36 days in Taiwan

Arrived back this morning at 12.30am then head back to camp with all my bulky luggage before getting home at around 4.30am this morning. And then..... unpack, shower and laundry. Manage to get some sleep some 36 hours later. Taipei has so much things to do and see, we rather sacrifice our sleep. haha!

31 Mar, head to the airport at night. Took the train arriving early at the airport. So bought drink head up to the viewing mall to check out the flight movement at night in Terminal 1. Soon after met up with all my friends to talk talk, take pictures and more food. First yr PC was there to send us off too. in fact most ORD personnel were there to send us off. Upon getting our boarding pass we went in to explore the terminal. Bought a short novel The Alchemist to read which makes it the 3rd book i am bring up to taiwan. haha! The other guys wanted to explore terminal 3 which i am not keen to because boarding gate is on the side other side of the terminal closer to T2. The remaining few had Sakae Sushi and laze around till its time to board.


Boarding was delayed. Well... it is not handled by the airport staffs but rather by our own people which causes a mad rush to board the plane and rush for take off. People were still finding seats when we push back from the gate for the runway. Well.. this is a chartered flight after all.

Destination: TPE (Taipei) via KHH (Kaoshiung, Taiwan)
Aircraft type: Boeing 747-400
Departing Runway: 20C
Arriving Runway: Unknown
Departure Time: 0315 hours
Arrival Time: 0645 hours
Flight Time: 3hr 40 mins

Skipped the in-flight details. All i could say was it a enjoyable flight. That's why i always prefer Asian airlines. Love it! Got some sleep here and there. Before I knew it, we were descending into KHH. Bus to terminal as there no boarding gate assigned to us. Aircraft carried on to Taipei. I believe its a ferry flight meaning flying empty to carry on it next assigned flight. Stepped out of the aircraft and we get a breeze of cool wind giving us a rough idea of the weather there.

2 hours bus ride to camp near Heng Chun city. [*Editied]. Just to get used to the terrain a.k.a MOUNTAINS! [*Editied]. Climbing up mountains will encounter Mango plantations which tempt me to pluck and eat. haha! View from up there Wonderful! Love the view especially in the early morning at first light the sun cast golden rays on the mountain side. Priceless. Sorry. No photos due to camera restrictions.

Evaluation did extremely well. [*Editied] Get the job done and did well overall.

Had a short R&R. Dinner at one of the local resort where we drown ourselve with lots of beer. I only had 1 bottle but the rest... let the picture speak for itself. Visited the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium and also Heng Chun Night market.



[*Editied] Night can be very cold but often i am found alseep soundly without much additonal layers to keep warm while others struggle to keep warm. haha!

So here comes the long awaited 3 days R&R in taipei. We bus up north about 9 hours ride. First stop was JanFuShan Theme park. I don't where i found the guts to hop on the free fall thinggy and the bottomless roller coaster that twist and turn and goes 360 deg.


Upon reaching Taipei didn't have much free time left before being confined to our hotel room. So we quickly cab to the nearest night market Huaxi Street Night Market famous for its Snake meat (Read Ewwww....!) haha. then next was Xi Men ting! Fame for its trendy street wear.

2nd day went to Windows on China and Leofoo Village. Windows on China is like a small world with its many scaled replica of famous buildings around the world. Took too many pictures that my battery went low before lunch! argh! Okay. Next stop is Leofoo Village. Considered to be the best theme park by the locals. Didn't try the rides since i had enough the day before. Night's free and easy head to Xi Men Ting again! haha! Spend more time there and got more clothes. then we go to Shilin Night Market. Suppose to eat la, but don't know why we end up shopping again.

Interesting thing happen was how illegal vendors manage to clear the streets in matter of 2-3 mins when they were alerted of police patrol. haha! You have to be there to experience it yourself.

Last day was a full day free and easy. Rained in the morning, average day temp is 16 degC. Went to Taipei 101. tallest building in the world. Visited the observatory. The mall down below is very very very very high end with all the branded products. Place is squeky clean and shiny. Only unsightly thing is some of our superiors dressed in T-shirt, shorts and slippers doing shopping. haiz..! Viva Singapore la! Time is short, made a bad decision to visit SOGO departmental store area. Not a place for us to go. So for the 3rd time we took their MRT to Xi Men Ting again! spend like 30 mins there before rush back to hotel pick up our bags and head to the airport catch the flight home.



Destination: SIN (Changi, Singapore)
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-300 ER
Departing Runway: Unknown
Arriving Runway: 02C
Departure time: 2020 hours
Arrival time: 0030 hours +1
Flight Time: 4 hours

One of the many flights i don't wish to board. Coz i am leaving taiwan when i am not even done with it! But quite excited to try the 777-300ER, heard many reviews and praises for this variant of the Boeing 777 family. In-flight entertainment kept me awake through out. Got myself a Herpa model of the same aircraft i am in. Happy! =)

Landed early morning. Did duty free shopping. Got more wines to add on to my collection. =) didn't manage to leave airport until 2.30am because of transport problems. Anway, happy to be back home after being away so long. Currently on 2 weeks leave.

Hmm... Next trip overseas looking at Perth, Australia or Taipei! haha! Somewhere around the december holidays.

P.S - Remaining Photos will be upload @ my online album

Auf Wiedersehen!

See you in May!

Alright guys! Heading to the airport in a couple of hour time. Still can contact me in taiwan through my mobile. But no prank calls or don't call to tell me a joke or something like that. I make sure you will pay for that few DOLLARS of talk time. Best way is to message me and wait for me to call back.

Auf Wiedersehen!

The final battle

Past few days have been listening to high ranking officers giving us motivational talks and giving us thanks. The push for the final battle begins in a few days time. Today we all did a reflection. A reflection of the days that have flew by probably faster than the concord.

1 year 6 months begin with training in BMTC before joining my current unit. Much have been done since then for example Army Open house and Bilatral exercies. Ops duties are part and parcel of a combat unit. Of course we have to stand up and respond to the call at the sacrifice of time spend with all love ones.

Training no doubt is tough. Injuries never seems to be recovering. My sprained ankle and knee hurts most when aggrivated. But can never avoid to aggrivate it because i need my legs to walk, to run. So endure through the pain.

With so much encouragement and good comments coming from people all the way from the top. And i really mean the TOP! A reputation built from zero to something takes no mean feat to built. As the final battle begins soon.

I begin to wonder, has all that i gone through the past 1 year and 6 months. is it all worth it? all the sacrifices made in and out of camp. 36 days is a long trip. Of course i am always looking forward to the R&R, a chance to see taiwan in its asian glory as a high tech city.

I will leave it up to the day when the jet aircraft touch terra firma in Singapore to tell the answer to all. The final battle... Let's see what all comes down to. All i know for now. I am just a citizen soldier.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Take it with a pinch of Salt

Let's take it with a pinch of salt, leading two seperate lives as one is difficult. Everyday is like treading through a minefield. I will never know when i step on a mine, big or small.

Quietly, i saw it coming. Didn't want to say it out because of my promises. Gave the trust but was betrayed. For those who still don't know me well, whenever i am committed into something, I make sure i see it right to the end. I will get pissed and/or annoyed easily when i don't see it finishing. And also trust is one thing that is hard to gain from me. Never one day i will simply give my trust to people just because they need it. Either you earn it or you find it somewhere else.

Seriously, i have to admit my actions have a part to play in all that has happen, i don't hold blame to anyone for it. But its hard to accept apologies and forgive. Give me some time. For now, there is a void inside me. 2 in fact.

At the end of the day, I will take it with a pinch of salt. I leave for taiwan with a few questions in my mind answered. A little unsettled still, hard to give it all up, all the hopes and dreams I will still hold dear to me, let it linger in my mind perhaps as a source for motivation during the tough 30 odd days there but work will still go on. Be brave and strong as there are more things in life awaits me! =) Thanks Joel for being there when I am most down and out. Truely blessed to have this friendship, brotherhood. God will continue to bless us!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Missing everyone!

What have been a month to relax and prepare for taiwan became a very busy moment for all. I shall spare the details.

All i know is that i truely miss sleeping on my bed over night at home even though i do get time off every now and then to rest and do a little laundry and ad-hoc work at home. Not forgetting to perfect that Disney classic "A Whole New World" for my dearest. Balancing time between Suky and family too! Aww... I miss you so much!

Sorry to Joel and Eddie, shall meet up with you guys someday, hopefully before taiwan. Thanks for the appreciation phone call. Your backside is safely guarded. =)

Shots from the Singapore Airshow is out! Got a few decent shots of the Black Knight's formations with the classy grainy effect from traditional Film. It does give me the feeling of F-16's are aircraft from the 70's - 80's. All are done in manual focus because of the slow Auto Focusing my lens has. But still all shots turn up clear and sharp.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Survivor Tekong

It was a mad dash for home and to book into camp by 9pm last sunday. Anyway, I was at the Singapore Airshow 2008. The flying display was damn cool especially the Black Knights. Compared to the previous airshows, this time round we are closer to the flying display so my cam can capture it up close. Pics are currently being sent for processing. Down side was the long waiting for buses to get in and out of the venue. Not a good plus point. Unless you intend to take the limo taxi for $45 to any destination of your choice or the additional $8 surcharge on top of the prevailing rates for normal taxi.

