... Life ...

life can sometimes be such a contradiction...

... Shoot 3 ...

Hmmmz, I was at JEC on Saturday morning, walking around shopping for a screen protector for my new Nokia 6500 slide, when I bumped into the people from MediaCorp recording 'Shoot 3' there. It's a talkshow which would probably be screened at the end of the month. So yea, see if I get to go on national TV by then. Hehe. Anyway, the topic was something on the local actors and artistes which completely did not interest me at all, so there I was, taking photos instead... Keke...

There you go...

... Smiles ...

There is no particular reason behind my smiles and laughter...
You just brought them all out of me when you came along..

=) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =)

... Again ...

... Cats ...

Cats: ....
Stray cats: ARGH!!!
Stray cats which jumps and sleeps on my car: ARGH ARGH!!
Idiots who feed stray cats which jumps and sleeps on my car: ARGH ARGH ARGH!!!!!

... 14/11/07 ...

It's been a bad day. A very very very bad day. Bad from start till the end.
Worst since I got back from SEP.

Some old sayings are really for your own good. Bear them in good mind....

... We are the Champion (Stacker) ...

Haha, rem the song that goes like the title? Well, we could have sung that after the robot competition on Friday. Champion Stacker was the competition name, and so is title that our robot won. Spasm King, the Champion Stacker. Stacking a record of 12 blocks in under 3 minutes, that was a job well done. A spectacular job from our team of 7: Lester, Chee Wei, Shaun, Willy, Adrian, Guorong, and not forgetting, myself... Hahaha...

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting to you ME3102 Champion Stacker 2007: Spasm King!!!

Erm, don't ask me why there's a flower on top of it. Supposedly aesthetic. My friend asked me, how come a flower for a 'male' robot. I said, it was given to him by his 'her' after he won the competition!! Hahaha....

And a tribute to our team and supervisor. A pity Shaun wasn't around in the photo.


A photo with the runner-up team, also led by the same supervisor.

And some stupid shots we took with the robot after the competition.



It's been a far cry from the time when we first started the testing phase of the robot. It sucked the hell out of our lives. Spent so much time on it. Remembere the time when we had problem to get the motors to run properly on HandyBoard. It's been a long way. Well done!!!

Well, the competition was hot. Literally too. It was held outside the Design Lab where there was no aircon, and there were so many people. 95% guys, so the ME gers there were all complaining. Hot surroundings bring 'chou nan ren'. Wahahahaha.. Just take a look. And at the idea of my friend, try doing this: 'Where's Jerry?' Prof Jerry Fuh is the course coordinator. Hahaha..


There were many robots around that day. All sorts and mechanisms. All sorts of stacking algorithms too. Some had names, like ours and Edric's. Edric's robot had the most interesting name. Ha, it's called Meiyan. Try asking him why. He's been shot and suan since the couple of days just before the competition. Here's a showcase of some of the robots around that afternoon.

Meiyan in action

Xianhong's robot at starting position

The robot which aimed to grab 9 blocks in a single grip. Ambitious, but too many factors to manage. A pity it got entangled by its own comms and power line. Turn Turn Turn... Whee... Muhahahahaha....

Christopher n co.'s robot. The chopper robot. Beware!!

It's gonna be exams time soon. So yea... Good Luck to all! And to me.... =(

... Robot SK (SPASM King) ...

After so many long days of testing, finally, we have managed to grab 12 blocks in a single unassisted try (not even touching the power cable). It was a far cry from the times when we were still trying to get the motors and the handyboard to even run properly. Satisfaction, but extremely tired too. Is it really worth just 4 MCs? More I say!!!! At least 6!!! Hahahaha.....

Here's a video clip of the 12 blocks stacking attempt by SK.

... Little Friends ...

Haha!! There are now 2 new little friends who are permanent passengers in my car. Little Eeyore and Little Piglet. Haha.. Cute eh... Hehehe....


And another set of really cute soft toys. Hahaha... Big brother Russ taking good care of little schooling Eeyore.. Kekeke.... I love this shot!!

