The Day I Conquered Southern Ridges.

The idea of trekking the newly established Southern Ridge trail sprouted months ago when me and my pri sch clique decide to do something different for our annual year end gathering. I confessed I wasnt on the right set of mind when i suggested doing so. Hours before i met the other 4 today, i even had thoughts of backing out and doing something more common and less physical instead, such as bowling or what. But we didnt back out, we proceeded on as plan. 5 physically unfit urban dwellers who were instantaneously mentally unsound decide to embark on a physical trail down Southern Ridge without any prior preparations.

We took a bus to NUS. We decided to start from Kent Ridge Park which is near NUS because by going the backwards direction towards vivo, we can finally settle down at vivo for dinner and our gift exchange. Arriving at the mids of NUS at 3, we spent 1 hour finding our way to the start of the trail, crossing the expressway and back again to the original side we were at. We discovered our unnecessary attempt to cross the expressway in the first place. Walking down South Buona Vista Road, we spotted a wooden signboard which suggests that the trail is nearby. We took the risk and walk down the deserted Science Park II Road only to our delight, we finally found the entrance to Kent Ridge Park around 4. Which means we spent 1hr looking for the entrance.

Stepping into the nature is kind of nostalgic. Reminds me 0f outfields. I hate outfields. The heavy scent of nature and wildlife embraced us. Navigating our way through the ridge is difficult in the sense of finding the right route and direction. Equipped only with a simple printed map that i found online, it serves minimal purpose as we had to rely on our gutt feelings and random direction boards planted around the forest park. I continously remind the rest to hydrate regularly like as though i am still in camp providing medical coverage.

We took many photos as we proceeded along. We never fail to amuse ourselves with our over-random behaviour, though slightly insane. We walked and walked and yet referring back to the printed map, we seemed to be further from the end point at vivocity. We passed by a decomissioned armour vehical installed as an exhibit and we took photos with it. We continue to proceed only to arrive at the first part of the newly-installed nature trail - the canopy walk at kent ridge. After that, we passed by Hortipark where we witness many beautiful colourful blooming flowering plants, both in the landscape as well as in glasshouses. Its like a natural children playground. Many of the plants, we hardly can find them at other parts of Singapore.

Proceededing down Hortipark, we finally reached the overhead bridge - the Alexandar Arch. Stretching across Alexandar Road linking Horti Park to Telok Blangah Hill, we finished 1/3 of the trail. What welcomed us immediately as we crossed the Alexandar Arch is the zig-zag canopy walk which took us damn long to walk. It brought us to the top of Telok Blangah Hill. The seaview that can be witnessed from the zig zag walk (as i call it) is quite cool. I can see PSA building and the port behind. Then came the hilly Telok Blangah Hill which at that point of time, is already 5+. We plan to complete the walk by 6.30pm as julia had to leave early.

As we walked, we do not know how long we did so but anyway, we reached the end of Telok Blangah Hill and here, welcoming us is the magnificant overhead bridge crossing to Mount Faber Hill - The Henderson Wave Bridge. It is damn magnificant as i described earlier. Its wave like structure compliments with the "magestic" green forested hill at the back (which is Mt Faber). As we cross the wooden wave bridge, we discovered that the crowd starts to increase. Taking pictures along the way, we finally arrive at Mt Faber which marks 2/3 of the journey had been completed.

Already tired by then, we were basically dragging ourselves to complete the last 1/3 of the journey. The Marang Trail which was kinda downslope proves not as easy since we were quite burnt out. The final part with continuous endless rockly and uneven steps downwards covered by canopy seems endless. I never had this kinda feeling ever since routemarch during BMT. Finally, the sight of Harbourfront (formal World trade centre) delighted us. We finally arrive at the end point. Hurray to all. We then proceed to Harbourfront where we wash up and had our gift exchange. After which, dinner at Vivo super dog.

