Day 5 In MuNicH- MuSeUm ToUr, WeLCoMe dInNeR AnD BirTHdAy...

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Sunday was a long and eventful day. We visited two major museums of Munich. The first was an arts museum (Neue Pinakothek). A museum that contained art pieces from world renowned artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso. We were escorted by a very interesting guide who was able to articulate the history and interpretation/ significance of the multitude of pictures that adorned the various walls and rooms, divided by specific categories- aimed at eliciting and even triggering certain ideas or chains of thought. The second museum was in all aspects huge beyond comprehension- The Science Museum (Deutsches). Not only is this museum able to bring one though a transitional and evolutionary journey over time and space (as is the case for most museums), its' content stretches laterally in a way that somewhat exhaustively covers various scientific fields. We spent a good 4 hours exploring the various chasms that housed a multitude of gizmos and gadgets.

After the museum, we headed over to one of the towers at the city centre that was open to the public. The view that greeted our eyes after climbing what seemed like an endless flight of stairs, was spectacular.

But of course, the highlight of the day was the welcome dinner at a restaurant near the University. We were greeted by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof and various other people. It was comical, the way the Dean attempted to translate the menu that was in nothing but the German language, to us. After much explanation and contemplation, we ordered. I must add that the servings of food were humongous. Seriously, one could feel full just via eating the salad. Dinner was awesome. Our German friends surprised Yoke Ling with a birthday cake (one that they baked themselves). So, we all had delicious chocolate cake for dessert. Of course, no German meal is complete without German beer and everyone at the table had their share of it.

Here are some pictures:

...AnGeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

MuNicH DaY 4- CaStLe oF KiNg LuDWiG tHe SeConD

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

My tenses might appear a little connfusing. I usually blog about the events of the day before on the morning of the day after, during breakfast. So now, I'm blogging about the events that unfolded yesterday.

There was no school yesrterday. It was Saturday my amigoes. Consequently, we went sight-seeing. We visited the Castle of King Ludwig the second. For anyone who has seen the Castle, they'll know instanteneously that the castle bears an utmost resemblance to the castle of Disneyland. The amazing fact: The Castle of Disneyland was modelled after this castle. The landscape surrounding the castle was breathtakingly scenic. Imagine a fantasy castle nestled on the top of a majestic mountain.

Prior to the Castle we went to the Wies Church. Legend has it that one of the statues in the Church, that was then a small chapel, started to 'tear' in the 18th century. People from all over the world came over to witness the phenomena. Since then, the chapel that was developed into a full-fledged church has been termed as a site of pilgrimage. People from eveywhere still frequent it.

Some pictures of the day :

...AnGeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

MuNicH DaY 3- LuDWiG-MaXiMiLiAnS UniVerSiTy

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Imagine this: Every morning you wake up, get ready and head to the subway for school. As the escalator to the surface brings you higher, a building of splendid architecture greets your eyes. Breathtaking from every angle, majestic in every light. You walk further down the lane and reach a great fountain surrounded by greek, medieval-like buildings. You skirt the fountain and enter a great hall with spiral stairs, each side of the stairs adorned by the statue of a man looking down upon the school in pompous stature. As you walk up the stairs of the grand hall, multiple alleys lined with pillars that emanate an aura of the ages line the very pathways that have been set. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Ludwig Maximiliians University.

Lessons started today. Following the Dean's address, we were given a tour of the faculty of Physics as well as the school. After the opening address, it was time for lunch. The cool thing about lunch here is that they have something to the effect of a kopitiam (A Mensa)- That is you pay using a card topped up with money. After lunch we went though a first substansive lecture. It was on Bose-Einstein Condensation and how they use it in everyday experiments such as examining lattice structures. The lecture though a little dry was substantiated by a lab visit which was way cool. I don't recall having seen so many gizmos on a single table-top before.

The 'academic' day concluded with the lab visit. It was time for shopping and dinner! What made things better today was that the weather was awesome. The sun was out, and there was no rain. So we travelled the streets which we couldn't travel through the day before, due to the rain. The ice-cream here is fantastic. Not caring about the cold weather, I had three different types of ice-cream. Sadly, our attempts to try the beer at the beer garden failed today- crazily crowded. Oh wells, another day then... :)

....AnGeLs BrOuGht Me Here...

