last year today i spent it at home doing work. this year, i spent it resting and trying to get over the fact that work is starting soon. 09 will be exciting.. hopefully it'll be exciting good and not bad.. 08 has been good for me, i must say. mostly highs, but the one low made it very sad
highs
1. the trip to states was great. never tot i would be there so soon. it was excellent. still feel it was all a dream...
2. the hk trip was enriching. although i'm in my p's bad books because of it, it was gratifying for me and fufilled my dream of going to work overseas. haha.. maybe next time will go and work for a longer time. who knows? one day i hope to..
3. i took out my braces.. but i just lost my retainers. need to make new ones. heard it's really ex. haiz. damn. so careless of me..
4. i bought a bicycle and then sold it. haha.. i didn't get to use it. ;p
5. made the big decision to get a flat and managed to get one at a good location.. it's only on the third floor but ok lah.. oh supposed to email hdb to ask to get the flat as early as possible.. hmm..
6. passed my exams and made it to the last sem at unisim. i'm alreadi planning to go study other things after the degree. tot of doing graphic design. haha.. crazy..
7. i passed my driving test in 3 months! that was definitely a high. yippeee.. but i must admit i was prouder of myself when i passed my class 2b riding test!
low
1. the passing of Angeline. still rem the moment i got the call, how i drove like mad to the hospital, got stopped by the TP on the way to check if i used legal off-peak car coupon, how it hurt to watch her lie in bed with all the tubes and how painful it was to watch her breathe her last, saying a silent goodbye while watching her devastated parents and relatives cry their hearts out losing the one they loved so much... it was really too much to bear. wat happened that day is still fresh in my mind..
in 09, i hope things will be ok.. keeping my fingers crossed..
i meant to do work today.. but realli tired.. hmm.. maybe tom... i just dun feel like doing to work...
give myself a break... :)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
To USA and back...
wow.. time flies when u are having fun! back after almost 13 days of holidays in the states. first time i've been out of asia... wow.. the onli thing i didn't like so much was the bloddy long flights to and fro.. coupled with bad service from the airline staff, it was quite terrible..
oh, just remembered i need to go pay my school fees for my last sem at sim.. i'm excitedto be done with it.i have learnt lost, but i have also given up lots for it.. hmm..
anyway, back to the trip.. it was great. we started with a 6 hour flight to Tokyo Narita Airport, then took the connecting 11 hour flight to Los Angeles.. Northwest airline is not so good ah.. personal opinion. service was quite bad.. there were good service staff, but the black sheep left a bitter after taste. we were picked up and went to our hotel at Anaheim, the Wnydham hotel. during our trip, the hotel actually changed their name to be Anaheim Park Hotel. hee hee..
doing some shopping..
the area that we lived in was cool. it had lots of shops that allowed us to get alot of the things we wanted.. there was the party shop, sports authority, henry's supermarket, vans shoe shop, tilly's clothes shop, avenue clothes shop, marshall's, target, one dollar shop and so on. there were lots of food places too.. we could try all sorts of fast food. haha.. and there was chinese take out.. like those in the shows... haha.. the orange chicken, black pepper chicken and mushroom chicken with veg and chow mien soon became my favourite! Panda Express was good.. saved our days many a times after our overdose of burgers and chinese buffet. haha.. food is expensive there...
the next two days after we arrived were spent at Disneyland and California Adventure. it was damn cool... never been to disneyland before.. it was great.. found out that the disneyland LA was the first ever.. although it rained on the first day we went and it was bloody cold, we had fun going for the rides and leaving the park with our teeth chattering and shivers till we reached our room... brrrr.... it was cold...