Completeing the Southern Ridge trail, is a small small achievement. No one in the right set of mind would decide to go for it as a form of pri sch clique gathering. Considering our low level of fitness, especially the girls, it feels quite satisfying. Haha. For the 3 of us boys, i think its quite okay, way damn easier than army routemarch where we need to bring along our FBO and stuff. With light plan clothes and just a small bag, its kinda nothing compare to that. For the girls, really kudos to them. I need to give them a round of applause since they have not engaged in any form of PT (other than shopping) since JC2. Yet, the manage to pull through. I feel very proud for ourselves. I believe my legs will start aching tml morning when i wake up. Mentally prepared. As for now, i think this trail really remind us that we are not to the level of fitness yet and lots still have to be done for us, espeically us guys. Need to exercise way more. I mean, the trail has already been made easy with those canopy walks and stuff, not those undulating and uneven ground we walked through in tekong. Haha.

In conclusion, this is really something special for us as a clique to accomplish during our annual gathering. Any regrets doing it? Not really, since the girls actually had no regrets themselves, why would we guys. Will we do it again? Erm....eyeballs rolling. Haha. Guess you know the answer is kinda obvious. Anyway, a task for Julia n YY - go learn mahjong so we can play during cny, if not 3 que 1. As for YY, go learn cycling !!! We initially thought of cycling at ECP but decide to forgo it and pursue the southern ridge partly because YY cant cycle. Argh !!!

AMPT

AMPT was held this morning. Not as bad as I imagined. Thats good. Since it is half day, we were released at 11.30. But store ic and treatment ic treated us with pizza and Gelare icecream log cake. Zomg, so lavish - i mean the logcake. It would be a boring xmas this year, yet again. Merry xmas everyone...its only xmas eve...

同学会

时光飞逝，离中一中二已经有五六年之久了吧？当时刚刚踏入陌生的新中学环境，重新认识一群与本人共度两年求学岁月的朋友们。当成熟思想开始萌芽的青春交界期，当开始更了解新一层人与人之间的友谊关系不只是简简单单的“我跟你friend不friend”，这一群同学陪我领悟、陪我发觉、陪我成长。就在过去的星期六（也就是昨天），本人就出席了中一/中二的同学会。一个月前的今天，突然心血来潮，便在网上联络了一位当时的同学，表达自己想办一个同学会来更新当年美好的记忆。二话不说的他便开始招兵买马，筹划了九成的活动，虽然正天出席率未达半数，但也值得欣慰。很感谢这位同学的帮助，让我重新能与多年不见，甚至以为不会再见到的前同学重逢。在圣淘沙岛度过了美好的午后，在到怡丰城享用“团员饭”，再到处拍照留念并叙旧到晚间11点，一天就在欢笑中画下美满又有意义的句号。但我希望，这句号将不会真正结束我们友谊的旅程，而是重新发展出一段又一段更丰富的新段落。再次感谢出席和没出席的同伴们，陪我度过人生这一段美好的旅程，这一段半生不熟，沾满一点酸甜，一点尴尬又一点风趣难忘的青春期。感谢你们的存在。祝愿大家往自己的领域方面茁壮成长。

太恐怖了！！！

天啊！太恐怖了！一整天在外头，一回到家，开电脑，搜查星光四在星期五2008年12月19日的第二场PK赛事成绩～ 我所支持的一位参赛者，康祯庭，竟然首次获得开赛以来的最高分- 24分，离满分只差1分！！！好厉害哦！希望她能拿冠军，不要让观众说这次的星光四水平比前三季度低。

Bolt + Xmas Deco

Met my SMTI bunkmates at Dhoby Ghout yesterday noon. After we had lunch at The Astons at the Cathay, we proceeded to watch the animation movie "Bolt". The movie is regarding a "super hero" dog, Bolt, embarking in his self thought mission to save his owner only to realize that he does not possess any of those self-imagined powers. Together with mittens the kitten and rhino the goofy hamster, the toured the States and landed back in holywood where he saved his owner from a production studio that caught fire.

The show ended around 5+ and we decided to do some xmas shopping at PS first. I borrowed my father's digicam and we decided to walk down Orchard Road taking photos of this year's Xmas decorations. First of all, i took this photo below which is the interior of PS.