So we have to book in early to make final preparations for the so-called last oufield in Singapore. Lots of things to pack especially food into my LBV. haha! Moved out to seletar for harbouring 1 night before we are troop lift to changi beach for assualt boat ride to tekong. So we were preparing, waiting and eating in a public area. Certainly raises a few eye browns for the civilians to see a large group of NS guys. haha! Anyway after a long wait, higher HQ got fed up because the waves of boat are taking too long so we route march to SAF Ferry Terminal for fast craft ride over. But i certainly do enjoy lying down on the grass patch seeing aircraft taking off especially the beautiful 747 and 777's.

Embark on 2 missions without re-supply of water and other essential items for 3 days. Until FIBUA village we get our re-supply. Saw the recruits doing FIBUA training. Walking past them with our shagged out faces scaring them how tough it was our mission but actually we just woke up from a short nap. LOL. So when doing our last misson the recruits kept looking at us building up obstacles, enjoying sips of 100 plus and bottles of cordial eating tibbits. Sure remind me of those days were commerical items are forbidden.

Exercise cut and we return back to BMTC parade square. Making a mess at the boot washing point, flooded with sand and mud. Enjoy the use of Staff toilet at one of the coy (hey! it was a forbidden ground during BMT k!). See recruits doing their 5BX with run in the early morning when i just lie down on the bench sleeping. Canteen break for the famous Roti John, but it was close. Bump into my friend who is a perm staff at BMTC.

Attended Touch 2008 by NUS Piano Ensemble after book out at UCC. At the invitation of a camp mate's girlfriend who will be performing. Overall the concert was very nice, enjoy it very much. Most of the repertoire are transcribe pieces so it gives a different feeling to the pieces as compared to the original composition.

Going to take a good rest for the next 3 days.

Auf Wiedersehen!

CNY & Outfield 1

Ok. Where have i left off?

CNY was again very routine every year. Booked in on Tuesday afternoon. then went to 30SCE to send our bridge for servicing. Met up with our platoon mate that got posted out. at night was a chill out session at the mess with the whole platoon. i shall spare the details. CNY eve morning was games and celebration in camp. We were suppose to play games to earn cash to bid for items during the celebration part. So after the games, we can place bets to double our earning by playing "Big Small". Later is the bidding part for bowling vouchers, movie vouchers, TV sets and fussball table. cool eh!

Reunion dinner then the next day all the visiting. Mahjong session at my grandma's place. See only, i don't know how to play even though i learn before. Too chim. Saturday went to visit dear's parents. Treated with good food and liquor. haha! thanks dear! Caught Kung Fu Dunk because dear wanted to get out of her house. Hmmm... the movie i think overall is to make Jay Chou look cool only la. but Kuddos to Eris Tsang's acting. Old Ginger is still hottter (translate to chinese).

I went out for a 5 days exercise. walk a very long distance. south to the north of western singapore. cutting through vegetation, skirting pass NIE, into the cemetry (which was a little freaky to walk at night) into a pandan leaf farm i think coz there were pandan leafs all over. and hit the objective la. Sprained my ankle which left me staying in the ambulance for 2 days. missed out the fun part of the exercise. i can only watch from afar. Nvm... the next one is coming up in a week's time at Tekong. hopefully can recover by then.

Dinner and lau yu sheng at my place last night. as usual again every year. got birthday celebration also for a birthday boy. then accompany dear back to hall.

Auf Wiedershen!

Whizz Kids

Gone were the days were homework just came in worksheets and workbooks. Handing it into teacher or risk getting punished. Homework return back with ticks and crosses. Stamps of stars or smiley face and the ever horrifying words "See Me!".

Kids are getting online to do their homework. 2 of my younger cousins just 4 weeks into their life of a primary 1 student logged onto a portal checking out any new task. Now look, homework are called tasks. Check that out! They did their test online, reading aloud passages beside their parents and selecting the correct answers by clicking on the corresponding radio buttons. Submitting homework or task is done by clicking on "Submit" and no longer called Hand-in where we will pass from table to table up to the front or personally hand it up to our teachers.

I really wonder what's next for the future generations to come. With the introduction of Wi-Max and roll out of more PDA phones with Wi-Fi capabilities, are we going to see young kids doing homework at the playgrounds? 3G technology will perhaps push homework to a more interactive level, primary school kids are going to stream videos and answer questions. I won't be surprise if kids are going to have video conference with their teachers while at the playground.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Cakes, Camo and 30 guys

Chinese new year is coming. but i am not in the mood for it. searching for an answer, tuning myself into the mood. well, days go by and i will just live with it like any other. So i was out with my parents early on Sunday afternoon. Shopping. I don't know what i want so i just grab and go. its nice to have tea break with them. I really missed those days when we were out shopping as a family. Now all grown up, we have a life of our own. Especially when i am caught up with NS and busy loving my dearest. I don't know if they walk around the mall to look at other things when we finish shopping or just to kill time waiting with me for Suky. But they left soon after going to my grandma's place for dinner. without me of course. I waited.

Met up with Suky not before she went to collect my jeans (thanks alot darling!), had dinner at crystal jade la mian xiao long bao. i refuse to order spicy food because i scared that my stomach can't take it and coughing. i just want something plain. hurried for time we forgot the ice cream. Cab back to Suky's hall before leaving for camp.

Training is ramp up with SOC, fast march and stairs climbing. in addition i went running and gym a few times on my own to train up myself. Suffered from many blisters which erupt into open wounds that bled. ouch..! ATEC 2 is coming very soon. so outfield and outfield and outfield. before i know it.. i am flying off..!

Platoon is 1 men less, this guy named jeremy posted out. So we had a dinner gathering at Botak Jones at Clementi on tuesday night. Cake smashing party on Wednesday night. Bought a cake, made him say a speech. Commented something to PC about me. haha! that made everyone cheer! then cake smashing begins. I DIDN'T GET TO EAT THE CAKE!!!!!!!! lucky, you get away with a small patch of chocolate cream or camo, unlucky ones will get palm print using cake and black or green camo all over your body. anyway, wish him all the best. ORD soon... 8 more months to go.

Auf Wiedersehen!

fruitful week!

this week have never been better. well, basically monday was actually an off day from the last duty on jurong island. did lots of running today.

so i booked in on tuesday morning with a premium cost added to it. guys from my section booked in the night before without me knowing. so i barge into bunk with all guys still sleeping. haha! Well, being nice i decided to unpack all my stuffs in the dark and continue my sleep too since i woke up at 5am not with a little help from dad n mum. Claim back my stuffs from jurong island later on that day before booking out. first and hopefully not the last 8-5 feeling. haha.

Wednesday i totally slack around. too lazy to get out of the house until dinner time. deliver dinner to hall. Dear's hall. MOS Burger. okay, i understand you are tired. should have let you sleep more. but food is getting cold since it was packed from jurong point and not nice to have it cold. saved in the nick of time by her roomie otherwise i am facing the death of the hair picker. ooppsss! after that went home. she passed me a NTU t-shirt she got from her hall's fun fest. "Wake me up when i reach NTU" Thanks dear for the t-shirt.

Thursday had a follow-up appointment with the dentist 5 mins of crapping from him and cost $33 bucks. Wow! good thing is, i will be seeing him in a year's time instead of 6 months. I think i gone a little crazy at that point of time to fix appointment for dental therapy. jus want to get some cleaning n polishing done. but its by POLY students... hmm... appointment is quite sometime away, so.. let's see..! (perhaps going to private clinic will be a better idea). okay, Ikea was next to pick up some plastic bag dispenser for my dad and got a cushion for myself. bringing back to camp to see if its useful otherwise i will jus leave it at home. Pouring heavily at that time but nothing beats a nice hotdog sandwich from ikea. wee..!

Friday, went for a run. again. then afternoon with those sleepy eyes went for medical checkup at raffles hospital. no appointment needed. jus walk-in. perhaps my mind was asleep, i feel so lost when i get bump from station to station to get the test done. haha! i have a picture of my RIBS in my cupboard! haha! met Suky at boon lay after that. with a little waiting sent her home. don't worry darling, i don't blame you for the alarm not ringing. =)

Today, accompanied Suky to Swee lee, send in her trombone for repair. screw dropped out of the rotor valve. hopefully it can be fixed otherwise got to think of other ways out. Went to this fantastic place for lunch at Simei Eastpoint. Eighteen Chefs. Great food, Great chef. Big size guy who trained from or with Jamie Oliver, know as the naked chef. Well.. this small cafe is open to help deliquent ppl. so its more than jus serving good food, its helping the community. call me if u need directions to this place if u are interested to taste it out!

Resuming normal training very soon. prep for taiwan. haiz..... (*heads bow down)

Auf Wiedersehen!

The Will to learn

Copied this during my engineer course about a year ago. haha! Well.. its still not too late to share with all! =) Source currently unknown but i do acknowledge whoever wrote this!

