The Opening Of Doors + Thailand

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

It suddenly occurred to me that when one door closed to me last semester, a dozen doors just opened ahead. I can now do things that I was initially restricting myself from doing. Things that I may not have done should the circumstances have manifested themselves otherwise. Things that I may have regretted not doing in time to come. I guess it always culminates to one's ability to see light in the utmost of situations. Often a difficult or arduous task, a time-dependent process.

Today I realised that there are people who read my blog, who are inspired by it. Not because I speak that which draws, but because there are many people who go through similar lessons in life, who cannot make sense of that which they are in, who eventually find solace in knowing that they are not alone. This is life, this is now.

PHUKET/KRABI

After a week of being on my own, I was already yearning the company of friends. Throughout the trip, Jelvin and Weiyang were awesome pals and I thoroughly enjoyed myself... Thanks guys!

Terrific natural sights, vast blue and green waters, magnificent formations would pretty much summarize that which there is to see. We visited off-shore islands on ferries, went canoeing, snorkeling, kayaking and swimming. But of course, what is a trip without shopping and the all- famous Thai-massage. After surviving mostly on nuts and egg-tarts in Macau and HongKong, the company of awesome friends also brought with it food galore. I had people to dine with, so I had to eat and the food did not disappoint. Tried the different curries and each was tantalizing. The ambience of each and every restaurant was great too. Street food included special pan-cakes with bananas and PEANUT BUTTER- love at 1st sight.

School's going to start tomorrow. I feel funny cos there is nothing to push for, for once in my life. My GPA can't fall any lower because most of my modules will be arts modules. Neither can it be pulled any higher because of the previous semester. Yet I know I have to fulfill my responsibility towards my FYP professor to the best of my ability. Especially since my FYP professor was supposed to have no honours year student this year and he created more work for himself by accepting me.

I still am going to overload myself with modules. At the end of the day, I believe, the skills I acquire will be the ones that become the tools that empower me to serve the country well. Paper qualifications, I do not deny, will bring me some incentives. But then, what is

life without choices and challenges? :)

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

ByE ByE HoNg KoNg, mY NeW FoUnD FrieNd :)

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

I spent 4 nights it this city which I now choose to call the city of dreams. Whatever stereotypes of HongKongers I heard about were not nearly as justified as observed by me. People were amazingly nice. The moment I spoke in Mandarin, people smiled at me and gladly came to my aid. Yesterday, an auntie scolded a couple for occupying four seats and forced them to donate one seat to me at an eatery. During the New Year countdown, some HongKongers of nearly my age, offered me a drink and made friends with me, even though they barely knew a few words of English and I knew no Canto. Arms around my shoulder, we counted down together. With people like this around how can one not feel at home?

On day 1, I spent the entire day in Kowloon. Tremendous places to shop and dine at, but I shall not elaborate and bore. Day 2 was spent in the magical world that is Disneyland. The Disney-day came to an end with me amidst hundreds or even thousands of people, all at Victoria harbour- Making noise, ushering in the new year. On day 3, I explored some of the New Territories and Hong Kong Island. Today, I went back to Kowloon out of nostalgia for its people and am now at the airport.

HongKong's food is no disappointment. Everything I heard about the amazing dimsum is true. For some reason all food either melts in your mouth, or flows smoothly down the gullet. Such is the fine cuisine. I gorged on egg tarts every single day, smooth and creamy- the best ever. Dim Sum with Jenny was sheer delight. What more can I say? You have to eat it to believe it :)

Accommodation here was a hassle. Expensive and small. Imagine having to bathe with one foot in the sink and one foot in the toilet bowl. Such was almost the case. Looking back, the people and the food made up for every fault.

Next stop, Phuket with Weiyang and Jelvin. Goodbye, my new found friend... :)

Day 3, 4, 5, 6- Hong Kong- Epilogue:Blessed are thee...

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Coincidence of Divine Intervention?