The open space outside PS is filled with many life size decorations.

We walked down Orchard Road only to find constructions after constructions between the stretch of ex Meridian hotel to Heeren. It is, what i called, a decrease in quality of life for those working or living nearby. Went to Cine and had dinner at Subway there. AFterthat, we continued walking down Orchard and it was just in time the sun is setting...

The xmas tree outside Paragon.

Outside Paragon.

The yearly recycled xmas tree inside Ngee Ann City.

Repetitive decorations along Orchard Road

CK Tang's theme of gold.

A rotating xmas tree outside Wheelock Place.

The xmas deco gate along the junction of Scotts Road and Orchard Road.

A rotating deco outside Shaw Lido

The entrance of Shaw Lido.

The final stop is Far East because i wanted to go shopping for some accessories there. We crossed the overhead bridge and i managed to snap a shot of whats along Scotts Road.

Anyway, i did not manage to get anything from Far East despite its vast range of accessories and apparals there on sale. I took bus 132 back at around 9pm to AMK. Marks the end of a day's trip.

And finally walking past the shopping mall cum bus interchange that i pass by daily - AMK Hub.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!!

LUNCH !!!

Today i cooked lunch. I had the "soup", the "starters" and the "main course". I started cooking at 11.30am and ended around 12.30pm. I merely use Campbell Soup for the "soup" part while I tried making my very own garlic bread with butter, garlic and parsley leave (and of coz left over bread from last night). The "starters" is a plate of calamarie which i used tempura flour over normal flour (because i cant find normal flour). The "main course" would definitely be my fave seafood aglio olio. Here are the end products for my 1 hour of hardwork in the kitchen...

Seafood Aglio Olio

Calamarie Rings

The full view of lunch today.

I do not usually eat so much. But just because i am in a mood to whip up something nice today, i ended up with so much things to eat. Looks delicious right? Haha. I sat down and taste my fruit of labour, it taste quite good i would say. Haiz. Inborn talent for cooking or is it just good genes from both the paternal and maternal side of my family. Hahaha.

So many things to buy !!!

Christmas is coming and its time for shopping. But with limited money, the issue of want and need surfaces. There are so many things i want to buy for myself. This has resulted in an ambiguity differentiating want and need. Excerbating the situation is the fact that i am a spendthrift where, as described by my mother, "money come into pocket, very hard to come out". Now you see i am going to ORD in 88 days time and i need to prepare for uni days. With the already pathetic pay from NS (which will last me another 3 months) plus a small insignificant sum of money from tuition, it is not going to last me long enough for all i need to spend. At least i should change it to "for all i want to spend". Here listing the items on my shopping list:

1) A new Adidas shoe for casual outings (the only Nike one that i have and wore almost everyday since J1 has its sole detached) - Cost: ~$125 / Need / Urgent

2) A new Sony ericsson C905 8.1 megapix 3G camera phone that can serve both as a phone and a professional digicam where i can use after i ORD and into my uni days. - Cost: $595 w/ renewal of plan / Want / Not Urgent But very Tempting

3) A new pair of jeans for outing and schooling in the future. I currently have 4 pairs of jeans and looking at the high frequency of me wearing them, i think i should stock up on this. - Cost: $<50, probably from sales / Want / Not Urgent

4) New clothes. I am revamping my walldrobe. - Cost: <$30 each / Want / Not Urgent

5) New running/exercise shoes for my coming exercise regime launching 2009 - Cost: $0, buy from SAF emart using credit / Need / Urgent

6) A proper gyming towel for my coming exercise regime launching 2009 - Cost: $0 (waiting for people to give as Xmas presents =P / Need / Urgent

7) Christmas Present for Clique gathering on 28th Dec 2008 - Cost: $<10 / Need / Urgent

8) A new belt (the old white one i am using has been stained from dirt) and a beaded necklace to go with my plan design shirts. Its time to dress up better to attract girls' attention. - Cost: ~$20 / Need / Urgent