1. Take time to reflect on a problem before you begin work
2. Get all the facts of the problem clearly in mind
3. Work on the problem in a planful way
4. Keep an open mind. Don’t jump to conclusions about the answers to a problem
5. Think of many ideas for solving a problem
6. Try to think of unusual ideas
7. As a way of getting ideas. Pick out all the important objects or person and think carefully about each one
8. Think of several general possibilities for a solution and then figure out many particular ideas for each possibilities
9. As you search for ideas, let your mind freely explore things around you. Almost anything can suggest ideas for solution
10. Always check each idea with the facts to decide how likely the idea is
11. If you get stuck on a problem, keep thinking, don’t be discourage or give up
12.When you run out of ideas, try to look the problem in a new and different way
13. Go back and review all the facts of the problem to make sure you have not missed something important
14. Start with an unlikely idea, just suppose that is possible then figure out how it could be done
15. Be on the lookout for odd or puzzling facts in a problem. Explaining them can lead you to a new idea for solution
16. When there are several different puzzling things in a problem, try to explain them with a single idea that will connect all together

Auf Wiedersehen!

Hello 2008!

Wee... 2008! okay, the past 2 weeks have been deployed to Jurong island. Quite cool actually to stare out into the sea watching vessel's of all size sail past with an occasional LPG or Oil tanker sailing into your vicinity without any marine pilots. Okay, a little extra information here, ships in all ports are guided with the local pilots to make sure they don't run aground or get into some form of danger that threaten the operation of the port.

I did manage to catch our Black Knights practicing their maneuvers for the Singapore Airshow. Yah, so free preview la! haha. while on night shift i wake up to see sun rise every morning without fail. Its so beautiful! Gosh I wish Suky was there to catch it with me. And also to snap it down and show you guys. And yah, the refineries looks damn futuristic and cool at night. Like a industrial city on its own. Night is cold and freezing. 24 hours of breeze like fans that does not have a switch. At times i really want to switch it off.

Wild dogs a plenty at our area. Interesting thing is that they don't bark at NS guys. Civilians they will run after and bark at them. Of course we fed them and they clean up everything. No a single grain of rice left. haha! Now i wish i have on sitting at the entrance of my room. Hmmm.... what will i do with it....? hehe!

Looking ahead...
1. Taiwan (April)
2. SMU (18 Aug)

Excitied with what's going to happen this year. Finally getting my ass out of army. I am totally drained out of energy already. I just want to finish it. NO MORE GREENS! More things to come progressively.

Start to go back to church. Hopefully i don't slack and always skip again. haha! Active participation perhaps?

Auf Wiedersehen!

One last post for '07

Finally! another 365 days has gone by.

this year was quite busy and many things happen. Especially in army, lots of training jam packed together and doing lots of crazy stuff, unimaginable too.. Like climbing Mt. Biang. My bet is no one will ever forget that 3 weeks in Brunei suffering the harsh terrain, enduring the elements. it rained everyday ok! AOH or Army Open House was once in a life time experience, i will look back at this AOH knowing hey! i was part of it if i ever visit the next Open house. Of course not forgetting some skills training like coastal hook on pulau seletar and 32 km route march truelly round pulau tekong. 24km was jus a shorter march around the island.

Personally, i met this wonderful girl whom later on became one important person in my life that i don't wish to ever let go. Her name? Suky of course! My darling. Candle of the Soul campfire was hmm... an unforgettable one, all the days and hours spent to put it together. Hopefully in time to come, more such projects? Officially a part of SMU now. can't wait for school to start. All good things aside. Lost a GREAT uncle to cancer, still gripping with the fact he is no longer around =( i really miss him alot. God, take care of him okay? i need to find a closure.

Moving ahead, i will be in taiwan for training for a month, the last fight before ORD just before sch re-open for me. I know, all the kids are starting sch in 2 Jan. And slowly, i will take up piano teaching. and re-take driving lessons and perhaps work towards a music diploma. well.. i leave it up to next year to slowly plan for everything.

Final note, I heard about the last guard leaving SQS band. That's the end for alumni band and main band. So breaking all contacts with the school. Hmm... I need to play in a band somehow otherwise... good bye to french horn. What really happen, i am not too sure, but going to find out the truth.

Well! I wish everyone a blessed and joyous new year ahead. I leave you with a picture taken during the Sentosa outing on Christmas eve.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Blessed X'Mas

First of all, Wishing Everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year ahead.

Since everyone has flew down under to enjoy themselves with the Kangaroos....

Suky and myself decided to spent X'mas or rather X'mas Eve at Sentosa. A day of digging, scrapping and moulding sand. Head down to Vivo to catch the usual Sentosa Express, long queue for the tickets. But luckily 2 ladies bought extra tickets for their friends who couldn't make it sold us the tickets. haha.

Got down to the beach, changed and picked up a few sandcastle building tools then picked a nice spot to start building. Decided on building a plane, so slowly we moulded the fusalage then the wings, the horizontal stablisers then the tiny vertical stablisers. Suky added a few details such as the engines. I dug a trench around the plane and wrote our names on the sand.

Weather was nice and sunny. With an occasional dark clouds that never saw any rain coming. Cool! tried to get a little tan to no avil. Or maybe there is but can't tell the difference. So..! after sandcastle we went down to the water. but from where we were, seaweeds line up along the shore so, well... abandon plane! move to another spot where the seaweeds don't block the path. go inside, play water. then later play a little vball.

by then... stomachs are growling. hop onto the sentosa express back to vivo. On the way back, saw this gigantic x'mas tree on top of vivo. reached back then go see the tree up close then dinner was at SuperDog. American HotDog. Another nice fastfood. Highly recommeded their Chill Cheese Fries. Not spicy at all even when the name suggest Chill. Dear shopped for her mum's gift then home sweet home!

Thanks Darling for this wonderful day. and the gift was great. I will use it when the opportunities comes. Nothing beats celebrating christmas with you this year. =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

random photos 2

Same picture in Black & White

Auf Wiedersehen!

Enchanting Gold Class

ever want to know what's like to fly first class? or perhaps a prelude to the services airlines offer without leaving the ground. okay, was out with Suky to catch Enchanted at GV Gold Class Vivocity after having lunch with my family to celebrate grandma's birthday.

Was actually late in meeting Suky before the lunch. Sorry my dear. well.. thanks to the whole family fighting for 1 bathroom. Anyway, lunch was pretty good, lots of food as usual. Got to try self-made popiah, pretty fun. Always see people wrap for me, now i get to try. So after lunch, zoomed down to Vivocity.

Okay. Gold Class. What was it like? Upon entering the door, you will be treated as a previllage customer of GV. the staff awaits your arrival. Greets you upon first contact and guide you into the cinema. The cinema itself is jus like any regular cinema minus the rows and rows of seats. Seats comes in pairs with a table in between. Pressing the call button, a service staff will attend to you orders for snacks and drinks. Curious enough to try, we ordered 2 glass of Ice lemon tea @ $4.00 each. Wow..! Food are pretty expensive and most of the patrons are the expats well to do enough to splurge on such luxury for their family. $30/seat mutiply by 4 (2 adults n 2 kids). do your maths.

Seats came in pairs but were spaced far away, so we snug into 1 chair, lift the leg rest up and get ourselves cosy to enjoy the movie. Each seat does come with a blanket to keep you warm. Now now, where do you get such service for a regular ticket to the movies. Not forgetting to mention that there is a lounge within Gold Class for you to sit in, snack a little and wait for your movie to start if you arrived early.

Gold Class. A Great Way to watch movie? You get my thumbs up.

After the movie, we had dinner and shopped around vivo. dear gets a top from Zara (hope you like it), while i got a classical music magazine from the bookshop PageOne which includes a free CD in almost every issue i think? Well, that's all we had for 1 day of fun and pampering... I will post on other days event shortly.

Auf Wiedersehen!

random photos

once again, i will upload some fav images captured when i was free to wander around with my cam. location should be familiar to all musicians. one day n one night. the second image's effect was created using the long shutter mode without using flash as it will cause overexposure of the image. Use a tripod or place camera at a stable place to avoid handshake.

Auf Wiedersehen!

End of another hurdle

quite a busy week. with lots of outfield and little sleep.

Sunday - took up last minute guard duty. so morning with dear was cut short but still manage to cook a little then i rush home to pack and head back to camp. saw no one at home when i got back for a brief pit stop. shift duty was jammed pack because next day got "mission"

so the next day was very irritated with people in camp. i am trying to get some much needed rest when ppl shout to collect some outfield equipments, then returning to bunk, lie on bed not more than 5 mins ppl call again.. this time i gave up sleeping. pack, change, lunch, camo on and out i go! soaked in rain when i reach the start point. its pouring like crazy so i got wet real fast. then came the sun then the mud, lots of them in fact. okay, this is actually my one and only exercise with the TNI.

next 3 days is preparing the targets for live firing. at one point got really angry when i got accused by ppl for something that i have not done. haiz, i can't stand the tone of it especially when it comes from someone that sits around and does nothing all day long. oh well... climbing up knolls and from a high vantage point i overlook the western area of singapore. pretty cool to spot a few familiar places e.g. NTU. windy up there too! in exchange for being sunburn. i didn't get to sleep much these few days, moving out was really early, breakfast was late and stuffs..

no doubt 1 of the few busy weeks in army, it jus makes me want to be home more to be with everyone like dear, parents and all uncles and aunts. losing 1 is painful, missing all makes it all worse.

next week on leave. have not much plans yet, a few movies to watch. long time never been to the movies with dear already. time to catch up with what's on the silver screen.