Before I start writing anything about my HongKong experience, I want to share something. On my first day in HongKong, Patrick and Dean texted me- 'Loke, do you need me to pray for you with regards to anything' and to attend service on Sunday respectively. This sort of set my mind into reflection gear once again. While making my way through the city landscapes, numbing my legs out in a semi-jog throughout and freezing in the one thin jacket which I brought along I asked myself whether I was indeed feeling better, whether my priorities had been sorted out. Before the new year, I was still unsure. I was still feeling lost in the frenzy which surrounded my being. Then this morning, I had to travel to the New (Outer) territories of HongKong. Little did I know, the accomodation which I had booked 3 nights before, by sheer coincidence, is part of a Church. The building stands upon a hill called- High Rock. As, I entered the Church/Hostel, I could hear the sounds of hymms resounding (In Cantonese) amidst the various rooms. People who looked of my age or youger were sitting with their bibles all over, studying. Best of all, every single person smiled at me. The feeling was surreal. I entered the building and a small figurine stood before me- (Inscribed)- 'The Lord is my rock and my salvation'. Suddenly my whole world made sense.

I am not being evangelistic or prescribing that one should suscribe to a particular religion. But the idea that there has been what seems like divine intervention present my enter life commands observation. It suddenly occurred to me that as much as I have been a victim of circumstance for as long as I have known myself, my motivation has never dwindled, sustained. Through each calamity that has come my way, there has always been a silver lining. I am saying this not philosophically, but based on a multitude of experiences, given my family background and the circumstances from which I emerge. 'Just when you are told its the end, magic happens- I can name at least three such incidences'. People who know me well enough, will know. Today, regardless of where I stand, God has brought me to a place I never thought possible. Looking back at my accomplishments as little or much as they may be, I am indeed grateful.

Hence, the conclusion to this trip is that I'll continue working hard to the best of my ability with the aid of God. Work hard so that I only provide and never expect. I know I have gifts and I shouldn't drown myself in either self-pity, remorse or regret. I know I have the ability to build close relationships with almost everyone I meet, but may God grant me the drive to sustain these relationships and not let them falter in due time. After all, I always tell my friends- 'When I'm old and greying, I'll sit on my rocking chair in sweet satisfaction knowing that I contributed to my friends, my family, my country to the best of my ability'.

My epic beginning to the New Year... :)

...aNgeLs BroUghT mE HeRe...

Day 3- Macau- The Music In Me...

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Today was an incredible day. For once in my life I spoke nothing but broken Mandarin the entire day, not a single word of English. Better still, the people adored me when I spoke to them in Mandarin. Got to sample food at so many stalls that I didn't need lunch. 2 Chinese girls even tested all the caps in their shop on me until I bought one chosen by them. Coolness!

It was a day of walking in this land of Casinos. I refused to take the bus. Covered every inch on the map, accessible to tourists on foot. Didn't dare to go to the Great Barrier Gate that separates Macau and China just in case some cops apprehended me and brought me into China to work on the railway tracks as a slave ;)

Since so many things hit me at one go, I realised that I had lost the motivation to do the one thing that I love the most- Sing! I forgot how to sing. I knew things were bad when I could barely mouth the words to a song which I know well, when I went to playnation with Jelvin, Andy and Waye. Today, I suddenly found myself humming and singing to myself as I hurried along the busy streets of Macau. A land in which no one knows me, behaving as I please. I miss my guitar....

Off to HongKong via ferry tomorrow morning. Thank you for guiding me thus far :)

Day 2 Macau- The Gift of Knowledge

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

I spent the entire morning in a Macdonald's in LCCT, KL today. It was a time of quiet reflection and sweet solace as I settled some administrative matters. I had a funny feeling of apprehension before arrving in Macau and sure enough the feeling manisfested itself in material form as I reached Macau Airport.

I was singled out from the multitude people, all of various races, meaning racism or stereotypes were probably not their basis of singling me out. I was first sniffed all over by a golden retriever. Then two cops stopped me, showed me their police passes, and took my passport. They started to interrogate me. I answered all their questions calmly. What do I have to hide right? But it wasn't enough. They brought me to an interrogation room, where they made me empty my bag. They interrogated me further and kept speaking to each other in Cantonese. It was a nightmare. Eventually, the female cop made a photocopy of my passport and returned it to me. Way to be welcomed into Macau.

Matters got worst when I turned my handphone on only to realise that my booking for one of the cheaper hotels in Macau had been rejected. Being in a new place, in a moment of desperation, I booked the cheapest available hotel and had to pay a whooping S$130. Sigh. Well, I guess you only live once. The hotel is awesome and the bed is great. Will be living in a 6-men dorm tomorrow with 5 other German guys- $19. A whole lot better.