9) A new laptop for Uni days. - Cost: ~$2000 from Student Discount / Need / Serious not urgent until school starts next year

10) Application of some cards that will provide offer to certain places or shops. Can be credit card, member card, debit card, wadeva card. - Cost: The lower the better / Want / Not Urgent

Funny Road Signs

Was surfing the net when i found this funny road signs thingy. For those who just took their basic theory test or is going to take, you may want to reconsider what you've learnt in your theory book. =)

Aglio Olio Version 3.1

After my many attempts of cooking a decent plate of Aglio Olio, i finally suceeded in achieveing a taste near similar to those i've tried outside. With minimum spices and ingredients i have at home, i experimented with the many different ways of cooking this pasta dish, which is my favourite pasta amongst all. I hereby shall list out the steps of cooking it:

1. Cook sphagetti until al dente (i dunno the correct spelling but it means 3/4 cooked), in a pot of boiling water with salt and olive oil in it. Afterthat, run it with cold water and toss it with salt and olive oil.

2. Chop finely 3 big garlics, 2 chilli padi (with seeds removed unless you enjoy the orgas feeling of having them in your mouth) and 1/2 tomatoes (with seeds and placenta removed as well).

3. If you want to add seafood (which is wad i did), marinate fish slice and prawns with salt and pepper.

4. Heat sauce pan with olive oil, add chopped garlic. Stir it so that each grain is evenly fried.

5. When garlic turns brown, add chopped chilli padi and tomatos. Be prepared for a facemask or what just incase the chilli makes you cry for the next half an hour.

6. Add half a cup of water. BEWARE !!! This step will cause vigourous smoking. (I once activated my house's fire alarm because of this)

7. Add your seafood in so that they will be cooked and let the flavours seep into the liquid in the pan.

8. Add sphagetti and let it simmer inside the liquid and all the liao wadeva u hav inside.

9. Add salt, pepper and parsely leaf flake (that stupid leaf flake cost me freaking $4 from colds storage !!!)

10. Serve while hot. Enjoy your freaking plate of aglio olio while thinking of the amount of washing and cleaning after your freaking meal. =)

星光4艺人PK 之 《疯子》

若像我有一直追看《星光4》的朋友们应该对其中一位参赛者的突然开发感到非常欣慰。今早从兵营值周末班回家后便到youtube观看星期五在台湾首播的《星光4》。进行的是艺人歌手PK赛。就在最期待的这一回观看后没有半点失望 —— 那就是本地绝对Superstar新人何维健与星光4的康康，康贞庭较劲。由于PK者是本地熟悉不过的新加坡歌手，对上一直以来都非常欣赏与给予高度评价的一位参赛者，这场赛真是值回票价。不必多说，也可预料到本地的何维健应该是凶多吉少，不是说他实力差，而是他不行碰上康康！特别喜欢康康这次的演出，有点处于歇斯底里的状态内，完全把歌曲的味道凸显出来，好过瘾。加上她那奇怪的服装，可是为她加分不少。

Another random day in camp

With the addition of 3 new members to the med ctr, the med ctr is no longer as quiet as before when ord-ing personels start clearing off and leave. Came back from leave on Monday and there leave me so much shit to clear. It sux. But i know i have to rely on my understudy for sure as he is taking over in one month's time. I am just too tired for the unnecessary things to do like getting my card problem solved (i cannot log in after changing e password) and worrying for the daily stockcheck and management of drugs all around the med ctr in different depts. Things must be done properly in order to avoid any possible trouble when auditing or surprise checks come visiting. Its just somehow a "perfect" attitude to adopt, which i am tired of having for the past 1 year plus. It was one of the unit's COC and i have to stay until the entire parade was over at 6+. When i got home, i received some NUS administrative package on confirming of enrolement online and via mail. The deadline is 15/12/08. Some of the parts which i do not understand, i need to clarify with other people. As for now, its one more thing to keep in view and hopefully get done with before the deadline.