MuNiCh, GeRmAnY DaY 1 & 2

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Prior to the flight, I met up with some friends, in the midst of packing. Had dinner with Dean and a final prayer with Ranald, that really made my day.

The 12 hour long flight to Germany was quite painful. Imagine having to sit in an enclosed place, with little room to move about for 12 hours. Total claustrophobia! The in-flight entertainment featured movies that I had already watched and there were no games. Luckily, I was armed with my Men's Health magazine and Archie's comic books. Not that I really did need them, with Gwen sitting beside me. Anyone who knows Gwen, knows that she's the epitome of all that can be classified as 'cartoon'.

From the airport in Munich, we took a train ride down to Euro Youth Hostel. We were supposed to attend some city familiarisation tour on the first day. As luck would have it, it rained the entire day- from the moment we stepped upon Munich to the moment we slipped into our beds. However, that did not stop us from finding adventure in the area. The tour still took place, but was highly comical. All of us were walking behind the tour guide with our umbrellas erect and ponchos on. Did I mention that the temperature in Germany yesterday was about 10 degree celcius? So you can imagine how many were shivering and freezing in the cold, cold rain and gusty wind.

It's 8am now. I'm currently at the breakfast table in my hotel, having breakfast on my own. Reflection time :) I woke my whole level up this morning with loud vomiting noises. Felt queasy and had the sudden urge to vomit. The headache is not making things easy either. I guess I haven't fully recovered since Singapore. Hope for the best.

Will be going to the University of Ludwig, Munich in abit. The students have prepared some programme for us. Cool! Always good to interact with people, though I hope no one catches my virus.

Some pics:

...AnGeLs BroUgHt Me HeRe...

My GeRmaNy StoRy

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Deciding not to go for the student exchange programme, I find myself going to Germany today for an immersion programme. Though it seems like a brief period, I figure that there would be loads to learn about alongside the multitude of experiences that would hopefully render the trip full-flegedly memorable. I'm going with 4 girls from my year, the rest are juniors.

I'll keep this blog updated on a daily basis if time permits.

Time to start my mission then.. :)

...AnGeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe....

ThE PoWeR oF mEnToRs

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Sometimes some people in your life appear to direct you. appear to guide you and appear to advice you on matters that can change the very balance of your life. I'm very thankful that I'm constantly in the company of such people, who have earned my utmost respect. I'm referring to some people at work. As a mirror of their sincerity, I too am learning to be sincere in my daily dealings with people. If you can provide help in any arena that will birth a change in the life of another, then nothing should stop you from rendering that needed assistance.

Thank you Sirs...

Anyways, work as always has been a pleasure. For one, I can stay focused on my training regime because the gym and track are both easily accessible.

Results in 11 days. Thank you God... :)

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

bLoG aWaKenEd AfTeR ProLoNgLeD HiaTuS

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Its been eons since I last blogged. But I guess events just unraveled one after another, that it was hard to keep track of what was happening accentuated by the fact that time was a limitation. Ok, some people have articulated that my blog sounds like an essay or an article out of Times magazine. So I shall keep it personal this time y'all... :)

2010 has been a full-fledgedly fleeting year for me thus far. Normally students in NUS do 4 or 5 modules. I took up the challenge of doing 7 modules. I must admit, I had to muster alot of determination in fulfilling many of the requirements, but it was all good. Got to do projects with Wendy, Luigi, Sinyi, Moses- my dear classmates whom I might never get to work with in the future. The exams were, with God's grace all doable, despite one huge hiccup. But I guess, sometimes people learn the hard way. I'm not going to write about the 'hiccup' though. Its better if you hear it from me 'man to man'. hahs!

My Physics friends have always been there, through thick and thin. It'll be hard to part with some of them as the year progresses, but life has to go on. I am indeed honoured and humbled to have had the privilege of studying with such a talented group of people.