Upon unpacking, I decided to venture out on my own. I realised that I was on Tapai island. So I took a bus to Macau city after exploring Tapai to some extent. Macau city is where all the action is- Hotels and Casinos galore. I tried one egg-tart and one waffle- That was dinner. Didn't have time to sample more food as I decided to cover as much ground on foot as possible. Thus 9 cross-border attractions in one night.

Today I was thinking about my studies. My entire life people have treated me as the 'smart guy'. I wouldn't say I'm smart, but I try my best. I guess such expectations pressure you to maintain that which you have configured yourself to be in people's eyes. I have convinced myself that learning to me is alot more important than the credit I get for performing well in my studies. After all, I believe when one has it, the ability to be good at that which one is assigned, paper qualifications are rendered secondary. I joined the armed forces to protect my country, to do my best. If they reward me based on merely academic considerations, so be it (such is not the case- there are ample opportunities to showcase your talents. Results are in no way an ultimatum). At least I remain true to myself.

I guess the hard part would be being judged by people at each point in time based on that, of you, which physically manifests itself in front of them rather than that which lies beyond, or even behind-the story behind. That's life right?

aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

Flashback

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Sitting here in Kuala Lumpur airport whilst waiting for my flight to Macau, the hasty decision which I made suddenly dawned upon me. As easy as buying the ticket was, will travelling in a different land be as easy, emphasized by the fact that I'm on my own and know no one? KL was easy enough. I felt like I was optimally in my element, language, people and all. Macau and Hong Kong are going to be different stories altogether. No accomodation as of now either.

Strangely enough I'm not the least bit fearful. There's this adrenaline rush telling me to live my life on the edge. I guess in the relative world of our dwelling, one does not value happiness as much without facing adversity head on or know of its existence at the very least. Contentment is rendered a function of the prior factors. Philosophical story cut short, such time will allow me to value elements that I often take for granted either consciously or sub-consciously back in my good old Singapore.

Kuala Lumpur -Day 1 of reflection: Wisdom of Speech…

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

There was so much turmoil inside of me before I began the trip. My priorities were way off course. People who had known me since the good old army days saw me falter, or show signs of weakness for the very first time. I knew something had to be done to salvage the situation. – This is what the me of the past would’ve written whilst embarking on such a journey of reflection.

I still stand by the above. But people relationships have inevitably infused their forms into my being to a great extent. It’s hard to face myself in the mirror knowing the person who once made it his business to put the sorrows of his friends upon himself ends up creating sorrows for those very people. There comes a point in life, where whatever you say or do inevitably backfires upon you, wrecking repercussion after repercussion.

In some situations, the answers are not clear cut. Who’s to blame? Could it have been better had it been done in a different way? Is there a win-win solution? I sound like I’m speaking in riddles, but sometimes the understanding that riddles as such exist allows us to understand the complexities of human nature. The intricacies with which it develops, the profoundness which surrounds its form, akin to the penumbra.

On day 1 of my journey, I pray that God grant me the wisdom of tongue. So that, that which I speak brings happiness to people instead of setting sorrows upon their beings. I pray that God grant me the wisdom and the clarity of thought to think in utmost detail, consider circumstances and repercussions before I speak.

On a side note, I took a 40 minute flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. At Kuala Lumpur, I took a 1 hour long skybus ride to KL Sentral. From KL Sentral, I took a taxi to my hotel at Jalan Bintang. Thus my whole evening was spent traveling. I actually miss my physics friends now. Leaving a gathering halfway made me feel like I have left unfinished business behind. Guys, just want you to know that I treasure each and everyone of you….

In my room now which is uber scary. It’s barely 2m by 2m and there’s a mirror right in front of my bed. How’s that for an eerie night in Kuala Lumpur.

aNgeLs BroUghT mE HeRe...

GeRMaNy ImMeRsioN TrIp- ReFleCtiOns

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

The trip to Germany was in all senses an intellectually uplifting and emotionally stimulating experience. By the trip's virtue as a machinary of immersion, our beings were cast into the academic and social arena that defines life in Germany.