on the fourth day, we woke up late, but somehow made it on time to go for our Las Vegas trip.. a 5 hour journey turned into a 14 hour nightmare as we were stuck. the freeway closed and entry and exit points to vegas were closed.. all because of a freak snow storm that hit vegas, a desert oasis. it was the first time it snowed in about 15 years and the first time it snowed so much in close to 30 years... it caught everyone unaware and because they did not have all the snow removing equipment, vegas authorities closed its doors... airport was shut down, ppl were trapped. we spent the night in Laughlin a town just outsdie Vegas. the tour guide could not give proper answers and the ppl on the bus were pissed and tired of being trapped in the bus... hmmm.. could have been better managed. the next day, we were supposed to go to Grand Canyon.. but our tour guide decided not to go.. and so we didn't. we went to vegas, checked into the hotel Riveria and had lunch. ratnor and i decided that we needed to do some walking after sitting in the bus for so long and we left the tour group to explore on our own.. we went shopping! haha.. went to the Coach Factory Outlet at Vegas and bought so many bags! was helping my sis, aunts and some friends to get some bags.. didn't mange to help everyone get as the designs were off season ones.. my aplogies if i didn;t manage to get any!
the next day, we went back to LA. did some sightseeing of the casinos in Vagas then left.. on our way back, we went to Barstow for more outlet shopping! there i bought some more. haha...
snow-capped mountains...
on the seventh day, we went to San Francisco.. went to Monetery Bay, 17 Miles.. beautiful.. caught the sunset there.. lovely.. then went to check in the Raddison Hotel in Dublin. nice place.. finally free internet... haha... we were like addicts on cold turkey let loose.. leapt onto the laptop and iphone and started surfing.. haha.. next day, it rained and we went to the Golden gate Bridge.. yet again, we bailed out from the tour group and went exploring on our own.. we went to borders at Union Square then went to Pier 39. walked in the freezing rain and had our dinner. by then we were all wet but very happy we left the group.. we took the BART back to Dublin and then took a cab to out hotel.. it was convenient! :)
on day 9, we went to Yosemite National Park to see snow! wow... it was lovely.. for the first time i played with snow and it was fun! haha... amazing experience.. :)
day 10, 11 and 12 were spent shopping.. we rented the car for one day and drove to downtown LA.. roads were crowded with cars.. everyone was doing last moinute shoppin! madness... on xmas eve, we did ourlast minute shooping too and then bought food back for our own xmas dinner. all the shops were closed by 6pm.. everyone was home celebrating!
the next day, we embraked on our long journey back home.. 12 hours from LA to Tokyo then 7 hours from Tokyo back to SG.. phew... flight from tokyo was delayed for three hours.. haiz.. oh well..
at the Narita Airport..
i have to get stuffs done today.. wonder if i should sleep first. haha...
just to share, i have three new cameras! haha.. the white is from ratnor, the ultra small one is from ross and the Nishika is a 3D camera we found in LA selling for a very good price! hahha... woo hoo..
sleep or no sleep? hmm..
oh, just remembered i need to go pay my school fees for my last sem at sim.. i'm excitedto be done with it.i have learnt lost, but i have also given up lots for it.. hmm..
anyway, back to the trip.. it was great. we started with a 6 hour flight to Tokyo Narita Airport, then took the connecting 11 hour flight to Los Angeles.. Northwest airline is not so good ah.. personal opinion. service was quite bad.. there were good service staff, but the black sheep left a bitter after taste. we were picked up and went to our hotel at Anaheim, the Wnydham hotel. during our trip, the hotel actually changed their name to be Anaheim Park Hotel. hee hee..
doing some shopping..
the area that we lived in was cool. it had lots of shops that allowed us to get alot of the things we wanted.. there was the party shop, sports authority, henry's supermarket, vans shoe shop, tilly's clothes shop, avenue clothes shop, marshall's, target, one dollar shop and so on. there were lots of food places too.. we could try all sorts of fast food. haha.. and there was chinese take out.. like those in the shows... haha.. the orange chicken, black pepper chicken and mushroom chicken with veg and chow mien soon became my favourite! Panda Express was good.. saved our days many a times after our overdose of burgers and chinese buffet. haha.. food is expensive there...