Here is a picture of my exam study-buddy in a dazed state of mind. We practically camped at the airport together for 2 entire weeks. In retrospect, I couldn't have possibly studied with anyone nicer or better. Tks Sherm! :)

Enough about school though. I've had plenty of social life too. For starters, my birthday was 'an event' once again. I had back to back celebrations that spanned over 3 days- Physics friends, Church, Regular Buds, Family... But of course, the highlight of my birthday was my uniform outing with Aini. We got to re-live our JC days all over again. Ate a kid's meal to propagate the idea further. :) Here are 2 pics to commemorate the occasion...







































Time did not permit me to frequent church as much as I would've liked, but I was still well linked. The friends that I had made, kept me updated. I have been consciously mentoring people like Dean, Michael, Joshua, Aaron, who are now like younger brothers to me. (Maybe I'm secretly trying to create my own legion of military experts) Jokes aside, I see alot of untapped potential in these guys. A little nudge in the correct direction and I believe they'll achieve wonders. The highlight of our gatherings was the visit to spooky Old Changi Hospital...




















My CG is really starting to grow on me...


























Of course what would the year thus far have been without my fellow soldier bros... JieRen, Waif and Bong who is now flirting in France... :)

























What is Loke without his exercise regime. Frankly speaking, I haven't had the luxury of time to train as much as I would have liked to this semester. Though I did manage to squeeze in a run on most nights. But hey, the semester is over and I'm going to attempt to push myself physically harder than ever before. No pain, no gain! I guess, I crave the feeling of satisfaction that comes with a good workout.

Being a soldier definitely comes with its quanta of pride.. People often ask me on what is it that drives me? Why do I always appear to push myself so hard? I guess, the root answer is I've found my true passion of serving the country, living a life of medals, of camaraderie. A dynamic, ever-changing life that never ceases to provide me with opportunities to prove myself at every juncture. A life, with the military.

Work as usual, is sheer bliss. June will see me flying off to Germany to see an opportune physical manifestation of the multiple physics abstractions that I've studied over the course of the year.

Music-wise, I got the golden opportunity to perform at the Arts House near the Esplanade. It was a success. Think I shall pick up the piano or the guitar, because singing becomes such a hassle when the instrument you play (alto saxophone) also requires you to use your mouth... -_-

Guess I shall update more frequently from now on... Chaozz





















...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

A New Beginning

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

** Dear readers, please write in the comment box should you have any. Rest assured, I'll respond... :)

Introduction

As the coming of the new year dawned upon me, my brain set itself into modes of reflection. The multi-dimensional growth that 2009 imparted upon my being was, in all truth, something that I could have never fathomed on my own accord. For once, achievements surpassed unrealistic expectations, relationships gained new meanings and levels of understanding, patience and maturity of thought reached an all time high. For my friends who read this blog, I want to share something that I learnt in 2009- Despite the intensity at which the odds seem against you, it is very important to 'Keep Looking Forward'. When one door closes, a multitude of doors manifest themselves in various forms at other localities. Keep working, keep persevering. If you fail in gaining that which you desire, the mere journey to its attainment will astound you, render you to discover yourselves in ways that could have been anything but possible. With renewed determination, drive and confidence, I am ready to embrace the year 2010.

Christmasing/ Church

One of my best experiences of 2009 materialized as the year propagated to its end. After my performance in Plaza Singapura, I tagged along with Peng to his church. Who would've have fathomed that I'd immerse myself into the festivities of Christmas at a depth that in unknown ways rendered me anchored to a culmination of entities, both spiritual and social. Intellectually standing at where I am today, I am going to embark on an adventure that I think I've put on hold for long enough. To attain the fruit from the crown of a majestic tree, one has to ensure that its foundations are secure and justified, that its roots hold firm and strong- imparting a sense of assurance, a sense of confidence that leaves no room for regret, no room for contemplation. I guess enough has been said for now. I shall blog about this adventure as it unfolds before my very eyes. As a disclaimer, I am mindful that which I approach is not a science or an experimental formulation. Thought and reflection propagate alongside logic and spirituality aiding me in in exploring the frontiers which I intend to thread.

Phuket Trip

The trip to Phuket was memorable especially in the company of a 'friend less-brother more' person like Jelvin. I still recall the day on which we had to fly. Rising early at 4.15am, I got ready for the full marathon that I accomplished together with Chupei and Zhonghao. Many a times I said to myself, 'Loke what are you thinking? You really think you'll be able to accomplish the entire stretch within the standard you have set for yourself?' Then the other side of my brain went, 'Loke you are a soldier. Soldiers remain calm and focused in the face of adversity. The adversity is here. The adversity is now.' It's not hard to decipher that I was at a battle with myself. A battle in which I proudly emerged victorious. Now its all about pushing the bar that I have inevitably hinged for myself. After the run, I dragged myself home, changed and went for Cpt Joseph's wedding. Though sore in the weirdest places, the wedding was worth it. Especially with the warm welcome that Cpt Joseph gave me. I also got to meet Bong, who in all good-will of our 'Hamburger Relationship' drove me to the airport.