... Busy Busy ...

It's nearly 3 weeks since I last posted something. Been a busy period for me. Time has been largely taken up by Design Project and my FYP. Haiz. But well, the design project's competition is in 2 weeks time and our robot seems to be looking pretty good except for some hiccups. We did some testing yesterday and things look good. Hope our robot would be able to pick some blocks on the competition day itself, and not go into spasm mode, just like its name, SPASM King. Wth.. Well, here's a short clip of the testing we did yesterday. Robot went according to our written command to turn into the lanes where the blocks would be placed.

I also had a discussion with my PhD research student on my FYP yesterday while we did our firing tests. Things seem to be slightly clearer, especially after I've done my first firings on my samples. You know, they were all shattered and fractured. Come to think of it, I do feel a sense of pity as I see these samples which I need 1 whole week to make, destroyed in less than half an hour. Hmmz, is that what researchers always feel when they see their works fail during their numerous tests? Hmmz.. I still think that I'm not cut to be in the research industry. Ha. I can't post any photos on my fired samples here, cos the whole project seems abit confidential.

... Surprises ...

The occasional surprises spice up life and sweetens it, doesn't it? Ha.. Hope that was a little surprise for you.. Keke.. And that it made your day, especially after a long and busy one..

;-)

... Mid Autumn ...

It's now into the 8th month of the lunar calendar and that means Mid Autumn Festival is just round the corner. And to start things rolling, my mum got a big mooncake as a gift from the parents of 1 of her student passengers. HAha.. Quite big, about 15cm in diameter. Like a small cake. Hahaha...


Then there's a mid-autumn celebrations at the Esplanade on 25 Sept. How about strolling down the waterfront, with a lantern in your one hand, and my darling's little hand on the other, and admiring at the big round moon at the same time? KEkeke... Good eh? HAhaha..

... IED 07 ...

It was International Exchange Day at NUS yesterday. There were booths on the various places around the world for SEP and I sat in for the seminar talk on NZ SEP in the afternoon. Together with Binjuan to support Veron on her short talk. But what actually made me post this entry was the video made by Yiling. It showed many highlights of our experiences in NZ. I've watched the video before yesterday, but it wasn't as impactful, watching with people who are interested in going SEP in NZ (though I think a vast majority are actually there for Australian SEP than NZ. But heck look at Faith, she didn't get her Australian SEP, but ended up with hell lots of fun in NZ!).

But most importantly I think watching the video with those who went on NZ SEP with me brought on alot of different feelings. It made me thought back again those times. Those times when I was on my own, independent living and learning. Times with the SEP people, doing stupid stuff together and laughing at ourselves. The roadtrips we had together. The people in NZ, the nature and space, the weather, the activities we did. Watching the video brought all these images back to my mind.

Before I returned to Singapore, Nicole (a full time UC student) asked if I would miss NZ, and UC, cos she felt we didn't enjoy as much as the previous batch of SEP students. I said I probably would and I had just did. Looking at the photos and videos that we took, I would want to go back to NZ again someday, if I have the chance and $$$$$. Hahaha! Any NZ SEP people wanna go back together, say 5 years down the road? Hahaha! And we go for another road trip, this time including places we didn't manage to go to. Like the Bay of Islands. HEhehe...

Yep, miss NZ. Miss the nature, the space, the weather, the people. Miss the roadtrips, the time we spent together. ;)

... Home Grown Chilli ...

Was home the other day with my family when I realized that the potted chilli that my father planted outside the house is now so big. It's like those that are found at the Yong Tau Foo stalls, all ready to be with the kuay teow mee + sweet sauce. Ha! There were still tiny weeny the last time I saw these chillies, and that was like probably 2 to 3 weeks ago. No chemicals added, all looked after by my father. My father and his father are both damn good in plants. Haha.. Look at the Fu Gui Hua next to the chillies, they've been blooming like nobody's business. Keke.. Too bad, I dun take after either one in this aspect. Hehehe...