Auf Wiedersehen!

can't wait to be in SMU

i am going to uni! weeee...! NSmen Jamboree was interesting. a few dance performances, i don't know if they did it on purpose or what, the dances was seductive. maybe to seduce all guy in the auditorium? haha. a little self introduction from the President, Dy President and Deans from the various schools.

then later on had a breakout session with Dean of SIS in a classroom setting. Saw a few guys previously from NP ICT. i think the session was about an hour long la, with the seniors Yr2-4 sharing their life in SIS. what interest me is the overseas exchange programs and business study missions, get to visit google, mircosoft, apple and a few other big IT coporations. hmm.. i really want to go whenever there is a chance to.

really getting into the culture of SMU where for every questions there are no fix answers and challenge any ideas you want. it a flexible approach to learning unlike the other schools where A is A. anyway, i can't wait for school to start now! another 9 more months i think.

Auf Wiedersehen!

crazy work weeks

sorry for the lack of updates for the past 2 weeks. let's roll back until the last entry.

finished ATEC stage 1 already. scored pretty well, the highest score the umpire would give, but sad to know it doesn't please the higher ranks. okay, in the first place, my section was suppose to take part in 1 evaluation but quote from my PC "i don't know if you are lucky or unlucky" we went oufield for 2 days in a row while other did 1 outfield. doing 1 extra evaluation that we weren't really prepared for. we just did our best because its a last minute thing from higher command.

Bro's birthday was the weekend after ATEC. good to see everyone because long time never see them already. everything seems returning back to normal but there is still that sense of something missing. i know what is it, but i shalln't mention. kind of hate a no-brainer from my father's sister-in-law for mention something right in front of me with a SMILE. you see, i used sis-in-law instead of acknowledging her as my aunt. really a no-brainer. overall, it great to everyone, truely missed them so much.

over the same weekend, platoon outing to Seoul garden to celebrate PC's ORD! great fun to eat, talk and crap a lot. they headed to Zouk after that, i didn't join them even though i heard many fun stories. well.. i am not the clubbing type of person. so yeah, count me out. crashed out at home after that crazy ATEC. remembered how black face i was before and after i went outfield, i am not angry at stuffs, i am just tired. haha..!

last week was a short work week, but deepavali ended up doing guard duty. this is what happen when no one volunteered and so i was kindly asked to do it. but never mind, to save one's self from spinning in circles asking around to volunteer, i took up the job. 24 hours shift, but have a rubiks cube to keep me entertain when i was bored. haha!

10km run before the guard duty at ECP. finished the run but didn't meet the timing required. i don't care, i ran and i finished the race. try again next time bah......

okay, booking in camp tonight. that's all for now.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Ratatouille in Reality

It was just another normal Sunday where all men from my company booked into camp, except timing was no longer the usual 2200. We have been given an extra hour to hang around outside in the civilian world. Even though we were tired because it is already way pass bed time, we were still upbeat and joke around and poke fun at one another. Well, perhaps it just a way to conceal the fact that we are stuck in camp for the next 5 days.

Lights off! time to hit the deck and doze off to a very cold night as the sky began to pitter patter and rain through the night. All were like spring rolls, wrap in our "thick" blankets. Night time do really fly pass really fast and soon phones and alarm clock began to rang. Wakie Wakie! Droopy eyes, slowly one by one drag themselves off the bed, grab toothbrushes and toothpaste and walk towards the toilet. The walk seems so long but soon, we reached!

Back in Bunk, we prepared to fall in. In our t-shirt, shorts and shoes. But wait, something gone missing. A good buddy began to shine his torch in the mist of darkness so as not to wake the others up who are trying to catch that extra minutes of sleep in search of that something. One by one, we started to do the same and all looking for a common item. Socks! Our socks mysteriously gone missing. Time and tide waits for no man, quickly we grab another pair of socks, cutting short our early morning discussion.

The whole day left us puzzled... Who stole our socks? Was it a prank? I concluded that it could have been a rat though, and its looking for something comfortable and able to keep him warm. It was a cold night after all. The day went passed, night falls, lights off, hit the deck!

The next morning, as I dragged myself out of bed, i saw a little creature running acrossing the room, it was a mouse i concluded. The same situation happen again! Oh no! if its a prank, it was a nasty one. This time round, we were rushing for outfield and we were preparing our gear to move out. Until a fellow platoon mate came in to investigate, well, he was curious. Silently, he squeeze in to a tight corner of our bunk, were we stored extra beds and mattress. And hit Jackpot! we found the pile of socks. Our missing socks! we swept the pile out to clearly identify it, and within that pile we found 3 baby mices. Poor mices, wonder where is their mummy? Sorry that we have to destroy the nest, it was a nest nicely stack with socks and roof made of a running vest.

To be continued....

Auf Wiedersehen!

getting back to school

hmm... quite a routine week other than one day outfield. well, actually was half a day la, the other half was suppose to go on recce mission, ended up spending the whole afternoon sleeping in 5-ton. rain was the cause of it. so basically in the 5-ton is i stare at you and you stare at me. haha!

did lots of singing. got to learn a new song. army song la, written in bahasa indonesia. tongue tied, having problems pronouncing those words. so when singing as a group i will jus go blah blah blah blah and hope that the singing session would end super fast. got hari raya celebration in camp. overall was fun except that my coy is a bit wet blanket la. haiz... never mind.

i am so addicted to Sudoku now. after playing on my friend's DS. very fun and challenging even though it drains lots of brain energy. getting a hang of it, now is to work on my timing. my first puzzle took about 30 mins plus though... haha! anyway it was found within a game to train the brain, created by a japanese professor.

Oh.. got email from SMU, its about the NSmen Jamboree. wee.. looking forward to that event la, its suppose to be a matriculation exercise plus a little performance by the undergrads and interaction with the Dean and Profs. my first step getting back to school and kiss good bye to army. 11 more months to go...! argh!

Auf Wiedersehen!

oh no! i am older..

last sat celebrated my birthday. this year, quite tone down. Morning received a few greetings, 1 from my late uncle, oh well.. it was actually my aunt using his hp to send. it was the first message i read when i jus woke up, lying on the bed half awake. one moment i thought i was up there! haha.. well.. can't thank you enough uncle pat! =)

Dinner with Suky and my family, food portion was HUGE!! thank god we didn't order a set meal each of us because we ended up having trouble finishing what we shared. haha! oh yah, there is this waiter who serves dishes with his super large arm that can bear the weight of 4 large plates. hmmm.... i rather not build those arm size. otherwise look out of proportion. So after that, finally after soooo.... long we got Donut Factory! Wee.... Still got to queue but quite fast to get our nuts!

Thank you Dear for the present. it was beautiful.

Sunday was dragged out by my 2 ever "wonderful" buddies for breakfast. and then a pool session following by lunch. nice catching up with them, hearing their ever scandalous life. hehe! hey bros, reading this, u know i am just kidding rite! =) borrowed a few CD in fact is many cds from joel, Dvorak, Mahler and Beethoven DVDs. Cool! slowly listening to it. oh.. Dvorak no.8 is nice!

back in camp, busy with revision for our evaluation stage 1, stage 2 will be in Taiwan next year. Ooo.. can't wait to go there, but haiz... its 1 freaking long month i heard. nvm.

Spent the whole of yesterday stripping the horn and scrubbing it. i mean whole day. took some pictures to document the whole process.. looks cleaner now, jus need to season the horn now. its MINE for NOW!

from left is the valve that just took out from the horn, middle is half way scrubbing it and to the right is a cleaned valve. yah, u still can see some alge on it. best way i think is still get it to chemical clean it professionally. a short horn stripping lesson after alumni band on friday, that's why i ended up getting home late. so to all dearest horn player what you been playing are horn infested with alge unless! u regularly clean the horn.

Auf Wiedersehen!

amazing grace

Auf Wiedersehen!

A good fight, a finished race

this week i learnt a lot about a great man's life. have been running in and out of camp for compassionate reasons. well, my uncle called home to be with the Lord. surely going to miss him a lot since he was one of an inspiring figure in my life. He is no longer around, but the memories will be kept locked within me. Someone once told me, don't just remember him, remember the memories and the moments together.

"You have fought the good fight,
you have finished the race,
you have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord the righteous Judge,
will award to you on that day-
and not only to you, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Till we meet again in the house of the Lord my greatest Uncle! =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

Post AOH

last wed a post AOH celebration was held. Quite a simple affair la, some speeches by highest rank personnel. thanks here and there, then there was food. lots of food. espically my platoon who took a mountain high of cheese hotdogs and i was the "choosen" one to carry it.

every pair of eyes stared at me as i walk around carry that plate, ready to serve the ever hungry platoon. haha! so after that, nights out! wee.. went to jurong point. kinda felt like an ass for not going home since it was so near. went to toys-r-us and drool over the boxes of board games. yah, board games.

over there also got those foam swords, squeeky hammers and plastic helmets. fooling around with those toys la, reliving our childhood days. see... how much stress we can get in camp, and this is how we release those stress... haha! ok, got to admit we are crazy. but it helps to surpress the pain and fear inside me.

other than that... nothing much, head back to camp for more Risk and Scrabble... Wee...!

Auf Wiedersehen!

