator. I was in a rush to go to school at that time so therefore I was hoping to take the express lane which was the right lane. The whole escalator was empty except for the 2 of them several steps in front of me so therefore I predicted the journey down to the second floor would be smooth. However, the boy stood at the right of the escalator while his sister stood right beside him, blocking the way of all the commuters which might be in a rush. I politely said "Excuse me" but I noticed that the sister was wearing earpiece so therefore I stood RIGHT behind them and I finally got pass.

We Singaporeans should reflect on how we act sometimes. Just mentioning about the public transport, I can pin point out how "kiasu" we are by crowding in front of the door during peak hours and therefore blocking the way of the alighting passengers. In this way, time is wasted as the 2 "armies" are squeezing their way in and out of the train. Sometimes I'd use my might and dash through the crowd. If you get knocked down, sorry, not my fault. You are the one who is crowding at the door when you are NOT supposed to.

What is happening to our courtesy campaign? Did everybody forget Singa, our courtesy ambassador? Courtesy is for free, courtesy is for you and me.

A new beginning

My room has a completely new painting now! Just have to wait for the bed and cupboard to arrive and tadah my whole new room! The process...




My room after applying some foundation for the paint


Masterbed room after applying the first coating


Can you guess whose room is this?



My living room has become like a battlefield!



The masterbed room has the paint done!




My room's turn! The only time you can see my room in this shape...


And there, the first coating done!

Happy Birthday Singapore!

Went out early morning to Marina Square to collect the NDP tickets from Wei Quan. Thanks for the tickets! :D

Came back home and ate lunch and went out at 2.45pm again to meet Chin Kuang to go for NDP 2009. It's my first time ever getting the chance to watch the NDP live at the floating platform! The feeling is definitely different from watching it on TV. The visual effects are cool! This year's funpack was interesting. I especially liked the heart shaped torchlight. Another thing is that we have successfully broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest Marina Wave! Lol. The show is divided into 10 chapters, showing us what Singapore went through in the last 44 years to have what she is today. Fireworks are always brilliant, including this year's. I'd watch the NDP live again should there be any chance!

After the parade went to meet Daniel, Chee Kit, Priscilla, Joel and Xiaohui for dinner and finally we headed home.



The cute drumstick with a bean at the end, but I lost it! =(


Still not very full when we reached the platform


But look at the other side!





BOMB threat!


The flag flypast - Captured while singing the National Anthem


Presidential Gun Salute! Unfortunately it was blocked by the trees =(


Our President inspecting the parade


Singapore's wonderful skyline!


心连心


More performances going on


There are 5 stars arising..






Fireworks!


End of the parade. All the performers are on the stage!





This is how Marina Square is RIGHT after the parade!


Last shot of our country's skyline from Marina Square Food Court