the next two days after we arrived were spent at Disneyland and California Adventure. it was damn cool... never been to disneyland before.. it was great.. found out that the disneyland LA was the first ever.. although it rained on the first day we went and it was bloody cold, we had fun going for the rides and leaving the park with our teeth chattering and shivers till we reached our room... brrrr.... it was cold...
on the fourth day, we woke up late, but somehow made it on time to go for our Las Vegas trip.. a 5 hour journey turned into a 14 hour nightmare as we were stuck. the freeway closed and entry and exit points to vegas were closed.. all because of a freak snow storm that hit vegas, a desert oasis. it was the first time it snowed in about 15 years and the first time it snowed so much in close to 30 years... it caught everyone unaware and because they did not have all the snow removing equipment, vegas authorities closed its doors... airport was shut down, ppl were trapped. we spent the night in Laughlin a town just outsdie Vegas. the tour guide could not give proper answers and the ppl on the bus were pissed and tired of being trapped in the bus... hmmm.. could have been better managed. the next day, we were supposed to go to Grand Canyon.. but our tour guide decided not to go.. and so we didn't. we went to vegas, checked into the hotel Riveria and had lunch. ratnor and i decided that we needed to do some walking after sitting in the bus for so long and we left the tour group to explore on our own.. we went shopping! haha.. went to the Coach Factory Outlet at Vegas and bought so many bags! was helping my sis, aunts and some friends to get some bags.. didn't mange to help everyone get as the designs were off season ones.. my aplogies if i didn;t manage to get any!
the next day, we went back to LA. did some sightseeing of the casinos in Vagas then left.. on our way back, we went to Barstow for more outlet shopping! there i bought some more. haha...
snow-capped mountains...
on the seventh day, we went to San Francisco.. went to Monetery Bay, 17 Miles.. beautiful.. caught the sunset there.. lovely.. then went to check in the Raddison Hotel in Dublin. nice place.. finally free internet... haha... we were like addicts on cold turkey let loose.. leapt onto the laptop and iphone and started surfing.. haha.. next day, it rained and we went to the Golden gate Bridge.. yet again, we bailed out from the tour group and went exploring on our own.. we went to borders at Union Square then went to Pier 39. walked in the freezing rain and had our dinner. by then we were all wet but very happy we left the group.. we took the BART back to Dublin and then took a cab to out hotel.. it was convenient! :)
on day 9, we went to Yosemite National Park to see snow! wow... it was lovely.. for the first time i played with snow and it was fun! haha... amazing experience.. :)
day 10, 11 and 12 were spent shopping.. we rented the car for one day and drove to downtown LA.. roads were crowded with cars.. everyone was doing last moinute shoppin! madness... on xmas eve, we did ourlast minute shooping too and then bought food back for our own xmas dinner. all the shops were closed by 6pm.. everyone was home celebrating!
the next day, we embraked on our long journey back home.. 12 hours from LA to Tokyo then 7 hours from Tokyo back to SG.. phew... flight from tokyo was delayed for three hours.. haiz.. oh well..
at the Narita Airport..
i have to get stuffs done today.. wonder if i should sleep first. haha...
just to share, i have three new cameras! haha.. the white is from ratnor, the ultra small one is from ross and the Nishika is a 3D camera we found in LA selling for a very good price! hahha... woo hoo..
sleep or no sleep? hmm..
Monday, December 8, 2008
HK Attachment Day 26 - 29
my bags are bursting. there's no space for more.. and i still have some things i want to get at the airport. damn. shall carry in my hand.hopefully the airline dun throw me off the plane. :( going to showere for one more time, change and then go out for a last photo shoot then i'm off to the airport. well, i can't wait to go home. hk is a nice place. i had a great time here, but it's been too long.. i still have work to do back in sg.. been restless.
frankly, i dun mind working here. just tat it's tough when can't be there for frens or family if need be. i miss my loved ones.. it will be good to work here. the allowance is good. opportunities are there. it's a matter of wanting to do it or not. maybe in a few years time. i might return. to see if my painting survived and also to seek out a living here. the school is a nice place to work at. interesting ppl one might meet. not bad at all..