AOH 2007

coming to the end of my long break from AOH '07. last weekend was a quite busy, but manage to see my loved ones at AOH even though weekend burnt! yah, 5 days of standing, bending, teaching and explaining people how to play computer game. sometimes have to endure girls screaming and yelling when they got 'shot' and whinning when they are not winning at all. haha...

most of my time spent is teaching small kids la, all my friends prefer to teach young girls. haiz.. can see them flocking towards them when they are playing, clearly seen all the wolves tails coming out of them and the sharp edged teeth and claws ready to pounce on them. you know what i mean la. i can't be bothered. there are many other people needs to be served.

the young kids quite fun to play with also. i will never forget the expression of this small boy who burst his balloon while the father is enjoying the game, ignoring his son when the son calls for his attention. so... to up hold the image of SAF, be service-oriented and friendly, i play with the kid lo. he is so cute....

once in a life time experience. never to do it again for a second time. sure to be something that i will missed greatly.. oh by the way... 1 YEAR TO ORD LO!

Auf Wiedersehen!

i am as strong as the weakest link

been very down lately. things are not as they are used to be.

visited a close relative at the hospital. i shall not mention names. very sad at how his condition worsened, totally lost for words when i saw him la. haiz... but he is more optimistic about his recovery and i pray to god for his speedy recovery. he wants to have a beer drinking session next week with my dad man! =) when we wanted to leave, he stopped us, wants to watch EPL with my dad, but its friday and yet he is too weak to realise its friday. haiz... well, we did stay a little longer keeping him company and give all the moral support we can.

the fight with the illness has been more than a year already, and still why can't the virus jus surrended and admit to defeat. urgh..! can i jus go in and fight them off? i jus wish i can do something. feel hopeless when i can't help.

Am i strong mentally? I asked myself. During exercises where it runs throughout the night conquring the most difficult terrain, lack of sleep. i always tell myself to stay away and never fall out. Climbing up Biang, i tell myself i must get up there at all cost. No doubt its takes alot of physcial strength to overcome it. but mostly its all up there in the brain. so am i strong in the end?

I am as strong as the weakest link

Auf Wiedersehen!

disorganise

never update for awhile already. life's been ok ok in camp. National day was well.. spent away from home. so the next day was at NTU watching SSO's campus concert. hmm... i enjoyed it quite a lot. actually, been drowning myself with lots of symphonies and concertos la, hear too much of R&B in camp already. Although i try hard, but couldn't appreciate that genre. =)

Hmm.. I am missing my horn man, after listening to SSO lo. But then, the horn tone was not the idea tone that i am aiming to achieve. it feels great to be able to play like them one day lo. hope it comes soon enough. I WANT A HORN! hehe..

Okay, Sunday's violin masterclass is totally screwed up. First was the ticketing, i felt the salesperson could have took the initiative to ask what kind of tickets i am want to purchase since there was tickets for individual classes and a seasonal pass which entitles entry to all classes la. So, when i mention that i want to get the individual tickets, obviously next is to ask which classes instead of putting me off by telling me that tickets are sold 30mins before start of class. Bad start to the masterclass. Next was a printing error, which i doubt so, i suspect they change the venue and well... without informing people. there wasn't any signage to indicate anything.

So! the masterclasses that i attend is to whereby the organisers specially invite students to perform while a prof would then advise, suggest and teach the students infront of a group of audience on the particular topic its conducting. Haha, this masterclass is sort of a walk in clinic for musicians. well, at least the prof was able to conduct some impromtu lesson on violin techniques la. At least i walk away with my questions answered. phew..!

Weather at night was screwed up, raining cats and dogs at NTU, so for the fear that i will be late, i took cab to camp, ended my camp was freaking dry and i am super early. Conceed defeat to murphy's law, i book in lo, about 2 hours early. haiz... oh nvm.. I love the army.

past 5 days was training to prepare for Army Open house. We are in-charge of the LAN gaming so what we did was to play games and play more games. haha! actually i falling sick soon from playing games. have this puking and coughing sensation as i play. perhaps not used to the quick motion generated from the games. well.. more prep to come until the actual day. I don't have the exact details of the open house. so for those who are interested to come, pls find out yourself from adverts la. okay!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Jigsaw Puzzle

u know, i actually started on doing a jigsaw puzzle. hmmm.. amaze at how fast i actually manage to get it piece together. i didn't have the confidence to finish it when i first started it. well that's because i don't always fix one. about one in a decade perhaps.

i find it amazing at how the jigsaw puzzle are piece together. constantly working out the odds of getting the right piece at the right place. think about it, jigsaw puzzle is just like life, sometimes it just manage piece it right the first time, sometimes it takes a little twist and turn around to fit in to the pieces beside it, and most of the time you won't even know where that piece you picked up from the box belongs to too until another piece tells you so.

i know it seems out of place to write this entry, but just too many things are happening recently and my mind seems pretty messed up. well... end of the day, the most important thing it to be happy and contented with what you have. =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

another outfield

this week had outfield. AGAIN. i realise i am begining to hate it. and i am losing appetite eating combat rations. Eww.. okay la, can't be help, i ate that for 10 days while in brunei k. sick of it.

but everytime an outfield makes good training for me to survive in the field whether as a military personnel or civilian next time. hmm.. seems determine to do my Everest Base Camp trek in the near future. my dream. Did nightwalk also, found it no kick at all man! after what i have gone through in brunei. pretty easy walk except for the lack of sleep coz the nightwalk is from 2359 to the next morning to complete 2 missions.

End of outfield, we had a parade to turn ops. That's that... next 2 days really slack and slack, especially today where i can sleep until i don't want to sleep and 100% willing to volunteer to clean arms and do stores. haha! Oh... i shall learn to love outfield again. Soldier!

Auf Wiedersehen!

another week

its another week of normal training in camp. i shall not say much. monday on leave so accompanied Suky to NTU for her medical. we did something erm... out of the norm.. haha! read her blog. then meet the guys at army market. i feel so cheated buying the ground sheet. well.. its better than signing 1206. Whoever that fella who took my groundsheet.. ha! i pray that water will seep through when it rainings heavily ah! (even though its brand new!). Ate sinful stuffs, chocolate fondue la! oh my god..... nice nice, especially the home made ice cream.

friday, when to meet dear after her concert at NYP. its such a kick to be able to eat $5 macdonalds.. Oooo la la...then saw my bro who attended the concert, i couldn't make it in time la. and a few alumni's, np band ppl.

Saturday was at esplanade, last minute change of plans. saw lots of kids streaming to the NDP preview. Sakae sushi was nice, but haiz.. should have waited for the seats near the sushi bar, quite incovinient to call waiter to take order. i rather self-service. anyway, i got 3 new CDs! Wee... my ear is dying to listen to some music. or rather new music.. haha! am enjoying it as i type. ok ok, that's all folks! =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

Progressive Training

first week back in camp after lancer. Feels kinda weird and out of place in Support Coy. haha.. guess attached too much to Charlic Coy already. So basically resume physical training and i am now sufferring from muscle aches! argh...! Progressive training? I don't think so. Lol, coz the amount of push-ups and stuffs its beyond everyone (read EVERYONE's) limit. But i still love the nights where we sit around a table, drinks, snacks and a hell lot bunch of crap to talk and laugh about! weee..!

Wednesday morning had a SAF day parade. Again, its to stand there and look pretty, bask under the morning sun, listening to the SAF day message then take the SAF pledge. It always gives me goosebumps when we recite that pledge especially the last 3 words. Yikes! okay, i shall not say much. must be patriotic (coughs!).

Bored at home, so have been playing with a new post-processing style. LOMO actions in Photoshop. Let me see what i can get out of it. next time then post up some samples la!

Auf Wiedersehen!

MILK Charity Run Pt 2

Sorry, i removed the pics from the previous post. Was bored at home because the TV has been invaded by my bro n friends. So i start to photoshop some pics.

Auf Wiedersehen!

MILK Charity Run

Wooh! Join the MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Run yesterday with Dear. The event was held at Zouk Carpark. Okay, now i know where is Zouk. haha! Sorry guys, i don't club so don't call me a sotong. Hmm.. running route was along Singapore River from Robertson Quay to somewhere before Boat Quay then U-turn around back to start point. All in all the route is 4km.

Initially the start of run is quite slooooowwwww.... i thought i was participating in MILK walk instead. haha! was very crowded la, so everyone was walking, jamming the whole running path. Somebody please put butter!!! argh.. so both of us started to snake around the crowd and slowly overtake the crowd. Wee...!

Overall, not as shag as i thought, long time never do long distance run liao. have always do 2.4km max! but again there isn't a steep up slope at the end unlike in camp, so quite easy. Bananas and 100 plus was a treat at the end, rest and recover back, collected our bags and off we go from the venue not forgetting Ben 'n' Jerry's ice-cream. Yum! We will be back next year! participating in 5.3km la! at least not so crowded. haha!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Ex Bahru

Yesterday my section conducted an exercise code-named Ex Bahru. Our objective is to conquer shops and malls in JB la! haha.. we actually planned this outing while outfield in Brunei and always joke about how "tough" this exercise is going to be, even tougher than Lancer. Lol..!