Academically, as I have mentioned before, the immersion was in all regards a Physics Pilgrimage. It is but one regard to go through modules of Physics and understand the very intricacies of nature at a very systematic and textual level. But, the regard evolves when one is shown the metamorphosis of the field- that not all has been done; that there is room for research and improvement; that (barring ethical considerations) a world of our fantasies may be materialized from our very research and consequent knowledge. Cumulatively, one can very well appreciate the motives behind that which physicists do via their relentless initiatives. Having an overlying objective, which in no regards may be considered a mere facade, the potential 'hindrances' involved within the field (such as impossible mathematics) are rendered but a mere hurdle to the ultimate goal.

But of course, a holistic experience cannot forsake social desires and considerations. The Germans are very friendly and hospitable. From basic etiquette such as greeting your peers, to guiding people who are lost, I never witnessed a single German who was reluctant or irritated. Service at the restaurants was reasonably good. Ice-cream was awesome. Architectural splendor rendered even the smallest alley majestic in its own right. Beer gardens adorned the entire city as places of social activity, of meeting, of pleasure. Beer abundant. Greenery Lush.

However, an experience is also a function of those whom you share it with. The people who went with me were my family for the few weeks that we were there. We laughed together, played together, studied together and predominantly, walked for hours on together. Looking back, at least half the memories were shaped by these very people. Thank you guys, for making the trip memorable. :)

What more can I say about an awesome experience at a truly awesome place. This one is for the most significant of my memory books.

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

GoTTiNgeN, GermAnY- DaY 19, 20 and 21

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Last Sunday, our hectic schedule finally allowed for a free day. It was a day of sports, walking, soccer, chilling and inductively bonding. We rose at 4am to hike up a nearby hill, toward a castle from which we could observe the rising sun. Initially, the trail was dark and we had to use torches. The cold showed no mercy but was secondary once our bodies were warmed up from the hiking. After the usually hearty breakfast, some of us hit the games room where we played table tennis, fussball, keglig (bowling), darts and even chess. Closer to lunch we decided to take the arduous task of walking from Maria Springs to Gottingen town upon ourselves. I must say it was an achievement to walk for 2 hours in the cold, chilly wind. I finally got to try Macdonald's in Germany. The wrap was awesome tasting, not to mention filling, by my standards. After our stint in Gottingen town, we headed back to Maria Springs where we spent the rest of the time watching soccer. A relaxing day indeed.

On Monday, we were invited to the PHYWE Company that produces many of the apparatuses that we utilize in the physics labs in NUS. After being shown some of the experimental set-ups and the corresponding apparatuses, we were given a tour of the factory which enabled us to witness and appretiate the entire, somewhat seamless production process. After the factory tour, it was time for some last minute shopping at Gottingen town. The day ended with an intensive game of win, lose or draw which was hilarious as usual.

Day 21, otherwise known as our last day in Germany involved hours of sitting down. We sat for approximately 4 hours on the train that brought us from Gottingen to Munich. We took a train from Munich that brought us to the airport within 40 minutes. The plane ride then took a good 12 hours. It was hilarious how some of the girls like Sinyi and Yoke Leng got all jittery whenever the plane entered a turbulent phase. Gwen even went to puke. How’s that for a memorable plane ride. Back to my dear, sunny Singapore... :)

…aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe…

GoTTinGeN-GeRMaNy- DaY 16, 17, 18

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Gottingen is known as 'The University Town'. Students everywhere, high-tech facilities and anything else you could think of as a necessity of the blossoming physicist, you can find it here. Then, the idea that Gottingen boasts 44 nobel prize winners poses no surprise. After an opening address by the Dean of the faculty of physics, we were given a guided tour around the city. We were brought through its development from the medieval era to present day. As is the case with many medieval European structures, this city most certainly manifests its fair share of splendid buildings of intricate craftsmanship. After the opening speech, we were given a talk on Ion-Beam Mixing- Namely an in-depth analysis of the processes which take place when one attempts to mix two or more elements together. Not a simple process when one has to utilize ideas such as Rutherford Back Scattering and Mossbauer Spectroscopy to account for certain phenomena such as electrostatic interactions and transitions. The day ended with us visiting the main shopping street of Gottingen- where we had dinner.