in 28 days, i took almost all forms of public transport here. the MTR, the double deck bus, single deck bus, minibus, taxi, light rail train, tram, ferry, sampan.. i've done it! hee..i've been to the peak, the wetland park, macau, aberdeen, lan kwai fong, ngong ping, lantau island, tsim sha tsui, ap liu st, sham sui po, kwai fong, wan chai, chentral, sheung wan, tai koo, mei foo, and so many i have not enough time to list..
it has been a good one month away... i had time to reflect.. to learn more and to apply them back into my work.. hopefully i remember them.. eg.. observation, experimentation, practice, composition & describe, analyse, interpret, evaluate. there's more.. like use of art history stories to teach the kids, going thru the process in detail, not rushing..
i think there's a lot to be done. like clearing my super messy art room, clearing my messy table.. i actually managed to keep it tidy for a year.. seriously.. i've never been this tidy before until after i left for hk.. got colleagues to return files to me.. i can so imagine each file balancing precariously on my table.. haha..
i'll try to upload more pics after i go back.. to those who have been reading my journey in hk, thank you for sharing my thoughts.. it has been a great experience.. it's time to go home.. i miss my bed.. the room is always cold here.. even with the blankets, i'm still cold.. haiz.. low threshold for the cold.. haha..
oops.. got to go! :) bye.. see u all back in sg! :)
frankly, i dun mind working here. just tat it's tough when can't be there for frens or family if need be. i miss my loved ones.. it will be good to work here. the allowance is good. opportunities are there. it's a matter of wanting to do it or not. maybe in a few years time. i might return. to see if my painting survived and also to seek out a living here. the school is a nice place to work at. interesting ppl one might meet. not bad at all..
in 28 days, i took almost all forms of public transport here. the MTR, the double deck bus, single deck bus, minibus, taxi, light rail train, tram, ferry, sampan.. i've done it! hee..i've been to the peak, the wetland park, macau, aberdeen, lan kwai fong, ngong ping, lantau island, tsim sha tsui, ap liu st, sham sui po, kwai fong, wan chai, chentral, sheung wan, tai koo, mei foo, and so many i have not enough time to list..
it has been a good one month away... i had time to reflect.. to learn more and to apply them back into my work.. hopefully i remember them.. eg.. observation, experimentation, practice, composition & describe, analyse, interpret, evaluate. there's more.. like use of art history stories to teach the kids, going thru the process in detail, not rushing..
i think there's a lot to be done. like clearing my super messy art room, clearing my messy table.. i actually managed to keep it tidy for a year.. seriously.. i've never been this tidy before until after i left for hk.. got colleagues to return files to me.. i can so imagine each file balancing precariously on my table.. haha..
i'll try to upload more pics after i go back.. to those who have been reading my journey in hk, thank you for sharing my thoughts.. it has been a great experience.. it's time to go home.. i miss my bed.. the room is always cold here.. even with the blankets, i'm still cold.. haiz.. low threshold for the cold.. haha..
oops.. got to go! :) bye.. see u all back in sg! :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
HK Attachment Day 25
I made it unscathed to Day 25! Yippee... :) ok, i did get very dry skin and scratched till there were some scars, but it's fine... i finished my painting! oh.. mentioned that yesterday. haha.. here's the painting....
it's not a very good painting,but it'll do lah.. that's my standard onli ah.. hahaha.. i usually paint less complicated stuff.. haha... only got photos as a keepsake. the actual painting will be hung up in the school. hopefully not stored away in some storeroom! hee hee.. maybe one day if i come back to the school, i'll be able to see it? hee hee.