Have been rather busy lately, and reaching home late on most days. So didn't realize they've grown so big. Hehehe.. And I foresee harder times coming, with term paper questions released for my CAD/CAM module, and my FYP which has been stuck like dunno since when. Haiz.. Please, let me have a breakthrough on my project and I could go forward...

... My Altis ...

My mechanic hoisted my car up when he was servicing my car, to release the old engine oil for replacement. And I spotted this big scratch on the bottom of my front bumper. It's not at all obvious when the car is on the ground, but it's quite obvious tat it's scratched when the car was parked head in. I suddenly realized that I've not been taking as good care as in the past, especially now when my brother also uses it, it should have gotten better attention. Hee. Not that I'm siao, although I might be abit, but the truth is, this Altis has been such a good help to me!~ Ha!~ Juz look at how I was able to update my profile, and you know why. Wouldn't have been possible that day without it. I was so so so glad I drove it out that night!~ HAha...

Coming back, hmmmz... Some things I wanna do and have on my Altis soon, given the money and time:-

1. Polish (Long overdue for 1, esp after the rains over the last 2 weeks, it's in dire need of a good polish. Ha)
2. Solar film for front windscreen. Windscreen was changed when a stone made a crack on it. Courtesy of my brother. Thanks leh! =P
3. LEDs for cabin lights. The current ones are hot!
4. Cushions, so that er hem, will have sth to hug. But then again.. er... won't the cushions fight wif me over the hugs?!?!?! Argh... (so down it goes, from S/N 3 to 4.. Wahahaha...)
5. 3M lookalike car mats.

John Hopkinson

"Born: 27 July 1849 in Manchester England

John Hopkinson was the eldest of a family of five children. After showing great abilities in mathematics, Hopkinson was awarded a scholarship to continue his study of that subject at Cambridge. He entered Cambridge in 1867 graduated with a mathematics degree in 1871, as the top 1st Class student. He was also first Smith's prizeman and made a fellow of Trinity College. Although he had been awarded a Whitworth Scholarship to continue his mathematical studies at Cambridge, Hopkinson decided to put his mathematics to practical use in Engineering.

Hopkinson was appointed professor of electrical engineering at King's College London in 1890. At the same time he became director of the newly founded Siemens Laboratory. In the same year he was awarded a Royal society medal for his work on the magnetic properties of iron."


Read about this guy when I was doing my Applied Mechanics module. This guy was a great engineer in Impact mechanics studies. Haha.. The important point is.. Sharing the same bday, how come I'm not as shen2 as him? Hahaha... I'm also doing impact work leh... Hehehe... =P

Somehow, it seems that women's intuition and 6th sense are very accurate.. Cannot dun believe.. Hahaha... And can be scary at times too.... *shakes head*

Juz impacted on me how closely we can be linked... Is the world too small or just NUS? What would our feelings be if we were to bump into one another altogether? Hmmz...


~It's unlucky for people to cross into my path~

... New New New ...

It has been a really long time since I last updated this blog. Been shoot-ed by at least 2 of my friends for not updating. But then again, I'm not really a blogger before I left for SEP. Hahaha...

Nonetheless, the new semester has started and I am supposed to start working on my FYP. Week 2 is gone, but I'm still freaking blur and lost on the details of the project. It seems as though I have info everywhere, but many don't link at all. Lost. Hope things get better in the 2 weeks to come, before midterm break comes.

The past 1 week has been really exciting. Very happy indeed. Probably the best time that I've had in my life. Much happier than the days I had in NZ, I'd say. Why? Ha.. Anyhow, I just want all of us to be happy, for days to come, even when there are challenges and stress to face. We'll do it, won't we?

Well, we were out celebrating Veron's 21st birthday on Frday. Had dinner at NYDC with Moses and Binjuan too. It's been a while since the 4 of us met up together again. So it was nice to see everyone, though I've met Veron and Moses the previous week at Tea Chapter with the rest of the Otago SEP people. Ha.. Some photos of the dinner to end the post...