The hotel that we presently reside at has a Keglig alley. Similar to bowling, but uniquely different- many of us are addicted to this awesome German game. Even Prof. Thomas showed us his skills.

Friday was a full-fledged lecture day. We admittedly did learn a lot. The first lecture was on high energy physics with reference to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN- The idea that proton-proton collision at a certain energy threshold will advent the presence of new phenomena, provide some insights to the evolution of material right after the postulated 'big bang' as well as lead to the discovery of the Higgs Boson reigns hopeful. The second lecture on the mass of the neutrino was equally interesting. I had always thought that the neutrino is a massless particle which is, in fact, is not the case at all. However, presently, we are not able to determine the absolute mass of the neutrino on a scale that starts from zero. Nonetheless, we are able to construct a range between which we expect the mass of the neutrino to be. The lecture thereafter was on robotics. It was quite cool, as we got to see a robot in action. The thing to note here is that people want to build robots that don't merely act upon human instructions, but robots that are able to think for themselves and act upon their own judgment- Robots that are able to learn. For the last part of the day we visited Gottingen University's resident nuclear tandem accelerator. The evening was spent in Gottingen town again, where after having dinner and some beer, some of us walked around the town that was having some cultural event. Soon enough myself, Zhang Jiang, Chang Jian, Chang, Guo Chuan and Gwen were all in the singing and music mood. We sang and played music all the way to the train station.

Today (Saturday), we were given a tour of the nearby castles and ruins by the two Professors escorting us on our trip. In the evening, Chang, Zhang Jiang, Chang Jian, Myself, Gwen, Yoke Ling, Yarong and Pei Shan played win, lose or draw in the hotel's seminar room. The guys won the 'boys versus girls' match... :)

That's all for now... :)

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

MuNicH/ GoTTiNgEn- DaY 12, 13, 14, 15

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

On Sunday, we visited the Residenz palace in Munich. As is the case with all castle-like structures, this palace was beautifully ornamented with various chambers that remain but depictions of the functions which they used to serve. The palace was disastrously destroyed during World War II- Thankfully, the Bavarian authorities managed to restore it to its former magnificent state. The second part of the day involved us taking an amazing boat ride across a huge lake to a very interesting and inspiring museum. We had lunch on board the boat. The chilly wind across the deck contributed to the memorable experience. The 'Buchhiem Museum' as it is called, houses art from the private collection of one man. A man who visioned that anyone and everyone can do art: That art may be found in the most remote of places. Thus, one can imagine the diversity and non-conventional outlook of his collection.

Monday meant lecture day once again. We had, first, an interesting lecture on Astronomy and Astrophysics. There seems to be a greater emphasis upon Astrophysics and Biophysics within the Physics community in Germany. Zhang Jiang and I often joke that there are only two types of people of work in Germany. First, the shopkeepers and second, the Physicists. Germany is 'the place' for physics. The Astrophysics lecture covered topics related to the big bang and the universe- for example, the theory behind why one may deduce that the universe is in fact expanding. The second lecture covered the arena of biophysics where we learnt about the mechanisms of thermodynamical heat gradients, how they affect cell mechanics and the underlying idea of DNA origami. The last lecture on elementary particle physics made the development, construction and usage of the ATLAS detector clear to us. To think that once the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is in operation at its full power, we'll be able to observe particle creation beyond the energy threshold rendered by the limitations of other present day colliders. At the same time, we'll have a high-tech detector at our disposal to make observations and consequent deductions. Monday evening was spent with Prof Englert. We had the opportunity to dine and make merry at an awesome, underground restaurant. What rendered this place special was that there was a live JAZZ band performance. The instrument players were awesome- Alto-Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Tuba, Piano, Trumpet, Drums and Bass.

On Tuesday, we had the amazing opportunity of visiting the German Aerospace Center where we saw first hand how weather observations and predictions are made based on ideas such as the composition of particular and specific atoms or molecules in the air. The lecture was marked with a tour of the aircraft used for such a purpose. At the hanger we saw aircraft such as the 'Falcon' and the G550. Following the hanger visit, we were brought to the German Space Operations Center. There, we were shown the various rooms and consoles that the people on earth use to conduct space operations- Space operations such as the processing of data received from satellites as well as communication with astronauts.