i went to Tai Koo to the Cityplaza.. it's a very big mall.. very very big.. like taka together with paragon and maybe even wisma put together.. haha.. they have expensive stuff there and a jap supermarket. not bad.. hey sis, i went to that jap supermarket and also the normal Wellcome supermarket. they have huggies, pampers and nepia. dun have mummy poko. all sold between HK80 to HK100. about S$16 to 20. hee.. never buy diapers before. not sure if ex or not. hee hee.. before that i went to causeway bay. very crowded. there's few malls there with nice clothes and all.. sogo there is big.. i didn't go in. maybe tom. tom need to get stuffs and meet the vp and some colleagues for dinner. think sunday i will go to the wetland park. no more shopping after tom. haha... mei you qian!! haiz.
very sleepy.. it's been a long long long long week... my top right eyelid has been twitching for two days..hmm..
it's not a very good painting,but it'll do lah.. that's my standard onli ah.. hahaha.. i usually paint less complicated stuff.. haha... only got photos as a keepsake. the actual painting will be hung up in the school. hopefully not stored away in some storeroom! hee hee.. maybe one day if i come back to the school, i'll be able to see it? hee hee.
i went to Tai Koo to the Cityplaza.. it's a very big mall.. very very big.. like taka together with paragon and maybe even wisma put together.. haha.. they have expensive stuff there and a jap supermarket. not bad.. hey sis, i went to that jap supermarket and also the normal Wellcome supermarket. they have huggies, pampers and nepia. dun have mummy poko. all sold between HK80 to HK100. about S$16 to 20. hee.. never buy diapers before. not sure if ex or not. hee hee.. before that i went to causeway bay. very crowded. there's few malls there with nice clothes and all.. sogo there is big.. i didn't go in. maybe tom. tom need to get stuffs and meet the vp and some colleagues for dinner. think sunday i will go to the wetland park. no more shopping after tom. haha... mei you qian!! haiz.
very sleepy.. it's been a long long long long week... my top right eyelid has been twitching for two days..hmm..
Thursday, December 4, 2008
HK Attachment Day 24 + Day 23
yesterday i didn'y blog. why? eh.. i dun rem.. oh.. was preparing the slides for today's assembly talk.. it went on ok. the kids were excited about their camp but they did try their best ah! hee hee.. not bad lah.. at least it's done..
oh.. i'm done with the painting for the school. think i'll bring it to school tom. cos monday got more things to bring! i'm glad it is done.it's not too good but i am tired.. back aching from sitting down and painting from about 5 till now.. haha.. i'm done. yippee.. camera no batt.charging.. will take pic and post.. tom perhaps.. now got to worry about things back in sg and all the reflection and all that i need to do.. also, need to pack and get the things i need to get before going back.. hmm..oh, sis, i'll write the list for u when i'm done with my stuff k?? :)
oh.. have to do budget for next year. due tom.. haiz.. tom then do.. i'm tired now.. need to pack up.. very messy... i'm going to sleep soon.. really tired this week... :(
i'm going to miss hk..hee hee.. but i wan to go back!!
oh.. i'm done with the painting for the school. think i'll bring it to school tom. cos monday got more things to bring! i'm glad it is done.it's not too good but i am tired.. back aching from sitting down and painting from about 5 till now.. haha.. i'm done. yippee.. camera no batt.charging.. will take pic and post.. tom perhaps.. now got to worry about things back in sg and all the reflection and all that i need to do.. also, need to pack and get the things i need to get before going back.. hmm..oh, sis, i'll write the list for u when i'm done with my stuff k?? :)
oh.. have to do budget for next year. due tom.. haiz.. tom then do.. i'm tired now.. need to pack up.. very messy... i'm going to sleep soon.. really tired this week... :(
i'm going to miss hk..hee hee.. but i wan to go back!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
HK Attachment Day 22 + Day 21 + Day 20
i think it's Day 22 anyway.. haha.. lost count. didn't post on sunday and monday cos i had an unexpected guest! it was my dearest! haha.. oh more about him later..