From left: Moses, Veron, Binjuan and ME

Moses mixing Salad

This shot looks and feels weird. Could have done better... =(

Cough cough cough... Haven't seen such coughs since the 06/07 sem 1 exams... Not much stress for SEP exams... =p

Still at the same spot... Not unexpected, but just a little disappointed too.. Long way...

... HK. Which 1? ...

Lately, I have seen many of my friends who are excitedly and eagerly waiting waiting to leave for Hong Kong write things like "HK, here I come!~" or "HK, ........" on their msn nicks. Many times, before I even finished reading the second part of the statement, I was wondering what's this friend doing man, calling me out on MSN?!?! HA, scared me at times. Keke... So which HK are you referring to... Hahaha...

... A Tinge Of ...

Too free and bored tonight, since I have surfed through all my regular sites during the matric fair today. Really nothing else to see online, and I'm not a big fan of youtube or crunchyroll. So? Ended up reading. Went all the way back to the beginning. And i jollywell expected to see some things, that will invoke... A tinge of sourness in me.. Haiz, but I still chose to read. Probably cos I haven't read b4, and I wanna read, even though I know the consequences.

... Chud Sai ...

It's been almost 5 months since I last chud sai. Went out with NUS LD for their competition at Fajar yesterday afternoon, and it had to pour so heavily on us. Sian, I was totally drenched by the time we reached the competition venue. So well, some photos from the competition, of people and the item. Lion Dance performances are full interesting stories, and many dos and don'ts. Sometimes, the reasons behind the dos and don'ts just dun make much sense at all. Haha...

The troupe

Past Ps & VPs

佛门阵之前庭种花

This was the item that NUS competed on. Title as above, lazy to re-type. Ha. See the 2 knives and cudgel on the ground? It represents the 2 doors and door stopper to the monastery. The big head buddha is supposed to leap over the walls and then open up the doors to let the lion in. And in all lion dance performances, the dancers have to do a short performance using the weapons at the end. And yes, our girls who took part in the competition did just that. Will post up those photos as and when I get them.

Anyhow, well done to those to competed. Maybe it's time I take it easy on LD. Ha...

... Important Question ...

What cake is it... Shucks... What a dumb ass I am! =(

... D or A+?? ...

I got back my SEP results last week while I was still doing my ICT. Was in the I-Net centre to check, when I got a shock of my life!!! Got a D grade for me ENME345 Thermo-Fluids Transport. WTF! That was near impossible to get such a result. Considering my CA, I really had to buang damn jialat in the exams to get a D (which is a fail grade mind u). Couldn't believe at all, and so I emailed my lecturer and the UC Exchange officer for help... And guess what's e reply I got from my beloved lecturer? Here goes....

"Dear Hong Kai,
It is no wonder that your results surprised you.
Your mark got mixed up with another student. You in fact have an A+.
It's my fault and I apologize.
Regards,"

Haha, like... WTF is UC doing manz... This kind of thing oso can mix up ah?!?!?!?! So lucky for me, I asked. I prob wouldn't have bothered if it wasn't a fail grade. Ha, I pity whoever who got mixed up with mine, he could have gotten off with an A+, but too bad for him. I wonder how he's feeling right now. FWahahahahaha....

... Finally Out-Pro ...

I've finally finished my 2nd ICT as I'm typing this entry. Just out-proed at 11am. Well, it has been kindaf a boring ICT, as I slacked my time away. Time was spent mainly between sleeping (or recovering from jet lag) to canteen breaks. And of course the sms sessions in between. My bill is highly likely to explode for this month. Hope that my NS pay of $200 will be enough, after deducting off expenses in camp. Wahahaha.. But it's ok. Should not be too much an issue. Hee..

Then there was the Battalion Cohesion Night, where there were durians, rambutans and mangosteens. Ha, also had a big cake to celebrate all the July babies. But luckily I was hiding somewhere, if not I'd probably not have a peaceful night. Ha, the worst thing is to celebrate your bday in ur unit. Wahahaha, it's mad manz... Keke...