Vietnam Backpacking

Many have nothing but a mere inkling of the natural wonder that Vietnam represents. Diverse weather, diverse terrain, a multitude of cuisines and people of various descent and dialect. A tourist's paradise! When the journey was in the stages of formulation, I was apprehensive. Bringing two younger guys into a domain which neither of them had any idea of inevitably em-placed their trust upon my shoulders. I had to deliver as I had promised. From the feedback I gathered, they thoroughly enjoyed the trip that went smoothly. Mission accomplished! As a soldier, I have greater confidence in my situational awareness and navigational skills that have now been tested.

School

As always, I feel blessed to be in the company of my Physics friends. Though they never brag, I have never considered myself worthy to be in the company of such brilliant people. Sometimes, one's intelligence can well be deciphered from the content of one's speech and maturity of thought. I attained my long-awaited triad of 'A's this semester. Though the knowledge I gained far superseded my emphasis on results. For once, I studied for the thirst of knowledge that rendered the stress that comes when one paves their way toward success secondary. I look forward to a fresh new semester.

A Soldier in the Making

I've done abundant reflection upon my role as a soldier, a defender of the country. As life has moved on and my thoughts have matured, I have been able to shed new light upon frontiers that lay slave to functional fixed-ness in time that had elapsed. I am thankful that my years in University have enhanced my drive to serve my country at elevated levels upon graduation. The drive and passion still burn bright and I long for the day to be back.

AnGeLs BroUghT mE HeRe...

ExAm AfTeRmaTh/ PaTh 2 SeLf DisCoVerY

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

The apex of the semester as manifested by the exams was adrenaline pumping and relatively short lived. For some unearthly reason, I actually enjoyed this series of exams. In fact, I derived such abundant knowledge from this semester alone that I daresay, a culmination of the work done in 3 other semesters would have been unable to endow such knowledge upon my being. As soon as the exams were over, I was plunged into a series of activities that rendered time to pass fleetingly fast over the course of the previous two weeks. Alas, I think mere words may not be able to fully express that which I had experienced and learnt from the various activities. However, 'bullets of reflection' are most definitely in order-

1 Dec- Last Exam, Dinner + LAN (Larry and Qihao)
2 Dec- Macritchie Run (Jelvin)
Movie: A Christmas Carol and Shopping (Jelvin)
Dinner + Minds Cafe (Physics Gang)
3 Dec- Gym
Night Cycling (Physics Gang)
4 Dec- Lunch (Benjamin a.k.a. Bong)
Movie: A Christmas Carol (Twin Cousins)
5 Dec- Morning run- Sprints + 2.4km (Chupei)
Lunch at the Airport (Chupei)
6 Dec- Standard Chartered Marathon -42km (Zhong Hao and Chupei)
Cpt. Joseph's Wedding Luncheon
Departure to Phuket (Jelvin)
7 Dec- Phuket - Tanning, Massage, Shopping, Beach, New Moon, Essay Reflections
8 Dec- Phuket + Return to Sg- Supper at Popeye's: Jelvin
9 Dec- Essay writing, Self Reflection + House Cleaning (Me, myself and I)
Dinner (Qihao)
10 Dec- Lunch at Swensons' (PMO Gang + Waifu and Bong)
11 Dec- Practice for Concert + Shopping + Essay Outline
12 Dec- Yamaha Performance Day!
Trip to Patrick's Church

Patrick, thank you for introducing me to such great new people and most of all for the special experience that I had just observing everyone basking in the glory of that which they truly and deeply believe in. Tks bro!!

My essay finally seems to be materializing. I am so excited about it. All I eat, sleep and dream about lately revolves around that essay. Hopefully, my ambition of doing a few other linking essays will materialize vis-à-vis my other commitments.

I have been wanting to do my rendition of O Holy Night for some time now. I never really got to doing it. Today, I decided to just go for it and as luck would have it, it turned out seemingly pleasant. Shall do up a better version when I have more time to... In the meantime, Merry Christmas!!