Fall-in was between 1030-1100. but yet the two guys who stayed the nearest to Kranji mrt is late! grr.. oh well... so we endure hunger and get across the border where good food awaits us. had kenny rogers for lunch. we actually ordered the same dish. so by the time the waitress took order from the 2nd person, she kinda guess what kind of chicken we wanted. Black Pepper.

after lunch, we carried on walking around Citysqaure, actually only 2 guys wanted to buy clothing's la. so they actually walk ahead until we lost them. haa.. the remaining of us just dropped an SMS tell them to meet us at a particular time so we can carry on shopping. so i saw this push-cart selling something interesting that i really wanted to get for Dear. i am not going to tell...! haha! and i got it!

there is this shop that sells clocks and one of their design was a treble clef. oh my god. it caught my eye that i really want to get it. but at the thought of lugging it back to Singapore. erm... next time ba.. when i am not so lazy. Cab over to Holiday plaza, friends want to get some DVD (read: pirated!) kinda scary process.. i shall not explain much. later kena caught! ha!

Met Xiuling at Arcade in Citysquare. haha! surprise, that i gave an expression of "i caught you red-handed" well.. i don't who she was with. main thing was, the world is so small that you can bump into anyone without knowing it.

End Ex at around 2200... by the time all shagged out already. Ex Bahru was quite a success even though a few of them spent so much without knowing what they have spent on. hehe! today everyone will assess the financial damage. for me.. well... haha! not much damage done. phew..!

Auf Wiedersehen!

From the Land, Air and Sea

Its been a long time since i was in Singapore. I touched down today around 12.40pm from Bandar Seri Bangawan. Happily shopping at Duty Free, getting some wine and beer. Well, let's rewind back 18 days before.

After posting the last entry, we actually headed to Coffee Bean inside T2 for a cuppa of coffee to keep me awake until i can board the plane. haha! from where we were sitting sipping away, the plane Royal Brunei Airlines was just right in front of us. So every thing felt normal as we go through security at the gate and boarded the plane. i message dear, update her on my flight. the morning was beautiful at changi, only regret is i don't have my camera to capture the moment. Breakfast was served on board, no before long i doze off with the tiny pillow provided. Reality sets in when the plane starts its descend into Brunei.

Once we were on the ground, i wish i didn't make that flight. no one wants to rush off the plane because its the mark of the beginning of a long and tough training in brunei. We were whisked away onto a awaiting bus headed for the water taxi that will take us through the Temburong River towards Bangar Town. Caught a little glimps of BSB, the famous water village in brunei as we sail on. the boat ride was an hour plus long so again, we slept.

Fast forward abit, upon arrival at the camp, we (as in my section) found out that the platoon will be split into our attached coys, so i bunk in with Charlie Coy where it my new "home" for the next 18 days. Training will be with them and for once not with Support Coy. the first few days was in camp training trying to get used to the terrain in Brunei, we climb knolls and get soak in water. First night, i read the letter Support OC wrote to all of us, it made me teared for the first time. In it, was a card with a personal message that goes "Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth."

Ex Nomad, was a 3D2N navigation exercise in the brunei jungle. my first outfield bashing through the vegetation, climbing up knolls and down the spurs as we find checkpoints around the jungle. By 3pm we start to find our harbouring area for the night. the first night out there requires some getting used to. Sun sets at 5.30pm in Brunei and not before long by 7 everything is dark. Even with your hand 10cm away from your face also can't be seen! we slept on hammock. again it's my first time la, so didn't set up properly ended sleeping in an uncomfortable manner. it poured heavily the first night, lucky my shelter was properly built so i stayed fairly dry. Second night harbouring was a little impromptu because as we were navigating, it poured suddenly so we quickly built temporary shelter which ends up where we are sleeping for the night. it became a close bonding session that night as we chat away as it was too early to sleep. not long we managed to navigate out of the jungle on third day noon time. all tired and weary but hey, 1 exercise down, 2 more to go!

the next exercise, came straight the next day after the Nomad, we became the role of enemy to engage in a fire fight with the rifle coy, nothing much for these exercise, just sit around wait for them to come round the training circuit to my check point and fire away! and again, 3 days quickly passed.

We did a technical river crossing to refresh us before the finale exercise.

Before going out for the finale exercise, i got a envelop, in it contains to 2 letter from my parents. again, i cried out. at that point. i missed home. they wrote messages that encourage me and gave me a booster to pull through the last exercise.

Finale exercise includes 2 mission, a climb up Mt Biang and the 7 knolls with river crossing. So we walk again to complete the first mission by day 1 and harbour. Day 2, we waited out in a open patch for a Super Puma helicopter to bring us to the foot of Mt Biang. My first flight on a chopper. Quite exciting to see a helicopter coming into land, then we brisked walk towards it while the rotor blades spin above head and board the chopper. haha! Mt Biang, a legendary mountain for training troops in Brunei. it is a 45 degree inclination uphill for the first roughly 500m then the last part it became steeper that require us to use our hands and feets to get us to the top. My salute to the 84mm when they struggle through the climb to the top when their load is heavier than mine! Day 3 was a mad dash down Mt Biang towards the river crossing site then up down the 7 knolls. I nearly lost my mind and broke down as we walk and walk and walk with no end in sight. but hey, i pulled through even though my section was already down with 2 men that means our load we carry became heavier. Day 4, the happiest day in Brunei, mission 2 was executed and not long...... END EX! yeah! as we cheered because the days in Brunei are soon ending! upon returing to camp, 4 of us, Anthony, Kenneth, Ming Wei and myself, was hurried to pack our kit bag to send back as we are the first 4 pioneers to fly back while the rest are on the last flight which they are making their way back as i type.

R&R was yesterday, we toured around BSB. Visited the M&M&M's (Mosque and Museum and Mall). tell you the truth, Brunei wasn't as bad as it thought other than being a strict muslim country. Everything is Gold! even the dustbin, electrical plugs and supermarket trolley! haha! i have no pictures to show because i never bring camera la! We toured the water village and actually dropping into one of the house to experience what is like to stay in there. this morning was dead straight heading for the airport and no way i was to turn back! got on to my window seat! finally! haha! now back to terra firma.

the past 18 days, like the phrase from the infantry song which all BMTC recruits sing at POP "from the land, air and sea." that was happen during the 18 days. we walk, flew, swim, climb. i don't know how i did it, but i did it! its hard to describe. it takes one to experience it to know how it felt like. glad that i didn't fall out and endure through the training. now back home i shall enjoy the next 7 days relaxing before the next phrase of training begins till turning ops to protect the nation.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Pre-Flight Entry

haha! blogging from Terminal 2. Just checked into my flight, going to grab a bite before boarding. See you guys in a few weeks time....

Don't worry guys, i will take care of myself. I pray for all back at home!

Auf Wiedersehen!

jus an update

so this is an account of what happen the past few (or perhaps many) days... not in good mood to write so here goes bunch of rubbish..

its feels wonderful to be able to touch and kiss the french horn again. haha! manage to attend alumni band prac even though they were preparing for concert. i have been labelled as "guest player". oh well... serving the country has higher prority? yah.. so eh, really miss playing horn la. nice to catch up with the rest of the guys. seeing them makes me miss those times before i enlist into army. wish i could have more time to hang out with them. and well.. first alumni concert and i am not playing. what's worst..? i am not around in Singapore.

Saturday was grandpa's birthday. was suppose to be held at some restaurant la, but haiya, don't know what happen. end up doing it at his house. brought Suky along to well... meet the family? it was boring as usual, we kept ourselves entertain by arm and thumb wrestling. i think i should stop doing thumb wrestling, i sprain my thumb in camp and still hurts whenever i play piano. what a pain..

Sunday watched shrek 3 then went to vila'ge for rosti. i love it! wee..! actually watch with suky's collegues la, noisy but lively bunch. hmm... better than those bunch of monkeys in camp i think!

final packing of kit bag for past 3 days. not really in the mood to blog. coz going to brunei soon. haiz.. mood is on a roller coaster ride. going up and down, up and down. i won't want to say much. the following is my flight details.

Outbound flight - BI 428
Departure Date/Time - 9 June @ 0710

Inbound flight - BI 421
Arrival Date/Time - 26 June @ 1245

Auf Wiedersehen!

Army takes you places

yes it does! where in Singapore you will find opportunities to sail out to sea on a motorised boat to remote unheard (for the non-adventures) islands around the mainland. For example, Pulau Seletar, a tiny island north east along the coastal border between Singapore and Malaysia, where we set foot on watching people water ski by and waves created by the speed boats crashes onto the shore. It also gives you an opportunity to sleep on the tiny boat while waiting for fellow servicemen training on shore. The gentle waves rock you to sleep.

En-route we sail pass larger vessels unloading sand on to barges tied along side. Sand, fragments of mother nature trinkle down like rain drops as it unload from the jaws of the cranes. Looking across the border, you would see vessels berth aside the Malaysian port, ships carrying cargo of all shapes and sizes coming from different parts of the world. At that point in time, you will realise you are a dwarf among the giant of the seas. A little something related to our job, we saw a World War II bunker amongst the bushes where once British soldiers stood guard against enemy forces protecting our then a British Coloney.