ICT as usual, has been a chance for old friends and buddies to get together, to share and update one another with their lives. And so did the 4 Bionix drivers of the Battalion HQ. Spent so many nights chatting away. Got to know some really happy news. One of my closest buddy just got attached not long ago. But of cos, there are also the sad stories. No matter what, it's been really fortunate to have known this group of people and to still be able to serve with them in the BHQ.

All the best to 05 driver, Sichao, who is starting work at EY next month.
Continue working hard to the rest of the 3 of us who will be starting on our final year of studies soon. 06/08/09 drivers, Pressure Forward?!?!? Wahahaha!~
And to 06 driver, Ah Lam: Enjoy the sweetness of romance manz!~ Wahahaha!~

I'll see you guys soon, if we manage to meet up before the next ICT. Else, see you people on 9 June 2008. 453 SAR 3rd ICT: Combat ATP shootout!~

... Queenstown ...

Wah manz, this was the longest bus ride we took while we were in NZ man. A whole 7 hours to get to Queenstown from Christchurch. And we slept like... haiz.. *shakes head*

Anyway, we finally managed to ski at The Remarkables on 3 July. Went up there in the morning, where we had our starter's courses. Binjuan and I skiied while Veron snowboarded. Frankly, I suck at skiing. Bin was way much better man. I feel so... Keke... And Veron complained of her whole body aching after the day of snow activities man... Haha... Oh, it also snowed abit on us when we were on the mountains. Sweet as! First time seeing falling snow in my life.. Hee..

At The Remarkables

The Skiiers

We were back at Queenstown on 6 July after visiting Te Anau and Milford Sounds and we visited Deer Park Heights that day. We nearly couldn't get in cos the barrier gave us much difficulties man. It just simply refuses to let us in! Damn... But eventually, we managed to enter..

Saw loads of animals - sheeps and lambs, deers, llamas, and some big guy that looks like an ox. Ha. And our dearest Bin was a natural animal attractor. All the llamas went running after her when she got off the car. And she went running further down the slope. It was a damn funny scene. Veron and I were laughing and taking videos. Ha!~ Me on the contrary... Haiz... All the animals run off when I tried getting near them. Kaoz!~

Bin running away from chasing llamas

Hiding behind me from donkeys passing by. Ha!~

And how about this? Hee...

Animals in Deer Park Heights

We drove all the way up to the Eastern Summit of the Heights where it overlooks what seems to be a set venue from LOTR. Fabulous view from there I tell you!~ Weet!~

... Nonya Zang ...

Hmmz, I just got to eat the nonya zang my mum kept in the freezer for me for lunch. Woo hoo, belated dumpling festival. Late by a month. But still, appreciate it manz..



Ha, the only thing is this year's dumplings seem abit too bland leh. Not much taste. Or is it my mum and aunts have embraced healthier lifestyle; healthier diets? Ha, no matter what, they are still homemade nonya zang and bah zang. Any other SEP people wanna have some too? Hee..

... Hair not dried ...

Hmmz, I was surfing other people's archive entries again while waiting for my hair to dry... So what now? Trying to share some loads? Trying to be the guide out of the confining walls? Trying to release shackles? *scratch head*

Be careful.. The bed may collapse on u.. It may be long and difficult. But then again, so what if you end up just being a guide? I'll still remember and treasure the escape walk... So, I'll try..

Time to sleep manz.. Jet lag still lingering.. Waking up at 4 plus for the past few days.. *shakes head*

... I'm BACK!!! ...

Yep!~ I'm back in Sunny Singapore, after 5 months in NZ. The air in Singapore is... HOT N HUMID!!! ARgh!! And it doesn't help that I'm going to in-pro for my ICT in a few hours time. Haiz, I think I'll sublime among the tress of Lim Chu Kang.. Somebody please catch my vapour.. Haha...