AnGeLs BrOuGhT me HeRe...

Semestral Thank YouZZ

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

This semester, that is soon coming to an end, has been a real blessing to me thus far. There has been growth in every arena of my life, encapsulated by either physical, mental or even social boundaries. Who would've or even could've fathomed that the semester where some one my best friends were overseas would, on the contrary, pave the path to rediscovering the significance of the many others in my life.

As someone pious would say, an emphasis renewed their belief in God, such emphasis has most definitely fueled my passion to better serve the country. A renewed belief in understanding my obligations to the soil of my country which is given life by each and every Singaporean. After all, Singapore would not be Singapore without Singaporeans and the generations of collective memories manifested within their very minds, that weave together a nation.

To Jelvin, Patrick, Gwen, Sinyi, Wayening, Moses, JunKok, Luigi, Aini and Andrew, thank you for being such great pals throughout the entire semester. A special thank you to brudders Jelvin and Patrick for all the movies, suppers, study sessions. Let's give it a final push for the exams and then we'll all celebrate with the 'mics' in our hands.

To C.P. and A.Z.H, thank you for enduring all the running sessions with me and I apologize for not being able to make time sometimes due to commitments. But you know what guys, we are so going own that race. Just gotta put our hearts and minds into it. To the rest of the SGTians, night cycling was just a start. We are surely gonna do more stuff in the future... :)

To Huimin, thank you for believing in me and helping me out with the song. To those who read this blog: I'm going to be performing- Singing (Huimin playin the piano) at Yamaha Studio, Plaza Singapura on the 12th of Dec. Time Afternoon (TBC). Do come and listen, if you have the time to... :)

To Syaz, Aishah and Halim, I'm glad I finally caught up with you guys, though the circumstance under which we met was not the best of them all. We'll find time to meet up after my exams end.

To Larry and Qihao, little did I know that 1 year after attachment, we'll still be such good friends. Go figure. Qihao, I've heard of devilish plots where people wanna buy you fat ladies a.k.a. epi-centers for your 21st birthday... :)

To my regular bros, Waif, Pek, Caleb, Bong, Ash, PengYu, glad we could find time to meet up this season. Another 1.5 more years to go and we'll all be back doing what we like to do. Finally... :) Yes, Jr you are not forgotten. So how many baby Jrs are there already?? :)

Ok, I gotta get back to studying now. Nuclear physics is great fun. So is Philosophy. Film and Histoy. Maths. Singapore Studies. Yes you guessed it. Its called diversifying the brain. Hence the array of subjects.

Salute,

Loke

RefLecTioNs

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...


The past few days have granted upon me a multitude of experiences that have, in many senses, fuelled my drive and will towards the betterment of the self and inductively society. Drive and will that render one, not as a mere node in the complex network of societal forces but as an individual with visionary ideas that stand adamant when fraught with calamities. Enough philosophy for now :)


Firstly, I attended the NUS Ministerial Forum yesterday, where MM Lee was the chief guest and speaker. I'm not going to raise any points that MM Lee made. Alternatively, I'll illustrate one of the various thoughts that crossed my mind: The foundations for Singapore's peace and prosperity were laid by our forefathers who had the mettle to overcome the odds. Of course, one may very well argue that the early forefathers had barely a tinge of nationalism embedded within them. Their primary life propagating principle was self-survival. An evolutionary instinct that rendered them to achieve and toil for more than they had ever expected themselves to be capable of. In my utopian frame of mind, I do believe that Singaporeans are well aware of time and culture that has elapsed. Yet I question, the very evolutionary instincts that dwell well within our modern day metropolis. Specifically, has the manifestation of material wealth and prosperity accentuated the same evolutionary instincts that made Singapore a sphere of prosperity? Accentuated them in ways that have fuelled materialism and in converse respect to our forefathers, rendered nationalism a function of the economy. In a sense, it culminates to the notion of home VS hotel. Which would you embrace?


I was compelled to write the post above not because of my presence at the forum but because one of my lectures today featured a short film that depicted the harsh and torturous life of the coolies in the olden days. The point to reflect upon is that our society, today, is not merely a function of great men. It is a splendid fabric, in the grand scheme of existence, which has been woven by every past Singaporean.