Returning home, we leave behind a horizon with golden rays of setting sun. How we wish we could see such sights again, well of course minus the training we got to do. I once looked up, sun rays peaked through a hole in the grayish clouds, rain drops fall on us, we were tired but the sight just simply takes everything and let us enjoy the moment.

In two weeks time, I will embark on a journey to brunei for my first overseas training. It will take me through the dense forest where i was told you could not see you hand infront of you when night falls. I wonder what it has on offer for me. Only time will tell....

Auf Wiedersehen!

Colorgenics

You are seeking an affectionate relationship, offering fulfilment and happiness. You are capable of powerful emotional enthusiasm. Deep down, you are a kind loving person, always helpful and willing to adapt yourself if necessary to realise the bond of affection that you desire. But you need the same consideration and understanding from others and it is this need that will sometimes hold you back... so let go, trust and you may pleasantly surprised at what happens.

You are an emotional and sensitive person. You are inclined to delight and wallow in all things that give pleasure to your senses but nevertheless your tastes are refined and you reject anything that is indecent or vulgar.

Nothing seems to be going right for you and you are thwarted every way you turn. You are not at all happy with the situation but it would appear that there is very little that you can do about it at this time. Sit back and let the situation take its course, because at this time you feel that there is nothing you can do to change whatever needs to be changed.

You are being unduly influenced by the situation that is all around you. You do not like the feeling of loneliness and whatever it is that seems to separate you from others. You know that life can be wonderful and you are anxious to experience life in all its aspects, to live it to the full. You therefore resent any restriction or limitations that are being imposed on you and you insist on going it alone.

You wish to be left in peace... no more conflict and no more differences of opinion. In fact you just don't want to be involved in arguments of any shape or form. All you want is for 'them' to get on with it - and to leave you alone.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Sushi!

hmm... i think it was my 3rd visit to sentosa this year? oh well.. everything is changing very fast on that island that things are disappearing without knowing lo. Suky wanted to watch the musical fountain which we found out it was closed when we reach there. so after scratching a few heads, haha, decided to catch the newest attraction there? Songs of the Sea.

had Sakae Sushi for dinner. mmm... wasn't fantastic for that outlet. Miso ramen doesn't taste like miso ramen. ordered chawanmushi which took forever to come and in the end, it didn't! coz why.. out of stock! thanks for not informing us. i don't know about how other outlets fair, but food was sub-standard. perhaps just enough to fill the stomachs of those who spend the day sun-tanning there? i won't blacklist Sakae yet, i shall try other places next time.

8/10 marks for Songs of the Sea. I like the lighting effects on water, how they are able to synchonize music with the water and fire display. it would have been a perfect 10 la, not for the lame story and acting. i can't really describe the whole thing, you would have to be there yourself to watch.

After that, we slack by the beach..... thanks for the wonderful night dear, i love you! =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

Back to Tekong

tuesday was back at tekong for 32 km route march with river crossing as part of the requirement for getting the CSB badge. really miss that place so much. brings back so much memories. the weekly fast craft ride across to the island, the costal route where we did our 2.4km run, the parade square where i passed out from BMT. i wish i had a chance to visit Leopard Coy again man.. and do my favorite activity there, watching planes flying over head taking off and landing at changi

so we alight at TFT and wait for troop lift to old sispec where it will be our starting and ending point for the route march. saw 2 companies of recruits doing their 16km route march. eh, praying for Leopard coy to be one of them la, but don't have. =( nvm. the route around tekong to me back to my 2 field camp sites, haha.. can still remember the days i camp out there lo.. tough but fun. then river crossing at 24km point @ 4.30 am can! everytime i stop whether i standing or sitting, i will fall asleep. haha..! but after crossing the freezing water everyone is awake lo! everything ends on Wednesday morning. breakfast then a 100m combat shoot. see! i am going back to places where i have never thought i will be going back to. feel a little regret leaving that island.. i will be back there someday again. i hope.

IPPT was on monday. i can see some improvements in the results, but haiz, still not good enough. arrrh...! oh well...

on block leave today. to let us recover from the 32km march. 50km route march is next, coming soon in july. arrrh!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Callsign Explomo

its been an exciting week. firstly we had chemical defence training. tuesday was doing the CD training, first time experience wear mopp suit. its quite hot and stuffy in that suit. hope i never have to wear it again. the lecture was eh.... boring la! watch so many video. brain suffering from information overload. haha! we were out early wednesday morning to the CBRE training facility. Entered the gas chamber in mopp4. even though the gas mask has been tested air tight, gas still manage to enter the mask and sting my eyes. we did some simple exercise in there then remove the gas mask and report IC n Name. that is the most painful part coz the gas will sting the whole face, eyes start to cry and have running nose. big relive when we are allowed to leave the room but go out of the chamber still crying while waiting for the effect to wear off.

20 hours of live firing on saturday. eh.. quite tiring coz attached to rifle coy again, so must route march with them before they attack their objective. so i had to carry the PLC and march with them before firing it. setting it up was stressful because of CO just beside me. panic panic panic. when the thing went off.. relieve la. fantasize for fluffy hotcakes and hot coffee after everything finish. so sleepy that i could not walk up the stairs properly. had to lean against the railing. haha! didn't sleep at all since i finish my things at 4.30 and book out was at 6am. macdonalds breakfast after that then head home and collapse on the bed.

went to Suky's home yesterday. then nothing to do so we went to courts to take a look. they showcase all the game console there lo.. tried the nintendo DS. play pokemon la.. fun fun. walk around look at furnitures and fittings, in search of a dream home. haha! but i still prefer ikea la. ha! dinner was KFC, something simple la.. then had a nice walk around the park, play with the low rope (yes! i can finally climb it!) and chin up bar. can't pull much coz too heavy from the dinner. haha! had a nice talk to dear la. don't worry, we will pull through this diffcult time together. pray pray pray!

Auf Wiedersehen!

biology lesson

jus a quick entry. last day of my long weekend, jus before i leave the house, got a phone call whether i was able to go back for guard duty. Grrr... actually i don't mind la, but things have been planned out already. was trying to be very nice to reject it. on my way to city hall to meet dear, bumped into my junior from shuqun. talk all the way till she alight la. haha.. so moments from meeting dear, got phone call again whether i still can go back for duty anot. i feel quite bad to say no. but hey, i can't expect dear to travel all the way from tampines to city hall to tell her she have to turn around and go home right. besides... where are the reserves?!

it was my cousin's birthday today, so yah, trying to search for a last minute present for him. ended up suky and i were fiddling with all the baby's toy in the kids section. haha! in the end, didn't buy anything la. so it was the first meeting between suky and the rest of the cheong family. Mmmm.... lots of food to eat. the waiter like serve non-stop lo. both of us struggling to eat.

Joshua's cake is a 3D power ranger or something like that. and yah, the young kids were like tempting to cut it into pieces. talk about childhood violence! all the restaurant staff were awed by the sheer size of the cake. the kids were wanting to cut the arms, the legs and ethan he wanted to cut off the head. OMG! haha, well he wish was granted. thank god we didn't get the human body puzzle otherwise they will have some sadist thoughts about the human body when they play with it. after lunch, we were split on deciding to have theory lesson or drop into joshua's house to slack. well, dear don't feel bad k? =)

Nintendo Wii is fun to play man! oh i wish i have one. bowling was quite realistic except for the ball was a remote. hehe! kids being kids, they have fun playing it la. after that, all went home.

i had a fun day. i hope you too dear. it was wonderful day with you. =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

Blueberry Soda

botanic garden outing yesterday. its been a long time since i went there, i can last remember going there for band performance during those days in shuqun. performing at the symphony stage. but didn't really walk around the garden much last time.

so yah, its quite hard to get there by train. a little research on the web to find the bus service from the nearest mrt station. i do have a little complain about the search engine used on their website. oh well.. i am now an engineer not a IT programmer so yah, such things leave it to professionals to improve on it. hehe!

the garden.. hmm.. not much flowers to see. basically are different types of green plants. haha! its just been beautified by the landscape artist. part of our journey was tracking through familiar grounds. the dense rainforest. only animal seen was a squirrel. no wild boars around! i also don't wish to see any. haha!

caught SCO performance on symphony stage. eh.. my first time view a proper chinese orchestra performance. eh.. they are good. well.. of course they are good. they are professionals la. not a big fan of it but i really appreciate their performance. nice nice. they actually played Slavonic Dances No. 8. hehe.. sounds quite unique, its like east meets west?

NYDC for dinner, ooohhh... one of the best meal so far. yummy!

Sunday's could not have been better without you dear. I love you! =)

for the rest - sorry if i have been too mushy eh? =)

Auf Wiedersehen!

River Crossing, Route March

my first taste of actual river crossing this week. head over to a river gap somewhere beside raffles country club. Weather wasn't good that morning coz it poured heavily so everywhere will be water logged and muddy not forgetting to mention also, the water was freezing cold! Brr..... At first quite fun when entered the water in clean fatigue then in FBO attire. Get into the water then drag myself across and skid along the water. haha! wee... did it twice la, but do more i think its going to get boring.

i thought 24km was going to be my last. then came 28km. it was actually RT la. for those who didn't walk with the battalion. coz i was on course then. so we walk around camp for 32 rounds la. till my feet sore and still sore now. haha!

was out with suky yesterday. went to catch mr bean's holiday. wasn't a fantastic movie, more of like something to relax yourself and laugh out loud la. then was at ns40 exhibition. saw my BMT friend Stanley, one of the exhibitors over there representing his unit on homeland defence. nice catching up with him. last saw him was at ETI. didn't really interest me, coz they display things i see day in day out. haha!

dinner served was fish n co. eh... fish n chips a little to oily for my taste. hehe.. but was still better then changing appetite lo. okay. off to enjoy my long weekend. Gracias..!