And yep, I do miss... Missed xxx around last night when I was packing my stuff for my ICT... =(

Right, I was at Queenstown/Milford Sounds/Wanaka during the last week of my stay in NZ. Managed to ski once there. So I'll try to put up photos n stuff when I get the time. Prob weekend the earliest. So do hang ard eh...

... Done! All Done! ...

Yes!~ I have completed my last paper here on SEP. I'm all done!~ So I'll be enjoying the last 12 days in NZ really well from tmr. And for a start, it's to Mount Hutt for some skiing actions. Then to Queenstown/Milford Sounds/Lake Wanaka from 2 - 8 July.

And I'll be back in Singapore on 11 July. Everything's ending. It's so fast, it just doesn't feel as if 1 semester passed by. And yet it did.... Ha...

... West Coast Trip 2 - [10 Jun 07] ...

We woke up to an early morning to get ready for our Franz Josef Glacier walk. It was a half-day walk, but it was quite tiring too, cos the steps they made to make our walk easier are quite high too. So, it was abit tiring. But the walk was good, and the glacier ice was beautiful...

Talonz on!~ All ready to climb some ice!~

Walking through the glacier

Inside a glacier hole...

The rest of the group

At the end of the walk.
See the the hollow part of the glacier just above Moses's right shoulder?
The guide said it didn't look like this when we started the climb.
A portion probably collapsed while we were walking on the glaciers. Ha.

We hit the roads again after our Franz Josef experience to get to Hokitika where we saw the sunset and took quite a number of shots of the sunset. Keke.. Lots of stupid photos, some I better not post.. Haha...

Sunset by the beach

....

Brothers watching sunset? Wahahaha...

Oh, and did I tell you people, we stayed in the same backpackers with my flatmate. We were travelling separately, but it was so coincidental that we met each other at the accommodation. A pleasant surprise. And we had a game of "spoon". It is something like heart attack, but with spoons to grab. Ha, fun, but can get rather violent though. Anybody wanna play?

My flatmate, Risa (lady in blue shirt and pants) snatching for spoon

Oops, no spoon left for you, Risa!~

... West Coast Trip 1 - [9 Jun 07] ...

Argh!!!! My head is now exploding with all the content from my Materials course. Exams is a 50 MCQ paper on Monday, and I hope I can pass, cos there is really no way I could possibly remember that much for the exams. Just enough to pass will be good. Ha.

Anyhow, sorry for being late with the West Coast Tour. Ha. Moses, Veron and I set out in the early morning of 9 Jun 07 to catch the TranzAlpine through the Southern Alps to Greymouth. The train ride is a bit disappointing although I saw quite a number of snow-capped mountains. It would probably have been nicer it the tracks and ground is covered with white snow.. Keke...

<-- Me and Moses beside the train...

Choo!~ Choo!~

Snow Capped Mountain

Stopover at Arthurs Pass.
Not much sunlight there cos it's in the middle of valleys.

Moses & I on the viewing cabin.
It was freaking cold out there, with the train's speed. Burr...

Nice Pic with the white mountains behind us..

Inside the Carriage..

It was a drive from Greymouth to Fox Glacier where we went to take a look at the terminal face of the glacier. Luckily we got there in time before the sun set to take some photos. Anyhow, we'd be trekking through the Franz Josef Glacier the next day too!~

In front of Fox Glacier's Terminal Face

And then it was off for an Indian dinner at the township of Franz Josef. Not too bad I'd say. Ha, and here comes the cock story of the trip. Just as we finished and I was to open the car door to get back, I had great difficulties trying to push the "car key" into the door. I tried and tried but couldn't get it in. And it was after Veron jokingly said "Don't try to open the car door with your dorm key!", then I realised damn, I was really trying to open the car door with the YHA dorm key. And I didn't realiize that all that time, just trying to open the door with brute force!~ Ha!~

What the hell.. Too cold, cannot think ah... Haha... Next, Franz Josef Glacier walk...