Lastly, I watched Julia and Julie with Jelvin. As a side point, the movie was awesome. I accord it a well deserved 4 out of 5 stars. My main takeaway from the movie was that life inevitably thrusts dilemmas and calamities upon you that, in many respects, pave the way for disillusionment and distrust. Yet, primary grounding principles that elicit the formation of any goal that you set for yourself should stay adamant. At the end of the day, you might not achieve what you initially set out to accomplish. However, a glance at the path taken that manifests efforts directed toward the goal will bring to light various path-inherent hurdles that were de-emphasized in the stride of the one who attempted to overcome the odds. The one who tried. As cliché as it may sound, many a time, the journey taken does supercede the goal to be achieved.

...aNgeLs BrOuGht me HeRe...

HaPpY NaTiOnaL DaY SiNgaPoRe.../ OuTiNgs/ NosTalGiA

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

I forsee that this is going to be a relatively succinct summary of the events that have unfolded over the past few months...

HAPPY 44Th NATIONAL DAY SINGAPORE

First and foremost, I would like to wish my Singapore, my home, a Happy 44th Birthday. It might have been hard to fathom that a mere fishing village of yesterday could evolve into the modern day metropolis of today. A metropolis that has proven its value and worth in the international arena. A force to be reckoned with on all fronts be it the economy, the social and moral domain - (Asian Values Debate) and even the political arena with the ability to yield soft power many times its geographical limits.

As Rupert Emerson puts it, a nation consists of ‘a single people, traditionally fixed on a well-defined territory, speaking the same language and preferably a language all its own, possessing a distinctive culture, and shaped to a common mould by many generations of shared historical experience.’ We notice that this description limits us in defining Singapore as a nation at many different levels. For example, we do not share a common indigenous mother tongue even though English serves as our lingua franca (working/ vehicular) languange. Yet, as a nation, we share a common consciousness. A consciousness that is manifested when one feels the affinity towards a fellow Singaporean whilst overseas, far away from home. An awareness that this is the soil that we were born on and this is the soil upon which our hopes and aspirations lie, where our loved ones dwell. The soil that we are obliged and motivated to defend without question.

With the combined effort and aspirations of Singaporeans from all walks of life, I do believe that Singapore is going to prosper further and beyond. ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE SINGAPORE.

The Singapore Pledge

We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation


OuTiNgs

I've forged a number of new friendships during my stint at work and old friendships remain strong. Here is a summary of the various outings...


1. Dinner at a Chinese UOB restaurant

2. Felicia's Farewell Chalet

I was the one to do her hair... :)

3. Bowling Outing/ Mongolian Buffet

4. Zoo OuTing

1sT 3D MoViE ExPeriEnce/ AnDy'S Farewell

6. Geylang Dinner

Of course there were many other activities like LAN-ning at Illuma, playing board games at Mind Cafe, having supper at Newton Circus and so forth.


On a suller note, both of my best friends are overseas now student exchange. But, I guess, SEP is an experience worth living and I wish them all the best. Remember to post pics, u guys... Cheers.. ! :)

Looking forward to the National Day dinner tomorrow with some of my friends. School starts on Tuesday. I've gotten all the modules that I wanted and am more ready than ever to go full steam ahead. To end this post, here's a part of a song I sang togather with my friend.




Signing off,

Loke

We are Singapore, Singaporeans...

sPeCiaL SeMesTeR/ ReCoLLecTiOnS

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...


I miss the inviting slope, the lushous greenery, the concrete jungle witholding homosapiens that I've forged new relationships with. The realm of my work, where everyday was a challenge posed upon me, by myself. The manifestation of a developmental arena, at least in my mind.


I'm doing Psychology for the special semester. It is a pretty interesting module that renders me to ponder upon the basic entities or the primary building blocks of the world that we live in today as perceived by our very senses. What you see, what you decipher and what is actually manifested may all be distinctly distant , yet intricately linked.


Although the module is inevitably heavy, I've had some time on my hands to catch up with people at work, meet up with friends who were about to disintegrate into mere memories :) and even make a trip down to the zoo.


Michael Jackson

To end this post, I would like to pay tribute to the ultimate king of pop, Michael Jackson. Although not initially a fan, I did some research on him after his demise. A musical child prodigy, a gifted singer, terrific dancer, the supreme pictorial representation of a star-studded entertainer. I am moved by his songs that carried various messages to the people of the world.