By the way Tuesday was our last day in good old Munich. Hence, we were treated to a farewell dinner. Finally got to try great German Sausages. It was a jovial event which was concluded with the presentation of momentos. I believe everyone is most definitely going to miss Eyleen and Max, our student guides, to a very large extent. They were very sincere in their daily dealings with us. From ensuring that we were on time for all lectures and events to translating the menu for us at almost every meal, they meticulously took care of everything. Thank you guys! :)

On Wednesday, we took the speedy train from Munich all the way to Gottingen, our dwelling for the next 6 days or so. After a four hour long journey where we played card games on the train, we were greeted at the station by Prof. Thomas. We're living at a place called Maria Springs. It's seriously awesome. Serene, tranquil, lusciously green, surrounded by hills and mountains, what more can I say? :) The only comical part is that there is an entire clan of very old people living on the premises of the cottage as well. By old I mean really, really old. On the first day, we were flanked by them from all sides. It was like a scene from some horror movie. Hahs. Wednesday concluded with us heading to the Institute of Astrophysics to star-gaze through a telescope. We actually saw a breath-taking close up of the moon, the planets Saturn and Venus as well as a system of binary stars. I managed to get pictures of all of them.

This sure is a long post. Shall stop here for now.

...aNgeLs BrouGhT mE HeRe...

MuNicH DaY 11- DaChaU & tHe CoNceNtRaTioN CamP

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

On Saturday, we went to the nearby town of Dachau. Escorted by an old lady guide, we surveyed the various structures, buildings and lanes within the city that emanate an aura of the ages- about 1200 years to be precise. A small, historic town. I guess at first look, Dachau would appear peaceful, serene and even insignificant compared to the big cities. However, this town has a dark past. A past that it is not proud of. A past arising from the governance of Hitler in Germany.

We visited what is known as a concentration camp. Shall not go into the long elaborate details, but here's a summary all the same- Hitler had the idea of confining all his political opponents so that they would not oppose him when he reigned dominant. A concentration camp was set up to house these 'outlaws'. As time went by, people who committed crimes were also admitted into such concentration camps. Hitler had ideas of a superior and contrastingly inferior race. Soon enough, homosexuals, Gypsies and most prominently, Jews, were admitted into camp.

The conditions in which the people lived are beyond comprehension. Many died of diseases, many died of torture, many died of hunger, many died of pain. Many were 'gased' to death in gas chambers and subsequently cremated in a facility on the camp itself. The Holocaust. The concentration camp inflicted a damp, dull feeling within the most of us. To think that the ground upon which we tread was the same ground where millions had died before their time. The statue erected by the survivors of the atrocious period said it all: Never Again- Meaning to say, the world can never let such an era dawn upon its being ever again.

On a higher note, the second part of the day allowed us further immersion into the German culture. We went to Eyleen's house and the her grandmother's house to experience the living conditions of present day Germans. After the visit, we headed down to her church for a campfire. It was great fun. All of us huddled around the fire and sang camp-fire songs. Guo Chuan even serenated everyone with his exceptional guitar playing skills.

Here are some pictures:

...AnGeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

MuNicH Day 6-10- FuN-nAnZa

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...


Guess I've vividly, though not exhaustively, described the lesson structure of such an immersion programme in the previous post. However, as 'immersion' implies, the trip is not all about studies. What differentiates such trips from normal tours is that you get to mingle with the locals. To experience their culture and ways.

German beer is but of course known to anyone and everyone. Beer is a way of life here, to the extent that areas termed as beer gardens can be found all over town. Beer gardens are places that emanate a consistently festive aura, where people make merry, exchange conversations and just relax. One can fathom, how easy it is to immerse oneself in the German culture with the beer garden serving as an opportunistic avenue. On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity of having such a beer garden experience with Prof Englert. It was awesome. the Germans like to have what they call 'Pretzels' together with their beer. Huge twines of bread, sometimes somewhat salty.