on sunday, day 20, i went to the Stanley Market. i took bus number 6 there and it was a terrible ride. i was motion sick even after i reached the hotel again in the afternoon. haha.. the bus 260 i took was better and i would recommend everyone to pay that HK$2 extra for an easier ride. or bring lots of sour stuff to prevent all that nausea.. :p
so i walked around stanley market and took pictures. it was a clear day cos the monsoon winds blew all the haze away (seriously, i'm not exaggerating, but pollution levels are still in the VERY unhealthy level).. the weekend was surprisingly clear.. it was very sunny but also cold. weird to wear so many layers, feel cold but also very warm at the same time. think i'm not suited for the cold weather.. so dry.. my ankles are swollen, maybe due to walking too much and there's scratches cos i have been scratching unconsciously... oh well.. i've never applied so much moisturiser before!
after that i came back to the room. finished preparing the stuffs for my presentation today then was surfing net when someone knocked on my door! i looked thru the peephole and lo and behold, it was my man! haha... actually i knew he was coming. i called his home when he couldn't be reached on the phone as he was on the flight and his brother gave him away! hee hee.. heard his brother got scolded by his wife.. hee.. sorry about that. think it must have slipped his mind.. haha.. anyway, it was great to have company!! i was very happy! so we went out for some supper!
on monday, i rushed back after work and we went out.. walked and walked alot! haha.. why are we always walking? cannot take bus? haha.. we had ice cream from the Mr Softee van! hee hee.. ice cream in such cold weather was good.. yummy.. the cone was great. we had yoshinoya! :) went to pageone to buy a photography book. very worth the money and the trip there! woo hoo.. :)
today had the assembly talk.. it went one well i guess. the students really had fun and they really are adorable. haha.. told them to keep the removed side of the double-sided tape in their pockets so they dun litter and they really did! really very cute.. :) one more talk on thurs, this time to the p3 and p4. hopefully it'll be ok too! keeping my fingers crossed.
cameback early to call my family later! yippee.. hope to see them all! :) next week this time i should be reaching changi airport! i can't wait! it's been a very very good experience here, but it's time to go home!!! woo hoo..
on sunday, day 20, i went to the Stanley Market. i took bus number 6 there and it was a terrible ride. i was motion sick even after i reached the hotel again in the afternoon. haha.. the bus 260 i took was better and i would recommend everyone to pay that HK$2 extra for an easier ride. or bring lots of sour stuff to prevent all that nausea.. :p
so i walked around stanley market and took pictures. it was a clear day cos the monsoon winds blew all the haze away (seriously, i'm not exaggerating, but pollution levels are still in the VERY unhealthy level).. the weekend was surprisingly clear.. it was very sunny but also cold. weird to wear so many layers, feel cold but also very warm at the same time. think i'm not suited for the cold weather.. so dry.. my ankles are swollen, maybe due to walking too much and there's scratches cos i have been scratching unconsciously... oh well.. i've never applied so much moisturiser before!
after that i came back to the room. finished preparing the stuffs for my presentation today then was surfing net when someone knocked on my door! i looked thru the peephole and lo and behold, it was my man! haha... actually i knew he was coming. i called his home when he couldn't be reached on the phone as he was on the flight and his brother gave him away! hee hee.. heard his brother got scolded by his wife.. hee.. sorry about that. think it must have slipped his mind.. haha.. anyway, it was great to have company!! i was very happy! so we went out for some supper!
on monday, i rushed back after work and we went out.. walked and walked alot! haha.. why are we always walking? cannot take bus? haha.. we had ice cream from the Mr Softee van! hee hee.. ice cream in such cold weather was good.. yummy.. the cone was great. we had yoshinoya! :) went to pageone to buy a photography book. very worth the money and the trip there! woo hoo.. :)
today had the assembly talk.. it went one well i guess. the students really had fun and they really are adorable. haha.. told them to keep the removed side of the double-sided tape in their pockets so they dun litter and they really did! really very cute.. :) one more talk on thurs, this time to the p3 and p4. hopefully it'll be ok too! keeping my fingers crossed.
cameback early to call my family later! yippee.. hope to see them all! :) next week this time i should be reaching changi airport! i can't wait! it's been a very very good experience here, but it's time to go home!!! woo hoo..
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