A bLaSt inTo tHe PasT

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...


The last time I blogged seems like a mere memory now. Piled with tonnes of school work, with the drive and motivation to push beyond self-restricting thresholds, the love of singing, the love of running, the love of exerting myself physically, to understand that I have evicted all avenues of possible regret from my very being rendered the fabric of time short for me to do many a thing. However, now that time has granted me its hand, I shall finally update this blog with cobwebs.. :)

EXAMS

Exams this time around seemed anything but intimidating as compared to previous semesters. Continuous effort and study is the key to relieving the final crunch. There is only so much that a mind can absorb during a single study session. Hence, constant practice, recall and revision is uncomprehensibly crucial. Shall keep my fingers crossed for the inevitable results next week. I tried my best, and to God I leave the rest... :)

PHYSICS FRIENDS

Who would've thought that my Physics buddies would lay the foundations for such an educationally enriching yet fun term for me. Those Friday nights of drinking with Andy and sometimes Wendy, those lunches with Jelvin, those crazy conversations with Patrick, JunKok, Alex, Aini, Gwen, Shi Da, SinYi, LuiGi, Moses, Zara, Wei Ling and Jonathan were all memorable. Especially, the crazy K-box session that we had with the whole gang jumping up and down creating the atmosphere of a mini-club crossed together with an outrageous zoo with animals on a stampede. Thank you cool dudes and duddettes.. Hope to see you for more fun times ahead... :) Also, my new found friend Amelia, we really need to de-conflict our schedules to meet up more often.. :)

Regular Bros

How can I miss out the guys who always found time to meet up with me despite their hectic schedules and girlfriends... JieRen, WaiFu and Bong, you guys seriously rock. Look forward to more 'sandwich outings' and working with you guys in the near future... :)

IPPT

I took IPPT 11 times within a span of 3 weeks. In some ways it really aided my mental prowess and made my tool of thought alert to a greater extent than ever before. I guess the phrase a healthy body leads to a healthy mind does bear a great deal of truth as experienced by me. I have made it a point to take IPPT every Saturday. Other than your physical prowess, it also imparts the discipline of waking up early in the morning, of following a single physical regime aimed at expanding your very physical and mental thresholds.

WORK

It would be a cliche for me to say that I truly love the profession that I am in. And despite many a flaw that I ineveitably see, I believe that it is really my 'calling', where I belong and where I would choose to serve barring any event that would render me useless to the force. (Touch wood). My new colleages are great and old colleages remain close. Jill, Pamela, Daniel, Neville, Cpt Valerie, Cpt Alvin, Maj Cindy (and the list goes on) are people whose presence at work is nothing but a pleasure.

American Idol

My all time favourite idol is Danny Gokey. His rendition of 'You Are So Beautiful' by Joe Krocker was stunning and was undisputedly, what Simon termed as a vocal masterclass. Eventually, Kris won against Adam Lambart. He deserved the title in his own right. All in all, it was a great season and I'll miss each and every contestant in the top 13.


Phuket Trip

For many who didn't know, I took an extremely rushed, yet undoubtedly exciting trip to Phuket together with my Physics buddies Moses and LuiJi. A chronological order of key events as follows:

1. Last exam paper ended at 11am- took a cab down to the airport to catch a flight at 1pm

2. Day 1 in Phuket- Checked into youth hostel- Explored the nutorious Patong Beach

3. Day 2 in Phuket- Took an hour long speedboat ride to Phi Phi and Khai Island, Experienced snorkling

4. Day 3 in Phuket- Scaled a mountain to see the 'Great Buddha' due to hold its name in the Guiness Book of World Records, More shopping, watched Wolverine in a theatre

5. Flew off too Kuala Lumpur to visit the world famous Twin towers, Ate our hearts out and watched Star Trek.

Time To Come

As much of a journey through life this semester has been, the 'highly anticipated' exam results will be out next week. Hopefully, the hard work pays off. More outings with the special people around me, the constant drive and focus to push beyond my self-limiting boundaries, CDF essay, papers at work, IPPT and the practice of my singing and music all serve as entities of my summer plan.


...aNgeLs BrOuGhT Me HeRe...