Auf Wiedersehen!

iced kiwi soda

sorry for the lack of post the past 2 weeks. alot of activities in camp especially for my platoon. last week we track through the central catchment area from upper pierce reservior all the way to mandai in the MIDDLE of the night. quite scary in the first place as we entered the jungle but as soon our eyes adjusted to the darkness i think was ok la. during the day it rained so by the time we walk, everywhere in the jungle was muddy and wet.

River crossing! OMG.. all our boots got soak in water 4 times throughout the 13 hours mission lo. very scared get foot rot. yah, walked in FBO. fell quite a number of times in the night. haiz.. a bit low morale then.. praying for it to end soon. i mean SOON! FBO weigh at minimum 20kgs on my shoulder. track uphill downhill. till we track side by side an expressway la, so happy, thought finishing soon, that was around 6am ah.. but no la! exercise cut at around 1pm. once exercise cut, return to training shed, sat down without realising i still have FBO on.. haha..! only when OC tell me, then i realise it. well.. they always say, shag cannot think.

out with dear on saturday, went to changing appetite to eat lo. omg.. lousy food over there except for the fries and iced kiwi soda. haha! yes dear, u had iced pineapple soda. never going to eat there again. cartel was a wiser choice. beautiful sunday, eh... not very good le. oh well... every band has its up's and down's, good days and bad..

was at shuqun on saturday also. gave them some support for SYF. this year's judging quite strict so lots of bands dropped medal. heard them, can get silver la, and they did! congrats.

past few days was field camp. again but for the last time got to dig my sleeping area! grr.. built obstacles on monday night then we hor-lan (a.k.a lost our way) super shag that i can't walk in a straight path lo. damn... then next day, damn angry with those armoured vehicles. run over the obstacles then got to walk back to repair it. grr... wed night got "attack" by "enemies". haha... lots of funny things happen. but can't post here. very happy coz field camp cut short by one day, otherwise i will still be in camp by now.

quite tired now. well.... more updates next time!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Ubin Series

spent the morning editing a few snapshots of ubin taken on good friday. Would really love to go back there to capture the charms of that island again. Meanwhile enjoy....

Auf Wiedersehen!

Slack week

a slack week is really hard to come by in camp. 2 days basically do nothing much expect for playing ping pong and i am getting good at it. well, still not that good to always win la. haha! after booking out, together with my friends went to geylang to have a good meal. the fried beef kway teow hor fun. Ohhh... very soft tender beef. haha! and also have beancurd la. damn nice la! ok, then come the part i don't really enjoy most. 3 of them want to wonder into the sleazy lanes of geylang. well.. its the only way back to home for me, so i no choice follow lo. its damn sleazy lo! never i think going there. Eeeee....!

Good friday was spent with dear at pulau ubin. took quite a number of photos. but all not with me now. fell off the bike twice. a few deep cuts. haha! COCONUTS! had many many of them. haha! on the way back, got splash by the waves many many times. went to changi beach to relax while dear ate her ice cream. ok, there was this cute dog we saw, keeps turning 360 degrees every few steps. so when we walk behind that dog for like 100m, it make 12 turns lo. don't what's wrong with that dog. paranoid maybe? haha. dinner at tampines and went back home. sleep sleep sleep!

okay. post edited from here. went out to suntec city with dear to get her wallet. yah, then bum into my aunt and her friend which i can't remember how i address her last time. long time never see her also. hehe.. then we walk from city hall all the way to plaza singapura la. pass by Singapore Arts Museum. haha. decided to go in and take a look since we have lots of time. i think the collection there are modern arts. especially those pieces done by Indonesian and Filipino artist tells the story about how their life in their respective countries. eh... don't know how to describe la. free must go and take a look. it was raining outside, so both of us were freezing inside there. Carl's jr for dinner. huge burger...! nearly wanted to order the double size but after second thoughts, order the normal size. Scared cannot finish ah.

so we had to look for some theory books. went to music plaza... no stock. walked to music essential also no stock. haha.. but music essential suddenly found a dog inside. cute! its the boss's dog. but he not around. thank god! manage to get the books at tampinese music plaza outlet la.

Auf Wiedersehen!

On leave!

Yes, its monday and i am at home! muahahaha...

last week, quite terrible. because bad news a plenty. first my friday off got cancelled which means i couldn't go to the airport to pick dear up. well.. in return i get 2 days leave. Good things do happen. then about field camp, was told each section is going to attach to a rifle coy. gee..! so i will be going on field camp 9-11 april. as short as possible please..!

nearly passed IPPT. quite happy la, the best result since i enlisted. hehe..

Saturday was well.. almost picture perfect. went to watch phantom of the opera. wonderful show, now i know what is the storyline like. one of the best musical i watch so far la. but i still can't tolerate latecomers... urgh! always blocking my view of the stage. like those pirated VCDs were you see people walking left and right of the screen.

Campfire is over. Finally...! No more such things. No MORE!!! bad stuffs put behind me and i will move on. thanks for being beside me dear, i couldn't have imagine what will happen if i am there alone despite you having a terrible headache.

SWO on sunday. stayed for the whole practice. my horn was missing. someone took it away. i going to catch you man! haha... took another horn first lo... well. can't blame them la, i always not there. planning to repair another horn there (why me again!) coz i prefer that horn le. i don't know why la, all horns are the same, but when played it feels different. must find a compatible partner one. hahaha!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Appreciation n Blessings

i always want to thank God for his continual blessings. Just reached home not long ago. Initially wanted to take a train but gut feeling was to take a cab. and guess what? it poured heavily half way through the journey.

this week was more or less an easy week to pass. there wasn't much opportunity to do PT because of live firing again. Well.. didn't mange to get my marksmanship but glad that i pass the test. there is an anniversary celebration in camp, never get to know what's going on because continuously doing fatigue work. haha.. price to pay for being an organiser. oh well, everyone got to play their part.

went back for alumni band last night. it was one of those rare friday nights that i am free. they played the same song again. because never practice, always get scolded. not me of course! haha. i wish i will join them for the concert but most probably still stuck in brunei.

finally get to go for dental therapy today. did only general check up. but bad thing happen. black out during consultation and blood pressure drop again. begin to wonder if this is a health problem. most slightly will consider go for a body checkup. must consult my parents first. haiz.. stress... but docs and nurses there were very good. constantly attending to me to make sure i was alright. i just can't put a value to the number of thanks i want to say.

rest of the night was spent with dearest. attendent TPJC alumni band concert. and roaming around tampines. i always feel blessed to be with her. seeing her only once a week, makes me appreciate all the minutes and second we are together. can't wait to see her again!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Oreo Cheese Cake!

finally home for the night. feels like 2 weeks confinement in camp. arrgh!

ok ok. Live firing was quite fun coz i keep on place the charges in a way so can make the hole in the ground bigger..! haha! itchy hand i know. but not as bad as my friend try to blow stones up! haha! was attack by mosquitoes immediately i arrive there, they are the so called commando mosquitoes, and give no mercy to us. to counter them, we just burn mosquito coil put insect repellent.

IPPT n SOC. ah... don't want to talk about it. did 2nd guard duty for the month. thanks to people who particpated in the CoC (change of command) parade. now got to keep on cover their duties.


yesterday, totally screwed up! uh..! so angry with myself.

out with dear today. visited the asian civilisation musem. dinner at secret recipe. their main course is really CMI la.. Spag meatballs taste like stones from the ground, rock solid and dry. dear ordered pan grill fish, portion was so.... PATHETIC! oh... but the cheese cake! wee! damn good. i think next time go there just for cheese cake and drinks to chill out la. just forget about the main course.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Pit Stop!

i owe this entry to my dear. sorry for not posting it last week. so 2 in 1 can? haha!

eh.. last weekend went to watch Letters from Iwo Jima. highly recommended! I think its based on a true story la. A bit bloody in my opinion. then headed down to clarke quay. a lot of changes down there. but always didn't have a chance to go and take a peek. the place has been revamp to become a tourist attraction lo. so a lot of middle to high end restaurant. stroll down singapore river and end up at esplanade.

teach my dear grade 5 theory the next day, before sending her to band practice while i at home practicing my piano. I have a new goal. to complete my grade 8 theory and also do my diploma la. study study study. and with the no sleeping during office hours, i think i will have enough time to do revisions.

today, its a pit stop back home. heading back to camp later because of live firing. when duty calls, you just have to response to it. a tough week ahead because lots of important activties packed together. how am i going to survive! haha... well.. God bless..! oh yah, NTU is so huge, companied dear to the open house. haha, i think i will get lost if i were to explore there by foot. oh well... i prefer SMU! hehe..!

while typing this, dear is on her way home. west to east. just can't wait to see her again. I MISS YOU!! argh!!! ok ok, going have my long awaited dinner with my family.

Auf Wiedersehen!