On Wednesday, we went to the Allianz Arena. This is a majesticly standing soccer-dedicated stadium. We went through a guided tour that made clear the various considerations and consequent ideas that went into the development of the stadium. From acoustics to carpet grass, everything was given due care and concern. What draws people from all over the world to the Allianz Arena is the Arena's ability to change the colour of its outer-walls that are made of some type of thin durable plastics. There are three colours to observe- Red, Blue and Green- Colours that render the stadium a sparkling jewel embedded upon open fields. We were able to see the stadium's lights on Thursday. Other than the Allianz arena, we visited the Oplympiad tower, one of the tallest stuctures in Munich. Standing close to 200m (186m) high in the sky, the view was simply breathtaking. A side trip to the English Gardens that is of humongous proportions accentuated the sight-seeing experience.

Another way in which we had the opportunity of immersing ourselves in the German culture was through the faculty. The physics faculty of at least a thousand people, had a chill-out session. There was good food- beer, burgers, ice-cream. There was good music- a live band. And of course, there was great, great company- my Singaporean friends.

On Friday, we all headed down to a huge beer garden to watch the opening match of the World Cup- South Africa vs Mexico. The soccer fervor at the beer garden was ecstatic. The Germans simply love their soccer vis-a-vis their beer. We brought our own food to the beer garden, as is the culture here and had a 'group meal'. Another effective way to socialize.

Shall talk about Saturday and Sunday in the next post because I must do the visit to the concentration camp some justice. Till then, here are some pictures.... :)

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...

A pHySiCs PiLGriMaGe- MuNicH Day 6,7,8,9,10

...Lo aNd BeHoLd...

Lessons began proper this week. The schedule for a normal day involved us leaving the hostel at about half past nine to head to the lecture venue that may be at diverse locations due to the scattered location of the University buildings. By scattered, I literally mean a difference of half an hour or more.

In Singapore, the acquisition of knowledge is gauged by one's ability to effectively reign supreme in the exams. Consequently, one starts to drift from the initial notion of knowledge acquisition, that was to elicit knowledge that is interesting and hopefully useful to society, to a state that necessitates the acquisition of knowledge for the mere purpose of doing well doing exams. Contrastingly, I would sum up this physics immersion programme as a 'physics pilgrimage'. A programme that is effectively able to not merely impart essential knowledge upon our beings, but able to provide purpose and direction to that which we do. To witness latest breakthroughs and research methodologies.

On Monday, we went through lectures on Quantum physics. Quantum physics is that which differentiates physicists from engineers to the greatest degree due to its sometimes, abstract, intangible and even incomprehensible nature. The lecture revolved around what is known as Quantum cryptography. The usage of such a technique to send securely encoded messages over large distances. Thereafter, we attended a collaquium. I seriously have never attended any lecture with such a large number of old people. People who are probably experts in a particular field in physics. The interesting thing here was that many of these old physicists looked like Einstein- messy hair, wrinkled forehead- Ingredients to smartness or sheer coincidence? :)

Tuesday and Wednesday brought us through the developments in biophysics. Nano-structures that may empower revolutionary changes in the medical arena, in the future- ideas and valid experiments that involve concepts of DNA Origami and Cell biophysics. Notice here how, physicists appear to form the basis of change even in developments that involve the field of medicine.

Thursday and Friday were the most exciting- The whole reason why I came for the Germany Immersion programme. We visited one fully operational nuclear reactor. However, this nuclear reactor is not one that allows one to harness energy, but one that propagates the generation of neutrons needed for experiments and daily applications such as neutron imaging, analogous to X-ray imaging. We then, visited a particle accelerator- a Tandem accelerator to be exact. Thursday ended with a lecture that revolved around ideas involving lasers. Imagine, we are on our way in developing a laser which is as powerful as the sun's energy channeled to the single beam via the usage of a magnifying glass as big as the earth on a surface of 1 millimeter squared. We'll be able to do this if such research reigns successful. Its hard to fathom the power involved. Of course, the lasers will then be put into practical applications in various fields. On Friday, we attended a special type of lecture on electromagnetism. Not only did the lecturer teach, as in a conventional lecture setting- He performed various experiments in front of the class. Interesting indeed.

I daresay, I attended one of the best lectures ever thereafter- A lecture on Astrophysics and Cosmology. The very interesting lecture was able to effectively put across ideas behind concepts such as the composition of the universe- eg. Dark matter. Concepts such as geometry, the metamorphosis of the time-space fabric and general relativity.

Everything was not physics though. Shall continue in the next post. Gotta leave now. Chaozz... :)

...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...